HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-04-27 Finance Committee MinutesN OF I?
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Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Finance Committee
Date: 2015 -04 -27 Time: 6:45 PM
Building: School - Memorial High
Address: 62 Oakland Road
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
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Location: Performing Arts Center
Chairman Mark Dockser, Vice Chair Paula Perry, Craig Merry, Paul McNeice,
Vanessa Alvarado, Anne Landry, and Peter Lydecker.
Members - Not Present:
Karen Herrick and Marc Moll
Others Present:
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom,
Superintendent of Schools John Doherty and Board Of Selectmen Chair Dan
Ensminger
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:
Topics of Discussion:
The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:50pm.
Dr. Doherty reviewed his presentation to be given to Town Meeting later that evening
concerning the RMHS retaining wall. Last August the Town's building inspector noticed a
portion of the wall did not appear to be stable, so last winter the Schools asked Town
Meeting for funding to study the matter and suggest a path forward.
That work is now complete, and the estimated cost has declined from $620,000 to
$500,000. It will take 8 to 10 weeks to complete the repairs, to be done primarily during
the upcoming summer.
Ms. Perry asked if the design would change, and Dr. Doherty replied that it would be less
vertical, and be terraced instead, for better long term stability.
Mr. Dockser asked about a warranty going forward, and Dr. Doherty did not know how cost
effective that would be.
Ms. Alvarado asked what the shelf life of a new wall would be, and if the materials would be
re -used. Dr. Doherty replied that the plan was to re -use as much as possible.
On a motion by Ms. Perry, seconded by Mr. McNeice, FINCOM voted 7 -0 -0 to
recommend the substance of Annual Town Meeting Article 4 as revised.
Mr. LeLacheur described a few changes to Annual Town Meeting Article 5. Less Free Cash
would be needed to balance the FY15 budget because $50,000 less of snow & ice funding
was needed, and an extra $75,000 was available from surplus wages in Administrative
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Services. In addition, lines K94 Street Lights and K95 Rubbish had been transposed and
should be re- voted.
On a motion by Mr. McNeice, seconded by Mr. Lydecker, FINCOM voted 7 -0 -0 to
recommend the substance of Annual Town Meeting Article 5 as revised.
On a motion by Ms. Perry, seconded by Ms. Landry, FINCOM voted 7 -0 -0 to adjourn at
7:05pm.
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