HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-08 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
February 8, 2003
The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Camille Anthony, Vice Chairman
Matthew Cummings, Secretary Richard Schubert, Selectmen George Hines and Gail
Wood, Fire Chief Greg Burns, Finance Director Beth Klepeis, Town Accountant Richard Foley,
Library Director Kimberly Lynn, Public Works Director Ted McIntire, Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Dick McDonald, Paul Feely, Chuck
Robinson, Catherine Martin,
Discussion/Action Items
FY 2004 Budget - The Town Manager reviewed a summary of revenues available and a model of
distribution of those revenues based on the actual FY 2003 Budget. This would have the Town
receiving 70.3% of the reductions, building maintenance receiving 7.4%, and the School
Department receiving 61.80%.
The Town Manager reviewed how this would breakdown by Department and discussed
reductions that were likely for individual departments. The Board directed the Town Manager to
look at the EMARC/Riverside/Mosquito Control reductions in the Community Services' Budget.
They asked whether Riverside could be funded out of the Trust Fund, asked for information on
the number of people served, and asked for the same information on EMARC. With regard to
mosquito control, they asked what this provides in terms of the amount of spraying, catch basin
treatment and trapping.
With regard to the Library, it was noted that$190,000 would be needed to go back to the level of
service that we had three years ago, at 67 hours per week being opened. There was discussion
about revenue generation and whether or not we can charge for libraries.
In the Police Department, there was discussion about what would happen if there were shifts that
were not covered — would the State Police Department cover. The Board asked if the
Department was staffed at 41 Officers as recommended in the Staffing Employment Study, what
would that do to overtime. The Board also asked for the cost of staffing dispatch properly.
The Board asked for information on fire responses. Fire Chief Greg Burns noted that the cuts
would take us to 38 Firefighters and the Chief. The staffing study done in 1989 would have the
Department staffed at 51. The NFPA staffing levels would propose higher staffing. The Chief
would like to be staffed at 44 Firefighters plus the Chief plus the Fire Prevention Officer, and
this would allow us to do advanced life support services. The Board asked for the cost of this
option.
In the Department of Public Works, the Board talked about how much money a Pay-As-You-
Throw Program would generate. The Board agreed to move forward with a Pay-As-You-Throw
Program on a half year (it would take that long to get the program established) with the revenues
to be used to directly offset the cost of rubbish disposal. This would be done on an enterprise
Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 8, 2003 —Pale 2
basis. The Board also discussed a Bylaw requiring abutters to clear their own sidewalks and for
churches to do their own snowplowing.
Public Works Director Ted McIntire noted that since 1980, the Department of Public Works has
lost 17 positions. He also noted that with the reductions that we are talking about, we will not be
able to do holiday lights. He further noted that 27% of the time within the Department is
unplanned and absences are unplanned; i.e., workers comp, sick leave, vacation leave, etc.
The Board of Selectmen directed the Town Manager to come back with a budget that would
include the "safe operation" of Police, Fire and Dispatch, a Pay-As-You-Throw Program that
would offset the cost of rubbish collection, and prioritize the remainder of the reductions.
The Board will meet on Thursday night. Dick McDonald noted that the Finance Committee
wanted to see what the impact would be of a debt exclusion for existing debt.
On motion by Hines seconded by Wood, the Board voted to adjourn their meeting of
February 82003 at 1:00 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary