Further Discussion of the Fire Fighter’s contracts; concern over the lack of involvement of the Prudential Committee. Most changes will not affect current employees of the fire dept, only new-hires. Union has been cooperative; feels it is more important to increase the size of the dept. Raises will be 0-1-2 over the next three years. Concerns about the on-going litigation are voiced.
Prudential Committee Meeting Minutes; July 25, 2011
Further discussion on the new District Office location; the Fire Station is not an option. Fire and Water districts approached by The Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative concerning the potential of solar installations on district property; potential source of significant income. Prudential Committee would accept or reject based on the recommendation of the water commissioner. New website is operational. New accounting software was discussed once again. Public comments include potentially using the Waldorf school as temporary District Office space (not an option, entire school in use), requests for a list of who has health care through the district, discussion of dependents on dental plans, still looking for a third estimate on the work require on Freedom Hall as the first two seemed high – work continues on Freedom Hall in the mean time, legal billing from previous district meetings, as well as ambulance billing being up – a transfer from the reserve account will probably be required.
Prudential Committee Meeting, Executive Session; June 20, 2011
The Fire Fighters contract will be three years. The possibility for additional salary for educational credits was discussed. Possible pay raises over the course of the contract was discussed, two felt it should be 0-0-0, one felt it should be 0-1-2.
Prudential Committee Meeting Minutes; June 20, 2011
Comments on compensation for tellers at the Annual Meeting lead the discussion; Ms. Marge Wallace feels it is a public service and no compensation is needed. Browne Company begins work on new town website network. No one shall be interviewed for the Assistant Treasurer’s position until after a solution to the problem of the current district office has been resolved and new software obtained. The possibility of new accounting software, the current one being Windows-based, was brought up. Possible new district office locations discussed. Work continues on Freedom hall; drains and dry wells being cleaned, gutters next. By vote, the teller will not be paid. An article in the Enterprise, concerning residents of Cotuit, was discussed. Meeting moved into an Executive Session.
Warrant 2011 Posted
The Cotuit Fire District Warrant is now posted.
_______________________________
TO THE CLERK OF THE COTUIT FIRE DISTRICT, GREETING:
You are hereby required and directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Barnstable residing within the territory comprising the Cotuit Fire District qualified to vote in District elections and affairs to meet at the Fire Station, 64 High Street, Cotuit, on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, between the hours of four o’clock and eight o’clock PM, then and there to vote for the following officers:
One member of the Prudential Committee, for three years
One member of the Board of Fire Commissioners, for three years
One member of the Board of Water Commissioners, for three years
Warning shall also be given to said inhabitants to meet on Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at Freedom Hall, Main Street, Cotuit, at seven-thirty o’clock PM, when action will be taken on the following articles:
(All articles which are not followed by the words “by request of . . .” are inserted by the Prudential Committee.)
Article 1: To see if the District will vote to accept the reports of the officers and committees of the District as printed.
Article 2: To see if the District will vote to set the annual salaries of the elected officials as follows: Prudential Committee Members, Members of the Board of Fire Commissioners and Members of the Board of Water Commissioners: $1,250.00 each; Moderator: $250.00.
Article 3: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $130,000.00 for the expenses of the Financial Department.
Article 4: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $200,345.00 for the Barnstable County Retirement Assessment.
Article 5: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $30,000.00 to maintain the street lights of the District.
Article 6: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $13,400.00 for the maintenance of the Cotuit Library.
Article 7: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $410,000.00 for group insurance.
Article 8: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $25,000.00 for the maintenance and operation of Freedom Hall.
Article 9: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $6,808.00 for the purpose of reimbursing the Town of Barnstable for services provided by the offices of the tax collector and assessors to collect the taxes of the District
.
Article 10: To see if the District will vote to adopt the provisions of Chapter 479 of the Acts of 2008 , AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS LIABILITY TRUST FUNDS IN MUNICIPALITIES AND CERTAIN OTHER GOVERNMENTAL UNITS.
Article 11: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $1,320,330.48 for the labor and salaries of the Fire Department; and to raise and appropriate $288,074.50 for the remaining expenses of the Fire Department, to be apportioned approximately as follows:
Maintenance, $58,300.00
Operating expenses, $229,774.50
for a total appropriation of $1,608,404.98
(Requested by the Board of Fire Commissioners)
The Prudential Committee recommends the Article.
Article 12: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $9,500.00 to provide for the ambulance service
billing. (Requested by the Board of Fire Commissioners)
The Prudential Committee recommends this article.
Article 13: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $38,500.00 to provide for the purchase of patient medical supplies and related equipment for the operation of the ambulance. (Requested by the Board of Fire Commissioners)
The Prudential Committee recommends this Article
Article 14: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $9,700.00 to fund expenses associated with the initial hiring of New Call Firefighters.(Requested by the Board of Fire Commissioners)
The Prudential Committee recommends this Article.
Article 15: To if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $25,000.00 to purchase and replace fourteen (14) portable radios. (Requested by the Board of Fire Commissioners)
The Prudential Committee recommends this Article.
Article 16: To see if the District will vote to appropriate and transfer from available funds a sum of money to the current Fire Department operating budget to cover unforeseen emergency expenses which occurred during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011. (Requested by the Board of Fire Commissioners)
The Prudential Committee recommends this Article.
Article 17: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate:
$26,000.00 for the Water Department for service connections
$291,550.00 for labor and salaries; and
$307,400.00 for the remaining expenses of the Water Department, to be apportioned approximately as follows:
$76,000.00 for maintenance;
$179,400.00 for operations; and
$52,000.00 for miscellaneous expenses
for a total appropriation of $624,950.00 and that the receipts and revenues of the Water Department be applied to these amounts. (Requested by the Board of Water Commissioners)
The Prudential Committee recommends this Article.
Article 18: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer and appropriate from available funds the sum of $50,000.00 for the meter replacement program. (Requested by the Board of Water Commissioners)
The Prudential Committee recommends this Article.
Article 19: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer and appropriate from available funds or borrow and appropriate the sum of $275,000.00 for road repair at the pumping stations. (Requested by the Board of Water Commissioners)
The Prudential Committee recommends this Article.
Article 20: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer and appropriate from available funds or borrow and appropriate the sum of $200,000.00 for a comprehensive security system replacement. (Requested by the Board of Water Commissioners)
The Prudential Committee recommends this Article.
Article 21: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $176,900.00 for notes and interest.
Article 22: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to hire a part time Assistant Treasurer commencing on or about July 1, 2011.
Article 23: To see if the District will raise and appropriate $25,000.00 for the purpose of purchasing, training, networking, licensing and any related costs of a new financial software program.
Article 24: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $45,000 for the purpose of water and mold remediation at Freedom Hall.
Article 25: To see if the District will vote to amend Article II, by adding “Section 6: All Committees/Boards of the District shall publish notice of all meetings, special and regular, in accordance with the Massachusetts open meeting law by posting on the District web site and by posting on any bulletin board designated by the Prudential Committee as an official place of posting.”
Article 26: To see if the District will vote to delete Article V, Section 6; Article VIII, Section 8; and Article IX, Section 7; and add to Article XI, a new section,
“Section 10: The Clerks of all Committees and Commissions, including any standing or Ad Hoc Committees, shall post the minutes of each meeting as kept in accordance with Chapter 39, Section 23B, of the Massachusetts General Laws, on the District web site upon approval of said minutes. A summary thereof may also be posted on any bulletin board designated by the Prudential Committee as an official place of posting.”
Article 27: To see if the District will vote to add to Article XI of the By-laws of the District, the following: “Article 11: The Prudential Committee, The Board of Fire Commissioners, and The Board of Water Commissioners may from time to time appoint a panel of citizens of the District to act as an ad hoc committee to study and advise on subjects of interest to the District.
Article 28: To see if the District will vote to add to Article XI, Section 6, and Article XI, Section 9, after the words “said appointments to be made each year at the time of the Annual Meeting,” the words “appointments are to be made each year at the time of the Annual Meeting” “or subsequent to the Annual Meeting should no District citizens volunteer before said Meeting.
Article 29: To see if the Cotuit District voters will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $17,500.00 for the purpose of painting “Santuit” on the water tower located off Newtown Road. (Submitted by Citizen Petition)
Article 30: To see if the District will vote to support petitioned legislation given below and to adopt the legislation upon approval by the Massachusetts General Court. Legislation under consideration by Massachusetts General Court. “Notwithstanding the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 32B, elected officials of the Cotuit Fire District who receive a salary or a stipend shall not be eligible for participation in the District’s contributory health and life insurance plan, as soon as applicable or at the end of their current term, whichever comes first. Elected official who receive a salary or a stipend and who elect to pay one hundred of the cost of the District health and life insurance benefit plan may be deemed eligible to so participate. (Submitted by Citizen Petition)
Article 31: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $25,000.00 for the Stabilization Fund as provided under Section 5B, Chapter 40, of the General Laws.
Article 32: To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $50,000.00 to the reserve fund as provided under Section 5C, Chapter 40 of the General Laws.
Article 33: To see if the District will vote to appropriate and transfer a sum of money from free cash in the Treasury toward the tax levy of the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011.
Hereof fail not to make due return of this warrant and your doings thereon at said meeting.
Given under our hands this Twenty-Fifth day of April, 2011.
PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE
Amy M. Kates
Richard G. Barry
Laurie C. Hadley
A True Copy, attest:
_________________________
Charles W. Eager, Clerk
Cotuit Fire District
Prudential Committee Meeting Minutes; May 16, 2011
Discussion about the Fire Commissioner’s annual report; there were some errors. Articles 10, 30 and 27 were brought up by Attorney Boudreau as points of concern; article 2 was brought up Ms Hadley as being potential illegal, but Mr. Boudreau stated that were was no other way to address what article 2 accomplishes. Alternative service providers to the community, specifically for fire fighting. Switching to Browne Company for Web development was approved. New district offices were discussed, as the current one is not handicap-accessible.
Prodential Committee Meeting Minutes; April 25, 2011
Discussion regarding the Prudential Committee’s Petition leads the opening remarks. Further discussion about the structural state of Freedom Hall; contractors consulted, Civil Engineers have not. Discussion about changing Website development and hosting companies; proposal from Browne Company due in the following day. Some bills were voted to be paid. Fire and Water Commissioners have yet to propose changes to the by-laws.
Prudential Committee Meeting Minutes-April 13, 2011
Discussion concerning the budget for 2011, as well as the proposed budget for 2011 being compared to the expenditures from 2010 and 2009. Fire Fighting Budget talks prevail.
A brief discussion about the physical state of Freedom hall – water, mold, handicap issues – and the renovations that may be necessary.
Prudential Committee Meeting; March 21, 2011
Treasurer appointment duration decided. Decision to purchase Bullet Board for outside the First Station – for those who do not use computers – was made; no more the $500. Fire Fighting and Water budgets discussed. Environmental protection and road improvement touched upon briefly at the end.
Meeting Minutes 2-21-11
The minutes from the Prudential Committee Meeting have been posted
You may download them by clicking on the Prudential Committe file folder on the Documents page
________________________________________
COTUIT FIRE DISTRICT
Prudential Committee Minutes
February 21, 2011
The Chairman, Amy Kates, called the meeting to order. Members Rick Barry and Laurie Hadley were present.
The meeting was opened to public comments. Jessica Rapp Grassetti spoke and referred to Attorney Mark Boudreau’s letter which had been available at the May District Meeting which stated that Chapter 32b of the Massachusetts General Laws established the Prudential Committee as the appropriate governmental body to determine whether or not elected officials should receive health insurance and the amount they would contribute.
Cynthia Gardner raised a question about the job description for the Prudential Committee and their governance over the finances of the District. She stated she was raising the question because she has been attending Fire Commissioners meetings where nothing is discussed, yet “things are happening.” She expressed concern that she had not been able to get an answer as to how much is being spent on legal fees. She believes that “a couple of months ago, they maxed out their budget.” She again asked how much as been spent to date on legal fees and where the funds are coming from.
Barbara Trainor-Tessier read a letter which she had previously read at the Fire Commissioners meeting and the answer she had received. She is inquiring as to whether or not the Fire Department’s legal fees are covered in any part by insurance. She had previously asked this question at a Prudential Committee meeting and had been told by the Treasurer that the liability will not be covered by insurance. The Fire Commissioners reply to her answer about “astronomical legal fees” directed her to the Treasurer.
The Treasurer explained that the District Meeting does not vote on line items. The warrant appropriates funds to four general categories. The Department does indicate amounts for line items, but is free to move money from one line item to another within a category. At this time, the Fire Department has not gone over its total appropriation. Should they go over their total budget, their recourse is to go to the Prudential Committee and request a transfer from the Reserve Fund.
Cynthia Gardner then raised a question as to whether or not the Fire Department is taking away from the staffing so that legal fees can be met. She further stated that she didn’t believe staffing was what it had been two years ago.
The Prudential Committee members then voted to approve the minutes of their last meeting.
Ms Kates stated that as the Prudential Committee had voted to initiate a home rule petition regarding health insurance for elected officials, this will be the only action they will take at this time. However, she will maintain contact with State Representive David Viera to be sure he has all he needs from the Committee.
Ms Kates summarized the actions taken regarding the District Treasurer. As Ms Murray had indicated her wish to remain in the position, the Committee agreed to a one-year appointment. As the starting date of the appointment had not been made clear, the Committee considered a starting date as of the next District Meeting; as of July 1, 2011; or as of January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011. After discussion, upon motion made and seconded, it was unanimously voted that the period of the Treasurer’s appoint- ment will be January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011, with the same salary and benefits that had been in effect. A question was raised about a job description for the Treasurer. The responsibilities of the clerk and treasurer are set by statute.
The District Moderator, Alison Lowe, requested that the minutes of the executive session, during whichthe Treasurer’s appointment had been acted upon, be made public. It was agreed that this would bedone.
Regarding a bulletin board, no further information was available as Ms Hadley had not made the inquiries.The By-law Committee had not yet met, but would be meeting the following week. The Policy AdvisoryCommittee is meeting monthly and is concentrating on Freedom Hall. The Fire and Water Commissionershad not meet prior to the Prudential Committee meeting. Mr Barry has been attending the strategysessions regarding the union negotiations. It is anticipated that negotiations will take eight to twelvemeetings. Ms Kates asked if the Prudential Committee had to sign the contract. A question regarding theuse of a professional negotiator received no definite answer.
A motion to adjourn was seconded and unanimously voted in the affirmative.Respectfully submittedLaurie C. Hadley, ClerkPrudential Committee