Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-03-15 Finance Committee MinutesM I N U T E S O F T H E R E A D I N G F I N A N C E C O M M I T T E E M A R C H 1 5, 1 9 9 0 This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee was held in the Conference Room of Reading 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 Charlie Catalfamo Dick Coco Jerry MacDonald Nate White (arriving at 8:00 P.M.) Others Present: Beth Klepeis, Town Treasurer Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager Tom Stohlman (audience participant) Jack Rivers (audience participant) Curt Nitzsche (audience participant) I. B U S I N E S S A. Budget Review/Group Health/Life Insurance e Peter Hechenbleikner explained this account to the Committee. Peter indicated that there are 4 insurance programs now available in Reading. Blue Cross/Blue Shield is one plan, with three H M O affiliates - Bay State, Lahey Clinic and Harvard Community Health. ® Ms Klepeis discussed retirees' rates of insurance benefits. A discussion was then initiated by Nick Agneta with regard to the amount of money put into this fund as a budget approximation. State- ment made that Town cannot charge employees more than 100. o Don Allen made a comment in this area as to the hands being tied by Reading in anything they attempt here. e Mr. Rivers (audience) stated that Blue Cross/Blue Shield contracts are negotiated and approved by the Selectmen for fund- ing. Blue Cross/Blue Shield is totally out of control in Mr. Rivers' estimation. It is vital to work toward elimination of Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, either by negotiations or otherwise. Mr. Rivers did further state that the health care industry in total needs revamping. -1- Reading Finance Committee 3/15/90 Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve non personal expenses for Group Health/Life Insurance in the amount of $2M,500, 961 and Mr. MacDonald seconded.. Discussion: Mr. Coco asked about health expenses coming out of per pupil budget of the School Department. It was cited that health expenses are covered by Town side of government. A telephone inquiry to Department of Education on this issue will be carried out by Mr. Coco. Ms Rlepeis explained that the H M O rates rose much less than Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Further discussion by members of the Committee about unknowns of prediction of this particular budget. Vote: 7 - 0 - 0 approved (without Nate White's vote, as he arrived to meeting after this issue). B-. Medicare m Peter Hechenbleikner took the floor in explanation. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve non personal expenses for Medicare budget in the amount of $85,919 and Nick Agneta seconded this motion. Discussion: Mr. MacDonald asked about the numbers of employees this represented and Ms Rlepeis gave a breakdown of the numbers (everybody hired after March 1, 1986). Vote: 8 - 0 - 0 approved. C. Employee Unemployment Benefits a Mr. Hechenbleikner gave a presentation on the unemployment level in Town. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve unemployment employee benefits budget in the amount of $377,000.00 and Mr. Agneta seconded this motion. Discussion: Nate White asked if it might be reasonable to make a small reduction because employment benefits may not run the 30 weeks. Jack Rivers (audience) cited a 10% figure higher than is required. He felt is was unreasonable to budget to the maximum here. -2- Reading Finance Committee 3/15/90 Amendment: Mr. Coco moved to amend the amount to $350,000 and Mr_ White seconded the amendment motion. Discussion: Don Allen thinks the budget is too low at the $350,000 mark, low at the $370,000 mark. Suggestion here to take the higher figure. Nate suggested that gross reductions should be placed into the Reserve Fund. Chairman Bill Burditt is in favor of the $3708. Nate cited comparable-sized community of Needham to Reading, voicing same concerns of budget. Amendment Vote: 2 - 6 - 0 defeated. Main Motion Vote: 8 - 0 - 0 approved. D. Workman's Compensation e Peter Hechenbleikner presented this budget to Finance Committee. o Jerry MacDonald feels a concern here with the possibility of un- employment level going to skyrocket, which generates more compensation claims. o Nick Agneta feels two items should have breakdown sheets, as they are necessary in defining. Mr. Hechenbleikner will get these breakdowns before Town Meeting night, and suggested it was a point well taken. e No layoffs are anticipated in Water Department, Sewer Depart- ment, Light Department. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve Workman's Compensation budget in the amount of $220,000 and Mr. Coco seconded this motion. Vote: 8 - 0 - 0 approved. E. Town Sealer/Vote of Tie/Reconsideration Sealer of Weights and Measures Vote . Motion: Nick Agneta moved to reconsider non personal budget for Sealer of Weights and Measures and Don Allen seconded the motion for reconsideration. Vote of Reconsideration: 7 - 1 - 0 approved. Discussion: Health Officer will serve as Sealer and will need some training for this position. $500.00 Reading Finance Committee 3/15/90 was the recommended figure Amendment: Liz Greene moved to amend to $500.00 for non personal budget for Sealer of Weights and Measures and Nick Agneta seconded. Vote: 5 - 3 - 0 approved. F. Human Services Budget ® Peter Hechenbleikner presented to Committee. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve Human Services in reconsideration to $781.00 and Charlie Catalfamo seconded this motion. Vote: 5 - 3 - 0 defeated. G. Health Services Budget e Peter Hechenbleikner presented to Committee. o Mr. Coco questioned reconsideration and does not want to reconsider at this time. H. Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District o No Action, as budget was seen to be projected with no real figures. I. Finance Committee Budget e Peter Hechenbleikner made presentation of numbers to the Committee. Finance Committee secretary's budget was discussed for next year, allowing budget to be presented at $1,760.00. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve Finance Committee personal expense budget in the amount of $1,760 and Mr. Agneta seconded this motion. No discussion. Vote: 8 - 0 - 0 unanimously approved. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve non personal expenses in the amount of $39,250 and Nick Agneta seconded this motion. Amendment: Mr. Coco moved to amend to $39,150 and Don Allen seconded this amendment motion. Amendment Vote: 5 - 3 - 0 approved. -4- Reading Finance Committee 3/15/90 J. Reserve Fund s Bill Burditt has major concerns on labor counsel and Snow and Ice. e Nate recommends the $280,000 be placed in Reserve. e Bill Burditt, also a Town Meeting Member, does not want the Reserve Fund to be misused - let Town Meeting choose allocations - Finance Committee has done their budget. e Bill Burditt speaks here on the Snow and Ice Budget and being shorti.n money. This budget is extremely tight compared to previous budgets. Problems if there is no override, several problems in School Department budget with no buses and no crossing guards. These issues must be rectified - and recommendation made to have a minimum of $200,000 in the Reserve Fund. e Don Allen states that Peter Hechenbleikner has been extremely responsible in his job on this current budget. e Bill Burditt is against voting additional police and additional fire employees. e Mr.. Coco states that the budget is balanced - we have a balanced budget. e Nate White recommends $282,000 for Reserve - $80,000 can be put back into some other spot. e Bill Burditt claims that there are significant amounts of unknowns. e Peter Hechenbleikner cited problem areas - electrical expenses in Town Buildings, Veterans, Snow and Ice, Insurance, Labor Counsel. e Further discussion ensued regarding Reserve Fund/Free Cash. Motion: Mr. Coco moved to approve Reserve Fund in the amount of $180,000 and Donald Allen seconded this motion. Amendment: Nate White moved to approve Reserve Fund in the amount of $200,000 and Nick Agneta seconded this motion. Discussion: Mr. Rivers (audience) suggests strong consideration for fund for Sale of Real Estate - should be tightly structured by the Finance Committee. a Peter Hechenbleikner cites difficulties between Sale of Real Estate and Free Cash. Sale of Real Estate cannot be used for Operational issues. More discussion followed between Mr_.Hechenbleikner_, Mr. Rivers (audience), and Mr. Stohlman (audience). -5- Reading Finance Committee 3/15/90 Amendment Vote: 5 - 3 - 0 approved in the amount of $200,000. Motion: Nate White moved to reduce amount in Free Cash to $7208 Liz Greene seconded this motion. Vote: 5 - 3 - 0 approved. Discussion: Mr. Stohlman (audience) asked what the procedure would be if the override passes? Tom Stohlman has proposals to offer the Town Manager and the Finance Committee and requested knowledge of how to present the proposal for viewing of the Town Manager and the Finance Committee. Peter Hechenbleikner discussed date of Town Meeting and reports of the budget and legal timeframe with Mr. Stohlman. Mr. Stohlman asked Town Manager how he would like him to present his proposals. Mr. Hechenbleikner suggests it worthwhile to meet on nexi Tuesday at 6 P.M. II. R E S E R V E F U N D T R A N S F E R A. Labor Counsel discussion. e Peter Hechenbleikner gave his explanation to the Committee. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve transfer to Labor Counsel in the amount of $3,430 and Donald Allen sefconded this motion. Discussion: Dick Coco suggested that this amount of money will not break the bank, but that employees are cutting their nos( to spite their faces . Vote: 8 - 0 - 0 approved. III. A D J O U R N M E N T The meeting was adjourned at 11:01 P.M. Res ec fully ubmitted, .(~~vYC/ ue inn, Secretary Rea ing Finance Committee /sf -6-