HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-10-20 Finance Committee MinutesFinance Committee Meeting
October 20, 1993
The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room at
16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. Present were Chairman Dick
Vice Chairman Fred Van Magness; FinCom Members Jim Keigley,
Gerry MacDonald, Bill Murphy, Steve Blewitt; Town Manager
Peter Hechenbleikner; Maria Silvaggi from the Chronicle and
Brad Latham from Latham and Latham Law Office.
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The Chairman stated that every meeting is an independent meeting,
therefore if a member needs to reconsider a vote from the previous
meeting, he may do so if he was on the winning side.
Fred Van Magness disagrees with the cafeteria' he
doesn't think it is right that the taxpayersiave to foot the
bill.
Questions arose on whether to approve the Minutes at the beginning
of each meeting, or take them home to review and vote at the
next meeting. Fred Van Magness stated if we met on a weekly
basis fine, but with the monthly meetings he felt we might forget
the discussions at the meeting.
Steve Blewitt volunteered to serve on the Swimming Pool Task
Force to represent the Finance Committee.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve the October 13, 1993 Minutes as amended.
The motion was approved with a vote of 6-0-0.
The November 3, 1993 meeting will pertain to the water and sewer
budgets.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve the increase for line item A-1 in
the amount of $2,312 for personal services in the Accounting
Department. The motion was approved with a vote of 6-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve the increase of $3,550 for personal.
services in Community Development. The motion was approved
with a vote of 6-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve the increase of $7,778 for personal
services in the Finance Department. The motion was approved
with a vote:of 6-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Bill Murphy the committee
voted to approve the increase for line item C-8 in the amount
of $7,390 for Capital in the Finance Department. The motion
was approved with a vote of 6-0-0.
Finance Committee Meeting
October 20, 1993
Page #2
Fred Van Magness questioned the need for a new computer for
the library. The Town Manager stated that the computer they
have now is inoperable, the repair cost would range from $300
to $500. Jim Keigley stated that he has full faith in the staff
and feels that the staff would not ask unless they were in desperate
need.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve the increase in line item D-1 - D-12
in the amount of $11,925 for personal services. The motion
was approved with a vote of 6-0-0.
Bill Murphy did not approve of the Town Manager's salary, in
comparison to the salary levels of the police chief, superintendent
of schools and Reading Light Department's Manager. The Town
Manager stated that the Selectmen are reviewing this issue.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve a credit in the amount of $29,550
for line items D-3, D-5, D-10, and D-11. The motion was approved
with a vote of 6-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve the increase of $5,096 for personal
services in the Human Services Department. The motion was approved
with--a vote of 6-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by. Jim Keigley the committee
voted to approve line item G-1, for Police Personal Services,
in the amount of $61,270. The motion was approved with a vote
of 5-1-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve the increase in line item G-3, for
Animal Control personal services, in the amount of $234,00.
The motion was approved with a vote of 6-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve the increase in line item G-5 by
$84,725, for Fire/Emergency Management. The motion was approved.
with a vote of 6-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee mooted to approve the increase in line item G-7, personal
services for the Public Safety Department in the amount of $4,2,78.
The motion was approved with a vote of 6-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve the increase in line item H-15 in
the amount of $23,417. The motion was approved with a vote
of 6-0-0.
Finance Committee Meeting
October 20, 1993
Page #3
On motion-by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve the increase in line item H-21, personal
services for the cemetery department in the amount of $4,239.
The motion was approved with a vote of 6-0-0.
On motion by.Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve line item I-1, salary adjustment
fund, as a credit in the amount of $156,975. The motion was
approved with a vote of 6-0-0.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
committee voted to approve the increase in line item J-2, for
the Northeast Regional Vocational School District Assessment,
in the amount of $2,225. The motion was approved with a vote&
of 3-2-1.
Article 6 was reviewed briefly, it pertains to the installation
of a sewer line on Larch Lane. The committee will vote of this
issue at the November 3, 1993 meeting.
Article 13, is in regards to the sale of Bear Hill. The buyer
would like Lot #50 to be included in the sale, for-the purpose
of accessibility to the development, as well as a recreational
area and also used for drainage purposes.
The property will be used to house 100 to 160 apartments or
condominium units, with a sale price of $1 million to $1.9 million
depending on the number of units..
off-site improvements would be paid as follows: The town would
pay the first $50,000, the developer would then pay the next
$50,000 and the town would be responsible for anything after
that. The town manager stated that we accepted a higher price
for the praoeT_Ty and ?ff-site improvements would be, supplied partially
by the town.
Fred Van Magness stated that he was concerned about the number
of children would be put in the school system from the development,
in comparison to the tax revenue. Also, what type of impact
will it have on the town's water supply.
There has been an Evaluation Committee for this property in
regards to the number of children in condo developments. Brad
Latham reported that the number is less that 1 child per unit,
with the exception of Charles Street.
The Finance Committee requested copies of the Evaluation Committee's
report for review before they will vote on this issue.
On motion by Fred Van Magness seconded by Gerry MacDonald the
Finance Committee adjorned their.meeting with a vote of 6-0-0.
,pectfully submitted,
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