The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2012-11-20 Board of Selectmen HandoutDRAFT MOTIONS BOARD OF SELECTMEN NOVEMBER 20, 2012 Goldv, Tafova, Schubert, Arena, Bonazoli Hechenbleikner la) Move that the Board of Selectmen go into Executive Session to consider ♦ the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property; ♦ strategy with respect to labor negotiations (health insurance) and ♦ approval of minutes and that the chair declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the body and to reconvene in Open Session at approximately 7:30 p.m. SG BT RS JA JB 4a) Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the Certificate of Recognition for Eagle Scout David Scott Graham. Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the Certificate of Recognition for Eagle Scout Luke Beaulieu. Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the Certificate of Recognition for Eagle Scout James Bedingfield, Jr. 5) Move that the Board of Selectmen confirm the recommendations by the Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee to the Board of Selectmen for the appointment of the following members to the respective Boards, Committees and Commissions for terms expiring as listed below: ♦ Jean Jacobs to a position on the Climate Advisory Committee with a term beginning November 20, 2012 and expiring June 30, 2013; ♦ Carl Mittnight to a position on the Historical Commission with a term beginning November 20, 2012 and expiring June 30, 2014; 0 ♦ Catherine Folan to a position on the Animal Control Appeals Committee for a beginning November 20, 2012 and term expiring June 30, 2015; ♦ Catherine Folan to a position on the Cultural Council for a term beginning November 21, 2012 and expiring June 30, 2015 6a) Move that the Board of Selectmen close the hearing on approval of the Town Manager profile. Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the Town Manager profile as amended. 6b) Move that the Board of Selectmen close the hearing establishing the tax rate for fiscal year. Move that the Board of Selectmen grant/not grant an open space discount for Fiscal Year 2013. Move that the Board of Selectmen adopt/not adopt a residential exemption for Fiscal Year 2013. Move that the Board of Selectmen adopt a residential factor of for Fiscal Year 2013. Move that the Board of Selectmen grant/not grant a commercial exemption for Fiscal Year 2013. 6c) Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the "license for entry 12474" between the Town of Reading and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for use of the Vine Street Parking lot for a term beginning January 1, 2013 and expiring December 31, 2013 and authorize the Town Manager to sign on the Board's behalf. 6d) Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the Community Innovation Challenge Grant application for Aerial Imagerv Regionalization, and authorize the Town Manager to sign the application on the Town's behalf. 0 Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the Community Innovation Challenge grant application for Community Access to Information, and authorize the Town Manager to sign the application on the Town's behalf. 6e) Move that the Board of Selectmen set the fees for fingerprinting pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Reading General Bylaw - "Criminal History Check Authorization" at $100 per applicant. 6f) Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the All Alcoholic Club Liquor Licenses for: ♦ Reading Overseas Veterans, Inc. d/b/a Reading Overseas Veterans, 575 Main Street ♦ Meadow Brook Golf Corp. of Reading, MA d/b/a Meadow Brook Golf Club, 292 Grove Street ♦ Home Building Corp. d/b/a Knights of Columbus, 11 Sanborn Street ♦ Reading Veterans' Association, Inc. d/b/a American Legion Post 62, 37 Ash Street for a term expiring December 31, 2013 subject to the following conditions: All Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the establishment by the Town Manager. Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the All Alcoholic Package Store Liquor Licenses for: ♦ Busa's Reading Liquors, Inc. d/b/a Busa's Reading Liquors, 345 Main Street ♦ Athens Liquors, Inc. d/b/a Square Liquors, 11 High Street ♦ Jai Vaishnodevi & Chirag, Inc. d/b/a North Side Liquors, 150 Main Street ♦ Reading Fine Wines LLC d/b/a The Wine Shop of Reading, 676 Main Street ♦ CWI, LTD d/b/a The Wine Bunker, 128 Market Place Shopping Center, One General Way 0 for a term expiring December 31, 2013 subject to the following conditions: All Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the establishment by the Town Manager. Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the All Alcoholic Restaurant Liquor Licenses for: ♦ Mandarin Reading, Inc. d/b/a Mandarin Reading Restaurant, 296 Salem Street ♦ Mecom, Inc. d/b/a Cafe Capri, 355 Main Street ♦ CAC Foods, Inc. d/b/a Venetian Moon Restaurant, 680 Main Street ♦ Pepper Dining Inc. d/b/a Chili's Grill & Bar, 70 Walkers Brook Drive ♦ Mac Acquisition of Delaware d/b/a Romano's Macaroni Grill, 48 Walkers Brook Drive ♦ The Boland Group III, LLC d/b/a Fuddruckers, 50 Walkers Brook Drive ♦ Bertucci's Restaurant Corp. d/b/a Bertucci's Italian Restaurant, 45 Walkers Brook Drive ♦ RARE Hospitality International, Inc. d/b/a Longhorn Steak House, 39 Walkers Brook Drive ♦ Ristorante Pavarotti, Inc. d/b/a Ristorante Pavarotti, 601 Main Street ♦ Phider Corp. d/b/a Grumpy Doyle's, 530 Main Street ♦ KOK, Inc. d/b/a Oye's, 26 Walkers Brook Drive ♦ Bistro Concepts, Inc. d/b/a Sam's Bistro, 107 Main Street for a term expiring December 31, 2013 subject to the following conditions: All Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the establishment by the Town Manager. 0 Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the Wine and Malt Liquor License for: • Pal atat Pattenesuan d/b/a Bangkok Spice Thai Restaurant, 76 Haven Street for a term expiring December 31, 2013 subject to the following conditions: All Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the establishment by the Town Manager. 7a) Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the minutes of October 16, 2012 as amended. 7b) Move that the Board of Selectmen approve the minutes of October 23, 2012 as amended. Move that the Board of Selectmen adjourn the meeting at _ p.m. UK 2012 DRAFT - BOARD OF SELECTMEN AGENDAS Estimated Staff Responsibility Start time future agendas Policy on use of the AHTF (Policy on displaying street numbers Review license and permit fees Policy on Trust Fund Commissioners (Discuss driveway width issues. Discuss Woburn St. parking Strout Avenue Master Plan - after Town Forest planning work is done November 15, 2012 - Subsequent Town Meeting NO MEETINGS November 19, 2012 - Subsequent Town Meeting NO MEETINGS November 20, 2012 ` (Office Hour John Arena Strategy with respect to Labor negotiations - Health; strategy with respect to disposiiton Executive Session of Town land Insurance (Hearing Town Manager profile Roberts Hearing Tax Classification hearing Approval of license - MBTA Vine Street parking lot Delios Approval of CIC grant application Establish fees for fingerprinting. jApprove Liquor Licenses Animal Control Appeals Committee, Cultural Council, Historical Commission, Appointments Trails Committee Review Goals Certificates - Eagle Scouts December 4,2012 Students (Office Hour James Bonazoli Presentation - Eagle Scout project - Westerman I MAPC member update ISadwick Request for re-naming of Senior Center Approve inter-municipal agreement - Veterans Services Waiver of Retail Operation before 6:00 a.m. Hearing - Planet Fitness Approve early openings/24 hour openings New Do Not Enter 7:30-8:30 & 2:30 - 3:30 Mon thru Fri Sept 1st - June 30th Shelby Hearing Road at Arcadia 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 9:00 9:15 9:25 9:30 9:40 9:45 6:30 7:30 Parking restrictions - south side of Hearing California Road Tentative - liquor license hearing - 622 Main Street Hechenbleikner December 1 1. 2012 - N~ ORKS110I' 1111, ,11\G Follow-up Oakland Road design Follow up on water issues (December 18, 2012 IReview sign enforcement Approve draft Open Space and Recreation Plan (Approve Housing Plan (Hearing Liquor package store license transfer ? Annual report - RFSF committee I review Sturges Park Master Plan I Approve licenses TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT Tuesday, November 20, 2012 Administrative matters ♦ Volunteers are still needed -for the Bylaw Committee; West Street Historic District Commission; and Zoning Board of Appeals. ♦ The Girl Scout's calendar for 2013 is on sale now and is available at The Hitching Post on Haven Street and Gregory's on Main Street or orders are delivered free of charge to Reading addresses. They have attached an order form but invite you to their website. www.calendarofreadina.com to view photos from the calendar ♦ The Toys for Tots boxes are around town for the season, including one across the hall from the Town Clerk's office at Town Hall. Thanks as every year to the Firefighters for handling this. ♦ Adopt a Family program is now gearing up for the Thanksgiving and Holiday season. If you have a need or want to donate call AaF # 781-942-6680. It is an answering machine and they will get a return call. Communitv Services ♦ Veterans Day was celebrated on Sunday on the common. A breakfast for veterans was served at the Senior Center. ♦ You have in your packet a Memo re Joint meetings of regulatory Boards/Committees/Commissions. ♦ Preliminary application for 40 b or LIP program on north Main Street has been received and is being reviewed by staff, with an intent to get a report to the Board of Selectmen after the first of the year. ♦ I have given you a Memo re properties added to the List of Historic Structures in 2010. I find no fault in the method of distribution of notices, and in fact the RHC went beyond what is required to see that property owners were notified. Finance ♦ Report on 2012 Presidential election Library ♦ I am recommending that a Special Town Meeting be held on January 28, 2013, the primary purpose of which would be to vote on funding of the Library project, subject to debt exclusion. I would ask that the Board of Selectmen approve this date so that all parties can plan accordingly. Public Safetv ♦ All Town staff and residents handled the impacts of Super Storm Sandy extremely well. I was out of Town during this event, but was very comfortable in knowing that the Reading team would handle it well. Special thanks to Acting Town Manager Bob LeLacheur for leading the Town's efforts. 11/20/2012 TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT Tuesday, November 20, 2012 Public Works • The Town of Reading received an award on Tuesday night from MassRecycle for the Municipal Recycling Award for 2012. Congratulations to Jeff Zager, Jane Kinsella, Mike O'Halloran, Mike DeBrigard and all those involved in managing and administering the recycling and rubbish program, and to the residents of the community who have embraced this program and make it work. • A petition for acceptance of Roma Lane has been received - for April ATM • North Reading has filed an ENF for establishing a wastewater system (sewers) and potentially buying water from the MWRA through Reading. • The last curbside leaf collection for this season is the week after Thanksgiving, so make sure that you have your bagged leaves out on your regular day of collection. The compost center will close for the season on Friday, November 30, but will be open on January 19 for disposal of Christmas trees and any left over bags of leaves or brush that residents want to bring that day. • Construction news from DPW: • Main Street between Washington and the RR tracks was overlaid and new traffic markings installed last week • Irving, Boswell, NS Pleasant Street reconstruction will not be done this year - the preliminary work of lowering structures will be reversed for the winter. • Poets Corner sewer repair is expected to start on or about November 26tH and work will continue through the winter • The Howard Street water line construction and trench paving is complete, minor punch work items remain • Curb and Sidewalk Bancroft Avenue and Highland Street curb and sidewalk is completed; Mineral Street bridge pole relocation - RMLD has installed the relocated poles; awaiting transfer of all cabling; sidewalk repairs to occur following transfer. ♦ MWRA water line borings are in progress Dates ♦ November 25 - Tree Lighting - Help needed with new LED light strings ♦ November 29 - Shop the Block ♦ Consult YCC on the web site www.readingMA.gov for full information on what else is going on for the holidays. 11/20/2012 2 Hechenbleikner, Peter From: LeLacheur, Bob Sent: Monday, November 19, 2012 12:59 PM To: Hechenbleikner, Peter Cc: Gemme, Laura Subject: RE: Town Manager Report In order to prepare for the recent election, Town Clerk Laura Gemme, Assistant Town Clerk Julie Rodger and clerks Marie Cleary, Joan Peterson and Karen Burke spent countless hours making sure voter registration issues were resolved in advance, and contingency plans were in place for any last minute problems. Coordination and logistics meetings were held months in advance with senior staff from Town Hall, Police, Fire, Public Works, Facilities and the School Department. Several training sessions were held for almost 150 volunteer election workers. DPW and Facilities staff were instrumental in setting up, taking down, and transporting the election equipment. The Police department was vital in keeping high volumes of traffic flowing and helping voters with parking and driving logistics. Fire/EMS was on hand and happily no serious incidents were reported. The School Department was very helpful in 1) making sure there were no athletic conflicts the afternoon before the election; 2) allowing a delayed opening of the High School on election day; and 3) ensuring voter parking was available as school central office staff parked off site. As a result, 14,331 Reading voters (81.5% of those registered) cast ballots in an open democratic process, where the focus was on the results and not on any flaws in the process. Thanks to everyone who works 'behind the scenes' to make this possible! Here are some election results you may not know: ➢ 74 election workers worked 'only' half the day- a 7.5 hour shift; ➢ 66 elections workers worked all day - about 15 hours; ➢ Election workers earned $12,825 for 1,545 hours worked, only about $8/hour (excluding training time); ➢ Over 20 students from RMHS volunteered their time to help in the election also. Bob LeLacheur Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867 Town Hall Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 7:30 a.m - 5,30 pem. Tuesday: 7:00 a.m, - 7:00 p.rn. Friday: CLOSED From: Hechenbleikner, Peter Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2012 4:33 PM To: Reading - Department Heads; Zambouras, George; Gemme, Laura Subject: Town Manager Report Draft Town Manager's report - anything to add? I need info by the end of the day Monday. 1 9 COMPOST AREA OPEN DATES ARE SHOWN IN WHITE SEPTEMBER-2012 OCTOBER-2012 S MITIWITIFISI SIM TIWITIFISI 1I I1 2 4 5 6I 2 4 5 8 7 8 9 `u 1 j 12 13 9 ~ 1(1 11 12 : 13 14 15 14 15 1 16 17 8 ' 19 20 16 17 18 19.20 21 221 21 ! 22 (23 24 25 26 27 223 24 25 26 27 28 1 29 I 28 [29 3Q 31 L_I i NOVEMBER-2012 ISIM TIWITIFISI f I 1 2 3 4 1 5 6 1 7 8 9 10 11 112 131 14 15 16 17 18 19 201 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 DECEMBER-2012 ISIMITIWITIFISI 2 3 4 6 8 9 10 11 112 1 4 15 16 17 18 119 20 -1 122 23 24 4 25 291 30 31 1- 1 FRI SAT SUN MON Sept 8:OOAM - 4:OOPM ( 8:OOAM - 12:00 Noon Oct 8:OOAM - 2:30PM 8:OOAM - 4:OOPM 8:OOAM - 2:30PM Nov 8:OOAM - 2:30PM 8:OOAM - 4:OOPM 12:00 Noon - 4:OOPM 8:OOAM - 2:30PM Dec The following materials will be accepted at the Compost Area: leaves, grass clippings, and yard waste. Tree trimmings may be a maximum of eight feet in length and eight inches in diameter. The Compost Area is open to residents of Reading only. Commercial vehicles are excluded. Please note, you will need a 2012 community access sticker. For further information regarding the community access sticker contact the Police Station. The Town has set up three weeks this Fall that leaves will be picked up curbside. Leaves must be placed in paper bags and be put curbside on your regular trash day. Leaves will be collected on the following weeks: October 29 - November 2, 2012 November 13 - 17, 2012* November 26 - November 30, 2012 *Please Note: due to Veteran's Day (Celebrated November 12rn) trash, recycling and leaf collection will be delayed one day. The Compost Center will be open through November 30, 2012 For further information regarding the Compost Area, collection of trash or recyclables please call the Department of Public Works at 942-9092 (until 3:00 P.M.) Monday - Friday or 942-9077 Monday - Thursday. 0 Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee Meeting November 7, 2012 The meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Selectmen John Arena and Richard Schubert, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Catherine Folan, Jean Jacobs and Carl Mittnight. Each of the candidates reviewed their qualifications for the various Boards, Committees and Commissions for which they have applied and the Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee members asked questions of each of the candidates. On motion by Schubert seconded by Arena, Jean Jacobs was recommended for a position on the Trails Committee with a term expiring June 30. 2013 by a vote of 2- 0-0. On motion by Schubert seconded by Arena, Carl Mittniaht was recommended for a position on the Historical Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2014 by a vote of 2-0-0. Catherine Folan was interested in both the Animal Control Appeals Committee and the Cultural Council. The Animal Control Appeals Committee depends on resignation of James Bonazoli and making sure that one of the three members who would serve is a dog owner pursuant to the Bylaw. The position on the Cultural Council will be subject to the end of Lorraine Horn's term. On motion by Schubert seconded by Arena. Catherine Folan was recommended for a position on the Animal Control Appeals Committee for a term expiring June 30, 2015, subject to verification that one of the other two members is a dog owner. The motion was approved by a vote of 2-0-0. On motion by Schubert seconded by Arena the Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee recommends Catherine Folan for, a position on the Cultural Council for a term beginning December 1. 2012 and expiring June 30. 2015. The motion was approved by a vote of 2-0-0. On motion by Schubert seconded by Arena the Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee voted to adjourn at 7:25 p.m. by a vote of 2-0-0. I _es ect ally ubmitted, S ;cretary 39 ?0E7 PICT - l P'' ! i 3 APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO BOARDS/COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS, Name: V (1` W\X 0RV"FQj WE Ail Nit (Last) (First) (Middle) Address: q s'A "1\ R-ND t✓ 1\1 STVIJET T Occupation: 1A7 0\P Date: I OCT 2(A Tel. (Dome) ~b?-- q l93 1 U I Tel. (Work) (Is this number listed?) # of years in Reading: E u Y- Are you a registered voter in Reading? WC) e-mail address:- Priori;+- Place a number next to your preferred position's, (up J"" to four cl-ioice with #1 being your first l J (Attach a resume if available) Animal Control Appeals Committee Aquatics Advisory Board Audit Committee Board of Appeals . Board of Cemetery Trustees Board of Health Board of Registrars Bylaw Committee Celebration Committee Cities for Climate Protection Commissioner of Trust Funds Community Planning & Development Comm. Conservation Commission Constable Contributory Retirement Board Council on Aging E Cultural Council Custodian of Soldiers' & Sailors' Graves Please outline relevant experience for the position(s) sought: V 01UY1 Y P 1~J► Y)ai t ilpil atl on 6IQWj2C 1 PS' f r-f&t VCt U VU - SQ,X~I Q(~1 t1 khR UYl l ~'P(~ S-~ Q.C Ua Y ine f rw pS DDS CL Y) (~(~1'Y1~1 ~IS°~'Ir~CI UQ ~ 1 b ~~IC , 40 Economic Development Committee Finance Committee 3 Historical Commission Housing Authority Human Relations Advisory Committee Land Bank Committee MBTA Advisory Committee Metropolitan Area Planning Council Mystic Valley Elder Services RCTV Board of Directors Recreation Committee RMLD Citizens Advisory Board Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee Town Forest Committee Trails Committee West Street Historic District Commission Other 3^~ Catherine Folan 93A Hamden Street Reading, MA 01867 508-963-7011 Experience Owner of VC Pet Sitters Duties included feeding, playing, grooming and socializing dogs of all different breeds and ages. Dealt with dogs with special needs and administered medication when necessary. Also interacted with customers and handled the advertising and marketing aspects of the business. Administrative Assistant at United States Marine Corps Duties included working with correspondence, processing awards, fixing pay issues, processing tuition requests, customer service and basic data entry. Acted as a supervisor over 5 people, ensuring that daily tasks were completed with accuracy and proficiency. Receptionist at Yale Appliance and Lighting Duties included answering phone calls, calling customers to schedule appointments for delivery and service calls, filed paperwork and completed schedules. Education High school diploma from Norwood Senior High School, Norwood, MA Currently enrolled at MiraCosta C. C. for an A.A. in Accounting and American Military University for a B.S. in Criminal Justice with a focus in forensics. Volunteer Experience Adoption Counselor at Mohawk & Hudson Humane Society, Menands NY May 07 - Aug 10 Foster volunteer for AnimaLovers, Latham NY May 07 - Aug 10 Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer, Albany NY Jun 07 - Jun 08 Red Cross volunteer, Albany NY Jan 08 - Aug 10 Volunteer at Joseph's House Homeless Shelter, Troy NY Sep 09 - Aug 10 Work History Lord & Taylor - Sales Associate October 2012 - Present VC Pet Sitters - Owner October 2011 to September 2012 United States Marine Corps -Administration Clerk August 2004 to May 2011 Yale Appliance and Lighting, Boston, MA -Receptionist January 2004 to August 2004 41 "lr j ' - 7012 O`T 22 PH 2T 'n of Reading, MA Application for Appointment to Boards/Committees/Commissions Name: 6R l~ E~ o bar ) (Last) (First) (Middle) Address: 1 e t'''~ r t a_"-e f Occupation: ~CC 5 tN--e s 9 I'll 54 Date: f Tel. (Home) -7 S( -`I Tel. (Work) tA (Is this number listed?) v e 5 # of years in Reading: Are you a registered voter in Reading? I(f_4- e-mail addresi:__ _ _ _ a Place a number next to your preferred position(s) (up to four choices) with #i being your first piioriiy. Animal Control Appeals Committee Audit Committee Board of Appeals Board of Cemetery Trustees Board of Health Board of Registrars Bylaw Committee Celebration Committee Climate Advisory Committee Commissioner of Trust Funds Community Planning & Development Comm. Conservation Commission Constable Contributory Retirement Board Council on Aging Cultural Council Custodian of Soldiers' & Sailors' Graves Economic Development Committee Fall Street Faire'Committee Finance Committee ✓Historical Commission Housing Authority Human Relations Advisory Committee MBTA Advisory Board Metropolitan Area Planning Council Mystic Valley Elder Services RCTV Board of Directors Recreation Committee RMLD Citizens Advisory Board Town Forest Committee Trails Committee West Street Historic District Commission Ad Hoc Committee Other Please outline relevant experience for the position(s) sought: (feel free to attach a resume or other statement of interest/qualifications) ~L Gt vt~ - s~- t.(' i~ l 1 !fit o e ct 6 f,~ 1~~ Y [ Gc r e Pt 4e r, v VX~ez-~~e V Revised 4-10-12 42 APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO BOARDS/COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS Name: GL(~~~~j v eC(/~ ~C' f~~ ( Date: )013012-012- (Last) .(First) (Middle) I Address: 173 F/yz/A/IY _ ,-,ve Occupation: sCWGLrP PiYtGL1hPG U Are you a registered voter in Reading? V-CS i Tel. (home) 4-7601 Tel. (Work (Is this number listed'!) 5-5 # of years in Reading: 117 e-mail address: i_ Place a number next to your preferred position(s) (up to four choices) with #i being your first priority. (Attach alresume if available) Animal Control Appeals Committee Aquatics Advisory Board Audit Committee Board of Appeals" - Board of Cemetery Trustees Board of Health Board of Registrars Bylaw Committee Celebration Committee Cities for Climate Protection Commissioner of Trust Funds Community Planning & Development Comm. Conservation Commission Constable Contributory Retirement Board Council on Aging Cultural Council Custodian of Soldiers' & Sailors' Graves Economic Development Committee Finance Committee Historical Commission Housing Authority ' Human Relations Advisory Commie r-1 C) Land Bank Committee - MBTA Advisory Committee M nr' ' Metropolitan Area Planning Co uncil ' 3rnfi Mystic Valley Elder Services U. p RCTV Board of Directors NP en Recreation Committee RMLD Citizens Advisory Board - Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee Town Forest Committee Trails Committee West Street Historic District Commission Other Please outline elevant experience for e position(s) sought: walk C Ink 72-a-11-6 :/)I -ake I j , 4,, 7 / ~ ~%t- 7 &,; J-0 117elo aLy,-e_~Z d-e"I"d-5- -/-C) - erl 1,19 v_ v 1. 43 LEGAL NOTICE OF _Rf V F~ s39`~HCORe~4P~ TOWN OF READING NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING To :the Inhabitants o , the- Town of Reading: Please tako notice that the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Reading will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room; 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. on approval of the Town Manager Profile. A copy of the proposed doc- ument regarding this topic is. available in tbe' Town Manager's office, 16 Lowell Street,. Reading, MA, M-W- Thurs from 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m:, Tues. from 7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m: and is attached to the hearing notice on the website at www.readingma.gov All. interested parties are invited to attend the hearing, or may.submit their comments in writing or by email prior to. 6:00 p.m. on November 20, 2012 to townmanager@ci.reading.ma.u s . By order of Peter I. Hechenbleikner Town Manager 11/13 44 6 ~Ct_' \ Reading Town Manager Profile - draft-Nov 15th INTRODUCTION The Town of Reading has retained the services of the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston to assist in the Town's recruitment of a new Town Manager. This Profile draws upon our discussions with selectmen, department heads, elected officials, staff and community representatives. It describes our understanding of the organization, the challenges that lie ahead for the successful candidate, and the professional and personal characteristics an ideal candidate will possess. THE TOWN OF READING Reading is located approximately 12 miles north of the center of Boston. It lies close to the intersection of Route 93 and Route 128 (now designated I-95). The Town's location adjacent to these highways constructed in the 1950s fostered very rapid growth in the 50s and 60s. Most of the growth was residential. Today the Town has a population of approximately 25,000 and has a significant but modest level of commercial development near the highways. Most of Reading's residents live in neighborhoods that are buffered from commercial development and highways and have the feel of a mature suburban community. The Town has had a single Town Manager since the position was established in 1986. The position of Town Manager will be vacant as a result of a decision by the current Town Manager to retire. Reading's charter and by-laws are available on its web site. (www.readingma.gov) According to the 2010 census, the median income for a family was $117,000, significantly higher than the statewide average. Data on the Town's demographic trends can be obtained from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council's web site (www.mapc.org). ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN AND GOVERNANCE The Town governance structure consists of a five member Board of Selectmen elected for three year staggered terms and a 192 member Representative Town Meeting. The six- member School Committee is elected, as are the Board of Assessors, Board of Library Trustees, the Municipal Light Board members and the Moderator. The Town Meeting is the legislative body and exercises the functions of appropriating money and making local laws. Currently, four of the Selectmen have over five years of experience on the Board. The position of Town Manager is well established and well respected. PUBLIC FINANCE Reading had total General Fund revenues for FY2011 of approximately $74 million. $55 million of this amount were from locally levied taxes. The Town does not have a split property tax rate. Residential property generates approximately ninety percent of property tax revenue. Since FY2000 Reading has had one successful operating override for $4.5 45 I ~ 6~7i l million and three successful debt exclusion referenda. Detailed financial information for the Town may be obtained at the web site of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Department of Local Services. An Offering Statement for a recent bond issue may be obtained at the Collins Center web site (www.collinscenter.umb.edu). CHALLENGES FOR THE TOWN MANAGER Building on the Foundation. Boards of Selectmen, Town Meeting and the retiring Town Manager have built a solid public administration- foundation for the Town that emphasizes professionalism among the Town's staff and administrators. Reading has well trained professional department administrators and key staff. The new Town Manager needs to sustain and build on this foundation. Maintaining a Positive Labor-Management Climate. Reading has sustained a positive labor relations climate by utilizing careful budgeting and good management practices at the department level. Approximately sixty percent of the Town's employees are members of collective bargaining units. Collective bargaining activities are the responsibility of the Town Manager. Maintaining a positive climate will require careful attention in the coming years as the Town navigates through an environment characterized by fiscal stress and shifting public expectations. Medium Term Budget Planning and Service Delivery. Like all Massachusetts municipalities, Reading is facing revenue constraints and growing cost pressures. A significant amount of the Town Manager's time will be required to forge town-wide strategies to bring these into balance. This task must be addressed in the context of multi- year plans that consider the new normal: constrained revenue. Service expectations are high but resources in real dollar terms will be limited for the foreseeable future. Budget balancing in recent years has relied to some extent on elimination and consolidation of positions in the administrative service, but further significant reductions may not be possible. Communication. Well developed communication skills in Reading are essential. Open, accurate and timely communication by the Town Manager with all Town government entities, with the public, the many volunteers and employees needs to be continued and integrated into the normal operational practices of the Town. In Reading, the Town Manager plays an active role at Town Meeting. The next Town Manager must be skilled and comfortable serving as a major public spokesperson for the Town and actively participate in shaping a strategic message to citizens, stakeholders and the business and development communities. In addition, the Town Manager must be able to engage the members of the Board of Selectmen in an on-going dialog about the critical issues that face the Town. The public communication role of the Town Manager will be critical to sustaining the high level of confidence and trust that residents have in the Town. Education. Education is a prominent civic value in Reading. The next Town Manager must understand the value placed on education by citizens while collaborating with the 2 ,t, 46 School Superintendent and School Department to mitigate cost increases. The new Town Manager needs to maintain and build on this relationship. Public Role. The next Town Manager is expected to play a public role in the community. Participation in civic functions and representation of the Town with other governmental entities, and serving as a public voice for the Town will be important. The Town Manager must play an active role in managing the Town's relationship with the key state government actors that drive regional economic and transportation policy decisions. Developing and Sustaining Institutional Capacity, Staff Development and Morale. The Town has a well-regarded cadre of Department Heads and key staff. Maintaining staff morale, fully utilizing the considerable talents of staff and maintaining high performance standards will be critical to the success of the new Town Manager. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE The Reading Board of Selectmen seeks a Town Manager who is a seasoned manager in an environment of similar complexity who possesses strong organizational, communication and community leadership skills. This is not a learning position. Reading seeks a Town Manager with the skill, energy, creativity and experience to achieve Reading's goals including: preserving public service levels, fostering development in the few locations where this is feasible, and maintaining the Town's positive civic attitude toward the future. Reading seeks a Town Manager willing to commit to a tenure long enough to build a multi-year approach to ensuring the sustainability of the Town's service levels. The new Town Manager must support regional solutions when that is in the Town's interest, as well as foster volunteerism and private contributions as a partial solution to service delivery. Reading needs a Town Manager who can help set the stage for community- wide approaches to addressing the Town's needs, approaches that produce sound outcomes and avoid polarization within the town. The following attributes have been determined important in Reading's next Town Manager. PERSONAL The next Town Manager needs to be: • Able to demonstrate unquestioned integrity in interactions with officials and citizens. • Able to communicate effectively with all elements of the community. 47 %~D 3 / _ jp • Able and willing to play a highly visible role in the community. The ideal candidate must participate broadly across the leadership structure of the community and region and be a champion of the community.. • Comfortable engaging directly with citizens. The Town Manager must have sufficient direct engagement with the civic community so that he/she can gain thorough understanding of the Town's culture. Through formal and informal interaction the Town Manager's concern for the Town's citizens needs to become evident. • Able and willing to work openly with community groups and employees. A direct, collegial, facilitative style that fosters joint problem solving is needed. The Town Manager can have no agenda beyond being a professional. Able to be a vocal and positive spokesperson for the. Town's agenda at Town Meetings, public forums, state agencies and with the media. The successful candidate must be able to use the status inherent in the Town Manager's position to advance the Town's agenda. • Able to assume a strong organizational management role. The Town Manager cannot be a micromanager. He/she needs to delegate, while maintaining strict accountability. The successful candidate must be direct, facilitative, and clear. • Able to create and sustain a goal-oriented environment by establishing, maintaining and promoting effective policies and initiatives. The Town Manager will be a genuinely inclusive leader who is capable of exerting influence and direction in a manner that shares successes with elected officials, professionals and volunteers. PROFESSIONAL The Town Manager must be: • A mature leader of a comparable organization with extensive personal experience in finance, capital and operational planning, expenditure management, labor relations, public facilitation, and staff development. Excellent public and interpersonal communication * skills are essential, as is skill in forging a management team. • A professionally stable person with a record of tenure and consistent career growth. The Town seeks a committed management professional willing to stay for a significant period but who is also willing to take risks to improve the organization. 48 9 4 66L,.5" • Demonstrate a background in guiding the development of a shared strategic vision for the community. The ideal candidate must be a coalition builder, equally at home with private sector and community leaders. The ideal candidate must be able to exercise leadership within the organization and within the community. • In possession of a Bachelor's Degree and at least seven to ten years of experience as a Town or City Manager, Assistant Town Manager or other position that oversees the day-to-day operations of a public entity governed by an elected policy body that makes decisions in public. • Able to delegate to a highly competent cadre of Department Heads while maintaining strict accountability. • Able to set the stage for continuing the Town's capital plan, utilizing the decline in. debt service for existing projects when .t occurs, and federal and state resources whenever possible. Pursuing the Town's capital plan while maintaining the Town's bond rating is the goal. • Both strategic and tactical. He/she must be experienced in working effectively in a political environment providing seasoned and impartial guidance to elected officials to identify and address the long-term strategic needs of the community and the short-term tactical steps necessary to sustain service delivery. • Capable of keeping elected officials comprehensively informed, while staying detached from the political process and ensuring that staff maintains a similar detachment. • Familiar with highly participative local government environments with dynamics similar to Reading's. Familiarity with the Massachusetts municipal context will be helpful. • Comfortable working with and managing an organization in a political context often characterized by vigorous debate among well-informed citizens who are active in local decision-making processes. Key decisions made by the Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting are sometimes closely decided. The Hiring Process The Town has established a Screening Committee that includes two Selectmen, the School Superintendent, a representative of the Finance Committee, one Department Head and two members of the public. The Screening Committee is expected to review the applications of candidates recommended by the Collins Center in January and complete preliminary interviews in February. Interviews of finalists and a decision are expected in March. 49 9 5 Salary and Schedule The search begins in November 2012 and is expected to end in March 2013. Applications should be received by December 31, 2012 Direct compensation of the retiring Town Manager, a twenty-six year incumbent, is in the 140's. The Town is willing to negotiate a competitive compensation and an employment contract DOQ with the selected candidate. How to Apply Applications are preferred electronically. Please send your resume with a cover letter addressing the job requirements to this email address: recruitment.umba,2mail.com Please combine all of your documents in a single file and include Reading TM in the subject line. Kindly use PDF format, if possible. Should you have any questions regarding this opportunity, or a recommendation of a colleague, please contact: Dick Kobayashi, Senior Consultant 617-489-8812, or Mary Flanders Aicardi, Consultant 508-215-8992. To learn more about the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at UMASS Boston, please visit: www.eollinscenter.umb.edu 50 0 6 ~rz,7 defined in the Charter, and shall be bound by all laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts but shall not be required to meet the requirements of Section 8-12 of the Reading Home Rule Charter as to the appointment process. [Amended November 15, 2004 (Article 16) and approved by vote of the Town on April 5, 2005] Article 5 TOWN MANAGER Section 5-1: Appointment, Oualifications, Term The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a Town Manager and may enter into a contract with the Town Manager not exceeding three (3) years in length, and shall fix his compensation within the amount annually appropriated for that purpose. The Town Manager shall not be subject to a personnel bylaw, if any. The Town Manager shall be appointed solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications. He shall be a professionally qualified person of proven ability, especially fitted by education, training and previous experience. He shall have had at least five (5) years of full-time paid experience as a City or Town Manager or Assistant City or Town Manager or the equivalent level public or private sector experience. The terms of the Town Manager's employment shall be the subject of a written contract setting forth his tenure, compensation, vacation, sick leave, benefits, and such other matters as are customarily included in an employment contract. While serving as Town Manager he shall devote full time to the office (and except as expressly authorized by the Board of Selectmen) shall not engage in any other business or occupation and (except as expressly provided in the Charter) shall not hold any other public office, elective or appointive, in the Town. With the approval of the Selectmen, he may serve as the Town's representative to regional boards, commissions and the like but shall not receive additional salary from the Town for such services. [Amended November 10,1997 (Article 7) and approved by vote of the Town on March 24, 19981 [Amended November 15, 2004 (Article 16) and approved by vote of the Town on April 5, 2005] [Amended November 21, 2011 (Article 28) and approved by vote of the Town on March 6, 20121 Section 5-2: Powers and Duties The Town Manager shall be the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town and shall be responsible to the Board of Selectmen for the proper administration of all Town affairs placed in his charge by or under the Charter. The Town Manager shall have the following powers and duties: (a) Supervise and be responsible for the efficient administration of all functions under his control, as may be authorized by the Charter, by bylaw, by other Town Meeting vote, or by the Board of Selectmen, including all officers appointed by him and their respective departments. Reading Home Rule Charter 14 With all revisions through April, 2012 51 91 Reading Town Manager Profile - draft-Nov lath INTRODUCTION The Town of Reading has retained the services of the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston to assist in the Town's recruitment of _ a new Town Manager. This Profile draws upon our discussions with selectmen, department heads, elected officials, staff and community representatives. It describes our understanding of the organization, the challenges that lie ahead for the successful candidate, and the professional and personal characteristics an ideal candidate will possess. THE TOWN OF READING Reading is located approximately 12 miles north of the center of Boston. It lies close to the intersection of Route 93 and Route 128 (now designated I-95). The Town's location adjacent to these highways constructed in the 1950s fostered very rapid growth in the 50s and 60s. Most of the growth was residential. Today the Town has a population of approximately 25,000 and has a significant but modest level of commercial development near the highways. Most of Reading's residents live in neighborhoods that are buffered from commercial development and highways and have the feel of a mature suburban community. The Town has had a single Town Manager since was the position was established in 1986. The position of Town Manager will be vacant as a result of a decision by the current Town Manager to retire. Reading's charter and by-laws are available on its web site. (www,readingma.gov) According to the 2010 census the median income for a family was $117,000, significantly higher than the statewide average. Data on the Town's demographic trends can be obtained from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council's web site (www.mapc.org). ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN AND GOVERNANCE The Town governance structure consists of a five member Board of Selectmen elected for three year staggered terms and a 192 member Representative Town Meeting. The, six- member School Committee is elected, as are the Board of Assessors, Board of Library Trustees, the Municipal Light Board members and the Moderator. The Town Meeting is the legislative body and exercises the functions of appropriating money and making local laws. Currently four of the Selectmen have over five years of experience on the Board. The position of Town Manager is well established and well respected. PUBLIC FINANCE Reading had total General Fund revenues for FY2011 of approximately $74 million. $55 million of this amount were from locally levied taxes. The Town does not have a split property tax rate. Residential property generates approximately ninety percent of property tax revenue. Since FY 2000 Reading has had one successful operating override for $4.5 52 ti~ ~a, q million and three successful debt exclusion referenda. Detailed financial information for the Town may be obtained at the web site of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Department of Local Services. Currentlv the town is discussing one or more debt exclusion votes for near term capital improvement proiects including a significant librarv expansion. An Offering Statement for a recent bond issue may be obtained at the Collins Center web site. CHALLENGES FOR THE TOWN MANAGER Building on the Foundation. Boards of Selectmen, Town Meeting and the retiring Town Manager have built a solid public administration foundation for the Town that emphasizes professionalism among the Town's staff and administrators. Reading has well trained professional department administrators and key staff. The new Town Manager needs to sustain and build on this foundation. Maintaining a Positive Labor-Management Climate. Reading has sustained a positive labor relations climate by utilizing careful budgeting and good management practices at the department level. Approximately sixty percent of the Town's employees are members of collective bargaining units. Collective bargaining activities are the responsibility of the Town Manager. Maintaining a positive climate will require careful attention in the coming years as the Town navigates through an environment characterized by fiscal stress and shifting public expectations. Medium Term Budget Planning and Service Delivery. Like all Massachusetts municipalities, Reading is facing revenue constraints and growing cost pressures. A significant amount of the Town Manager's time will be required to forge town-wide strategies to bring these into balance. This task must be addressed in the context of multi- year plans that consider the new normal: constrained revenue. Service expectations are high but resources in real dollar terms will be limited for the foreseeable future. Budget balancing in recent years has relied to some extent on elimination and consolidation of positions in the administrative service, but further significant reductions may not be possible. Communication. Well developed communication skills in Reading are essential. Open, accurate and timely communication- by the Town Manager with all Town government entities, with the public, the many volunteers and employees needs to be continued and integrated into the normal operational practices of the Town. In Reading, the Town Manager plays an active role at Town Meeting. The next Town Manager must be skilled and comfortable serving as a major public spokesperson for the Town and actively participate in shaping a strategic message to citizens, stakeholders and the business and development communities. In addition, the Town Manager must be able to engage the members of the Board of Selectmen in an on-going dialog about the critical issues that face the Town. The public communication role of the Town Manager will be critical to sustaining the high level of confidence and trust that residents have in the Town. 53 U,fa ~a./ o Education. Education is a prominent civic value in Reading. The next Town Manager must understand the value placed on education by citizens while collaborating with the School Superintendent and School Department to mitigate cost increases. The new Town Manager needs to maintain and build on this relationship. Currentlv the town devotes anDroximately 66% of its operating budget to the schools and facilitv maintenance., Public Role. The next Town Manager is expected to play a public role in the community. Participation in civic functions and representation of the Town with other governmental entities, and serving as a public voice for the Town will be important. The current Town Manager maintains a weeklv Dublic access cable call-in TV show. The Town Manager must play an active role in managing the Town's relationship with the key state government actors that drive regional economic and transportation policy decisions. Developing and Sustaining Institutional Capacity, Staff Development and Morale. The Town has a well-regarded cadre of Department Heads and key staff. Maintaining staff morale, fully utilizing the considerable talents of staff and maintaining high performance standards will be critical to the success of the new Town Manager. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE. The Reading Board of Selectmen seeks a Town Manager who is a seasoned manager in an environment of similar complexity who possesses strong organizational, communication and community leadership skills. This is not a learning position. Reading seeks a Town Manager with the skill, energy, creativity and experience to achieve Reading's goals including: preserving public service levels, fostering development in the few locations where this is feasible, and maintaining the Town's positive civic attitude toward the future. Reading seeks a Town Manager willing to commit to a tenure long enough to build a multi-year approach to ensuring the sustainability of the Town's service levels. The new Town Manager must support regional solutions when that is in the Town's interest, as well as foster volunteerism and private contributions as a partial solution to service delivery. Reading needs a Town Manager who can help set the stage for community- wide approaches to addressing the Town's needs, approaches that produce sound outcomes and avoid polarization within the town. The following attributes have been determined important in Reading's next Town Manager. PERSONAL The next Town Manager needs to be: • Able to demonstrate unquestioned integrity in interactions with officials and citizens. 54 Z~ • Able to communicate effectively with all elements of the community. • Able to work cooperatively with the Board of Selectmen on the establishment of annual coals and obiectives for the Town and its denartments. update the BOS and staff on nro2ress and activelv narticinate in the annual review of results and operations. • Able and willing to play a highly visible role in the community. The ideal candidate must participate broadly across the leadership structure of the community and region and be a champion of the community. • Comfortable engaging directly with citizens. The Town Manager must have sufficient direct engagement with the civic community so that he/she can gain thorough understanding of the Town's culture. Through formal and informal interaction the Town Manager's concern for the Town's citizens needs to become evident. Formatted: No bullets or numbering • Able and willing to work openly with community groups and employees. A direct, collegial, facilitative style that fosters joint problem solving is needed. The Town Manager can have no agenda beyond being a professional and ensurinu that the level of service delivery meets the communitv standard for customer service., { Deleted:. • Able to be a vocal and positive spokesperson for the Town's agenda at Town Meetings, public forums, state agencies and with the media. The successful candidate must be able to use the status inherent in the Town Manager's position to advance the Town's agenda. • Able to assume a strong organizational management role. The Town Manager cannot be a micromanager. He/she needs to delegate, while maintaining strict accountability. The successful candidate must be direct, facilitative, and clear. • Able to create and sustain a goal-oriented environment by establishing, maintaining and promoting effective policies and initiatives. The Town Manager will be a genuinely inclusive leader who is capable of exerting influence and direction in a manner that shares successes with elected officials, professionals and volunteers. PROFESSIONAL The Town Manager must be: • A mature leader of a comparable organization with extensive personal experience in finance, capital and operational planning, expenditure management, labor relations, public facilitation, and staff development. Excellent public and 55 0 interpersonal communication skills are essential, as is skill in forging a management team. A professionally stable person with a record of tenure and consistent career growth. The Town seeks a committed management professional willing to stay for a significant period but who is also willing to take risks to improve the organization. • Demonstrate a background in guiding the development of a shared strategic vision for the community. The ideal candidate must be a coalition builder, equally at home with private sector and community leaders. The ideal candidate must be able to exercise leadership within the organization and within the community. In possession of a Bachelor's Degree. He shall have had at least five (5) vears of full-time paid experience as a ON or Town Manager or Assistant Citv or Town Manager or the, • eauivalent level public or Drivate sector experience Deleted: At least seven to ten years - _ - of experience as a Town or City • Able to delegate to a highly competent cadre of Department Heads while Manager, Assistant Town Manager or other position that oversees the maintaining strict accountability. day-to-day operations of a public entity govemed by an elected policy body that makes decisions in public. • Able to set the stage for continuing the Town's capital plan, utilizing the decline in debt service for existing projects when it occurs, and federal and state resources whenever possible. Pursuing the Town's capital plan while maintaining the Town's bond rating is the goal. • Both strategic and tactical. He/she must be experienced in working effectively in a political environment providing seasoned and impartial guidance to elected officials to identify and address the long-term strategic needs of the community and the short-term tactical steps necessary to sustain service delivery. • Capable of keeping elected officials comprehensively informed, while staying detached from the political process and ensuring that staff maintains a similar detachment. • Familiar with highly participative local government environments with dynamics similar to Reading's is preferred, as is familiarity with the Massachusetts municipal context, particularly Town government. • Comfortable working with and managing an organization in a political context often characterized by vigorous debate among well-informed citizens who are active in local decision-making processes. Key decisions made by the Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting are sometimes closely decided. The Hiring Process 56 ,ti~ The Town has established a Screening Committee that includes two Selectmen, the School Superintendent a representative of the Finance Committee, one Department_Head Deleted:, the Moderator and two members of the public. The Screening Committee is expected to review the applications of candidates recommended by the Collins Center in January and complete preliminary interviews in February. Interviews of finalists and a decision are expected in March. Salary and Schedule The search begins in November 2012 and is expected to end in March 2013. Applications should be received by December 31, 2012 Direct compensation of the retiring Town Manager, a twenty-six year incumbent, is in the 140's. The Town is willing to negotiate a competitive compensation and an employment contract DOQ with the selected candidate. How to Apply Applications are preferred electronically. Please send your resume with a cover letter addressing the jvb regiiirei~eit3 to thiu °vmail adds°vs3: avv 'ai fitment umbra email c~m Please combine all of your documents in a single file and include Reading TM in the subject line. Kindly use PDF format, if possible. Should you have any questions regarding this opportunity, or a recommendation of a colleague, please contact: Dick Kobayashi, Senior Consultant 617-489-8812, or Mary Flanders Aicardi, Consultant 508-215-8992. To learn more about the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at UMASS Boston, please visit: www.collinscenter.umb.edu 57 & ~ I ~ Schena, Paula From: Gary S. Brackett <gsbrackett@brackettlucas.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 10:36 AM To: Schubert, Rick Cc: Goldy, Stephen home account; Schena, Paula Subject: RE: Town Manager Profile Rick, Pursuant to your request, I have reviewed the draft profile that the Board of Selectmen will review at a public hearing tonight. I have also reviewed Article 5 entitled "Town Manager" of the Reading Home Rule Charter ("Charter"), specifically Section 5-1: governing Appointment, Qualifications, Term. You have requested that I insure that there are no conflicts between the draft profile and the Charter in terms of the qualifications of the town manager. The Charter provides the following language: He shall have had at least five (5) years of full-time paid experience as a City or Town Manager or Assistant City or Town Manager or the eauivalent level public or private experience. (emphasis supplied) Since the framers of the Charter provided, and the citizens of Reading approved, the inclusion of Assistant City Manager experience and equivalent private sector experience in the qualifications section, I recommend that the following underlined language be added to the fourth bullet under the Professional section of the draft profile: In possession of a Bachelor's Degree. At least seven to ten years of experience as a Town or City Manager, Assistant Town or City Manager or other position that oversees the day-to-day operations of a public entity governed by an elected policy body that makes decisions in public or the eauivalent level of private sector experience. Please give me a call if you have any questions. Regards, Gary Gary S. Brackett, Esquire BRACKETT & LUCAS 19 Cedar Street Worcester, MA 01609 (tel)508-799-9739 (fax)508-799-9799 This message is intended only for designated recipient(s). It may contain confidential or proprietary information and may be subject to the attorney-client privilege or other confidentiality protections. If you are not a designated recipient, you may not review, copy or distribute this message. If you receive this in error, please notify the sender by reply email and delete this matter. Thank you. From: Schubert, Rick fmailto:rick schubertfaharvard.edul Sent: Friday, November 16, 2012 11:01 AM To: Brackett, Gary Cc: Goldy, Stephen A.; Schena, Paula Subject: Town Manager Profile Fl i Gary, 1 Attached is the draft profile that the BOS will review at a public hearing on Tuesday. As I mentioned last night, the board would appreciate your review of the profile and comparison with the Charter to make sure there aren't any conflicts regarding qualifications of the town manager. Thanks, Rick From: Richard Kobayashi rmailto:kobavashirmCabamail.coml, Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 1:28 PM To: Schena, Paula Cc: Kobayashi Richard Subject: Public hearing on TM Profile Paula, Would you fwd this to the members of the BoS I have attached the draft of the Profile dated today 11/14. We did receive one technical change and we believe that this document should be used to foster input on the 20th. We will not proceed until we receive feedback from the Board after the 20th, when we understand the public hearing will occur. I am sorry for any earlier confusion. Dick Kobayashi, Senior Associate 6 Schena, Paula From: John Arena at Home Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2012 10:30 PM To: Schena, Paula Subject: Re: Review Draft of TM Profile Paula Could you forward my comment to Richard Kobayashi Thanks John Dick: The profile would in my view be improved by language preferring a candidate who has experience working closely / partnering with the business community to create/preserve/ expand a vibrant and diverse commercial base. What I would prefer to see are candidates with a practical history of success / progress in the area of economic development vs. those who focus exclusively on the municipal management element. Happy to talk further if you would like John Arena Sent from my iPad On Nov 8, 2012, at 1:18 PM, "Schena, Paula" <pschena(a,ci.readin2.ma.us> wrote: Please see memo below and attached draft TM profile. Paula Schena Office Manager Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867 Phone 781-942-6643 Fax: 781-942-9071 oschena(d~.ci.read ino.ma.us www.readingma.gov Town Hall Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday - 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Tuesday - 7:30 a,m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday - CLOSED Please let us know how we are doing - fill out our brief customer service survey at httr)://readinama- survev.virtualtownhall. net/survev/sid/7c8844ebl decdO98/ From: Kobayashi Richard fmailto:kobavashirm(a~gmail.coml Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 12:59 PM To: Schena, Paula Uy Cc: Roberts, Carol; Flanders Aicardi Mary Subject: Review Draft of TM Profile Paula, would you kindly fwd this email to each of the Selectmen. PI confirm you have received this, that the attachment can be opened and that this email has been fwd to the Selectmen. Thanks. dk To: Members of the BoS I have attached a draft of the TM Profile. This was developed based on conversations with Selectmen, Department Heads and other key actors. It has been reviewed by Carol Roberts for factual accuracy. If you would kindly review the document and use "Track Changes" to make any comments or corrections it would be helpful. If a conversation is appropriate please call me at the number below. I need comments by cob Monday November 12th. Once they are in hand I will finalize the document and get it back to Paula so it can be included in the packet for the BoS meeting on the 20th. This process has gone very smoothly. If the Board approves the Profile on the 20th we will commence recruitment activities right away. We anticipate being able to meet with the Screening Committee to discuss our recommendations in mid January. fyi We envision a schedule along the following lines December 31 - deadline for applications Mid January - Review Paper candidates with Screening Committee End of January - Preliminary interviews with candidates by Screening Committee First week of February - Tentative selection of finalists by Screening Committee Third to fourth week of February - Collins Center staff performs reference and background checks First week of March - Screening Committee votes Finalists - the names become public. (The Collins Center role pretty much stops at this stage) Second week of March onward - the BoS takes over the process, conducts public interviews, decides. dk Richard Kobayashi, Senior Associate Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies University of Massachusetts Boston Boston, MA 02125 Telephone: 617.489.8812 Fax: 419.818.3621 www.collinscenter.umb.edu <Reading_Profile_Draft_Nov7th_rev. doc> (0 Schena, Paula From: Hechenbleikner, Peter Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 8:26 AM To: 'Frederick Van Magness' Cc: Reading - Selectmen; Schena, Paula Subject: RE: Town Manager Search... tonight's BOS Fred I am not involved in the process but will pass this along to the Board of Selectmen. Peter I. Hechenbleikner Town Manager Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading MA 01867 Please note new Town Hall Hours effective June 7, 2010: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 7:30 a.m - 5:30 p.m. Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Friday: CLOSED phone: 781-942-9043 fax 781-942-9071 web www.read inpma.Rov email townmanaRerPci.readinR.ma.us Please let us know how we are doing - fill out our brief customer service survey at htto://readinRma-survev.virtuaItownhaI1.net/survev/sid/7c8844eb1decd098/ -----Original Message----- From: Frederick Van Magness fmailto:vanmagness(cDverizon.netl Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 7:35 AM To: Hechenbleikner, Peter Subject: Town Manager Search... tonight's BOS Hi Pete, Read with interest the profile for Town Manager in tonights packet. Just a couple of comments. 1. Details say that you currently have a weekly call in show. I thought it was monthly or quarterly, not weekly. But I may have missed things being away in the summer. 2. No mention of the RMLD.... seems there is at least a coordination role there with the GM. 3. What about Emergency coordination ...Police, Fire, DPW.... and the role of the Emergency Coordination Center. Storm management coordination, etc. 4. 1 didn't see anything on Regional Coordination/ Consolidation. You have played a key role here and the new person should be expected to take the lead as well. 5. Maybe a few words on interaction with Fin. Comm. might also be appropriate. Anyway, these are just a few thoughts.... will still find it hard to believe you are leaving in 6 months..... UGH! t LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF READING' NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING To the Inhabitants of the: Town of Reading: ; Notice. is hereby given-that public hearing will be 61(1 in; accordance with a the° Massachusetts General, aws,i Chapter 369 of the Acts of 1982 on the issue of determifting'a; residential factor in assessing the percentage of tax burden to be bome by each class of proQ- erty for Fiscal .Year 2013 --Cf to hearing will be held" :ort Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. in the Selectmen;s Meeting Room, 16 Lowed Street, Reading, MA. The five classes of property involved aee residential, open space, com- mercial, industrial and personol property. r r r A.copy of the proposed dovt ument regarding this topic ~s available in the Towp Manager's office, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA, M-4- Thurs from 7:30 a.m. - 5:31) p.m., Tues from 7:30 a.m."- 7:00 p.m. and is attached to ttlb hearing notice on the website at www.readingma.gov i. k R All interested parties. ar) invited to attend the hearing, or may submit their comments in writing or by email prior to 646- p.m. on November 20, 2012 ip townmanager(Lbci. reading~ma.r s ,`,ctc r ~ t r, By order Qf Peter 1. Hechenblelkh-If Town Mana or 58 t.r. 11/6 rr` ! f Hechenbleikner, Peter From: Julie Higgins <rnrchambercom@aol.com> Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2012 10:49 AM Subject: Tax Rate Hearing Scheduled in Reading & N. Reading Next Week - Please Attend Dear Members - This email effects both our Reading and North Reading business owners. Next week, the Board of Selectmen in Reading and North Reading will hold a public hearing to discuss the tax rate. The Board of Selectmen will discuss the possibility of splitting the tax rate for residential and commercial property owners. It is important that you voice your opinion. I will attend these meetings on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and strongly urge you to attend. North Reading: Monday, November 19, 2012 a 8:00 p.m. North Reading Town Hall Selectmen's Meeting Room 235 North Street Reading: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Reading Town Hall Selectmen's Meeting Room 16 Lowell Street Thank you, Julie Julie Higgins Executive Director Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce 978-664-5060 BUY LOCAL visit www.readinonread inachamber.orq sb Town of Reading Classification Presentation and Selection of a Minimum Residential Factor for Fiscal Year 2013 Presented by the Reading Board of Assessors Fred A. McGrane, Chairman Ralph A. Colorusso Robert J. Quinn, Jr. Victor P. Santaniello, MAA, Chief Appraiser Patricia A. Sullivan, MAA, Assistant Appraiser November 20, 2012 60 0 ~b3 The information contained in this handout is intended to provide the Board of Selectmen with the information necessary to conduct a public hearing on the classification options available under Massachusetts General Law. The classification amendment allows the board to consider several options that will be explained further along in this handout. Also, the decision of the board for each of the options must be submitted to the state's Department of Revenue on form LA-5. The options presented for consideration are: • Selection of a Minimum Residential Factor • Selection of a discount for Open Space • Granting of a Residential and / or Small Commercial Exemption Selection of a Residential Factor The Board of Selectmen has the option of selecting a factor of `1' which in effect would adopt a single tax rate for all residential, commercial, industrial "and personal property classes instead of shifting some of the tax burden off of the residential class and onto the CIP class. If a factor of `l' were to be adopted, the single tax rate for all classes of property would be $14.39. This rate is determined by dividing the tax levy by the total value of all taxable property in Reading and then multiplying that result by 1000. Levy: $53,062,973 / Value: $3,686,637,528 = (0.01439) x 1000 = Tax Rate $14.39 Chapter 200 In accordance with the provisions of MGL Chapter 200, The Board of Selectmen can choose to split the tax rate by shifting some of the tax burden from the residential class to the CIP classes of property. This results in a lower residential tax rate and a higher rate for the CIP sector. In choosing to split the tax rate, the board must remain cognizant of two important limitations contained within Chapter 200: 1) The residential share of the tax burden cannot fall below 50% of their tax burden prior to shifting, and 2) The CIP sector cannot absorb more than 175% of their tax burden prior to the shift. Reading's shift limit is 150%. The table below summarizes the tax rate impact at various shift intervals: CIP SHIFT 'I MRF 1 100 98.8740 1.2 97.7480 1.3 96.6220 1.4 95.4960 1.5 94.3700 RES % C1P % ~ RES TR I CIP TR 89.8796 10.1204 $14.39 $14.39 188.8676 11.1324 $14.23 $15.83 187.8556 12.1444 $14.07 $17.27 186.8435 13.1565 $13.91 $18.71 185.8315 14.1685 $13.75 $20.15 184.8194 15.1806 $13.58 $21.59 61 It is important to note that although the board is effectively choosing the CIP shift factor, it is technically selecting the Minimum Residential Factor in column 2 of the table on the previous page which results from the selection of the CIP shift in the first column. The next two columns indicate the respective share of the tax burden resulting from the corresponding shift factor. The final two columns present the anticipated tax rates for each class. For your information, the average single family home value for fiscal year 2013 is $432,300. In consideration of that value, the table below summarizes the anticipated FY 2013 average tax bill amounts at various shift intervals. CIP SHIFT I MRF` I RCS % I RES`TAX RATE I ESfi2013 BILL 1 1 100 189.8796 1$14.39 1 $6,220 1.1 1 98.8740 188.8676 1$14.23 1 $6,151 1 1.2 1 97.7480 187.8556 1$14.07 I $6,082 1 1.3 196.6220 186.8435 1$13.91 I $6,013 1 1.4 1 95.4960 185.8315 1$13.75 I $5,944 1 1.5 1 94.3700 184.8194 1$13.58 1 $5,870 Additionally, the average commerci al property valuation for fiscal year 2013 is $1,507,900. The table below summarizes the anticipated FY 2013 average commercial tax bill amounts. 1 CIP SHIFT I MRF I CIP I CIP TAX RATE I E9T'2013 BILL 1 I 1 100 110.1204 1 $14.39 ( $21,698 1 1.1 1 98.8740 111.1324 I $15.83 I $23,870 1 1.2 1 97.7480 112.1444 $17.27 1 $26,041 1.3 1 96.6220 113.1565 $18.71 I $28,212 1 1.4 1 95.4960 114.1685 1 $20.15 1 $30,384 1 1.5 194.3700 115.1806 1 $21.59 1 $32,555 In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 200, the Town may select a CIP shift factor of up to 150%. However it has been past practice of the Board of Selectmen to adopt classification without a shift in the tax burden. If it is the desire of the Town to maintain a single tax rate for all classes of property, then your minimum residential factor selection would be 100 which would yield an estimated single fiscal year 2013 tax rate of $14.39. 62 0 yes Average single family tax bill history from 2003 to present: Single Single Single Average Family Fiscal Year Assessed Family Family Average Residential Tax Rate Single Family Tax Values Parcels Value Bill 2003 2,295,207,400 6,473 354,582 11.49 4,074 2004 2,532,435,800 6,470 391,412 12.23 4,787 2005 2,722,599,400 6,483 419,960 12.57 5,279 2006 2,912,273,100 6,490 448,732 12.08 5,421 2007 2,994,759,900 6,487 461,656 12.07 5,572 2008 2,933,909,900 6,490 452,066 12.6 5,696 2009 2,882,787,600 6,501 443,438 13.21 5,858 2010 2,816,270,800 6,505 432,939 13.75 5,953 2011 2,880,796,500 6,508 442,655 13.8 6,109.1 2012 2,895,475,600 6,514 444,500 14.15 6,290 1 2013 2,816,675,700 6,516 432,300 14.39 6,220 Average commercial tax bill history from 2003 to present: Fiscal Year Total Commercial Average Tax Rate Average Commercial Parcels Commercial Commercial Value Value Tax Bill 12003 1156,623,500 1175 I $894,991 111.49 110,283 12004 155,560,000 1176 I $883,864 112.23 110,810 12005 186,339,900 1178 I $1,046,853 112.57 113,159 1 2006 1219,005,200 1179 I $1,223,493 112.08 114,780 2007 1236,516,816 1198 I $1,194,529 112.07 114,418 2008 1 256,582,400 1 203 I $1,263,953 112.6 i 15,926 12009 1262,919,463 1206 I $1,276,308 113.21 116,860 12010 1270,816,033 1205 I $1,321,054 113.75 118,164 12011 1319,506,376 1204 I $1,566,208 113.8 121,614 12012 1320,481,055 1205 I $1,563,322 114.15 122,121 2013 1300,063,400 1 199 I $1,507,856 ( 14.39 i 21,698 Percent Change 17.50% 10.28% 2.69% 2.79% 2.23% 2.84% 1.62% 2.62% 2.96% -1.11% Percent Change 5.12% 121.73% 1 12.32% 1-2.45% 1 10.46% 15.87% 7.74% 18.99% 12.35% -1.91% 63 0 6 ~(O Selection of a Discount for Open Space: Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 59, section 2A defines class 2 open space as: "land which is not otherwise classified and which is not taxable under provisions of Chapters 61A or 61B, or taxable under a permanent conservation restriction, and which land is not held for the production of income but is maintained in an open or natural condition and which contributes significantly to the benefit and enjoyment of the public." A maximum exemption of 25% may be adopted for all property that is classified as Open Space under this definition. The Town has never voted a discount for open space since no properties have been identified which fulfill the requirements of this section. Granting a Residential and/or Small Commercial Exemption: Residential: The Board of Selectmen may adopt a residential exemption for all residential properties in the town that are owner occupied. The exemption amount could be up to 20% of the average assessed value of all eligible properties to be taxed at the residential tax rate, including vacant parcels as part of the total parcel count. Although the thought of granting a residential exemption to owner occupied residential properties appears to be a form of tax relief, it is not the case here in Reading. It is true that some properties would receive tax relief through the adoption of this measure, however, since the tax levy remains the same and the tax shift is only among the residential class, the overall residential tax rate would increase substantially to compensate for this form of tax relief. In our case for FY2013, the residential tax rate would rise from $14.39 to an estimated $17.44 According to the mechanics of this exemption, the tax burden for those owner occupied properties below the break-even point would be decreased. For all other residential properties, the tax burden would significantly increase. This includes all non-owner occupied residential properties and vacant residential land, as well as owner occupied properties above the break-even point since the exemption is deducted after the application of the much higher residential tax rate. Additionally, more assessing staff would be needed to accomplish the implementation and maintenance of this exemption program. The residential exemption has been adopted by only 13 communities in the Commonwealth including, Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Somerville, Waltham, Watertown and Brookline and more. Reading has never adopted the residential exemption. In summation, adoption of a residential exemption will significantly raise the residential tax rate while providing a benefit ONLY to those properties below the break-even point. The estimated break- even point for this exemption is $472,800 with a tax amount of $6,803. 64 CN) (D Commercial: An exemption of up to 10% of the property valuation can be granted to commercial, not industrial or personal, properties that meet the requirements set forth under the law. To qualify, eligible businesses must have occupied the property as of January 1, 2012 and must have had no more than 10 employees as certified by the Department of Employment and Training during the previous calendar year and the building must have a valuation of less than $1,000,000. A business which is just one of several businesses within a commercial building would not be eligible for an exemption unless every business in that property qualified as well. Similar to the residential exemption, the tax levy does not change and the exemption is borne within the commercial class resulting in and overall increase of the CIP tax rate. The assessing department has identified about 54 businesses that might qualify for the exemption out of 187 total reporting. If all 54 did indeed qualify, the Commercial and Industrial tax rate would increase to $14.55. The tax rate for Personal Property would remain the same at $14.39. There- are eleven (11) communities that adopt the commercial exemption. They are: Auburn,, Avon, Bellingham, Braintree, Dartmouth, New Ashford, Seekonk, Somerset, Westford and Wrentham. The pie chart below denotes the number of Commercial and Industrial properties at different valuation intervals. There are 96 at less than $500,000; 76 from $500,000 to $lm; 58 from $lm - $2m; 19 at $2m to $5m; 5 at $5m to $1Om and 6 at $1 Om to $23.5m. 5M-10M,5 10M-235M,6 !f 1 a1 ®2 3 X4 5 6 65 oq~ ~bfS NeiE!hborinLy Communities / FY 2012 Avg. SF Community Res% Split Shift Tax Dili /Tax Rate Lynnfield 90.1% YES 1.083 $7,380 $14.26 Reading 93.0% NO 1.00 $6,290 $14.15 Stoneham 89.1% YES 1.50 $4,908 $12.61. No. Reading 86.8% NO 1.00 $6,473 $14.3 8 Wakefield 90.2% YES 1.75 $4,769 $11.90 Wilmington 86.7% YES 1.75 $41)343 $12.14 Woburn 79.9% YES 1.75 $3554 $1.0.40 • 2 of the 6 neighboring communities to Readi.n.g has a CIP% of less than. 1.0% 66 Middlesex League -FY2012 Avg. SF- Communi ty Res% Split Shift Tax Bill/Tax Rate Woburn. 79.9% YES 1.75 $3,554/ $10.40 Wilmington 86.7% YES 1.75 $4,343 / $12.14 Burlington 81.5% YES 1.67 $41403 ; $11.55 Wakefield 90.2% YES 1.75 $45769 / $10.90 Stoneham 89.1% YES 1.50 $41908 / $12.61. Melrose 91.7% YES 1.48 $5,093 / $1.2.76 Reading 93.0% NO 1.00 $6,290 1$14-15 Arlington 93.7% NO 1.00 $6,565 / $13.66 Winchester 93.0% NO 1.00 $9,557 / $11.77 Belmont 91.6% NO 1.00 $9,964 / $13.35 Lexington 88.8% YES 1.70 $10,441/ $14.97 tVUter•toi,vn 92.0% YES 1.75 $ *X/4 / $14.40 • Watertown is part of the Middlesex League but has a Residential Real Estate Tax Exemption due to the high number of rental properties in the town and the information regarding Average Tax. Bills was not available on the Mass DOR Web Site. • 6 of the 12 towns in the Middlesex League, excluding Reading, have a CIP% of less than 10%. H~ ~e1 ° 67 Predominantly Residential Communities: FY 2012 Avg. SF- Community Res% Split Shift Tax Bill /Tax Rate Wakefield 90.2% YES 1.75 $4,769 / $11.90 Melrose 91.6% YES 1.48 $5,093 / $12.76 Reading 93.0% NO 1.00 $6290 1$14.15 Arlington 94.0% NO 1.00 $61565 / $13.66 Milton 95.3% YES 1..50 $7,321./ $14.35 Lynnfeld 90.1% YES 1.083 $7,380/ $14.26 Winchester 93.0% NO 1.00 $ 91557 / $1.2.55 Belmont 91.6% NO 1.00 $ 9,964 / $13.35 Sudbury 93.9% YES 1.27 $10,937 / $17.60 Lincoln 96.8% YES 1.30 $131322 / $13.80 68 0 ~bj 339 ~-:.P,\17='7'DT'' '~'7'7'7'~► t ' 'rte =i-=' 1'1'~'g5 N 21-11021-111 t . mY u. 21-?09 ~1-123 a„ 21-5 '`:''RS 1 1' 9' 21-182 21-183 1- 1-121-12th 21-127 21-125t21-12`" 21=12 21-3 21-128 2 y`- 21-133 21-1801 A. 21-4 ,,.a` 1_136 21-1811 `~t. ~ k~ i-1!~~' 135' yn; 21-129 1-?30 21-131 21-132 Area of proposed license 21-179 -/37 21-13 _ 21-14 21-1.1 16-38 6-39 6-39 16-361 16-362 16-360 67,3 16=345.'' 16-214 16-215 16-218; y y 16-212 16-21 fr~ j-b..yc 16-216¢ 6-20 6-21 16-208 1 -2 16-207: a ~Z 1 6-16 16-373 6-16F) 16-16 6-16 us 6-372 . 16-206f 6-371 Legend Railroad Buildings A ,--rte Town Building k 1 Other Parking Roads Town Owned or Leased Land LOCATION OF N PROPOSED LICENSE TO o 50 100 150 Feet TOWN OF READING Map by Town of Reading. Parcels valid 1/1/12. FROM M BTA Roads, parking & buildings from aerial photos taken 4/2008. Map date 7/31/12. 88 CIC Grant -Aerial Imagery Regionalization (AERIAL) Applicants: Towns of Arlington (lead applicant), Andover, Concord, and Reading Other participants: MassGIS plus an estimated 20 other eastern Massachusetts communities that have expressed strong interest in participating Grant amount: $250,000 estimate Savings to Reading could be in the neighborhood of $14,000 from the regional effort and $2,250 additional from the grant to offset the cost of the flyover (these are very rough estimates). Reading could also recover $1,250 in project management costs. Purpose: The grant would help offset the cost of a regional flyover. The four lead towns would develop an RFP - with guidance from MassGIS - to procure aerial photos for participating communities. This will help towns get over the hurdle of doing their own procurement and will significantly lower the cost per square mile due to the size of the project. Reading's 2008 flyover cost $2,300/square mile (for the images only); we estimate a cost of $900/square mile based on a comparable project in Maine. A spring 2014 flyover is planned. The grant would also fund a project management website and the hiring of an independent consultant to perform quality control on the aerial images. Contours and planimetrics would be developed from the orthophotos as a second step, not part of the grant. Reading would do its own procurement possibly using a model RFP developed under the AERIAL program. Innovation: The innovation is in the community-led regional project. The project will create efficiencies and cost savings over the current procurement model where each community purchases its own orthophotos. The project is designed to be sustainable. A five-year cycle is anticipated so that towns can budget for future image procurement. MassGIS no longer offers orthophotos of the quality needed by local government GIS programs, therefore the towns must take the lead. 95 ya ~J S Community Innovation Challenge Grant APPLICATION LOCAL SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION FORM Project Title: Community Access to Information Lead applicant primary contact: Reading First Name, Last Name: Bob LeLacheur Name of Municipality, School, RPA or COG: Town of Reading Phone Number: 781-942-6636 Email Address: finance(@ci.reading.ma.us List all participating entities: City of Melrose; Town of Wakefield FY13 Application Deadline: November 30, 2012 10 Page 7 of 96 P o to CIC Grant Application Project Title: Community Access to Information Applicants: Town of Reading (lead applicant), City of Melrose, Town of Wakefield Other participants: We expect interest from many small to mid-sized Massachusetts communities that cannot afford the start-up costs or ongoing technology support of organizing, storing and offering information to the general public. The project is scalable to meet virtually any demand. Grant amount: $275,000 (see attached detail) Purpose: "Access to Information" is degrriherJ ac n key fn democracy (htta://www.cartercenter.ora/resources/r)dfs/aeace/americas/ati kev to democra cy.pdf) by the Carter Center. Advances in technology have made Access a realistic goal even for local governments. However typical start-up costs of over $100,000 as well as ongoing support needed from information technology staff both pose hurdles that many small to mid-sized Massachusetts communities cannot afford. The Town of Reading will offer a full records management and retrieval system to any interested Massachusetts municipality, beginning with the City of Melrose and the Town of Wakefield. The scope of this project will be to acquire and build out a technology platform in Reading that will support the three initial communities and be prepared to sustainably expand to quickly support many other Massachusetts communities. Innovation: Reading is uniquely positioned to offer this product for the municipal marketplace in Massachusetts. The Boston Globe noted that Reading is a state-wide model (htto:/Iwww.bostonalobe.com/metro/reaionals/north/2012/09/22/readina-puts-all- records-into-online-cloud/bEXdwzOZCoeLalni55CJAK/storv.html) in records management and retrieval. This project will push that expertise into any other Massachusetts community that is interested in providing their community with access to information. 97 (P ~J Community Access to Information Startup Costs Ongoing Costs Payable to Software RIO 50-Tier $ 41,650 $ 10,050 Vendor Quick Fields $ 15,000 $ 3,600 Vendor Import Agent $ 1,500 $ 360 Vendor Quick Fields Agent $ 10,000 $ 2,400 Vendor Scan Connect 10-pack $ 915 $ 220 Vendor Scan Connect 5-pack $ 660 $ 159 Vendor Public Portal $ 50,000 $ 12,000 Vendor RIO Records Management 50-Tier $ 4,200 $ 1,050 Vendor Laserfiche Forms 50-Tier $ 4,200 $ 1,050 Vendor Laserfiche Forms Portal $ 7,995 $ 1,919 Vendor $ 136,120 $ 32,808 Hardware MSFT SQL (4) Core Licenses $ 6,000 Reading I/T purchases MSFT (4) Windows Server Licenses $ 2,000 Reading I/T purchases Vmware (4) Processor licenses $ 10,000 $ 2,400 Reading I/T purchases Sonicwall (3) NSA24000 Firewalls $ 6,000 $ 3,000 Reading I/T purchases HP (2) Proliant Servers $ 20,000 $ 2,000 Reading I/T purchases Backup System $ 10,000 Reading I/T purchases Storage $ 20,000 Reading I/T purchases Internet Service $ 1,500 Reading I/T purchases HP (1) Procurve Switch $ 2,000 Reading I/T purchases Portable Scanning stations (2) $ 20,000 Reading I/T purchases Contingency Hardware $ 6,000 Reading I/T purchases $ 102,000 $ 8,900 Training/Project Management RIO Training - 10 days $ 15,000 Vendor Project Implementation & Mgmt $ 11,000 $ 8,000 Vendor/Reading staff Document scanning - clerical $ 20,000 Reading/Melrose/Wakefield $ 46,000 $ 8,000 TOTAL GROSS COSTS $ 284,120 $ 49,708 Vendor Credit for existing system $ (58,582) $ - salvage value for previous TOTAL NET COSTS $ 225,538 $ 49,708 Reading $85k capital purchase GRANT APPLICATION $ 225,000 $ 50,000 $275,000 total 98 D3 ids "t READING POLICE DEPARTMENT ~~1 15 Union Street - Reading, Massachusetts 01867 - ` - - - Emergency Only: 911 • All Other Calls: (781) 944-1212 • Fax: (781) 944-2893 Web: www.ci.reading.ma.us/police/ Fingerprint Fees The new Town of Reading By-Law 5.4 Criminal History Check Authorization, allows for the fee charged by the Police Department for the purpose of conducting fingerprint-based criminal record background checks shall be determined by the Board of Selectmen and shall not exceed one hundred dollars ($100). The Town m L 11 - A-11- 14 '+1. T..TTY. (ry.~ir.c v~ r.A t1,A Tlavarfman4 of treasurer sllall pee-IJUlUally consult Wllll 1Vwll ~VU11J1.1 an%.& Utv Lvruiuivuvi Revenue, Division of Local Services regarding the proper municipal accounting of those fees. A portion of the fee, thirty dollars ($30), as specified in Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 6, Section 172B 1/2, shall be deposited into the Firearms Fingerprint Identity Verification Trust Fund, and the remainder of the fee may be retained by the Town for costs associated with the administration of the fingerprinting system. Currently, the Annual cost of the maintenance program for the fingerprint system and printer is seventeen hundred and sixty-six dollars ($1766). The projected amount of applicants could range from 40 to over 100 per year depending on how many solicitors come into Town. Annually, ALL Licensees described in the By-Law will need to be Re-fingerprinted. Each applicant will take approximately 20 minutes to be fingerprinted. As of now, all fingerprint cards need to be mailed to the State Police. Due to the additional workload of fingerprinting applicants, the costs of the maintenance program and postal fees, our recommendation would be to charge one hundred dollars ($100) per applicant. Respectfully Submitted, Sgt. Detective Mark D. Segalla Criminal Division Commander 99 Gel 2012 Town Manager's Goals and Action Plan Town of Reading MA Updated 11-20-12 Shaded blocks represent action items that are completed. Finance 1 Select Town Accountant 2 Limit reliance on non-recurring revenue 3 Develop a plan to draw down overlay surplus 4 Apply for outside resources 5 Participate in public private partnerships 6 Implement • Sale of land - Lothrop Road • Sale of land - Pearl Street • Use/sale of Oakland Road 7 Monitor and Advocate for: • Additional cell sites • Advertising via billboards 8 Develop a proposed OPEB funding mechanism Services 9 Train employees on Customer Service policy 10 Review and improve web site including electronic customer interaction Operations 11 Implement additional technology - • Assessors LAMA; • Master Address database • Mass Communications system • Permits and licensing • Integrated Public Safety system • New technology in public meeting rooms 11/20/2012 1 Responsible Department Head w~ C7 A C7 a~ A W U A 6-30-12 100% 6-30-12 _100% 6-30-12 100% ~ ongoing 1 tangoing 9-30-12 50% 9-30-12 50% 12-31-12 5% Ongoing 100% Ongoing 25% 100% 100 100% 90 `vo 100% 95% 2012 Town Manager's Goals and Action Plan Town of Reading MA Updated 11-20-12 Shaded blocks represent action items that are completed. Responsible Department Head -0 ,o > Q W U A 12 nonu a of one ati in t o -30 12 Conduct an operational o o h1imin 13 Apply for Community Innovation Challenge Grant 1-31-12 100% 14 Expand Records Management - access to the public via the web site. ( Ongoing Health and Safety 15 Complete evaluation of regional public safety dispatch 12-31-12 50% 16 Develop program to address substance abuse and violence I 4-1-12 100% 17 Healthy Community model - initial focus on obesity prevention i Ongoing 25% Community Development / Sustainability 18 Affordable Housing - • Mawn 25% • Peter Sanborn Place 25% • Johnson Woods phase 2 100% • additional units in downtown as feasible ongoing • New approach to preserving affordable units (DHCD) 100x/° • Housing Production Plan update 2012 95% 19 South Main Street design "best practices" 100% 20 Implement priority downtown parking action items - improve parking directional signs (Wayfinding project); • Improve parking directional signs 75% • sharing of private parking spaces; 3-31-12 100% • expand parking supply; • bike routes throughout town 25% 21 Continue sign enforcement efforts I Ongoing 25% 6"` 22 Implement gateway sign - Main and South 75% b11 /20/2012 2 2012 Town Manager's Goals and Action Plan Town of Reading MA Updated 11-20-12 Shaded blocks represent action items that are completed. 23 1 Re-use and/or redevelopment of the properties behind the RMLD 24 Sustainability goals - regional approach 25 Evaluate creation of a shade tree master plan Responsible Department Head "C o v w a C7 A C7 4 A W U A 12-31-12 3-31-12 12-31-12 CJ o O U 10% 100`%' 0% Asset Management 26 Implement high priority building projects: • Cemetery Garage • Library • DPW Vehicle Maintenance • operation, safety/security, and aesthetics of DPW site • Killam School 27 Complete the Haverhill Street water main distribution project 28 Evaluate need for and viability of Teen Center 29 Add to Town's trail system, including Ipswich River Greenway 30 Funding for the West Street project 31 Bandstand 32 Implement 1 time revenue plan with focus on capital Governance, Regulation, and Policy Development 33 Scope for Zoning Bylaw revision, including phasing 34 Facility and site naming policy 35 Amendments to Parks Rules and Regulations re Amp. Sound 36 Communications policy 37 I Review/Revise Traffic Rules and Regulations 38 Regulations for posting street numbers on all buildings 39 Amendments to Demolition Delay bylaw: • Property owner participation in inventory process 11/20/2012 3 ~ I I 12-31-12 Ongoing 12-31-12 6-30-13 4-29-12 25% 75% 10% 25% 10% 95% 0% 75% 25% 100% 25% 10% 3-31-12 I 100% 12-31-12 10% 85% 75% 11-15-12 1.00% 2012 Town Manager's Goals and Action Plan Town of Reading MA Updated 11-20-12 Shaded blocks represent action items that are completed. • Appeal from imposition of delay 40 Decide on Remote Participation re OML Responsible Department Head x a A x A v 1.0 U w~A Human Resources/Personnel 41 Continue B/C/C Chair and Vice Chair training 42 Complete labor negotiations 43 Health Insurance bidding and negotiations 1 6-30-12 1 100% 12-31-12 ? i t I I I 6-30-12 100% 6-30-12 100% 21 action items of a total of 42 items are complete Key of Department Heads: PH - Hechenbleikner RLe - LeLacheur GLa -LaPointe JDe - Delios GB - Burns JC - Cormier JZ - Zager RU - Urell VC - Cameron JDo - Doherty ALL - all Department Heads Finance - Reading will continue to evaluate revenue sources, cost reduction, regionalization of services, other methods of providing services, and level of services with the goal of maintaining long term fiscal stability of the community while providing a level of service that the community can sustain. 1. Work with the Board of Selectmen to find a replacement to our retiring Town Accountant, and work with staff to provide a smooth transition. Complete new Town Accountant started work 6-15-12 2. Limit reliance on non-recurring revenue including reserves. Done - Town will use just over $600,040 in reserves. 3. Develop a plan to draw down the overlay surplus in a sustainable manner to appropriate levels. Done. 2 year program dependent upon cooperation of the Board of Assessors 4. Apply for outside resources funding to support operating and capital or other one time expenses. ♦ library applying for a $7500 LSTA grant for STEM programming for middle-schoolers and expect to hear in July ♦ Wellness grant received - $8,750 11/20/2012 4 2012 Town Manager's Goals and Action Plan Town of Reading MA Updated 11-20-12 ♦ Doss Control orant from NIIIA - S5,000 ♦ Community Innovations Grant applied for and not amroved - 5500,000 ♦ Approved for Emergency Planning grant - $4,500 ♦ Approved for Fire Department grant jointly with Wakefield for advanced training - $105,000 ♦ Applied for DFC grant for the next 5 years of support for RCASA - will find out in September. ♦ Approved for a. $15,000 regional Ilousing Services grant ♦ Approved for a $30,000 regional Priority Development and Preservation Areas ♦ Approved for a $10,000 Downto,,vn Retail Strategy grant ♦ Received $12,344 from Downtown Steering C.ornmittee for DIFT. ♦ We will be applying for another FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Program for specialized training ♦ Received reimbursement for the Massachusetts Tropical Strom Irene - 520,779 ♦ Received reimbursement - Halloween snow storm - $55,363.62. Reading Municipal Light Department was eligible for reimbursement for over S3€10,400 which they' have received $306,545.89. ♦ Library awarded $5.1 million construction grant pending identification of local share ♦ MDI grant submitted 9-12 for market analysis of downtown Reading. ♦ Received Federal "underage Drinking" grant - $40,000 per year for 5 years. ♦ Received 2 DEP grants - one ofr a recycling audit, and one for recycling information {$1259} ♦ Received $1,009,000 in State Smart Growth 40 R funds, and another 5150,000 has just been billed. There will be an additional S300,000 received from this source over the next 2 or 3 years. 5. Participate in and encourage public/private partnerships that provide in-kind services provide significant cost savings and as such should be expanded to achieve added savings ♦ Library received in-kind support from some of:our local banks for MoneySinart Week in. April. 4 441' r1 g xift Isip to provide rtcc~ to the I"{fu rici ' :fns let do e vE -b~ TJJvr 4 efi ♦ RFD received a $1,000 donation from the Young Women's League for our Advanced Life Support Program 6. Begin the process of implementing the following approvals from Town Meeting which will then be placed in the Sale of Real fund to be made available for Capital Improvements, debt service, or unfunded pension liability. Give consideration to the after development cost of providing services to the sites, compared to the value of the sale. Appraisals done, 21 e done a. Sale of land - Pearl Street Title Issues need to be resolved b. Sale of land- Lothrop Road To be advertised forbid after 1-1-13 c. Use/sale of Oakland Road C n 7. Continue to monitor and advocate as opportunities arise, for the following potential revenue raising activities: a. Additional cell sites 11/20/2012 5 2012 Town Manager's Goals and Action Plan Town of Reading MA Updated 11-0-12 b. Advertising via billboards Clear Channel is waiting for approval from OAB of new regulations, and then will have 1 non-Town owned site in Reading. Reading will receive an annual "hosting" fee, and ability to put information on billboard. This will require a variance from the L13<1 8. Develop a proposed OPEB funding mechanism including recommendations to begin to modestly fund this longterm liability. 2012 ATM to set up "Trust and begin to fund it at $900.000 Staff has drafted for FINCOM an overall policy to establish ongoing funding. Services - Reading will continue to provide municipal services in as cost effective, efficient, and customer service friendly manner as possible. Where reasonable a self service element to Town services will be available for those who choose to use it. 9. Train employees on the customer service policy; continue to measure customer satisfaction; identify and recommend changes to regulations that do not meet customer service goals, or that will make them easier for customers to understand and use. Ongoing. Trained DPW this winter. Community Services has amended sonic bylaws and regulations to accomplish this. 10. Review and improve the Town web site. Provide electronic customer interaction with the Town, including a "customer service request" module. `Fork has started. Operations - Reading will continue to provide as full a range of municipal services that meet community needs and desires as resources allow. 11. Implement additional technology including: a. Assessors CAMA Done b. Master Address database Bone C. Mass Communications system Done d. permits and licenses System is operational. e. integrated public safety system Done f. new technology in public meetings (electronic voting; tablets for BCC members) work in meeting rooms is one 12. Condu E)nal r-eview of one additional programmatic area in the i S e l to ate.: ,:.~g c<;neeflis .hro, h alizi ",mod 13. Apply for funding from the Community Innovation Challenge Grant and/or other sources to enhance the recently created regional public health services program. Applied for $00,000 to support and enhance regional health services. Not awarded. Will look at new application in FY 2013. Applying for a grant winter 2012 for G1S flyover, and for regional records management program lit. Expand the Records Management efforts including beginning to provide records as appropriate to the public via the web site. Most Departments have started. Administration is most advanced. Library staff trained. New equipment in place for scanning no 11/20/2012 6 2012 Town Manager's Goals and Action Plan Town of Reading MA date 11-20-2 Health and Safetv - Reading will continue to focus on strong public health and safety services with a goal of making the community one of the healthiest and safest communities in suburban Boston. 15. Complete evaluation of regionalization of Public Safety Dispatch. We have continued to work with the group which has been expanded beyond Melrose, Stoneham, Wakefield. Reading and the Middlesex Sherriffs office. The communities of North Reading and Lynnfield have indicated they would like to join. NVc have a current grant to review ini:rastructure options. The National Guard is not interested in making land available for the project. 16. Develop and implement a program or programs intended to address issues of substance abuse and related violence in the community. Done 17. Focus Public Health, School, Substance Abuse, and other resources on a Healthy Community model with an initial focus on obesity prevention as one of the major health crises facing our country. Find ways to encourage walking, cycling, and other activities. These efforts may involve many departments, with efforts led by the Health Division. "Town has received Mass in Motion grant and the data collection work has begun. Jointly with Melrose and Wakefield, seminar attended in early .tune. Re-played for Reading Officials who were not in attendance - Board of Selectmen, BoH, CPDC, ConsCom. Community Development / Sustainabilitv - Reading has worked to maintain the character of the community, while making planned and deliberate improvements to the Town. Major efforts have been led by the Board of Selectmen, the CPDC, the Economic Development Committee, and the Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection. The World Cafe held in 2008 helped inform the above bodies of public opinion on the future of Reading. 17. Continue progress towards meeting and maintaining the level of 10% of housing units (as re-defined by the 2010 federal census) as affordable. This goal may be met through development of the a. Mawn property Site plan approved. Residential uses are in second phase b. Peter Sanborn Place, Working N ith owner on site plan approval c. Johnson Woods Phase 2 (19 affordable); bone d. Additional units in downtown as feasible. None yet identified. e. Working with DHCD on a new approach to preserve affordable units that don't sell in a 90 day period through a new deed rider Done £ Housing Production Plan - update in 2012 Draft completed - presentation to Board of Selectmen in December 2012. 18. Complete South Main Street design guidelines based on "best practices" Done 19. Implement high priority parking recommendations for downtown: a. improve parking directional signs; Signs have been ordered b. sharing of private parking spaces; Bylaw approved at 2012 Subsequent Town Meeting c. identify opportunities to expand parking supply; d. bike routes throughout town 11/20/2012 7 2012 Town Manager's Goals and Action Plan Town of Reading MA Updated 11-20-12 20. Continue sign enforcement efforts to bring all non-conforming signs into compliance we have provided letters linking enforcement to licenses which are being reviewed by the boards for approval; 21. Implement new gateway signage - South Main Street (paid for by Reading Woods mitigation) Initial design being reviewed 22. Develop an action plan for re-use and/or redevelopment of the properties behind the RMLD in the area bounded by Ash Street, the RR tracks, and Pond View Drive working with FIDC subcommittee, met with deg-eloper 23. Continue to work with Town, School, Facilities, and Light Departments to meet Sustainability goals for CO reduction, anti-idling, etc. Consider a regional approach to these efforts, to include the RMLD and some or all of the 4 communities that are served by the RMLD. a. Proposed library project has many green aspects b. Successful in being a part of the LEAPS grant with the RMLD and 3 other communities 24. Evaluate the creation of a Master Plan for public shade trees in the community which might include policies and criteria on priorities for removal and replacement, a shade tree inventory, and other elements. Asset Management - Reading will strive to maintain and improve the current and desired capital assets of the community through long term capital planning in a fiscally prudent manner. Where resources for major projects are not available within available resources, and grants and outside resources are also not available, the community may be asked to support such improvements through additional taxes. 25.Continue established efforts to implement high priority building projects: a. Cemetery Garage funding of desig=n is complete - Joint RFP with DPW (25C) to be completed end of November, advertised in December and under review mid to end of January b. Library - keeping current on library building project GRANT AWARDED': c. DPW vehicle maintenance DPW internal study due by 6-30-1.2. Joint RFP `%~ith Cemetery Garage (25A) to be completed end of November, advertised in December and under review mid to end of January d. Improvements to operation, safety/security, and aesthetics of DPW site DPW internal study due by 6-30-12. Security Improvements completed e. Killam School project to include HC access, fire protection, energy, and administrative space improvements. Letter of interest submitted to N4SBA. Not successful this year - will re-apply in 2013 26. Complete the Haverhill Street water main distribution project, and begin and complete the Howard Street water main distribution project. Water line completed - road repaving (with bikeway) 2013 27. As part of the community's focus on substance abuse prevention, evaluate the need for and viability of a youth center probably focused on Middle School youth 28. Continue efforts to add to the Town's trail system, including progress to implementing the Ipswich River Greenway; Kurchian Woods v 'Frail build in April 2012, using grant from the state for materials. 11/20/2012 8 2012 Town Manager's Goals and Action Plan Town of Reading MA Updated 11-20-1 29. Continue to work towards funding for the West Street project. Town Meeting has funded the completion of the final design which Nvill place the Town in the best possible place to move the project forward. 100%, design plans to be submitted to Mass OT in December 30. Implement the design and development of a downtown bandstand. Survey evork done, met with performers; Voice School has agreed to build it; Reading Rotary has agreed to lead fundraising. 31. Implement the first phase of the use of one-time revenues for capital projects, with a focus on road and pedestrian improvements, as it was submitted to the Board of Selectmen and to Town Meeting. Done. All FY12 projects completed. First 2 phases approved by the 2012 ATM, and this has resulted in some extensive road improvements in the community this year. Governance, Reeulation, and Poliev Development - Reading will continue to address major emerging issues through development, modification, improvement, and simplification of bylaws, regulations, and Selectmen's policies. As a general rule, the fewer and simpler the regulations the better. Additionally, Selectmen's policies may be used to memorialize current and proposed administrative practices to provide an historical record and direction for the community in the future. 32. Develop funding and a work plan for comprehensive review and revision of the Zoning Bylaw, taking a piecemeal approach if necessary to address discrete areas such as parking regulations, definitions, and signs as priorities. CPDC has proposed the Parking By-Law amendments for the fall of 2012 (not interested in signs). Revised parking regulations were approved by Town Fleeting on 11-15-13. We still need to identify the resources to do the whole job of revising our zoning bylaw. 33. Establish a policy on naming of facilities and sites in the community. 34. Make amendments to the Parks Rules and Regulations to address issues raised and recommended through the ad hoc committee on amplified sound in Parks. Done - Policy approved 2-12 35. Establish a communications policy for the town working off the elements of a past Department head retreat on communications. Specifically include in the policy and subsequent training, policies on the use of social media as part of the Town's efforts to communicate with its residents and others. 36. Complete the review and re-write of the Traffic Rules and Regulations. RPD has been working on them 37. Develop regulations for posting street numbers on all buildings. Police/fire has provided input to Engineering and the project is almost complete. Draft for February 2013 Board of Selectmen review 38. Develop a process with various stakeholders to evaluate the demolition delay bylaw with specific reference to: Town )fleeting approved the amendments on 11-15-12 a) how property owners are informed of and may participate in the process of adding properties to the inventory of historically or architecturally significant properties; b) what kind of appeal from the imposition of a demolition delay may be appropriate 39. Decide on whether the Board of Selectmen will permit remote participation of members of BCC in public meetings pursuant to regulations adopted by the MA Attorney General's office, and if so develop the policies to implement that decision Done - Board of Selectmen decided not to permit it at this time. 11/20/2012 9 2012 Town Manager's Goals and Action Plan Town of Reading MA Updated 11-20-12 Human Resources/Personnel - The human capital of the community is the major resource that is necessary to achieve the provision of services to the community. This human capital includes employees, officials, members of Boards, Committees and Commissions, and the human capital of the community as a whole. Human capital is to be supported and respected by the Town. 40 Continue B/C/C ChairNice Chair training. Board of4 Selectmen workshop decided to develop "vision statement" and then {go to BCC and present. 41. Complete labor negotiations with the Police Patrol Officer's Association and the Police Superior Officer's Association. Done 42. Complete the bidding and negotiation and/or implementation of a health insurance program Town employees and retirees effective in FY 2013, with a goal of providing a cost effective comprehensive insurance program that is sustainable by the community. Done. 11/20/2012 10 2012 Town Manager's Goals and Action Plan Town of Reading MA date 11-20-12 Town of Reading Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) Current Census 2010 Total Housing Units 9,584 Total SHI 685 Current % Subsidized 7.15 Projected* SHI Eligible Units by Project: 30 Haven - Oaktree* 11 1 Jacob Way - Pulte 43 Peter Sanborn Place (LIP) 47 Johnson Woods 1 6 Johnson Woods II 19 45 Beacon (40B) 3 11/20/2012 11 2012 Town Manager's Goals and Action Plan Town of Reading MA Update 1-20-12 MF Charles 3 Total projected SHI 132 Current+ Projected SHI 817 Future % Subsidized 8.52 Additional SHI Needed 141 Total SHI Needed 958 % Subsidized 10 *pending request for full credit of 53 units; project is anticipated to convert to condominiums which reduces credit to 11 units. 11/20/2012 12 Personal (1 -2)% (3-5)% FY Residential Open Space Commercial Industrial Property Total of Total of Total 1982 521,003,600 371,4001 56,328,600, 14,352,900 7,427,400 599,483,900 87.0 13.0 1983 528,462,100 371,400 56,487,100 14,350,9001 7,876,000 607,547,500 87.01 13.0 1984' 556,857,000 793,200 59,029,5001 11219,240 9,707,200 638,579,300 87.3 11.0 1985 560,705,200: 766,1001 56,943,0001 13,423,900 10,003,500 641,841,700 87.5 12.5 1986 569,203,400 727,200 59,394,900 12,676,900 9,720,9001 651,723,300 87.4 12.6 1987; 1,159,203,400 1,631,700 .108,504,700, 20,146,500 10,226,100 1,299,712,400'1 89.3 10.7 1988 1,166,489,4001' 11049,3001 120,044,400 20,058,500, 9,615,500 1,317,257,1001i 88.61 !I 11.4 1989 1,180,200,300 961,800 124,095,600 20,789,800 9,523,5001 1,335,571,000 88.41 11.6 1990 1,387,520,600 950,300 140,521,300 28,450,400 11,889,000 1,569,331,600 88.5 11.5 1991 1,333,611,700 1,459,100 127,487,500 25,887,700 11, 1,500,322,200 89.01 11.0 1992 1,266,413,000 115,882,800 25,692,400 11,719,700 1,419,707,900 89.2 10.8 1993 1,240,608,600 106,663,000; 15,923,100 12,443,900 1,375,638,6001, 90.2 9.8 1994 1,260,540,500' 108,126,300 15,576,400 12,141,200, 1,396,384,4001' 90.3 9.7 1995 1,292,300,000 108,568,000, 15,594,200 12,131,100 1,428,593,300 90.5 9.5 1996 1,431,604,500 108,716,700', 15,252,000 12,712,900 1,568,286, 100 91.31 8.7 1997 1,465,551,300 108,584,100 15,252,000 12,510,900 1,601,898,300 91.5! 8.5 1998 1,564,709,600 118,272,900, 16,472,400 13,421,400 1,712,876,3001 91.3: 8.7 1999 1,640,429,200, 129,868,300 17,590,200 16,426,400 1,804,314,1001, 90.911 9.1 2000 1,833,692,700 132,349,500 20,273,800 16,132,8501 2,002,448,850 91.6 8.4 20011 2,079,186,100 144,969,400! 22,280,000' 16,050,010 2,262,485,51011 91.9, 8.1 20021 2,384,107,40011 148,090,300' 22,234,900 14,926,466, 2,569,359,0661 92.8 7.2 2003 2,642,978,900] 156,623,500 23,350,600 14,966,090 2,837,919,090 93.1 6.9 2004' 2,923,687,400 155,560,000 23,166,300 17,556,310 3,119,970,0101 93.7 6.3 1 2005 3,139,161,400 1 186,339,900 23,298,0001 13,434,520, 3,362,233,8201 93.41 6.6 2006 3,375,391,500'1 0 219,005,200 22,440,600 15,883,280 3,632,720,580, 92.9 7.1 2007 3,509,857,100 0' 236,516,81611 21,073,300, 17,712,220 3,785,159,4361 92.71 7.3 2008 3,468,910,553 0' 256,582,400 17,381,100 22,236,690' 3,765,110,7431 92.11 7.9 2009 3,401,468,484 0' 262,919,463 21,161,4001 34,298,590 3,719,847,937 91.4 8.6 2010 3,308,115,508 0' 270,816,033 21,050,500, 45,778,660 3,645,760,7011 90.711 9.3 2011 3,373,086,1711 011 319,506,376 9,650,200 45,295,1301 3,747,537,877 90.01 10.0 2012 3,389,725,591 0 320,481,055 9,648,700 44,158,260 3,764,013,606 90.1 9.9 2013 3,313,536,178 0'' 317,324,930 9,653,3001 46,123,1201 3,686,637,528'1 89.91 10.1 x 5,'v OFi f' Town of Reading Classification Presentation and Selection of a Minimum Residential Factor for Fiscal Year 2013 Presented by the Reading Board of Assessors Fred A. McGrane, Chairman Ralph A. Colorusso Robert J. Quinn, Jr. Victor P. Santaniello, MAA, Chief Appraiser Patricia A. Sullivan, MAA, Assistant Appraiser November 20, 2012 The information contained in this handout is intended to provide the Board of Selectmen with the information necessary to conduct a public hearing on the classification options available under Massachusetts General Law. The classification amendment allows the board to consider several options that will be explained further along in this handout. Also, the decision of the board for each of the options must be submitted to the state's Department of Revenue on form LA-5. The options presented for consideration are: • Selection of a Minimum Residential Factor • Selection of a discount for Open Space • Granting of a Residential and / or Small Commercial Exemption Selection of a Residential Factor The Board of Selectmen has the option of selecting a factor of `1' which in effect would adopt a single tax rate for all residential, commercial, industrial and personal property classes instead of shifting some of the tax burden off of the residential class and onto the CIP class. If a factor of `1' were to be adopted, the single tax rate for all classes of property would be $14.39. This rate is determined by dividing the tax levy by the total value of all taxable property in Reading and then multiplying that result by 1000. Levy: $53,062,973 / Value: $3,686,637,528 = (0.01439) x 1000 = Tax Rate $14.39 Chapter 200 In accordance with the provisions of MGL Chapter 200, The Board of Selectmen can choose to split the tax rate by shifting some of the tax burden from the residential class to the CIP classes of property. This results in a lower residential tax rate and a higher rate for the CIP sector. In choosing to split the tax rate, the board must remain cognizant of two important limitations contained within Chapter 200: 1) The residential share of the tax burden cannot fall below 50% of their tax burden prior to shifting, and 2) The CIP sector cannot absorb more than 175% of their tax burden prior to the shift. Reading's shift limit is 150%. The table below summarizes the tax rate impact at various shift intervals: CIP SHIFT 1 MR ( RES % I C I P RES, TR ( CIP TR 1 1 100 189.8796 110.1204 $14.39 $14.39 1.1 1 98.8740 188.8676 1 11.1324 $14.23 $15.83 1 1.2 1 97.7480 187.8556 1 12.1444 ( $14.07 $17.27 1 1.3 1 96.6220 186.8435 1 13.1565 $13.91 $18.71 1 1.4 1 95.4960 185.8315 14.1685 $13.75 $20.15 1 1.5 1 94.3700 184.8194 15.1806 $13.58 $21.59 It is important to note that although the board is effectively choosing the CIP shift factor, it is technically selecting the Minimum Residential Factor in column 2 of the table on the previous page which results from the selection of the CIP shift in the first column. The next two columns indicate the respective share of the tax burden resulting from the corresponding shift factor. The final two columns present the anticipated tax rates for each class. For your information, the average single family home value for fiscal year 2013 is $432,300. In consideration of that value, the table below summarizes the anticipated FY 2013 average tax bill amounts at various shift intervals. [ CIP SHIFT 1 1.1 11.2 11.3 1.4 1.5 I MRF 1 100 98.8740 97.7480 96.6220 1 95.4960 94.3700 RES % 189.8796 188.8676 187.8556 186.8435 185.8315 184.8194 I RES TAX RATE 1$14.39 1$14.23 1$14.07 1$13.91 1$13.75 1$13.58 EST 2013 BILL $6,220 $6,151 $6,082 $6,013 i $5,944 1 $5,870 Additionally, the average commercial property valuation for fiscal year 2013 is $1,507,900. The table below summarizes the anticipated FY 2013 average commercial tax bill amounts. CIP SHIFT 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 MRF 1 100 1 98.8740 1 97.7480 1 96.6220 1 95.4960 94.3700 I CIP % 110.1204 111.1324 112.1444 113.1565 114.1685 115.1806 CIP TAX RATE $14.39 $15.83 $17.27 1 $18.71 1 $20.15 1 $21.59 1 EST 2013 BILL $21,698 $23,870 $26,041 1 $28,212 1 $30,384 1 $32,555 In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 200, the Town may select a CIP shift factor of up to 150%. However it has been past practice of the Board of Selectmen to adopt classification without a shift in the tax burden. If it is the desire of the Town to maintain a single tax rate for all classes of property, then your minimum residential factor selection would be 100 which would yield an estimated single fiscal year 2013 tax rate of $14.39. Average single family tax bill history from 2003 to present: Single Single Single Average Fiscal Year Family Family Family Residential Single Percent Assessed Parcels Average II Tax Rate Fami ly Tax Change Values Value 1 Bill 2003 2,295,207,400 6,473 354,582 11.49 4,074 2004 2,532,435,800 6,470 391,412 12.23 4,787 17.50% 200512,722,599,400 6,483 419,960 12.57 5,279 10.28% 2006 2,912,273,100 6,490 448,732 12.08 5,421 2.69% 2007 2,994,759,900 6,487 461,656 12.07 5,572 2.79% 2008 2,933,909,900 6,490 452,066 12.6 1 5,696 2.23% 2009 2,882,787,600 6,501 443,438 13.21 ( 5,858 2.84% 2010 2,816,270,800 6,505 432,939 13.75 5,953 1.62% 2011 2,880,796,500 6,508 442,655 13.8 6,109 2.62% 2012 2,895,475,600 6,514 444,500 14.15 6,290 2.96% 2013 2,816,675,700 6,516 432,300 14.39 6,220 -1.11% Average commercial tax bill history from 2003 to present: Fiscal Year Total Commercial Average Tax Rate Average Percent Commercial Parcels Commercial Commercial Change Value Value Tax Bill 2003 156,623,500 175 $894,991 111.49 110,283 1 12004 155,560,000 1176 I $883,864 112.23 110,810 1 5.12% 2005 186,339,900 1178 I $1,046,853 112.57 113,159 1 21.73% 12006 1219,005,200 1179 I $1,223,493 112.08 114,780 112.32% 2007 1236,516,816 1198 I $1,194,529 112.07 1 14,418 I -2.45% 2008 256,582,400 1203 I $1,263,953 112.6 115,926 110.46% 2009 262,919,463 1206 $1,276,308 113.21 1 16,860 15.87% 2010 1270,816,033 1205 $1,321,054 113.75 118,164 7.74% 12011 319,506,376 1204 I $1,566,208 113.8 121,614 18.99% 12012 1 320,481,055 1205 I $1,563,322 114.15 122,121 12.35% 2013 1300,063,400 1199 I $1,507,856 114.39 121,698 1 -1.91% Selection of a Discount for Open Space: Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 59, section 2A defines class 2 open space as: "land which is not otherwise classified and which is not taxable under provisions of Chapters 61A or 61B, or taxable under a permanent conservation restriction, and which land is not held for the production of income but is maintained in an open or natural condition and which contributes significantly to the benefit and enjoyment of the public." A maximum exemption of 25% may be adopted for all property that is classified as Open Space under this definition. The Town has never voted a discount for open space since no properties have been identified which fulfill the requirements of this section. Granting a Residential and/or Small Commercial Exemption: Residential: The Board of Selectmen may adopt a residential exemption for all residential properties in the town that are owner occupied. The exemption amount could be up to 20% of the average assessed value of all eligible properties to be taxed at the residential tax rate, including vacant parcels as part of the total parcel count. Although the thought of granting a residential exemption to owner occupied residential properties appears to be a form of tax relief, it is not the case here in Reading. It is true that some properties would receive tax relief through the adoption of this measure, however, since the tax levy remains the same and the tax shift is only among the residential class, the overall residential tax rate would increase substantially to compensate for this form of tax relief. In our case for FY2013, the residential tax rate would rise from $14.39 to an estimated $17.44 According to the mechanics of this exemption, the tax burden for those owner occupied properties below the break-even point would be decreased. For all other residential properties, the tax burden would significantly increase. This includes all non-owner occupied residential properties and vacant residential land, as well as owner occupied properties above the break-even point since the exemption is deducted after the application of the much higher residential tax rate. Additionally, more assessing staff would be needed to accomplish the implementation and maintenance of this exemption program. The residential exemption has been adopted by only 13 communities in the Commonwealth including, Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Somerville, Waltham, Watertown and Brookline and more. Reading has never adopted the residential exemption. In summation, adoption of a residential exemption will significantly raise the residential tax rate while providing a benefit ONLY to those properties below the break-even point. The estimated break- even point for this exemption is $472,800 with a tax amount of $6,803. Commercial: An exemption of up to 10% of the property valuation can be granted to commercial, not industrial or personal, properties that meet the requirements set forth under the law. To qualify, eligible businesses must have occupied the property as of January 1, 2012 and must have had no more than 10 employees as certified by the Department of Employment and Training during the previous calendar year and the building must have a valuation of less than $1,000,000. A business which is just one of several businesses within a commercial building would not be eligible for an exemption unless every business in that property qualified as well. Similar to the residential exemption, the tax levy does not change and the exemption is borne within the commercial class resulting in and overall increase of the CIP tax rate. The assessing department has identified about 54 businesses that might qualify for the exemption out of 187 total reporting. If all 54 did indeed qualify, the Commercial and Industrial tax rate would increase to $14.55. The tax rate for Personal Property would remain the same at $14.39. There are eleven (11) communities that adopt the commercial exemption. They are: Auburn, Avon, Bellingham, Braintree, Dartmouth, New Ashford, Seekonk, Somerset, Westford and Wrentham. The pie chart below denotes the number of Commercial and Industrial properties at different valuation intervals. There are 96 at less than $500,000; 76 from $500,000 to $lm; 58 from $lm - $2m; 19 at $2m to $5m; 5 at $5m to $1 Om and 6 at $1 Om to $23.5m. 5M-10M,5~ 10M-23.5M,6 2M - 5M, 15 <500K, 86 1M-2M,4 0 es / FY 201-2 Avg. Community % Split Shift Tax Bill /Tax Rate Ly field 90.1% YES 1.083 75 514926 Reading . % 1.00 $6,290 $14.15 Stoneham 9.1% YES 1.50 $4N8 $12.61 No. Reading .8% 1®6 $69473 $14.38 Wakefield 90.2% "E 1.75 $49769 11.90 Wilmington 6.7% YES 1.75 $45343 512.14 Woburn 79.9% YES 1.75 $3554 $10.40 2 of the 6 neighboring ides to Reading has a CIP% less than 0% ® Midd - alb E - Community % Abu 79.9% Melrose Reading Arlington Winchester Belmont 86.7% 1.5% 0.2% 9.1% 91.7% 9t, -n -E, - YES 1®75 YES 1075 YES 1,67 YES 1.75 YES 1.50 YES 1.48 1.00 93.7% 93.0% 91.6% Lexington 88.8% Watertown 92.0% ES YES 1.75 1.00 1000 1.00 1®70 Avg. SF- ® Predominantly ® .'.Q '.-.c .:.u -----[--nltles FY 2012 Avg. SF- e v Wakefield Melrose Reading Arlington Milton E field Winchester Belmont Sudbury Lincoln 90.2% 9 a6% 94,0% 9 e3% 90.1% 93.0% 91.6% 93.9®/ 96.8% Shift YES 1.? ES 1.45 1.00 1.00 YES 1.5 'ES 1.083 F 1.00 100 YES 1.27 YES 1,30 Tax ffi /Tax , , IMPORTANT TERMS TERM DEFINITION Levy The property tax levy is the revenue a community can raise through real and personal property taxes. Levy Limit The maximum amount a community can levy in a given year equal to last year's levy plus 2.5% plus new growth plus debt exclusion / override if applicable. Levy Ceiling Equal to 2.5% of the total full and fair cash value of all taxable real and personal property in the community. New Growth Increase in the tax base due to new construction, parcel subdivisions, condo conversions and property renovations, but not due to revaluation. It is calculated by multiplying the increased assessed value by the prior year's tax rate for the property class. f Override A permanent increase to a community's levy limit. Override The difference between the levy ceiling and the levy limit. It is Capacity the maximum amount by which a community may override it levy limit. Debt Exclusion A temporary increase to the levy limit for the payment of a specific debt service item over a specified period of time. I Capital Outlay A temporary exclusion for the purpose of raising funds for Expenditure capital projects. Excess Levy The difference between the actual levy and the levy limit. Capacity Page 1 of 2 Status : FORM APPROVEC READING 2013 Jurisdiction Property Type Parcel Count 101 6,516 102 873 Misc 103, 109 14 104 319 105 31 111, 125 34 130-132, 106 228 200-231 0 300-393 199 400-452 16 Ch-61 Land 3 Ch-61A Land 0 Ch-61 B Land 3 012-043 28 501 185 502 189 503 0 504, 550-552 3 505 3 506 1 508 6 TOTALS 8,651 Fiscal Year 5346 • ;Go Class1 Class2 Class3 Class4 Residential Open Space Commercial Industrial 2,816,675,700 240,864,600 6,617,000 124,011,700 12, 699, 800 93, 073, 000 8,444,000 0 300,063,400 9,653,300 0 6,610 0 0 0 1,569,718 11,150,378 0 15,685,202 0 3,313,536,178 0 Classy Pers Prop 6,064,300 10,455,490 0 8,727,280 19,527,100 771,500 577,450 317,324,930 9,653,300 46,123,120 Real and Personal Property Total Value 3,686,637,528 Exempt Value 282,739,300 Sionatures Victor Santaniello, Chief Assessor, Reading, 781-942-9027 11/6/2012 2:36 PM (Board of Assessors) (Date) Comments: Signed under the authorization of the Board of Assessors. Original signed copies are available in the department. (Board of Assessors) (Date) Comments: (Board of Assessors) (Date) Comments: Send to Punter https:Hdlsgateway.dor.state.ma.us/gateway/Private/WebForms/TaxRateALA4.aspx 11/15/2012 Page 1 of 1 Send to Printer Status : FORM ENTERED READING 2013 Jurisdiction 1. TO CALCULATE THE FY 2012 LEVY LIMIT A. FY 2011 Levy Limit Al. ADD Amended FY 2011 Growth B. ADD (IA + IA1)*2.5% C. ADD FY 2012 New Growth Cl. ADD FY2012 New Growth Adjustment D. ADD FY 2012 Override E. FY 2012 Subtotal F. FY 2012 Levy Ceiling II. TO CALCULATE THE FY 2013 LEVY LIMIT A. FY 2012 Levy Limit from I. Al. ADD Amended FY 2012 Growth B. ADD (IIA+ IIA1)*2.5% C. ADD FY 2013 New Growth Cl. ADD FY 2013 New Growth Adjustment D. ADD FY 2013 Override E. ADD FY 2013 Subtotal F. FY 2013 Levy Ceiling Fiscal Year 5346 • GO 49,637,594 0 1,240, 940 324,532 0 0 51,203,066 94,100, 340 51,203,066 0 1,280,077 579,830 0 0 53,062,973 92,165, 938 111. TO CALCULATE THE FY 2013 MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE LEVY A. FY 2013 Levy Limit from II. 53,062,973 B. FY 2013 Debt Exclusion(s) 0 C. FY 2013 Capital Expenditure Exclusion(s) 0 D. FY 2013 Stabilization Fund Override 0 E. FY 2013 Other Adjustment 0 F. FY 2013 Water/Sewer 0 G. FY 2013 Maximum Allowable Levy $ 53,062,973 . _ Signatures (Board of Assessors) Comments: 1. 51, 203, 066 FY 2012 Levy Limit 11. 53, 062, 973 FY 2013 Levy Limit (Date) View Edit List No Errors found. Status of TaxRate Forms View More View Last Uodater Information Calculate & Save Print Submit Clear https://dlsgateway.dor.state.ma.us/gateway/Private/WebForms/TaxRate/LevyLimit.aspx 11/15/2012