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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-14 Finance Committee Minutes Finance Committee Meeting March 14, 2012 The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the RMLD Conference Room, 230 Ash Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman David Greenfield, Vice Chairman Barry Berman, FinCom members Jeanne Borawski, Mark Dockser, Marie Ferrari, Paula Perry, and Hal Torman, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and Office Manager Paula Schena. Review the Warrant for 2012 Annual Town Meeting Article 4 – Mr. Hechenbleikner noted that Article 4 is to amend the current Capital Improvement Plan. The plan includes an additional $180,000 for DPW bulldozer and pick up truck with hotbox; $306,000 for additional road repairs; $25,000 additional for sidewalk/pedestrian safety and $10,000 for Town Hall carpets. Mr. Berman asked if it would make more sense to do the whole Town Hall at once and the Town Manager indicated it would but in the past we didn’t have enough money. Ms. Ferrari asked about the $25,000 for sidewalks and Mr. Hechenbleikner noted we are adding $25,000 to make a total of $50,000 for sidewalks. Mr. Hechenbleikner noted the FY13 CIP includes repairs to the Fire Department floor which has stress cracks in the floor due to bigger equipment and the age of the building; $145,000 for one large sidewalk plow instead of two small ones; $280,000 for roads funded by 40R and $50,000 for sidewalks funded by 40R. The FY14 CIP includes a pavilion at Birch Meadow and $45,000 for Hunt Park playground. The storm water enterprise is decreased by $10,000 in FY14 and the water enterprise is increased by $279,000 in FY13 for water main replacements. Sewer increases in FY13 by $130,000 for Poet’s Corner sewer and $645,000 in FY14 for sewer station repairs. Mr. Greenfield noted that this Article approves putting these projects in the plan but not the funding. A motion by Mr. Berman seconded by Mr. Torman to recommend Article 4 as written was approved by a vote of 7-0-0 . Ms. Ferrari will present this Article at Town Meeting. Article 5 – Mr. Hechenbleikner noted that this Article sets up an OPEB Trust, but doesn’t put money into it. A motion by Mr. Torman seconded by Ms. Ferrari to recommend the subject matter of Article 5 was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Greenfield will present this Article to Town Meeting. Article 6 – Mr. Hechenbleikner reviewed the amendments to the FY12 budget for a total of $679,000. Finance Committee Minutes – March 14, 2012 – page 2 Ms. Borawski asked if the technology for Town Hall is for the meeting rooms and Mr. Hechenbleikner indicated it would be for power point capability in the Conference Room, a smart board in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room and some technology in the Berger Room. Ms. Borawski asked about outsourcing the update of the Housing Plan and Mr. Hechenbleikner indicated we are hiring a consultant to update our Housing Plan which needs to be done every five years. Mr. Berman suggested that the consultant who updates the Housing Plan should work incorporate the Affordable Housing Trust Plan also. A motion by Mr. Torman seconded by Mr. Dockser to recommend the subject matter of Article 6 was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Torman will present this Article to Town Meeting. Article 7 – This Article will not be voted on tonight because amendments are still being made. Article 8 – Mr. Hechenbleikner noted that there are two small bills from Public Works that need to be paid. A motion by Mr. Berman seconded by Ms. Perry to recommend the subject matter of Article 8 was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Ms. Borawski will present this Article to Town Meeting. Article 9 – Mr. Hechenbleikner reviewed the list of surplus property. A motion by Mr. Berman seconded by Ms. Perry to recommend the subject matter of Article 9 was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Ms. Perry will present this Article to Town Meeting. Article 10 – Mr. Hechenbleikner reviewed the revolving funds. Ms. Perry noted that funding for customer service in inspections should not be spared. Mr. Hechenbleikner indicated that additional help has been hired for the Oaktree project. Mr. Dockser indicated that the Health expenditure limit is $25,000 but the background indicates there is $35,000 in costs. Mr. Berman requested a list of who has rented the Mattera Cabin and for what type of events. Ms. Perry indicated that someone should do some public relations on the Mattera Cabin at Town Meeting. A motion by Mr. Dockser seconded by Ms. Ferrari to recommend the subject matter of Article 10 as presented was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Berman will present this Article to Town Meeting. Finance Committee Minutes – March 14, 2012 – page 3 Article 11 – Mr. Hechenbleikner reviewed Article 11 but no vote was needed by the Finance Committee. Article 12 – Mr. Hechenbleikner indicated that Article 12 is to accept a gift to establish the Friends of Reading Football Scholarship Fund. Mr. Greenfield indicated no vote is needed by the Finance Committee because there is no appropriation. Article 14 – Mr. Hechenbleikner noted that we do not know the amount of Chapter 90 funds yet so we will hold this until the next meeting. Article 15 – Mr. Hechenbleikner noted this Article will be indefinitely postponed. Article 19 – Mr. Hechenbleikner noted that $259,077 is the current balance in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. It is unknown whether any money will come back from Oaktree. If not, the Board of Selectmen plans to put one time monies in to bring the balance back up. The Board of Selectmen determines the plan yearly but expenditures of money are approved by a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and Reading Housing Authority. Mr. Berman asked how the fund replenishes and Mr. Hechenbleikner indicated there are no Town funds in the trust. Funds come from developer contributions. Mr. Greenfield indicated he encourages greater definition within the Trust Plan for allocation of the monies. Mr. Hechenbleikner that the affordable housing needs to be managed and noted that he is considering regionalizing which would be an ideal use of these monies. A motion by Mr. Berman seconded by Ms. Perry to recommend the subject matter of Article 19 was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Dockser will make the presentation to Town Meeting. The Town Manager noted that the write ups on the Articles are due to him by April 2. Approval of Minutes A motion by Ms. Perry seconded by Mr. Torman to approve the minutes of March 7, 2012 as amended was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. A motion by Mr. Torman seconded by Mr. Berman to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 p.m. was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Secretary