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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-01-24 Board of Selectmen Minutes OFjj Town of Reading �M Meeting Minutes Q DECEIVED TOWN CLERK READING, MASS. Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Selectmen 10il FEB 22 A II: 311 Date: 2017-01-24 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Selectmen Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: General Business Version: Attendees: Members - Present: Chair John Halsey, Kevin Sexton, Barry Berman, John Arena, Dan Ensminger Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom, Administrative Assistant Caitlin Saunders, Town Counsel Ray Miyares and Associate Ivria Fried, Bill Brown, Kaitlyn Mercurio, Demetra Tseckares, Meghan Young, James Martin, Gina McCormick, Kate Boyd, Erin Gaffen, Eric Burkhart, Linda Phillips Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Secretary Barry Berman Topics of Discussion: Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports Mr. Berman noted he attended the MMA Conference over the weekend. The local aid numbers were underwhelming but not unexpected. Every town is facing challenges when it comes to economic development but no one town is the same. Mr. Sexton noted he attended the final ZBA hearing for the 40B on Lincoln Street. The ZBA have been working at this project for a year now and he commends them, Town staff and all the residents who came out to give feedback. Mr. Arena has been attending the School Committee meetings and he noted they have been well attended by teachers, students and parents. The schools are taking a hit with this budget and making cuts, the Committee needs to vote on a budget Monday night. Mr. Halsey noted the Selectmen had the pleasure of attending an Eagle Scout award ceremony and presented three awards to young men. He also noted the Health Agent is leaving so we have a temporary replacement. The Board of Health will have a hearing on tobacco regulations soon. Town Manager Report Mr. LeLacheur noted Reading DPW/Water Department was presented with a safety award. Public Comment Kaitlyn Mercurio, Demetra Tseckares, Gina McCormick noted they are human rights activist and working together they have come up with a human rights resolution they would like the Page 1 1 Board of Selectmen Minutes - January 24, 2017 - page 2 Town to adopt. They would like a spot on an upcoming agenda to explain further about why they think Reading needs this. Bill Brown noted he has heard talk about the School Committee asking for another override vote. He wanted to remind the Selectmen that 60% voted no last time and it is simply too soon and unnecessary to ask again right now. Personnel & Appointments Dan Ensminger second by Mr. Arena moved that the Board of Selectmen accept the recommendations of the Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee as follows: • Kevin Briere as an Associate on the Commissioner of Trust Funds with a term expiring June 30, 2017; • Gretchen Latowsky to the Climate Advisory Committee with a term expiring June 30, 2018; • George Wetmore to the Council on Aging with a term expiring June 30, 2017; • Samantha Couture as an Associate member on the Historical Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2017; • Neil Cohen to the RMLD Citizen Advisory Board with a term expiring June 30, 2017 The motion passed with a 5-0-0 vote. Mr. Berman noted he was impressed with the quality of the folks who stepped up to volunteer. Discussion/Action Items Town Accountant Quarterly Report Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom noted 49% of Revenues have been collected. Vehicle excise taxes go out in January so those will be coming in soon. FY16 books are almost closed out. They are slowly fixing the General funds issue at the schools. There is no ° overnight fix, it will take some time, but it is going in the right direction now. Continued Hearing - Liquor License Policy Town Counsel Mr. Miyares and his associate Ivria Fried were in attendance to present the changes. The policy adds new definitions from the State. There were some fees the Board needed to decide on for future applications. Our fees are generally in line with our peers. The board conversed about the hours of permitted sale and decided they should look into clubs hours in the future. Mr. Berman, second by Mr. Ensminger move that the Board of Selectmen close the hearing on amending Article 3 of the Board of Selectmen Policies. The motion passed with a 5-0-0 vote. Mr. Berman second by Mr. Ensminger move that the Board of Selectmen approve the amendments to Article 3 of the Board of Selectmen Policies as presented. The motion passed with a 5-0-0 vote. FY18 Budget Discussion Mr. Berman noted it really shook him the cuts and low staffing we have in Public Safety. People do not realize it because you don't see it firsthand like when we you cut teachers or a class. Mr. Arena asked where we can look at fee changes. Mr. Berman asked what FY19 and FY20 look like for Police since we're already not filling positions when someone retires. Mr. LeLacheur noted eventually we will probably have to pull the School Resource Officer. Page 1 2 Board of Selectmen Minutes - January 24, 2017 - page 3 Mr. LeLacheur noted we could separate the compost and depot fee to see how much of each is used. Parking fees for downtown has been a topic before. Mr. Halsey noted if we create a fee, he doesn't know if we can use a parking fee to fund a 7th grade language class. All fees go into the general fund and then they get split up. It may be time to explore a trash fee eventually. Mr. Ensminger explained they're may be something new in the air about people approving of a smaller override. Mr. Halsey noted he does not think we are ready to have this conversation quite yet. The School Committee has not even voted on a budget yet, they have only seen one draft. We need to let them do their work, vote a budget and see what happens. Right now this is not our fight. We don't have enough data yet and the School Committee has not even asked us for anything yet. Mr. Berman noted he does not think we are prepared for this discussion tonight, but do think eventually we will be having it. Mr. LeLacheur noted in the past, history shows Reading always fails an override before one passes. The trick is trying to balance the "old Reading" and the "new Reading"; people who just moved here and people who have lived here for their whole life. Mr. Halsey explained he thinks people did not understand what they were going to get with that override. Amy Cole expressed her feelings that the Town has no urgency to help the Schools. Mr. Halsey again explained that the School Committee has NOT submitted their budget yet. The Selectmen can't do anything with no submitted budget. You have only seen one option and no alternatives. We need to wait and see what they come up with and more importantly, what they vote on. Erin Gaffen told the Selectmen they cannot 'wait and see'. These kids do not get that year back. You have no urgency whatsoever and something needs to be done now. Mr. Halsey explained they are not waiting years they are simply waiting a couple days to see what the School Committee actually votes for a budget. Mr. Arena explained he thinks there's money in the budget they can find to balance it. Another override could fail again. Mr. Halsey conveyed the Selectmen do take this seriously and do agree this is a major issue. They need to let the School Committee do their part first. Amy Cole asked what the danger is in asking for another override and it failing again. Mr. Sexton explained if you fail again, that is not going to look good and you will have to wait even longer to ask again. Mr. Berman noted he needs to see the final budget before he goes any further with this conversation. He also noted people need to stop pitting the schools against the town. Linda Phillips explained there is so much misinformation going around. The school has .,., added more personnel and spent more money than most people are aware of. The budget process for the schools is not what you think. They have money they are not using but asking for more. Page 1 3 Board of Selectmen Minutes - January 24, 2017 - page4 Mr. Halsey explained they have read their budget and that is why they want to see what they come up with. Linda Phillips noted the Schools cannot have it both ways. They can't have every program and a teacher for every 10 kids. We're losing public safety which is just as important. Amy Cole noted she can't believe this is such a big deal and asked the Selectmen why they don't want to help the schools. Mr. Halsey noted the Selectmen did everything they could during the last override process. They can only do so much. It is NOT their budget and they can't tell the School Committee what to do. Mr. Berman, second by Mr. Ensminger, moved that the Board of Selectmen approve the minutes of December 13, 2016. The motion passed with a 5-0-0 vote. Mr. Berman, second by Mr. Ensminger, moved that the Board of Selectmen approve the minutes of January 10, 2017. The motion passed with a 5-0-0 vote. Mr. Berman, second by Mr. Arena moved that the Board of Selectmen approve the minutes of January 11, 2017. The motion passed with a 5-0-0 vote. Mr. Berman, second by Mr. Ensminger, moved that the Board of Selectmen approve the minutes of January 12, 2017. The motion passed with a 5-0-0 vote. Mr.Berman, second by Mr. Arena, move that the Board of Selectmen approve the Executive Session minutes of October 13, 2016 as amended to correct typographical errors. The motion passed with the following roll call vote: Dan Ensminger - yes John Arena - yes Kevin Sextion - yes John Halsey - yes Barry Berman - yes Mr. Berman second by Mr. Arena, moved that the Board of Selectmen adjourn the meeting at 11:14 p.m. The motion passed with a 5-0-0 vote. Respectfully submitted, Secretary Page 1 4