HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-06-12 Appointment Committee - Finance Committee Minutes°` RECEIVE[)
Town of Reading TOWN CLERK
,o:l Meeting Minutes READt'%iis?AA.
M 2123 JUL I I ( AM 5: 05
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Appointment Committee -Finance Committee
Date: 2023-06-12 Time: 6:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: Appoint Finance Committee Version: Final
Members
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair Alan Foulds, Ed Ross (remote), Jackie McCarthy
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Marianne McLaughlin -Downing, Mark Zarrow, Endri Kume, John Sullivan
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in-person in the Berger Room of Town Hall and remotely via Zoom.
Chair Alan Foulds called the meeting to order at 6:39 pm.
There are four vacancies coming up on the Finance Committee: three full three-year terms,
and one partial tens with one year remaining.
Interview Applicants and Incumbents for Finance Committee:
Marianne McLaughlin -Downing
Marianne McLaughlin -Downing is an incumbent member in her third year on the Finance
Committee. She has lived in Reading for 23 years, and has been a Town Meeting Member
since 2015. She began getting involved in the community when her children grew to school
age, and has served on the RMHS School Council, and on the Parker Middle School Council
prior to that. She would like to stay on the Finance Committee because she likes the other
people on the Committee, served as Chair on the Reading ARPA Advisory Committee
(RAAC), and enjoys the work. She believes that FINCOM providing reports and reasons for
their decisions to justify projects, such as the Killam feasibility study, and funding for the
Birch Meadow project, has earned the Committee an extra level of trust from the Town. If
FINCOM can weigh-in on financial matters, it will have ripple effects for justification. She
would like to see the Town provide more detailed snapshots of the budget In real time, like
other communities.
Mark Zarrow
Mark Zarrow is a 35 -year resident of Reading, and incumbent member of the Finance
Committee. He recently retired and is excited to have more time to give to the town. He
has enjoyed his time on FINCOM. He believes that the Finance Committee is a good group
that understands that they are making recommendations not decisions, they do not "rubber
stamp" recommendations, and they come up with good suggestions, such as gathering
Information on additional funding sources for the Birch Meadow project.
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Endri Kume
Endri Kume is the former Town Treasurer. He has lived In Reading for almost ten years and
looks forward to raising his 15 -month-old baby here. He decided to leave employment with
the Town for work -life balance, but stated that the five years he worked for the Town were
the best of his life. As the former Town Treasurer, and certified municipal treasurer, he
feels that he would be an asset on the Finance Committee, as he has worked with former
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, current Town Manager Fidel Maltez, and Town Accountant
Sharon Angstrom on FINCOM reviews. He is familiar with how Reading does Its budget,
with the requirements and legalities, and with Mass General Laws. He understands the
responsibility of the Finance Committee to review and deliberate financial matters, do their
due diligence and report to Town Meeting, and the impact the Committee can have on
everything that happens in town.
John Sullivan
John Sullivan lived in Reading from the age of three until he graduated from Reading
Memorial High School. He moved back with his family in 2013. He has served on the
Conservation Commission and on Town Meeting for four years, and states that he wants to
be more Involved in Town Government. He currently works for the Executive Office of
Housing, and previously worked for federal fisheries management, so he understands the
limited resources the government must manage to "divvy up the pie". In his spare time, he
reads articles that focus on town planning, housing, and transportation. If appointed to the
Finance Committee, he would be interested in being the liaison for CPDC and the upcoming
Town Master Plan.
Deliberate and Vote on Appointments:
There was one other applicant from a previous year, who indicated he was still interested in
appointment, but was unable to attend tonight's meeting. But Appointment Committee
members agreed that they were comfortable with the candidates before them this evening.
The Appointment Committee also agreed that Ms. Downing and Mr. Zarrow should be
reappointed, and the other two were strong candidates. With Mr. Sullivan's experience of
volunteering and service on Town Meeting, members agreed to appoint him to the other
three-year term, and Mr. Kume to the one-year term.
On a motion by Jackie McCarthy, seconded by Ed Ross, the Finance Committee
Appointment Committee voted unanimously 3-0 to appoint Endri Kume to the
Finance Committee, term beginning immediately, and expiring lune 30, 2024.
Roll call vote: Jackie McCarthy - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes, Alan Foulds - Yes.
On a motion by Jackie McCarthy, seconded by Ed Ross, the Finance Committee
Appointment Committee voted unanimously 3-0 to appoint Marianne McLaughlin -
Downing to the Finance Committee, term beginning July 1, 2023, and expiring
June 30, 2026
Roll call vote: Jackie McCarthy - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes, Alan Foulds - Yes.
On a motion by Jackie McCarthy, seconded by Ed Ross, the Finance Committee
Appointment Committee voted unanimously 3-0 to appoint John Sullivan to the
Finance Committee, term beginning immediately, and expiring June 30, 2026
Roll call vote: Jackie McCarthy - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes, Alan Foulds - Yes.
On a motion by Jackie McCarthy, seconded by Ed Ross, the Finance Committee
Appointment Committee voted unanimously 3-0 to appoint Mark Zarrow to the
Finance Committee, term beginning July 1, 2023, and expiring June 30, 2026
Roll call vote: Jackie McCarthy - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes, Alan Foulds - Yes.
On a motion by Jackie McCarthy, seconded by Ed Ross, the Finance Committee
Appointment Committee voted unanimously 3-0 to adjourn at 7:28 pm
Roll call vote: Jackie McCarthy - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes, Alan Foulds - Yes.
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