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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-02-28 Board of Selectmen Minutes Meetin Notes 2/28/83 Members Present: M. Rosenthal, J. Russell, M. O'Brien and P. Dustin. On a motion from Mr. Russell the Board voted to sign a proclamation designating March, 1983 as Red Cross Month. The Board met with Ray McDonald, Town Accountant to discuss his budget for F/Y'84. After a discussion the Board voted the following amounts for the budget: salaries, $46,768 + $630 for overtime and $1,285 for expenses. The Board also approved a request for a transfer of $1,135 for the Town Accountant's F/Y'83 salary account. This amount was to cover overtime expense as a result of the Burroughs machine breakdowns. The Board also discussed the Contributory and Non-Contributory Retirement Budgets. The Board then met with Chief Marchand to discuss a petition from residents of Pleasant Street in which they expressed their concerns over traffic problems in the area. After a discussion the Board accepted the Chief's proposed solution to the problem and rescinded their proposed action taken at their previous meeting. Mr. Russell then brought up the matter of the Finance Committees cut of $4,292 for training in the Police Budget and asked the Board what stand they would take on this matter at Town Meeting. The Board suggested that if the Chief want to he could speak at Town Meeting. The Board voted to appoint Maureen Rich of the Planning Board as Reading's representative on the Metropolitan Area Planninc Council to fill the term of Mr. Frank Orlando who has resigned. On the recommendation of the Executive Secretary, the Board voted to award the printing of the 1982 Town Report to the low bidder Lawrence Lithograph. The Board decided to take up the matter of calling for a Special Town Meeting within the Annual Town Meeting at their meeting with the Finance Committee on March Ist. Two articles, one for covering the increase in the Blue Cross rates for F/Y'83 and one for municipal debt and interest are to be considered for this meeting. Mr. Rosenthal Also suggested that articles for the re-organization of the Law Committee and permission to dispose of the Burroughs accounting machine should also be included. The Board requested that the Executive Secretary also set up a meeting with the Treasurer for March 7, 1983 to discuss the Special Town Meeting. The Board asked the Executive Secretary to check on the status of work on the Washington Street rail crossing and a flooding problem at Main-& Forest St. as well as Main St. by the Nazarene Chruch. 2 The Executive Secretary reminded the Board that they had a meeting at 7:30 p.m. on March 7, 1983 with Pat Jordan of the M.B.T.A. and that the Labor meeting for March 3, 1983 had been postponed. The Board reviewed and approved the Group Health Insurance budget with $794,770.56 for Health Insurance, $14,637.48 for Life Insurance. The Board voted to approve the December bill for legal work from Alan Drachman in the amount of $3,941. The Board voted to approve a bill from Mystic Valley Home Care for Reading's Share of Older American Act Services in the amount of $7,596.67. The Board approved a request for a one-day All Alcoholic Beverage License from Reading Youth Hockey Association for March 19, 1983 if approved by Chief Marchand. The Board voted approval of Unemployment Benefits for January in the amount of $2,449. The Board met with Chief Redfern to discuss changes in his priority budget requests. Chief Redfern stated that he had had second thoughts regarding his request for $30,000 for the repair of Engine 1 and that perhaps other equipment needs and training should take greater priority. After a lengthy discussion the Chief felt that basic repairs amounting to $10,000 could be enough for Engine 1 with the rest going to equipment and training. The Board asked the Chief to put in order of priority those items he had requested and suggested these might be spread over two or three years. The Board then was reminded that the Fire Department's articles would be discussed with the Finance Committee on March 3rd. The Board then voted to go into Executive Session not to come out in open session again to discuss labor strategy. 3/3/83