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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-03-18 Finance Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE READING FINANCE COMMITTEE MARCH 18, 1992 MEMBERS PRESENT Fred VanMagness, Vice Chairman Liz Greene Gerry MacDonald Carroll MacMillan Bill Murphy Bill Burditt, Chairman (arriving late) OTHERS PRESENT: Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager Jonathan Edwards, Community Development I. AGENDA *The agenda of remaining items on the Town's Budget was discussed as follows. *Community Development Budget *Water Budget *Sewer Budget *Trash Budget *State/Local Aid Budget *Reserve Budget *Cemetary Budget *Parks/Forestry Budget *Warrants II. BUDGET A. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTICONSERVATION *Peter Hechenbleikner introduced Jonathan Edwards of this -1- Board of Selectmen or the School Committee regarding the letter that had been sent by the Finance Committee. This letter had requested a response but according to Bill Burditt, no responses have been received at this time. II. BUDGET A Public Works Dgpartment, Highway and Equipment Maintenance *Ted McIntyre, Assistant Director of Public Works, presided over this discussion at this time. The Town Manager was called to attend a By-Laws meeting in the building at this time. *Nate White opened up discussion with some questions on the equipment maintenance. *Fred VanMagness asked about the ratios of management to workers. *Ted indicated here that there is only one Superintendent and all the rest of the workers are in the field. Sometimes the Superintendent is in the field as well. *Geny MacDonald asked about the longevity jump. *Ted explained the longevity is based on the number of years that the people have spent in Reading and that you must have worked five years to have longevity. *Fred had a question on the gas line trench and directed it to Ted. *Ted discussed the amounts of locations and the follow-up that is being done. *Bill indicated that he has some major concerns with the conditions of the roads in the Town of Reading. *Bill wants to know what the priorities are with the roads and that there will be major problems arising soon. *Mr. McIntyre explained that the level of funding is putting a stop to -2- road repairs in the Town. *Gerry MacDonald directed a question to Ted with regard to line painting and juggling of numbers. *Ted told him that paint is being used instead of a better use of the material, therma plaster. *The Chairman asked Mr. McIntyre if he had any disagreement to the method of spending that was decided by the Town Manager in this budget and Ted indicated he did not. *The same amount of painting on the lines will be accomplished, but only using different, less costly materials to paint the lines. *McDonald noticed that the estimate of what is spent on Police Details was not in the list of line items. *McDonald then suggested the possibility of thinking of "flagmen" rather than police for these details. *Ted told the group that there is equipment that needs replacement now and that this equipment is the "big equipment". *Fred asked about ownership of the equipment and if Reading really needs to own its equipment or if the possibility of renting it would be more feasible. *Nate suggested that the Department is trying to maintain what they can and that it has become a 'patch-up" job at best. *Bill Burditt had a question about the number of people in the department and if this number would be kept busy. *Fred noticed that in this Budget, the costs of labor are higher than the cost of materials.. *Fred asked if there was a plan to have anyone in this Department work on the Senior Center Fire Station Project. * Mr. McIntyre indicated that there was no such plan in effect. -3- *Carroll MacMillan had a question of the. number of pieces of eq uipment and Ted answered that there were 75. *Mr. MacMillan asked what the line for engine fuel was used for in this Budget and Ted said it was used for the Public Works Department. MOTION: Fred VanMagness moved to approve personal services in the Public Works Highway and Equipment Maintenance budget in the amount of $473,857 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE: S - 2 - 0 APPROVED MOTION: Fred VanMagness moved to approve non personal services in the Public Works Highway and Equipment Maintenance budget in the amount of $204,426 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move. AMENDMENT MOTION.• Gerry MacDonald moved to amend and to approve non personal services in the Public Works Highway and Equipment Maintenance budget in the amount of $198,426 and Fred seconded this move. DISCUSSION.• *Mr. MacDonald gave a rationale in that the line painting seems more logical for $9, 000 than the Town Manager's sum. *Liz Greene asked question of how this figure was arrived. *Ted indicated using paint for supplies rather than the more expensive material. *Liz understands that the Town Manager asked all departments to stay in specific guidelines. Town Manager wishes to have a bottom line on how the department would be structured. AMENDMENT VOTE. 2 -.4 - I DEFEATED (with Carroll MacMillan abstained) -4- MAIN MOTION VOTE: S - 1 - 1 APPROVED (with MacMillan abstained) AT THIS TIME IN THE MEETING A 15 MINUTE BREAK OF SESSION B Cemetery Division/Public Works Budget *Town Manager gave input into the Cemetery Budget after his return to the Finance Committee meeting from the By-Laws meeting. *Town Manager explained the salary of the Director had been increased because the Director does not have overtime in his budget. *Peter told the group that there are three Town vehicles in the Cemetery Department, one of which has a radio. The purpose of the radio is for accidental occurrences. *In the Town Manager's explanation of the line items, he also explained the five-year program for paving some of Laurel Hill. *Here, Joyce Miller, Trustee, spoke of the. cemetery's success. *Fred VanMagness had an investment of funds question for Ms. Miller at this time. *John Silvaggi responded regarding investing of funds. *Mr. VanMagness was pleased that the Cemetery Budget was presented the way in which it had been to the Committee and told the two Trustees in attendance that they had done a good job with their budget. -5- MOTION. Fred VanMagness moved to approve the Cemetery Budget personal expenses in the amount of $153,445, the amount to be funded with a combination of cemetery sale of lots and bequest income. Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve this budget. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED MOTION: Fred VanMagness moved to approve non personal expenses in the amount of $30,700 funded from the sale of cemetery lots. Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve and had a question about vehicles being available with in-town mileage. Town Manager told Mr. MacDonald that in-town mileage was available. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED MOTION: Fred VanMagness moved to approve Line 251 for $6, 000 from the sale of cemetery lots and Nate White seconded this move. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED *Again, Fred VanMagness commented that the Cemetery Board of Trustees should be aware of the pleasure that the Finance Committee had in working with them this year. C Snow and Ice BudgetIPublic Works Department *The Town Manager presented this budget with the aid of Mr. McIntyre. A discussion regarding the equipment ensued. The age of the equipment was an issue here. -6- *Carroll MacMillan told the Committee of a woman who was very disappointed with the Public Works Department in the Town of Reading that the sidewalks were not being plowed, but that the Town would take time to plow off the skating areas. MOTION..- Fred VanMagness moved to approve this in the amount of $110,000 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this segment of the Snow and Ice Budget. DISCUSSION: Fred asked why no Personal and Non-Personal services in this budget statement. The Town Manager explained that contracted services are mostly used - borrowing personnel. VOTE. 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED D Parks and Forest Public Works *The Town Manager presented this budget to the Finance Committee with explanations of each line and explains the organizational chart of the Forestry, Parks, and Cemetery Division. *Fred had a question on salary increase. *Peter indicated that additional duties were asked for the position. *Dick Coco had a question of the wording of "working foreman". Dick has an issue with the title, as he said that all foreman work. *Carroll MacMillan had a question as to how busy these people in this particular department are in the Winter and Ted McIntyre indicated that they are kept busy with outdoor trimming of trees, Christmas lighting, etc. *Fred VanMagness had a question here as to why this budget is broken down so much and the Town Manager explained that it was the request of Town Meeting. -7- *Carroll MacMillan asked a question on uniforms and Peter Hechenbleikner answered that the Town will provide up to $100 per year for uniforms and one pair of boots. This is phasing out, however. *Fred VanMagness asked if anyone in this department would be working on the ice skating site. *Mr. McIntyre indicated that no Public Works employees would be working on the ice skating project. *Peter Hechenbleikner is not saying that the Public Works workers will not be working near the site of the new ice skating rink, but not directly for the rink itself or on this particular project. Ice Skating Rink issue on a special Town Warrant. *Gerry MacDonald had a question of the grinding of tree stumps that was answered by Mr. McIntyre to his satisfaction. MOTION.• Mr. VanMagness moved to approve line H17 in the amount of $217,684 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE: 6 - I - 0 APPROVED MOTION: Fred VanMagness moved to approve line H18 in the amount of $19,310 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE: 6 - I - 0 APPROVED E Building MaintenanceIPublic. Works Department *The Town Manager cites the excellent job done by Ted McIntyre on this preparation of the Public Works budget. *Gerry MacDonald has a question on contracting regarding the. Pleasant -8- Street Fire Station. *Fred VanMagness talked of the overtime at the Main Street Fire Station and asked why contractual maintenance was on this budget. *Fred also asked about overtime in Town Hall by maintenance workers. *Both the Town Manager and Ted McIntyre explained the day shift/night shift system. The Town Hall, Police Station, Public Works Facility, the Library... all need custodians to help handle things. These custodians float to all of the buildings in the Town. *Fred VanMagness asks about the $60, 000 revenue from Pearl Street. *Peter Hechenbleikner told the Committee that the Town is still actively trying to sell Pearl Street first. After that option, trying to lease Pearl Street and take over expenses. Town acts to rent to individuals for rental fees on this Pearl Street building. *Mr. VanMagness indicated that we should not subsidize a building for the Town that does not make money. *The Town Manager agreed with Fred in this matter, but is now dealing with all the options available. MOTION.• Fred VanMagness moved to approve personal expense in the amount of $63.530 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED MOTION: Fred VanMagness moved to approve non personal expense in the amount of $261,266 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move. VOTE: - 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED -9- MOTION.• Fred VanMagness moved to approve line 13 in the amount of $7,500 and Nate White seconded this move to approve. VOTE. 6- 0 - I APPROVED (with Gerry MacDonald abstained) F Water Division/Public Works Department *Peter discussed significant reduction in cost. Bi-Monthly billing is a one-time cost. *Carroll MacMillan exclaimed that the Enterprise Account goes beyond the Balance Sheet. *Bill Burditt indicated that the questions Mr. MacMillan posed may not be answerable this evening. If not answerable, Bill indicated delaying the questions. *Carroll said that he was not sure just how Municipal Accounting works but that he did not understand the financial statements. *Bill Burditt asked Carroll if he felt that this may be an impact on the voting of this budget tonight and Carroll indicated that if the figures were correct, there would be impact: *Peter Hechenbleikner explained that a portion of the budget is apart from this issue and can be voted this evening. *Mr. MacMillan had user charges questions but no answer to these questions can be given this evening from the Town Manager. MOTION: Fred VanMagness moved to approve line Ml in the amount of $452,992 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE: T- 0 - 0 APPROVED -10- MOTION.• Fred VanMagness moved to approve line M2 in the amount of $894,462 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE: 7 - 0 - O APPROVED MOTION.• Fred VanMagness moved to approve line M3 in the amount of $60,508 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED MOTION: Fred VanMagness moved to approve line M4 in the amount of $82,000 and Gerry MacDonald moved to approve this motion: DISCUSSION: Fred had a question on the Water Treatment Plant and Gerry asked why the roof did not get done before. VOTE: 6 - 0 - 1 APPROVED G Sewer Division,/Public Works Department *Peter Hechenbleikner explained this budget to the Committee as this time in the meeting and motion was on the floor. MOTION.• Fred VanMagness moved to approve line N1 personal service in the amount of $149,309 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move. VOTE. 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED MOTION.• Fred VanMagness moved to approve line N2 non personal expense in the amount of $3,112, 12,076, the amount of $95, 000 coming from Sewer Surplus funding and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move. -11- DISCUSSION.• Gerry MacDonald asked a question here about bi-monthly billing and Peter responded that a report would be coming next week in explanation of the billing process. VOTE. 4 - 3 - 0 APPROVED MOTION: Fred VanMagness moved to approve Debt Service in this budget in the amount of $41,338 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move. VOTE. S - 2 - 0 APPROVED III DISCUSSION FROM TOWN MANAGER/.RESERVE FUND TRANSFER A. Recycling Issue *Peter Hechenbleikner explained the possibility of approving a Reserve ( Fund Transfer request for one month Recycling until April. This would then give Town Meeting the option to keep Recycling. Peter asks for a sense of the Committee on this issue so as to avoid a gap in the recycling service. *Bill Burditt indicated that we have not had the need for Reserve Fund .Transfer this year as we have in the past and will support.this one month Reserve Fund Transfer of recycling to give the Town Meeting the opportunity to make their decision. *Nate White told the group that he if recycling was to be dropped completely, the agony of this would be prolonged. *Liz Greene asked for a roll-call vote from the Committee: *Fred VanMagness - yes *Liz Greene - yes *Dick Coco - yes *Carroll MacMillan - yes *Bill Burditt - yes *Gerry MacMillan - no *Nate White - yes -12- *It was the sense of the Committee to allow this recycling issue to be discussed at the next meeting with regard to one month support of Reserve Fund Transfer. IV. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Fred VanMagness moved to adjourn this meeting of the Reading Finance Committee and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to adjourn. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED *This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee was adjourned at 10:35 PM. Respectfully submitted, Sue Finn, Secretary Reading Finance Committee A 03/12/92 -13-