Meeting Agenda
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CITY OF WOBURN
JUNE 13, 2011 – 6:30 P.M.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL CHAMBER, WOBURN CITY HALL
Roll Call
Anderson Gately
DiTucci Haggerty
Drapeau Mercer-Bruen
Gaffney Raymond
Denaro
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VOTED to dispense with the reading of the previous meeting’s Journal and to APPROVE, all in favor, 9-0.
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Pursuant to Rule 31, of the Rules and Orders of the City Council, the President of the City Council has called for a Special Meeting of the City Council for the purposes of reviewing, conducting a public hearing and taking action as determined by the City Council on the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget, taking action on financial matters presented and pending before the City Council, and for any other matters that may legally come before the City Council.
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Motion made and 2nd to suspend the rules for the purposes of discussing with the Woburn School Committee the department’s FY2012 budget, all in favor, 9-0. Appearing was School Committee Chair Patricia Chisholm and she stated that the School Department is seeking the smallest increase in its budget in many years, that many items could be added to the budget but were not added due to poor economic conditions, and that Woburn is one of the few communities that does not require students to pay activity user fees. Superintendent of Schools Mark Donovan stated that the budget process began in October 2010, that the principals of the schools submitted budget requests, that these school budgets were received by the Superintendent in December 2010, that meetings were held with each school principal in December 2010 and January 2011, that he prepared a budget that balanced the needs of each school and the financial condition of the city, that the Superintendent submitted a budget to the School Committee, that the School Committee reviewed the budget page by page and also met with school administrators during the process, that the budget was submitted to the Mayor, that the School Department received a request from the City Council for information and packages of information was supplied, that additional questions were received from the City Council and additional responses were provided, that the School Department serves the needs of students from pre-school to high school and in some cases beyond, that there is a wide range of abilities and needs among the students, and that the small increase in the budget is well justified. Alderman DiTucci stated that she appreciates the School Department budget process but that the City Council must also ask necessary questions. Superintendent Donovan stated that all positions of retirees will be filled, that the School Department tries to replace open positions at a lower step level, that some positions such as a language or high school math require teachers with advanced degrees such as Masters plus three, that hires are made at the Bachelors level when possible, that there has been some attrition, that the current White School principal is being hired as the School Department Technology Officer and the principal position is being replaced at a starting principal salary and therefore both positions are covered in the budget, that contract restrictions prevent teachers from acting as lunch monitors, that the cost of the lunch monitors is not significant and is money well spent, that elementary school teachers cover morning recess, that the budget allows the School Department to pay for three AP exams for the students, that the elementary school foreign language teachers are being reassigned, that under federal guidelines the School Department is not providing adequate time for English as a Second Language (ESL) students, and that the parttime foreign language teachers and part-time ESL teachers will be expanded to full-time equivalent for ESL students. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Joseph Elia stated that kitchen equipment is purchased with any money remaining in the lunch program funds, and that the School Department has replaced an outside payroll service at $100,000.00 per year with an in-house payroll service that costs approximately $10,000.00 per year. Alderman Raymond stated that most departments in need of a transfer will appear before the City Council
Committee on Finance to explain the transfer, that this year the School Department transferred $1,200,000.00 in two accounts but the accounts do not reflect these deductions, and that if additional funds were needed for a budget there should be a request for an additional appropriation rather than free cash. Assistant Superintendent Elia stated that there were carryovers for open purchase orders that had not been invoiced, and that there were two true transfers of small amounts. Alderman Raymond stated that he requested from the City Auditor a report of the School Department financial transactions as suggested to him by the school administration. Assistant Superintendent Elia stated that the items the Alderman of Ward Six referred to were for encumbrances not transfers, and that an example was a $400,000.00 encumbrance for special needs transportation which was being reviewed for accuracy and the final bill was not received until July or August. City Auditor Surette stated that the money in the accounts have to be encumbered at the end of the fiscal year until the invoice is received, and that if the funds are not used for the encumbrance then the money is converted to the General Fund. Alderman Gately stated that the overall expenditures to the taxpayers for the School Department is approximately $70,000,000.00 and the $47,000,000.00 figure in the budget does not accurately represent what the city contributes, that the water and sewer use charges are not reflected in the School Department budget, and that taxpayers have limits on their ability to pay for these costs. Assistant Superintendent Elia stated that when an invoice has to be paid out of a different account the School Committee Finance Committee is consulted and then the matter is sent to the School Committee for approval to spend out of that different account. Alderman Drapeau stated that an after-school tuition based program is a significant opportunity for revenue for the schools. Assistant Superintendent Elia stated that the School Department is looking into one large after-school based program rather than smaller programs at each school. Alderman Drapeau stated that the Clapp School building remains in the possession of the School
Department, that money is included in the School Department budget to “mothball” the building, that there are no capital funds in the budget to maintain the Clapp School building, that he will not support money for the upkeep of the Clapp School building, that the School Department retained the building and must be responsible for the maintenance costs, that the School Department cannot be in the business of collecting buildings, that the city should not support the building when it is not needed, and that he counted fifteen open elementary classrooms in the materials submitted by the School Department. Superintendent Donovan stated that there are not fifteen open elementary classrooms, that if there was a better option for the Clapp School building then the School Department would exercise that option, and that retaining the Clapp School for future swing space is a responsible position. Shamrock School Principal Wayne Clark stated that every classroom at the Shamrock School houses a full class. Special Education Director Christine Lenahan stated that some students who came back from out of district placements with high level needs were brought back with a paraprofessional to support them, that there were significant savings including transportation costs, that the costs stayed within the real dollar costs this year and will be within the projected real dollar costs for next year, and that the city saved millions of dollars by bringing out of district students back into the district. President Denaro stated that a number of documents should be made part of the record. Motion made and 2nd that the communication dated May 25, 2011 from the Woburn Public Schools, that communication dated June 9, 2011 from the Woburn Public Schools and the City Auditor’s report relative to the School Department be received and made part of the record, all in favor, 90. Alderman DiTucci stated that if the School Department hired teachers at the Bachelor’s degree level rather than the Master’s degree level there is a savings of approximately $92,000.00, that there can be savings by closing the Clapp School building, that there are opportunities for savings in the School Department budget, that the student-teacher ratio in Woburn is far lower than surrounding school districts, that other school districts are at contracted levels and in some cases exceed contracted levels, and that the question is whether the School Department is taking it too easy and not doing the hard work. Chair Chisholm stated that there may be a class of fourteen students and a class of fifteen students but when those two are added together the total of twenty-nine students will exceed contractual limits. Alderman DiTucci stated that this is why redistricting needs to be looked at to even out the number of students in the schools to achieve contractual levels, and that there has been no consolidation of positions or other savings by building the larger Goodyear School. Chair Chisholm stated that teachers are required to obtain Master’s degrees within five years and that this results in many teachers coming into the system with Master’s degrees, and that the School Department should recruit the best qualified teachers for the students. Superintendent Donovan stated that a new hire with Bachelor’s degree plus one can quickly be offset by a teacher with a Master’s degree plus ten for a more difficult position to hire such as a high school physics position. Director Lenahan stated that there is one psychologist at the high school, one at each middle school and elementary school psychologists who travel from school to school, and that the School Department is required to provide evaluations by the school psychologist. Building Facilities Director David Dunkley stated that the roof at the White School were repaired under warranty and without cost to the city. Alderman Gately stated that there was $30,000.00 for drainage repair at the White School and $15,000.00 for thresholds at the High School expended. Director Dunkley stated that the White School was a grading issue on the side of the cafeteria and the high school thresholds were affected by frost heaves. Alderman Raymond stated that he wants to know the number of positions that will be eliminated by consolidating the Clapp School and the Goodyear School. Superintendent Donovan stated that the School Department already eliminated a principal, a nurse, a secretary and a custodian two years ago, and that the teaching positions depend upon enrollment. Alderman Raymond stated that it is his understanding that fourteen positions would be
eliminated by the consolidation of the Clapp School and Goodyear School. Superintendent Donovan stated that four positions were eliminated by the consolidation of the two schools, that the next two schools to be consolidated will be the Hurld School and the Wyman School, that the new building could be built on the Hurld School site, that the Hurld School students would be moved the Clapp School, that the applications for the new school process will be opened by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) in the fall of 2011, that the MSBA looks at the overall needs across the state and may or may not approve Woburn’s plans, and that it could be five years before the next school is funded. Alderman Raymond stated that no swing space is needed by using the current School Department facilities. Superintendent Donovan stated that it is more likely that the MSBA will fund the Wyman School which is in poor shape rather than consolidating the Altavesta School and the Linscott School. Alderman Mercer-Bruen stated that if the Clapp School building is not retained as swing space then it is likely that portable classroom will be needed. Superintendent Donovan stated that he spoke to the city’s consultant Pat Saitta and was advised that the likelihood of reimbursement for the cost of the portables is zero, and that the total project cost is approximately $100,000.00 per unit for the modular units. Alderman Mercer-Bruen stated that the city has to find a way to address students who are enrolled in elementary schools who are not from the city and do not pay taxes to the city. Alderman DiTucci stated that she was told by the city’s consultant Pat Saitta that the portables are reimbursable at 50% to relieve overcrowding, that she understands the city will not be eligible for reimbursement until the 2013 grant round, and that therefore a new school in five years is unlikely. Alderman Drapeau stated that he has heard some opposition of consolidating the Hurld School and the Wyman School. Superintendent Donovan stated that the redistricting plan is determined by committee, that the solution of the committee made the most sense, and that other alternatives resulted in roadblocks. Alderman Drapeau stated that the Reeves School operates successfully with over five hundred students and other schools in the city are operating at much lower numbers, that there should be an effort to redistrict to even out the number of students, that the redistricting plan may have made sense to those on the committee but not to the taxpayers of Woburn, that there is some room for improvement in the school budget, and that taxes are going to have to be raised soon if costs are not contained. Superintendent Donovan stated that there is always a way to save money by packing classrooms and laying off teacher but the School Committee is always balancing the needs of the students against the financial capability of the taxpayers. Alderman Gaffney stated that his discussions with parents indicates that there is support for consolidating the Hurld School and Wyman School. _________________________
Motion made and 2nd to return to the regular order of business, all in favor, 9-0.
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PUBLIC HEARING OPENED. Appearing was Mayor Scott D. Galvin and he stated that the budget went through a rigorous review process and deserves City Council review as well, that the School Department reduced their budget close to $400,000.00 resulting in an approximately $500,000.00 increase, that the School Department worked hard to keep the increase low, that the School Department made sacrifices but at some point increase are needed to continue providing a great education system, that there will likely be a tax increase, and that health insurance and pensions drive the increase. Michael Mulrenan, 937 Main Street stated that he is in support of the budget as presented. Paul Meaney, 1 Brandt Drive stated that he is the Executive Director of the Woburn Business Association, a homeowner and taxpayer, that last year the city had the lowest tax increase for businesses in the last nine or ten years, that the City Council cannot control the world or state but can control what the city does, that this increase in the budget is minimal but it is an increase, that there is a 22% to 23% commercial vacancy rate in the city, that real estate values have decreased, that every dollar has to be spent wisely, that the city departments are expected to do a little more, and that he wants to know how much of the School Department $47,000,000.00 budget is for retirement costs. Denise Caprio, 29 Hudson Street stated that there is room for improvement in the budget, and that money spent on the Clapp School building is a
waste of money. Motion made and 2nd to close the public hearing, all in favor, 9-0. _________________________
Motion made and 2nd for a five minute recess, all in favor, 9-0.
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President Denaro called the meeting back to order.
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Motion made and 2nd to return to the regular order of business, all in favor, 9-0.
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A discussion of the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget as submitted by the Mayor ensued in which each page of the Budget was reviewed by the City Council. On motion made and 2nd each page of the Budget was approved with all in favor (9-0) unless otherwise indicated herein.
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Motion made and 2nd to take the Woburn Schools Budget on Page 31 out of order, all in favor, 9-
0. Motion made and 2nd to reduce Woburn Schools Budget on Page 31 by $540,790.00, ROLL
CALL: Anderson – No, DiTucci – Yes, Drapeau – Yes, Gaffney – No, Gately – Yes, Haggerty – No, Mercer-Bruen – No, Raymond – Yes, Denaro – No, Motion Fails. Motion made and 2nd to approve Woburn Schools Budget on Page 31, ROLL CALL: Anderson – Yes, DiTucci – No, Drapeau – No, Gaffney – Yes, Gately – No, Haggerty – Yes, Mercer-Bruen – Yes, Raymond – No, Denaro – Yes, Motion Passes.
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Motion made and 2nd to reduce Consultants on Page 15 Planning Board Department/Community Development from $20,000.00 to $15,000.00, all in favor, 9-0. Motion made and 2nd to approve Page 15 Planning Board Department/Community Development as amended, all in favor, 9-0.
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Motion made and 2nd to approve Page 16 Board of Appeals Department, 8 in favor, 1 abstained (Anderson abstained).
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Motion made and 2nd to reduce Repairs by $8,000.00 and Sand/Stone/Gravel by $5,000.00 both on Page 38 Woburn Public Works Department, all in favor, 9-0. Mayor Galvin stated that the Street/Flood Lights account was already reduced during review, and the Coviello is handling the lights again. City Auditor Surette stated that the account was $365,105.00 in FY2009,
$332,918.00 in FY2010 and $323,882.00 in FY2012 to date. Mayor Galvin stated that the bill for June is due in July, and that if the line is cut the Department of Public Works may have to come back for a transfer to this account. Motion made and 2nd to reduce Street/Flood Lights on Page 39 Woburn Public Works Department by $10,000.00, ROLL CALL: ROLL CALL: Anderson –
Yes, DiTucci – Yes, Drapeau – No, Gaffney – No, Gately – Yes, Haggerty – Yes, Mercer-Bruen – No, Raymond – No, Denaro – No, Motion Fails. Alderman Haggerty stated that the Department of Public Works spent $50,000.00 to date and new cars have been purchased. Alderman Drapeau stated that the account is for the repair of all city vehicles and therefore he opposes reducing the budget item. Mayor Galvin stated that the Trucks & Equipment budget has been reduced from $253,000.00 to $211,000.00, and that the department performs repair work on all city cars. Motion made and 2nd to reduce Repairs (cars) on Page 42 Woburn Public Works Department by $15,000.00, ROLL CALL: Anderson – No, DiTucci – Yes, Drapeau – No,
Gaffney – No, Gately – No, Haggerty – Yes, Mercer-Bruen – No, Raymond – No, Denaro – No, Motion Fails. Motion made and 2nd to approve Pages 33 to 44 Woburn Public Works Department, as amended, all in favor, 9-0.
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Motion made and 2nd to approve Pages 55 to 57 Woburn Recreation Department, all in favor, 9-
0. Motion made and 2nd to reconsider motion approving Pages 55 to 57 Woburn Recreation
Department, all in favor, 9-0. Motion made and 2nd to amend Total Maintenance Page #1 from $44,950.00 to $44,300.00 and Grand Total Recreation Budget from $262,087.85 to $261,437.85, both on Page 57 Woburn Recreation Department, and approve Page 55 to 57 Woburn Recreation Department, as amended, all in favor, 9-0.
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Motion made and 2nd to move Funding from Redevelopment Authority to Retirement System
$401,783.00 on Page 70 Contributory Pensions Woburn Retirement System to Funding from
Housing Authority to Retirement System on Page 70 Contributory Pensions Woburn Retirement System , and to approve Pages 70 Contributory Pensions Woburn Retirement System, as amended, and Page 71 Non-Contributory Pensions Woburn Retirement System, all in favor, 9-0. _________________________
Motion made and 2nd for a five minute recess, all in favor, 9-0.
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President Denaro called the meeting back to order.
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Motion made and 2nd that the WATER & SEWER ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGET in the sum of $17,723,330.54 be ADOPTED, ROLL CALL: Anderson – Yes, DiTucci – Yes, Drapeau – Yes, Gaffney – Yes, Gately – Yes, Haggerty – Yes, Mercer-Bruen – Yes, Raymond – Yes, Denaro – Yes, MOTION PASSES.
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Alderman DiTucci stated that she identified $255,000.00 in the School Department budget that could be reduced by changes hiring practices such as hiring at higher levels, that it bothers her that the City Council has no control over this, and that she cannot support the School Department budget. Alderman Drapeau stated that he also identified that when two schools would be combined the Clapp School building would be closed, and that this proposed budget will result in a tax increase. Alderman Haggerty stated that the motion to cut the City budget is a political maneuver and puts the city in the position of not having a budget. Alderman Anderson stated that the budget increase is 1.1% which is less than inflation, and that there have been special education cost increases. Alderman Drapeau stated that passing the proposed budget will result in a tax increase. Alderman DiTucci stated that not acting on the budget is based not on politics but on the numbers, that positions in the School Department are being hired at a Master’s degree plus 3 level when the position could be filled at a Bachelor’s degree plus one level, and that it would be remiss to allow the School Department budget to pass when at least $250,000.00 can be cut from the budget. Alderman Haggerty stated that unless the budget is reduced by $1,800,000.00 there will be a tax increase. Alderman Drapeau stated that there is legislation pending that may result in health insurance costs to the city. Alderman Anderson stated that he does not want to reduce the budget to a point that positions will be eliminated and services curtailed. Alderman DiTucci stated that the suggested cuts to the School Department budget do not require elimination of positions, and that costs could have been reduced through attrition in the School Department. President Denaro stated that each page was acted on by the City Council and not further cuts were requested. Motion made and 2nd that the GENERAL FUND BUDGET in the sum of $101,297,798.71 be DENIED, AS AMENDED, ROLL CALL: Anderson – No, DiTucci – Yes, Drapeau – Yes, Gaffney – No, Gately – Yes, Haggerty – No, Mercer-Bruen – No, Raymond – Yes, Denaro – No, MOTION FAILS. Motion made and 2nd that the GENERAL FUND BUDGET in the sum of $101,297.798.71 be ADOPTED, AS AMENDED, ROLL CALL: Anderson – Yes, DiTucci – No, Drapeau – No, Gaffney – Yes, Gately – No, Haggerty – Yes, Mercer-Bruen – Yes, Raymond – No, Denaro – Yes, MOTION PASSES.
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Motion made and 2nd that the total Fiscal Year 2011 budget for the City of Woburn in the sum of
$117,457,759.41 excluding indirect costs be ADOPTED, ROLL CALL: Anderson – Yes, DiTucci – No, Drapeau – No, Gaffney – Yes, Gately – No, Haggerty – Yes, Mercer-Bruen – Yes, Raymond – No, Denaro – Yes, MOTION PASSES.
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President Denaro filed a Notice of Intent to Move for Reconsideration on June 14, 2011 at
5:55 p.m. of his votes made in support of the motion to adopt the total Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund budget including indirect charges in the amount of $17,723,330.54 and in support of the motion to adopt the total City of Woburn FY2012 budget in the amount of $117,457,759.41, in order to correct the amounts to reflect amendments made during the deliberative process.
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Motion made and 2nd that the SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 14, 2011 be CANCELLED, all in favor, 9-0.
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Motion made and 2nd to ADJOURN, all in favor, 9-0. Meeting adjourned at 9:34 p.m.
A TRUE RECORD ATTEST:
William C. Campbell
City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council