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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-08-21 Finance Committee MinutesDate: August 21, 2013 Time: 7:30 p.m. Place: Sr. Center Great Room Fincom Members Present David Greenfield Paula Perry Paul McNeice Mark Dockser Jeanne Borawski Hal Torman, Jeffrey Perkins Karen Herrick Mark Dockser School Committee Arrived at 7:40 p.m. Hal Croft, School Committee Chuck Robinson, School Committee Chris Caruso, School Committee Finance Committee Meeting Reading, Massachusetts Financial Forum Open Session ECEIVED AWN CLERK "{LING. MASS. � viq �4AR -U P 154 Staff Members Present Bob LeLacheur, Town Manager Board of Selectmen Dan Ensminger Ben Tafoya Marcie West John Arena Others Police Chief Jim Cormier, Dianne Kennedy, Vicki Griffin, Mary Daly, John Daly, Angela Binda, Heidi Bonnbeau, Thomas J. Ryan, Kevin Carnes, Thomas Loughlin, Elizabeth Ward, Maria Caruso, Mary Connery, Erin Gaffen, Joshua Kempner, Lee Bianchetto, Rebecca Liberman. I. Call to Order John Doherty, Superintendent Mary DeLai, Assistant Superintendent Chairperson Berman called the Finance Committee to order at 7:34 p.m. Chairperson Arena called the Selectmen to order at 7:34 p.m. Mr. Berman welcomed guests and reviewed the agenda for the evening. II. Recommended Procedure A. Continued Business Woburn Street Proiect Mr. Greenfield stated that he was an abutter to the property and would not participate in any votes on the subject. Mr. Berman turned the meeting over to the Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Doherty stated that he is recommending not to move forward with the Woburn Street Project. Ms. Herrick arrived at 7:40 p.m. Dr. Doherty stated that full day kindergarten for all is something that the district wants to pursue and it is in the best interest of students and student learning. He continued reviewing the timeline to date. He mentioned that the elementary space needs and full day kindergarten discussion began in January of 2011. An Elementary Space Study was approved at the fall 2011 Town Meeting which was completed and presented to the School Committee in June of 2012. In the interim the Reading School Committee voted to support the implementation of free full day kindergarten for all. Based on information provided by the Locker report it was determined the best option would be to purchase a building and renovate the building to house the RISE Preschool and kindergarten classes. In April of 2013 the Town reached an agreement with the St. Agnes Church and signed a Letter of Intent to purchase the lower building. The School Department hired an Architect to begin a Feasibility Study. Over the course of the spring and summer the Superintendent met with the Architect, community members and Town Officials on the Woburn Street Project. As a result of the meetings it has been determined that because of traffic, parking and other logistic matters as well as cost it has been determined that this may not be the best option to address the elementary space concerns. Ms. DeLai reviewed the cost of fully funded full day kindergarten for all. Dr. Doherty reviewed the cost estimate and because of changes that needed to be made to the inside with the addition of a third floor the cost came in higher than anticipated. The cost estimate does not include the proposed parker parking lot and the natural gas line installation. Superintendent Doherty reviewed the other options to address the space issue. He pointed out that this is not an enrollment issue. Our enrollment is staying fairly level but because of the Special Education programs we have in the district our classroom space is at a premium. The Superintendent would like to establish a working group to investigate other options. Dr. Doherty stated that he has had a conversation with St. Agnes regarding this decisiori. Mr. Berman said that the School Department must be very disappointed. He also asked how the working group would be set up. Dr. Doherty said it will consist of community members, town officials and educators. Mr. Arena asked when the decision was made. Dr. Doherty said last week after the meeting with town officials and the Architect when the final costs were discussed. Mr. Arena asked further about the cost. Ms. DeLai indicated that we are responsible to pay rent from July to October as part of the Letter of Intent. She also said that St. Agnes is renting space at the Parker Middle School for their Religious Education classes due to the renovation of their Parish Center therefore some costs are offset. Mr. Berman asked what has been spent to date. Ms. DeLai indicated that approximately $79,000 had been spent. Town Manager LeLacheur reminded the group that $150,000 had been allocated. Mr. Tafova moved, seconded by Ms. West, to cancel the September 16th Special Town Meeting. The motion carried 4 -0. Ms. Borawski asked if the district was looking at construction as an option. The Superintendent said that we will explore all options. She then asked for clarification of the Superintendent's option. Dr. Doherty explained the process. Mr. Caruso added that we have been using the Superintendent's Option to balance elementary class size for 4 years. Mr. Arena asked if full day kindergarten is implemented would parents have a different option if they did not want to enroll their child in the full day program. Dr. Doherty said that we would no longer have a half day program and parents would have to enroll children in private programs or have their child enter school in first grade. Ms. Ann Coneeney, 13 Temple Street, thanked the Superintendent for all the work on this project and appreciates that the concerns of the citizens were heard and is doing what is in the best interest of the children. Rebecca Liberman, 50 Pratt Street, asked if the elementary schools were full. The Superintendent responded the schools have no additional classroom space. Mr. Arena moved, seconded by Mr. Tafova, to adiourn. The motion carried 4 -0. The Board of Selectman adjourned at 8:20 p.m. The Financial Forum ended at 8:24 p.m. B. New Business Finance Committee Meeting Town Manager LeLacheur reviewed the changes in the calendar due to the decision to not move forward with the Woburn Street Project as previously presented. September 11 Finance Committee meeting September 16 Special Town meeting cancelled October 29 Special Election cancelled October 9 Financial Forum He then reviewed the upcoming Town Meeting warrant. There are 22 articles on the warrant including the West Street and Water Tower Projects. The intent is to ask Town Meeting to authorize the entire debt amount for the local share of the West Street project. Mr. LeLacheur is also reorganizing town government and will present his plan to the Selectmen, FINCOM and then to November Town Meeting for approval. Mr. Greenfield asked about the status of the Cemetery Garage project. Mr. LeLacheur said that the options are still being investigated and that $50,000 is being applied to a DPW Site Study. Once the Site Study is completed the next steps in the project will be determined. West Street Project Discussion turned to the West street project which could begin as soon as March 2014. Mr. LeLacheur indicated that he should have the cost estimate by late October. Mr. Dockser asked if it would be possible to accelerate some of the sewer work. The Board of Selectmen will be discussing the ramifications of moving debt out of the Enterprise Funds. Moving debt onto the tax rate is a complex issue, and needs voter approval. Sale of Land Mrs. Herrick asked about the sale of both the Lothrop Rd. and Pearl Street lots. Mr. LeLacheur said both parcels of land have been sold and the funds have been deposited in the sale of real estate account. Library Project Update Mrs. Herrick updated the Finance Committee on the Library project. She said the designer has been selected and the Lease of Space advertisement has been placed in the Central Register. Mr. Greenfield asked if the Woburn Street School would be a temporary space option for the Library. Mr. LeLacheur will forward the information to the OPM. Other Mr. Berman asked to have the new general Manager of RMLD attend a future meeting to provide a report on the status of RMLD. Mr. Berman inquired about the full day kindergarten tuition offset. Mr. Greenfield said that a discussion take place during the budget process to understand how the offset works. The Committee was interested in what the impact will be on private businesses if free full day kindergarten is offered in the future. Mr. Dockser asked about the impact of the restaurant tax. Mr. LeLacheur said the account is in good shape and we have new restaurants opening in the future. Approval of Minutes Mrs. Paula Perry moved, seconded by Mr. Greenfield, to approve the open session minutes dated July 24, 2013. The motion carried 8 -0 -1. Mr. Perkins abstained. Mr. LeLacheur complimented the town and school department staffs on the enormous of work put into the Woburn St. project and pointed out they were very receptive during discussions with all stakeholders. Mr. Berman was appreciative that there were a number of community meetings and it is important to tap into those energies. III. Adjournment Mrs. Herrick moved, seconded by Mrs. Paula Perry, to adiourn. The motion carried 9 -0. Meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. Handout: Document handed out by Mr. Tom Ryan