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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-06-07 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting MinutesOn motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned to meet at 8:00 P.M. on Monday, June 7, 1982, in the Reading Memorial High School auditorium. Meeting adjourned at 11:14 P. M. 151 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School June 7, 1982 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, John W.Faria, there being a quorum present. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was given. ARTICLE 19. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted to lay Article 19 on the table. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Gail F. Wood it was voted to take Article 2 from the table. ARTICLE 2. The following Resolution to Douglas A. Cowell, presented by Gail F.Wood, was accepted unanimously. RESOLUTION WHEREAS, DOUGLAS A. COWELL has served the Town of Reading as a member of the Finance Committee, member and chairman of the Board of Public Works, as Town Meeting Member and in numerous other capacities, and WHEREAS, Douglas A. Cowell has given generously and unselfishly of his time and efforts to the Town of Reading, not only in Town Government but in a number of other Community activities, and WHEREAS, Douglas A. Cowell's faithful, patient and gentlemanly service to the Town of Reading has been invaluable, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the elected officials, Town Meeting Members, and citizens of Reading acting through this Town Meeting held June 7th, 1982, do hereby record their deep gratitude and appreciation of the dedicated services rendered by Douglas Cowell and do further record their recognition of the great benefits to the Town which have resulted from his years of service, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be spread upon the records and a copy signed by the Moderator, Town Clerk and Board of Public Works be delivered to Mrs. Douglas A. Cowell. John A. Faria, Moderator Lawrence Drew, Town Clerk Board of Public Works Gail F. Wood, Chairman Douglass L. Barker John L. Fallon, Jr. Arthur Polychrones Adjourned Annual Town Meeting June 7, 1982 ARTICLE 2. The following report presented by Marvin M. Rosenthal for the Highland School Building Committee was accepted as a report of progress. HIGHLAND SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE REPORT OF PROGRESS June,1982 The Highland School Building Committee was apointed under the provisions of Article 9(as amended) of the Adjourned Subsequent Town Meeting, November 12, 1981. Its voting membership consists of one representative from the Board of Selectmen, two from the Board of Library Trustees, two from the Highland School Study Committee, and four citizens at large. There are three active associate members. We organized formally on December 8. As set forth in Article 9, our charge was to produce "plans and estimates for converting the Highland School property for a Public Library and /or other town uses." An expense budget of $30,000 was voted for professional services and other expenses essential to accomplish this purpose. Recognizing that any such plans and estimates must be fiscally realistic, we began by placing a $1- million ceiling on the total projected cost of any proposed conversion design. Our early weeks were devoted to a methodical search for the architect best qualified to address our needs. Authorized advertising procedures were followed, and information packets were mailed to twenty -two respondents. Eighteen firms attended an open house at the Highland School on January 4, 1982, and fifteen returned proposals prior to the January 11 deadline. All found the structure to be in solid condition and were of the opinion that library conversion was not only possible, but in fact an excellent means of reuse for the building. A selection subcommittee rated the fifteen according to a list of carefully established criteria, and five finalists were interviewed at length by the full committee. On January 20, we voted to hire Mark Mitchell and Associates of Cambridge. Under the guidance of Town Counsel, a contract was negotiated in the sum of $18,500 and signed by the committee and Mr. Mitchell on February 12. Because a project of this type belongs not to one committee, board, or select group, but to the entire town of Reading, we considered it a priority to talk with as many people as possible and elicit a sense of what features they would like to see in a primary library facility at Highland. We began by contacting all governing boards and committees, arranging for our representatives to visit them and hear their suggestions. This wes followed by a concerted effort to meet with community clubs and organizations, many of which offered time on their agendas for our discussion of the proposal. A number of valuable ideas emerged from these sessions. Working closely with the library staff and the committee, architect Mitchell listened and responded to Reading's challenge. On March 30, he presented his completed preliminary drawings, together with a clearly defined list of cost estimates that fell within the established parameter. It was our unanimous decision to bring them before this 1982 Annual Town Meeting as a motion under Article 24, and to return to the town the sum of $11,109,68. Respectfully submitted, Marvin M. Rosenthal, Chairman Elia A. Dangelmaier, Vice- Chairman Carol S. Beckwith, Secretary Sharon Ofenstein Cherrie Dubois Wayne Lewis John Zorabedian William Fowler Beverly Seavey Virginia Adams Paul Fermano Barbara Nelson On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted to lay Article 2 on the table. ARTICLE 24. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted to take up Article 24 out of order. ARTICLE 24. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that the sum of Nine Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars ($990,000.00) be raised and appropriated for the purpose of converting the Highland School Building into a Town Library, including Adjourned Annual Town Meeting June 7, 1982 remodeling, reconstructing or making extraordinary repairs, originally equipping and furnishing and /or refurbishing the Highland School Building into said Town Library, and other costs incidental thereto including costs of architectural, engineering and construction services, and costs of financing in connection therewith, and that said funds shall be expended by and under the direction of the Highland School Building Committee; and to meet said appropriation, that the sum of $990,000.00 be raised by borrowing, and that the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, be and she hereby is authorized to borrow said $990,000.00 payable in accordance with Section 7 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws so that each issue shall be paid in not more than ten years from its date or at such earlier time as the Treasurer and Selectmen may determine, said bonds or note shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Selectmen; and that the Highland School Building Committee be, and it hereby is, authorized to enter into any and all contracts and agreements necessary therefor and incidental thereto, including, without limitation, contracts for architectural, engineering and construction services and to proceed with all other actions necessary to convert the Highland School Building into a Town Library and to do all other acts and things necessary or proper for carrying out the provisions of this vote. 155 voted in the affirmative 3 voted inthe negative 2/3 vote required On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that this meeting adjourn in respect to Douglas A.Cowell, member of the Board of Public Works, who died on June 5th, 1982, to meet on Thursday, June 10th, 1982, following close of the Special Town Meeting scheduled for 8:00 P.M.. Meeting adjourned at 9:59 P.M. 168 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk 33