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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-04 Finance Committee MinutesTown of Reading RECEIVED = Meeting Minutes TOWN r�C,LERAK 29210EC -2 AX Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Ah 39 Finance Committee Date: 2021-11-04 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: General Business Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Chair Ed Ross, Vice Chair Jeanne Borawski, Eric Burkhart, Geoffrey Coram (remote), Marianne Downing, Jackie McCarthy (remote), Joe McDonagh, Mark Zarrow (remote) Members - Not Present: Andrew Mclauchlan Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom (remote), DPW Director Jane Kinsella (remote), Karen Herrick Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held in-person in the Conference Room of Town Hall and remotely via Zoom. Chair Ed Ross called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm. Discuss and re -vote November Town Meetina Article 3 (Water Fund Capitall and Article 4 (FY22 Water Fund expenses): Town Manager Bob LeLacheur explained that due to recent emergency water main repairs on Walkers Brook Drive, he is requesting that Town Meeting change the description for the $400,000 budgeted for the Emerson Street water project, to more generic Water Main work. The Walkers Brook Drive repairs have cost approximately $300,000 so far, and Town Meeting is being asked to repurpose the funds approved for Emerson Street to complete the Walkers Brook Drive repairs. The project on Emerson Street is not an emergency, and will need to be finished, but can be put off until next year and may come back before Town Meeting in April. The change appears in the Enterprise Funds - Water section of Article 3, and budget line item W99 - Water EF in Article 4. On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Mr. Burkhart, the Finance Committee voted B-0-0 to approve the changes to Article 3 and vote to recommend to Town Meeting. Roll call vote: Jackie McCarthy -Yes, Geoffrey Coram -Yes, Mark Zarrow-Yes, Joe McDonagh -Yes, Marianne Downing -Yes, Eric Burkhart -Yes, Jeanne Borawski-Yes, Ed Ross -Yes. On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Mr. Burkhart, the Finance Committee voted 8-0-0 to approve the changes to Article 4 and vote to recommend to Town Meeting. Page I 1 Roll call vote: Jackie McCarthy -Yes, Geoffrey Coram -Yes, Mark Zarrow-Yes, Joe McDonagh -Yes, Marianne Downing -Yes, Eric Burkhart -Yes, Jeanne Borawski-Yes, Ed Ross -Yes. Discuss and vote to establish a FINCOM ARPA Subcommittee: Mr. Ross and Ms. Borawski began the discussion on the proposed ARPA subcommittee. The history of the title was conceived as an ARPA group, but in discussions with leadership, the focus shifted to include how to spend excess free cash and the capital plan. ARPA funds are time sensitive, and will be the primary focus, but the scope may change when the subcommittee begins its work. The Finance Committee reviewed the draft of the proposed objective and timeline of the subcommittee, to which Ms. Borawski explained a change to the proposal: instead of assigning the Chair and Vice Chair of the Finance Committee, School committee, and Select Board, give the Boards the opportunity to designate their representatives. Ms. Borawski made a motion to propose the ARPA Subcommittee as amended, which was seconded by Mr. McDonagh. The Committee discussed the primary focus of the group, which will be to determine the best use of ARPA funds in the community. While considering projects suitable for ARPA funds, a lot of consideration can also be given to items in the capital plan, as there may be eligible projects in the plan that could be funded by ARPA, which frees up funds for other projects. The group could also have a conversation about the Stabilization Fund, what is excess Free Cash, and how much Free Cash is actually needed. Ideally, the group can begin its work in late January or early February so a presentation can be made to Town Meeting in April. The decision is time sensitive, as the funds must be encumbered by December 31, 2024 and spent by December 31, 2026. As other communities are also establishing similar groups to decide how to spend ARPA funds, the Subcommittee can get additional data from other towns as their proposals get approved or disapproved. Any projects that are not clearly acceptable can be sent to the Town's auditors for feedback. Other organizations, such as MMA, can provide updates and resources. On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Ms. Downing, the Finance Committee voted 8-0-0 to modify the proposed Finance Committee Subcommittee by changing "Chair" to "member of. Roll call vote: Jackie McCarthy -Yes, Mark Zarrow-Yes, Geoffrey Coram -Yes, Marianne Downing -Yes, Joe McDonagh -Yes, Eric Burkhart -Yes, Jeanne Borawski- Yes, Ed Ross -Yes. A motion was made by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Mr. McDonagh, to change the name of the proposed subcommittee to the Finance Committee ARPA Subcommittee. The Committee continued discuss the potential for the subcommittee to evolve to address free cash and capital projects. Ms. Borawski then suggested that the Committee could vote the group into existence to determine the use of ARPA funds, and remain open to changing the name of the subcommittee, as the document and the scope may continue to change as the group conducts their work. Ms. Borawski then withdrew her motion. On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Mr. Burkhart, the Finance Committee voted B-0-0 to create a subcommittee of the Finance Committee, whose primary focus will be to identify and recommend the use of ARPA funds, consisting of three Finance Committee members, two School Committee members, and two Select Board members, with the support of Town staff including the School Superintendent, School Finance Director, Town Manager, and Town Accountant. Roll call vote: Jackie McCarthy -Yes, Mark Zarrow-Yes, Geoffrey Coram -Yes, Marianne Downing -Yes, Joe McDonagh -Yes, Eric Burkhart -Yes, Jeanne Borawski- Yes, Ed Ross -Yes. Page 1 2 Mr. Ross stated that the Finance Committee will vote its representatives at the next meeting. He will contact the School Committee and Select Board Chairs to ask that they vote their representatives by January so the subcommittee can begin its work in late January or early February. Approve Meeting Minutes: Financial Forum October 20, 2021: On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Mr. Burkhart, the Finance Committee voted 8-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of October 20, 2021 as presented. Roll call vote: Mark Zarrow-Yes, Geoffrey Coram -Yes, Jackie McCarthy -Yes, Marianne Downing -Yes, Joe McDonagh -Yes, Eric Burkhart -Yes, Jeanne Borawski- Yes, Ed Ross -Yes. Mr. Ross stated that he would like to discuss updating the Finance Committee information on the website at the next meeting. On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Ms. Downing, the Finance Committee voted 8-0-0 to adjourn at 8:53 pm. Roll call vote: Mark Zarrow-Yes, Geoffrey Coram -Yes, Jackie McCarthy -Yes, Marianne Downing -Yes, Joe McDonagh -Yes, Eric Burkhart -Yes, Jeanne Borawski- Yes, Ed Ross -Yes. Page 13