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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - Steering Committee - 05/24/2017STEERING COMMITTEE 24 MAY 2017 The South Burlington Steering Commiee held a meeng on Wednesday, 24 May 2017, at 6:30 p.m., at the South Burlington City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. MEMBERS PRESENT: City Council: H. Riehle, Steering Commiee Chair; P. Nowak, T. Chienden, M. Emery, T. Barri; K. Dorn, City Manager; School Board: E. Fitzgerald, M. Lalonde; A. McHenry, S. Wisloski, D. Young, Superintendent of Schools ALSO PRESENT: T. Hubbard, Deputy City Manager; J. Aubin, School District; M. Lyons, Assessor’s Office; B. Nowak other members of the public. 1. Agenda Review: Addions, deleons or changes in the order of Agenda items: No changes were made to the Agenda. 2. Comments & Quesons from the Audience, not related to the Agenda: No issues were raised. 3. Minutes of 30 January 2017: Ms. Emery moved to approve the Minutes of 30 January 2017 as wrien. Mr. Barri seconded. Moon passed unanimously. 4. Briefing by School Board on FY18 Budget being presented to voters on 6 June 2017: Supt. Young directed aenon to a flyer outlining the main points of the proposed budget. He then reviewed the impacts of this budget including: a. Maintains class sizes b. Maintains extra-curricular acvies c. Provides for an addional teacher at Orchard School d. Allows for a conngent teacher, if needed e. Adds staffing at High School (e.g., school based clinicians provided through the Howard Center) f. Provides for a pilot program to deal with issues that students are facing and which impact their learning STEERING COMMITTEE 24 MAY 2017 PAGE 2 g. Includes no incremental money for change of “rebel” name Supt. Young noted there will be an informaonal meeng on the proposed budget at the Marcoe School on 5 June. Ms. Fitzgerald noted that community members have had a hard me understanding the 5% expenditure growth. She explained that this number is offset by income for such things as service plans for special needs students. She stressed that when the numbers are need out, there is actually a decrease in spending. The law requires that the 5% figure be shown, even though there is not growth in spending. Mr. Lalonde said they have been posng answers to voters’ quesons on a daily basis. They will also be adding answers to “frequently asked quesons” on the school website. He noted that one issue is the negoaon process with teachers. He stressed that a “no” vote on the budget does not affect negoaons. The need for addional budget votes actually takes me away from negoaons. Negoaons will be going to fact finding in early June. Ms. Fitzgerald noted that because there is no approved budget, a number of younger staff people have been issued RIF noces. Some of these people have chosen to get jobs elsewhere which will change the dynamic of staffing. She stressed that a “no” vote does not allow the school district not to negoate in good faith. Ms. Emery noted that if the budget is not passed, there will be decrease in extra-curricular acvies. Mr. Lalonde said that would be about a 25% decrease. Ms. Fitzgerald said it is not the intent of the Board to use this as a “scare tacc”; however, there are legal obligaons that have to be met. Mr. McHenry noted the problem of needing to have a budget before there are contracts. He said this is true for most of the State. Mr. Lalonde said that by Vermont law, it is virtually impossible to do it any other way. Ms. Riehle noted this is true as well for State employees. Supt. Young explained that although there is a 4.89% expenditure increase, this is offset by a revenue increase of 14.22% revenue increase. He noted that voters have to be shown the total expenditure, even though they are offset by revenues. STEERING COMMITTEE 30 JANUARY 2017 PAGE 3 Ms. Fitzgerald stressed that 70% of the wage growth is required because of serviced plans for students with special needs. Supt. Young then showed a slide of the school budget history since 2012. Mr. Lalonde noted that South Burlington is only $21.00 per student of the state average in spending. Supt. Young showed a slide of the esmated needs for students with trauma issues at each of the city’s schools and a slide indicang the numbers of students with disabilies since 2009. Other slides summarized the stewardship plan, a list of revenues, tax rate history, and a 5-year trend in enrollment with both total students and equalized students. Mr. Barri asked whether other communies have voiced any concerns about sending their students to South Burlington because of budget and mascot issues. He was concerned with projecng the best image possible. Supt. Young said they are concerned, but parents are hearing very posive messages from the students, and that is what is important. Mr. Aubin said they had originally been told there would be 35 incoming tuion students. That number is now at 38. He noted that there could be a loss of 12 students before there was a revenue loss. Ms. Nowak said people get lost in a sea of numbers and misinformaon. She also noted how hard it is for teachers to live through a RIF noce. Ms. Emery felt that 5% was sll an issue. Supt. Young stressed that this 5% is offset by revenues for special needs students. He also stressed that if those needs can’t be checked, the numbers will go up, and those mandated services must be provided. Mr. Aubin explained that expenses for children in foster care are offset by revenues from the state and that special ed services for tuion students are billed back to their communies. But these must sll be shown as expenses. 5. Briefing and discussion on 2017 billing and collecon: Ms. Lyons presented “what if” scenarios. If the budget passes on 6 June, a 30-day “reconsideraon” period would begin. She would then get residenal and non-residenal STEERING COMMITTEE 24 MAY 2017 PAGE 4 figures from the state, and tax bills could go out. The first installment would be due on 17 August, 2 days later than usual. If the budget doesn’t pass, vong would connue unl there is a budget. The can issue an interim tax bill with an explanaon. If there is no budget by 30 June, the city would keep the 15 August due date. Funds would not be given to the school unl there is an approved budget. When a budget passes, there would be a revised tax bill. If the figure is different from the interim bill, the balance would be due 30 days aer the revised bill is sent out. Ms. Lyons said there will be an addional cost if an interim tax bill is needed. The esmated cost is $11,300. She added that if the non-resident tax doesn’t change, those taxpayers would not get a revised bill. If it does change, the city would have to send out over 7000 tax bills. Mr. Chienden asked if they could just wait to send out the tax bill unl there is an approved budget. Mr. Dorn said they have to consider cash flow, and the city can’t wait. The school district would have to borrow if it doesn’t get money unl a budget passes. A member of the audience asked what is the situaon for people whose tax payments are part of their mortgages. Ms. Lyons said the escrow companies know what is going on. Mr. Chienden asked if the city can levy an educaon tax without a budget. Ms. Lyons said it can, but it could not give that money to the school. Ms. Nowak asked if the city can lend the money to the schools. Ms. Riehle said there is a queson about that. Ms. Riehle asked whether the addional work would require more help in the Assessor’s Office. Ms. Lyons didn’t think so. Ms. Riehle suggested that the tax informaon be put on the school web site. Mr. Dorn asked whether the confusion might lead to more people having penales and interest. Ms. Lyons said she thought that might happen and that they would do everything possible to indicate “interim” and “final” tax bills. STEERING COMMITTEE 24 MAY 2017 PAGE 5 Mr. Barri said that some people may wind up paying more because of their own or other people’s shortsightedness. 6. City Center/Market Street Construcon Update: Mr. Dorn noted that Hinesburg Road culvert replacement will begin on 5 June. At the same me, the culvert on Market Street will be replaced and a poron of that street will be shut down (east of Central School) most of the summer. Mr. Dorn also advised that Cathedral Square now his all of its funding for construcon of 39 units at the back of the Central School parking lot. This will be a 5-story building with underground parking. The developer is working on plans for build-out of Garden Street (which may begin this fall) and the Munson trust property. Discussions are connuing regarding a Library and City Hall in City Center. Work has already begun at Dumont Park (City Center Park). The Park will possibly be open this fall. Ms. Riehle noted that a lot of Tule Middle School students helped with the removal of invasive species at the Park. The TIF district has been officially triggered. The city now has 5 years in which to incur debt. The faster the buildout, the more me the city has to commit to public projects. 7. Review and Discussion of current topics involving Burlington Internaonal Airport: Mr. Dorn cited mulple engagements regarding noise issues. The City Council passed a number of resoluons calling for an end to the buyout program. A new noise study may begin in 2018 instead of the originally proposed later date. There is also a “Sound Commiee” which includes Mr. Dorn, Paul Conner, and 3 city residents. Their next meeng is 13 June. The City Council is considering a Memorandum of Understanding to memorialize statements made by Mayor Weinberger and the South Burlington City Council. STEERING COMMITTEE 24 MAY 2017 PAGE 6 The lease for the dog park at the Airport has expired and the city has been asked to move the park. Two new sites have been idenfied: Farrell Park and J. C. Park. A 3rd site is being considered. Supt. Young said their issue is to understand the sound study. He felt it is important to get it done as soon as possible. If things are shown to improve with the F-35s, that would be good; if things get worse, they need to have conngency plans. Ms. Fitzgerald noted that the home buyout program affects enrollment at Chamberlin School. Ms. Nowak advised that on 14 June there will be an open house to kick off the noise compability program which will involve a move from acquision toward sound migaon. All homes in the 65 dbl area will receive noce of this. Noce will also go to adjacent towns, social media, etc. She stressed that geng the noise study done is crical. 8. Update on Landfill Solar Project: Mr. Dorn said the project is now under construcon and compleon is expected by October. The Airport delayed the construcon by opposing the Cerficate of Need. This resulted in a penalty paid to the city and school district. When the project is complete, there will be a $14,000 benefit a month with a 40-60 split between school and city. 9. Other Business: Mr. Hubbard advised City Council member that because of the 3 weeks between Council meengs, there will be a special warrant for ulity payments. This can be approved by e-mail. Mr. Dorn thanked the School District for hosng the opiate summit. He noted that city managers are geng more engaged in mental health problems and a meeng is being set up with senior management at the Medical Center. Ms. Emery said she would like to see more visibility for the schools and suggested a student co-op at City Center where students could provide services (e.g., technology). STEERING COMMITTEE 24 MAY 2017 PAGE 7 As there was no further business to come before the Steering Commiee, Ms. Nowak moved to adjourn. Ms. Emery seconded. Moon passed unanimously. The meeng was adjourned at 8:12 p.m. ___________________________________ Clerk