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Home My WebLink About1986-05-01 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting Minutes26 ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 1, 1986 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Stephen J. O'Leary, at 7:45 P.M., there being a quorum present. The Invocation was given by the Leslie H. York, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Paul E. Landers it was voted to take Article 2 from the table. ARTICLE 2. The following Resolution honoring John W. Agnew, Jr. was presented by Paul E. Landers and adopted by a unanimous vote of the Town Meeting body. RESOLUTION Honoring JOHN W. AGNEW, JR. Executive Secretary To The Board of Selectmen Be It Resolved By This Annual Town Meeting, May 1, 1986, that: WHEREAS, John W. Agnew, Jr. has well and faithfully served the Town of Reading for the past fifteen years; and WHEREAS, John W. Agnew, Jr. led the fight to reform Middlesex County earning the respect and thanks of property taxpayers and municipal officials in Reading and the fifty-three other cities and towns in Middlesex; and WHEREAS, John W. Agnew, Jr., bearing the responsibility of numerous job titles and obligations, administered his offices with great awareness of humanitarian concerns for young and old, while implementing a myriad of state and federal programs mandated in the community; NOW THEREFORE, WE, the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Reading, ask Town Meeting Members to join us in saluting John W. Agnew, Jr. for his dedicated stewardship, and on the occasion of his retirement from Town service, to wish him health and success in the years ahead, carrying with him the thanks and appreciation of this Community. We further move a copy of this Resolution be spread upon the records of this Meeting, and that a copy of it, suitably embossed with the Town Seal be presented to him. ARTICLE 2. ' On motion of Paul E. Landers it was voted to lay Article 2 on the table. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Nils L. Nordberg it was voted to take Article 3 from the table. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Nils L. Nordberg it was voted that: WHEREAS, Section 2D of Chapter 29 of the General Laws of Massachusetts states that forty per cent of the net sums received from the so-called "growth taxes" of the Commonwealth shall be credited to the Local Aid Fund and used solely for the payment to cities, towns and districts, or for county court costs; and WHEREAS, in fiscal years 1984, 1985 and 1986, some 365 Million Dollars less than the aforesaid forty per cent of growth revenues were distributed in local aid; and WHEREAS, the budget surplus of the Commonwealth for fiscal year 1986 is now projected to be nearly 600 Million Dollars; and WHEREAS, an Executive recommendation is now pending to reduce prospectively the burden imposed upon taxpayers of Massachusetts by repealing the surcharge on the tax on incomes; 3 a Adjourned Annual Town Meeting May 1, 1986 NOW, THEREFOR, the Town Meeting of the Town of Reading, at this 1986 Annual Town Meeting, does call upon its elected Senators and Representative in the General Court to retrospectively provide for relief of the excess collection of revenue over the fiscal needs of the operations of state government by making provision in the state budget for fiscal year 1987 for distribution as local aid of the full forty per cent of growth revenues as required by law and through a supplementary budget for fiscal year 1986 for distribution of the under- funded portion of growth revenues since January 1, 1985, and does call upon the Governor of the Commonwealth to require of his commisioner of administration timely estimates as set forth in Section 5B of said Chapter 29, reflecting the full amount of growth projections for revenue resources and the state economy. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Nils L. Nordberg it was voted to place Article 3 on the table. ARTICLE 36. Eugene R. Nigro moved that the Board of Selectmen or Board of Public Works take all necessary legal action to request the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Works, to return the Mineral Street Bridge to the Town of Reading and that the sum of $150.00 be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to carry out the purpose of this vote. This motion was voted in the Negative. ARTICLE 37. On motion of. Nathan. C. White it was voted that the Board of Selectmen or the Board of Public Works continuously pursue the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Works, to accelerate the repair and/or reconstruction of the Mineral Street Bridge in order to open said bridge to local public traffic and to convey to the Department of Public Works, that strong local public interest exists for the reopening of said bridge. ARTICLE 38. On motion of Paul E. Landers it was voted that Article 38 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 39. On motion of Robert I. Nordstrand it was voted to place Article 39 on the table. ARTICLE 40. On motion of Elizabeth W. Klepeis it was voted that the Town accept ! an unrestricted gift of $20,000 to the. Reading Public Library from the estate of Sumner Chaney Noyes, said gift to be set up as a library trust fund under the jurisdiction of the Reading Commissioners of Trust Funds and titled the Sumner Chaney Noyes Library Fund. ARTICLE 41. On motion of Carl H. Amon, Jr. it was voted that Article 41 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 42. On motion of Carl H. Amon Jr. it was voted that the Town authorize the Board of Cemetery Trustees to convey or transfer to the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Reading, the house at 270 Pearl Street, but not the land thereunder, which land remains in the care, custody, management and control of the Board of Cemetery Trustees, for no monetary consideration and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey said house for $1.00 or a larger amount and upon such other terms and conditions that the Board of Selectmen shall consider proper by Bill of Sale, Deed, or otherwise, to the Reading Housing Authority, or any other person or corporation for removal from said site at 270 Pearl Street and relocation onto land now, or to be acquired by the Reading Housing Authority or such other person or corporation, said house to be removed on or before October 1, 1986. ARTICLE 44. On motion of Philip B. Pacino it was voted that Article 44 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 12. (Line Item 62) On motion of Daniel A. Ensminger it was voted to take Motion to Reconsider Line Item 62 of Article 12 from the table. ARTICLE 12. (Line Item 62) On motion of Daniel A. Ensminger it was voted to reconsider Line Item 62 of Article 12. 85 voted in the affirmative 37 voted in the negative ARTICLE 12. (Line Item 62) On motion of Daniel A. Ensminger it was voted that the sum of $16,750 be appropriated for animal control under Line Item 62 of Article 12. ARTICLE 3. Douglass L. Barker moved that the Town Moderator present to the next Town Meeting a report on the requirements for standing counts as it pertains to 2/3 majority vote. This motion voted in the Negative. 3 May 1, 1986 Adjourned Annual 'T'own Meeting ARTICLE 3. On motion of Kendra J. G. Cooper it was voted that Town Meeting request that the School Committee provide the next Town Meeting with estimated costs and related information for relocation of the School Superintendent's office, presently at Gould Street, to space at the High School. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Paul E. Landers it was voted to indefinitely postpone Article 3. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Paul E. Landers it was voted to take Article 2 from the table. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Paul E. Landers it was voted to indefinitely postpone Article 2. ARTICLE 12. A complete summary of Article 12 as voted at this Town Meeting is as follows: ON MOTION OF PHILIP B. PACING AS AMENDED THE FOLLOWING IS A CERTIFIED COPY OF ARTICLE 2 AS VOTED A HE 1986 ANNUAL OWN MEETING Line Town Meeting Item Approved GENERAL GOVERNMENT SELECTMEN 1 Salary 2 Expense 3 Miscellaneous Special Committees Town Report Telephone Memorial Day Observance Duplicating Costs Fuel Assistance Total Miscellaneous Total - Selectmen RESERVE FUND 4 Original Appropriation 92,528 7,712 O.S.T.(Out of State Travel)_. Not to exceed $350.00 58,600 200,000 *$130,000 from Overlay Reserve ELECTION AND REGISTRATION 5 Expense 47,300 BOARD OF REGISTRARS 6 Salary 12150 FINANCE COMMITTEE 7 Salary 2,250 8 Expense 350 9 CPA Audit 35,000 Total 37,600 TOWN ACCOUNTANT 10 Salary 64,844 11 Expense 1,365 O.S.T. Not to exceed $300.00 Total 66,ZU9 ASSESSORS 12 Assessors' Salaries 10,027 13 Appraiser & Clerical 80,040 Total Salary , Ub/ 14 Expense 5,791 Subtotal 95,858 COLLECTOR 15 Collector's Salary 18,000 16 Clerical 74 569 Total Salary 92,,-50 17 Expense 11,056 18 Collection of Back Taxes 6,000 Total 109,625 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting Line Item TREASURER 19 Treasurer's Salary 20 Clerical Total Salary 21 Expense 22 Tax Title Total TOWN CLERK 23 Town Clerk's Salary 24 Clerical Total Salary 25 Expense Total LAW COMMITTEE 26 Legal Services - Town Counsel Fees 27 Legal Services - Labor Negotiation Fees 28 Legal Services - Expense 29 Workmen's Compensation Total PERSONNEL BOARD 30 Salary 31 Expense -Total 32 DATA PROCESSING BOARD OF APPEALS 33 Salary and Expense Town Meeting Approved May 1, 1986 39 31,282 53,012 84,294 35,790 O.S.T. Not to exceed $500.00 3,500 -12m4 20,000 40,569 91,80 O.S.T. Not to exceed $250.00 78,000 21,800 5,000 102,718 207,518 21,263 700 21,963 PLANNING BOARD 34 Salary 35 Expense Total BUILDING MAINTENANCE 36 Salary 37 Expense Total GRAND TOTAL GENERAL 116,840 O.S.T. Not to exceed $800.00 2,500 8,231 87,259 79,041 166,300 GOVERNMENT- 1,436,295 PUBLIC SAFETY POLICE DEPARTMENT 38 Salary 1,450,151 39 Total Expense 116,577 40 Salary 3,270 41 Expense 1,243 Total Parking 42 School Traffic Control 52,793 43 Cruiser Replacement 36,000 44 Uniforms Total Total 14,050 050 1 674 084 , , FIRE DEPARTMENT. 45 Salary 1,513,318 46 Total Expense 54,724 48 Jaws of Life 10 000 Subtotal 1,578,042 49 Fire Alarm Salary 9,863 50 Fire Alarm Expense 32770 Total Fire Alarm 13,633 51 Uniforms 62950 Total 1,5982625 x$110,000 from Revenue Sharing x$110,000 from Revenue Sharing 40 Adjourned Annual 'T'own Meeting Line Item 53 Police & Fire Indemnification 55 STREET LIGHTING BUILDING INSPECTOR 56 Salary 57 Total Expense Total May 1, 1986 Town Meeting Approved 20,000 116,020 Presented as Separate Motion 46,831 3,490 50,321 SEALER OF WEIGHTS & MEASURES 58 Salary 3,113 59 Expense 300 Total 3-M 60 TOWN FOREST COMMITTEE CIVIL DEFENSE 61 Salary and Expense 500 2,140 62 ANIMAL CONTROL Salary Expense Total GRAND TOTAL PUBLIC SAFETY EDUCATION Salary Expense Athletics Special Education Expense 66 Subtotal 67 Regional Vocational School GRAND TOTAL EDUCATION 14,750 2,000 16,750 3,481,853.00 12, 080,109 O.S.T.Not to exceed $5,785.00 249,540 12,329,649 HIGHWAYS AND STREETS AND SANITATION PUBLIC WORKS Administration Salaries 67,522 Administration Expense 9,608 Engineering Salaries 187,256 Engineering Expense 5,065 Highway Maintenance Salaries 344,673 Highway Maintenance Expense 244,236 Sidewalk Maintenance Salaries 16,333 Sidewalk Maintenance Expense 37,591 Parking Lot Maintenance Salaries 1,961 Parking Lot Maintenance Expense 5,700 Storm Drain Maintenance Salaries 51,848 Storm Drain Maintenace Expense 6,160 Equipment Maintenance Salaries 80,362 Equipment Maintenance Expense 107,781 Parks and Playgrounds Salaries 121,138 Parks and Playgrounds Expense 26,546 Forestry Salaries 108,267 Forestry Expense 18 , 379 Traffic Control Signs Salaries 2,991 Traffic Control Signs Expense 11,906 68 Subtotal - DPW Salaries 982,351 69 Subtotal - DPW Expense 472,972 Total 1,455,323 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting May 1, 1986 Line Town Meeting Item Approved HIGHWAYS AND STREETS AND SANITATION (Cont'd) 70 Snow and Ice Salaries 99,858 71 Snow and Ice Expense 62,348 Total Snow and Ice 162,206 76 Rubbish Collection Expense 637,000 78 Landfill & Recycling Expense 20,000 Total 657,000 79 Drain Construction 97,708 80 Road Reconstruction 180,000 81 DPW Equipment Replacement 123,000 82 Park Construction 11,500 83 Sidewalk Construction 15,000 Total Capital Projects 427,208 GRAND TOTAL HIGHWAYS & STREETS & SANITATION 2 , 701, 737 GENERAL SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION 84 Total Expense 1,000 CONSERVATION COMMISSION 85 Salary 31,045 86 Expense 6,942 Total 37,987 COMMUNITY HUMAN SERVICES 87 Salary 39 , 522 88 Expense 11,253 89 Animal Inspection 800 90 Care of Contagious Diseases 11,267 91 Fluoridation 3,887 92 Mosquito Control 12,000 93 Nursing Services 9 , 707 94 Community Prevention Programs 20,766 Total 77;= COUNCIL ON AGING 95 Salary 60,941 96 Total Expense 9,521 Total 70.462 VETERAN'S BENEFITS 97 Salary 17,036 98 Expense 1,431 99 Aid 40,000 Total 58.467 CEMETERIES 100 Salary 136,750 101 Total Expense 26,310 102 Cemetery Development 34,401 103 Care of Soldiers' Graves 1,600 Total --Ifi~sl LIBRARY 104 Salary 321,425 105 Total Expense 133,650 106 Copying Service 6,716 Total 461,7VI Presented as Special Motion O.S.T. Not to exceed $250.00 -x$48,000 from Cem.Bequest Incm. 3,900 from Cem.Bequest Incm. *$15,000 from Cem.Sale of Lots *$11,339 from Library Aid 42 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting Line Town Meeting Item Approved RECREATION COMMITTEE 107 Salary 48,952 108 Expense 23,352 Total 72,304 GRAND TOTAL GENERAL SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENTAT- 1,010,274. UNCLASSIFIED PENSIONS AND INSURANCE 109 Contributory Retirement 1,431,691 110 Non-Contributory Retirement 82,950 111 Unemployment Compensation 20,000 112 Casualty Insurance 281,051 113 Deductible Clause Expense 15,000 114 Group Insurance 1,080,056 Total 2,910,748 DEBT AND INTEREST 115 Debt Repayment 1,005,000 116 Interest _ 301,595 117 Anticipation Loans 52,000 Total 1,358,595 GRAND TOTAL UNCLASSIFIED 4,269 L343 RECAP OF GRAND TOTALS: General Government 1,436,295 Public Safety 3,481,853 Education 12,329,649 Highways & Streets and Sanitation 2,701,737 General Services & Environmental 1,010,274 Unclassified 4,269,343 Total 25,229,151 Total Appropriated From Tax Levy 24, 800, 912 Total Appropriated From Other Sources 428,239 TOTAL ARTICLE 12 APPROPRIATIONS 25,229,151 May__ 1, 1986 On motion of Paul E. Landers it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned sine die. Meeting adjourned at 10:50 P.M. 141 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Town Clerk