Title
Communication: From the Mayor relative to roadwork.
To: Malden City Council
From: Mayor Gary Christenson
Date: December 6, 2016
Re: Road Work
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This memorandum is in follow up to the resolve voted on at the November 1st meeting, at which time a multi-faceted approach to completing the remaining road work was presented. We all share the same objective, which I would define as arriving at a plan that ensures we do not miss the spring construction season and doing so in a responsible way fiscally. I believe below is a compromise that meets our collective objectives.
Within the past week, we received a detailed proposal from Hayner/Swanson, Inc. for the survey and design work associated with the group of 17 streets outlined in the November 1st resolve. The total cost of this work is $487,000. This amount surveys the streets, designs the streets, and gets them out to bid. In the interest of making sure we do not lose the construction season, I have authorized Hayner/Swanson to proceed with the surveying component, which represents $82,000 of the above amount. Sufficient funds exist that were appropriated as part of the FY17 water and sewer operating budget to fund this one small component. However, to allow us to also proceed with the design work as soon as the surveying is done, I am proposing that we fund the entire survey and design cost of $487,000 out of Water and Sewer free cash. We recently received our Free Cash certification from the state, and funds exist to maintain our reserve policy and fund this appropriate expense. This will allow us to move forward immediately, making sure we are prepared come spring for construction.
The actual cost of construction for this grouping of streets will be driven by the design process. It is my desire to drive the scope of the design such that we are able to accomplish the work through a combination of the anticipated bonding ($4 million), plus chapter 90 funds and without the use of general fund reserves. It is a priority of mine to protect to all extent possible the general fund free cash. As you know, we have needed to rely on free cash to balance the past few budgets and we are also in the process of utilizing free cash to fund FY17 raises that are not budgeted. While we were fortunate this year to have replenished some of that with our most recent free cash certification, rebuilding our free cash is a top priority of mine, particularly when earlier this year the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Executive Board recommended that local governments maintain an unrestricted fund balance equal to at least two months of general operating fund expenditures.
Lastly, we have reached out to the state, in writing, to request the ability to bond against Chapter 90 funds. A copy of the correspondence is attached and we hope to hear shortly on this request.
In follow up to this memorandum, I will be sending the Council a paper to appropriate $487,000 out of the Water & Sewer Enterprise free cash, as well as the $4 million bonding to support the next group of 17 streets. I would request that rules be suspended such that this is passed before the holiday recess. This will allow us to move forward with the design, after which I would expect we would regroup to further discuss the design driven budget and hopefully the response from the state on the use of Chapter 90 funds.