HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-03-06 Finance Committee Minutes~l Financial Committee Meeting
March 6, 2002
The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, at the Town Hall,
16 Lowell Street, Reading Massachusetts. Present were Finance Committee members
Richard McDonald, Catherine Martin, Karen Epstein, James Francis, Mary Grimmer,
Bob LeLacheur, Randy Mason, and Chuck Robinson. Also present were members of the
Department of Public Works Bill Brown, Dan Driscoll, Robert Keating, Dave Lee, Ted
McIntire, Peter Tasse, Mike DeBrigard, Mary Vincent, and Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner.
FY 2003 Department of Public Works, G1- G18, $12,259,040
Peter Hechenbleikner reviewed FY 2001 reductions totaling $96,432, FY 2002 reductions
totaling $806,039, and FY 2003 totaling of $113,103. He stated the special rubbish pick-
ups for leaves, trees, and the semi-annual bulk collection have beer' eliminated.
Cemetery, G14 & G15, $139,800.
Fees offset this budget for everything except $4,000. There is no Capital for this
department.
Parks and Forestry, G7 & G8 - $360,279.
Peter Hechenbleikner stated they are working with the recreational revolving fund to see
I` 1 if additional funds could be added to the parks department. In 1990, they stopped all park
maintenance, except for mowing, and three years later spent $250,000, to repair the
damage. The parks are constantly used from April 1 through December 1 for sports. Half
of the maintenance staff was seasonal and has been eliminated from the budget. There is
less pick-up of litter and no school landscaping. There won't be any mulch this year.
James Francis asked if there is any source of funds for this department. Peter
Hechenbleikner replied there is a $10 charge per games, but no fees for practices. This
money goes into the recreational revolving fund. Mary Grimmer stated she does not want
the fields to deteriorate and would like some of the fees to go to the maintenance oBhe
fields. a o
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Administration, G1 & G2 - $85,399. W M C-)
There is a reduction of one clerk. M m
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Engineering, G3 & G4, $235,987.
Highway and Equipment Maintenance, G5 - G6, $904,164. CO
All seasonal labor was eliminated from this budget. The seasonal labor was used for
sidewalk repairs and street paving. The Selectmen are proposing a $3.5 million debt
exclusion, Warrant #10, to fund the pavement management program for five years. This
is contractual work and will not require additional laborers.
Finance Committee - March 6, 2002
page 2
Street Lighting, G11, $204,900.
This department is level funded. There are still some streetlights that have been turned off
since 1990.
Rubbish, G12 - $1,127,060 with revenues of $33,990.
The disposal contract has eleven years remaining of a fifteen-year contract.
Snow & Ice Control, G13, $251,100.
This department is level funded.
Water and Sewer
Continued to the next Finance Committee meeting.
Bob LeLacheur inquired about the status of the third water tower. Peter Hechenbleikner
stated that if we tie into the MWRA we would not need the third water tower. Although
the second water tower on Bear Hill should be replace.
Dick McDonald requested a percentage breakdown of the employee benefits for the
Town and the School Department.
On a motion by James Francis, seconded by Catherine Martin, the Finance Committee
voted to adjourn at 10:10 p.m.
The motion was approved by a vote of 9-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
JMY
Recording Secretary