HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Commission Minutes 01-28-2009_2014020517260254051
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of the Meeting of 28 January 2009. The meeting took place in the Court Room, Town and
County Building, 16 Broad Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. Members of the Commission present were
Rick Atherton, Brian Chadwick, Michael Kopko, Allen Reinhard, and Patricia Roggeveen. Chairman
Chadwick called the meeting to order at 6:45 PM.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES, WARRANTS AND PENDING CONTRACTS
Approval of Minutes of 19 November 2008; 17 December 2008. The minutes of 19 November 2008
and 17 December 2008 were approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting.
Approval of Payroll and Treasury Warrants for January 2009. The payroll and treasury warrants for
the month of January 2009 were approved by unanimous consent of the meeting.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Approval of Grant of County Funds to Town for Replacement of Roofs of Police Department
Building; Loran Barracks Storage Building. Town Manager C. Elizabeth Gibson explained that in
early 2008 the Sheriff agreed to fund the barracks roof replacement, which the County
Commissioners accepted and the funding authorization was forwarded to the state County
Government Finance Review Board (CGFRB) for approval. She said later in 2008 the approval
from the Sheriff was rescinded and in October 2008 she and Chairman Chadwick attended a
CGFRB meeting in Boston to request an amendment of the County budget to appropriate
corrections deeds excise funds for two projects: the barracks and the police station roof. The
CGFRB took the requests under advisement and sought a legal opinion from its legal counsel as to
whether or not local sheriff approval was required or necessary in order for it to make the
appropriation out of correction deeds excise funds. In December 2008 Nantucket received a legal
opinion from the CGFRB’s counsel that the Sheriff's approval is not a necessity to make the
appropriation, although with the caveat that is at the CGFRB's discretion whether or not to seek
that approval. Shortly thereafter, the CGFRB approved funding for both roofing projects. Ms.
Gibson explained the process now is that the County needs to make a grant to the Town for
funding the two roofing projects and the Town needs to accept the grant. The motion would be to
offer the grants to the Town of Nantucket in the amount of $75,000 for the roof replacement of the
Loran building and $60,000 for the roof replacement of the Police Department. Ms. Gibson noted
that in between the CGFRB legal opinion and its approval of the request, a confirmatory memo
from the Sheriff giving approval for the projects was received. Ms. Gibson thanked the Sheriff.
Chairman Chadwick said given the situation with the Sheriff and the possible move of sheriffs to
the state, and the recent action of the CGFRB, the County Commissioners may want to consider
sending a letter to the CGFRB requesting an additional appropriation for the new police station
prior to the state takeover. Mr. Kopko agreed and said the County should make every effort to see
if it can encumber future deeds excise funds to cover the debt service for the project. Ms. Gibson
then reviewed three pieces of pending legislation for which the Massachusetts Association of
County Commissioners is requesting a letter of support from Nantucket County. These include acts
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related to registry of deeds fees, surcharge fees, and County government appointments. The state
proposal is for all sheriffs to become part of the state government; Nantucket would request to be
exempt from certain portions of this proposed legislation. Mr. Atherton moved to authorize the chair
to sign a letter of support as requested by the Massachusetts Association of County
Commissioners; Mr. Kopko seconded. All in favor, so voted. Mr. Reinhard moved to accept the
deeds excise funds and grant them to the Town for the roofing projects funding as described by
Ms. Gibson; Mr. Kopko seconded. All in favor, so voted.
Review/Adoption of FY 10 County Budget. Ms. Gibson reviewed how the County budget differs
from the Town budget, including revenue sources and the budget appropriation process. She
explained that there are three departments of the County: the Registry of Deeds, the Sheriff's
Department, and County Administration. Per the County Charter the County budget must be
approved by the County Commissioners. It then goes to the Finance Committee, acting as the
County Review Committee, then the County Government Finance Review Board (CGFRB) to be
finalized. Ms. Gibson noted that until 2007 the County budget had included the Sheriff's budget in
the review and appropriation process but the County was told by the state three years ago not to
do that anymore. She said County Administration handles mainly real estate matters including bike
path and road layouts, the Registry of Deeds handles all real estate recordings, and the Sheriff
handles prisoner transport and the delivery of civil process. Ms. Gibson noted that all counties in
the state except Nantucket have an actual jail and that the Nantucket Sheriff contracts with
Barnstable County Jail to house prisoners. Ms. Gibson reviewed County revenue sources including
town assessment, deeds excise revenue, recording fees, and income from the total sales of Cape
and Islands license plates. Regarding projected expenses Ms. Gibson said that the expense of
retirement contributions has been allocated to the departments that incur the expense, which are
the Registry of Deeds and the Sheriff. She went on to say that an additional contribution to the
police station has not been programmed into the budget at this time. She said the next step is for
the Nantucket County Review Committee to review and adopt the budget on 3 February. The
budget will then have to go back to the County Commissioners and the County Review Committee
once the corrections numbers are known, then the budget will be forwarded to the CGFRB. Ms.
Gibson said she is seeking approval of what is known now. Mr. Kopko requested that
Administration look closely at the County budget gap and talk to the CGFRB about the
maintenance of effort. Mr. Atherton moved to approve the FY 2010 budget and send it to the
County Review Committee; Ms. Roggeveen seconded. All in favor, so voted.
COMMISSIONERS REPORTS/COMMENTS
Chairman Chadwick announced that today is Register of Deeds, Jennifer Ferreira’s birthday.
The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:18 PM.
Approved the 22nd day of July, 2009.