HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-12-09 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
December 9, 2003
The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman George Hines, Secretary Gail Wood,
Selectmen Camille Anthony and Matthew Cummings, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner
and the following list of interested parties: Maria Silvaggi, Thomas Cochrane, Peter Finigan,
Mike Fitzgerald,Ned Coltman, Charles Donnelly Moran and Patrick Donnelly Moran.
Chairman George Hines welcomed representatives from Troop 728 who were here to observe the
Selectmen's Meeting this evening.
Personnel and Appointments
Charter Review Committee — The Board interviewed Maria Silvaggi for one position on the
Charter Review Committee.
A motion by Anthony seconded by Cummings to place the following name into nomination
for one position on the Charter Review Committee with a term expiring June 30, 2004:
Maria Silvaggi. Ms. Silvaggi received four votes and was appointed.
Discussion/Action Items
Goals — Affordable Housing - The Board reviewed the housing goals and gave direction to the
t F Town Manager to modify the goals statement to add low income housing, to establish a more
complete checklist of strategic activities completed, and to identify strategic activities to be
completed. There was discussion as to whether or not to keep this as a goal and although the
Board did not make a firm decision on this, they wanted to keep.the matter active before the
Town.
There was also discussion about establishing a new goal on best management practices, and
establishing a mission statement. The .establishment of mission statement will be on one of the
agendas in February.
FY 2005 Budget— The Town Manager reviewed the available revenues in the FY 2005 Budget
and what has changed. He indicated that we should probably use level funded State Aid instead
of a reduction in State Aid since that appears to be the current consensus.
Selectman Gail Wood asked if the departments could prioritize five items that they would like to
accomplish that are not in the budget. There was discussion as to whether or not this would be
an appropriate use of time.
Selectman Matthew Cummings reviewed the "big picture" and noted that we have a $1.3 million
increase in revenues and several significant items that are taking portions of that revenue. These
are over and above the additional revenues raised by the Prop 2 % debt exclusions.
Follow up items requested were:
Board of Selectmen Meeting—December 9, 2003 —Page 2
1. Understand the payment in lieu of taxes and what has changed.
2. Focus on budget reviews where increases are greater than 2.5%.
3. Have the first budget review meeting on January 3, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. to -'
11:00 a.m. and fit further budget reviews in on evenings and/or Saturdays.
4. Explain better the Health budget—it's a little confusing with a grant.
5. In Animal Control, the fuel amount seems low.
6. Police details in the Public Works budgets seem to have gone up $21,500.
7. Focus on salary changes that are over 2.5%.
8. The Police Officers' salaries actual 2003 compared to budget 2004 and
proposed 2005 seems like a small increase.
9. . In Public Safety and DPW, focus discussion on where safety is a concern.
10. Discuss Risk Management and particularly the MIIA Rewards Program.
Johnson Woods PUD — The Town Manager reviewed the Johnson Woods PUD memo dated
12/9/03. The Board will review this material and decide whether or not it wants to take any
action with regard to this matter.
Selectman Camille Anthony asked for a status report on the design for the I-93 containment.
On motion by Cummings seconded by Wood, the Board voted to adjourn their meeting of
December 9, 2003 at 9:05 p.m. by a vote of 4-0-0.
Res ectfully submitted,
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Secretary