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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-06-30 Finance Committee Minutes-RECEIVED T pWN CLERK ( Finance Committee Meeting READING. MASS. June 30, 2004 1004 SEP -8 P i= 00 The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman James Francis, Vice Chairman Richard McDonald, Members Chuck Robinson, Robert LeLacheur, Andrew Grimes, Harold Torman and Catherine Martin. Also present were Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, School Committee Member John Carpenter, friends of Hunt Park, representatives Peter Coumounduros and Carolyn Johnson, and the representative from the Advocate. Approval of Minutes On motion by McDonald seconded by LeLacheur, the minutes of April 12, 2004 were approved, as submitted, by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by Robinson seconded by Martin, the minutes of April 26, 2004 were approved by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by Martin seconded by Grimes, the minutes of May 3, 2004 were approved by a vote of 6-0-1, with Torman abstaining. Reorganization The Town Manager was asked to conduct the election for Chairman. On motion by Robinson seconded by Torman, James Francis was nominated for a position of Chairman of the Finance Committee for a term expiring 6-30-05. On motion by Grimes seconded by Torman, nominations were closed by a vote of 7-0-0. James Francis was elected Chairman by a vote of 7-0-0 and he took over the chairmanship. On motion by Martin seconded by McDonald, Chuck Robinson was nominated for a position of Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee for a term expiring 6-30-05. On motion by McDonald seconded by Grimes, nominations were closed by a vote of 7-0-0. Chuck Robinson was elected Vice Chairman by a vote of 7-0-0. On motion by McDonald seconded by LeLacheur, Andrew Grimes was appointed to a three year term on the Audit Committee for a term expiring 6-30-07 by a vote of 7-0-0. Jim Francis reported that Hal Torman and Paul Bolger were re-appointed to the Finance Committee for three year terms. There is still one vacancy. Finance Committee Meeting_ June 30, 2004 - Page 2 Reserve Fund Transfers - The Town Manager presented two Reserve Fund Transfer requests: For Property and Casualty Insurance in the amount of $13,000, and for matching funds for a generator for the Senior Center at the Emergency Management Shelter. The Town Manager noted that the funds for Property and Casualty Insurance were needed because we had to pay the deductible this year for two claims. One was an employment claim and one was a civil suit. Both matters are concluded. The Town Manager noted that the maximum cost of installing a generator is $41,000. We have Homeland Security Grants in the amount of $19,009. This leaves a balance of $22,000 needed for this project. On motion by McDonald seconded by Torman, the Finance Committee voted to approve Reserve Fund Transfers in the amount of $13,000 for Property and Casually Insurance, and $22,000 for a generator for the Senior Center by a vote of 7-0-0. Peter Coumounduros and Carolyn Johnson presented a request for $7,500 in Reserve Fund Transfer for construction of the first phase of the playground at Hunt Park. The group has raised $18,000 to date. The total cost of the project is $48,000. The cost of the first phase is $25,500 which would include a major piece of equipment and the cushioning material underneath it. Grimes moved and Robinson seconded a motion to transfer $7,500 for the Hunt Park Playground. The consensus of the Finance Committee was that this project was added to the Capital Improvements Program in the amount of $20,000. Because of a snafu at Town Meeting, Town Meeting did not get an opportunity to vote any, funds for it. The Finance Committee is viewing this $7,500 as part of the $20,000. The group will continue to do fund-raising. If they still need additional funds, the Finance Committee may support that request at the Fall Town Meeting in an amount not to exceed $12,500 (the difference between $20,000 and the $7,500 approved here). The Finance Committee Members asked whether this was the priority playground. The Town Manager noted that it has priority with Memorial Park, and then one of the Birch Meadow Playgrounds, and then this. He also noted that with many of the school playgrounds, the PTO's put up matching funds to Town funds to expand the playground. The Finance Committee expressed hope that we would get back on track with the playground program, and hopefully be able to fund additional costs of this plus the Memorial Park Playground at the Fall Town Meeting. On the main motion the Reserve Fund Transfer was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Bob LeLacheur asked what was the status of the Sunset Rock Playground. John Carpenter noted that the School Committee had used some non-recurring SPED funds to do the irrigation at the field at Sunset Rock. He was not aware that the School Department transferred any, moneys for the playground. Finance Committee Meeting - June 30, 2004 - Page 3 Liaison Reports - Chuck Robinson reported that the Charter Review Committee had made a number of recommendations including the change to add Article 7-10 which would provide that Building Maintenance budgets for Town and School be voted separately and moneys could be transferred into and out of those budgets only by Town Meeting vote or by Reserve Fund Transfer. The Finance Committee asked that we begin working on the Capital Plan immediately and the Town Manager committed that we would not work on that over the Summer. John Carpenter was asked about the status of hiring a Business Manager, and noted that the Superintendent had received a number of resumes and the quality of the resumes seemed good. The Town Manager reminded the Finance Committee that they had a number of initiatives and resource utilizations that they are working on. The Finance Committee agreed to meet on July 28th to continue this discussion. The Finance Committee established Liaison Assignments as follows: Schools - Richard McDonald, Robert LeLacheur, Chuck Robinson Public Safety - Hal Torman Public Works - Andrew Grimes Library - Marsie West Other Town Departments - Hal Torman T-TAC - Hal Torman Light Department - Paul Bolger Board of Selectmen - James Francis Chairman James Francis thanked Catherine Martin for her nine years of service to the Finance Committee. She received a round of applause from all in attendance. On motion by Torman seconded by McDonald, the Finance Committee voted to adjourn their meeting of June 30, 2004 at 8:50 p.m. by a vote of 7-0-0. Respectfully submitted, PAL