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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-28 Annual Town Meeting MinutesANNUAL TUWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 28, 2014 Preforming Arts Center The Precincts listed below met at 7:00 PM to conduct the following business: Precinct 1 - With a Quorum present elected Douglass Webb as Precinct Chair and Sheila Mulroy as Precinct Clerk. A vote was taken to keep Roger J D'Entremont and William Grace as Town Meeting members. Precinct 2 - With a Quorum present elected Stephen Crook as Precinct Chair and Susan Taylor as Precinct Clerk. A vote was taken to keep Peter C Coumounduros, Marcia Nigro Dresser, Richard J Moore and Reginald T Peters as Town Meeting members. Precinct 3 - With a Quorum present elected Nancy Graham as Precinct Chair and Jane Fiore as Precinct Clerk. A vote was taken to elect Peter P Carcia, Barbara J McDade and Barbara G Faso on a tie breaker vote from the April 1, 2014 election. A vote was taken to keep Joseph P Westerman as a Town Meeting member and to remove Brian S Donohue from Town Meeting. Precinct 4 - With a Quorum present elected Glen Hartzler as Precinct Chair and Robert Connors as Precinct Clerk. A vote was taken to keep Stephen A Goldy as a Town Meeting member and remove Richard P Abate from Town Meeting. Precinct 5 - With a Quorum present elected Angela Binda as Precinct Chair and Anne Landry as Precinct Clerk. A vote was taken to keep Jared P Belliveau as a Town Meeting member. Precinct 6 - With a Quorum present elected Mary Ann Quinn as Precinct Chair and Jeanne Borawski as Precinct Clerk. A vote was taken to elect Kristen E Bonazoli, Greg F Selvitelli, Cynthia A Tozian Cool, Jacqueline MK Petrillo and Kenneth Mathew Lafferty on a tie breaker vote from the April 1, 2014 election. A vote was taken to keep Keith J Driscoll and John M Miles as Town Meeting members. Precinct 7 - With a Quorum present elected John Carpenter as Precinct Chair and John Segalla as Precinct Clerk. A vote was taken to keep Jesse M Downing, Gary D Phillips and Bryan EJ Walsh as Town Meeting members. Precinct 8 - With a Quorum present elected William Brown as Precinct Chair and William Hecht as Precinct Clerk. A vote was taken to elect Matthew A Annunziata on a tie breaker vote from the April 1, 2014 election. A vote was taken to keep Sean E Quinn as a Town Meeting member. The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Alan E. Foulds, at 7:40 PM, there being a quorum present. The Invocation was given by Philip Pacino, Precinct 5 followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. A chair representing all veterans missing in action was recognized by the Moderator. The Warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk, Laura Gemme, when on motion by John Arena, Board of Selectmen, it was voted to dispense with further reading of the Warrant. ARTICLE 2: To hear and act on the reports of the Board of Selectmen, Town Accountant, Treasurer - Collector, Board of Assessors, Director 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 6 Development Commission, Town Manager and any other Official, Board or Special Committee. 11 Page Reading Memorial High School Preforming Arts Center ANNUAL TOWN MEETING State of the Town John Arena April 28, 2014 Thank you to my fellow board members, Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Superintendent Dr. John Doherty, Fellow Board and Committee members, Town Meeting members, Town and School staff, and the citizens of the Town of Reading. It Is an honor to serve as Chairman of the Reading Board of Selectmen for 2015. I'd like to highlight some of the Town's 2014 achievements and offer a few words on behalf of our Board members, and then describe our challenges for 2015. First a welcome and congratulations to our newest Town Meeting and Town Board members, For those who raised their hand this year to be part of Town government, thank you. You now take your place in a very long line of past volunteers who have contributed to Reading's success and self- determination, and in the larger sense, our success as citizens of this great American experiment. Reading is blessed to have very active and interested citizens. Our Town's committees, commissions and boards are filled with passionate, motivated volunteers. From A to Z - literally - Animal Control to Zoning Board of Appeals, if you have an interest area, Reading likely has a place for you to express it. Volunteerism and self- determination are not new thoughts for Reading and her citizens. In the fall of 1639, our earliest members began their plantation at the foot of the 'Great Pond', with immense determination to prosper - to grow food, raise families, worship God, exercise freedoms of thought, assembly and expression, and provide for the common good - while passing down the fruits of their lives and labors to their children and citizen successors. Today our motivations are borne out of similar objectives, but in the backdrop of an increasingly dangerous and unpredictable world stage. Our community has moved itself forward for 375 years, In part because Reading's citizens, staff and volunteers have actively engaged in self- determination and self - governance. Our town is what it is today because of those volunteers and staff who have gone before us, provided their time and creative resources, and helped built this great Town we all call home. That desire to advance, Improve, to care for our Town and our fellow citizens, and to make something better for that next generation continues unabated. That's one reason Reading is very special to me, and I hope, to you. And, it's a motivation not lost on our neighboring towns, who take note of Reading's progress, pride and success. I'd like to briefly highlight this past years' town and community accomplishments and then turn attention to our challenges ahead. Personnel: During the year we lost over 150 years of valuable experience as Mike DeBrigard, Bobby Stark and Jimmy Richardson all from DPW and Police Lieutenant Peter Garchinsky retired after long and distinguished careers. Also we mourn the passing of retirees Herb Perry (Police), Victor Call (Fire), Robert Nickerson (DPW) and Marvin Rosenthal (Selectman). We welcomed six new employees: Jennifer List and Andrea Hogan in the Library; Cody MacKinnon and Dan Radocckia in DPW, Melissa Koster in Community Services, and Caitlin Saunders in Administrative Services. In addition we congratulate over a dozen Town employees who earned promotions due to staff turnover in their departments. 21Page ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 28, 2014 Preforming Arts Center When we think of employees that have served forty -plus year careers with the town, I wonder what our Town government will look like forty years hence. The reorganization approved by November Town Meeting will help us get there. Volunteerism 01867: Reading measured by citizen participation sports a very impressive resume. The Town has 61 active Boards, Committees or Commissions filled by 316 members plus an additional 192 members of Town Meeting. Of the 316 Boards /committees and commissions, 280 positions are appointed, and 36 are elected. In the past year the Board of Selectmen appointed or re- appointed 70 individuals to fill open positions, a sign that our volunteer community remains robust. Each volunteer dedicates at least one week of service each year; representing more than 12,000 volunteer -hours each year. Beyond the formal Boards there are an unknown and unknowable number of volunteer hours spent on recreation, School and club athletics, parent booster organizations, music, drama, the arts and other cultural activities. In the area of Infrastructure Planning. Reading continues to improve: Ten years ago the Town began long -term active management of capital for maintenance and planned refresh of facilities, vehicles and equipment. Today our Capital Program looks 30 years ahead with dedicated annual funding, encouraging strong planning efforts from Town and School staff. That results in significant reductions in operational expense, energy and vehicle maintenance costs; increased employee safety and lowered unplanned capital requests. Larger building projects are beyond of the scope of the current Town budget. The recent debt exclusion vote for the Library demonstrated that a majority of Reading voters will consider substantive building reinvestment while also registering substantial objection to additional spending. The maturing proposals for added Kindergarten and Pre - Kindergarten facilities are wending their way thru the School and Finance committees, responding to emerging requests for these services. Our review of the DPW public works facility is leading to a proposal that would reshape, relocate and streamline support operations there. Initial MWRA pipeline improvements on Main Street are now part of our Enterprise Fund capital plan, and additional discussions that benefit both Reading and North Reading continue with the MARA. The long awaited (and some of us would say feared) West Street gas and MWRA project improvements have officially begun. We all benefit from more reliable and higher capacity utilities - something to chant to yourself as you negotiate the detours. In the area of Security and Safety improvements: Public Safety has added two Police officers and a Firefighter in recent years in anticipation of increased demand from commercial development and high - density housing. Tax revenues from this new economic growth support these new costs. The Police department has recently reorganized command staff to deal with the Increased law enforcement challenges, which rely on proactive preparation rather than reactive management as in the past. Recognizing the results of these efforts, Reading was recently ranked as the 130 Safest City in America by Neighborhood Scout, a data - driven national realtor group with a focus on schools and public safety. 31 Page ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 28, 2014 Preforming Arts Center Congratulations and kudos go to our School department as Reading Memorial High School makes this same organization's list as the 35th best performing public school In the country. In the area of Community and Economic Development: The Town began its first comprehensive revision of the Zoning Bylaws in over 75 years. The effort will simplify and update the bylaw to align to our modern development, future housing and business needs. The pace of economic development on Haven and Main Streets continues. The Charles Street building sports a newly renovated exterior. Orange Leaf is open for business, with D' Amid's Bakery, Northern Bank & Trust and Bunratty's Tavern open or opening soon. Haven Street continues Its build -out with a total of 53 residential units occupied, and new business additions with Portland Pie, Pamplemousse, Zinga and Snap Fitness open for business. It's now possible eat, drink, get dessert, and get to the gym without leaving the block. On south Main Street, there are now approximately 216 new housing units built, about half of the 424 units ultimately planned by Pulte Homes. Johnson Woods off West Street continues to build towards its 293 unit total. In total, 770 additional housing units will have added almost 10% to the housing stock in the community. These will continue to place a burden on local services while contributing to our tax base. Coming Improvements are expected on south Main Street on the sites of the old Tuxedo Shoppe, the Bridal Salon, and the former Getty gas station. And the local Post Office is for sale. We have worked very hard to preserve our small town character in the face of all the big town development activities going on around us. We're getting noticed. WCVB TV and moveto.com recently compiled a list of the best places to live in Massachusetts, and Reading was ranked #2 behind only Marshfield. If only we could add an ocean view... Now, let's look toward to 2015 and beyond Our challenge ahead is financial. How do we preserve the equilibrium of town revenues and spending? Let's start with Revenues. Proposition 2 -1/2 naturally limits our revenue growth to between 2% and 4% per year Including new growth. The exact figure in any year is greatly determined by State Aid, over which we have no control. For example, next year the Commonwealth forecasts state -level revenue growth of about 5% yet is able to pass through about a 1% increase in State Aid to Reading. The Town Manager's report in tonight's warrant does a great job of providing additional background on our revenue forecasting for the next several years. It is important that each of you here tonight read it before Thursday evening when we consider the budget. Reading uses a highly collaborative and disciplined annual budget process that has delivered excellent financial results to date, at a time when the broader national economic climate has been disappointing. Proposition 2 -1/2 introduced a necessary and desirable discipline for communities that had a natural appetite for spending. For communities such as Reading that have deployed good fiscal and spending discipline, Proposition 2- 1/2 motivated creative improvement to staff organization and service delivery. We deployed technology for greater efficiency and better communications. We moved to performance contracting. We implemented regionalization with neighbor towns for several functions, improving cost and execution performance. 41Page ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 28, 2014 Preforming Arts Center Despite these efforts, we're at a point of inflection. We can't continue to deliver the same scope of services and fund them at the same rate of spending growth. We have a choice - we go a diet, or we buy bigger pants. The choice is between delivering either a high quantity of, or a top notch quality of services to the community in both the Town and School budgets. In early May the Board of Selectmen will meet with all Town Department Heads to begin a dialogue on the choices for the FY16 budgets and beyond. Some of these choices may be painful. The Town's transparent budget demonstrates exactly where taxpayers' funds are going. This year the Town Manager outlined some of the places where those funds are not going, on comments that begin on page 24 of the Annual Town Meeting Warrant Report in front of you. Please read these overview sections before we move to the FY15 Budget on Thursday night. One conclusion is inescapable - this year we are using an extraordinary amount of Free Cash to support our Operating Budget, a decision that is unsustainable and In my view, unwise. If kept at the level proposed, our Free Cash balance will be depleted, eliminating funds we depend on for one -time surprises, emergencies, unplanned repairs and snow and Ice overruns. Our risk profile as seen by bond agencies will be negatively Impacted with library and other debt just ahead, potentially increasing our borrowing costs. And we will have set a regrettable precedent of adding to recurring spending ahead of determining how we pay for it long -term. In offering this FY15 Budget forward to Town Meeting, the Finance Committee was quite clear that their recommendation for Free Cash use would both hasten discussion, and accelerate the need for a future Operating Override. Among the Finance Committee, School Committee and Board of Selectmen collectively, there are twenty dedicated residents with a wide variety of backgrounds and Interests. Using the most recent public vote or public statements made by each member, 2 of the 20 members would favor using even greater amounts of Free Cash, 12 would use the amount that is proposed in this budget, and 6 strongly prefer to use less. As one of those six, I am willing to abide by the will of the majority-but for one year only, insisting Free Cash use return to sustainable levels in Fiscal 2016. I would ask Town Meeting Members to join me in that call. A one year limited use will ensure that residents receive predictable levels of service from the School department and Town government next year, as we all gather together this summer to plan for the years ahead. I would like to close my prepared remarks this evening by surveying Town Meeting Members here tonight, to provide their opinion on a few financial questions. The answers are purely for information gathering purposes only, spelling doesn't count and there's no math... By show of hands, please indicate: Q1: How many Town Meeting Members attended a Financial Forum session in the last 12 months? Q2: How many of you attended a School Committee or Board of Selectman Meeting during this year's budget discussions? Q3. Regarding the current level of services, please indicate your alignment to only one of the following statements: 1) I like the current level of services AND I AM willing to pay more to keep them 2) I like the current level of services BUT I AM NOT willing to pay more to keep them Sl Page ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Preforming Arts Center April 28, 2014 3) I would favor greater levels of public services AND I AM willing to pay more to expand them 4) I would favor reduced level of services, and a lower tax bill Q4. Reading has approximately 90% Residential properties and 100 /a Commercial properties in Its tax base. Reading's balance of residential to commercial property / activity is: 1) Its Goldilocks. Not too much - not too little - it's just right' 2) Insufficient commercial development - We should encourage more 3) Insufficient residential development - We should encourage more QS. OK I was mistaken. There IS math. Behind me is a chart that shows the relative property tax burden on residents in communities north of Boston, compared to their home's assessed values. Excluded from this chart are a few coastal communities - we're still missing that ocean view The arrow shows where Reading Is In this grouping. Remember, outside data sources show that Reading Is a great place to live. Adding or maintaining services in a financially sustainable way - the way Reading has to date - is generally accepted as a way to Improve community property values. In that chart behind me think about If you - and more to the point - your constituents - are willing and supportive to pay more taxes and move that dot up a bit and to the right. I won't ask your choice on this question now, but this is clearly a subject to ponder in the upcoming year. Planning for our financial future requires full involvement by all parties, and transparency to all town an school budgets, allowing a comprehensive view to all corners of our spending to be compiled. Only by all of us working together, with full disclosure and co- operation from all, will we succeed in plotting our path ahead. The Board of Selectmen before you is highly motivated to help lead that challenge May God bless you all, and continue to bless the Town of Reading. Thank you and Good Evening Charter Committee Alan Foulds, Moderator At the 2013 annual town meeting a positive vote on an instructional motion laid the foundation for the creation of a committee to review our current town charter and, if warranted, recommend changes. The committee has met several times and has looked at various aspects of the charter and has recorded such recommendations. It, also, has held one hearing -like meeting to allow the public to review the work so far and to give opinions. More are planned. Additionally, if changes are recommended to any board, committee, or commission, that group will be given ample opportunity to be involved in deliberations. First, a little background: Under Article 89 of the Massachusetts constitution a charter may be amended by a two thirds vote of the town meeting, then submitted to the voters. 61 Page ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 28, 2014 Preforming Arts Center If any change in a charter relates in any way to the composition, mode of election or appointment, or terms of office of the town meeting or the board of selectmen or town manager, a full charter commission must be elected according to the state constitution's guidelines. At this point, no such recommendations have been made by the current committee. According to Section 8 of the Home Rule Amendment of the constitution, certain proposed changes, once voted favorably by town meeting, may be submitted to the General Court for enactment, negating the need of a special ballot election. This will be verified by the town counsel before the committee proceeds in that direction. To date, much of the committee's work has concerned cleaning up language to make the document more readable and consistent, and to remove sections no longer relevant. One change of substance involves term limits of the finance committee members. Currently, members are limited to nine years. If they began by serving a partial term they are precluded from being appointed to a second full three -year term, which, if completed, would take them past the nine -year restriction. The committee proposes that a partial term of less than two years not count toward the limit. Another change calls for a special committee consisting of nine members to be established at least every ten years, for the purpose of reviewing the charter and make a report to town meeting concerning any proposed changes. In effect, it sets guidelines and makes somewhat permanent any future committee such as ours. So far, we have made our first pass through articles 1 -4 of nine, and are currently working on article 5. When completed with all nine, we reserve the right to reconsider all proposals to make sure they still fit in the big picture. When we are complete we then will decide how to group them for town meeting votes. It is likely that the more substantive changes will stand alone, while so- called housekeeping amendments may be grouped together. Also, when we consider our work complete, all proposals will be reviewed by town counsel. It is our intention to make a presentation of all proposals at the Subsequent Town Meeting in November, but we also feel that the self- imposed time limit will not keep us from taking longer, if warranted. In any event, we will make an updated report at that time. All meetings are posted and open to the public. In addition to our minutes being posted on the town's website, we also have a running change document, coded so as to be able to see the proposals as they stand now. That document can be found at readingma.gov under town clerk, bylaws and regulations, one item up from the bottom of the page. [http: / /www. readingma.gov /town - clerk/ pages/ bylaws -a nd- regulations] Finance Committee FY 15 Budget Report General Overview Mr. Moderator and Town Meeting members, thank you for allowing the opportunity to update you on the current state of Reading's finances. This budget is a collaborative effort of Town and School leaders as well as community volunteers. We are extremely fortunate in Reading to have such a committed and talented group. This budget process was punctuated with open, frank and transparent discussion over many months and many meetings. Town Meeting, you can be confident in the fact that while this budget may 71 Page ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 28, 2014 Preforming Arts Center not accomplish all of which some would hope, the process of deliberation was thoughtful and respectful, and will allow Reading to face the financial challenges confronting us in the coming years. Accomplishments and Challenges Through these difficult economic times, our finances continue to be strong. We maintain an AA credit rating. Our cash position, while above the Finance Committee policy of 5% of revenues, faces erosion from the demands of funding basic services. Finance Committee in June will deliberate Increasing the free cash policy requirement to 7 %. A key factor in determining the cost of debt for our approved and proposed building projects, our current free cash policy may be insufficient, and add as much as $100,000 in debt service costs for these projects. For the third consecutive year Reading has committed a significant contribution from its operating budget to fund its Other Post - Employment Benefit (OPEB) obligations. By adhering to this discipline, the Town has reduced its overall obligation by over $27 million in our most recent valuation update. While Finance Committee does not have an official OPEB policy, the Committee will revisit this in the summer, as rating agencies view positively a written policy. Town government undertook Its first significant reorganization plan in decades to better deploy resources to address customer service needs. We continue to offer some services regionally and are exploring other opportunities. These efforts can save the Town money, but more Importantly, allow us to offer deeper services with current expenditures. Our downtown continues to grow. New businesses, restaurants and activity significantly add to new growth which allows us to fund our operations and capital requirements. The town has invested In software to allow streamlined permitting and a quicker decision process. This needs to be a continuing priority, as new growth is one of the few ways to overcome the constraints of Prop 2 1/2. The voters have approved a $13.2 million debt exclusion to leverage an additional $5.1 million from the Commonwealth to completely renovate our aging and deteriorating library. When finished this project will be a crown jewel for the Town. However, other projects are looming in the future. The proposed early childhood education center, DPW facility, Killam School renovations, cemetery garage and the extremely costly water distribution repairs are all competing for financing. Finance Committee recommends that at the conclusion of Town Meeting a summit of all Boards, Departments and interested citizens convene to plan how these projects can be financed in a responsible manner. FY 15 Budget The deliberations around this budget were among the most trying In years. This budget maintains basic services with relatively few additions. However, we are balancing the budget with $1.7 million of free cash. In contrast we utilized $1.0 million in FY 14. This pace is unsustainable without the immediate Influx of new revenue only possible with an operating override. Worth noting is what is not Included in this year's budget. This budget funds the schools about $350,000 below the budget voted by the School Committee. Additionally, a combined $1.85 million of budget requests from the Town and Schools went unfunded. These requests were not frivolous or "nice to haves ". They were essential public safety, technology, public works and classroom services. Troubling to the Finance Committee was the fact that Reading ranks 305 out of the 328 school districts in per pupil spending. While the School Department continues to provide a high level of educational services, if this trend continues, Reading will fall behind peer communities and may fail to meet community expectations. Similar challenges confront the Town side of government. FY 16 and beyond The constraints of Proposition 2 1/2 have forced local government to make choices In the service levels provided, and cut services when revenue is insufficlent. However the override mechanism exists to allow community priorities to be funded above the limits of 2 1/2 when voters so choose. Reading has done its best to manage within the constraints of 2 1/2. We have delivered high quality municipal services in a el Page ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 28, 2014 Preforming Arts Center fiscally responsive manner. We have made painful choices when other towns spent freely. We have maintained and utilized healthy reserves to avoid engaging in huge layoffs. It has been thirteen years since the voters were asked to consider an operational override. The Finance Committee is not endorsing an override at this time but we are strongly urging the Town to begin the discussion on the level of services we want to have and what we are willing to pay. What is clear, is the current budget levels are unsustainable. The time to begin these discussions is now. Conclusion Reading has achieved a high level of fiscal soundness by taking the long view approach to financial planning. We have done this in an open, transparent and collaborative manner. This culture will continue to serve us well. A fresh set of challenges will confront a newly minted Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Finance Committee and a second year Town Manager. We strongly urge these groups to quickly convene after Town Meeting to plot a path forward and consider financing options for the myriad of capital projects, as well as convene a town wide discussion on the choices surrounding the operating budget. Before I close I want to acknowledge and thank David Greenfield who will be leaving Finance Committee in June after nine years of service. David has provided sage wisdom and steady guidance to the Committee during his tenure. On a personal note I also want to thank Town Meeting and my Finance Committee colleagues for the opportunity to serve you during the past years. My term is also expiring and I will be stepping down in June as well. So given the challenges heard here, there are two open seats waiting to be filled. Given Reading's strong culture of volunteerism, I am sure two of you or someone you know will grab the gauntlet. Together we will continue to make the right choices. Respectfully submitted, The Finance Committee Barry Berman, Chair - Mark Dockser, Vice Chair - David Greenfield - Karen Herrick - Peter Lydecker - Craig Merry - Paul McNeice - Jeff Perkins - Paula Perry Presentation given by: Zoning Bylaw Review Update, Charlie Adams and Jean Delios — See Attached On motion made by John Arena, Board of Selectmen Article 2 was tabled On motion by John Arena, Board of Selectmen, it was voted that this Annual Town Meeting stand adjourned to meet at 7:30 PM at the Reading Memorial High School Preforming Arts Center, on Thursday, May 1, 2014. Meeting adjourned at 9:02 PM with 160 Town Meeting Members in attendance. A true copy Attest: Laura A Gemme Town Clerk 91 Page