Monthly Archives: April 2011

emails re details of proposed new DPW garage

Posted on April 22, 2011 | Comments Off on emails re details of proposed new DPW garage

4/21/2011  5:35PM
RE: FW: Cost of building, Block vs. Metal
To “Ken Feeney” Michael Sullivan  Kristine Trierweiler
===========================================================
Ken,

Thanks for the info

Questions still outstanding –
1 – can I get a set of the plans?  Are the plans on-line for the residents to see?
2 – I thought I counted 34 parking places on the plan that was projected on the wall at the last meeting.  Are there two vehicles parked per bay?
3 – will DPW be giving up its offices in the Town House after the garage is built?
4 – can I get a list of the vehicles that the town is looking to garage?

Thanks

Best,
Pete
Osler L. Peterson, Attorney at Law
PETERSON | Law
580 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458
66 North St, PO Box 358, Medfield, MA 02052
T 617.969.1500
T 617.969.1501 (direct)
M 508-359-9190
F 617.663.6008
osler.peterson@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/osler.peterson/
Medfield Information at: FB, https://medfield02052.wordpress.com/ & http://twitter.com/Medfield

—– Original Message —–
From: “Ken Feeney”
To: “‘Osler L. Peterson'”
Sent: 4/21/2011 4:55PM
Subject: RE: FW: Cost of building, Block vs. Metal

Hi Pete,
The garage has 18 parking bays, 1 truck wash bay and 3 mechanics bays with 2 truck lifts. That makes a total of 22 bays.
The Superintendent and three Foremen take vehicles home.
We have forty major pieces of equipment.
Block heaters are huge consumers of electricity and I would worry that they may cause a fire and their longevity would not be good.
Block heaters would not help the hydraulic systems or air brakes on the trucks.
The new truck wash will help to take care of any corrosion problems that we might encounter.
The building committee took a long hard look at the size and decided to go with the design that you see.
They took into consideration future needs and that the school maintenance department will be moving in.
In the office area, we are allowing space for plan storage from the Town Hall freeing up some of the clutter in their storage area.
The town server will be moved to the new facility helping Town Hall free up a meeting room.
The new office space will have a conference room to accommodate various committee meetings.
A space is set aside for the backup radio system for police and fire.

Ken

—–Original Message—–
From: Osler L. Peterson [mailto:osler.peterson@verizon.net]
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 4:46 PM
To: Michael Sullivan; Ken Feeney
Subject: RE: FW: Cost of building, Block vs. Metal

Ken,

Thanks for that cost comparison data.

Some more of the questions I still need answered include the following:
1 – Do we really need 34 bays?  How many vehicles are we looking to house?  Can we have fewer bays where employees drive many vehicles home at night?
2 – Should we be heating the bays or would plug in block heaters work equally well (I understand one gets less vehicle corrosion in garages that are not heated)?
3 – Has the size of the building been pared down as much as possible?

Can you email me a set of plans to review?

Thanks.

Best,
Pete
Osler L. Peterson, Attorney at Law
PETERSON | Law
580 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458
66 North St, PO Box 358, Medfield, MA 02052
T 617.969.1500
T 617.969.1501 (direct)
M 508-359-9190
F 617.663.6008
osler.peterson@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/osler.peterson/
Medfield Information at: FB, https://medfield02052.wordpress.com/ & http://twitter.com/Medfield

—– Original Message —–
From: “Michael Sullivan”
To: “‘Osler L. Peterson'” , , “‘Mark Fisher'” , “‘Tim Bonfatti'”
Sent: 4/20/2011 4:29PM
Subject: FW: Cost of building, Block vs. Metal

FYI. Below are the comparative costs for the masonry block vs. metal panel siding. Mike Sullivan

From: Vaughan Totovian [mailto:vtotovian@HNTB.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 1:50 PM
To: ‘Ken Feeney’; ‘Mike Sullivan’
Cc: Mohammad Saleemuddin
Subject: Cost of building, Block vs. Metal

Ken,

As per our phone conversation, Mohammad provided me with the cost estimates you requested.

Steel frame, metal panel siding:                           $5,872,000.00
Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) Block Siding:     $6,137,000.00

Results in a savings of $265,000.00 for construction cost. However, metal siding will require more maintenance and is less durable and may end up costing more over the life of the building.

These are in late 2008/early 2009 dollars.

Regards,
Vaughan Totovian, PE
Project Manager
HNTB Corporation
31 St. James Avenue, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02116
Direct: 617-532-2294

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Posted in Budgets, Information

Mike Sullivan email to Patch explains cost of two overrides

Posted on April 22, 2011 | Comments Off on Mike Sullivan email to Patch explains cost of two overrides

The average cost of a house in Medfield, according to the Assessor’s office is $564,400. The first full year of the debt service on a $10 million bond issue for the town garage is estimated at $900,000 ($500,000 principal and $400,000 interest) This would result in a $0.40 increase in the tax rate which would amount to an increase of $225.76 on the average home. Anyone who want to figure it on their own home can just divide their property valuation by 1,000. and multiply that amount by $0.40. For example, for a house assessed for $500,000 the tax impact would be $500,000/1,000 or 500 X $0.40 = $200. This would decrease by a small amount each successive year, because the interest payment would be decreasing and after the bonds were paid off (twenty years) it would disappear from the tax levy.

The budget operating override is estimated at $500,000. This would result in $0.22 increase in the fy12 tax rate which would amount to an increase of $124.17 on the average home($564,400). Anyone who wants to figure it on their own home can just divide their property valuation by 1,000. and multiply that amount by $0.22. For example, for a house assessed for $500,000 the tax impact would be $500,000/1,000 or 500 x $0.22 = $110. The last operating override was approved by the voters in 2008 for use in fy2009. The amount of that operating override was $850,000. There were no operating overrides voted in 2009 or 2010.  Unlike a debt exclusion override, which disappears when the bonds are paid off, an operating override becomes part of the tax levy base.

The debt service payments on existing town debt have been going down for several years and will continue to go down. At peak in fy2005 the Town’s debt annual debt service payments were $7,399,265. For next year, fy12, the Town’s annual debt service payments will be $5,685,266. This is a decrease of $1,713,999 or 23.2%.  In five more years the this figure will go down to $4,095,788, a further decrease of $1,589,478 or 21.5%, as the bonds on the library, town hall, 92 high school renovation and other capital projects are paid off. In addition, the Town has more than $20 million in School Building Assistance reimbursements and sewer betterment assessment revenues, with which to pay off this debt. As of June 30, 2011 the outstanding principal on Town debt will be $40,308,906 and the outstanding interest will be $9,718,089 for a total outstanding principal and interest of $50,026,995. Principal is being paid off at a rate of just over $4,000,000/year.   As a result, the Town is in a good position address its future capital needs.

Time to go home. Mike Sullivan

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Posted in Budgets, Information

$10 m. DPW Garage

Posted on April 15, 2011 | Comments Off on $10 m. DPW Garage

Warrant Committee and the Board of Selectmen attended the meeting last night of the Medfield Building Committee, at which the proposed new  $10 m. DPW garage was the topic of discussion.  The Building voted to endorse funding the new DPW garage at the annual town meeting (ATM) on 4/25/11.

I told those in attendance what I told Mike Sullivan a couple of weeks ago when he first told me that the Warrant Committee was suggesting that the town fund the garage at the ATM. namely that I know we need a new DPW garage, but that I have not seen enough information yet to know that this is the size and scope of the garage that is required and/or that we need to spend $10 m.  There was nothing at the meeting last night that got me any closer to knowing that this is the right garage at the right price.

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Posted in Budgets

DLS Alerts email this afternoon

Posted on April 15, 2011 | Comments Off on DLS Alerts email this afternoon

On April 14, 2011, the Senate approved a resolution declaring its intent to fund Chapter 70 and Unrestricted General Government Aid at levels not less than the amounts appearing in the House Ways and Means Committee’s budget

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Posted in Budgets

Weekly Political Report – Week Ending April 15, 2011

Posted on April 15, 2011 | Comments Off on Weekly Political Report – Week Ending April 15, 2011

Week Ending April 15, 2011

House Committee on Ways and Means Releases Budget

On Wednesday, the House released its $30.45 billion FY2012 budget, following the release of the Governor’s recommended FY2012 budget in January. The House’s budget attempts to close a $1.9 billion gap between spending and revenues but does not include any new taxes. To help close the budget gap, financial aid to municipalities was reduced by 7%. In addition, the budget contains an outside policy section which would give municipalities more control to design health insurance plans, including setting co-payments and deductibles, which would be exclusive from collective bargaining. The goal of the proposal is to offset local aid cuts by giving cities and towns a health care cost savings measure that House leaders have valued at upwards of $100 million.  Public employee unions are ardently opposing this proposed change. The House is set to begin debate of the budget the week of April 25th.  Amendments to the budget are due by 5pm today.

Expanding Gaming Hearing Date Set for May 4th

The Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies this week set a hearing date to consider bills that would expand gambling in the state. Bills heard will range from proposals to bring destination resort casinos and slot parlors to the Commonwealth to other means of generating new gambling revenue for Massachusetts.  Although the House and Senate and Governor were generally in agreement about authorizing casinos in the state before the end of last session, the issue of whether slot machines should be allowed at the state racetracks ultimately derailed the bill’s final passage.

A poll this week by the Center for Policy Analysis at UMass Dartmouth found that 55% of residents support a plan for three destination resort casinos in the state. 23% of the 1,200 Massachusetts residents polled were opposed to the three casino plan and 22% were undecided. The poll had a margin of error of 2.8%.

Governor Signs Supplemental Budget Bill

On Monday Governor Patrick signed a $325 million mid-year spending bill which was passed by the House and Senate two weeks ago, with one significant veto. The Governor chose to veto $104,000 that was designated for the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office, after the Barnstable Sheriff hired former State Rep. Jeff Perry at a salary of $110,000. Perry was the Republican nominee for the 10th Congressional district, which was won by Congressman Bill Keating (D).  In addition to the $2.64 million for county sheriffs that the Governor highlighted, the spending bill includes $50 million for snow and ice removal, $30 million for Trial Court employee collective bargaining, $6 million for youth summer jobs and $100 million in additions to the state’s “rainy-day” fund.

 

Massachusetts Unemployment Decreases Slightly

Unemployment in the state was down .2% in March, according to a Patrick Administration jobs report.  Massachusetts gained 3,200 jobs last month, as the statewide unemployment rate fell to 8%. The gains came from job increases in the leisure and hospitality sectors (2,100) and the professional, scientific and business sectors (1,500).

John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
Executive Director, AIA MA
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)

MA Chapter of American Institute of Architects
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
www.architects.org

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Posted in Weekly Mass Political Summaries

Massachusetts Municipal Association Alert from 4/13

Posted on April 15, 2011 | Comments Off on Massachusetts Municipal Association Alert from 4/13

HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE RELEASES FY 2012 BUDGET PROPOSAL

  • POWERFUL MUNICIPAL HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM INCLUDED
  • MAJOR LOCAL AID ACCOUNTS MATCH GOV’S BUDGET
  • PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TODAY
    Earlier this afternoon, the House Ways and Means Committee released their proposed fiscal 2012 state budget, which seeks to close an estimated $1.9 billion shortfall. In a major development for cities and towns, the House budget document includes a strong and powerful municipal health insurance reform proposal that would provide meaningful relief for cities and towns.

    Despite the state’s difficult fiscal condition, the House Ways and Means budget would fund the Unrestricted General Government Aid, Chapter 70, PILOT, Regional School Transportation, and Special Education Circuit Breaker accounts at the same level proposed by Governor Patrick earlier this year.

    The House is in the process of adopting an order providing that amendments to the budget must be submitted by Friday, April 15, with debate commencing on Monday, April 25. The House will finish its budget deliberations by Friday, April 29.

    PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY:

    CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND ASK FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE MUNICIPAL HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM PROVISION WITH NO WEAKENING AMENDMENTS

    SEND A FOLLOW-UP LETTER TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES (DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE BY CLICKING HERE)

    SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR TO YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS (DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE BY CLICKING HERE)

    HOUSE LEADERS PROPOSE FULL MUNICIPAL HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM

    The MMA has strongly endorsed the municipal health insurance reform proposal included in the House Ways and Means Committee budget, and commends Speaker Robert DeLeo, Chairman Brian Dempsey, Vice Chairs Stephen Kulik and Marty Walz, the members of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Speaker’s leadership team for recognizing the need for reform, and proposing a plan that offers powerful relief for local taxpayers and all communities. (You can see a copy of the MMA’s statement by clicking here).

    The plan proposed by the Speaker and the House Ways and Means Committee offers real reform for cities, towns and taxpayers. The measure would give cities and towns the same power the state has to implement necessary cost savings changes in municipal health insurance plans outside of collective bargaining, saving local taxpayers up to $100 million. The reform proposal would also require all municipalities to enroll all eligible retirees into Medicare (in Section 44 of the HW&M budget).

    The key provisions of the reform proposal (Sections 46 and 47 of the HW&M budget) are as follows:

  • As drafted, municipalities that accept the new law would be able to modernize the design of their employee health plans outside of collective bargaining, with a guarantee that all municipal and school employees would still have health plans that are the same or better than what state employees receive, meaning no city or town could use this authority to implement higher co-pays or deductibles than the state.
  • Communities would also have the power to join the Group Insurance Commission outside of collective bargaining if they demonstrate that joining the GIC would provide greater financial relief than making plan design changes on their own.
  • Ten percent of the savings or costs avoided in the first year would be set aside to fund a health reimbursement account that would be structured based on an agreement between municipalities and their unions.
  • Cities and towns would still negotiate any change in the employee-employer premium share, giving municipal unions more bargaining authority over health insurance than state employee unions. Any new co-pays or deductibles higher than the GIC plans would have to be approved in collective bargaining. The bill simply gives plan design parity and options to cities and towns.

  • The MMA will be working with the Ways and Means Committee to advocate for the smoothest possible local acceptance mechanism. As currently written, local acceptance would be the same process as used for the original Chapter 32B, which is Mayor and Council in cities, and a referendum in towns. The committee is aware that this language is a major problem, and is committed to working with the MMA to fix the local acceptance process to ensure swift and smooth implementation in communities.

    Municipal employees would benefit from the legislation in three ways – union jobs would be protected, employee premiums would be lower, and communities would establish health reimbursement accounts to offset a portion of the costs for those employees who are heavy users of the health care system.

    Please Call Your Legislators Today And Ask For Their Commitment to Support the House Ways and Means Municipal Health Insurance Reform Proposal With NO Weakening Amendments. Key points to make are:

  • The legislation proposed by Speaker DeLeo, Chairman Dempsey and the House Ways and Means Committee saves taxpayers money, preserves essential local services, protects municipal union jobs, guarantees equity with state employee health benefits, and still leaves municipal unions with more bargaining power than state unions. This is a balanced, meaningful, fair and transparent reform that would allow cities and towns to save $100 million in avoided health insurance costs.
  • Communities are in fiscal crisis, and municipal health insurance reform offers meaningful relief that taxpayers deserve. Skyrocketing health insurance costs are forcing cuts in essential municipal and school services, and forcing the elimination of teachers, firefighters, police officers and other key employees from local budgets. Cities and towns will use this reform to provide relief for local taxpayers, protect essential services, and preserve thousands of municipal jobs.

    KEY LOCAL AID ACCOUNTS IN THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS BUDGET FOR FISCAL 2012

    The fiscal 2012 state budget recommendation filed by the House Ways and Means Committee would generally match the local aid numbers in the Governor’s budget filed earlier this year. Unrestricted General Government Aid would be cut by $65 million, but the state appropriation for Chapter 70 school aid would increase by $140 million.

    Preliminary Cherry Sheets for fiscal 2012 showing estimated municipal and school aid amounts based on the Governor’s and House Ways and Means budget recommendations have been posted on the Division of Local Services Web site.

    The proposed cut to the Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) account, formerly Lottery and Additional Assistance, would mark the fourth year of cuts and result in a total drop of $481 million, about 37 percent, since fiscal 2008. The HW&M budget would level fund the Cherry Sheet Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes account at $25 million and fund the Regional School Transportation account at $40.5 million, the same level as House One and Fiscal 2011. Funding for the Police Career Incentive Pay Program would be eliminated (the program is currently funded at $5 million). The bill also includes small increases to the Charter School Reimbursement Account to fully fund the Commonwealth’s estimated obligation, and to the Regional Library Aid account.

    The Senate President announced today that the full Senate would adopt a local aid resolution tomorrow, agreeing with the proposed House local aid levels for Chapter 70 and Unrestricted General Government Aid. Full debate on all other accounts will wait until the Senate takes up the budget in late May.

    If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, feel free to contact us.
    You can also always find additional information on our website at:
    http://www.mma.org

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Posted on April 15, 2011 | Comments Off on

DLS says Senate declared intent to fund Chap 70 & Unrestricted Gen Gov Aid at least in amts appearing in the House Ways & Means Comm budget

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Posted on April 14, 2011 | Comments Off on

Meeting this afternoon at 5:30PM at Town House on proposal for new $11-12 m. DPW garage, by Warrant & Building Committees.

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Posted on April 14, 2011 | Comments Off on

Good article on Medfield’s new state rep, Dan Winslow – http://ping.fm/57ad3

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Posted on April 13, 2011 | Comments Off on

House budget #s are out today & track Governor’s. Medfield gets same Chap 70 amt in both, loses over FY11 $105K in ARRA & $88K in local aid

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Posted in Uncategorized