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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-13 Finance Committee Minutes*�"Q RECEIVED Town of Reading TOWN CLERK READING, MA. Meeting Minutes GP2024 MAY 29 AM 1t 41 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Finance Committee Date: 2024-03-13 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: General Business Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Chair Ed Ross, Geoffrey Coram, Endri Kume (remote), Marianne McLaughlin Downing (7:16 pm), Joe McDonagh, Emily Sisson, John Sullivan, Mark Zarrow Members - Not Present: Vice Chair Joe Carnahan Others Present: Town Manager Matt Kraunelis, Chief Financial Officer Sharon Angstrom, Library Director Amy Lannon, Facilities Director Joe Huggins (remote), Assistant Facilities Director Kevin Cabuzzi(remote), Town Clerk Laura Gemme (remote), DPW Director Chris Cole, Human Resources Director Sean Donahue (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. Budaet Presentations: FY25 Town Manager Recommended Budoet & Town Departments (Continued) Finance Department Chief Financial Officer Sharon Angstrom reviewed the proposed FY25 budget for the Finance Department, which is increasing 3.9% overall. There is a 4.2% increase in wages, as all staff are non-union, which includes a 1.25% cola, a 2.35% step increase for non- management staff, and 2.5% step Increase for management staff. Expenses increase 2.1%, largely due to an increase to the Regional Assessor contract. Department of Public Works DPW Director Chris Cole reviewed grants the department has received in the last year, including an annual MassWorks DEP Sustainable Materials Recovery grant for $5,460, an earmark for Laurel Hills Cemetery gravestone restoration for $35,000, an earmark for Laurel HIII Cemetery wall restoration for $25,000, a MassDOT Local Bottleneck Reduction grant for $309,000, a MassDOT Complete Streets grant to install sidewalks on Auburn street and Parkview Avenue for $500,000, a MassDOT Safe Routes to School grant for pedestrian and roadway Improvements at Oakland Road for $2.2 million, and the MIIA FY24 Risk Management grant to mitigate grease buildup in sewer mains for $9,500. Page 1 1 The general fund wages increase 4%, which is all contractual. General Fund expenses were all level -funded. Highway and equipment maintenance increased 8% due to Increases in gravel crushing, cost of parts, and cost of fuel. Water, Sewer, & Storm Water Enterprise Funds Water wages increase by 3.9%. Expenses increase by 4%. Some Increased costs include $3,000 for hazardous waste disposal, $5,000 for fuel, $5,000 for software licenses and support, $10,000 for water supplies, $3,000 for general supplies, and an estimated 3% increase to the MWRA draft water assessment. Sewer wages increase 2.8%. Expenses increase 4%. Increases to costs include $4,000 for hazardous waste disposal, $5,000 for software licensing and support, $5,000 for supplies, $3,000 for fuel, and an estimated 3% increase to the MWRA draft water assessment. Storm water wages increase contractually 3.8%. Expenses increase 4%. Increases are due $10,000 for professional and technical services to fund hauling and testing of street sweepings. Fuel increased $4,000 due to increases in costs. Library Library Director Amy Lannon presented the Library budget which increased 3.6% overall. Of that increase, 3.3% is salaries, and 4.9% is expenses. The increase in expenses is due to an increase in programming. Facilities Facilities Director Joe Huggins gave a brief overview of the department, which maintains roughly 1.1 million square feet of space for the Town across nineteen buildings. The budget for FY25 overall increases 8.1%. Wages increase 4.9% for Core Facilities and Town Buildings due to step increases for union contracts and non-union personnel. The expense budget increases 9.2%, including 9.6% for Core Facilities and 0% for Town Buildings. Energy expenses increase 11.8%, core maintenance and repairs increase 7.2%, and core HVAC expenses increase 7.7%. All other expense lines are level funded. Liaison Reports Chair Ed Ross shared an update from the Killam School Building Committee. The Committee discussed the website, and upcoming community events. The designer and OPM are ramping up for a submission to the MSBA in May. Other upcoming events include more community outreach sessions, building plans will start to be developed, and the School Building Committee will be visiting energy efficient schools. Mr. Ross also prepared a statement regarding comments from the Select Board meeting on March 12"'. He noted that during the Select Board's reorganization discussion, it was implied that he has maintained a "strangle hold" on the Chairmanship for the Finance Committee, and proceeded to review the sequence of events over the last few years which debunked that accusation. He stated that he was embarrassed by the recent events, and apologized to Town Manager Matt Kraunelis that his first days as Town Manager have started like this. He expressed his disappointment in the audience members who were cheering, and in the elected officials who did nothing to calm the situation. Discussion and Vote on FY25 Budaet and Annual Town Meeting Warrant Articles Town Manager Matt Kraunelis reviewed the Articles on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Article 1: Elections. No action is needed by the Finance Committee. Article 2: Written reports. No action is needed by the Finance Committee. Article 3: Instructional motions. No action is needed by the Finance Committee. Article 4: Changes to the Capital Improvement Plan. Changes include the Coolidge alarm panel and the Field House Floor, which have separate articles later in the warrant. Article 5: Amend the FY24 Budget. Page 1 2 Article 6: Prior years' bills. This is expected to be tabled, as there are no prior years' bills at this time. Article 7: Other Post -Employment Benefits (OPEB). This year's request is to allocate $300,000 for OPEB, instead of $500,000 as in prior years, due to an increase in health insurance. Article 8: Move 40R Funds into Smart Growth Stabilization Fund. There are no funds currently, and the article will be indefinitely postponed if no funds are received prior to Town Meeting. Article 9: Direct excess funds from the Parker roof project to the Coolidge fire alarm panel project. Article 10: Field House floor replacement. The article requests excess funds from the Parker roof project, plus $100,000 from free cash, for the design of the field house floor replacement, in addition to borrowing $1.7 million for the construction of the floor and bleachers. Article 11: Approval of revolving funds. There are some amendments to projects for the Inspections Revolving Fund. Article 12: Adoption of the FY 2025 Operating Budget. Article 13: Request for $75,000 for technical assistance and consulting support for META Communities. Article 14: Haven Street Infrastructure. This article is expected to be indefinitely postponed due to volatility in the market and potential grants. Article 15: Easement for RMLD for Gazebo Circle Pump Station. Article 16: Remove Town Meeting Members. Article 4 On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 8-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 4 to Town Meeting as presented. Roll call vote: Endri Kume - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes. Finance Committee report on Article 4 to Town Meeting assigned to Endri Kume. Article 5 On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 8-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 5 to Town Meeting as presented. Roll call vote: Endri Kume - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes. Finance Committee report on Article 5 to Town Meeting assigned to Geoffrey Coram. Article 7 On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 8-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 7 to Town Meeting as presented. Roll call vote: Endri Kume - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes. Finance Committee report on Article 7 to Town Meeting assigned to John Sullivan. Article 9 On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 8-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 9 to Town Meeting as presented. Roll call vote: Endri Kume - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes. Finance Committee report on Article 9 to Town Meeting assigned to Mark Zarrow. Article 10 On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 8-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 10 to Town Meeting as presented. Paye 13 Roll call vote: Endri Kume - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes. Finance Committee report on Article 10 to Town Meeting assigned to Emily Sisson. Article 11 On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 8-0-0 to recommend the content of Article 11 to Town Meeting as presented. Roll call vote: Endri Kume - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, John Sullivan - Yes, Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes. Finance Committee report on Article 11 to Town Meeting assigned to Marianne Downing. Article 13 On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-1, with John Sullivan abstaining, to recommend the content of Article 13 to Town Meeting as presented. Roll call vote: Endri Kume - Yes, Marianne Downing - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Emily Sisson - Yes, Mark Zarrow - Yes, John Sullivan - Abstain, Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Ed Ross - Yes. Finance Committee report on Article 13 to Town Meeting assigned to Joe McDonagh. Endri Kume left the meeting at 8:45 pm Article 12 On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount as presented in line B99 to Town Meeting. On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount as presented in line C99 to Town Meeting. On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount as presented in line D99 to Town Meeting. On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount as presented in line E99 to Town Meeting. On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount as presented in line F99 to Town Meeting. On a motion by Marianne Downing, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line G91 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Marianne Downing, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line G92 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Marianne Downing, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line G91A to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Marianne Downing, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line G92A to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Marianne Downing, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line H91 to Town Meeting as presented. P." I I On a motion by Marianne Downing, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line H92 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line I91 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line I92 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line 391 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line 392 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line K91 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line K92 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line K93 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line K94 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line K95 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line L91 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line L92 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line M91 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line M92 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line U99 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line W99 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line X99 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line Y99 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line Z99 to Town Meeting as presented. On a motion by Joe McDonagh, seconded by Mark Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to recommend the amount in line ZZ9 to Town Meeting as presented. The Finance Committee report to Town Meeting for Article 12 was assigned to Joe Carnahan. Discuss FINCOM Report t0 Town Meeting Town Manager Matt Kraunelis asked Mr. Ross to send the Finance Committee report to staff by March 21" so it can be included in the Report on the Warrant. Future Agendas The Finance Committee will only meet ahead of Town Meeting if there is a need to re -vote on any warrant articles. The meeting scheduled for next Wednesday, March 20th, will not be held, as the Committee was able to complete their budget review and vote on Annual Town Meeting articles tonight. At a future meeting, the Committee would like to hear an update from RMLD, and other meeting dates can be decided after Town Meeting. Aooroval of Prior Meeting Minutes On a motion by Emily Sisson, seconded by John Sullivan, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of March 6, 2024 as presented. On a motion by Geoffrey Coram, seconded by John Sullivan, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-0 to adjourn at 9:01 pm. Page 1 6