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Home My WebLink About1990-04-10 Finance Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE READING FINANCE COMMITTEE APRIL 10, 1990 This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee was held in the Arnold Berger Room at Town Hall. Meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. Members Present: Bill Burditt, Chairman Liz Greene, Vice Chairman Jerry MacDonald Don Allen Paul Devlin Nate White Nick Agneta Dick Coco Others Present: Department of Public Works Head, Ted McIntyre Pat Driscoll, Rep for "Depot Task Force" Bernice Herrick, Rep for "Depot Task Force" Beth Klepei.s, Treasurer (arrived at 8:35 P.M.) I. B U S I N E S S A. Catch-Up for Bill Burditt • Discussion of what has been happening at the meetings that Bill Burditt has been away from recently. Bill was sent abroad for his business and was absent for a four week period. e Reserve Fund transfer of $14,400 for Snow and Ice Control. v Department of Public Works Head, Ted McIntyre, explained the Winter season and late purchases for the control of snow and ice. The snowfall during weekends was "the ,killer" of the Town budget this year. (Payments are time and a half on weekends). Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve the reserve fund transfer in the amount of $14,400 and Mr. MacDonald seconded. Discussion: Nick asked if we could get hit with any other things that we should be concerned about in lieu of monies. Bill Burditt mentioned the police buy-back as being a concern, certainly. Vote: 6 - 0 - 2 approved B. Action for Special Town Meeting e Bill Burditt recommended going on with the Warrant. v Nate White requested waiting for any revolving fund presentations until Beth Klepei.s arrived at this meeting this evening. -1- Reading Finance Committee, April 10, 1990 o Nick Agneta feels that voting and working against the clock is not easy for fact-finding voting. o Bill Burditt suggested taking action that could be taken and not on others. C. Depot Task Force/Warrant Article 6 e Bernice Herrick presented information to the Finance Committee regarding the Depot Enforcement Officer. e Nate White asked what is being done now at the Depot. m Bernice answered that very little is being done at the Depot by the Police Department. Automobile counts have been made and on Monday, Mrs. Herrick went to every automobile and, in this process, found 363 auto- mobiles parked and out of the 363; 99 were parked illegally. The problem here is-that people realize that the Depot is not being enforced. Many people are parking illegally. Parking will be a problem. The part-time person only works 20 hours (from 7:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.). He tickets the automobiles in the Depot and surrounding areas where resident parking is posted. a Bill Burditt interjected a concern here in the fact that this person is a part-time employee and in laying off full-time employees, you may not lay off full-timers if part-time employees remain. e Bill can see a strong desire to have this Depot supervisor, but legally does not know if we can have this person while laying off full-time policemen. o Discussion ensued regarding the Town crossing guards and the fact that the union in in court now because two full-time policemen were let go and the crossing guards are looked at as part-time employees. o Jerry MacDonald asked if foot patrolmen patrol the Depot area? e Bernice Herrick answered that they do. e Bill Burditt suggested that perhaps the Traffic Department would be the department that part-timers could be headed under - instead of the Police Department. e Bernice Herrick cited various fees charged in the area Towns and communities. e Nate White suggested that first the Committee should not recommend at this time because issues have to be resolved before hiring another part- timer. -2- Reading Finance Committee, April 10, 1990 Don Allen felt the Finance Committee should make a recommendation. Motion: Liz Greene moved to support Article 6 in the amount of $3,100 of the Special Town Meeting, reinstating the Enforcer for F Y 90. Mr. MacDonald seconded. Discussion: Don Allen felt this was counter-productive and the issues must be resolved. Vote: 0 - 8 - 0 opposed Liz Greene commented here on the issue of "pressure for infor- mation" and it being incorrect. Before Town Meeting, the information at its best should be presented by the Finance Committee. Deadlines are to be met. D. Recreation Committee Revolving Fund (One Hour Deliberation) o Beth Klepeis took the floor in explanation of exactly what the meaning was of a "revolving fund". o Bill Burditt suggested then, that accountability is given away in a revolving fund. a Language of revolving fund was hashed over by the Finance Committee. o Joe Giordano, Recreation Director, explained how the revolving fund works under the constraints of the budget. Revolving fund makes the Recreation Committee more responsible in lieu of running more cost-effective programs. s Jerry favors revolving accounts, but hiring in contractual.agreements takes hold. Reading. ® Giordano explained that programming would be done by the Town of e Twenty two of twenty four communities in neighboring Towns have revolving accounts, according to Mr. Giordano. e Discussion ensued by Fincom and Mr. Giordano. Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve. Discussion: Dick Coco goes over the State of Massachusetts Accounting By-Laws. Beth Klepeis responds in explanation of what the Recreation Committee is and its functions. -3- Reading Finance Committee, April 10, 1990 Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve Article 4 to include the recommendation that this is to be used for new programs. Don Allen seconded this motion. Discussion: Dick asks Town Counsel to provide information. Bill Burditt asked why they want to start a revolving fund. Is it because you want to start a ski program this year? The answer was given that revolving fund would allow other programs for the Recreation Committee. Mr. Giordano was questioned by members of the Fincom. Beth Klepei.s again stated what a revolving fund is and some of-the repercussions in having a revolving account. Bill Burditt recommends to the Fincom to vote for the motion as it was made. Liabilities in Recreation programs were brought up and discussed by Beth Klepeis and again by Mr. Giordano. Selectmen have not taken a stand at this time and so this motion maybe withdrawn. Nate White feels planning ahead is better than the possible abuse of a revolving fund. Bill Burdi.tt asks whether Fincom should take a lead on establishing a revolving fund or should the Fincom take charge because this is operation driven rather than financially driven. *Action pending Selectmen Vote and By-Law clarification. Motion: Liz Greene motion was withdrawn. Motion: Dick Coco requests clarification of interraction of 53D and 53E: Mr. MacDonald seconded this motion. *No action item. E. Reserve Fund Transfer/Police and Fire Indemnification s Beth explained work-related disability. On-going expenses are now staggering. Town of Reading is legally responsible because of indemni- fication. -4- Reading Finance Committee, April 10, 1990 Motion: Liz Greene moved to approve the transfer of $8.000 and Dick seconded this motion. Amendment: Jerry MacDonald amended this motion to $5,000 for Fire and Police Indemnification and Mr. Agneta seconded this amendment. Discussion: Don questioned drugs and monies. Beth feels $8,000 is needed and necessary. Dick asked if $8,000 were to be approved, what would happen. Beth said it goes back to Free Cash. Vote: 2 - 6 - 0 defeated Vote: Main Motion: $8,000 8 - 0 - 0 approved and transfer was signed by Chairman e Beth Klepei.s here recapped the Light Board's wishes to appear on the Capital Improvement Budget. In investigation, it was found that the Light Board is included in the Capital Improvement Budget. F. Article 5/Line Items/Probably FY90 Budget Transfers at Special Town Meeting e Beth Klepeis took the floor in explanation. e All transfers are done under one Article. e Group Health/Life conversation was conducted by Beth. 60 people are currently left on the Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance - all others are on H M 0 plans. Balance of $420,000 in the Account as of February. e Debt Service (Bond Anticipation Notes) - explanation given by Beth. e Finance Budget presentation. e Quarterly tax billing - postage costs discussed. e Medi_cae budget will be necessary at $10,000. Federal Law Payment Credits being built up for Medicare, not quarters of Social Security.. e Police salaries - $70,000. Underbudgeted account. e Unemployment is hard to estimate at this time. e Pending Action. G. Article 7/Repurchase of cemetary Lots o Action Pending H. Article 8 a Action pending. Reading Finance Committee, April 10, 1990 G. Article 9/By-Law change o No Action. H. Article 10/Eminent Domain o Action pending Recap by Bill Burditt to the Finance Committee. Before the budget presen- tation, if any Finance Committee member wants to say something, they should contact Bill Burdi_tt. o Bill asked the Finance Committee their feelings on the presentation and discussions within the group followed. II. N E X T F I N A N C E C O M M I T T E E M E E T I N G o The next meeting of the Reading Finance Committee will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 1990 at Town Hall. III. A D J O U R N M E N T o Jerry MacDonald moved to adjourn at 11:01 P.M. and Nick Agneta seconded his motion. The meeting then adjourned at this time. Respectfully submitted, ue Finn, Secretary Rea ing Finance Committee /sf