HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-05-31 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting Minutes15
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting May 29, 1979
ARTICLE 11. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the sum of Four
Thousand Four Hundred Ten Dollars ($4,410) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated
for the purchase of uniforms for members of the Fire Department.
ARTICLE 12. Maureen T. O'Brien moved that the sum of One Hundred Five Dollars
($105.00) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to pay unpaid bills of prior year.
On motion of Donald E. Trudeau it was voted to lay Article 12 on the table.
On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned to
meet at 8:00 P. M. on Thursday, May 31st, 1979, in the Reading Memorial High School
auditorium.
Meeting adjourned at 11:00 P. M.
145 Town Meeting members were present.
A true copy. Attest:
awrence Drew
Town Clerk
ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Reading Memorial High School Auditorium May 31, 1979
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, John W. Faria, at 8:00 P. M.
The invocation was given by the Rev. Lewis MacLean of the Church of the Nazarene,
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
%NW On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted to take Article 12 from the table.
ARTICLE 12. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the sum of One
Hundred Five Dollars ($105.00) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to pay unpaid
bills of prior year.
ARTICLE 13. On motion of Virginia M. Adams it was voted that the Town of Reading
transfer the sum of $968.00 from the General Fund to the Historical Commission. That sum
being the surplus from the Bicentennial Commission as stated in its Final Report of
November 1978.
ARTICLE 14. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Five
Thousand Dollars ($5,000) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated for the purpose of
hiring consultants and other experts for the purpose of combating and eliminating air
pollution in the form of an odor emanating from the City of Woburn, such consultants' or
experts' services to include participation, if necessary, in court proceedings relating to this
matter. Said sum to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
On motion of Barry J. Mitchel it was voted to lay Article 15 on the table.
On motion of Barry J. Mitchel it was voted to take Article 2 from the table.
"o ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by Barry J. Mitchel for the Police Station
Building Committee:
POLICE STATION BUILDING COMMITTEE
Progress Report, May 21, 1979
The Police Station Addition and Renovation Project, begun on April 17, 1978, is now
complete except for a few minor finish items. The work has been approved by the Building
Inspector, and the detention facilities have been approved by the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. The Building Committee is awaiting formal approval by the Architect,
Goodwin - Gallagher Associates, before accepting the building.
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1, �,.t Adjourned Annual Town Meeting
May 31, 1979
The new quarters are now completely occupied and in full operation on a regular basis.
To introduce citizens to the expanded facilities, an Open House was held on April 7, with an
attendance of approximately 400. It is assumed that all Town Meeting members and Town
Officers availed themselves of this opportunity.
In addition to a 60% increase of floor space, some of the major improvements realized
from the project are:
I. Ease of access by the public, especially the handicapped
2. Separate staff entrance, locker room, and wash room
3. Secure and centralized dispatch /communications area
4. Modern telephone and intercom systems
5. Provision for future addition of Closed Circuit Television
6. Segregated (male /female /juvenile) detention facilities which meet all State stan- WMW
dards.
7. Secure and remotely - controlled Prisoner Entry Bay
8. Vehicle Maintenance Garage
The Committee wishes to bring to the attention of Town Meeting the following suggestions
for further improvements:
1. Closed Circuit Television security system
2. Increased parking space for staff and public
Items 1 and 2 are pertinent to Town Meeting's deliberations concerning Articles 15 and 16 of
the current warrant.
The Committee's work is not yet complete. An audit of the entire project, conforming
to strict EDA /DOC guidelines, is now being performed by the Boston firm of Deloitte,
Haskins and Sells, and is scheduled to be completed by June 30. At the completion of the
audit and the Committee's Final Report, the remaining funds will be returned to the Town.
Respectfully submitted,
Barry J. Mitchel, Chairman
Douglass L. Barker, Secretary
John B. Miller
Anthony L. Rickley
Ralph E.Snyder, Jr.
This report was accepted as a report of progress.
On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to lay Article 2 on the table.
On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to take Article 15 from the table.
ARTICLE 15. On motion of James J.Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Nine
Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($9,400) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated for the
purchase and installation of a closed circuit television security system at the Police Station.
Said sum to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted to lay Article 16 on the table.
On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted to take Article 3 from the table.
ARTICLE 3. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal, as amended by Douglass L. Barker
and George A. Theophanis, it was voted that the Moderator appoint a committee of five
citizens of the Town to be known as the Site Selection and Fire Station Building Study
Committee to work with the Board of Selectmen.
It shall be the duty of this committee to study the building needs, the means of funding
and the cost of same, site locations, new construction, and the feasibility of remodeling
existing facilities to make them more acceptable for fire department use.
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A report of the Committee shall be brought to the next Special or Annual Town
[Meeting at which time any necessary article or articles shall be inserted in the warrant as
time allows.
ARTICLE 3. John P. Rafferty, Jr. moved that all Town Boards, Committees,
Commissions, Officers, Departments, and Agencies receiving appropriations under Article 9
of the 1979 Annual Town Meeting or possessing control over Town property are instructed to
report to the Board of Selectmen on or before October 1, 1979 a list of Town owned
property and its present usage with specific attention to property rented or rentable to
private citizens. The report is to include 1979 assessed value, rent earnings, cost or repairs
and utility costs (including who pays such costs).
Adjourned Annual Town Meeting
May 31, 1910 15
The Board of Selectmen are further instructed to issue such necessary instructions as
to report format and other matters which, in their judgment, are required to carry out this
motion. This report is to be distributed in written form to each Town Meeting Member prior
to the 1979 fall Town Meeting.
This motion did not pass.
On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted to lay Article 3 on the table.
On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted to take Article 16 from the table.
ARTICLE 16. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal, as amended by Donald R. Walker, it
was voted that the sum of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500) be raised from the
%.m tax levy and appropriated for the purpose of developing plans, architectural services and
locating a site for a new fire station or renovating present fire station property, said sum to
be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 17. On motion of Marvin M.Rosenthal it was voted that the sum of One
Thousand Dollars ($1,000) be raised from the tax levy and apropriated for Christmas
Lighting, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 18. To see what sum theTown will raise by borrowing or from the tax levy
or transfer from available funds or otherwise and appropriate for the purpose of acquiring
emergency fuel supplies and the storage of same or take any other action with respect
thereto.
On motion cf James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that Article 18 be indefinitely
postponed.
ARTICLE 19. Donald A. Dewey moved that the Town raise from the tax levy and
appropriate the sum of $135.00 to be expended under the supervision and direction of the
Board of Selectmen for the purpose of providing a public transportation service to be
operated exclusively within the Town for the inhabitants of the Town, which service shall be
provided by means of contract or franchise arrangement or any combination thereof with a
private carrier or qualified independent contractor; and in order to provide such service the
Board of Selectmen are hereby authorized: 1) to enter into a contract or franchise
arrangement or any combination thereof with a private carrier or qualified independent
contractor to implement such transportation service over the public ways of the Town, upon
such terms and conditions as the Board of Selectmen shall deem to be in the best interests
of the Town; 2) to establish a committee of 9 members to be known as the Reading
Transportation Committee to aid and assist the Board of Selectmen in entering into any such
contract or franchise arrangement or any combination thereof; 3) to establish revenue
charges to riders and the procedure for collecting or crediting such revenue charges by or
through the private carrier; 4) to apply for and receive any and all additional support or
financial assistance from any source whatsoever for the performance of the duties herein
authorized; and 5) to make reasonable rules and regulations consistent with the authority
granted herein to effectuate and maintain an efficient local transportation service.
On motion of Thomas J. Ryan it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned to meet
at 8:00 P. M. on Monday, June 4, 1979, in the Reading Memorial High School auditorium.
Meeting adjourned at 11:15 P. M.
155 Town Meeting members were present.
A true copy. Attest:
Lawrence Drew
Town Clerk