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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-04-17 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting Minutes2'26 ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING W. S. Parker Junior High School Aduitorium April 17, 1980 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, John W. Faria, at 8:00 P.M. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned until after the Special Town Meeting scheduled for this time is adjourned Sine Die or 8:00 P.M., April 22, 1980 at the Reading Memorial High School, whichever comes sooner. Meeting adjourned at 8:03 P.M. SPECIAL TOWN MEETING W. S. Parker Junior High School Auditorium April 17, 1980 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, John W. Faria, at 8:05 P.M. The Warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk, when on motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted to dispense with further reading of the Warrant except the Officer's Return which was then read by the Town Clerk. The invocation was given by the Rev. Frederick E. Emrich of the Church of the Good Shepherd, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ARTICLE 1. The following report of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, presented by Mary S. Ziegler, was accepted as a report of progress. This Special Town Meeting was called primarily to fund the increase in the Blue Cross /Blue Shield rate increase and to take care of other short falls in the FY80 budgets since the Finance Committee Reserve fund was low. At the time this Blue Cross /Blue Shield rate increase was made known such a payment would have left $30,000 in the Reserve Fund, a figure too low with over four months left in the fiscal year and no oil, gas or electricity transfers made yet. With the transfers made since that time we would be at the $5,000- $6,000 level today if we had made the Blue Cross /Blue Shield transfer and we would not have been able to have met other energy related transfers that are on the Special Town Meeting Warrant. The police gasoline, energy related costs for buildings, telephone costs and police and fire indemnification transfers were presented to the Finance Committee, but we asked that they be held until this Special Town Meeting as there seemed to be sufficient monies in these accounts to last until late April. The Reserve Fund has a balance of $28,900 in it. Right now I know of several departments that might need transfers before the end of the year totalling at maximum $11,000. It was mentioned that perhaps the Reserve Fund could be beefed up at this Special Town Meeting. I'm afraid that can't be done. As part of the definitions on page 2 of our Annual Town Meeting warrant report - -The Reserve Fund - -This fund is established at an Annual Town Meeting only... The free cash used in the motions of the Special Town Meeting tonight will not decrease the $616,000 figure of free cash listed in the supplement of Annual Town Meeting. The $616,000 is what is left of the money certified last fall by the Department of Revenue after the Finance Committee's recommendations were deducted. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted to lay Article 1 on the table. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted to lay Article 2 on the table. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal as amended by Barry J. Mitchel it was voted that the sum of Seven Thousand Three Hundred Dollars ($7,300) be raised from free cash and appropriated for the purpose of hiring an energy consultant to determine what energy conservation methods and procedures can be implemented for buildings under the Building Maintenance Department, Board of Public Works, and Library Trustees, said sums to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen. ARTICLE 4. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the sum of Seven Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($7,200) be raised from free cash and appropriated for energy expenses under the Building Maintenance Department to be spent under the direction of the Selectmen. 22� Special Town Meeting April 17, 1980 Non - conforming status would not be automatically granted as garaging or parking of commercial vehicle in residential district not valid accessory use. State statute pertaining to non - conforming says shall be acquired where new law prohibits previously lawful use. Commercial vehicles not explicitly allowed; in fact, implicitly disallowed. No Massachusetts precedent. Only known case was in New York where Court ruled above conditions did not constitute non - conforming status. Accepting the validity of the above citizen concerns, the Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend indefinite postponement. On motion of John Zorabedian, Jr. it was voted to lay Article 1 on the table. On motion of John Zorabedian, Jr. it was voted to take Article 16 from the table. ARTICLE 16. On motion of John Zorabedian, Jr. it was voted that Article 16 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 17. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) be raised from free cash and appropriated for telephone expenses under the Selectmen's budget, said sum to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen. ARTICLE 18. On motion of Eugene R. Nigro it was voted that Article 18 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 19. On motion of Mary S. Ziegler it was voted that the Town increase the appropriations limit established by Chapter 151 of the Acts of 1979 by $73,846 so that the appropriations limit as so increased will be $15,867,842. Die. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned, Sine Meeting adjourned at 10:18 P.M. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 17, 1980 The meeting was reconvened by the Moderator,. John W. Faria, at 10:20 P.M. ARTICLE 15 (30 -31). On motion of John Zorabedian, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Six Thousand One Hundred Sixty -Four Dollars ($6,164) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to the Planning Board as follows: Salaries $ 4,959. Expenses 1,205. ARTICLE 15 (37 -38). On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the sum of Forty -Seven Thousand Dollars ($47,000) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to the Law Committee as follows, each item being considered a separate appropriation: Legal Services (Fees) $45,000. Legal Services (Expense) 2,000. On motion of William C. Brown it was voted to lay Article 15 on the table. On motion of William C. Brown it was voted to take up Article 46 in advance. ARTICLE 46. On motion of William C. Brown as amended by Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that the Board of Selectmen be and hereby are authorized and instructed to sell at public auction land and building now or formerly known as the Prospect Street School. Said auction to be held on or before December 30, 1980, a minimum bid of Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000) shall be set, and the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100) be raised and appropriated to carry out the purpose of this vote. 69 voted in the affirmative 55 voted in the negative 230 Adjourned Town Meeting April 17, 1980 On motion of John W. Price it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned to meet at 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 22, 1980 in the Reading Memorial High School Auditorium. Meeting adjourned at 11:00 P.M. 164 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Li awrence Drew Town Clerk ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Auditorium April 22,1980 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, John W. Faria, at 8:00 P.M. The invocation was given by the Rev. Johannah E. Fine of the First Congregational Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ARTICLE 46. Motion by John Zorabedian, Jr. for reconsideration of Article 46 as voted at the Adjourned Annual Town Meeting, April 17, 1980, was voted in the negative by a vote of 54 in the affirmative, 67 in the negative. Said motion as voted on April 17, 1980 for which reconsideration was requested is as follows: ARTICLE 46. On motion of William C. Brown, as amended by Marvin M. Rosenthal, it was voted that the Board of Selectmen be and hereby are authorized and instructed to sell at public auction land and building now or formerly known as the Prospect Street School. Said auction to be held on or before December 30, 1980, a minimum bid of Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000) shall be set, and the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100) be raised and appropriated to carry out the purpose of this vote. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted to take Article 15 from the table. ARTICLE 15 (39 -41c). On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that the sum of Two Thousand Thirty -Nine Dollars ($2,039) be transferred from Receipts for Appropriation, and that the sum of One Thousand Three Hundred Ten Dollars ($1,310) be transferred from Building Study Article 4, and that the sum of One Hundred Fifty -Five Thousand Nine Hundred Sixteen Dollars ($155,916) be raised from the tax levy, and that said sums totalling One Hundred Fifty -Nine Thousand Two Hundred Sixty -Five Dollars ($159,265) be appropriated to Building Maintenance as follows, each item being considered a separate appropriation: Salaries Expense (including electricity at $15,831, gasoline at $1,305, and heating fuel at $53,200) $ 59,369. 99,896. 159,265. 71 voted in the affirmative 51 voted in the negative On motion of Beverly B. Seavey it was voted to reconsider vote under Article 15 (39- 41c) voted above. The motion to reconsider vote under Article 15 passed by a two - thirds vote of Town Meeting Members present. ARTICLE 15 (39 -41c). On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal, as amended by Mary S. Ziegler, it was voted that the sum of Two Thousand Thirty -Nine Dollars ($2,039) be transferred from Receipts for Appropriation, and that the sum of One Thousand Three Hundred Ten Dollars ($1,310) be transferred from Building Study Article 4, and that the sum of One Hundred Thirty -Seven Thousand Four Hundred Thirty -Five Dollars ($137,435) be raised from the tax levy, and that said sums totalling One Hundred Forty -One Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty -Four Dollars ($141,784) be appropriated to Building Maintenance as follows, each item being considered a separate appropriation: