Board of Selectmen |
February 8, 2010 |
Regular Meeting |
Selectmen’s Hearing Room, Town Hall |
Present: |
Robert P. MacKendrick, Chairman |
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Arthur J. Bourque III, Selectman |
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Al Merritt, Selectman |
Chairman MacKendrick called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Proclamation for Mary Taschner
Chairman MacKendrick read a proclamation recognizing Mary Taschner for her lengthy service on the Finance Committee (see attached exhibit). Board members individually thanked her for her service.
Joint meeting with the Lynnfield Center Water District
Members of the Lynnfield Center Water District joined the Board of Selectmen for the annual joint meeting.
LCWD Commissioner John Smith made a motion that Chairman MacKendrick be named chair of the joint meeting. LCWD Commissioner Stefan Taschner seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Taschner made a motion that the reading of the minutes of the February 9, 2009 joint meeting be waived. The motion was seconded by Mr. Smith and was approved unanimously.
Mr. Smith made a motion to set the Fiscal Year 2011 annual compensation for services rendered to the LCWD to be set as follows: Tax Collector, $400 and Assessors $200 each. The motion was seconded by Mr. Taschner and passed unanimously.
Mr. Taschner made a motion that the meeting be adjourned Sine Die. The motion was seconded by Mr. Smith and was passed unanimously.
The joint meeting was adjourned at 7:06 p.m.
Joint meeting with Lynnfield Water District
Members of the Lynnfield Water District joined the Board of Selectmen for the annual joint meeting.
LWD Commissioner James Finegan made a motion that Chairman Bourque be named chair of the joint meeting. LWD Commissioner Bruce Kenerson seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Finegan made a motion that the reading of the minutes of the February 11, 2008 joint meeting be waived. The motion was seconded by Mr. Kenerson and was approved unanimously.
Mr. Finegan made a motion to set the Fiscal Year 2011 annual compensation for services rendered to the LCWD to be set as follows: Tax Collector, $400 and Assessors $150 each. The motion was seconded by Mr. Kenerson and passed unanimously.
Mr. Finegan made a motion that the meeting be adjourned Sine Die. The motion was seconded by Mr. Kenerson and was passed unanimously.
The joint meeting was adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
Finance Committee interview
Joseph DiNanno of Essex Street appeared before the Board for a brief interview for a vacant position on the Finance Committee. He told the Board about his experience in the field of finance as a small business owner and real estate developer. He said that given the financial squeeze most municipalities are feeling, he is qualified by his education and work experience to assist the Town. Members of the Board expressed their thanks for his willingness to serve.
On the motion of Selectman Merritt, seconded by Selectman Bourque, the Board voted to name Joseph DiNanno to un unexpired term on the Finance Committee the ends on June 30, 2010.
Historical Commission budget review
Members of the Historical Commission, including Nan Hockenbury and Stephen Smith, appeared before the Board to review the Commission’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget request (see attached exhibit).
Ms. Hockenbury reviewed the Commission’s achievements of the past year, including the opening of the Historical Centre, acquisition of infrastructure to preserve historical artifacts, placement of granite markers at Freeman-Cox Park, continuing work on the Town’s historic graveyards, and the ongoing compilation of a list of structures that are subject to the Demolition Delay Bylaw. The Commission and its members also presented awards to citizens assisting in preservation projects. In 2010 the Commission plans to work on an oral history project.
The Commission has received several donations, including a hard drive, furniture and bookshelves. Volunteers are assisting in building shelving and cleaning.
Mr. Smith outlined the budget request of $15,650, an increase of approximately $10,000 in funding. Requested funding includes the following: $5500 for the completion of the graveyard preservation project; $3500 for further work in restoring gravestones in disrepair; $3500 for videotaping of longtime citizens; $3500 for film editing and creation of an educational film from these interviews; $1800 for seminars on preservation technology: $1000 for materials for the preservation of artifacts; $350 for grant-writing services.
Selectman Merritt said that Fiscal Year 2011 will be a tough year. He asked if the Commission has any kind of mechanism through which citizens can contribute to these efforts. Mr. Smith said there had been an “adopt a gravestone” fund in the past but the Commission is not soliciting funds now.
Selectman Bourque said that on a budget as small as the Commission’s, any request for an increase in funding looks large on a percentage basis. He said the request is reasonable and that the Board will look hard to see if it can come up with the needed funds. He is glad to see the Commission becoming very active, and said that the progress at the Historical Centre can be mostly credited to those who volunteer their time.
Chairman MacKendrick said while there is nothing nearer and dearer to his heart than history, especially Lynnfield history, the Town will be hard-pressed to give more than level-funding to budgets. He asked the Commission to prioritize its needs, saying the videotaping for the oral history project could be more urgent than others, He complimented the Commission on the fantastic job on the Historical Center and he said he did not want the members to become discouraged.
Town Administrator William Gustus said that the Town has resources that could help the Commission with its proposed tasks without the need for appropriations. The cable television operation can assist with the oral history videotaping and editing through finds provided by the Town’s cable television licensees. The cable operation has recently received equipment for the creation of a portable studio. On the graveyard project, he said funds may be available for the Department of Public Works cemetery maintenance and the cemetery perpetual care fund for these purposes.
Library budget review
Director Nancy Ryan and members of the Board of Library Trustees, including Chairman Robert Calamari, presented the library budget request for Fiscal Year 2011 (see attached exhibit).
Mr. Calamari said that the budget request was essentially level funded with the exception of a request to restore the assistant director position. He said the position is desperately needed and cited evidence of increased participation in children’s programs, circulation of materials and web-based book renewals. He said the library serves as a lifeline to the unemployed looking for jobs, latch-key children and those without money to purchase books.
Mr. Calamari reviewed long-term projects, including the updating of the long-term plan, the formation of a building committee and work being done to from a foundation committee to create a public-private partnership to support the library. The lack of an assistant director hampers these efforts, he said. The library is also unable to address the needs of underserved portions of the population, and does not have anyone dedicated to grant-writing or monitoring maintenance and interacting with the Department of Public Works, as these are all functions that the assistant director had performed.
A survey of residents is being compiled and over 500 responses have been received. The results show support for a library building expansion, and expanded summer and Sunday hours. The library will not be able to meet these wishes with its current resources, Mr. Calamari said. Raising the matching funds for a building project will take years, so the fundraising effort must begin now to be completed in our lifetime, he said.
Mr. Calamari said that the library has for several years stepped aside for other departments. A teen librarian requested last year was not funded, but the assistant director position is very important. The status quo is unacceptable, and the library, an institution that differentiates the Town, needs help.
Selectman Bourque said the Board is supportive of the library but this will be a difficult year to come up with additional funds, as it will come down to how far the Town wishes to dip into its reserves. He said the building project has dragged on far too long and that the Board will do whatever is needed to move it forward. Mr. Calamari said the trustees do not blame the Board for this.
Chairman MacKendrick said the danger in drawing down reserves is that this is a factor considered by bond rating companies, who help determine the interest rate the Town can achieve for borrowing for projects such as the library expansion. He said he appreciated what the library does with limited resources. Selectman Merritt said the library has presented a dozen or so legitimate demands, but they will be hard to address given the Town’s budget issues. Mr. Calamari said the trustees appreciate any consideration that can be given to the library, which he said cannot be de-prioritized indefinitely.
Selectman Bourque commended Ms. Ryan on her recognition by the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce. She said if the assistant director position is restored, the library will be able to seek grants to serve teens and young children developing literacy skills, as well as building strategic relationships with other Town organizations, such as the schools and the Historical Society. More adult programming, such as a speaker series, could be created.
School budget presentation
Superintendent of Schools Robert Hassett, School Finance Director Thomas Geary, School Committee Chair Dorothy Presser and other School Committee members were on hand for the presentation of the Fiscal Year 2011 school budget. Mr. Hassett narrated a Power Point presentation on the School Department’s budget process and needs (see attached exhibit).
Mr. Hassett reviewed the School Department mission statement and the recognition it has won over the past few years. He reviewed the Lynnfield MCAS and SAT scores as they compared with other school districts’ scores, pointing out Lynnfield’s high rate of participation in the SAT exam. He noted that Lynnfield’s Fiscal Year 2008 per-pupil expenditure was about $2,000 below the state average. He reviewed the School Committee’s class size guidelines, saying the department has tried to maintain these in classrooms, and enrollment figures which indicate that there has been a 20 percent increase in enrollment over the past decade.
Mr. Hassett said this year’s budget goal has been to preserve existing programs. He reviewed the budget requests submitted by school administrators. They included a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) special education position, a preschool aide, a 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) elementary school psychologist; a Middle School social studies teacher and 0.3 FTE foreign language teacher; a High School science teacher, physical education teacher, a 0.2 FTE online program teacher, girls lacrosse coaches and an advisory program coordinator (stipend only). All but the BCBA position, elementary school psychologist, girls’ lacrosse coaches and advisory program coordinator were eliminated during the budget process.
Mr. Hassett said the key budget increases requested are $29,000 for additional athletic team transportation, $12,500 for the introduction of online courses at the high school, $20,000 for school funding of the existing girls lacrosse program (funded by parents for the first three years) and $259,490 for out of district tuitions and contracted services. Budget decreases include reductions of $8,000 in advertising, $5,000 in legal, $46,385 in special education transportation, and $37,000 in out-of-district vocational tuition and transportation. The teachers’ contract agreement calls for a one-percent base pay increase with steps frozen for one year. This represents a $100,000 saving from a zero base increase and continuation of step increases.
There are 331 special education students in Lynnfield, or 14.3 percent of the total enrollment. Of those, 29 are in outside placements. The special education budget request would increase by 19 percent, with expenses level funded, out of district tuition and contract services increasing by 39 percent and transportation decreasing by 13 percent. Circuit breaker funding is expected to decrease by $175,000. ARRA federal stimulus funds earmarked for special education will end after Fiscal Year 2011. A total of $842,559 in special education grant funding was received this year. Coordinated program review and mid-cycle review grants have been eliminated.
The school budget request of $17,880,487 represents an increase of $231,692, or 1.3 percent. Two retiring elementary school teachers will not be replaced. Activity fees will increase from $150 to $300 per student at the high school and middle school and from $200 to $400 per student for high school athletics. Mr. Hassett said a level-funded budget would result in class sizes in the 30s, and would adversely affect MCAS and SAT scores and college acceptances, as well as increasing special education class sizes, reducing extracurricular participation and resulting in out-of-district placements. He noted the School Department returned $25,000 to the Town in FY10 and $150,000 in FY09.
Selectman Bourque asked Mr. Hassett to address the out-of-district placement process. Mr. Hassett said that the Lynnfield schools try to serve all students within the district if possible. He said many students placed outside the district are medically fragile. Mr. Bourque asked about the new BCBA position. Mr. Hassett said the position would save the schools about $80,000 in outside costs.
Selectman Bourque expressed concern about increases in salaries for the schools Director of Finance and Director of Technology. Mr. Hassett said that the 17 percent increase fore the Director of Finance was the second year of a two-year phase-in plan, in which the position was increased to full-time. Mr. Bourque noted that this salary exceeds the salaries of the town treasurer and the town accountant, and that town department heads will not be receiving raises. Mr. Hassett said the salary reflects the “going rate” for the position, as demonstrated by a survey. Selectman Merritt said that last year the Board was told the first year of the increase would not take place. Mr. Hassett said that his understanding was that the increase had to be absorbed within the school budget. Selectman Bourque asked bout the 14
percent increase for the Technology Director. Mr. Hassett and Mr. Geary said this was based on a salary survey, the elimination of overtime for the position, and the reduction of an aide position. Mr. Bourque said that in this economy, people are happy to have a job and must pick up additional work at their workplace. Mr. Geary said the technology department salary component would only increase by two percent.
Chairman MacKendrick asked if the funding loss for special education program, reviews would be considered an unfunded mandate. Mr. Hassett said these mandates were preexisting. Selectman Bourque asked about a 25 percent increase in aide funding and an increase in the English language tutors line. Mr. Hassett said that Director of Special Services Janet Barry is trying to address the proliferation of special education aides, and that many are included in students’ education plans. Parents request one-on-one aides often, and the schools attempt to have students share aides when appropriate. He ascribed a portion of the increase in aides to increases in the student population on the autism spectrum, and that there is a move to have services for this population paid for by the schools to be picked up by medical insurers.
There are classroom aides in kindergarten classes.
Selectman Bourque asked if Lynnfield has become attractive to parents with special needs students. Mr. Hassett said that in general the schools are an attraction to parents, including those with special needs students, due to the excellent services offered. Chairman MacKendrick said that special education mandates and funding are nationwide and statewide issues. Ms. Presser said that state groups are also asking for a freeze on out-of-district tuitions, and the inclusion of transportation costs in circuit breaker funding. There is also discussion of having these schools report their MCAS results, which could have the effect of having some parents decide that placement within the Lynnfield schools would be advantageous.
Selectman Merritt discussed the teachers’ contract, which he said would result in approximately $150,000 in additional salaries next year, and an additional 7.5 percent (with base pay and step increases) in the following two years. He said this may cause problems if Town revenues do not increase by 7.5 percent over that time. He also said a $29,000 increase in athletic transportation costs is huge. Mr. Hassett said that the schools need to use contract buses, as Town buses are not available.
Selectman Merritt asked about the current and projected enrollment. Mr. Hassett said that the current enrollment is 2,301 students. He said next year’s enrollment would depend on kindergarten registration. Selectman Bourque said that when enrollment was rising, the School Department would provide projected enrollment figures.
Selectman Merritt asked about the use of federal stimulus funds in the proposed school budget. Mr. Hassett said a large portion is being used for out-of-district tuitions. Some funds have been used for consultants to evaluate programs for autism. The department has asked for permission to carry forward funds from FY11 to FY12. Mr. Geary said that the plan is to use $120,000 in FY11 and carry over $50,000 to $100,000. Funds cannot be used to supplant expenditures for existing services, said Ms. Presser. Mr. Geary said that if no carry-forward is allowed the funds will be used in FY11. He said the department is concerned about creating obligations that it will have difficulty funding in future years. Mr. Bourque said the Town has the same concern about using its reserves to fund operating expenses. Mr. Hassett said he is
working on using federal stimulus funds to purchase technology.
Timothy LaRovere, co-chair of the Finance Committee, said his committee had previously met with school officials on the budget. Finance Committee member Janet Moran asked about the total number of expected retirements from the department. Mr. Hassett put the number at six. Ms. Presser said that the school budget has already factored lower salaries for the replacements for these retirees.
In response to a question from resident Patricia Campbell, Ms. Presser and Mr. LaRovere said that the school budget hearing would be held on February 23 and the Finance Committee budget hearing would be held on March 15.
Mr. Merritt told school officials that the Board has had to ask tough questions, but said the School Committee and School Department have done a great job, and the Board respects the work it has done.
Approval of minutes
On the motion of Selectman Merritt, seconded by Selectman Bourque, the Board approved the minutes of the meeting of January 19 as presented.
Request for executive session
On the motion of Selectman Bourque, seconded by Selectman Merritt, the Board voted to enter executive session under the provisions of Mass. General Laws, Chapter 39, Section 23 B (3). A roll call vote was taken: Selectman Bourque, aye; Selectman Merritt, aye; Chairman MacKendrick, aye.
Chairman MacKendrick announced the board did not intend to return to public session upon conclusion of the executive session.
The board entered executive session at 8:45 p.m. and adjourned executive session at 9:35 p.m.
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