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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-09-30 Finance Committee Minutes' 10/20/92 13:08 0617 258 4656 CSDL-EDID lit oo2) M I N U T E S READING FINANCE COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 3 0, 1 9 9 2 This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee was held in the Conference Room of the Town; Hall on the evening of Wednesday, September 30, 1992. Chairman Dick Coco called this meeting to order- at 7:30 PM. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dick Coco, Chairman Tied Van Magness, Vice Chairman Jim Kiegly Carroll MacMillan Bill Albro Nate White Bill Murphy Gerry MacDonald ABSENT: Liz Green OTHERS PRESENT: Maria Silvaggi, Reporter, THE READING CHRONICLE I. CALL To ORDER/ROLL CALL *Chairman Dick Coco called this meeting to order at 7:30 PM and led the roll call of the Committee.. II. NEW BUSINESS Rich Coco began discussion as to items which we should focus on for the investigation of the School budget. He reminded members that we should refrain from issues of. "policy" which come under the perfue of the School Committee as they are the elected policy setting body. The letter from Anonymous was reviewed and the section relative to the police department was eliminated. Nate White made a motion that the questions put forth in this letter were relative to policy issues and not subject for investi&ation. Fred VanMagness seconded the motion and the votes were 8-0-0. Moving on to the letter from Kendrea. Cooper, Fred Van a ness made a. motion to examine professional development expenses both for consultative services and for individual Teimbursement and what the committee budgeted. Bill Albro seconded the motion. Bill Mu`phy amended original motion to include FY 91 as well as FY 92. Gerry MacDonald seconded this motion. The vote on the amendment was 7-0-1. Vote on the main motion was 8--0-0. A lengthy discussion evolved around the custodial expenditures and the end of year "last minute" expenditures. Fred VanMagness addressed the School Committees' authorized $80,000 expenditures. He. suggested that those monies could have gone into free cash. ' 10/20,192 13: 08 $`617 258 4656 CShL-EMI) FINANCE COMMITTEE September 30, 1992 - 2 - Carroll MacMillan requested review of professional development monies, and accountability of same. A request for cash disbursements and list of expenditures, who paid to, amount and if it wa;'s.:0onsultive or seminar, for FY 92. Gerry MacDonald made the school budget for by Bill Murphy. Discussion followed by members as to the extensive detail this would require and Gerry MacDonald, clarified b:ts wording ir,. that his motion was for ALL encumbrances and not just specific to custodial. Bill Murphy offered and amendment to t-fie original motion to include cash disbursements that might bg made out of the schools' maintenance fund. Motion was seconded by Fred VanMagne"_. Nate White reminded the members that this request would be inclusive of salaries and felt it was not necessary. He made a motion for an amendment to exclude salaries and his amendment was seconded by Fred VanMagness. The Chairman moved the question and vote on Nates' amendment was 2-6-0. Vote was taken on Mur h s' amendment and it was 5-3-0. [Tote on the original motion was 8-0-0. Extensive discussion ensued regarding the staffing patterns of the various schools as related to budget. Carroll MacMillan stated that the budgeted amount for staff was inaccurate based on available infor- mation provided by the School Committee. Both Fred VanMagness and Nate White argued that these were policy decisions of the School Comm- ittee and as changes occur its their option to make revisions. Carroll MacMillan disagreed and said that if you budget staff in one area and use them in another, this reflects higher costs in the wrong area. General discussion around this issue was presented by Jim Klegly, Bill Murphy and Fred VanMagness. Rich Coco reminded the members that we were not restricted to the questions on the sheets submitted to us but had an opera window for these investigations as a result of the issues. Motion by and Posit to obtain a complete list of school staff onded by Jim K]:e . Vote was 6-2--0. Members discussed issues relating to grants and how monies are used. Two specific grants were addressed, MFTCO and Eisenhower (science). Fred VanMagness made a motion to look at disbursements, how funded, conv of grants and if needed, fallow up review. Bill Murphy seconded Carroll MacMi a motion requesting lists of all encumbrances in the months of May and June. Motion was seconded Q] 1103 the motion. Vote taken was 8-0-0. 10.20:92 1.3:09 $617 258 4656 CSDL-EMD FINANCE COMMITTEE September 30, 1992 - 3 The issue of the lost books account was brought up for discussion, Members feat we should look at this account as it relates to Text books, etc. Fred VanMagness made motion to review this item. Bill MurpLy seconded motion. Vote was taken, 8-0-0. The haunting issue of the Assistant Superintendent positi.on;calhe up. Much di.scussiQn took place regarding the perks of this position, the details of the severance package, the issue of the 4 day work week, how the contract relates to all these issues. )Rich Coco said that this has been a thorn in the side of the community. Fred VanMagness made amotion to obtain documentation of attendance logs including appointment log books for the Assistant Superintendent for 1991 and 1992. His motion was-seconded by Jim Kiealy. Vote was 7-0-1. - Fred made motion for cry tual and actual severance Kiegly seconded. Vote was of contract f e for Assistant Su tweea Jim Gerry MacDonald framed motion for a summary by year of expenses for secretarial support for doctorate, documentation of monies expended for mileage beyond contractual lump sum car allowance iu-state and out-of-state travel, receipts for tuition reimbursements ,_professional memberships and documentation of costs incurred for attendance or pre.- sentations at local or national conferences. Jim KieAly seconded his motion and vote was 7-0-1. Gerry MacDonald felt we had an obligation to review these items as our role was to investigate and submit our findings and if there was poor documentation then the School Committee to address this and take any actions they felt necessary based on our findings. No further actions were necessary on the letter from Kendra Cooper. Discussion on the letter received from Carroll MacMillan began and since some of the items were similar to the Cooper letter the members agreed to address only those which were different in substance. Carroll MacMillan framed a motion to obtain documentation on the increase in the Principals buffet ($2652)• Seconded by Gerry MacDonald. Vote 7-1-0. [a] 004 Motion by Carroll MacMillan to request a list of types and sources of revenue by that support the school department. Seconded by Fred. Vote 8-0-0. 10/20/92 13:10 FINANCE Ca~NITTEE September 30, 1992 1 'x617 255 4656 CSDL-EMI) - 4 - Fred VanMaguess made motion to pass over items Try and #6 on Carrolls' letter. Bill Murphy seconded. Vote was 7-1--0. Discussion took place regarding the coverage of sick days by substitutes and accuracy of record keeping. Point in question was if all sick days are covered of if not, does this reflect as an overage in substitue budget'oi surplus at end of the year. A motion was made by Carroll MacMillian to review sick day records. Motion was seconded by Bi11 Mur h Vote was 8-0-0- Carroll MacMillan presented questions on the text book issues. He wanted to do a 10 year review but members felt this was somewhat unreasonable. Comprimise was reached and 7 years will be reviewed. Members agreed to request answers to items #8 through f14 on Carrolls' letter from the School Committee. Vote was 8-0--0. Motion to Adjourn by Fred VanMagness and seconded by Gerry MacDonald. Vote. 8-0-0. Respectfu submitted: Cerry MacDonald Acting Secretary NOTE: In attendance at the meeting was Matt Cummings, Chairman of the School Committed who actively participated in the meeting and provided many answers to. questions of the membership. 160.05 In error, he was not included in the roll call on page #1 of these minutes.