Special Town Meeting Supplemental Information

MEMORANDUM

TO: Town Meeting Members
FR: Jennifer L. Wolowicz, Interim Town Administrator
Barry Del Castilho
RE: Special Town Meeting Supplemental Information
DA: August 7, 2009

The FY10 budget that was adopted at the Annual Town Meeting assumed a revenue from the Senate-proposed local option meals tax of 2% in the amount of $272,471. Town Meeting also approved a motion to approve any increase in the statewide meals and rooms taxes and to approve the maximum local option meals tax, not to exceed 2%. We said that both the revenue estimate and the tax approvals were not final, but both were based on the best information available at the time. The revenue estimate was more conservative than a previous estimate of almost $400,000 from the House-proposed budget.

The local option meals tax turns out to be ¾%, and there is now an increase in the local option rooms tax of 2%, from 4% to 6% (the latter increase had not been in any previous versions of the State budget). Both must be accepted by the Town with a specific reference to the statute that was enacted after the Annual Town Meeting dissolved. The estimated revenues from these taxes are $66,172 for the local option meals tax and $3,000 for the local option rooms tax, a total of $69,172. Those estimates are for three-quarters of FY10, beginning October 1, 2009. Town Meeting must accept those statutes before September 1, 2009 in order to receive the revenue for the period beginning October 1, 2009 and ending June 30, 2010. If Town Meeting accepts the statutes at a fall town meeting, the revenues would be received for the period beginning January 1, 2010 and would be approximately two-thirds of the estimates for three-quarters of the year, i.e. approximately $23,057 less.

The $203,299 difference between the $272,471 previous estimate and the $69,172 total current estimate is largely offset by an increase in “Unrestricted General Government Aid” in the amount of $160,850, presumably from the increase in the State sales tax. As always, other things also change, and some numbers aren’t even final yet. The estimated net effect on the FY10 budget as approved by Town Meeting is approximately $100,000. That will essentially reduce Free Cash, because less money from the State will require an additional amount from the Town. But no appropriation from Free Cash is being sought at the August 25, 2009 special town meeting because other changes resulting from FY09 revenues and expenditures may further offset that net amount. All budget adjustments will be recommended at a fall town meeting.

For additional information please contact Bill Sutton at 538-5031 or Jennifer Wolowicz at 538-5017.

Expanded town administrator duties mulled in South Hadley

Monday, August 24, 2009

SOUTH HADLEY - As selectmen begin the process for seeking a permanent town administrator, the board Tuesday discussed adding duties and responsibilities to the job description before advertising for candidates.

Selectman John Hine said some residents, including those who worked against a proposed town charter that would have instituted a mayoral system of government, have been asking for the town administrator to have expanded powers that would make the position more like a town manager. Some examples of possible additional authority, Hine said, are allowing the administrator to ratify contracts under $100,000 and to hire some department heads.

But board member Robert Judge said the move to a town manager cannot be done without a charter directing that action. Residents who want a town manager should begin the charter process with a petition, he said.

Board member Marilyn Ishler agreed. Although the Massachusetts Municipal Association states the change from town administrator to manager can often be made without a change in personnel, "it has to be done with a charter," she said.

But board members found themselves unsure about what can be added to a town administrator's responsibilities and authority before the position becomes a town manager.

"I am not for changing the form of government through a job description," said Gregory Sheehan, board chairman. But he would not be opposed to adding appropriate responsibilities to the position, such as recombining the procurement and personnel officer posts, which were split from the town administrator job several years ago. Jennifer Wolowicz, the personnel and procurement officer who has been serving as interim town administrator, has shown it can be done, Sheehan said. Wolowicz said her tenure doe not necessarily demonstrate that.

Board members will submit suggested additions and deletions to the existing job description to Wolowicz via email by Wednesday and meet for a working session on Sept. 3 to hammer out an updated job description.

The other parts of finding a new town administrator - forming a search committee, setting a time line and deciding on an advertising strategy - will occur at the same time.

"I think we can go ahead and start the search. It's going to be a long process," said Hine.

Ishler said she is eager to have a new town administrator in place. "I'd like to be advertising as soon as we can in September," she said. And while the town budget contains funds to pay an administrator's salary beginning in January, Ishler said, "I'd rather spend (more) money and have him here in October."

The board asked Wolowicz to gather documents from last year's town administrator search for members to review when they meet after the town meeting Tuesday to formulate a plan.

Stephen Hill can be reached at shill@gazettenet.com.

Open Meeting Law Seminars - Click here

Dear Volunteer Board/Committee Chairs:

The Selectboard Office will be hosting two Open Meeting Law Seminars for town employees and local Board/Committee members on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. All members of Town Boards are encouraged to attend. This session is free. Please see the attached notice for details.

Please distribute this notice to all members of your committee. Thank you for your assistance!

Laura Krutzler

Administrative Secretary

Town of South Hadley

(413) 538-5017 (phone)

(413) 534-1041 (fax)

S. Hadley eyes local meals tax

Sunday, August 23, 2009

By SANDRA E. CONSTANTINE

sconstantine@repub.com

SOUTH HADLEY - Town Meeting members will be asked at a special session on Tuesday to vote on local option taxes.

The first article on the warrant asks if the town will impose a local option meals tax of .75 percent. The second one asks if the town will impose a local option room occupancy tax of 6 percent.

And some of the holders of the 42 common victualler's licenses in town are unhappy about the prospect of more taxes on top of the 6.25 percent they already pay the state on meals.

"Business is tight already," Bruce H. Perron, the owner of the Egg and I restaurant on Main Street, said. "If you want to put people out of business, that is what you do."

Alan J. Anischik, the owner of the Food 101 Bar & Bistro, concurred.

"I'm certainly not for it," he said. "Any kind of higher tax I'm not for. I don't think taxing our way out of problems is the answer. Restaurants can't afford that right now."

The town's 2010 fiscal year budget adopted at the annual Town Meeting assumes revenue from the local option meals tax of $272,471, according to a memo Interim Town Administrator Jennifer L. Wolowicz and consultant Barry L. Del Castilho sent to Town Meeting members.

However, estimates have since been revised to $66,172 for the local option meals tax and $3,000 for the local rooms tax for a total of $69,172. Those estimates are for the period starting Oct. 1 and continuing through the remainder of the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

The $203,299 difference between the earlier estimated revenues of $272,471 and the current estimate of $69,172 should be largely offset by a increase in unrestricted state aid of $160,850, the memo states.

Officials have estimated the net effect on the current budget will be about $100,000, which could be tapped from free cash. However, officials are not seeking an appropriation from free cash at Tuesday's Special Town Meeting as there may be further changes in revenues and expenditures, according to the memo.

Tuesday's special Town Meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in Town Hall Auditorium.

Amherst, Northampton and Springfield have already passed the local option tax. The issue was discussed in Westfield Thursday night, is under study in Chicopee and is scheduled for a Town Meeting vote in Hadley Tuesday and a public hearing in Palmer Thursday. Wilbraham selectmen also are considering whether to bring it to Town Meeting.

The Republican: "Block grants get jolt from stimulus aid"

BOSTON - Gov. Deval L. Patrick on Thursday awarded $40.4 million in grants, including $16.5 million for Western Massachusetts, for improving public housing, providing social services and upgrading roads. The governor unveiled federal Community Development Block Grants for communities with populations of 50,000 or less.

Patrick said $31 million came from annual block grant financing and another $9 million from federal stimulus dollars. "By leveraging state and federal recovery funds, we can continue to move our economy forward, put more individuals back to work and fund more projects now and in the future," Patrick said.

The stimulus dollars will go to communities for projects that were turned down for funds last year... The state receives a pot of federal money and then apportions it to cities and towns, which compete for grants.

Amherst, Chester, Greenfield, South Hadley, Ware and West Springfield are among the Western Massachusetts communities that received grants. According to the state, 88 communities applied for grants and 75 received them...

South Hadley netted $800,000 to upgrade two housing units, design a senior center and improve Canal Street...

"Town Common policy eyed"

Town Common policy eyed
Sunday, August 09, 2009
By SANDRA E. CONSTANTINE
sconstantine@repub.com

SOUTH HADLEY - Selectboard members are eyeing the possibility of not allowing individuals or for-profit organizations to hold events or conduct activities at the Town Common to generate a profit.

Board members at their meeting Tuesday agreed to post a copy of a proposed policy on the town's Web site at www.southhadley.org in order for the public to weigh in on the issue at the suggestion of Selectman Marilyn G. Ishler. Ishler said the board might want to get input, alluding to a ban on on-street parking during the major snowstorms that it adopted last year, but repealed after a public outcry.

The policy is under consideration in the wake of concerns raised by Selectman Robert G. Judge about how the United Methodist Church charges nonprofit and well as profit-making entities to operate booths during the annual Columbus Day crafts fair it runs at the Town Common.

Judge has objected to nonprofit groups such as Know Your Town being charged to set up information booths at the popular annual event. Judge said Thursday he would hope the church could restrict its fund-raising to charging just for-profit vendors such as those selling crafts or refreshments.

The proposed policy will come before the board Aug. 18.

Valley Kid Stuff : Beachgrounds Park, South Hadley, MA - Click here

Proposed demolition of former Texon Mill Building

HG & E put an announcement in the Central Register for demolition and site clean-up of the former Texon Mill building. They estimate the cost at $664,000. Two mandatory pre-bid meetings at 9 Carew Street are scheduled for August 11th and 18th at 11:00.

Jennifer L. Wolowicz

Interim Town Administrator

Town of South Hadley

413-538-5017 (Phone)

413-534-1041 (Fax)

Congratulations on the great Hadley 350th parade.

<<...>>

Dear Wayne and Sandi:

Thank you for your kind note about the Selectboard's participation in the Hadley 350th parade, which I have attached for the other Selectboard members. My fellow Selectboard members and I enjoyed the day greatly and we were pleased to see many South Hadley residents along the parade route.

Congratulations to you, Sandi, and all of those who have worked so successfully on creating a terrific anniversary celebration for our "Mother Town" of Hadley!

- Bob Judge

Member

South Hadley Selectboard