HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-02 Finance Committee MinutesVHF Orgrgo
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Finance Committee
Date: 2022-03-02 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
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TOWNEIVED CLERK
RFADInIG, MA.
2021 MAR 10 PM 43
Location:
Select Board Meeting Room
Session:
Open Session
Version:
Final
Chair Ed Ross, Vice Chair Jeanne Borawski, Eric Burkhart, Geoffrey Coram,
Marianne Downing, Jackie McCarthy (remote), Joe McDonagh, Andrew
Mclauchlan (remote), Mark Zarrow
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Town Manager Fidel Maltez, Fire Chief Greg Bums,
Superintendent of Schools Thomas Mllaschewski, School Director of Finance
Susan Bottan, School Committee Chair Tom Wise, School Committee Vice
Chair Shawn Brandt (remote)
Select Board Members: Carlo Bacci (remote), Mark Dockser (remote), Chris
Haley
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in-person in the Select Board Meeting Room of Town Hall, and
remotely via Zoom.
Chair Ed Ross called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm.
Select Board Secretary Mark Dockser called the Select Board to order at 7:01 pm.
Vote to Authorize Snow and Ice Deficit Soendina:
On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Mr. Zarrow, the Finance Committee
voted 9-0-0 to take agenda item "Vote to Authorize Snow and Ice Deficit
Spending" out of order.
Roll call vote Jackie McCarthy -Yes, Andrew Mclauchlan-yes, Marianne Downing -
Yes, Mark Zarrow-Yes, Jeanne Borawski-Yes, Joe McDonagh -Yes, Geoffrey Coram -
Yes, Eric Burkhart -Yes, Ed Ross -Yes.
Town Manager Fidel Maltez explained that the snow and ice removal line item in the
operating budget is the only one allowed to run Into deficit according to M.G.L. This winter
has been rough, and the Town has currently spent $576,000 on stone cleanup. One more
storm could cause expenses to exceed the budgeted $675,000. Mr. Maltez requested
approval to go to Town Meeting and request a replenishment of this line item.
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On a motion by Mr. Coram, and seconded by Ms. Borawski, the Finance Committee
voted 9-0-0 to approve incurring liabilities and making expenditures in excess of
the budgeted expenses amount of $675,000 for snow and ice removal.
Roll call vote Jackie McCarthy -Yes, Andrew Mclauchlan-Yes, Marianne Downing -
Yes, Mark Zarrow-Yes, Jeanne Borawski-Yes, Joe McDonagh -Yes, Geoffrey Coram -
Yes, Eric Burkhart -Yes, Ed Ross -Yes.
Vote to Approve FINCOM Reserve Transfer for Ladder Truck and Ambulance
Equipment:
On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Mr. Zarrow, the Finance Committee
voted 9-0-0 to take agenda Item "Vote to Approve FINCOM Reserve Transfer for
Ladder Truck and Ambulance Equipment" out of order.
Roll call vote Jackie McCarthy -Yes, Andrew Mclauchlan-Yes, Marianne Downing -
Yes, Mark Zarrow-Yes, Jeanne Borawski-Yes, Joe McDonagh -Yes, Geoffrey Coram -
Yes, Eric Burkhart -Yes, Ed Ross -Yes.
Mr. Maltez noted that at the last meeting, Mr. LeLacheur acknowledged that inflation and
equipment costs will be recurring in conversations. This is an example where $1.3 million
was budgeted to replace the ladder trunk in the FY22 Capital Plan. The Invitation for Bids
(IFB) went out and bids came back. The lowest bidder was Seagrave, which came in more
than $66,000 over what was budgeted. Fire Chief Burns attempted to negotiate with the
vendor, but the vendor cited higher prices of steel and labor, and would not change their
figure. The Town can either scrap this bid and rebid it, or request that Finance Committee
appropriate the additional funds needed from reserves. Mr. LeLacheur had reached out to
the State Delegation and requested a $90,000 earmark from the next budget for this
project, which if received, the funds would be returned to free cash.
On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Ms. Downing, the Finance
Committee voted 9-0-0 to approve a transfer of $67,000 from the Finance
Committee Reserve Fund to be applied to the purchase of a fire truck as discussed
at this meeting.
Roll call vote: Jackie McCarthy -Yes, Andrew Mclauchlan-Yes, Marianne Downing -
Yes, Mark Zarrow-Yes, Jeanne Borawski-Yes, Joe McDonagh -Yes, Geoffrey Coram -
Yes, Eric Burkhart -Yes, Ed Ross -Yes.
Liaison Reports:
Marianne Downing recapped some financial related actions from last night's Select Board
meeting. The Select Board voted 4-1 to offer a one-month bonus salary, of about $17,000,
to former Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, subject to appropriation of funds. The Select
Board also discussed potential $19 million in water and sewer capital projects, and whether
to consider using ARPA funds for them. Temporary lights will be installed at Coolidge Middle
School while Turf 1 at the High School is offline for replacement. The costs for the lights will
be shared by the Recreation Division, Soccer, and Lacrosse leagues.
Jackie McCarthy stated that RMLD will present before the Finance Committee at the March
23r6 meeting.
FY23 Budget Presentation — Schools:
School Superintendent Thomas Milaschewski, School Director of Finance Susan Bottan, and
School Committee Chair Tom Wise presented a high-level overview of the FY23
recommended budget, and noted they will be discussing needs beyond FY23. The
recommended FY23 budget reflects a 4.2% increase of $2,087,365 to a total of
$51,783,363. Of the incremental increase, $871,000 focused on new investments and
priorities. The baseline budget of $1.2 million supports all contractual obligations and legal
mandates of the School Department. The three priorities include: improve academic
outcomes for students, as gaps have emerged as a result of disruptions caused by the
pandemic; support students social and emotional needs; and streamline adult practices and
operations to be a more effective district at the top. Some important changes, investments,
and highlights for these three priorities include: reducing the cost of full day kindergarten
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from $4,450 to $3,600, increase 1.2 FTE support for English -Learning students, $20,000 for
the Endicott Fellows Program, 1.0 FTE for Coordinator and two teaching fellows, .2 FTE
increase for academic support for students returning from hospital settings, increase .4 FTE
for computer science courses, adding 1.0 FTE for an adjustment counselor at each
elementary school for METCO, 1.0 FTE social worker for the REACH program, 2.0 FTE
increase for adjustment counselors at the middle schools and High School, increase 1.0 FTE
nurse, invest ESSER grant funds in Team Chairs, increase data specialist by .4 FTE to help
better organize student data, and shift funds for more development of teachers.
Discuss Future School Budoet and Capital Needs:
Dr. Milaschewski presented comparison data from Reading with comparable communities as
designated by DESE. In many cases, Reading has similar rates, or is slightly behind some
of the comparable districts. While there are a lot of positives, there is work to do to
improve academic outcomes and push Reading to the top of the list. Future opportunities
include: using learning time effectively to close gaps for students, aligning to student
interests, investing in development of school leaders, and investing in literacy programs.
Future considerations for FY24 include: $471,500 of ESSER funds to invest in 2.5 FTE Team
Chairs, 2.0 FTE Adjustment Counselors, 1.0 FTE SPED teacher, and Elementary paras and
tutors; $280,000 for 466 new laptops; and $411,000 for Full Day Kindergarten.
Dr. Milaschewski explained that after listening to stakeholders across the community, the
revised strategic plan was released this summer. A priority is Full Day Kindergarten. He
provided the rationale for universal Full Day Kindergarten, as it provides the foundations for
future district improvement, provides more exposure to core academics and social and
structured play, and provides community impacts for families and the local economy. In the
state, only 23 of 354 districts charge for full day kindergarten, and the average tuition was
$3,318. Reading is one of them with the second highest tuition.
School Committee Chair Tom Wise reviewed the options that the School Committee
considered in eliminating the costs for Full Day Kindergarten. Ultimately, they agreed upon
a high -need model, and a three-year stepped -down model with decreasing tuition rates.
This would draw down the revolving fund, and next steps are to identify potential sources of
funding in collaboration with Town staff.
On a motion by Chris Haley, and seconded by Mark Dockser, the Select Board
voted 3-0-0 to adjourn at 9:08 pm.
Roll call vote: Chris Haley -Yes, Carlo Bacci-Yes, Mark Dockser-Yes.
Approve Meeting Minutes: February 16.2022:
On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Mr. McDonagh, the Finance
Committee voted 9-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of February 16, 2022 as
written.
Roll call vote: Jackie McCarthy -Yes, Andrew Mclauchlan-Yes, Marianne Downing -
Yes, Mark Zarrow-Yes, Jeanne Borawski-Yes, Joe McDonagh -Yes, Geoffrey Coram -
Yes, Eric Burkhart -Yes, Ed Ross -Yes.
On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Mr. Zarrow, the Finance Committee
voted 9-0-0 to adjourn at 9:09 pm.
Roll call vote: Jackie McCarthy -Yes, Andrew Mclauchlan-Yes, Marianne Downing -
Yes, Mark Zarrow-Yes, Jeanne-Borawski-Yes, Joe McDonagh -Yes, Geoffrey Coram -
Yes, Eric Burkhart -Yes, Ed Ross -Yes.
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