1991-01-17 Board of Selectmen Minutes

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Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting January 17, 1991 The meeting was called to order by Chairman Graham in the Lecture Hall, Reading Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road, Reading, MA. Present were Chairman Graham, Vice Chairman Ensminger, Secretary Hines, Selectmen Sally Hoyt and Eugene Nigro, Town Manager Pete Hechenbleikner and the following interested parties:Fred VanMag- ness, Nate White, Joe Cain, Gerry MacDonald, Carol Lyons, Susan Tsiatis, Janice Jones, Frank Smith, Stan Nissen, James Nally, Frank Baggs, Robert Gracilieri, Tim Twomey, Pat Black, Donna Tucker, Marianne Zwicher, Ann Ward, Kathleen F. DeMita, Pete Dahl, Tom Stohlman, Carol Barrett, George Shannon, Bob Munnelly, and Bill Burditt. Dan Ensminger made a presentation regarding his proposed plan on instituting a limited trash fee. The trash fee would be limited for time and amount. The maximum amount would be approximately $520, 000. Stan Nissen, Chairman of the School Committee, indicated that he feels that we should not be required to keep within the trash in- crease level i.e. a trash fee of more than $520, 00 should be con- sidered. He also indicated that the Boards should not negotiate the details of cost savings - that should be up to the Town Manager and the Superintendent of Schools. Russ Graham spoke and indicated that sometimes we need to con- sider doing things that may not make the most sense for the com- munity, but which will indicate to the public that cuts are being made where the public may feel that they need to be made. Dr. Munnelly spoke with regard to potential issues of early retirement and collective bargaining, some possible contracting of custodial services, and some consolidation of the business functions. r Russ Graham suggested to the School Committee that they should consider reinstating bussing which may help build support for the school budget. He also reiterated several times that a trash fee w -il not solve the problem. It merely defers the time until =which we will have a major crisis of funding for town services including the schools. Sally Hoyt indicated that she would support a trash fee under the circumstances outlined by Mr. Ensminger. Bill Burditt, Chairman of the FinCom, indicated that FinCom would only look at one budget without a trash fee. They would enter- tain add backs if a trash fee is approved. George Hines indicated that he felt Mr. Ensminger's proposal was a good one provided the following: 1. It would be the incremental cost of the RESCO pass-through only