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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-03-08 Finance Committee MinutesReading Finance Committee Meeting of 3/8/90 This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee was held in the Con- ference Room of Town Hall and was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Chairman, Bill Burditt. Members Present: Bill Burditt, Chairman Nick Agneta Charlie Catalfamo Dick Coco Jerry MacDonald Nate White Others Present: Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager Beth Klepeis, Town Treasurer Maria Silvaggi, Reporter, READING CHRONICLE Curt Nitzsche (audience.participator) Jack Rivers (audience participator) Dr. Robert Munnally, Superintent of Schools I. B U S I N E S S A. Article 4 o To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer- Collector, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time, in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning July 1, 1990, in accordance with the provision of the General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 4 and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with the General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 17, or take any other action with respect thereto. Motion: Nate White moved to recommend Article 4 and Mr. Agneta seconded this motion. Vote: 6 - 0 - 0 approved. B. Article 5 o To see if the Town will vote to authorize the payment during Fiscal Year 1991 of bills remaining unpaid for previous fiscal years for goods and services actually rendered to the Town, r or take any other action with respect thereto. Motion: Mr. Coco moved to take no action and Mr. Mac- Donald seconded this motion of no action. Vote: No a-c-tion. -1- Reading Finance Committee 3/8/90 C. Article 6 and 7 9 No action. D. Article 8 q To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 41 or Chapter 653 of the Acts of 1989 regarding quarterly -tax bills, or take any other action with respect thereto. • Ms Klepeis presented this Article to the Committee and ex- plained that Reading has not had to borrow in the past, and she anticipates no borrowing now. e Mr. Rivers asked for clarity on cost and whether or not this was an increase of the tax rate. s -Mr. Rivers asked how much revenue this change would generate and Ms Klepeis answered that it would be $175,000 in estimated receipts. ® Mr Rivers made strong comments on not raising taxes. m Mr. MacDonald has a question regarding the taxpayers losing interest in this plan. e Mr. Coco suggests that this plan would become a burden to elderly people in the Town - they would have a problem with a quarterly payment - elderly will not-support this. This plan is totally unfair to the elderly of Reading who live on interest of savings. o Bill comments made to Mr. Coco regarding the fact that all members of the Finance Committee are serious and conscientious in their thinking. Bill feels we will be asking the Town citizens what they want at Town Meeting. o Mr. White spoke here. Nate is now retired and does not object at all to a quarterly tax payment. Expenditures are on a level keel then, and it is much easier. ® Beth Klepeis here interjects comments on the elderly certainly being eligible to defer taxes at any time. Outreach workers go out to the elderly to explain alternatives to paying taxes if elderly are suffering a hardship. Solutions can then. be found to defer for the elderly. s Mr. MacDonald feels the Town gains, only - the people lose in this plan. The dignity of the elderly is an issue here. He speaks from experience in the fact that elderly would not speak out for deferment because of pride. He cites interest lost by people as reason the plan is poor. a Nate White responds that it is a sensible route to follow. Reading Finance Committee 3/8/90 e Charlie Catalfamo asks for some clarification here on whether the elderly can defer until their house may be sold one day and Beth commented affirmative. ® Mr. Catalfamo wanted further clarification on what the tax raise would be. a Ms Maria Silvaggi, Reporter, READING CHRONICLE, asked about any amount that would be left over for a stabilization fund. o Mr. Nitzsche (audience) asked the meaning of "lock box" and Beth Klepeis explained this method of courier collection of electronic posting. e Nick Agneta spoke of calculations of tax owed. e Mr. Rivers commented on factors in overall percentages. Clear "back door" taxation passed last year to levy taxes and he has difficulty with this article. ® Peter Hechenbleikner discussed the fact that the Town now has to be run more efficiently, more like a business, monthly billing savvy. e Mr. Coco argues here that we must live within the budget. s Bill Burditt indicated to Mr. Coco that this was a method of maintaining the budget. Motion: Nate White moved to approve Article 8 for quarterly billing for taxes and Mr. Agneta seconded this motion. Vote: 4 - 2 - 0 approved. E. Article 9 e To see if the Town will vote.to accept the provisions of Section 40 of Chapter 653 of the Acts of 1989 regarding assessment date changes for new growth, or take any other action with respect thereto. o Nick Agneta asked about Standard Accounting Method changes, recognition of income in different timeframe. Motion: Mr. Coco moved to approve Article 9 and Mr. Agneta seconded this motion to approve. Vote: 6 - 0 - 0 approved. -3- Reading Finance Committee 3/8/90 F. Article 12 e No action. G. Article 13 e To see whether the Town will vote to rescind the remaining bond authorization(s) for the purpose of replacing High School transformers, improving the Water Treatment Plant, or take any other action with respect thereto. Motion: Nate White moved to reduce to $2,800, to authorize bonding of high school transformers and Mr. Mac- Donald seconded this motion. Vote: 6 - 0 - 0 approved. H. Article 14 e No action. I. Article 15, 16, 17, 18 a Dr. Munnally presented these Articles to the Finance Committee. Article 15 - boiler room issue; Article 16 - roof at Killam School issue; Article 17 - outdoor running track at Reading Memorial High School; Article 18 - asbestos removal. Article 15 Motion: Nate White moved to approve extra funds for school boilers and Mr. Agneta seconded. Amendment: Mr. MacDonald moved to place this at zero and then withdrew his amendment of this motion.' Vote: 1 - 5 - 0 defeated. Article 16 Motion: Mr. Coco moved to approve by bonding and Mr. Mac Donald seconded this motion. Vote: 6 - 0 - 0 approved. Article 17 Motion: Nate White moved to approve to refurbish high school track and Mr. Agneta seconded this motion. Vote: 0 - 6 - 0 defeated. Article 18 Motion: Mr. Agneta moved to approve and Mr. MacDonald seconded. Reading Finance Committee 3/8/90 i Amendment by Mr. Coco: Mr. Coco moved and then withdrew his amendment. Amendment: Nate White moved funding $57Kfrom encumbered funds and $38,000 from bonds to be issued at a total of $95,000 and Mr. Aqneta seconded this motion. Vote: 3 - 3 - 0 defeated. . -1^ No action. Article 22 No action. Article 24 Motion: Mr. Coco moved to approve and Mr. Agneta seconded this motion. Vote: 3 - 3 - 0 defeated. n__t! _'i _ n-7 Motion: Mr. White moved to approve and Mr. Coco seconded this motion. Vote: 5 - 0 - 1 with Mr. Agneta abstained. Article 31 No action. II. RESERVE FUND TRANSFER REQUEST A. Veterans Aid Budget e Mr. Hechenbleikner explained this transfer request and presented documentation for signature. Motion: Mr. MacDonald moved to approve $5,000 to Veterans Aid Budget at this time and Mr. Agneta seconded this motion. Discussion: Mr. Coco asked Town Manager if he felt he would have to come before the Committee again to request more money. Mr. Hechenbleikner suggested the likelihood was most possible, but not probably. Vote: 6 - 0 - 0 approved. r Reading Finance Committee 3/8/90 III. A D J 0 U R N M E N T • Mr. Coco moved to adjourn at 10:53 F.M. and Mr. MacDonald seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 10:53 P.M. ResFing lly/ submitted, ue , Secretary Rea Financ e Committee /sf 1 -F-