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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-11-19 Adjourned Subsequent Town Meeting Minutesire 1 ADJOURNED SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Auditorium November 19, 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. Willard C. Arnold, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Article 13. It was moved by James R.Valentine that the following vote under Article 13 at the Adjourned Subsequent Town Meeting on November 15, 1979, be reconsidered: fe Article 13. On motion of John W. Price, as amended by Mary S. Ziegler, it was voted Now that the sum of Thirteen Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($13,800) be transferred from free cash and appropriated for the control of Gypsy Moth including authorizing the Board of PublicWorks to sell or exchange or otherwise dispose of upon such terms and conditions as they may determine three (3) skid mount hydraulic sprayers 1930 models and purchase one new hydraulic sprayer, pesticide and enter into a contract for aerial helicopter spray, such sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Board of Public Works. 59 voted in the affirmative 55 voted in the negative The motion to reconsider vote under Article 13 failed to pass. 3' 75 voted in the affirmative 55 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 15. On motion of Louis H. Martinage, as amended by James J. Sullivan, Jr., it was voted that the sum of Eleven Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Dollars ($11,850) be transferred from Free Cash and appropriated to the School Construction Committee to be expended by and under their direction. ARTICLE 16. Motion by Peter C. Hichborn to indefinitely postpone subject matter under this Article was voted in the negative. ARTICLE 16. On motion of Donald E. Trudeau it was voted that the Town of Reading vote to amend Article III of the General By -Laws by adding in the second sentence of Section 2 the words "who shall have one vote" so that the second sentence of Section 2 shall read "An Appointment Committee consisting of the Moderator, who shall have one vote, the Board of Selectmen, who shall have one vote, and the Chairman of the Finance Committee, who shall have one vote, chaired by the Moderator, shall appoint five (5) members each year for a term of three (3) years, the terms of said members to expire on the first day of July. ARTICLE 1. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to take Article 1 from the table. ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Eugene R. Nigro for the School Committee. Progress Report of the School Committee in response to the motion made at the last Town Meeting requesting information on school building needs based upon declining enrollment. Declining enrollment has already had a profound effect on our public schools. To briefly recap School Committee action, the former Lowell Street School was closed for the 1976 -1977 school year; the Prospect Street School was closed for the 1977 -1978 school year; one building of the Woburn Street School was closed in 1978 and the remaining eight "MW classrooms of the Woburn Street School were closed for the current 1979 -1980 school year. These were responsible decisions made by the School Committee, only after seeking community involvement and input. The closings resulted in budgetary savings to the Town and the educational quality of the school system was not compromised. 195 Our efforts to keep the community informed and involved, we feel, contributed to the acceptance and success of this consolidation. As we continue to plan for the 1980's, the School Committee needs to work ever more closely with Town Meeting because of the implications involved in the declining enrollment phenomenon. This national phenomenon emanates from a profound demographic shift in our population in respect to age - fewer childred being born, more adults and greater numbers of senior citizens living to an older age. This shift promises to impact every aspect of American life, the economy, the job market, housing, medical care, pension plans, and yes, education. You, as community leaders, have the responsibility for the planning and allocating of resource for Town services. We, therefore, need to look at declining enrollment - its causes and its impact together. It is for this reason that we are presenting a slide /tape called "A Profound Transformation ". This tape, prepared by the American Association of School Administrators and funded by a Grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. is designed to assist in developing awareness and understanding of the demographic trends affecting society in general and school enrollments and curriculum in particular. Show: "A PROFOUND TRANSFORMATION" The Reading School Committee and the School Administration have established a mutual goal for this year to develop a plan of action to deal with the declining enrollment phenomenon. This includes developing sufficient data and projections to help us address the changing program needs and use of space. We are also being assisted by the Citizen's Advisory Council to gain community input on such issues as class size, possible reshaping of present programs, possible redesign of grade configuration from its present K -6, 7 -8 and 9- 12 organization, and space utilization. Our Superintendent of Schools, without the help of a professional demographer, has done a commendable job in the past in developing enrollment projections. Using present enrollment figures for those already in schools, allowing for those attending vocational and private schools, and drop -out rate data, the Superintendent has submitted the following enrollment projections. (SHOW THREE OVERHEAD SLIDES FOR ELEMENTARY, JUNIOR HIGH AND RHMS) (COMMENT ON SIZE OF DECREASE IN EACH) Based on these declining projections the Superintendent has prepared three possible WNW plans for consideration. (REFER TO THREE PLANS) 4/23/79 POSSIBLE GRADE ORGANIZATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED WITH READING'S DECLINE INENROLLMENTS The School Committee will be reviewing the enrollment projections during the coming months. It will give consideration to the three plans as well. The earliest date it appears another school can be closed is the 1982 -1983 school year. Elementary school projections are the most difficult to project until the student is enrolled in kindergarten. However, we need to engage in longer range planning if we are to consider longer range space needs of the 1990's. According to HEW, there will be more women of marriageable age during 1979- 1985 than ever before in our history. Decisions may have to be made as to the efficacy of "mothballing" schools if they appear to be needed 7 -8 years later. Or would it be more cost effective to turn over a school so that the Town can meet its other space needs and then construct a new school when the need is evident? Another consideration is the rental space currently housing the School Department Administration. When we tried to move out of this rented space by renovating Lowell Street School, we found the costs prohibitive. However, the goal remains. In summary, declining enrollment will continue for the next 6 -7 years, but available data is not sufficient when the decline will bottom out. The School Committee will discharge its responsibility to Town Meetings in ascertaining near term space needs as expeditiously as possible so that, if possible, the otherTown Departments can benefit from available space. It will also continue to work closely with the Superintendent in collecting and evaluating data to develop a coherent educational plan over the longer term. as more information becomes available, we look forward to sharing it with Town Meeting. This report was accepted as a report of progress. (. t 90 ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Barry J. Mitchell for the Police Station Building Committee. The building addition and renovation have been certified by the architect to be substantially complete. The Committee has not accepted the building yet, however, because two items in the general contract have not been fulfilled. It now appears likely that these deficiencies will be corrected shortly. When this occurs, the Committee will return the building to the Selectmen's custody. The project cost has been contained within the $356,000 budget, of which $66,000 was Town funds. At this time, the Committee expects to return about $3,000 of uncommitted funds to the Town. This balance would have been larger except for two expenditures which were made without the knowledge or consent of the Committee, namely, $4,300 for legal expenses voted by the Law Committee, and about $400 by the Selectmen's Office for related costs. The Committee felt that these actions departed from the historical treatment of expenses of Special Committees. It is unfortunate that these incidents occurred to flaw otherwise smooth and effective working relationships. The Committee wishes to give special recognition to those whose extra help enhanced the success of the project. Tom Galvin, as Clerk of Works, was daily the front -line defense against schedule delays and cost overruns. Clint Goodwin, our Architect, in many instances went to bat for the Committee when prompt action was needed. The Selectmen took extra time to follow our progress and to attend several of our meetings; their Executive Secretary ably handled the Federal paperwork as well as other tasks too numerous to mention. The Police Force was extremely helpful and cooperative during a time when construction activity often interrupted their routine. The Town justifiably can be proud of the new police station from both aesthetic and functional viewpoints. In order to preserve this investment, provision must be made in future annual budgets for proper maintenance, cleaning, and improvements, so that the building will continue to serve the Town for many years to come. 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. ARTICLE 1. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to lay Article 1 on the table. ARTICLE 2. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to take Article 2 from the table. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Douglass L. Barker it was voted that the Board of Selectmen and the Police Department be instructed to take the following actions with regard to the Police Department radio communications systems: a) That they forthwith take any and all necessary actions to restore all high band. portable radios to proper working order, and, if necessary, seek additional funds from the Finance Committee. b) That they increase their efforts to correct operational problems to the high band system both within the Town and as a part of the regional system. c) That they take the necessary actions to restore the low band system to working order. d) That they place an article in the 1980 Annual warrant for: 1. additional high band portables, and 2. other funds to restore, alter or improve Police Department radio communications systems. e) That they report to the 1980 Annual Meeting on the status of the police radio systems. ARTICLE 2. On motion of James R. Valentine it was voted that, in view of the fact that 58% of Town Meeting members indicated reasonable doubt and concern regarding the aerial spraying program for control of the gypsy moth during reconsideration of Article 13 of the Subsequent Annual Town Meeting of November, 1979, the Board of Public Works is hereby instructed to bring to the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1980, a full report of their intentions in this matter together with supporting materials including legal and /or govern- ment approval of such actions. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Beverly B. Seavey it was voted that the By -Law Committee be instructed to place an Article on the warrant of the next Annual Town Meeting to petition the General Court to set the number of signatures required to place an article on the warrant of the Subsequent Town Meeting at 10. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Beverly B. Seavey it was voted that the By -Law Committee be instructed to study the Town Meeting members at large to determine whether this number should be enlarged to include other Town boards which make major motions before Town Meeting or whether the number of members at large should be decreased or entirely eliminated. The By -Law Committee shall prepare an article for insertion on the warrant of the next Annual Town Meeting which shall cover this subject. table. die. wow ARTICLE 2. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to lay Article 2 on the On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned sine Meeting adjourned at 11:21 P. M. 138 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk