Meeting Agenda
Below is the pasted journal for ADA Compliancy. See attachment to download the full version.
CITY OF WOBURN
JUNE 26, 2007 – 7:00 P.M.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Roll Call
Ciriello Gately
Denaro Galvin
Drapeau Gonsalves
Dwyer Mercer-Bruen
Doherty
________________________
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 Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Committee Room, Woburn City Hall, 10 Common Street, Woburn, Massachusetts for the purposes of setting the date for a municipal preliminary election, and for any other matter that may legally be before the City Council. _________________________
VOTED to dispense with the reading of the previous meeting’s Journal and to APPROVE, all in favor, 9-0.
_________________________
ORDERED That the Preliminary Election for the Municipal Election be set for September 18, 2007.
s/President Doherty
Motion made and 2nd that the ORDER be ADOPTED, all in favor, 9-0.
Presented to the Mayor: June 27, 2007 s/Thomas L. McLaughlin June 27, 2007
*************************
RESOLVED That the cost of health care insurance for active school department members be moved from Group Insurance Maintenance Account 0198051-517500 to Woburn Schools Department Budget Account 0201021-511001 to 0229706-586080; meaning and intending that the cost of health insurance incurred by the School Department be reflected in the School Department budget for Fiscal Year 2008 and all subsequent years.
s/Alderman Denaro
Alderman Denaro stated that the school department will be in control of these funds, that the school department budget will increase by millions of dollars with this accounting shift, that they will have to manage these accounts, that this applies to active school department employees only, and that they will have to be more astute in making these decisions. Alderman Gately stated that this will reflect the cost of these expenses more clearly. Alderman Denaro stated that the figures will have to come from the human resources department, that the city can still make all decisions concerning health care however the school department will have to manage the funds, and that this will impact what money will be available in the future. President Doherty stated that the rate by be the employees for their insurance contribution is subject to negotiations. Alderman Denaro stated that any adverse impact will be the care that the School Committee will have to exercise in managing hiring and re-staffing decisions. Alderman Galvin stated that this could result in different health care plans for the school and city employees. Alderman Denaro stated that if different plans were the result that would be a catastrophic loss at these would be smaller pools and the rates would not be as favorable. Alderman Drapeau stated that this puts the onus on the School Committee to learn the true cost of business. Alderman Gately stated that the timing for this proposal is perfect as contract negotiations are starting now. Alderman Dwyer stated that it is not clear that the timing is perfect. President Doherty stated that the FY2008 budget would remain status quo, and that in the next fiscal year the School Committee would be required to take this into consideration when formulating the budget. Alderman Denaro stated that the percentage of cost savings does not have to be the issue, that there are other ways to minimize costs, and that changes within the plan can be made to reduce costs. Motion made and 2nd that the RESOLVE be ADOTPED, all in favor, 9-0
Presented to the Mayor: June 27, 2007 Returned Unsigned June 28, 2007
_________________________
A communication dated June 25, 2007 with attachments was received from Janet M. Rabbitt, President, Woburn Public Library Board of Trustees as follows:
Dear President Doherty and all Aldermen,
The Board of Trustees of the Woubrn Public Library voted at their recent meeting to ask the Woburn City Council to write a letter to Governor Deval Patrick expressing support
for the State’s “Library Construction” program which is administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
We have attached a suggested draft of a letter of support for full bond authorization of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ request of $100 million dilalrs for library construction. At this level, the Commissioners would be able to add a 15% inflation factor to all awards on the existing wait list of projects. Woburn’s grant would be increased from $4.1 to $4.8 million. Please note that this is a bond authorization bill only. Actual awarding of construction dollars will still be subject to further process at the Stare and, of course, the local level. We hope the City Council will vote to forward a letter to the Governor on Council letterhead. If preferred, letters from individual Councilors, also no letterhead, would be welcomed.
Thank you for your consideration of our request.
Respectfully submitted, s/Janet M. Rabbitt, President
RESOLVED Whereas, the facilities of the Woburn Public Library were constructed in
1879; and
Whereas, the Woburn Public Library has been designated as a National
Historic Landmark; and
Whereas, the capacity of the library facilities to meet the increased needs and demands of the 21st century community is severely restricted by the limitations of the 19th century building, including accessibility to all members of the public, providing for the youth of the community and providing community meeting space for the advancement of education in general;
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the City Council of the City of Woburn that a communication in substantially the form attached hereto be forwarded to His Honor the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts urging that he fully fund the $100,000,000.00 bond authorization for library construction as expeditiously as possible
s/Alderman Galvin
Attached thereto was the following:
Dear Governor Patrick:
It is our understanding that the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ FY2006 bond authorization request for Library Construction is currently under review by your staff. We further understand that full funding of this measure at $100 million dollars will allow the Commissioners to increase presently approved grants to cover inflationary construction costs incurred as a result of deferrals in the awarding process.
We know that you understand the importance and the need for modernization of our libraries across the State. As local public servants, we also understand the enormous pressure and competition for limited public funds. Please note that libraries serve everyone in the community – young and old, rich and poor. Unfortunately, our beleaguered libraries have for too long taken a back seat to more vocal constituencies. Please consider fully authorizing the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ FY2008 request for Library Construction.
Respectfully submitted,
Motion made and 2nd that the RESOLVE be ADOPTED, all in favor, 9-0.
Presented to the Mayor: June 27, 2007 s/Thomas L. McLaughlin June 27, 2007
_________________________
Motion made and 2nd to take the appointment of Peter Lennon to the Sign Review Board out of committee, all in favor, 9-0. Motion made and 2nd that the APPOINTMENT be CONFIRMED, all in favor, 9-0.
Presented to the Mayor: June 27, 2007 s/Thomas L. McLaughlin June 27, 2007
_________________________
Motion made and 2nd to ADJOURN, all in favor, 9-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m.
A TRUE RECORD ATTEST:
William C. Campbell
City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council