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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-03-20 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 2 0, 1 9 9 0 This meeting of the Finance Committee was held in the Conference Room of Town Hall and was called to order by Chairman Bill Burditt at 6 P.M. Members Present: Bill Burditt, Chairman Liz Greene, Vice Chairman Don Allen Nick Agneta Charlie Catalfamo Dick Coco Paul Devlin Jerry MacDonald Nate White Others Present: Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager Maria Silvaggi, Reporter, READING CHRONICLE I. B U S I N E S S ® Discussion on whether or not there should be a Finance Committee informational meeting (Public.Forum) on Saturday, March 31 between the hours of 1 - 3 P.M. Invitees to this Public Forum should be indicated by Town Manager. Problems at hand should be presented. ® Budget is almost level-funded from last year - it is 2/10 of 1% higher than revised F Y 90. $4608 less in abatement surplus, $150R less in Free Cash. ® Bill Burditt interjected that contract wage increases are presented, and to meet those and have no additional revenue requires layoffs, decreases in expenses. ® Nate White would also like to say, for the record, that there is going to be temptations of avoiding issues. • Bill suggests giving a speech to Town Meeting in the Finance Committee projection of the future. This should be given separate from the budget message. Speech should explain to all the Townspeople how the Finance Committee arrived at the budget. ® Mr. Coco suggested that the verbage in the Finance Committee message should allow Town Meeting to know the amounts of time the Finance Committee spent on this balanced budget. The Town must now address the issues that will be the biggest considerations to the people. -1- Reading Finance Committee 3/20/90 e Don Allen reiterates that the Committee basically said the same things last year. o Mr. Coco feels that the Public Forum to be held on March 31 will be most necessary - and will help to explain the issues. o Bill Burditt mentioned some of the words he would begin the message with at the Forum for the people - basically, this is what the Finance Committee did with what the Finance Committee had to work with this year. o Mr. Coco cited that language in the Charter needs some clarification regarding numbers of members in order to hold a legal meeting of the Finance Committee and others. o Liz Greene discussed minotity votes of Finance Committee. e Peter mentioned that the budget format committee met and requested for information regarding,: minority opinion votes o Liz Greene and Peter Hechenbleikner discussed any votes which may need variation being faxed to Peter in time for the Format Committee to review. o Don suggested Free Cash be at $743,000 instead of the $800R figure. $60,ooo of Free Cash could have been used. e Bill Burditt adjourned from this meeting at 7 p.m. Before departing he indicated that the meeting next evening can be used for Finance Committee business or time can be used individually by members making notes for the Format Committee. o School Department discussion here - Don Allen questioned $200,000 reductions and never being given further information from School Department. o Bill mentioned that Northeast Regional budget hearings would be on March 22 and 29 for anyone who would like to attend. e Liz Greene took Chairmanship of this meeting at 7:05 P.M. and asked the Committee if they would like to have a meeting next evening. o Mr. Allen felt that having the School Department final recap presented to the Committee at the meeting would show where the cits were ade - this is very important issue. e Nate White asked Liz if she needed any input for Fincom budget message from School Department. Liz feels she does not - but Don Allen felt a final recap should be given and School Committee should be reminded of this. o Liz Greene prepared to telephone Mr. Nissen, Chairman of the School-committee, to aee--if-he=could pl-an to-come-to the meeting-next evening but could not reach him at his residence. -2- Reading Finance Committee 3/20/90 e Liz suggested having members of the Finance Committee telephone her at home after the meeting on any minority line items on the budget so that she may call these into Peter Hechenbleikner before printing. At the meeting next evening, Liz will have list to discuss before Town Meeting. ® Budget indicates there are 65 people being laid off (35 full-time equivalents). Liz Greene discussed the possibility of Mr. Tom Stohlman coming before the Committee at this meeting tonight to submit an alternative plan to the Finance Committee. She suggested waiting extra time in this event, after Fincom settled business of the night. e Informal discussion followed regarding the close proximity Boston has to the Town of Reading and how difficult it is to keep the law upheld with fewer police. II. A D J O U R N M E N T Don Allen moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 P.M. with a delay of ten minutes for possible presentation by Mr. Stohlman and Mr. Agneta seconded this adjournment motion. Next meeting will be a working meeting of the Committee to pre re for Public Forum list. Res pee full ubmitted, Su Finn, S E C R E T A R Y R A D I N G F I N A N C E C O M M. /sf