Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-30 Finance Committee MinutesC'E'I VED TOWN CLERK ,,,Er DING, MASS. Finance Committee Meeting 2955 APR 20 A 22 March 30, 2005 The meeting convened at 7:35 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Chuck Robinson, Finance Committee Members Paul Bolger, Hal Torman, Michele Williams, Marsie West, Andrew Grimes and Bob LeLacheur. Also present were Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Pete Dahl, Gene Nigro, Maura Looney, Paula Koppel, Bill Anthony, Tom Stackam, Rob O'Connell, Gary Phillips. Discussion/Action Items Discussion Community Parish Nursing - Paula Koppel, Bill Anthony, Gene Nigro, Tom Stackam and Rob O'Connell from Community Parish Nursing were present. Paula Koppel noted that there is a growing but silent unmet need for frail residents who are at risk of spending the last few years of their lives in nursing homes. She also noted that the first choice is to age in place. Partnering a Nurse Advocate for a frail elderly person can help them to do that. She noted that Reading Elder Services focuses mostly on social activities but the need to age in place should be met by the Town of Reading. Ms. Koppel noted that there are 586 residents over the age of 85 years and they have identified 200 residents in Reading in need of nurse advocacy. She is asking the Town of Reading to allocate $100,000 for nurse advocacy. She handed out a chart showing other communities who provide nurse advocacy so that people can live out their remaining years in their home and community. Chairman Chuck Robinson asked how she arrived at $100,000 and asked why it wasn't in the budget. Rob O'Connell noted that this was the recommended process by Town Counsel. The Town Manager noted that the Elder/Human Services Study did not recommend this program and that is why it is not in the budget. Ms. Koppel noted that there are needs not being met. She indicated that Mystic Valley suggests that they provide this service but it does not. Paul Bolger asked for an example of the need not being met. Ms. Koppel indicated that a person has to be income eligible for Mystic Valley, the Visiting Nurses are wonderful but intermittent, and the frail need someone more frequent. Michele Williams asked for the basis for $100,000. Ms. Koppel indicated that it would be for two full-time equivalent nurses to handle the 200 residents who have been identified. Pete Dahl asked if CPN has approached the Hospital Trust. Ms. Koppel indicated that they have but they have the same income requirements as Mystic Valley. Bill Anthony indicated that there is no reason why the Trust couldn't fund nurse advocacy because they fund nurses aids. I Finance Committee Meeting= March 30, 2005 - Page 2 Paul Bolger indicated that he would like to see what the program will look like in five years and ( the cost. Andrew Grimes asked if other towns have a fall time advocate, and Ms. Koppel indicated that each town is different. Chuck Robinson asked CPN to put together historical data that can justify asking for $100,000. Pete Dahl noted that if this gets approved, the Town will have to go out for bid. The Town Manager agreed and noted that all costs will have to be fully accounted for. Chuck Robinson asked if there are any potential grants. Bill Anthony noted that there is the Johnson grant and others, and this is a model that has, national attention. The Finance Committee thanked the representatives of CPN for their presentation. Reserve Fund Transfer - The Town Manager noted that a Reserve Fund Transfer is needed to pay for the printing and mailing of the Charter to all residents. A motion by Torman seconded by Bober to approve the Reserve Fund Transfer in the amount of $11,686 to Account #01-015-5421 was approved by a vote of 6-0-0. Voke School Budget - Voke School Representative Maura Looney was present. The Town Manager noted that the Voke School is requesting the Town of Reading to pay $253,988 but is only required to pay $208,209. The Voke School Budget has a total increase of 3.35% but Reading's share has increased 20% and there is only an increase of one student. Michele Williams asked how the number is arrived at. The Town Manager indicated that nobody knows for sure, but it has to do with the wealth of the community and the number of school children. Bob LeLacheur asked how a town becomes part of the Voke School, and the Town Manager noted that it had to be negotiated, and perhaps a vote of the community is needed for change. Bob LeLacheur asked if there was any competition, and the Town Manager noted there is school choice. Chuck Robinson asked how towns vote on the Voke School Budget, and the Town Manager noted that they have to have eight votes and if they don't, then they work on a 1/12 budget until they do. Bob LeLacheur asked if the Town could negotiate, and the Town Manager noted that we could not. Maura Looney noted that last year's budget was less than a 2% increase. Finance Committee Meeting - March 30, 2005 - Page 3 Budget Review - Voting - The Town Manager reviewed the summary of revenues and indicated that the total FY 2006 revenues is $64,221,000. The summary of expenses for FY 2006 is out of balance by $240,000. The Town Manager reviewed the budget pages that have changes. The Veterans' Services Budget has changed because we will be splitting a 35 hour work week with Wilmington. In the Assessor's Budget, he tools out the amount for the consultant out of the expenses and added it to the salary. The DPW Budget has been increased by $3000 for grave markers. The Town Manager reviewed the capital projects. He noted that he took out the storm water management. He also tools out the sidewalk/curb because it will come out of the revolving fiend. He proposes that Lines J7 and J8 not be funded. The Town Manager noted that there will be major modifications to the FY 2005 Free Cash and there is only $75,000 left in it. There is $800,000 in the stabilization fund and $2.25 million in the sale of real estate fund. The total is excess of 5% of the total budget. Bob LeLacheur asked about federal money for snow and ice, and the Town Manager noted that $160,000 is assumable from FEMA. That money has already been added in but we have not added anything from the State. Chuck Robinson asked if we could move snow and ice money into next year, and the Town Manager indicated that we could but doesn't recommend doing that. Bob LeLacheur asked about taking money from the stabilization fund for snow and ice. The Town Manager indicated that would need a 2/3 vote of Town Meeting. The Committee discussed the Voke School Budget and whether to fully fluid it or pay the minimum. The consensus of the Committee was to add a 3% increase and cost of one student to the minimum amount. The Committee directed the Town Manager to ask the Voke School to call a meeting with legislators to explain the formula. On motion by LeLacheur seconded by Williams, the Finance Committee voted to recommend Lines Al and A2 Accounting in the amount of $126,198 in the FY06 budget by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by West seconded by Torman, the Finance Committee voted to recommend Lines B26 and B27 Community Services in the amount of $1,498,965 in the FY06 budget by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by Williams seconded by West, the Finance Committee voted to recommend Lines C12 and C13 Finance Department in the amount of $963,919 in the FY06 budget by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by Bolger seconded by Williams, the Finance Committee voted to recommend Lines D1 and D2 Library in the amount of $942,817 in the FY06 budget by a vote of 7-0-0. Finance Committee Meeting - March 30, 2005 - Page 4 On motion by Torman seconded by Robinson, the Finance Committee voted to recommend Lines E7 and E8 Public Safety in the amount of $6,656,941 in the FY06 budget by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by Grimes seconded by Torman, the Finance Committee voted to recommend Lines F19 and F20 DPW in the amount of $4,103,791 in the FY06 budget by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by LeLacheur seconded by Torman, the Finance Committee voted to recommend Lanes GI, G2, G3 and G4 Building Maintenance in the amount of $3,834,459 in the FY06 budget by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by West seconded by Williams, the Finance Committee voted to recommend Line H School in the amount of $28,489,503 in the FY06 budget by a vote of 7-0-0. A motion by Williams seconded by West that the Finance Committee recommend Line I Northeast Regional Vocational Assessment in the amount of $253,988 in the FY06 budget was discussed A motion by Grimes seconded by Williams to amend the main motion to the amount of $223,000 was approved by a vote of 7-0-0 and the motion was carried. and recommend Line J1 Debt Service in the amount of $6,898,505 in the FY06 budget by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by Torman seconded by West, the Finance Committee voted to recommend Line K8 Employee Benefits in the amount of $9,178,808 in the FY06 budtet by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by LeLacheur seconded by Williams, the Finance Committee voted to recommend Lines L1, L2 and L3 Water Fund in the amount of $2,927,505 in the FY06 budget by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by LeLacheur seconded by Torman, the Finance Committee voted to recommend Lines Ml, M2 and M3 Sewer Fund in the amount of $3,785,906 in the FY06 budget by a vote of 7-0-0. Review of the Warrant - The Town Manager reviewed the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. Andrew Grimes left the meeting at 9:30 p.m. A motion by LeLacheur seconded to Torman to recommend the subiect matter of Article 4 was approved by a vote of 6-0-0. Bob LeLacheur will give the report at Town Meeting_ Finance Committee Meeting - March 30, 2005 - Page 5 A motion by Torman seconded by Williams to recommend the subiect matter of Article 6 amended for reserve balances from water reserves was approved by a vote of 6-0-0. Chuck Robinson will give the report at Town Meeting. A motion by Torman seconded by LeLacheur to recommend the subject matter of Article 8 was approved by a vote of 6-0-0. Hal Torman will give the report to Town Meeting. A motion by Bolger seconded by Torman to recommend the subiect matter of Article 9 was approved by a vote of 6-0-0. Paul Bolger will give the report to Town Meeting. A motion by LeLacheur seconded by West to recommend the subject matter of Article 12 was approved by a vote of 6-0-0. Bob LeLacheur will give the report to Town Meeting.. A motion by Williams seconded by Torman to recommend the subiect matter of Article 13 was approved by a vote of 6-0-0. Paul Bolger will give the report to Town Meeting. A motion by West seconded by Williams to recommend the subiect matter of Article 14 was approved by a vote of 6-0-0. Marsie West will give the report to Town Meeting. A motion by Torman seconded by Bolger to recommend the subject matter of Article 19 was approved by a vote of 6-0-0. Andrew Grimes will give the report to Town Meeting. Resident Gary Phillips was present. He indicated that money was taken from the Wood End School project and it should have been used for sidewalks. He noted that the caps on all of the school projects have been exceeded. Pete Dahl noted that all projects have a cap. The SBAB will decide what is reimbursable. Gary Phillips noted that the Wood End School should have bigger classrooms and also noted that a traffic study was done. Bob LeLacheur referred Gary Phillips to the School Committee. A motion by LeLacheur seconded by West to adjourn the meetiniz of March 30, 2005 at 10:25 p.m. was approved by a vote of 6-0-0.