Moderator Julia P. Califano declared a quorum present and called the meeting to order at      7:04 PM.

Mrs. Califano asked everyone to stand and join in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Mrs. Califano explained that the Moderator has the sole authority to regulate and manage the Financial Town Meeting.  Mrs. Califano introduced the new Town Clerk, Meredith DeSisto, and will keep the official record of this meeting.   Mrs. Califano stated that the Financial Town Meeting is your opportunity to ask questions of your elected and appointed officials and be satisfied that your tax dollars are being spent wisely.  The only subject for discussion this evening is the proposed 2014-15 Barrington budget.  Mrs. Califano thanked Mike Davis for providing the live feed for the Full Channel broadcast and Nahum Mitnik for providing the sound system for the meeting. 

Mrs. Califano introduced Council President June Speakman who introduced the members of the Town Council, the Town Manager, and Finance Director Kathy Raposa.  Mrs. Speakman recognized Executive Administrative Assistant Carol Ferrucci who will retire after serving 24 years of service to the Town.  School Committee Chairperson Kate Brody introduced the members of the School Committee, the School Superintendent and the School Director of Administration and Finance.  Mrs. Califano stated Kathy Raposa is the new Town Finance Director who comes to us with many years of experience.    Mrs. Califano introduced Mary Alyce Gasbarro and Stephen B. Primiano, representing the Barrington Democratic and Republican parties respectively and who will be serving as timers. Mrs. Califano said everyone is allowed three minutes to speak and motions are to be addressed to the Moderator.  Mrs. Califano stated the budget you have in front of you is the budget as recommended by the Committee on Appropriations.  Timothy Sweetser is the chair of that committee but because of illness cannot be with us this evening.

Motion by Mr. Hellmann and seconded by Mr. DeWitt to dispense with the reading of the Call, but it is part of the record as it appears on page 20A. 

Motion passed (voice vote).

Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Geoff Grove introduced the Appropriations Committee members and read the message from the Committee

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

TOWN OF BARRINGTON

FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING– MAY 28, 2014

Good evening residents of Barrington. There are five topics to be reviewed and decided on tonight: a bond to fund the Village Center Connectivity Plan; the school budget; the municipal budget; the capital budget; and the car tax.

Should you vote to support the recommendations of the Appropriations Committee, the property tax rate will increase by 0.33% over last year.  The rate per $1,000 of assessed value would increase from $18.20 to approximately $18.26 (which is customarily rounded up to the nearest nickel, bringing the rate to $18.30, a 0.55% increase). The median price homeowner would experience approximately a $22 increase in their annual tax bill (based on $18.26).  The proposed tax levy will increase by $177,328 to $56,285,217.  And, an increase to the motor vehicle tax exemption will be marginally favorable for most taxpayers.

Village Center Connectivity Plan

The Planning Board, in agreement with the Town Council, is proposing a project to enhance the Village Center as described in agenda item 5.  This area, generally bounded by Maple Avenue to Waseca, and County Road to West Street, will receive improvements to the Town roads and sidewalks as well as signage and other enhancements intended to create a uniform feel and boost commerce.  A bond or note in an amount not to exceed $1,600,000 is proposed for this project.  This appropriation, if approved tonight, will increase the debt, but not affect the FY15 budget.  A $1.6 million bond will cost approximately $120,000 per year for 20 years.  Since this proposal was brought before Appropriations too late in the budget cycle, we agreed to bring this issue before the Townspeople and judge it on its merits at the FTM.  There is no consensus from the COA on this issue.

Schools

TO CREATE A CAPITAL RESERVE ACCOUNT TO BE KNOW AS THE ENERGY CONSERVATION CAPITAL RESERVE ACCOUNT

RESOLVED:  Create a capital reserve account to be known as the Energy Conservation Capital Reserve Account for 2015 and transfer the balance of funds from the existing Energy Planning Account to the Energy Conservation Capital Reserve Account.

Andrea Moshier, Chair of the Energy Committee, stated that the Energy Committee fully supports this resolution.

Motion passed (voice vote).

Motion by Mrs. Speakman and seconded by Mrs. Weymouth to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION OF THE FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING

APPROPRIATING AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,600,000 TO FINANCE THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION, REPAIR, IMPROVEMENT AND LANDSCAPING OF TOWN STREETS AND SIDEWALKS,

INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PAVING, DRAINAGE, SIGNAGE, EQUIPMENT AND TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AS CONTEMPLATED BY

THE VILLAGE CENTER CONNECTIVITY PLAN AND ALL OTHER COSTS INCIDENTAL OR RELATED THERETO, THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF

BONDS AND/OR NOTES

WHEREAS, the Town of Barrington is undertaking an economic development project included in the Town's Comprehensive Plan and recommended by the Town Planning Board, which contemplates a streetscape improvement plan for a mixed-use development district in the Town, to include rebuilt and new sidewalks, crosswalks, street trees, street furniture, on-street parking and a "way finding" signage plan (the "Village Center Connectivity Plan").

RESOLVED:

Section 1.  The sum of $1,600,000 be appropriated to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, repair, improvement and landscaping of Town streets and sidewalks, including, but not limited to, paving, drainage, signage, equipment and traffic control devices as contemplated by the Village Center Connectivity Plan and all other costs incidental or related thereto and to raise said appropriation, the Finance Director, with the approval of the Town Council, is authorized under Section 45-12-2 of the General Laws Rhode Island and Section 7-1-1 of the Home Rule Charter of the Town, as amended, to issue bonds therefor, to issue temporary notes in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, and to issue refunding bonds pursuant to Section 45-12-5.2.

Section 2.  The manner of sale, denominations, maturities, principal amounts, interest rates, and other terms, conditions and details of any bonds or notes issued pursuant to this authority may be fixed by proceedings of the Town Council authorizing the issue or by separate resolution of the Town Council or, to the extent provisions for these matters are not so made, they may be fixed by the officers authorized to sign the bonds or notes.  The bonds or notes shall be signed by the Finance Director and by the President of the Town Council.

Section 3.  This Resolution is an affirmative action of the Town of Barrington toward the issuance of bonds or notes in accordance with the purposes of the laws of the State.  This Resolution constitutes the Town’s declaration of official intent pursuant to the Treasury Regulations Section 1.150(2) to reimburse the Town for certain capital expenditures for the Project paid on or after the date which is sixty (60) days prior to the date of this Resolution, but prior to the issuance of the bonds or notes.  Amounts to be reimbursed shall not exceed $1,600,000 and shall be reimbursed not later than eighteen (18) months after (a) the date on which the expenditure is paid, or (b) the date the Project is placed in service or abandoned, but in no event later than three (3) years after the date the expenditure is paid.

Section 4.  The Finance Director and the President of the Town Council are hereby authorized to take all lawful action necessary or desirable under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), to insure that the interest on the bonds and notes will remain exempt from federal income taxation to the extent provided in Section 103 of the Code, and to refrain from taking any action which will cause interest on such bonds and notes to lose the benefit of exclusion from gross income provided by Section 103(a) of the Code.  The Finance Director and the President of the Town Council are further authorized to take all lawful action necessary or desirable to designate the bonds and notes as “qualified tax-exempt obligations” within the meaning of Section 265(b)(3) of the Code.

Section 5. This Resolution shall take effect upon passage.

Anne Galbraith, 1 Middle Street, and Jean Burritt Robertson, 57 Water Way, members of the Planning Board spoke in favor of the resolution.

Kathy Cadigan, 88 Rumstick Road, spoke on the financial impact of this bond.

Chad Mollica, 4 River Oak Road, speaking as a taxpayer, asked why the power lines were not depicted within the drawings.  Town Planner Phil Hervey stated it was the artist rendering and there are no plans for the electrical poles and wires to be removed.  Mr. Mollica asked if the Business Association would be contributing to this project.  Mr. Hervey stated the Business Association was involved with the way finding signage and new maps but is not aware of private investments.  Mr. Hellmann stated that this project is a cost to the Town but it improves the aesthetics of the Town and therefore, brought this resolution to the Financial Town Meeting for a vote.

Motion passed (voice vote).

Motion by Mrs. Speakman and seconded by Mrs. Weymouth to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION OF THE FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING

AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF EMERGENCY NOTES

TO FUND EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS NOT TO EXCEED $5,000,000

RESOLVED:

Section 1.  In the event of an emergency threatening the public safety, health or welfare and requiring the immediate expenditure of money by the Town, the Town Council, on the written recommendation of the Town Manager, by resolution, may appropriate funds in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 and for purposes in addition to those contained in the operating budget or in the capital budget.  Such a resolution shall include a brief statement of the facts that show the existence of such emergency.

Section 2.  To fund said appropriation, the Finance Director, with the approval of the Town Council, is authorized under Section 45-12-2 of the General Laws Rhode Island to issue emergency notes.

Section 3.  The manner of sale, denominations, maturities, principal amounts, interest rates, and other terms, conditions and details of any emergency notes issued pursuant to this authority may be fixed by proceedings of the Town Council authorizing the issue or by separate resolution of the Town Council or, to the extent provisions for these matters are not so made, they may be fixed by the officers authorized to sign the emergency notes.  The notes shall be signed by the Finance Director and by the President of the Town Council.

Section 4. The Finance Director and the President of the Town Council are hereby authorized to take all lawful action necessary or desirable under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), to insure that the interest on the emergency notes will remain exempt from federal income taxation to the extent provided in Section 103 of the Code, and to refrain from taking any action which will cause interest on the emergency notes to lose the benefit of exclusion from gross income provided by Section 103(a) of the Code.  The Treasurer and the President of the Town Council are further authorized to take all lawful action necessary or desirable to designate the emergency notes as “qualified tax-exempt obligations” within the meaning of Section 265(b)(3) of the Code.

Motion passed (voice vote).

Motion by Mrs. Speakman and seconded by Mrs. Mrs. Weymouth to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF TAX ANTICIPATION NOTES

IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,000,000

RESOLVED:

Section 1.  Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws Section 45‑12‑4 and Section 6-5-2 of the Town of Barrington Home Rule Charter the Finance Director and the President of the Town Council acting on behalf of the Town, are authorized to issue and refund, from time to time, not to exceed $5,000,000 interest bearing notes issued in anticipation of the receipt of the proceeds of the annual tax assessed or to be assessed upon the taxable property within the said Town as of December 31, 2013 for the financial year July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 for the purpose of providing funds for the payment of the current liabilities and expenses of said Town. 

Section 2.  The manner of sale, amount, denominations, maturities

conversion or registration privileges, dated dates, due dates, interest rates, medium of payment, and other terms, conditions and details of the Notes authorized hereunder may be fixed by proceedings of the Town Council authorizing the issue or by separate resolution of the Town Council or, to the extent provisions for these matters are not so made, they may be fixed by the officers authorized to sign the Notes.

Section 3.  The Director of Finance/Treasurer and the President of the Town Council are authorized to take all actions necessary to comply with federal securities laws including Rule 15c2-12 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Rule”) and to execute and deliver if required in connection with the Notes a Continuing Disclosure Agreement or a Material Events Disclosure Agreement in the form as shall be deemed advisable by the Director of Finance and the President of the Town Council in order to comply with the Rule. The Town hereby covenants and agrees that it will comply with and carry out all provisions of any such Continuing Disclosure Agreement or Material Events Disclosure Agreement, as either of them may be amended from time to time.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Resolution or the Notes, failure of the Town to comply with any such Continuing Disclosure Agreement or Material Events Disclosure Agreement shall not be considered an event of default; however, any note holder may take such actions as may be necessary and appropriate, including seeking a mandate or specific performance by court order, to cause the Town to comply with its obligations under this Section and under any such agreement.

Motion passed (voice vote).

Mrs. Califano stated by RI law, voters can only make motions to increase or decrease the bottom line of the school budget. The School Committee has sole authority to determine how that bottom line is allocated. You may, however, ask questions about individual budget items and make non-binding recommendations.

This year there are no pre-filed motions, so any motion to introduce an entirely new budget line item of more than $25,000 or to increase or decrease an existing line item by more than $50,000 would be out of order, according to the Barrington Town Charter. However, you may make smaller motions, and this is the time to ask any questions you might have about the school budget.

Kathy Cadigan, 88 Rumstick Road, questioned regarding an article  within the Barrington Times regarding the retiring of eight teachers and if the budget reflected the reduction.  Mr. Tarro stated that the budget has been adjusted by using a salary range of a fifth step teacher holding a bachelor’s degree.

Account Number           Account                                                              FY Ending June 30, 2015                        

0300                            Public Schools                                                       $46,375,465

Motion passed (standing vote). 

Mrs. Califano stated if there are no further questions or comments, you have adopted a school budget as recommended.

Mrs. Califano stated unlike the school budget, the municipal budget, is a line item budget. Motions may be made to increase or decrease any department budget, but, because there are no pre-filed motions, no motion can increase or decrease any department budget by more than $50,000.

Municipal Budget     

Mrs. Califano asked if there were any comments or questions.

John Allesandro, 15 Meadowbrook Drive, stated he is a member of the Board of Assessment Review, and is concerned that 0050 Tax Assessor’s budget is very low and the cost of a commercial reassessment and the hiring of professionals can be expensive and cautions the voters to provide for such in the future.  Mrs. Califano stated if there were any further questions or comments; there were not.  Mrs. Califano stated you have approved the municipal budget.

Mrs. Califano explained that the sewer utility is an enterprise fund.  The budget is fully funded by the sewer fees.  And Revenues are established outside the authority of the town meeting, but if there are any questions about revenues or the sewer fund, to please ask them.  There were no questions.

850SE              Sewer Utility                                                                    3,628,076

Motion by Mr. Grove and seconded by Mrs. Weymouth to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

ADOPTING THE REPORT

OF THE COMMITTEE-ON-APPROPRIATIONS

RESOLVED:  that the report of the Committee-on-Appropriations, appointed to prepare a budget, be adopted and in accordance therewith, the sum of $64,642,721 be and the same hereby is appropriated to be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to pay out of the several appropriations mentioned, said sums within the amounts appropriated, as may be required upon receipt by her of proper vouchers approved by the Town Manager, or otherwise as provided by law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:  that the report of the Committee-on-Appropriations with regard to the Sewer Enterprise Fund be adopted and in accordance therewith the sum of                      $3,628,076 be and the same hereby is appropriated to be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to pay out of the Sewer Enterprise Fund said sums within the amount appropriated as may be required upon receipt by her of proper vouchers approved by the Town Manager or otherwise as provided by law.  The expenditure shall be supported by revenue generated by said fund.

Motion passed (voice vote).

Motion by Mr. Grove and seconded by Mrs. Speakman to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

ORDERING THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF A TAX AND DEALING

WITH KINDRED MATTERS

RESOLVED:  that the electors of the Town of Barrington, qualified to vote on any proposition to impose a tax, in Town Meeting assembled, on this 28^TH day of May, a.d. 2014, hereby order the levy and collection of a tax on the ratable real estate, the ratable tangible personal property, ratable tangible personal property of manufacturer's machinery and equipment (the rate of said ratable tangible personal property of manufacturer's consisting of manufacturer's machinery and equipment to be in accordance with limitations and provisions of statutory law of the State of Rhode Island) and motor vehicle excise tax in the sum not less than $56,185,217 nor more than $58,372,405, said tax to be for ordinary expenses and charges, for the payment of interest and indebtedness in full or in part of said Town and for other purposes authorized by law.

The Tax Assessor shall apportion said tax on the inhabitants and taxable property of said Town according to law, and shall, upon completion of said resulting tax roll, date, certify and sign the same and deliver to and deposit the same in the Office of the Town Clerk.  The Town Clerk, upon receipt of said assessments, shall forthwith make a copy of same and deliver it to the Finance Director with a warrant under her hand directed to the Collector of Taxes of said Town commanding him to proceed to collect said tax on the person and estates liable therefor.  Said tax shall be due and payable on the 1^st day of September, a.d. 2014, and all taxes remaining unpaid after September 30, 2014, shall carry until collected, a penalty at the rate of 18 per cent per annum from the due date of any quarterly installment, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the persons assessed to pay their taxes shall have an option to pay the same in equal quarterly installments; the first installment of twenty-five per centum on or before the 30^th day of September 2014, and the remaining installments as follows:  twenty-five per centum on or before the 30^th day of December 2014, twenty-five per centum on or before the 30^th day of March 2015, and twenty-five per centum on or before the 30^th day of June 2015.

If the first installment or any succeeding installments of taxes is not paid by the last date of the respective installment period or periods as they occur then the whole tax or remaining unpaid balance of the tax as the case may be shall immediately become due and payable and shall carry until collected a penalty at the rate of 18 per cent per annum.

As of the 31^st day of December 2014, at twelve o'clock midnight, the Assessor of Taxes shall determine the assessed valuation of ratable property in the Town for tax purposes and against such assessed valuations so determined shall apportion the tax levy to be made by the electors in Financial Town Meeting on May 27, 2015 on the inhabitants of the Town and ratable property therein to meet appropriations.

RESOLVED:  that the Collector of Taxes is hereby directed to attend any meeting of the Town Council held on its regular meeting date on or before May 2015 prepared to certify to the Council the names of all persons whose taxes have remained unpaid or have been paid under protest as of that date, together with all amounts due from each, and also all the information in her possession connected with each case.  The Tax Collector shall also prepare and certify to the Town Council the names of all persons to whom she recommends there shall be granted tax abatements on tangible personal property because they have deceased leaving no assets, have moved out of State leaving no assets or whose tax has been ruled uncollectible by court, as provided in the General Laws of Rhode Island, 1956, as amended, Title 44, Chapter 7, Section 14, as amended to date, together with the reason for the abatement and the amount.

RESOLVED:  that the Assessor of Taxes is directed to attend any meeting of the Town Council held on its regular meeting date on or before May 2015 prepared to certify to the Council the names of all persons recommended to be granted tax abatements because of mistakes in the assessment as provided in the General Laws of 1956, Title 44, Chapter 7, Section 14, as amended to date, together with the nature of the mistake, the valuation and the amount of tax recommended for abatement.

RESOLVED:  that the Town Council is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to investigate each case so brought before them, and whenever in their judgment, the tax

has been illegally or wrongfully assessed or the tax on any tangible personal property is uncollectible because the owner has deceased leaving no assets, has moved out of State leaving no assets or whose tax has been ruled uncollectible by the court, they are hereby authorized and empowered to remit such tax.  In all cases, the Collector of Taxes is hereby directed to collect by process of law, all taxes due and unpaid on August 1, 2014.  The Collector of Taxes is further directed to collect by process of law all tangible personal property taxes levied in 2014, which remain unpaid on September 30, 2014 unless being paid quarterly.

RESOLVED:  that the Finance Director is hereby authorized to hire such sum or sums of money as may be necessary for the operation of the Town Government, and

RESOLVED:  that the Finance Director and Collector of Taxes and such other Town Officers as the Town Council may designate shall secure their bonds from some good surety company and the Town assume the expenses.        

Motion passed (voice vote).

Motion by Mr. Grove and seconded by Mrs. Weymouth to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

TO ESTABLISH TAX RATES

RESOLVED: that the real estate and personal property tax rate be set at not greater than

$18.30 per $1,000 valuation and the motor vehicle tax rate be set at $42.00 per

$1,000 valuation.

Motion passed (voice vote).

Motion by Mrs. Mary Alyce Gasbarro and seconded by Mr. Steve Primiano to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

ELECTING A COMMITTEE

TO PREPARE A BUDGET AND SUBMIT A REPORT

RESOLVED: that a committee of five (5) consisting of Peter Clifford, 6 Starbrook Drive; Peter Dennehy 36 Hanson Road; Geoffrey E. Grove, 16 Robbins Drive; Chad Mollica, 4 River Oak Drive and Timothy R. Sweetser, 12 Roberta Drive is hereby elected to hold a public meeting on the second Wednesday in May 2015 at 7:00 o'clock p.m. for the purpose of hearing all persons interested in preparing a budget to be presented to the Financial Town Meeting and to submit a printed report of their recommendations for expenditures to the Financial Town Meeting, and the amount of tax which will be necessary to levy to pay such expenses, and    

RESOLVED:  that in case of a vacancy in the committee after the appointment of its members, such vacancy shall be filled immediately by the Town Council, and

RESOLVED:  further that the Town Clerk with the said Committee-on-Appropriations shall prepare and have printed an order of business for each Financial Town Meeting.

Mr. Hellmann is resigning after 1 ½ year of service; he was appointed to the Committee on Appropriations on December 17, 2012.

Motion passed (voice vote).

Motion to dissolve the Financial Town Meeting at 7:49PM.

Motion passed (voice vote).

__________________________

Meredith J. DeSisto, Town Clerk