Councilors Call for Capital Planning to Adhere to Braintree Charter

Braintree's capital planning process, which involves taking out millions of dollars in bonds each year to pay for roads, vehicles and other tangible assets, should be more detailed, wider-ranging and meet the requirements of the Town Charter.

That was the message members of the Committee on Ways & Means sent last Thursday evening when they recommended that the full council ask Mayor Joseph Sullivan to direct the executive branch to begin drafting a broader plan starting next year.

"The capital plan we have today is adequate but it does not conform to the charter," Committee Chair Paul "Dan" Clifford said. "It's my interest that we enhance this process."

Sullivan submitted a one-year plan on April 5 for the year that ends June 30, 2013. The mayor is supposed to submit a "capital improvement program" to the council at least 120 days before the start of each fiscal year, according to section 6-10 of the Town Charter. Fiscal year 2014 begins July 1 and the charter's deadline was March 1.

As part of that program, the charter calls on the mayor to submit "a list of all capital improvements proposed to be undertaken during the next ensuing 5 years, with supporting information as to the need for each capital
improvement."

"That information today, gentleman, is not available," Clifford said.

Clifford presented plans from Quincy, Natick and Chelsea for comparison. They each have more detail than Braintree's plan, including information on individual facilities and vehicles, and the kind of financial data concerning bonding debt that could help councilors save the town money, Clifford said.

Each spring Braintree's school department submits an extensive capital plan. This year's document contained lists of projects completed in years past at each of the district's schools, proposed projects over the next five years along with estimated costs, and even photographs of the department's vehicles alongside mileage and age data.

"You're basically projecting costs into the future," Sean Powers said. "It shouldn't be a wish list. It should be a needs list."

Councilors Henry Joyce and Tom Bowes also agreed that the council should have a more long-term view of the town's capital projects with added detail. John Mullaney was absent Thursday.

The charter also calls for a Capital Planning Committee, to be established by ordinance. That body has not been created since the new form of government took over in January 2008. While the council codifies multiple-member bodies such as the committee with an ordinance, the mayor is tasked with bringing a proposal forward, Town Clerk Joe Powers said.

Sullivan did not respond to a request for comment. He has said in the past that he takes pride in his financial stewardship of the town since becoming Braintree's first mayor in 2008 and has increased its bond rating and reserves.