1990-02-BOS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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BUDGET REVIEWS Mr. white reviewed an alternate " "A "" 3 budget proposal, � g p posal, prepared at the request of the Board, which was developed with no revenue restrictions and included funding for programs not listed in his proposed "B " or maintenance budget: A $100 appropriation for Article 5 which would provide 4 to 5% salary increases; $59,580 for DPW which would save one engineering position, $ p ' allow two stone walls to be rebuilt and repainting of the two fire stations; $78,400 to preclude closing of the East Lexington Fire Station durin g summer months; under General Government, $52,404 to retain a switchboard operator and upgrade computer software; $180,000 to upgrade the Harrington School soccer field; $265,000 to allow for a 0 -route LEXPRESS operation; $30,000 to allow Libraries to stay open on Sundays and open at the usual hour; $30,767 for the D.A.R.E. program; $66,783 to renovate the Police dispatch area• _.� 35,000 to supplement the Recreation Enterprise Fund; $29,495 for weed control at the old Res; $72,000 to fund RePlace; and $300,000 for street resurfacing. g Of these items, the Manager suggested giving priority to RePlace; LEXPRESS, D.A.R.E., Reservoir weed Control, and the East Lexington Fire Station. Board members expressed their individual positions on priorities, as follows: Mr. Eddison listed LEXPRESS as the top item, RePlace for its importance to the young, weed control at the Old Res, the East Lexington Fire Station , the Library, which he felt should be open on Sundays and at the usual time in the morning. He felt that he could defend those items, which totalled $500,000 ±. Mrs. Smith placed LEXPRESS first, with RePlace, the Libraries, the D.A.R.E. program, Old Res weed control following and, if at all possible, to include the Engineering position and the East Lexington Fire Station. She felt that she could support a $500,000+ override. Mr. McSweeney said that he was still favoring the "B " budget and working within the funds available. He hoped that RePlace could be retained and saw value in the D.A.R.E. program, as well as weed control at the Old Res. Regarding the $35,000 proposed in the "A " budget for the Recreation Enterprise Fund supplement, he hoped that funds for that purpose could come from the Pine Meadows operation. Mr. Dailey expressed hope that the Selectmen could go to Town Meeting unified in a recommendation for a budget. He would support further exploration of the RePlace request and the East Lexington Fire Station, Regarding LEXPRESS, he said that the MBTA subsidy appears to be safe for now but he was not assured of its continuance in the future. He hoped for action by the School Committee similar to the Selectmen's in its budget considerations. He said he was not ready to support an override, without every effort being made not to go beyond available funds. Mr. Marshall agreed that agreement should be reached on a budget to bring to Town Meeting but he felt that an override would be needed. He did not support the School's request for a 6% budget increase, $1,000,000 more than in the Town's budget.