2022-04-28 Annual Town Meeting Minutes

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 28, 2022 Performing Arts Center The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Alan E. Foulds, at 7:32 PM, there being a quorum present. The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all. Moderator Opening Remarks: Two quick points before we begin. In this hall, Town Meeting Members sit in the lower portion, while non -Town Meeting Members sit In the upper portion. That is how we keep track of who is eligible to vote. Because of COVID concerns, however, I allowed elected members to spread out into the upper section. I do stress, however, that in order to debate or to vote you must come down into the lower section to do so. Otherwise you risk not being recognized or have your vote counted. That is your responsibility. Also, I remind newer members that it is a longstanding tradition and decorum that we do NOT applaud or cheer during the session. This is a business meeting with serious business before it. Now, let me point out how we plan to proceed tonight: The Select Board Chair plans to take Article 2 - reports - from the table in order for him to deliver the State of the Town address. Following that, we will put Article 2 back on the table, then take Article 18 out of order, so that we can begin work on the budget as close to the beginning of the night as possible. Again, for new members and as a refresher for veteran members, we handle the budget a little differently than we do other articles. Each section of the budget is presented independently. While we are discussing these small pieces of the budget, that is the time to ask questions or propose amendments. If there are amendments we will vote on them at that time, but we do not vote on the section as a whole. Instead, we work through all the sections, then vote the entire budget at the end. Just to reiterate, we'll take the budget and discuss it by section, amending, if necessary, along the way, but we only vote on the budget itself once - at the end. If this becomes confusing, we'll explain it again ARTICLE 2: Motion made by the Select Board to take Article 2 from the table. Motion Carried State of the Town Mark Dockser Good evening Town Meeting members, residents and visitors. My name is Mark Dockser, town meeting member from Precinct 1 and the newly elected Chair of the Reading Select Board. I want to apologize for not speaking at the start of Town Meeting on Monday night ... a little rusty after the last 4 Town Meetings via Zoom. But I think it is Important to deliver a State of the Town message in person. IIPa¢e