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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-01-11 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting January 11, 2011 For ease of archiving, the order that items appear in these Minutes reflects the order in which the items appeared on the agenda.for that meeting, and are not necessarily the order in which any item was taken tip by the Board The meeting convened at 7:05 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman James Bonazoli, Vice Chairman Camille Anthony, Secretary Richard Schubert, Selectmen Stephen Goldy and Ben Tafoya, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleilcner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, Town Accountant Gail LaPointe, Police Chief James Cormier, Business Administrator Andrew Scribner, Fire Chief Greg Burns, Town Planner Jean Delios, Library Director Ruth Urell, Public Works Director Jeff Zager, DPW Business Manager Jane Kinsella, Office Manager Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: John Arena, Marsie West, Mark Dockser. The Town Manager noted that there will be no trash pick up on Wednesday due to the blizzard. Discussion/Action Items Budget Message - The.Town Manager noted that the FY 2012 Budget was the most difficult budget he has worked on. In creating the budget, he assumed a reduction of 10% in. State aid, revenues are flat or decreasing, permit fees are lagging, there is use of some cash reserves,•the goal is to make services efficient; i.e., regional services, it reduces or eliminates regulations.,and lastly preserves health and public safety. The Town Manager went on to highlight the major reductions as follows: Administration — A 1.8% reduction with the elimination of the part-time Administrative Secretary position. Finance & Accounting— Eliminate the Seasonal Appraiser, reduce clerical hours, reduce banking services. Community Services — An 11.1% reduction with the part-time Inspectors, Health Administrator, Elder/Human Services Director and Conservation Administrator - all cut to half time, and the elimination of the Permits Coordinator DPW — 2.6% reduction by reducing Recreation overtime, eliminate one seasonal worker, shift an engineer from tax supported position to stormwater enterprise. Public Safety—This is a priority and there is no staff reduction. The Town Manager noted that there are additional actions needed by the Board of Selectmen as follows: • Rescind wetland bylaw • Roll back demolition delay to six months Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 11, 2011 —Page 2 ® Propose a bylaw amendment requiring residents to clear the sidewalks of snow and ice ® Adopt a carry in/carry out policy for the parks • Implement the CAMA system Updated Revenues - Town Accountant Gail LaPointe noted that the property tax revenues in FY 2011 were $51.20 million, and it is estimated to be $52.65 million in FY 2012. Local receipts are $5.32 million. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked if we use $1.5 million from reserves, how would that affect the FY 2013 Budget, and the Assistant Town Manager noted that we will need approximately $1.5 million. Review of Budget Summary — The Assistant Town Manager reviewed the various budgeting scenarios that were used in building the FY 2012 Budget. Review of Department Budgets Administration — The Town Manager noted that the 15 hours/week Administrative Secretary position is being eliminated, copy supplies are being reduced, reduced postage, eliminated advertising, reduced printing and reduced legal expenses. John Arena, Precinct 1, asked about the savings on fuel pricing, and the Assistant Town Manager I noted that the assumptions were reduced 20% - 25%. Mr. Arena also asked if that is achievable, and the Town Manager indicated that it should be. Accounting — Gail LaPointe reviewed the Accounting budget. She noted that it included a 2% increase, two hours per week were shifted to the Finance Department Budget, she is keeping a little money in the overtime account to cover for vacations, and professional development is kept at a minimum, Finance — The Assistant Town Manager noted that the Finance Department Budget has a 5.6% reduction. They are attempting to cross train staff, and they absorbed some of the hours from the Accounting Department, They eliminated the Seasonal Appraiser position. Professional Development was reduced from $6600 to $4800,tax title from $20,000 to $15,000, bank services from $28,000 to $12,000, and postage is reduced because there is a smarter way to remind people that payments are overdue. Public -Safety— Police Chief James Cormier and Business Administrator Andrew Scribner were present. Chief Cormier noted that he greatly appreciates. being able to keep fpll staffing. The budget has no.COLA but keeps the step increases. Overtime has been reduced in some areas.. He also noted that the calls are steady but there is a change in the type of crime — theft, armed robbery, domestic violence and sexual assault have all increased. He noted that the serious crimes take more investigative work. He also noted that he has two Officers in Afghanistan. The expense budget is reduced 3%, and the uniform line is reduced because he does not anticipate any new hires. Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 11, 2011 —Page 3 Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked about the overtime.account. Chief Cormier noted that he has eliminated all discretionary overtime for such things as the Fall Street Faire;the tree lighting ceremony, etc. Chairman James Bonazoli asked about school events, and Chief Cormier noted that it is nice to have the School Resource.Offlcer at the sporting events but it is discretionary. Selectman Ben Tafoya asked about the RAD Program, and Chief Cormier noted that is discretionary spending. Selectman Tafoya also asked how much it costs to run the program, and Chief Cormier noted $5,000 - $6,000 for the adult program. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked if we could charge for the program, and Chief Cormier noted that we could though we never have.. He also noted that Verizon and other companies have made donations. Selectman Richard Schubert asked about the Parking Enforcement Officer, and the Town Manager indicated that he will get the revenue report. Chief Cormier noted that Dispatch has been reduced by 5% but he has increased the overtime account because salaries have increased over the last three years but the overtime expense did not. Chairman James Bonazoli asked about moving the sale of community access stickers to Town Hall, and the Town Manager indicated that we are looking at using the new permitting software to do that online. Fire Chief Greg Burns thanked everyone for allowing him to retain all the personnel. He noted that his budget includes a contractual increase for union employees, and step increase for nonunion. He also noted that overtime fills the shift due to illness, injury or mandatory training. Sick leave buyback has been reduced, and they are looking at.privatizing ambulance billing. Chairman Jaynes Bonazoli asked if we are billing at fault accidents, and Chief Cormier noted that he has information on at fault accidents and will follow up on that. Selectman Camille Anthony asked if cutting fire alarm maintenance was going to be a problem, and Chief Burns indicated that he didn't know. He reduced it because he had no other place to reduce—we will find out when it happens. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that.when Police and Fire were reduced in the past, it ended up costing the Town money. Public Works — Public Works Director Jeff Zager and DPW Business Manager Jane Kinsella were present. Jeff Zager noted that the Public Works Budget reflects a 2.6% decrease. Seasonal positions have been reduced, overtime has been reduced, there is an increase in equipment maintenance due to operational changes. One Engineer has been moved from the General Fund to the Storm Water Enterprise. Parks and Forestry will lose one seasonal employee. Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 11, 2011 —Page 4 Jeff Zager also noted that the trash program is going great, thanks to the community. The Town Manager noted that it takes the equivalent of one full-time employee to pick up debris in the parks, and the Selectmen need to consider a carry in/carry out policy. Jeff Zager noted that professional development has been reduced but they will continue with professional development. He also noted that snow and ice were increased $25,000. The Assistant Town Manager noted that there is no surplus in the budget for snow and ice at Town Meeting. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony suggested scheduling a third meeting for the budget at the Senior Center to receive public input. Selectman Ben Tafoya indicated that he appreciates the work that went into this budget. There are a lot of difficult reductions but they are necessary—we can't use that amount of cash reserves next year too. A motion by Anthony seconded by Tafoya to adjourn the meeting of January 11, 2011 at 9:35 p.m.was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Respectfully submitte Secretary