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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-03-04 Finance Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE READING FINANCE COMMITTEE MARCH 4, 1992 This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee was held in The Arnold Berger Room of Town Hall, Reading, Massachusetts. Chairman Bill Burditt called this meeting to order at 7.•31 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT Bill Burditt, Chairman Fred VanMagness, Vice Chairman Dick Coco Pete Dahl Liz Greene Gerry MacDonald Carroll MacMillan Bill Murphy Nate White OTHERS PRESENT.• Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager Leonard Redfern, Chief, Fire Department Lt. Silva, Police Department I FINANCE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION/CHAIRMAN A Bill Burditt Observations *Bill Burditt asked that the Budget portion of the meeting be delayed for a few moments so that he could take some time to discuss some things. *The Selectmen's meeting that took place on Monday evening has greatly disturbed Bill with regard to the Selectmen's decisions on any monies that may be left over and which way to allocate funds. *Chairman Burditt told the Finance Committee that he is most interested in the best possible government that Reading can have for the money available. *Bill thinks that the final round of Budget meetings will go further than March 23rd. *Bill discussed the current meeting schedule with the Committee. *Carroll MacMillan told the Chairman that he would like to see the School Department back to talk with Fincom. *Nate White commented here that the Schools have the same dollars as they did last year. *The Chairman asked for a sense of the Committee as to whether or not the School Department should be invited back to meet with Fincom. Bill asked for an updated Budget package of School Department Budget. *It was then decided that this issue of the School Department would be re-addressed at the next Fincom meeting. II. BUDGET PUBLIC SAFETY A. Fire Department B. Police Department C. Animal Control Department D. General Department A. Fire Department *Peter Hechenbleikner proceeded with outlining the missions of the Fire Department. Peter indicated that the Fire Department Budget comes from tax dollars. *There are 45 employees in the Fire Department: *One Chief, *One Executive Secretary i i *4 Captains r *4 Lieutenants *34 Firemen *One mechanic *Reducing the Fire Department Staffing by one is currently on the proposal. *The Firemen have a two-year contract, and there are no salary increases. *Peter told of the Union standards in the contracts. *Fred VanMagness directed a question regarding how the Fire Department shifts work. *There are four teams of firefighters. *The Chief spoke of no raises in salary this year and that the firemen still have agreed to reduce the Staffing levels. *The question was asked how many are at the Central Station and the Chief answered there is a Captain and five firefighters. ,t *Chief Redfern declared that he is running out of available people. The Chief is disappointed with the outcome of the Selectmen's meeting on Monday evening. The Fire Department morale is low among the men. *The Chief has announced his retirement from the Reading Fire Department this year. *Fred VanMagness asked that if money was in the budget, shouldn't the Fire Chief decide how many there shall be of Captains and Lieutenants in the Department. *Bill Burditt brought up cost differences. The salary of a Lieutenant is $34,771 and the salary of a firefighter is $29,901. *Peter Hechenbleikner confessed with hindsight speaking, that Reading did not need two Firestations in Town. He asked all to look at the level of command staff. More traditional staffing is necessary. *Fred VanMagness would not prefer to spend any more money or any less money. *Chief Redfern announced that he sees a situation being created here. This Budget going in is $15,000 light, according to the Chief's calculations. He indicated that he has been closely working with the Budget process for 10 years, and he feels that this particular budget is light $15, 000. *Fred VanMagness asked what impact on the budget there would be if the West Side Fire Station were to close. *Both the Chief and Town Manager answered that this would be a problem and would cost more down the line. *Bill Burditt is not sure that the Finance Committee can add a Lieutenant in lieu of a Firefighter within this budget. *Bill Murphy asked what happens with sick time and Chief Redfern answered that sick time can be bought back. *The Chief agreed that these economic times prove extremely difficult for the public employee for sure. *Mr. VanMagness brought up the Reading Ambulance Service and the Fire Department E M S Program as being a credit to the firemen. *Mr. VanMagness questioned what monies from State. *Chief at this time gave some valuable statistics as to where the Town of Reading stands in the State of Massachusetts, insofar as salaries are concerned. *Chief Redfern still maintains that the budget going in is $1 S, 000 short. *Pete Dahl asked about educational incentive programs. *Clearly here, the Chief told of feeling that the budget will be in trouble mid year. *Liz Greene asked the Chief where he would like a 'putback" to be put ill back: *Chief Redfern indicated that he would like to see the Chiefs salary at $58,000 or $60,000 to be competitive with surrounding Towns. *Chief indicated that insofar as manning the men is concerned, the ideal situation is to have two 11-man groups and two 10-man groups. *Unfortunately, it was discussed that a distinct lack of Firefighting activities in the Town is occurring in these times. *Bill Burditt made the suggestion that he wants to address the Reserve Fund on the last meeting of Fincom. However, Bill feels that the Finance Committee does not need to make any "manpower decisions". *Again, the Chief told the group that he wants to see Reading more competitive with their salaries. The $50, 000 figure is not enough. *Carroll MacMillan made some Fire Department staffing comments regarding the new truck for the Department and had a question on the Central Station lower area. Mentioned in his discussion, also, was the statement that Mr. MacMillan is not at all convinced that we cannot close the West Street Fire Station. *Here, Peter Hechenbleikner took the floor again in presentation-style and talked of going back into Computer Ambulance Billing. *Fred WanMagness had a question on the billing service and asked about historical data on annual billing. *Peter made mention of the currently under-staffed Clerical Department. *Nate White asked the Chief and Town Manager who kept track of reimbursements to the Town in this area. *A discussion followed on the billing service *Dick Coco had a question on Fire Alarm Maintenance Equipment. *Peter Hechenbleikner told the group that the Civil Defense Budget was also included in this Budget. *Dick Coco asked if there were any additional stipends for the Fire Chief and there are not. MOTION. Bill Murphy moved to approve Personal Services of the Fire Department Budget in the amount of $IM, 698,626. 00 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. AMENDMENT MOTION.• Fred VanMagness moved to approve Personal Services of the Fire Department Budget in the amount of $1M, 711,495 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. (This amendment motion increases total $12,869). SECOND AMENDMENT MOTIQN.• Pete Dahl moved to approve Personal Services of the Fire Department Budget in the amount of $IM, 707, 626 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. DISCUSSION, Bill Burditt feels that the Finance Committee should allow Town Meeting the chance to vote on the computer billing. SECOND AMENDMENT VOTE: 2- 7-0 FAILED FIRST AMENDMENT VOTE: 3 - 6 - 0 FAILED MAIN MOTION VOTE: 8 - I - 0 APPROVED *Chief Redfern asked to qualify a statement he made regarding the $50, 000 that was to have been suggested for possibility of a salary for the Fire Chief. He does not want anyone thinking that this figure is the salary for the new Chief, because it is not. *Bill Burditt is attempting to take some of the management decisions that the Selectmen have already made. Bill has no problem adding to a Budget if there may be an absolute need MOTION.- Carroll MacMillan moved to approve Non-Personal Expense Budget for the Fire Department in the amount of $82,805 and Nate White seconded this move to approve. AMENDMENT MOTION, Pete Dahl moved to approve Non-Personal Expense Budget for the Fire Department in the amount of $73,805 and Dick Coco seconded this move to approve. AMENDMENT VOTE: 2 - 7 - 0 FAILED MAIN M TION VOTE: 9 - 0 - 0 APPROVED AT THIS POINT IN THE MEETING. A 15-MINUTE BREAK IN SESSION B. Police Department *Town Manager presented the Police Department budget and introduced Lt. Silva, who was representing the Police Chief in his absence for the Budget discussion of the evening. *Liz Greene had questions on the overtime figure change and Lt. Silva spoke for the Chief in explanation of this. *Peter went into a discussion on the L E T N (Law Enforcement Television Network) . *Nate White indicates noticing a huge overtime reduction on the Budget displayed and asked how this can be done. *Both Peter and Lt. Silva discussed these issues with the Committee to their satisfaction. *Nate White says reducing shifts dramatically. *Bill Murphy asked for the average response time for assistance and has there been any change in this response for aid. *Lt. Silva indicated that there has been no change in response time, only that the number of respondees has decreased. *Lt. Silva cites principal objective in public safety. "Bouncing" occurs in the Police Department Staffing. *Gerry MacDonald asked if the percentages of Court cases was to be expected to drop and Lt. Silva indicated that they. would be depreciably less. *Fred VanMagness asked a question about the possibility of the ice skating rink to be erected close to the shooting range now used by the Police Department and whether the shooting range would go elsewhere for Police "range" time. *Fred reminds all of the Committee that the Government has made some strong statements regarding priorities in education and in public safety. Fred wants to add more money to the overtime budget for the Police Department now for quality public safety service. He told the Committee that this is what he intended to do on a vote. *Pete Dahl asked about the cash impoundment on forfeiture money and how much existed. *Town Manager indicated that the amount was $7,000. MOTION., Nate White moved to approve Personal Services for Police Department in the amount of $1M, 726,149 and Fred VanMagness seconded this move to approve this budget. AMENDMENT MOTION.' Dick Coco moved to approve the Personal Services for Police Dept. in the amount of $IM, 706,149 and Gerry MacDonald seconded. AMENDMENT VOTE. 5 - 4 - 0 APPROVED *The Police Department Non-Personal Expense portion of the Budget was then explained by Peter Hechenbleikner. *Gerry had questions on the costs of ammunition and also of automobile repairs. *Fred VanMagness had a vehicles question about new automobiles as being marked cruisers. He wanted to make sure of this. MOTION., Fred VanMagness moved to approve Von-Personal Expenses in the Police Department Budget in the amount of $144,986 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. VOTE. 9 - 0 - 0 APPROVED C. Animal Control Budget *Peter proceeded to present the Personal Expense side of the Animal Control Budget to the Committee. MOTION., Fred VanMagness moved to approve the Personal Expenses in the Animal Control Budget in the amount of $9500 and Gerry seconded. AMENDMENT MOTION.. Dick Coco moved to approve the Personal Expenses in the Animal Control Budget to zero amount and Gerry MacDonald seconded. AMENDMENT y~TE. 1-8- 0 FAILED MAIN MOTION VOTE. 8 - I - 0 APPROVED MOTION. Fred VanMagness moved to approve Non-Personal Expenses in the Animal Control Budget in the amount of $2400 and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve. COTE. 8 - I - 0 APPROVED ( 1 III. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Fred VanMagness moved to approve an adjournment at 11:01 PM and Gerry MacDonald seconded this move to approve adjournment. VOTE. 9 - 0 - 0 APPROVED *This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee concluded and was adjourned at 11:01 PM on March S, 1992. Resp tfully submitted to the Committee, Sue Finn, Secretary i i i