Financial Advisory Committee Minutes

March 29, 7:30PM

NBB Admin Office (45 Keeley Ave)

Call to Order

• The meeting was begun at 7:30PM.

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

• Members Present: Frank Lombardo (Committee Chair), Art Conover (Committee Vice Chair), Joseph Borek, John Wolff
• Members Not Present: Lara La Sala
• Others Present: Jeff Gilmore (Council Liaison), Sam Bryant (Borough Manager/Treasurer, Committee Secretary)

Minutes Approval

• Mr. Wolff motioned to approve the February 2016 Minutes.  Mr. Conover seconded the motion.  The motion passed, with all members present voting in favor.

Unfinished Business – Committee Outreach

• Mr. Bryant noted that committees had been assigned to each member, and connecting messages had been sent out.
• Mr. Borek stated he would be attending the April 11th Nature Preserve meeting.  
• Mr. Wolff noted he would attend the next Public Safety meeting in late April.  He would like to gauge their interest in crosswalks and traffic calming that may need to be budgeted in the three year plan.
• Mr. Conover stated he met with the Historic Preservation Committee on March 23rd.  He noted the Borough has traditionally given $500 per year to this group that has not been used, as volunteers have been paying costs themselves.  Mr. Bryant stated these volunteers have been encouraged to have the Borough reimburse for such expenses.  Mr. Conover noted they have not charged for special events in the past.
• Mr. Gilmore said he met with the Community and Business Committee to start discussing financial needs.  These would include decorative street lights, benches, unique streetscape animals, such as the bears in Mt. Airy, and gateways.
• Mr. Lombardo met with Council Vice President LaMontagne to discuss the financial needs of the Police Commission.  Most important to him was to determine where the estimated figures for a new police building came from, what determines if a budget item is operational or capital (the regional police split the former cost 60/20/20 and the latter 33/33/33), and what the current police infrastructure status is?
• Mr. Bryant noted that Council is still deciding the structure of a Parks/Rec Committee which was assigned to Ms. La Sala to meet with.  He noted that his responsibility, the Burkart Hall Committee, did not meet this month.  He would expect that future costs would be a Phase 2 Grant and a new roof.  He is working to determine how to best use the first floor space of the building that has been vacated by the police.

Unfinished Business – Grant Opportunities

• Mr. Bryant noted that the Borough had plans to apply for a Burkart Hall Phase 2 Grant, a DCNR grant for the Nature Preserve, and a Sewage Facilities Grant for the 537 Plan.  Borough contributions to all there were expected to be minimal.
• Mr. Lombardo asked if the Borough had considered soliciting corporate grants and donations.  Mr. Bryant said he had not, but such an idea had been successful elsewhere on a limited scale.  Mr. Lombardo volunteered to follow up on this idea.
• Mr. Wolff suggested the Borough look into the creation of a sidewalk fund.

Unfinished Business – Delaware Valley University Update

• Mr. Bryant noted that Delaware Valley University has a deadline of April 30th to correct its Local Services Tax filing to include the number of New Britain Borough employees.
• Mr. Bryant noted the Borough had some meetings coming up with Del Val, but there was no intention of discussing any police payment at this time.  Mr. Wolff asked how those costs were previously calculated?  Mr. Gilmore responded that the former Treasurer, Ms. Marie Coia handled these calculations, and her files should be in the office.  Mr. Bryant said he would find these files for the Committee.

New Business – Performance Metrics

• Mr. Gilmore and Mr. Bryant spoke to their desire to benchmark New Britain Borough against other municipalities to determine strengths and areas for improvement.  Mr. Bryant distributed information on the ICMA Analytics program and GovRank.com.

New Business – Sterling Tax

• Mr. Gilmore distributed an article regarding the Sterling Act.  This law allows the city of Philadelphia to claim all the Earned Incomes Taxes of Borough residents who work in the city, instead of the Borough receiving its 0.5%.
• Mr. Bryant noted that the Bucks County Association of Township Officials is advocating for the repeal of this law.
• Mr. Wolff motioned that the Finance Committee recommend to Borough Council that a resolution be passed by the Borough to support the repeal of this law.  Mr. Borek seconded the motion.  The motion passed with all members present voting in favor.

New Business – Lara La Sala

• Mr. Bryant noted that he spoke with Ms. La Sala prior to the meeting about her attendance.  She noted that commitments with her family and work prevented her from coming.
• Mr. Lombardo said he would speak with Ms. La Sala.
• Mr. Gilmore asked if the Appointment Advisory Committee would have a role if there ended up being a vacancy.  Mr. Bryant stated they would currently.
• Some possible residents were suggested for follow up by Mr. Gilmore and Mr. Bryant in the event Ms. La Sala has to resign.

Adjournment

• Having no further business, Mr. Wolff made a motion to adjourn.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Conover.  The motion passed with all members present voting in favor.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:05PM.