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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-04-17 Finance Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE READING FINANCE COMMITTEE APRIL 17, 1990 This meeting of the Reading Finance Committee was held in the Con- ference Room of Town Hall and was called to order at 8:00 P.M. by Chairman Bill Burditt. Members Present: Bill Burditt, Chairman Don Allen Charlie Catalfamo Dick Coco Jerry MacDonald Nate White Others Present: Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager Mr. Fallon, Recreation Committee Mr. Giordano, Recreation Committee I. B U S I N E S S A. Special Articles/Recreation Committee/Article 4 ® Bill Burditt asked Committee if they would like any more discussion on Article 4. • Mr. Giordano explained that the request is so that the Recreation Committee can run new programs ONLY. Only the monies generated from these programs will be deposited into this revolving fund. • Charlie asked Giordano where the money will come from. • Bill answered from fees and charges. • John Fallon explained some possible new programs: • a teen program • a whale watch • mountain climbing of Mt. Monadnock • a trip to the beaches of Massachusetts/New Hampshire • Bill Burditt here explained that it is better to have a revolving fund rather than a bare budget. What this does in having a revolving account is to keep the costs effective. • Nate White asked about liability insurance for these trips. • Mr. Fallon answered that they were liable for out-of-state travel. -1- Reading Finance Committee, April 17, 1990 9 Mr. Giordano explained a one million dollar insurance policy exists for the Recreation Department - the same liability exists for all the people involved in the Recreation Department. e Don Allen requests changing wording of the Article. • Mr. Fallon answered that information has already been sent to press, but we may change the wording of the Article at Town Meeting. Motion: Nate White moved to vote "No Action" article. As Article has no financial of Reading. Dick Coco seconded this Discussion ensued by the Committee here and Mr. seconding of the motion. on Article 4 as a presented, this impact on the Town notion. Coco withdrew his ® Mr. coco has concern about the language of the Article. ® Jerry MacDonald is concerned about adding additional Staff members in a revolving account. 0 Mr. Fallon indicated that the Summer Camp Program runs from A B C D. He would prefer to lengthen camp program, but cannot do such at this time because the salary monies are not available. Mr. Fallon suggested that there would be more demand locally for Recreation in the immediate area. People will be willing to pay for these programs, whereas they perhaps could,-.not afford a trip away from the local area. o Mr. Giordano suggested perhaps adding temporary staff, but bringing in people to serve a purpose for proportionate increase. • Don Allen asked about going back to that again and going through all the revolving accounts to see if they are running as they should be running. e Peter Hechenbleikner said that in terms of the Annual Report of the Revolving Fund, the reports can be reinstitutionalized. No expenses can be made out of a Revolving Fund without the sanction of the Town Manager. • Dick Coco has uneasiness here and serious concerns with this proposed Revolving Account. He sees 53E allowing Town to get back money. He sees the Town of Reading getting nothing out of it. ( • Mr. Giordano suggested that there was a hodge-podge thrown in 53 - some place to put things that do not belong anywhere else. o - Nate-indicated that an --opera--Tonal-decs-ion is --to -be ----made within the Government. No financial implications with this thing. -2- Reading Finance Committee, April 17, 1990 This is an operational decision and not a financial decision. 9 Bill Burditt suggested that this may have financial implications and perhaps we have an obligation to say something. • Jerry MacDonald asked if there was an available list of the employees of the Recreation Committee. If something happened and it ended in a deficit, what will happen? e Mr. Fallon explained that employees and programs can be shown and discussed: ® increase of one on pool staff ® camp staff equals 6 or 7 ® total part time equals 10 people teen week equals 5 field trips e consolidated day camp and extended day care proposal Summer baseball/T ball league much of the existing programs have been expanded upon e golf instructional leage and adult league 6 swimming program broadened e camp program half cost of private program First Motion withdrawn by Nate White at this time. Motion: Don Allen moved to accept the subject matter of Article 4 Revolving Fund and Mr. MacDonald seconded this motion. Vote: 5 - 1 - 0 approved. e Mr. Fallon and Mr. Giordano departed at 8:57 P.M. after the approved vote. B. Trash Collection ® Peter Hechenbleikner presided over this discussion. • Nate White commented on the Free Cash position being the same as the end of 1989. a Dick Coco asked if the Finance Committee would have the abs-lit-y-to-put -what r=ema-ins -in =the Fr=ee cash -Fund, if =anything was taken out of the Budget. Mr. Coco recommended putting it in -3- Reading Finance Committee, April 17, 1990 a Reserve Fund rather than Free Cash. • Discussion followed with the Committee. o Bill Burditt talked of the problem of reducing rubbish until there is a firm decision of recycling. ® Here, comments from Fred VanMagness (audience) regarding public waste disposal. Recycling program is instituted for a 42 week program. Recycling program savings is still debatable. What is the baseline - 52 week program or a 42 week program? o Peter explained where the figures came from to the Committee and audience members. We have projections ONLY at this time because of no experience in recycling- o Fred (audience): The program costs represent a 20% re- duction of recyclable materials. Opinions are on the table here. o Nate White cited percentage participation varied. There are lots of unknowns - estimates are good ones - the direction is definitely toward recycling. Nate is willing to ride with the numbers already from Town Manager. Peter indicated that actual figures came from "actual experience" to date. No more pickups on appliances or tires. It was then indicated that advertising would be necessary to support recycling measures. o Fred (audience): Sampling and testing is necessary for this program. Work some of the numbers. This recycling program could be run by us without a contractor running it. The Town of Reading could take over recycling themselves rather than allowing the contractor to be in charge. o Nate White suggested going with it - no way of any valid testing at this time. o Dick Coco agreed with Mr. White that the estimates are not far from the mark. It is a "coming wave", this recycling, and we may as well join in on the bandwagon now. 9 Peter then gave comparisons with the Town of Lexington, a nearby suburban community. Significant capital dollars in re- cycling program. Leaf collection done by curbside in Lexington. o Nate suggested taking a motion before the Selectmen declare. o Dick Coco agreed that Reading Finance Committee may need to take the initiative before Selectmen. o Peter responded to the $125,000 response of Town Mtg. e -Tom-Stohlman :Caud-ience-) gives Town Meeting opi-n.ion of the Finance Committee not giving money back to the Town. -4- Reading Finance Committee, April 17, 1990 • Tom Stohlman asked questions of Peter Hechenbleikner. Tom indicated that he was trying to avoid people losing their jobs with the monies discussed being placed in Free Cash. • Nate indicated that emergencies may arise and it is then "slim pickins". Motion: Nate White moved to increase abatement surplus $192,000 and reduce certified Free Cash by the same amount. Dick Coco seconded this motion. Vote: 6 - 0 - 0 approved. C. Capital Improvement Program e Peter Hechenbleikner explained this budget and outlined projects in the Capital Improvement Program. This is merely a plan and does not appropriate money. Peter went to the drawing board in graphic explanation of work being done by MBTA. The second rail is coming for better service North. Motion: Don Allen moved to accept the 5-year im- provement plan as presented and Nate White seconded this motion. Discussion followed and questions were asked of Peter regarding some proposed improvements. Vote: 6 - 0 - 0 approved. D. Special Town Meeting Warrant s Article 5 e Peter Hechenbleikner presented each Article. Motion: Don Allen moved to approve subject matter in Article 5 and Nate White seconded. Discussion followed here. Vote: 5 - 1 - 0 approved o Article 7/Re-purchase of Cemetary Lots Motion: Nate White moved to recommend Article 7 in the amount of $25000 and Mr. Coco secondeed. Vote: 6 - 0 - 0 approved. Here, Finance Committee asked audience member, Tom Stohlman, if he would be at the Light Board presentation the following Tuesday. • Article 9 ® No Action -5- Reading Finance Committee, April 17, 1990 e Article 10 o Gift of land to the Town of Reading Motion: Dick Coco moved to approve subject matter of Article 10 and Jerry MacDonald seconded. Vote: 6 - 0 - 0 approved. II. O T H E R B U S I N E S S e Resignation of Committeeman Paul Devlin A Paul Devlin is resigning from the Finance Committee due to business constraints at this time. His letter of resigna- tion was accepted at this meeting. ® Bill Burditt delivered his letter to the Town of Reading. Discussion followed. III. A D J O U R N M E N T Motion: Don Allen moved to adjourn at 11:01 P.M. and Charlie Catalfamo seconded. The meeting was then adjourned. mitted, Resp t ulXecre4lt-Waryy Sue inn, ding Finance Committee /sf -6-