The Marion Finance Committee met on February 15 to discuss the Fiscal Year 2023 town budget and set a schedule for department heads to report for interviews.

            The operating budget for the next fiscal year is at a $321,108 deficit, according to Finance Director Judy Mooney.

            “Currently I do not have a balanced budget. We would not be able to go to Town Meeting like this. Of course, we’d have to talk and figure out how we could fund it,” Mooney told the committee.

            Finance Committee Chairman Shay Assad assigned sections of the budget for each of the committee members to have a deeper look before those departments present to the committee at large. The February 16 meeting addressed Articles 2, 3 and 4, Marion’s FY24 Operating Budget and the Water and Sewer Enterprise budgets.

            Mooney said union contracts are coming up for Police, DPW and clerical employees. She noted that her own 20-year mark has been reached, resulting in a scheduled increase.

            In discussing the increase in the FY24 Police budget, Mooney told the committee that the existing officer serving as a school resource officer is being funded through the department’s operating budget. She explained that the SRO is reporting to the school rather than the Police Department in a PILOT program.

            Every year there is a cruiser in the police budget, explained Mooney.

            Regarding the Fire Department, license renewals and increase in the fire line are the big issues.

            “One of the other issues we will need to talk about and make a recommendation to the Select Board is the whole issue of service to Tabor (Academy.) The Fire Department spends a substantial amount of their time at Tabor,” said Assad, who recommended Chief Brian Jackvony figure out exactly how much time is spent there.

            Committee member Margie Baldwin pointed out that Marion EMS has a fee schedule, but Assad said “all kinds of stuff” adds up outside of those hard categories. Assad said both the Fire and Police chiefs are diligent and trying to do right by the town.

            Marine Resources (Waterways account) will see increases in salary, overtime and boat maintenance. Assad said Mooney will spend time with the MRC to explain the “indirects” (assessments to the department for services provided by town employees.)

            The Marine Center, which will cost $600,000 more to construct and has less state support than originally anticipated, is no longer a sure thing. Mooney suggested that the department can increase its fee structure and close the gap.

            “I made it clear and they know this. That’s not a taxpayer issue. That’s either the fees have to support it or the (new) building’s got to come down, I think,” said Assad. “I don’t know how everybody else feels, but that’s the way it is.”

            “I thought we weren’t going to build it if we couldn’t afford it,” said committee member Peter Winters. “We have to get all the money in.”

            Mooney, who has also been serving as interim town administrator since Jay McGrail left Marion to become Middleborough’s town manager, will give way to new Town Administrator Geoff Gorman on March 1. Meantime, Gorman has been getting acquainted with town operations, expanding on a weekly framework of days spent by attending a recent bond-rating meeting and also sat with Assad and Mooney to discuss Marion’s budget season.

            Capital requests will be taken up at a later meeting, but Mooney offered the committee a quick clarification and forecast of that discussion, especially as it affects the ladder truck that fell on the Capital Improvements Planning Committee’s priority list as presented to the Select Board.

            The clarification was to point out that the CIPC’s list was based on financial conditions prior to realization of an increase in free cash, but Mooney also said capital requests should not be judged according to fund sourcing.

            “This year we’ve got a lot of free cash … the sewer, we won’t be able to support everything,” she said. The ladder (fire) truck dropped $400,000 in projected price down to $1,200,000.

            At its original price, Mooney said the ladder truck would have taken up half of Marion’s free cash and therefore was categorized into a debt exclusion. Now, free cash is not out of the question.

            “That’s kind of what it’s all about, to make sure that what we’re appropriating fits into the tax (outcome.) Whatever we appropriate at Town Meeting is going to affect the tax rate – bottom line,” said Mooney, referring to the state Department of Revenue spreadsheet sent out to the committee members.

            Assad said, based on a look back at the past five years, growth was readjusted from $75,000 to $100,000. Mooney said she would like to work more with the Board of Assessors, telling the committee that bringing the number up would ease the budget process.

            Student enrollment in the public schools was discussed, and Assad said that while Rochester’s enrollment is increasing, Mattapoisett’s is going down and Marion’s “slightly down.”

            “I suspect that the issue at ORR is not going to be the budget itself. … The minimum contribution is established on the basis of your average per-capita income and the total valuation of the town,” said Assad. “And there was a significant increase in the valuation – in our valuation even though it was a valuation year – that’s going to impact us. … From a minimum-contribution view, we’re going to have a higher (school-budget impact.)”

            The effect, he explained, is that while Marion’s enrollment is relatively steady and less than the other two Tri-Towns, falling enrollment increases Marion’s relative percentage and drives costs upward.

            Mooney said she was receiving feedback supporting Assad’s outlook.

            “When are we going to get to those incremental levels?” asked Assad, trying to quantify thresholds for adding or decreasing faculty.

            Committee member Jay Pateakos said the school committees have for years tried to figure that out.

            “It’s always been an issue where we’re spending way more than we’re getting, and their solution is, ‘Well we’re filling these classrooms.’ But that’s one classroom, and the next classroom is too big and they have to hire another teacher …,” he said. “It’s too deep for us, and it’s the school committee’s thing, but from a finance committee’s perspective we’re always asking about school choice. We always want to know more, and we get very little information. It’s always been frustrating.”

            Assad said what the committee needs to do is find out how many students are coming in via the School Choice program, how much revenue is realized from the program and then figure out if, without those students, could a staff reduction be justified. If so, then School Choice should be on the table for discussion. If not, then School Choice only adds revenue to the school district.

            Assad said Marion has fewer students attending Upper Cape Technical high school than Mattapoisett and Rochester have attending Old Colony RVTHS.

            Committee member Bill Marvel reminded the committee that Town Meeting voters can affect change via disapproval of the budget.

            Based on the past three years, Marion’s “actual revenues” have been at $2,500,000, representing a $300,000 gain. The line says $425,000, but $125,000 is allocated to the ORR track rehabilitation project.

            Water and Sewer Enterprise funds are offset by the loss of Lockheed Martin. Toby Burr, representing the Select Board, told the committee that the developer working with the town on redeveloping the former Lockheed Martin property has developed the Faunce Corner Road section of North Dartmouth.

            Indirect costs to the Water and Sewer Enterprise funds have lowered with Becky Tilden’s promotion to director of the Public Works Department.

            Mooney also reported a significant increase at the Board of Health, where a 30-hour agent is needed but the hire has been for 25 hours.

            Baldwin asked where the wiggle room is in the overall 5.29% budget increase. Assad said the town does not yet have ORR’s proposed budget.

            “The reality of it is, if we didn’t have this pension whack we’ve got, we’d be within 60-K of having a balanced budget,” said Assad. “So we’re having to make up for this pension hit that we took. I do think … we have the money (via free cash), but is it wise to draw that down …?”

            Beyond the issue of a police presence inside Sippican Elementary School, no department is pushing to add personnel.

            While the ORR budget is always a concern in the Tri-Towns, the apportionment, said Assad, is something that the towns cannot control and a potentially challenging factor for Marion.

            “The budget could actually go down and our share of it go up, and it’s got a lot to do with the property values in the town,” said Assad.

            Assad publicly credited Mooney for her fiscal responsibility in managing the town’s resources, putting Marion in a position to be able to deal with the current challenge.

            Finally, Assad told the members that the committee was due the day after the meeting to receive a preliminary version of the ORR FY24 budget that has not yet been approved by the school committee.

            The Marion Finance Committee was next scheduled to meet on Wednesday, February 22, at 7:00 pm.

Marion Finance Committee

By Mick Colageo

            Make no mistake about it, Mattapoisett is deep into the FY24 budget process. The importance of evaluating municipal departmental budget requests, capital needs, staffing plans, expenditures and revenue cannot be overstated – it is a massive undertaking.

            On February 15, the Select Board, along with Town Administrator Mike Lorenco, met for a working session to take an overview of the FY24 budget. The board met with Library Director Jennifer Jones, Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer, Council on Aging Director Jackie Seney, and Board of Health Agent Gail Joseph.

            Jones explained the need to repair carpeting in the Children’s Library space, noting it was more than 20 years old. The estimated replacement cost is $45,000. She went on to discuss the importance of evaluating and possibly replacing historic roof tiles on a portion of the building. The current estimate is $85,000.

            Jones was asked by Board member Jordan Collyer to try and locate notes from the 2008 reconstruction and renovation of the library. He said he seemed to remember that the historic roof area had been evaluated at that time and any documentation from that time may prove helpful for current repair proposals.

            Regarding the library’s FY24 budget projection, all-inclusive stands at $584,482.

            Bauer shared that although he is currently looking for one part-time employee and as many as four during the summer season, he has been concentrating on what they can accomplish in house. Two large construction projects, the Pearl Street reconstruction estimated at $620,000 and the Oakland Street reconstruction at $817,000, are on the horizon. He spoke to the need for a new backhoe/loader vehicle estimated at $170,000, along with annual roadway improvements at $250,000. Bauer said that staffing has been a problem and that posted part-time positions have gone unanswered.

            Lorenco said that the condition of the Highway Department “barn” needs to be immediately addressed. The roof is compromised, it was noted, and bathroom facilities are inadequate. Also ADA compliance is long overdue. The Capital Plan lists $3,200,000 through debt exclusion in FY25 for building renovations. Lorenco said some debt would be retiring, but further finance exploration is needed for funding this project.

            The all-inclusive FY24 budget projection is $806,100 with another $25,000 for street signs and roadway painting and $115,000 for snow removal and roadway treatments.

            Seney advanced a level-funded, FY24 budget of $202,777 for the Council on Aging. She said that medical-appointment travel continues to be in high demand, especially since the volunteer ride program FISH was heavily impacted by the pandemic. Another service in demand is completing fuel-assistance forms, assisting seniors in navigating the paperwork. Seney stated that the COA has provided services to 957 individuals with 616 of that number Mattapoisett residents in all categories including exercise programs, which are always in high demand.

            Seney gave a big shoutout to Liz Leatham, outreach coordinator, for her tireless efforts in providing in-home services and comfort to seniors who may not have the ability to visit the center.

            Board of Health Agent Gail Joseph touched on a number of projects and plans for the Transfer Station. FY24 budget projections for various services include recycling pick-up $224,606 and Covanta SEMASS $338,391. Contracts for both services end in 2024. Rubbish pick-up projection is $375,000. All other expenses related to the operation of the station minus salaries are posted at $115,600. Salaries, fuel, professional development and office materials are tagged at $140,321.

            Joseph spoke to the improvements to the Transfer Station grounds and new services either in place or planned for future inclusion. Currently available are mattress, metal and other recyclable locations. Joseph said she is in discussion with vendors so that a hazardous-materials area might be set up. This would allow residents to drop off materials whenever the station is open. She also hoped to construct a building that could be used as a “swap shop” or dump store. In both instances, concrete pads would be needed.

            Retained earnings continues to be an issue the board has grappled with over the years for the Transfer Station, which is set up as an Enterprise Fund. Projections are that the town’s coffers will have to again subsidize the operation in FY24. Joseph said she was not involved in that side of the department.

            The Finance Committee met on February 16 for the first time in the FY24 cycle to map out meeting schedules and get an overview of earnings and expenditures from Lorenco.

            Lorenco shared that, if all Capital Planning requests are funded, the total is $861,000 against a free-cash balance of $1,200,000. As things stand presently, Lorenco cautioned that healthcare increases are an unknown sum but assuredly would be higher than last year. Also unknown is the amount of state aid the town will receive. He said he hopes to have those numbers sooner rather than later.

            Lorenco touched on the list of construction projects such as Pearl and Oakland Street reconstruction $1,437,000, and takings and other engineering matters related to Phase 2a of the bike path $75,000. Of the Holy Ghost Grounds, Lorenco said he is seeking a grant of $250,000 for “underutilized” municipal property. He told the committee that a grant of $35,000 would be sought for a study of Town Hall and a $30,000 grant for a Harbor Management Plan.

            Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School is looking for financial support of a feasibility study from its member communities, Lorenco said. He explained the school’s need for major improvements upon which the future of the school depends. The total cost is $1,000,000, Lorenco said, with the school picking up half that sum and the towns sharing in the balance based on enrollment. Mattapoisett’s portion is scheduled at 8%.

            The Mattapoisett School Committee met on February 16 with Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson and Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber to present their projected FY24 budget. Lorenco and Finance Committee member Colby Rottler were present.

            The presentation listed the following line items: $8,199,021 for Center School and Old Hammondtown Elementary School; that number includes $94,440 for Bristol Agricultural School. The FY23 number was $8,037,327. Nelson said some student programming had been reduced to offset the high cost of utilities and one paraprofessional position has been eliminated. Lorenco asked him to provide a list of those programs he’d like to see added or returned in order to better understand the impact of the reduction and needs.

            “We worked on an Operating Budget that would be sustainable,” said Barber, with Nelson adding, “… trying to find a number that serves the students,” and is still fiscally viable.

            Rottler asked about school-enrollment numbers as an ongoing question of many taxpayers. Nelson said that in the next five years, enrollment may be reduced by 20 students. Enrollment for FY23 was 418 and for FY22 was 423. Mattapoisett School Committee Chairperson Carly Lavin said those numbers reflected seven grades.

            The next budget-related meeting date is to be announced.

Mattapoisett Select Board, Finance Committee and School Committee

By Marilou Newell

            Kai Srisirikul will be allowed to build an addition to his house at 362 Front Street, the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals decided on February 9.

            Srisirikul was voted a special permit per Zoning Bylaw 230-6.1 to allow him to construct an addition to an existing, nonconforming dwelling. The dwelling, a cottage that Srisirikul estimates to cover approximately 900-960 square feet, would get an addition measuring roughly 26.5×12 feet.

            The current structure’s side setback sits 4.8 feet away from the property line. The addition would sit approximately a foot farther from the property line. Srisirikul told the board the front setback is up to 1.5 feet too close. He said he would have a surveyor confirm his situation but said he knows the new structure would sit farther back from the buildings on either side of his house.

            The ZBA clarified that the additional space is being created for family living space, not for the rentals that Srisirikul owns. He does not plan to add bathrooms.

            Though the property is zoned for business, Srisirikul clarified that no business is being conducted out of the address.

            Don Easterday filed a request to withdraw his request for a variance without prejudice dated January 23. On January 12, the board had voted to continue the case to February 9, pending revisions in the applicant’s plans for a two-car garage at 52 Cove Circle.

            The ZBA perused Pages 1-10 of the Village Style Smart Growth District handout. The proposal still has to go before the Planning Board. Callow told the ZBA members that while the matter is premature to discuss, she considers it wise of the ZBA to be in the loop. The Planning Board, at a later date, may request that the ZBA comment.

            The ZBA voted 5-1 to write a letter to the Community Preservation Committee supporting the contracting of a consultant to assist the Historic District Study Group.

            Callow took a moment before the meeting ended to publicly acknowledge the passing of Elizabeth S. “Betsy” Dunn of Marion, longtime former ZBA member and founding member of the Board of Health, who passed away on February 7 at age 88.

            With no cases scheduled, the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals did not announce a date for its next meeting.

Marion Zoning Board of Appeals

By Mick Colageo