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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-04-BOS-min,/,6 -�ZG9 SELECTMEN'S MEETING APRIL 4, 1994 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, April 4, 1994, in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 p.m. Chairman Dailey, Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr White, Town Manager; and Mrs. Novak, Assistant Town Manager were present. BROOK CLEANING Conservation Commission Chairman Joyce Miller, Eric Mollo- Christensen and Caleb Warner joined the Board for a discussion of the Selectmen's position on Article 17. Mrs. Miller reported that the figures for brook cleaning that were passed out and discussed at last week's Selectmen's meeting had been studied further by the Commission, who now think that the work can be done for less than $25,000. She said that this is based on using the Middlesex Mosquito Control person and equipment, from which they have a verbal commitment, and that this would reduce the original estimate by $32,000. She explained some of the other figures that had been revised, adding that all of this is subject to approval from the State. Mrs. Miller said that because of this refiguring, the Commission will move to withdraw Article 17, since an appropriation from the Town is not needed at this time. Mr. Dailey thanked Mrs. Miller for reporting this good news and said that the Board would look forward to working with the Commission on the Brook cleaning. Mr. Mollo- Christensen said they were pleased that this work was going to be done, but expressed concern about a confirmed blockage downstream in Waltham that might allow potential run -off from Lexington Ridge that could worsen flooding in Lexington. The Board expressed its appreciation to Mrs. Miller and asked that she convey its appreciation to members of the Commission as well, for following through on this brook cleaning project. MINUTES Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes for the Meetings of January 31, 1994, March 21, 1994, March 28, 1994, and March 30, 1994. EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve minutes for the executive sessions held on March 21, 1994, and March 28, 1994. CONSENT AGENDA ABATEMENTS Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve abatement of the following charges. Minutes for the Meeting of April 4, 1994 ,,/o -f9 2 a. Abatements: Water, Sewer & Demand - Total - 3/30/94 $106.88 b. Abatements: Water, Sewer & Demand - Total - 3/30/94 $1,559.10 ONE DAY LIQUOR LICENSE Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the application of the Armenian Sisters Academy for a One Day Liquor License for a Dance Party to be held on Saturday, May 7, 1994 from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 7:45 p.m. A true record, Attest: (from tape) J �& Sara I. Peters, Executive Clerk W 5-1 o °"SGT ,-/,, O -� SELECTMEN'S MEETING Wednesday, April 6, 1994 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, April 6, 1994 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, at 7:00 p.m. Chairman Dailey, Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr White, Town Manager; Mrs. Novak, Assistant Town Manager; and Mrs. Peters, Executive Clerk, were present. BUDGET RECONCILIATION Mr. Dailey reported that he had spoken with School Committee Chairman John Oberteuffer today and learned that the School Department will present an amendment at Town Meeting tonight proposing that funding for school employee raises, that was voted to be added to its budget by Town Meeting, be funded out of Free Cash, Mr. Dailey added that the Board must now think about how the $250,000, 2% raises for Town employees, which Town Meeting also restored on Monday night, should be funded. He mentioned the elimination of the East Lexington Fire Station, LexPress, or the privatization of refuse collection as ways to provide funding for the salary increases. The Board discussed the costliness of losing the Town's AAA Bond rating for future borrowing, if Free Cash were used to balance the budget. The Board agreed it could not recommend any further use of Free Cash. Discussion followed about program cuts; whether or not to support an override; and the need to look at alternative ways to provide traditional services. The Board did not reach any consensus on whether to call for an override. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 8:00 p.m.. A true record, Attest: Y 62z� '4� Sara I. Peters Executive Clerk 0 e�,e -.-/ SELECTMEN'S MEETING Saturday, April 9, 1994 A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Saturday, April 9, 1994, in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building at 8:00 a.m. Chairman Dailey, Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. White, Town Manager; Mrs. Novak, Assistant Town Manager; and Miss Smith, Acting Executive Clerk, were present. The Chairman opened the meeting and asked the Board to decide what approach to recommend to Town Meeting in order to reconcile the budget. He added that the Board will report to Town Meeting on Monday night what the position of the Board will be. Mr Dailey said the problem now is a shortfall of $400,000, and the Board must decide how to resolve this shortfall either by: 1. Budget cuts by the School Department and Town; 2. Call for an override; or 3. Balance the budget through the use of Free Cash. There was extended discussion about using Free Cash to balance the budget. The Board decided not to recommend using Free Cash. The Board voted to ask Town Meeting to reconsider a wage freeze. If Town Meeting does not act favorably on the wage freeze, the Board voted to ask that the money for wage increases be put subject to an override. Discussion followed on what would happen if the Town Meeting refused to rescind the money to provide wage increases. Motion made and seconded to have the LEXPRESS service be contingent on an override was defeated. Motion made and seconded to have the East Lexington Fire Station operation be contingent on an override was defeated. The meeting was adjourned at 10:28 am. to reconvene at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 11, 1994 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room. A true record, Attest: qna Ac A. Smith Executive Clerk SELECTMEN'S MEETING April 11, 1994 Z20 A continuation of a regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen, begun Saturday, April 9, 1994 and continued to Monday, April 11, 1994, was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, at 7:00 p.m. Chairman Dailey, Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr White, Town Manager; Mrs. Novak, Assistant Town Manager; and Mrs. Peters, Executive Clerk, were present. TOWN MEETING DISCUSSION Mr. Dailey noted that at its April 9 Saturday meeting, the Board had discussed Town Meeting's vote eliminating the Town government salary freeze, which resulted in an approximate $370,000 shortfall in the budget. He added that Saturday, the Board had agreed to return to Town Meeting tonight and ask it to reconsider its vote restoring the 2% Town wide salary increase for Town Employees on Wednesday night; that if Town Meeting did not wish to do this, the Board would request consideration of an override vote to cover the shortfall caused by the elimination of the wage freeze, in order to bring the budget into balance; and that the Board had also agreed Saturday to report its position to Town Meeting tonight. Mr. Dailey continued by saying that he thought it was the consensus of the Board at this time, not to favor an override. He suggested that one alternative would be to recom- mend a 1% wage increase, which would lower the amount to be raised to around $200,000, and that the $200,000 come out of free cash. The Board discussed how to proceed at Town Meeting: the advisability of reducing the amount in Free Cash; whether or not to put a limit on the amount to be taken from Free Cash; the implications of reducing Free Cash, given the precedent it might set for annually solving budget deficits by taking from Free Cash; and using Free Cash to fund half of the shortfall, and getting the rest from further budget cuts. Some Board members expressed opposition to putting a wage increase on an override, calling it unfair to Town Employees. There was more discussion about recommending that the Town Meeting vote to eliminate the wage freeze be amended to propose a 1% salary increase for Town employ- ees; avoiding the lay -off of any Town employees; and the precedent setting implications of using Free Cash to balance the budget. Mr. Dailey suggested that the Board take two positions: 1) asking Town Meeting to vote tonight to recommend that: 1) Town Meeting vote to rescind its vote that eliminated the wage freeze, at the Wednesday, May 13 Town Meeting; and 2) if Town Meeting does not choose to rescind its previous vote, to recommend that Town Meeting approve a 1% increase in Town employee salaries to be funded out of Free Cash. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to recommend that: 1) Town Meeting consider voting on Wednesday, May 13, to rescind its vote that eliminated the wage freeze; and, 2) if this does not pass, to recommend that Town Meeting approve a 1% increase for all employees, estimated at around $175,000, to be funded from Free Cash. G o -sue Minutes for the Meeting of April 11, 1994 MINUTES Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes for the meetings of February 14, 1994, February 28, 1994, and April 4, 1994. ONE DAY AUCTIONEER LICENSE Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a One Day Auctioneer License requested by Newton Oriental Rugs for an auction to be held at the Massachusetts National Guard Armory on April 30, 1994. OPENING DAY - LITTLE LEAGUE PROGRAM Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission for a Little League parade, beginning at Muzzey Park at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, 1994, and proceeding down Massachusetts Avenue through the Center, down Muzzey Street, and terminating at the Little League field at the end of Park Drive; to be followed by a brief Opening Day ceremony at the field. Mr. McSweeney and Mr. Busa will attend, and throw out the first pitch, if invited to do so. PROPOSED SELECTMEN'S SCHEDULE The Board scheduled meetings in May on Monday, May 2 and Monday, May 16, 1994; and in June on Monday, June 6, and Monday, June 20, 1994. CHAPTER 90 MARRETT ROAD, ROUTE 2A The Board reviewed a Memorandum to the Town Manager from Town Engineer Frank Fields, dated 4/1/94, asking for the Board's approval and signature on six forms for Engineering Services for the Marrett Road project, requesting State Reimbursement of $62,000 in Chapter 90 funds. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve and sign the Chapter 90 Reimbursement Forms. 0) CONSENT AGENDA COMMITTMENT Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve committments for the following charges. Commitment of Water Charges - 4/1/94 $1,264.24 (final bills) Commitment of Sewer Charges - 4/1/94 $1,771.60 (final bills) Minutes for the Meeting of April 11, 1994 3 ABATEMENT `- Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve abatement for the following charges. Water, Sewer & Demand - Total 3/31/94 $729.64 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the meeting at 7:59 p.m. A true copy, Attest: Vv-1 J, P"& Sara I. Peters, Executive Clerk SELECTMEN'S MEETING Wednesday, April 13, 1994 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Wednesday, April 13, 1994, in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building at 7:30 p.m. Chairman Dailey, Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. White, Town Manager; and Mrs. Novak, Assistant Town Manager; and Miss Smith, Acting Executive Clerk, were present. Arbor Day Proclamation Mr. Dailey opened the meeting and read a proclamation from Brian Gilbert, Superintendent of Parks and Trees proclaiming April 29, 1994 as Arbor Day in Lexington. Brian Gilbert reviewed the plans for tree planting throughout the Town with the Board. The Chairman thanked Brian for all the good work being done by his department and asked him to send the schedule for Arbor Day to the local paper. Upon motion duly made and seconded it was voted to proclaim April 29, 1994 as Arbor Day in Lexington. Town Meeting Amended Motions Mr. White read the amended motions prepared at the Board's request to seek rescision of the vote concerning wage increases as follows: Article 4, line item 2320 salary adjustments - move that the amendment be rescinded. Mr. White explained that if this is successful he has a companion motion for line item 1100. He further explained that failing this motion, and based on the Board's position, a further motion providing for a 1% salary increase would read: That line item 2320 be amended to read $115,656 (of which $3,730 is to be transferred from the Recreation Enterprise Fund, $4,110 is to be transferred from the Water Enterprise Fund and $1,796 is to be transferred from the Sewer Enterprise Fund). Such sum of $115,656 is appropriated to fund cost items (a) included in collective bargaining agreements reached between the Town and employee organizations and (b) resulting from such agreements as they bear on the Town employee wage and salary plan. The amount voted is to be distributed among personal services accounts as authorized by the Board of Selectmen. Mr. White said that if this amendment is successful there will be an accompanying motion by the School Committee Chairman amending line item 1100 to read $34,983,877. He further explained that if the vote is rescinded, the Board could ask for the $300,000 under Article 20, Stabilization Fund; however, if the vote is not rescinded the Manager recommended reconsidering the level of funds out of Free Cash and recommended leaving the $300,000 in Free Cash. He explained that if the vote to Selectmen's Meeting April 13, 1994 2 rescind fails the appropriation of funds from Free Cash under Article 35 would be $890,020 which is $166,020 over and above the original $724,000 recommended from Free Cash. Citizen Articles The Board discussed Mr. Schroeder and Mr. Kauffman's motions and the Board agreed they were opposed to the motions and would express their reasons to Town Meeting. Consent Agenda - Commitment of Water & Sewer Charges Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve commitment of the following charges: a. Commitment of Water Charges, Finals - 4/11/94 $437.92 Commitment of Water Charges, Demand - 4/11/94 $5.00 Commitment of Water Charges, Cycle 9 - 4/12/94 $43,846.80 b. Commitment of Sewer Charges, Finals - 4/11/94 $669.43 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 8:00 p.m. A true record, Attest: Ph y is Smith A ing Executive Clerk