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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-05-17 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting May 17, 2005 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 8:00 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Vice Chairman Camille Anthony, Secretary Joseph Duffy, Selectmen James Bonazoli and Ben Tafoya, Finance Director Beth Klepeis, Human Resources Administrator Carol Roberts, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Will Finch. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments— Selectman Ben Tafoya noted that he attended his first Library Board meeting. He was very impressed with the services available at the Library. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony noted that she and Selectman Joe,Duffy attended the Volunteer Reception. Discussion/Action Items Approval of Bond Sale — Water Projects — Finance Director Beth Klepeis 'was present. She noted that we sold $1,400,000 of BANS of which $900,000 is for the water main projects on Franklin Street and Main Street, and $500,000 for the remaining architectural work on the Water Treatment Plant. The successful bidder is First Southwest Company. Move that the Board of-Selectmen approve all action taken by the Town Treasurer in advertising for public sale of the $1,400,000 Bond Anticipation Note, Municipal Purpose Loan of 2005, No. R-1 (the "Note") of the Town authorized pursuant to Chapter 44, Sections, 8(4), and 8(5) of the Mass. General Laws, as amended and supplemented, and by votes of the Town duly adopted, as described in Exhibit A of the Signature,Award and No- Litigation Certificate, and in connection with the preparing and distributing of a Preliminary Official Statement and Notice of Sale and a final official Statement, be and hereby is ratified, approved and adopted-, That the Note shall be dated as of May 25, 2005, shall mature on January 5, 2006, shall bear interest at maturity, and shall not be subject to redemption prior to its 'stated maturity; That the Note shall bear interest and is hereby sold and awarded as follows: Purchaser Amount Int.Rate Premium First Southwest Company $1,400,000 3.75% $7,196.00 That the Town Treasurer is authorized to deliver a Material Events Disclosure Certificate and the Note to purchasers-, and Board of Selectmen Meeting=May 17, 2005—Page 2 That the Board of Selectmen, the Treasurer and the Town Clerk be and hereby are. authorized to take action to execute and deliver all documents related to the Sale, was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Continued Hearing — Classification and Compensation Plan — FY 2005 and FY 2006.— Human Resource Administrator Carol Roberts was present. The Town Manager noted that the staffing in the Finance Department will increase by .50 person. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony noted that there were two Administrative Assistants under the old scenario and none now. The Town Manager noted that the Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Collector are the Administrative Assistants including new responsibilities. Vice Chairman Anthony asked if.50 clerical is going to be enough. The Town Manager noted that the work is spread out among the department. The Town Manager handed out the job descriptions for the Finance Director and Assistant Town Manager. He noted that the position will be graded at Grade 18. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked if that was the right grade for the position. The Town Manager noted that the Treasurer/Collector is at Grade 15, and it looks like Grade 18 is right for the job responsibility. Vice Chairman Anthony noted that the minimum education for the Treasurer/Collector is a Bachelor's Degree, and the same for the Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Collector. Selectman James Bonazoli noted that he would like to see more than one year experience, and he questioned whether it should be at Grade 18. The Town Manager noted that the Finance Director has administrative responsibility for 17 people. The Town Manager suggested moving the Finance Director/Assistant Town Manager to Grade 17 if the Selectmen are flexible to looking at reclassifying it in the future,if need be. Selectman James Bonazoli noted that the previous Assistant Town Manager worked on grants and that is not in this job description. The Town Manager noted that the individual departments work on their own grants. A motion by Tafoya seconded by Bonazoli to close the hearing on the Classification Plan for FY 2005, the Classification Plan for FY 2006, and the Compensation Plan for FY 2006 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Bonazoli seconded by Tafoya to approve the Classification Plan for FY 2005 revised May 10, 2005 with the Finance Director/Assistant Town Manager position at Grade 17 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Board of Selectmen Meeting—May 17, 2005—Page 3 The Town Manager reviewed the changes in the FY 2006 plans. He noted that the Cell Monitors, Recreation Program Coordinator, Veterans' Services Officer, Animal Control Officer, Library Division Head, Office Manager, Human Resource Administrator, Assistant Fire Chief, and Town Engineer positions were all moving up one grade. The Tobacco Control Coordinator is being removed. The Town Manager noted that the Library Division Head and Recreation Program Coordinator will move up one grade this year and up one grade next year. Carol Roberts noted that when a position moves up one grade, it goes back one step to cap the increase at 5%. Selectman James Bonazoli asked when a person gets to Step 10, will that position be reclassified because they are on the last step. The Town Manager indicated that it would not. Carol Roberts noted that there are about 14 people on Step 10. A motion by Bonazoli seconded by Tafoya to approve the Classification Plan for FY 2006 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Tafoya seconded by Bonazoli to approve the Compensation Plan for FY 2006 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Review Jordan's Lighting Compliance—The Town Manager noted that he updated the letter sent out to residents"on March 8, 2005. The tree planting will be done by the end of the month. Additional fencing with slats will be done by the end of May. The issue of testing the generator has been taken care of. The lights are off at night. The shielding of the lights at the loading dock can't be done so they will try a different type of lighting. Selectman Ben Tafoya indicated that he spoke with Scott Miller, and he would like to hear what the residents have to say. The Town Manager indicated that he would schedule a meeting at the Senior Center in June. Selectman Ben Tafoya asked what the movie schedule is for the IMAX Theater, and the Town Manager indicated that he would find out. Selectman Tafoya asked if the lighting for Phase 2 has been looked at, and the Town Manager indicated that the lights in the back of the buildings are installed and he will check them out. Review of Goals —Vice Chairman Camille Anthony noted that she called different communities to see how Towns evaluated their Town Managers, and the Board decided to have the Town Manager's evaluation based on goals set by the Board of Selectmen. She also noted that the goals are a guide for the Town Manager and departments. The Town Manager noted that the Mission Statement is still in draft form, the values are fine and there are six goals. He suggest meeting every six months to review. It was decided that the goals will be reviewed semi-annually, and the Town Manager will put this on an agenda in November. Board of Selectmen Meeting=May May 17, 2005—Page 4 Report on Schedule for Evaluating Additional Water Conservation Program The Town Manager noted that the Water, Sewer and Storm Water Advisory Committee is meeting on June I", and will make their recommendation to the Board of Selectmen at the June 7,2005 meeting. Update: WRC Application for Water Purchase — MWRA — The Town Manager noted that the application was submitted with the Board of Selectmen's recommended changes. The Water Resources Commission accepted the application as part of the record and will putthison their June 9, 2005 agenda. They took no public comment at that meeting. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony noted that she would like the rain barrels added to the rebate program. Selectman James Bonazoli asked what the process will be once we get the permit. The Town Manager noted that it will go to the legislature, then to the MWRA Advisory Committee, and then to the MWRA Board. He hopes to be in full operation by this time next year. Will Finch asked the Board if the river runs dry this Summer, will the Board take action. Selectman Ben Tafoya noted that the Board discussed changing the rules to add an intermediate step. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked if the status of the river could be monitored daily. The Town Manager noted that there are three day, seven day and 30 day charts available and can be added to the Monthly Reports. He suggests that the Board delegate the authority to the Town Manager to impose restrictions. Approval of 20B Exemption — The Town Manager noted that the Receptionist in Community Services also wants to work for the Recreation Department this Summer but needs approval from the Board of Selectmen. A motion by Tafoya seconded by Bonazoli to approve the 20B exemption for Casandra DeAngelis to work as a Receptionist and Junior Camp Counselor was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Tafoya seconded by Duffy to a(Hourn the meeting of May 17, 2005 at 10:05 p.m.was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Respectfully submitted, rtetary