MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2015 AT 6:30 P.M.

CUMBERLAND TOWN HALL, EVERETT “MOE” BONNER, JR. COUNCIL CHAMBERS

45 BROAD STREET, CUMBERLAND

OPEN SESSION

 

The regular meeting was called to order at 6:37 p.m. by President Dwyer   

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

President Dwyer, Councilors Bradley, Call-Fregeau, Lambi, Schmitt, Scullin, and Shaw

 

Also present—Mayor William Murray and Town Clerk Sandra Giovanelli

 

OLD BUSINESS:

A.  ORDINANCES – FIRST PUBLIC HEARING:

 

Antonio DiManna, Jr., Principal of the B.F. Norton School, spoke about his vision for the school and the topic of “Closing the Achievement Gap”; he used a Powerpoint presentation to present various facts and figures.

 

Christopher Scott, Assistant Principal of the McCourt Middle School, spoke about the growth occurring at that school.  He also showed a Powerpoint presentation.   

 

Dr. Jason Masterson, Principal of McCourt Middle School, introduced students Jackie Carroll, one of the top five finalists in Governor Raimondo’s essay contest for what she would do as Governor for a day, Anastasia Soares, a member of National Junior Honor Society, Michael Swerdlow, another member of the National Junior Honor Society as well as President of the chapter, Maggie MacDonald, also a National Junior Honor Society member, Chris Iwuc, and Elizabeth Pickering, and Julianna Carbonic, who is also the Vice President of the National Junior Honor Society chapter.  These students shared in a presentation showing the capabilities of their new Chrome Books using Google Classroom. 

 

President Dwyer explained that no votes will be taken tonight, and also that anyone wishing to speak will be heard.  This meeting is for public input, and the next meeting, to be held on June 1^st, will be the first vote.  The second vote will be taken at the regularly scheduled Town Council meeting on June 3^rd. 

 

Mayor Murray noted that the Chrome Books are working, and after this budget is approved the Town will be giving close to $1 million to purchase Chrome Books for all middle and high school students.  He is aware of the importance of our schools, but is limited with funds; he stands behind his statement that there will not be a tax increase, and there will not be one this.  He will work very hard with school officials; they have already been able to find approximately $500,000 in possible savings to the schools that will allow them to continue with some of the items on their “hit list.”  Amendments will be put forth Monday in order to allow the Town to do this. 

 

Finance Director Brian Silvia explained some possible savings scenarios presented to the school administration today, which included possibly becoming self-insured with regard to dental coverage, providing an HSA program for health coverage as an option for coverage; the Town will place funds in a contingency fund for use in the event expected savings are not realized. 

 

Mayor Murray pointed out areas discussed with the school administration.  A five to seven year plan was discussed and they are looking for residents to work on the team.  He informed that the Town will support a $5 million health and safety plan, sharing the cost with the schools. Additionally, the Town will have a seat in future negotiations for contracts.  He and Dr. Thornton will be working with BVP personnel for the benefit of all children in Cumberland.   The Town will continue to support the school in issues such as snow removal, ground maintenance, etc. 

 

Dr. Philip Thornton, School Superintendent, spoke about the effects this $500,000 would have.  He would recommend that the Grade 5 band program, middle school sports, Community School assistant principal position, the cut in high school sports allocation, one high school math teacher, one high school interventionist, one new interventionist for B.F. Norton School, and one reading interventionist at McCourt.  He noted that more funds are needed, however, to continue the progress being made. 

 

1.  #15-08 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s General Fund for Fiscal Year 2015-16

 

Public hearing was opened at 7:33 p.m.

 

Councilor Schmitt noted that a compromise had been reached between the Town and the School Department.  He thought this was a good solution; it will make voluntary the HSA program for the schools, and the Town will guarantee that the schools will save $500,000+; if they cannot, the Town will reimburse them for whatever savings are not realized.  This will result in many programs being restored.  He commended the Mayor for presenting this plan. None of the parties are completely satisfied, but everyone must work together.  Additionally, payments to BVP are not an issue with BVP, but rather with the State, as it is a state mandate. 

 

President Dwyer read the General Revenue figures reflected in the proposed budget into the record. 

 

Herbert Ordonez, of 67 Hope Street, objected to the budget because he did not know if it was going to support what the schools need. 

 

Cheryl Webster, of 21 Tallyho Road, who is also the speech pathologist for McCourt Middle School, had concerns about how the proposed cuts will affect her students.  She also spoke about the fact that the school did not comply with the ADA accessibility law. 

 

Jeff Mutter, of 22 Clark Street, asked for an explanation of the changes made to the levy sheet. 

 

Mr. Silvia explained that the changes were a result of an error in the levy increase. 

 

Mr. Mutter asked if any of the surplus amount of $651,115 would be spent; Mr. Silvia responded that he thought all of it will be. 

 

Mr. Mutter suggested that impact fees could possibly fund some items within the School Department’s budget; he also noted that there was a transfer to the Recreation Department to fund it, but that there is a surplus there, so that could possible be sent to the School Department. 

 

Mr. Silvia responded Kelley Morris had looked into the impact fees, and she felt that they could only be used by the School Department for funds going towards the 2010 Wellness Center and expenses related to that; currently, some are being used for debt service payments for that building.

 

Councilor Lamb noted that the school budget calls for $1.2 million in capital improvements, and they must set the priorities for those funds, such as becoming ADA compliant; additionally, it has $3.8 million in surplus funds, which can be used for capital improvements.  There has been an $11 million in taxes collected since 2010; of those funds, $4 million has been put into the schools.  He noted that the School Department has asked for more funds than allowed by law, but the Town Council is only allowed to give a 4 percent increase under state law; the Town Council has given the maximum amount in the past few years. The Town is sure that the School Department will save approximately $550,000 by the changes suggested, and if it does not, the Town will reimburse them that amount at the end of the year. 

 

Celeste Dyer, Library Director, spoke about Library Receipts.  She noted that grant and aid has been level funded sine 2008, and it is a percentage based on the Town appropriation.  Because the Town has level funded for several years, grant and aid has remained stagnant. 

 

Councilor Lambi noted that in 2010, the School Department was spending about $49.2 million, and State aid that year was $11 million; this year, that line in the budget is $16.7 million; the State only is increasing their aid by a certain amount, and the Town can only max out its contribution increase at $1.5 million. 

 

Dr. Thornton spoke regarding funding and revenue; the Town is still the lowest funded in the State. 

 

Councilor Lambi noted for the record that the fringe benefit line included full funding for the ARC contribution for the police pension as well as their lifetime health insurance promise.  The newly negotiated contract has reduced that contribution from $6 million to $3 million. 

 

Library Director Celeste Dwyer spoke with regard to the Library Expenditures; she asked the Council to give back the $6,447 that was lost in state grant and aid because of the level funding these past few years. 

 

President Dwyer informed the public that there is also maintenance of effort requirement with regard to the library.  Ms. Dyer noted that if the Town increases its allocation the State will also increase its allocation. 

 

Councilor Lambi informed that he will be proposing an increase in the amount of $6,500 for the library, and asked the Mayor to suggest an account those funds could come out of. 

 

President Dwyer noted that all amendments were being held until the next meeting.

 

Steve Gordon, of 9 Menard Street, Cumberland, spoke regarding the Total School Department figure.  He did not support changing to a part-time Athletic Director or cutting programs.  He supports the School Administration and thought they have done a phenomenal job, and he applauded the Mayor for finding the savings and working towards compromise. 

 

Herbert Ordonez, of 67 Hope Street, asked about the surplus; he thought the School Department had no money, and now he has found out they have a surplus.  The Town Council must support the development of our children because without education, they will not go anywhere. 

 

Councilor Lambi confirmed that the School Department does have a $3.8 million surplus based on the most recent audit.  He noted that the Town has funded to the maximum allowed by State law for the past two years.  The Town has really stepped up for the past four years.

 

Alex Prignano, Business Manager for the School Department, informed that there is a $3.8 million surplus, and they plan to use about $1.2 million of that in the current budget.  He stated that a surplus should be used for one-time bills, not recurring bills.  The Town has a $14 million, which is about 12 percent of their current budget; the School Department’s is about 2-4 percent, a much lower amount.   Once their surplus is 4 percent, every dollar will be used for capital improvements, thus saving the Town money on potential bond interest. 

 

Katie McIntosh of 119 Sleepy Hollow Drive and Ali Mowry of 140 Carlson Drive, freshman at Cumberland High School, spoke against the cuts in sports. 

 

Abby O’Connor, of 45 David Street, an 8^th grader at Cumberland Middle School, spoke of the benefits of sports to students, and spoke against the sport cuts. 

 

Councilor Lambi noted that this points and comments need to be at the School Committee meetings; the Town cannot tell the School Department how to spend the funds. He will make sure that sports and the band are not cut. 

 

Benjamin Drezek of 34 Waumsett Avenue, a sophomore at Cumberland High School; he asked that the Council and the School Department work together.  He spoke against delaying the start time, but asked that sports or arts not be cut; these are things that are very important to the students. 

 

Mayor Murray pointed out that the Administration had just saved sports and arts; he is confident that the Council will agree to the amendments on Monday. 

 

Alex Prignano stated that it is not correct that the Town can only increase its contribution by 4 percent—State law does allow a larger percentage. 

 

Mr. Silvia responded that the School Committee is capped at requesting no more than a 4 percent increase, and they have asked for 6.7 percent.  He explained that the Town can give more if they so choose, but the schools cannot ask for more than 4 percent.  The budget before the Council is not in compliance with that as they are asking for a 6.7 percent increase. 

 

Nancy DiSalvo of 31 Bourque Road asked for money as she is not a member of the School Committee governed by this law. 

 

Councilor Lambi stated that they are tiptoeing around several rules, one of which is that the Town is only allowed to increase its total levy by more than 4 percent by state law. 

 

Councilor Shaw explained that the Town Council does have the authority to present a motion to raise taxes; if it were to tax up the cap to 3 percent, the amount of increased funds would be $751,839.  It is difficult to consider raising taxes when many residents will also be seeing a huge increase in their fire taxes.  

 

Tara Stevens of 15 Steer Road noted that some departments had asked for 20-30 percent increases in their budget from last year, and asked how that could be justified; increasing the school budget will have a greater impact overall on property values. 

 

Councilor Lambi explained that there have been cuts to other departments, and the Town budget has only increased $27,881. 

 

Mr. Silvia noted that the police have been understaffed for several years and they are slowing bringing up that number; the highway department will be purchasing new equipment with a master lease or surplus funds, neither of which will affect taxes. 

 

Johna Cutlip of 17 Buckboard Drive asked why the Town could not make up for the years it did not give a 4 percent increase. 

 

Councilor Lambi noted that over the past six years the Town has asked a lot of its taxpayers; the school budget has increased from $50 million to $62 million very quickly. 

 

Heather Lacey of 25 Tingley Drive wanted to go on record that she would pay more taxes in order to fund the schools.

 

Jodi Lamagna of 2175 Mendon Road has watched as the schools have undergone a turnaround under Dr. Thornton’s leadership.  She found it hard to believe that the schools were being asked to cut back on two math teachers and three science teachers as these are core subjects.  Students must pass their core subjects before they play sports, yet sports are being saved. Boosters can be found to help with the cost of sports, but not for the cost of teachers.   

 

David Caruso of 8 Douglas Drive stated that he is taxed enough and that he appreciated that the Council was looking out for him. 

 

Representative James McLaughlin encouraged the public to attend state hearings so that they will be heard on a state level regarding fair funding and state aid. 

 

Dr. Thornton read off the increased amounts allocated from the Town to the School Department for 2011 on, and also how the increases were affected by charter school tuition payments. 

 

Councilor Lambi stated that the Town has to figure out how to manage two school districts within one; charter school tuition is $3 million a year.  Charter schools are here to stay, so the school district must become more competitive.

 

Rosanna Chiang of 38 Windsong Road asked if there are still conversations being held regarding compromise; she asked the Council and the Mayor to meet to go through every item in the budget to find more funds. 

 

Dr. Thornton questioned Councilor Lambi’s statement that the Town has increased its school allocation by the max for several years; from 2011-2014, it was only in 2014 that there was a maximum increase. 

 

Jeff Mutter understood the pressure that charter schools add, but he asked everyone to remember that they are members of the community also.  He suggested that there are a few moves that can be made that can make a difference in the budget—he asked the Council to remain open to the possibility that the two sides can get closer.  He asked them to keep an open mind. 

 

Jeanne Gomes, 45 Howe Street stated that our students need the education that will make them competitive; she asked the Council to keep an open mind about finding more funds. 

 

Rich Beaulieu of 196 Hines Road stated that the Council are elected to represent everyone in their districts—business owners ,elderly, parents of students, etc.—and there are a lot of challenges, such as the schools, underfunded pension obligations, poor roads, etc.  He suggested have a different tax rate for the elderly and businesses, and one for those who do not fall into those categories. Creative thinking is needed to solve these problems as they only get bigger each year.   

 

Mr. Silvia informed that the Town does offer a senior exemption and a veteran exemption, and it also does not have a commercial rate, which he considers to be extremely valuable to businesses within the Town.  He noted that the funds that they are allocating to the school represent 67 percent of the total Town budget; additionally, the Town funds over $4 million in debt service for the schools.  Between last year and the coming year, the Town will be funding nearly $1 million to put Chrome Books on every student’s desk in the middle school and high school, as well as partnering with the schools on the $5 million health and safety upgrades. 

 

Councilor Schmitt spoke of the art of compromise, and the necessity of realizing that there are people struggling throughout this Town.  He planned to look into an optional tax for those who are interested. 

 

Marna Whitworth of 43 Newell Drive stated that if our children are educated, they will stay in Cumberland and house values will go up.  She was not opposed to raising taxes for the children.

 

Chandler Beaulieu of 196 Hines Road, a recent graduate of Cumberland High School, asked the Council to equip the students to do well in schools such as the one he attends. 

 

Public hearing was closed at 9:55 p.m.

 

2.  #15-09 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s Water Department for Fiscal Year 2015-16

 

President Dwyer informed that Superintendent Champi was not able to attend; Mayor Murray suggested the Councilors call Mr. Champi on Monday if they have any questions regarding the budget. 

 

Public hearing was opened at 9:57 p.m.

 

President Dwyer read the figures into the record. 

 

 Councilor Lambi noted that this budget includes $13 million in required capital requests from various departments. 

 

Mayor Murray informed that priorities have been set by the department heads for these requests.  He has completed a list of roads that need to be repaired and will supply it to the Council.

 

Mr. Silvia informed that the Mayor established a five-year forecast for capital to be used by the department heads.  He will supply the information regarding the funding of the capital to the Councilors.

 

Public hearing was closed at 10:04 p.m.

 

3.  #15-10 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s Sewer Department for Fiscal Year 2015-16

 

President Dwyer read the figures into the record.

 

Public hearing was opened at 10:05 p.m.

 

Brian Silvia explained the interest expense line item as interest charged to the Sewer Fund when it borrows cash from the General Fund.  Additionally, the contingencies line item is for unforeseen expenses.  He also explained the source of several revenue items at the request of Councilor Scullin.

 

Public hearing was closed at 10:09 p.m.

 

4.  #15-11 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s Recreation Special Revenue for Fiscal Year 2015-16

 

Public hearing was opened at 10:10 p.m.

 

There was a discussion regarding the amount of revenue estimated due to competition from other programs; the program will be held this year to see how it does financially, and then a decision will be made as to whether it will be continued next year.

 

Public hearing was closed at 10:15 p.m.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCULLIN, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 10:16 PM.  VOTE 7/0.

 

 

 

                                                                                    ___________________________________

Sandra M. Giovanelli, Town Clerk

 

 

FOR A FULL ACCOUNT OF THIS MEETING PLEASE REFER TO THE AUDIO 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.