Finance Committee members Andrew K. Surprise, Dan Allie, chairman and Matthew Emmershy. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – The Finance Committee, comprised of Chairman Dan Allie and Councilors Andrew K. Surprise and Matthew Emmershy, met Wednesday with several representatives of city departments to go over items and learn more about their work.
Retirement Administrator Lynn Rea spoke about PERAC (Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission), and its submission of the Fiscal Year 2019 appropriation of $10,457,590, which had been referred to Finance at the last City Council meeting. PERAC oversees all the retirement boards in the state.
Rea reported that as of January 1, 2017, the city’s retirement fund is 69.5% funded, on schedule to be 100% funded in 2024, adding that report is done every two years. She said the fund is increasing at 5% per year, but is impacted by hiring, retirement and death.
“Before they do this report, they ask us how we want to do certain things. What percentage of investment, salary rate. Most of the changes we make from time to time are on investment return that can change drastically. Once a year, we do send them information regarding all our members and retirees. They have all our ages, and they have that all worked out,” Rea said. She also said the stock market will impact the figures greatly, and 2017, which she believes will be a good year won’t show until next January. The committee voted 3-0 to approve the submission.
Next to report to the committee was Captain Michael McCabe of the Westfield Police Department. McCabe came to speak about the appropriation of $175,000 from free cash to the department’s overtime account.
McCabe explained that the appropriation would cover overtime expenses until the end of the fiscal year to cover incidents of long-term disability, military leave, extended leave and full-time police academy this year. He said the overtime budget was cut in the FY 17 budget and level-funded by the mayor in the FY18 budget. He said the Council knew last June that the overtime was underfunded in the budget.
McCabe listed all of the factors impacting the overtime this year. Among them was boat control at Hampton Ponds, which he said was “genuinely loved by all the folks up there.” He said he’s had reports that their quality of life has drastically changed since 2016, when the program, which is not in the budget, started. He also said the Police Department presence at Barnes Air Show cost the city $18,000 additional.
Injury and illness has also impacted the Police Department this year. Two officers were hit, one by a car and one by a motorcycle two months ago. Another officer still has significant issues as the result of an accident, and another has knee problems. McCabe said the department just learned that one of the officers out on leave will be retired.
“For the three officers injured, we are going after the insurance for wages and medical,” added Police Chief John A. Camerota.
McCabe said two officers are full-time in the Police Academy, and another group of folks are on military leave, one for a year. “We are impacted by having to refill that salary. We still pay the difference between his salary and the military salary,” he said. In addition, the five current officers on reserve can be called up for disaster relief, and were for Hurricane Maria.
McCabe said in addition, officers are required to undergo annual trainings and certifications, which takes them away from active duty.
“We’re projecting at least three new hires next year, due to three retirements. By the time this is done in June, all of this will be resolved. The only thing I can do is whatever is in my power to stay within $175,000 through the end of FY18. Next year, I don’t think I’ll have the same issues,” McCabe said.
Allie said several councilors remarked about the police overtime being underfunded in the budget during the discussion. “We’ll have that conversation going into the budget this year,” he said. The appropriation was approved on a 3-0 vote.
City Engineer Marc Cressotti also came before the committee to speak to the request to transfer $29,400 from the Engineering Department full-time salary account; $26,755 for purchase of services, and $2,645 to the Flood Control Commission for purchase of services.
Cressotti said the GIS coordinator position was not filled, and the $29,400 was needed to pay for professional services. He said he recently hired someone just out of college who will require training.
Cressotti said the $2,645 item to the Flood Control Commission is for design services regarding the traffic signal on Union Street, related to the Little River levee. “We engaged a surveyor and are short that amount of money,” Cressotti said. The Finance Committee approved the transfer 3-0.
