| Annual Financial Town Meeting | Total Eligible: | 14,523 |
| May 24, 2017 @ 7:00 p.m. | Attendance: | 253 @ 7:00 p.m. |
| Barrington High School | | 430 @ 7:30 p.m. |
| | | 606 @ 7:55 p.m. |
| | | 636 @ 8:20 P.M. |
| | | 685 @ 9:12 P.M. |
Present:
· Town Moderator: Julia P. Califano
· Town Clerk: Meredith J. DeSisto
· Appropriations Committee: Chair Geoffrey E. Grove, Don Gralnek, Melissa M. Horne, Chad Mollica and Richard Staples
· School Committee: John D. Alessandro, Jr., Kate D. Brody, Anna Clancy, Megan Douglas and Gina Pine.
· School Superintendent: Michael B. Messore, III
· School Director of Administration and Finance: Ronald D. Tarro
· Finance Director: Kathy Raposa
· Town Solicitor: Michael Ursillo
Moderator Julia Califano welcomed all to the 2017 Financial Town Meeting and asked for all to please find a seat, and then we can get this meeting underway.
Tonight we are conducting this meeting in the gym with overflow capacity and a live feed in the auditorium. The gym seats 1200, and the auditorium seats 700. We have members of the police and fire departments here to insure your safety, and she asked all to please take a moment to locate the 4 emergency exits in the front and back of the gym and auditorium. Bathrooms are available in the corridors.
If, by some chance, we exceed the 1900 capacity, we will ask non-registered voters to give up their seats, but if we exceed capacity with registered voters, we will have to adjourn the meeting and reconvene, most likely under a tent, in June.
We have a long night ahead of us and have also made provisions to continue this meeting tomorrow evening if deliberations run too late.
Mrs. Califano declared a quorum present and called the meeting to order at 7:01 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 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 2017-18 Barrington budget. Although we have made provisions for voting to take place in both the gym and the auditorium, those in the auditorium wishing to speak or make a motion should come into the gym and line up behind one of our two microphones.
Again, before asking your question or making your statement, please state your name and address.
If you are making a motion that is particularly detailed, we would appreciate having a written copy to insure that the motion is recorded accurately.
During voting, everyone in the gym and auditorium must be seated except when a standing vote is called for. Because we are conducting voting in two separate places, there will be no voice votes. Instead, all votes will be standing votes counted by 4 sets of tellers and overseen by a member of the Board of Canvassers in the auditorium and 6 sets of tellers in the gym. Standing votes could take as much as 30 minutes to complete.
We are also prepared to cast paper ballots this evening if that is requested by 20% of the voters present and voting. You were given numbers to be used for the paper ballots when you checked in, and I will explain the procedure in detail if such a ballot is requested. For the paper ballots, the Board of Elections has provided privacy booths and 2 voting machines in the auditorium and privacy booths and 4 voting machines in the gym. A paper ballot will require some patience and take as much as an hour.
Mrs. Califano thanked Mike Davis for providing the live feed for the Full Channel broadcast and Ambient Sound for providing the sound system for the meeting. She said that all guests are being accommodated this year in the auditorium and a small section in the left bleachers in the gym are reserved for the press, tellers and checkers.
Mrs. Califano introduced Council President Michael Carroll who introduced the members of the Town Council, the Town Manager, Finance Director and Town Solicitor. 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 said that we also have the three members of the Board of Canvassers, Claire Boyes, Dan O’Mahony and Martha Wallick to help with voting in the auditorium. Mrs. Califano introduced Liana Cassar and Lisa Daft, 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 for the 2017-18 fiscal year.
A Motion was made from President Carroll and seconded from Councilmember Boyajian to dispense with the reading of the Call, but it is part of the record as it appears in Book 8 page 60 of the Town Meeting Records book.
Motion passed (standing vote).
Appropriations Committee Chairman Geoff Grove introduced and acknowledge the expertise of the Appropriations Committee members and read the message from the Committee
2017 FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING MESSAGE
FROM THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
MAY 24, 2017
Welcome everyone to your 2017 annual Financial Town Meeting to discuss and pass a budget for the fiscal year 2018, which runs from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. We will discuss and adopt a school budget, a municipal budget, and a capital budget. I am pleased to make this statement on behalf of the Committee on Appropriations in order to provide some background on the Committee’s budget recommendations.
Tonight, you, the taxpayers, will vote on how the Town spends your money. Unlike other municipalities around the country, you have a direct say in the budgets and the resulting tax rate. The FTM may sometimes be uncomfortable, but it is the most direct form of democracy. You can express your views in order to sway the other voters or just to have your opinion heard. The budget decision ultimately rests with you.
As you are aware, there is a significant controversy over a proposed increase to the school budget. Evaluating the COA’s budget recommendation this year requires some perspective. The COA always strives to find common ground with the Town Council and School Committee so that the voters feel that our town leaders are working together for the common good. But sometimes competing goals prevent the parties from coming to the FTM with a unified message. This is one of those years.
We have not had such a contentious Financial Town Meeting since 1991. At that time, our economy was dealing with the effects of the stock market crash of 1987 and the savings & loan crisis. Taxpayers were feeling the pinch and were in no mood for yet another tax hike. But, the budget climbed inexorably higher and a group of citizens formed the Barrington Tea Party. The battle was on and the FTM went into an unprecedented second day under a tent on the high school field.
The difference this time is that Appropriations is the one recommending that we ease the pace of tax increases. Not insignificantly, the Open Meetings Law ensures that all deliberation and negotiation is now done in public meetings. The COA has been negotiating in public. Our citizens have been witness to, and brought into, the difficult debate over the amount of financial support needed to keep our town and schools running smoothly.
Our message this year is that we should voluntarily find cost savings in the budget in order to moderate the tax increase, which will be considerable this year regardless of whether the motions to be considered at this meeting pass, before we are forced to make changes due to circumstances beyond our control. Events like the Retirement Board’s reduction in the pension fund expected rate of return from 7.5% to 7%, will force the town to make significantly increased contributions to the RI Employee Retirement System and put additional pressure on our budget. A loss of Federal or State funding will likely result in more unfunded mandates, and put more pressure on our budget. Recent announcements from the White House and State House confirm that this is not just idle speculation. By taking steps now, we can assure that we continue to adequately fund our town services in the future.
Our town is well run and well managed. Our cash reserves are strong because we have had the fiscal discipline to ‘keep our fingers out of the cookie jar.’ As a result, our credit rating is one of the best in the state and we have been able to borrow to fund the new Middle School at favorable rates. We have professional employees that rank among the best qualified in the state. And, more importantly, we have a cadre of intelligent, honest, selfless people who volunteer their time for the betterment of our community. The small stipend given to Town Councilors and School Committee members is little compensation for the time and effort they expend on our town’s behalf. They deserve our gratitude, respect, and admiration.
The Committee on Appropriations takes a long view of the overall budget for the town and makes recommendations that we think will safeguard the long-term fiscal health of our community. Appropriations is asking the School Committee and Administration to find efficiencies and cost savings in their budget at the same time that parents and teachers are, rightly, complaining that supplies are short and needed program improvements are eschewed for lack of money. The School Administration is between a rock and a hard place. What we are debating is how to find the money to do what we all recognize is in the best interest of the children, the schools, the Town, and our property values.
An analysis of the school budget over the last ten years reveals that expenses related to payroll and benefits have increased significantly over that period, while all other expenses haves decreased. Clearly, expenses like supplies and books are being squeezed down as the cost of employee compensation rises. This leads us to a very difficult discussion. Everyone agrees that our teachers have the greatest impact on our children’s learning. No one is arguing that we should not pay our teachers well. In fact, everyone agrees that we should pay our teachers well. However, we must face the fact that our budget is being consumed by employee compensation. We must make difficult decisions now so that we may avoid tragic decisions in the future.
We should not expect the taxpayers to automatically fund increases to the budget. Real median income has not recovered even to 2005 levels and interest rates remain low. Many of our neighbors have seen their taxes rise steadily as their income remains flat. There are homes for sale in town that remain on the market longer due, in part, to the cost of property taxes. We must consider the overall impact of our tax policy on everyone in our town as we set our tax rate.
Our schools must continually look in their budgets to find efficiencies and cost savings, as is also required of our municipal government, which has been very frugal. When faced with an unsustainable cost trajectory, our town’s municipal leadership changed the status quo by privatizing refuse collection. It was politically painful but necessary. Now, our School leadership must shift the paradigm and think creatively. Teaching is not the only service provided by the schools. Administration, clerical, custodial, food, and transportation are among the other services provided. The COA believes that these areas should be scrutinized for savings before programs are affected. Benefits, especially health insurance, must be reviewed and curtailed. Not all benefits are the result of contractual obligations. But those that are should be the focus of the next contract negotiations. The School Committee must take a stand that may be unpopular with some in order to cut costs. Otherwise, supplies will continue to be rationed, students will be denied the programs they deserve and the taxpayers will not realize the value they are expecting. It can be done.
We thank the School Committee, Superintendent Michael Messore, School Finance Director Ron Tarro, the Town Council, Town Manager James Cunha, and Town Finance Director Kathy Raposa for their patient and professional dedication to the often tedious and sometimes contentious budget review process. They are exemplary management teams.
The Committee on Appropriations believes that the budgets we are recommending to you will support all of the services at the same high quality to which we are accustomed. Our recommendations are as follows:
· A School budget of $48,766,398, an $800,000 increase over last year’s budget.
· A Municipal budget of $16,210,714, an increase of $374,404 over last year’s budget. This increase funds the addition of four new firefighter/EMT’s that will ensure the staffing of a second rescue squad.
· A Capital budget of $1,100,000 that will continue our Town’s responsible fiscal policy of funding long-term capital requirements like fire engines and police cars.
· Debt service of $5,401,883, the largest portion of which will go to service the bond debt to be used to build a new Middle School.
· A motor vehicle tax rate of $42 per $1,000 of the book value with an exemption of $2,000, the same as last year.
If you vote to support the recommendation of the Committee on Appropriations (“COA”), beginning on July 1 the property tax rate will increase by $1.38. The rate per $1,000 of assessed value will increase from $18.45 to approximately $19.83 which is customarily rounded up to the nearest nickel, bringing the rate to $19.85, a 7.6% increase. The proposed tax levy, the amount of money needed from taxpayers to fund our Town’s operations, will increase by $3,985,527 to $62,534,039, an increase of 6.8%. If enacted as recommended, the owner of a median priced home assessed at $358,500 will see an annual tax bill of $7,116 based on a proposed rate of $19.85. This taxpayer’s annual tax bill will increase by $502 over last year.
Sincerely,
Committee on Appropriations
Geoffrey Grove, Chairman
Chad Mollica, Vice-Chairman
Melissa Horne
Richard Staples, Jr.
Donald Gralnek
Motion by President Carroll and seconded by Vice President Weymouth to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION OF THE FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING TO CREATE A CAPITAL RESERVE ACCOUNT TO BE KNOWN AS THE PARK & TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS CAPITAL RESERVE ACCOUNT
RESOLVED: Resolution to create a capital reserve account to be known as the Park & Trail Improvements Capital Reserve Account and transfer all unused funds from the existing park & trail improvements account.
Motion passed (standing vote).
Motion by President Carroll and seconded by Vice President Weymouth to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION OF THE FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF BARRINGTON TO ENTER INTO A TEN-YEAR LEASE WITH TAP-IN
RESOLVED: Pursuant to Section 1-3-3 of the Charter of the Town of Barrington the Town Council, is hereby authorized to lease a portion of The Peck Center Basement to TAP-IN for a period of ten (10) years in exchange for an annual payment in the amount of $1.00.
Motion passed (standing vote).
Motion by President Carroll and seconded by Vice President 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
Be it resolved that
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 (standing vote).
Motion by President Carroll and seconded by Vice President Weymouth to adopt the following resolution:
Be it resolved that
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, 2016 for the financial year July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 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 noteholder 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 (standing 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.
By the Barrington Town Charter, no motion to increase or decrease the school budget by more than $50,000 can be made unless it was pre-filed 5 business days before this meeting. This year there are two pre-filed motions listed on page 4 and submitted by Julie Vanier and Gina Bae. Mrs. Califano asked Julie Vanier to come forward. Ms. Vanier was not present at the meeting. David DeSisto, 7 Townsend Road, made the motion below that was submitted to the Town Clerk on May 17, 2017.
I, JULIE VANIER DAVID DeSISTO, MOVE TO INCREASE THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS PROPOSED SCHOOL OPERATING BUDGET BY $100,000. THIS AMOUNT GETS US TO $900,000 WHICH SHOULD COVER ALL PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED ITEMS FOR DELETION. THE PROGRAMS CONSIDERED FOR CUTS ARE NECESSARY FOR SERVING OUR YOUNG ADULTS AND FOR FULFILLING OUR OBLIGATIONS TO THEM.
A second to the motion was from the floor.
Ann Strong, 55 Teed Avenue, questioned the legality of the vote. Ms. Strong stated that Mr. DeSisto is not the person who submitted the motion and asked for the Town Solicitor’s opinion.
Town Solicitor Michael Ursillo stated that a motion for more than $50,000 must be filed 5 days prior; another person can make the motion from the floor.
Mrs. Califano asked if there is discussion:
John Fitta, 153 New Meadow Road, said that he had a plan, that residents could vote for the $800,000 increase recommended by the Committee on Appropriations and if the schools found themselves short of funds during the upcoming fiscal year, officials could dip into their reserve account to balance out the budget.
Kathy Crain, 11 Briarfield Road, questioned School Superintendent by asking if the budget was increased by the additional $100,000 would that cover all of the cuts an keep the same programs and teachers. Mr. Messore said that it will not restore all programs and teachers. Ms. Crain stated that the department of education places sports at the bottom of the list.
Joel Hellman, 13 Richmond Avenue, discussed the teacher payments at the end of the fiscal year and asked the school committee to research another approach for payment to teachers.
Thomas Rimoshytus, 1 Howard Street, motioned for a paper ballot and a second was made from the floor.
Mrs. Califano explained in order to have a paper ballot a standing vote of at least 20% is required.
Motion passed to use a paper ballot (via standing vote).
Mrs. Califano invited all who are seated in the auditorium to join those in the gymnasium since there are plenty of seats. (Mrs. Wallick spoke via walkie-talkie and said those who are in the auditorium wish to remain in the auditorium.)
Ann Merlino, 15 Mallard Cove asked for clarification regarding the two (2) motions – if there is an affirmative vote to increase by $100,000 and if the second vote passes by an increase of $400,000, are we not increasing the budget by more than what the Appropriations cut (1.2 million to 1.3 million).
Mrs. Califano explained that the second motion will substitute the first motion.
Motion (via paper ballot) passed to increase the school budget by $100,000; 442 in favor and 149 opposed.
I, GINA BAE, MOVE TO INCREASE THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS PROPOSED SCHOOL OPERATING BUDGET BY $402,448. THIS AMOUNT REPRESENTS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SCHOOL OPERATING BUDGET APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR LEVEL SERVICES AND THE SCHOOL OPERATING BUDGET PROPOSED BY THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL CUTS TO NECESSARY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED.
Ms. Bae spoke to her motion to increase the school operating budget by $402,448
Bill Carr, 93 Nayatt Road, questioned why the additional monies cannot come from the reserve fund.
Heather Crosby, 293 Rumstick Road, said that she is opposed to the increase of $402,448. Discussion ensued with a comparison to East Greenwich.
Allan Klepper, 3 Henry Road, stated that since we voted for an additional $100,000 to please amend the motion to $302,448.
Mrs. Califano stated that this motion will substitute for the earlier motion. (The passed motion to increase the school operating budget by $100,000 would be “substituted” with the motion of $402,448.)
Motion by Diane Tine and seconded from the floor for a paper ballot.
Thomas Rymoshytus, 1 Howard Street, asked Mr. Messore if the $402,448 is voted back in will that cover the costs for all programs. Mr. Messore said “Yes”.
Discussion ensued regarding “pay to play”; it is against Rhode Island law.
Discussion ensued regarding reserve funds; balloon payments and the future of the schools operating budget. (Cathy Fales, Upland Way; Julie Owens, 16 Chachacapassett Road, Joel Hellmann, 13 Richmond Avenue)
Richard Staples, COA member, said that the Appropriations Committee looks at the bottom line budget and reviews state aid cuts.
David DeSisto, 7 Townsend Road, said that he is against the cuts because of the kids and how it affects the sports at the schools.
Discussion ensued regarding “pay to play”; it is against Rhode Island law.
Pam Lauria, 56 Martin Avenue, requested the public not to leave after this vote; there is still more business to discuss.
Julien Asuncion, said that we need to keep the quorum; please do not leave the meeting.
Peter Orlando, 13 Middle Highway, said that schools are expected to perform better each year but we need more money to provide for this; please vote sensibly.
Motion failed for a paper ballot (via standing vote).
Motion (via standing vote) passed to increase the school operating budget by $402,448; 461 in favor and 120 opposed.
Account Number Account FY Ending June 30, 2016
0300 Public Schools $48,766,398
Additional increase: 402,448
$49,168,846
Mrs. Califano stated if there are no further questions or comments, you have adopted a school budget as presented.
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.
| 0010 | Town Council | $ 18,296 |
| 0020 | Town Manager | 181,050 |
| 0030 | Town Clerk | 236,356 |
| 0035 | Probate/Municipal Court | 6,152 |
| 0038 | Board Of Canvassers | 17,200 |
| 0040 | Finance Department | 361,590 |
| 0045 | Computer Operations | 147,330 |
| 0050 | Tax Assessor | 156,637 *Mr. Alessandro asked if there will be an added expense with the upcoming re-evaluation. Tax Assessor Mike Minardi replied, no. |
| | | |
| 0060 | Inspections | 140,802 |
| 0065 | Sealer of Weights & Measures | 1,980 |
| 0080 | Planning Board | 114,411 |
| 0090 | Zoning Board | 3,000 |
| 0095 | Human Resources | 46,659 |
| 0100 | Recreation Department | 120,207 |
| 0110 | Library | 1,275,684 |
| 0120 | Senior Services | 113,243 |
| 0150 | Fire Department | 2,239,834 |
| 0155 | Hydrant Rental | 141,200 |
| 0180 | Police Department | 2,37,590 |
| | Dispatch | 343,899 |
| | | |
| 190 | Animal Control | 15,000 |
| 0200 | Harbor Control | 40,550 |
| 0210 | Civil Defense | 0 |
| 0260 | Public Works | 2,149,131 |
| 0265 | Refuse Collection Contract | 924,013 *Mr. Staples spoke in favor of more RECYCLING due to increasing costs with refuse tipping charges |
| 0270 | Benefits Social Security 655,000 Medical Coverage 2,090,000 Pensions 1,340,000 Compensated Absences 35,000 Unemployment Insurance 7,500 | 4,127,500 |
| 0310 | Town Solicitor | 163,500 |
| 0320 | Insurance | 377,500 |
| 0330 | Agency Support Barr.’s Share East Bay Center 0 URI Cooperative 0 The Samaritans 500 | 500 |
| 0340 | Principal on Bonded Debt | 2,193,132 |
| | | *Peter Clifford asked why the interest from the middle school bond money – the bond totals $68.4 million- was not being used to off-set debt service payments. He said that the 40 million that was not being used immediately for the project could yield a large return and lessen the tax burden. Mrs. Raposa said the money is held by RI Health and Education Building Corporation (RIBEC) and the town receives a 35% reimbursement. Ann Strong stated that the school officials should be ashamed that this information was not divulged. Mr. Clifford made and withdrew a motion regarding the debt service. |
| 0350 | Interest on Debt | 3,208,751 |
| 0360 | Capital Items: Police Department Fire Department Public Works Other | 129,000 211,250 300,000 459,750 |
| 0365 | Government Center Utilities | 82,000 |
| 0366 | Peck Center Utilities | 96,000 |
| 0367 | Public Safety Complex Utilities | 151,000 |
| 0370 | Miscellaneous | 44,900 |
| otal Gross Expenditures | $ 71,478,995 | |
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. She said that 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 4,087,400
Motion by Geoff Grove and seconded by Richard Staples 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 $ 71,881,443 be and the same hereby is appropriated to be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, 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 $ 4,087,400 be and the same hereby is appropriated to be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, 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 (standing vote).
Motion by Richard Staples and seconded by Don Gralnek 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 24TH day of May, a.d. 2017, 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 $ 62,936,487 nor more than $ 64,280,151 , 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 1st day of September, a.d. 2017, and all taxes remaining unpaid after September 29, 2017, 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 29th day of September 2017, and the remaining installments as follows: twenty-five per centum on or before the 29th day of December 2017, twenty-five per centum on or before the 30th day of March 2018, and twenty-five per centum on or before the 29th day of June 2018.
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 31st day of December 2017, 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 23, 2018 on the inhabitants of the Town and ratable property therein to meet appropriations.
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 (standing vote).
Motion by Don Gralnek and seconded by Geoff Grove 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
$20.00 per $1,000 valuation and the motor vehicle tax rate be set at $42.00 per
$1,000 valuation.
Motion passed (standing vote).
Mrs. Califano said that for many years, Geoff Grove has generously given his time and expertise to the Committee on appropriations and consistently advocated for better coordination and long-range planning in the budget process. We sincerely thank him for his leadership, his extraordinary good humor and untiring service to our Town.
ELECTING A COMMITTEE
TO PREPARE A BUDGET AND SUBMIT A REPORT
RESOLVED: that a Committee of Appropriations, consisting of five (5), is ordered to hold a public meeting on the second Wednesday in May 2018 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, JOSHUA BERLINSKY, CYNTHIA ROSENGARD, and FRANK “SCOTT” COLIN DOUGLAS IV are hereby elected to two (2) year terms on the Committee of Appropriations ending May, 2019 and will serve with Chad Mollica, 4 River Oak Road and Richard F. Staples of 13 Middle Street, with terms ending May, 2018, and
| | | RESULTS |
| Donald Gralnek (WITHDREW) | 1 Lighthouse Lane | 8 |
| Melissa Horne (self-nominated) | 45 Appian Way | 192 |
| Anthony P. Arico (self-nominated) | 166 Lincoln Avenue | 55 |
| Joshua Berlinsky (self-nominated) | 8 Heritage Road | 262 |
| Lisa Daft (Nominator: Chace Kouzinis) | 5 Robbins Drive | 179 |
| Frank “Scott” Colin Douglas IV (self-nominated) | 25 Rumstick Road | 222 |
| Cynthia Rosengard (self-nominated) | 374 Sowams Road | 234 |
RESOLVED: that, in case of a vacancy in the Committee on Appropriations, after the election of its five (5) 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.
Motion passed (paper ballot) Please see results above.
Motion by John Alessandro and seconded by Megan Douglas to dissolve the Financial Town Meeting at 10:49 PM.
Motion passed (voice vote).
__________________________
Meredith J. DeSisto, Town Clerk