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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-18 Finance Committee Minutes Town of Reading 9 x Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Finance Committee 4 Date: 2020-03-18 Time: 7:30 PM Building: School - Memorial High Location: School Library Address: 62 Oakland Road Session: Open Session Purpose: Budget Meeting Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Via Telephone: Chair Eric Burkhart, Vice Chair Paula Perry, Marc Moll, Sean Jacobs, Dan Dewar, Ed Ross, Andrew Mclauchlan Members - Not Present: None Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom, DPW Director Jane Kinsella, Library Director Amy Lannon Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde Topics of Discussion: Chair Eric Burkhart called the meeting to order at 7:33 pm and began by thanking the Town Manager, Superintendent, Department Heads and School staff for their efforts and response to the coronavirus situation, and thanked the Committee members for their engagement and Flexibility under these unusual circumstances. He also congratulated former members Karen Herrick for her election to the Select Board, and Shawn Brandt for his election to the School Committee. Vote on FINCOM Reserve Fund Transfer for Emergency Management Expenses Mr. LeLacheur requested $100,000 be transferred out of the Finance Committee's Reserve Fund to the following accounts for expenses related to the COVID-19 outbreak: $10,000 for Town Facilities custodian overtime, $5,000 for Core Facilities overtime, $10,000 for School Facilities overtime, and $75,000 for the Town Manager's Reserve Fund to be used for other expenses. Governor Baker filed legislation to allow for deficit spending in response to COVID-19. The funds may not be needed, but it seems prudent to ask. Motion by Ms. Perry to transfer $100,000 from the Finance Committee Reserve Fund as documented, seconded by Mr. Mclauchlan, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. FY21 Budoet Overview Conclusion Library Ms. Lannon reviewed the Library budget and noted that the correct total is $1,814,395, and the correct salary total is $1,432,295. Staffing changes include an increase of one position, and increasing the Communications Specialist's hours from 15 to 20 hours per week. Overtime was removed from the budget, as no one seemed to want to work overtime. Expenses were consistent. The total budget required to be spent on materials based on Page I 1 population is 130%, however the Trustees goal is 14%, as they still feel there is a benefit to that extra 1%. Enterprise Funds Mr. LeLacheur reviewed the Enterprise funds. The Water fund increased 4%, and the Sewer fund increased 3.5%. Operational expenses increased 10% for supplies that did not qualify as capital. Wages increase 3.1%. There is no change in rates. Projects to be funded by the enterprise funds in combination with interest-free loans from the MWRA include: lead removal; water improvements to Gazebo Circle; and water, sewer and stormwater improvements to the downtown area. At the beginning of the meeting, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom noted that the PEG Access (Cable TV) Enterprise Fund was increasing to $612,500. Vote on Town Budget Motion by Ms. Perry to approve Shared Cost budget line Items B99-F99 in the amount of$27,780,850 as presented, seconded by Mr. Ross, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Motion by Ms. Perry to approve Wage and Expense budget line Items G91-M92 in the amount of $29,562,245 as amended, seconded by Mr. Moll, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. The $29,562,245 total reflects the correction to Line L91 Library Wages to $1,432,295. Motion by Ms. Perry to approve School Department budget line item U99 in the amount of$48,419,663 as presented, seconded by Mr. Moll, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Motion by Ms. Perry to approve Enterprise Fund budget line Items W99-Z99 in the amount of$15,590,530 as amended, seconded by Mr. Ross, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. The $15,590,530 total reflects the correction to line Z99 PEG Access to $612,500. Review of Warrant Articles Mr. LeLacheur provided an overview of the Town Meeting Warrant Articles on which the Finance Committee is being asked to vote: Article 4: Amendments to the Capital Improvement Plan for FY20-FY30. Article 5: Amendments to the FY20 operating budget. Article 7: Fund the OPEB Trust Fund. Article 8: Expenditure limits on Revolving Funds. Article 9: Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Article 10: Debt Authorization for Sturges Sewer Station improvements. Article 11: Debt Authorization for water service improvements at Gazebo Circle. Article 12: Debt Authorization for lead mitigation funds from MWRA. Article 13: Debt Authorization for Downtown water main improvements. Article 14: Debt Authorization for Downtown sewer improvements. Page 1 2 Article 15: Debt Authorization for Downtown stormwater improvements. Article 16: Chapter 90 highway funds. Funds for FY21 are $594,643. Following review of the Warrant Articles, Mr. LeLacheur explained the priority of hearing warrant articles at Town Meeting, as determined by himself and Town Moderator Alan Foulds, in the event Town Meeting needs to be shortened due to the COVID-19 related restrictions on public gatherings. Vote on Warrant Articles Motion by Ms. Perry to approve Article 4 as written, seconded by Mr. Ross, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Ms. Perry will present Article 4 at Town Meeting. Motion by Mr. Mclauchlan to approve Article 5 as written, seconded by Mr. Dewar, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Moll will present Article 5 at Town Meeting. Motion by Ms. Perry to approve Article 7 as written, seconded by Mr. Moll, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Dewar will present Article 7 at Town Meeting. Motion by Ms. Perry to approve Article 8 as written, seconded by Mr. Ross, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Jacobs will present Article 8 at Town Meeting. Motion by Mr. Ross to approve Article 9 as written, seconded by Mr. Moll, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Ross will present Article 9 at Town Meeting. Motion by Mr. Mclauchlan to approve Article 10 as written, seconded by Ms. Perry, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Mclauchlan will present Article 10 at Town Meeting. Motion by Mr. Moll to approve Article it as written, seconded by Mr. Mclauchlan, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Burkhart will present Article 11 at Town Meeting. Motion by Mr. Moll to approve Article 12 as written, seconded by Mr. Ross, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Ms. Perry will present Article 12 at Town Meeting. Motion by Mr. Ross to approve Article 13 as written, seconded by Mr. Jacobs, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Moll will present Article 13 at Town Meeting. Motion by Ms. Perry to approve Article 14 as written, seconded by Mr. Moll, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Dewar will present Article 14 at Town Meeting. Motion by Mr. Mclauchlan to approve Article 15 as written, seconded by Mr. Dewar, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Jacobs will present Article 15 at Town Meeting. Motion by Mr. Ross to approve Article 16 as written, seconded by Ms. Perry, and approved by a roll call vote of 7-0-0. Mr. Ross will present Article 16 at Town Meeting. Mr. Mclauchlan will present Article 17, the budget line items voted on earlier in the meeting, at Town Meeting. Minute On a motion by Ms. Perry, seconded by Mr. Jacobs, the meeting minutes from March 4, 2020 were approved as presented by a vote of 6-0-1, with Mr. Burkhart abstaining, as he was not present at that meeting. Page 1 3 Before concluding, Mr. Lelacheur reminded the community to please pay careful attention to the information being disseminated about the coronavirus and noted that Massachusetts Department of Public Health is the best resource. The Town and Board of Health are also providing daily information. The most important thing to do is stop gathering in large groups, to separate, and stay apart. This has to be a community effort. He announced that there have been a lot of volunteers interested in helping throughout the community, and carefully coordinated volunteer efforts will be rolled out next week to match those in need with the services they need. On a motion by Mr. Moll, seconded by Ms. Perry, the Finance Committee voted 7-0- 0 to adjourn the meeting at 8:57pm. Page 1 4