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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-01-03 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting January 3,2004 The meeting convened at 8:30 a.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman George Hines, Vice Chairman Richard Schubert, Selectmen Camille Anthony and Matthew Cummings, Police Chief Bob Silva, Fire Chief Greg Burns, Library Director Kimberly Lynn, DPW Director Ted McIntire, Finance Director Beth Klepeis, Town Accountant Richard Foley, Finance Committee Members Paul Bolger, Hal Torman, Dick McDonald, Jim Francis and Bob LeLacheur, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Bill Brown. Discussion/Action Items Budget Review - The Town Manager reviewed his memo of 1/02/04 regarding the FY 2005 Budget. Specifically,he reviewed: The projected General Fund Revenue forecasts; ♦ The projected General Fund Expense forecasts; ♦ The analysis of impact on tax levy of projected major real estate developments; e The potential reduction in SBA funding related to the Parker Middle School project; ♦ The analysis of changes in certified Free Cash; and, e The Budget Summary. The Board: Asked for a review of the status of the Recreation Revolving Fund and how it is operated; Asked that FINCOM review how much money should be in the Stabilization Fund vs.Free Cash; ♦ Asked for more information as to when during the year Snow/Ice moneys have been spent historically; ♦ Asked for a breakdown on Health salaries and what comes from grants; ® Asked whether the cost of a building permit was reimbursable from SBA—and, therefore,whether we should be charging the School Department for Building Permit fees Each of the Departments went through their particular budgets on a broad basis. Each answered questions from Selectman Camille Anthony on their satisfaction with Building Maintenance and on capital needs. The Finance Director talked about the need for additional expenses in tax assessment since this is the triennial revaluation year, and the landfill building will need an outside appraiser. She suggested that perhaps we should use the moneys from the inspections revolving fund to pay for the appraisal. Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 3, 2004—Page 2 The Library indicated that the funding as requested is adequate for certification. In the Police Department, the Board agreed to eliminate the revolving fund for the Parking Enforcement Officer and just include it as part of the Police Budget. They also agreed to not have a separate Animal Control Officer Budget but to include that as part of the Police. The Police Department felt that the Home Depot/Jordan's development would require more Police services. The Police Chief indicated that they were looking at putting forward a substitute program for the D.A.R.E. Program. In the Fire Department, they have requested to separately identify expenses for the Advance Life Support Program, and the Fire Chief will also develop a memo on additional ALS equipment that would be desirable. The Board of Selectmen questioned whether or not Trust Funds money can't be spent for emergency equipment like defibrillators since the Trust Funds would pay for that if it was in a hospital. The Fire Chief was asked if he was considering reorganization of the Department implementing the Assistant Fire Chief position and provide more help for the Chief. He indicated that he would probably not do that for at least a couple of years. On ambulance billing, the Chief indicated that there is a lag time of about three months for billing. In the DPW Budget, the rubbish collection costs were reviewed in detail. It was requested that the Director separately identify the $60,000 amount that was saved in each of the 2003 and 2004 Budgets. The Board also asked for consideration of putting the Roads Improvement Program into the DPW Budget rather than capital since capital tends to be easily cut. There was discussion about the Cemetery Funds but it was pointed out that the Cemetery is paying for all but about $1100 of its direct expenses through bequests (reduced from prior years)fees, and Cemetery Sale of Lots (increased from prior years). The Board agreed to review the budgets in any additional detail that they might want to do on January 20th and 27th. The Board directed that the capital be increased by a sum adequate to fund the full cost of the Dispatch Center, the replacement for the fire inspection vehicle, and Library computers (approximately$125,000 total), and to provide additional funding for the Stabilization Fund(approximately($75,000). The Board agreed that we should consider using a Grants person to try to secure grant funding for the Dispatch Center. The Finance Committee members present felt that this would also be a good use of resources. The FINCOM members left at approximately 11:00 a.m. The Board discussed sign regulations in Downtown. The Town Manager noted that a CPDC neighborhood walk on signs were scheduled for January 10th. The Board asked that we not enforce the sign regulations relative to the sign on the Venetian Moon Restaurant until we have done this site visit. Board of Selectmen Meeting—JanuM 3, 2004—Page 3 On motion by Cummings seconded by Schubert, the Board voted to adjourn their meeting of January 3, 2004 at 11:15 a.m. by a vote of 4-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Secretary I