MINUTES OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2008
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Chairman Mauceri called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in Room 14 at the Town Hall in the presence of members Mr. Veno, Mr. Dardeno, Mr. Harris, Mr. O ‘Leary and the Town Administrator Greg Balukonis.
#1. EXECUTIVE SESSION (6:08 PM)
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR
THE PURPOSES OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND LITIGATION STRATEGY, AND FURTHER THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN WILL RETURN TO OPEN SESSION THEREAFTER FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF ADJOURNMENT.
MOTION BY: MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY: MR. O’LEARY
VOTED: MR.HARRIS: AYE
MR. O’LEARY: AYE
MR. DARDENO: AYE
MR. VENO: AYE
MR. MAUCERI: AYE
7:05 PM The Board returned to open session.
Mr. Mauceri announced to the audience that anyone wishing to make comments tonight needed to come up to the podium and use the microphone so that everyone would be able to hear their comments, and the television audience could see who was speaking.
#2. MINUTES
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 22, 2008 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES AS WRITTEN.
MOTION BY: MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY: MR. O’LEARY
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 22, 2008 EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES AS WRITTEN.
MOTION BY: MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY: MR. O’LEARY
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
#3. CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Veno passed the recording secretary his correspondence sheet.
#4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Mauceri asked that questions be held until the end of the budget presentation.
#5. LIBRARY GRANT
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE $5,000 FEDERAL EQUAL ACCESS GRANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUGMENTING FUNDING FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR TEENS AND “TWEENS.”
MOTION BY: MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY: MR. O’LEARY
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
Mr. Veno had a question for Mr. Balukonis regarding whether the Town had to match these funds or whether the $5,000 was a straight grant, to which Mr. Balukonis replied that he thought it was a straight grant.
#6. APPOINTMENTS/REAPPOINTMENTS
ENERGY STUDY AD HOC COMMITTEE
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO PLACE IN NOMINATION THE FOLLOWING NAMES FOR APPOINTMENT AS MEMBERS OF THE ENERGY STUDY AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR TERMS TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2008: (2 OPENINGS)
RICHARD HARRIS (FIRE REPRESENTATIVE)
DAN JONES (POLICE REPRESENTATIVE)
MOTION BY: MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY: MR. DARDENO
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
WATER COMMISSION
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO PLACE IN NOMINATION THE FOLLOWING NAME FOR APPOINTMENT AS AN ALTERNATE MEMBER OF THE WATER COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2010: (1 OPENING)
ALEX PAICOS, 22 SUNSET AVENUE
MOTION BY: MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY: MR. VENO
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
____________________________________________________________________________
COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO PLACE IN NOMINATION THE FOLLOWING NAME FOR APPOINTMENT AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2010: (1 OPENING)
STEVEN A. CIULLA, 4 SUSAN DRIVE
Mr. Veno commented that Mr. Ciulla was an attorney with a knowledge and interest in disability law, has attended two of the meetings and would be an asset to the Commission.
MOTION BY: MR. VENO
SECONDED BY: MR. DARDENO
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
#7. INFORMATIONAL HEARINGS
Mr. Balukonis stated that an advertisement was posted in the newspaper listing the articles for the Annual Town Meeting. He also stated the formal part of the hearing does not include the budget, although information will be presented on it. Also on the warrant are several articles that will be included in the Special Town Meeting. Mr. Mauceri asked Mr. Balukonis if it would be appropriate to proceed with an overview of the budget.
Mr. Mauceri then proceeded with a formal slide presentation of the issues that the Board and the citizens of the Town face associated with this year’s budget.
At 8:30 p.m., Mr. Mauceri opened the discussion to the public. Various residents spoke about a number of budget issues as well as revenue generating ideas.
An override was discussed at length. The Board determined they first needed to come to an agreement with regard to cuts and fees, and ultimately this would take more time. They decided to ask the Town Administrator to come up with more choices, recommendations and/or cuts, but they would take a vote tonight on each item just to see where everyone stands on the items, as there are some items they seem to agree on. The items they agreed on were retirement benefits, non-exempt debt ($150,000), Recreation Department, but only one position ($45,000), DPW, Police and Fire Department over-time ($13,000 each), ambulance fees, cell tower lease and health insurance. The vocational school was not voted on because they were not sure the amount was correct. Solid waste becoming 100% fee-based was voted
4-1 with Mr. Veno not making a decision one way or the other at this time. Mr. Harris could not vote on the health insurance item. Mr. Mauceri then took a vote on the items he proposed. Recreational fees becoming 100% fee based was voted 4-1 with Mr. Dardeno voting no.
Before voting on the library cut, Marcy Bailey, Vice Chair of the North Reading Library Trustees, stated to the Board that they currently only have about $6,000 of wiggle room to make their library appropriate requirement, so $25,000 would most likely take away the library’s certification, and the ability for the library to participate in the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium. She went on to say that if they cut around $6,000, the library may still be able to maintain certification, but to cut $25,000 would cut a lot of the services from the citizens of North Reading. The Board members voted against the $25,000 cut.
Mr. Mauceri then mentioned the $100,000 cut to the Police Department budget and Mr. Veno noted that if he could hear the Chief of Police say that he could cut the Police Department budget by $100,000 without affecting public safety, then he would agree to vote for it. Mr. Dardeno said it was his understanding that the Police Chief said that if you cut two police officers, then the evenings will only have enough personnel to be response only, meaning that there would not be any police cars patrolling the streets; that they would only be able to respond to calls. He then reiterated a statement he had made earlier saying that again it’s the same people who will suffer from these cuts including the kids and residents in need, as most of the problems that occur happen at night. Mr. Dardeno agrees with
Mr. Veno that he would need more information from
the Chief before making a decision on this issue. Mr. Harris also commented that public safety is his top priority and if cutting the two positions jeopardizes the public’s safety, then he could not vote for this either.
The last item voted on was increasing the insurance co-pay. Mr. Veno would certainly be in favor of this, however, this must first be passed by 70% of the employees, and that may not be easy. Mr. Dardeno says that if this is in the budget, and then it doesn’t pass, then the only
alternative to make up the $300,000 would be to lay-off employees, so he feels that it gives the employees no choice but to vote for it. Mr. O’Leary noted that the School Department unions control the majority, making up 65% of the vote. Mr. Mauceri feels the time has come that they can no longer afford to pay the annual increase to the medical insurance and the co-pays must be
increased. Mr. Dardeno is still concerned that if this is not voted for, then employees will be laid off as a result and he wants to know who would be the ones to get laid-off if that were the case. Mr. Mauceri replied that they must make some decisions on that in advance, just in case that is what occurs. Mr. Veno and Mr. Dardeno both feel they would need to know that first before they could agree to the co-pay increase. Mr. Balukonis feels that increasing the co-pay could have an adverse affect on the GIC proposal being voted in. Because of the substantial savings created by bringing in the GIC, it would not be worth jeopardizing that by increasing the co-pay at this time just to save $300,000. Potentially, there may not be a problem, but he is not positive this won’t happen. Mr. Dardeno says not to forget that they can always use the $531,000 they have in free cash. Mr. O’Leary states that if they had a longer menu of choices, then it would be a lot easier to pick and
choose where to make the changes.
At 10:05 p.m., there was a short break.
APRIL 7, 2008 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES
At 10:15 p.m., Mr. Balukonis goes over the warrant articles to be discussed at the April 7, 2008 Special Town Meeting, which will be:
1. Article 1 – FY2008 Budget Amendment
Line 32: Police Department Capital
Line 46: Public Works Expenses
Line 97: Water Department Expenses
Line 101: Hillview Expenses – Transfer $50,000 from Hillview revenue.
2. Article 2 – Amend Article 8 of October 16, 2006 Town Meeting – Capital Expenditures, Item j – Finance and Administration Software
3. Fund Settlements – Eisenhaure Pond Park
Questions were raised and discussed with regard to the articles.
APRIL 7, 2008 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO RECOMMEND THE ARTICLE “AUTHORIZE LEASE OF MUNICIPAL PROPERTY.”
MOTION BY: MR. MAUCERI
SECONDED BY: MR. VENO
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO RECOMMEND THE ARTICLE “AMEND CODE – GENERAL BY-LAWS CHAPTER 90 – YOUTH SERVICES.”
MOTION BY: MR. HARRIS
SECONDED BY: MR. DARDENO
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO RECOMMEND THE ARTICLE “AMEND CODE – ZONING BY-LAWS SECTION 200-28 (B), (D), ARTICLE XVII AND ARTICLE XIV.”
MOTION BY: MR. DARDENO
SECONDED BY: MR. HARRIS
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO RECOMMEND THE ARTICLE “AMEND CODE – ZONING BY-LAWS ADD NEW SECTION 200-80(O).”
MOTION BY: MR. O’LEARY
SECONDED BY: MR. HARRIS
VOTED: (3-1-1)
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO NOT RECOMMEND THE ARTICLE “AMEND CODE – ZONING BY-LAWS SECTION 200-80(N).”
MOTION BY: MR. VENO
SECONDED BY: MR. HARRIS
VOTED: (3-2)
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO RECOMMEND THE ARTICLE “FUND RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS. “
MOTION BY: MR. DARDENO
SECONDED BY: MR. VENO
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO RECOMMEND THE ARTICLE “ARTICLE X – OPEN SPACE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.”
MOTION BY: MR. DARDENO
SECONDED BY: MR. O’LEARY
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
Mr. Mauceri mentioned again that next week is the last opportunity to close on the budget issue, vote, and go to print. This needs to be concluded two weeks from tonight and then sent to print. Mr. Balukonis states that they need to nail this down and sign the warrant, which is the critical piece. This needs to be done by the 17th or the 18th. Dates were discussed for meetings. It was decided to meet March 12th, March 17th – 6:00 p.m., March 24th and March 31st.
#8. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
1. There was a telephone outage yesterday at the Town Hall from about 9:30 a.m. It is not an internal problem, it is a problem within the Verizon infrastructure. Verizon is working hard to get the problem resolved.
2. The Fire Department Assessment Center is on March 18th. The Police Department Assessment Center is on March 20th.
3. The first meeting of the Public Employee Committee, which is on the GIC is set for March 25th. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss options and alternatives and also to present them with information relative to their vote. He has received notification from the Retired Organization of Public Sector Retired workers, and who the retiree designee is. He will update the Board on the progress being made at the first meeting in April.
4. If they are to proceed with an override question, it needs to be agreed to by the Board no later than March 31st so to provide notice to the Town Clerk by April 1st.
#9. OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
Mr. O’Leary congratulated the boys and girls track teams, 2nd in the State and State Champions in the relay team. Congratulations to the swimming team.
Mr. Dardeno mentioned that Youth Services had a battle of the bands and he heard it was wildly successful and they raised a good sum of money and there was no trouble. Kids Spot is going to be rebuilt by volunteers as it originally was built in the very beginning.
Mr. Mauceri notes they have some work to do and encourages the Board members to do a lot of thinking on how to close the budget gap. Final decisions must be made.
ADJOURN (11:25 PM)
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO ADJOURN.
MOTION BY: MR. MAUCERI
SECONDED BY: MR. O’LEARY
VOTED: UNANIMOUS (5-0)
__________________ _________________________________
DATE MR. MICHAEL HARRIS, CLERK
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