HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-10-18 Finance Committee Minutes / OCTr Finance Committee Meeting
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z� �?„ 95 October 18, 1994
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room at Town Hall, 16 Lowell
Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Richard Coco, Vice Chairman Fred
VanMagness, members Carol Grimm,Nate White, Steve Blewitt, Jim Kiegley, and Gerry Vitale.
Also present were Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and Secretary Lisa Zanni.
The Finance Committee reviewed the Warrant for the Subsequent Town Meeting. Article 12
funding for the Parker Middle School project was tabled until after ajoint meeting of the Fincom,
Board of Selectmen, the School Committee, the School Building Committee and the Capital
Improvements Advisory Committee. It was noted that there was an error in the arithmetic
presented by the architect and that total cost is estimated to be $13,969,102. It was also
discussed that there would be additional operating costs as a result of this project.
The Finance Committee also agreed to table the Capital Improvement Program providing for the
Parker Middle School since both of these articles will be discussed by ajoint meeting of the
Finance Committee, the School Committee, Board of Selectmen, Capital Improvement Advisory
Sub-committee and School Building Committee later this month.
The Finance Committee discussed Article 6 which is establishing school rent receipts as revolving
fund. On motion by VanMagness seconded by Blewitt, the Board voted to recommend the
subject matter of Article 6 by a vote of 6-0-0. Article 4 - Accepting Gifts will not be ready for
discussion at this time.
The Finance Committee discussed the Special Town Meeting Warrant.
On motion by VanMagness seconded by White, the Finance Committee voted to go into
Executive Session for the purpose of discussing labor negotiations to come out in approximately
half an hour. All seven members present voted in the affirmative and motion was carried.
The Board came back from Executive Session, and discussed Article 3 which would be to amend
Capital Improvement Program providing for purchasing the fire truck this year. The truck that we
were going to refurbish would cost $55,000 for refurbishment and the new truck is $185,000. The
concern is that we would be spending a lot of money and winding up with an old but refurbished
truck. The Fire Chief, Don Wood, went through the status of equipment and where it would go.
On motion by VanMagness seconded by Grimm, the Capital Improvement Advisory Sub-
committee rejected a motion to table Article 3 amending the Capital Improvement Program by a
vote of 2-3-1. The concern being that the Capital Improvement Advisory Subcommittee has not
had a chance to review this matter.
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l`✓ On motion by White seconded by Blewitt, the Finance Committee voted to support the subject
matter of Article 5 by increasing the budget by$130,000 by a vote of 5-1-0 with VanMagness
opposed.
Discussion on the creation of a stabilization fund was tabled.
The Finance Committee discussed proposed amendments to the FY'95 budget. The Finance
Committee made the following recommendations:
On motion by Grimm seconded by Kiegley, amend Line B 1 by $709.00 approved by a vote of
7-0-0.
On motion by VanMagness seconded by Vitale, recommended increase in Line B9 Comm. Devel.
Expenses by $250 to $1,900 by a vote of 7-0-0.
On motion by VanMagness seconded by White, increase Line C9 Finance Personal Serv. - Sick
Leave Buyback by$2,500 to $263,730 by a vote of 7-0-0.
j On motion by White seconded by Grimm, increase Line El Heath Pers. Serv. because of reduc-
tion in Smoking Grant by$3,152 to a total of$29,614 by a vote of 5-2-0.
On motion by VanMagness seconded by Kiegley, increase Line E8 Recreation Pers. Serv. -Direct
Salary by $1,515 to a total of$29,381 by a vote of 7-0-0.
On motion by VanMagness seconded by Grimm, increase Line E9 Recreation Exp. - travel
reimbursement by an amount of$500 to a new total of$1,300 by a vote of 7-0-0.
On motion by VanMagness seconded by Kiegley, increase Line E10 Human Serv. Pers. Serv. -
Dir. Sal. by$2,419 to a new total of$91,082 by a vote of 7-0-0.
On motion by Grimm seconded by Kiegley, increase Line G5 Fire Pers. Se". -labor settlement by
$79,873 to a new total of$1,921,852 by a vote of 7-0-0.
On motion by Grimm seconded by Megley, increase Line JI School Department for early
retirement incentive, building maintenance and Special Education by an amount of$209,039 to a
new total of$16,573,364 by a vote of 6-0-0.
On motion by VanMagness seconded by Grimm, increase Line J2 Vocational School Assessment
by a$3,927 for a new total of$127,071 by a vote of 7-0-0.
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Finance Committee Meeting-Page 3
On motion by VanMagness seconded by Grimm, increase Line K1 Debt Service (School BANS)
by$55,381 to $2,093,348 by a vote of 7-0-0.
On motion by Blewitt seconded by Grimm, the Board voted to approve a reserve fund transfer for
health expenses in Line E2 in the amount of$2,100. The motion was approved by a vote of
7-0-0.
The Board confirmed its meeting schedule for monthly meetings at a joint Fincom, Selectmen,
School Committee meeting for October 26th .
Respectfully submitted, Q
Secretary
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