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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-04-12 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting Minutes'7 ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING FIRST BUSINESS SESSION Reading Memorial High School April 12, 1982 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, John W. Faria, at 8:00 P.M., there being a quorum present. The invocation was given by the Rev. David W. Reid of the First Baptist Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The oath of office was administered to the newly elected Town Meeting members by the Moderator. The Warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk, when on motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted to dispense with further reading of the Warrant eaxcept the Officer's Return which was then read by the Town Clerk. The Town Meeting body stood for a moment of silence in memory of the late Rev. Willard C. Arnold. ARTICLE 2. The following State of the Town address was presented by Marvin M. Rosenthal and was accepted as a report of progress. State of the Town Tonight we begin anew the task of governing the Town of Reading. As is both customary and proper, the Board of Selectmen offers for your consideration a report of our actions of the past year. In March of 1981 the Board was organized in the following manner: John W. Price was elected Chairman, Maureen T. O'Brien was elected Secretary, and I served as the third member of the Board. In 1981 the Board initiated the practice of having each Selectman act as liaison with the other town boards and departments. This practice proved to be effective and will be continued in the current year. The combination of individual efforts and responsibilities will help us utilize the expertise and abilities of the expanded five - member Board of Selectmen. In 1981 we witnessed the implementation of Massachusetts' controversial property - tax- limiting referendum, commonly known as Proposition 2'/z; as well as a myriad of new State and Federal policies and regulations. The Board faced unprecedented challenges, which called for an received an expanded commitment of time and effort. As the year ended, many towns and cities across the state found themselves with serious financial difficulties. Fortunately, Reading's sound fiscal decision - making and careful management helped our town avoid this chaotic scenario. However, the transition period, far from being over, had presented a series of new and difficult challenges. In an effort to meet these challenges, the Board established a Blue Ribbon Committee to study the best methods we can use to address these concerns and problems in the most efficient manner. In addition, the Board and its staff has played a more active role in other areas and levels of government that directly affect costs and demands on our local government. As a result of these efforts, particularly those of John Agnew, representing the Board of Selectmen, major reform and cost reductions were realized at the County government level. We have also been actively participating in the continuing struggle to clean up the M.B.T.A. through the work of Executive Secretary John Agnew, at those sessions. The Board issued the usual number of licenses and permits and, for the first time, acting on the voter - approved ballot question, issued an alcoholic beverage license to a restaurant. The Board took further action in response to the challenge of Proposition 2Ys in regard to licenses, by raising many license fees to a level which help considerably to offset their costs of administration. A new system of fines far reducing the number of false burglar alarms has resulted in far fewer false alarms. The Selectmen have also mandated a series of exams to be initiated in the Spring for people applying for firearm licenses to ensure that those applicants fully understand their responsibilities. Because of a change in state law the Board has established within the Police Department an administration for the handling of all parking tickets and fines, without which the town would have lost considerable revenue from parking fines. In an effort to modernize and increase administrative efficiency in the Town, the Board established a Data Processing Committee, whose work should result in improved coordination and decreased operating costs. Annual Town Meeting April 12 1982 In June of 1981 we saw the closing of the Highland School. The Board appointed a study committee which reported to the Fall Town Meeting. As a result of their recommendations, a building committee was formed to plan for the disposition and use of the building. The committee will present their report to the Town Meeting prior to Article 24. In an effort to continue meeting the problems of the energy crisis, the Board implemented energy conservation measures recommended in a study they authorized last year. This has resulted in a 27% decrease in electricity and a savings of about 6,000 gallons of fuel oil used in the buildings under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen. Working with the State Energy Office, Reading became one of a handful of towns to introduce a new bidding procedure for its fuel needs, resulting in substantial savings. Other communities are now adopting our procedures. For the third year, the Selectmen's office administered the emergency fuel program for elderly and low income families, working with Federal Funds received from the Greater Lawrence Community Action Agency and aid from the Reading Council of Churches. This program has been extremely successful. As 1981 ended, some of the homes in Reading were wired to the Town's first Cable T.V. system. This action was a culmination of almost two year's work by the Board and its Cable T.V. committee. A new fully equipped studio for the Town's use, which is part of the system, was opened at the High School. We hope that many of the Town's departments and organizations will make use of these facilities and that this source of communication will enrich life in the community. The year's end also signaled the beginning of negotiations with the Town's labor organizations, which now include as members all but about 40 of the Town's employees. In an effort to alleviate the dramatic rise in Health Care Costs to the Town's employees, the Board has explored alternatives to the present health care system, Blue Cross and Blue Shield. We are now offering two Health Maintenance Organization plans to our employees in addition to the Blue Cross plan. The Lahey Clinic and Bay State Plans will result in a savings to the employees who elect to join them, even though the share of participation which the Town pays will not be reduced. As a result of changes in State and Federal Policies, the Board has negotiated with the State and is now establishing an Affirmative Action Program in the area of Personnel and Housing. After four years of study by Federal, State and Town departments we have received and ratified the final Flood Insurance Program for the Town. Without ratification many of our property owners would have been unable to secure financing, nor would the Town have been eligible for disaster relief. In another action important to the Town, we have appointed a new Chief of our Fire Department. This appointment carries with it a 5 + 5 year contract; the first time such a contract has been written in Reading. The department and the Town should benefit from this arrangement. The board has made its customary appointments. We wish to thank the many volunteer citizens and other Town Departments who have contributed so much to the Town Government during the past year. Many people have worked very hard to benefit all of us who live in Reading. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted to lay Article 2 on the table. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Douglas A. Cowell it was voted unanimously that the Board of Public Works of the Town of Reading be, and it hereby is, instructed that the Town's new water treatment plant be named and known as "The Louanis Water Treatment Plant of the Town of Reading ", and that a suitable plaque or sign setting forth this name be obtained by the Board of Public Works and affixed prominently to The Louanis Water Treatment Plant of the Town of Reading. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted to lay Article 3 on the table. ARTICLE 4. On motion of John H. Russell, seconded by Paul C. Dustin, it was voted that the sum of Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated for the care and lighting of the Old South Clock. Annual Town Meeting April 12, 1982 19 ARTICLE 5. On motion of Elizabeth W.Klepeis it was voted that the Town authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning July 1, 1982, in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 4, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with the General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 17. ARTICLE 6. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that Article 6 be considered after Article 19. ARTICLE 7. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that Article 7 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 8. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that Article 8 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 9. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that Article 9 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 10. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that Article 10 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 11. On motion of Bayard R. Lincoln it was voted that the Town amend Article XXIV "Schedule B - Compensation Plan" of the By -laws of the Town by deleting the existing Plan and substituting the following: EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1982 GRADE MIN. 1/4 PT. MID. MAX. 1 136 144 153 170 2 150 161 172 194 3 173 186 198 224 4 194 210 226 258 5 219 238 257 296 6 245 268 292 339 7 276 303 334 392 8 311 345 380 449 9 349 391 432 516 10 394 444 495 596 11 445 505 565 685 12 499 571 643 788 ARTICLE 12. On motion of Carl H. Amon, Jr. it was voted to lay Article 12 on the table. ARTICLE 13. On motion of Bayard R. Lincoln it was voted that the Town amend "Overtime Compensation" of Section 4 of Article XXIV of the By -laws of the Town by deleting the existing wording and substituting the following: Overtime Compensation Salaried employees are not paid overtime compensation. Employees whose customary work week is thirty -seven and one half hours shall be paid for overtime at the rate of straight time for hours worked in excess of thirty -seven and one half in any given work week through forty hours, thereafter at time and one half the basic hourly rate. Employees whose customary work week is forty hours, overtime at the rate of one and one half the basic hourly rate shall be paid for hours worked in excess of forty hours in any one week. Compensatory time off may be given at the same aforementioned rates. 20 Annual Town Meeting April 12, 1982 ARTICLE 16. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted to take up Articles 16 and 17 out of order. ARTICLE 16. On motion of Michael M. Guenther it was voted to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the General Court for a Special Act authorizing the Town to rescind its acceptance of Section 42 of Chapter 48 of the General Laws or corresponding provisions of earlier laws and to authorize the Town to accept the provisions of Section 42A of Chapter 48 of the General Laws. ARTICLE 17. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien as amended by Gail F. Wood it was voted that the Town accept as a gift, for use as park land, a parcel of land owned by Roger A. Reid and shown on the Assessors plan on Plot 66 as Lot 52 consisting of approximately 6594 square feet with 50.10 feet of frontage on Pleasant Street. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned to meet in the Reading Memorial High School auditorium on Thursday, April 15, 1982, immediately following the Special Town Meeting scheduled for that date. Meeting adjourned at 10:13 P. M. 172 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk