1. CALL TO ORDER

Council President deMedeiros called the meeting to order at 10:50 a.m.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

3. ROLL CALL

Members present: Council President deMedeiros, Council Edwards, Councilor Janick, Councilor Cook, Councilor

Perry and Councilor Vieira. Council Vice-President Burk was delayed a few minutes due to Internet issues.

Town Administrator Cotta, Fire Chief Reimels, Chief of Police Jones, Treasurer Saurette and Town Clerk Chabot were also present.

4. OPEN SESSION

A. Overall Discussion, Review, and Potential Preliminary Votes on FY 2021/2022 Budget, including individual line items and capital expenses as previously submitted by Town Administrator,

Including not limited to:

a. Town Sergeant

b. Tax Sale

c. Insurance

d. Audit of Town Accounts

e. Pension Plans

f. OPEB

g. Social Security

h. Unemployment Security

i. Unfunded Liability

j. Municipal Court

Council discussed the above items. Motions made as follows:

Councilor Cook motioned to approve Town Sergeant of $1,000, seconded by Councilor Janick. The motion passed 6-1 with Councilor Vieira opposed.

Councilor Janick motioned to approve Tax Sale of $2,000, seconded by Councilor Vieira. The motion unanimously passed.

Councilor Cook motioned to approve Insurance of $3,154,000, seconded by Councilor Burk. The motion unanimously passed.

Councilor Burk motioned to approve Audit of Town Accounts of $25,000, seconded by Councilor Edwards. The motion unanimously passed.

Town Administrator Cotta adjusted the Employee Special Retirement (F/F) from $8,500 to $8,000, thereby reducing the Pension Plans Account 2220 total amount to $1,409,174.

Councilor Vieira motioned to approve Pension Plans of $1,409,174, seconded by Councilor Burk. The motion unanimously passed.

Councilor Edwards motioned to approve OPEB Budget Total of $100,000, seconded by Councilor Perry. The motion unanimously passed.

Councilor Cook motioned to approve Social Security of $600,000, seconded by Councilor Edwards. The motion unanimously passed.

Councilor Vieira motioned to approve Unemployment Security of $15,000, seconded by Councilor Cook. The motion unanimously passed.

Councilor Janick motioned to approve Unfunded Liability of $100,000, seconded by Councilor Vieira. The motion unanimously passed.

Councilor Vieira motioned to approve Municipal Court of $18,500, seconded by Councilor Perry. The motion unanimously passed.

B. Discussion and Potential Vote on FY 2021/2022 Revenue Estimates

Council reviewed the FY22 revenue estimates. It was noted that estimates for the power plant Account 4113 and Recreation Account 4779 were not available. General Fund number is zeroed as unknown at this time. A meeting will be needed when final figures are available. No vote taken.

C. Discussion on Estimated % Increase based on Preliminary Budget/Revenue Votes

Council had a discussion on the % increase in overall budget and the need to reduce preliminary budget further.

D. Discussion, Review, and Potential Preliminary Votes on Overall FY 2021/2022 Budget

Council discussed the need for TFD two rotator firefighter positions. Law is in effect now but will not impact Tiverton until IAFF contract expires in June 2022.

Councilor Cook motioned to remove Rotator Firefighter (2) of $118,607, seconded by Councilor Vieira.

Council discussed further to include an increase in the Overtime account in the motion.

Councilor Cook motioned to amend motion to include $25,000 increase in the Overtime account 3310-5104, seconded by Councilor Vieira. Vote on this amendment unanimously passed.

Main motion as amended was restated: motion to remove Rotator Firefighter (2) of $118,607 and to add $25,000 to the Overtime account 3310-5104. Vote on amended motion passed 5-2, with Councilor Burk and Councilor Perry opposed.

Town Administrator Cotta will review other account reductions due to removing the two rotator firefighters and have for the next meeting.

Town Clerk Chabot asked for feedback from the Council on the need for the Financial Town Referendum (FTR) Account 1100-6995 to be separate from the Elections Account 1030-6329. After a brief discussion, Councilors had no objections to combining the FTR into the Elections Account.

Town Administrator Cotta recommended removing $10,000 Zoom and IT Services from Town Administrator Account 1120 Budget.

Councilor Burk motioned to remove Zoom and IT Services of $10,000, seconded by Councilor Edwards. The motion unanimously passed.

Council discussed Municipal Capital and Capital Improvement requests and want to remove all capital, except for $100,000 For Fire truck and $15,000 Library Capital Request.

Council discussion continued for any other items that could be reduced.

Councilor Burk motioned to reduce Tree Removal Account 5540-6597 from $15,000 to $10,000, seconded by Councilor Janick. The motion unanimously passed.

Councilor Burk motioned to reduce Minor Equipment Replacement Account 5540-6648 from $110,800 to $90,000, seconded by Councilor Perry. The motion unanimously passed.

Councilor Cook motioned to reduce Snow Removal Account 5540-6451 to $50,000, seconded by Councilor deMedeiros.

Council discussed Snow Removal expenses in previous couple of years and requested costs over past 10 years for the next meeting.

Councilor Cook withdrew the motion pending further information.

Council discussed Account 3310-7322 Firefighter Personal & Protective Gear that went from $11,000 to $18,000. This could be related to the two rotator firefighters and will review at next meeting.

For Municipal Capital changes mentioned above, motion was made as follows:

Councilor Perry motioned to remove $237,304 from Municipal Capital, by removing the following items:

TPD telephone recording system for $7,304

TPD Server redundancy and RMS for $20,000

Tax Collector -software upgrade collections/assessor for $40,000

Stormwater/Drainage Infrastructure (non-road) for $15,000

Recycling Center Construction for $125,000

Town Hall - Repairs/Renovations for $10,000

DPW Main Building Repairs for $10,000

Senior Center Renovation for $10,000

Seconded by Councilor Burk. The motion unanimously passed.

E. Planning for future FY 2021/2022 Budget Reviews

Next meeting will be April 19, 2021 at 7:00PM. Agenda Item A will include Fire Department and DPW update/review. Items B, C and D as above and a new item for Resolutions. Town Clerk will provide copy of previous year’s Resolutions to Councilor for review.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

Councilor Perry motioned to adjourn, seconded by Councilor Edwards. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

For full discussion of this special meeting, please refer to the video.

A True Copy.

ATTEST_________________________

                 Joan B. Chabot, Town Clerk