HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-01-28 Board of Health Minutes - Draft a=
RECEIVE L)
BOARD OF HEALTH TOWN CLERK
- MEETING.MI]VUTES
READIN. r A.
Prepared: February 2, 2011 211 NOY 27 PM 5: 27
The Board of Health(BOH)meeting was called to order on January 28.2011,pt 4:40 pm
in the Berger Room,Town Hall,by Colleen Seferian,Deputy Chair. Those present at the
meeting were Colleen Seferian, Deputy Chair,Dr. David Mitchell Singer,and Barbara
Meade,Chair. Also in attendance: Peter Hechenbleikner,Town Manager,Jean Delius,
Community Services Director/Town Planner
This was a special meeting requested by the Board of Health(BOH)to meet with the
Town Manager and Community Services Director to discuss tht;:l.;own Manager's
proposed FY 12 Budget. A number of questions were raised byY) OH regarding the
FY12 Budget which the Town Manager responded to. '"
Overview
The Town Manager described the current status of his FY12'Budget which was
recommended to the Board of Selectmen on January'11,:2011. The FY12 Budget was
prepared with a 1%reductions,but ea offset by a salary increases as step raises that
employees had not had for a pears res„�,LteO in a 5.9%reduction to the FY 12 Budget.
The FY12 budget uses $1.5 million in cash resgrves; revenues can't fill the gap unless a
Proposition 2 %:override was passed(which is not going to happen at present).
The Town Manager mdaeairid&Reed to make drastic reductions in staffing because of
budget constraints. 1irlduction&were not recommended across the board because the
impact to public safetywould have been too great,. The Community Services budget was
reduced the most at just oiler 11%. The Public Health; Conservation; and Elder/Human -
Services Division Heads were cut from full--time to half-time, with an expectation that at
least some of these would result in regionalized or shared services. The Permits
Coordinator position was:eliminated and there were several other smaller cuts.
Regionalizing or going with shared services model is being recommended for Public
Health with the possibility ty t,hat a grant fm;ib`'' .We could could yield substantial dollars. The
grant for the study�,component is due 228/1 f. Tf funded the study would get underway
immediately. If Stied back for the additional funding that application is due in
September.
Board of Health member David Singer had to leave before the meeting was completed,
but he participated in some of(}hollowing: &A. .
Reading Board of Health Meeting Minutes fdr Meeting Held on 1128111
Ouestions and Answers:
1. The regional model was great for small towns; but more useful as an adjunct for
Towns like Reading.
There are many different mgdejk�t�a[exist for regionalizing public health function. Our
staffing level is high in publid health compai' ed,ta8.similar communities in the area.
The FTE's for area communities were around A;Whereas Reading is at 3.7.
1. Why is the position of Health Administrator being cut and how will things like the
water main break,preventing food-bourn illness and others be hikrldled
We will still have a Health Administrator half time. We are looking to throw away the
old models. A new Mass. Call System will be used in.the-future m eantact restaurants.
Some duties will be reassigned but the half time person will be relied upon.
Going to a regional model will not compromise public health. This budget will not
degrade public health.
3. Concerns were expressed that the business capirnu uty is interfering and the desire to
have Public Health in an independent el¢Vai'sd1 i5ale like`.: , ic Safety.
•as
The Town Manager assured the board[ha'f^ .is no interfe °fiom the business
community. He noted that there is no more revedtTpo more.&h reserves,and the only
way to balance the budget is by making painful,cuts."
4. Recent problems wrth Sam "tro we{•g d�,pc�e.Sed and the Board expressed concern
1 lc'Ii7L'"-.
that they hoped this warn t the reason or the,Wtx
The Town Manager stated thatthere have Been complaints about Larry throughout the
community which has)leen discussed previously with the BOH and with Larry.
Howevei,this approacti t'o regionalizing Public Health and making cuts at the
administrative level wouj4 ve been suggested as the next step,regardless of the
aforementioned issues.
The Town Manager noted that if we get accepted for the public health study,the Board of
Health's involvement will be essential. He further described that the Town may
regionalize other positions such as the Conservation Administrator, the Elder/Human
Services Administrator, and possibly the wiring and plumbing/gas inspectors and the Tax
Assessors. The Town Manager encourog aj ie`%!' d.to make comments on the budget
and stay involved in the changes being proposed"The Finance Committee will be taking
up Community Services budget on March 9,2011. Annual Town Meeting convenes on
April 25,2011.
Other Business - -
There being no other busmessj,o�.emotion by Meade seconded by Sefarian, the Board
voted to-adjourn with a 2.0:0 vote' Meeting'a3�dpried at 5:30 pm.
Reading Board of Health Meeting Minutes j&-Meeting Held on 1128111