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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-05-13 Finance Committee MinutesR TO " CLERK EAO'No, 11A5. MINUTES OF THE AN 28 9 05 READING FINANCE COMMITTEE MAY 13, 1991 This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee was held in the Conference Room of Town Hall. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bill Burditt at 7:35 P.M. Members Present: Others Present: Bill Burditt, Chairman Liz Greene, Vice Chairman Nick Agneta Dick Coco Pete Dahl Gerry MacDonald Marty McWilliams Fred Van Magness Nate White Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager Maria Silvaggi, Reporter, THE CHRONICLE I. B U S I N E S S A. Special Election o Peter Hechenbleiker presented the status of Reserve Fund before discussion of Special Election in which he referred to the Charter. The total cost of a Special Election is $8400 and the Committee discussed this cost and what could possibly be done to prevent the expense. o Bill Burditt talked about the article in the newspaper and about being misquoted in speaking for the Finance Committee. Bill is deeply unhappy about this need for a Special Election and of spending the money. However, Bill feels it is necessary. The budget must be in place by dune 30, 1991. o Nate White does not like spending the $8400, but stated that there is no point of making things worse than they are and suggested going ahead with the thing. o Fred Van Magness spoke of possible options to be taken. Mr. Van Magness suggested not voting the extra funding. o Bill indicated that the existing funds are not enough for the Special Election. o Here, Nick Agneta asked Peter Hechenbleikner what L H S stood for in the documentation he was reading. o Peter Hechenbleikner explained that this is the firm that does the election. o Mr. Van Magness threw out the idea of perhaps going with paper balloting. o Peter explained the cons of this idea. o Fred Van Magness discussed the sophisticated machinery and thinks the Committee may want to find alternative ways to run this. particular election, in lieu of the cost factor. o Bill indicated here that the Town Clerk has cut down in every aspect for the election in reduction of costs. o Mr. Van Magness went on about computer-generated cards in this discussion. MOTION: Dick Coco moved to approve the Special Election transfer of $1513 for a Special Elec- on dune 3, 1991 and Marty McWilliams seconded this motion to approve. DISCUSSION: Fred Van Magness asked Peter about the time frame cycle. Dick Coco went on to speak of the $12,000 Special Election already taken place in Dec- ember. This is the democratic process. Dick feels moving forward in the process in the thing to do. Bill Burditt remarked on the frustration of having ability for input and not having people make any input at Finance Committee meetings of the past. Bill is unhappy with the Special Election possibility but understands there must be an election and it must be funded. The attempt to run an election on what funds there are is an impossibility, according to Bill. Fred Van Magness requests that Peter Hechen- bleikner take a look at doing a little extra in examining every area of this because Fred does not know why this is to be done at all. 2 Liz Greene spoke here in her utter frustration with this decision and the fact that this situation is unbelievably insulting that people would want to spend more money on a Special Election without having spent any time or consideration in attending any of the Finance Committee meetings when all of these issues were deeply discussed. Pete Dahl asked Peter if the group should expect any more "sniper" attacks on the budget. Pete agrees with the democratic processes. However, Pete indicated that this situation seems to be "tyrrany of the minority" in spending money that could have been used in the Town for the good of the Town. Dick Coco again discusses democratic process. Here, Mr. MacDonald faults the Reading Tax- payers' Association for not attending meetings to "come out of the closet" and discuss and not take "cheap shots" at the Committee. He feels the need to vote the money in, but does not agree with it in the outrageous manner in which all was conducted. Again, Vice Chairman Greene strongly comments on this whole issue as an insult to a group of people who have put in so much time and energy to balance the budget. She reminded the group that the Finance Committee puts in all of their time for no salary for the good of the Town of Reading and this situation is utterly insulting. VOTE: 7 - 2 - 0 approved B. Weights and Sealer/Health Budget o Peter indicated that this budget is $357.00 short fo complete this year. MOTION: Nick Agneta moved to approve a Reserve Fund Transfer of $357.00 for the Health Budget and Gerry MacDonald seconded the motion. DISCUSSION: Fred Van Magness asked why extra money should be spent for 45 days - why not wait until next year as a possibility. 3 VOTE: 7 - 2 - 0 approved C. Public Safety Dispatch MOTION: Liz Greene moved to approve $3900 be trans- ferred from the Reserve Fund into Public Safety Dispatch and Gerry MacDonald seconded. VOTE: 8 - 1 - 0 approved II. READING MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD PRESENTATION o The Members of the Municipal Light Board were present and were introduced to the group to give their presentation of how the Board functions. o Mr. O'Leary from the Board explained what the Reading Municipal Light Board is and the basis for how to come up with estimate rate for street lighting. The Light Board is a member of the Town of Reading and is a utility with a rate for street lights, of which a statement will be presented soon from the lawyers. o RMLD spokesperson Rucker took the floor next in a presentation on how the street lights are set. Summer is the peaking season and the Summer rates are high. Rucker spoke of the components that make up Reading Municipal Light Department. A creation of rates information sheet was distributed to the Finance Committee. o Nate White questions fuel charge. o Mr. Rucker distributed the fact sheet handout and explained the recent history of fuel charges shown on sheet. o All issues.were discussed, including the fact that pensions are fully funded. Rucker explained the areas of pension, sick leave, insurance premium reserves. Explanation was given regarding no choice on the medical plan. o Maria Silvaggi asked Mr. Rucker a question here on the monies coming back to the Town of Reading. o Mr. Rucker explained the double circuit system, which was created in 1984 and which is less expensive than all other utilities in the State of Massachusetts. o Bill Burditt indicated here that there is only so much money for street lights. 4 o Fred Van Magness spoke of the elapsed time to decide to bring this to the Selectmen and the Finance Committee. What criteria for judgement issues was a question regarding how many street lights there are to be in the Town of Reading. o Rucker indicated criteria used regards public safety. o Questions and answered ensued from Van Magness and Rucker regarding amount of depreciation, lower annual street lighting. o A presentation to be given in July. o Nate White asked public liability questions. o Liz Greene asked what was left to do. o It was indicated that legal counsel opinion would be next. o Bill Burditt asked the question of lights being turned off and who would pay to put the lights back on. Here explanation of costs was given. o Fred Van Magness indicated that the projection was short and with no override the Committee is trying to balance the budget. He asked if RMLD could make a decision with this universal problem. It has gone full circle and the whole issue is now left to the Selectmen. o Fred simply asked Rucker what could be done to guarantee Finance committee a savings of money. o Mr. Rucker indicated the use of more energy-efficient lights and fixtures. o Mr. Van Magness stated we must get by this adversarial issue. How do we both get there is the question. Let us walk on the same side of the street here. Fred asked that the Board get back to the Finance Committee so that all can live within the budgets for lighting. o Phil Pacino of the RMLD agreed to explore Fred's idea and look into alternatives. o Fred wants to arrange to get to see the RMLD study. o Bill Burditt stated the need to "get up to speed" on when the lights are turned out. Bill spoke with the Light Board about any and all ideas for living within the budget. o Reading Municipal Light Board then invited the Finance Committee to get to one of their meetings. i 5 III. REAPPOINTMENTS o Bill Burditt stated that Counsel Ted Cohen told Bill that Bill had more time he could serve as a member of the Finance Committee. o Liz Greene feels qualified to run for Chairman and would like the opportunity to talk with counsel. Bill will stay on the Board if the Finance members would want it. o Board members discussed their approval for Bill Burditt to stay on the Finance Committee Board. IV. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Nate White moved to adjourn this meeting of the Finance Committee and Gerry MacDonald seconded the motion to adjourn. VOTE: 9 - 0 - 0 approved. o This meeting of the Finance Committee was then adjourned at 10:33 P.M. ReJing ully su fitted, S , Secretary eFinance C ommittee /sf 6