HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-03-21 Finance Committee Minutes
Finance Committee Meeting
March 21, 2007
The meeting convened at 7:35 p.m. in the Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading,
Chairman Andrew Grimes, Vice Chairman Chuck
Massachusetts. Present were
Robinson, Finance Committee members George Hines, Marsie West, Hal Torman,
Paul Bolger, Michelle Williams and David Greenfield
. Also present were Town
Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob
LeLacheur, Police Chief James Cormier, Police Business Administrator Andrew
Scribner, Fire Chief Greg Burns, DPW Director Ted McIntire, Paula Koppel, Karen
Janowski, Victoria Yablonsky and Ruth Urell.
FY07 budget
Bob LeLacheur reviewed the FY 2007 budget changes for the Police, Dispatch, Fire and
DPW. George Hines questioned the line painting, traffic signs, & patching and asked if
this is an over expenditure of what was in line items for the budget and when we got to
the amount in the budget why wouldn’t we stop. Peter Hechenbleikner explained that the
line painting has stopped, but The Town would like to do spring line painting. David
Greenfield asked if this will be an issue next year. Peter Hechenbleikner said this will be
issue next year because it is not funded in the FY 2008 budget.
Bob LeLacheur continued with the FY07 budget changes for the removal of Imagination
station, street sweeping, the vocational school, and benefits. The Capitol budget revisions
include FY07 additions of the Joshua Eaton Clock Tower and the Birch Meadow
portables. The Enterprise Funds include some minor revisions.
On motion by Grimes seconded by West to accept the FY07 Budget recommended
changes in the amount of $625,044, .
furtherdiscussion ensuedHines made an
amendment to reduce Line Painting by $13,000 and to reduce the signs by $10,000.
Hines then as a friendly amendment changed the motion to reduce the signs by $5,000 –
so the total amount would be reduced by $18,000.McIntire explained that the big factor
for signs was due to the new parking regulations in the downtown area. Chief Cormier
stated line painting especially for crosswalks is a safety issue.
On motion by Hines seconded by Bolger to reduce the FY07 Budget recommended
changes in the amount of $18,000, FINCOM voted 1-7-0 (Hines in the minority).
On the main motion, Grimes made a friendly amendment, seconded by Robinson, to
include the $60,000 capital in the same motion. On the revised main motion on the
floor, FINCOM voted 8-0-0 to accept $685,044 in FY07 general fund budget
revisions.
On motion by West seconded by Williams to accept the amendment to the FY07
budget in the amount of $14,157 from the sewer reserves. FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
FY08 budget
Bob LeLacheur discussed small changes: for Finance, $3,000 will be moved from
Technology expenses to the Assessors wages budget in order to increase the seasonal
hours of the Associate Appraiser. He also noted that shade trees were added to the DPW
Parks & Forestry budget, and funded internally within that budget.
On motion by Torman seconded by Grimes to accept line B9 (Benefits - $9,911,440)
FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
On motion by Torman seconded by Greenfield to accept line C15 (Capital -
$819,600) FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
On motion by West seconded by Williams to accept line D3 (Debt - $6,594,457)
FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
On motion by Williams seconded by Hines to accept line H1 (Education Vocational -
$250,000) FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
On motion by Bolger seconded by West to accept total Accounting budget lines M1
& M2 (total of $119,527) FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
On motion by Robinson seconded by Hines to accept lines N16, Finance Salaries &
Wages & N17, Finance Expenses (total of $1,234,522). FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
On motion by Greenfield seconded by Williams to accept lines P1, Library Salaries
& Wages & P2, Library Expenses (total of $1,114,381) FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Robinson to accept lines Q22, Community Services
Salaries & Wages & Q23, Community Services Expenses (total of $1,564,058)
FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
On motion by Torman seconded by Hines to accept lines R7, Public Safety Salaries
& Wages & R8, Public Safety Expenses (total of $7,260,645) FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
Hines pointed out that Line S6 (DPW – Highway & Equipment Maintenance expenses) is
understated by $55,000 (line painting $15,000 and vehicle maintenance $40,000 – per the
previous discussion on the FY07 budget amendments).
On motion by Hines seconded by Williams to accept Lines S14 & S15, Public Works
in the amount of $2,364,616,
further discussion ensued. Bolger agrees with Hines that it
is time to properly fund this budget, and agrees with the motion amount, which is higher
by $55,000 than the Town manager’s budget. FINCOM discusses the proper source of
funding this excess. LeLacheur responded to a question by showing that this under-
funding was made explicit in the DPW budget text produced in January 2007, and had
been discussed previously with FINCOM. Grimes agreed that the budget has been
discussed, and needs to be fully funded. He is not inclined to make the change in the
FY08 budget at this late date. Robinson stated that it is not equitable for all budget
participants to change the rules at the end, but that FINCOM needs to redesign their
process to allow full funding of this item in FY09.
On motion by Grimes seconded by Williams to amend S14 & S15, Public Works in
the amount of $2,309,616, FINCOM voted 6-2-0 (Bolger & Hines in the minority).
On the main motion, FINCOM votes 2-6-0 (with the same minority) on the main
motion made by Hines.
On motion by Hines seconded by Torman to accept Lines S16 – S20 (Street Lighting
$209,000; Rubbish $1,458,805; Snow & Ice $400,000; Cemetery Wages $146,057;
and Cemetery expenses $37,736) FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
Hines discussed increasing the School Budget by $50,000 for a Substance Abuse
th
Coordinator as had been discussed at FINCOM’s March 14 meeting. He cited that the
School department would not guarantee that said funds would go to this stated purpose,
and will consider offering an amendment on Town Meeting floor. Peter Hechenbleikner
stated that it would be inaccurate to report that the School department was not concerned
about the substance abuse issue.
On motion by Greenfield seconded by Torman to accept Line T19 (School
Department - $34,787,537) FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
On motion by West seconded by Hines to accept Line U10 (Town Buildings -
$661,503) FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
On motion by Grimes seconded by Williams to accept Line W5 (Water Fund -
$4,815,487) FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Torman to accept Line X5 (Sewer Fund -
$4,779,862) FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
On motion by Robinson seconded by Williams to accept Line Y5 (Storm Water
Fund - $341,734) FINCOM voted 8-0-0.
Warrant Articles
Bob LeLacheur went on to discuss the Articles for Town Meeting.
Article 7
On motion by Robinson seconded by Grimes to approve the Capitol Improvements
Program, FINCOM voted 8-0-0
(Michelle Williams will give the FINCOM report).
Article 8
On motion by Hines seconded by Williams to approve the substance of Article 8 -
Senior Tax Work Program, FINCOM voted 8-0-0
(David Greenfield).
Article 9
On motion by Grimes seconded by Torman to approve the substance of Article 9 –
Chapter 90 funding, FINCOM voted 8-0-0
(George Hines).
Article 10
On motion by Hines seconded by Torman to approve the substance of Article 10 –
disposal of tangible property, FINCOM voted 8-0-0
(Hal Torman).
Article 11
Peter Hechenbleikner suggested holding off discussion until next week.
Article 12
On motion by West seconded by Robinson to approve the substance of Article 12 –
public valuation list, FINCOM voted 8-0-0
(Marsie West).
Article 14
Peter Hechenbleikner suggested discussing this article at the next meeting.
Article 15
On motion by Torman seconded by West to establish a Stabilization fund for the
purpose of funding post-employment benefits,
a brief discussion ensued. Torman
withdrew the motion until next week, when an exact dollar figure of this Article will be
available.
Article 16
On motion by Grimes seconded by Torman to approve the substance of Article 16 –
death benefits for surviving children, FINCOM voted 8-0-0
(Paul Bolger).
Article 17
On motion by Hines seconded by Greenfield to approve the substance of Article 17 –
MWRA sewer borrowing, FINCOM voted 8-0-0
(George Hines).
On motion by West seconded by Torman the meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m. on
a vote of 8-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary