Service and they are working on a plan to give libraries an opportunity to set up Citizenship Corners. USCIS will likely recommend a pilot of a few libraries to begin. Funds have been included in the LSTA Special Projects budget to develop citizenship resources for libraries and to develop and present a series of workshops on why libraries should provide citizenship help. Director Carty informed the Commissioners that the agency has been approved for an MLA program on serving the GLBTQQ community. It is slated for Tuesday May 5, 2015 in the afternoon. Director Carty reported that Cindy Roach and Shelley Quezada are working on a proposed IMLS leadership grant with Maine. The proposal should be submitted on January 15, 2015. There will be a total of 6 pilot libraries. The three libraries in Massachusetts are Shutesbury, Methuen, and Bellingham. All three have submitted letters of support for the project, and Ms. Quezada will be the “STEM Librarian.” Ms. Roach will provide the necessary support which will help serve as a project match. Director Carty relayed that in late January Ms. Quezada will go to Chicago for the final deliberations as a member of the 2015 John Newbery Medal committee. Ms. Quezada is one of 15 committee members, who for the past twelve months, has read all the works under consideration for an award. The announcement of Youth Media Awards will be Monday, February 2, 2015 at 8:00 am, CST. Director Carty noted that the Massachusetts Municipal Association annual meeting will be held on January 23 and 24, 2015. She requested that Commissioners let Mary Rose Quinn know if they can cover a time slot on Friday or Saturday. Director Carty announced that Legislative Breakfast season begins tomorrow at the Bigelow Free Library in Clinton. She distributed sample packets of the materials that will be at the breakfasts. LEGISLATIVE REPORT Mary Rose Quinn, Head of State Programs and Government Liaison, reported that Baker will be sworn in at noon today. Ms. Quinn noted that preliminary revenue collections for December 2014 totaled $2.307 billion, $211 million or 10.1 percent more than the state took in last December. Year-to-date tax collections totaled $11.204 billion, $440 million or 4.1 percent more than this time last year. Tax collections totaled $11.180 billion year-to-date, $416 million or 3.9 percent more than this time
Health Insurance Fixed Expense Cost Control In order to maintain minimum service levels while experiencing loss of revenues as a result of the economic downturn and also counter rising fixed costs, the Town acted to control some of its expenses and make selective reductions in staffing. First, the Town targeted its employee Health Insurance Costs. The Board of Selectmen adopted a policy to increase retiree insurance contribution rates by 1% per year for 25 years such that they will gradually shift the burden of this expense to 40% come 2030. The current rate is 25% for FY2015. In addition, the Town negotiated with its collective bargaining units in FY2011 to reduce the number of plans offered to one provider, reducing monthly premiums and began purchasing through a joint purchase group (MIIA), which helped the Town avoid a 20% increase in premiums that year. In FY2013, the Town again negotiated with its active employees who agreed to pay higher copays helping the Town avoid a 3.5% increase in premiums that year and the town employees have again agreed to restructure copays for FY2015, such that a 3.75% premium increase has been avoided. Finally, the Town was successful negotiating with its collective bargaining units in FY2012 and also adopted Personnel Bylaw Changes in FY2013 such that the burden of health insurance cost premiums has been shifted from the Town to Active Employees. Starting in FY2014, all Town Employees pay 40% of the cost of health insurance premiums where previously the contribution rates had been as low as 20%. The changes above detail the Town’s strategy to counter rising health insurance costs and restructure plan design and contribution rates that weren’t sustainable. This allowed the Town to maintain certain service levels, including at the Library, despite the economic downturn. Personnel Reductions Another way in which the economic downturn was countered was making selective reductions in staff, regionalizing positions, or privatizing positions. These are listed as follows: Eliminated the P/T Board of Health Clerk in FY2009 Eliminated the P/T Building Inspector in FY2009 Eliminated the P/T Parks & Recreation Director in FY2009 Reduced the F/T Town Planner to P/T in FY2011 (regionalized with Leicester) Reduced the F/T Building Inspector to P/T in FY2013