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Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Bylaw Committee
Date: 2013 -11 -07
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Berger Room
Purpose: Town Meeting Review and Report Session: General Session
Attendees: Members - Present:
Stephen Crook; Jeffrey Struble; Paul Sylvester
Members - Not Present:
Marcel DuBois; Ronald O'Keefe
Others Present:
Bob LeLacheur, Town Manager & Jessie Wilson, Staff Planner
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Bob LeLacheur & Stephen Crook
Topics of Discussion:
Reorganization of Bylaw Committee:
Meeting called to order by Stephen Crook (Acting Chair) at 7:35PM
Acting Secretary: Bob LeLacheur
Mr. LeLacheur opened nominations for the position of Bylaw Committee Chair. Mr. Struble
nominated Mr. Crook, and there were no other nominations. Mr. Struble moved to
close nominations, seconded by Mr. Sylvester and approved 3 -0. Mr. Struble moved to
appoint Mr. Crook to the Position of Chair, seconded by Mr. Sylvester and approved
3 -0.
Mr. Crook opened nominations for Vice Chair, and the Committee discussed the desirability
for this position in case the Chair was not available. Mr. Struble nominated himself, and
there were no more nominations. Mr. Struble moved to close nominations, seconded by
Mr. Sylvester and approved 3 -0. Mr. Struble moved to appoint himself as Vice Chair,
seconded by Mr. Sylvester and approved 3 -0.
The Committee discussed the position of Secretary and decided to defer that action until a
full membership was present.
Review and Report on Subsequent Town Meeting Articles 10, 12, 13, 14, & 15.
Article 10 presented by Mr. LeLacheur, reviewed and discussed by the Committee. Mr.
Struble agreed that the proposed re- organization fit in with the language of the Town
Charter. Mr. Struble moved to recommend the subiect matter of the Article to Town
Meeting, seconded by Mr. Sylvester and approved 3 -0.
Article 12 presented by Ms. Wilson, reviewed & discussed by the Committee. Ms. Wilson
mentioned that old signs are specifically grandfathered under state law. Mr. Struble
concluded that the form was proper with regard to the format of a proposed Bylaw, and that
Town Meeting will decide if it is a good idea or not. Mr. Struble moved to recommend
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the subiect matter of the Article to Town Meeting seconded by Mr. Sylvester and
approved 3 -0.
Article 13 presented by Ms. Wilson, reviewed & discussed by the Committee. Ms. Wilson
stated that the developer would be able to save some trees with this proposed change, and
Mr. LeLacheur also stated that some blasting expenses could be avoided. The Committee
asked several questions about possible uses of the small PUD -R -C and Ms. Wilson said any
proposed changes to the 'vegetative buffer only' status would need to be brought forward to
CPDC. Mr. Struble moved to recommend the subiect matter of the Article to Town
Meeting, seconded by Mr. Sylvester and approved 3 -0
Article 14 presented by Ms. Wilson, reviewed & discussed by the Committee. Ms. Wilson
described the Article as codifying current practice in large measure, since there are no
specific rules for churches and schools, and that 'reasonable regulations' are allowed under
the Dover amendment. She said it was possible that site work could trigger siter plan
review, but that a variance was always possible. Current non - conformities would be
grandfathered (such as parking deficiencies). Mr. Struble moved to recommend the
subiect matter of the Article to Town Meeting seconded by Mr. Sylvester and
approved 3 -0.
Article 15 presented by Ms. Wilson, reviewed & discussed by the Committee. Ms. Wilson
said the one -year delay in conjunction with the Zoning Advisory Committee's work would be
very beneficial. Mr. Struble moved to recommend the subiect matter of the Article to
Town Meeting, seconded by Mr. Sylvester and approved 3 -0.
The Committee decided that Mr. Crook is to make all reports at Town Meeting.
Mr. Struble moved to adjourn at 9:25pm, seconded by Mr. Sylvester and approved 3 -0.
Respectfully,
Secretary
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