HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-12-01 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
December 1, 1999
The meeting convened at the Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading, Massachusetts.
Present were Chairman Sally Hoyt, Secretary George Hines, Selectmen Camille Anthony
and Matthew Cummings (Vice Chairman Matthew Nestor arrived at approximately 8:00
p.m.). Also in attendance were Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town
Manager Russell Dean, Finance Director Beth Klepeis, Town Accountant Richard Foley,
Public Works Director Ted McIntire, Fire Chief Donald Wood, Library Director Deirdre
Brennan, Board of Library Trustees Stephen Connor, Richard Ogden, Donna Indelicato,
Nancy Eaton.
Nancy Eaton, Chairman of the Conservation Commission, was present at the meeting to
present two conservation restrictions for properties on Salem Street.
On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony, the Board voted to approve the signing of the
conservation restrictions as presented. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0.
Discussion/Action Items
Budizet—Assistant Town Manager Russell Dean reviewed the municipal budget on a
- department by department basis with the Board of Selectmen. The following questions
and issues were raised by the Board:
♦ Selectman George Hines asked us to see what would happen if we level fund the
expenses that can be level funded.
♦ Selectman George Hines was concerned about the 8% increase proposed in the
School Department budget.
♦ Selectman Camille Anthony asked for infonnation on zoning activity.
♦ Selectman Camille Anthony asked for us to come back with a revised supplemental
program for open space planning to reduce the cost.
♦ Selectman Matthew Cummings asked for some year to date information which was
gotten that evening.
♦ Selectman George Hines asked if we could take a year off for doing the audit.
♦ Selectman Matthew Cummings asked about phone system options.
♦ Selectman George Hines asked if we could reduce the cost or eliminate the Retreat,
or get somebody outside like MMA to be facilitator for the Retreat.
♦ There was discussion about the Senior Tax Work Program and whether the
standards for it should be revised since we are not using the full amount. Could
-- this be used for staffing the Senior Center.
Board of Selectmen Meeting–December 1, 1999—Pale 2
♦ Selectman Camille Anthony asked if we could develop some kind of a Friends
of the Senior Center or alternative way to staff the Senior Center.
♦ There was discussion about Sunday hours at the Library. There are seven
workers who work four hours a day at the Library(from 1:00-5:00 p.m.).
Selectman Matthew Cummings suggested that this should be considered the
same as Pay and Classification implementation.
♦ Selectman George Hines asked if the time and a half was because people had
already worked a full work week, and it was indicated that this was not the case.
e The number for holiday pay for the Police looks high.
♦ Vice Chairman Matthew Nestor asked for the number of hours logged for LETN
training for the Police Department.
♦ The Board questioned a number of times the Fire equipment is sent out for repair.
♦ Selectman Camille Anthony suggested that we should more fully fund snow
and ice–we will provide the Board with a chart that shows the historical
expenditures.
♦ It was noted that the Household Hazardous Waste Collection dollar amount
should be increased since the $18,000 proposed is not what our historical levels
have been for the last couple of years.
♦ Selectman Camille Anthony suggested that the charts as presented were very
helpful but it would also be helpful to have percentage increases added to them.
♦ The Board will meet to prioritize supplemental budget requests.
♦ Selectman Camille Anthony asked for information on the Building Maintenance
budget, and where we are in implementation of the KPMG report.
♦ The Board of Selectmen will meet on the 7t" of December at 8:00 p.m.
♦ The Board talked a little bit about scheduling and timing. There will be further
discussion about that at the meeting on the 7th
On motion by Cummings seconded by Hines, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn
their meeting of December 1, 1999 at 11:00 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0.
Respectfully su��bmitted, ,
cretary