LIVE BLOG: Framingham Town Meeting Night 6

• If you missed last night, you can catch up by reading Framingham Patch's LIVE BLOG here.
• If you missed Night 4, you can click here the LIVE Blog here
  
• If you missed Night 3, you can read the LIVE BLOG here.
  
• If you missed Night 2, you can read the LIVE BLOG here.
  
• If you missed Night 1, you can read the LIVE BLOG here.

Editor's Note: Tonight is also game 4 of the Boston Bruins-Montreal series. I will update the score in the live blog.

Editor's Note: I am typing as people are speaking, so please excuse typos. I will try to fix in breaks or when Town Meeting adjourns.

***

7:40 p.m. There is a quorum.

Moderator is calling the meeting to order.

Moderator announcing that Subway is taking orders and will deliver sandwiches to Town Meeting members.

Standing committee re-organization will take place next Wednesday.

New assignments for these committees do not take effect until the conclusion of the Annual spring Town Meeting.

Moderator bringing up that a Town Meeting member was rude to a Town Employee. They deserve to be treated with respect.

Three issues on three nights says moderator.

7:45 p.m.

Moderator going over speaking limits - quoting the bylaw.

This does not apply to presentations or a sponsor of the article -they have 10 minutes and they can be extended in 10 minute segments with Town Meeting approval.

ELECTRONIC Question -- has spring finally coming?
1 for yes, 2 no and 3 for abstain.
76-11-13 - Town Meeting members believe spring has arrived

***

Articles 1-18 and 23 have been completed out of the 44 article warrant.

Starting back with article 19 -- budget discussion & voting

Moderator will allow general questions on the budget and then the pass list will be read.

Point of order -- Dennis Paulsen - public works did not give its report.

Moderator suggestion - chairs of committee pass on budgets to give their reports.

Moderator will allow up to 4 questions and 1 followup.

Town Meeting member Precinct 1 - TMM1 - Gerry Bloomfield -- questions and concerns -- somewhat sensitive to Town Meeting - overriding responsibility to people who elected me and whom I see on a daily basis.

Bloomfield -- not trying to be disruptive -- want to have information and look people in the eye and tell them why voted.

Remind people that Tip O'Neil said all politics is local.

We don't know how properties will be assessed - so we don't really know about our tax rate.

I assume we have money in the account - but not sure where that money is coming from.

In 2012/13 sold 600 homes -- average increase 10% -- explain please?

Editor's Note: No score in the Bruins game 6 minute in

CFO SPEAKING -- start with free cash - "it is neither free nor cash."
Free cash is the ending checkbook balance of our general fund.
It is fueled by the balance from the prior fiscal year and turnbacks from the department -- budgeted and did not use -- $2.2 million was given back - less than 1%

About 2 million in increased local revenues -- room and meal taxes and building permits -- plus excise taxes. - this is a good indicator that we are growing economically.

Prior year - balance - 2012 - had loan from state that did not close in time. That was almost $2 million. Free cash in 2012 would have almost a million dollars higher. And few cash in 2013 should have been about $2 million less.

$9.1 million - increase in local receipts, $2.2 million leftover, and $2 million in starting balance ... NOW we don't borrow money from the state.

why we have such a large number with free cash - it is not a bad thing - but it does not happen that way. -- CFO

Group insurance is a 3-year contract -- save about $17 million - have to give back almost $1 million for mitigation to employees. Employees will pay a bit more in health insurance, town will pay a bit less.
Remaining $17 million is shifting contribution from town to employees.
We think most of the employees will sign up for a PPO where they will pay 25% of their premium as opposed to the 16% they were paying now - CFO

Contract is for 3 years -- have to stay in group insurance commission for 3 years -- need to renegotiate again.

8 p.m.

Editor's Note: Sorry lost wi-fi connection at Town Hall. Needed to re-connect.

8:07 p.m. CFO still speaking.

Dennis Paulsen -- still has questions on the budget -- why has the Council On Aging budget increased by 8%?

Moderator asked Paulsen to pass on it.

Paulsen - CFO budget is up 17.5% - why?
Treasurer collector - 22% up - why?
veterans services - 11% up - why?

Why so many budget with high increases?? = Paulsen

CFO -- speaking -- every single piece -- salary or operating is in this document.

CFO explaining:
Council on Aging -- adding resources for an alzheimer's program
Board of health has a complete re-organization
CFO budget software needed

Did a million worth of service improvements for municipal departments -- CFO

Every single item is listed in this document - CFO - it was on the handout table and was in the background materials.

8:10 p.m. CFO will read the list of all budget items and Town Meeting members may pass on divisions. Those that are passed will have discussion before a vote.

8:14 p.m. Jim Pillsbury - TMM6 -- How many workers compensation per department?

Can I get that email? - Pillsbury
Moderator - answer is coming

Dolores Hampilton - HR -- we do keep an OSHA spreadsheet by department - I don't have that night

Moderator -- please email him

salary reserve budget line item - $447,259 - passed by Patrick Dunne

Point of order - Amy Weader - TMM4 -- why no vote on worker's compensation?

Moderator -- vote now on worker's compensation - hand vote - majority needed - it passed.

8;16 p.m.
Dunne speaking on salary reserve -- $447,259 -- is this for contracts? or step increases?

CFO -- speaking -- anticipated step increase in the individual budgets.
Still have the Framingham Police unsettled contract.

hand vote -- majority needed - passed - unanimous.

****
Retirement division read by CFO next -- 2 passes out of 3 items.

Gerry Bloomfield passed on retirement - $11.7 million
He is now speaking.

Shouldn't the retirement line item be hiring to cover the retires?
CFO speaking -- item called retirement - that covers municipal employees except teachers. - $11.783 million
It is not all of our employees.

State teachers retirement system - teachers in there ... CFO

Almost $4 million in retirement payments we pay each year plus a down payment of about $7.5 million for unfunded liability. That will fund our retirement system by 2030 fully.

Assumes certain level of retires and assumes certain years of service and assumes a certain salary. -- CFO

Flood of retirees we have talked about in police & fire department -- all of those are anticipated in this actual schedule says CFO.

8:22 p.m.
Harold Geller - TMM2 - speaking -- question to CFO
what is the current status of our unfunded pension?

CFO - as of last actual - 67% funded. still on schedule to be fully funded by 2030. Next evaluation is January 2015.

Editor's Note: after first period 0-0 in Bruins game.

8:23 p.m. Bob Bolles - TMM6 speaking -- does not include teachers?
CFO - yes
Bolles - "unbelievable."

TMM10 - Lloyd Kaye speaking - there is no such thing as unfunded liability

8:25 p.m. majority vote needed on retirement - hand vote - it PASSED - unanimous.

OPEB -- other post employee benefits -- Harold Geller passed on that line item in the budget - TMM2

unfunded liability - OPEB -- retiree health insurances - since the town going to GIC -- this should have a large reduction in our unfunded liability

CFO speaking - until we get the first year's results from GIC -- have no experience with group insurance. Should have some estimate - July 2015.

I do anticipate we will safe money on our unfunded liability with OPEB said the CFO --
in 2010 - $202 million unfunded
moved seniors to medicare
latest value - 2012 -- $184.5 million unfunded liability says CFO/

That is some great progress - CFO

8:28 p.m.

Brad Bauer - TMM12 - speaking -- questions of OPED
OPEB - contribution this year - $913,000
decision process - taking funds from free cash and allocate 2016 and 2017 vs putting in OPEB?

CFO speaking -- current OPEB valuation has an annual contribution --

8:30 p.m. Bond rating could be effected by the amount the town contribute to OPEB -- Massachusetts is one of the few states that requires the pension funding says CFO

Patrick Dunne - TMM9 - speaking - folllow questions based on CFO comments

Medicare -- might still have a few employees who did not have to make a contribution - schools may still not pay into medicare .. is that correct?

teachers as component -- CFO -- more of teaching population not eligible for medicare.

8:34 p.m. Majority vote needed - hand vote - it passed unanimously

Point of order - Mel Wahsaw - TMM7 - why no vote on the non passed items?

Vote on medicare/FICA - majority vote needed hand vote - it passed.

8:35 p.m. -- DEBT reading by CFO

CFO -- would like to do the bottom line for each division?
Moderator - agrees
Moderator - this is a work in progress

No passes -- majority vote -- hand vote -- it passed unanimous

8:36 p.m. FIRE budget now being discussed
Public safety committee report last night 10-0-0

CFO -- $13.5 million -- FIRE -- Pillsbury passed on the budget.

Jim Pillsbury - TMM6 -- I have been critical of abuse for overtime for public safety -in the past -- publicly say thank you to fire department for reducing overtime

Gerry Bloomfield - TMM1 - speaking -- liability of fire trucks leaving the town lines.

8:38 p.m.
Fire Chief speaking -- I don't believe there is any liability be it if the truck is in town or out of town.
May stop at Market basket coming back from an Ashland call

Bloomfield - follow up -- I want to know what the town policy is for non-fire issues with fire trucks out of town?
Full crew - in Market Basket from Ashland -- concern -- if an accident were to occur - when crew away from Framingham - what is the liability?

Fire chief speaking - trucks typically don't leave town ... this has been done before I was chief and while I have been chief for the last 6 years.

They are not running personal errands - they are picking up things for the station -- Chief says

Majority vote needed - hand vote - passed - unanimous

8:42 p.m.
POLICE budget
Committee reports - public safety was 8-0-0

CFO Reading Police list - passed 

Yael Steinsaltz - TMM11 -speaking - passed on the police vote
7 new police officers for FY15
$12.8 million
Generally police doing a great job
Town budget is a limited number -- compared to towns surrounding us

Motion to reduce police budget cost of the 7 new officers
need more money for the level 3 schools instead

YMM6 Jim Pillsbury speaking - asking question - do police officers tazer other police officers?

Chief ferguson -- yes

Pillsbury make motion to eliminate the policy due to lawsuit in another part of the country

Pillsbury makes a second motion no guns brought into standing committee meeting

Moderator will not accept the second motion

Point if order -- Brad Bauer -- why is moderator allowing motions will no financial issues?

Moderator says traditionally allowed and she will allow

Pillsbury - Framingham is not a hot bed of gang activity
We are a very peaceful community
Expand police drpartment does not make sense

William lebarge -- rise to oppose both motions

Editor's Note: Apologies - the wi-fi at Town Hall crashed again.

Mark McClennan TMM12 - rise to oppose both motions

Point of order - Joel Winett -- motion need dollar amount.

Moderator asks CFO for number - about $248,000

Motion to be amended says Moderator.

Susan Massad - TMM5 -- appreciate that this is a safe town - there was a comment that we don't have gangs - we have gang problems on both the north and south side. Gangs are around.

Gerry Bloomfield - TMM1 - speaking -- he said he passed - how many hours allowed for detail and still allow respond.

not more than 24 hours -- Town Manager Bob Halpin said.

Chief Ken Ferguson speaking -- 9:03 p.m. - extra officers -- increase staffing and patrol by 25% - enhance visability throughout the town - want you to feel safe.

develop relationship - very diverse place - underreporting
hoping to establish stronger relationship with residents
want more officers in the schools -- have 3 now - would like 5 total.

Like to have a dedicate traffic unit - preserntly only one assigned to traffic says chief.

opening a downtown station in cooperation with Framingham Downtown Renaissance

Bloomfield question - how can an officer work $80,000 in detail.

Point of order -- Joel Winett- move the question
Cooper -- move the question

Town Meeting member still wish to speak -- 5 still to speak.
2/3rd to move -- hand vote -- it passed

Point of order -- Winett -- amendment and resolution to be voted on.

Motion to reduce the police budget by the cost of 7 police officers -  hand vote - it fails - 10 were in favor.

Vote on police budget -- hand vote -- it passed - one hand in opposition.

9:08 p.m.

Resolution on tazers -- VOTE - non binding - hand vote
9 hands in favor -- it FAILS

Editor's note: why spend money for the electronic voting if hardly used? Town Meeting members your thoughts?

VOTE on police budget -- hand vote -- majority vote needed -- it PASSED - one in opposition

****
9:09 p.m. DPW budget read by CFO -- total budget - $9.7 million

pass on conservation commission budget - $162,811
TMM18 George Lewis - passed

Lewis is making a resolution for some of the money that is being proposed to create a seasonal trails clean up crew be used to clean up cedar swamp on the south side.

potential walking path from Waushakum Beach to Farm Pond on the south side.

area desperately needed to be reserved ... Lewis

Tmm15 Judith Grove speaking -- I abut this property

Cedar swamp is in poor condition

Editor's Note: wi-fi crashed again. Apologies. I may have to go to my personal hotspot, as this is the third time the Town of Framingham guest wi-fi has crashed

Ned Price - TMM17 -- speaking -- would like to support this motion.
Like to remind people this was school department property

Point of order -- Dennis Paulsen speaking - Conservation commission gave a presentation on many of the town's preservation lands. I was appauled by the photos shown by Lewis.

This is a modest budget -- seems hard to make them change their plans.
DPW Committee voted 8-0-0 to approve the conservation commission budget this year.

There is illegal dumping and someone should meet with conservation commission and or Peter Sellers director DPW.

Audrey Hall- TMM3 -- ask question -- town policy -- how often inspect conservation land? policy on taking action?

9:20 p.m. Editor's Note: 0-0 Bruins game after 2 periods.

Conservation staff -- when we are out on site visits - we pass by properties and inspect them - with the new seasonal crew - hope to clean up properties. I was at Cedar swamp today.

Ed Kross - speaking - TMM12 -- urge everyone to support  the resolution. If this program goes well - like to se the new program expanded in future years. Does wonder for high school/college kids. Great opportunity for them and great opportunity for the town.

Jeff Cox - TMM14 - speaking --refer amendment - as much as I appreciate the motion - I actually don't understand how this can be actualized?

Moderator -- will not accept as it is a non-binding resolution

TMM7 - Kevin Crotty speaking -- Historical footnote -- there was a junk yard on the north side of Cedar Swamp However, I don't know how much was cleaned out of the old junk yard - some were sinking in the sand. Don't know how bad it was.

Jake Bajakeian -- TMM11 -- two weeks ago attended the conservation commission - discussion on stearns-Brackett- meeting was run by  an FSU intern - meeting held on Western Ave. 
Was this a legal meetinga nd was there enough notice giveN?

Conservation commission speaking - it was not a conservation commission meeting. Commissioners were not up front. Not posted.

Town Manager Bob Halpin - will have a conversation with Conservatiion Commission if a quorum is present it should be posted.

9:30 p.m.

Town meeting member 16 - william Larbarge speaking -- rise in support of the resolution. Disturbed by the photos presented by Lewis. Mattresses on town property is a disgrace. I'll take my car and clean up tomorrow.

Kathie McCarthy - TMM10 -- speaking - rise in support of this
Service opportunities for teenagers -- don't need to get paid
Families and teens could do work.
opportunity to give back to the town.
This is not unique to this property

Town Manager Bob Halpin speaking - it is a good proejct -- learned about this two days ago - fits into vision of downtown -- generaly supportive - needs to be cleaned up -- this is a good project.
use project to create summer jobs for community.

Brian LeFort -- TMM3 - move the question - 2/3rd vote needed
3 people still want to speak
hand vote - PASSED

POINT OF ORDER - Jeff Cox -- TMM14 - doubting vote to move the question - wants electronic vote.

Point of order -- doesn't the TMM member need 7 people to question the vote.

Moderator believes 7 people would have stood so accepting it.

VOTE - electronically to move the question
9:36 p.m. 76-90-4 -- motion to move the question PASSES says moderator.

Hand vote on conservation budget  unanimous - it passed

9:37 p.m. vote on total DPW budget - hand vote -- unanimous passed

9:38 p.m. Lewis Resolution -- VOTE - hand vote - it passed unanimously

***
CFO will now read the Framingham Public Library budget -- $2.9 million

Passed - Dick Weader -- chair of the standing committee on education -- passed only to read he report.

5th biggest library system in Massachusetts in Framingham
new branch library design on 75% completion stage
Operating budget of $2.9 million
Additional summer hours

Standing committee voted 6-0-0 in favor of the budget.

9:41 p.m. 

Bob Bolles - TMM6 - ask a question about construction of the library - new design - is not condusive to long-term building in New England -- don't build flat roofs in New England. 

Majority voted needed - hand vote - it passed unanimous

***
Planning Board - $106,522 budget - CFO reading.
No passes - majority vote - it passed unanimous

Town Clerk Stipend -- $94,207 - no passes
Passed - hand vote - unanimous

Town Clerk elections -- $418,551 total - CFO read
No passes - hand vote - passed - unanimous

9:44 p.m.
General government - $3.2 million
No pass on Town Committees

Moderator suggested TMM who passed to go to a microphone

TMM6 -- Jim Pillsbury -- is government access channel under this budget line item?

CFO speaking -- no it is not.

Pillsbury - My apologies

Ted Anthony - TMM1 speaking -- two questions on this budget line item,
$612,255 -- budget for Selectmen & Town Manager

43% of properties are rentals - question?
properties -- nobscot Chapel, MAuliffe library in Pinefield - neither have parking and adjacent to large parking lots -- has Selectmen looked at maybe negotiating Pinefield and Noscot for some arrangement with parking?

9:48 p.m. Halpin speaking -- 43% comes out of the housing plan report.

Nobscot plaza - owner of shopping center did submitted a proposal for Nobscot Chapel -- Town declined to accept that proposal. Did not represent an advantageous offer.

Have not done an analysis on the McAuliffe Library branch - logical discuss to have - but have not had it yet.

Richard Paul - TMM7 -- speaking - I believe the McAuliffe library is zoned R-1 - can selectmen confirm that? What is plan for property in future.

Joel Winett - TMM7 - speaking -- heard information in the town report - is the purchase department now part of finance department. Reorganization needs town meeting approval.

CFO speaking -- purchase department is in the finance division according to bylaws.

9;52 p.m. Major vote - hand vote - it passed - 1 hand in opposition says moderator

Next -- legal budget -- $700,000
TMM14 - Jeff Cox -- does town of Framingham opening bid its legal services out? how often? town counsel? what is process and how Selectmen involved?

Halpin speaking -- procument of legal services -- not required by a bid -- RFP is done

Cox -- this is a fairly significant item for nt being bid. Not stating anything on the quality of legal services currently. $700,000 is a lot for a non bid item.

George Lewis - TMM18 - speaking -- get clarification on the word legal? Town Counsel? Does legal include other entities?

Far more money paid to town Counsel than the $700,000 - are there other legal not in this budget? - asked Lewis

If more than $700,000 needs to be divulged - Lewis
CFO Kelley speaking - there are some legal services - paid out of specific departments -- for example in assessing - have $45,000 contract for legal services - for specialized for appelate tax board, says CFO.

Resolution by Cox - that legal services be routinely bid.

Audrey Hall - TMM3 -- committee clarification of legal advice - question

Halpin speaking -- I believe Town Counsel policy is on line - it spells out that process.  There is a policy.

TMM16 William Labarge - move the question on legal services.
Non debatable - hand vote - passed - 2 in oppositions

VOTE On legal services -- $700,00 -- it passed - one in opposition - hand vote.

Resolution vote -- legal services - be routinely bid.

Point of order -- Norma Shulman on the resolution

Resolution -- hand vote -- moderator says it did not pass.

Motion on facilities management - TMM6 - passed on this.

Jim Pillsbury TMM6 - speaking
owe new facilities director -- making this meeting - no feedback and no screaching microphones -- Publicly thank the new facilities director.
Shows that the town does care.

Over the last 15 years - dedicated some of my life to POWMIA
donated flags - facilities department takes care of flying the flags 
Memorial Day coming -- have a beautiful flag pole -- like to make a resolution POW MIA flag -- 39 families in Massachusetts still waiting word on loved ones from Vietnam

Congressional approved - belongs on a building of this magnitude in the centerof town -- pay respect to families sent to war that have not come home.

Facilities fly MIA POW flag -- each day the america flag is flown. - Motion by pillsbury.

10:09 p.m.
Veterans Services -- Peter Harvell speaking - spent 18 years in special forces - spent most of adult life of POW/MIA -- this building recognizes Veterans and POWs.

And we have the POW/MIA flag flown in the Ablondi room. I am comfortable how we have the POW flags arranged in the memorial building. To fly additional flags would be in excess. I love flags.

Looking for volunteers for edgell grove cemetery -- May 17 flags ...

I am comfortable with the Framingham treats and respects its POW MIA issue.

I don't think an additional flag is needed.

10:11 p.m. Pillsbury speaking -- thanks the Veterans agent for service to this country - on memorial day there is not a flag flying on this memorial.

The fire department does not fly POW MIA day.
We will never forget. Asking for flag to fly on POW MIA day.

VOTE on budget - facility management - hand vote -- it passed

10:12 p.m. Pillsbury resolution - non binding
Moderator in doubt of the vote - asking for second vote electronically

Electronic vote -- 54-26-11 -- it passed

Moderator I'll willing to keep going -- 

10:15 p.m. Bruins are headed to OVERTIME

MOTION TO ADJOURN - it PASSED

Town Meeting will resume on Tuesday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Editor's Note: Bruins won in OT - series now tied 2-2.

Editor's Note: Updated at 6:48 a.m. to fix Town Meeting member names and several typos.