WESTFIELD – On the agenda at Thursday’s Finance Committee meeting were two separate $1 million dollar plus appropriations from the Undesignated Fund Balance (Free Cash) intended to reduce the Fiscal Year 2017 tax levy.
The first appropriation request of $1,034,300 was submitted to the City Council at its Dec. 1 meeting by Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, who said it was the most money ever used to give back to the taxpayers.
Also at the City Council meeting, the Finance Committee presented a resolution requesting that the Mayor appropriate an additional $1,338,100 from Free Cash for the same purpose. Both matters were referred to the Finance Committee for discussion.
Finance Committee members Robert A. Paul, Sr. chair; Dave Flaherty and Matthew T. VanHeynigen. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Ten of the thirteen City Councilors attended the Finance Committee meeting, including chair Robert A. Paul, Sr., members Dave Flaherty and Matthew T. VanHeynigen, and Mayor Sullivan.
Paul tabled the first item on the agenda to a future meeting, which involved a $249,000 transfer within the engineering department to pay three prior year’s bills.
Paul then addressed the Mayor’s appropriation of $1,034,300 from Free Cash. Hearing no comment from the floor, the Finance Committee voted unanimously to recommend the appropriation.
Paul then brought forward the Finance Committee’s resolution, on which the mayor had a lot to say, including questioning the process, and reminding the Finance Committee that they could not appropriate funds.
“You just passed an appropriation. This is a crazy way to do things,” Sullivan said. He went on to present an overview of his work over the past year. He noted that the City Council voted on a balanced budget in June that represented many cuts, including his own, the School Committee’s and those of the City Council. He also said that $500,000 was transferred from Free Cash at that time, and another $1.2 million put in the Stabilization Fund, which brought it to over $7 million.
“Managing the money has been a priority of mine. I feel I’ve done a good job of it,” Sullivan said.
The Mayor also took issue with the way the City Council has been discussing the union contracts, by focusing solely on raises. He said for the first time this year, the city had eliminated school severance and retirement; and for the first time in recent history, health insurance went from an 80/20 split with the city to 77/23. He said that due to these efforts, the city would be seeing savings over the next six months and in the next fiscal budget. He also said that they would be putting $600,000 in OPEB (Other Post Employee Benefits) using negotiated savings.
“Some of those things go unnoticed or unappreciated when you strictly talk about raises,” Sullivan said.
He also said that the $3.5 million in Free Cash was hard to get. “We stopped spending when I became acting Mayor,” he said. Sullivan also said he had great financial assistance on the job, adding that treasurer/tax collector Meghan Kane doesn’t take as much credit as she deserves.
“I am 100% on board, in fact led the proposal to put $1,034,300 in Free Cash for residents,” Sullivan said, adding that it would bring the tax levy down to a 1% increase. He also pointed out there is still money left in Free Cash.
“I’m not prepared today to say if I will use more. If I do, with the help of my advisors, it will be because I feel confident financially. I don’t want you to vote too much further than $1,034,300. I would rather come to you at the next meeting if there’s more money, and ask for immediate consideration,” he said.
Sullivan said he would also like to celebrate the $3.5 million in Free Cash, to celebrate any amended amount at the Dec. 15 meeting, and to celebrate the financial soundness of the city, and the good work on the part of the department heads.
Ten of the thirteen City Councilors attended the Finance Committee meeting on Thursday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
“Not received as a lecture, Mayor. Good overview of effort,” responded Finance Committee chair Paul.
Flaherty said the request for the second appropriation was in there because they didn’t know what the mayor’s number would be until they received the agenda the Tuesday night before the meeting, and because the Finance Committee wanted to get to a 0% increase.
“Had we known you were at $1,034,100 on Monday, we would have come to you Tuesday,” he said, adding, “I don’t disagree, I think you’re doing a great job. Heck of a lot easier than other mayors I’ve had to deal with. It’s certainly cleaner with one number.”
“You are hinting about maybe amending the amount. Do you think that will be the day before Council?” asked Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell.
“I hope I can get a number soon. It might be right before the agenda,” Sullivan responded.
Ward 6 Councilor William Onyski thanked the Mayor and his finance department.
“I’d like to see the Mayor have a number that he’s comfortable with. I’ll defer to the Mayor,” he said.
BRENT BEAN II
Council president Brent B. Bean, II also thanked everybody for coming to the meeting, but said he had an issue with the questions around agenda items.
“We do have a responsibility. When we have an agenda that comes on Tuesday, there is a mechanism to add to the agenda. A simple phone call and an ask, such as what are you thinking on Free Cash. The transparency (in this administration) is second to none at this point. If there’s some topic that we need the answers on, we can get them,” Bean said.
“I believe you know that I would like to see that number higher. We’ve all heard the desire for tax relief,” said VanHeynigen. He added that there would probably be consensus on the council to see that number go up.
“I applaud the Mayor and his team,” said Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise.
“On the financial side, I don’t want to raise Free Cash to the point where we’re going to have to go into Stabilization for snow and ice. I would not support an additional $1.3 million. I too feel the need for relief for taxpayers. I’m real leery, I’m just afraid of this winter,” said Ward 3 Councilor Ralph J. Figy.
“I applaud the efforts that everybody put in. I hope that in any way, shape or form, we give taxpayers a break,” said Ward 1 Councilor Mary Ann Babinski, adding, “I know you say you have to wait until a couple of days before – any way to give us more time before a vote. If we can’t understand it, imagine how they (the taxpayers) feel.”
Paul said that from the beginning of the process a year ago, the Finance Committee has been looking at ways to generate capital for all departments and also worked hard at taking a full look at all the city budgets. He thanked all of the departments, the mayor, and the Finance Committee for their work.
“We feel very good about the Mayor, what he’s done, and what he’s going to recommend. And we look forward to what he’s going to do next week,” said Paul, before adjourning the meeting.
