HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-01-25 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
January 25, 2003
The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Vice Chairman Matthew Cummings, Secretary
Richard Schubert, Selectmen George Hines and Gail Wood, Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner, Department Heads Beth Klepeis, Richard Foley, Ted McIntire, Robert Silva,
Greg Burns, Kimberly Lynn and the following list of interested parties: Richard Stosez, Paul
Feely, Bill Brown, Dick McDonald, Chuck Robinson, Vicki Yablonsky, Steve Conner, Mary
Grimmer.
Discussion/Action Items
Budget Discussion - The Town Manager reviewed the proposed reductions by department. The
proposed reductions total $402,000. Cash reserves in the amount of$430,000 will be set aside to
offset reductions in revenues. The attached list reflects agreements by the Board of Selectmen.
They include action on the following motions:
On motion by Hines seconded by Wood, the Board voted to ask the Council on Aging to
fund the Social Worker position out of the Burbank Trust until the end of the year and if
that is not able to be done, for the Town Manager to come back with other cuts that would
offset the $8,258. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. (Selectman Schubert was
j absent at this time)
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On motion by Hines seconded by Wood, the Board of Selectmen voted not to layoff the
part-time Administrative Secretary in the General Services Department and look for
reductions in other departments. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Wood seconded by Hines, the Board voted to accept the reductions for the
Library totaling $22,716 by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Wood seconded by Hines, the Board voted to reduce the Fire Department
budget by a total of $73,667 with the understanding that this is the first place that
additional funds would be restored if some of the money is not used in the snow and ice
account, or if the Governor's budget reductions are less than anticipated. There was a
motion by Hines unseconded to reduce the total by $79,667. The main motion vote was
approved by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Wood seconded by Hines, the Board voted to reduce the Police budget by
$52,400 for cruisers with this being revisited if extra revenue is available. The motion was
approved by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Wood seconded by Cummings, a motion to reduce the Dispatch budget by
$9,323 was not approved by a vote of 2-1-0,with Hines opposed.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 25, 2003 —Page 2
On motion by Wood seconded by Cummings, a motion to reduce $320 from Animal
Control was not approved by a vote of 2-1-0, with Hines opposed.
On motion by Hines seconded by Wood, the Board voted to reduce $9,174 in seasonal
Laborers in Parks provided that this would be funded through the Recreation Revolving
Fund. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Wood, the Board voted to accept the reduction of$60,000
in rubbish collection subject to being able to negotiate a contract extending out to 2005 by
vote of 3-0-0.
All of the reductions as recommended were included in the list.
On motion by Hines seconded by Wood, the Board voted to 20 into Executive Session for
the purpose of strategy with respect to negotiations not to come back into Open Session.
On a roll call vote all three members voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried.
Respectfully submitted,
F .
Secretary
Board of Selectmen Meeting
Executive Session
January 25, 2003
The meeting convened in the Town Manager's Office, 16 Lowell Street, Reading,
Massachusetts. Present were Vice Chairman Matthew Cummings, Selectmen George Hines
and Gail Wood, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner.
The Board of Selectmen asked the Town Manager to try to negotiate with the Union on having
only one Fire Fighter able to be on vacation at any one time.
On motion by Hines seconded by Wood, the Board voted to adjourn their Executive
Session Meeting of January 25, 2003 at 12:45 p.m. on a roll call vote with all three members
voting in the affirmative.
Respectfully submitted
Secretary