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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-05-18 Annual Town Meeting MinutesADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 18, 1989 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Paul C. Dustin, at 7 :55 P.M., there being a quorum present. The Invocation was given by Robert A. Brown, representative of the First Church of Christ Scientist, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Town Meeting Member, Leslie H. York, Precinct 4, was recog- nized on a point of personal privilege. Mr. Moderator and members of the Board of Selectmen: Irene and I want to again thank you for the great and very much surprised honor that you gave to us. We are very grateful and shall try more than ever to do our share in the support of our good Town of Reading and its people, the citizens. However, may we suggest humbly that those of this dedicated group of Town Meeting members, you Mr. Moderator, and members of the Board of Selectmen, the members of the Board of Finance, the By -Law Committee, the Town Manager, our Town Clerk and the many dedicated Department Heads be recognized for their dedication and their sincere belief in what they have done as well as what they have suggested in the interest of our Town. We all know them and extend our gratitude to them. The Department of Public Works, the Police Department, the Fire Department, Department of Human Services, Board of Health, Finance Department, Board of Asses- sors, Accounting Department, Community Planning and Development Committee, the School Committee and the Library. We think of this Town Meeting as long, and justly so, giving those members time to express their opinions and concerns, which is much appreciated, without personal objections or impositions. Let us tonight pay our respect to those who spend much much more time than we, facing unlimited questions of their decisions. Many are strictly a volunteer service to the community, with little interest shown to their open meetings to the public. Mr. Moderator, to you and to all of these twenty -four hour a day servants, may we suggest our support and God's blessing for the beginning of our nation's greatness as a democracy right here in Reading. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. On a point of personal privilege, Donald C. Allen, Chairman of the Finance Committee. Several years ago when I became Vice Chair of the Finance Committee under Jim O'Leary, part of the training was to attend Finance Committee meetings of surrounding Towns. Linked to that was my attendance at Town Meetings for those same neighboring towns. Since I have just resigned as Chair of the Finance Com- mittee, I want to take this opportunity to state publicly that I believe personally that the body of Reading's Town Meeting stands heads and shoulders above most other Town Meetings. The members take the time to ask questions, to probe, to follow up on pre- vious questions. Town Meeting takes its business fairly seriously and seldom becomes vindictive or personal. I believe, given the facts, Town Meeting makes decisions, most of the time, far more effectively than most other towns, more effectively than many Boards of Directors I have worked with. I'm proud to have been Chair of what I perceive to be the auditing arm of Town Meeting. We'd like to think that the efforts of the Finance Com- mittee, assist Town Meeting in reaching most of the correct deci- sions and of course, ignoring Fin Com's recommendations has led to some of Town Meeting's few errors of judgment. Town Meeting 37 1 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting May 18, 1989 is not always pretty. It's slow, loquacious, stubborn, obdurate, full of varying opinions, but usually correct in the end. I'm proud to have served this Town for the last several years, and you folks should be proud to be Reading Town Meeting Members. Thank you. ARTICLE 26. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted to take Line 61 of Article 26 from the table. ARTICLE 26. On motion of Donald C. Allen, it was voted that the Town approve and appropriate the Proposed FY 1990 Budget as presented for line item 61; with Out -of -State Travel as stated. Funds are to be provided as follows: Line 61 Sale of Real Estate Fund in the amount of $41,000, with the remainder from property taxes, State aid, and non - property tax local receipts. ARTICLE 14. On motion of Donald C. Allen it was voted to take Article 14 from the table. ARTICLE 14. On motion of Donald C. Allen, it was voted that the amount of Two Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($2,250,000.00) debt authorized by vote of the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District School Committee adopted on February 9, 1989 for the purpose of reconstructing, remodeling, and making extraordinary repairs to the District School, including costs incidental and related thereto, is hereby disapproved. ARTICLE 18. On motion of Eugene R. Nigro, it was voted that the Town accept the report of the Board of Selectmen upon the laying out as a public way of the following private way known as Aurele Circle, under the provision of law authorizing the assess- ment of betterments, such highways being laid out in accordance with plans duly approved by the Board of Selectmen 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 easement 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 that the Town vote to accept the public way laid out by the Board of Selectmen as Aurele Circle, and that the sum of $800 (Eight Hundred Dollars) be raised from the tax levy and ap- propriated for the acquisition of said land or easement therein and for the construction of said way, such sum is to be spent by and under the direction of the Board of Selectmen. 97 voted in the affirmative 0 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required. ARTICLE 19. On motion of Daniel A. Ensminger, it was voted that the Town accept the report of the Board of Selectmen upon the laying out as a public way of the following private way known as Benton Circle, under the provision of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, such highways being laid out in ac- cordance with plans duly approved by the Board of Selectmen 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 easement 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 that the Town vote to accept the public Adjourned Annual Town Meeting May 18, 1989 way laid out by the Board of Selectmen as Benton Circle, an the sum of $800 (Eight Hundred Dollars) be raised from the tax levy, and appropriated for the acquisition of said land or ease- ment therein and for the construction of said way, such sum to be spent by and under the direction of the Board of Selectmen. 97 voted in the affirmative 0 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required. ARTICLE 18 -25. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted at the suggestion of James R. Boucher to take Articles 18 -25 from the table. ARTICLE 20. On motion of Daniel A. Ensminger, it was voted that the Town accept the report of the Board of Selectmen upon the laying out as a public way of the following private way known as Cedar Street, under the provision of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, such highways being laid out in ac- cordance with plans duly approved by the Board of Selectmen 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 easement 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 that the Town vote to accept the public way laid out by the Board of Selectmen as Cedar Street, and that the sum of $110,000 (One Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars) be ap- propriated from the Sale of Real Estate Fund for the acquisition of said land or easement therein and for the construction of said way, such sum to be spent by and under the direction of the Board of Selectmen. 83 voted in the affirmative 22 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required. Maria E. Silvaggi, Town Meeting Member, Precinct 8, ques- tioned a quorum being present. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted this meeting stand adjourned to meet at 7:30 PM on Monday, May 22, 1989, at the Reading Memorial High School. Meeting adjourned at 10:12 PM. 97 Town Meeting Members were present. A true copy. Attest: Doris. M. Fantasia Town Clerk ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 22, 1989 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Paul C. Dustin, at 7:52 P.M., there being a quorum present. The Invocation was given by Town Meeting Member, Leslie H. York, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Hearing no objection, Moderator Paul C. Dustin ratified the following votes of Town Meeting held May 18, 1989: