HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-10 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
January 10, 2009
For ease of archiving, the order that items appear in these minutes reflects the order in which
the items appeared on the agenda for that meeting, and are not necessarily the order in which
any item was taken up by the Board.
The meeting convened at 8:30 a.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Stephen Goldy, Vice Chairman Ben Tafoya,
Secretary James Bonazoll, Selectmen Camille Anthony and Richard Schubert, Town
Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Fire Chief Greg
Burns, Town Accountant Gail LaPointe, Police Chief James Cormier, Public Works Director
Ted McIntire, Library Director Ruth Urell, Community Services Director/Town Planner Carol
Kowalski and DPW Business Administrator Jane Kinsella. Also present were members of the
Library Board of Trustees Suzy Axelson, Dick Curtis, Cherrie Dubois, Vicki Yablonsky, David
Hutchinson and Karen Storti.
The Assistant Town Manager reviewed the overall estimates of revenue and expenses as
modified from the October 2008 Financial Forum. He noted that variables for which we will
have additional information at the end of January include State Aid, health insurance and levels
of free cash.
The Assistant Town Manager noted that with the development of a budget addressing all
accommodated costs, a 0% increase in Town and School Budgets will still require approximately
$650,000 in free cash to balance. This is the model that we are working on right now pending
clarification of the items noted above.
The Town Manager reviewed a memo dated January 9, 2009 outlining guiding principles,
common assumptions, and information on fees and revenues.
Department Heads went through budgets for the Fire Department, the Police Department,
Community Services and the Library.
The Library Board presented documents outlining the summary of State Aid expenditures for FY
2004 — FY 2008, and one page of bullets showing the most pertinent issues with regard to the
Library. The Fire, Police, Dispatch and Community Services Departments showed how level
funding would affect their departments.
The Board reviewed a sheet showing the Town Manager's salary and compared it to the salaries
of Town Managers in other communities. The schedule shows that the Town Manager's salary
in Reading is about $4,000 lower than the average of the other communities. Further, the
information shows that total compensation for Reading is about $12,000 lower than the average
of the other communities.
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Board of Selectmen Meeting_January 10, 2009—page 2
The Chairman polled the Board of Selectmen on what level of salary increase they would
propose for the Town Manager for FY 2010. There seemed to be a consensus around a 3%
increase. The Town Manager asked if the Board of Selectmen would consider a 2% increase on
July 1, 2009, and another 2% increase on January 1, 2010. The cost would be the same as a 3%,
increase for the year but the increase in base salary upon which pension is calculated would be
higher. The Town Manager noted that the base salary is important if the employee is within three
years of retirement.
On motion by Bonazoli seconded by Anthony, the Board of Selectmen approved a 2%
salary increase for the Town Manager effective July 1, 2009, and a 2% increase effective
January 1, 1010. The motion was approved by vote of 5-0-0.
On motion by Tafoya seconded by Anthony, the Board of Selectmen established a Board of
Selectmen subcommittee on Town Manager compensation to consist of two members of the
Board of Selectmen, and to report back a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen in
October 2009. Vice Chairman Ben Tafoya and Selectman Richard Schubert win be on the
subcommittee. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
On motion by Anthony seconded by Tafoya, the Board of Selectmen adjourned the meeting
of January 10, 2009 at 12:00 noon by a vote of 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary