HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-01-10 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting
January 10, 1991
The meeting convened at 7 : 34 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting
Room, Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts .
Present were Chairman Russ Graham, Vice Chairman Dan Ensminger,
Secretary George Hines, Selectmen Eugene Nigro and Sally Hoyt,
Town Manager Peter I. Hechenbleikner and the following list of
citizens: Tim Twomey, Tom Stohlman, Frank Smith, Gerry Mac-
Donald, Richard H. Coco, N.C. White, Harvey Dahl, Frank Baggs,
Fred Van Magness, Pat Black, Donna Tucker, Madeline Sigsbury, W.
Bruce MacDonald, Bob Munnelly, Jim Murphy, Beth Klepeis, Richard
Foley.
The Town Manager reviewed the Budget as proposed. A complete
review of all revenues was made. The Town Manager reviewed pos-
sible School/Municipal initiatives, including full funding of the
cafeteria expenses, consolidation of business functions, and con-
solidation of building maintenance. The Board asked how our tax
collections were going to date, and the Finance Director indi-
catedthat they were going well . Dan Ensminger presented a
proposal whereby the Town would consider, with input from Town
Meeting, and for a limited time period, a trash fee not to exceed
the additional pass-through costs of trash disposal at RESCO, for
purposes of balancing the FY92 Budget. Key among the proposals
were some of the savings and consolidation of services. Nate
White, Tim Twomey, Frank Smith, Gerry MacDonald spoke in favor of
the Ensminger proposal. Fred Van Magness expressed concern about
not being able to use the amount of money in a trash fee for tax
deduction on federal and state income taxes. Richard Coco felt
that this proposal would be circumventing the wishes of the
voters and that there should be an override. Eugene Nigro felt
that perhaps this should be discussed as an option if a referen-
dum question should fail. Several thoughts were expressed with
regard to a trash fee including the fact that it would need a
waiver system for those unable to pay, and should be based on
use, not on a per household basis.
The Town. Manager reviewed the Town Accountant' s and Finance
Department Budgets. A question was raised as to the Assessor's
Elected Officials Salary, and what is done in other communities.
The Board decided to have a meeting on January 17 at the High
School Lecture Hall to gain public input with regard to the pos-
sibility of a trash fee.
On motion by Nigro, seconded by Hines, the Board voted to adjourn
the meeting at 10: 39 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0.
Respectfully Suomitted,
Secretary