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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-01-20 Board of Selectmen Minutes OFR O u k Town of Reading b Meeting Minutes +�ntoar°� Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Selectmen Date: 2015-01-20 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business Attendees: Members - Present: Chairman John Arena, Vice Chairman Marsie West, Secretary Daniel Ensminger, John Halsey and Kevin Sexton Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Robert LeLacheur, Police Chief James Cormier, Fire Chief Greg Burns, Elder Services Administrator Jane Burns, Treasurer/Collector Nancy Heffernan, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom, Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, Community Services Administrator Jessie Wilson, Recreation Administrator John Feudo, Steve Cutsumis, Peg Sallade, Christine Hanse, Jeff Zager, David Singer, Tom Procopio, Barbara Meade, Executive Assistant Paula Schena Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Secretary Daniel Ensminger Topics of Discussion: Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments - Marsie West noted that she attended the Martin Luther King Day presentation. She received a message regarding the Innovation Communities and it looks good for Reading. She also announced her resignation from the Board of Selectmen effective the day before the Election because she is moving out of the country. John Arena noted that he attended a MWRA meeting with the Town Manager and the Town of North Reading. They are interested in hooking up to the MWRA and there will be subsequent Town Meetings. John Halsey noted that he attended the Martin Luther King Day celebration and that was awesome. He attended the Board of Health meeting and they've been doing a great job on their strategic plan. He visited the Conservation Commission and they took a stop to post no hunting in Timberneck Swamp area in response to Article 5 of the last Town Meeting. He was invited by Representative Brad Jones to discuss the Just Enough Campaign relative to preventing child abuse. Town Manager's Report - The Town Manager noted that we received an extra $300,000 in Chapter 90 funds this year. The Town received glowing reports of our water system at the MWRA meeting with North Reading. We have a great infrastructure. The Town Manager congratulated Nancy Heffernan and Sharon Angstrom for 1.49% borrowing which the Board will be approving later tonight. Page 1 1 b 's Board of Selectmen Minutes - January 20, 2015 - page 2 Discussion/Action Items Change of Manager - Bertucci's - Steven Cutsumbis was present. He noted he has taken over for Michael Bonnell and he has been with Bertucci's for two years. A motion by Ensminger seconded by West that the Board of Selectmen approve the Change of Manager for Bertucci's from Michael Bonnell to Steven M. Cutsumbis was approved by a vote of 4-0-0 (Kevin Sexton was not present). k FY16 Town Budget - Finance - Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom noted that the salaries include a step and COLA and there are two extra days in FY16. Overtime is up $500 for scanning. Professional Development is increased for her to keep her license, etc. This is ; not enough to send staff for any training. k The Assessors salary increases are the same. The revaluation is $35,000 which has to be done every three years. The Town Manager noted that the regionalization is going well. Sharon Angstrom noted that the Finance salary increases are the same. There is an increase in printing forms and tax title. John Arena noted that the professional development is underfunded and he asked what would be appropriate. Ms. Angstrom noted accounting would be helpful. John Halsey noted that the increase looks huge but it is such a small amount of money. It can mean a lot if someone learns one thing. t 6 i Community Services - Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, Community Services Administrator Jessie Wilson and Recreation Director John Feudo were present. Jean Delios noted that there are nine Boards, Committees and Commissions under Community Services. She reviewed the current organizational chart. She noted that the I i shared Health Administrator agreement is no longer in affect and the Health Division is being staffed by a retiree Greg Erickson. She noted that vacancies give the opportunity to review staffing levels. Four out of seven Division Heads are part time. She feels we could grow the Regional Housing position. Jean Delios went on to review the proposed organizational chart. She noted that the Nurse Advocate position is vacant. She is requesting two Assistant Department Heads; a full time Public Health Administrator; a Public Health Nurse at .88; a full time Nurse Advocate doing a broad range of duties including working with the Health Division and a full time Veteran's Agent. She is also requesting increasing the Conservation Division Head to .88 and shifting the control of the Mattera Cabin to Conservation. She hopes to meet quarterly with Boards, Committees and Commission Chairs to help keep communication open. John Halsey suggested that she include the Selectman Liaison in the quarterly meetings. i Daniel Ensminger asked what was driving the request for a full time Conservation F Administrator and Jean Delios noted that will allow him to spend more time with applicants and he also attends Development Review Team meetings. John Halsey noted that the Conservation Administrator is extremely helpful and intelligent and he also has to attend pre-activity meetings. f Jean Delios noted that she did the liquor license inspections this year with the Police Chief and she found it helpful to be out in the community. In conclusion, she noted that the old model can be improved. Her department took serious cuts in FY12 and now they need to enhance staffing. She asked for more professional development money to work better and smarter with technology and training for Jessie Wilson. r Page 1 2 e Board of Selectmen Minutes - January 20, 2015 - page 3 John Halsey asked what is being increased in the budget and Jean Delios noted that the Conservation Administrator, Public Health Nurse, Nurse Advocate and Veterans Agent are all being increased to full time. Marsie West asked if the Conservation Administrator focus will be on customer service and Jean Delios noted he will focus on solving problems not creating problems. Kevin Sexton asked about the Health Inspector line item and Jean Delios noted it was moved from expenses to wages. The Town Manager noted that Community Services is a complex department. Some full time employees wear more than one hat and some Boards, Committees and Commissions don't have staff support. The Town Manager noted that some Boards, Committees and Commissions are overrated when there are groups of citizens who are willing to do the same thing. The formality of Town government stands in their way. He suggests that the Board of Selectmen take a hard look at all of the Boards, Committees and Commissions because we get more effective work out of daytime government when we don't have to go to night time government. Board of Health members Andrew Freidman, Barbara Meade and David Singer were present. Also present was consultant Peg Sallade. Andrew Friedman reviewed the strategic planning process. He noted that essential services include assurance, assessment and policy development. The Committee reached out to members of the community and hospitals to see what they do well. The results showed that we enforce the laws well, but lack in linking with people regarding information and mobilizing the community. The vision shows that there needs to be more than enforcement. They need a full time Health Director who will stay on top of health issues and maintain the workforce. Andrew Friedman noted that health needs include behavioral health and mental health issues. The Town needs to do a better job of taking care of the most vulnerable. Healthy eating and active living need to be addressed. Daniel Ensminger asked what a full time Health Administrator would do and it was noted that person would concentrate on the 10 essential functions and continue with enforcement. Daniel Ensminger noted that it was important that person be a liaison to the Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse. John Halsey noted that the .3 Health Administrator situation allowed for reacting but not proactive. Peg Sallade noted that the Health Administrator and Public Health Nurse are distinct roles. John Halsey noted that Reading resident Sherry Vandermaker did an award winning film named My Name is Betty and she will be featured on The View on January 23rd. Administrative Services - The Town Manager reviewed the Administrative Services budget. This budget is increased 9.4% and it includes $400,000 to fund the pay and classification. The Administrative Services Director will concentrate on communication. The Town Clerk is requesting an additional clerk. She currently has two full time and three part time clerks. The Operations Specialist is needed to do a much better job of professional development. The overtime accounts are generic and for technology. The technology overtime needs to be increased. Software support does not exist. The permits software is administered by Kim Honetschlager and Gail LaPointe is trying to understand where we can do better with technology. We are requesting a third technician in technology. In expenses we paid $5000 to add the Munis module and we had to pay $15,000 for Microsoft licenses. Page 1 3 Board of Selectmen Minutes - January 20, 2015 - page 4 Benefits and Miscellaneous - The Town Manager noted that State assessments have increased 3%, the Voke School has increased 5% and benefits have increased 7%. Health insurance was renewed at 8.2% and MIIA will produce a quote in February for the second year. Capital - The Town Manager noted that we save @ $500,000 in capital. The Finance Committee requested we reduce from 5% to 4% but it still is not balanced. He could cut more from roads because we just received more state aid. We will need $980,000 to balance the budget. He also noted that it is a bad idea to balance a budget with free cash. His priority is to hire two Dispatchers. John Halsey noted that all three of our State Reps were shocked that the 911 technology line is not funded. Daniel Ensminger indicated that we need to give Town Meeting a vision of what we won't be 4 able to do. Approve Debt Sale - The Town Manager noted that nine bids were received with the lowest bid being 1.49%. F A motion by Ensminger seconded by West that in order to reduce interest costs, the Treasurer is authorized to issue refunding bonds, at one time or from time to E time, pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 21A of the General Laws, or pursuant to any other enabling authority, to refund all of the Town's (1) $6,480,000 General Obligation Bonds dated January 1, 2005 maturing on and after April 15, 2016 and (ii) $6,960,000 General Obligation Bonds dated September 15, 2006 maturing on and after April 15, 2018 (collectively, the "Refunded Bonds") and that the proceeds of any refunding bonds issued pursuant to this vote shall be used to pay the principal, redemption premium and interest on the Refunded Bonds and costs of issuance of the refunding bonds. g Further Voted: that the sale of the $15,800,000 General Obligation Municipal Purpose Loan of 2015 Bonds of the Town dated February 5, 2015 (the "Bonds"), to J.P._Morgan Securities LLC at the price of $17,359,200.60 and accrued interest is hereby approved and confirmed. The Bonds shall be payable on April 15 of the years and in the principal amounts and bear interest at the respective rates, as follows: i Interest Interest Year Amount Rate Year Amount Rate r 2016 $1,405,000 3.00% 2022 $1,630,000 3.00% 2017 1,405,000 3.00 2023 1,625,000 3.00 2018 1,645,000 3.00 2024 1,600,000 4.00 2019 1,640,000 3.00 2025 1,285,000 4.00 2020 1,640,000 3.00 2026 145,000 3.00 2021 1,635,000 3.00 2027 145,000 3.00 Further Voted: that in connection with the marketing and sale of the Bonds, the preparation and distribution of a Notice of Sale and Preliminary Official Statement dated January 7, 2015, and a final Official Statement dated January 15, 2015 (the "Official Statement"), each in such form as may be approved by the Town Treasurer, be and hereby are ratified, confirmed, approved and adopted. r I Page 4 Board of Selectmen Minutes - January 20, 2015 - page 5 Further Voted: to authorize the execution and delivery of a Refunding Escrow Agreement to be dated February 5, 2015, between the Town and U.S. Bank National Association, as Escrow Agent. Further Voted: that the Town Treasurer and the Board of Selectmen be and hereby are, authorized to execute and deliver a continuing disclosure undertaking in compliance with SEC Rule 15c2-12 in such form as may be approved by bond counsel to the Town, which undertaking shall be incorporated by reference in the Bonds for the benefit of the holders of the Bonds from time to time. Further Voted: that we authorize and direct the Treasurer to review and update the Town's post issuance federal tax compliance procedures in order to monitor and maintain the tax-exempt status of the Bonds. Further Voted: that each member of the Board of Selectmen. the Town Clerk and the Town Treasurer be and hereby are, authorized to take anv and all such actions and execute and deliver such certificates, receipts or other documents as may be determined by them, or any of them, to be necessary or convenient to carry into effect the provisions of the foregoing votes. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Ensminger seconded by West to adiourn the meeting at 9.30 P.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. spectfull submitted µdu Secretary Page 5