01/09/2020 FINANCE COMMITTEE Minutes

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4 Finance Committee Minutes January 9, 2020 COMMUNICATIONS & CORRESPONDENCE Communications from Finance Committee Liaison Selectman Andrew R. Gottlieb: (continued) Wastewater funding offsets include a proposed reduction in the CPA assessment and the creation of a Wastewater Infrastructure Investment Fund (WIIF) a special assessment fund. The proposal reduces the CPA from 3%to 2%. The additional 1% which does not affect the taxpayer is added to the WIIF at 2%. The net addition is 1%. The Community Preservation Committee recently conducted an analysis of 5, 10 and 15 year projections. The proposed reduction in the CPA assessment has been met with resistance from the Community Preservation Committee. The proposal will be revisited with the CPC at their January 23, 2020 meeting. It is the desire of the Town to not borrow to fund wastewater. The Finance Team is scheduled to present an analysis of wastewater expenditures and funding scenarios to the Board of Selectmen at their January 27, 2020 meeting. Additional funding assumptions include monies from the hotel/motel tax, and from the Cape Cod Water Protection Fund. It is projected that sewering in Phase I would cost $51 m. and $51 million in Phase II and III respectively. The assumed increase would cost the taxpayer $153 per year for an average median home valued at$483,000. With the construction of Phase II, there is also a reasonable possibility; the Town may not be required to proceed with Phase III. The approach to utilize Joint Base Cape Cod (JBCC)was briefly discussed. This may become a future plan for the west side of Town. JBCC is currently evaluating a joint proposal with Converge, a private equity firm and with the Town of Barnstable acting as the lead community that may include the four Upper Cape towns. Discussion followed with regards to scheduling a pre-town meeting possibly by an independent party to review the warrant. An open forum aired on Mashpee TV would educate the voters on the matters before the Town. If possible, the open meeting would include information for petitioners submitting articles.. With reference to the Report of the Finance Committee which is presented to the voters prior to Town Meeting, it was agreed the warrant should state; the articles of the warrant including the recommendations of the Finance Committee. Of note, the Board of Selectmen at their meeting of January 6, 2020 voted to move forward with the Cell Tower Agreement with Blue Sky. The settlement and related documents were legally accepted on Tuesday, and the matter is now of public record.