2021-11-08-AC-STM-rpt - Laserfiche WebLink

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2021-1 STM APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE I NOVEMBER 2021 the unemployment line item by one-third, to $200,000, which should be sufficient to cover costs through the end of the fiscal year. Line From To Change 4100 Law Enforcement Personal Services $ 7,209,908 $ 7,118,998 $ (90,910) With the transition underway to install Pay-by-Phone meters in the Depot Square parking lot, there is a reduced need for parking lot attendants;this allows a modest reduction in the law enforcement budget. Line From To Change 4200 Fire Personal Services $ 7,047,201 $ 7,247,201 $200,000 Due to a number of unanticipated personnel-related expenses incurred by the Fire Department in FY2021, including a contract settlement which had an impact on overtime pay, approximately $190,000 in end-of- year adjustments were required in July of 2021 to supplement the FY2021 budget.Because this higher than anticipated trend of expenses is expected to continue into FY2022, it is proposed to increase the FY2022 budget by a similar amount. Line From To Change 5100 Library Personal Services $ 2,475,402 $ 2,525,607 $ 50,205 8600 Innovation&Technology Personal $ 955,997 $ 932,679 $ (50,205) Services Following the onset of the pandemic, the Town Library has significantly increased its on-line operations. Because the Town's Webmaster,whose costs have historically been in the Information Technology budget, now spends most of his time on Library matters,it is proposed to transfer this expense from the Innovation & Technology Personal Services budget to the Library Personal Services Budget. This is a housekeeping matter that will result in no net change to the Town's overall budget. Line From To Change 6000 Human Services Expenses $ 786,991 $ 586,991 $ (200,000) Due to the receipt of unanticipated grant funding from MassDOT,the expense budget for Lexpress, a con- tracted-for service, can be reduced by$200,000.Note that Article 3 proposes that the $200,000 in tax levy funds thereby freed up be appropriated to the TDM/PT Stabilization Fund to help fund other town trans- portation needs. Line From To Change 8210-8220 Town Manager Personal Services $ 922,639 $ 932,679 $ 10,040 The Town Manager has identified the need for a professional management analyst to assist with the review and analysis of a number of Town initiatives and other developments which have added substantially to the responsibilities of his office over the last several years. These responsibilities include: financial analysis of the use and disposition of the substantial federal funds the Town expects to receive under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA); preparation of periodic reports required under recently adopted afford- able housing"linkage"articles;monitoring compliance with various Town Meeting resolutions to consider matters of sustainability,inclusion and other matters in the Town's day-to-day operations; and other budg- etary and financial issues which would benefit from professional analysis. A plan to include such a position in the original FY2022 budget was deferred due to continued concern about potential unanticipated costs resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. However, with those concerns allayed,the needs for analysis now more urgent,and the availability of still unallocated municipal funds as well as ARPA funding to help defray the cost,the time is opportune to create and fund this position. The 5