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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-03-23 Town Warrant';4 TOWN WARRANT (Seal) COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. To either of the constables of the Town of Reading, Greetings: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, to meet in the following places designated for the eight precincts in said Town, namely: Precinct 1. J. Warren Killam School Precinct 2. J. Warren Killam School Precinct 3. Joshua Eaton School Precinct 4. Joshua Eaton School Precinct 5. Alice M. Barrows School Precinct 6. Alice M. Barrows School Precinct 7. Birch Meadow School Precinct 8. Birch Meadow School on MONDAY, the TWENTY-THIRD DAY OF MARCH A.D., 1987, at seven o'clock in the forenoon to act on the following articles, viz; ARTICLE 1. To elect by ballot the following Town Officers: a Moderator for one year; two members of the Board of Selectmen for three years; one member of the Board of Assessors for three years; one member of the Municipal Light Board for three years; one member of the Municipal Light Board for two years; one member of the Municipal Light Board for one year; two members of the Board of Library Trustees for three years; two members of the School Committee for three years; and twenty-four Town Meeting Members shall be elected to represent each of the following precincts: Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Terms of office shall be determined by the number of votes received. The eight (8) candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall serve for three (3) years; the eight (8) candidates receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve for two (2) years; and the eight (8) candidates receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve for one (1) year from the day of election. AND, to vote YES or NO on the following question: QUESTION 1 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE READING HOME RULE CHARTER Pursuant to the vote of Town Meeting Members on November 13, 1986, under Article 17 of the Adjourned Subsequent Town Meeting, shall the Reading Home Rule Charter be amended to read as follows? "Whenever a vacancy occurs and is to be filled in any Town office requiring appointment by the Board of Selectmen, or in any multiple member body except for positions covered under the civil service law of the Commonwealth, whether by reason of death, resignation, expiration of a fixed term for which a person has been appointed or otherwise, the Board of Selectmen, or other appointing authority, shall forthwith cause public notice of the vacancy to be posted on the Town bulletin boards for fifteen (15) days. Any person who desires to be considered for appointment to the position may, within fifteen (15) days following the date notice is posted, file with the Town Clerk a statement setting forth in clear and specific terms his qualifications for the position. No permanent appointment to fill such a position shall be effective until at least twenty-eight (28) days have elapsed following such posting and until all persons filing such statements shall have been considered." YES NO SUMMARY The purpose of this amendment is to eliminate the requirement of the lengthy delay in the hiring and appointing of persons to fill positions in the day-to-day operation of the various Town offices and departments, causing undue hardship in the operation of these offices. This does not affect the appointment by the Board of Selectmen in filling positions to the various boards and committees. 85 For these purposes the polls will be opened at each of the eight precincts at seven o'clock A.M. and will close at eight o'clock P.M. and to meet at the Memorial High School Auditorium, 62 Oakland Road in said Reading on MONDAY, the THIRTEENTH DAY OF APRIL A.D., 1987 at seven-thirty o'clock in the evening, at which time and place the following articles are to be acted upon and determined exclusively by Town Meeting Members in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 7 of the Acts of 1943, as amended by Chapter 317, Acts of 1975. ARTICLE 2. To hear and act on the reports of the Board of Selectmen, Town Accountant, Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, Board of Assessors, Department of Public Works, Town Clerk, Tree Warden, Board of Health, School Committee, Contributory Retirement Board, Library Trustees, Municipal Light Board, Finance Committee, Cemetery Trustees, Community Planning & Development Commission, Town Manager and any other Boards or Special Committees. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 3. To choose all other necessary Town Officers and Special Committees and determine what instructions shall be given Town Officers and Special Committees. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning July 1, 1987, in accordance with the provision of the General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 4 and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with the General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 17, or take any other action with respect thereto. Town Treasurer ARTICLE 5. To see whether the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer and/or Collector to enter into written agreements with banking institutions under the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53F, or take any other action with respect thereto. Town Treasurer ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the payment during Fiscal Year 1988, of bills remaining unpaid for previous fiscal years for goods and services actually rendered to the Town, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to amend "Schedule B - Compensation Plan" of Article XXIV of the By-Laws of the Town of Reading, by increasing the existing pay ranges in the Compensation Plan by a certain percentage to be determined by Town Meeting, or what it will do in relation thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to amend "Schedule A - Classification Plan" of Article XXIV of the By-Laws of the Town of Reading, by establishing or changing the grades and/or position titles as they relate to any or all of the employees of the following departments: Fire Department Mechanic, Town Clerk, Assistant Town Clerk, Recreation Supervisor, Building Maintenance Supervisor, Town Engineer, Town Planner, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen 86. ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 7 (I) of Article XXIV of the By-Laws of the Town of Reading, by changing longevity payments as follows: Effective Effective 7-1-86 7-1-87 150 200 Annually upon completion of five years service. 250 300 Annually upon completion of ten years service. 350 400 Annually upon completion of fifteen years service. 450 500 Annually upon completion of twenty years service. 550 600 Annually upon completion of twenty-five years service, or see what action it will take in relation thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to adopt the Capital Improvement Program as provided for in Section 7-7 of the Reading Home Rule Charter, or take any action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Capital Improvement Plan as provided for in Section 7-7 of the Reading Home Rule Charter and as previously amended, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 12. To see whether the Town will vote to rescind the remaining bond authorization for the purpose of acquiring land owned by H. J. Davis Company in the amount of One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand ($125,000) Dollars, authorized by Article 7 at the Special Town Meeting on June 19, 1986, or take any other action with respect thereto. Town Treasurer ARTICLE 13. To see whether the Town will vote to rescind the remaining bond authorization for the purpose of replacing the roof of the Coolidge Middle School in the amount of Thirty-Six Thousand ($36,000) Dollars, authorized by Article 26 at the Annual Town Meeting on April 18, 1985, or take any other action with respect thereto. Town Treasurer ARTICLE 14. To see what sum the Town will vote to raise from the tax levy, or by borrowing, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate to the Board of Assessors for the purpose of publishing for general circulation, its January 1, 1986 valuation lists for real estate, in compliance with Article XIII, Section 4 of the Town By-Laws, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Assessors ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 39K, as amended by Chapter 306 of the Acts of 1986 and authorize the Town to establish a separate account classified as an "Enterprise Fund" for the operation of the Town's Water Utility Service, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 39K, as amended by Chapter 306 of the Acts of 1986 and authorize the Town to establish a separate account classified as an "Enterprise Fund" for the operation of the Town's Sewer Utility Service, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 17. To see what sums the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for. the purpose of replacing the roof at the Alice M. Barrows Elementary School, 16 Edgemont Avenue, 87 Reading, Massachusetts and a partial roof replacement at the Reading Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road, Reading, Massachusetts; such appropriation to include all engineering fees and preparation costs required to complete the purpose of this article. All monies to be expended under the direction of the Reading School Commmittee, or take any other action with respect thereto. Reading School Committee ARTICLE 18. To see what sums the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax I levy, or transfer from available.. or otherwise, and appropriate for the purpose of remodeling certain areas of the Reading Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road, Reading, Massachusetts; such appropriation to include all engineering fees and preparation costs required to complete the purpose of this article. All monies to be expended under the direction of the Reading School Committee, or take any other action with respect thereto. Reading School Committee ARTICLE 19. To determine how much money the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise; and appropriate for the operation of the Town and its government, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 20. To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for the purposes of performing studies relating to the need for, and feasibility of, remodeling, reconstructing or making extraordinary repairs to the firehouse located on Pleasant Street, or for the purpose of adding an addition to said firehouse at such location, or for the purpose of constructing a new firehouse at said, or a different location, including preliminary plans therefor, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen i ARTICLE 21. To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for the purposes of remodeling, reconstructing, or making extraordinary repairs to the Town Hall and/or the Town Hall Annex (old Library Building), including the construction of any additions or connectors to such buildings and for the cost of originally equipping and furnishing said Town Hall, Town Hall Annex and additions or connectors thereto, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 22. To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for the purchase, or lease, or lease with an option to purchase, of a telephone system for the police, school and other departments of the Town, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 23. To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for the purposes of maintenance and repair of the Grant Memorial Swimming Pool, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 24. To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or transfer from appropriations made under Articles 8 and 9 of the June 19 and 23, 1986 Special Town Meetings, or otherwise, and add to the sums previously appropriated under said Articles 8 and 9 and appropriate for the purpose of designing and constructing a new Department of Public Works garage and related facility on land off Ash Street, acquired by the Town of Reading f rom the Trustees of TASC Realty Trust and from the Trustee of Reading Properties Trust, including site preparation, construction, originally equipping and furnishing said garage and related facilities and for planning, design, layout and construction and maintenance of a public way and railroad grade crossing across said land, in compliance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 160, the requirements of the County Commissioners of Middlesex County and the Department of 88 Public Utilities of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including the cost of acquisition of an easement from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and/or the Boston Maine Railroad, to cross the railroad tracks of said Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and/or Boston & Maine Railroad and for the cost of all site preparation and design and construction of said public way and railroad grade crossing and easement and all other costs incidental thereto, including architectural, engineering and construction fees and services, inspection fees, relocation costs, contingencies and costs of financing in connection therewith and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into any and all contracts, agreements and grant applications necessary therefor and incidental thereto, including without limitation, contracts for architectural, engineering and construction services and applications for a grant, or grants, to be used to defray all or any part of the cost of the said Department of Public Works garage, related facilities and public way and access thereto and to do all other acts and things necessary and proper for carrying out the purposes of this vote and that all actions taken under this vote shall not be construed as negating any actions taken pursuant to the votes taken under Articles 8 and 9 of the June 19 and 23, 1986 Special Town Meetings, but rather a consolidation and amendment of said votes and that all actions taken pursuant to said votes are hereby confirmed and ratified in all respects, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 25. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell, or exchange, or dispose of, upon such terms and conditions as they may determine, various items of Town equipment, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 26. To see if the Town will vote to accept the report of the Board of Selectmen upon the laying out as a public way of the following private way known as Criterion Road, under the provision of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, such highways being laid out in accordance with plans duly approved by the Department of Public Works and filed in the office of the Town Clerk in accordance with the statutory requirements and that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to take such land in fee or rights of easements therein by eminent domain, under the provisions of Chapter 79 of the General Laws, as amended, or acquire said land in fee or rights of easement therein, by purchase, gift, or otherwise, and to assess betterments therefor and to see if the Town will vote to accept the public way laid out by the Department of Public Works as Criterion Road and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for acquisition of said land, or easement therein, or payment of any eminent domain damages and for the construction of said way, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 27. To see if the Town will vote to accept the report of the Board of Selectmen upon the laying out as a public way of the following private way known as Clover Circle, under the provision of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, such highways being laid out in accordance with plans duly approved by the Department of Public Works and filed in the office of the Town Clerk in accordance with the statutory requirements and that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to take such land in fee or rights of easements therein by eminent domain, under the provisions of Chapter 79 of the General Laws, as amended, or acquire said land in fee or rights of easement therein, by purchase, gift or otherwise, and to assess betterments therefor and to see if the Town will vote to accept the public way laid out by the Department of Public Works as Clover Circle and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for acquisition of said land, or easement therein, or payment of any eminent domain damages and for the construction of said way, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 28. To see if the Town will vote to accept the report of the Board of Selectmen upon the laying out as a public way of the following private way known as Buckskin Drive, under the provision of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, such highways being laid out in accordance with plans duly approved by the Department of Public Works and filed in the office of the Town Clerk in accordance with the statutory requirements and that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to take such land in fee or rights of easements therein by eminent domain, under the provisions of Chapter 79 of the 89 General Laws, as amended, or acquire said land in fee or rights of easement therein, by purchase, gift or otherwise, and to assess betterments therefor and to see if the Town will vote to accept the public way laid out by the Department of Public Works as Buckskin Drive and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for acquisition of said land, or easement therein, or payment of any eminent domain damages and for the construction of said way, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 29. To see if the Town will vote to accept the report of the Board of Selectmen upon the laying out as a public way of the following private way known as Eastway and Eastway Extension, under the provision of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, such highways being laid out in accordance with plans duly approved by the Department of Public Works and filed in the office of the Town Clerk in accordance with the statutory requirements and that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to take such land in fee or rights of easements therein by eminent domain, under the provisions of Chapter 79 of the General Laws, as amended, or acquire said land in fee or rights of easement therein, by purchase, gift or otherwise, and to assess betterments therefor and to see if the Town will vote to accept the public way laid out by the Department of Public Works as Eastway and Eastway Extension and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for acquisition of said land, or easement therein, or payment of any eminent domain damages and for the construction of said way, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 30. To see what action the Town will take regarding the installation of additional street lights on the public streets during the Fiscal Year 1988, or what it will do in relation thereto. Municipal Light Board ARTICLE 31. To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate into the Stabilization Fund as authorized under G. L. Chapter 40, Section 5B, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 32. To see whether the Town will vote to accept a $1000 bequest from the estate of Helen Symonds to the Reading Public Library. Said bequest is an unrestricted gift. Town Treasurer . ARTICLE 33. To see if the Town will vote to accept a gift of real estate located on Main Street and shown as Lot 37 on Board of Assessors Plat 225, from Francis R. Richards, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 34. To see if the Town will vote to accept a gift of real estate located on Main Street and shown as Lot 36 on Board of Assessors Plat 225, from Raymond E. and Carmen Bahr, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 35. To see if the Town will vote to approve a new housing project for elderly and handicapped persons, pursuant to the provisions of G. L. Chapter 121B, Section 38 et seq. and acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto, to be known as State Aided Housing Project 667-3, or take any action relative thereto. Reading Housing Authority 90 ARTICLE 36. To see if the Town will vote to amend Paragraph 6.1.2.2. of the Zoning By-Laws of the Town relating to 'the size of parking spaces by adding thereto the following: "Notwithstanding the foregoing, in a Business C or Industrial District, each off-street parking space required to be provided for corporate office or research and development use shall be not less than eight and one-half (8 Y2) feet in width and eighteen (18) feet in length, exclusive of drives and maneuvering space;" so that Paragraph 6.1.2.2. will read as follows, or take any other action with respect thereto: 116.1.2.2. Each required off-street parking space shall be not less than nine (9) feet in width and twenty (20) feet in length, exclusive of drives and maneuvering space. Each off-street loading and unloading space shall be not less than twelve (12) feet wide and thirty-five (35) feet long. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in a Business C or Industrial District, each off-street parking space required to be provided for corporate office or research and development use shall be not less than eight and one-half (8 y2) feet in width and eighteen (18) feet in length, exclusive of drives and maneuvering space." Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 37. To see if the Town will vote to amend the table following Paragraph 6.1.1.3. of the Zoning By-Laws of the Town by inserting at the end thereof the following under the columns respectively headed: Principal Use "Corporate Office and Research and Development Facility Minimum Number of Off-Street Parking Spaces Required Three spaces for each (1000) square feet of floor area or fraction thereof or take any other action with respect thereto. Minimum Number of Off-Street Loading and Unloading Spaces Required One space for each one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet of floor area or fraction thereof" Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 38. To restrict smoking in public places meaning an enclosed, indoor area when open to and used by the general public, but limited to the following facilities: public elevators, retail food outlets, museums, libraries and all public buildings, nursing homes, single vehicle mass or public transit conveyances, transit conveyances, an entire room or hall in a public building when used for a public meeting. An entire room or hall used for a private social function in which the sponsor of the private function and not the owner or proprietor has control over the seating arrangements, shall not be construed as a public place. Public Buildings Any building or enclosed indoor area owned or maintained by the Town of Reading which is used by the general public, including offices, education facilities and meeting rooms, but excluding private, enclosed offices. Prohibition No person shall smoke in any public place except that smoking shall be permitted in specifically designated smoking areas as hereinafter provided. Museums, libraries, nursing homes. Museums, libraries, and nursing homes may designate smoking areas provided that comparable non-smoking facilities are available and so situated as to effectively eliminate the presence of smoking by-products in non-smoking areas. 91 Smoking Means the possession of a lighted tobacco product including a cigarette, cigar, pipe or any other lighted smoking equipment. Enforcement (a) The proprietor(s) or other person(s) in charge of a public place shall make reasonable efforts to prevent smoking in non-smoking areas by: (1) Posting appropriate signs; (2) Any other means which may be appropriate and reasonable or determined to be necessary by the Board of Health after a hearing at which the proprietor(s) or other person(s) in charge of a public place shall have an opportunity to be heard. Penalties (a) Any person who smokes in a non-smoking area shall be subject to a fine of not less than $25.00 dollars nor more than $100.00 dollars for each offense. (b) Any proprietor(s) or other person(s) in charge of a public place who fail(s) to comply with these regulations shall be subject to: (1) A fine of up to Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for each day of non- compliance; and (2) Suspension of any license issued by the Board of Health for that public place for a period of up to two days for each day of non-compliance. By Petition And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting an attested copy thereof in at least three (3) public places in each precinct of the Town not less than fourteen (14) days F~'! prior to March 23rd, 1987, the date set for the meeting in said Warrant, and to publish this _ Warrant in a newspaper published in the Town, or by mailing an attested copy of said Warrant to each Town Meeting Member at least fourteen (14) days prior to the time of holding said meeting. Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the time appointed for said meeting. Given under our hands this 17th day of February, 1987. Paul E. Landers Mary S. Ziegler John H. Russell Eugene R. Nigro Russell T. Graham SELECTMEN OF READING A true copy. Attest:=-, Lawrence Drew Town Clerk