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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-03-27 Finance Committee MinutesFinance Committee Meeting March 27, 2013 The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman David Greenfield, Vice Chairman Barry Berman, FinCom members Jeanne Borowski, Jeffrey Perkins, Karen Herrick, Mark Dockser, Hal Torman, Paula Perry and Paul McNeice (arrived at 7:35), Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, Fire Chief Greg Bums, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom, Public Works Director Jeff Zager and Office Manager Paula Schena. Discussion and Vote — Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article 6 - Mr. LeLacheur noted that Public Works is requesting $250,000 for snow and ice which is $100,000 more than last week so the Finance Committee needs to revote Article 6. A motion by Greenfield seconded by Perkins to reconsider Article 6 was aooroved by a vote of 8 -0 -1 with McNeice abstaining. A motion by Greenfield seconded by Borawski to recommend the subject matter of Article 6 as amended was approved by a vote of 8-0 -1 with McNeice abstainin . Article 13 — Mr. LeLacheur noted that this Article was a subject of Executive Session and approved by the Board of Selectmen last evening in Open Session. A motion by Greenfield seconded by Torman to recommend the subiect matter of Article 13 in the amount of $72.000 to settle litigation was approved by a vote of 7 -0- 2. Article 11 — Mr. Greenfield asked the members if they had concerns about any line items before they start voting. Mr. Greenfield noted that his only concern is the downtown flower watering issue. The Town Manager indicated that the Economic Development Committee administers the DIET. They have started other programs that they want to continue such as the fagade improvement program. If they allocate money for watering flowers they won't be able to continue with these other programs. The Town Manager noted that the Board of Selectmen wants the Economic Development Committee doing more than watering flowers with the money. Mr. Greenfield suggested that FINCOM should ask the DIET to pay half of this $10,000 cost in order to lower the Town's share, and to incent EDC to find flowers that require less watering. There was not sufficient support in FINCOM to call for amending Article 11. A motion by Berman seconded by Dockser to recommend Line B99 Benefits in the amount of $13.565.050 was approved by a vote of 8 -0 -1 with Perkins abstaining. A motion by McNeice seconded by Berman to recommend Line C99 Capital in the amount of $2,098.000 was approved by a vote of 8 -0 -1 with Perkins abstaining. Finance Committee Minutes —March 27 2013 —page 2 abstainine. abstainine. A motion by Dockser seconded by Borowski to recommend Line K91 Community Services wages in the amount of $749.575 was approved by a vote of 9.0.0. A motion by Herrick seconded by Torman to recommend Line K92 Communitv Services expenses in the amount of $519,700 was approved by a vote of 9-0-0. A motion by Perry seconded by McNeice to recommend Line L91 Library wa es in the amount of $1.040.442 was approved by a vote of 9 -0 -0. A motion by Perkins seconded by Herrick to recommend Line L92 Library expenses in the amount of $284,000 was approved by a vote of 9 -0 -0 Finance Committee Minutes — Much 27 2013 — palZe 3 A motion by Greenfield seconded by Perkins to recommend Line M91 Public Works waves in the amount of $2,458,304 was approved by a vote of 9 0-0 Paula Perry asked if in public safety if someone calls in sick do they have to call someone in to cover for them. The Town Manager indicated in Police they do not have to but in Fire they usually do. It is left to the discretion of the supervisor. Mark Dockser noted that the School Department wanted a different number. The Town Manager indicated that is because of Article 6 will be voted before Article 11. If the amount they are asking for in Article 6 is approved then the amount in line U99 will be $38,701,365. If Article 6 is not approved then Line U99 will be $250,001 more or $38,951, 366. A motion by Torman seconded by Berman to recommend Line V99 Town Facilities in the amount of $704.633 was approved by a vote of 9 -0-0 A motion by Greenfield seconded by Herrick to recommend Line X99 Sewer Enterprise Fund in the amount of $5,741,407 was approved by a vote of 9 -0-0 Finance Committee Minutes — March 27, 2013 — page 4 A motion by Torman seconded by Perry to recommend Line Y99 Storm Water Enterprise Fund in the amount of $392,846 was approved by a vote of 9 -0 -0. ADoroval of Minutes A motion by Greenfield seconded by Dockser to approve the minutes of March 6. 2013 was approved by a vote of 9 -0 -0. A motion by Greenfield seconded by Herrick to approve the minutes of March 13 2013 as amended was approved by a vote of 9 -0 -0. A motion by Greenfield seconded by Dockser to approve the minutes of March 20, 2013 was approved by a vote of 8 -0 -1 with Berman abstaining. word "is ". The motion was approved by a vote of 7 -0 -2 with Greenfield and Dockser abstainina. A motion by Dockser seconded by McNeice to approve the Executive Session A motion by Greenfield seconded by Herrick to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 p.m. was approved by a vote of 9 -0 -0. The Committee discussed the possibility of having a meeting in May and it was decided they would meet on May 22n°. Respectfully submitted, Secretary 0