1991-01-10 Board of Selectmen Minutes

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Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting January 10, 1991 The meeting convened at 7 : 34 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts . Present were Chairman Russ Graham, Vice Chairman Dan Ensminger, Secretary George Hines, Selectmen Eugene Nigro and Sally Hoyt, Town Manager Peter I. Hechenbleikner and the following list of citizens: Tim Twomey, Tom Stohlman, Frank Smith, Gerry Mac- Donald, Richard H. Coco, N.C. White, Harvey Dahl, Frank Baggs, Fred Van Magness, Pat Black, Donna Tucker, Madeline Sigsbury, W. Bruce MacDonald, Bob Munnelly, Jim Murphy, Beth Klepeis, Richard Foley. The Town Manager reviewed the Budget as proposed. A complete review of all revenues was made. The Town Manager reviewed pos- sible School/Municipal initiatives, including full funding of the cafeteria expenses, consolidation of business functions, and con- solidation of building maintenance. The Board asked how our tax collections were going to date, and the Finance Director indi- catedthat they were going well . Dan Ensminger presented a proposal whereby the Town would consider, with input from Town Meeting, and for a limited time period, a trash fee not to exceed the additional pass-through costs of trash disposal at RESCO, for purposes of balancing the FY92 Budget. Key among the proposals were some of the savings and consolidation of services. Nate White, Tim Twomey, Frank Smith, Gerry MacDonald spoke in favor of the Ensminger proposal. Fred Van Magness expressed concern about not being able to use the amount of money in a trash fee for tax deduction on federal and state income taxes. Richard Coco felt that this proposal would be circumventing the wishes of the voters and that there should be an override. Eugene Nigro felt that perhaps this should be discussed as an option if a referen- dum question should fail. Several thoughts were expressed with regard to a trash fee including the fact that it would need a waiver system for those unable to pay, and should be based on use, not on a per household basis. The Town. Manager reviewed the Town Accountant' s and Finance Department Budgets. A question was raised as to the Assessor's Elected Officials Salary, and what is done in other communities. The Board decided to have a meeting on January 17 at the High School Lecture Hall to gain public input with regard to the pos- sibility of a trash fee. On motion by Nigro, seconded by Hines, the Board voted to adjourn the meeting at 10: 39 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0. Respectfully Suomitted, Secretary