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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-04-14 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting Minutes114 ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING FIRST BUSINESS SESSION Reading Memorial High School April 14, 1986 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Stephen J. O'Leary, at 7:50 P.M., there being a quorum present. The Invocation was given by the Rev. David W. Reid, of the First Baptist Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The oath of office was administered to the newly elected Town Meeting members by the Moderator. Robert I. Nordstrand was recognized on a point of personal privilege. The following Resolution to Ralph Thompson Horn, presented by Robert I. Nordstand, was unanimously accepted. RESOLUTION WHEREAS, RALPH THOMPSON HORN had served the Town of Reading for nearly 25 years as a member of citizen committees, as Chairman of the Board of Assessors, and as a dedicated citizen, and WHEREAS, Ralph T. Horn had given generously and unselfishly of his time and efforts to the Town of Reading, not only to Town Government but in a number of other activities, and WHEREAS, Ralph T. Horn's faithful, calm and objective service to the Town of Reading has been invaluable, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the elected officials, Town Meeting Members and citizens of Reading acting through this Town Meeting held April 14, 1986, do hereby record their deep gratitude and appreciation of the dedicated services rendered by Ralph T. Horn and do further record their recognition of the great benefits to the Town which have resulted from his years of service, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be spread upon the records and a' copy signed by the Moderator, Town Clerk and Board of Assessors be delivered to Mrs. Jennette Horn, Lorraine Spinney, Ellen Cicerchia and Lawrence T. Horn. Leslie York was recognized on a point of personal privilege for the following tribute. Before we get into the seriousness and sincere efforts of this Town Meeting, I would like to suggest that we give a standing vote of appreciation and a loud round of applause to a very dedicated man whom God has given to us, as He has all good men. A man who, as an elected person for thirty-two years, has not only done an outstanding job, but also a man who has contributed to our young people and set an example for them as a volunteer in scouting. A man who has contributed to his church with respect to all faiths. Too often we show appreciation to the great people when they are not here to reap the harvest of great efforts recognized. This man we all love and pray that he will always be considered as most knowledgeable by whatever form of government our Town pursues. No doubt you all know of whom I speak, with the knowledge and acceptance that behind every good man and successful man is a good woman - so let us accept this fact too with our recognition of our Town Clerk Larry Drew, friend, neighbor and sincere worker for our Town and our Country. The Town Meeting body responded with a standing ovation. Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 14, 1986 15 STATE OF THE TOWN ARTICLE 2. The following "State of the Town" report presented by Paul E. Landers was accepted as a report of progress. To catch hold of and encompass in words - to describe exactly - the state of the Town comprised of vastly varied, marvelously mingled people we call Readingites, would appear almost impossible. We have to come to realize as we have listened to past reports given by the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, that the states of our Town certainly have had their constant themes while others have had their periods of particular emphasis. As we begin this, our 242nd Annual Town Meeting, we, the Board of Selectmen, are particularly delighted and warmly welcome the fresh winds brought about by the adoption of the Home Rule Charter for the people of Reading. The charter commissioners labored extensively over the past year to frame a charter that would be fully responsive to the needs of our community for years to come. For their efforts, we offer our deepest gratitude for a job well done. The voters of this community agree with the provisions of the Home Rule Charter and the "crossroad dilemma" referred to in last year's State of the Town was solved. We have already appointed a citizens selection committee for the Town Manager's position, and their first formal meeting will take place tomorrow night. Furthermore, we are fully cognizant of the concerns relative to change that all present Town employees may be wrestling with, and in order to alleviate as much uncertainty as possible, we have already developed an in-house transition committee comprised of key Town employees and selectmen, and throughout the next few weeks we anticipate meetings with other boards impacted by charter reform to discuss an orderly transition come July 1st. The Board of Selectmen recognize clearly what its primary task at hand is - the successful implementation of our new form of government. Unequivocably, we accept the challenge and will make it succeed. . However, while the structure of Reading's government will change in order to effectuate an ability to deliver its goods and services to its people in a more efficient manner, our universal quality of attachment to our homeland - the Village of Reading -which certainly must be one of the most pronounced throughout the Commonwealth, cannot and will not change. The people of Reading have long been sensitive to the beauties and the mysteries of their native Town, and we, the Board of Selectmen, will train our eyes and modulate our sentiment to make absolutely sure that the face of Reading does not change its image. I stand before you this evening with a firm belief that there are solid grounds for optimism about our future. Glancing backwards over the pages of the last year illustrates and reveals a series of challenges met head on that heralded a harbinger of positive change within the Town and its government. Although the perennial space problems persisted, a great deal of progress was made with some problems resolved and the promise of a solution to others. The Selectmen successfully negotiated the sale of two of the Town's landmark buildings, ending years of debate and in so doing, bolstered the Town's treasury and increased its tax base. The first of these was the Reading Depot which was converted into an attractive restaurant. The second was the Community Center which will be refurbished and converted to condominiums. Under this second sale the Board negotiated provisions for the creation of a new senior citizens' center and four new units of housing for the elderly. We are presently finalizing preparations for the transfer of Town departments from the Community Center to other locations. Another space problem, the relocation of the Department of Public Works, seemed to be reaching an impass last year. At that point the Town Meeting and the Selectmen appointed ~a task force consisting of the various departments involved. The problem was three fold; first, in finding an acceptable site for the D.P.W.; second, to find a solution that the Town could afford, and third, to find a site that would not prove detrimental to the establishment of an indusrial park in the Town on the John Street Site. This cooperative effort is working and indications of a solution to the problem from developers appear good. It is the Board's contention that a so-called "financial renaissance" can materialize from the judicial and prudent sale and development of Town owned lands, and we continuously seek opportunities that allow us to continue providing services to our citizens which promote the quality of life, as I mentioned previously. This Town Meeting itself will provide you with yet another alternative to combat our financial juggernaut. 1 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 14, 1986 The Board has been continuously involved with labor negotiations during the year and has successfully completed multi-year contracts with all of its collective bargaining units. The Board has also established guidelines to meet Federal and State labor requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act and put into effect the hazardous materials, "Right to Know Law." During the year the Town was besieged with a series of fiscal setbacks involving our casualty and liability insurance, pensions, and the expected loss of Federal Revenue Sharing Funds. Ominous indications suggest a still further deterioration of revenue and an increase in costs during the coming year. In an effort to offset these losses the Board instituted studies and worked toward increasing the efficiency of administering to Town affairs. Through the fuel assistance program, the Federally funded youth employment training program, the needy shelter program and housing efforts, the Board continued it's efforts to meet human service needs. Most histories are about events and only incidentally about the people who played a role. Reading is uniquely different for its history is about its people - its daytime government and its nighttime government, whether elected or appointed and how they shaped the events. It is about how they made a difference and how they differed, about characteristics that enabled them to have an impact and how they did it. As we begin to open and write still another chapter of our Town's life, I could offer no more enduring monument to the labor of those who came before us than a just, open and compassionate Community. To the extent that we in turn can learn from them, this Community may have a better chance of moving forward to reaching our goals. ARTICLE 2. The following report was presented by Philip B. Pacino for the Finance Committee and accepted as a report of progress. Mr. Moderator, Town Meeting Members, Town Officials and Assembled Guests: At this Town Meeting you will be asked to appropriate funds for the Town's operations for FY 87. At present the amounts that will be required total $27,447,857. The main budget article, however, still needs additional work due to the fact that the Finance Committee has been unable to decide on the Quinn Bill. At this session of Town Meeting it is the intent of the Finance Committee to table the main budget article, which is Article 12, until Thursday. By that time the remaining open items will be decided upon and a complete and fully understandable budget article will be presented to this body. Since, however, other articles involving fund appropriations could be taken up at this session, the Finance Committee report on their deliberations and decisions needs to be given. The budget for FY 87 will mark the start of a new period in the Town of; Reading finances. With the disappearance of the stabilization fund, the Town will embark into a period of limited funds available for Town operations. The Finance Committee in an attempt to deal with this situation early in the -budget' process, set guidelines. The guidelines were that all budgets were to be level funded and that any increases above the level funded amount were to be justified by the committee or board involved. At the end of the budget process the Finance Committee determined the total funds available to be spent for the Town operations. Taking into consideration the justifications alluded to previously, the funds were allocated on a need and a priority basis. Special articles were also dealt with on a need and a priority basis. The end result of this comprehensive work will be the Finance Committee's presentation to this body. Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 14, 1986 17 TAX CACULATION FY 87 Total To Be Appropriated Offsets County Charges State Charges Overlay Reserve Gross Amount To Be Raised Less Receipts and Revenues From Other Sources: $ 27,447,857 550,532 240,411 502,233 500,Q00 29,241,033 Borrowing 150,000 Revenue Sharing 220,000 Available Funds 221,239 Local Receipts 6,106,100 State Receipts 6,298,002 Total Receipts and Revenues 122995,341 To Be Raised From Taxation 16,2452692 Maximum Levy Limit Prior Year Levy 15,693,497 Plus 2%a% 392,337 New Construction 1752000 $ 16,260,834 The Finance Committee has included none of the sale of real estate funds as part of the total available funds that could be spent for the Town's operation. It is the philosophy of the Finance Committee that the sale of real estate funds be held to indirectly fund the cost of bonding of new construction projects such as the DPW garage. The cost of the bonding of new construction projects could be in the range of $500,000 to $800,000 annually. If the Town squanders the sale of real estate funds on other purposes, then the cost of bonding will have to be funded from the current operational budget. Imagine the effects of $500,000 in cutbacks on the Town's services. Town Meeting should be aware that there is some flexibility in the revenue estimates. Conversely Town Meeting should also be aware that certain costs, such as casualty insurance, are estimates and could change dramatically to the detriment of the Town. Now comes the "Doom and Gloom". The Finance Committee has attempted to gaze into the Town's financial future. We have updated the 5 year plan we presented to you in November. BUDGET PROJECTIONS FY88 FY89 FY90 FY91 FY92 Prior Year Budget 27,580,000 29,686,000 31,279,000 32,367,000 33,372,500 Pension C Casualty Insurance Group Insurance 200,000 250,000 200,000 100,000 50,000 50,000 Debt Service Decrease (65 , 000 ) New Debt Service 590,000 New Debt Service Decrease Other Negotiated and Uncontrol- able Increases 200,000 Salary Increase 931,000 29,686,000 (74,000) 270,000 (26,000) 200,000 823,000 31,279,000 250,000 50,000 250,000 50,000 250,000 50,000 (232,000) (357,500) (285,510) (44,000) 200,000 864,000 32,367,000 (44,000) 200,000 907,000 33,372,500 (44,000) 200,000 952,100 34,495,090 18 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting BUDGET PROJECTIONS April 14, 1986 FY88 FY89 FY90 FY91 FY92 Other Appropriations 11800,000 1,8002000 1,800,000 1,8002000 1,800,000 31,486,000 33,079,000 34,167,000 35,172,500 36,295,090 Less Receipts and Revenues 12,750,000 12,650,000 12,550,000 12,550,000 12,5502000 To Be Raised From Levy 18,736,000 20,429,000 21,617,000 222622,500 23,745,090 Levy Limit Prior Year Levy 169260,834 16,837,355 17,558,289 18,347,246 19,205,927 2'/z Theron 406,521 420,934 438,957 4582681 480,148 New Construction 170,000 3002000 350,000 4002000 450,000 Surplus (Deficit) 16 837 355 1.,898 645) 17 558 289 (2,870 711) .18 3347 246 ~S,`69,754) 19 205 927 t3,416,573) 20 136 075 3,609990.5) Sale of Real Estate Funds 590,000 834,000 790,000 746,000 702,000 (1,308,645) (29036,711) (2,479,754) (2,670,573) (2,907,015) There are some major items to be aware of for future budgetary purposes. On the negative side Federal Revenue Sharing is expected to end after October, 1987. Additionally, the Town for FY 87 received a large increase in state aid which almost certainly elevated our budget crunch. The continuation of the trend will need to be watched. On the positive side the Finance Committee looks to the potential sale and developement of Town owned lands. The prudent use of the resources arising from such sale and developement could be a means by which the Town can continue providing its services to its citizens uninterrupted. The Finance Committee advocates that Town Meeting continue to follow the financial plan we presented to you previously. Finally, Mr. Moderator, the Finance Committee expresses its thanks to all, Town Boards, Committees, Departments and Town Employees for their assistance and dedicated services in helping the Finance Committee reach its conclusions. Hopefully under Article 12 we will reward this dedication with an Omnibus Budget motion which will save Town Meeting time and effort. It was voted that this meeting stand adjourned at 8:45 P.M. 81 voted in the affirmative 59 voted in the negative On motion of John H. Crooker it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned to meet at 7:30 P.M. on Thursday, April 17th, 1986, in the Reading Memorial High School auditorium. Meeting adjourned at 8:32 P.M. 156 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk