Longmeadow www.TheReminder.com


Opposition doesn’t prevent OPEB funding approval at Town Meeting L


By Chris Maza chrism@thereminder.com


LONGMEADOW – Residents approved the transfer of more than $250,000 to the Other Post Employment Liability Trust Fund at the Annual Town Meeting on May 8, but it wasn’t without some resistance. Article 27 of the warrant


requested the transfer of $258,464 to the fund from the treasury, water, sewer and solid waste retained earnings and the ambulance fund. The fund, which was initially


set up at the May 2010 Annual Town Meeting, was established as a way to address an unfunded liability of up to $40 million in benefits given to town retirees. “We have a liability, depending


on the funding mechanism, that ranges from $20 million to $40 million on this issue,” Finance Director Paul Pasterczyk said. “Proper funding of this as determined by the actuarial group would require an additional $1.1 million out of the town budget to properly fund this over a 30 year period.


“There is a debate about how


to fund this – is it a pay-as-you-go system, which we are currently doing, as opposed to putting aside some amount of money, not necessarily the amount that the actuarial study recommended, to address this issue in the future,” he continued. At the time of its creation, a


sum of $150,000 was appropriated into the account, which had a balance of $153,469 as of the Annual Town Meeting. With the approval of the transfer, the fund’s balance now stands at $411,933. While the finance committee


recommended the article, committee member Richard Liasse spoke against it at the meeting. “I object to this not because it


doesn’t have to be done. It has to be done in some way, shape or form. I think that support for this is recognition that this is an encumbrance to the town that is so great, we have to do something to start off and take care of it, but this is not that something,” he said. “Every so often you’ll see or read about a water main break someplace … You never see


anybody in their right mind start to fill in that sink hole until they shut off the water. This is what this thing does.” Liasse also pointed out that the


$250,000 could be used to fund capital projects that the town otherwise needs to borrow money to complete. “This $250,000 would take


care of about 80 percent or more of [the cost of projects approved in Article 12 of the warrant] without encumbering the town for additional money,” he said. Liasse also criticized the


sources of the transfer. “You hear the term free cash,


well there’s no such thing as free cash. Those are your tax dollars that are appropriated to some project and returned to the town,” he said. “If you look at all the problems we have with our water system and our sewer system, I don’t think we should be taking money out of those areas to put into a sink hole. Also, that ambulance fund is to run our ambulance service, not to go into a debt of the town.” Resident Lawrence Starr questioned the effectiveness of


throwing $250,000 at a multi- million problem. “If we stop today having


anybody take additional benefits, we’ll have a $40 million bill that will come due. This is a big problem that is going to have to be solved at a greater level than just the town level,” he said. “This gives us $400,000 on a $20 million [bill], at the lowest level, liability and that will have, really, no affect. The question we have to ask is: Would this $250,000 be better used for other things?” Residents also approved a level


town budget of $56.3 million for fiscal year 2013. The original budget printed in


the warrant was $56.2 million, however, two new collective bargaining agreements boosted that number by $104,669. A new agreement with School Department employees reflected $75,000 of the increase, while the new Fire Department contracts made up the remaining $29,669. Residents also approved the


spending of $890,000 for clean up related to the Oct. 29, 2011 snowstorm.


Select Board Chair Mark Gold


explained that $790,000 of that money would be used to pay off the estimated $2.8 million the town would be on the hook for after receiving 75 percent reimbursement of the storm’s $12 million total cost from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The remaining $100,000


would go toward the interest associated with the borrowing the town did to complete the clean up. A host of capital projects were


also approved, including road reconstruction and paving at a cost of $300,000 and sidewalk replacement with a price tag of $125,000. A total of $297,750 will be


transferred for 10 projects, including some school construction and improvement projects and the improvement of wireless systems in town buildings. An additional $872,048 was


approved to be spent from real estate tax revenues for 11 other ventures, including the road and sidewalk projects, three new pick up trucks and guardrail replacement.


Glenmeadow recognizes 45 volunteers for their services


LONGMEADOW – Glenmeadow Retirement recognized 45 individuals at its annual Volunteer Luncheon last month. Glenmeadow resident Lydia


Niss received special recognition for her years of service assisting with the library, as well as organizing


numerous showings in the Gill Gallery. According to Director of


Resident Programs Laura Lavoie, volunteers play an important role at Glenmeadow. “Whether it’s a Glenmeadow resident leading a current events discussion group, or


a local college student reading the daily newspaper to the vision- impaired, we welcome volunteers in a wide variety of roles” Lavoie said. Volunteers


run the


Glenmeadow convenience store, make pet visits to residents, and coordinate new activities they have


experience with. Lavoie says the person who runs the line dancing class, for example, is an accomplished dancer, and always has a well-attended class. “Volunteers allow us to offer


more than we would normally be able to,” Lavoie said. “As a non-


profit, we are always looking to add value to our programs in a cost effective way. The lives of those we serve have been greatly enriched by the many dedicated people who visit, serve on Boards and committees, and assist with programs and special events.”


SKIDMORE COLLEGE DEAN’S LIST SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kelsey Yam, class of 2013 of Longmeadow, Mass., was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2011 semester at Skidmore College. Term honors are awarded for a quality point ratio of 3.6 from a possible 4.0, for students who have completed 14 credit hours.


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Page 14 MAY 14-20, 2012 For news & advertising call 413-525-6661


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