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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-07 Board of Selectmen Minutes OFR O`t1 FApi c Town of Reading 3� Meeting Minutes !_ co READING, A. Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2018 FEB 12 PM 12: 07 Board of Selectmen Date: 2017-02-07 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Selectmen Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Purpose: General Business Version: Attendees: Members - Present: Dan Ensminger, Barry Berman, Kevin Sexton, John Arena,John Halsey Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Administrative Services Department Head Matt Kraunelis, Town Procurement Officer Allison Jenkins, Superintendent of Schools John Doherty, Administrative Assistant Caitlin Saunders, Bill Brown, Erin Gaffen, Geoffrey Loram, Kathi Crook; Stephen Crook, Eric Burkhart,.Jeri Hillary, Ashley Quinn, Linda Snow Dockser, Linda Phillips, David Cory Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Topics of Discussion: The meeting was called to order just after 7 PM. Badge Pinnings The first topic of the night was to honor new hires and promotions in both the police and fire departments. The Police had 5 promotions and one new hire while the fire department had one new hire as well. The board thanked all the safety personnel and wished them well in their new positions. Selectmen Liaison Reports Mr. Ensming"er noted he has been attending all the financial forum meetings as well as the RCTV cable meetings. He also wanted to mention that the.Artis Senior Living will be opening soon! Mr. Berman has been attending the School Committee meetings and attended the HRAC Subcommittee meeting. Mr. Berman also wanted to comment and ask residents if they send the board a letter to please sign them. Mr. Sexton noted he attended the ZBA meeting regarding the 40B on Lincoln and Prescott. They are working out the final details. Mr. Arena attended the RCTV contract meeting and the school committee meeting. Mr. Halsey noted he attended the financial forum which was very interesting. The board of health held a public hearing regarding tobacco regulations and the distances away from schools. He also noted the Bylaw Committee has a lot going on right now with the changes in the charter. Public Comment Mr. Brown wanted to note he agreed with Mr. Berman and if people write the board letters - they should sign their.names. Page 1 1 Town Managers s Report Mr. LeLacheur noted he hada great meeting with our State Representatives Brad Jones and' James Dwyer about economic development. There are 5 active 40B's and 1 40R-which is the post office project. Town Procurement Policy Town.Procurement Officer Allison Jenkins was present to explain her idea of amending or rescinding the surplus policy. It currently doesn't follow Massachusetts General Laws. She suggested taking it out of the Bylaw and make..it a procedure. This. would make the process easier and more flexible. If. they do want to keep it as a Bylaw then it needs to be cleaned up a little. to follow. Mass General Laws. Records Officer Additions Administrative Services Department Head Matt Kraunelis was present.to explain they would like to add two .positions to.-the records officers:-The two'additions would be the RMLD Executive Assistant who is currently Jeanne Foti, and the RPD Administrative Secretary who is currently�Joanne Powers. Mr. Berman moved that the Board of Selectmen appoint the following employees as Records Access Officers: • RMLD Executive Assistant (Jeanne Foti}-` • - RPD Administrative Secretary (Joanne.Powers) -The motion was seconded by Mr. Ensminger and approved with a 5=0-0 vote. .- Cable Advisory Working Group Update Comcast license renewal is coming up. The town would like to hire an attorney to assist-in the process of renewal. There has been a working=group formed to also assist in,this process. Mr. LeLacheur noted he would ask Town Meeting for money fora lawyer. FY18 Budget and Financial-Status Town Manager Bob LeLacheur read a memo he wrote to the board regarding his temporary solution for this budget he is calling-his `Cogent Path Forward'. This solution will help the schools by asking Town Meeting for some money for the Science Curriculum and the town side holding off on some of their budget needs and giving money to the schools. He noted this is not a Fong term solution and will only`fix' the budget for this year. He explained:we need to work together and stop pitting different groups and boards against each other. Mr. Berman asked if his solution is going to help public safety. Mr: LeLacheur noted he will not take away any more.public safety but we need more,revenue to add more positions. Mr. Sexton asked if the things the town will hold back on have a timeline of when they need to be added back. Mr. Halsey'noted this is simply a bridge to get us over thi's year's hump. Mr. LeLacheur explained that the free cash number.hits hard with him. As town officials we ' . know what the money is there for but the public just sees it as a bunch of cash we are sitting on for no reason. Mr. Arena:wanted to make it clear that this.solution balances the school budget and restores their 6th grade programs and teachers. Mr. LeLacheur explained yes it does and it is now.up to the School Committee to agree and use the funds as I know they can be used. Mr. Ensminger expressed that he feels we need more time before we can ask for an override again. Page 1 2 Mr. Halsey explained that the Town Managers solution gives us the time to react appropriately to figure out the possibility of maybe another override down the road but allows us not to rush into it. He explained that people want to know what they are getting for their money. Michelle Sanphy noted that the YES for Reading group dissolved after the failed override. She also,asked what they mean by the BOS, Town Manager and School Committee not being the driving force for wanting.an override. Mr. Halsey explained he-meant that they can put all the facts out there for the public but . the residents need to talk to each other and get the word.out. There is only so many people who watch and come to the meetings. Mr. Sexton asked if the residents .want more of.an explanation of what they would get with an override and it was answered yes they would like more information next time. Mr. LeLachuer also reminded everyone that the_board legally has to be careful what they say but they can communicate to the residents anyway they want. Paula Perry feels the board needs to do more than just put an override question on the ballot and they.need to express concerns about the budget. Mr. LeLacheur explained last year he didn't want to come right out and say they are very low staffed in public safety and cause a panic,'however, now he feels he needs to say it. Linda Snow Dockser expressed her appreciation for Mr. LeLacheur's experience and wisdom on past budgets. She thinks we need to.work together and.get-everyone talking.. Erin Gaffen commented that.the Selectmen held all their public.listening sessions before they officially called-for.an override and asked if that was correct. Mr. Halsey noted yes that is correct because they wanted to hear from the community first and feel out what we needed. It was more of a process they were going through to be thorough. Ms. Gaffen then commented back saying she felt after they did officially call for an override with an.actual dollar amount, the board did nothing and asked if they would go to PTO and School Committee meetings in the future when another override is coming. Mr. Halsey noted Mr. LeLacheur has found a way to buy us a year but it is temporary and we need to explain that to everyone. Mr. Sexton explained that this information needs to be presented in a simple manner to a large amount of people. Mr. Ensminger noted he feels they need to do a great deal of listening as well. Mark Dockser expressed he is pleased and happy with the Town Manager's proposal. He noted the Finance Committee is willing to work with you to make it happen. He also expressed his concerns and noted waiting 14 months to ask for another override is way too long. Amy Cole noted she needs more from the board. She needs more from her town leaders that shows they support an override. There needs to be a.lot more of everything next time. Jennifer Hillary thanked Mr. LeLacheur for this.solution and noted she will work hard to make sure people understand this is only a one year fix. David Corey explained that next April feels too long to wait for another override vote and he encourages the board to think about it sooner rather than later. Page 1 3 Linda Snow Dockser made a comment noting they need to make sure people understand that prop 2 1/2 is designed to go back to the voters for overrides every so often. Mr. LeLacheur noted a lot of people have never experienced an override before. There are a lot of newcomers to Reading. Preview Annual Town Meeting Mr. LeLacheur handed out the Annual Town Meeting warrant. . The board discussed marijuana and passing a ban as it seems voters do not want it. Mr. LeLacheur noted other towns have-already passed a ban and the CPDC will be presenting that article. Linda Phillips asked what.if Town Meeting takes it upon themselves to use free cash to fund the School-.budget. Mr. Halsey explained they can do that, however, he doesn't think-they will. Ms. Phillips expressed concern about the amount of money the schools have. She showed she looked into the school budget and said some numbers don't add up and she.feels the schools,have more money than they are claiming. Minutes Mr. Berman moved that the Board of Selectmen approve the minutes of January 24th, 2017 as amended. The motion was seconded by Mr. Ensminger and approved with a 5-0-0 vote. Mr. Berman made, a motion to adjourn at 11:30 PM, second_by Mr. Arena-and . approved with a 5-0=0 vote. Page 4