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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-02-22 Finance Committee MinutesFinance Committee Meeting i February 22, 1993 A meeting of the Finance Committee was called to order at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, February 22, 1993 in the Conference Room at the Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street. The following members were present: Chairman Richard Coco, Fred Van Magness, Bill Murphy, Gerry MacDonald, Bill Albro, Stephen Blewitt, Jim Keigley, and Liz Greene. Also in attendance was the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Robert Munnelly, as well as several members of the School Committee. Under the first order of business the Finance Committee reviewed and voted on the following minutes from previous meet- ings: It was moved by Fred Van Magness, seconded by Gerry Mac- Donald, to approve the minutes of the November 24, 1992 meeting. The motion was approved by a vote of 6:0:1. It was moved by Gerry MacDonald, seconded by Bill Albro, to approve the minutes of the January 6, 1993 meeting. The motion was approved by a vote of 5:0:2. It was.moved by Fred Van Magness, seconded by Bill Albro, to approve the minutes of the January 27, 1993 meeting. The motion was approved by a vote of 7:0:1. . Following these motions, Finance Committee member Bill Mur- phy submitted an up-to-date budget review draft (attached) which indicated total Fin Com recommendations, school requests, net difference, and changes still required to meet goal. Liz Greene expressed reservation that she was "not sure the answer is for line item recommendations". Chairman Coco responded with the need for Fin Cot to be in- formed for Town Meeting and felt the process (of reviewing each line item) helped them to prepare. Next Dr. Munnelly gave an outline of what Special Education entails. Students.within the community from age 3 up to age 22, who require special services, are the responsibility of the School Department. Dr. Munnelly went on to express his preference to integrate these children into the regular classroom curriculum and then give some special separate services. A lengthy discussion ensued between the Finance Committee and the School Committee regarding the costs of providing these special services, as well as the need to determine/ anticipate more specifically what services will be required and for how many children. Finance Committee Meeting February 22, 1993 page 2 A request was made by Fin Com member Gerry MacDonald for some "up-to-date figures" on these services. Fin Com member Fred Van Magness expressed his concern over funds requested for "potential" need. Matt Cummings, Chairman of the School Committee, responded that the process of predicting is difficult because decisions, evaluations,:and parent discussions are still going on so it must be presented as "potential". Van Magness noted that (he) "understands the variability, however, you are looking at one half a million dollars of poten- tial need, money that we do not have". At the end of a lengthy debate, Fred Van Magness made a mo- tion, seconded by Gerry MacDonald, to reduce the Special Educa- tion Budget by $15,000 dollars from psychological exams, and $7,000 dollars from occupational therapy. The motion passed by a vote of 4:3:1. On a motion by Fred Van Magness, seconded by Gerry Mac- Donald, it was moved to reduce the budget by $15,000 dollars for blacktop. The motion passed by a vote of 7:0:1. It was then moved by Fred Van Magness, seconded by Gerry MacDonald, to reduce the private school tuition line item by $100,000 dollars. After a brief discussion the main motion was amended to $50,000 dollars by Gerry MacDonald, seconded by Bill Murphy. The amendment passed by a vote of 5:2:1. Fin Com member Jim Keigley argued against both motions, noting-that these special services are state mandated and by making cuts we "are not doing justice" to the program. Fin Com member Stephen Blewitt made a motion to delete $44,000 dollars from the public school tuition line item, adjust- ing that amount to $148,500 dollars. The motion passed by a vote of 4:3:1. At 9:15 p.m. the Fin Com adjourned for a brief recess. The meeting reconvened at 9:30 p.m. with a motion by Bill Murphy, seconded by Gerry MacDonald, to recommend an adjustment to the bottom line only and dispense with the individual line item vote. Mr. Murphy went on to explain that he did not feel qualified to cut $200,000 dollars from this education budget. The Chairman, Mr. Coco, felt the line item process should con- tinue. The motion to adjust the bottom line only failed by a vote of 1:6:1. Finance Committee Meeting February 22, 1993 Page 3 As the Finance Committee began to review the School Athletic Budget, Fred Van Magness express his dissatisfaction with the School Committee/ Superintendent for increasing the Athletic Director's position without an increase in programs. He ques- tioned their "rationale" for such a measure. Upon review of the Custodial Budget it was moved by Fred Van Magness, seconded by Gerry MacDonald, to reduce the supervisor's line item by $29,640 dollars. The motion failed by a vote of 2:5:1. On another motion by Fred Van Magness, seconded by Gerry MacDonald, it was moved to reduce the summer/temporary help from $45,000 dollars to $38,000 dollars. The motion to reduce the line item by $7,000 dollars passed by a vote of 6:1:1. At the conclusion of the School Department's Budget review, Dr. Munnelly informed the Finance Committee of several major repair/ replacement costs which will be requested for several items which included: a burner, an oil tank, and track upgrading. Fin Com member Bill Murphy noted that the next mission of 1' the committee will be to balance the budget on the municipal side. Chairman Coco moved to adjourn the meeting of the Finance Committee at 10:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Gail A. Faller Recording Secretary