Main Topic

The meeting primarily focused on reviewing the proposed operating budgets for various town departments, including Public Works and the Police Department, for fiscal year 2026. The committee discussed specific budget requests, challenges, and potential solutions.

Key Points

Public Works Budget (Dan Santos)

• Overall: A level-funded budget with requests for additional items due to factors like employment contracts, maintenance escalators, and increased operating/utility costs.
• HYCC (Hyannis Youth and Community Center): Requests for mechanical operating capital ($420,000) for equipment replacement, increased preventive maintenance agreements ($10,000), and increased general building supplies ($5,000).
• Comprehensive Wastewater Management Program (CWMP): Significant personnel increase request ($864,150) for project managers, engineers, inspectors, and a financial coordinator (8 positions total). Also, a request for three new heavy-duty pickup trucks for inspectors.
• Water Pollution Control Division: Operating capital budget line item ($100,000) for equipment replacement and critical components. Continued funding ($50,000) for Stewart's Creek grinder pump purchases.
• Water Supply Division: Contract operation escalator increase ($121,082) and operating capital ($150,000 + $16,000 for police details).
• Solid Waste Division: Significant increase in municipal solid waste disposal fee due to contract changes ($385,000). Increase in construction and demolition debris costs ($160,000). Increased recycling materials disposal costs ($60,000). Requests for contracted services, overtime, uniforms, and HVAC system replacement.
• Highway Division: Increased police detail costs ($35,000), pre-service contract for arborists ($50,000), road marking services ($150,000), drawbridge maintenance ($40,000), Sandy Neck maintenance ($25,000), and sandblasting/painting ($20,000).
• Stormwater Management: Request for a new FTE Storm Water Project Manager ($136,570).
• Pond and Lake Water Quality: Increased sampling and analysis costs ($11,000).
• Structures and Grounds: Facilities operating capital ($160,000), increased natural gas costs ($30,000), HVAC supplies ($15,000), inspections ($5,000), alarm systems ($5,000), and animal pest control ($8,000).
• Transfer Station Fees: Discussion about whether current fees are high enough to cover disposal costs. A multi-year plan for rate increases is in place to avoid "sticker shock."

Police Department Budget (Chief)

• Vehicle Replacements: Request for $660,547 for eight vehicles (patrol, low-profile, and administrative).
• IT Services: Request for increased funding for IT services, with a portion identified as discretionary.
• Training Budget: Request for $45,008 to cover mandatory and professional development training. Concern raised about the impact of limiting training to only mandatory requirements.
• Garage Parts: Request for $36,438 due to increased costs of garage parts.
• Body Worn Camera Redaction Software: Request for $12,474 for redaction software to manage the increasing volume of footage requests.
• Cell Phones for Officers: Request for $17,590 to provide cell phones to officers for communication and evidence gathering.
• Rifle Rack Security System: Request for $42,135 for a security system to track rifles and radar guns.
• Tactical Drone: Request for $28,000 for a small drone for patrol officers to use in building searches.
• Digital Forensics Unit: Request for $42,062 for additional training and equipment.
• Marine Unit: Request for $7,589 for commissioning and decommissioning.
• Community Policing Programs: Request for $24,756 for community policing programs.
• Challenges:
  • Increased workload for the prosecution office due to changes in discovery rules. Request for a full-time victim advocate ($88,028).
  • Increase in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, particularly for body-worn camera footage.
  • Significant number of vacancies (23) impacting staffing levels.
• Grant Funding: Reliance on various grants to fund programs and operations. Several grant applications are pending.
• Regional Dispatch Center: Update on the plan to build a regional dispatch center with Yarmouth and Sandwich.

Highlights

• Internship Programs: Public Works has a successful internship program that leads to hiring excellent employees.
• Body Worn Cameras: The Police Department's body-worn camera program has been a valuable asset, reducing complaints and improving behavior.
• Civil Service: The Police Department is working to get out of civil service, which will help with hiring.
• Regional Dispatch Center: Barnstable is taking the lead in establishing a regional dispatch center.
• CFAC Value: Town council members and staff expressed appreciation for the CFAC's analysis and contributions to the town's financial planning.