HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-11 ad Hoc - Firearms Safety Committee MinuteslbQFR'
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Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Date: 2015 -05 -11
Building: Reading Police Station
Address: 15 Union Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
Ad Hoc Firearms Safety Committee
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Community Room
Session: Open Sessioin
Kevin Sexton, Mark Segalla, Bryn Burkhart, John Scully, Ken Lafferty, David
Pinette, John Halsey
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kevin Sexton
Topics of Discussion:
Kevin Sexton called the meeting to order at 6:36 PM.
John Halsey suggested we establish a Chair and Vice Chair to lead the committee and he
nominated Kevin Sexton as Chair and Bryn Burkhart as Vice Chair. Deputy Chief Mark
Segalla seconded it. The committee made a vote of 7 -0 -0 to those nominations.
Kevin Sexton described why this committee was created, that it was an instructional motion
voted on by Town Meeting to have a committee formed to look at our current firearm bylaw
to see what, if anything should be done with it.
Kevin Sexton had everyone introduce and give a little background about themselves and
why they were interested in being on the committee.
Daivd Pinette discussed Chapter 131 and the current Massachusetts State Laws on hunting
and the discharge of firearms. He said he had been in touch with someone from Mass
Division of Fish & Wildlife regarding hunting regulations and enforcement.
Bryn Burkhart said we had been tasked with ensuring the "rights and interests of all
citizens, and she would interpret that as taking public safety into account. The issue was
borne out of a public safety concern as our current bylaw in its current state presents public
safety issues.
The group discussed what happened at the January special town meeting in regards to the
article to add to the bylaw.
Ken Lafferty asked is there really a safety issue with regards to the current firearm bylaw?
Deputy Chief Segalla was asked if upon investigation into the Timberneck Swamp area if
any evidence was collected that suggested the discharge of a firearm occurred? His answer
was that no such evidence was found, but no thorough investigation had been conducted.
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Deputy Chief Segalla was further questioned on whether any unlawful firearm discharges
have occurred in Reading at all in the past? His answer was no.
Kevin Sexton opened the floor up to public comment and Tony Torra spoke about using
town money to purchase signs for private land and talked about property rights of town
residents.
A schedule was discussed for future meetings.
Kevin Sexton brought up the suggestion that town counsel be present at our next meeting,
so we could get clarification on the bylaw.
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