HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-01-22 Finance Committee MinutesFinance Committee Meeting
January 22, 2013
For ease of archiving, the order that items appear in these minutes reflects the order in
which the items appeared on the agenda for that meeting, and are not necessarily the
order in which any item was taken up by the Board
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. in the Police Community Room, 15 Union Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Finance Committee members Barry Bemoan, Paul
McNeice, Hal Torman, David Greenfield, Paula Perry, Karen Herrick, Jeff Perkins and
Jeanne Borawski; Vice Chairman Ben Tafoya, Secretary Richard Schubert, Selectmen
John Arena and James Bonazoli, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town
Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, Office Manager Paula Schena; Library
Trustees David Hutchinson, Alice Collins, Richard Curtis, Cherrie Dubois, Andrew
Grimes and Vicki Yablonsky; Library Director Ruth Urell, Superintendent of Schools
John Doherty, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Mary Delai, Fred VanMagness, Amy
Lannon, Theresa Doyon, Demetra Restuccia, Amy Hennessy, Jeffrey Everson, Aileen
Bezarian, Rita Shetzi, Charlene Bazarian, Darlene Mercer Bruen, Meghan Young, Steven
Ryan, Charles Dady, Kevin Dady, Vincent Shanley, John T. Moran, Paul Dady, Bill
Brown, Oleda Dady, Nancy Daly, Marilyn and Harry Simmon.
Position of the body and to reconvene in Open Session at approximately 7:00 p.m.
was approved on a roll call vote with all eight members voting in the affirmative.
The Boards reconvened in Open Session and the Library Board of Trustees was called to
order.
Reports and Comments
Public Commen[ — Bill Brown asked if the Board of Selectmen are going to enforce the
law that the Finance Committee make their recommendation to Town Meeting seven
days ahead of time.
Fred VanMagness noted that Town Meeting is being asked to vote on a specific amount
for the Library but there is no mention of the amount in the Warrant Report.
Darlene Mercer Bruen, a City Council member from Woburn, noted that Woburn worked
with Reading to have Mass Highway not do any takings for the 128/93 interchange
Board of Selectmen Minutes — January 22, 2013 — page 2
project. Woburn said no to the electronic billboards and they are strongly against it. She
understands the temptation of 'money but the signs are a distraction and ugly. The
billboard company will offer mitigation but there is no value to that if the property values
go down. She urged the Board to be a good neighbor and vote against the electronic
billboards. Richard Schubert noted that he worked with Darlene for five years on the
128/93 Task Force and thanked her for coming out this evening.
Charlene Bazarian submitted a petition with 200 signatures to the Board. Everyone who
signed it is against the electronic billboard. She noted that this intersection is known as
one of the most dangerous highway intersections and she can't image putting a billboard
there.
of Library Trustees — The Town Manager noted that the Finance Committee met with the
Library Board of Trustees at their last meeting and asked for cost of project and the order
of magnitude.
Library Board of Trustees Chairman David Hutchinson reviewed the process to date. He
noted that the Board got estimates of various options, but the costs have risen over the
last four years. The project was presented to the State in 2010. The Town needs to
approve within six months or we will lose State funding. The library needs improvements
that the State deems sufficient so we really can't tweak the design. The cost of the project
is $10.1 million plus and additional $4.8 million in soft costs. The Town's cost will be
$9.8 million after the State pays $5.1 million.
David Hutchinson noted that the Finance Committee wanted to know what would happen
if we didn't do the project. The bottom up comparison is that it will take millions to
address the needs of the 100 year old building and it would be money poorly spent.
Library Director Ruth Urell passed out a list of architect estimates.
Selectman Richard Schubert asked what had changed since 2010 and Ruth Urell noted
that the hard costs have increased $800,000. The contingency was also very low and
when they reviewed the estimates this November they adjusted the cost. There is also the
cost of moving and temporary quarters.
The Town Manager noted that there was a working group consisting of two architects and
an engineer and they agree with the figures.
John Arena asked if it would be possible to breakdown the $7,500,000 to renovate the
existing building. Richard Smith noted that it won't be much different than what is here
and if we take out the State funding there won't be any improvements. Some things
cannot be accomplished without the addition.
David Greenfield noted that this building has needed work for a long time. It has
fundamental structural issues and if we take the money out of capital it will be coming
Board of Selectmen Minutes — January 22 2013 — page 3
out of an already strained budget and we will end up spending millions. He feels it is
better to get an override and get in shape for the next 50 years.
Barry Berman noted that emergency money is needed every year for Library repairs. It is
fiscally prudent to get money from the State. This is our tax payer money coming back to
Reading. He doesn't want to leave it on the table. We only get one chance and we should
do it right.
James Bonazoli noted that he is concerned regarding our lack of methodology and
process. This will cost the taxpayers another $40 and if housing is flipping then we will
have a school problem.
The Town Manager noted that we had no idea of the cost of a temporary location until
they started looking.
Jeanne Borawski thanked the Library Board for the additional information. Her concern
is for the other capital projects going forward.
Town Meeting member Fred VanMagness asked how many different alternatives were
considered and asked if we would be better off just straight rebuilding. He noted there are
no numbers in the Warrant Report on this Article and he noted that all other projects were
done with research. Richard Schubert noted the project has been around for a while and
people can make a decision on schematic numbers. David Greenfield noted that Town
Meeting will get the information and there is enough information to make a decision. He
sees no value in delaying.
Bob LeLacheur indicated the plan is to send an email out to Town Meeting with the
information.
A motion by Berman seconded by Torman for the Finance Committee to accept
Article 6 as written as approved by a vote of 8 -0-0.
A motion by Berman seconded by Herrick to adjourn the Finance Committee
meeting at 8:40 p.m. was approved by a vote of 8 -0 -0.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary t�,