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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-04-27 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting Minutesr o ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 27, 1987 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator pro tem, Gerald A. Fiore, at 7:46 p.m., there being a quorum present. The Invocation was given by Rev. David W. Reid of the First Baptist Church followed by a moment of silence for Charles Stamatis, Building Inspector fo the Town of Reading for eleven years, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ARTICLE 35. On motion of Richard S. Dempster, it was voted to take Article 35 out of order. Gerald A. Fiore excused himself as moderator pro tem of Article 35, due to possible conflict of interest in the future and nominated Town Clerk, Doris M. Fantasia, to moderate Article 35. ` On motion of Richard S. Dempster, it was voted that the Town approve a new housing project for elderly and handicapped persons, pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 121B Section 38, and acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto, to be known as State-aided Housing Project 667-3. table. HOSPITAL TRUST FUNDS About three years ago there were a number of discussions regarding use of the Hospital Funds and it became quite obvious that the Town would never use those funds as established by three people. There were a number of meetings and with all of that there was a vote taken at a meeting on November 13, 1984. Now I'd like to read to you if I can from that vote which is under Article 23. ARTICLE 2. On motion of John H. Russell, it was voted to take Article 2 from the The following report by Carl H. Amon, Jr. was accepted as a report of progress. "On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien, it was voted that the Board of Selectmen and /or the Commissioners of Trust Funds are authorized to take all steps necessary, including petitioning the relevant court and/or any other agency of federal or state government having jurisdiction thereof, to modify the terms of the Anne S. Grouard Trust Fund, the Stephen S. Foster Trust Fund and the Gilman Parker Trust Fund, whether known by those or any other names, and any other trust funds which may be a part of what is collectively known as the Hospital Trust Funds in the Town of Reading, so that the annual income derived therefrom may be available and be drawn upon for defraying the expenses of needy citizens of the Town for the provision of in-home health care, for transportation to hospitals, or other approved medical centers or facilities or for the provision of in-home health care, for transportation to hospitals, or other approved medical centers or facilities or for the provision of such other medically-related services as may be authorized by the Commissioners of Trust Funds, notwithstanding the provisions of the wills of Gilman L. Parker, George H. Grouard and Stephen. S. Foster to the contrary or notwithstanding the provisions of any other will, trust, or other document establishing the aforesaid trusts or conveying funds to the Town of Reading to be held in trust for establishing a hospital in the Town of Reading; and that the Board of Selectmen and/or the Commissioners of Trust Funds are authorized to take all steps necesssary to carry out the intent and purposes of this vote." After that Article and motion on it was passed, there were a number of series of further meetings held and all of the operating funds within the Town voted in favor of this - procedure. As far as I am able to tell, no action has been taken in regard to these proceedings. We now have over $1,600,000 in those three trust funds. The income was in excess of $100,000 and I am advised that approximately $15,000 was used for this purpose. Now I am requesting that there be some definitive answer of some length as to what has happened in regard to this action and to this proceeding. The money will never be used for hospitals and that has firmly been established. The money should be used for other purposes and whoever can answer my question as to how court proceedings can be started in court, and how those ill?) Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 27, 1987 actions can be taken through, I'd like to have an answer as to what's happening in regard to that proceeding. Respectfully submitted, Carl H. Amon, Jr. John H. Russell stated Ted Cohen, Town Counsel, has been working on this question. Mr. Cohen stated that the delay had been difficulty determining where the wills were. We will go to court to clarify what can be done; therefore, it will be approximately 2-4 months before resolution. ARTICLE 2. On a point of personal privilege, Allan E. Ames, Chairman of the Municipal Light Board, presented the following report: Normally at this point in Town Meeting, the Light Board would present a report on the events that transpired since the Annual Report was published. That Report is in the works but I think many of you would understand we've been busy doing other things. I would like to bring you up to date as much as possible. Last Saturday night the Town of Wilmington took its second vote to establish a Municipal Light Department under, we were informed, a 90-year old statute, by a margin of 7 to 1. This was despite the best efforts of the Light Board to dissuade them. Now this vote does not mean that there will be any loss of customers to the MLD now or ever. It does not mean there will be financial stress or damage to the MLD or to the Town of Reading. In discussions with the Wilmington Selectmen and at the Wilmington Town Meeting, it was made very clear that Wilmington considers this second vote of theirs simply a policy position to consider their options as a bargaining chip. Definitely they don't consider it binding and if Wilmington doesn't consider it binding, it could certainly be argued that Reading should not consider it binding. The position that the Board has taken officially is that the vote is serious, but the Board hasn't taken the position it is irreversible. Apparently even an appearance before the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities is not mandatory. It must be requested by one party or the other. Now the evidence is that for some time, certainly at least the 150 days called out in Statute, there will only be talk. There are legal uncertainties, but I personally believe that the Department is fully and completely protected from almost all possible eventualities. The Board has not prepared a formal statement in this matter since it occurred Saturday, and we had hoped the vote would not go positively and the Board has not adopted a position since the vote. Since we may in fact be in the position of negotiating the sale of real property, there is a limit to what I think I can say in public. The Board is clearly evaluating its options and will be mindful that any change in the financial structure of the Department will need Town Meetings approval. I would note that the Board has employed professional communications people which I think will help keep the public informed as to the events that will be transpiring in. the next several months. . That, I think, is about all I can say. If there are other Board members that think I have left something out, perhaps Town Meeting will entertain them. Respectfully submitted, Allan E. Ames ARTICLE 2. The following report of Peter I. Hechenbleikner, Town Manager, was accepted as a Report of Progress: TAX RATE CALCULATION As Fixed As Fixed Estimated FY 86 FY 87 FY 88 Appropriated Annual T.M. & Special T.M. $ 27,465,254 $ 32,550,440 $ 30,.024,268 Offsets 336,219 550,532 462,895 County Charges 277,572 258,825 252,627 State Charges 487,381 502,828 595,753 Overlay Reserve 432,867 731,943 500,000 GROSS AMOUNT TO BE RAISED 28,628,917 34,603,434 31,835,543 LESS RECEIPTS AND REVENUES FROM OTHER SOURCES: Borrowing 383,000 5,102,000 160,000 Free Cash 0 0 51.2., 722, Available Funds 1,999,825 326,336 324,826 Revenue Sharing 230,000 220,000 148,936 Sale of Real Estate 0 0 115,000 Local Receipts 5,240,000 6,015,000 6,549,000 State Receipts 5,453,019 6,449,775 6,926,177 TOTAL RECEIPTS & REVENUES 13,305,844 18,123,111 14,736,661 Net Amount To Be Raised By Taxation 15,693,497 16,480,353 17,098,882 Valuation 651,723,300 1,299,721,400 1,312,000,000 Tax Rate 24.08 12.68 12.95 Maximum Levy Limit Prior Year Tax Levy 15,065,107 15,694,378 16,486,716 Plus 2.50 376,628 392,338 412,168 New Construction 252,643 400,000 200,000 Levy Limit 15,694,378 16,468,716 17,098,882 -6- V RECEIPTS BORROWING-FOR ARTICLE 17- SHCOOL ROOFS FREE CASH (FROM 7619702 AVAILABLE FUNDS: -OVERLAY SURPLUS -CEMETERY BEQUEST AVAILABLE) -CEMETERY SALE OF LOTS -ADDITIONAL LOTTERY AID SALE OF REAL ESTATE (FROM AVAILABLE) GENERAL REVENUE SHARING LOCAL RECEIPTS: -MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE -LICENSES & PERMITS -FINES -SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS -CHARGES FOR SERVICES -INTEREST EARNINGS 116319826.75 -PENALTY/INTEREST ON TAXES -USER CHANGES-WATER -USER CHARGES-SEWER -EARNINGS DISTRIB-LIGHT DEPARTMENT STATE RECEIPTS LOCAL PROPERTY TAX 175,000 61,100 27,640 61,086 $160,000 5129722- $3249826 115,000 148,936 1,200,000 40,000 150,000 30,000 315,000 525,000 110,000 .196379000 1,292,000 19259.1000 6,549,000 6,926,177 7 098 882 $ 31,, 835 , 543 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 27, 1987 119, The budget process in Reading this year has been a long and arduous one for everyone involved. Many of the issues of the Charter as to the outline for the budget have just begun to be addressed in the role of the Town Manager, the Finance Committee, and the Board of Selectmen, but is fairly clear as to the role of Town Meeting, and that's why we are here. What we have developed over the past several months is the beginning of a budget process that needs more fine tuning and more work. It has been an extremely cooperative process with various Departments, the Finance Committee, the Board of Selectmen, and myself as Town Manager. General guidelines for the budget are based on realistic amounts rather than "hoped for" amounts. The budgets are shown in net figures. An overview of the budget organization was by departments, by budget and by function. Future budget implications - 1. Charter and Town organization: Improve Budget Process Adopt organizational plan outlined Appoint Department Heads 2. Personnel Board of Selectmen currently Personnel Board Personnel Officer currently Town Manager Pay Reclassification plan currently undertaken Pay Classification for other Town personnel (hopefully through a State Grant to be awarded this fall) Establish more definitive personnel policies Establish performance evaluation system Contract negotiations for 5 municipal contracts plus additional contracts in School Department 3. Real Estate Complete sale of Community Center and relocate Council on Aging I~ Complete sale of landfill Bid the sale of the Nike Site as authorized by Town Meeting Evaluate all other town-owned real estate propose use/disposition. 4. Capital Improvements Plan Town Hall Study complete 9-87 Fire Station Study complete 9-87 Public Works Facility complete 11-87 Sewer Inflow and Infiltration Program currently undertaken needs completion and implementation (probably Spring 1988) 5. General Financial Planning Sale of Real Estate Fund Budget Process Debt Service Improve Grantsmanship, more funds through Federal, State, and private sources Review fee structure in Town, within guidelines Enhance the role of volunteers See attached Receipt Schedule and Tax Rate Calculation Schedule. Respectfully submitted, 'ARTICLE 2. Peter I. Hechenbleikner Town Manager On motion of John H. Russell, it was voted to lay Article 2 on the table. ARTICLE! 19. On motion of James L. O'Leary, Finance Committee Chairman, it was voted that the Proposed FY 1988 Budget attached to the end of Article 19, as presented, be approved and appropriated as follows: 120 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 27, 1987 Line Items 1 through 29 with elected officials salaries and out of state travel being approved and appropriated as stated. Funds are to be provided as follows: Overlay Reserve - $175,000 to fund a portion of line item 14 - Reserve fund Property Taxes, State Aid, and Non-Property Tax Local Receipts $865,886 to fund the remainder of line item 14, and all of line items 1 through 13 and line items 15 through 29. Line Items 30 through 63 with out of state travel being approved and appropriated as stated. Funds are to be provided as follows: Property Taxes, State Aid, and Non-Property Tax Local Receipts $1,514,132 Line Items 64 through 82 with out of state travel being approved and appropriated as stated. Funds are to be provided as follows: General Revenue Sharing - $74,468 to fund a portion of line 64, Police Personal Services. General Revenue Sharing - $74,468 to fund a portion of line 69, Fire Personal Services. Property Taxes, State Aid, and Non-Property Tax Local Receipts to fund the remainder of lines 64 and 69, and all of lines 65 through 68 and 70 through 82, totalling $3,399,034. Line Items 83 through 91 with out of state travel being approved and appropriated as stated. Funds are to be provided as follows: Sale of Cemetery Lots - $7,640 to fund all of line 89 - Capital Equipment Sale of Cemetery Lots - $15,000 to fund a portion of line 90 Capital Development Sale of Cemetery Lots - $5000 to fund a portion of line 91 Income from Cemetery Bequests - $56,550 to fund a portion of line 88 - personal services Income from Cemetery Bequests - $4,550 to fund a portion of line 91 - other expenses Property Taxes, State Aid, and Non-Property Tax Local Receipts - $3,221,262 to fund the lines 83 through 87 and the remainder of lines 88, 90, and 91. Line Item 92 being approved and appropriated as stated, that there be included in the tax levy for electricity used for street lights the sum of One Hundred and Eight Thousand, Five Hundred Ninety-Six Dollars ($108,596) and that said sum and the income from sales of electricity to private consumers and electricity supplied to municipal buildings and for municipal power and jobbing during the current fiscal year to be appropriated for the municipal light plant, and said appropriation to be expended by the manager of the municipal light plant under the direction and control of the Municipal Light Board for the expense of the plant, including payment of bonds and notes, as defined in Chapter 164, Section 56 of the General Laws or any amendments thereof or any additions thereto, and if said sum of One Hundred Eight Thousand, Five Hundred Ninety-Six Dollars and said income shall exceed expense for said fiscal year, such excess up to the amount of 50% of net profit from operations as of December 31 of the preceding year as defined in Chapter 164, such amount shall be paid 50% in June and 50% in December of the current year into the Town Treasury and the balance,` if any, shall be transferred to the construction fund of said plant and appropriated and used for such additions thereto as may thereafter be authorized by the Municipal Light Board. 121 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 27, 1987 Line Items 93 and 94 with out of state travel being approved and appropriated, not to exceed $6,550. Funds are to be provided as follows: Property Taxes, State Aid, and Non-Property Tax Local Receipts - $13,103,113. On motion of John H. Russell, it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned to meet at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, 1987 at the Reading Memorial High School Meeting adjourned at 10:55 p.m. 106 Town Meeting Members were present. A true copy. Attest: 4D ~ ~ . JCL, Ce "CS-1 C*C- Doris M. Fantasia Town Clerk