HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-09 Finance Committee Minutes REGEWEO
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Finance Committee
Date: 2020-09-09 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: Public Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Jeanne Borawski, Eric Burkhart, Dan Dewar, Marianne Downing, Sean
Jacobs, Andrew Mclauchlan, Ed Ross, Mark Zarrow
Members - Not Present:
Nick Boivin
Others Present:
Bob LeLacheur, Sharon Angstrom, John Parks, Karen Herrick, Tom Wise
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely via Zoom.
Mr. Burkhart called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm and welcomed new members Marianne
Downing and Mark Zarrow.
Reorganization
Mr. Burkhart opened the Floor for nominations for Chair.
Ms. Borawski made a motion to nominate Ed Ross for Chair, seconded by Ms.
Downing.
Mr. Dewar made a motion to nominate Eric Burkhart for Chair. Mr. Burkhart stated
that he respectfully declined the nomination having been Chair the past few years, and is
ready to let someone else fill the position.
The Finance Committee voted to select Ed Ross as Chair by a roll call vote of B-0-0.
Mr. Burkhart turned the meeting over to Mr. Ross, who opened the Floor for nominations for
Vice Chair.
On a motion by Ms. Downing to nominate Dan Dewar for Vice Chair, seconded by
Mr. Mclauchlan, the Finance Committee voted to select Dan Dewar as Vice Chair by
a roll call vote of 8-0-0.
Liaison Assignments
The Committee discussed the role of liaisons to be a contact for Town Boards, Committees,
and Departments from a financial perspective, and report back to the Finance Committee.
Members were assigned as follows:
• Jeanne Borawski: School Department and School Committee, Audit Committee
• Eric Burkhart: Department of Public Works, Facilities Department
• Dan Dewar: Administrative Services Department, Permanent Building Committee,
Select Board
• Marianne Downing: Select Board, Public Services Department
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• Sean ]acobs: Library and Board of Library Trustees, School Department and School
Committee
• Andrew Mclauchlan: Permanent Building Committee, Select Board, Public Services
Department
• Ed Ross: Audit Committee, School Department and School Committee, RMLD
• Mark Zarrow: RMLD, Public Safety Department
Mr. Ross did not want to assign anything to Mr. Boivin without his input and noted that the
Committee could make adjustments in the future.
FY21 Meetina Schedule
The Committee reviewed and discussed the draft FY21 meeting schedule. They agreed to
meet every two weeks, and to schedule three Financial Forums throughout the fall. Financial
Forums provide the public an opportunity to engage with the Committee, and give the
Committee an opportunity to provide budget guidance to Town departments. In the past,
Finance Committee meetings were scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm to give members who
worked in Boston or Cambridge time to commute. However, with most members now
working their jobs remotely due to COVID, members agreed that a 7:00 pm start time is
preferable.
FY21 Budget Updates
Mr. LeLacheur shared an update on the FY21 budget so far. The bad news is the projected
local revenues appear to be $500,000 too high, and need to be reduced. The good news is
new growth came in $367,000 higher than projected, and state aid looks like it will be $1.1
million higher than projected. The state aid numbers are derived from math that is not
understood and possibly relying on federal aid that is not there yet. Mr. LeLacheur noted
that he is cautious about using these figures on the bottom line of the operating budget.
Minute
On a motion by Ms. Borawski, seconded by Mr. Dewar, the Finance Committee
voted to approve the meeting minutes of May 12, 2020 by a roll call vote of 8-0-0.
On a motion by Ms. Borawski, seconded by Mr. Mclauchlan, the Finance Committee
voted to approve the meeting minutes of May 18, 2020 by a roll call vote of 8-0-0.
On a motion by Mr. Dewar, seconded by Ms. Borawski, the Finance Committee
voted to adjourn at 8:25 pm by a roll call vote of 8-0-0.
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