HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-09-24 Finance Committee Minutes
Finance Committee Meeting
September 24, 2012
The meeting convened at 7:45 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman David Greenfield and FINCOM members
Jeanne Borawski, Mark Dockser, Karen Herrick and Paula Perry. Members absent were Barry
Berman and Hal Torman. Also present were Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob
LeLacheur and Fire Chief Greg Burns.
Mr. Greenfield called the meeting to order.
Fire Department – Reserve Fund transfer request
Chief Burns update the committee on the recent failure in August of the generator at the West
Side Fire Station. He mentioned that Facilities had done a great job and a portable generator was
now being used, but it had limited power and did not have the capability to heat the building. He
also mentioned it was a manual process to get it started, which included opening the heavy doors
and hauling the equipment outside which was then powered by a loud diesel engine. He was
concerned about that noise because of the proximity of homes nearby. He described a new
generator as one that would be powered by natural gas and be permanently stationed outside the
station, and automatically kick-in as needed when power failed.
Mr. Greenfield asked if the $30,000 figure was an all-in cost, and Mr. LeLacheur referred to an
email from Facilities Director Joe Huggins that described services that his staff and DPW staff
would do in preparation, and that the $30,000 would cover all other anticipated costs including
the generator acquisition and installation.
Ms. Perry asked what size unit the new generator would be, and Chief Burns replied that it
would be between 25k and 30k watts. He said it would need to power the overhead doors, radio
and other communications equipment, compressor, large pumps for steam heat, an exhaust fan
system and the lights.
Ms. Herrick asked if it could be done with solar energy, and Chief Burns noted that they had a
solar panel on the roof to power the water heater, but that would not be an ideal power source for
a generator.
On a motion by Mr. Dockser seconded by Ms. Perry, FINCOM approved a $30,000
transfer from their Reserve Fund to #03948582-582025 Town Facilities/Fire station
#2/Energy Mgt. by a vote of 5-0-0.
Mr. LeLacheur reviewed the proposed email to be sent to Town Meeting members as requested
by FINCOM at their last meeting. Mr. Greenfield asked if FINCOM should stick to the old
‘word of mouth’ recruitment methods to fill the openings. Ms. Herrick and Ms. Borawski said
that an email should be sent to Town Meeting members. Mr. Greenfield said he had no problem
with including non-financial updates as part of the email, and asked if any FINCOM members
objected. When none did, FINCOM requested that the email be sent from Mr. LeLacheur and
include a request to help fill two open seats on FINCOM as well as to update Town Meeting
members on four community meetings to be held during the month of October, including the
th
Financial Forum on October 10.
On a motion by Mr. Greenfield seconded by Mr. Dockser, FINCOM approved the minutes
of September 10, 2012 as amended by a vote of 5-0-0.
On a motion by Ms. Perry seconded by Ms. Borawski, FINCOM approved the minutes of
September 12, 2012 by a vote of 5-0-0.
On motion by Mr. Dockser seconded by Ms. Borawski the FINCOM voted to adjourn it’s
meeting at 8:10 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary