Minutes

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Winthrop Finance Commission Minutes

Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 6:00pm

Attendees: TOW: Sarah Johnson (SJ), Steve Calla (SC}
FC: Brent Farrell (BF), Karin Chavis (KC), William Gaulf (WG), Matt Gorzkowicz {MG},
Shannon Poulos (SP), Hannah Belcher {HB}, John DaRos (JD), John Macero {JM}, Max
Tassinari (MT)
Absent: Joe Hanlon

Meeting called fo order at 6:03 pm by KC.

Rollcali vote completed by KC. All present except individuals noted above. Motion by JM seconded
by MT.

Focus of meeting will be on the discussion and review of the various departments and enterprise
funds handled by SC. SC outlined various concerns related to operating expense increases against
2.5%

Highway Division

* Currently has 8 vacant positions, forcing reliance on outside contractors for certain work
related fo treework, landscaping, water / sewer repairs and asphalt services. Allpositions are
fully funded in contract.

* — [ssues competing compensation wise with surrounding agencies including the City of Boston,
MWRA, MA Highway, etc., especially for higher trained positions

«= Personnel expense line item increase of $22K driven by result of union negotiations

" Discussion related to food waste and composting and available third-party services to reduce
tonnage

Cemetery Division
= Considering lottery system for lot selection of preferred sites and pre-sale of certain lots to
raise additional capital
* Personnel line item increased due to union negotiations

Building Maintenance
= Personnel line item increased due to union negotiations
=» Schools are separated from the building maintenance department
* Brightly Services identified deferred maintenance items across the town owned real estate
portfolio, primary items are HVAC, roofing and window replacement
* Outside of fire houses, the EB Newton building needs significant upgrades / maintenance

Snow & ice
* Material only is budgeted, with costs typically $300-$350K annually
= Salt costs are $88 per ton, significant salt utilization this year with limited plowing
= 90 tons required for entire town each application, depending on storm 3-4x applications
required

Solid Waste Enterprise Func
« Waste removal contract increased 2.25% per existing contract, which ends this year
Trash fee of $160 per year for 5,935 deployed bins townwide
Housing Authority fee should be $50K per year instead of the current $20K
Receipts from bag fees was reduced significantly from $250K fo $30K due to lack of demand
90% collections expected on new trash fee receipts
Structural deficit exists and needs to be
Replacing repairing 10-15 recycling bins weekly, replacement bins cost $180 each

Water / Sewer Enterprise Fund

» Unaccounted water utilization is down fo 11% from 25% in 2018, 12% is industry standard

» New sewer vacuum truck is ~$550K in expected cost

« 46 total miles exist in the town, roughly 20 miles have been replaced

« New water meter replacement expected to begin in near-term — 600 still outdated out of
4,500 in fotal

* $300K expected per year for five years fo replace existing newer meters

* Lead line replacements on-going with 300 or so left, 100 occur per year and then partial
replacement needs to occur

Various discussion points amongst the members inciuded:
« Stormwater enterprise funds exist across most municipalities

MT motioned to adjoum: HB seconded. Approved by all present members.

Meeting adjourned at 6:08 pm.