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Board of Selectmen Minutes 4/19/2011
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
TUESDAY,   APRIL  19,  2011

Chairman Mauceri called the meeting to order at 7pm in Room 14 at Town Hall in the presence of members:   Mr. Prisco,  Mr. Delaney,  Mr.  Yull and the Town Administrator, Greg Balukonis.  Mr. O'Leary was not present.

1.      ELECTION WARRANT
        Mr. Chairman,   I move to sign the May 3, 2011 Annual Town Election Warrant.
        Motion by:      Mr. Prisco                                                                      Seconded by:    Mr. Delaney                                                                      Voted:          4-0                     Mr. O'Leary not present

2.      MINUTES
        Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the April 4, 2011 Regular Session minutes as written.
        Motion by:      Mr. Prisco                                                                      Seconded by:    Mr. Delaney                                                                      Voted:          4-0                     Mr. O'Leary not present
        
        Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the April 4, 2011 Executive Session minutes as written.
        Motion by:      Mr. Prisco                                                                      Seconded by:    Mr. Delaney                                                                      Voted:          4-0                     Mr. O'Leary not present
        
        Mr. O'Leary arrived at 7:06pm

3.      LEGAL BILLS
        Mr. Chairman, I move to approve Legal Bills for February 2011 in the amount of                  $7,861.78 as follows:
        Kopelman and Paige, PC (General)                                $2,796.22                       Kopelman and Paige, PC (Labor)                                  $4,698.00                       West                                                             $    367.56
                                Total                                   $7,861.22
        Motion by:      Mr. Prisco                                                                      Seconded by:    Mr. O'Leary                                                                      Voted:          Unanimous (5-0)

4.      BOWLING ALLEY LICENSE-CANDLEWOOD LANES
        Postpone until May 2, 2011

5.      PUBLIC COMMENT
        Mr. Perkins stated that according to a print out - the Town of North Reading Police Dept.       earn excellent salaries - how do they get this much - $100,000 and over.
        Mr. Mauceri--Police Chief has some say, Police overtime is some of this, also filling in                shifts, details, and other circumstances.
        Mr. Prisco--You need to look at the base salaries ($40,000-$60,000)

6.      PUBLIC HEARING  -  WATER RATES
        Richard Carnavale - DPW
        Tighe and Bond Engineers (T&B) was hired by the Town to conduct a study of Water                rates per use.  These are the recommendations:
        1.      Adopt a standard for block rate usage.                                                  2.      Issue water bills based on water used per quarter.                                      3.      Adopt a 90% collection rate to ensure it to a high probability.                          4.      Adopt the revised Water Dept. indirect costs.                                           5.      Develop and Adopt a delinquent Water payment policy.                                    6.      Adopt a rate structure to repay funds appropriately from Water                                   Stabilization and reserve funds to meet shortfalls.                                     7.      Adopt a 3yr. payback period for the Water Stabilization and                                     Reserve funds.                                                                           8.      Adopt a 3yr. rate structure with 90% collection rate and                                                anticipated surplus.
        Presentation made to Finance Committee who voted to adopt the 8 recommendations.
        Steve Karzaga - Chairman Water Commission
        Discussed at 2 meetings the DPW recommendations that were presented.    
        Mr. Prisco-Finance Committee had approved #'s 2,3,4 & 5 unanimously,  #'s 1,6,7 & 8             would be gone over later.
        Mr. Mauceri-Budget hearing is next Monday April 25, 2011 and since Water Commission             is having a problem meeting maybe they can meet before Board of Selectmen meeting               on April 25th.
        It was decided that the Water Commission needs to meet and come to agreements with              budgets by April 25, 2011.
        Mr. Mauceri-Board should consider 95% collection rate chart.
        Mr. Yull-Agrees with the 95%, we are paying for the sins of the past,  too many years           of letting things go too far (15yrs) and not having a rate.
        Mr. Prisco-would like to see the rate study,  does agree with the 95%  but we just raised               the rates 13%.

7.      MEETING WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE
        Discussion was made as to hiring 2 Officers vs. OT  whereas, there are 2 Officer day            shifts open.
        Sgt. Mike Murphy made up a study of cost vs. savings and presented it to the Board.
        Mr. Mauceri- Earn time off replacement cost -- is this estimate based on OT.
        Chief Nolan-Staffing level was never dropped, when staff decreased the "never                   knew" they couldn't fill thes positions.  Each shift usually runs with 1 Sgt and                        3 Officers.    For an example,  domestic abuse calls require 2 Officers to respond                      per case, there has been  an increase in recent years, sometimes 2-5 calls per                   week.  If 1 person was hired for day shift the Local 25 might have an issue with                        staffing.   Having 2 come on would be more feasible.
        Mr. Mauceri-Can Dept. live with cut of OT budget if additional Officer is hired.
        Officers can accrue up to 400 hrs Comp time,  this is contractual.
        Mr. Mauceri-We are trying not to lay people off and with hiring more people with                more OT won't work.  The contracts only intice more time off and OT to use.
        Mr. O'Leary-Why is it contractual and managerial to fill a shift.
        Mr. Prisco-Chief should have the right to determine staffing levels, but from what              we are hearing here you don't.
        Mr. Mauceri-The savings column is really a savings but additional OT for the Town.              What is the true cost of bringing 2 people on board--how much more will the Dept need.
        Mr. O'Leary-If we can pick up someone with the budget then we can do it.   Hopefully            this will answer Mr. Perkins question about expense of Police Dept..
        Mr. Prisco-Sgt Murphy job well done during the Bank Robbery recently.

8.      SPECIAL AND ANNUAL TOWN MEETINGS
                Budget and Warrant Articles
        Revenue Plan is based on Governor's Budget Plan.   Reviewed spreadsheet and budget              from FY2011 - FY2012.  Made alot of adjustments to budget revenue per Governor's                budget.  Within budget viewed this evening some monies have been put back in.
        Monday night,  April 25th, Greg can come back with the input.  We will hear from Water          Commission and go over Budget Hearing.

9.      DISCUSS TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REVIEW
        Postponed to April 25,  2011

10.     TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
        1.      The House and Senate Ways & Means released the FY2012 State Aid estimates,                      State Aid to North Reading would be reduced by approximately $14,500 due to                     elimination of reimbursements for the Quinn Bill.
        2.      List of budget exposures for the remainder of FY2011 which anticipate                           supplemental funding will be necessary:  Veteran's Benefits $22,500 ;  Fuel &                   Utilities $20,000; Retirements $65,000.  Recommend funding the Veterans                         Benefits and Fuel & Utilities be secured via transfer from the Reserve Fund and                  the Retirements be funded at the Special Town Meeting on June 6th.  Also a                      transfer of $610,000 is necessary to fund the current year snow deficit.   I                    propose funding for Retirements and Snow Deficit come from  Free Cash and                       FEMA reimbursements from the March 2010 floods.
        3.      Information Technology Advisory Committee had a meeting,  Mr. Yull attended                     this meeting.   They will be scheduling to meet with a vendor to look at a                      "digital Town Hall" which is similar to the technology being used by the                                Police Dept.  for their IT function.
        4.      Health Insurance consultant will have completed analysis of additional health                   insurance options for the FY2012 renewal.   I will have information for next                    meeting.




11.     OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
        Mr. O'Leary - All Set
        Mr. Prisco - Best to Chief Harris in his retirement,  also to the Boston Marathon runners.              Fox 25 News will do a Zip Trip in North Reading on Friday,  June 17, 2011.   Ocean State                Job Lots coming to North Reading at the old Stop & Shop site.   Happy Easter to all.
        Mr. Delaney - Would also like to wish Chief Harris a happy retirement.   Happy Easter           and Passover to all.
        Mr. Yull - Would also like to wish Chief Harris well in his retirement.   Town elections                are coming up and hopes alot of people will come out and vote .    The Smith                    property is anything going on with that?    Happy Easter to all.
        Mr. Mauceri - Best Wishes to Chief Harris.   Happy Easter and Passover.    Budget               Hearing next Monday,  April 25.    May 2nd is the next Regular  Board of Selectmen              meeting and election is on May 3rd.   No Executive Session tonight.

        ADJOURN 10:50 p.m.
        Mr. Chairman,  I move to adjourn
        Motion by:       Mr. Prisco                                                                     Seconded by:    Mr. Delaney                                                                      voted:          unanimous (5-0)


        _______________________________         ________________________________
                Date                                            Michael Prisco, Clerk