HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-11 Finance Committee Minuteswon' �� Town of Reading
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Finance Committee
Date: 2023-10-11
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
Time: 7:00 PM
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Location:
Select Board Meeting Room
Session:
Open Session
Version:
Final
Chair Ed Ross, Vice Chair Joe Carnahan, Geoffrey Coram, Endri Kume, Joe
McDonagh (remote), Marianne McLaughlin -Downing, Emily Sisson, John
Sullivan, Mark Zarrow
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Chief Financial Officer Sharon Angstrom (remote), Town Manager Fidel
Maltez, Angela Binda, Karen Gately Herrick, Rebecca Bailey (remote)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in-person in the Town Hall Select Board Meeting Room and remotely
via Zoom.
Chair Ed Ross called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm.
Liaison Reports
Marianne Downing stated that the Charter Review Committee held Its first meeting and
elected Chris Haley Chair and Phil Pacino Vice Chair. The Select Board met last night and
approved a liquor license, assigned Mark Dockser to the ReCALC feasibility study committee,
discussed the search committee for a new Town Manager, and will approve 2024 tax rates
at their next meeting.
Joe Carnahan noted that the State Delegation visited the Select Board last month and
talked about a lot of money due to come to Reading. They also discussed the roadway
pavement plan, remaining ARPA funds, Pickleball and the Warrant, and heard a presentation
on the Community Preservation Act (CPA).
John Sullivan shared updates including CPDC approving waivers for a subdivision on Beacon
Street, and ReCALC issued a Request for Proposals (RFQ) for a design study on a new senior
center.
Emily Sisson noted that the Symonds Way Exploratory Committee was scheduled to meet,
but did not have a quorum. She also stated that she spoke with Community Services
Director Jenna Florente about pickleball and other Recreation needs, and concerns that
some tennis courts are In disrepair.
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Geoffrey Coram stated that he signed up for the Citizens Police Academy. The School
Committee received an update from the Killam School Building Committee, which is
currently looking for designers. The School Committee plans to transfer tennis courts from
the custody of the School Committee to the Select Board to make them eligible for a
particular grant. The School Committee also heard a report on MCAS results, which showed
some good signs and some things In need of review, such as the disparity between the
scores of the two middle schools. Mr. Coram also noted that a resident proposed a dog park
next to Birch Meadow, but it did not have traction.
Ed Ross noted that the Killam School Building Committee is awaiting the Request for
Services (RFS) for a designer, and is scheduled to meet next on October 30th. Town
Manager Fidel Maltez noted that the deadline was today. Four proposals were received
which will be uploaded to the Killam School Building Committee webpage. Mr. Ross
expressed his pleasure with the Select Board's vote to reallocate some unused ARPA funds
to the Reading Food Pantry. He also commented on the presentation on the Community
Preservation Act, which demystified the commitment by individual households, and stated
that the return on the CPA for the Town is significant and worth pursuing.
Marianne Downing shared updates from the Council on Aging. She noted that the Finance
Committee does not have a liaison to the COA, but the Council has a lot of financial
implications. They are spending their awarded ARPA funds, but might not be able to spend
the entire $600,000 before the deadline. She suggested that there may be a capital project
for the senior center in the interim, and the Finance Committee may want to designate a
liaison for that.
Vote on Recommendations/Guidance for FY25 Budaet
The Finance Committee continued their discussion on Free Cash amounts and use.
Discussion points included inflation, lower than projected new growth, higher interest
returns along with higher interest rates, past amounts of free cash used and regenerated,
and ongoing Collective Bargaining negotiations. Chief Financial Officer Sharon Angstrom
noted that free cash is still not certified, but she projects it to be $19.3 million.
Members of the Committee agreed that 4% of the operating budget was an acceptable
amount of free cash to use for FY24, with future projections and financial impacts in mind.
On a motion by Joe Carnahan, seconded by John Sullivan, the Finance Committee
voted 9-0-0 to recommend the use of free cash to support the FY25 operating
budget in the amount of $3.6 million, with $700,000 for extra capital, which
amounts to 4% support of the budget.
Roll call vote: Joe McDonagh - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes,
Joe Carnahan - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Endri Kume - Yes,
Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes.
Vote on Warrant Articles for November Town Meetina
Town Manager Fidel Maltez reviewed the warrant articles for the upcoming Subsequent
Town Meeting.
Article 1 - Reports
No Finance Committee report required.
Article Z - instructions
No Finance Committee report required.
Article 3 - Amendments to the Capital Plan
The Committee reviewed and discussed several proposed changes to the Capital Plan.
On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Marianne Downing, the Finance
Committee voted 9-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 3 to Town Meeting as
presented.
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Roll call vote: Joe McDonagh - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes,
Joe Carnahan - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Endri Kume - Yes,
Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes.
Finance Committee report to Town Meeting assigned to Geoffrey Coram.
Article 4 - Amendments to the FY24 Operating Budget
The Committee reviewed and discussed several proposed changes to the FY24 budget.
On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Joe Carnahan, the Finance Committee
voted 9-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 4 to Town Meeting as presented.
Roll call vote: Joe McDonagh - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes,
Joe Carnahan - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Endri Kume - Yes,
Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes.
Finance Committee report to Town Meeting assigned to Mark Zarrow.
Article 5 - Prior Years Bills
The Town recently received some bills from 2019, but is working to resolve them with the
insurance company. If the Finance Committee needs to vote on this article, they will do it
the night of, just ahead of Town Meeting.
Article 6 - Birch Meadow Phase II
The Committee reviewed and discussed an additional $500,000 applied for under the PARC
grant for Phase II of the Birch Meadow Master Plan.
On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Marianne Downing, the Finance
Committee voted 9-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 6 to Town Meeting as
presented.
Roll call vote: Joe McDonagh - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes,
Joe Carnahan - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Endri Kume - Yes,
Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes.
Finance Committee report to Town Meeting assigned to Emily Sisson.
Article 7 - Trash Carts
The Committee reviewed and discussed the two-part article. The first part establishes a
solid waste revolving fund. The second part requests $900,000 from free cash for
automated trash barrels.
On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee
voted 9-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 7 to Town Meeting as presented.
Roll call vote: Joe McDonagh - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes,
Joe Carnahan - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Endri Kume - Yes,
Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes.
Finance Committee report to Town Meeting assigned to Ed Ross.
Article 8 - Ladder Truck
The Committee reviewed and discussed the article that requests $130,000 for unforeseen
additional material costs for the ladder truck. The vendor was unable to provide the truck
for the original quote. The Town negotiated an additional year of warranty, $25,000 in
parts vouchers, and a $100 per day penalty for every day the truck is not delivered after
May 31, 2024. The funds will come from unspent funds borrowed for the Parker Middle
School roof.
On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Joe Carnahan, the Finance Committee
voted 9-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 8 to Town Meeting as presented.
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Roll call vote: Jae McDonagh - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes,
Joe Carnahan - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Endri Kume - Yes,
Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes.
Finance Committee report to Town Meeting assigned to John Sullivan.
Article 9 - Grove Street Lot 5
The Committee reviewed and briefly discussed the request for $170,000 to pave the Grove
Street Lot 5 parking lot.
On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by John Sullivan, the Finance Committee
voted 9-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 9 to Town Meeting as presented.
Roll call vote: Joe McDonagh - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, Marianne Dawning - Yes,
Joe Carnahan - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Endri Kume - Yes,
Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes.
Finance Committee report to Town Meeting assigned to Joe Carnahan.
Article 10 - Pay no
The Committee reviewed and discussed the request to increase the annual local funding of
road paving by $300,000 to maintain a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) score of 79 on local
roads. The current funding does not go as far as it has in the past due to inflation, and
increased labor and material costs.
On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Marianne Downing, the Finance
Committee voted 9-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 10 to Town Meeting
as presented.
Roll call vote: Joe McDonagh - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes,
Joe Carnahan - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Endri Kume - Yes,
Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes.
Finance Committee report to Town Meeting assigned to Joe McDonagh.
Article 11 - Town Clerk Award
Request to adopt State Law to allow for additional compensation for the Town Clerk. No
Finance Committee report required.
Article 12 - Pickleball
This is a Citizen's Petition article, which the Finance Committee is not required to vote on,
but because it is a request for funding, Committee members agreed they should vote on
their recommendation for it.
Ed Ross stated that he had an issue with the process, and given the size of the plckleball
community, could have done more in terms of funding outside of nets and fencing. While
he understands their position, there is more of a process for capital projects that should
have been followed.
Emily Sisson stated that while she sees the need in the community, the pickleball
community has been encouraged to organize and raise funds. They are close on the
process, but they should be able to get more organized for Annual Town Meeting in the
spring. While this article is short money, someone could come to the next Town Meeting
with a more substantial request for an idea that has not been fully vetted.
Angela Binda, member of the Symonds Way Exploratory Committee, stated that she felt this
article circumvents the work of SWEC. While Pickleball has been discussed for years, there
are other needs the Recreation Department has.
Mark Zarrow noted that the citizens petition is legal and the Pickleball community has the
right to do it.
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On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Marianne Downing, the Finance
Committee voted 3 in favor and 6 opposed to recommending the content of Article
12 to Town Meeting as presented.
Roll call vote: Joe McDonagh - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes,
Joe Carnahan - No, John Sullivan - No, Emily Sisson - No, Endri Kume - No,
Geoffrey Coram - No, Ed Ross - No.
Finance Committee report to Town Meeting assigned to Marianne Downing.
Financial Forum II and Future Meeting Agendas
The next meeting of the Finance Committee will be the Financial Forum on October 25th,
which will include an Economic Development discussion with Senator Lewis, an update and
listening session on MBTA Communities, and a presentation on the Community Preservation
Act.
Other future meeting topic suggestions include status updates on Capital projects, a
summary of revolving funds and dedicated accounts, update on ARPA funds, an update from
RMLD, and selection of a liaison to the Council on Aging.
Approve Prior Meeting Minutes
On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Endri Kume, the Finance Committee
voted 9-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of September 20, 2023 as presented.
Roll call vote: Joe McDonagh - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes,
Joe Carnahan - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Endri Kume - Yes,
Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes.
On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Geoffrey Coram, the Finance Committee
voted 9-0-0 to adjourn at 10:19 pm.
Roll Call Vote: Joe McDonagh - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes,
Joe Carnahan - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Encin Kume - Yes,
Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes.
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