HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-01-24 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
January 24, 1995
The meeting was convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Vice Chairman Bill Burditt,
Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Camille Anthony and George Hines, Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner, and the following list of interested parties: Leslie and Irene York, Deirdre
Hanley, Barbara Melanson, John Silvaggi, David Lee,Nancy Eaton.
Discussion/Action Items
The Town Manager distributed material on the Reading Police Station areas of concern, the
Reading Technology Plan draft, and revised and updated ,budget information. The Town
Manager noted that this budget presentationis preliminary in nature, and many of the figures need
to be fine tuned. The general guidelines were to provide for 2.5% salary increase and no more
than 2.2% on expenses. He is prepared a list for summary review of the FY96 general fund
budget outlining the variances between the Town Manager's recommended budget and the
guidelines.
The Town Manager reviewed the budget projections and the revenues as of December 31, 1994.
The following is a summary of the discussion.
Accounting Department
No variance from guidelines.
Community Development Department
Includes the full year of the Conservation Administrator reclassified salary, an increase in ZBA
salaries because of increased workload (this is not related to the new program request for
additional staff, and the full year of the Building Inspector salary following the six month
probationary period. It was suggested that we review the proposed budget with the Historical
Commission since they have some other resources available for historical preservation through the
350th fund.
Finance Department
Line C6 contains the new program requests for $10,000 for revaluation.
Line C8 includes increased personnel expenses and advertising, medical and professional
development.
Line C9 general department salaries are less than anticipated because FY95 had a one time
expense for sick leave buyback.
Line CIO postage is increased by 10%. It was suggested that when we purchase computers that
we make sure that at least some of them have CD Roms which are valuable for training purposes.
Board of Selectmen Meeting-January 24, 1995 -page 2
Department of General Services
Town Counsel services were increased by 2.2%. There was discussion as to whether or not we
should be increasing Town Counsel expenses by that or any amount. The consensus of the Board
was to use the 2.2% guidelines.
Line D9 is reduced because there are fewer elections in FY96, but Line D10 has increased
because of programming cost for election equipment.
Line D11 property and casualty insurance is level funded although this number is still "soft."
Line D10 is increased less than 2.5% for general department salaries because of turnover within
the department.
Human Services
Line El the Health Education Coordinator position will be reduced to current Town support
levels if there is no Tobacco Grant funding. Ruth Clay noted that there is a 12% reduction in
smoking and a reduction in revenue. It is unknown as to whether or not this project will be
funded this year.
Line E2 is reduced to reflect a more realistic estimate of dead animal disposal.
.Line E3 reflects anticipated continuation of the State grant for the Shopping Assistant
Coordinator and an increase because of the six month anniversary increase for the Social Worker.
Line E6 Veterans Services reflects reduced case load of veterans requiring assistance.
Library Department.
Line F1 reflects changes in personnel and savings resulted from turnover and therefore is less than
the 2.5% increase. There was some discussion about coordinating requests for an information
technology coordinator between the Town (through the Library Department) and the School
Department. There was discussion about coordinating the new program requests for information
and technology coordinator with the Capital Improvement Program and its purchase of
technology equipment. It was suggested that perhaps if this position is funded, one of the major
aspects will be to secure outside funding. This could also be done as contractual expense and not
as a salary position. The Board noted that it placed a high priority on the increase in the
Children's Room hours if possible.
Line F2 reflects the increase in NOBLE and some increase in supplies.
Public Safety
Line G1 Police salaries reflects the effect of the Quinn Bill and is off set in part by an increase in
revenue. The budget does not increase Police staffing and does not reflect any match needed to
Board of Selectmen Meeting-January 24, 1995 -page 3
qualify for the Federal Police Supplemental Hiring Program. Matching funds may be provided in
the State budget. We should know by the end of January or early February whether we are
successful in getting additional positions funded.
Line G2 Police expenses reflects the increased cost of vehicle maintenance, reductions in the cost
of fuel, and a significant increase in the cost of purchasing three cruisers.
Line G3 reflects the return of the Animal Control Officer to half time year round, and Line G4
reflects significant increase in kennel fees.
Line G5 Fire salaries reflects the increase in Fire salaries as a result of the recent salary settlement.
Chief Wood discussed with the Board the proposed new program requests to add a day officer to
the Department. It was suggested that perhaps we could promote one Fire Fighter to a
Lieutenant and a Lieutenant to a Captain and make that person a day officer without increasing
the size of the staff.
Department of Public Works
Line H3 Engineering salaries reflects the most recently negotiated salary package, and the full
year of the Engineer at full salary. The Town Manager expressed a major concern that the
staffing level is not adequate to design and supervise construction of all the projects pending.
Chapter 90 funds may be used for this purpose for Chapter 90 projects without additional Town
funding and we may have to resort to this approach. The Board discussed placing a high priority
on the new program request to add computer software in the Engineering Division for the amount
of$2,050.
Line H6 Highways expenses reflects budgeting for Police details as a separate item, and projects
for an increased level of street line striping.
Line H7 reflects the use of overtime to operate the compost center, and this may be able to be
done with a separate hired position at a lower cost.
Line H8 does not reflect the needed increase in turf maintenance expenses to bring our parks back
to better quality. It also does not reflect any additional open space or parks to be maintained.
The Board directed the Town Manager to see if the increase in park user fees in the Recreation
Revolving fund would be adequate to fund this. They placed a high priority on this item..
Additionally, there was concern expressed that the capital program does not reflect continued
annual increases in the shade tree nursery budget. There was discussion about the possibility of
developing an adopt a tree program.
Lines H9 and H10 do not reflect consolidated building maintenance with the School Department.
Consolidation is not expected to save money but rather to spend the money in a better manner.
The budget assumes the sale of the Pearl Street School before the beginning of the fiscal year.
Board of Selectmen Meeting-January 24, 1995 -page 4
Line H13 reflects the anticipated number of street lights without turning on any of the street lights
that were previously turned off.
Line H14 reflects an estimate of change in the solid waste budget, but this number is still a little
"soft."
Line H15 reflects basic level funding of the snow and ice budget although we had wanted to
increase this to $250,000 by FY97.
Line H16 and 17 reflect an increase in the purchase of flowers and wreaths as well as flags in the
cemeteries. This is pursuant to the request of veterans groups. The Cemetery Board has some
concern that the Town is asking the cemetery to pick up part of the cost of the veteran's flowers
as well as the cost of maintaining Laurel Hill Cemetery even though the bequest funds do not
cover the Laurel Hill Cemetery. The Town Manager noted that the Town is picking up other
costs of cemetery operations including employee benefits, clerical support and other expenses.
Debt Service and Capital
The Town Manager went through the capital expenses and noted that he would like to see the
program modified for FY96 to include the "turnout gear" for the Fire Department. -
Employee Benefits
The Town Manager reviewed the employee benefits in detail. The Board had no further
comments on the budget and the water and sewer budgets will be submitted at a separate date.
On motion by Burditt seconded by Anthony the Board voted to go into Executive Session for
purpose of discussing litigation not to come back into open session. On a role call vote all five
members voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. The meeting was adjourned at
11:09 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary