[Rich, 01:48]

• Article 2 - Reports: Removed from table to accept the report of the Arlington Transportation Advisory Committee and that of the Cyrus E. Dallin Museum. The Museum's formal report can be found in the Arlington 2003 Annual Report.
• Article 54 - Budgets:
  • Sub-Budget 17(d) - Community Safety/Support Services:
    • Mr. Judd noted that two signal maintainer positions are being eliminated and that the employees had 30 and 25 years experience and were not offered another job. He said this was an indecent way to treat employees. He also wondered how the Town will be maintaining its fire apparatus due to the elimination of the fire apparatus maintainer. Ms. Galkowski said that the Town cannot afford to keep their positions. She said the switch to LED signals has reduced repair costs and that contracting out maintenance will save more funds. She said that the DPW and the Fire Department will collaborate on fire apparatus repairs. Mr. Judd asked if there would be any union ramifications. Ms. Galkowski said she expected the issue would come up in impact bargaining.
    • Mr. Hollman asked about the street light savings, since the budget line does not show any reductions. Ms. Galkowski said the savings are numerous, due to the about-to-happen switch to more efficient, longer-lasting high-pressure sodium lights from the current mercury vapor lights. She said that this year that line item will actually be turning back unspent money and that she anticipates the same for FY04 but wanted to be conservative.
    • Mr. Rehrig asked why the pay plan reinstitutes a cut position. Ms. Cove said that when the pay plan was being put together she was hoping for the best and also that the incumbent did not want his position in the plan. Mr. Rehrig asked why not. Ms. Cove said that TM was not the place to get into that situation.
    • Mr. Gilligan moved the previous question - debate terminated 121-42.
    • Approved 135-21.
  • Sub-Budget 18(a) - Inspectional Services/Building Inspection: Approved.
  • Sub-Budget 18(b) - Inspectional Services/Street Lighting:
    • Mr. Taber asked about the five lights still out on the Concord Turnpike a year after he first mentioned them. Mr. Byrne said that their underground wiring is in "horrible" shape and a bid to fix it should be going out in a month or so.
    • Mr. Lavalle said he has one of the new lights near his room. He said the light is "terrible" and worries that in trying to save money the town is buying an inferior product. Ms. Galkowski said the new lights are yellower but the Town got "very positive" results on the survey. Mr. Lavalle disagreed with that view and also asked who has the maintenance contract and how much it costs. Mr. Byrne said Reading's Lighting department has been doing it for $50,000/yr, but they will be getting out of the business and the contract will have to be rebid.
    • Mr. Chaput said that mercury vapor bulbs actually fade over time while high-pressure sodium ones do not. He asked if the replacement program had started. Ms. Galkowski said bulbs have been replaced with the newer ones as they burn out, but this summer the 18-month replacement will begin. She said she wanted to make sure there was support for the change before the money was spent, since she did not want to end the project half-way through due to public opposition.
    • Mr. Mark McCabe moved the previous question -- debate terminated.
    • Approved on a voice vote.
  • Sub-Budget 19 - Education:
    • Mr. Tosti moved to amend the FinComm recommendation to add $560,000 to the "instructional programs" line item.
    • Ms. Owayda said that neither the current budget nor the if-override-passes budget provides level service and that 101 pink slips will go out tomorrow. She said the budget was reluctantly approved by the committee, following three priorities: meet all legal and contractual obligations, maintain a reasonable class size, and protect the integrity of the curriculum. She recounted the hard work that went into this year's budget process and complained about the ongoing and new unfunded mandates imposed by the federal and state governments. She said that 83% of the just-graduated AHS class is going to a 4-year college and 10% to a 2-year college and that students were accepted to 96 different colleges.
    • Ms. Donovan said that no one liked the budget but that it was the best that could be done and that it cuts $4 million and 65 people from a level-service budget. She said that every program that has been added in the past nine years would disappear if the override failed and that no cut is politically motivated. She said that other communities are moving quickly to hire the layoffs, often at higher salaries than the Town was paying. She said that the $560,000 of new funds would restore 1.5 nurses, 11 teachers, and 1 principal. She also said the BoS tonight voted to only spend $3,000,000 of the authorized $4,000,000 if the override passes.
    • Ms. Talanian asked why the Senate Chapter 70 numbers were being used instead of the House's. Ms. Donovan replied that based on Mr. Lyons's information, the Senate estimate is being followed since it is believed that number will prevail in conference.
    • Mr. Jefferson said he supported the FinComm recommendation. He asked why various speakers had talked about a $4,000,000 cut, a $1,000,000 cut and a $2,000,000 cut. Ms. Donovan said that when the budget was printed up, the cut stood at around $4,500,000. The $560,000 of new funds reduced that to around $4,000,000. The schools getting 75% of a $4,000,000 override would reduce that to $1,000,000. However, since the BoS voted to only seek to spend $3,000,000 if the override passes, 75% of that would be $2,250,000 instead of $3,000,000, which increases the cuts back to $1,750,000. Mr. Greeley then said all parties agree that the Town-wide deficit relative to level-service is now $7,000,000, not $8,000,000 and therefore the BoS has made a policy statement to recommend that TM only spend $3,000,000 of the allowable $4,000,000 should the override pass. Mr. Jefferson asked why Ms. Owayda said there would be 101 pink slips but Ms. Donovan said 65 people would lose jobs. Ms. Donovan replied that positions have to pink-slipped, not people, due to bumping rights. She said that once a teacher is in the Town's system for three years and a day they achieve "professional status" and that a laid off "professional" can bump an equivalently-certified "non-professional." Mr. Jefferson asked if the job loss is really 65 considering attrition. Ms. Donovan said the 65 is after taking attrition into account.
    • Mr. Lavalle asked why AHS is being converted from oil to gas when gas is more expensive. Ms. Donovan said the goal was to be dual-fuelled, but the condition of the oil tank and some air quality issues are pushing the Town toward a conversion now. The hope is that the gas company will pick up much of the costs and that in the longer term the school will be dual-fuelled.
    • Mr. Judd pointed out the steep rise in out-of-district tuition and transportation costs and asked why. Ms. Donovan said that the Town must pay for special needs students who attend schools out of district, including private schools. She said the state sets the rates but that the Town has joined some collaboratives to try to help keep some costs down. She said the numbers of outside placements are not higher but that medical needs are more severe and more costly and that the Town is mandated to pay for any medical care for conditions which interfere with education. She said there are some reimbursements from higher levels of government, but not what is promised. Mr. Judd reiterated his opposition to unfunded mandates and wondered what would happen to the quality of education for non-SPED students if the SPED budget continues to grow at its current rate.
    • Ms. Harrington said that if the override fails, 65 jobs would be lost. She asked how many would be kept if it passes. Ms. Donovan said 62. Ms. Harrington asked about labor negotiations. Ms. Donovan said that such discussions are kept private until settlement but that she had made it clear there is no money for raises aside from contractually-obligated step increases. Ms. Harrington asked if we could join any more collaboratives. Ms. Donovan said collaboratives are mostly set by geography due to travel restrictions, but that the Town does try to get non-members of the collaborative to send in students because the Town can then charge tuition to those towns.
    • After receiving confirmation that we were discussing the printed school budget plus a $560,000 increment, Ms. Colwell asked what the $560,000 was going to. Ms. Donovan said it was going to instruction but that she could not be more specific about what kinds of teachers would be restored since the override outcome could greatly affect that. Ms. Colwell asked how the loss of the eight reading teachers would be made up. Ms. Donovan said they probably could not be, though the staff would try its best. She said they would be some of the first to be restored if the override passes.
    • Mr. Kohl moved the previous question -- failed 92-64 (needs 2/3rds).
    • Ms. Rowe asked if Ms. Donovan or SchoolComm knew about or were consulted on the BoS policy vote on the override. Both replied negatively. The Moderator ruled out of order Ms. Rowe's identical question to the pro-override forces.
    • Ms. LaCourt asked what happens if the $270,000 in extra Chapter 70 funds does not show up. Mr. Tosti said he believed there would be enough flexibility in revenue estimates to cover that, but if there were not, a Special TM would be needed to reduce the budget. Mr. Lyons said the Senate Chapter 17 numbers have been enacted for 12 consecutive years.
    • Mr. Rehrig expressed his concern that if the BoS recommendation is followed by TM, the schools would effectively only get 56% of the first million and then 75% of $3,000,000 instead of 75% of $4,000,000.
    • Mr. Spangler said that TM must make sure that if the override passes the schools get the full $3,000,000.
    • Ms. Friedman asked for and received confirmation that the 1.5 nurses, 11 teachers, and one principal were being restored regardless of the fate of the override.
    • Mr. Gallagher pointed out that the text in one line of the school budget said that an assistant principal was being cut, but the numbers showed that none were being cut. Ms. Donoban said none were being cut.
    • Mr. Greeley moved the previous question -- debate terminated.
    • FinComm amendment to add $560,000 approved.
    • FinComm recommendation as amendent approved.
  • Sub-Budget 20 - Libraries:
    • Mr. Tosti moved to amend the FinComm recommendation to add back $63,772 to restore 2 part-time librarians and 2 part-time library assistants.
    • Mr. Tremblay asked what late fines were and when they were last changed. Ms. Loud said they were $0.10/day for adults' books and $0.05/day for children's books and had not been changed in years. Mr. Tremblay suggested fines be raised. Ms. Loud said the Board of Library Trustees was planning to consider it.
    • Mr. Berkowitz said he was grateful for the restorations but that the libraries were still taking a very big hit. He said libraries are important places for fostering community.
    • Mr. Ruderman asked what it costs to keep the Fox Library open. Ms. Loud said it costs $21,000 per day per year. Mr. Ruderman said that he loves the Fox library but questions keeping it open this year at the cost of reducing Robbins's hours. He pointed out that the libraries are less than a mile apart and there is very good public transportation between them. He asked why the decision to close the library was reversed. Ms. Galkowski said there was significant pressure from library users. She said parking fees were increased and used to fund being open for two days per week and that private groups were trying to raise funds to open it for a third day.
    • Ms. Fiore said the Fox is safer to go to than Robbins, due to the dangers of street crossing in the Center. She said it is also used for community meetings and that it is a badly needed facility that should be kept open.
    • Ms. Carlisle reiterated Ms. Fiore's points before being interrupted by the Moderator who pointed out that there was no proposal before the meeting to close the Fox library.
    • Ms. Deal moved the previous question -- debate terminated.
    • FinComm amendment approved.
    • FinComm recommendation as amended, approved.
  • Sub-Budget 21 - Human Services:
    • Mr. Tosti moved to amend the FinComm recommendation to add back $21,802 for a part-time social worker and nurse for the Council on Aging.
    • Amendment approved.
    • Ms. Gormely questioned the wisdom of eliminating two full-time clerical positions and replacing them with a single part-time position. Ms. Kraemer said that the jobs the clerical staff has done has changed dramatically with computerization. She said the properties of the part-time position will be to pay bills and make payroll and to do reception. She said a number of the tasks that the eliminated positions entailed will be cut, since there is not money to maintain the same service level.
    • Ms. Thomas also expressed concerned with the cuts. Ms. Kraemer said that more volunteers will be recruited to help bolster reception tasks. Ms. Deal asked if the cuts would disqualify the Town from being a training site for student nurses, which effectively brings the Town more nurses for free. Ms. Kraemer said that there will still be enough paid nursing hours for the Town to continue to qualify.
    • Mr. Gilligan moved the previous question -- debate terminated.
    • FinComm recommendated as amended, approved.
  • Sub-Budget 22 - Non-Contributory Pensions: Unanimously approved.
  • Sub-Budget 23 - Contributory Pensions: Unanimously approved.
  • Sub-Budget 24 - Insurance:
    • Mr. Tosti moved to amend the FinComm recommendation to reduce group health expenditures by $410,000.
    • FinComm amendment approved.
    • FinComm recommendation as amended unanimously approved.
  • Sub-Budget 25 - Reserve Fund: Unanimously approved.
  • Enterprise Fund A - Water and Sewer: Unanimously approved.
  • Enterprise Fund B - Recreation:
    • Mr. Tosti moved to amend the FinComm recommendation to eliminate the $200,000 of field user fees.
    • FinComm amendment approved.
    • FinComm recommendation as amended, approved.
  • Enterprise Fund C - Veterans Rink: Unanimously approved.
  • Enterprise Fund D - COA Transporation: Unanimously approved.
  • Enterprise Fund E - Youth Services:
    • Mr. Tosti moved to amend the FinComm recommendation to add $20,000 for a social worker.
    • FinComm amendment approved.
    • FinComm recommendation as amended, unanimously approved.
• Mr. Tosti, Ms. Harrington, Mr. Gillian, and Mr. Deyst served notices of reconsideration on all items acted on. Mr. Fiore and Mr. McCabe served notice of reconsideration on Sub-Budget 21.
• Mr. Greeley moved to reconsider the original motion that when the meeting adjourn it adjourn to Monday, 16 June, since there are still a number of items that can be taken care of before the override vote that TM could take up on Wednesday, 11 June.
• Ms. Fiore asked that the original motion stand, since there is a meeting Wednesday night about CSO issues in Cambridge.
• Motion to reconsider approved.
• Mr. Greeley moved to adjourn to 20:00, Wednesday, 11 June 2003, approved.
• Meeting adjourned to 20:00, Wednesday, 11 June 2003.