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Finance Committee

Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at 6 PM

Online only

This meeting has happened. Minutes are final.

▶ Watch video Agenda PDF Minutes PDF View on Legistar

What happened

1 items of legislation were taken up.

  • 1 recommended to be approved

Agenda 1 items

Notices from the agenda

Referenced Documents: • Finance - 2023-06-07 FY24 Eng Budget Responses to Clrs-1 • Finance - 2023-06-07 FY24 Eng Budget Responses to Clrs-2 • Finance - 2023-06-07 Grants Budget Response • Finance - 2023-06-07 Assessing Budget Response • Finance - 2023-06-07 Auditing Budget Response • Finance - 2023-06-07 Treasury - Building Insurance • Finance - 2023-06-07 IAM Response to Councilor Questions • Finance - 2023-06-07 CP Response to Councilor Questions • Finance - 2023-06-07 Rate Conveyance June 7

This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Wilson at 6:01 p.m. and adjourned at 9:22 p.m. on a Roll Call Vote: 5 in favor (Councilors Ewen-Campen, Clingan, Kelly, Scott, Wilson), 0 opposed, 0 absent. Others present: Michael Potere – Assistant Clerk of Committees; Kimberly Wells – City Clerk; Edward Bean – Finance Director; Michael Mastrobuoni – Budget Director; Francis Golden – Chief Assessor; Stephen Haynes – Director of Finance, Water and Sewer; Demetrios Vidalis – Director of Water and Sewer; Brian Postlewaite – Director of Engineering; Richard Raiche – Director of IAM; Bernabe Rodriguez – Assistant City Clerk; Brendan Salisbury – Legislative and Policy Analyst; Madalyn Letellier – Administrative Assistant for Boards and Commissions; Ella Lasatele – Assistant City Archivist; Nadia Dixon – City Archivist; Megan Huckenpahler – Budget Analyst; Kate Hartke – Director of Grants and External Funds; Linda Dubuque – Treasury Collector; Melissa Woods – Director of Capital Projects; and Michael Richards – Director of Finance & Administration.

(Posted online: 6/5/23 at 7:30 AM)

Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, this meeting of a City Council Committee will be conducted via remote participation. We will post an audio recording, audio-video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Somerville website and local cable access government channels. Copy & paste the following link into your internet browser to view this meeting live: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85055146090

Roll Call

Note: Written comment may also be emailed to cityclerk@somervillema.gov and will be accepted until noon on Wednesday, June 21. 2023.

  1. 1. Review of the FY 2024 Budget • City Clerk • Licensing Commission • Auditing • Grants Development • Assessing • Treasury • Building Insurance • Infrastructure & Asset Management • Capital Projects • Engineering • Water • Sewer
  2. 2.
    23-0550 Officer's Communication Recommended to be approved

    Director of Water and Sewer conveying the FY 2024 Water & Sewer Rate proposal.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 Director Vidalis referred to the presentation given during the Finance Committee meeting on May 23, 2023 and presented the slideshow attached to this Item. Director Vidalis stated that the department was able to lower the rate increase for Fiscal Year 2024 to 13.5% by deferring a sewer lining project and a sewer monitoring project, as well as by lowering the cost to hire a consultant regarding the ratepayer assistance program. To accommodate this decrease, Director Vidalis stated that rate increases of 17% in 2025 and 2026, 8% in 2027 and 2028, 7% in 2029 and 2030, and 5% in 2031, 2032, and 2033 would be necessary. Director Vidalis added that the department would work to try to lower these increases as soon as possible.\par \par Councilor Kelly expressed concern regarding the 17% increases in 2025 and 2026, and Director Vidalis replied that those numbers are estimates and the precise figure is not yet known.\par \par Councilor Scott asked about the figure for the Water Enterprise Fund departmental budget for salaries, and Director Haynes stated the figure is $530,614.73 with $229,00 remaining, and Director Mastrobuoni added that the figure is inaccurate on the budget page based on a software error. Councilor Scott asked about the number of vacancies in the department, and Director Haynes stated there are ten vacancies, which is why the original budget amount of $640,000 was amended. Councilor Scott expressed concern regarding the department\rquote s inability to maintain a full staff. In response, Director Vidalis stated that if the proposed rate increase is not approved, the department would not have the funding to fill those positions.\par \par Chair Wilson and Councilors Ewen-Campen and Clingan expressed support for the item; Councilor Scott expressed a lack of support for the item.\par \par A roll call vote was held on this item: 4 in favor (Councilors Ewen-Campen, Clingan, Kelly, Wilson), 1 opposed (Councilor Scott), 0 absent.\par }

    Roll call: 4 aye · 1 nay
    • Jake WilsonAye
    • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottNay
    • Charlotte KellyAye
    • Jesse ClinganAye
    • Ben Ewen-CampenAye