Capital Planning Minutes 03-07-2002
Capital Planning Committee
Meeting Memorandum
March 7, 2002
In attendance were:
* Steve Andrew
* John Bilafer
John FitzMaurice
Charles Foskett, Chairman
Nancy T. Galkowski
Dave Kale
* Anthony Lionetta
Al Minervini
Barbara Thornton
*Denotes those not in attendance.
Others present: Richard Bento, Public Works Director; Richard Maimone, Fire Chief
1. Meeting with Finance Committee: The Capital Planning Committee met with the Finance Committee on February 27, 2002.
T. Lionetta, B. Thornton, D. Kale, John FitzMaurice, and C. Foskett attended.
The Finance Committee approved the budget and plan but expressed concern with the funding for Roadway Reconstruction.
2. Roadway Reconstruction – R. Bento appeared before the Committee to discuss the Roadway reconstruction money. Mr. Bento handed out a memo outlining the amount of remaining prior Chapter 90 monies available and a detail of how and when that money will be spent. He also listed the roadwork which would have to be deferred if the capital money is unavailable. He would eliminate any funding for sidewalk reconstruction prior to road/ paving work.
a. B. Thornton asked Mr. Bento about the Facilities Study. He indicated that the committee had inventoried the buildings, and is in the process of developing an RFP for a firm to prepare a facility maintenance plan.
b. J. FitzMaurice asked Mr. Bento about the move of the Administration to the Grove Street site. Mr. Bento indicated that there were intangible benefits to his presence at the Grove Street site when the public work’s employee are located but realized that the issues and costs of the move made it difficult to accomplish in the near future.
3. Fire Station Study – R. Maimone appeared before the committee to review the draft recommendations of the MMA Consulting Group.
Following are the main recommendations of the report:
a. Decommission the Park Circle Fire Station. Retain the Highland and Central Fire Stations.
b. Decommission 2 engines and purchase a Quint (a fire vehicle which serves as an engine and a ladder) to be housed at the Highland Station.
c. Deploy 4 firefighters per apparatus.
Mr. Maimone indicated that he is opposed to the decommissioning of the Park Circle Station for several reasons. Deploying the engine company from the Highland Station to the Park Circle area would increase response time by one minute to part of that area. This would be decreasing the service that currently exists. Further he does not feel it is necessary to man the apparatus with 4 firefighters. The Town currently runs with 3 firefighters on an engine. When they arrive on scene they immediately begin fighting the fire. The study recommends that the national standard of 2 in 2 out be employed. The Chief’s contention is that with flashover it is safer to contain the fire earlier.
The consultants have been asked to prepare two more maps showing response time with simultaneous fires with a two-station configuration.
B. Thornton indicated the report should address the issues of space requirements for personnel and equipment with a two-station configuration, current fire trends and best practices in firefighting. Since she has not read the report, she will submit any comments to the Chief so that they may be forwarded to the consultant.
Committee members commended the Chief on his objectivity through the process.
4. Community Preservation Act
B. Thornton and J. FitzMaurice prepared a recommendation to the committee on the Capital Planning Committee’s role in the Community Preservation Act process. They recommended that the CPC not take a position unless a motion presented itself at which time they felt it was important that the recommendations be incorporated into the capital planning process.
The committee discussed at length the position the CPC should take on this issue. J. FitzMaurice was asked to have John Maher determine if the Capital Planning Committee would have any ability to make a different recommendation to Town Meeting on the expenditure of these funds for capital projects. Discussion continued as to whether the the committee should take a position on the CPA. Concerns were raised about the CPA limiting the ability of the Town to raise additional revenue for capital or operating costs through debt exclusion or override and with the initiatives of the CPA conflicting with the capital planning process.
J. FitzMaurice moved that the committee recommend no action on the article and report same to Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee. We will continue to follow developments. This was unanimously approved.
5. Next Meeting Date: No date was set for a future meeting.