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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-13 Finance Committee MinutesFinance Committee Meeting October 13, 2004 The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room, Coolidge Middle School, 89 Birch Meadow Drive, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman James Francis, Vice Chairman Charles Robinson, Members Richard McDonald, Andrew Grimes, Paul Bolger, Michele Williams, Harold Torman, Marsie West and Robert LeLacheur. Also present were Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Superintendent of Schools Pat Schettini, Town Accountant Richard Foley, School Committee Members Pete Dahl, Elaine Webb and John Carpenter. The members introduced themselves to Michele Williams who is the newest Finance Committee Member. Approval of Minutes There were no Minutes to approve. Discussion/Action Items Review Warrant for Subsequent Town Meeting - The Finance Committee proceeded to review the Warrant for the Subsequent Town Meeting. On the issue of Articles 3/5 involving School Department capital expenditures, the Superintendent of Schools explained through the packet of correspondence which was distributed, that the Department of Revenue had not approved the School Department's transfer of $650,000 at the end of FY 2004 to raise capital projects. Therefore, the Warrant Article 3 on the Capital Improvements Program, and Article 5 on the Budget would accomplish what the School Committee had intended to accomplish at the end of FY 2004. The surplus $650,000 was because of Circuit Breaker funding in excess of what was anticipated. The additional expenses for the three school projects will be SBA eligible to the extent that the SBA caps have not been reached. The Town Accountant noted that he would have to do revised financials, and the auditor may have to do some additional work based on this ruling from the Department of Revenue. Bob LeLacheur asked if this money could be spent on anything else other than the technology intended, and the comment was that it can be as long as it is for that project. Chuck Robinson asked what would happen if more money was needed than is available, and the School Department noted that they would need an additional appropriation. Bob LeLacheur suggested that in the School Department's presentation, they should show the status for each school and what the SBA limits are for each school. The School Committee will formally vote on these Articles at their next meeting although they have voted on the same subject matter twice. Finance Committee Meeting - October 13, 2004 - Page 2 On motion by Robinson seconded by McDonald, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 3 as presented by a vote of 9-0-0. There was no action to be taken under Article 4. On motion by Grimes seconded by Torman, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 5 for Lines C9, F6, J12, J13, J14, I and C10 by a vote of 9-0-0. Upon discussion on having adequate information and the need for a new wood chipper, on motion by Grimes seconded by Bolger, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 5 for Line J6 for a wood chipper in the amount of $50,000 by a vote of 7-2-0, with Francis and Robinson opposed. The Finance Committee asked for additional information regarding the wood chipper. There was discussion on Article 16, the Charter amendments. The Finance Committee indicated that they would take a position on Section 7-10 of the proposed Charter amendments which would require that Building Maintenance Budgets be separately voted and money cannot be transferred into or out of that Budget without Town Meeting approval or without a Reserve Fund Transfer. The School Department staff and committee members generally were opposed to the Article. Comments were that they needed the flexibility to be able to transfer money into ( and/or out of Building Maintenance if circumstances require; that this is a major change which should be done only by Charter Commission; that it could effect the Town's ability to spend on net school spending; and that it could publicize a particular student who needed special services if that was the reason for a transfer. The School Committee felt that it was contrary to the Education Reform Law and that in the last five or six years, money has been added to the Building Maintenance Budget, not taken away from it. The Town Manager straightened out what appeared to be a misconception that the purpose of the Article was to move the Building Maintenance function from the School Department to the Town. Pete Dahl indicated that he would move to strike this section at Town Meeting. If that was not done, then he would move to amend it to remove the clause prohibiting the School Committee from transferring money into the Building Maintenance Budget. Several Finance Committee Members spoke and felt that the investment in the schools is a community investment and, therefore, Town Meeting representing the community should vote the amount of money actually spent on school buildings. Two Finance Committee Members felt that they needed more data, including data on what has been transferred into and out of Building Maintenance for the last five years. Finance Committee Meeting - October 13, 2004 - Page 3 On motion by Grimes seconded by Robinson, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 16, Section 7-10, by a vote of 5-3-1 (West abstained). On motion by McDonald seconded by Torman, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 7 by a vote of 9-0-0. On motion by Grimes seconded by Robinson, the Finance Committee votedto recommend the subject matter of Article 8 by a vote of 9- On motion by West seconded by LeLacheur, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 9 by a vote of 9-0-0. On motion by Robinson seconded by Torman, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 10 by a vote of 9-0-0. On motion by LeLacheur seconded by McDonald, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 11 by a vote of 9-0-0. On motion by Torman seconded by Williams, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 12 by a vote of 9-0-0. On motion by McDonald seconded by Torman, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 13 by a vote of 9-0-0. On motion Torman seconded by LeLacheur, the Finance Committee voted to adjourn their meeting of October 13, 2004 at 10:15 p.m. by a vote of 9-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Secretary