HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-01-17 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting
January 17, 1991
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Graham in the Lecture
Hall, Reading Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road, Reading, MA.
Present were Chairman Graham, Vice Chairman Ensminger, Secretary
Hines, Selectmen Sally Hoyt and Eugene Nigro, Town Manager Pete
Hechenbleikner and the following interested parties:Fred VanMag-
ness, Nate White, Joe Cain, Gerry MacDonald, Carol Lyons, Susan
Tsiatis, Janice Jones, Frank Smith, Stan Nissen, James Nally,
Frank Baggs, Robert Gracilieri, Tim Twomey, Pat Black, Donna
Tucker, Marianne Zwicher, Ann Ward, Kathleen F. DeMita, Pete
Dahl, Tom Stohlman, Carol Barrett, George Shannon, Bob Munnelly,
and Bill Burditt.
Dan Ensminger made a presentation regarding his proposed plan on
instituting a limited trash fee. The trash fee would be limited
for time and amount. The maximum amount would be approximately
$520, 000.
Stan Nissen, Chairman of the School Committee, indicated that he
feels that we should not be required to keep within the trash in-
crease level i.e. a trash fee of more than $520, 00 should be con-
sidered. He also indicated that the Boards should not negotiate
the details of cost savings - that should be up to the Town
Manager and the Superintendent of Schools.
Russ Graham spoke and indicated that sometimes we need to con-
sider doing things that may not make the most sense for the com-
munity, but which will indicate to the public that cuts are being
made where the public may feel that they need to be made.
Dr. Munnelly spoke with regard to potential issues of early
retirement and collective bargaining, some possible contracting
of custodial services, and some consolidation of the business
functions.
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Russ Graham suggested to the School Committee that they should
consider reinstating bussing which may help build support for the
school budget. He also reiterated several times that a trash fee
w -il not solve the problem. It merely defers the time until
=which we will have a major crisis of funding for town services
including the schools.
Sally Hoyt indicated that she would support a trash fee under the
circumstances outlined by Mr. Ensminger.
Bill Burditt, Chairman of the FinCom, indicated that FinCom would
only look at one budget without a trash fee. They would enter-
tain add backs if a trash fee is approved.
George Hines indicated that he felt Mr. Ensminger's proposal was
a good one provided the following:
1. It would be the incremental cost of the RESCO pass-through
only
Selectmens' Minutes - 1/17/91 - page 2
2. It would have a sunset provision on it
3. The School Committee and the Board of Selectmen would need
to agree on some substantial reductions through consolida-
tion of services
4. The Board of Selectmen should make a decision on the trash
fee - it does not need Town Meeting approval and in fact
Town Counsel has advised that Town Meeting is not the ap-
propriate agency to approve such a fee.
Fred VanMagness felt that we needed to set priorities. He felt
that this is a short-term program. He felt that we should have
open forums to discuss priority setting.
Mssrs Twomey, Smith, Gracilieri and Stohlman spoke regarding the
proposal.
Mr. Graham polled the Board and the majority felt that they would
support a trash fee based on the Ensminger proposal and assuming
that all conditions of that proposal are met.
Mr. Nigro felt that imposition of a trash fee should go to the
voters on an override. Various members of the Board expressed
different opinions on whether or not the matter should go to Town
Meeting and/or to the voters on an override. There is strong
-- support from the entire Board for maintaining the quality of the
school system.
The Town Manager will come back to the Board of Selectmen with a
proposed policy for establishing a trash fee.
The Town Manager went on to begin a review of .the General Serv-
ices budget, but halted the process when the Board did not have
all of the information they required.
On motion by Hoyt, seconded by Hines the Board voted to adjourn
at 10:30 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0.
Respectfully su mitted:
Secre ary
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