HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-11 Finance Committee MinutesFinance Committee Meeting
February 11, 1998
The Finance Committee met in the Selectmen's Meeting. Room at Town Hall,. 16 Lowell
Street, Reading, Massachusetts at 7:35 p.m. Presents were Chair Jim Keigley, Vice Chair
Carol Grimm, Finance- Committee members Gerry MacDonald,_Catherine_Martin, Richard
McDonald, Lawrence Penta, Paul Kurker, James Francis, and Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner.
Peter Hechenbleikner:
The Town of Reading-received 2 bids on the landfill. The Town may. be able to recoup the
$4 million needed to close the landfill by then selling it for $4 million.
Peter Hechenbleikmer_ submitted:
Revised Capital Improvement Plan.
Police. Staffing-Report
Material on the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
Dra$..Qutline_ of.the.. Warrant
Library:
Library.Director, Diedre Hanley,- presented the Library's FY-1999 Budget.
There is a 2 1/2% salary increase for Staff as well as a reclassification for Division Heads
and Librarians totaflng._$42,872.00. This would bringthe salary ranges closer to those of
similar suburbs. Three of the current Division Heads have been with the library for 15
years.
The Library Department is. requesting-$13,000.00 for Additional Funding.of Nonprint
Materials. This includes videos, audiobooks and compact discs for all ages. There is
available _space. to store these-materials.
Diedre Hanley presented the Library's Capital Improvement Program.
The_ library has- finished Phase,, 1 of the HVAC renovation They are adding more first. floor
space and a new security system.
Fire Department:
Fire Chief Donald Wood presented the Fire Department's FY-1999 Budget.
The recently signed three year salary contract is equal to approximately a 3.56% increase
per, year for_each of the last three. fiscal years.
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The overtime expenditure requested for FY 1999 is $217,933.00. The high amount of
overtime-is due.to,the many injuries sustained this-past-year both on and off duty. The
nature of the Fire Fighter's work makes "light duty" unfeasible. The question of hiring
new Fire Fighters was addressed. All new employees must pass a civil service exam and be
academy trained. These requirements limit the amount of new Fire Fighters available to be
hired.
Metro..fire.Dues. --The_Metrofire radio . system allows- communication between the Reading
Fire Department and 34 surrounding communities in an emergency situation.
Capital Program for the Fire Department:
The fire hose and one engine are replaced every five years. This alternates the replacement
of the four fire engines,..allowing all engines- to be replaced over a.twenty.year period.
General Services:
Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner reviewed the. FY 1999 Budget Narrative.for the
Department of General Services for:
The_.Bo,ar t& Selectmen
The Town Manager
The Law Division
The Town Clerk
Elections and. Registration
Property and Casualty Insurance
General Department
The. $9 million. Coolidge Middle. School renovation project is. going on the warrant for the
March 9, 1998 Town Meeting. Jim Keigley would like the FinCom Committee to visit the
school before. the.. Town Meeting.
On a motion by Carol Grimm seconded by Gerry MacDonald the Finance Committee
voted to approve the minutes of February 5, 1998,, by a vote of 7-0-1.
The next FinCom meeting is February 18, 1998, to discuss both Warrants.
On motion by. Gerry MacDonald seconded by Larry Penta the Finance Committee voted
to adjourn at 10:00 p.m. by a vote of 8-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
ecor. ing Secretary.
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