1993-02-09 Board of Selectmen Minutes

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Minutes of Board ofSelectmen Meeting February 9, 1993 The meeting was covened at 7 : 30 p.m in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Vice Chairman George Hines, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectman Bill Burditt, and Town Manager, Peter Hechenbleikner, six members of the Finance Committee and five School Committee members. Present also were the following list of interested parties: Gary Demopolus, Steve Thomases, Bill Murphy, Stephen Blewitt, Tim Twomey, Barbara Philbrick, Ronald Daddario, Pat Sud- bay, Robin D'Antona, Susan Cavicchi, Matthew Cummings, Carroll McMillan, Jim Keigley, Deirdre Hanley, Robert Munnelly, Elia Mar- nik, Tom Stohlman. The Town Manager presented a packet of material which outlined the current revenue considerations, extensive reductions that have been made in municipal services over the last five years, and outlined where we are going for the FY94 Budget. Richard Coco indicated that he agreed with the chart which out- lined the process for a Proposition 2 1/2 Override at a special ` election after the Finance Committee had a chance to review the Budget. School Department - Matt Cummings indicated that in addition to the municipal reductions in service, the school has lost 40 full-time equivalent positions, eliminated the gifted and talented program, reduced fine arts, and physical education programs, reduced directors positions and custodians, reduced busing, reduced instructional equipment 25%, eliminated middle school intramurals, and increased class sizes. Of the requested increases in the School Budget, $125, 000 is because of increase in enrollment, $343 , 000 is because of increased costs of special needs, and $363 , 000 is to replace the things that were added back when state aid was increased in FY93 . Step increases equal $120,000. Steve Thomases read a letter and presented a petition to the Board of Selectmen requesting an Article for Town Meeting to provide level services to the schools. Dan Ensminger made sure that everybody present understood the difference between level service and level funded. Jim Keigley indicated that there is a need for an override and it should be done in June. Tim Twomey spoke regarding a petition. He indicated that people are aware of the difference between level service and level funded. He feels that the Board of Selectmen is ignoring the elected School Committee and the majority of Town Meeting Members who signed the petition. He felt that this was indicative of the credence that the .Selectmen place on the Town Manager and his budget. He feels that the Town Manager's budget does not reflect what the School Department needs. ar.e. _ He would like to see the Town come up with-a priority process using the MMA model. He