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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING <br /> Reading Memorial High School May 2, 2019 <br /> Performing Arts Center <br /> The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Alan E. Foulds, at 7:35 PM, there being a quorum <br /> present. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was said by all. <br /> Motion made by the Vanessa Alvarado, Precinct 5 to take Article 16 off the Table. <br /> Motion Carried <br /> ARTICLE 16: Motion made by the Select Board that the Town vote to appropriate the sum of four <br /> million dollars ($4,000,000) for the purpose of making security improvements to various Town and School <br /> Department buildings, including the costs of consulting services, audits, plans, documents, cost estimates, <br /> bidding services and all related expenses incidental thereto and necessary in connection therewith, said <br /> sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Town Manager; and, for the purpose of meeting <br /> such appropriation, the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, is authorized to borrow <br /> said sum in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 7(1), or any other enabling authority; that the <br /> Select Board, School Committee, Town Manager, or any other agency or official of the Town, is authorized <br /> to apply for a grant or grants, to be used to defray the cost of all, or any part of, said project; and that <br /> the Town Manager is authorized to enter into any and all contracts and agreements as may be necessary <br /> to carry out the purposes of this Article. Any premium received upon the sale of any bonds or notes <br /> approved by this vote, less any such premium applied to the payment of the costs of issuance of such <br /> bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of costs approved by this vote in accordance with M.G.L. <br /> Chapter 44, Section 20, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a <br /> like amount. <br /> Background: Respectfully, Town Meeting will receive far less information on this project than is <br /> typical. The details of the building security improvements are held very tightly among only a handful of <br /> employees including the Superintendent, School CFO, Town Manager, Facilities Director/Assistant Director <br /> and Police department. At present we have hired two firms, one an expert in municipal building security <br /> and the other an Owner's Project Manager (by good fortune the latter is the same OPM that oversaw the <br /> Library Building project). The detailed information is also very tightly held by these two parties. <br /> The documents produced for this project contains sensitive information relating to the security or safety of <br /> persons, buildings, and other critical infrastructure within the Town of Reading. Because releasing these <br /> documents may significantly jeopardize the safety and security of the public, these documents are exempt <br /> from release pursuant to Exemption (n) of the Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.4, s.7(26)(n). <br /> Debt authorization is requested at this time in order to be able to proceed with different aspects of the <br /> project as needed. The Town's share of the project is planned to be the already approved $500,000 and <br /> an additional $4.0 million of debt. These amounts are incorporated in the FY20 budget that is presented to <br /> Town Meeting for approval. <br /> However, the motion on the Floor may be for a larger amount, either in April 2019 or at some future Town <br /> Meeting, in order to add state grant funds to the project should they become available. <br /> This background is replicated from the Town Manager's Budget discussion about capital in the Shared <br /> Costs section. <br /> Baildina Security Improvements: <br /> � gege <br />