HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-03-07 Board of Selectmen Minutes MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
March 7, 1989
Meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 6
Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. The meeting was called to
~- order by Chairman Eugene R. Nigro. Present were Chairman Nigro,
Vice Chairman Graham, Secretary Ziegler and Selectman Landers.
On motion by Landers, seconded by Graham, the minutes of the
meeting of February 21, 1989 were approved as corrected.
Under Liaison Reports, Ziegler indicated that the Municipal Space
Building Committee will meet tomorrow night regarding the
proposed Town Hall renovation project. Nigro indicated that the
Employee. Awards Committee will meet on Friday, and that he will
be attending and voting on the county budget.
On motion by Graham, seconded by Landers, the Board voted to fly
the Town flag at half-mast in memory of Sally Merchant, a long-
time and dedicated employee of the Town of Reading. Motion was
approved 4-0-0.
On motion by Landers, seconded by Graham, the Board of Selectmen
approved stop signs on southbound Belmont Street at Salem Street,
and northbound Azalea Court at Salem Street. The motion was -ap-
proved by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Ziegler, seconded by Landers, the Board approved an
6 increase in parking fines as follows:
�-� Illegal Parking - from $10 to $15
Impeding Snow Removal - from $15 to $20
Illegally parking in a handicapped space - from $20 to $25
The Board approved the motion by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Ziegler, seconded by Graham, the Board approved a
proclamation designating the week of March 12 - 19 , 1989 , as
Vocational Education Week by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Graham, seconded by Landers, the Board approved the
proclamation of Camp Fire Week as the week of March 12 - 19 ,
1989, by a vote of 4-0-0.
The Town Manager reviewed the overall status of the budget. He
indicated that going by the "FinCom Plan, " the Town could con-
sider not establishing a user fee for trash collection, and
slightly reduce the free cash used to balance this budget.
Chairman of the Board of Assessors William Locke, member of the
Board of Assessors Bob Nordstrand, and Assessors' Appraiser Yano
Tine discussed the proposed Assessors Budget with the Board of
Selectmen. The Board approved the concept of staffing an addi-
tional Assistant Appraisers position within the Assessors' of-
fice, which will allow the Town to do the entirety of its' every
three-year revaluation in-house, other than a minor expense for
contracting the personal property and utilities revaluation. The
Board indicated that it would recommend the Appraiser become the
Selectmen's Minutes - 3/7/89 - Page 2
Division Head responsible for the operation of the office, that a
salary increase be provided for the Division Head, and that the
Assessors take on a policy-making role, as opposed to the more
-' hands-on role that they have taken in the past. The Board of
Selectmen directed that the increase in salary over and above 5-
1/2% for the Appraiser be included in the Reserve Fund for trans-
fer for by July 1.
Officer Peter O'Brien and Chief Edward Marchand from the Reading
Police Department presented the status of the accreditation
program. The Police Department Budget was then discussed. The
Board approved the establishment of a fourth lieutenants posi-
tion, provided that there would be no additional personnel and
that the cost of this program could be absorbed within the cur-
rent salary budget, plus the 5-1/2% increase. The Board also ap-
proved the capital project for purchasing new nine millimeter
handguns. The Police Department salary budget will be the cur-
rent budget plus 5-1/2%. Staffing levels will be adjusted ac-
cordingly in order to meet this budget goal.
The Town Manager briefly went through the overall budget
proposals including the Department of General Services and the
Department of Public Works. The Board approved the Department of
General Services budget as presented, and wants more detailed in-
formation for its meeting on March 14, 1989 on the Public Works
budget. The Town Manager indicated that this would be forthcom-
ing, and that the budget, as presented this evening, would be
presented to the Finance Committee. However, the FinCom review
of the Department of Public Works Budget would not take place un-
til the after the 14th when the Selectmen have a chance to review
it in detail.
Also present during the meeting were Carol Beckwith of the Read-
ing Chronicle, Dan Ensminger, and George Hines.
On motion by Ziegler, seconded by Graham, the Board voted to go
into executive session for the purpose of discussing labor rela-
tions, and not to return into open session. The Board was polled
and all members voted in favor. The Board adjourned to executive
session at 10:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
�Se�ary