HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-01-12 Board of Public Works Minutes January 12 , 1981
Meeting of the Board of Public Warks convened in Room 16,
Municipal Building at 7 :30 P . M.
Present were Board Members DeHart, Fallon, Barker, Superin-
tendent Lousnis, Assistant Superintendent Bergeron and Assistant
Superintendent McIntire .
In the absence of the Chairman and Secretary, Mr . . DeHart
called the meeting to order. It was moved, seconded and voted
2:0: 1 to accept the minutes of the previous meeting as written.
Mrs. Wood and Mr . Cowell joined the meeting at 7 :35 P . M.
and Mr. Cowell assumed the Chair.
Mr . Cowell reported to the Board on a meeting of the Board
of Selectmen on January 8, 1981 regarding an ongoing discussion
of how to deal with Proposition 2i. Other members in attendance
at the meeting were representatives from the School Committee,
Assessor Robert Nordatrand, Town Accountant and the Executive
' Secretary to the Board of Selectmen. Mrs. O' Brien , Chairman of
the Board of Selectmen stated the meeting had been called to con-
tinue the discussion of last month regarding the effect of Propo-
sition 2k on the Town and proposed that consideration should be
given to planning the postponement of the Annual Town Meeting or
possibly holding a Special Town Meeting to deal with the possibility
that insufficient information would be available by the time Town
Meeting arrived to make an intelligent decision. The conclusion
to the idea was that Town Meeting must be held as prescribed by
the Town By-Laws and if insufficient information was not available
at that time then the Town Meeting should act on non-money items
and postpone Town Meeting to a time certain . Mr. Nordatrand was
asked to give his opinion relative to a full and fair market value
of the Town of Reading. He stated the present Town assessed value
was in the vicinity of $290,000,000 and the assessors anticipated
a growth factor which would bring the present assessed valuation to
about $300 ,000,000 and adjusted this figure up to the current fair
market value would bring the Town ' s assessed valuation up to approxi-
mately $550,000,000. This assessed value and other additional income
would make it possible for the Town to develop its budget on the
level funding of zero based budgeting. Mrs. O' Brien pointed out
that the notification on revenue sharing had been received and also
included a slight increase in funding normally used for the fire
and police salary accounts . It was agreed that an all boards meet-
ing would be held on January 21 as an informational meeting to
bring all Town Boards up to speed . E
The Board continued its budget review discussing the drain
construction program, road reconstruction program, special park
construction program and equipment replacement program as out-
lined by Assistant Superintendent Bergeron and McIntire .
Mr . Roc O 'Connell of the Industrial Development Committee
appeared before the Board requesting a meeting earlier than February
23d . After careful review of the Board ' s schedule it was concluded
the earliest possible meeting was February 23d.
The Board signed the payroll and the bill roll for the period
ending January 2, 1981.
It was moved , seconded and voted to adjourn at 10 :35 P . M.
Re pectful�ly submitted,
Secretary
SSery