HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-11-24 Finance Committee MinutesRE' EIV D
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READING FINANCE C 0 M
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This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee was held in the Conference Room
of the Town Hall on the evening of Tuesday, November 24, 1992.
Chairman Dick Coco called this meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Dick Coco, Chairman
Fred Van Magness,.Vice Chairman
Bill Albro
Bill Murphy
Carroll McMillan
Nate White
Liz Greene
Jim Keigley
Gerry MacDonald
OTHERS PRESENT: Maria Silvaggi, Reporter, THE READING CHRONICLE
Matt Cummings, Chairman, READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE
General purpose of this meeting was to continue review of School Department
data.
Jim Keigley presented a report of the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee.
They met on 11/23/92 and elected officers. Jim Keigley elected Chairman and
Mark Huber Vice Chairman and George Thompson Secretary. Committee members
Jim Keigley, Mark Huber and Bill Murphy form the Fin Comm accompanied Roger
Sanstaial (Chr. School Building Committee) and Peter H.. on a tour of 5 schools.
They toured all but the High School (this would take a day in itself). The
tour ran from 8:30AM to 1:45PM. The schools need a lot of work on the physical
plants. There is a tour of Reading streets scheduled for December 12. This
Committee will meet again on Monday 11/30/92 and they will evaluate the debt
which the Town can carry. Their first report to FinComm was due in December
but the late start of the Committee will result in the report being filed at
a later time.
Bill Albro and Bill Murphy had a productive meeting with Officer Cormier and
reviewed the computer needs of the Police Department. They reviewed all the
qualities of the systems and data provided. They were able to convince the
vendor to offer a price reduction. Bill Murphy recommended a fan purchase
for the system in next years departmental budget in order to keep system cool
and reduce hazard of burn out. There is no planned obsolesence for the system.
Fred Van Magness suggested CIAS/C come up with "replacement reserve account.'
Bill Murphy and Bill A1bro were offered the thanks of the Committee for the
excellent review with the Police Department and results of price. reductions
and suggestions for future budget years.
FINANCE COMMITTEE - 2 -
November 24, 1992
The Committee then moved into the review of the School Committee data which has
been provided. Each member would present on their piece of the data they have
reviewed.
Liz Green reported on Secion 2/Bldg. Maint - most all expenses are related to
the department and consistent with what would be found in the budget. She
made reference to Austin Service and Sales and would question the fair number
of items and what and when. She found that several individual checks are cut
for the same vendor on the same day and wonders why one check combining all the
invoices could not be cut?
Fred Van Magness reported on Section 1/Professional Development - there was no
definition of "professional development provided" and he thought it was strictly
for education. It was difficult to track from typed sheet to computor print
out. A question was made relating to the purchase of bottle water. He felt it
would be beneficial to have charges for items broken up by schools, programs.
Rich Coco made comment that we don't have criteria to know which is what interms
of codes and how they relate to costs
Nate reported on Metco Funds - His review accounted for all expenditures with
exception of $48.00 (according to his calculations). It is important to note
that we subsidize Metco by $3500 per student X 95 students ($332,500) and only
receive $100,000 for general school use.
Bill Murphy asked for a distribution of funds for special education as it
relates to Metco.
Rich Coco reported on Section 10/taffing - his review for the 91-92 period
indicated that postions jived for reporting data.
Rich Coco made note of some additional items which needed to be requested
from the School Committee and he will send a letter.
The Committee choose to begin review of the Reading Light Department next week
in order to give the School Committee time to provide additional documents.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:30 PM on motion by Fred and second by Gerry.
Respectful Y u,mitted:
Gerry MacDonald
Acting Secretary