HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-02-10 Finance Committee MinutesOFq
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Finance Committee
Date: 2016 -02 -10 Time: 7:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session:
Purpose: General Business Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair Mark Dockser; members Vanessa Alvarado, Anne Landry, Craig Merry,
Marc Moll, Paula Perry and David Neshat (arrived 7:40pm)
Members - Not Present:
Paul McNeice and Peter Lydecker
Others Present:
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Bill Brown, Eric Burkhart, Brian Scouten, Kyle
Scouten
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:
Topics of Discussion:
Chair Mark Dockser called the meeting to order at 7:35pm
Bill Brown made some comments to FINCOM about their role, and included a letter as did Tom Ryan in
their packets. Each noted that FINCOM was straying from their role as advisory to Town Meeting by
essentially advocating for an Override.
Mr. Dockser noted that FINCOM's role is to deal with any local municipal finance questions, and how
services and home values for example might be impacted. He said that they are allowed to state their
opinions on these questions.
Ms. Landry did not recall any advocacy far an Override as opposed to a discussion of the surrounding
issues. She though that FINCOM was simply providing information on the state of the town finances. She
did appreciate the reminder about the ethics involved.
Mr. LeLacheur said that Town Counsel would be in to a Board of Selectmen meeting in the next month
to outline this issue from a legal standpoint.
Mr. Dockser said that FINCOM was to create a factual document, and asked members to discuss what
information should be on the document. He provided an outline of his suggestions in the meeting
packet.
Ms. Perry said that the charts done by the Town Manager at the January 2016 Financial Forum served as
a good background for these issues, to explain how Reading compares to peer communities. Ms. Landry
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asked if that presentation was on the town's website yet and the Town Manager said that he would
check and make sure that it was.
Mr. Docker said that a copy of the Financial Forum was available on the RCN website. He said that
FINCOM needed to condense the main points to a postcard size. He added that these were important
points from the packet: 2) free cash definition; 3) average tax bill and a perception of value.
Ms. Alvarado added that 5) was important for the historical sense of Prop 2 X and the expectations of
demographics changing in the future. Ms. Landry said that 8) other revenue options had been covered,
and liked the history of local overrides.
Mr. Moll added that the need for consequences of a lack of an override needed to be mentioned in
addition to these facts.
Mr. Dockser wanted a simple graphic of 'my tax bill' and how funds are spent.
These assignments were developed:
2) Mr. Dockser
3) Mr. M0ll
5) Ms. Perry
6) Selectmen & School Committee (FY17 level services budgets — done already)
8) Ms. Alvarado
10) Selectmen (long term town plans)
Mr. LeLacheur asked the FINCOM to send questions in advance. Mr. Dockser asked about ambulance
billing and the break even for overtime versus hiring an additional firefighter.
On a motion by Mr. Moll seconded by Ms. Perry. FINCOM voted 7-0-0 to adjourn at 9:30om.
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