HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-22 Finance Committee MinutesFinance Committee Meeting
March 22, 2000
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The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, _16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Carol Grimm, Vice Chairman Richard
McDonald, FinCom Members Catherine Martin, Mary Grimmer, Robert LeLacheur, Paul
Kurker, Neil Cohen, Charles Robinson, James Francis, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner,
Selectman George Hines, School Committee Chairman Pete Dahl, Fire Chief Donald Wood,
School Building Committee Member Jeff Strueble, Owen MacDonald from the Reading Daily
Chronicle, and Kendra Cooper.
Liaison Reports
Catherine Martin reported on the Open Space Committee.
Action Items
The Finance Committee reviewed the following Warrant Articles:
Article 6 - Authorization for the disposition of surplus material and equipment. Paul Kurlcer
asked what would happened if we deferred the replacement of the fire pumper or ambulance.
Fire Chief Don Wood noted that he felt this would jeopardize public safety. The ambulance has
60,000 miles on it but a lot of hours. The ambulance would go into reserve status. If we don't
run the ambulance, we can't receive income from ambulance runs. That income this year is over
$200,000.
On motion by Francis seconded by McDonald, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the
subject matter of Article 6 by a vote of 9-0-0. Neil Cohen will be doing the presentation at Town
Meeting.
Article 10 - Authorizing Debt - Chapter 90 - On motion by Kurlcer seconded by Martin, the
Finance Committee recommended the subject matter of Article 10 by a vote of 9-0-0. Mary
Grimmer will be doing the presentation at Town Meeting.
Article 14 - Approving Compost Bin Revolving Fund - On motion by Martin seconded by
McDonald, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 14 by a
vote of 9-0-0. Catherine Martin will be doing the presentation at Town Meeting.
Article 15 - Neighborhood Improvement Revolving Fund - There was considerable discussion
on this Article. The Town Manager noted that he feels the Town has a moral obligation to offset
some of the impact of municipal projects on neighborhoods and this fund as provided that
resource. Selectman George Hines agreed.
Francis moved and LeLacheur seconded the motion to approve the subject matter of Article 15.
The Finance Committee voted 0-8-1, with Paul Kurker abstaining. Article 15 is not
recommended. Richard McDonald will do the report at Town Meeting.
Finance Committee Meeting - March 22, 2000 - Page 2
Article 18 - Taking Conservation Bond - Sunset Rock - On motion by Francis seconded by
Kurker, the Finance Committee voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 18 by a vote of
9-0-0. Catherine Martin will be making the presentation at Town Meeting.
The Finance Committee reviewed the allocation of reductions to the FY 2001 budget. Chairman
Carol Grimm reviewed the material previously presented including what was considered fixed
fees and the possible distribution of reductions. The Town Manager noted that he felt that
Proposal 2 was a fairer distribution of the reduction between the Town and the School
Department. If scenario 1 is used, the Town budget will be reduced below FY 2000 levels
whereas the School Department budget will increase approximately $1 million.
Chairman Carol Grimm noted that because of the way in which the Town is considering meeting
its obligations for the budget reductions, she feels that the distribution is a fair distribution.
McDonald moved and LeLacheur seconded a motion to support Proposal #1 which would have
the following impacts: reduce capital by $428,700, reduce maintenance by $212,000, reduce
municipal budgets by $419,774 and reduce the school budget by $829,553.
Chairman Carol Grimm noted that there may be some further modifications on the employee
benefits which would require some small additional reductions. McDonald asked if we looked at
further reductions in benefits, and the Town Manager noted that they are as tight as they can be.
Neil. Cohen asked about further reductions in capital. Robert LeLacheur noted that he is
distressed at not having a nurse in every school building. Mary Grimmer suggested the
possibility of use of a portion of the Burbank funds other than to offset the use of sale of real
estate. There was discussion about whether or not technology capital funds could be reduced,
since the Town Manager noted that virtually all of the reductions in the capital fund are
municipal reductions.
On the motion to support the subject matter of scenario #l, the Finance Committee approved the
motio,ii by a vote of 9-0-0.
On motion by Grimmer seconded by Francis, the Finance Committee voted to adjourn their
meeting of March 22, 2000 at 10:10 p.m. by a vote of 9-0-0.
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