1995-01-24 Board of Selectmen Minutes

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Board of Selectmen Meeting January 24, 1995 The meeting was convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Vice Chairman Bill Burditt, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Camille Anthony and George Hines, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, and the following list of interested parties: Leslie and Irene York, Deirdre Hanley, Barbara Melanson, John Silvaggi, David Lee,Nancy Eaton. Discussion/Action Items The Town Manager distributed material on the Reading Police Station areas of concern, the Reading Technology Plan draft, and revised and updated ,budget information. The Town Manager noted that this budget presentationis preliminary in nature, and many of the figures need to be fine tuned. The general guidelines were to provide for 2.5% salary increase and no more than 2.2% on expenses. He is prepared a list for summary review of the FY96 general fund budget outlining the variances between the Town Manager's recommended budget and the guidelines. The Town Manager reviewed the budget projections and the revenues as of December 31, 1994. The following is a summary of the discussion. Accounting Department No variance from guidelines. Community Development Department Includes the full year of the Conservation Administrator reclassified salary, an increase in ZBA salaries because of increased workload (this is not related to the new program request for additional staff, and the full year of the Building Inspector salary following the six month probationary period. It was suggested that we review the proposed budget with the Historical Commission since they have some other resources available for historical preservation through the 350th fund. Finance Department Line C6 contains the new program requests for $10,000 for revaluation. Line C8 includes increased personnel expenses and advertising, medical and professional development. Line C9 general department salaries are less than anticipated because FY95 had a one time expense for sick leave buyback. Line CIO postage is increased by 10%. It was suggested that when we purchase computers that we make sure that at least some of them have CD Roms which are valuable for training purposes.