HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-12-05 Finance Committee Minutes
Finance Committee Meeting
December 5, 2007
The meeting convened at 7:05 p.m. in the Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading,
Chairman Andrew Grimes, Vice Chairman Marsie
Massachusetts. Present were
West,Finance Committee members Tom White, Barry Berman, Hal Torman,
George Hines, Ronald Powell and David Greenfield
. Also present were, Town
Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob
LeLacheur, Board of Selectman members Camille Anthony and Ben Tafoya.
Andrew Grimes call the meeting to order at7:05 PM and began the meeting discussing
the Addison Wesley proposal for the Special Town Meeting on Monday, December 10,
2007. In tonight’s agenda, pages 2-5, the correspondence from the Developer was
discussed regarding the net benefits to the Town if the office space being proposed is
replaced by senior housing. Camille Anthony and Ben Tafoya spoke to the Finance
Committee about the 40R benefit to the Town. The next deadline for the 40R is the end
of December. They must get the approval from Town Meeting to proceed. Town
meeting has to vote on the zoning changes. The committee discussed the impact of the
project to our schools. Number of children from apartments could be higher. It was also
reported that this project does meet our 10% affordable housing. There were concerns
regarding the impact on the Police, Fire and EMTs. The committee discussed the
different types of proposals the Addison Wesley site has had, commercial, residential and
retail and why this proposal has been approved. Some of the benefits from this
agreement for the Town are: Large permit fees, litigation money, connection fee to
MWRA and the 40R payment from the State. A question was asked about sidewalks.
Peter Hechenbleikner reported that the developer doesn’t feel he can at this time but is
not against revisiting this issue. Andrew Grimes asked the committee how this should be
presented to Town Meeting. A suggestion was made to bullet tonight’s discussions.
On motion by Marsie West seconded by Ronald Powell to bullet this meeting as
suggested and present it to Town Meeting. Fincom voted 8-0-0
At this time the Finance Committee reviewed the minute of the meetings on November 5
and November 13.
On motion by George Hines seconded by Tom White to approve the minutes of the
meeting dated November 5, 2007. Fincom voted 8-0-0
On motion by George Hines seconded by David Greenfield to approve the minutes
of the meeting date November 13, 2007. Fincom voted 8-0-0
The next meeting is scheduled for January 9, 2008. Andrew Grimes asked that the
February 27, 2008 meeting be changed to Thursday, February 28, 2008.
On motion by Tom White seconded by Andrew Grimes the meeting was adjourned
at 8:30 PM on a vote of 9-0-0
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary