HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-10 Select Board Minutes F
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Select Board '
Pk
2: 17
Date: 2019-12-10 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Location: Great Room
Address: 49 Pleasant Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
John Halsey, Andy Friedmann, Mark Dockser, Anne Landry @ 7:13 PM
Members - Not Present:
Vanessa Alvarado
Others Present:
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Facilities Director Joe Huggins, Town
Accountant Sharon Angstrom, Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, Deputy
Police Chief David Clark, Deputy Fire Chief Paul Jackson, Fire Chief Greg
Burns, Administrative Services Director Matt Kraunelis, DPW Director Jane
Kinsella, Library Director Amy Lannon, Executive Assistant Caitlin Saunders,
Dan Dewar
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Caitlin Saunders
Topics of Discussion:
Acting Chair John Halsey called the meeting to order.
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur wanted to address an issue that has been brought to his
attention. Apparently, sections of town have been getting their mail delivered
inconsistently; some people haven't gotten any mail in weeks. If you have been having a
problem with your mail deliveries please call either the Woburn Post Office or the U.S. Post
office directly.
Tonight, the board was to hear budget presentations from the Library, Administrative
Services, Fire, Police, Dispatch and RCASA. All of these presentations are available for
viewing on the town website.
First up was Library Director Amy Lannon. Ms. Lannon is requesting a 3% budget increase.
Wages and expenses are both up. She would like to add .3 FTE (full time employee). The
library's FY19 ROI is 351% or 7.7 million.
Mr. Dockser asked if there was any room for improvement on charging for the use of the
library's conference rooms.
Director of Administrative Services Matt Kraunelis was up next. He noted he has an increase
to the election budget due to the three elections we will have in 2020. He is adding a full
time HR generalist. This position exists already however it was shared with the School
Department; he is requesting this person be full time for the Town side. There has been a
slight increase to the training budget. Technology department is asking to increase their
funding to speed up the equipment replacement cycle.
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Fire Chief Greg Burns then presented his budget to the board. He started off noting they
currently have 6 injuries right now that happened all at the same time and some are waiting
for surgery before they can come back. The budget is up 2.4% between an increase in
salaries and expenses.
Deputy Police Chief David Clark for the Police Department noted his budget is up 1.9%
because of wages going up 2.9%. Expenses are down for the PD 13.3%. Dispatch has a
6.2% increase in their budget due to wages and expenses both increasing. RCASA budget is
up 3.6% now mostly due to our grant running out which requires the town to now fund
positions.
Mr. Friedmann asked if there was a way the board could reconsider their vote from the last
meeting regarding the PTTTF suggestions that did not pass due to a tie vote. Mr. LeLacheur
noted he would have to check and see what can be done about a past vote because it was a
posted hearing that has been closed.
Mr. Dockser moved to adjourn at 9:22 PM. The motion was seconded by Mr.
Friedmann and approved with a 4-0 vote.
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