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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-01-27 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting January 27, 2000 The meeting convened at 7:35 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Vice Chairman Matthew Nestor, Secretary George Hines, Selectmen Camille Anthony and Matthew Cummings, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager Russell Dean, Town Counsel H Theodore Cohen, Finance Director Beth Klepeis, Finance Committee Chainnan Carol Grimm, Attorney Samuel Perkins, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: N. C. White, K.W. Goodwin, R.E. McDonald, C.L. Martin, Deirdre Brennan, Karen Epstein, Maria Silvaggi, Roert LeLacheur, Tim Twomey; Susan Cavicchi, Robin D'Antona. On motion by Cummings seconded by Anthony, the Board of Selectmen voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of strategy relative to litigation and approval of minutes to come back into Open Session at 8:15 p.m. On a roll call vote, all four members voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. The Board of Selectmen reconvened in Open Session at 8:17 p.m. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments - Selectman Matthew Cummings noted that he attended the Financial Forum. He asked if the Town has received a letter from Lincoln Properties. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that the Open Space and Recreation Committee has started meeting. Selectman George Hines noted that Selectman Matthew Cummings' suggestion of selling the RMLD sparked a lot of phone calls. He noted that the Town is pursuing avenues of raising revenues, and the benefits of selling the RMLD will have to be studied. Public Comment—There was no public comment. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: ♦ The Town Manager noted that the sound issue with RCTV should be solved. ♦ He noted that the Town's snow blower broke and has been repaired. ♦ The Square will be cleaned up tonight. Discussion/Action Items Puopolo License—The Town Manager noted that he spoke with Susan Puopolo and the license is acceptable to her. The Puopolo's did ask for longer notice from 90 days to 180 days, and they also asked for the right to terminate. Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 27, 2000—Page 2 On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the license agreement between the Town of Reading and David and Susan Puopolo to construct and maintain a driveway access over the Town owned Lot 26. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Review of Budget—Proposition 2 '/2 Override—The Town Manager noted that three members of the School Committee were present to observe. Finance Director Beth Klepeis and Finance Committee Members Carol Grimm, Dick McDonald and Bob LeLacheur were present. The Town Manager indicated that there is an analysis of State aid in the Selectmen's handout and also a chart showing expenditures. The Town Manager reviewed the scenarios to close the budget gap for FY 2001 He noted that 31% of the budget is for municipal, 7.3% of the budget is for building maintenance, and 61.5% of the budget is for the schools. Scenario A would be where an override does not pass, and the cuts would be made in proportion of the amount of the current budget as a percentage. Scenario B would be where an override does not pass, and cuts are made in proportion and a Pay As You Throw fee for rubbish disposal is implemented. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that the State is encouraging communities to go with Pay As You Throw. She feels that is worth looking into. Selectman George Hines noted that when the Board had talked about this in the past, most of the Selectmen felt it should be offset but now we are looking at it as revenue replacement. Selectman Camille Anthony asked if there was any discussion by the School Committee to cut back to a 5% increase. School Committee Member Tim Twomey noted that the School Committee has not met yet, and he noted that a reduction to 5%would cause reductions. Finance Committee Chairman Carol Grimm noted that the School Department increased 5.5% last year and they hired .4 persons. This did not include unidentified special needs students. In June, it increased to 6% and this Spring it could be up to 7%. Anything under 5.5% is layoff territory. A 3% increase for municipal doesn't require layoffs. Vice Chairman Matthew Nestor noted that 5% is not going to allow the schools to retain all their personnel. Selectman Camille Anthony indicated that the Town has to be realistic and preserve the level of service. Finance Director Beth Klepeis noted that a 6% increase for schools, and 3% increase for municipal would require $2,650,000 for two years. Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 27, 2000—Page 3 School Committee Member Tim Twomey noted that Special Ed is up and rising. Tuition and transportation is going up over $1 million. Vice Chairman Matthew Nestor asked what percent increase there is in Special Ed, and Tim Twomey noted it is approximately 22%. Selectman George Hines noted that the Town has done a prudent job over the past five to six years. The Town has not been extravagant. Selectman Matthew Cummings noted that when you take each budget individually, they seem reasonable but taken as a whole, it is different. The last time the Town went for an override, positions had been cut but we haven't done that this time. Vice Chairman Matthew Nestor indicated he felt it was best to ask at the outset instead of making cuts and then asking. Selectman Matthew Cummings noted that the rate of growth has not slowed down. The Town Manager responded that the Town is not adding any staff this year and over the last five years, we have added only 4%. Vice Chairman Matthew Nestor noted that 4% is not unreasonable. The schools went up $% and that is not unreasonable. Selectman Matthew Cummings noted that the School Department budget has doubled in 10 years. The Town Manager noted that a $2 million override means $250 per house. He would suggest at least two years but no more than five years. The Town is looking at the development of Addison-Wesley and the landfill but they won't have an affect until at least 2002. A Proposition 2 %2 override is not a failure but a part of the system. School Committee Member Tim Twomey noted that the amount of spending per pupil in Reading is lower than the State average. Compared to other communities, we get the most bang for the buck. Selectman George Hines noted that the School and Municipal Departments have talked about fully funding building maintenance. He suggested putting $500,000 back in reserves to help re- establish the reserve fund. Selectman Camille Anthony asked how much is in the reserve fund now and Finance Committee Chairman Carol Grimm noted that there is $1.1 million in the reserve fund. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that it is the policy to keep the reserve fund at 5%. Carol Grimm noted that it is but she also indicated that the Town cannot always sit on that amount of money. Finance Committee Member Dick McDonald noted that the sale of the real estate fund has also been chewed up. He suggested going for an override and cutting the entire budget by 1%. Finance Committee Chairman Carol Grimm suggested increasing the municipal budget 3%, employee benefits 4% and schools 6%. The Town Manager noted that employee benefits are artificially low right now. He noted that the 5% increase in health and life insurance is unheard of. The average is 9%-16% and ours is 5%. We could be at 9% next March. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that she has trouble under funding to make the numbers work. Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 27, 2000—Page 4 Selectman Matthew Cummings suggested reducing requests by $400,0004500,000 and not fully fund building maintenance, and also have the Finance Committee look at each line item in the budget. Vice Chairman Matthew Nestor noted that there is a consensus among the Board for a $2,500,000 override but there seems to be different ideas on what to do with it. School Committee Member Tim Twomey indicated that he didn't think that asking tax payers for more money and cutting services at the same time would result in a successful override. Finance Committee Chairman Carol Grimm noted that Selectman Matthew Cummings suggests cutting $400,000 out of the.Capital Plan, and the Town did that last year. Selectman Matthew Cummings noted that there is $75,000 in the Capital Improvements Plan for GIS but no one to run it. The Board of Selectmen decided to meet at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday to make a decision on the override before the Warrant closes at 8:00 p.m. On motion by Hines seconded by Cummings, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn their meeting of January 27, 2000 at 10:20 p.m. Respectfully submitt d, Secretary