HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-03-11 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
March 11, 1997
The meeting was convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman George Hines, Vice Chairman Camille Anthony,
Secretary Bruce MacDonald, Selectman Dan Ensminger, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner
and Katy Brennan from the Chronicle.
Discussion/Action Items
Budget Discussion -- The Chairman noted that this was a one item agenda- trying to balance the
FY '98 budget. He noted that the Finance Committee had made a presentation at the Budget
Council meeting on how to achieve balance in the budget. Since the proposal from FinCom was
significantly different than anticipated by the Board of Selectmen, they needed some additional
time to review this package.
The Town Manager presented the summary of the FY '98 budget as a balanced budget in the
amount of$41,973,446. He noted that with some modifications to the base budget as well as
modifications to the Selectmen's priorities, he has a proposal that would allow the first 14 of the
Selectmen's priorities to be accomplished. The following were the major changes:
Line G5 increase in Fire Department overtime was reduced to $13,000 rather than $15,000.
Line GI hiring a Police Officer is delayed until November 1997, and the savings of this amount is
placed in Line D3 Town Manager's expenses to conduct a deployment and staffing study of the
Police Department prior to making a commitment to hire.
Line D6 the increase in law division other expenses was reduced to $6,000.
Line D11 the Property and Casualty Insurance was reduced by$5,000.
Line E7 the Veteran's Aid was reduced by $500.
Line G2 Police expenses traffic light repairs were reduced by$1,000.
Line H13 street lighting was reduced by $5,000.
Line H14 recycling was reduced by $1,200
Line J2 Northeast Regional School District assessment was increased to $97,313 based on new
information.
Line L4 Group Health and Life Insurance was reduced by about $18,000.
Board of Selectmen Meeting-March 11, 1997 - page 2
Based on the above the following program priorities are included in the budget: Economic
Development assistance, Assistant Fire Chief, Engineering Co-op student, Design Intern for
Downtown, Senior Center expenses, additional Technician hours for inter-Library loans, increased
highway pavement repair, additional Fire overtime, purchase of a carbon monoxide detector in the
Fire Department, additional hours for the Volunteer Coordinator, additional summer hours at the
Library, an additional Police Officer (hired in November), additional highway line stripping, and
seasonal Parks and Forestry help to do the grounds maintenance at the schools.
Camille Anthony expressed concern for building maintenance. The Town Manager noted that the
amount budgeted for building maintenance in FY98 for Town buildings is no less than it was in
1997. In addition, the School Department has proposed some increases and even if they are
reduced somewhat, there will still be increases in the overall building maintenance effort.
Anthony also expressed concern about turning on street lights, and the Town Manager noted that
he is working on this project.
Bruce MacDonald noted concern about the Assistant Fire Chiefs position. He felt that the level
might be too high and the Town Manager noted that although this is a budgeted amount prior to
hiring the position, consensus from the Board of Selectmen would be sought. He also noted that
the Grants Coordinator position was eliminated based on FinCom's recommendation, but he
thought that this might not be the wisest thing to do since this position would bring in additional
money. The Board asked the Town Manager to secure data from other communities where they
............
have Grant Administrators relative to the amount of money brought in.
Camille Anthony expressed concern with respect to the Assistant Fire Chief s position. She
supports the position as proposed completely. She thinks that the Board should be supportive of
the Reading Fire Department and that it should not come out of the priority list. We need to
make sure that we give the Chief the help that he needs, and there has been a long-standing
commitment to do this.
On motion by Ensminger seconded by Anthony, the Board voted to accept the Town Manager's
recommendation of the FY98 budget by a vote of 4-0-0.
The Board discussed the need for a site visit to the Police Station site as proposed by the Board
of Selectmen, as well as tours of the existing Police Station. MacDonald noted that the Police
Station Building Committee is meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Senior Center.
On motion by Anthony seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. by a
vote of 4-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Se retary