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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-03-11 Finance Committee MinutesRECEIVED TO lN, CLERK READ11"11G. t41ASS. MINUTES OF THE READING FINANCE COMMITTEE MARCH 11, 1992 MEMBERS PRESENT.• OTHERS PRESENT Bill Burditt, Chairman Fred VanMagness, Vice Chairman Dick Coco Liz Greene Gerry MacDonald Carroll MacMillan Nate White APP, f 111,.41 ] '92 Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager Ted McIntyre, Asst Dir/ Public Works Bill Robertson, Asst Dir/ Public Works Joyce Miller, Trustee/Cemetery Board John Silvaggi, Trustee/Cemetery Board Maria Silvaggi, Reporter/CHRONICLE I. OLD BUSINESS A. Finance Committee Discussion *Chairman Bill Burditt told the Finance Committee that he was in receipt of a letter from Kendra Cooper bestowing praise for the Secretary of the Finance Committee in the work accomplished for the Committee minutes. *Bill read aloud the contents of Ms. Cooper's letter, of which comparison was made of Committee minutes done by other Departments. *Ms. Cooper felt that Finance Committee minutes were most complete. *Fred VanMagness asked about receipt of responses from either the -1- VOTE. 6 - 0 - 0 APPROVED MOTION: Gerry MacDonald moved to approve B2 in the amount of $250 and Bill Murphy seconded this move to approve. B. ZONING BOARD *The Town Managerpresented this budget to the Finance Committee. MOTION: Gerry MacDonald moved to approve B5 in the amount of $700 and Bill Murphy seconded this move to approve. VOTE: 6 - 0 - 0 APPROVED C. HISTORICAL COMMISSION i Committee. *Peter Hechenbleikner explained this budget to the Finance MOTION.• Bill Murphy moved to approve B7 in the amount of $200 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE. 6 - 0 - 0 APPROVED D. INSPECTION DIV. *Peter Hechenbleikner explained this budget to the Committee and discussed some of the problem areas. *Nate White asked how the Town was operating currently. *Peter indicated one part time wire inspector and one part time plumbing/gas inspector. *Carroll MacMillan had questions regarding automobile allowance in the mileage reimbursement section. MOTION.• Gerry MacDonald moved to approve B8 in the amount of $48,119 and Bill Murphy seconded this move to approve. VOTE: 6 - 0 - 0 APPROVED MOTION.• Gerry MacDonald moved to approve B9 in the amount of $1400 and Bill Murphy seconded this move to approve. VOTE. 6 - 0 - 0 APPROVED E. GENERAL DEPARTMENT MOTION.• Bill Murphy moved to approve BIO in the amount of $60,746 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE. 6 - 0 - 0 APPROVED MOTION.• Bill Murphy moved to approve B11 in the amount of $600 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE. 6 - 0 - 0 APPROVED E SEWERIWATER BILLING *Peter Hechenbleikner explained this particular budget to the Committee. Peter explains that the bills are becoming increasingly higher, and more billing is necessary for customer convenience. *Nate White feels that he needs some time to digest this decision on billing for Water and Sewer. -3- *Carroll MacMillan has no doubt in his mind that he would like to leave the billing at quarterly, the same time as the tax bills. *Fred VanMagness indicated that a survey would have been beneficial on this issue from the Townspeople to get their input. Fred would prefer bi-monthly decision on the billing. *Geny MacDonald is opposed to bi-monthly billing. *Bill Murphy is opposed to bi-monthly billing. *Nate White indicated he has no preference at this time. MOTION.• Liz Greene moved to approve MI in the amount of $452,992 and bi-monthly billing and Nate White seconded this move. AMENDMENT MOTION.• Bill Murphy moved to approve $447, 826 for Ml and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. AMENDMENT VOTE. 3-3- 0 FAILED MAIN MOTION VOTE. 3 - 3 - 0 FAILED G. TRASH *Peter Hechenbleikner requested the continuation of curbside collection. *Fred VanMagness suggested considering a barrel-sticker program. Using a container instead of trashbags may be the answer. *Gerry MacDonald suggested funding curbside through Townspeople. He cannot see funding recycling and would like to see all the money going out and -4- being put in areas where needs are greater. *Carroll MacMillan asks where the money goes and asks about rebate. *Carroll does not understand why we would pay for a service that we are not intending to receive. *Bill Murphy asks about expenses and feels that this is like a tax increase that he will not be able to deduct from his taxes. Bill also had a contract- signing question. *Fred VanMagness wants exercise of more control and does not want to bid contract and invest in new program. *Fred thinks the Town should stay in the business of trash. He indicated putting enough money into the Budget to take care of collection and disposal recycling and administration costs. *Bill Burditt arrives at this time in the meeting and apologizes to his Committee for his tardiness. Bill had a conflicting meeting this evening. *Bill asked his Committee if, perhaps, this decision of the trash should be given to the Selectmen as to the operations of the Town. *Bill feels the Board of Selectmen should offer and recommend the most effective way to go here. MOTION..- Nate White moved to approve Line 87 in the amount of $177,300 and Carroll MacMillan seconded this move. DISCUSSION..- Carroll feels that the Selectmen have not acted quickly on this issue. AMENDMENT MOTION..- Bill Murphy moved to amend the motion of Line 87 in the amount of $19,800, in his concern about legal fees. VOTE. 2 - S - 0 FAILED AMENDMENT MOTION -5- MAIN MOTION VOTE: 6 - 1 - 0 APPROVED FOR $177,300 AT THIS TIME THERE WAS A FIVE MINUTE RECESS H. WATER AND SEWER *Discussion ensued regarding the billing and the Chairman suggested every other month for billing. Bill would support the bi-monthly billing. MOTION.• Nate White moved to reconsider Water and Sewer Billing and Liz Greene seconded this move to reconsider. DISCUS SION.• Peter Hechenbleikner explains the reconsideration vote to the Committee. The last vote stands. Nate White then withdraws the motion to reconsider and the second move was withdrawn as well. Bill Murphy talked of complaints of the Townspeople in this area. MOTION.• Gerry MacDonald moved to approve reconsideration and Bill Murphy seconded this move to reconsider. VOTE. 5 - 2 - 0 APPROVED FOR RECONSIDERATION MOTION.• Nate White moved to approve MI in the amount of $1M489,962 and Liz Greene seconded this move to approve. AMENDMENT MOTION.• Gerry MacDonald moved to amend in the amount of $1M472,901 and Bill Murphy seconded this move to approve amendment. AMENDMENT VOTE. S - 2 - 0 APPROVED TO RETAIN QUARTERLY BILLING -6- MOTION..- Nate White moved to approve NI-N5 in the amount of $3M,285,547 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE. 6 - 1 - 0 APPROVED QUARTERLY BILLING I. PARKS AND FORESTRY - RECONSIDERATION MOTION MOTION TO RECONSIDER: Nate White moved to reconsider H17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to reconsider. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED MOTION: Liz Greene moved to approve H17 in the amount of $217,934 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE. 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED J. CEMETERY DJUSION MOTION..- Liz Greene moved to approve H23 in the amount of $155,195 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED K. RESERVE FUND MOTION..- Bill Burditt moved to approve in the amount of $150,000 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED -7- III. WARRANTS *ARTICLE 4 *To see if the Town will vote pursuant to Clause forty-first A of Section S of Chapter 59 of the General Laws as amended by Section 126 of Chapter 138 of the Acts of 1991 to adopt forty Thousand Dollars ($40, 000) as the maximum qualifying gross receipts amount for the purposes of said clause forty-first A, or take any other action with respect thereto. *Article 4 would accept an amendment to a provision of State law, as accepted by the Town, regarding deferral of taxes. currently, a property owner who meets age and income guidelines may defer taxes if their total income is no greater than $20, 000. The $20, 000 limit was set in 1978 and has been that amount since then. This would increase the allowable amount of income to $40, 000 in order to qualify. There are currently 27 property owners who defer taxes, and the total amount deferred in TY91 is $41,220. All deferred taxes plus interest at 8% are owed back to the Town when the property has been sold or upon the death of the property owner who is eligible for the deferral. The Board of Assessors, who administer this program, have placed it on the warrant and support it. MOTION.• Liz Greene moved to approve and Carroll MacMillan seconded. DISCUSSION: Bill Murphy asked where this Article came from and if this helps people stay in their homes. VOTE. 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED *ARTICLE 8/CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT *To see if the Town will vote to amend the General Bylaws of the Town by adding the following as Section 4.1.4 or take any other action with respect thereto: *Capital Improvement Advisory Committee 4.1.4.1 *There shall be a Capital Improvement Advisory Committee (the "Committee") to advise Town Meeting on the Town's Capital Improvement -8- Program and all Warrant Articles relating to capital expenditures, including expenditures for all non-recurring tangible assets and projects, which: (1) are purchased or undertaken at intervals of not less than five years; (2) have a useful life of at least five years; and (3) cost more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10, 000). *The Committee shall consist of five voters of the Town, appointed for three year staggered terms so arranged that nearly equal numbers expire each July 1st. Initial appointments shall be one member for three years, two members for two years, and two members for one year. Initial appointments shall be made by the Moderator. Thereafter, the members of the Committee shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Moderator, the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and the Chairman of the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee, with the Moderator presiding. Any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by the same three persons. *By October 1st each year, the Town Manager shall give to the Committee, on forms approved by it, information concerning all anticipated capital expenditures requiring Town Meeting action during the ensuing five years. The Committee shall consider the relative need, impact, timing and cost of these expenditures, and the effect each will have on the financial position of the Town. The Committee shall also annually review an inventory of the Town's capital assets. *The Committee shall prepare an annual report recommending a capital budget for the next fiscal year and a Capital Improvement Program for the following four fiscal years. The report shall take the form of a commentary on the Town Manager's Capital Improvement Program, and shall contain a clear, concise summary of its contents; a list of all capital improvements proposed to be undertaken during the ensuing five years, with supporting information as to the need for each and the rationale for the Committee's prioritization of all proposals considered; costs estimates, methods of financing, effect on debt and recommended time schedules for each improvement; and the estimated annual cost of operating and maintaining each facility and piece of major equipment involved. The report shall be submitted to the Board of Selectmen, the School Committee, the Reading Municipal Light Board and the Finance Committee for their consideration and comment. After receiving and considering these comments, the Committee shall submit its recommendation on the capital budget and Capital Improvement Program to the Annual Town Meeting. Prior to Town Meeting, the Committee's report shall be published and made available in a manner consistent with the distribution of the Finance Committee's report, and the original report shall be deposited with the Town Clerk, with a copy to the Reading Public Library. -9- *Discussion ensued among the Committee members and Mr. VanMagness does not approve. *Chairman Burditt supports Capital lmprovementAdvisory Committee work hand in hand with past Finance Committee members. *Fred VanMagness discussed being owed a courtesy of solicitation of input of Finance Committee. MOTION.• Bill Burditt moved for ACTION PENDING and Bill Murphy seconded. *ARTICLE 10 *To see if the Town will vote to accept General Laws Chapter 40, Section 22f, as added by Section 123 of Chapter 138 of the Acts of 1991, relating to the imposition of fees for licenses, permits, certificates and charges for services rendered or work performed by the Town, or take any other action with respect thereto. MOTION.• Gerry MacDonald moved to approve this Article and Liz Greene seconded. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED *ARTICLE 11 *To see if the Town will vote to accept one or more gifts to be administered by the Commissioners of Trust Funds, such gifts to be used for the purposes for which they are given to the Town, or take any other action with respect thereto. MOTION.• Gerry MacDonald moved to approve Article 11 and Liz Greene seconded this move to approve. VOTE. 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED *ARTICLE 22 *To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate to the Municipal Light Board for the purposes of extending, enlarging, reconstructing, adding, or making -10- extraordinary repairs or other capital improvements to the Municipal Light Plant including but not limited to its distribution system, or take any other action with respect thereto. MOTION.• Nate White moved to approve and Liz Greene seconded. VOTE. 5 - 2 - 0 APPROVED *ARTICLE 23 *To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire all or any part of the following described parcels of land in fee or rights of easement therein by eminent domain under the provisions of Chapter 79 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or to acquire said parcels of land or any part thereof in fee or rights of easement therein by gift, purchase, or otherwise, for the purpose of making improvements to the intersection of Main and Washington Streets, and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate to the Board of Selectmen to pay for appraisals of said parcels and to pay for the acquisition of said parcels of land or rights of easement therein, or to be used for payment of land damages or other costs and expenses of such acquisitions, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into agreements with private parties or state and federal agencies for financial and other assistance in connection with such acquisition, and to do all other acts and things necessary and proper for carrying out the provision of this vote, or take any other action with respect thereto. MOTION.• Liz Greene moved to approve and Gerry MacDonald seconded. VOTE: 6 - 0 - 1 APPROVED, 47TH MR. MURPHY ABSTAINED *ARTICLE 24 *To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell, or exchange, or dispose of, upon such terms and conditions as they may determine, various items of Town tangible property, or take any other action with respect thereto. MOTION.• Gerry MacDonald moved to approve and Bill Murphy seconded. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED *ARTICLE 25 *To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for the purpose of highway projects in accordance with Chapter 90, Massachusetts General Laws. MOTION.• Liz Greene moved to approve and Gerry seconded. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED *ARTICLE 29 *Moved that Town Meeting appropriate the sum of $25, 000 for the purpose of funding the purchase of uniforms and instruments for the Reading Memorial High School Marching Band and Color Guard. Such funds to be raised by borrowing, or from the tax levy or transfer from available funds or otherwise appropriated. Said funds to be expended under the direction of the School Committee. MOTION.• Gerry MacDonald moved to approve, Bill Murphy seconded. VOTE: 0 - 6 - I FAILED, WITH LIZ GREENE ABSTAINED IV. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Gerry MacDonald moved to adjourn the meeting and Bill Murphy seconded. VOTE: 7 - 0 - 0 APPROVED *Adjournment at 11:12 PM. /Z~~c Respectfully submitted, 03126192 Sue Finn, Secretary -12-