HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-02-17 Finance Committee Minutes 2/zy/9y
Finance Committee Meeting
February 17, 1994
The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room at 16 Lowell
Street, Reading, MA. Present were Chairman Richard Coco; Vice Chairman
Fred Van Magness; FinCom members Jim Keigley, Nate White, Carol Grimm,
Gerry MacDonald, Bill Murphy and Steve Blewitt. Member Elizabeth Greene
arrived late. Also present were Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner;
School Committee members Robin D'Antona, Tim Twoomey, Matt
Cummings, George Shannon; Richard Foley and Beth Klepeis from the
Finance Department; Chief of Police Edward Marchand and Maria Silvaggi
from the Chronicle.
Due to the fact of miscommunication in scheduling with the School
Committee, tonight's agenda consists of the review of accounting,
finance, and police department budgets.
Chairman Richard Coco announced to the committee that the school budget
review is scheduled for February 24, 1994. Fred Van Magness disagreed
and expressed that one meeting was not enough for the review of a budget
which represented more than half of the total town budget.
Following the discussion Richard Coco scheduled a second School
Committe budget review for March 3, 1994.
On February 28, 1994 the general service budget will be reviewed and
March 17, 1994 the Capital Improvement Advisory Sub-Committee plan
will be reviewed.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve the February 14, 1994 Minutes. The motion
was approved with the vote of 8-0-0.
The chairman stated to the committee, "it had been decided that the
Finance Committee will resolve the differences between the methods used
by town government and the School Committee in preparing their FY 95
budgets".
tThe purpose of a meeting which involved the School Committee, Finance
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February 17, 1994
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Committee and Board of Selectmen in December was to establish a
procedure for the preparation of their budgets. The gameplan was that the
town and school would prepare a base budget with a separate priority list,
which would be melded into a final budget that would be given to FinCom.
The School Committee voted to include their own priorities in their
budget, resulting in an increase of about $300,000 more.
The Chairman stated "we (FinCom) will resolve it, we will make
recommendations to Town Meeting and and let them decide, after all it is
our budget and our responsibility to present it to Town Meeting."
Fred Van Magness was upset at the fact that the School Committee's
budget was not here tonight and that he's not a happy camper.
Robin D'Antona stated "the school committee became confused about the
definition of status quo, our level standards is a status quo for the school
system of which includes our salary increases."
Fred Van Magness questioned "where is the School Committee's list of
priorities and has it been voted on by the School Committee?" Robin
D'Antona assured FinCom that it would be distributed this week.
Richard Coco asked the committee if someone would volunteer to serve on
the Mineral Street Bridge Sub-Committee. Gerry MacDonald volunteered.
Bill Murphy recommended to FinCom to reread the chapter in the FinCom
handbook on how to review the school budget before our meeting on
February 24, 1994.
The 53rd payroll will be eliminated in FY95 by pro-rating the cost.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item Al & A2 in the amount of $85,733
for the Accounting Department. The motion was approved with a vote of
8-0-0.
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February 17, 1994
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On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item C-1 in the amount of $1,000 for
personal services for the Finance Committee. The motion was approved
with a vote of 8-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to change the amount of line item C-2 from $37,000 to
$32,190 for the Finance Committee. The motion was approved with a vote
of 8-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Nate White the committee
voted to approve line item C-3 in the amount of $150,000 for the Reserve
Fund. The motion was approved with a vote of 7-1-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item C-4 in the amount of $66,984 for
personal services in the Assessment Department. The motion was
approved with a vote of 8-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item C-5, non-personal services, in the
amount of $3,500. The motion was approved with a vote of 8-0-0.
Prior to voting on line item C-6, Appraisal Services, there was a
discussion pertaining to whether or not it was necessary to budget this
amount at all. Beth Klepeis assured the committee that the appraisors
need money accessible in order to initiate an outside appraisal or they
may need to bring in an appraisor with expertise for a large commercial
property. 'The assessors use it as a tool for there office," stated Beth
Klepeis.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to reduce line item C-6 from $3,000 to a 0 balance for
Appraisal Services. The motion did not pass with a vote of 2-6-0.
LI
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February 17, 1994
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On motion By Nate White seconded by Bill Murphy the committee voted to
approve line item C-6, Appraisal Services, in the amount of $3,000. The
motion was approved with a vote of 6-2-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item C-7 in the amount of $52,900 for
the General Fund for Data Processing. The motion was approved with a
vote of 8-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item C-8 in the amount of $27,000 for
personal services in the Finance Department. The motion was approved
with a vote of 8-0-0.
The Town Manager brought to the committee's attention the efficiency of
the Beth Klepeis in collecting tax liens. To date there is no backlog and
$292,000 has been collected.
On motion by Fred van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item C-9, non-personal services, in the
amount of $255,988. The motion was approved with a vote of 8-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item C-10 in the amount of $62,512 for
the Finance Department. The motion was approved with a vote of 8-0-0.
At 8:50 p.m. the committee adjorned for a 5 minute break.
The committee reconvened at 8:55 p.m.
Liz Greene arrived at 9:05 p.m.
There was discussion concerning the increasing costs of health benefits.
Beth Klepeis explained that there is an increase of spousal coverage
through employees due to the loss of their coverage, also included is
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February 17, 1994
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school personnel and now more than 400 retired employees are covered as
well.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item L-4, Health Insurance, in the amount
of $2,510,419. The motion was approved with a vote of 8-0-1 with Steve
Blewitt abstaining.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item G-1 in the amount of $1 ,920,935 for
personal services in the police department. The motion was approved with
a vote of 9-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item G-2 in the amount of $166,021 for
non-personal expenses for the police department. The motion was
approved with a vote of 9-0-0.
The Town Manager brought to the committee's attention that with the
onrise of rabies in our area, public relations is important at this time,
therefore the Animal Control Officer `s position has increased in hours.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item G-3 in the amount of $14,987 for
Animal Control. The motion was approved with a vote of 9-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item G-4 in the amount of $3,130 for
non-personal expenses. The motion was approved with a vote of 9-0-0.
Chief Marchand explained that we are still waiting for the installation of
E91 1 emergency response. We are ready to go, the telephone company is
installing in smaller communities at this time to get the bugs out. The
Chief anticipates another 2 years before it is installed.
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February 17, 1994
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On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Nate White the committee
voted to approve line item G-7 in the amount of $183,811 , for the
Dispatcher. The motion was approved with a vote of 9-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Steve Blewitt the committee
voted to approve line item G-8 in the amount of $18,230, for the
Dispatcher. The motion was approved with a vote of 9-0-0.
The Police Department is going to ask for $25,000 in their capital plan, in
order to hire an architect for advice for the purpose of studying the
station for renovations and or additions.
The next scheduled meeting is Thursday, February 24, 1994 at 7:30 p.m.
with the School Committee at 9:00 p.m..
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to adjorn the meeting, with a vote of 9-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
tri,u
Lisa Zann
Secretary