HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-05-18 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting Minutes53
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting
Reading Memorial High School Auditorium May 18, 1978
The meeting was called to order by the Acting Moderator, Lawrence Drew,
at 8:00 P. M.
The invocation was given by the Rev. Willard C. Arnold, followed by the Pledge
of Allegiance to the Flag.
2. Place an article in the warrant for the Subsequent Town Meeting, November,
1978, to remodel the Community Center for offices for Town boards and committees,
so that said building shall comply with all building codes. (State & Town)
3. Mail to each Town Meeting Member at least ten (10) days prior to
Subsequent Town Meeting, November, 1978, the names of all tenants and users of
the Community Center building, the amount of rent paid by each said tenant and
user for the period from January 1, 1977 to the date of the mailing, and all
expenses in detail for the maintenance and operation of the Community Center
building for the period from January 1, 1977 to the date of the mailing.
ARTICLE 3. Anthony V. Sarcone moved that the Town appoint a committee to be
known as the Municipal Building Study Committee. This committee will be
comprised of 15 people and will study the immediate and future needs, disposition
and use of all Town owned property. Nine of the members will be from and
appointed by the respective Boards, Committees or individuals:
Board of Selectmen
Finance Committee
Building Superintendent
School Committee
Library Trustees
Planning Board
Board of Assessors
Board of Public Works
Building Inspector
Six other members will be appointed by the Town Moderator, one of which
shall be Chairman of this Committee. This Committee will report to the Town
Meeting at its next regular Town Meeting and shall exist until such time as
terminated by Town Meeting vote.
This motion did not pass.
On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted to lay Article 3 on the table.
On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted to take Article 2 from the
table.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by Lynn G. Stasz, Chairman of the
Conservation Commission:
As a result of certain questions raised under a previous article and to
perhaps answer concerns stated at that time, the following report is designed
to give this Town Meeting, particularly new members, a brief over view of the
Conservation Commission duties and responsibilities, and future imperative water
and wetlands concerns facing our community.
The Annual Town Meeting of 1960 voted to establish a Conservation Commission
under the enabling legislation of General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 8C "...for the
promotion and development of the natural resources and for the protection of the
watershed resources..." of the Town of Reading. Since that time, and as a
result of Reading's unique location as the headquarters of 3 river systems, the
Commission has worked steadily and with ever increasing duties and responsibilities
to meet this challenge.
On motion of
Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was
voted to take Article 3 from the table.
/
ARTICLE 3.
On motion of Carl H. Amon,
Jr., as amended
by John C. Newman, °
it was voted that
the Board of Selectmen be
and they hereby
are instructed to:
1. Place an
article in the warrant for
the Subsequent
Town Meeting, November
1978, to demolish
the Community Center, and
present to said
Meeting the estimated
cost to demolish
said building.
2. Place an article in the warrant for the Subsequent Town Meeting, November,
1978, to remodel the Community Center for offices for Town boards and committees,
so that said building shall comply with all building codes. (State & Town)
3. Mail to each Town Meeting Member at least ten (10) days prior to
Subsequent Town Meeting, November, 1978, the names of all tenants and users of
the Community Center building, the amount of rent paid by each said tenant and
user for the period from January 1, 1977 to the date of the mailing, and all
expenses in detail for the maintenance and operation of the Community Center
building for the period from January 1, 1977 to the date of the mailing.
ARTICLE 3. Anthony V. Sarcone moved that the Town appoint a committee to be
known as the Municipal Building Study Committee. This committee will be
comprised of 15 people and will study the immediate and future needs, disposition
and use of all Town owned property. Nine of the members will be from and
appointed by the respective Boards, Committees or individuals:
Board of Selectmen
Finance Committee
Building Superintendent
School Committee
Library Trustees
Planning Board
Board of Assessors
Board of Public Works
Building Inspector
Six other members will be appointed by the Town Moderator, one of which
shall be Chairman of this Committee. This Committee will report to the Town
Meeting at its next regular Town Meeting and shall exist until such time as
terminated by Town Meeting vote.
This motion did not pass.
On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted to lay Article 3 on the table.
On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted to take Article 2 from the
table.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by Lynn G. Stasz, Chairman of the
Conservation Commission:
As a result of certain questions raised under a previous article and to
perhaps answer concerns stated at that time, the following report is designed
to give this Town Meeting, particularly new members, a brief over view of the
Conservation Commission duties and responsibilities, and future imperative water
and wetlands concerns facing our community.
The Annual Town Meeting of 1960 voted to establish a Conservation Commission
under the enabling legislation of General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 8C "...for the
promotion and development of the natural resources and for the protection of the
watershed resources..." of the Town of Reading. Since that time, and as a
result of Reading's unique location as the headquarters of 3 river systems, the
Commission has worked steadily and with ever increasing duties and responsibilities
to meet this challenge.
54 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting May 18, 1978
During the 1960's and early 1970's the Town of Reading implemented many
important measures. First, the protection of public health and safety and
welfare thru Flood Plain and Wetlands Protection Zoning; and Secondly, insurance
of the protection of the key water resource lands in Reading thru an
accelerated land acquisition program by the Commission.
The Conservation Commission has inventoried the natural resources of the
Town and assessed their functions and made recommendations to Town Meeting as
the most effective means to protect these functions for the maximum benefit to
the Town. Through the recommendations of the Con. Com., and BPW, Town
Meeting has had the foresight to acquire large tracts of valuable water resource
areas: Cedar Swamp, Mill Meadows, Bear Meadow, Timberneck Swamp,... The Board
of Public Works REPORT ON WATER SYSTEM STUDY (Dec. 1977) states that existing
sources of supply will not be able to meet estimated maximum day demands after
1980. In an analysis of the alternatives available to the community, the
report states that the most viable method of obtaining additional water
supply is through the development of the Town's groundwater resources. Areas
recommended for investigation include: Mill Meadows, a portion of which was
placed under Conservation care in 1969, Bear Meadow Brook, acquired by the town
for Conservation purposes in 1972 and 1973; Cedar Swamp, acquired by the town
for Conservation purposes in 1974; and Timberneck Swamp, acquired by the town
for Conservation purposes in 1974 and 1975.
The Hundred Acre Well Field, Revay Well Field, and another portion of
the Mill Meadows have been acquired by the Town and placed under the custody
of the Public Works Department for water supply purposes.
The cost of the Conservation lands acquisition program after reimburse-
ment has been less than $170 /acre.
In 1972 legislation, the Wetlands Protection Act (General Laws Chapter 131,
Section 40) charged local Conservation Commission with the responsibility of
administering and enforcing its provisions which require a permit for
filling or otherwise altering inland wetlands. The Act requires a public
hearing and issuance of written Order of Conditions by the Conservation
Commission.
The specific public interests addressed by the Act are public and private
water supply, ground water supply, prevention of pollution, flood control and
storm damage of prevention. The workload of the Commission rather than
experiencing a decrease in duties has proved to increase in duties and change
significantly in scope.
The demands made on the Commission under Chapter 131, Section 40 have
changed dramatically. In the past years, the type of case relative to size
and complexity as well as increased numbers have been experienced. These
demands require professional, administrative and technical skills. Anticipated
Chapter 131, Section 40 hearings will not decrease in number in the forseeable
future.
The D.P.W. estimates there are approximately 1700 lots of developable
land in Reading. This view graph indicates open space in Reading. In the
existing Wetlands and Flood Plain zones you can recognize that the remaining
open space is contiguous to these large fringe areas. Most future
development in Reading will be on marginal lands at best.
These slides represent applications filled before the Commission in
recent months. Building in such marginal area requires hundreds of hours of
the Commissions time as well as the attention of an experienced technical
administrator.
Because of the marked increase and substantial change in the nature of
the Wetlands cases, greater technical ability is required of the Commission to
insure protection of the water resources of the Town and prevent adverse
effects on future inhabitants and on abutting and downstream property owners.
The statory values under Chapter 131, Section 40 as amended of the greatest
importance to Reading are first, ground water and water supply, and secondly,
flood control and storm damage prevention. The first, ground water and water
supply is of critical importance to our community.
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting May 18, 1978 J
At the present time, the Conservation Commission meets weekly (oftentimes
2 and 3 times weekly) principally to implement your Town's responsibilities
under Chapter 131, Section 40 as amended. The administrator of the Commission,
a Smith College graduate trained in geology, devotes approximately 750 of her
time to Wetlands cases. Consultants used in evaluating these cases include
hydrologists, botanists, civil and sanitary engineers. Some of these experts
are funded by this body, others are Reading citizens who volunteer their
understanding the importance of Reading's water resources problem.
Reading, a topographic high point, is sb�ztegically located at the head
waters of 3 river systems. The head waters consisting of swamps, wetlands
and wet meadows filled with water. The water flows from one to another to and
from an interconnecting network of streams and short rivers. The Ipswich,
for example, is only approximately 35 miles long and encompasses 155 sq.
miles. Up to twenty -two communities obtain their water supplies from the
Ipswich basin. As stated in Geologic survey water supply paper #1 "to fill
swamp and wet meadows in Reading affects water supply in the down stream
communities. In past years, the relativity of this statement was not as
poignant as today, when Reading, North Reading, Lynnfield, Danvers, Ipswich,
and several other basin Communities are searching additional water supplies.
Population trends as sited in the Weston Sampson water supply study show
an increased population growth. From 1960 -1970, our population increased by
3,000; from 1970 - 1975 an increase of 1,100 was reflected. Future projection
of the Weston Sampson study based on available land opened by by the extension
of our sewer system to the peripheral areas of town and resulting large
areas available for new development indicate an increase of 5,200 in population
in the next 12 years. These new homes are going to mean additional water
supply.
As our sewerage system is developed, we are removing more and more water
from our water shed and sending it thru the M.D.C. system to the sea. Thus
eliminating recharge within any basin within our town.
The Aberjona river system has experienced such summer low flow problems
that industries using its water have incurred hardships. This low flow
problem has been compounded by the filling and development of the Miswam Pond
Area. These activities are the origination of Reading continued paramount
environmental concern, the Woburn Odor. Currently there is a Corp. of
Engineers study which recommends the establishment of a stalitite sewerage
treatment facility in Woburn for secondary and tertiary treatment of sewerage
coming from Reading - thus returning clean waters to the river during low flow
periods. This plan is still on the drawing boards. At the same time, this
plan will not address the concern of removing millions of gallons of water
each year from the Ipswich Basin. Development in the northern sector of town
will become more crucial as Reading's efforts to safeguard present and future
supplies must be addressed. Filling of Wetlands and wet meadows must be
weighed as important economic considerations of our Town. Flood Control and
storm damage prevention represents the second most valuable consideration
under Chapter 131, Section 40 proceedings. In the past, indiscriminate filling
and reclaimation of swamp land did not recognize the valuable water recharge
and discharge characteristics of these areas, the wide spread flooding and
many wet unhappy homeowners. We now recognize that wetland encroachment
diminishes the area available for flooding and thus increases flood levels
elsewhere. This might occur on abutting property owners or upon down stread
property owners. The SENE report recognized Reading as a Town "where wetlands
protection is especially important for keeping down potential increases in
downstream flooding ".
Of great concern to the Commission and the reason for sponsorship of
Article 41, a local Wetlands by -law, is State intervention and superseding in
the Wetlands process.
Currently State intervention is extremely costly to our town not only
economically but also environmentally. Local wetland concerns are arbitrated
by the less knowledgeable, least impacted state agency. The Commission believes
restoration of home rule on these critically important water resource questions
is necessary, in addition to the land acquisition program and wetland
protection responsibilities under Chapter 131, Section 40.
56
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting
May 18, 1978
The Conservation Commission's duties also include review of Wetland
cases in abutting towns, B.P.W. water supply and drainage studies, as well as
studies of regional scope. The Conservation Commission has been instrumental
in assisting the D.P.W. and Town Counsel in preparation of the Drinkwater case
and the Rt. 129 interchange. Land management requirements of the Commission
lands have continued.
The summer youth corp projects afford our Community great benefits in
clearing trails but require administration from our department. The Conservation
Commission has initiated a Soil Conservation Service study of the Bear Meadow area.
The Community Gardens project in Bear Meadow has proven to be an extremely
successful venture affording 40 plots for gardening by citizens. Conservation
lands are used extensively for horseback riding, hiking, skating, sledding,
and cross country skiing.
Grant proposals now go beyond the search for land acquisition reimbursement.
Grant proposal work now encompasses land management and educational grants as well.
This year the Commission received an $800 water conservation education grant.
Water Conservation should be thought of as much more than rate structuring but
rather a committal policy statement by this body, by this community and our
society to better utilize the finite resources we already have. The most
elementary cost - benefit - analyze such a policy would certainly make economic
sense.
The Commission considers Reading's remaining wetlands as the single most
important resource of the Town. Thru actions of this body, questions of
management of these resources will be determined. The welfare of Reading's
future generations and tax rate require that our decisions are made with diligence
and wisdom.
This report was accepted as a report of progress.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by Donald E. Trudeau, Vice -
Chairman of the Finance Committee:
THIRD SUPPLEMENT TO FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
FOR FISCAL YEAR 1979
CORRECTIONS
p. 15 TAX RATE CALCULATIONS
TOTAL TO BE RAISED FROM CURRENT INCOME: $ 18,648,399
ESTIMATED STATE & COUNTY ASSESSMENTS: 1,714,580
TOTAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND ESTIMATES: $ 20,362,979
Deductions to compute estimated tax rate:
Estimated receipts and available funds $5,602,653
Transfers and surplus revenue 1,241,828 - 6,844,481
Net Amount to be Raised by Taxation 13,518,498
TOTAL VALUATION $ 285,413,000
TAX RATE (per thousand)
p.16 OVERLAY
Reserve for abatements
TOTAL ASSESSMENTS
p.17 TRANSFERS FROM AVAILABLE FUNDS TO:
ADD: Fire alarm repeater to Fire Department Expense
TOTAL TRANSFERS AND SURPLUS REVENUE:
p.20 GENERAL GOVERNMENT - SUBTOTAL
GENERAL GOVERNMENT - TOTAL
p.21 PROTECTION - SUBTOTAL
PROTECTION - TOTAL
p.23 EDUCATION - SALARY
EDUCATION - SUBTOTAL
EDUCATION - TOTAL
$ 47.36
$ 380,914
$ 1,714,580
4,219
$ 1,241,828
619,547
620,897
$ 2,142,813
$ 2,243,498
7,141,377
8,712,079
9,046,941
57
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting May 18, 1978
p.25 Total to be Raised by Town Meeting $ 21,046,963
Total to be Raised $ 21,123,399
NET RAISED FROM CURRENT INCOME $ 18,648,399
This report was accepted as a report of progress.
The Moderator, Kenneth C. Latham, returned at 9:20 P. M.
On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted to lay Article 2 on the table.
On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted to take Article 12 from
the table.
ARTICLE 12. On motion of Mary Jolene Guerra it was voted that the sum
of Eight Million Five Hundred Thirty -six Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy -five
Dollars ($8,536,775) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated for the
School Department, and the sum of One Hundred Twenty -five Thousand Three
Hundred and Four Dollars ($125,304) received or to be received from Chapter 506
METCO Funds, so called, and the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000)
received or to be received under Public Law 81 -874, and the sum of Fourteen
Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($14,500) received or to be received from
Athletic Receipts, and the said Sums totalling Eight Million Seven Hundred ✓l
Twenty -Six Thousand Five Hundred and Seventy -nine Dollars ($8,726,579) be
authorized and appropriated as follows:
General Salaries - Regular Day School
Less: METCO Chapter 506
Special Needs Salaries
Adult Education Salaries
General Expenses (Including Travel Outside
State Not to Exceed $5,170.00)
Less: METCO Chapter 506 $49,764.00
Public Law 81 -874 $50,000.00
Special Needs Expenses (Including Travel
Outside State Not to Exceed $500.00)
Athletic Expenses
Less: Athletic Receipts
Adult Education Expenses
$6,619,064.00
$ 75,540.00 $6,543,524.00
$ 597,853.00
$ 11,650.00
$1,193,904.00
$ 99,764.00 $1,094,140.00
$ 248,733.00
$ 55,200.00
$ 14,500.00 $ 40,700.00
175.00
$8,536,775.00 ✓
On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted that this meeting stand
adjourned until Monday, May 22, 1978, at 8:00 P. M., to meet in the W. S. Parker
Junior High School Auditorium .
Meeting adjourned at 11:20 P. M.
162 Town Meeting Members were present.
A true copy. Attest:
Lawrence- -HreV -_-
Town Clerk