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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-12 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting October 12, 2011 The meeting convened at 7:40 p.m. at the Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Selectmen Camille Anthony, Ben Tafoya and James Bonazoli; Finance Committee members Marsie West, Marie Ferrari, Hal Torman, Paula Perry, Mark Dockser, David Greenfield, Barry Berman, and John Arena; School Committee members Chuck Robinson and Chris Caruso, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, Superintendent of Schools John Doherty, Mary Delai, Town Accountant Gail LaPointe, Fire Chief Greg Burns, Police Chief James Cormier, Town Planner Jean Delios, Public Works Director Jeff Zager, Public Works Business Manager Jane Kinsella, Library Director Ruth Urell, Office Manager Paula Schena, Bill Brown, and Dick Curtis. Review of Revenue Ideas from Instructional Motion - The Town Manager noted that the process for selling land parcels and selling timber in the Town Forest has been started. Rental of existing spaces is ongoing and the School Committee approved a policy for naming rights. Moving at a slower pace are potential cell towers and advertisingibillboards because there are no Town owned places in Reading that qualify. The Board of Selectmen decided to leave parking fees at the depot unchanged. The possibility of offering ambulance services to other towns will have to be studied. Ideas that have been discarded include preferred parking at the high school; gas tax on the Town; raising parking tickets/parking meters. Marsie West asked the Selectmen about their decision not to increase parking rates at the depot. Camille Anthony noted that James Bonazoli put forth a motion to raise parking/compost to $50 and then have a separate sticker just for the compost center at $25. The concern was they don't want to discourage the use of public transportation. Ben Tafoya noted that the depot stickers are only for residents, not out-of-towners who park in the neighborhoods. When the MBTA raised fees they lost 28% of the parkers. Marie Ferrari asked if on streets with sticker parking only, would residents be ticketed if they park in front of their homes. Chief Cormier noted that people who have restricted parking in front of their home can get a sticker for free, but it does not include the compost center. School Committee member Chris Caruso indicated this is outside the purview of the Finance Committee and suggested moving on. Project Updates and Financial Tools for Economic Development — Town Planner Jean Delios updated the Committee on the current status of developments throughout town. She noted that financial tools include work smart permitting, simplifying regulations,public/private partnerships, a request to increase the threshold for site plan review is going to Town Meeting. She also noted that a substitute Building Inspector has been hired for one day a week to help out the Building Inspector. The Town Manager noted we will be asking for more funds for inspectional services at Town Meeting. Barry Berman asked what will happen to the Calareso's old site. Jean Delios indicated she is encouraging a high end use. Ben Tafoya noted that the Selectmen are pushing the State hard to Board of Selectmen Minutes—October 12, 2011 —page 2 signalize that intersection. The Town Manager noted that Pulte is putting up $50,000 for the intersection design and then MassDOT will install the signal. Jean Delios noted that the M.F. Charles building is focusing on the ground level first and ultimately there will be residential units upstairs. Recap of Free Cash and Reserves — Town Accountant Gail LaPointe noted that the total reserve is $7,079,462 which equals 9% of the total revenues. She noted that the Finance Committee policy is to keep 5% for reserves. Reserve money was used for building safety and that will be replenished at Town Meeting. Projected FY13 Revenues — Gail LaPointe noted that many revenues are over the estimates including excise taxes, property taxes, refunds from prior years expenses, MIIA credits and FEMA reimbursement. There was also an increase in meals tax and one time state aid. Update on Capital —The Town Manager noted that we are receiving one time revenues from Smart Growth, one time state aid and reprogrammed debt. He proposes to use $1.25 million as follows: $50,000 into the Housing Trust; $50,000 for a school building study; $50,000 for pedestrian improvements; $250,000 for road improvements in neighborhoods and $55,000 for the West Street 100%design. Library Project - Ruth Urell noted that the Library is 116 years old. The Library Board reviewed their needs and decided to update and add on to the current Library was best. Reading is on the list for grant funding, and if it is granted, it will need Town Meeting vote and a special election. Killam Elementary School — Superintendent John Doherty and Mary Delai were present. Mary Delai noted that when we did the Green Repair, the Architectural Access Board indicated that we would be required to be ADA compliant if we spent over a certain amount of money so we just replaced the roof.at Killam. We did over $2 million in repairs and improvements. We can't do any major repairs for three years unless we do the ADA upgrades too. The majority of the work is in the bathrooms with an estimated cost of$1.6 million with a 10% contingency. To do everything would be $4.9 million. The main office alone would cost $1.3 million and MSBA might not reimburse for that. Preliminary FY13 Accommodated Costs - Bob LeLacheur noted that accommodated costs include health insurance, Medicare, debt and capital and education. The operating budgets are 1% in the negative. The revenues are not enough to cover accommodated costs. Mr. LeLacheur noted there are three scenarios including#I —no use of reserves; #2—operating budget plus I%; and 43 —target use of free cash. Bob LeLacheur noted that if no reserves are used in FY13 we will have to cut 1.5%. If we use 1% of reserves then we run out of free cash in FY16. He prefers that free cash be used to address health insurance cost because that is an unknown until the last minute and then the departments are cutting at the last minute. Camille Anthony noted she would prefer the expense discussion first. She is not ready to talk about free cash right now. Bob LeLacheur also noted that some level of free cash should be kept for the bond rating. Board of Selectmen Minutes—October 12, 2011 -=page 3 Chuck Robinson noted that every year money goes back to the Town. He feels we cannot keep dismantling the budgets. He feels some free cash should be used to keep things going. Bob LeLacheur noted that due to the line item discipline of the Town budget there will always be a surplus. Ben Tafoya noted we are not using free cash to increase our, operations. He also noted that $1 million in free cash is only 0.7% and he would rather do that. Barry Berman asked about the level of new growth. The Town Manager noted that approximately There was much discussion among the Finance Committee members regarding the amount of free cash to use. A motion by Berman seconded by Greenfield to use up to $1.5 million in free cash to create the FY13 budget was approved by a vote of 7-1-0 with Arena voting in the negative. A motion by Bonazoli seconded by Tafoya that the Board of Selectmen adjourn their'meetin at 10:20 p.m.was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Secretary