HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-01-25 Board of Selectmen Minutes MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
January 25, 1990
The meeting was. convened at 7:36 p.m. in the Selectmens Meeting
Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. Present were Chairman
Graham, Vice Chairman Ziegler, Selectmen Nigro and Russell, Town
Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of residents
and staff: Gerry MacDonald, Gary Demopoulos, Janathan Edwards,
Fred Van Magness, Jack Rivers, Ginny Lane, Tom Stohlman, Joan
Nickerson, Edward McIntire, A. V. Fletcher, Lois K. Bond, Paul F.
Caselle, Ruth Cogan, Corinne Fisher, Edward Marchand, Len Red-
fern, Christine Redford.
The Community Development budget was reviewed. The Town
Manager's recommendation is to eliminate the Department of Com-
munity Development, and assume its functions within the Division
of the Department of Public Works. An alternative budget that
would keep the half-time Planner and half-time Conservation Ad-
ministrator was presented. The Board of Selectmen indicated that
they would put this as a priority on an add back situation if a
Prop 2 1/2 override was successful. Jonathan Edwards, Thomas
Stohlman and Joan Nickerson spoke on this matter.
The Department of Public Works budget was reviewed. Adding back
the overlay program and the stone chips seal program are
priorities. The Board at another date will be evaluating options
in terms of trash collection. The Board questions whether trees
and shrubbery should be included on a bare bones budget. The
Town Manager indicated that the reduction in staff in the Depart-
ment of Public Works, not including the Community Development
function, was 3.4 full time equivalent positions from FY90 to FY
91.
The Library budget was reviewed, and Susan Flannery and Christine
Redford spoke on this matter.
The Human Services budgets were reviewed and Ruth Cogan and Lois
Bond spoke on the issues.
The Fire Department budget was reviewed. The Chief expressed a
priority for restoring two of the firefighters to make up a staff
of 43 sworn firefighters. The Fire Department Mechanic will go
back into the Fire Department budget rather than being in the
Public Works budget.
The Emergency Management budget was reviewed. The importance of
this function is in terms of reimbursement of federal funds in an
emergency situation. A presentation of the emergency operations
plan will be made to the Board of Selectmen at a future date.
The Police budget was reviewed with the Chief. The Board was
concerned that Police Reserves were not being used even for pur-
poses for which they were previously used.
Board of Selectmen Minutes - 1/25/90 Page 2
The Board agreed to meet Saturday morning to evaluate the
material that had been presented, and make some decisions on the
FY91 budget.
On motion by Russell, seconded by Nigro the Board voted to ad-
journ at 12:45 a.m. by vote of 4-0-0.
R ,spectfully submitted:
Secretary
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