HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-02-28 Finance Committee MinutesCEIVED
OWN CLERK
Finance Committee Meeting READING, MASS.
Senior Center - 49 Pleasant Street
February 28, 2001 Z001 APR -9 P 2: pg
The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading
Massachusetts. Present were Chair Carol Grimm, Vice Chair Richard McDonald,
FinCom Members Catherine Martin, Charles Robinson, Neil Cohen, Andrew Grimes,
James Francis, Robert LeLacheur, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Asst. Town
Manager Russ Dean, Ted McIntire, Robert Keating, Mary Vincent, Pete Dahl, Owen
MacDonald, and Gail Wood.
Peter Hechenbleikner stated the Board of Selectmen have approved the submitted list of
budget reductions, if the override is not successful.
Peter Hechenbleikner gave an overview of the DPW budget for FY2002. There is a
14.5% increase in the budget due to an anticipated increase in solid waste recycling and
pavement management. There are no staff increases.
H14, H15 Cemetery - $213,142. There is an increase in fuel prices. The Cemetery
Perpetual Care Fund has a reduction of $25,000. Mary Vincent stated this fund should
completely cover their costs in the future, and if they continue deducting from it, it won't.
The Laurel Hill Cemetery is full and therefore receives no income. That leaves three
cemeteries covering the cost for four.
H7, H8 Parks & Forestry - $399,141. This budget includes the maintenance for all parks,
fields and school grounds and seasonal labor. Carol Grimm asked if the Compost
Overtime of $18,504 would be recouped from the new stickers. If the override is not
successful, all seasonal labor would be eliminated.
H1 Administration - $95,073. This department handles all billing for the water and sewer
department. It also includes the contracts for the DPW.
H3, H4 Engineering - $235,986. (This includes $91,383 funding from Water and Sewer)
The Civil Engineer has been promoted to a Senior Engineer after receiving his
Professional Engineering license. The Junior Engineering position was reduced to .5 FTE
Co-op position. Ted McIntyre stated the GIS system has saved the engineering
department a lot of time.
Carol Grimm asked if the engineering department has the capability of handling the
pavement management and if the override is not successful, is there enough money in the
budget to cover some of the patching? Ted McIntyre stated the engineering department
would have the manpower to oversee the pavement management, because it would be
contractual. If the override is not successful, there is enough money in the budget to
cover some of the patching.
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Finance Committee February 28, 2001 page 2
115, H6 Highway - $1,176,705. The first year pavement management plan of an
additional $219,241 is included in this budget. This is for crack sealing and major
patching. There is an increase of 1.0 Mechanic to 2.0 Mechanics. This reflects the
transfer of the fire department mechanic to the highway department, to centralize the
municipal equipment maintenance. The department's seasonal labor would be impacted
without a successful override. Robert LeLacheur asked about the overtime. Russ Dean
stated this year's overtime is 88% spent as of January. Ted McIntyre stated they plowed 3
out of 4 weekends in January. Carol Grimm stated the reserve fund has funded snow &
ice every year since 1994, except for 1996.
H11 Street Lights - $206,900. There are over 2,400 streetlights in town. Peter
Hechenbleikner stated they turned off 5% of the streetlights during a budget crunch a few
years ago and have turned back on 25 to 30 of those.
H12 Rubbish - $1,141,900. Ted McIntyre stated they have applied for a grant application
related to previous membership in RESCO and if successful, would receive $90,000 the
first year, $50,000 the second year and $50,000 the third year. The bids for the trash
contract open March 22, 2001.
H13 Snow & Ice - $251,100. This reflects an increase of $25,000 as recommended by the
Board of Selectmen.
N Water - $1,935,636. Gail Wood stated the new budget was increased to reflect figures
from the MWRA. This budget includes staff, water treatment plant and distribution. Part
of the Town Manager's and Assistant Town Manager's salaries are included in this
budget for the work they perform at the water department. A hydraulic study was
performed and a presentation is scheduled for the March 13, 2001 Board of Selectmen's
meeting. This study would impact the Capital Improvement Plan.
01, 02, 03 Sewer - $3,549;773. This budget represents an increase of 9.4% as a result of
the figures from the MWRA. The sewer department cleaned 16,000' of sewer pipe this
year. There is $200,000 in the Capital Improvement Plan for the continuation of this.
On a motion by Neil Cohen, seconded by James Francis, the Finance Committee voted to
approve the minutes of their January 31, 2001 meeting, as amended.
The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0-0.
On a motion by James Francis, seconded by Richard McDonald, the Finance Committee
voted to adjourn their meeting at 9:40 PM.
The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Joy Mohr
> Recording Secretary