HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-03-01 Finance Committee Minutes • e.l)
Finance Committee Meeting -
March 1, 1995
The Finance Committee met at 7 :00 p.m. in the Conference Room
at Town Hall. Present were Chairman Richard Coco, Vice
Chairman Fred VanMagness, FinCom members Gerry MacDonald, Jim
Keigley, Nate White, Carol Grimm, Jerry Vitale, Bill Murphy,
Steve Blewitt, and Secretary Maureen Vierra. Also present
was Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Munnelly, Assistant
Superintendent Dennis Richards, School Committee Chairman Tim
Twoomey, School Committee members Matt Cummings, Thomas
Stohlman, George Shannon, and Reading residents Linda Molloy,
Cathy Mandolese, Judy LeBlanc, Ken Maguire, Tina Truedson,
John Arena, Susan Bryant, Nancy Ortiz, Marlene Cohen, Rog
Welsch, Robert Hillard, Robin Hamilton, Belinda Barbas,
Debbie Stackpole, Steven Gallant, and Stephen Crook.
Approval of Minutes
On a motion by Grimm seconded by White the minutes of
February 22 , 1995 were approved as amended by a vote of 7/0/2 .
School Committee Budget Review
Tim Twoomey pointed out some adjustments made to the School
Committee budget. The Administration line item was reduced
from $802,166 .00 to $592 , 166.00. The Custodian' s
maintenance line item was increased from 1 , 819,030.00 to
1 ,831 ,030.00 . The net effect was a reduction of $198,000.00.
The adjustment in the Administrative section is a change in
the pool of reserves for salary negotiations. The increase
in the Custodian budget reflects the need to move the
portable classrooms from Joshua Eaton School. This move will
cost approximately $36,000.00. An accidental overstatement
of $24,000.00 to the original budget combined with the
increase request of $12,000. 00 will fund the relocation of
the portable classrooms.
A summary of Professional Development costs were distributed
to the Finance Committee. The School Committee is requesting
an increase of $5,000.00 for Tuition Reimbursement,
$20,000.00 for District Professional Development and
$19,000.00 for School Improvement Plan Funds. The total
requested by the School Committee for Professional
Development is $137,000.00.
An error in addition was detected on budget page 43. Dr.
Munnelly will look into and provide FinCom with the correct
totals.
Fred VanMagness requested the School Committee provide a
projected revenue figure expected to be earned from the gate
receipts from the Reading Ice Arena. This figure was not
included in the budget because at the time the budget was
[ 2
l written, the rink was not yet open. He also asked the School
Department to check into the Athletic Department 's
transportation figure. Currently the boys and girls teams
travel together on the same bus . The budget backup reflects
the need for separate busses. Dr . Munnelly was unaware of
this procedure and will look into.
Dick Coco expressed his concern about several inconsistencies
between requested budget amounts and the supporting back up
figures. Dr. Munnelly acknowledged the inconsistencies and
will provide revised back up pages.
The Finance Committee would like to review salaries, and
revenue projections before voting the School Department ' s
budget. In addition they would like to see more of the total
Town budget before voting this section. The Finance
Department decided to postpone voting the School Committee ' s
budget until March 15, 1995 . Prior to voting the budget an
executive will be held at 7 : 00 with an open session
immediately following.
The School Committee expressed their concern that they are
being used as the bottom line budget balancer. Members of
the Finance Committee assured them that this is not the case.
On a motion by White seconded by Keigley the Finance
Committee voted to adjourn at 11 : 00 p.m. by a vote of 7/2/0.
The next meeting of the Finance Committee is scheduled for
March 6, 1995 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room at Town Hall .
R spectfully Submitted,
LIKU-0 UtA41J
Maureen Vierra
Secretary