I attend the budget meetings each year. This year was no exception.
I saw no new Capital improvement plan as required by Section 5-3 Capital Improvement Program of the HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF METHUEN . (Remember the document that actually sets up our government).
The old plan, City of Methuen Five Year Capital Improvement Plan FY 2009 – FY 2013, sent in as an excel spreadsheet wishlist last year does show on page 7 a drainage project for Hampshire road culvert at an anticipated cost of $40,000.
I went to the FY2010 budget and noted that on page 58 the CIP was zero funded for this year. (See page 75 of 105 in the PDF version) I also note; in the minutes from the METHUEN CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MONDAY, June 16, 2008 – 6:30 p.m
Capital Improvement FY 2009 Budget, page 58: “0″
Councilor Zanni noted that there are things in the municipal buildings that need upgrading, in particular the west end fire station. He asked the Mayor to prioritize the items outlined in the proposed CIP. The Mayor agreed to do so.
Then I read this snippet in the Lawrence Eagle tribune;
Road to be closed in Methuen
METHUEN — City officials want people to know that Hampshire Road will be closed from Cross Street to Garabedian Way due to culvert repair this week.
My question becomes ; How does the city pay for a culvert repair listed on the CIP but with no money allocated to it’s funding and no prioritzation as promised for the projects listed.?
Don’t misunderstand, the project viability or need is not being questioned here. Only the fact that our elected officials do not provide the citizens with the information that they are required by law and right to have.
2009-10
12
How the Heck?
2009-10
11
Watcher
I’ve noted that the Great Hall of the Searles Building is wired for the television broadcast. There are multiple camera locations (4, I believe). Each table has a microphone and the podium, for public speaking, has a microphone.
Watch, before a Council meeting, (you must actually attend a meeting to see this, as it is not generally broadcast). You can see packets of paper laid on each Councilors desk, usually as they arrive. You can see wires strung and cables run to allow the City Accountant to use his computer.
Watch during the meeting and you will see councillors get up and toss the papers into a barrell.
Why do I mention these small things.
Why are we, in the 21st century, still using so much paper?
Can’t the City Council cut back on it’s usage?
Can the Council chamber be wired for terminals at each Councilors desk. They are connected to a server and the “Council packet” is presented on the screen. The same packet that they would have gotten by mail or courier in paper format can be sent to them via email. No More paper.
The terminals are not full fledged laptops or even desk tops. They are simply terminals with no access to the outside. (No internet connection.). We don’t want them playing solitaire while the business of the city is at hand.
What is the cost benefit analysis for that? A server, some flat screen terminals and some quiet keyboards.
It is time that we moved some technology into our government.
I know that other Committees and Boards use the Great Hall. Why are they still using so much paper?
What about the Paper Reduction Act? Â [Thanks to Evelyn LaCroix for reminding me of the act]
Don’t forget to throw in some training for the boards, commissions and council.
It wouldn’t hurt to add a couple of large screen monitors on which the text of each measure is scrolled. This way the “peanut gallery” of viewers would know what is taking place.
In fact, with the current technology in place, why isn’t the video output set up to broadcast in split screen? This way the viewing public could see the text of each bill as the council “debates” it’s merits.
Just a few thoughts. Plenty of oppurtunity to save some cash and make the informed public, better informed.
2009-10
9
Debt Exclusion
Here are two terms we will hear a lot about in the very near future.
Override and Debt Exclusion.
What is the difference?
I found a clear answer at this website. I have paraphrased it below.
“An Override is a permanent increase in taxes whereas a Debt Exclusion is a temporary increase in taxes. Each requires a majority vote at the ballot box.
An Override is usually expressed as a percentage. For example, a 3 % override would increase property taxes by 3% permanently. A Debt Exclusion is usually expressed as an amount.
Proposition 2½ allows the City Council to increase property taxes by up to 2.5% per year. This is often referred to as the statutory limit. A majority vote of the 9 member Council is required. The 2.5% limit is designed to cover annual cost increases such as modest pay raises, energy costs, health insurance, etc.
A Debt Exclusion is a tax increase to cover the payments for borrowed money. In our case this includes funds borrowed for the High School buildings. Taxes to pay for these loans will decrease over time until the loans are paid off. ”
The entire cost of the upgraded High School should be a debt Exclusion item. This would allow us to maintain our Bond rating and maintain our Stabilization fund while paying for the needed Capital improvement that the High School upgrade represents.
The current monetary policy of the City of Methuen does not have the funds to pay for the needed upgrade. An override and debt Exclusion both require the Voters of the Community to choose the new taxes.
We have already spent, committed to, $2,000,000 for a Feasibility study. We have hired someone to manage the project and someone to design the project. All of those funds, especially in these economic times, should have gone to the voters this year. Instead the Council approved these fundings.
The entire project should have been listed on our Capital improvement Plan and should have been sent to the voters for approval. What we see happening is that the City is committing funds and in the future, 2011?, will get around to asking the voters to approve a tax override or exclusion. The argument will be that we have already spent $2,000,000 plus and it would be a waste to not continue.
No one wants more taxes or an increase in existing taxes. The city needs to better define their Capital Improvement plan. They need to create a process that guides the City government in choosing the best option for funding these projects, be that Override, grants, or debt exclusion.
As seen in Hull, Massachusetts, I agree “we need a policy where we do not borrow money for large projects without asking for a Debt Exclusion vote. A ‘yes” vote guarantees payments for the loans, prevents service cuts and leaves our Stabilization Fund to tide us over during tough times such as we have now. A “no” vote means no project and no loan payments. Methuen voters should be given the opportunity to decide at the ballot box.
2009-10
9
Police hiring1
I was struck this morning by the following Sound-off in the Lawrence Eagle Tribune;Â Police hiring
I would like to respond to Mayor Manzi’s article in Sunday’s newspaper. I’m disgusted with his response to the reasons why the officers weren’t hired. I think he’s just scrambling to say anything to cover himself. I hope the public sees right through his lies because it’s election time, and as long as he’s in office, Methuen politics will be corrupt.
This, sound-off, Â is a response to an article in Sunday paper, which I have provided a link to, entitled,
Mayor releases reasons for bypassing police candidates http://www.eagletribune.com/archivesearch/local_story_276222735.html
I just wish to add the following from the Civil Service commission Report. (link:Â Case No:I-09-290 ).
FINDINGS OF FACT:Â “On August 3, 2009 at 8:55 A.M., the same day as the hearing before the Commission on this matter, Ms. McCarthy faxed a five-page letter, signed by the Mayor, to HRD listing the selection reasons associated with six of the selected candidates and the non-selection reasons associated with twelve (12) of the candidates. At the Commission hearing, the City acknowledged that the document was still not complete as it did not contain the non-selection reasons of Appellant Sciacca. (See fax dated 8/3/09 and Testimony of Ms. McCarthy)
For at least six (6) of the candidates recommended for appointment, including the five (5) candidates in Band 8 related to a current or former employee of the City of Methuen, there appear to be three documents prepared by the City at three different times in order to summarize the candidate in question. As referenced in the above findings, Document 1 is an internal document that appears to have been prepared by the detective(s) responsible for completing the background check. Document 2 contains the initial reasons for selection that were submitted to HRD by the City on May 21, 2009. Document 3 is a revised set of selection reasons submitted to HRD on August 3, 2009.
While the internal documents provides a more candid overview of some the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses, the documents provided to HRD omit any negative information in a manner that leaves the reader of the second and third document with a different impression of some of the candidates.”
“As noted in the findings, the City, in addition to other issues noted in the conclusions above, failed to submit documents to HRD in a timely manner, failed to submit requests for extensions in writing, notified candidates they weren’t being selected for appointment four months before submitting bypass reasons to HRD and, when the reasons were finally submitted to HRD, they were incomplete.”
Draw your own conclusions.
2009-10
8
Ballot position;Charter Commission
There seems to be a lot of discussion about this issue.
Let’s clear it up. Read on.
Read Massachusetts general Law. Chapter 43B, section 6.
Here is a link to the CHAPTER 43B. HOME RULE PROCEDURES. Table of Contents;
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/gl-43b-toc.htm
For those who don’t wish to review the Home rule procedures, icluded below is section 6.
The underline and bold are my doing and do not appear in the States version. (The text has not been modified).
CHAPTER 43B. HOME RULE PROCEDURES
Chapter 43B: Section 6. Charter commission; number of members; election
Section 6. A charter commission shall consist of nine registered voters of the city or town elected at large and by official ballot, without party or political designation, at an election held in accordance with this chapter.
The names of the candidates nominated in accordance with section five shall be placed on such ballot in alphabetical order, preceded by an instruction to the effect that a voter may vote for not more than nine persons as charter commission members whether or not he favors the election of a charter commission.
The question of electing a commission to adopt or revise the charter shall be placed on such ballot in the form prescribed by the constitution.
If a majority of the votes cast upon the question of adopting or revising the charter is in the affirmative, the nine candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected.
If a majority of the votes cast upon the question is in the affirmative, the city or town clerk shall notify the director of housing and community development of such affirmative vote and said director shall notify such commission of the dates for submission of their reports and the available date or dates that such report can be placed on its ballots.
Hope this clears up some of the confusion. If you continue to have questions write and I’ll gladly reply.
2009-10
8
Grants???
This should be short and sweet.
Grants are a great way to accomplish short term or one-of-a kind applications.
The problem has become, government no longer has the luxury of increasing revenue through traditional means, without much public push back. They have turned to grants as a new means of providing services. They tout the fact that they receive grants. (not always a “bad” thing).
The trouble is they begin to use grant money to fund long term services. When the money dries up, as it always does due to grant money theory, they scream and holler about reduction in services.
Case in point. The money just released to Lawrence and Methuen by the “stimulus ” bill. This is grant money.
In fact, this is truly one-time funding. There will be no repeat funds next year and for years to come.
I have no issue with rehiring laid off workers with the money in public safety critical areas.
However, now they want to fill positions that are vacant by attrition.
Where is the long term perspective. How will we fund these positions next year and for the coming years.
The sad truth is that politicians assume the economy will expand and revenues will stream in and make life good for them and they will, again, expand the public service trough.
Hiring with grant money is a “craps” shoot. Short term–looks and feels great, usually. It is not a long term panacea for the lack of long term vision that politicians so often exhibit.
Lots of press this year, election year.
Think about your choices.
Return the politicians who got us into this mess or can we find public service minded individuals who have a vision for our city? As always, you, the voter, hold the power to determine our City future. Think and use that vote wisely.
2009-10
7
Joint Session
I have a question about how the local government spends our money. [Many questions-but I'll only discuss one at a time.]
I understand that we, as citizens and voters, elect both a School Committee and a City Council.
The City Council is controlled by Charter, code and state law. They have the responsibility to oversee all spending in the City (budgetary authority).
The School Committee is controlled by State law. They administer the Methuen School system.
My question is, why do these two groups never, or very rarely, meet?
It appears that once a year, the School Committee has the Superintendant get before the City council and explain the school spending.
Wouldn’t it make more sense that the School Committee appear in Joint session each quarter with the City Council and discuss openly the current fiscal state of the system?
These sessions could have a public participation segment, where the voters (payees) could question the joint committees.
I am loath to recommend a workshop session, as this would not allow any public comment.
This would seem to make more sense in that the Council would be better apprised of the spending requirements of the schools.
You can substitute the Greater lawrence School Committee for the Methuen School Committee if you like. The concept is the same.
Instead of one contact at the fiscal Year end, which, lately , has led to multiple requests for explanations and delays in adoption of the Budget, these joint sessions, should allow more sharing of information on an on-going basis.
As money gets tighter and tighter, anything that allows our elected officials to see the bigger picture on a regular basis can’t have any worse impact than the current system.
2009-10
7
Veterans Preference
This issue keeps coming up in forums, debates and especially in news reports about the Police and Fire Department Hiring practices.
The City of Methuen has adopted a Veteran preference. Looking at the City website there are numerous links that allow one to click through and see the resolution. here is the link from the Home page; http://www.ci.methuen.ma.us/Documents/Resolutions/VETSJOBS.pdf
This is the statement listed on the City website; Veteran Preference for City Employment: There is a Veterans Employment Preference list in the Methuen Human Resources Office regarding City of Methuen job opportunities. Interested veterans may sign their name to the list and receive preference for jobs available. The list has been established per the resolution adopted by the Methuen City Council.
If one were to scroll down the left hand column of the Methuen website, notice the Job oppurtunity button. I clicked on that and it opens a page that tells me there are no current job openings. That page has a link that states;Â
City of Methuen Printable Employment Application .Â
I clicked that open and found that the application was created in March of 2008 for the Public School System. It has never been modified. It also has no place to state if any military experience has been attained and what that may be.
I would like to recommend that instead of maintaining a seperate list of Veterans, who, of course, must automatically know that we even have the preference,, we should modify the Application to include a section that requests information about military service.
Is this a far fetched idea? No. The State employement application , as well as the Federal application and numerous businesses, already adopted this format to capture that information. See Massachusetts State Job Application, Page 4 of 12; http://www.mass.gov/dcr/documents/application.pdf .
I recommend that our elected officials modify (amend) the resolution to require the addition of veterans question on our application. This should be accomplished ASAP and can, realistically, be done in less than a day. Don’t make more hurdles for our veterans. Streamline the process.
Eliminate the seperate veterans list and update the job application form.
2009-10
5
School Budget
There was a letter to the Editor in yesterdays Eagle Tribune from the business administrator for Methuen Public Schools. he tried to explain the dire straits that the school system is in.
The article can be read here:
http://www.eagletribune.com/puopinion/local_story_276185613.html
The Schools are in a pickle, partly, because we accept so much state aid. It is not always a bad thing to accept assistance, however, when you begin to rely upon that assistance as your source of funding, you lay yourself open to problems, such as we see today.
Looking at the numbers posted by the State for FY2008, these are the last numbers I found on line, we see the following.
Chapter 70 Aid; $37,369,988 Ranked # 421 0f 437 reporting districts.
Additional assistance;$163,026 Ranked 257 of 437 reporting districts.
Lottery Aid Funded Through Lottery Revenues;$5,727,102
Ranked # 324 of 437 reporting districts.
General Fund Supplement to Hold Harmless Lottery Aid;$876,878 Ranked # 324 of 437 reporting districts.
The higher the number ranking the more dependant upon the State we become.
I pass no judgement on the good or bad of this situation. I would need to compare other statistics to determine if we are getting our moneys worth from this relationship.Â
Instead of all the rhetoric about personality, let’s look at the cost of education in Massachusetts, the available funding sources and how can we purchase the best education for our childrens future.
2009-9
24
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