EAST LONGMEADOW – East Longmeadow Town Manager Mary McNally presented the Town Council with a draft of the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget, but cautioned that the final figures could be quite different.

McNally explained the budget is a loose draft because final numbers from the state are not yet available. While Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposed budget was released in January, the state legislature has yet to pass a final budget.

The governor’s proposed budget allotted 2.7 percent of Massachusetts income to local aid as part of the state’s revenue sharing program. The Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA), which advocates for cities and towns, has requested 7 percent. McNally said the MMA has argued that the state took in an unexpected increase in taxes in Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) and it should be fully shared with the municipalities, rather than using a standard percentage.

“There are so many undetermined parts on the revenue side,” McNally said, but the town charter requires a draft budget be submitted to the Town Council by April 1. The April 5 meeting was the first one conducted since the deadline.

The FY23 budget is estimated to be $48 million, an increase of 3.46 percent over FY22.

“This year’s budget essentially reflects the necessary additions to staffing,” said McNally. The budget was crafted with the mindset that the town would fill many of the positions that have been left open throughout much of the coronavirus pandemic, including in the finance, human resources, treasurer/collector, recreation and fire departments.

A little more than half the town’s budget, $32.32 million, is the amount requested by East Longmeadow Public Schools. That figure is an increase of 3.9 percent over FY22. McNally called contributions to health insurance, retirement costs and other post-employment benefits, “budget busters.”

The tax levy, the amount the town can raise taxes, is determined using a standard calculation of the last full fiscal year on record, Fiscal Year 2021, multiplied by 2.5 percent, plus the estimated FY22 new growth of $500,000 and debt exclusions. With these figures, the FY23 increase in the tax levy is $1.1 million.

McNally recommended using $2.9 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, supplemented by free cash, to pay for the $2.93 in capital planning projects. She said that while this number may seem high, requests for more than $7 million in projects were received by the Capital Planning Committee. By using ARPA and free cash to fund the capital expenditures, the projects will not impact taxpayer wallets.

The budget was slated to be reviewed the following day by the Financial Oversight Committee and a final version is due to the council by May 1.
Code of Conduct

Town Councilor Kathleen Hill presented a brief history of the creation of a code of conduct for the council. After she proposed the code just over a year ago, Hill checked with Town Attorney Jesse Belcher-Timme to confirm creation of such a document was within the council’s purview. It was, but Hill said the council did not have an appetite to take it up at that time.
Late last year, after McNally submitted her letter of resignation citing a toxic work environment, the issue was again taken up and a subcommittee was formed. Hill said they used information from the MMA and other towns’ codes of conduct in drafting one for East Longmeadow.

After reading the document, Town Councilor Sidney Starks objected to the code, stating it was “subjective” and overly “broad.” He expressed concerns that it may hamper, “open and honest discussion.” He praised the work done so far and suggested working on it further and expanding its reach to all boards and committees. Town Council President Michael Kane agreed with the expansion but said it would have to be run past Belcher-Timme.

“A lot of the stuff in this is obvious,” said Town Council Vice President Ralph Page, adding that it boiled down to treating others with respect and kindness. Without such a policy, however, he said the council is, “pretty limited if someone goes rogue and, [at] every meeting, is causing trouble.”

Town Councilor Marilyn Richards weighed in, “We’re in this point because we didn’t know how to behave previously.” She urged the council to vote. Fellow Town Councilor Connor O’Shea agreed and said the code can be expanded later.

The council voted 6-1 to adopt the code of conduct. Starks was the only member to dissent.

Korpinen Exit

Karen Korpinen is no longer the deputy town manager. McNally explained that she transferred Korpinen’s hours to the Finance Department in December ahead of the expected change in town management. Korpinen then left the town’s employment due to personal reasons. McNally said the position is still greatly needed as her time is largely consumed with contract negotiations and other duties. Many of the tasks and projects in the town manager’s office that McNally does not have enough time for can be done by the deputy town manager. McNally noted the revenue that Korpinen added to the town’s coffers, stating $200,000 in grants were acquired with a $30,000 salary for the position.