Belmont Town Meeting 2013, Day 5: Live

Hello, everyone. It's Budget Night at the 2013 annual Belmont Town Meeting. Town and school budgets as well as $1.2 million in capital projects/purchases. 

Town Meeting has changed venues having decamped to the Chenery Middle School's auditorium. And you know that seats that don't squeak or poke you are a blessing to the approximately 290 representatives and others attending. 

We will start off this night's meeting by honoring Town Meeting reps who have recently retired. A nice gesture. 

It's 7 p.m. so as is tradition in Belmont, we will start in five-to-ten minutes. 

If you read the preview of tonight's meeting, you'll know that $19,500 will be up for grabs in the capital budget after two donors are ready to buy the electronic voting system requested by the Town Clerk. 

What I've heard is that the Capital Budget committee will request that the money is place in the building envelope account. 

7:05 p.m.: Off we go as Moderator Mike Widmer has determined that we have a quorum. Right on time.

The articles will be considered in this order: 1,3,4,5,6,8,20,7,9,10,11,12 and 21. Will we get through them tonight? Hmmmm.

Town Meeting starts with a new tradition, recognizing 29 former members for their long service as representatives. Just reading how long they served - many in the 20s and 30s - including 43 years. A nice round of applause. "We won't punishing you by staying," said Widmer. 

Now a report by Sami Baghdady, Planning Board chairman, giving a status report on Cushing Village. You can go on Belmont Patch and place "Cushing Village" in the search engine and you'll find a great number of articles. After 17 months, it appears that the project will be crossing the finish line soon.

Baghdady keeps his promise to have a report on the development. And he has a slide presentation on the latest drawings. "There is a possibility that there could be a written agreement" within the next few weeks but there are details that need to be resolved, said Baghdady. 

7:23 p.m.: Now, the first budget article, elected officials' salaries. Town Treasurer at $92,746 and Town Clerk $79,780 are the big ones. Only one has benefits at $16,285. 

Article 3 is moved and passed. 

Next up is Article 4, the fiscal 2014 budget appropriations. Mark Paolillo, Selectmen chairman, says that the budget is a town-wide; unifying town administrators and the school committee collaborating with town committees including the Selectmen, Warrant and Capital Budget Committees. The budget reflects meeting the needs of the community. "We did OK with the state" in terms of state aid, he said.

Paolillo speaks of the "next step" is establishing a financial task force with stakeholders to develop a long-range strategic financial plan to consider structural program modifications. There is a need to discuss with department heads during the summer about strategic planning - maybe rationalization - as a single unit. But it could be a structural revenue problems but must seriously consider an operational override next year. That got a round of applause. 

Bill Lynch, chairman of the Warrant Committee, the 15 member financial watch dog for the Town Meeting, presents the $91.7 million budget. 

Belmont has seen "nominal" growth while a decrease in the capital budget, said Lynch. The majority of the money comes from property taxes of $74 million. Largest expenditure is salaries, the largest cost driver. The largest departments are schools, (48 percent) and public safety.

Lynch said that the Warrant Committee sees the town having a better budget process including David Kale, the Town Administrator, who was actively involved, keeping School Superintendent Thomas Kingston, town-wide collaboration and line-item details in the school budget. 

The town also shows strong management with controling medical costs in the police and fire department, consolidating the recreation department and great schools.

One highlight in the budget is that the school budget is 3.4 percent and that isn't even level service. 

The issues of new revenue growth "is noting new for Town Meeting" reps as is the compensation levels for employees "which is not sustainable." There are problems with infrastructure - roads and sidewalks - as well as creeping enrollment increases at the schools. 

7:46 p.m.: School Committee Chair Laurie Graham is now giving the highlights in the school budget. Three/quarters of the school budget is derived from the town's general fund which is $44.3 million (what it really costs is $50.7 million - that includes fees and other funds).

Two-thirds of the budget goes to salaries with operations at 20 percent and 10 percent for special education. Only three percent is for instructional expenses which teachers and students use on a daily basis. 

Highlights include materials and supplies will be held to last year's levels, special education expenses will be level after using credits and reducing staff by 2.8 positions, all by attrition. Also, aides will be reduced at the Wellington to create another classroom and a part-time principal. Also, there could be 4,200 students by 2014, nearly 200 more students than just a few years ago. 

Long-term planning includes analyzing long-term trends, get tough on contracts, a superintendent search, develop innovations and be part of the town-wide capital planning including renovations of Belmont High School.  

To ensure life-time learners by working to advocate for the schools and the staff. A round of applause.

8 p.m.: Bill Lynch is back up as the reps vote on the budget: 10 separate motions make up the entire budget. First motion is general government $4.1 million, and it's adopted.

Second is employee benefits at $5.6 million is adopted. Third is other reserves for employee benefits at $2.2 million. It's adopted.

Fourth is Public Safety at $12.3 million. There is a question on the need to have an Advance Life Saving service since it will only break even. Paolillo said that the town's anticipation is that it will make money. Town Administrator David Kale said that yes, the first year will be break even (it will cost $300,000) but that includes a $90,000 start up funds. In addition, the money coming in will pay for a new ambulance in five years, freeing up money from the Capital Budget Committee. Don Becker, pct 5, believes that more information is needed to really compare the cost to other towns. Sue Bass, pct 3, asked if ALS is being started to provide enough work for the staff needed to have a full complement for the Fire Department. Fire Chief Frizzell said no, its just an enhancement of services. It's adopted. 

Fifth motion is the school department at $44.3 million. No discussion. It's adopted unanimously. "Thank you," said Graham to approving applause. 

8:20 p.m.: Sixth is Minutemen Regional School for $851,984. Jack Weis, pct 1, and the town's representative to the school, said that the town's assessment is down 9.4 percent from last year while Minuteman's budget has risen by 7.5 percent. Weis has a long presentation on the school's enrollment and projected capital expenditures. If you think Belmont High School is threadbare; Minuteman's building is falling down. 

Bruins are up 1-0 with 5 minutes to go in the first period against Pittsburgh. 

Bob McLaughlin, pct 2, and representative for the Warrant Committee and the town to Minuteman said the district agreement is broken: unanimous vote to do anything for member towns, there's too many out-of-district students and non-member towns don't have to pay for any capital improvements - an there is more students from non-members towns. The solution is to pay their fair share and do something about the school. He is on a committee to make the deal fairer. It's an evolving issue, he said.

Jennie Fallon, pct 1, said the fundimental question is how many vocational seats - that relates to the size of any future building - the state wants. Weis said he is working hard to make sure that Belmont is part of making that strategic planning. 

Claus Becker, pct. 5, wonders why the school doesn't use the kids to help fix the building. Turns out the scope of the project is a bit too big for teens to do, said Minuteman Superintentent Mahoney. 

Tomi Olson, pct 5, said it always appears that the town disputes quietly about the assessment, if there could be anyway of making it a happier tone. The measure is approved.

Seventh is Public Services at $9.4 million. Fred Paulsen, pct 1, wonders about curbing, sidewalks and the safety issues when there isn't any. He wants to see sidewalks on Hamilton Road after it's been reconstructed. Ralph Jones, selectman, said he understands the issue but "the money isn't there" other than repairing the streets. It goes back to the failed override in 2002 which would have targeted sidewalks. 

Jennifer Paige, pct 3, goes back five years when the tree planting program, at $10,000, was eliminated. Since then, for at least two years, "an angel with green wings" kept the program going, a critical environmental need. "I was astonished to see $11,000" in this budget and wanted to thank everyone for bringing it back. 

Devin Brown, pct 5, could the town consider paying homeowners of corner lots for curbing because it frames the rest of the neighborhood and is about traffic safety.

Claus Becker, pct 5, asked if the town could ask homeowners about doing improvements in the neighborhood.

Wow! Bruins up 4-1 over the Penguins after the first period in game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. Don't poke the Bear!

Public service passes.

Human services is up, $843,631 to be appropriated. It's adopted.

Culture and Recreation at $2 million. No discussion and it's adopted.

And finally, debt and interest on debt at $5 million be raised. It passes and that's it! The fiscal '14 budget is passed. 

9:05 p.m.: A necessary part of the budget: Article 5 – usually the last article on budget nights – transfer balances like PILOT program funds, sewer revenue, parking meter receipts and other accounts. Kim Becker, pct 6, asked why haven't the "smart" meters been placed in Belmont Center and outside the Belmont Lions Club just so it can receive revenue even though the Center will be rebuilt in two years.

Article 5 passes.

Article 6 is all about the authorization of all those revolving accounts. Paolillo gives a brief explanation what revolving accounts are: they are special accounts - not part of the budget - that are funded by user fees by those who uses the service. They need to be reauthorized annually. Like the copying and lost books account which is used by the Library for copying supplies and replacing lost books. Fairly straight forward. There are new revolving funds; criminal history checks, stormwater consulting - fees from applicants for consultants to reveiw water conditions - stormwater improvement account and the Martin Luther King Day Breakfast.

There is an amendment being proposed by Paolillo to increase the expenditure limit for Senior Programs be increased to $80,000. Don Mercier, pct 8, asks what if the expenditure amount is completely used. It's rolled forward into the next year. 

Joe White, pct 4, asked why the Senior Program is being upped to $80,000. Kale said after analysis they saw the participation rates at the Beech Street Center are increased as will programs and so the amount was increased. 

The amendment is adopted.

That Glenn Clancy; the director of Community Development could write a textbook on how to answer questions and address Town Meeting: he explains the hows and whys of creating the fees for the stormwater consulting that satisfies most reps. It's all about preparation and being at ease with each question. 

Article 6 is approved.  

Now the reps are presented Article 8 on Water and Sewer and Stormwater Services. There are two motions with a total of $14 million in transfers. 

Article 8 passes.

Article 20 is up now: this will only allow electronic, wireless voting at Town Meeting; it doesn't pay for it. That's coming later. Widmer said that Article 20 was connected with Article 9 - the Capital Budget - but he announced that two donors is paying the entire cost of the equipment and three years of operating expenses. A cheer goes up. Widmer explains the history of the advisory committee created last year to review electronic voting and other town's experience.

The committee recommended wireless voting because accuracy, efficiency (takes less time) and accountability as votes will be recorded for the public record. Electronic voting will not change the tenor of Town Meeting. It is just another way of voting. It will be used at next year's annual meeting.

Town Clerk Ellen Cushman says Article 20 just an enabling amendment. It's a handheld remote, be used within 40 seconds, cast and changed a vote and a screen will show the vote. And we all get to see a YouTube video of Brookline using electronic voting. And it's very cool: it's very much like the system used in Congress. 

Maryann Scali, pct 2, came to the committee not wanting to pay the funds to pay for it and she didn't want to loss her job as a teller. But she said she has come around.

Claus Becker, pct 5, wonders why this article is coming up as it was voted down last year. He sees this as answering a non-existing problem. "It's silly." Becker likes the straight line vote.

Christine Doyle, pct 1, said she was going to vote against it before the donation. She wants to know if the votes would be public? Yes on a roll call vote. And what about obselecence: couldn't an app be found that you could use your phone rather than an unique system. But this would be a closed system. 

Judy Feins, pct 5, asked about the true annual cost of operating the system.

Don Mercier, pct 8, wants to know why the Town Meeting is doing away a standing vote if 35 people asked for a "man-on-man" vote. Cushman said the bylaw doesn't reject the standing vote - the typical roll call vote - but Mercier doesn't trust electronic vote.

Ann Jansen, pct 3, asked if the system is portable. Yes it is. But she still would rather have the money used elsewhere.

Virginia Jordan, pct 6, said democracy is not just about voting but about the discussion with your neighbors during the 10 minutes a standing vote takes place. We don't need electronic voting; maybe a visual prompt: a green card for yes etc.

Anthony Ferrante, pct 8, said this is the wave of the future. You can always go back to the standing vote. 

Ann Marie Lambert, pct 8, asked about transparency of donations. David Kale said during the fiscal year the Selectmen do accept these gift so you can go to them.

Kevin Cunningham, pct 4, who is opposing it, said he is distrubed that a donation was presented to the town by someone who obviously supports the system so close to the vote on the article. And the system will be used at the discression of the moderator.

The motion is moved and its passes on a voice vote. The vote on Article 20 – which needs a 2/3 vote - is too close to call! Now ironic that the vote for electronic voting comes down to a standing vote. 

Article 20 passes, 144-61.

As it is 10:33 p.m., there will be one final article tonight, Article 7, the Up-Front Funds for Highway Improvements - that would be state Chapter 90 - to authorize the expenditure of $799,764 for construction, reconstruction and resurfacing roads. Better known as Pavement Improvement Funds, it is used for all type of work such as maintinance of newly-restored roads, paying for the Belmont/Trapelo design work, police detail and most important, rebuilding roads, said Glenn Clancy.

The reason why sidewalks are not part of this funding because the money is used for roads extending its lifespan. It was a tough choice by the Board of Selectmen but it needed to be done, said Clancy.

The town has $20 million of backlog on street repair - it will take 25 years under current spending; 23 miles of roads need complete rebuilding and 12 miles that need to have a new asphalt "top."

There is an amendment to the Article, by Alexanders van Geel, pct 7, using $120,000 of the nearly $800,000 for sidewalks. Selectmen, Warrant and Capital Budget oppose it. Paolillo said that this money is needed to begin repairs in Belmont Center. van Geel said that the current amount being set aside for sidewalks would repair .05 percent of the walkways around town. That amount doesn't reflect the values of the Town.

Fred Paulsen, pct 1, said this is a problem that continues to be set aside when more and more people are walking. 

Sue Bass, pct 2, said Town Meeting should say that it supports sidewalks.

Ralph Jones said that the town can not delute the efforts of Community Development, postponing the necessary repairs and taking longer then the already extended 25 years.

Mark D'Andrea, pct 3, said if town roads are rated on their need to be repaired, why not sidewalks? 

Mark Castanino, director of Public Works, said there are 1,000 requests for sidewalk repairs. He said it will take spending $150,000 annually for ten years to bring the town up to speed. 

The amendment is voted on and is defeated on a voice vote. A rep has question the moderator's decision. (I'm not sure its that close). 

The main motion of Article 7 is passed. 

It's 11:10 p.m. and Town Meeting is adjourned for the night. I won't be at Wednesday's concluding meeting – I have a long-standing event I am attending - but I will have an overview of the night's events on Thursday.