Section IV (Departmental Budgets) (PDF)

TOWN OF BROOKLINE PROGRAM GROUP: Administration and Finance FY2012 PROGRAM BUDGET PROGRAM: Selectmen PROGRAM DESCRIPTION FY2012 OBJECTIVES* The Board of Selectmen is composed of five members who are elected for staggered 1. To continue to observe policies and practices to ensure long-term financial three-year terms. As directors of the municipal corporation, they are vested with the sustainability, including: general management of the Town. The Selectmen initiate legislative policy by • the recommendations of the Override Study Committee, as adopted by inserting articles in Town Meeting Warrants and then implement and enforce the Resolution in March, 2008. votes subsequently adopted; establish town administrative policies; review and set • implementation of recommendations of the Efficiency Initiative Committee and OPEB Task Force, where feasible, and to explore new opportunities for fiscal guidelines for the annual operating budget and the six-year capital improvements program; appoint department heads and members of many official improving productivity and eliminating unnecessary costs. boards and commissions; hold public hearings on important town issues and periodic • Fiscal Policies relative to reserves and capital financing as part of the conferences with agencies under their jurisdiction and with community groups; ongoing effort to observe sound financial practices and retain the Aaa credit represent the Town before the General Court and in all regional and metropolitan rating. affairs; and enforce Town by-laws and regulations. • to continue to seek PILOT Agreements with institutional non-profits along with an equitable approach for community-based organizations. The Selectmen also serve as the licensing board responsible for issuing and • to continue to support the business community and vibrant commercial renewing over 600 licenses in 20 categories, including common victualler, food 2. To carry out the CIP and the completion of major projects in progress including vendor, liquor, lodging house, open-air parking lots, inflammables, and Muddy River Restoration, Fisher Hill Reservoir Re-Use, Village Square, Town entertainment. Hall/Main Library/Pierce School garages, and the Runkle and Heath Schools in cooperation with the Massachusetts School Building Authority. 3. To continue to work with the School Committee on the development of a comprehensive plan to address the space needs issue in the schools. 4. To continue the Town/School Partnership as the means of budgetary planning for financial issues that span municipal and school interests. 5. To conduct labor contract negotiations for equitable settlements within the Town’s ability to pay as shaped by the objectives noted above. 6. To broaden the Town’s commitment to promoting racial/religious diversity and inclusion through efforts such as participation in the Commonwealth Compact. 7. To work with the Town Clerk to develop a Town policy for records storage; to gather historic and archival Town records, documents and materials; to organize and catalog them; and to establish a suitable storage space in an accessible location. BUDGET STATEMENT *Not necessarily in priority order. The FY12 budget reflects a decrease of $2,503 (0.4%). Personnel decreases $1,343 PROGRAM COSTS (0.2%) due to the elimination of the 20-hour/week part-time Head Clerk (C-9) CLASS OF ACTUAL BUDGET REQUEST FY12 vs. FY11 ($24,924) in exchange for an 18-hour/week part-time Senior Clerk Typist (C-4) EXPENDITURES FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 $ CHANGE % CHANGE ($17,583). This move, and a decrease in Longevity ($775), offset the increases for Personnel 603,499 592,143 590,800 -1,343 -0.2% Steps ($5,406) and the ¼% carry forward from the FY11 1% / 0.5% salary Services 5,447 7,463 7,203 -260 -3.5% adjustment for non-union employees ($1,367). The $260 (3.5%) decrease in Supplies 4,475 4,500 4,000 -500 -11.1% Services reflects a free year of Copier Service ($1,800) paired with increases in Other 3,620 6,400 6,400 0 0.0% Wireless Communications ($1,500), Office Equipment Repair and Maintenance Capital 2,894 3,300 2,900 -400 -12.1% ($28) and the Copier Lease ($12). Supplies decrease $500 (11.1%) and Capital TOTAL 619,934 613,806 611,303 -2,503 -0.4% decreases $400 (12.1%) reflecting lower leased computer costs. BENEFITS 319,645 REVENUE 462,954 407,075 433,075 26,000 6.4% IV-1 TOWN OF BROOKLINE PROGRAM GROUP: Administration and Finance FY2012 PROGRAM BUDGET PROGRAM: Selectmen FY2012 OBJECTIVES (Con't.) FY2012 OBJECTIVES (Con't.) 8. To provide leadership for the Town's efforts to reduce energy use and its impact 13. To implement recommendations of the Bicycle Sharing Committee regarding a on the environment: regional bicycle sharing agreement. a. To more fully integrate environmental concerns into Town governance 14. To review special permit provisions of the Zoning By-Law in order to determine through consideration of the recommendations of the Climate Action whether this form of land use regulation can more directly control for adverse Committee and the Moderator’s Committee on Waste Disposal. impacts on Town resources resulting from development. b. To continue to work towards meeting the criteria to become a "Green 15. To explore possibilities to strengthen code enforcement for incidents of over- Community", when appropriate, in order to utilize all the tools and grants occupancy through possible changes in inspection practices, fine structure, and the available though DOER for cities and towns to reduce fossil fuel emissions in processing of case information. a sustainable manner, reduce total energy use and improve energy efficiency in 16. To support the implementation of an optimally designed taxi medallion program public buildings. that will maximize revenues while improving service and reducing carbon emissions. c. To continue to investigate ways to reduce our municipal solid waste 17. To review recommendations of the Small Commercial Property Tax Exemption including programs such as “pay as you throw”. Committee and consider possible legislative changes to the existing statute to 9. To expand technology utilization through promotion of the BrooklineMA.gov establish criteria that could be applied in a more fair and equitable manner. website and supporting departmental applications such as: 18. To provide guidance to the Police Department as they pursue Accreditation a. Better utilizing technology in an effort to improve the transparency and status to ensure an appropriate balance between public safety needs and the rights of documentation around all Town committee meetings and agendas. individuals and to continue to monitor policy considerations such as Citizen b. Continuing to implement the new permitting and inspection systems and the Complaints and the Video Camera Monitoring system. Cartegraph work order system. 19. To implement the changes in policies and procedures for the issuance of alcohol c. Continuing to expand the number of payments options available to licenses as recommended by the Licensing Committee. residents, including the acceptance of credit cards in town offices. 20. To continue to monitor service quality performance of both Comcast and RCN. d. To ensure the Police Department utilizes the latest advances in technology 21. To ensure compliance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities to provide public safety services to Town residents in the most efficient and Act. effective manner 22. To strengthen relationships with Boards and Commissions. e. To assist the Fire Department in the utilization of technology to improve firefighter safety, to re-engineer business processes, and improve intra- departmental communication. 10. To provide leadership and coordinate planning efforts to minimize negative impacts of development on neighborhoods: a. To monitor and comment on development projects in adjacent communities. b. To work with the Hancock Village Planning Committee to protect the Town's interests with respect to proposed development at Hancock Village. c. To ensure that Village Square/Gateway East improvements proceed through engineering design and construction phases. d. To continue to work towards completion of the Fisher Hill mixed-income housing development in conformance with the Land Disposition Agreement. e. To seek opportunities to increase the Town's affordable housing stock. 11. To seek out opportunities to improve the streetscape with programs such as multi-space parking meters, LED street lights, alternative displays for newspaper boxes, and enforcement of the Sign By-Law. 12. To ensure that historical plaques, street signs and symbols are maintained throughout town and that deteriorating memorials are reviewed for possible preservation and restoration or replacement. IV-2 TOWN OF BROOKLINE PROGRAM GROUP: Administration and Finance FY2012 PROGRAM BUDGET PROGRAM: Selectmen ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS (Con't.) 1. Retained the Aaa credit rating. 21. Completed the purchase and sale of the Fisher Hill Reservoir site for the purpose 2. Continued to observe the recommendations of the Override Study Committee of creating a 10-acre multi-use multi-generational public park. relative to long-term financial sustainability. 22. Continued to provide oversight of the Police Department's use of the Critical 3. Continued the implementation of recommendations of the Efficiency Initiative Infrastructure Monitoring System with the assistance of the Camera Oversight Committee as part of the overall approach to pursuing long-term sustainability. Committee. 4. Continued the commitment

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