MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 AT 6:30 P.M.

VIRTUAL - OPEN SESSION

 

The regular meeting was called to order at 6:31pm.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

President Dwyer, Councilors Gemski, Kinch, Shaw, Bradley, Beaulieu and Schmitt

 

Also present— Mayor Jeffrey Mutter; Chief of Staff Linda Teel; Community Outreach Coordinator Sarah King; Town Clerk Sandra M. Giovanelli; Town Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore; Library Director Celeste Dyer; Police Chief John Desmarais

 

President Dwyer read the following:

 

“To protect the health and well-being of our citizens, and in accordance with Governor’s Raimondo’s Executive Order
20-25 (relaxing the Open Meetings Act requirements) this meeting will be available to the public by video or telephone conference.  All members of the Town Council will be participating remotely. Members of the public can listen and/or participate by clicking on the link posted on the agenda and by following the phone-in instructions.

 

The meeting will also be livestreamed on ClerkBase.

 

Comments can be emailed to publiccomments@cumberlandri.org including your name, address,
and statement. Only comments including all required information will be read into the record.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Dwyer stated that tonight is the second hearing and first vote on the three operating budgets: General, Water & Sewer. The next meeting and final vote will be held on Tuesday, June 30 at 6:30pm via Zoom.

 

UNANIMOUS CONSENT ITEMS

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

President Dwyer paused at 6:34pm and resumed at 6:42pm to allow for any callers or emails.

 

Julie Butler, 2970 Mendon Road, Unit 103, spoke against the decision to layi off four school counselors and a school psychologist. During this time of Covid 19, students need mental health support more than ever.

 

Michelle Fournier, 24 Dogwood Drive, Upton, MA, a counselor at Cumberland Hill Elementary School, also spoke against the elimination of counselors from the schools.

 

OLD BUSINESS

A.  ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING:    

1.  #20-12 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s General Fund for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 (Second Hearing and First Vote)

 

Councilor Mike Kinch asked to change the ordinance to amend the library receipts by $20,000.00 and add that $20,000.00 to the police training budget, to afford officers the necessary training in dealing with public mental health issues, racial bias, sensitivity training and other related topics.

 

Library Director Celeste Dyer interjected that the $297,545 in Library Receipts is anticipated state grant and aid money and is not guaranteed.

 

Mayor Mutter noted that he was trying to level fund the budget. The Chief was looking for $30,000.00 in that line item.

 

Councilor Schmitt commented he thought there would be a better way of funding this and asked Chief Desmarais about the cost of initiatives. The Chief said it was premature to give an accurate estimate on the racial basis training, as multiple trainings will be rolled out. There are other items that fall into that line item, as well – such as reimbursement to officers who choose to expand their training.

 

Councilor Shaw asked to add to Councilor Kinch’s motion.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR KINCH, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR DWYER, AND IT IS VOTED TO AMEND #20-12 TO ADD $20,000.00 TO THE POLICE TRAINING BUDGET BY AMENDING THE LIBRARY REVENUE RECEIPTS TOTAL OF $297,545.00 BY $20,000.00 FOR A TOTAL OF $317,545.00, RAISING THE TOTAL REVENUE TO $105,890,771.  NO VOTE   Councilor Kinch withdrew his motion, President Dwyer withdrew his second.

 

President Dwyer opened the public hearing at 6:55pm.

 

President Dwyer read the figures for the proposed ordinance (complete document and meeting recording available on website)

 

 

GENERAL FUND - REVENUE	MAYOR’S PROPOSED FY 2020/21
GENERAL REVENUE TOTAL	$ 75,158,128
LIBRARY RECEIPTS TOTAL	$      297,545
SCHOOL RECEIPTS TOTAL	$ 26,074,579
STATE AID & GRANTS TOTAL	$   4,340,519
TOTAL REVENUE	$105,870,771

 

 

 

GENERAL FUND - EXPENDITURES	MAYOR’S PROPOSED FY 2020/21
GENERAL GOVERNMENT TOTAL	$         957,188
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TOTAL	$         460,017
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION TOTAL	$         980,154
PUBLIC SAFETY TOTAL	$      7,110,617
PUBLIC WORKS TOTAL	$      5,999,283
OTHER FINANCIAL EXPENSES TOTAL	$    14,046,205
OTHER DEPARTMENTS TOTAL	$         441,049
LIBRARY TOTAL	$      1,724,694
OTHER EXPENDITURES TOTAL	$         948,787
TOWN TOTAL	$    32,667,994
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT TOTAL	$    73,202,777
TOTAL GENERAL FUND	$105,870,771

 

 

President Dwyer asked if anyone wished to speak on any item or make any amendments.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BRADLEY, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR DWYER, TO MOVE THE $40,000.00 “TRAFFIC CALMING” LINE ITEM IN “TOTAL OTHER EXPENDITURES” ON PAGE 3 TO THE TOTAL GENERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER THE MAYOR’S OFFICE BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 6/1. Motion fails 6/1

 

Public hearing closed at 7:47pm.

 

Councilor Bradley and Solicitor Morris-Salvatore discussed what an administrative subdivision does.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE #20-12 BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 7/0

 

Solicitor Morris stated that the next item, #20-13Water Department budget, was incorrectly listed on the agenda posted on the Secretary of State’s website, and suggested postponing the second hearing and first vote for this item to the June 30, 2020 meeting.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILORS SHAW & KINCH, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO CONTINUE #20-13 TO JUNE 30, 2020 BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 7/0

 

After some discussion, it was determined the agenda was incorrect on the town website but properly posted on the Secretary of State’s site and could be heard.

 

2.  #20-13 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s Water Department for fiscal year 2020-2021 (Second Hearing and First Vote)

 

Public hearing opened at 7:56pm.

 

President Dwyer read the totals into the record:

 

WATER DEPARTMENT                          MAYOR’S

PROPOSED

FY 2020

REVENUE                                       

                             TOTAL                                         $   6,450,005  

 

                    EXPENDITURES

   TOTAL                                          $   6,450,005

 

Public hearing closed at 7:57pm.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE #20-13 BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 7/0

 

3.  #20-14 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s Sewer Department for fiscal year 2020-2021(Second Hearing and First Vote)

 

 Public hearing opened at 7:58pm.

 

SEWER DEPARTMENT                           MAYOR’S

PROPOSED

FY 2020

REVENUE                                       

                             TOTAL                                         $    589,827    

 

                      EXPENDITURES

    TOTAL                                          $     589,827

 

 

President Dwyer asked if anyone wished to speak in favor or against.

 

Public hearing closed at 8:00pm.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE #20-14 BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 7/0.

 

 

4.  #20-15 – An ordinance extending the suspension of funding to the Open Space Account (Presented by the Council President on behalf of the Administration)

 

Town Clerk Giovanelli commented that this ordinance had originally been presented with the number #20-12 and although advertised with the new number, required a vote to accept it under this new number.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILORS GEMSKI & KINCH, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE RENUMBERING OF THE FORMER #20-12 TO #20-15 BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 7/0.

 

Public hearing opened at 8:07pm.

 

Mayor Mutter stated that with the current budgetary constraints, it was necessary to reallocate any funds from this account to the general fund. 

 

President Dwyer asked if anyone wished to speak in favor or against.

 

Public hearing closed at 8:10pm.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 7/0.

 

NEW BUSINESS

A.  RESOLUTIONS:

1.  R-20-88 – A resolution authorizing Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to purchase a Kubota F Series Tractor in the amount of seventeen thousand, six hundred fifty-one and 49/100 ($17,651.49)

 

Public hearing opened at 8:10pm.

 

Mayor Mutter stated that this tractor was necessary for the Highway Department and would be used for mowing.

 

President Dwyer asked if anyone wished to speak in favor or against.

 

Public hearing closed at 8:11pm.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 7/0.

 

B.  ORDINANCES FOR PRESENATION AND PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE:

      1.  #20-16 – An ordinance relating to Municipal Mobile Food Establishment Permits (Presented by Council President on behalf of the Administration)

 

To be advertised and heard at a special Town Council meeting to be held on July 7, 2020 at 6:30pm via Zoom.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

President Dwyer paused at 8:22pm to allow members of the public to comments on any topic and resumed at 8:28pm.

Norah Barrows, 364 Pine Orchard Road, Chepachet, school psychologist at BF Norton and Cumberland High schools, spoke to the additional emotional stress due to the pandemic and the increased importance of counselors at the schools.

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR KINCH, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 8:29P.M.  VOTE 7/0

 

 

 

____________________________________

Sandra M. Giovanelli, Town Clerk

 

 

 

 

FOR A FULL ACCOUNT OF THIS MEETING PLEASE REFER TO THE VIDEO RECORDING ACCESSIBLE ON THE TOWN’S WEBSITE, www.cumberlandri.org.

ADDITIONALLY, THE DVD OF THE ENTIRE MEETING IS AVAILABLE AT THE EDWARD J. HAYDEN LIBRARY.