HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-20 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
January 20, 2007
The meeting convened at 8:30 a.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell
Street,Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Ben Tafoya, Vice Chairman
James Bonazoll, Secretary Stephen Goldy, Selectmen Richard Schubert and Camille
Anthony. Also present from the Finance Committee were Michelle Williams'and George
Hines, School Committee Members David Michaud and Elaine Webb, Department Heads
Police Chief lim Cormier, Police Business Administrator Andrew Scribner, Fire Chief
Greg Burns, Town Accountant Gail LaPointe, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director
Bob LeLacheur, DPW Director Ted McIntire, Library Director Ruth Urell and Town
Manager Peter Hechenbleikner.
Discussion/Action Items
Review FY 2008.Budget — The Assistant Town Manager.reviewed the revised revenue
projections and expense projections.
Selectman Camille Anthony asked about wage increases and noted that Arlington has
done a five year plan. She indicated that the town and school functions may only be able
to afford funding services at an"adequate"level rather than an"excellent" level.
The Assistant Town Manager went through the Benefits sections. Selectman Camille
Anthony asked for information on post-retirement benefits.
The Assistant Town Manager reviewed the Accounting budget with the Town
Accountant.
The Assistant Town Manager reviewed the Finance Budget. It was indicated that the Pay
and Classification Study was a high .priority because it effects all the staff in all
departments. We are having turnover issues and losing much institutional knowledge. It
was suggested that if we do a Pay and Classification Study, we should also include the
benefits review.
• Technology—The amount of$50,000 is a lower priority for FY 2008. This would be
the license for the software system, and most of the cost would be in 2009 and
beyond.
o Training for finance would be important but much of that will be included in the new
financial platform transition.
e Discussion of the part-time position in the Assessment Division will be left to a time
when the Assessors are available.
• The question of publication of an evaluation list will be left for a later date. The
Town Manager indicated his recommendation will be to amend the General Bylaws
to eliminate that provision since the list is available electronically.
We have not increased postage rates.
Board of Selectmen Meeting_January 20,2007—Page
Selectman Camille Anthony suggested that we should reconsider whether or not to have
the Town Clerk's Office open evenings.
The Board agreed that having the Monthly Report available electronically was
satisfactory—it does not need to be printed.
The Board discussed. whether or not to cut $2,000 in publications in the Town Clerk's
Office and not publish the Warrant in the newspaper. The consensus was to leave this
item at this time.
Public Safety
Police— There is a request for new Police Officers. The calls for service in 2005 were
13,404 versus Calendar 2006 14,711. Activity levels have increased similarly — a 10%
increase in one year. Court appearances have increased.
Selectman Camille Anthony asked if the department tracks calls by time of day, and
Chief Cormier indicated that they do. She asked about the salary increase of 7.6% in the
Detective area. There was change instaffand one of the newer personnel has a college
degree. She also asked if overtime was adequate and Chief Cormier indicated that at
projected levels,it should be adequate. This is a special method of hiring because of civil
service.
Chief Cormier also asked for an increase for the Parking Enforcement Officer/Animal
Control Officer to full-time. This is a second priority.
There was also discussion about Dispatch. We need 8.6 FTE dispatchers. We have 8
including a Head Dispatcher. At times, we have only one person per shift. There was a
breakdown in the budget for adding one additional Dispatcher and then two more
Dispatchers' The priority would be to add one Dispatcher in FY08 which would result in
a considerable reduction in overtime.
There was also discussion about new Public Safety computer software, and this should be
considered as part of a technology debt authorization. There was also discussion about
the radio con-tract.
Fire — The major change to the salary bud was
is that this is the year to do training for
EMT. This is done every other year. It was suggested that we should try to spread this
out—that does not seem to be practical.
There was also discussion about ALS costs. Selectman Camille Anthony felt that we
should set aside some kind of an enterprise system for ALS. We will have further
discussion on this at a later date.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 20, 2007 Page 3
Community Services—All of the budgets were reviewed except for the Health and Elder
Services which the Town Manager suggested be done at a later date when staff could be
present. The Board agreed to include$1,000 in Professional Development for the cost of
the ICN4A Conference and training registration in the General C/S budget.
Chairman Ben Tafoya suggested sending a letter to the Governor regarding the MBTA
assessments. He will draft a letter.
On motion by Anthony seconded by Goldy,
the Board,of Selectmen voted to,Adjourn
theft- meeting of January 20, 2007 at 12:20.p.m. by a vote.of 4"0-0. (Vice Chairman
James Bonazoli had left the meeting at 11:00 a.m.)
Res ectfully submitted,
ecretar