CITY OF WORCESTER | Finance Committee Meeting | Tuesday, June 11, 2019 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:14 P.M. | Recessed: 7:07 P.M.
Reconvened: 7:55 P.M.
Adjourned: 9:23 P.M. |
|
Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Susan M. Ledoux | Committee Members | | Chairperson Joseph M Petty | | Vice Chairperson Konstantina B Lukes | | Councilor Morris A Bergman |
| | Councilor Khrystian E King | | Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson | | Councilor Sarai Rivera | | Councilor Sean M Rose | | Councilor Gary Rosen | | Councilor George J Russell | | Councilor Kathleen M Toomey | | Councilor Matthew E Wally |
City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | All members were present with the Mayor as the Chair
except for Councilors Bergman, Lukes and Toomey. Councilor Lukes arrived at 5:18 P.M., Councilor Toomey arrived at 5:20 P.M. and Councilor Bergman arrived at 5:25 P.M.
City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
Chief Financial Officer Thomas F. Zidelis
City Auditor Robert V. Stearns
City Solicitor David M. Moore
City Clerk Susan M. Ledoux | | | | | Also: | Superintendent of Public Schools Maureen Binienda | | | |
| 1. | FY 2020 Budget Hearing Recessed - Worcester Public Schools | |
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| | | 1a. | Worcester Public Schools - VI-1, pg. 109
In Committee May 21, 2019 - Held
In Committee June 4, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools provide City Council with a report concerning the ratio of school adjustment counselors to students. (King) | | | | Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools provide City Council with a report detailing the information provided last October to the School Committee in regards to each school building’s enrollment projections, broken down by school, by grade and by classroom. (Lukes) | | | | | | | | Chairman's Resolutions | | | | That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby go on record in support the city administration’s plan and goal of allocating $100,000.00 additional monies to middle schools and an additional $30,000.00, when funds become available, to a freshman sports program. (King) | |
| 2. | FY 2020 Budget Hearing Held - Legislative Offices | |
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| | | 2a. | City Council - XIV-1, pg. 181
In Committee May 21, 2019 - Held
In Committee June 4, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion as to as to whether City Council has the jurisdiction to evaluate the City Council Secretary position. Further, request City Manager request City Solicitor include in said report information concerning City Council’s authority to provide oversight on the position. (Lukes) | | | | Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a report concerning the process for increasing the number of employees hired by City Council. (King) | | | | Request City Manager change the title of the position in the City Council budget from Secretary to the City Council to Staff Assistant to the City Council. (Rosen) | | | | Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a report concerning whether the City Council’s budget having a Staff Assistant position could be defined as a reorganization. (Lukes) | |
| 3. | FY 2020 Budget Hearings Held - Administration and Finance | |
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| | | 3a. | Administration and Finance - XVI-1, pg. 209
In Committee May 21, 2019 - Held
In Committee June 4, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
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| | | 3b. | Assessing - XVI-2, pg. 223
In Committee May 21, 2019 - Held
In Committee June 4, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
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| | | 3c. | City Energy and Asset Management - XVI-3, pg. 227
In Committee May 21, 2019 - Held
In Committee June 4, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
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| | | 3d. | Debt Service Principal and Interest - XVI-4, pg. 233
In Committee May 21, 2019 - Held
In Committee June 4, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
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| | | 3e. | Pension Obligation Bonds - XVI-5, pg. 237
In Committee May 21, 2019 - Held
In Committee June 4, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
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| | | 3f. | DCU Center - XVI-6, pg. 241
In Committee May 21, 2019 - Held
In Committee June 4, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report depicting how much revenue was generated from the DCU Center advertising. (Russell) | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether or not there are any non-DCU funds being utilized for any DCU expenditures, including debt services for the building, various different upgrades and equipment. (Russell) | | | | Request City Auditor provide City Council with details concerning the administrative fees shown in the independent audit of Discover Central Massachusetts that were paid to the Chamber of Commerce in the amounts of $264,148.00 and $273,533.00, including information regarding any outstanding liabilities as well. (Russell) | |
| 4. | FY 2020 Budget Hearing Held - Five Point Plan Funds | |
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| | | 4a. | Five Point Plan Funds - XVII-1, pg. 243
In Committee May 21, 2019 - Held
In Committee June 4, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| 5. | FY 2020 Budget Hearing Held - Line Item Budget | |
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| | | 5a. | Line Item Budget - XVIII-1, pg. 247
In Committee May 21, 2019 - Held
In Committee June 4, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| 6. | Fiscal Year 2020 Budget | |
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| | | 6a. | Communication of the City Manager regarding an Introduction of the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget for City Council deliberations to begin on May 14, 2019.
# 9.36B CM May 07, 2019
In Committee May 14, 2019 - Held
In Committee May 21, 2019 - Held
In Committee June 4, 2019 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Motion Petty @ #6a – As Chair of the City Council Standing Committee on Finance in accordance with Rule 33 ( e ) of the Rules of City Council, request City Council suspend its rules to take up the Report of the Committee on Finance Upon the Communication of the City Manager regarding an Introduction of the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget for City Council deliberations to begin on May 14, 2019, as presented by the City Manager and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance as Item #9.36B CM on the City Council agenda for May 7, 2019, along with related budget items pending before the Committee, at its meeting on June 18, 2019. - Motion approved on a voice vote.
Item #6a - Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 1 Nay (Nay - Lukes) | |
| 7. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 7a. | Recommending approval of the FY20 Capital Improvement Plan.
# 18a CC April 30, 2019
In Committee May 14, 2019 - Held
In Committee May 21, 2019 - Held
In Committee June 4, 2019 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 7b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the program costs of the residential street sweeping and leaf pick up programs.
# 7.26D CM June 04, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Motion King @ #7b – Request City Manager go back to providing courtesy services while completing the Spring Street Sweeping program at no additional cost. (King)
Councilor Russell moved for a roll call on Councilor King's motion.
Councilor King’s motion denied on a roll call vote of 5 Yeas and 6 Nays (Yeas – Bergman, King, Lukes, Mero-Carlson) (Nays – Rivera, Rose, Rosen, Toomey, Wally, Petty)
Recommend Refer to Public Works Committee | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Auditor review cost estimates for the spring street sweeping program, looking at possible sources of revenue that could be used to provide for debris pick up in the spring. (Lukes) | | | | Request City Manager recommend to the City Council how a full spring 2020 leaf pickup program can be funded and staffed. (Rosen) | |
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| | | 7c. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the inquiries posed by City Council regarding the FY20 budget for estimates of increases to taxes and fees, and information on the required votes by City Council to advance activities associated with the Urban Renewal Plan.
# 7.26C CM June 04, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 7d. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the allocation of funds for the Marketing Campaign listed in the Economic Development Office budget.
# 7.26B CM June 04, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 7e. | Transmitting informational communication relative to position changes in the FY20 budget.
# 7.26A CM June 04, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
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| | | 7f. | Transmitting an informational communication relative to responses to City Council Orders during the FY20 Budget Hearing sessions.
#9c CC June 11, 2019 | View Budget | | | | | | | Recommend File | |
| 8. | Communication of the City Auditor | |
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| | | 8a. | Transmitting an informational communication regarding the passage of time taken to develop the Madison Properties' effect on the timing of the receipt of revenues required to service Series A bonds.
# 8b CC June 04, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold | |
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