HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-04-25 Special Town Meeting Warrant ReportSPECIAL TOWN MEETING
APRIL 25, 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Sponsor Pao*
1
Reports
Board of Selectmen
2
2
Instructions
Board of Selectmen
2
3
Amending the Capital Improvement
Board of Selectmen
3
Program FY2013 — FY2022
5
Amending Section 4.3.1.4 of the
Community Planning and
3
Reading Zoning Bylaws
Development Commission
APPENDIX
Conduct of Town Meeting
8
Town Meeting Handout Guidelines
15
April 30, 2013
Special Town Meeting
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, as. Officer's Return, Reading:
By virtue of this Warrant, I, on March 20, 2013 notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to
vote on Town affairs, to meet at the place and at the time specified by posting attested copies of this Town Meeting
Warrant in the following public places within the Town of Reading: -
Precinct 1
J. Warren Klllam School, 333 Charles Street
Precinct 2
Reading Police Station, 15 Union Street
Precinct 3
Reading Municipal Light Department, 230 Ash Street
Precinct 4
Joshua Eaton School, 365 Summer Avenue
Precinct 5
Reading Library, Local History Room, 64 Middlesex Avenue
Precinct6
Barrows School, 16 Edgemont Avenue
Precinct 7
Birch Meadow School, 27 Arthur B Lord Drive
Precinct 6
Wood End School, 65 Sunset Rock Lane
Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street
The date of posting being not less than (14) days prior to April 25 2013 the date set for the Special Town Meet-ag
this Warrant.
I also caused an attested copy of this Warrant to be posted on the Town of Reading web site.
A true copy Attest:
LauA Town
1
TOWN WARRANT
(SEAL)
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, as.
To any of the Constables of the Town of Reading, Greetings:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and wam the
inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, to meet at the Reading
Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 62 Oakland Road, In said Reading, on Thursday, April 25,
2013, at eight 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 the Reading Home
Rule Charter
ARTICLE 1 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 & Development Commission, Town Manager and any other Official,
Board or Special Committee.
Board of Selectmen
Backaround: This article appears on the Warrant for all Town Meetings. At this Special Town Meeting
no report(s) are anticipated, and the article will be indefinitely postponed.
Finance Committee Report: No report.
Bylaw Committee Report: No report.
ARTICLE 2 To choose all other necessary Town Officers and Special Committees and determine
what instructions shall be given Town Officers and Special Committees, and to see what sum the Town will
vote to appropriate by borrowing or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, for the purpose of funding Town
Officers and Special Committees to carry out the instructions given to them, or take any other action with
respect thereto.
Board of Selectmen
Backaround: This Article appears on the Warrant of all Town Meetings. There are no known
Instructional Motions at this time. The Town Moderator requires that all proposed Instructional Motions be
submitted to the Town Clerk in advance so that Town Meeting Members may be "warned" as to the subject of
an Instructional Motion in advance of the motion being made. Instructional Motions are normally held until the
end of all other business at Town Meeting. The Article will be indefinitely postponed.
Finance Committee Report: No report.
Bylaw Committee Report: No report.
ARTICLE 3 To see if the Town will vote to amend the FY 2013 - FY 2022 Capital Improvements
Program 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
Baekaround: This Article is included in every Town Meeting Warrant. The Reading General Bylaw slates
(section 6.1.3) "... No funds may be appropriated for any capital item unless such item is included in the
Capital Improvements Program, and is scheduled for funding in the Fiscal Year in which the appropriation is to
be made." Bond ratings agencies also want to ensure that changes to a long-term CIP are adequately
described.
There is no anticipated action under this article at this Special Town Meeting and the article will be indefinitely
postponed.
Finance Committee Report: No report.
Bylaw Committee Report: No report.
ARTICLE 4 To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 4.3.1.4 of the Reading Zoning By-laws as
follows:
1. Amend subsection 4.3.1.4.a by deleting the first words of the paragraph "As of November 16, 1998'
and adding at the end of the first sentence the words "or the lot(s) on which the nursing home is to be located
currently has frontage on a State highway, and the proposed driveway to the site will be within 600 feet of a
signalized intersection", so that this subsection shall read:
a. The lot(s) on which the nursing home is to be located either abuts or is partially within a Business A
District, or is separated therefrom only by an Interstate Highway; or the lot(s) on which the nursing
home is to be located currently has frontage on a State highway, and the proposed driveway is within
600 feet of a signalized intersection. A lot shall not be considered as abutting Business A District unless
that lot actually, physically touches the Business A District, or is separated therefrom only by an
Interstate Highway. A lot on the other side of or separated by a local street or state highway from a
Business A District shall not be considered to "abut" that district for the purpose of this section.
2. Amend subsection 4.3.1.4.b by deleting the words and numerals "fifty (50) feet" and substituting the
words and numerals "twenty-five (25) feet" so that this subsection shall read:
b. Any structure or parking area shall be located not closer than twenty-five (25) feet to any property line
abutting a residence or local public street.
3. Amend subsection 4.3.1.4.c by deleting the words and numerals "one hundred feet" and substituting
the words and numerals "eighty (80) reef' so that this subsection shall read:
C. The nursing home structure shall not be less than eighty (80) feet from the nearest
dwelling existing at the time of application for the Special Permit.
Or take any other action with respect thereto.
Community Planning and
Development Commission
Background: As the Town's population ages, the number of residents with Alzheimer's disease will
regrettably increase as will the need to care for those stricken. The current Zoning By -Law allows nursing
homes and assisted living facilities in the 5-20 District, but because of the current language, few if any
locations would qualify. The maps below illustrate those areas where a nursing home can be located under
current regulations.
The lots must abut or be partially within a Business The lots must abut or be partially within a
A District or is separated only by an interstate Business A District or is separated only by an
highway. The map below illustrates areas within the Interstate highway. The map below illustrates
5-20 district which abut a Business A district. areas within the 5-20 which the adjacent
Business A zoning district is separated by an
interstate highway district.
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The proposed zoning change would allow limited property in the S-20 District to apply for a special permit for
an assisted living facility, provided all of the following criteria are met: (a) The property fronts on Main Street
(State Highway); and (b) the land is more than three acres in size, and (c) the facility has its driveway within
000 feet of a signalized intersection. In addition to the maps above, the map below illustrates an additional
location in which a nursing may be located under the proposed amendments.
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The proposed zoning change would allow limited property in the S-20 District to apply for a special permit for
an assisted living facility, provided all of the following criteria are met: (a) The property fronts on Main Street
(State Highway); and (b) the land is more than three acres in size, and (c) the facility has its driveway within
000 feet of a signalized intersection. In addition to the maps above, the map below illustrates an additional
location in which a nursing may be located under the proposed amendments.
4
A nursing home must be located
on lots which are within the S-20
District, have frontage on a State
Highway (Main Street) and have a
driveway within 800 -feat of a
signalized intersection. The
northwest corner of the intersection
the Franklin Street and Main Street
meet this criteria.
The Town has been approached by Antis Senior Living LLC to establish an Alzheimer's assisted living
facility at the current location of Eric's Greenhouse on Main Street. If the zoning change is adopted,
the proponent would still be required to obtain both a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals
and site plan approval from the CPDC to establish such a facility. These approvals require public
hearings with legal notice and notice to abutters within 300 feet. See the map below for the location of
Eric's Greenhouse.
CPDC Report: On April 8, 2013 the CPDC convened to hold a public hearing on the proposed Article
23, for the updating of the official zoning map and for the amendment to Section 3.2 "Zoning Map" to reflect the
date of the new official zoning map. All documents were made available on the town website and at Town Hall.
The public hearing was held to provide an opportunity for comment and to determine whether the provisions of
the proposed Article 23 shall be adopted by the Town.
The April 8, 2013 public hearing was opened at approximately 7:30 p.m. A presentation was made by the
Town Engineer to the CPDC and discussion followed. All comments received at the hearing were included as
part of the record of the hearing. The public hearing was closed that same evening on April 8, 2013. CPDC
voted 3-0-0 to recommend Article 23 to Town Meeting.
Finance Committee Report: No report.
Bylaw Committee Report: At their meeting on April 4, 2013 the Bylaw Committee voted 4-0-0 to recommend
the subject material of this Article to Town Meeting, based solely on the structural soundness of the proposed
changes. They did not take a position on the proposed use of the property.
and you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting an attested copy thereof in at least one (1) public place in
each precinct of the Town not less than fourteen (14) days prior to April 25, 2013, or providing in a manner
such as electronic submission, holding for pickup or mailing, an attested copy of said Warrant to each Town
Meeting Member.
Hereof fall 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 19' day of March , 2013.
I
SELECTMEN OF READING
l
Ala Idch, Constable
CONDUCT OF TOWN MEETING
Reading's Town Meeting is conducted in accordance with the rules set down in Article 2 of the
Charter and the General Bylaws. Although Town Meeting Time Third Edition is the basic source,
a Town Meeting Member need only be familiar with what is contained in the Charter. These
notes are intended to outline the major pointe all Town Meeting Members should know, and
which by knowing will make Town Meeting more understandable.
Organization
• Town Meeting consists of 192 elected members, of which 97 constitute a quorum.
• There are two required sessions: The Annual Meeting in Spring which is primarily for fiscal
matters and acceptance of the annual budget, and the Subsequent Meeting in November.
Special Town Meetings may be called at any time that the need arises.
• There are three main committees which review certain Articles and advise Town Meeting of
their recommendations:
Finance for all expenditures of funds.
Bylaw for all bylaw changes, and the
Community Planning and Development Commission for all zoning changes.
Their reports are given prior to discussing the motion.
General Rules of Procedure
• The Meeting is conducted through the Warrant Articles which are presented (moved) as
motions. Only one motion may be on the floor at a time; however, the motion may be
amended. Often two or more Articles which address the same subject may be discussed
together, however, only one is formally on the floor, and each when moved is acted upon
individually. Note that the vote on one may influence the others.
• Members who wish to speak shall rise, state their name and precinct in order to be
recognized.
• A Member may speak for ten (10) minutes but permission must be asked to exceed this
limit.
• Seven (7) Members can question a vote and call for a standing count, and twenty (20) can
ask for a roll call vote; however, a roll call vote is seldom used because of the time it takes.
Principal Motion Encountered At Town Meeting
The following motions are the principal ones used in most cases by Town Meeting to conduct Its
business. Experience shows that the Members should be familiar with these.
• Adjourn: Ends the sessions, can be moved at any time.
• Recess: Stops business for a short time, generally to resolve a procedural question or to
obtain information.
• Lay on the Table: Stops debate with the intention generally of bringing the subject up again
later. May also be used to defer action on an Article for which procedurally a negative vote is
undesirable. Note that tabled motions die with adjournment.
• Move the Previous Question: Upon acceptance by a two-thirds (213) vote, stops all debate
and brings the subject to a vote. This is generally the main motion, or the most recent
amendment, unless qualified by the mover. The reason for this as provided in Robert's
Rules of Order is to allow for other amendments should they wish to be presented.
• Amend: Offers changes to the main motion. Must be in accordance with the motion and
may not substantially alter the intent of the motion. In accordance with Robert's Rules of
Order, only one primary and one secondary motion will be allowed on the floor at one time,
unless specifically accepted by the Moderator.
• Indefinitely Postpone: Disposes of the Article without a yes or no vote.
• Take from the Table: Brings back a motion which was previously laid on the table.
• Main Motion: The means by which a subject is brought before the Meeting.
The Following Motions May Be Used By A Member For The Purpose Noted:
• Question of Privilege: Sometimes used to offer a resolution. Should not be used to "steal"
the floor.
• Point of Order: To raise a question concerning the conduct of the Meeting.
• Point of Information: To ask for information relevant to the business at hand.
Multiple Motions Subsequent (Multiple) Motions
If the subsequent motion to be offered, as distinct from an amendment made during debate,
includes material which has previously been put to a vote and defeated, it will be viewed by the
Moderator as reconsideration and will not be accepted. If the subsequent motion contains
distinctly new material which is within the scope of the Warrant Article, then It will be accepted.
An example of this latter situation is successive line items of an omnibus budget moved as a
block.
Subject To The Following Considerations
• The maker of any proposed multiple motion shall make their intent known, and the content
of the motion to be offered shall be conveyed to the Moderator - prior to the initial calling of
the Warrant Article.
• Once an affirmative vote has been taken on the motion then on the floor - no further
subsequent alternative motions will be accepted. (Obviously does not apply to the budget,
for example.)
• Also - There can only be one motion on the floor at any one time. You have the ability to
offer amendments to the motion that is on the floor. You also have the ability to move for
reconsideration.
Town Of Reading Bylaw - Article 2 Town Meeting
2.1 General
2,11ADate of Annual Town Election
The Annual Town Meeting shall be held on the third Tuesday preceding the fourth
Monday in April of each year for the election of Town Officers and for such other matters
as required by law to be determined by ballot. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board
of Selectmen may schedule the commencement of the Annual Town Meeting for the
same date designated as the date to hold any Federal or State election.
2.1.2 Hours of Election
The polls for the Annual Town Meeting shall be opened at 7:00 AM and shall remain
open until 8:00 PM.
2.1.3 Annual Town Meeting Business Sessions
All business of the Annual Town Meeting, except the election of such Town officers and
the determination of such matters are required by law to be elected or determined by
ballot, shall be considered at an adjournment of such meeting to be held at 7:30 PM on
the fourth Monday in April, except if this day shall fall on a legal holiday, in which case
the meeting shall be held on the following day or at a further adjournment thereof.
2.1.4 Subsequent Town Meeting
A Special Town Meeting called the Subsequent Town Meeting shall be held on the
second Monday in November, except If this day shall fall on a legal holiday, in which
case the meeting shall be held on the following day. The Subsequent Town Meeting
shall consider and act on all business as may properly come before it except the
adoption of the annual operating budget.
2.1.6 Adlourned Town Meatina Sessions
Adjourned sessions of every Annual Town Meeting after the first such adjourned session
provided for in Section 2.1.3 of this Article and all sessions of every Subsequent Town
Meeting, shall be held on the following Thursday at 7:30 PM and then on the following
Monday at 7:30 PM, and on consecutive Mondays and Thursdays unless a resolution to
adjourn to another time is adopted by a majority vote of Town Meeting Members present
and voting.
2.1.6 Postina of the Warrant
The Board of Selectmen shall give notice of the Annual, Subsequent or any Special
Town Meeting at least fourteen (14) days prior to the time of holding said meeting by
causing an attested copy of the warrant calling the same to be posted in one (1) or more
public places in each precinct of the Town, and either causing such attested copy to be
published in a local newspaper or providing in a manner such as electronic submission,
holding for pickup, or mailing, an attested copy of said warrant to each Town Meeting
Member.
2.1.7 Closing of the Warrant
All Articles for the Annual Town Meeting shall be submitted to the Board of Selectmen
not later than 8:00 PM on the fifth (8") Tuesday preceding the date of election of Town
officers, unless this day is a holiday in which case the following day shall be substituted.
All articles for the Subsequent Town Meeting shall be submitted to the Board of
Selectmen not later than 8:00 PM on the seventh (7th) Tuesday preceding the
Subsequent Town Meeting in which action is to be taken, unless this day is a holiday in
which case the following day shall be substituted.
2.1.8 Delivery of the Warrant
The Board of Selectmen, after drawing a Warrant for a Town Meeting, shall immediately
deliver a copy of such Warrant to each member of the Finance Committee, the
Community Planning and Development Commission, the Bylaw Committee and the
Moderator.
2.2 Conduct of Town Meeting
2.2.1 In the conduct of all Town Meetings the following rules shall be observed
Rule 1 A majority of Town Meeting Members shall constitute a quorum for doing
business.
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Rule 2 All articles on the warrant shall be taken up in the order of their arrangement in
the warrant unless otherwise decided by a majority vote of the members present
and voting.
Rule 3 Prior to debate on each article in a warrant Involving the expenditure of money,
the Finance Committee shall advise Town Meeting as to Its recommendations
and the reasons therefore.
Rule 4 Pnor to a debate on each article in a warrant involving changes in the bylaw or
Charter, petitions for a special act, or local acceptance by Town Meeting of a
State statute, the Bylaw Committee shall advise Town Meeting as to its
recommendations and reasons therefore.
Rule 5 Every person shall stand when speaking as they are able, shall respectfully
address the Moderator, shall not speak until recognized by the Moderator, shall
state his name and precinct, shall confine himself to the question under debate
and shall avoid all personalities.
Rule 6 No person shall be privileged to speak or make a motion until after he has been
recognized by the Moderator.
Rule 7 No Town Meeting Member or other person shall speak on any question more
than ten (10) minutes without first obtaining the permission of the meeting.
Rule 6 Any non -Town Meeting Member may speak at a Town Meeting having first
identified himself to the Moderator. A proponent of an article may speak on such
article only after first identifying himself to the Moderator and obtaining
permission of Town Meeting to speak. No non -Town Meeting Member shall
speak on any question more than five (5) minutes without first obtaining the
permission of the Meeting. Non -Town Meeting Members shall be given the
privilege of speaking at Town Meeting only after all Town Meeting Members who
desire to speak upon the question under consideration have first been given an
opportunity to do so.
Rule g Members of official bodies and Town officials who are not Town Meeting
Members shall have the same right to speak, but not to vote, as Town Meeting
Members on all matters relating to their official bodies.
Rule 10 No speaker at a Town Meeting shall be interrupted except by a Member making
a point of order or privileged motion or by the Moderator.
Rule 11 Any person having a monetary or equitable interest in any matter under
discussion at a Town Meeting, and any person employed by another having such
an interest, shall disclose the fact of his Interest or his employer's interest before
speaking thereon.
Rule 12 The Moderator shall decide all questions of order subject to appeal to the
meeting, the question on which appeal shall be taken before any other.
Rule 13 When a question Is put, the vote on all matters shall be taken by a show of
hands, and the Moderator shall declare the vote as it appears to him. If the
Moderator is unable to decide the vote by the show of hands, orf his decision is
immediately questioned by seven (7) or more Members, or if the Moderator
determines that a counted vole is required such as for a debt issue or Home Rule
Petition, he shall determine the question by ordering a standing vote, and he
11
shall appoint tellers to make and return the count directly to him. On request of
not less than twenty (20) members, a vote shall be taken by roll call.
Rule 14 All original main motions having to do with the expenditure of money shall be
presented in writing, and all other motions shall be in writing if so directed by the
Moderator.
Rule 16 No motion shall be received and put until it is seconded. No motion made and
seconded shall be withdrawn R any Member objects. No amendment not relevant
to the.subject of the original motion shall be entertained.
Rule 16 When a question is under debate, no motion shall be In order except:
• to adjourn,
• to lay on the table or pass over,
• to postpone for a certain time,
• to commit,
• to amend,
• to postpone indefinitely, or
• to fix a time for terminating debate and putting the question, and the aforesaid
several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they stand
arranged in this rule.
Rule 17 Motions to adjourn (except when balloting for offices and when votes are being
taken) shall always be first in order. Motions to adjourn, to move the question, to
lay on the table and to take from the table shall be decided without debate.
Rule 16 The previous question shall be put in the following form or in some other form
having the same meaning: "Shall the main question now be put' and until this
question is decided all debate on the main question shall be suspended. If the
previous question is adopted, the sense of the meeting shall immediately be
taken upon any pending amendments in the order Inverse to that in which they
were moved, except that the largest sum or the longest time shall be put first and
finally upon the main question.
Rule 19 The duties of the Moderator and the conduct and method of proceeding at all
Town Meetings, not prescribed by law or by rules set forth in this article, shall be
determined by rules of practice set forth in "Town Meeting Time Third Edition"
except that to lay on the table shall require a majority vote.
2.2.2 Attendance by Officials
It shall be the duty of every official body, by a member thereof, to be in attendance at all
Town Meetings for the Information thereof while any subject matter Is under
consideration affecting such official body.
2.2.3 Appointment of Committees
All committees authorized by Town Meeting shall be appointed by the Moderator unless
otherwise ordered by a vote of the Members present and voting. All committees shall
report as directed by Town Meeting. If no report is made within a year after the
appointment, the committee shall be discharged unless, in the meantime, Town Meeting
grants an extension of time. When the final report of a committee is placed in the hands
of the Moderator, it shall be deemed to be received, and a vote to accept the same shall
discharge the committee but shall not be equivalent to a vote to adopt it.
2.2.4 Motion to Reconsider
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2.2.4.1 Notice to Reconsider
A motion to reconsider any vote must be made before the final adjournment of
the meeting at which the vote was passed but such motion to reconsider shall not
be made at an adjourned meeting unless the mover has given notice of his
intention to make such a motion, either at the session of the meeting at which the
vote was passed or by written notice to the Town Clerk within twenty-four (24)
hours after the adjournment of such session. When such motion is made at the
session of the meeting at which the vote was passed, said motion shall be
accepted by the Moderator but consideration thereof shall be postponed to
become the first item to be considered at the next session, unless all remaining
articles have been disposed of, in which case reconsideration shall be
considered before final adjournment. There can be no reconsideration of a vote
once reconsidered or after a vote not to reconsider. Reconsideration may be
ordered by a vote of two-thirds (213) of the members present. Arguments for or
against reconsideration may include discussion of the motion being reconsidered
providing such discussion consists only of relevant facts or arguments not
previously presented by any speaker.
2.2.4.2 Federal or State Law Affecting Reconsideration
The foregoing provisions relating to motions to reconsider shall not apply to any
such motion made by the Board of Selectmen and authorized by the Moderator
as necessary for the reconsideration of actions previously taken by Town
Meeting by reason of State or Federal action or inaction or other circumstances
not within the control of the Town or Town Meeting. In the event such a motion to
reconsider is made and authorized, said motion may be made at any time before
the final adjournment of the meeting at which the vote was passed, said motion
may be made even if the vote was already reconsidered or was the subject of a
vote not to reconsider, and reconsideration may be ordered by a vote of two-
thirds (2/3) of the Members present.
2.2.4.3 Posting and Advertising
Notice of every vote to be reconsidered at an adjourned Town Meeting shall be
posted by the Town Clerk in one (1) or more public places in each precinct of the
Town as soon as possible after adjournment, and he shall, if practicable, at least
one day before the time of the next following session of said adjourned meeting,
publish such notice In some newspaper published in the Town. Said notice shall
include the vote to be reconsidered and the place and time of the next following
session of said adjourned meeting. The foregoing notice provisions shall not
apply when a motion to reconsider any Town Meeting action is made publicly at
Town Meeting before the adjournment of any session of any adjourned Town
Meeting.
2.2.5 State of the Town
The Selectmen shall, at each Annual Town Meeting, give to the Members information on
the "State of the Town."
2.2.6 Annual Precinct Meetino
Town Meeting Members and Town Meeting Members -elect from each precinct shall hold
an annual precinct meeting after the annual Town election but before the convening of
the business sessions of the Annual Town Meeting. The purpose of the meeting shall be
the election of a Chairman and a Clerk and to conduct whatever business may be
appropriate. Chairmen shall serve no more than six (6) consecutive years in that
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position. Additional precinct meetings may be called by the Chairman or by a petition of
six (6) Town Meeting Members of the precinct.
2.2.7 Removal of Town Meeting Members
2.2.7.1 Notice of Attendance
The Town Clerk shall mail, within thirty (30) days after the adjournment sine die
of the Annual Town Meeting, to every Town Meeting Member who has attended
less than one-half of Town Meeting sessions since the most recent Annual Town
Election, a record of his attendance and a copy of Section 2-6 of the Charter.
2.2.7.2 Precinct Recommendation
All Precinct meeting held prior to consideration by Town Meeting of the warrant
article pursuant to Section 2-6 of the Charter. Town Meeting Members of each
precinct shall adopt a recommendation to Town Meeting on whether each
member from the precinct listed in the warrant per Section 2-6 of the Charter
should be removed from Town Meeting. The Chairman of each precinct or his
designee shall make such recommendations along with supporting evidence and
rationale to Town Meeting.
2.2.7.3 Grouped by Precinct
The names of the Members subject to removal In accordance with Section 2-6 of
the Charter shall be grouped by precinct in the warrant article required by said
section.
2.2.8 Meetings During Town Meeting
No appointed or elected board, committee, commission or other entity of Town
government shall schedule or conduct any hearing, meeting or other function during any
hours in which an Annual, Subsequent or Special Town Meeting is in session or is
scheduled to be in session. Any such board, committee or commission which schedules
or holds a meeting or hearing on the same calendar day, but at a time prior to a session
of Town Meeting, shall adjourn or recess not less than five (5) minutes prior to the
scheduled session of Town Meeting.
Any board, committee or commission may, at the opening of any session of Town
Meeting, present to that Town Meeting an instructional motion requesting an exemption
from this bylaw and asking that Town Meeting permit it to meet at a date and hour at
which a future session of Town Meeting is scheduled, and may present reasons for
Town Meeting to give such permission. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any board,
committee or commission which meets the requirements of M.G.L. Chapter 39, Section
23B concerning emergency meetings may, upon meeting such requirements, conduct
such a meeting or hearing at a time scheduled for a Town Meeting.
2.2.9 Rules Committee
The members of the Rules Committee, established under Section 2-12 of the Charter,
shall hold an annual meeting within thirty (30) days after the adjournment of the Annual
Town Meeting for the purpose of electing a Chairman and a Clerk and to conduct
whatever business may be appropriate. Additional Rules Committee meetings may be
called by the Chairman.
In the absence of a Chairman, the Moderator shall convene a meeting of the Rules
Committee within sixty (60) days after a vacancy for the purpose of electing a new
Chairman.
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FAX: (781) 942-9070
Website: www.readingma.gov
Town of Reading
16 Lowell Street
Reading, MA 01867-2685
Town Meeting Handout Guidelines
TOWN CLERK
(781)942-9080
To ensure that all Town Meeting members have access to the same information, distributed In the same
manner, please follow the below listed guidelines for handout materials:
Materials that are prepared by a Town Board / Committee / Town Department must include the following:
o Article name and number
o Name of Town Board! Committee / Commission or Town Department
o Date the document was created
o Contact Information
o Approval of Town Clerk's Office
Materials that are prepared by petitioners or other voters must include the following:
o Article name and number
o Contact information of person who created handout
o Date the document was created
o Approval of Town Clerk's Office
All handouts:
• Must contain facts only unless specifically stating 'This Is the opinion of
• Should be on white paper only
• Should be double -sided copies if more than one page
• May be distributed only by giving adequate copies for all Town Meeting members (192) to the
-Town Clerk or designee by 8:30 PM on the night in which the subject arficle will be discussed
• All handouts not approved will be removed and recycled
• All handouts not distributed must be picked up at the end of each night or they will be recycled at
the end of each night.
All PowerPoint Presentations:
• Must consult with the Town Clerk before the meeting
• Provide a copy before the meeting
• All presentations will be given using the Town of Reading laptop computer
February of 2010
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