Annual Town Meeting May 3, 2016 Town Manager Report Respectfully Submitted by Julie A. Jacobson
Your Tax Dollars at Work Prudent allocation of resources to promote efficient operations and the effective delivery of services for the Town of Auburn Business Development Communications and Outreach Community Programs and Events Economic Development Emergency Management Facility Management Fiscal Management Fleet Maintenance Grantsmanship Green Initiatives Infrastructure Improvements Inspections Legislative and Policy Advocacy Planning Permitting Public Health Public Safety Public Services Public Works Recreation and Culture Training and Certifications
Past Year Highlights Bond Rating Upgrade to AA2 Moody s Maintained S&P Bond Rating of AA+ Community Choice Power Supply Program approved and implemented Secured 29 grants totaling $336,203.14 in calendar year 2015 Omnibus General By-Laws approved by Attorney General Approved and signed Community Compact with Baker Polito Administration Completed construction on new playground at Pappas Recreational Complex Initiated Collective Bargaining with ten municipal bargaining units Completed Health Insurance Reform with Town and School unions Completed construction on New Middle School Town assumed operations, management and maintenance of Pakachoag Golf Course Formed Veteran s Services District with 4 communities Began construction on $3.4 million roadways project to reconstruct 8 miles of roads Initiated planning for development of new walking trail Record attendance at Independence Day event Initiated the process to update the Town s Master Plan Initiated the Zoning Bylaw Review process Rejuvenated Open Space Committee to undertake analysis of town-owned properties Converted Town Hall from oil to gas
Strong Financial Management Ongoing Adherence to Written Financial Policies Conservative Budgeting Strategic Refinancing 5-Year CIP 5-Year Facility Improvement Plan 5-Year Long-range Forecasting Health Insurance Reform Strong Health Trust Fund Commitment to Building Reserves Commitment to address longterm liabilities Aggressive Pursuit of Grants Bond Rating Upgrade to AA2 from Moody s AA+ Bond Rating from S&P Increase in Free Cash Increase in Reserves Increase in Excess Levy Capacity Increase in Roadway Investments Continued Investment into OPEB Continued investment into Stabilization Fund Decrease in Borrowing Costs Strong Independent Audit Results
Increase in Free Cash $8,000,000.00 $7,502,355.00 $7,000,000.00 $6,000,000.00 $6,189,067.00 $5,000,000.00 $4,000,000.00 $3,991,250.00 $3,000,000.00 $2,802,089.00 $2,000,000.00 $1,000,000.00 $1,443,501.00 $- $271,109.00 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15
Increase in Excess Levy $4,000,000.00 $3,500,000.00 $3,352,006.00 $3,554,178.00 $3,000,000.00 $2,962,417.00 $2,500,000.00 $2,481,769.00 $2,000,000.00 $1,500,000.00 $1,382,853.00 $1,000,000.00 $833,388.00 $500,000.00 $- FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16
OPEB Fund Investment $3,000,000 $2,673,973.88 $2,500,000 $2,173,973.88 $2,000,000 $1,627,396.71 $1,500,000 $1,047,455.59 $1,000,000 $500,000 $510,143.41 $0 $0 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 Proposed FY17
Total Roadway Investments FY11 FY17 $10,297,413 (Includes Proposed FY17 Funding) FY16 $1,607,782.00 Proposed FY17 $1,515,603.00 FY11 $1,156,022.00 FY12 $1,310,345.00 FY13 $1,351,125.00 FY15 $1,930,967.00 FY14 $1,425,569.00
Total Roadway Investments 2011-2016 $2,000,000.00 $92,179.00 $1,800,000.00 $125,000.00 $1,600,000.00 $267,000.00 $92,179.00 $100,000.00 $1,400,000.00 $1,200,000.00 $150,000.00 $150,000.00 $90,000.00 $111,667.00 $142,000.00 $121,667.00 $162,000.00 $280,000.00 Pothole Repair Roadway Improvement $1,000,000.00 $800,000.00 $90,000.00 $595,345.00 $597,458.00 $616,902.00 $921,788.00 $610,603.00 Drainage Chapter 90 General Fund Revenues $466,022.00 $600,000.00 $400,000.00 $200,000.00 $450,000.00 $475,000.00 $500,000.00 $525,000.00 $525,000.00 $525,000.00 $- FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16
Pakachoag Golf Course January 1 st Town assumed operations, management and maintenance Renovated Clubhouse Infrastructure work on course $65,000 drainage grant Greens maintenance and repairs Brush and tree clearing Lease/Purchase Golf Carts
Marketing and Outreach Developed logos Established New Fees Pre-sold memberships Created New Web Site Enabled On-Line Payment Media Promotions Advertising Merchandise Grand Re-Opening May 6 th 10:30 AM
Active Pursuit of Grants 2015 30 Applications Applied for $444,935.14 29 Awarded 1 Pending 0 Denied Total Awarded $336,203.14 2016 (Through May 3) 10 Applications $317,233.30 Applied for 7 Awarded 3 Pending 0 Denied Total Awarded $90,482.45
Total Grant Activity 2011 2016 (through May 3) 131 Applications $8,735,881.79 Applied for 115 Awarded 4 Pending 12 Denied Total Awarded $2,492,648.94 Community Compact Initiatives Public Health Trailer Tree Removal Trailer Portable EOC Trailer Bomb Dog Vehicle Breathing Apparatus Dive Training and Equipment CodeRED IPads for Police, Fire, EMD, Health Regional Priority Plan Regional Stormwater Management CERT equipment & Training Roadway Construction Projects Playground at Pappas Dug-outs Culvert Project Walking Trail Project Monument Restoration Senior Programs and Activities Library Materials and Equipment Housing Plan Economic Development Plan
Regional Grants Regional Grants Fund shared equipment Fund regional planning initiatives Fund regional public safety training Fund regional health, public works, public safety programs Reduce capital needs of towns Regional Stormwater Collaborative Regional Economic Development Plan Regionalized Bucket Truck Regional Portable Heaters Regional Generator 2011 2016 (YTD)* Total Grants Applied For 10 Total Amount Grants Applied for $1,259,050.00 Total Grants Received $808,675.00 Total Awarded 7 Total Denied 3 * Included in total grants on previous page
Department of Public Works Roadway Resurfacing and Reconstruction Program $3.4 Million roadway project underway Facility Management Over $650K in savings since implementation Fleet Maintenance $70K annual savings Sewer Maintenance Stormwater Management Parks and Cemeteries Maintenance Pakachoag Golf Course operations, management and maintenance Street Sweeping Leaf and Brush Pile Pot Hole Reporting System Recreation and Culture
Police Department 21,968 calls and incidences 549 Arrests 443 Motor Vehicle Accidents 6 Robberies 133 Burglaries 98 Shoplifting 96 Operating Under the Influence 9 Rapes Citizen s Academy Social Media Outreach and communication with community through Facebook and Twitter School Safety Officer Special Olympics Annual APA 5K Run/Walk to raise money for the Scholarship Fund
Fire Rescue Department 3,469 emergency calls (busiest year in department history) Over 1,000 code enforcement actions 2,191 EMS calls Continued District 7 Regional Team involvement Technical Rescue Dive Rescue Communication Over 200 training sessions held for members of the department Bureau of Community Risk Reduction: Fire Prevention Community CPR (large increase due to demand) Hazardous Materials Tracking Pre-Fire Planning Public Education (involved in over 40 community events) New Community Sign Continued Social Media & Communication Efforts Classes for businesses Fire extinguisher classes Chocking classes CPR classes Senior Programs Cooking safety Fall prevention File for Life General fire safety Fire Prevention Week Activities Open House School Programs Poster Contest
Health Programs and Initiatives Board of Health Flu Clinics Household Hazardous Waste Day Yard Waste Pick-Up Prescription Drug Take Back SHARPS Collection Program Anti-Smoking Programs Emergency Planning for Health Issues Mercury Recycling Program Animal Shelter Open House Vaccine and Microchip Clinic Composting Initiative BOH & Chamber of Commerce partnership for community need improvements BOH & SWAC partnership - Solid waste education & contract renewal The Attorney General s Abandoned Housing Initiative Animal Control -Report a lost pet online BOH & Schools partnership for education program on Concussion Awareness, Fluoride Program Education at Holiday Craft Fair for Healthy Holiday Eating
Community Events Summer in the Park Concert Series Independence Day event Fall Festival/Homecoming Annual Tree Lighting Event Annual Holiday Craft Fair Holiday Lights in Parks Summer Camp Dr. Arthur & Dr. Martha Pappas Recreation Complex Regional Tournaments Year-round Recreation and Culture Programs Senior Center Programs and Events Library Programs & Events
Communications and Outreach Social Media Facebook Twitter YouTube The Auburn Account Quarterly Newsletter Auburn Local Radio 1610 AM CodeRED Emergency Communication System Weather Warning Mobile Alert Community Notification System AuburnGuide.com Auburn Cable Television Public Service Announcements Electronic Town Updates School Department Email Announcements Electronic Billboards Local Media Outlets Print Radio Television TOWN OF AUBURN QUARTERLY MUNICIPAL NEWSLETTER Local Government At Work The Auburn Account
Green Initiatives Implemented Municipal Aggregation Program for Resident and Business Savings Worked with Colonial Power, Town s energy consultant, to develop Community Choice Power Supply Program Submitted to State s DOER and DPU for review and approval Selected Constellation Energy for a 12 months contract which began in December 2015 $0.09522 per kilowatt hour 100% renewable (electricity is being supplied through national wind Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from farms throughout the continental U.S.) Residential rate is 27% lower than National Grid s (NGrid) DPU-approved winter rate of 13.038 per kwh. DOER Grant for PT Energy Manager 2 nd year Town Hall conversion to gas (MOU with RH White and Nstar for Gas line on Central Street) Secured and Completed 2 nd Green Community Grant scope Applied for next round competitive Green Community Grant Net Metering Credit Agreement with SunEdison
Economic Development Local, Regional and Statewide Initiatives Business Assistance Technical assistance to businesses seeking to relocate, expand or start-up Site Search Assistance Access to Financial Assistance Permitting and Licensing Assistance DCG for Project Assistance Board and Commission Training Economic Development Committee Marketing video underway Collateral Materials Web Site proposal Ongoing Implementation of Recommendations from Committee Report and Survey Results Community Compact Economic Development Plan Housing Plan Business Roundtable Business leaders Dialogue Various Industry Sectors Partner with Auburn Chamber on Business Survey Participated in Statewide Economic Development Roundtable at QCC Provided input to Governor s Administration on regulatory and policy issues affecting economic development (Municipal Modernization Bill) Testified on Economic Development Legislation Act to Promote Local Economic Development Act Relative to Marketing Prioritized Development Sites Work with Worcester Regional Chamber Economic Development team for business retention and attraction Work with Mass Office of Business Development for financial and technical assistance to local businesses Work with Worcester Business Development Corp. to identify potential economic development projects Discover Central Massachusetts Board Member Tourism and Economic Development Planning Initiatives with CMRPC Drury Square District Freight Rail Pilot Study 61A Land Use Analysis
Business Development Development Coordinating Group (DCG) reviewed 36 plans and projects since May 2015 submitted by entrepreneurs, developers and businesses. Several companies expanded, new businesses opened, and new developments were proposed. Completed in 2015: R.H. White Construction New Facility Pappas Playground Bells Garden Center Expansion TD Bank Relocation (460 Southbridge Street) Deer Run Estates Pakachoag Acres Day Care New Construction BP Gas Station (481 Washington Street) Lux Auto Plus (525 Washington Street) Spirit Central Inc. (198 Washington Street) The Art Lab (716 Southbridge Street) J&J Truck and Auto Repair (121 Southbridge St) Kitchen Makers (769 Washington Street) Underway: Windmill Estates Whitetail Run Subdivision Diamond Auto Group Expansion Herb Chambers Toyota Mid-State Packing, Inc. (28 Millbury Street) Proposed: Auburn Mall Movie Theater & Restaurant Hamlet Estates Subdivision (127 West Street) Pakachoag Farms Subdivision (71 Curtis Street) Central One Federal Credit Union Expansion (59 & 63 Southbridge Street) BAPS Auto Paint and Supply (Auburn Industrial Park)
Public Policy and Advocacy Written and Verbal Testimony on Pending Legislation or Regulations MMA Executive Committee Local Government Advisory Commission (LGAC) Lt. Governor Polito Municipal Focus Group MMA Policy Committee on Municipal and Regional Administration Policy MMMA Form of Government Committee Central Mass Regional Homeland Security Council Statewide Green Communities Division Advisory Committee Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) Legislative Meetings Regional Town Managers/Administrators Group Hosted regional meeting with Senior Deputy Commissioner Division of Local Services/Dept. of Revenue Hosted regional meeting with Commissioner of DOER Regular Communication with State and Federal Delegation Legislative Research and Updates Legislation to Amend Chapter 61A Zoning Reform Bill Solar Bills Municipal Modernization Bill Economic Development Bill Veterans Bills Housing Bills
Strategic Community Partnerships Leverage Investment Increase Resources Provide Programs to Residents Enhance Services Create Positive Community Impacts Strengthen relationships between businesses, residents and government Auburn School Dept. Auburn Chamber of Commerce Auburn Mall Republic Waste Business Roundtable Friends of Pappas Recreation Hometown Bank Masterman s Polar Beverages Southbridge Credit Union WRTA Stearns Electric