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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-02-06 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting February 6,2001 The meeting convened at 7:37 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Matthew Nestor (arrived at 8:30 p.m.), Vice Chairman George Hines, Secretary Camille Anthony, Selectman Matthew Cummings, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager Russell Dean, Fire Chief Jack Mooney, Library Director Kim Lynn, Public Works Director Ted McIntire, Police Chief Edward Marchand, Finance Director Beth Klepeis, Town Accountant Richard Foley, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Gerry MacDonald, Jim Keigley, Nancy Eaton. A motion by Cummings seconded by Anthony to go into Executive Session for the purpose of litigation to come back into Open Session at approximately 8:00 p.m. was approved by a roll call vote by all three members and the Board went into Executive Session. Vice Chairman George Hines noted that Chairman Matthew Nestor was going to be late this evening. He also noted that the Board needed to have discussion regarding filling Sally Hoyt's position. The Town Manager noted that Sally Hoyt's resignation was received on January 31, 2001 which was three days past the deadline, and the Board has three options: (1) leave the position vacant for one year, (2) hold a Special Election at the cost of$10,000 or (3) seek special legislation to allow the third vote getter to fill the third term. The Town Manager has talked to Representative Brad Jones and he thinks the special legislation could be done in one week. A motion by Anthony seconded by Cummings to seek State legislative action to fill the one year vacancy on the Board of Selectmen and lengthen the filing period by one week was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. Discussion/Action Items Review Budget - Fire Chief Jack Mooney, Library Director Kim Lynn, Public Works Director Ted McIntire, Police Chief Ed Marchand, Finance Director Beth Klepeis and Town Account Richard Foley were present. Selectman Camille Anthony asked Library Director Kim Lynn of the ramifications of cutting the Library budget. Kim Lynn noted that she will be working with the minimum requirements in order to be certified to receive State aid. Selectman Matthew Cummings suggested giving a dollar amount and let the Library Board decide what to cut. A motion by Anthony seconded by Hines to cut the Library budget by $15,713 failed by a vote of 2-1-0, with Cummings opposed. A motion.by Cummings seconded by Anthony to amend the motion for reducing $5,000 from the Library budget failed by a vote of 1-2-0, with Hines and Anthony opposed. Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 6, 2001 —Page 2 The Town Manager noted that the Fire Department cuts would be subscriptions, staffing study, reduce one Fire Fighter, alarm salaries, alarm maintenance and protective clothing. Selectman Camille Anthony asked about the protective clothing. Fire Chief Jack Mooney noted that the turnout gear has to be replaced every five or six years. It is in the Capital Plan to replace a few every year. The Town Manager noted that the protective clothing will be covered under a grant. Selectman Camille Anthony asked about the $10,000 reduction in clothing. Fire Chief Mooney noted that the money is rolled over every year. We can take out the money if it is not needed but will have to find it if it is needed. Selectman Matthew Cummings noted that our obligation is to provide, not to necessarily appropriate it. Selectman Camille Anthony asked if a Fire Fighter could do the alarm work. Fire Chief Mooney indicated that this is a specialty item. Town Meeting Member Gerry MacDonald noted that he had concerns about going to a pull box and have it fail. Selectman Camille Anthony asked Fire Chief Mooney about the responsibilities of the Assistant Fire Chief. Fire Chief Mooney noted that the Assistant Fire Chief will be needed even more for inspectional services at the landfill and Addison-Wesley buildings. The Town Manager noted that there are 41 Fire Fighters. If one is removed, there are 40 others to do the job. If the Assistant Fire Chief is eliminated, there is no one else to do the job. Public Works Director Ted McIntire noted that he would reduce the Jr. Engineer position to co- op, reduce school pavement maintenance and reduce highway supplies. Selectman Camille Anthony asked how this would effect the Pavement Management Study, and asked for the scenario of what would be done with the override and without the override. Police Chief Ed Marchand noted that he would reduce two sworn Officers through retirement. He also noted that the reduction has to come out of personnel because everything else is bare bones. He strongly recommends keeping the fourth Lieutenant when the new Police Chief is hired because it saves money in the overtime account. Selectman Camille Anthony indicated that she would like to see how minimal staffing would be accomplished with 38 Officers. Selectman Matthew Cummings noted that in the Human Services Health Division there is a 19% increase but no proposed reduction. The Assistant Town Manager noted that veteran's aid is being reduced and there will be an increase in fees in the Health Division. He also noted that the Tobacco Control is funded by a State grant. The grant for the Health Services salary was reduced. Selectman Matthew Cummings noted that there was a $17,900 increase in grants. The Sealer of Weights and Measures increased$10,000. Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 6, 2001 —Page 3 Selectman Camille Anthony asked about the transfer of a Clerk from Accounting to Finance. Finance Director Beth Klepeis noted that a Clerk is being eliminated in the Collector's Office, and there will have to be some shifting of staff between departments. Chairman Matthew Nestor joined the meeting. A motion by Cummings seconded by Anthony to reduce the Elder Services Administrator budget by$3,591 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Cummings seconded by Anthony to reduce the Conservation Administrator budget by$1,645 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Cummings seconded by Nestor to reduce the Finance budget by $13,228 plus $4,603 for a total of$17,831 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Cummings seconded by Nestor to reduce the overall budget $45,000 in COLA was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Cummings seconded by Anthony to eliminate the Assistant Town Manager position in the amount of$52,142 failed by a vote of 2-2-0, with Anthony and Hines opposed. - Selectman Matthew Cummings noted that the only way to achieve cuts is to reduce staff, and some programs cannot be cut. Chairman Matthew Nestor noted that it is a lousy vote but he would vote for this before eliminating Police Officers or Fire Fighters, The Town Manager noted that this is a key position. This is a Department Head position that works on water supply and landfill closure, and he has given the Board a reduction package without this reduction. The Assistant Town Manager noted that this is an administrative position that works on special projects for the Town Manager and Board of Selectmen including the landfill closure, water supply, Police Chief Assessment, Sprint license and budget preparation for the Board. He also noted that it gets more and more difficult for him to do his job when the Board keeps talking about cutting it. Selectman Camille Anthony asked about grants. The Assistant Town Manager noted that the concept of the Assistant Town Manager was not grant heavy. Chairman Matthew Nestor noted that the Town Manager needs help but in the worse budget scenario when we are picking and choosing priorities, he doesn't want to be cutting Fire Fighters and/or Police Officers, Vice Chairman George Hines noted that we are not talking worst case scenario right now. If the Assistant Town Manager is cut, then something would have to be done with supervisory personnel and there wouldn't be any net gain. Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 6, 2001 —Page 4 Selectman Camille Anthony noted that she will not vote to cut this position right now but if the override doesn't pass, then she will vote to cut it. A motion by Cummings seconded by Anthony to reduce the Health Services budget by $7414 was not approved by a vote of 1-3-0, with Nestor, Anthony and Hines opposed. Chairman Matthew Nestor indicated that he wants to wait for more information on the grants. A motion by Cummings seconded by Anthony to eliminate the Assistant Fire Chief position in the amount of$64,086 was not approved by a vote of 1-3-0, with Nestor, Anthony and Hines opposed. Selectman Camille Anthony asked how things got done before the Assistant Fire Chief. The Town Manager noted the Captains did the work but their expertise is in running the shift. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that she wants to see how the new Fire Chief will run the department. Chairman Matthew Nestor noted that if he is told that it is better to lose one Fire Fighter rather than the Assistant Fire Chief, then he will listen to the experts. Vice Chairman George Hines noted that he never voted in favor of the Assistant Fire Chief position but wants to see what the new Fire Chief who is coming in wants to do. Chainrnan Matthew Nestor noted that Greg Burns is a creative thinker -- he talked about cutting the Assistant Fire Chief in the Assessment Center. A motion by Cummings seconded by Nestor to reduce Fire clothing by $10,000 was approved by 1 a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Cummings seconded by Nestor to eliminate the Jr. Engineer position in the amount of$26,906 failed by a vote of 1-3-0, with Nestor, Anthony and Hines opposed. Ted McIntire noted that if the Selectmen want to do capital projects, they should not eliminate Engineers. Ted McIntire noted that $13,546 is needed to keep the co-op position. A motion by Anthony seconded Nestor to reduce the co-op position to $13,360 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Cummings seconded by Nestor to reduce the Library budget by $5,000 failed by a vote of 1-3-0, with Nestor, Hines and Anthony opposed. A motion by Anthony seconded by Nestor to reduce the Library budget by $2,713 in materials and $13,000 in personnel was approved by a vote of 3-1-0, with Cummings opposed. A motion by Cummings seconded by Nestor to reduce reconstruction projects by $65,000 was approved by a vote of 3-1-0, with Hines opposed. ...._...-.. Board of Selectmen Meeting—FebruM 6, 2001 —Page_5 A motion by Anthony seconded by Nestor to reduce General Services travel reimbursement by $300, equipment maintenance by $400, copy equipment by $500, overtime by $300 and temp position by$540 for a total of$2,040 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Nestor seconded by Anthony to reduce the Technology budget by $87 was approved by a vote of 3-1-0,.with Hines opposed. . A motion by Anthony seconded by Nestor to reduce the Fire Fighter clothing budget by $1,900 to cover fire alarms was not approved by a vote of 2-2-0, with Cummings and Hines opposed. A motion by Anthony seconded by Nestor to cut publications and subscriptions in the Fire Department by$96 was approved by a vote of 3-1-0, with Cummings opposed. A motion by Nestor seconded by Anthony to eliminate the Fire staffing study in the amount of $10,000 was approved by a vote of 3-1-0, with Cummings opposed. A motion by Nestor seconded by Anthony to reduce the school pavement budget by $5,000 was not approved by a vote of 2-2-0, with Anthony and Cummings opposed. A motion by Anthony seconded by Nestor to reduce the highway supplies budget by $1,803 was not approved by a vote of 2-2-0, with Cummings and Anthony opposed. A motion by Nestor seconded by Anthony to reduce the Labor Counsel budget by $2,000 was approved by a vote of 3-1-0, with Cummings opposed. A motion by Anthony seconded by Nestor to increase conservation fees by $5,000 failed by a vote of 2-2-0, with Cummings and Anthony opposed. Selectman Camille Anthony asked what the increase was based on, and the Assistant Town Manager noted that it was directly related to providing the services. Conservation Administrator Nancy Eaton noted that she objects to the Assistant Town Manager doing this without going to the Conservation Commission ahead of time. She also noted that is a fictitious number and there is no guarantee of raising$5,000 in revenues. A motion by Anthony seconded by Nestor to increase the planning fees by $2,000 was approved by a vote of 3-1-0, with Cummings opposed. A motion by Nestor seconded by Anthony to increase the liquor fees by $5,100 was approved by a vote of 3-1-0, with Cummings opposed. A motion by Nestor seconded by Hines to reduce the pavement repair budget by $26,163 was not approved by a vote of 2-2-0, with Cummings and Anthony opposed. A motion by Anthony seconded by Nestor to reduce line painting by $2,000 failed by a vote of 0-4-0, with all four Selectmen opposed. The Town Manager noted that this is a safety issue and urged the Board to take$2,000 elsewhere. Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 6, 2001 —Page 6 A motion by Nestor seconded by Anthony to reduce one Fire Fighter in theamount of$38,987 and increase the overtime account by $13,172 was approved by a vote of 3-1-0, with Cummings opposed. A motion by Nestor seconded by Anthony to eliminate two Police Officers in the amount of $73,114 was tabled by a vote of 4-0-0. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that she asked for more information on this matter. A motion by Anthony seconded by Nestor to reduce the fire alarm salaries by $1,500 failed by a vote of 1-3-0, with Nestor, Cummings and Anthony opposed. A motion by Anthony seconded by Nestor to reduce fire protective clothing by $6,750 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. The Town Manager noted that they have a grant to provide half the cost of the protective clothing and the CIP provides the rest of the money. A motion by Nestor seconded by Anthony to adjourn their meeting of February 6, 2001 at 10:25 p.m. was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Respectfully submitted, r Secretary.,