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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-03-05 Finance Committee MinutesMINUTES OF: READING FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING OF 3/5/90 This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee was held in the Conference Room of Town Hall and was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Chairman, Bill Burditt. Members Present: Bill Burditt, Chairman Liz Greene, Vice Chairman Don Allen Nick Agneta Charles Catalfamo Dick Coco Jerry MacDonald Nate White Others Present: Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager Ted MacIntyre, Department of Public Works Tom Stohlman (audience) CPDC Curt Nitzsche (audience) J. Rivers (audience) William Robertson, P. E., Assistant Director, Engineering. Department of Public Works ~ ~ I. B U S I N E S S A. Department of Public Works Budget e Chairman dispensed with literature to Committee members and introduced Town Manager who then began budgetary presentations. s Mr. Hechenbleikner introduced Mr. Ted MacIntyre of the Dept, of Public Works and newly appointed Engineer, Mr. William Robertson. e The Department of Public Works maintains Town Hall complex, Police Station, Police Annex, two fire stations, Building Maintenance Warehouse, Pearl Street School, the Library and the Public Works facility. The numbers included for the new fire station are based upon.the archi- tect's estimate. The capital improvements relate to the exterior paint- ing of the Library. Supplies reflect a 0%.-increase from FY90. This Division is being reduced by two Summer help employees. e Peter Hechenbleikner then took the floor to give a complete line presentation of the D P W.budget. e Chairman began questioning of the DPW guests - first with queries on electricity. ( w Comments about Town Hall heating system and the fact that it uses more electricity - 18% increase in electricity for Town Buildings - was quoted by Mr. MacIntyre, questioned by Burditt. -1- Reading Finance Committee 3/5/90 • Don Allen comments on incorrect power numbers. • Calculations were made on this budget by members of the Fincom. • Nate White asked what rate of increase of the electric rates base was evident - and was answered at 20 increase. • Don had a question on what makes up the Main Street Fire Sta- tion Services contractual amount. • Mr. MacDonald, of Finance Committee, here asked about the Police Annex, and the fact that this facility is due to close. • It was stated by Peter Hechenbleikner that the Police Chief is not in favor of closing this facility. The building is in need of many repairs and-there is no way it should continue to operate unless the Massachusetts Criminal Justice System will pay for this annex. This building does get use - but putting $20,000. in resources to keep this annex operating does not make sense at this time. • Mr. Coco comments that this packet of information-sheets by D P W was late to arrive in the hands of the Finance Committee and he ..feels there will be serious problems in being able to wade through the budget. Mr. Coco further stated that the Finance Committee should not be expected to "audit" these sheets. He claims to have a problem with the way the sheets are presented to Finance Committee. • Here, Mr. Coco notes that it seems that the old fire station seemed to be most cost-effective and cost-saving than the new fire facility. Mr. Coco was under the impression that all these new buildings in Town would be less money to operate functionally and maintained properly - and it seems quite the contrary. • Mr. Maclntyre answered that not having prior history is a detrement here in drawing on figures to establish for budget. • The new D P W budget knocks out Police Station Annex, but Mr. Nitzsche (audience) asked why this closing was not brought up at the last meeting. • Peter Hechenbleikner responded by saying this closing was saved for the Department of Public Works budget discussion night. • Liz Greene takes the floor and her question was to ask how the figure had been arrived at in actual expensitures and recommenda- tions with regard to Police Annex closing. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve Personal Expense budget for Department of Public Works Building Maintenance in the amount of $144,738 and Mr. Agneta seconded this motion. Vote: 8 - 0 - 0 approved. -2- Reading Finance Committee 3/5/90 Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve non-personal expenses in Building Maintenance budget in the amount of $261,185 and Mr. Agneta seconded this motion. Discussion: Mr. Rivers made comments from the audience. Amendment Motion: Mr. MacDonald moved to reduce the amount to $253,188 and Mr. Allen seconded this motion of amendment. Discussion: Liz Greene did not recall the savings that was quoted as a possibility in the new building construction. All that Liz could remember of any conversations about building was that the old one was unsafe. Bill Burditt commented that he would have expected that the building would have been energy efficient. Mr. McIntyre indicated that all new Town Properties are up in levels of increases for electricity, etc. Uncomfortable with the dollar amount. Second Amendment to Motion: Don Allen moved to approve $256,185 in Building Maintenance budget of non-personal expenses and. Mr. Agneta seconded this motion. Vote on Main Motion of $253,185: 7 - 1 - 0 approved. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve capital outlay in the amount of $16,000 and Mr. Agneta seconded motion. Discussion: Don Allen questioned just what work was being done. Mr. McIntyre indicated that all exterior woodwork was being painted. Curt Nitzsche (audience) asked how long ago the woodwork had been painted. Mr. McIntyre indicated it was 6 years. Vote: 7 - 1 - 0 approved. C. Administration - Department of Public Works Budget e Mr. Coco commented on overkill on Supervisory functions in the Cemetary Division budget. More managerial workers than he feels is necessary. ® Don Allen questioned the dollar amount for Supplies - and -3- Reading Finance Committee 3/5/90 would there be enough for C P D C. o Don was told that C P D C has its own Supplies budget. e Tom Stohlman asked the functions of which in Community Development that would be dissolved in Department of Public Works. Mr. Stohlman also asked about the Assistant Director position. He feels this is a duplication of effort. e Peter Hechenbleikner cited specific responsibilities of the Supervisory positions. 9 Mr. Coco feels that consolidation of administrative posi- tions is necessary. O Nate White asked questions on Water and Sewer. O Mr. Hechenbleikner explained auditable methods of alloca- tions in relationship to costs. 9 Mr. Coco stated allocation sheets still exist in daily payroll timesheets. e Mr. Rivers (audience) indicated that positions still need to be looked at with fine-tooth comb, especially in the School Budget. Motion: Nate White moved to approve personal services in Department of Public Works Administration Budget in the amount of $135,395 and Mr..MacDonald seconded this motion. Vote: 8 0 - 0 approved. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve non-personal expenses in Public Works Administration Budget in the amount of $47,050 and Mr. Allen seconded this motion. Amendment to the Motion: Mr. Coco moved to approve $37,000 in non-personal expenses in Public Works Administration and Mr. Mac- Donald seconded this amendment motion. Nate White questioned Mr. Coco here in asking why people in the Town of Reading can't be allowed to attend technical institutes. Mr. Coco responded that he feels in a "bare bones" budget in the business world, business would cut budget of professional development. Job-related educational development is really called "Out-of-State Travel". -4- Reading Finance Committee 3/5/90 e The money in Administration budget is for tuition that is job-related. Second Amendment to the Motion: Mr. MacDonald moved to approve non-personal expenses in Public Works Administration to $4,250 and Mr. Allen seconded this second amendment motion. Vote: First Amendment 1 - 7 - 0 defeated. Vote: Second Amendment 2 - 6 - 0 defeated Vote of Main Motion: 6 - 2 - 0 approved. D. Engineering Division of Department of Public Works e Mr. Hechenbleikner introduced Mr. William Robertson, P E who took the floor in explanation of Engineering Division. The Engineering Division performs a variety of functions within the Department, including survey work, contract work, design contract preparation and inspection of contract work and subdivisions. The increase in the Town Engineer's position reflects the salary of a new Town Engineer to begin work on February 5, 1990. The expense portion of this budget reflects a 0% increase. In two years, this Division has been reduced by one full-time Engineer and two Summer- held employees. e Mr. Robertson displayed new time sheets that have been newly initiated. e Nate White asked of the number of licensed P E's and Mr. Robertson answered that there was only one P E. Mr. Robertson is a P E as well. e Charlie Catalfamo asked if this Assistant Director of Engineering would do structural site inspections, and then Charlie strongly suggested that TASC should be responsible for helping with the Town's costs in curbing underground tank prob- lems. e Tom Stohlman (audience) stated that every dollar used by one Department can be used in another. He followed letter and answers to February 15, 1990 correspondance (Mr. Fletcher's responses). e Mr. Stohlman took the floor for a goodly portion here. -5- Reading Finance Committee 3/5/90 e Much of the discussion of Mr. Stohlman indicated that the Town cannot have it all ways now. He suggested cutting Administra- tion budgets. He simply cannot understand why there is no doubling of duties indicated in this budget. e Mr. Robertson responded to Mr. Stohlman's questions with regard to Conservation Committee. ® Mr. Stohlman suggested that the Engineering Department had too much money allocated to it for the amount of work there is in the Department. o The presentation made by Mr. Stohlman concluded at 10:15 pm. e Chairman Burditt spoke here of the best managing of Depart- ments of Town of Reading. Department Heads were the selectors of where the funds would go within the guidelines of x number of dollars. Personnel type activities left to Town Manager. Peter Hechenbleikner spoke of sub-division work still existing. Construction probjects still exist in Town. Explanations of estimates were cited. ® Nate White sees no problem with this budget and is satisfied with a six-man Engineering Department. Motion: Nate White moved to approve the personal services expenses of Public Works Engineering Department in the amount of $201,992 and Don Allen seconded this motion. Discussion: Mr. Coco wants dollars encumbered for Aberjona project released. Liz Greene indicates that the total D P W Supervisory Positions number six and cited activities in Engineering Division. Mr. Rivers (audience) spoke of the Aberjona Project. Does not want to sit on encumbered money. Vote: 6 - 1 - 1 approved with Mr. Coco abstained. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve non-personal expenses in Public Works Engineering Department in the amount of $6,734. and Mr. White seconded this motion. Discussion: Mr. MacDonald asked for definition of pricing of boots. Amendment: Mr. Coco moved to approve non-personal expenses in Public Works Engineering Department to $5,894 and Liz Greene seconded this amendment to the motion. Vote--on---Amendment: 2 - 6 - 0 defeated. Reading Finance Committee 3/5/90 i Vote on Main Motion: 6 - 2 - 0 approved. E. Highway Maintenance • Peter Hechenbleikner presented this budget. O Don Allen asked questions about telephone costs. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve personal services in Highway Maintenance Budget of Public Works in the amount of $419,258 and Mr. Agneta seconded this motion. Discussion: Don Allen questioned no increases in some categories. Vote: 8 - 0 - 0 approved. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve non-personal expenses in Highway Maintenance Budget of Public Works in the amount of $123,195 and Mr. Aqneta seconded this motion. Amendment: Mr. Coco moved to approve $121,195, a reduction of main motion. Mr. Allen seconded this amendment. Second Amendment to the Motion: Mr. Agneta moved to approve in the amount of $122,195 and Donald Allen seconded this second amendment to the Motion. Vote on First Amendment: $121,195.00 1 - 6 - 1 defeated with Mr. MacDonald abstained. Vote on Second Amendment: $122,195.00 5 - 3 - 0 approved. E. Waste Collection and Disposal Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve non-personal expenses in Waste Collection and Disposal Budget in the amount of $1 million, 592 thousand, 855. Mr. MacDonald seconded this motion. Vote: 8 - 0 - 0 approved. II. A D J O U R N M E N T e The meeting adjourned at 11:1 P.M. Respect ul)y s it ed by, Su Fin , Secretary/Recording Clerk