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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-02-25 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting February 25, 1992 The Board convened at 7:35 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Eugene Nigro, Vice Chairman Dan Ensminger, Selectmen Russ Graham and George Hines, Town Manager Peter I. Hechenbleikner, and the following interested parties: Jim Keigley, Carol Edwards, Joyce K. Miller, Nancy Shipes, Bill Burditt, Anne Mark, Tony Fletcher, Ted McIntire, and Bud Dickey. On motion by Ensminger, seconded by Graham, the Board voted to approve the minutes of February 8, 1992 by a vote of 4-0-0. Liaison Reports George Hines indicated that he had attended the North Suburban Planning Council with Jonathan Edwards and Mark Favoloro. He also had attended the RMLD meeting and is concerned that the Fin- Com sentiment with regard to the RMLD is not more widely held--he urges the voters to become more involved in this issue. Russ Graham had not report. Dan Ensminger indicated that he had attended the RMLD meeting. He also attended the meeting with RESCO, and there will be a further report later in the evening. Eugene Nigro indicated that the Board needs to act on the RMLD offer. The Board interviewed Foy Johnson for a position on the Hazardous Waste Advisory Committee. The other two candidates did not show ., up. On motion by Ensminger, seconded by Hines, Foy Johnson was appointed to. a term expiring 6-30-92 on the Hazardous Waste Ad- visory Committee by a vote of 4-0-0. Jim Keigley indicated that the depot light modification is being undertaken in accordance with the request of the Town. He also indicated that the meeting last night at the Killam School was unsatisfactory. A sound system is definitely needed for this type of meeting. On motion by Graham, seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to go into Executive Session to discuss litigation and labor nego- tiations, and to come out into Open Session at approximately 8:25 p.m. All four members voted in the affirmative and the Board ad- journed to Executive Session. The Board of Selectmen came back into Open Session at 8:23 p.m. Dan Ensminger indicated that the $486,000 pass through cost for FY92 from RESCO has been reduced, on advice of counsel, to $110, 108.21. Ensminger indicated that this fee was for a nine- month period. He indicated the Town in estimating the $486,000 had been acting on the best estimates at that time. The $110,000 is the special counsel and consultants' best current estimate following over one year of getting additional information from RESCO. On motion by Graham, seconded by Hines, the Board voted, based on the advice of special counsel, to authorize the payment of $110, 108.21 to RESCO for the 1992 pass through costs, and that the letter recommended by special counsel accompany the payment. Selectmen's Minutes - 2/25/92 - Page 2 George Hines indicated that the attorneys and consultants are ex- tremely confident in the success of the case and the proposed payment. Palmer & Dodge, Ernst & Ernst, and Camp Dresser & McKee are all highly qualified in this area. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. On motion by Ensminger, seconded by Graham, the Board voted to accept the offer from the RMLD outlined in a letter of 2/25/92, with the understanding that it is the Board's expectation that the $1.4 million earnings distribution is the minimum and the Board would expect to continue to negotiate periodic increases. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. George Hines indi- cated that the bond issue is spread out over a five year time, but the earnings distribution is only guaranteed for two years. Bill Burditt indicated that it is in the interest of the Town to bond and keep the plant value up. The Board of Selectmen also indicated support for meetings with other communities to ask for a legislative or DPU change to gross plant value from net plant value in determining the eight percent potential for earnings distribution. The Board of Selectmen discussed the rubbish budget. With the news that the pass through cost is so low, the Town should not have to budget for additional pass through cost for next year, since the fees collected to date can be carried over and pay next year's pass through costs. The Board reviewed three issues: 1. Whether or not we should continue with recycling. 2. Whether or not they would prefer a flat or variable fee sys- tem 3. Whether or not we should get out of the rubbish business. Nigro indicated that he would like to see a variable fee (per bag or sticker) ; that we should award an exclusive franchise and be out of the business directly; and that we should continue recy- cling, preferably with Town tax support for recycling. Ensminger indicated support for the same system, and suggested that an RFP for an exclusive franchise give the options of per bag or flat fee with preference of a per bag charge. Graham indicated sup- port for the exclusive franchise and for continuing recycling. Hines indicated support for the per bag fee, but agreed that it should be bid both ways. We should use an exclusive franchise and continue recycling. Graham indicated that there is still some unknowns, including the issue of level funding of State Aid, and additional potential of school funds. He felt that we should hold Town Meeting discussion on the budget as late as possible. George Hines reiterated the Board's consensus that the Board would support -- development of an exclusive franchise form of rubbish collection disposal -- development of an RFP with two options--a flat fee and a variable fee with preference to the variable fee (continued) Selectmen's Minutes - 2/25/92 - Page 3 -- that rubbish collection disposal be billed through a private firm -- and that the Town would try to build recycling into the Municipal budget. Tony Fletcher expressed concerns about timing and the legality of what was being proposed. We will check with Town Counsel. The Board discussed the Parks, Forestry, and Cemetery budget. Joyce Miller, chairman of the Cemetery Board, indicated that there were two concerns: one, that the bequest funds be used for municipal maintenance only, and two, that the salary rate -be ap- propriate to the supervisor's responsibilities. George Hines in- dicated that if there is no early retirement bill, then there is potential layoff here. The Town Manager asked the Board to hold off any further discussion, pending his meeting with the Cemetery Board of Trustees on Wednesday. The Board discussed the Engineering budget. Concerns were how we would accomplish what we need to accomplish without the Town Engineer's position being filled. The Town Engineer attends at least one meeting per week and Fletcher could not pick up that work. Hines noted that Conservation Commission, and CPDC have an alternate way to pay for consulting if needed. Russ Graham asked what the current budget balance was and the Town Manager indi- cated that it was $118,000. The Town Manager indicated that the priorities for restoring funds would be to Public Safety and En- gineering. In order to restore all of the cuts would require $144,000. The Board discussed that one position in Engineering may become vacant through early retirement. On motion by Graham, seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to restore the Town Engineer's position in the amount of $48, 277, making a total salary budget of $169, 356. A motion by Ensminger, seconded by Graham to reduce the Field Engineer's position of $34,728 was defeated by a vote of 2-2-0. George Hines indicated that he would vote for the main motion, but understands that it should be revisited if there is an early retirement bill. The main motion was voted by a vote of 4-0-0. On motion by Graham, seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to support an Engineering budget total of $174,356. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. On motion by Graham, seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to establish a Street Lighting budget of $168,164. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. The Town Manager indicated that we hope this would not require additional street light reductions, but it depended on the fuel use charges. On motion by Graham, seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to support a Public Works Administration budget of $169, 041 by a vote of 4-0-0. The Board discussed the Highway Maintenance i budget. Ensminger asked Tony Fletcher what the priority would be if additional monies were available. Fletcher indicated that it (continued) Selectmen's Minutes - 2/25/92 - Page 4 would be for "revisions" which is the ability to respond to small projects on a timely basis. There is a significant need for capital dollars in addition. On motion by Ensminger, seconded by Graham, the Board voted to support a Highway and Equipment Maintenance budget of $685, 183, by a vote of 4-0-0. On motion by Graham, seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to support a $110, 000 Snow and Ice budget by a vote of 4-0-0. The Town Manager reminded them that this is a reduced level of serv- ice from FY91. On motion by Graham, seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to support a Building Maintenance budget of $332 ,296 by a vote of 4-0-0. Fletcher indicated that the Town is seeing cost savings as a result of the building renovations. On motion by Graham, seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to support a Water budget of $1,478,029 by a vote of 4-0-0. On motion by Graham, seconded by Hines, the Board voted to sup- port a Sewer budget of $3,292, 065 by a vote of 4-0-0. The Board requested that the new Executive Director of the MWRA come out and speak to the Board of Selectmen, specifically about the long term effects of the Boston Harbor cleanup, and specifically about metering of sewer flow. On motion by Hines, seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to go back into Executive Session at 11:20 p.m. for purposes of dis- cussing labor negotiations. All four members voted in the af- firmative, and the Board adjourned at 11:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ecret y