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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-04-27 Annual Town Meeting Minutesf♦ Special Town Meeting April 24, 1989 tribution toward the monthly premium cost or rate for coverage of retirees and their dependents may exceed the Town's percentage contribution toward the monthly premium cost or rate for coverage of active employees and their dependents, provided, however, in no event shall the monthly payment by retirees toward the total monthly premium cost or rate for coverage of retirees and their dependents exceed the amount paid by active employees toward the total monthly premium cost or rate for coverage of active employees and their dependents. Section 4. The Board of Selectmen may choose what method of calculating claims experience and premiums to use for any year and may change the method used in any subsequent year." 94 voted in the affirmative 7 voted in the negative ARTICLE 12. On motion of Mary S. Ziegler, it was voted that the Town accept the provisions of the General Laws 32B, Sec- tion 9E which permits the Town to pay more than 50 percent of the premium cost for health and certain other insurance for retirees and their dependents. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted that this Spe- cial Town Meeting stand adjourned to meet at 7:30 P.M. on Thursday, May 11, 1989, at Reading Memorial High School. Meeting adjourned 11:05 P.M. 98 Town Meeting Members were present. A true copy. Attest: Doris M. Fantasia Town Clerk ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 27, 1989 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Paul C. Dustin, at 8:01 P.M., there being a quorum present. The Invocation was given by Reverend Harold W. Garbarino of the Church of the Good Shepherd, followed by the Pledge of Al- legiance to the flag. ARTICLE 15. On motion of Elizabeth W. Klepeis, it was voted that the Town rescind the remaining bond authorization for the purpose of replacing the roof of the Hawkes Field House in the amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) authorized by Ar- ticle 12 at the Annual Town Meeting of 1988. ARTICLE 16. On motion of John H. Russell, it was voted that the Town appropriate from free cash to Public Works non - personal expenses the sum of Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000) to fund the removal of subsurface contaminants located at the former Department of Public Works garage. ARTICLE 17. On motion of John H. Russell, it was voted that the Town appropriate from Water Surplus to Public Works Water - Capital the sum of Thirty -Five Thousand ($35,000) for the purpose of making improvements to the water system, including subsurface investigation and testing and the installation of wells, pipes, fittings, equipment, and related facilities. ARTICLES 18 - 26. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted to table Articles 18 - 26. Mr. Moderator, Town Meeting Members This is a report on the state of the Reading Municipal Light Department or more loosely termed "your local utility's year in review ". On the operational side the department was completely reorganized during the year in a effort to become better prepared to meet the future chalanges of operating the department. As part of this reorganization the Energy Service Division was created. The future of electrical power is one that will be uncertain as to the sources of and demand for energy. The Energy Service Division will allow the department to meet it's future power needs in a timely and cost effective manner. The RMLD continues to operate with some of the lowest rates in the entire state of Massachusetts. A revisit to DPU ruling 85 -121. This ruling as was detailed last year decreased the allowable earnings of the department. These allowable earnings are used to provide the return to the town and to fund capital construction. The commission of the RMLD continues to monitor the effect of this ruling and still concludes that the department at present can operate properly, adequately fund capital construction and maintain the present return on investment to the town of Reading. A reminder to the town meeting that under the ruling at a future time in order to maintain and improve the system and to maintain the present return to the town the Town of Reading will need to bond the systems construction costs. A major issue of the commission during the year was it's membership in MMWEC. The commission looked at the cost and benefits of being a part of this energy coalition and concluded that changes within the MMWEC structure were needed. The commission at present is pursuing these changes, which will make the MMWEC organization more responsive and cost effective to the needs of the rate payers of the system. If these changes are not made the commission will be taking a hard look at withdrawing from MMWEC. The separation from the system of the Town of Wilmington continues to be another major issue of the commission and the department. Lets first review the down side of the Town of Wilmington withdrawing. If Wilmington withdraws the rate payers throughtout the four town system would be faced with higher costs of energy and a lower level of reliability and service. The benefits to the Town of Reading would be reduced also. With this down side in mind the commission during the year entered into negotiations with the board of selectment of the Town of Wilmington in an effort to resolve our differences. Numerous meetings have been held between the negotiating teams. Although no specific agreement has been reached considerable progress has been made in indetifying the issues and exploring alternative means of achieving a mutual resolution. It is hoped by the commission that a solution will come out of negotiations but should negotiations break down it is the intent of the RMLD to pursue before the DPU full recovery of the plant value and all damages in order to minimize any potential excess cost that the remaining system rate payers would bear after the separation. The RMLD system is truly unique. The systems service area covers four separate towns, which makes it the only such system to do so in the entire country. The commission will continue to make every effort to be open to all the dirverse views of town officials, rate payers and citizens of this unique system and to represent the entire system as best it can in the future. Thank you Mr. Moderator. ?49 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 27, 1989 ARTICLE 27. On motion of Mary S. Ziegler, it was voted that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to sell, exchange, or dispose of, upon such terms and conditions as they may determine, the following items of Town tangible property: 1.1975 Diamond Reo Dump Truck ARTICLE 2. On motion of Philip B. Pacino, it was voted to take Article 2 from the table. ARTICLE 2. The attached report presented by Philip B. Pacino for the Reading Municipal Light Department, was accepted as a Report of Progress. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted to table Article 2. ARTICLE 28. On motion of Philip B. Pacino, it was voted that the subject matter of Article 28 be referred to the Municipal Light Board, and the said Board be, and hereby is, authorized to install such additional street lights as in its judgment are required, and to make such changes in the size, type, and location of existing street lights as it may deem ad- visable, the expense of the same to be paid from the income of the plant. ARTICLE 29. On motion of Frederick Van Magness, it was voted to table Article 29. ARTICLE 30. On motion of Eugene R. Nigro, as amended by Gail F. Wood, it was voted that the Town accept as a gift from Rivers Development Corp. the following described parcel of land, which land is to be attached to and made a part of the Town Forest. The land shown on Definitive Subdivision Plans of Sanborn Village - -Phase IV shown as Lot "B" consisting of ap- proximately 32.9 acres of land. The Plan of this land is recorded in Southern Middlesex Registry of Deeds as Plan 774 of 1988, and is recorded in Book 19112 on Page 86. ARTICLE 31. On motion of Paul F. Caselle, it was voted that the Town amend the following schedule of fees: AGENCY PURPOSE CURRENT FEE PROPOSED FEE Health Milk Stores $15.00 $10.00 ARTICLE 32. On motion of Robert I. Nordstrand, it was voted that the Town appropriate from certified free cash the sum of $1,200 and appropriate it to the Assessors' Expense for the purpose of publishing for general circulation the Board of Assessors' January 1, 1989 valuation lists for real estate, in compliance with Article XIII, Section 4 of the Town By -Laws, such sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Board of As- sessors, with a fee established to fully recover the cost of the publication. ARTICLE 33. On motion of Robert I. Nordstrand, it was voted that the Town accept the provisions of General Laws Chapter 40, Section 42J to allow the deferral of water charges under General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 41A. ARTICLE 34. On motion of Robert I. Nordstrand, it was voted that the Town accept the provisions of General Laws Chapter 83, Section 16G to allow the deferral of sewer charges under General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 41A. ARTICLE 35. On motion of Gail A. Faller, it was voted to table Article 35. ARTICLE 36. Moderator Paul C. Dustin declared there was no action taken under Article 36. Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 27, 1989 ARTICLE 37. On motion of Mary S. Zielger, it was voted to table Article 37. ARTICLE 38. On motion of Eugene R. Nigro, as amended by John H. Russell, it was voted that the Town vote pursuant to Sec- tion 2 -6 of the Reading Home Rule Charter to declare the seats of the following Town Meeting Members to be vacant and to remove the following described persons from their position as Town Meeting Member for failure to take the oath of office within thirty days following the notice of election or for failure to attend one - half or more of Town Meeting sessions, during the previous year: Precinct 3 - voted to remove Michael A. Pacillo On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted this meeting stand adjourned to meet at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, May 1, 1989 at the Reading Memorial High School. Meeting adjourned at 9:31 P.M. 114 Town Meeting Members were present. A true copy. Attest: Doris M. Fantasia Town Clerk ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 1, 1989 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Paul C. Dustin, at 7:50 p.m., there being a quorum present. The Invocation was given by Reverend Robert K. Sweet, Jr. of the Old South Methodist Church, followed by the Pledge of Al- legiance to the Flag. ARTICLE 26. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted to take Article 26 from the table. Moderator, Paul C. Dustin, reminded Town Meeting that Ar- ticle 26 would be presented as an omnibus budget, mindful of the fact that the motion to present Article 26 as an omnibus budget carried by one (1) vote. The budget will be moved in blocks. If any Town Meeting Member wishes any of the line items to be set aside, we will set them aside, vote the block, and then go back to discuss in- dividual line items. The budget that will be presented to you by Donald C. Allen, Finance Committee Chairman, will be the FinCom recommended budget. We have an additional consideration imposed upon us. The budget being presented to you is essentially a balanced budget. Town Meeting is prevented from appropriating more money than you have the ability to raise. Therefore, again, any increase in any likely call for a corresponding decrease at would caution if discussing a line item and to that line item, the only figure that wo time, is that particular one. Any cut, as come later. line item will very some other point. I an amendment is made uld be voted at that such, would have to The Finance Committee will maintain whatever arithmetic necessary so that when we are done, we will know whether the budget has to be revisited and additional line items adjusted to bring the budget back into balance. 1 1