The Finance Committee reviewed Superintendents James Montepare and James Brosnan's proposed budgets for fiscal 2014 on Thursday evening.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Finance Committee reviewed the two school districts' budgets and looked over plans for the renovation of the transfer station on Thursday evening.

 

First, the committee reviewed the Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District Budget of $8.47 million — $851,840 of which will come from the city, a 1.02 percent increase from last year's $835,622.

 

During the 2012-2013 school year 159 North Adams students were enrolled at Charles H. McCann Technical School.

 

This year also marks the first year of Cheshire and Lanesborough being added to the district, which lowered the city's cost. 

 

"Both Cheshire and Lanesborough have a share of the capital, they have a share of the transportation,"  Superintendent James Brosnan said, noting the two towns combined will contribute about $30,000 to transportation and $20,000 to capital expenses.

 

The special education budget increased from approximately $4,700 this year to $20,000 to accommodate a growing number of students in the program. A second paraprofessional will be also hired, which will increase the salary budget from about $34,000 to $57,621.

 

Internet service rose from about $19,000 to $29,200 because of the school's need to expand its bandwidth.

 

Then the Finance Committee, North Adams Public Schools Superintendent James Montepare and City Councilor John Barrett III discussed the $15.9 million budget for about an hour and 45 minutes.

 

The budget saw an increase of 1.27 percent from $15.7 million for fiscal 2013. The budget also doesn't account for $400,000 expected to be used from the School Choice fund, which will fund a one percent salary increase for teachers. The budget presented, however, reduces the teacher line items to keep it at the $15.7 million.

 

One subject of the lengthy discussion regarded a rental lease to relocate Montepare's staff and seven others from Conte Middle School with it costing $69,000 in 2014. He's seeking about 10,000 square feet to fit 35 people. The lease he's negotiating on now — at one of the locations which submitted a public bid — is seeking a 3-year rental with an option for two more years.

 

Montepare said many city-owned locations were examined, including the Armory, City Hall and Windsor Mill, but no spot was suitable. City Hall was discussed as a possible spot, but there wasn't enough space.

 

"Could you put them in there? Can you put 20 sardines in a can," Mayor Richard Alcombright said. "At the end of the day people deserve a comfortable working space and it just wouldn't have been that here."

 

Montepare also said the lease negotiation aimed for ample parking, oil heating, electricity, supplied maintenance and capability for Internet. Search committee that included himself rated each potential property.

 

The budget also saw an adjustment for student services — health services increased from $148,231 to $158,476 (6.91 percent) and school security increased from $69,884 to $76,171 (9 percent) while athletics dropped 4.3 percent from $116,144 to $111,144.

 

The district leadership and administration saw a 3.5 percent increase from $837,585 to $866,901 to offset the costs for accreditation and to retrain all the teachers for CPR.

 

Mayor Richard Alcombright, Administrative Officer Michael Canales and Commissioner of Public Services Timothy Lescarbeau presented renovation plans for the transfer station.

The Finance Committee also reviewed plans to possibly renovate the transfer station, presented by Timothy Lescarbeau, the commissioner of public services, and Administrative Officer Michael Canales.

 

Alcombright explained that currently the state's Department of Environmental Protection is displeased with the operation because trash ends up outside and then blows around all over the place. A plan needs to return to the Finance Committee by September.

 

Currently they are working with a $1.8 million to $2 million construction job to repair the building, add a containment pit, redirect traffic and create a recycling area for residents.

 

Lescarbeau said there needs to be a compliance plan by next week and to apply for a permit to operate the station, which the transfer station has not had in years.

 

He also wants a better monitoring system to prevent free or prohibited dumping.

 

Canales said all options will be examined by cost, ranging from renovating the station to transforming it to recycling only, a residential-only drop off or just getting rid of it.

 

City Council President Michael Bloom supported keeping and improving the transfer station, as well as implementing the fee-increase ordinance and re-locating it farther from Drury High School to the back of the existing landfill.

 

"It's a very, very important component that I don't think we want to risk losing and the fees I think need to be set up to make a self-sustaining operation," Bloom said.

 

The Finance Committee will meet Tuesday, June 18, for a final review and recommendations on the budget.