HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-29 Finance Committee Minutes RECE1vrD
TOWN CLERK
content REAPING, MA
2013 JUN 25 PM 2: 30
Tue, Apr 24, 2007 1:16 PM
From: Meghan Smith Collins
To: ReadingMA_Finmin
Subject: Finance Committee Minutes 03/29/2006
The meeting convened at 7:35pm in the Town Hall Berger Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading Massachusetts. Present were Chairman chuck Robinson, FINCOM members Paul
Bolger, Ron Powell , Marsie West, George Hines, Hal Torman, Michele Williams and
David Greenfield. Also present were Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant
Town manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, school superintendent Patrick Schettini
Jr. , Assistant superintendent John Doherty, Director of school Finance & Human
Relations Mary DeLai , Fire chief Greg Burns, Police chief Jim Cormier, Library
Director Ruth urell , school Committee members Rob Spadafora (Chairman) and Elaine
Webb.
Chairman Chuck Robinson called the meeting to order at 7:35pm.
FINCOM vice Chair Andrew Grimes arrived at 7:45pm.
Gail LaPointe presented some material on behalf of the Reading Retirement Board. At
the spring 2006 Town meeting, a warrant article is proposed to see if the Town will
vote to accept Section 1 of Chapter 157 of the Acts of 2005 that provides accidental
disability to retirees who are veterans with an additional annual allowance.
Bob LeLacheur reviewed the overall budget, balanced since the most recent Financial
Forum by some adjustments to town, school and common costs.
Bob Keating and Bill Brown summarized the cemetery budget. They had some concerns
that low interest rates impacted the ability of the cemetery to be self-funding,
despite the fact that the rates & fees were nearly triple that of nearby
communities.
Bob Keating reviewed the Parks & Forestry budget, including capital needs. Chuck
Robinson inquired about the annual playground program ,Ai FY07 has Birch meadow.
Bob LeLacheur introduced the Library budget, along with a recent slight change to
fund more hours in a technology librarian staff position in lieu of a long-range
strategic plan.
Ruth urell mentioned that the long-range plan would be funded by other sources, and
still scheduled for Fy07. The Library Trustees spoke to the needs to restore ,Ao'open
hours,A6 to the library, accompanied by a brief presentation. George Hines wondered
if the hours could be restored over five years instead of three years. Ruth urell
mentioned the issue of confusing variable hours of operation for the community.
Michele Williams spoke in favor of restoring some of the hours.
George Hines asked about the physical library building. Ruth urell described the
long-range review as taking a comprehensive look at the infrastructural needs of a
modern library. The current location may need to be modified in order to best meet
those needs. Peter Hechenbleikner reminded the audience that this should also be
discussed both in the future buildings maintenance and the capital plan budget
review sessions.
Victoria vablonsky mentioned that the long-range study would also survey the needs
of the community. chuck Robinson inquired as to when the last such survey was
administered. Ruth mentioned that was done in 1999, to cover the years 2000-2005.
The current deadline for the next five-year plan is October 2007. This deadline was
extended when the new Library Director was hired.
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DPW business manager john Sousa joined the meeting.
Bob LeLacheur reviewed the DPW Highway and storm water division budgets, and
described the budget set-up which would allow Spring 2006 Town Meeting to discuss a
warrant article proposing to form a new Storm water management enterprise fund. The
present intent is to fund additional requests by this division that was not
incorporated into the budget by the Board of selectmen in FY07 via this enterprise
funds.
George Hines mentioned that the only reason this was deferred from the Fall Town
meeting was the issue of legality of a fee versus tax. Peter Hechenbleikner
indicated that the Town had received sufficient indications that this approach was
legal .
Bob LeLacheur reviewed the remainder of the DPW budget. Ted McIntire described the
proposed long-range DPW strategic review. chuck Robinson asked as to who would write
the RFP? Peter Hechenbleikner indicated that Ted McIntire, john Sousa, Bob LeLacheur
& he would be involved, as well as a member(s) of certain Bccs.
Ron Powell asked if all DPW departments are similar to the one in Reading. Ted
McIntire mentioned that it is more typical to have a DPW, water and sewer set of
three departments. However, that method had a lot of redundancy in overhead. Peter
Tassi explained some of the co-operative bidding procedures that the Town uses, in
order to wield morepurchasing power. Chuck Robinson expressed some concern in
putting specific number in the budget before the RFP responses were received. marsie
West wondered if the Town did enough similar bidding each year to have a
,Abconsulting budget,A6. Andrew Grimes asked if this method might be similar to
capital budgeting.
David Greenfield asked about the progress of the Rubbish RFP, and specifically if we
were trying to increase the amount of recycled material in order to reduced the
rubbish tonnage. Ted McIntire replied that we are.
on a motion by Hines, seconded by Greenfield, the meeting of march 1, 2006 adjourned
at 10:00pm by a vote of 9-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
secretary
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