HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-04 Finance Committee Minutes kECtiVED
TOWN CLERK
Town of Reading R .- " "' YA
Meeting Minutes - 9-
0 2021 FEB 25 AM 5: 22
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Finance Committee
Date: 2020-11-04 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members- Present:
Chair Ed Ross, Vice Chair Dan Dewar, Nick Boivin, Jeanne Borawski, Enc
Burkhart, Marianne Downing, Andrew Mclauchlan, Mark Zarrow
Members - Not Present:
Sean Jacobs
Others Present:
Town Manager Bob Letacheur, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom, Facilities
Director Joe Huggins, School Superintendent John Doherty, School CFO Gail
Dowd, Karen Herrick, Vanessa Alvarado, Tom Wise, Jack Devir
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely via Zoom.
Chair Ed Ross called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm.
Discussion of Additional Free Cash:
Capital Projects
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur stated that he met with Schools and Facilities to discuss some
of the concerns raised by the Finance Committee. Looking at unfunded projects, the
Schools felt that the stadium track and turf, and ropes course were a priority. The
gymnasium Floor and bleachers were a second choice, but can last another few years.
Another high priority issue is the roof replacement at Parker Middle School. The roofs at
Parker, Coolidge, and Birch Meadow Schools are all included in the plan as debt projects,
but Parker roof maintenance issues are high priority.
The proposed $125,000 for a generator at Town Hall was removed from the capital plan.
The generator would be needed to keep the Health Department refrigerator powered in the
event of a power failure, as it is used to store things such as temperature sensitive
vaccines. The refrigerator was moved to the Police Department, which already has a
generator, so there is no longer a need for one at Town Hall.
In order to work on the Parker roof and High School stadium, each project would require
$250,000 of design money starting in July. The projects would be designed in the fall, put
out to bid in the winter, and construction could begin in spring 2022.
Overall, the Capital Plan is in good shape with a projected $12 million in surplus over the
next 10 years.
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The Finance Committee agreed with moving these projects up in the Capital Plan.
COVID-19 Expenses
The Town has until the end of December to spend the money received through the CARES
Act. It is still unknown if the deadlines to use the funds will be extended past December.
But coverage for COVID costs is in good shape through the rest of this year. If COVID costs
need to be built in the next budget, it will be requested at April Town Meeting.
Minutes for Approval:
On a motion by Mr. Dewar, and seconded by Mr. Mclauchlan, the Finance
Committee voted to approve the meeting minutes of October 21, 2020 as written
by a vote of 7-0-1, with Ms. Borawski abstaining, as she was not present at the
meeting.
Roll call vote: Eric Burkhart-Yes, Andrew Mclauchlan-Yes, Dan Dewar-Yes, Mark
Zarrow-Yes, Marianne Downing-Yes, Nick Boivin-Yes, Jeanne Borawski-Abstain, Ed
Ross-Yes.
On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Mr. Dewar,the Finance Committee
voted 8-0-0 to adjourn at 8:38 pm.
Roll call vote: Eric Burkhart-Yes, Andrew Mclauchlan-Yes, Dan Dewar-Yes, Mark
Zarrow-Yes, Marianne Downing-Yes, Nick Boivin-Yes, Jeanne Borawski-Yes, Ed
Ross-Yes.
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