HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-03-29 Finance Committee Minutes FINANCE MEETING , TUES 3./29/'££
ABSENT : BURDITT, MUCCI, GREENE
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7 ' 45
THE CHAIRMAN PASSED OUT THE FOLLOWING:
FINAL BUDGET FORCASTS, F40TE FROM TOWN CLERK ON AN ARTICLE
IN THE GLOBE ON HANDICAPPED ACCESS RELATING TO HOW A
RESERVE FUND TRANSFER HAD MADE IT POSSIBLE IN READING AND
HENCE READING WASN'T CAUGHT BY A TEAM FROM STATE
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. REPORT ON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
WHICH INDICATES THEY WILL NOT REACH A DECISION ON
PEARL ST. BY TOWN MEETING. AND INFORMATION FROM M.W.R.A.
MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPT. , AND MISC. ITEMS
.JOHN PACING (READING MEMBER OF WOKE SCHOOL COMMITTEE) MR.
MARKHAM & MR LEVY FROM THE STAFF OF REGIONAL YOKE SCHOOL
THEN! PRESENTED THEIR NEW P'ROP'OSAL FOR A BOND ISSUE IN THE
AMOUNT OF $4,5£9,956 WHICH IS A REDUCTION FROM THEIR:
PREVIOUS REQUEST OF $5, 976,560, ALL RELATED TO ARTICLE £
OFl THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT. ENOUGH QUESTIONS WERE
RAISED BY MEMBERS {PARTICULARLY HARRISON AND HASKELL) SO
THAT ANOTHER MEETING WAS SCHEDULED WITH THE YOKE SCHOOL
REPRESENTATIVES INCLUDING THEIR ENGINEERS ON THURSDAY
417r£S.
THE VOCATUONAL SCHOOL BUDGET WAS THEN DISCUSSED AND FINALLY
RECOMMENDED IN THE AMOUNT OF $209,643. BY A VOTE OF 6-0-0
ARTICLE #23-BETTERMENTS FOR DEAN ROAD WERE RECONSIDERED AND
RECOMMENDED IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,090 (THE OLD AMOUNT HAD BEEN
$15,066) BY A VOTE OF 6-0-0
ARTICLE #24-BETTERMENTS FOR BUCKINGHAM DRIVE RECONSIDERED
AND APP'RO'VED IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,050. BY A VOTE OF 6-0-0
ARTICLE #26-BETTERMENTS FOR SUNNYSIDE AVE EXT. R:EC'ON.SIDER:ED
AND APIPROV'ED IN THE AMOUNT OF 11,000. BY VOTE OF 6-0-0
THE CHAIRMAN MENTIONED THAT THE TRADE-IN OF A FIRE VEHICLE
HAD BEEN ADDED TO ART 14 . SINCE THAT ARTICLE WAS WORDED
IN A GENERAL SENSE TO ALLOW THE DISPOSAL OF EQUIPMENT IT WAS
DECIDED NOT TO REVOTE THE ARTICLE.
THE SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT WAS NEXT CONSIDERED.
ARTICLE 5 - ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE TOWNS HEALTH INS FOR
PERIOD MARCH TO JUNE 19££ FOR $£6,005. FINCOM EXPRESSED
ITS IOPINION,THAT IT HOPED THIS WAS THE LAST TIME FOR SUCH AN
ARTICLE AND RECOMMENDED IN THE AMOUNT OF $£0,550 BY A VOTE
OF 4--2-9
4w ARTICLE 6 - ADDITIONAL SHORT TERM INTEREST RECOMMENDED IN
THE AMOUNT OF $7, 390. BY A VOTE OF 5-1-9
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ARTICLE 7' - PAYMENT OF MEDICARE PREMIUMS TO SOCIAL SECURITY
SYSTEM FOR TOWN EMPLOYEES REG!UIP.EO BY LAW. RECOMMENDED IN
THE AMOUNT OF $12, 000 B4' A VOTE OF 6-0-000
ARTICLE 12 DEALS WITH FUNDING FLASHING SAFETY LIGHTS FOR
SCHOOL ZONES FOR $35,050. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE 20 MPH LIMIT
POSTED AROUND OUR SCHOOL IS NOT ENFORCEABLE UNDER STAE LAW
WITHOUT THESE SIGNS. FINCOM RECOMMENDS (RELUCTANTLY) IN THE
AMOUNT OF 35, 000 BY A VOTE OF 5-1-0
ARTICLE 13- STUDY OF READING SQUARE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. FINCOM
HAS RECOMMENDED AGAINST THIS SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE LIGHTS
ARE IN SUCH POOR SHAPE THAT WE WERE WON OVER: BY THE TOWN
MANAGERS COMPELLING ARGUEMENT.S. VOTED TO RECOMMEND IN THE
AMOUNT OF $45,555 BY R VOTE OF 5-5-1
ARTICLE S TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO COYER 53RD PAYROLL WAS
DISCUSSED BUT NOT VOTED AS NO HARD FIGURES WERE AVAILABLE.
THE CHAIRMAN HAD WANTED TO INCLUDE AN UPCOMING RES. FUND
TRANSFER' FOR POLICE & FIRE OVERTIME IN THE ARTICLE THEREBY
ALLOWING TOWN MEETING TO VOTE THE FUNDS RATHER THAN FINCOM.
--HOWEVER-- IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE ARTICLE WAS TO TIGHTLY
WORDED TO ALLOW THIS AND HENCE THE FIGURES PRESENTED WILL BE
STRICTL.': FOR. A 53RD PAYROLL. WE WILL VOTE AT A LATER DATE.
ARTICLES 9 & 15 TRANSFER PROPERTY NEAR SITE OF POSSIBLE NEW
FIRE STATION FROM PARK: COMMISSIONERS TO SELECTMEN. WE
WILL 'VOTE ON THEM AT A LATER. DATE.
ARTICLE 11 AUTHORIZES ACI!UISITION ( INCLUDING BY EMINENT
DOMAIN) OF LAND NEAR SITE OF NEW FIRE STATION IF NEEDED.
THERE IS AS YET NO FIRM DOLLAR AMOUNT. MCMENIMIN OPINED THAT
THIS WAS PUTTING THE HORSE BEFORE THE CART, SINCE WE HAD NO
PLANS YET, SO HOW DID WE KNOW WE NEEDED TO TAKE LAND. THE TOWN
MANAGER. STATED THAT WE COULD NOT DRAW PLANS UNTIL WE KNEW
WHAT LAND WE COULD BUILD ON. THIS SEEMS LIKE A "CLASSIC"
WHICH CAME FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG, PUZZLE. IT SHOULD
BE INTERESTING TO WATCH IT PLAYED OUT.
THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE ON THUR. 4,7/88 a.t 7:30.
DON ALLEN
STENOGRAPHER
FINCOM.