welcome to talking news we're delighted to have you with us listening to our presentation by members of the beach street center marian jonathan and irene we will be reading local news and happenings from the community newspaper is one hundred seventy one million dollars or is it belmont's o p e b funding advisory group will look to answer that question after realizing data used in the actuarial assessments of the opi be liability may not be entirely accurate o p e b represents the retirement benefits other than pensions that federal state and local governments provide to their employees the majority of these benefits involve health care but other benefits under the opi include insurance disability and legal according to the o p s be funding advisory groups fairview or report actual aerial calculations are made using state wide data and not specific data furthermore according to ralph jones chairman of the opi funding advisory group the belmont specific data are currently unknown jones said the town reports health care insurance costs as a single line item instead of breaking out the costs for different groups like pre medicare retirees the cost of health insurance for pre medical retirees he said is crucial to actuaries when the they calculate the liability and not having the exact amount for pre medical retirees could be one reason why belmont's the liability is actually lower than currently projected we had all just assumed towns were giving the real data to the actuaries and they weren't said jones who said most communities also don't provide town specific data for their own actuarial assessments this is one of the most fascinating phenomenon as i've ever seen in municipal government you would think given the enormity of the potential costs you would want to break this figure out for instance actuarial assessments in two thousand and fourteen estimated the normal costs of health care for a pre medical retirees to be about six million dollars however john said the advisory group estimates this cost at three point five million dollars another potential miscalculation is in the increase in health insurance premiums the actuarial report assumes an eight percent increase on the town's premiums in two thousand and fourteen followed by a seven percent increase in two thousand and fifteen jones said the increases in premiums in the last five years have averaged point one percent all of the numbers are important said jones because they're used to calculate future projections the size of the liability is also extremely important because new accounting standards will soon require municipalities to put their o p e b liability on their balance sheets in two thousand and eighteen he said one community wayland spent two years breaking down its actual o p b b costs in the demographics of people receiving benefits with these data according to the advisor group's report wayland officials went back to their actuary and had them use the specific carcass costs excuse me they calculated for wayland's pre medicare retirees in their actuarial estimate the result was a twenty three million dollar reduction in the work to get them these data for them when you realize the enormity of the impact of actuarial assumptions you can understand why rating agencies like moody's are less concerned about the estimated liability and more interested in whether the town's managers are watching the number and have a policy for funding it jonathan your developer taking over projects bramber groups with developer  to part ways with the coaching village development town officials have cleared the way for new leadership hoping fresh faces can finally break ground and complete the long delayed project selectmen voted march twenty square foot cushing village development which includes fifteen miles eventually runnel apartments fifteen minutes of all parking spaces and thirty seven thousand square feet of commercial space in doing so not only did selectman keep the project intact but they paved the way for a new developer on march twenty first starr announced his firm smith legacy partners had agreed to sell its stake in the project toll brother forward for the community neighborhood and this developments selectman marco polo according to charles elliott managing director of t b a l the company has sixty days to conduct due diligence before finalizing the agreement if completed s l p would transfer the project special permit which received a one year extension last november to  wire an additional one hundred thirty thousand dollars an option payments and another twenty thousand dollars to cover past attorney fees within the next five days selectman will also increase the price of law to one million dollars an increase of one hundred fifty thousand from the first purchase and sale agreement that they have a star although big changes abound t b a all expressed an interest in keeping the project intact we think the project is a great design standing point eliot said our intention is to move the project forward that was approved and titled by the local municipality and for it and therefore not to be any changes in february start told planning board members he might need sixty days do an additional four months to close on the deed of the for closing on the municipal law beginning demolition and obtaining a building permit were two or conditions of the special permit extension at the time star said switching lenders would make for a smoother process saying it had been difficult to get cornerstone and his other lender to play nicely in the sandbox and that he would close any money shortfall of internal funds from his family or building partner urban spaces if needed in this presentation selectman beloved a senior development manager at t b o said he was confident the company could follow through on the project the toll brothers had a one point five billion in liquidity love it said it would take no more than thirty months to complete the project once t b a l broke ground when asked if the tenants  time would be dragged out yet again the state department of transportation and town officials have said there were not pave over roads in the dorm room uppers install utilities from the project question of the week by joanna duvall is a question pension payments are set to take up a significant part of the budget until twenty twenty eight twenty nine are you in favor of sticking to the amortization schedule the town is currently on or would you be interested in issuing a pension obligation bond please explain your position mark polo state law establishes belmont's retiree pension obligations belmont's retirement board is authorized to determine how to find how to fund our retirement obligations and to manage investments designed to pound them in twenty fifteen the ward committee issued a pension report analyzing different options for funding our pension liability one option that was presented was extending the amortization period from twenty twenty seven to some later date this could reduce the pension contribution impact on annual budgets the selectmen have and should continue to discuss this option with the retirement board pension obligation bonds p o b s are not tax free the fiscal benefit to the town depends on the retirement board's ability to consistently produce investment returns higher than our taxable borrowing rate p o b s are a bet that pension investments will exceed the cost of borrowing the rating agency moody's has indicated that p o b typically create additional risks including budgetary risks default risk and loss of flexibility the government finance officers association g f o a recommends that state and local governments not issue p o b s i would not subject taxpayers money to risks of this type alexander rueben pension obligations have to be paid however belmont is not alone dealing with how to do so nineteen cities and towns have unfunded pension liabilities that topped three hundred million dollars belmont's roughly fifty nine dollars fifty nine million dollars in unfunded pensions and sixty million dollars in b liabilities print the c s four thousand eight hundred twenty five dollars per capita close friend is in the middle of the pack a decade ago belmont's board of selectmen adopted an accelerated payment schedule with no clear benefit these payments have been growing slowly but are now set to balloon rising at a compound and rate of seven percent annually until twenty twenty seven by adjusting the amortization schedule of our p obligation out to twenty forty we would substantially decrease the current strain on the town budget at no cost to taxpayers or risk to our aaa credit rating the town has started examining alternative options to preserve promised benefits and issuing bonds is one example other creative options might be negotiating with the state or possible one off revenue from sales slash lease of buildings our lands should bonding emerge as the most prudent course forward i'm confident that the board and the voters who a pursue that course but we should look at all available options before committing ourselves to take any course of action irene question of the week government housing authority candidates what is your position about prohibiting smoking in and around belmont housing authority buildings making public housing in belmont smoke free thomas ina olsen belmont housing authority already has a smoking nonsmoking policy the buildings are smoke i believe the building should continue to be smoke free but i also believe that these are people's homes taking away a residence right to smoke in the areas outside around public housing is unfair to those who have smoked all their lives many of the housing authorities residents are seniors who have smoked their entire lives smoking is recognized as a public health hazard however i believe smoking outdoor as mitigates this danger through  dilution within the air i also believe that our public health and public service campaigns have greatly reduced the number of people smoking that is also true of the number of residents who smoke and also live in housing authority buildings it is my hope that over time all smoking will be eradicated which will make this discussion unnecessary as an elected member of the belmont having authority i will use my considerable advocacy skills both financial and social to maintain the residence quality of life paul richter smoking bans are a hot topic among local housing authorities some have banned smoking and some have considered bans it's easy for secondhand smoke to drift between apartments so this seems like a public health issue that should be contemplated at the same time forcing tenants who smoke for decades to leave their apartments or indeed the entire b h a property to smoke a cigarette is a significant step that shouldn't be taken lightly i would recommend that the b h a tread very carefully in considering a smoking ban i know that the water town has an authority is instituting a smoking ban after a two year process of listening to tenants concerns and weighing alternatives my hope is that any potential change in smoking policy would follow a similar course of considering the needs and wishes of the tenants and that any ban family fun run an april tenth the five k races in recognition of belmont native becca fees accomplishment as the first u s woman to complete the world marathon challenge in addition to serving as a special send off celebration for b z and other runners competing at the this year's boston marathon the race will begin and it don't want high school track registration and big pick up begins at seven thirty am with the five k beginning at nine am and the one mile kids race starting at nine o five am t shirts will be given to the first two hundred runners participating in the five k with all proceeds benefiting the back of the neck of the easy scholarship fund via the belmont boosters beck is a remarkable role model to young belmont residents through her tireless drive an emphasis on hard work and healthy exercise said bob mahoney president and c e o of belmont savings bank giving her given her efforts working with children and record setting and athletic achievements we're honored to sponsor the first ever back up easy family fun run earlier this year the z completed the twenty sixteen world marathon challenge participating in seven marathons on seven continents in seven days the thirty five year old business owner manager and mother held the fastest time in the women's category and placed third overall p c attributed her success to the support of her family friends in the town of belmont savings bank provided becker with the donation of her char charity of choice the belmont food bank and hosted both sendoff and welcoming events i want to once again thank belmont savings for the generous support as they have graciously given many resources to ensure belmont's families can follow my races and not  themselves civ p c the air parole tenth five k and one mile kids race are wonderful opportunities for the belmont community to come together and enjoy fun recreational exercise and i hope to see everyone there marry a new exhibit opening family ties and memory the belmont gallery of art will host its spring exhibit family ties slash memory from april three to may eight the exhibit was organized in partnership with belmont public libraries twenty sixteen one book one belmont town wide read and inspired by this year's o p selection author and needed novel the boston girl the bestselling novel tells the story of eighty five year old at the bottom recounting her life growing up in and around boston for her young adult granddaughter family relationships are a central part of the boston girl and influence addie and how she lived her life family ties and memories are a connection we all share so the beachy a thought it was a wonderful idea for an exhibit said rebecca richards of the belmont gallery of art the gallery is pleased that the belmont public library asked us to be part of this year's special belmont one book one belmont event and opening reception for family ties memory will take place seven to nine pm april eight events are free the two dozen artists participating in the exhibit were asked to interpret the show's theme of family and family memories any way they wished as a result the art show features an eclectic mix of work including sculpture textile art talk of feet printmaking and painting there were also so there will also be a special guest book at the beach ca for visitors to record special family memories of their own that they might want to share the belmont gallery of art is located in the homer building across from town hall in belmont cent regular staffed gallery hours are thursdays and fridays ten am to four pm and sundays one am must be one pm to four pm i the treasure premieres march twenty eighth belmont world film continues with the new england premier of the treasure on monday march twenty eighth at seven thirty pm at the studio cinema in belmont at three seven six hello road winner of the khan film festivals on certain regard competition last year this romanian film by acclaimed director quentin lou tells the story of two men seeking a fortune that is reportedly buried somewhere on the grounds of a country home that had been temporarily appropriated by the soviets after world war two the film humorously explores the history of romania as last two hundred years this year's series to have and have not sheds light on the growing inequalities of wealth class race and gender that affect society and how such disparities are pre trained in art and popular culture in different parts of the world says belmont world film executive director ellen get a woman in fact the treasure draws on the tales of robin hood and plays a pivotal role in the film story but it's equally a tale for the times we live in the screening is the second in belmont world films fifteenth annual international film series to have and have not which sheds light on the growing inequalities of wealth class race and gender that if you ask me the whole situation stinks at the end of twenty fifteen there were seventy four leaks in the natural gas pipe serving belmont residence through those leaks one fletcher road and the other marsh street were first the national grid in the summer of one thousand nine hundred ninety six now i realize that not all gas leaks are equal state law categorizes such a lesion to three classes class one leaks are those considered to be an existing or probable hazard to person or property as the whole energy efficiency team h e e t a massachusetts environmental organization notes leaks that are not considered a probable future hazard don't have to be fixed however national grid finds it still spending more of its time and money meeting crisis crises than getting ahead of the problem on march first of this year national grid repaired include including all forty of the hazardous ones you didn't even know existed going into the year in contrast fifty two of the continuing leaks national grid deemed to be non hazardous remained unaddressed in twenty fifteen simply going into the company's database of things to track and report in addition twenty two new non hazardous leaks were identified in belmont in twenty fifteen the town of ellen has little or no control over how quickly if at all national grid fixes gas leaks throughout the community throughout insult to injury a ged said the utilities don't pay for the wasted that pass the cost on direct rate payers by factoring the last gas into the price repaid e t is now working with the metropolitan area planning council the regional planning commission of which dollars of part to identify best practices of local government to help control the region's natural gas leaks so far bella has declined to participate in a p c effort belmont resident should be concerned if not because of the immediate moral dangers because of the broader environmental consequences facing facing belmont the problems of lake prone pipelines more than half of the eighty five miles of natural gas pipeline underlying delamont streets are prone to leagues either due to the age of the pipe or due to the material from which the pipes are made quite aside from whether a gas leak is immediately dangerous to the public gas leaks harm the environment according to  e e g natural gas is primarily made of methane merril controlling the opioid epidemic senator william brown sprecher in this column i have previously sought input on three big delimits in our efforts to control the opioid epidemic here is how they each came out in their legislation that was just signed by the governor first i felt that the senate original draft went too far in specifically ordering schools to start screening students for substance abuse i do strongly support voluntary screening in as many venue's that's possible essentially means offering people help and it doesn't take long but for it to be effective it has to be done very sensitively if people are uncomfortable talking the process just won't work screening in schools where students are in a disciplinary environment is very likely not to work well and the research based on screening in schools is still thin not an idea ready to be rolled out as a statutory mandate the conference bill does include a screening mandate but it appears to have been the nest with a key phrase the mandate is made subject to appropriation how that will be interpreted and rolled out remains to be seen the bill does does require that the screening begin in the twenty seventeen eighteen school year i was pleased that the bill preserved confidentiality language which i had thought for any information received from students will be kept rigorously confidential second while the governor proposed that the hospital should be able to hold patients against their will when they present with substance abuse overdoses i felt this was unwise although well intentioned and serious as a proposal this provision was not in the senate bill and is not in the final legislation the final legislation does require that hospitals give a substance evaluation to persons presenting with opioid related overdoses within twenty four hours however it explicitly states that nothing in this section shall interfere with an individual's right to refuse medical care so patients remain free to leave against medical advice i feel that this is a sound compromise approach that will lead to more people being evaluated for substance abuse and offer treatment without turning hospitals into jails third i share the conviction that over prescribing of opioid painkillers has contributed to the opioid epidemic at the same time i am respectful of the reality that some people are afflicted by conditions that cause overwhelming pain for them opioid drugs are a life transforming and necessary the governor initially proposed a limit to seventy two hours for first prescription for pain killers this was greeted by considerable outcry from pain control advocates the house proposed an approach which the senate was receptive to which limits first prescriptions to a seven day supply but allows doctors to make longer prescriptions if they make written findings of special need this is the sound approach adopted by the conference committee the final package also includes language that the senate crafted after lengthy debate that effectively allows patients to choose to only partially fill a prescription for opioids the bill does include provisions requiring reporting on the volume of prescription of pain advocates fear that this reporting will scare physicians away from making necessary and appropriate prescriptions i mean thank you for joining us for this episode of talking news