Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-04-06 Finance Committee MinutesFinance Committee Meeting ( April 6, 2005 The meeting convened at 7:32 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Chuck Robinson, Members Bob LeLacheur, Hal Torman, Dick McDonald, Michele Williams, Paul Bolger and Andrew Grimes, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, School Committee Member Pete Dahl, Paula Koppel and Paula Schena. Approval of Minutes On motion by Torman seconded by Williams, the Finance Committee approved the Minutes of March 23, 2005 by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by Torman seconded by Grimes, the Finance Committee approved the Minutes of March 30, 2005, as amended, by a vote of 7-0-0. Discussion/Action Items Review and Approve Article 7 - Disposal of Tangible Propert y - The Town Manager noted that he spoke with the Superintendent of Schools and he does not have anything that needs to be disposed of this year. Pete Dahl asked if every item has to be listed, and the Town Manager noted that anything with a value of $5000 or more. A motion by Grimes seconded by Williams to recommend the subject matter of Article 7 was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Andrew Grimes will give the report. Review and Approve Article 10 - Capital Improvements Program - The Town Manager suggests that the requests be kept in the plan but not fund them. He noted that debt service- is declining and that money could be used to fund capital in future years. He reviewed the items in the Capital Plan. Andrew Grimes noted that the DPW has requested loaders four years in a row. The Town Manager noted that they requested $205,000 this year so it had to be stretched out. The Town Manager reviewed the road improvements. Chuck Robinson asked what were the study results. The Town Manager noted that we should be spending $850,000 per year, and that we do the priority roads first. The bid for Summer Avenue came in under bid, but it was the highest bid per ton that we have ever received. The smaller roads we will do ourselves. Paul Bolger noted that the study recommends we spend $800,000 and we are only spending $600,000, and that means we have an accumulating problem. He asked if the sale of real estate funds could be used for roads. The Town Manager indicated that it could not. Dick McDonald noted that the sale of real estate funds will never have that much money again because there is no real estate left to sell. Finance Committee Meeting - April 6, 2005 - Page 2 Dick McDonald noted that the study also talked about crack sealing. The Town Manager noted j that we did crack sealing last year and also did overlay work. Bob LeLacheur asked the Town Manager if he was opposed to borrowing money for road work. The Town Manager noted that he is not opposed but we don't have the ability to do the design work, bidding, etc. Michele Williams asked if grants were typically for only major roads, and the Town Manager noted that they have to be at least 100 feet long. The Town Manager noted that there is $65,000 in the plan for the Parker Middle School fire alarms. Paul Bolger asked how that happens to a new building, and the Town Manager noted that the fire alarms were bid out as a package including phones and fire alarms. Pete Dahl noted that these things are pulled out and bid separately now and as we move forward, all of the alarms will be the same. The Town Manager reviewed the water and sewer sections. He noted that there is $1.7 million in the water reserve and $1 million in the sewer reserve. The sewer inflow and infiltration program is to tighten up the system to save on MWRA expenses. The sewer work was taken out of the Capital Improvements Program because we have money to do it. The Town Manager noted that the Board of Selectmen talked about a Capital Improvements Advisory Committee, and the Selectmen and Finance Committee need to discuss this. Paul Bolger asked what the life of a new road is, and the Town Manager noted that it should last forever but the useful life is 20 years. Andrew Grimes asked if there are any sidewalks in the capital plan, and the Town Manager noted that there is $670,000 over 10 years. A motion by McDonald seconded by Torman to recommend the subject matter of Article 10, as presented, was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Bob LeLacheur will give the report. Review Vocational School Budget - The Town Manager reviewed a memo from Beth Klepeis. He noted that the State sets the assessment and the Vocational School does not get circuit breaker money. They are trying to incorporate what the community spends on local school districts. The cost in FY 2004 was $8469/student; in FY 2005, it was $8325/student; in FY 2006, it is $8883/student. Andrew Grimes noted that they are required to spend a minimum amount but are asking for more. He asked if the money is being spent wisely, and the Town Manager noted that Beth Klepeis is impressed with the way it is being handled. The Town Manager also noted that the Town of Reading has been paying less than average in the past. Finance Committee Meeting=April 6, 2005 - Page 3 A motion by Grimes seconded by LeLacheur to reconsider the previous vote was approved by a vote of 6-1-0, with Robinson opposed. A motion by Grimes seconded by Williams to approve the Vocation School budget of $253,980 failed by a vote of 4-3-0, with Robinson, McDonald and LeLacheur opposed. Review Article 17 Re: Nurse Advocate - Bob LeLacheur asked if there are any plans in Town for additional assisted living, and the Town Manager indicated that there are not. Paul Bolger noted that he talked to people-over the weekend and he heard comments that it is bad for people to be shut in and alone. Paula Koppel from CPN noted that the option should be available to them, and that it is an individual decision. Paul Bolger asked if advocacy was crisis intervention, and Paula Koppel noted that it is not meant to be, but has been primarily lately because there are no plan in place yet. She also noted that any technology can be provided at home, a person has to have the right insurance coverage, etc. Chuck Robinson asked Paula Koppel when CPN received the $100,000 grant, and she noted that it was a couple of months ago. Chuck Robinson suggested allowing our new Elder Services Administrator to draw her own conclusions and then revisit this in one year. Andrew Grimes asked if there is any interest from health care providers or insurance companies in supporting this. Paula Koppel noted that nobody wants to step to the plate unless they gain from it. The Town Manager noted that the cost of nurse advocacy is far less than the cost of a nursing home. He also noted that the new Elder Services Administrator is starting this week and the study that we had done needs to be implemented. He noted that the Hospital Development Committee is looking at different options. Bob LeLacheur noted that our State and Federal representatives need to work on this. Pete Dahl asked when the grant money will be fully expended and what will they do. Paula Koppel noted that the money is expected to last one year. The organization also does fundraising. The Town Manager noted that Town Meeting could do an instructional motion with no money attached. If they do approve it, then they would have to identify where the money comes from. A motion by Grimes seconded by McDonald to not recommend the subject matter of Article 17, but to do a study and reconsider it at a later date was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. The Town Manager noted that the Elder/Human Services Study that we had done did not recommend that the Town be involved in this because CPN is doing a great job. Finance Committee Meeting=April 6, 2005 - Page 4 A motion by Grimes seconded by Torman to adjourn the meetinIz of April 6, 2005 at 9:50 p.m. was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Secretary