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Home My WebLink About2016 Annual Report Part 1OFRF 2016 Annual Report y. C b ors3`9,INCORQ0 Table of Contents PAGE(S) 2016 YEAR IN REVIEW Town Manager Annual Letter &Table of Organization .. ............................... 1 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Board of Selectmen ................................................... ............................... 6 TownCounsel .................................................. ............................... 9 TownClerk ..................................................... ............................... 10 Human Resources ............................................. ............................... 12 Technology & Operations ................................... ............................... 13 PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT Planning Division .............................................. ............................... 16 Metro North Regional Housing Services Office (MNRHSO) .......................... 18 Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) ............ ............................... 19 North Suburban Planning Council (NSPC) ................ ............................... 19 Conservation Division ........................................ ............................... 23 Historical Commission ........................................ ............................... 26 Historic District Commission ....................................... ............................... 27 Inspections Division & Zoning Board of Appeals ......... ............................... 27 HealthDivision ................................................ ............................... 29 Elder /Human Services Division .............................. ............................... 33 Recreation Division ............................................ ............................... 40 Veterans' Services Division .................................. ............................... 47 The Arc of Middlesex ......................................... ............................... 48 Mystic Valley Elder Services ................................ ............................... 49 TrailsCommittee ............................................... ............................... 51 FINANCE DEPARTMENT Accounting .................................................................. ............................... 53 Assessing........................................................ ............................... 53 Treasurer........................................................ ............................... 53 Assessing........................................................ ............................... 53 PUBLIC SAFETY FireDepartment .......................................................... ............................... 56 Police Department ............................................. ............................... 63 AnimalControl ................................................ ............................... 66 Parking Enforcement Officer ................................ ............................... 67 Public Safety Dispatch ................................... ............................... 71 PoliceRoster ................................................... ............................... 72 Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse (RCASA) . ............................... 74 PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Director's Report ............................................... ............................... 79 Administration Division ...................................... ............................... 81 CemeteryDivision ............................................. ............................... 81 Custodian of Soldiers' and Sailors' Graves ................ ............................... 82 Engineering Division ......................................... ............................... 82 HighwayDivision ............................................. ............................... 89 Forestry Division: Tree Warden's Report ................. ............................... 90 ParksDivision ......................................................... ............................... 91 Water Supply Division ........................................ ............................... 91 Water Distribution Division .................................. ............................... 93 SewerDivision ................................................. ............................... 93 READING PUBLIC LIBRARY Report........................................................... ............................... 95 HOUSING AUTHORITY Report........................................................... ............................... 103 SCHOOL DEPARTMENT School Committee Report .................................... ............................... 112 Superintendent's Report ...................................... ............................... 114 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School ..... ............................... 169 BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS Roster........................................................... ............................... 179 APPENDIX A. Legislative Reports ................................... ............................... 188 B. Financial Statements .................................. ............................... 528 Dear Fellow Reading Residents, The Town of Reading Annual Report covering calendar year 2016 is attached. This report both summarizes and provides great detail for many Town activities during the year. The year 2014 was the `Policy Year' with the first significant set of revisions to the Reading Home Rule Charter in twenty -five years and the first comprehensive review and revisions to the Zoning bylaws in almost seventy -five years; then 2015 was a `Financial Planning Year' as steps towards protecting the long term financial health of the community were taken. Most recently, 2016 was an `Operations' year, as we began to study Reading in the context of 25 Peer Communities. This introspection was especially helpful after a failed Override ballot question in October 2016. Peer Communities Two different independent consultants hired over the past ten years have developed a list of communities that are statistically similar to Reading. Because Melrose has a Mayor /City Council form of government, they are usually excluded, but shown below. These communities were selected based on mathematical measures of demographics. Sometime individual communities are quite different in any given area, but almost always the average Peer data is quite similar to Reading. As you can see, geography also plays a role: �q f l I 1 F ,n. i....p 3 , �w.do "fir IN tLYSii t 51 i#K'bnont BU /�V�//��{■ concord w dai"s Dedham • ...am.� `W Na Revenues Since the last Override in 2003/2004, Reading has become increasingly dependent on property taxes as a source of annual revenue. This places a burden on the 92% residential tax base, which is a very typical situation in so- called bedroom communities in the state. FY03 • Property Taxes • Local Fees rm State Aid FY06 The charts above show the change from before and after the last successful Override, where a demand for town and school services required an increase in property taxes, shown by the change from 62% to 67% of annual revenues. FY17 29,0 4% 15% ■ Property 4kTaxes 7% ■ Local Fees State Aid K Remarkably, a similar change is seen over the last decade. Property taxes now supply 72% of annual revenues, and yet are subject to a 2 %z% annual increase (aside from a small amount of Library project debt). How has that happened? State Aid has been anemic, and overall spending has fallen to much lower levels than in previous decades. Thus the reliance is now even more on local property taxes, growing at 2.5% each year. When we examine Peer Communities, Reading collects $54 million in residential property taxes, in line with the average $55 million collected for our peer communities. However Reading only collects $5 million from the Commercial sector, whereas Peers collect over $17 million. This extra $10 million or so makes a big difference in what spending is available for the Town and Schools. In fact, a study of our Peers since the passage of Proposition 2 1/2 shows a very high correlation between bedroom communities with low Commercial sector and reliance on Overrides. For the 11 peer communities with 87% or more residential property, all but one (Lynnfield) asked voters for Overrides more often that Reading has, and all but one (Stoneham) has passed more Overrides. Conversely the other 14 peer communities, only Westford has asked more often, and only Walpole, Canton and Natick have passed one more recently. The relationship between the tax base in the community and the role of the Override is very strong. Override Request Fails In October the Board of Selectmen unanimously placed a ballot question in front of local voters for a $7.5 million operating Override. Funds were to be divided up between the Town and Schools as per the annual budget process, and expected to delay the need to ask the community for another Override for at least ten years. The request came after a year -long educational campaign where town and school officials and elected and appointed volunteer boards conducted dozens of public meetings. On October 18th, 37% of voters went to the polls and overwhelmingly responded by defeating the ballot question by a margin of 2,795 Yes (41 %) and 4,097 No (59 %). Budgets After the defeat of the Override, both the Town Manager and Superintendent of School crafted budgets for fiscal 2018 with deep cuts. Police officers, Firefighters and Teachers were eliminated, with a forecast of further cuts in upcoming years because of the imbalance between low revenue growth (hampered by flat State Aid) and the expected rise of some uncontrollable costs (energy, health insurances, special education). The FY18 budget has not been an easy one to create over the past several months, nor will it be an easy one to live with. Residents will need to hear an increasing amount of `no, we can't help you' in some service areas. However to set aside the near -term financial challenges for a moment, there is an issue of deep concern to me and some of my peer Mayors and Managers: the fragile and decaying civility in public discourse certainly influenced by national politics. We see divides in our communities forming — if one looks carefully they are actually not easy to label or describe, let alone find a way to bridge. Some of that came out in Reading during our Community Listening and Senior Tax Relief Sessions last summer, when different groups of residents selfishly opposed each other, and this behavior has continued in different local forums since. Some residents seem bent on winning a debate as if it is a contest, instead of sitting down as a community to find common ground and solutions. Sure, it is tempting to extend both palm's outward and push each side away, hoping to enjoy a moment's peace. But the so- called Reading way has always been to sit down, talk and 3 listen. We may not be able to solve the world's problems, but there is absolutely no reason we can't do a better job working together on Reading issues. Please learn to keep your palms in your pockets, recognize the old adage about the ratio between two ears and only one mouth, and find a way to bridge that widening gap with your neighbor - before it is too late. Robert W. LeLacheur, Jr. CFA Town Manager Email: townmanagergci.reading ma.us Website: www.readingma.gov n SCHOOL SCHOOL COMMITTEE (elected) School I I School Buildings Department Town of Reading, MA Executive Branch < Table of Organization s39'1N(:ORQ�! April 2017 Town Meeting — no changes) VOTERS Town Accountant FACILITIES F7NAMGE ADMIMISTRATIVE SERVtCE8` Factities calcines PUBLIC WORKS, . dministraWe Services Assistant .' i own Accountant Director Director of Public VVOrks Board of Selectmen Fit re. Ch, ief , .. . Finance Committee s Core Fadlitie. 84616 e Town. Manager office Town Buildings Law Insurance Human Resources Operations Library Administration Circulation Technology DPW Administration Engineering Police Arum Control Town Clerk Accounting Community Development Fladions BOARD OF SELECTMEN (elected) Town Manager ` Town Counsel BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES PUBLIC SERVICES. F7NAMGE PUBLIC SAFETY: ' PUBLIC WORKS, PUBLIC LIBRARY Assistant .' i own Accountant Pcicechief,& Director of Public VVOrks Library Director Town Manager Fit re. Ch, ief , .. . Library Administration Circulation DPW Administration Engineering Police Arum Control Public Svc Administration Accounting Community Development Assessment Traffic Eraforcemenf Highway Children's Building t'lanning Collections Treasury Teleconlmuntcations Equipment: Maintenance_ Reference Historical i2CASA Oarks%Forestry /Cemetery Tech Services Fire _ Rubbist lRecycin g lerans' 5 streetligtiting Snow /ice ..::`Watery Sewer Storrnwater ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Board of Selectmen Daniel Ensminger and Barry Berman were both re- elected to three year terms. John Halsey served as Chairman, Kevin Sexton served as Vice Chairman and Barry Berman served as Secretary. Personnel and Appointments The Board of Selectmen extended the employment agreement between the Town of Reading and Bob LeLacheur for services as Town Manager effective August 1, 2016 through July 31, 2018. The Board of Selectmen reappointed Sharon Angstrom as Town Accountant with a term expiring June 30, 2017. The Board of Selectmen met jointly with the School Committee to appoint Nicholas Boivin to the School Committee with a term expiring April 4, 2017 due to the resignation of Julianne Joyce. The Board of Selectmen approved the FYI Non -Union Pay and Classification Plans. In October, they amended the Classification Plan by removing the Recreation Program Coordinator position and adding a Permit Coordinator position to Grade F. Jayne Miller was hired as Business Administrator, Allison Jenkins was hired as Procurement Officer and Andrew Corona was hired as Economic Development Director. Boards and Committees The Permanent Building Committee met frequently in 2016 to look at the cemetery building and develop a process for projects coming before them. The Committee worked on revising the Bylaw, scheduled for April 2017 Town Meeting. The Project Assessment process will consist of an application, evaluation and reporting. The elected boards (Selectmen, School Committee and Library Trustees) will serve as project sponsors. After Town Meeting approves a project, the PBC will be involved in Project Administration, at which point temporary members affiliated with the project sponsor would join the PBC. Licenses and Permits The Board of Selectmen was very busy with liquor licenses in 2016 and approved the following: • the transfer of the all alcohol restaurant license from Ristorante Pavarotti, Inc. d/b /a Ristorante Pavarotti to Rocco's Enterprises, LLC which was later rescinded at the request of the licensee; • the transfer of the all alcohol restaurant license from Ristorante Pavarotti, Inc. d/b /a Ristorante Pavarotti to Boston Foods Inc. d/b /a Ristorante Pavarotti at 601 Main Street; 0 • an alteration of premises for Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza to include a patio area; • a change in beneficial interest for Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza; • transfer of all alcohol package store license from Reading Busa Liquors to HT Liquors LLC d/b /a Wine and Spirits; • change of d /b /a from Wine and Spirits to Baystate Liquors; • approved an All Alcohol Restaurant Liquor License for Chipotle Mexican Grill, 46 Walkers Brook Drive and the Board of Selectmen later granted a waiver of Section 3.2.2.2 of the Selectmen's Policies for Chipotle to serve alcohol in plastic cups through December 31, 2016; • approved the transfer of the All Alcohol Package Store Liquor license, change of location and appointment of Manager from Brooks Brew and Fine Wines, 676 Main Street to Anastasi Brookline Inc. d/b /a Reading Fine Wine and Spirits, 25, Walkers Brook Drive; • approved the alteration of premises for Bistro Concepts, Inc., d/b /a Fusilli's Cucina, 107 Main Street, for the addition of outdoor seating consisting of 12 seats; • approved a new Wine and Malt General on Premise Liquor License for The Art Lounge LLC d /b /a The Art Lounge on Haven, .78 Haven Street; • approved the change in Manager for the Reading Veteran's Association Inc. from Dennis F. Lane to James J. Fucci, Jr. In April 2016, the Board of Selectmen amended Section 3.2. of the Board of Selectmen Liquor License Policies to include regulations for a General on Premise All Alcohol license. The hours were set to be 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 noon to 11:00 p.m. on Sundays; and the fees were set as follows: • General on Premise All Alcohol - $3700 • General on Premise Malt and Wine $2700 • General on Premise for Instructional Classes All Alcohol - $700 • and General on Premise for Instructional Classes Malt and Wine - $500 The Board of Selectmen conducted a thorough review of Section 3 of the Selectmen's Policies regarding licenses and will adopted a more streamlined version in 2017. In addition, the Board of Selectmen approved a 5:00 a:m. opening for Tread on the Mill, 11 — 13 High Street. Economic Development Former Town Planner Jessie Wilson worked on an economic development project to identify the best practices from our peers in 2016. She sent a survey to our peer communities with 11 questions on three topics: What are the key objectives in community development; how do they measure success and how does the town government impact community development. She received many responses and will continue to collect data on the peer communities by going out and interviewing them. This project will continue into 2017, in conjunction with Economic Development Director Andrew Corona. 7 Infrastructure The Permanent Building Committee was charged to review and determine a solution to resolve the physical space needs of the Cemetery department. Since that instructional motion was made at Town Meeting, the Facilities Department took control of the Cemetery Building and made the building safer so the urgency to replace it was not as great. Once the Permanent Building Committee has an approved bylaw and process in place they will continue the review of this project. On November 15, 2016, the Board of Selectmen declared the Oakland Road property as surplus. Town Meeting did not authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell or dispose of the property. Representatives from North Reading attended the Reading Selectmen's meeting on May 17, 2016 because their community needs to join the MWRA for water supply. They believe that going through Reading is the best route and their permitting begins in 2016 and will be final in 2019. DPW staff has been talking for over one year and Reading's long term goal is to have a water supply backup. Reading is willing to discuss forming and managing a formal water district after the second phase of the IMA is in place. There will be two sets of meters. The MWRA will bill North Reading for what goes in and we will be billed the amount minus what North Reading gets. . The Auburn Street water tank is in need of repairs and the Town has received a request for a fourth cell carrier who wants to go on the tank. The Town Engineer made a presentation to the Board of Selectmen showing two options — Option #1 is to rehab the tank and make is safer. Option 2 was to construct a new cell tower and get the equipment off permanently. The cell tower would be 165 feet tall; the tank would not need structural modification; it will increase safety, increase cell coverage and increase revenue. The Board directed the Town Engineer to hire a design consultant and come back to the Board with a few options for a cell tower. The Board of Selectmen approved a water, sewer and drainage easement on Birch Road; and abandoned . easements at 21 Hunt Street and 26 Lee Street. In addition, they approved the taking of the following private ways: Cory Lane Pondview Lane Roma Lane Sailor Tom's Way Causeway Road Dividence Road from Zachary Lane to dead end from Fairchild Drive to dead end from Sanborn Lane to dead end from Franklin Street to dead end from Lowell Street to dead end from Franklin Street to Emerson Street Community Development A developer of a proposed 40B project on Woburn Street (the former St. Agnes School) went before the Board of Selectmen in January, 2016. There will be 20 units with affordable units. The parking exceeds the zoning requirements. The developer noted that 1 /4th of the units will be affordable, which will be 5 units. There will be a lottery to determine who gets the units. A developer of another proposed 40B project called Reading Village at Lincoln/Prescott Streets appeared before the Board of Selectmen. The project is for up to 77 rental units with 20 units for low and moderate income persons or families. The Town held a Zoning Charette to look at zoning changes in 2016 that included a 40R overlay district in the downtown area. Changes to the sign bylaw were also reviewed to bring the bylaw into compliance with the Supreme Court ruling. Reading voters said they were not in favor of Question 4 (legalizing recreational marijuana) that was on the state ballot so the Board of Selectmen directed the Community Planning and Development Commission to hold hearings on the Prohibition of Marijuana Establishments and Moratorium on Marijuana Establishments. This would then be brought to the voters in 2017 as a ballot question and the bylaw changes would go to Town Meeting. Financial In 2016 the Board of Selectmen held three formal Community Listening Sessions to discuss a Proposition 2 % override. As a result of those sessions the question was brought to the voters at a Special Election at which time the request for a Proposition 2 %a Override was defeated. In 2016 the Board of Selectmen petitioned the General Court for passage of a special law that would authorize the Town of Reading to establish a means tested senior citizen property tax exemption. The General Court approved this act and the senior tax relief will go into effect in 2017. Town Meeting authorized the payment of $6 million to settle the TLT litigation regarding the Reading Memorial High School renovations at the November 14, 2016 Special Town Meeting. Town Counsel The role of Town Counsel is to provide. information about what the law requires, to advise Town officials and boards concerning the law, to protect the legal interests of the Town in the conduct of its affairs, and to represent the Town in judicial and administrative proceedings. This involves the preparation of legal memoranda and the negotiation, drafting or review of protocols, memoranda of understanding or other types of agreements and contracts. In addition, Town Counsel answers questions on topics such as procurement, contracts, insurance, land use, environmental law, wetlands protection, municipal finance, construction law, employment, open meeting and public records requirements, and ethics. Z In 2016, we represented Reading in three litigation matters: Da Silva v. Gemme, Docket No. 14EO083 (Worcester Probate Court). Two current residents of Worcester were married in 2009 by a Justice of the Peace residing in Reading. They sued the Town Clerk seeking correction of what they claim are mistakes in their marriage certificate. The Town Clerk filed an answer in February 2015 in which she noted that the documentation required by law to change the certificate has not been provided. There has been no activity on the case since February 2015. Matteo Gallo, Trustee v. Town of Reading, Land Court No. 15 -MISC- 000566 In this case, the owner of 506 Summer Avenue seeks a declaration that this property, which is located -in the S -15 zoning district, may be used as a three - family dwelling. This matter is scheduled for trial in the spring of 2017. Paul Ferazzi, Trustee v. Reading Zoning Board of Appeals, Superior Court 1681 -CV- 02881 -H In the decision dated September 1, 2016, the ZBA found that the property located at 85 Bancroft Street was not a lawfully nonconforming three- family dwelling. The property owner appealed this decision pursuant to M.G.L. c.40A, § 17. This case is currently in the discovery phase. The year' 2016 marked the second full year of our tenure as Town Counsel in Reading. We believe that each matter that comes before Town Counsel deserves careful thought, and we strive to provide the Town with personal, direct and responsive legal counsel, diligent attention to the Town's needs, and good humor. Respectfully submitted, J. Raymond Miyares Town Clerk Elections In 2016 there were five Elections. The Town Election was held on March 1St and was combined with the Presidential Primary. The State Primary was September 8th while the State Election was November 8th. There was a Special Election on October 18th with an override question. 2016 brought Early Voting for the first time in Massachusetts implemented for the Presidential Election allowing Early Voting October 24th to November 4th Election Turnout On March 1St Town Election, there were 6,163 votes cast with 227 Absentee Ballots, a turnout of 34.4 %. On March 1St Presidential Primary, there were 9,311 votes cast with 414 Absentee Ballots, a turnout of 52 %. lfl] On September 8th State Primary, there were 867 votes cast with 100 Absentee Ballots, a turnout of 4.7 %. On October 18th Special Town Election, there were 6,892 votes cast with 420 Absentee Ballots, a turnout of 37 %. On November 8th State Election, there were 15,353 votes cast with 954 Absentee Ballots, a turnout of 81.3 %. Of the 15,353 votes cast 6,295 was cast during the Early Voting period. Board of Registrars Registrars Krissandra Holmes, Gloria Hulse, Harry Simmons, and Town Clerk Laura Gemme registered 2,609 voters; made 3,385 voter changes (name, address, status); and deleted 598 voters in 2016. There were over 5,680 signatures certified on nomination and petition papers for the 2016 election year. Registrars also offered assistance to voters on election day. Census The Annual Town Census was conducted in January, entirely by mail, with over 11,600 forms mailed to residences. The local census assists the Town Clerk in putting together the Street List (resident book) and the Jury List. Major functions served by an annual local census are: • Information collected for municipal purposes • School needs • Growth and planning needs • Resident identification for police and fire • Collection of dog information • Veteran Information Information for the Jury Commissioners Determining inactive ' voter status for voter removal as required by the National Voter Registration Act. Town Meeting Town of Reading held an Annual and Subsequent Town Meeting in 2016 as well as three Special Town Meetings. The Annual Town Meeting was held in two nights on April 25th and April 28th. The Subsequent Town Meeting was held in one night on November 14th The three Special Town Meetin s were held on September 12th as a one night meeting, November 14th, November 17t and November 21s' as a three night meeting and November 21St as a one night meeting. Vital Statistics and Licensing During the calendar year 2016, the following Vital Statistics were recorded in the Town Clerk's Office: Births — 285 Marriages — 88 Deaths — 414 fail The Town Clerk's office issued 2529 dog licenses, 2 commercial dog kennel licenses and 1 residential kennel licenses, 166 business certificates, 18 renewals for 68 underground storage tanks, and 82 cemetery deeds. The Town Clerk as the Burial Agent for the Board of Health issued 307 Burial Permits. Total Receipts Total receipts collected in the Town Clerk's office for the calendar year 2016 amounted to $82,323.45 Human Resources The Human Resources Division supports the Town (under the direction of the Town Manager), Schools (under the direction of the Superintendent), Light Department (under the direction of the RMLD General Manager) and Retiree benefit activities. Employee benefits administered through this Division include health, dental and life insurance, deferred compensation, flexible spending accounts, the sick -leave bank, the Employee Assistance Program, paid time off, leaves of absence, professional development and unemployment benefits. Job related injuries covered by worker's compensation or MGL Chapter 41 Section 111F (for public safety employees) are also administered through this department. Worker's compensation is a premium- based program purchased through the Massachusetts Inter -Local Insurance Association (MIIA). The Town is self - insured for job- related injuries of its public safety employees qualifying under Section 11 IF. This program is fully administered within the Human Resources Division. The Town's health insurance program is currently administered through MIIA, with large losses being shared by all members of the MIIA Health Benefits Trust. The Town occasionally reviews options of its health insurance plans available through an open bid process. Longfellow Benefits recently assisted the Town in an open bid process which included a wide comparison of plans available to the Town including the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission municipal options. The Public Employee Committee meets occasionally to review the status of the 'town's plans and to provide input throughout the selection process. MIIA was selected to continue our health plan throughout the FY16 plan year. We are currently anticipating the disclosure of our FY17 rates and will be meeting with the Public Employee Committee to confirm our plan coverage. The Human Resources Division is responsible for the recruitment and selection process for all new employees. This includes job description development, job postings, candidate selections and interviewing. Human Resources must ensure a fair and non- discriminatory process is followed in accordance with the Town of Readings Equal Opportunity Policy. 12 In 2016 the Human Resources Division processed 144 new employees through the onboarding process. This includes offer letters, orientations, pre - employment protocols, background checks, reference checks, etc. Finance: 3 Department of Public Works: 9 Facilities: 2 Library: 5 Fire: 2 Police: 6 new plus 3 promotions Community Services: 24 Community Development: 2 ' Administrative Services: 5 (plus 82 Election Workers) Retirement: 1 Human Resources is also responsible for insuring appropriate and safe working conditions, employee relations, performance management and performance improvement, internal complaints, internal investigations, personnel policy management, wellness programs, personnel record security management, and dismissal management. Technology The Technology Division is responsible for providing and maintaining the necessary computing and telecommunications infrastructure and systems that the various Town departments use, in a secure and thoughtful manner. Additionally, the division administers the geographic information system (GIS), and provides the town's departments, boards, committees, and commissions with custom maps and analysis. As always, this year was a mix of technology changes that were visible, and some that were behind the scenes. We were able to build some automatic failover in to our networking infrastructure. Also, we upgraded our backup system, and did so in coordination with the school department's. backup system upgrade, which resulted in systems that can replicate to one another. We received a grant towards a security audit of our environment that was performed, and made some security changes to reflect the audit's findings. Changes that were more visible include an upgrade to our website's design. The content was organized in a way that reflected what residents and businesses most often needed to find, and the presentation changed to account for the various devices that visitors to the website are using. Although it wouldn't open until the fall, we started installing the technology infrastructure in the renovated library. This included any technology that was needed before the walls and ceilings were finished. Major GIS efforts included supporting Public Works mobile mapping and utility editing efforts and working with the Public Services Division on economic development, affordable housing, and zoning issues. Staff also began work with the Town Clerk on early stages of the 2020 US Census. Operations The Operations Division includes the Department Head, Business. Administrator, Procurement Officer, and staff shared with the department and /or the organization. The division is the centralized location for procurement, communications, and constituent services. In 2016, Operations managed the adoption, migration, and training on a new 13 reverse 911 system CodeRED, branded as Reading Community Alerts, to manage both internal and external emergency and non - emergency communications. Other initiatives included managing the MIIA Rewards program and Safety Committee, expanding the use of SeeClickFix, conducting a 360 degree view of communications, numerous special projects, and achieving MCPPO certification. Procurement developed a new purchasing handbook to distribute to departments, which is now available online, and incorporates best practices from state and local agencies. The disposal of surplus goods from the library was a significant portion of the early fall, as hundreds of items were sold in online auctions. New standardized forms, staff training, and procurement of everything from out of district placements to fire engines kept the office busy this year. 14 PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT The Public Services Department (formerly Community Services) provides professional services to the public and provides varying levels of staff support to the 10 boards and commissions that fall within the departmental organizational chart. The Department's expertise is derived from a staff of 21 FTE's. The services provided are organized as either Community Development or Community Services. The Community Development Divisions include Planning, Conservation, Historical, and Inspections — Building, Pjumbing /Gas, Electrical, and Mechanical. The Community Services Divisions include Health, Elder /Human Services, Recreation and Veterans Services. Cross - division coordination as well as collaboration with the Town's many community partners is paramount to the operational success of the Department. Providing services in a cost efficient manner is an overriding goal of the Department. For example, the Metro North Regional Housing Services Office (MNRHSO) includes a full - time staff person who is shared between the communities of Reading, North Reading, Wilmington, and Saugus. Another example of cost savings is the use of three part-time building inspectors, a part-time electrical inspector and a part-time plumbing /gas inspector. A full -time senior administrative assistant oversees permitting so that the part-time staffing is effective. The savings realized from not having to provide benefits is significant, yet the efficiency of the office is notable, and often results in "same -day" issuance of permits. The Assistant Town Manager leads the Department and works closely with the Town Manager on Town administration and special projects, such as coordinating the Long Term Planning Working Group in furtherance of the Reading 2020 goals regarding economic development, infrastructure and Town -owned land. In 2016, the Department had two Assistant Department Heads — the Community Development Director and Community Services Director. Outside services are provided as needed mostly on projects. In late 2016, the Town hired an Economic Development Director who works under the direction of the Assistant Town Manager in coordination with Community Development and Community Services staff. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Within the Public Services Department, Community Development personnel comprise expertise and deliver services to the public related to the fields of planning, conservation, historical properties, and building inspections. In 2016, Community Development staff continued to provide regular support to the Community Planning and Development Commission, the Conservation Commission, the Historical Commission, the Historic Districts, Commission, and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Planning staff also provided support to the Board of Selectmen as needed. Volunteers represent a tremendous resource for Community Development. Extensive work is undertaken because of the ongoing efforts of the many volunteers. 15 Plannin1l Division Community Development Director: Julie Mercier Regional Housing Coordinator: Laurie Stanton Permits Coordinator: Kim Saunders Staff Planner: D. Anthony Fields Planning Intern: Marianna Corrente The Planning Division provides technical and professional planning services to the Town of Reading and the relevant land use boards. The Town of Reading Master Plan, as well as other long -range plans regarding economic development, transportation, housing, and other aspects of land use and development, serves as a guide for planning staff in helping to achieve stated goals for the Town. Planning processes aid civic leaders, businesses and citizens in envisioning and implementing new possibilities for the future. In addition to long -range planning, planning staff also develop action plans aimed at providing solutions to current community problems and at addressing daily needs. Site Plan Review (SPR) is the zoning tool used to evaluate development projects. This is an important tool as it allows the Town to influence projects so that they respect the existing fabric of the Town as well as future planning objectives, and are carried out in harmony with the rest of the community. Planning staff work directly with the Community Planning and Development Commission (CPDC) in reviewing development proposals and drafting SPR decisions that reflect and mitigate issues elaborated by the CPDC, staff and the public during the development review process. The existing organizational structure of Public Services supports collaboration and communication across the department. The Planning Division regularly collaborates with all Divisions of Community Development as well as Community Services. For example, the Community Development Director coordinates Development Review Team (DRT) meetings and Pre - Construction meetings with applicants to provide guidance on permitting and development. In 2016, there were a total of 20 DRT and 13 Pre - Construction meetings. Streamlining permitting was one of the Town. Manager's goals stemming from the Reading 2020 strategic planning effort. Clarifying permitting requirements for developers was a recommendation of the Economic Development Assessment Tool (EDSAT). In an effort to clarify applicants' expectations during the permitting process, the Community Development Director prepares an annual Permitting Schedule that delineates, submission deadlines for various types of projects based on CPDC meeting dates. The Community Development Director also finalized the "Doing Business in Reading" guide to permitting in late 2016. This guide is designed to help prospective new businesses navigate the Town's permitting and review processes, and provides an overview of what applicants should expect from each Town division or board that is involved. This document is available on the Town's website. 16 The Division undertook other notable projects in 2016, including continued work on the Comprehensive Update of the Zoning Bylaw, which began in 2013. Planning staff worked with the CPDC to bring the following Zoning Bylaw Amendments to Subsequent Town Meeting in November 2016 (all eight were approved by a 2/3 vote): • Update to Section 4.3 — CPDC Powers (renumbering only) • Update to Section 4.6 — Site Plan Review • Update to Section 5.3.1 and related Definition — addition of Pet Grooming • Addition of Section 5.6.7 and related Definition, and Update to Section 5.3.2 — Special Home Occupation • Update to Section 5.4.7.3(b) — Accessory Apartments • Update to Section 5.5 — Accessory Buildings or Structures • Update to Section 6.2.1 — Lot Shape • Update to Section 8.0 -- Sign Bylaw In early 2016, with funds authorized at November 2015 Subsequent Town Meeting, the Town retained MAPC to prepare an Update to the Town's 2010 Hazard Mitigation Plan. The process began in March with a kickoff meeting of the local planning team (staff) and MEMA. Throughout the year, the local planning team met twice more, and a public meeting was. held as part of a regularly scheduled CPDC meeting. The draft Plan Update is expected to be ready for review and comment in early February 2017, after which it will be sent to MEMA and FEMA for review, and then to the Board of Selectmen for adoption. The Division also undertook a number of State initiatives and strived to meet a number of State objectives during 2016. In January, a Chapter 40B Comprehensive Permit was filed with the ZBA for a 5- story, 77 -unit rental project by the train depot. Planning staff were very involved in the process, and over the course of the year, the project was modified to include a third parcel and additional parking spaces, and was reduced to 4- stories and 68 units. These 68 units qualify the Town for a 1 -year Certification of Municipal Compliance. from DHCD — a 1 -year break from new 40B applications; this was applied for immediately after project approval and went into effect in February 2017. Planning staff were involved in preliminary discussions regarding a 40B project at the former St. Agnes School; it was filed in January 2017. To date, the Town is at 8.49% of the 10% affordable housing mandate. Potential expansion of the Downtown Smart Growth District (Chapter 40R Overlay District) was another topic that was discussed throughout 2016 at various zoning forums and joint public meetings between boards in furtherance of the Town's economic development goals. It is anticipated that the CPDC will propose to expand the 40R District to include all of what is currently zoned Business B in the downtown area at April 2017 Annual Town Meeting. An application for this expansion is in process with the State. The Planning Division also collaborated with Engineering, DPW, Police, Fire, and Town Management to further the Town's eligibility for funding under the MassDOT Complete Streets Program. With an approved Tier I Complete Streets Policy, the Town is working 17 towards an approved Tier II Prioritization Plan. Staff will utilize various metrics to establish a 5 -year plan for sidewalk, crosswalk, accessibility, and bicycle infrastructure projects. It is anticipated that a public hearing will be held to solicit input from Walkable Reading, the Trails Committee, residents and other stakeholders in early 2017.. Of note, the Division was integral in the Town's execution of its Community Compact with Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito in August 2016. The Town signed onto the following three best practices: (1) Housing & Economic Development — Preparing for Success, (2) Housing & Economic Development — Competitiveness and Job Creation and Retention, and (3) Energy & Environment . — Maximizing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Opportunities. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) awarded $20,000 to the Town for an initiative to increase the efficiency of municipal lighting. LED light fixtures will be installed throughout Town Hall in early 2017. In late 2016, the Division submitted an application for District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) funding through MAPC for the development of a comprehensive parking strategy in the downtown area, and is awaiting notification of the grant award. Planning staff also submitted an application for Technical Assistance with wayfinding and branding under the DHCD's Massachusetts Downtown Initiative (MDI) program, and are awaiting notification of the grant award. If awarded, the Division will work with a consultant, and stakeholders, to establish a comprehensive and contextually sensitive wayfinding/branding strategy for Reading's downtown area. Both of these grants will help the Town further stated goals within the Economic Development Action Plan. In June, both Anthony Fields — Staff Planner, and Marianna Corrente — Planning Intern, left the Town for other opportunities. In November, Kim Saunders was promoted to Permits Coordinator and moved under the Planning Division, and Andrew Corona was hired as the Town's Economic Development Director - a position that works closely with. Planning staff. Metro North Regional Housinst Services Office (MNKHN0) In regional planning efforts, the towns of Reading, North Reading, Wilmington and Saugus jointly hired a Regional Housing Coordinator in January 2015 to provide staff support to the Metro North Regional Housing Services Office ( MNRHSO), which is situated under the Planning Division at Reading Town Hall. The MNRHSO was established and set up during 2015, and initial services for each town included: the creation of monitoring databases of affordable housing developments and residents, and the collection of records for each affordable unit. During 2016, the Regional Housing Coordinator continued to work with each member town's planning staff and with a housing consultant to further the work of the MNRHSO. Ongoing core services include: annual monitoring for both ownership and rental units; reconciling municipal inventories with the DHCD's Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI); petitioning to add new units to the SHI when required; meeting on -site with staff and housing entities; creating and updating interested - buyer, interested - renter lists; on -site consulting on projects; providing guidance to unit owners on re- financing and selling, and to renters as needed; helping towns to achieve town- specific goals; attendance and outreach at regional affordable housing lotteries and events; preparation of proposals for supplemental services as needed; aid in writing grants and RFPs; assistance with regional linkages; updating the MNRHSO webpage; and attendance at the annual Mass Housing Institute conference to enhance networking and to learn new trends in the field of affordable housing. The Planning Division continues to work to further the scope and range of the Regional Housing Coordinator and MNRHSO, and to reach out to other nearby communities to expand membership when possible. Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) North Suburban Planning Council (NSPC) Sub - region The North Suburban Planning Council (NSPC) is composed of eight towns and one city that have formed a voluntary association to facilitate cooperative regional planning. The goals of NSPC are to facilitate communication between member communities on planning topics of interest, including issues of growth management and land use, to promote and seek opportunities for inter - municipal coordination and cooperation, and to educate participating communities on new and important issues in the planning field. NSPC provides a forum for members to create a shared agenda for action that, if thoughtfully addressed, will allow the region to continue to thrive as a desirable place to live and work. NSPC held nine meetings in 2016. Danielle McKnight, _North Reading Town Planner /Community Development Administrator, and Kristin Kassner, Burlington Planning Director, served as co- chairs for the first half of the year. In September of 2016, Brian Szekely, Winchester Town Planner, was elected to serve as new co -chair of NSPC along with Danielle McKnight who will continue on for another term. Amanda Chisholm, MAPC Chief Economic Development Planner, served in the role of NSPC Subregional Coordinator. NSPC members interacted with guest presenters and MAPC staff around topics of food system planning, greenway connections, regional demographic changes, middle income housing, arts and culture, planning for climate change, best practices for downtown zoning and parking policies, and regional transportation planning. NSPC members also got to know our communities a little better with walking tours of the Albion Arts Corridor in Wakefield as well as Downtown Woburn. Along with our regular meetings, NSPC also hosted a number of special workshops. In March, we welcomed guest speaker Mark Favermann, an urban designer who focuses on the details and enhancement of the urban fabric. He led a workshop on Community Branding & Marketing that attracted over 40 participants. In May, NSPC also hosted an AICP certified joint forum with the MAGIC subregion on the topic of Community Engagement. Community Engagement staff facilitated this five hour workshop where municipal officials learned about MAPC's framework for effective and inclusive community engagement. Most recently, in December, NSPC hosted a special training run by the Attorney General's Municipal Law Unit on the process for submitting bylaws and zoning changes. 19 Also in December, NSPC hosted its first, ever legislative breakfast along with the North Shore Task Force. We welcomed State Representatives Paul Brodeur and Thomas Walsh along around 40 attendees, including numerous legislative aides and municipal managers and mayors. At the breakfast, MAPC staff presented on our recent legislative work, including information on critical tools that can assist cities and towns in their local planning. These tools related to a wide range of topics including clean energy, parking, and regional collaboration over delivery of services. Aside from meetings and events, NSPC is also actively involved in a suburban mobility study that is funded through the District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) and Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The study is focused on developing new non - single occupancy vehicle (SOV) transportation options for people living and working in NSPC communities, and particularly on services that can be funded by employers, the municipalities, or through public - private partnerships. The study kicked off in September of 2016 with a discussion with NSPC members on transit needs in their respective communities. Travis Pollack, Senior Transportation Planner, is managing the project and has been working to analyze and map census and employment data in the subregion. He has also convened focus groups with key stakeholders from various organizations and municipalities .throughout the subregion. He presented some initial findings and preliminary ideas for solutions at the November NSPC meeting. The goal is to wrap up the project with a February 2017 meeting where recommendations will be released. Many NSPC communities have also participated in individual technical assistance projects. In particular in 2016, MAPC worked with the Town of Wakefield on a cultural economic development study in the Albion Arts Corridor of their downtown. We worked with the City of Woburn on a Housing Production Plan and we are beginning work with the Town of Stoneham on an Open Space and Recreation Plan. Many NSPC communities have also done work with MAPC on Hazard Mitigation Plans. Looking forward, a number of NSPC communities have also expressed interest in collaborating with MAPC on master planning efforts in 2017. Community Planning and Development Commission (CPDC) In 2016, the CPDC held 19 meetings, which included 1 joint meeting with the Historic Districts Commission, 2 joint meetings with the Board of Selectmen, and 1 event with the business community. The CPDC attended Annual and Subsequent Town Meetings, and attended 3 meetings of the Board of Selectmen. With the assistance of Planning staff, the CPDC reviewed a total of 26 applications for the following: 2 Special Permits; 2 Site Plan Reviews; 5 Minor Site Plan Reviews; 2 Minor Modifications to existing Site Plan Review decisions; 9 Sign Permit Reviews; 1 Preliminary Subdivision Plan; 2 Definitive Subdivision Plans; 1 Final Plan for a Planned Residential Development; and 2 Approval Not Required Plans. The CPDC also reviewed 1 Concept Plan, and endorsed 2 Release of Lot requests and 1 Reduction of Surety Amount request. Their meetings also included 2 public forums /charrettes on downtown zoning, 1 public discussion of the Hazard Mitigation Plan, and numerous public hearings regarding 2016 Zoning Bylaw Amendments. 20 To prepare for 2016 Subsequent Town Meeting, the CPDC broke into 4 working groups. The Sign Bylaw Working Group met 6 times, the 40R Expansion Working Group met 3 times, the Site Plan Review Working Group met twice, and the Minor Amendments Working Group met 4 times. All of these meetings were posted and open to the public. In 2016, Jeffrey Hansen continued to Chair the Commission with the support of long- term members John Weston, Nick Safina and David Tuttle, and relatively new member Karen Goncalves- Dolan. In September, Nick Safma took over as Chair. Major Development Projects: In an effort to keep the public informed, the Public Services Department's Bi- Weekly Notes were continued in 2016, and included items of interest related to Community Development. Reading Woods, 1 Jacob Way — Reading Woods is a 24.8 acre site being developed by Pulte Homes of New England, LLC and is a redevelopment of a former office complex known as Addison Wesley. The former office use consisted of 208,000 square feet of vacant and dilapidated buildings and related parking. In total, the project will include 424 for -sale residential units (208 age- restricted and 43 low or moderate income units as required under the Gateway Smart Growth 40R District I oning designation) that mostly are garden style condominiums with the exception of 16 units which will be townhouses. Construction of the townhouses, clubhouse, all four buildings located in the 40R district, and three of the five age- restricted buildings is complete. Construction of the final two buildings was underway in 2016 and is expected to be completed by mid -2017. Johnson Woods, Phases I and II — This major residential project on the western side of Town was approved as a PUD -R in 2004 and has been amended many times since. The project includes the development of 293 ownership units, 36 of which will be available to households earning at or below 80% of the Boston Area Median Income (AMI), on approximately .39 acres. The developer has been simultaneously constructing Phases I and II, and as of December 2016, approximately 164 market rate units and 29 affordable units had received Certificates of Occupancy. Construction of the remaining 100 units is anticipated to continue throughout 2017. Perfecto's, 285 Main Street — A coffee shop /cafe is proposed for this former tuxedo shop building that had a fire some years ago. Originally permitted in 2009, the project has undergone several modifications and changes over the years. A Building Permit was issued in September of 2014 and construction has continued through 2016. Artis Senior Living Center, 1090 -1100 Main Street — A nursing home development consisting of 64 beds specializing in Alzheimer and memory care patients was permitted on the 3.5 -acre former Eric's Greenhouse site. The two -story structure has a proposed footprint of approximately 18,000 square feet. Demolition began in February 2014 and construction was complete in early fall 2016. PA 44 -48 Walkers Brook Drive — In June 2015, the 6,500 square foot. former Macaroni Grill space was approved to be demised into three new retail and restaurant tenant spaces — Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, Chipotle, and Super Cuts. Demolition and construction of the vanilla boxes for each tenant began in 2015; tenant fit -outs were completed in early spring 2016. Reading Public Library — A building permit was issued and construction of the library expansion / historic renovation project commenced in 2015. The expansion will provide several new meeting rooms for the Town, a new reading room, improved accessibility and safety, better functional organization, and updated mechanical systems. Construction was completed in early fall 2016, and the new library opened in October 2016. Pizza World, 306 Main Street — Site Plan Approval for a 2- story, 4,400 square foot building with a 32 -seat pizza restaurant on the 1St floor and office /storage space on the 2nd floor was granted for this vacant lot in May 2015. In addition, the Conservation Commission issued an Order of Conditions for the project. No construction has commenced; the permit is set to expire in May 2017. Criterion Child Enrichment, 186 -190 Summer Avenue — Site Plan Approval by the CPDC and Certificates of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission were granted in January 2016 for the renovation of an existing historic house and barn for use as an early intervention center for infants and toddlers with developmental and other disabilities. Site redevelopment will include 38 parking spaces, a 20' wide drive aisle, and a 1,200 square foot playground. Preparation work began on the 1.6 -acre site in late 2016, but no building permits were applied for as of the end of the year. 258 -262 Main Street — A 4- story, 14,800 square foot commercial office building with 50 parking spaces was approved for this site in January 2016. The historic structure at 258 Main Street (formerly Valerie's Bridal) was demolished in summer 2016 after the expiration of the 6 -month demolition delay period, but no further work has been done on the site. The building at 262 Main Street still remains. Reading Village 40B, 31 -41 Lincoln Street and 2 -12 Prescott Street — In early 2017, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved a 4- story, 68 -unit rental housing project with 85 parking spaces and on -site loading on three parcels of land comprising 42,658 square feet across the street from the Reading train depot. As a Ch. 40B Comprehensive Permit, seventeen (17) of the units must be income restricted to households earning at or below 80% of Area Median Income. It is anticipated that construction will commence in 2017. Pending Subdivisions: In 2016, the CPDC reviewed and approved a 4 -lot subdivision at the end of Randall Road known as `Randall Road Extension.' The CPDC also began reviewing a proposed 4 -lot subdivision at 364 Lowell Street known as `Lyle Estates.' A proposed 5 -lot definitive subdivision at 1260 and 1264 Main Street was filed in 22 December 2016, and a 2 -lot subdivision at the end of Harold Avenue is anticipated to be filed in early 2017. New Businesses: In 2016, the following new businesses opened in Reading: Fresh `N Clean, BayState Physical Therapy, BoliColi, Professor's Market, Chipotle, Super Cuts, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, Gym Source, Tropical Nails, Eliassen Group, Aptus Health, and a Reading. Cooperative Bank location at 55 Walkers Brook Drive. The Post Office moved from 136 Haven Street into the Eastern Bank building at 123 Haven Street. Interior renovations were made to the following commercial businesses: Rite Aid at 15 Bolton Street, Burger King at 357 Main Street, Dunkin Donuts at 110 Main Street, and.a tenant fit -up at 606 Main Street. The following businesses are coming soon: Tread on the Mill at 13 High Street, Perfecto's at 285 Main Street, and Caffe Nero at 676 Main Street. In 2016, revenue generated from Planning Division activities totaled $63,953.89. The Planning Division is located at Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, telephone 781942-6648. Conservation Division Conservation Administrator: Charles Tirone Reading Conservation Commission (RCC) The Reading Conservation Commission is required by state and local laws to protect and preserve wetlands and waterways and their surrounding areas. The RCC can have up to seven (7) volunteer members appointed by the Board of Selectmen for renewable three - year terms. In 2016, the RCC had six (6) members: Rebecca Longley — Chair, Annika Scanlon — Vice Chair, Michael Flynn, Albert Couillard, Harry Curtis, and David Pinette. Staff support to the Commission includes: Charles Tirone — full -time Conservation Administrator, and Ann Gentile — Clerk, and Julia Rodger — Minutes Secretary. At public meetings and site visits, or as otherwise announced, RCC members work to ensure that all residential and commercial construction and development projects, that may alter wetlands, floodplains, rivers and/or streams, are in compliance with state and local regulations. The RCC also protects and manages the Town's Conservation Lands and natural resources. Meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. The Commission's office is located at Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA 01867, and the telephone number is (781) 942 -6616. Wetlands Protection Activities The RCC is mandated to protect wetlands, waterways, water supplies, fisheries, wildlife and wildlife habitat as well as regulate activities in a floodplain through administration of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Reading General Bylaw for Wetlands Protection. RCC members regularly seek continuing education opportunities to keep abreast of frequently changing regulations and to assist applicants through the regulatory process. The Commission has a primary role in administering the following statutes and regulations: 23 • Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, M.G.L. Chapter 131, Section 40; • Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Regulations at 310 CMR 10.00; • Town of Reading Wetlands Protection Bylaw, and Reading Wetlands Protection Bylaw Regulations During 2016, the RCC reviewed 72 permit applications for proposed work and wetlands delineations. The Commission held 22 public hearings and meetings, and performed more than 145 site inspections. The Commission issued 141 decisions including permits, resource area delineations, extensions, and amendments. The Commission made final site inspections, closed 43 project files, and identified and resolved 1 violation. In addition, the Conservation Administrator reviewed and signed off on 790 building permits and 31 minor projects, and performed 634 site inspections. The Commission collected $5,500.00 in filing fees under the Wetlands Protection Act and $32,270.00 under the Wetlands Protection Bylaw. The Conservation Commission administers several types of permit review processes under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Town of Reading Wetlands Protection Bylaw. Projects involving proposed disturbance within a Wetland Resource Area, associated Buffer Zone, or Riverfront Area will require the filing of a Notice of Intent by the project sponsor. This process involves a comprehensive review of potential project impacts to protected areas, and eventually results in the issuance by the Conservation Commission of an Order of Conditions or an Order of Denial. An Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD), for review of Wetland Resource Areas, is generally utilized for large tracts of undeveloped land, and results in an Order of Resource Area Delineation. Applicants proposing projects with limited potential impact may be advised to submit a Request for a Determination of Applicability (RDA). The RDA process is generally less demanding upon the applicant than the NOI process. Projects with insignificant potential impacts may be reviewed under a Bylaw Minor Project Permit. The Commission is also involved in coordination with other governmental bodies, in numerous other regulatory activities including the following: • Management of conservation properties in Reading; • Administration of the Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act, M.G.L. Chapter 91 and associated Public Waterfront Act Regulations at 310 CMR. 9.00; • Review and comment on forest land and agricultural land purchase options under M.G.L. Chapters 61 and 61A; • Review and comment on housing development plans under M.G.L. Chapter 4013; • Review and comment on forest management plans under M.G.L. Chapter 132; • Review and permitting of beaver activity controls in Wetlands Resource Areas under M.G.L. Chapter 131. In addition to the statutes and regulations listed above, the Conservation Administrator reviews permit applications received by the Planning, Building /Inspections, and Health Divisions on matters within the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission. In many 24 cases, this "sign -off' process involves a visit to the site to ascertain whether jurisdictional areas are present. Natural Resources Conservation Activities The RCC engages directly with the community during the Town's Earth Day and Friends & Family Day events. The opening of Mattera Cabin has provided a venue for many town -wide activities. Scheduling is done by the Recreation Division, with many Town groups using the facility. Conservation has welcomed nature walks led by Library staff, .and has worked cooperatively with Eagle Scouts and the Trails Committee to improve trail information and conditions Town -wide. Other activities of the RCC during 2016 include: • The RCC encouraged Danis Properties to clean out the detention basin forebay and outlet located between the Stop and Shop parking lot and the Market Basket driveway. In addition, the applicant removed trash within the tributary to Walkers Brook and removed invasive poplar trees and other shrub species along the tributary. • The RCC used its authority under the Wetlands Protection Act to require third party review for the ANRAD at 0 Randall Road and 25 Springvale Road. The Commission worked with the developer's consultant and the third party consultant to identify all resource areas on the site. A subdivision plan was submitted with a new innovative vegetated chamber designed to remove phosphorus from storm -water runoff. The subdivision was approved by the Commission in January 2017. • Austin Preparatory School completed a wetlands replication in 2016. The RCC asked the contractor to lower the wetland replication elevation to better meet natural groundwater and replant some of the replacement trees and shrubs in this area that did not survive the first growing season. A second survivability report on the replications area is due in spring of 2017. • Members of the RCC attended the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissioners Annual Environmental Conference in March at Holy Cross University in Worcester. Some of the topics that were of specific interest to our members included how to run an effective public meeting, and wetlands' scientific functions and values. • Members of the RCC participated in Friends and Family Day at the Birch Meadow Area in June displaying several posters and live material on natural and invasive plant species. A raffle was held and one lucky winner got the use of Mattera Cabin and won a sweet pepperbush (a native wetland shrub) donated by the New England Wildlife Society. • Several Eagle Scouts presented proposals to improve boardwalk access in the Reading Town Forest. These proposals incorporate the most up to date design and were well received by the Commission. • ANRADs were submitted and approved for large tracts of land on Lakeview and Eaton Streets, at 116 Van Norden Road, and at Low Meadow off of Arcadia Ave. 25 • The RCC implemented a Tree Replacement Policy in an effort to be more consistent with regards to the cutting of mature trees within the Commission's jurisdiction. This policy offers applicants the flexibility of providing replacement trees or shrubs,, or contributing to the Reading Shade Tree Program. In 2017, the RCC hopes to continue efforts to educate homeowners and landscape companies about the detriments to the natural environment caused by dumping of debris in wetland resource areas. Historical Division The Historical Division oversees the work of the Reading Historical Commission and the Reading Historic Districts Commission. In 2016, staff support for these two Commissions was provided primarily by Julie Mercier — Community Development Director, Ann Gentile — Clerk, and Kim Saunders — Permits Coordinator. Historical Commission (RHC) The Reading Historical Commission's (RHC) work in 2016 included regular monthly meetings, upholding town bylaws (in particular GBL Section 7.2), handling questions from the public and work in the Town Archives. Membership at the end of the year consisted of Ron Weston — Acting Chair, Sharlene Reynolds Santo — Secretary, Jonathan Barnes — Treasurer, and Jack Williams, with Virginia Adams as an Associate. Carl Mittnight, RHC Chair, was on an extended leave of absence. Of the issues the RHC dealt with in 2016, the most attention was given to interpreting and applying the Demolition Delay Bylaw. The RHC held one Demolition Delay Hearing, and imposed a delay on the cape worker's house at 309 Haven Street after several meetings. Ultimately, the RHC was unsuccessful in preventing total demolition of this historic house. In addition, the six -month demolition delay imposed in 2015 at 258 Main Street expired and the house was demolished. In October, the garage at 35 Scotland Road was demolished without proper approvals or a review of the historical significance of the structure by the RHC. After discussions, the RHC referred the matter to Town Counsel and the Building Division, and agreed to audit and update their "Historic and Architectural Inventory" to more clearly identify historic outbuildings. The arduous and lengthy process continues into 2017, with periodic audits anticipated in ensuing years. The owner of the Reading Depot came before the RHC to propose options for repairing and /or replacing the damaged slate roof. The RHC discussed different possibilities for cost - effective replacement. After much research, field visits and review of samples, the RHC recommended either natural slate or a composite slate product that would have a similar appearance to the existing original slate. In another effort, the RHC successfully worked with the MBTA to re- locate a communication tower away from the historic Reading Depot. 26 The RHC continued to maintain the Town Archives, and presented a very successful and well - attended booth at the Fall Street Faire. The RHC also had a booth with exhibits promoting the Commission's efforts throughout the Town in the Reading Garden Club's "Geraniums and More Sale" and "Cultural Connection" event on the Village Common in May. Virginia Adams' beautiful display garnered lots of attention from the community. The Lobs Pound Mill site has been the subject of several meetings and discussions by the Commission with representatives of North Reading, MWRA, MHC, Reading Town representatives and other Town Boards. A new water main across that site or in its vicinity, in conjunction with North Reading, has the potential to adversely impact this historic and important archaeological location. The RHC voiced its concern in meetings, hearings, and through correspondence. Conservation Commission members attended the RHC's December meeting to discuss issues related to archaeological artifact hunters on the Marion Woods /Lobs Pound Mill site. Discussions and revisions to the draft "Rules and Regulations" document are ongoing and will continue into 2017. It is anticipated that revisions will be complete by March, and the Commission will then commence the formal process to establish and implement its Rules and Regulations. Historic District Commission (HDC) The Historic District Commission oversees both the West Street and Summer Avenue Historic Districts. The purpose of the HDC is to administer Section 7.3 Local Historic District, of the General Bylaw, as it pertains to preserving the distinctive characteristics and architecture of the buildings through review of construction projects. The HDC encourages building designs compatible with the historic character of the Districts. In 2016, the HDC reviewed eleven (11) applications. Five (5) Certificates of Non - Applicability and three (3) Certificates of Appropriateness were issued for projects in the West Street Historic District; three (3) Certificates of Non - Applicability and zero (0) Certificates of Appropriateness were issued for projects in the Summer Avenue Historic District. The HDC also issued a letter and brochure to all residences within both Historic Districts providing guidance and links to.references and outlining the responsibilities of maintaining the Historic Districts. In 2016, the Commission was composed of five (5) voting members: Everett Blodgett — Chair, Virginia Adams, Ilene Bornstein, Greg Maganzini, and Priscilla Poehler, and one (1) alternate: Jack Williams. Currently, there are three (3) open alternate positions.• For more information about the Historic Districts and the HDC please refer to the Town of Reading's website. Inspections Division Permits Coordinator (formerly Senior Administrative Clerk): Kim Saunders Building Commissioner (part- time): Glen Redmond Building Inspectors (part- time): Steven Paris, Paul Kolodziej Electrical Inspector (part- time): Robert Marrocco Plumbing /Gas Inspector (part- time): Paul Raffi 27 The Inspections Division is responsible for carrying out inspectional services related to building, mechanical, gas, plumbing and electrical permits for all commercial and residential construction, as well as follow -up Certificates of Inspection for existing institutional uses. The Division also attends Massachusetts Building Commissioner and Inspectors Association ( MBCIA) meetings, internal staff Development Review Team (DRT) meetings for proposed development projects that trigger Site Plan Review; and Pre - Construction meetings with contractors for both major and minor construction projects. In addition, the Division is responsible for enforcing the Town's Zoning Bylaw as well as sections of the Town's General Bylaw, providing staff support to the Zoning Board of Appeals, and addressing violations with property owners. In 2016, Division staff attended 5 MBCIA meetings, 33 DRT and Pre - Construction meetings, and made 6 court appearances related to code enforcement. Statistics Year End 2016 Previous Year End 2015 Building: Building Permits issued ** 1083 1048 Inspections 1769 1753 Certificates of 129 173 Occupancy Permits 236 155 Fees received $339,693* $431,333* Wiring: Wiring Permits issued 768 667 Inspections 1036 659 Fees received $58,577* $60,688* Plumbing /Gas Gas Permits issued 290 319 Gas Fees received $10,276* $12,421* Plumbing Permits issued 458 456 Plumbing Fees received $19,878* $22,152* Combined Inspections Gas /Plumbing 1467 1051 TOTAL FEES $428,424* $526,594* __ * Totals do not include permit fees for Johnson Woods or Reading Woods, which are deposited into the Permits Revolving Fund. * *Total permits issued include Building, Mechanical, Fire & Sprinkler Alarm Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) The Zoning Board of Appeals is authorized under MGL Ch. 40A to hold public hearings on requests for variances, special permits and on appeals of decisions by the Building Commissioner. The Zoning Board of Appeals met 14 times in 2016. The ZBA voted on petitions for 15 Variances, 8 Special Permits and appeals. The Public Hearing for the Reading Village 40B was on 9 Zoning Board agendas in 2016. In 2016, the ZBA consisted of the following full members: Chairman Robert Redfern, Damase Caouette, John Jarema, Kathleen 'Hackett, David Traniello; and Associate Members Erik Hagstrom and Nick Pernice. In July, David Traniello became Chairman. Staff support to the ZBA was primarily provided by Glen Redmond — Building Commissioner, Jean Delios — Assistant Town Manager, Julie Mercier — Community Development Director, Kim Saunders — Permits Coordinator, and Maureen Knight — Office Manager. COMMUNITY SERVICES Community Services consists of the Health Division, Elder /Human Services Division, Recreation Division and Veterans' Services. Health Division Mission Statement The mission of the Health Division is to educate, promote, improve and protect the public health and well -being of the citizens of the Town of Reading, while contributing to building a healthy community and environment in which to live. Under the Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Law and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Public Health Laws, the Health Division is mandated under a dutiful obligation to develop and implement health policies, standards, bylaws and regulations. The Division is also obligated to conduct inspections and provide public health services to the community. Functions The Division enforces local, state and federal public health laws, rules and regulations. The Division promotes, educates, offers and enforces the following: disease and injury prevention, immunization clinics, responses to bacterial illnesses, monitoring of disease outbreaks, health education and prevention programs, health advisories, health and wellness programs, nutrition and fitness information, tobacco control programs, environmental protection, responses to health hazards, ensuring waterquality, monitoring of waste disposal, investigations into noise and air pollution, animal health, health monitoring, enforcement and ensuring of health and safety codes, health care access, and emergency preparedness and response. M Other public health functions include enforcement of the following local, state and federal codes, regulations and State & Federal statutes: Town of Reading Board of Health Regulations, Town of Reading Code of Ordinances, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mandated Enforcement of Massachusetts State Sanitary Code(s), Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mandated Enforcement of Massachusetts State Statutes — Chapter 111 Public Health Laws, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mandated Enforcement of other Massachusetts General Laws & Statutes, Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Mandated Requirements & Inspections, U.S. Federal Mandated Requirements, Inspections and Trainings, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — The 1999 Federal Food Code, and Health Departments Other Mandated Requirements, Services & Inspections. 2016 Permitting The Health Division issued a total of 382 permits in 2016, as follows: under Title V - 9 Well; under the Food Protection Program — 101 Food Service /Retail, 194 Temporary, 2 Residential, 2 Mobile, 7 Church, and 10 School; under Community Sanitation — 7 Swimming Pool, 5 Summer Day Camp, 1 Tanning Salon, and 1 Ice Skating Rink; under Environmental Health — 10 Septage Hauler and 0 Solid Waste Hauler; and 17 Tobacco Establishment, 21 Animal /Barn/Beaver, and 4 Funeral Director. In addition, 59 complaints related to housing, food, trash and nuisance were received and addressed. Accomplishments The Division sustained a high level of public health services, maintained policies and procedures on accountability and transparency, and executed a cost savings policy. Community Health Services • Maintained compliance with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health 105 CMR 300.00 "Reportable Diseases Isolation & Quarantine" requirements and immunization clinics and screenings for reportable infectious and communicable disease control investigation. • Sustained Public Health Nursing services. • Provide 16 Community wide Influenza clinics. • Issued 985 residential vaccinations. • Sustained Influenza vaccinations for Reading home bound residents. • Sustained compliance with Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiologic Network which is a web -based disease surveillance and case management system. • Sustained compliance with MAVEN review and investigation of all reportable infectious and communicable diseases - Review and investigation of 350. • Reviewed summer recreational camp applications of more than 500 campers and counselors for required immunizations, physicals and CORPS /SORI'S. • Sustained educational community information on opioids abuse and prevention. We Food Protection Program • Maintained full compliance with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health 105 CMR 590.000 - Food Protection Program by ensuring compliance with annual food service establishment inspections, code compliance, monitoring and investigation of all food borne illness outbreaks. • Conducted 205 routine Food Establishment Inspections. • Conducted 181 Re- Inspections. • Conducted 10 site plan reviews for new food establishments. • Between housing, nuisance, and food, only 57 complaints were documented. Community Sanitation Program • Maintained compliance with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health - Community Sanitation Division for; • 105 CMR 410.00 Minimum Standards for Human Habitation • 105 CMR 430.000 Minimum Standards for Recreational Camps for Children • 105 CMR 435.000 Minimum Standards for Swimming Pools • 105 CMR 123.000 Minimum Standards Tanning Salons • 105 CMR 335.000 Treatment of Persons Exposed to Rabies • 105 CMR 460.000 Mass Regulations for Lead Poising Prevention Control • MGL Ch. 111 s 131 Investigations into Public Health nuisances (Noise, air and odor pollution. Environmental Health • Maintained compliance with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection 105 CMR 15.00 - for all On -Site Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems, Grease Traps and Private Wells. • Sustained new weekly Arbovirus/Mosquito Control Information and community statistics. • Sustained Arbovirus /Mosquito Control surveillance. • Sustained preventive maintenance by adult and larval mosquito control and ditch maintenance. • Developed a new public health community educational seminar to the residents of Reading community on Arbovirus — West Nile Virus, Easter Equine Encephalitis, Zika viruses. • Developed a new educational seminar to the residents of Reading community on Tick borne illness -Lyme disease. • Sustained tobacco control compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Health Communities and Board of Health Tobacco regulations. Emergency Preparedness • Maintained compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management. 31 • Met all FY16 State & Federal Public Health mandated deliverables required by the MDPH- Massachusetts State Public Health Department for the Region 3B Greater Lawrence Public Health Coalition. • Effective as of January 1 2016, Reading moved from the 3E Mystic Valley Coalition back to the 3B Greater Lawrence Public Health Coalition. The Greater Lawrence Coalition is an eight community Coalition which includes Andover, North Andover, Lawrence, Methuen, Lynnfield, Wilmington, North Reading, and Reading. • The Coalition meets monthly to continuously prepare for emergencies and to discuss Department of Public Health's updated information. Animal Control Division • Maintained compliance with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health 105 CMR 300 & 330 Division of Animals regarding the keeping of animals, rabies control, and mosquito control. Weights & Measure Division • Maintain compliance with Massachusetts Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation - Division of Standards. • Achieved full State Compliance Consumer & Merchants Protection Act, Chapter 295. • 30 businesses inspected and checked; 100 scale certificates of compliance issued. • 12 gas stations inspected and checked; 256 gas meter certificates of compliance issued. 2017 Goals The Health Division will continue to work with the Board of Health, Board of Selectmen, Town Manager's office, and other staff divisions to support the 10 essential functions of public health for the betterment of the Town of Reading, Town residents and transient residents. • Monitor the public health status of the Town to identify community health problems. • Diagnose and investigate public health problems and environmental health hazards. • Inform, educate, and empower the residents of Reading about public health issues. • Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve public health problems. • Develop policies and plans that support Town residents and community health efforts. • Enforce public health laws and regulations that protect the health and wellness and ensure safety of all Town residents and transient residents. • Direct Town of Reading residents to needed personal public health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable. • Assure a competent public health and personal healthcare workforce. 32 • Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of individual and population - based health services. • Research into new insights and innovative solutions to public health problems. Other: • Maintain Division involvement with the community in helping assist in public health issues such as opioid abuse, addition and treatment services. • Maintain community public health services. • Maintain community involvement with the Greater Lawrence Emergency preparedness Coalition and the Greater River Valley Medical Reserve Corp. • Maintain Community involvement with Healthy Communities Tobacco Collaborative. • Maintain community awareness to increase emergency preparedness for emerging public health issues including pandemic flu, bioterrorism, natural disasters and emerging diseases. Board of Health In accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 41, the Board of Health is comprised of three (3) appointed officials by the Board of Selectmen; these positions are one -year terms with one member being appointed annually. The Board of Health holds monthly meetings. Additional meetings are scheduled if required. In 2016, the Board of Health members were: John Costigan — Chairman, Andrew Friedmann, and Elizabeth Shurland with Associate Member Nancy Docktor. In 2016, the Board of Health was staffed by Steven DiLauro - Health Agent, Donna Pierce - Public Health Nurse (part- time), Joan Vitale — Senior Health Inspector (part- time), John Fralick — Food Inspector Consultant (part- time), and Darlene Foley — Administrative Secretary. Elder/Human Services Division Reading's Elder/Human Services Division provides social services, nurse advocacy, transportation, a variety of programs, and a meal site for Reading residents age 60 and over. The Division not only assists senior citizens but residents of all ages with social services, advocacy, referrals and holiday programs. In assisting residents both young and old, the Division works closely with all town departments and community partners in receiving referrals and ensuring safety and quality of life are maintained to the highest standards. Elder/Human Services partners with many outside organizations. The Division's state - designated ASAP (Aging Service Access Point) is Mystic Valley Elder Services (MVES). ASAPs manage the state -based Massachusetts Home Care Program, and work with Councils on Aging (Elder Services), established under the federal Older Americans Act, to make sure that seniors have access to all essential services. Through MVES a variety of services are provided. These programs include home care, personal care, Protective Services, meal -site catering and home - delivered meals through the Meals on Wheels program. Not all residents are eligible for MVES nor do all accept the services 33 provided. In these situations, the Division plays a vital role in ensuring Reading seniors are able to remain at home with the proper safeguards. Division staff consists of an Administrator (20 hr /wk), a Case Manager (35 hr /wk), a Senior Center Coordinator (35 hr /wk), a Van Driver (35 hr /wk), a Nurse Advocate (37.5 hr /wk) and a Clerk (19 hr /wk). Highlights of the Year: • In September a new software program, Myseniorcenter, was installed at the Pleasant Street Center • The Memory Cafe Program for caregivers and residents with memory loss began • The boys High School Hockey and Lacrosse teams shoveled snow for residents • The exterior and upstairs interior of the, Pleasant Street Center were painted Social Services The Senior Case Manager addresses the needs and concerns of Reading residents of all ages. Assistance for those under the age of 60 saw an increase in services during the year. Assistance involved: crisis intervention, food pantry, domestic violence, homelessness information, and referrals regarding housing, mental health, and disability - related concerns. For those age 60 and over, assistance includes: crisis intervention; addressing housing concerns; intervening in cases of neglect, loneliness, depression, hoarding; coordinating appointments with area medical and social service agencies; and providing information and referrals with regard to nursing home /rehabilitation placement and eligibility for State and Federal programs. It is the goal of the Senior Case Manager to. assist the resident in aging successfully and safely at home. The Division receives referrals and assistance from many Town Departments as well as outside agencies. The Fire Department and Police Department refer elders to the Division when there is an observed need for assistance. Starting in the summer of 2016, Police, Fire and the EHS Division meet monthly for a roundtable discussion to review critical cases. The Senior Case Manager also partners with the Veterans Services Officer in ensuring services for veterans; the DPW in holiday programs; the High School in coordinating volunteer services; and the Library on a variety of programs and referrals. The Senior Case Manager provides eligibility screening for, and assistance with, applications for the Reading Food Pantry. In order to qualify for the Food Pantry the Senior Case Manager meets with the applicant to review their financial qualifications and residency requirements. The EHS Division also provides transportation to the Food Pantry which is coordinated by the Senior Case Manager. During 2016, 74 residents were certified for the Food Pantry. There are a variety of transportation programs available to Reading residents. The Division assists with referrals for the MBTA Ride program and coordinates services for the Reading Response Medical Transportation program. This service provides taxi or chair car transportation for medical appointments throughout the Boston Area. The Reading Response Program is funded by the Town of Reading's Hospital Trust Fund, the 34 income from which helps to defray medically- related services to Reading citizens as authorized by the Commissioners. As part of the Medical Transportation program, residents having day surgical procedures can be accompanied by a Home Health Aide. During 2016, the Division scheduled 1,107 rides through the Reading Response program, a 17% increase over 2015. Nurse Advocate The Nurse Advocate is dedicated to helping Reading seniors manage their health care needs. This full -time position is instrumental in identifying the frailest seniors in Reading, especially those who live alone and do not have someone nearby for support. Through outreach and referrals, the Nurse Advocate is able to help seniors better understand changes in their medical conditions and /or medications. She is available to seniors at the Pleasant Street Center and home visits. Other responsibilities of the Nurse Advocate include educating, counseling and advocating for seniors. The Nurse Advocate also serves 'in a leadership role in coordinating a variety of wellness programs for seniors at the Pleasant Street Center. During 2016, the Nurse Advocate met with 307 residents. The Pleasant Street Center The Pleasant Street Center provides fitness, nutrition, socialization and wellbeing activities for Reading seniors. The Center is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am — 4 :00 pm. Lunch is served Monday through Friday (except holidays) at noon and meals are provided by Mystic Valley Elder Services. There is a suggested donation for lunch of $2.00 per senior and $3.50 for visitors under 60. During the year, 4,149 lunches were served and 1,018 residents took part in an activity at the Center. In September of 2016, a new software program with a touchscreen was installed at the Pleasant Street Center. This screen allows for electronic sign -in for programs and volunteers. Over 300 key tags were issued during September and October. The new software will allow for more accurate reporting on statistics of attendance and volunteer hours. The Center Coordinator's primary responsibility is to manage the daily operations of the Center including the care of the facility and the coordination of activities. Below is a summary of the programs. 35 Zumba fitness Aerobics Zumba Aerobics B.E.S.T. - Strength Training Hairdresser* Art Lessons Knitting Club Manicures Painting Group Yoga Brain Yoga Billiards Mah Jong Chess Tai Chi Bingo Computer Lessons Computer Lessons Party Bridge Cribbage. Computer Lessons Tai Chi Book Club* Clean & Sober Support Group 35 Birthday Lunch* Walking Club Parkinson's Movies SHINE - health Support Group* insurance info* Podiatry Clinic* Low Vision* Blood Pressure Walking Club Clinic Blood Pressure SHINE - health Scuttlebutt * Clinic insurance info* Memory Cafe* Reiki* *Meet monthly Two new programs began during 2016. The Memory Caf6 is a gathering for people with memory loss and their caregivers. This program is coordinated by the Senior Case Manager and Nurse Advocate. It occurs monthly and provides an opportunity for socialization and entertainment. The program takes place at the Reading Public Library and is funded through sponsorships and the Schroeder Trust Fund. The second program is the Reading Ramblers Walking Club. This club is funded through a grant from the Massachusetts Council on Aging. The Club meets on Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings. They walk various routes throughout town. The Division also offers day trips to various locations including the Enchanted Village at Jordan's Furniture, Peabody Essex Museum, and Concord River Cruise. A variety of groups provided dinner /lunch programs during 2016. Hosts included the Fire Department, Police Department, Lions Club, Sheriff's Office and the Council on Aging. In addition to daily programs, the Center also hosts bimonthly Lunch n' Learn programs, a variety of musical entertainment, as well as lunch trivia days. Intergenerational Programs Elder /Human Services continues to reach out to the community, particularly the younger generation. High School students act as servers, bingo callers and kitchen staff during the summer months. In 2016, the Boys High School Hockey and Lacrosse teams assisted 26 elders with snow removal. Through fund raising efforts for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society, Wood End Elementary School students once again received a complimentary lunch from the Olive Garden restaurant. The student body chose to donate the luncheon to Reading seniors. In June, under the direction of the school Principal, students served the lunch and visited with the seniors at the Pleasant Street Center. As in past years, the middle schools provided entertainment during the holidays. In the spring, Parker Middle School hosted the annual intergenerational Cribbage Tournament. The Division also partners with the Recreation Division on intergenerational programming. During April school vacation, a Bingo Night was held at the Pleasant Street Center and in August, a pizza and movie night was held. Other events included a Mother's Day tea. The Division also played an active role in the Downtown Trick or Treating event. 36 Volunteers Over the course of the last several years, there has been a decrease in the number of volunteers and volunteer hours. This is in large part due to the staffing hours required to manage and train volunteers. As social services contacts and clients increase, the time needed to recruit volunteers has diminished. Another factor in the decrease of recorded volunteer hours is the need for more efficient data entry in capturing the work hours of the volunteers. The Division recognizes the importance and need for volunteers and is grateful to the residents that offer their time in service. Positions filled by volunteers include: Pleasant Street Center receptionists, gardeners, book discussion leaders, game leaders, income tax preparers, computer instructors, COA members, friendly visitors, medical escorts, office workers, newsletter editor, kitchen helpers, shoppers for homebound seniors, and shopping escorts. When reporting statistics, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs has requested a differentiation between "registered" volunteers and "unregistered" volunteers. Registered volunteers include those who have completed the volunteer application process which includes the application, Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, interview, training, placement and ongoing support. Unregistered volunteers include, but are not limited to, students, civic groups, town departments, and free performers. In the past year 103 registered volunteers worked an estimated 5702.20 hours of service. The financial equivalent for these services is approximately $58,540.20. Property Tax Workers The Property Tax Worker program allows Reading seniors to perform various tasks for Town departments in exchange for abatement on their property taxes. The program is open to Reading residents age 62 and over or disabled, who own property and have a household income that does not exceed limits set by the program. In 2016, there were 28 tax workers (30 positions available) and each participant was permitted to earn a maximum abatement of $1,000 annually. The 28 workers performed 3213.25 hours of. service. In 2016, participants were compensated at a rate of $8.00 per hour for a program total of $25,706.00. The program has been funded through the Assessors' Overlay account. Van Transportation The van transportation program provides a vital service for those seniors that don't drive. Transportation is provided in -town and surrounding shopping plazas for the following purposes: errands, grocery shopping, voting, pharmacy needs, and visiting the Pleasant Street Center. For younger residents, the van services offers transportation to and from the food pantry and other vital destinations. In 2016, the van provided 6,175 one -way trips. In the spring of 2014 the Division was awarded a grant through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for a new van. The Division now operates two vans, one on a regular route and the other offering bimonthly trips to various destinations. 37 Newsletter The Pleasantries newsletter is a monthly publication created by the Division. The publisher of the newsletter is Senior News Publications (SNP), at no cost to the Town. SNP's revenue is derived from selling advertising space in the newsletter. Each month 900 copies of the newsletter are available by subscription or at various locations throughout town. The annual monthly subscription is available by mail for $5. Residents can also subscribe to the newsletter online at no cost and receive it via email. Three times per year the Division has a `Big Mailer' in which the newsletters are delivered to approximately 3,000 senior households in Reading based upon the most recent local census. The Burbank Trust Fund provides the funding for postage. The goal of the newsletter is to increase awareness of the programs and services available to Reading's seniors and their caregivers. The newsletter also provides important information about benefit changes and helpful agencies. In addition to this monthly newsletter Elder Services provides weekly updates about programs and services via a one page email highlighting significant events /programs within the Division. . It is available by emailing the administrator at jburnskci.reading.ma.us and joining the distribution list. Burbank Trust Fund The fund was established by the Burbank Family of Reading. This fund can be used in a variety of ways to benefit seniors. The fund was established with no usage restrictions; however, the COA determined the fund cannot go below $250,000.00. In 2016, the Council on Aging approved expenditures from the Dorothy L. Burbank Trust to pay for the following: three months of postage cost for bulk mailings of the newsletter; birthday cakes, gift certificates, and lunch for the monthly birthday celebrants. The Council also approved up to $2,000.00 to provide additional funding for an EHS Needs Assessment to be conducted by UMass Boston. The Council allows the Division Administration a discretionary budget of $3,000.00 to provide entertainment at the Pleasant Street Center. 2016 beginning balance = $263,693.06 2016 ending balance = $259,554.35 Patrons for Older Adults Support Fund At 2010 Town Meeting (Article 17) the members voted to accept a gift from the Patrons for Older Adults. This fund is used to support programs not funded by the Town of Reading. "New" programs can be funded year after year. The fund came to Elder Services /COA as a gift from The Patron for Older Adults, who donated the money when the organization dismantled. The fund when originally established was in the amount of $125,000.00. In 2016, the Council on Aging approved expenditures from the fund to support the Volunteer Appreciation Event, Chinese Dinner, New Year's Eve Celebration and a Lobster Roll Dinner. In addition, the Council approved funding for day trips for seniors. The fund covers the cost of fuel and the driver's salary for a variety of monthly excursions. 2016 beginning balance = $141,350.71 2016 ending balance = $140,938. Schroeder Trust Fund The Schroeder Trust Fund is a goodwill fund that can only be used to provide small gestures of kindness to seniors. This fund allows the Council to purchase and deliver meals to seniors on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. In 2016, the Thanksgiving meals were once again generously donated by Christopher's Restaurant and not purchased by the Schroeder Trust. All meals were delivered by Council on Aging members and staff. Moving forward the Schroeder Trust is also being used to support the Memory Cafe. The Schroeder Trust allows interest -only spending, and cannot go below $10.,000. 2016 beginning balance = $23,179.00 2016 ending balance = $23,234.73 Donations Many individuals and organizations have generously supported Elder /Human Services' efforts by providing money, gifts, and in -kind services. Some of the donations have included: sponsorship of an event, program or meal; senior center decorations; baked goods; flowers; plants; art work; refreshments; and more. The Elder Services Donations Fund covers situations for persons age 60 and older who lack financial resources to cover basic needs or emergencies. The Human Services Donations Fund is for persons under age 60 who lack financial resources for emergency situations. Human Services Donations 2016 beginning balance = $6,375.00 Human Services Donations 2016 ending balance = $5,870.24 Elder Services Donations 2016 beginning balance = $42,191.73 Elder Services Donations 2016 ending balance = $44,016.73 39 Holiday Programs Adopt -a- Family Once again the Reading Rotary Club and ReadingCARES coordinated the Adopt -A- Family holiday program. Elder /Human Services assisted them by verifying eligibility and distributing food and gifts to families in need. The Adopt -a- Family program matches low income Reading families with confidential donors of food and gifts for children. Reading residents, businesses, out -of -town businesses that employ Reading residents, youth organizations, school groups, nursery schools, churches, and municipal departments join together to make this program a success. This past year, 120 donor groups, families, and individuals made donations of food and gifts to the Adopt -A- Family program. Recipients Households Thanksgiving Food 40 Christmas Food/Gifts 52 Thanksgiving /Christmas Baskets The Senior Case Manager supplies the Wakefield Elks with a list of 10 seniors who would welcome receiving a basket of a complete holiday dinner. Hitching Post Gift Shop Giving Tree For the third year the Division partnered with the Hitching Post Gift Shop. Through the Center; seniors were able to refer friends and neighbors for the giving tree. Division staff coordinated the names and gift suggestions and anonymously submitted them to the Hitching Post. Shoppers to the gift shop selected the seniors and purchased gifts. A reception was held at the Pleasant Street Center in December for recipients. In 2016, there were 40 recipients in the program. Council on Aging Board The Council on Aging is a 10 member advisory Board. They meet the second Monday of the month September through June. The role of the Council is to aid the Division in promoting the needs of Reading seniors. The Council is also responsible for overseeing the Burbank, Patrons for Older Adults and Schroeder Trust Funds. The purpose of these funds is to help subsidize the activities of the Division to the benefit of Reading seniors. Recreation Division The mission of the Reading Recreation Division is to provide the community with year round recreational activities. Recreation programs are broad based to meet the recreational needs of all segments of the population. The Division must continually update and modify its programming to meet the current needs of the community. As the community's participation and awareness of local recreational programs increase, so does their expectation of Recreation Division programs. The Division must be ready to anticipate and adapt to these growing expectations and trends. K1 Division Overview The Division continued to host over 300 different programs in 2016. The Division has two full time staff. Jenna Fiorente - Recreation Administrator, and Susan Simeola - Administrative Secretary. Volunteers and a part-time intern also staff the Recreation Division. Projects The Division was awarded a playground'safety grant in the amount of $25,000 which was used for various playground improvements around Town. A majority of the money was used for topping off playground surfaces. Reading Fall Street Faire Reading Recreation staff continued the role as coordinator of the Fall Street Faire (FSF) in 2016. Community Services Director, John Feudo, served as the staff lead on the FSF Committee. Jenna Fiorente also assisted with daily logistics and meeting minutes. The Faire was estimated to have about 8,000- 10,000 people in attendance with close to 200 vendors. This year the Faire fell on September 11th and a Special Tribute was organized to honor victims and first responders. Mattera Cabin The Mattera Cabin is now under the supervision of Conservation and Facilities. The Division still uses the loft at the Cabin for storage and utilized the cabin for several programs throughout the year. Reading Community Courts Tennis Monitor Program For the fifth straight year the Town has hired staffing for the Reading Community Tennis Courts on Bancroft Avenue from late spring to early fall. This is done to combat over use of the courts. The fee for the pass is $20 for an individual and $30 for a family. For non- residents, it was raised from $100 to $120. Currently players (residents) may purchase a priority pass for the tennis courts to be able to use the courts in the evenings from 5:00 — 8:00 PM Monday — Friday. This program is staffed by 3 monitors that rotate on a nightly basis. They carry a check - in clip board and track what time folks arrive and leave. The positions are paid for by the Recreation revolving fund, mostly from the revenue collected for the passes. Passes can be purchased online on the Recreation website. The Tennis Pass Program only sold 38 in FY2016 and sold over 100 in FY2017. The Recreation Committee will revisit the need for Tennis Monitor Staff and the Tennis Pass Program. The Division still uses "Reserve a Game" AKA "Play Local ", an online tennis reservation system. Play Local was an enhancement made to the program to the current priority pass system and gave tennis players the option to reserve a court in advance during non -peak hours. CAN Programming Winter /Spring The Winter /Spring season featured many great programs for participants of all ages, including the following: March Madness Clinic, Spring Tennis Clinics:. for Youths and Adults, 10th Season of Reading T -Ball, Beautiful Game Academy Soccer Clinic, Flag Football for Kids, Parkour Clinic Feb /April, Elementary School Basketball, SNL Sports Clinic, Baby Sitting Course, Fencing for Youth - Adults, Pickleball — Adults, Archery, Spring Track & Field Program, Indoor Rock Climbing, and CandyBar Bingo. Reading Recreation T -Ball had a successful 10th season with 175 participants. Participation decreased slightly this year possibly due to the adjustment of the age minimum for Reading Little League. This program has become a mainstay and is an intricate part of the Recreation Division's programming line -up. The older children participate in RYS or RLL as a natural progression from T -Ball. The Division believes that recreation includes more than just the typical major sports, and as such also includes enrichment programs. The Division continues to offer programs such as a babysitting class from the staff of Winchester Hospital, and runs several popular adult programs such as fencing, pickleball, boxing, and volleyball. Volleyball and pickleball expanded this year to a second night due to increased interest. The volleyball matches are pick -up in nature and anyone can join. Pickleball continues to grow to'multiple nights with multiple sessions offered each night. It is now offered year= round. The Division offered a February & April Vacation Program for kids grades K -5. The programs included an all sports clinic, two basketball clinics, and a parkour clinic. There were 182 registrants who participated in the vacation clinics in 2016. Recreation will continue to expand this program to help full -time working parents who need the coverage during vacation times. Reading Recreation and Elder/Human Services teamed up again to hold another Bingo Event for kids, parents, and grandparents in an effort to create a multigenerational atmosphere. To gather interest and save costs, Jenna Fiorente made the theme CandyBar. Each participant brought their own candy bar and they were placed on a table upon their arrival. The winner of each game could pick a certain amount of candy bars and the overall winner in the end could pick up to 10! Leftover candy bars were given to the Veterans Services Officer, Kevin Bohmiller, to bring to the Veterans in need. The event had about 60 sign -ups. Light refreshments, pizza, and ice cream were served. The event was free for seniors and all others paid a minimal fee per person. Fun was had by all. The Division and Elder/Human Services also held the 2nd Annual Mother's Day Tea; with the help of the owner of Tin Bucket, it was. organized as a Paint `N Sip tea event. Seniors and their families were instructed on painting tea cups. The afternoon also featured pastries, fruits, cheese and crackers, etc. Each participant paid a small fee. 42 Summer 2016 The Division offered over 50 programs in the summer of 2016, the most popular being Reading Recreation Summer Camp. Clinics and programs included: Volleyball Clinics, Tiny Tot Soccer, Basketball Clinics for Boys and Girls, Reading Baseball Clinic, Lacrosse Clinic, Incrediflix, Wicked Cool for Kids, Top Secret Science, Jr. Field Hockey, Tennis Clinics, and Pickleball. The 2016 Summer Camp Program reached full capacity in.7 out of 8 weeks, with 948 children participating and waitlists of up to 20 kids in popular weeks including the Dodgeball Tournament and Summer Olympic Games. Summer Camp is overseen by Recreation Administrator Jenna Fiorente who hires all Summer Camp Staff. The Division continued theme weeks for each week of camp which were very popular. John Bruno served as the director of the K - 3rd grades. The Camp Director for grades 4 -8 did not return in 2016; Phil Bruno, who has been working at the camp for several years as a specialty counselor, stepped into the role of Director and did a wonderful job. Working under the guidance of Jenna Fiorente, the directors steer the program in many directions. With a high rate of returning staff, the Division was able to add more to the Program. This summer, Recreation continued to add "bonus" events such as Slush Day, Carnival Day inflatables, and Barn Babies. The goal is to maintain the strong turnout for summer camp again in 2017 so that it is part of most kids' summer experience. Junior Camp continued with success this summer. The Director for the Junior Camp, Nicole Beauregard, has been on staff for a long time. Intern Jacqui Reynolds also worked closely with Junior Camp this year. There was a decrease in enrollment in summer sports clinics offered by the Division. This can likely be attributed to new High School coaches and the popularity of Recreation's Summer Camp. The Division turned the old outdoor volleyball court into pickleball courts. The courts were lined for play over the summer so picklers could enjoy the sport year - round. David Blanchard entered his 3rd year as varsity head coach of RMHS and as the Director of the Reading baseball clinic. The Track & Field All Comers Meets are hosted at the RMHS Stadium Track on Wednesday nights. In 2016, 64 participants enrolled in the 5 week program. Events featured were the 100, 200 and 300 meter, long jump, and shot - put. This program now starts earlier with the younger group to allow for more structure in the overall program, and for more participants in each level. Gregg Luongo served as the Recreation Tennis Professional for his 14th year. Gregg did a good job working with both kids and adults, and the program continues to be steady each summer with more than 100 participants. Many kids enjoyed the clinics so much that they signed up for more than one week. "Theatre on the Green" was once again a great hit. "Theater on the Green" featured five events highlighted by Karen K & the Jitterbugs and The Toe Jam Puppet Band. These 43 events took place on Wednesdays at the Marge and John Pacino bandstand at Memorial Park, and were very well attended by between 50 -75 people. After each event, the Division held a Wednesday Field Game which was open to all children and included obstacle courses, water balloon relays, and capture- the -flag. The Division was also partially sponsored by the Honda Gallery this summer for the Children's Series. The "Concerts on the Common" included Reading's own Steven Savio. Between donations that were collected during each of the concerts and sponsors, the Recreation Division was able to run the concerts at minimal cost. The concerts were held on the Town Common, which seemed to attract more people than Memorial Park, and were partly managed by Barbara Faso. On Friends and Family Day, Recreation partnered with FORR and worked closely with the ,Fire and Police departments to put on an enjoyable fireworks show. The fireworks were set off from the outfield at Morton Field and could be seen for miles. An estimated crowd of 3,000 people attended. It was a truly spectacular event! Finally' the Division sponsored its 26th Annual Reading Tennis Open. The Tournament had over 100 participants and was held at the Reading Community Tennis Courts on Bancroft Avenue. All proceeds went to the RMHS tennis program and to purchasing equipment for the Town courts. The Tournament was run by Kate Kaminer and Lorraine Salter of Friends of Reading Tennis. Fall /Winter The Fall/Winter season for the Division was busy. The Division offered a host of programs such as Baseball, Basketball, Flag Football; and Indoor Rock Climbing, among others. Saturday Night Lights Flag Football returned for a fourth season, and has grown into a top -three program for Reading Recreation. This year, over 650 participants enrolled. The program was again directed by Jimmy Murphy and Carl McFadden, with volunteer parents as team coaches. The steady increase in the size of this program has forced the Division to get creative and to utilize the outfields on the lighted ball fields at the Birch Meadow Complex. Each Saturday night for 8 weeks, players congregated at the RMHS fields to participate in flag football games. The Division teamed up with SNL to provide a Basketball Program that would offer skills and preparation for tryouts to its Travel and Sunday participants. This program in its first year had 86 participants. The Division again offered a Jr. /Sr. Volleyball program for 4th — 8th grade students. This program averaged around 45 participants per fall session, and was run by RMHS Varsity Coach Michelle Hopkinson and several HS volleyball players. Recreation will continue to look for ways to enhance this program and take advantage of its popularity. HE The Halloween Parade had over 200 participants and was hosted by the Division in conjunction with FORR at the Coolidge Middle School. The parade route — which runs approximately 1 mile along Arthur B. Lord, Forest Street, and Whittier Road to the Middle School — was managed by Recreation and included DPW road blocks and staff, and a police detail. In addition to the Halloween Parade, the Recreation Division offered the 3rd Annual Downtown Trick or Treat. Over 50 downtown businesses participated in the Downtown Trick or Treat by handing out candy, stickers, tattoos, etc. The event took place along both sides of Main Street (including the Town Hall) and both sides of Haven Street. The Division implemented a teal balloon initiative which indicated that that particular business had a treat that was not a food item. All participating non - downtown Reading businesses set up on the Town Common with the DPW and Fire Department trucks. The Downtown Trick or Treat had upwards of 800 people. The Travel Basketball Program featured over 90 participants. This was the Town's fourth year participating in the Metro West League and participants continued to enjoy the league and its amenities. Players came to a 2 -day evaluation and the teams were selected by coaches with input from staff and independent evaluators. Every player who signed up made a team, unless there were not enough coaches and players. The teams were coached by volunteer parents and friends of the Recreation Division. The Sunday Basketball Program continues to' be successful each year, averaging upwards of 400 participants. Paul Orlando supervised for his fourth year, and again demonstrated outstanding management, organizational and communication skills, as well as an ability to delegate tasks to the fifteen hired high school student employees. The Alphabasketball Coaches Training tool is available for all Sunday basketball coaches to utilize. It includes weekly practice plans and instructional videos to help coaches. Surveys were sent out to all families to get feedback and collect further data to advance the program. The Division held its Annual NYC Shopping Trip in December, led by Jenna Fiorente. The trip has filled up the past few years; this year was no exception. The Nashoba Valley Ski & Snowboard Program 'continued to be very popular. Both the Elementary and Middle School Programs were sold out. Special Needs Programming Special Needs programming in 2016 was offered by The Arc of East Middlesex Recreation in conjunction with the Division. Reading Recreation values this relationship for programming and as a support network for the special needs programs. The Arc offered programs such as Special Olympics training, aquatics bowling, teen groups, and social clubs /dances. At the end of each session, participants were asked to fill out an evaluation form. 45 The Challenger Little League was run in North Reading this year, at the Benevento Little League Complex, under the oversight of Chris Hanson. The combined League accommodates more participants which in turn makes game -play more fun! The children also participated in away games with other towns and received t -shirts and hats. The Division continued to have success with the Special Skates Program at the Burbank Ice Arena. The Directors of NSSC came into their third year strong and were able to provide several volunteers and experienced staff, and the turnout was great. In 2016, the Division partnered with Challenger Little League and the Police Department to sponsor a Challenger All Star Game. The Division continues to look for other programming areas to expand into. Brochure and Advertising Reading Recreation continues to mail the Reading Recreation Magazine to every household in Reading three times a year. Participating groups include Recreation, Police, Fire, Library, Elder Services, YMCA, Creative Arts, RCASA, Friends of Reading Recreation and various in -town organizations. The magazine also features interest articles to keep the community apprised of what is happening around Town. The Division continues to work hard to put out a quality magazine that the public will look forward to receiving and reading each season. The Division also posts all of its programming at www.readingrec.com. At this website, patrons can easily search and sign up for programs. Patrons have the option of either paying online or printing and mailing in a registration form and check. The website also allows for opt -in direct emails to the public. Email blasts can be sent to the entire database at the click of a mouse or can be sent to specific participants in a specific program. Reading Recreation continues to use many different advertising avenues including email blasts /newsletters from our database, social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and newspapers and online forums. Personnel / Administration In October 2016, John Feudo left his position as Community Services Director to take a position with the YMCA. As Community Services Director, John supervised the Recreation, Human & Elder Services, Veterans, and Health Divisions. John continued to help Recreation by scheduling all town fields and being the point person for projects. He worked with the local Youth and Adult sports organizations to maximize field space. Over the past ten years, capital and master planning have become a high priority for the Division and the Town. John worked with many volunteer groups to design master plans that are functional and advantageous for the Town. Jenna Fiorente has been the Recreation Administrator since John Feudo was promoted to Community Services Director in January 2015, and has taken on additional responsibilities since John left. Jenna has worked for the Town since April 2012, and she continues to expand programming responsibilities and to bring excitement to programs. She has done a nice job not only finding these .new programs but positioning them and ., marketing them in a fashion that allows them to run. She works hard and surrounds herself with seasonal staff members who she trusts and knows will do a good job when called upon. Jenna is also responsible for scholarship programs and helps with special projects when needed. Sue Simeola enters her 9th year as the Administrative Secretary for the Division. Sue handles many of the Division's records including payment plans, outstanding balances, medical records, CORI records, and payroll. Sue also helps out with events such as travel basketball tryouts and pre -fit night, the Halloween Parade and Easter Egg Hunt. Sue handles much of the face -to -face customer service for the Division and serves as the frontline for the phone system. Sue is the glue of the Recreation Division. Reading Recreation is continuously looking for resources and ideas for expanding recreation programs and potential new, recreational facilities. A comprehensive capital plan has been developed to include tennis courts, basketball courts and backstop replacement over the next twelve years. Recreation continues to work with leaders of the sports organizations to develop other field opportunities with in what is already provided. The Reading Recreation Division and the Recreation Committee continue to develop policies that will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of each Reading Recreation program. Reading Recreation has been glad to offer the public over 200 recreational programs throughout the past year. Reading Recreation hopes to meet the community's changing recreational. needs while providing them with a combination of safe, fun, and educational programs. Suggestions for new programs are welcomed and encouraged. Veterans' Services The Veterans' Services Office is the main point of contact for advocacy and support of veterans. A full range of benefits and services are available to veterans and their families based on certain qualifications and eligibility requirements. State Veterans' public assistance is mandated by Chapter 115, Mass. General Laws, 108 CMR Commonwealth of Massachusetts Regulations. This program assists eligible Veterans and their families with income maintenance, medical care and emergency services. The number of beneficiaries and expenditures has remained level. Through outreach, new residents have been identified and are now receiving benefits. At the same time, some individuals have been removed from the rolls due to non - qualification and through VSO assistance in finding employment or financial assistance through other State or Federal programs. The State repays 75% of these costs in the following fiscal year through State aid payments. Applications for federal benefits are also processed through this office, coordinated with the regional office of Department of Veterans Affairs and various Veterans Administration medical and support facilities. Demand for these services is steadily increasing to include claims for veteran, dependent and survivor pensions, Aid & Attendance, Dependency and Indemnity compensation, medical and death benefit. entitlement, along with GI Bill Education benefits. In the past year, Reading residents received over $3.4m in compensation and pensions from the VA. During 2016, the VSO 47 assisted in preparation of 32 VA Compensation claims and 11 VA Pension with Aid & Attendance applications. The VSO provides outreach to veterans to ensure they are aware of and utilizing additional State benefits to include tuition waivers, motor vehicle benefits, property tax exemptions, annuities and bonuses, counseling, employment assistance, housing assistance and many more. Our goal is to accurately identify and obtain necessary assistance in a timely manner that veterans and their family have earned and deserve. The VSO is available during the Reading Lions Club Reading Friends and Family Day, the Fall Street Faire, and other public information gatherings. He has attended school functions and worked with scouting programs to promote overall awareness and appreciation of Veterans and their sacrifices. The Veterans' office works with other Committees to coordinate public events such as annual Memorial Day services at all four Reading cemeteries and Veterans Day ceremonies throughout the Town. On Veterans Day, the Town honored a 98 year old Bataan Death March survivor by awarding him a Bronze Star Medal which was over 70 years past due. The Veterans group "Scuttlebutt" continues to be a great event. The meeting is held the first Thursday of each month, at 10:00 AM at the Pleasant Street Senior Center. It is open to all Veterans and those interested in Military history. Members enjoy the comradery of fellow sailors and soldiers, share sea stories and other personal experiences, learn and discuss the Military history of the month and enjoy guest speakers and historical movies. The group took trips to visit the USS Massachusetts in Fall River and the Vietnam Moving Wall in Waltham last summer. More trips to Veteran focused events are being planned. The Veterans' Services Officer's office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30 AM — 5:30 PM. Tuesday 7:30 AM — 7:00 PM. Home and off -hour appointments are available upon request. The VSO will bring services to the veteran and their families wherever they are and whenever they need assistance. You may reach Kevin Bohmiller at 781- 942 -6652 or kbohmillergci.reading ma.us. East Middlesex ARC, INC. DU Services EMARC's Day Services Division includes Life Choices Day habilitation program, Community Based Day Services and Career Services employment program. Life Choices offers skill building in areas that allows for more independence in daily life, and offers opportunities to use learned skills in the community as well as becoming active members of the community. Career services promote skill building to prepare individuals for independent and group employment in the community. Community Based Day Services is both a pathway to employment as well as a community based day program. Recreation Program The East Middlesex Arc, Inc. provides therapeutic recreational services throughout the year for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The funding to run these programs is raised through grants, fundraising efforts and individual attendance fees. Although these programs are staffed by employees, not all of them could be run without the assistance of volunteers. A variety of sports and recreation programs are held throughout the year, and it should be noted that approximately 50 Reading residents have volunteered to assist in these successful programs. Residential Services Residential services are currently provided at several sites throughout the area to adults who have developmental disabilities. Residential programs are funded primarily by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). Room and Board fees charged to the residents are used to offset DDS funding. The goal of residential services is to provide individuals with an opportunity to live and participate in the local communities that we serve. Family Support Services EMARC's Family. Resource Center offers assistance to parents and caregivers who provide supports for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Our philosophy is to support families by offering services that are flexible, individualized and family directed. We assist with referrals, support groups for parents, elders and siblings; educational programs and trainings, advocacy, DDS Family Case Management, School to Work, Transition services, and Adult Family Care. The East Middlesex Arc, Inc. (EMARC) is appreciative of the partnership and continued support that the Town of Reading has provided to its residents with developmental disabilities. Mystic Valley Elder Services In FY16 over 538 Reading residents used Mystic Valley's services valued at $2,836,466. Of these, 117 were eligible for Nursing Facility care while remaining at home. Mystic Valley Elder Services is a nonprofit organization, which has been helping people find practical solutions to long term care issues since 1975. Our goal is to help seniors, disabled adults and their family caregivers find the best available services that fit within family resources. We offer a wide range of services creatively designed to support the challenges of daily life and independent living. Some are free of charge, others are offered on a sliding fee scale or private pay basis. Information & Assistance: Resource consultants offer FREE advice and referrals from our extensive database of local, state and national resources. Assistance is available by telephone, email or a home visit by an experienced Care Manager. 282 Consumers served at a Cost of $28,674 Care Management & Home Care Services: A range of programs for seniors designed to provide assistance with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, etc.) for those who wish to remain in their own homes. Includes: in -home assessment by a care manager, development of a care plan, and delivery of approved services. 293 Consumers served at a Cost of $2,636,022 W Caregiver Support: Services may include an in -home assessment, caregiver training and education regarding such areas as memory loss, home safety, respite care and fall prevention. Provides useful resources especially for working and long distance caregivers. 13 Consumers served at a Cost of $10,948 Transportation: Providing rides to medical appointments and adult day health centers. 3 Consumers served at a Cost of $2,120 Meals on Wheels: A mid -day meal and daily check in by a friendly driver for those over 60 who are homebound and unable to prepare their own food. 18,290 Meals served at a Cost of $102,234 Senior Dining Sites: Centers in 20 locations offer seniors an opportunity to meet and enjoy a nutritious lunch. Ethnic meals are available. 4,113 Meals served at a Cost of $26,086 Behavioral Health Services: Clinical Caseworker provides outreach and connects consumers to behavioral health services in home and community settings. The program provides assistance with coordination and payment of behavioral health services. 7 Consumers served at a Cost of $8,947 Minority Outreach: Services for non- and limited- English speakers include information and referral, translation of and assistance responding to important documents, health insurance information counseling, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes. 0 Consumers served at a Cost of $0 SHINE Health Benefits Counseling: Trained counselors provide seniors with no -cost, confidential counseling and unbiased information regarding health insurance and prescription drug options. 280 Consumers served at a Cost of $7,160 Money Management Assistance: Trained volunteers provide assistance with bill paying, budgeting and banking tasks. A volunteer may also serve as a Representative Payee. 10 Consumers served at a Cost of $11,250 Volunteer Program: Dedicated volunteers augment the agency's capacity by sharing their expertise with a variety of professional and administrative functions, providing bill paying assistance to elders, counseling Medicare and MassHealth recipients, staffing congregate meal sites and/or food pantries, and serving as literacy tutors in area elementary schools. 24 Volunteers performing 2,035 hours of service 50 Legal Assistance: No -cost legal assistance and education on issues such as public benefits, landlord tenant disputes and loss of independence. S Consumers served at a Cost of $1, 720 TRIP Metro North: A free, passenger - controlled transportation program open to older adults and adults living with disabilities. 2 Consumers served at a Cost of $1,305 Trails Committee The Trails Committee met eight times in 2016. Trail Committee members and volunteers put in over 250 hours building structures and maintaining trails. The Trails Committee accomplished the following during the year: • Made improvements to the Evergreen Trail between Kiley Drive and Charles Street: clearing, blazing, and installing trailhead signs and easement markers. Boy Scout Pack 702 assisted. • Built an 18' long bridge on the red - blazed trail in Bare Meadow Conservation Area to span a wet area. • Did site visits at: a. The Xavier /Aberjona River Conservation Area and the Boyd Lot owned by the Reading Open Land Trust (ROLT) to scout future trails. b. A Town Forest site to explore the feasibility of a wildlife observation pier into the Ipswich River. c. Kurchian Woods to explore establishing trails on a northern portion that will have access from Main Street. • Made major repairs to the long "Alligator Alley" boardwalk in the Town Forest. • Removed and replaced a heavily -used 38' long bridge on the Higgins Property off Birch Meadow Drive. Girl Scout Brownie Troop 62779 assisted. • Cleared downed trees blocking trails in Bare Meadow, Kurchian Woods, Sledge Woods, and the Town Forest and removed trash from Kurchian Woods. • The Trails Committee led or co -led the following walks in collaboration with ROLT and Walkable Reading: a. A Winter Walk in Bare Meadow in January, followed by cocoa and cookies at the Mattera Cabin. b. Walk Reading Weekend walks on the Evergreen Trail and in Bare Meadow in June. c. Met with four Eagle Scout candidates to offer guidance and approve trail proj ects. 51 d. Successfully applied to the Conservation Commission to _renew the Town - Wide Trails Permit. e. Attended Conservation Commission, CPDC, and Board of Selectmen meetings to monitor projects that affect trails or public access to open space. 52 FINANCE DEPARTMENT The Finance Department, under the direction of the Town Accountant, supports a wide variety of financial and administrative functions. The Finance Department staff are designed to be flexible and experienced in many of these divisions as work flows vary throughout the year: a.) Accounting: The Accounting Department is responsible for maintaining financial records. These records facilitate the preparation of financial reports and schedules that provide meaningful, accurate information for comparability and for management's decision making process. The Accounting Department ensures that all financial transactions are in compliance with legal requirements and are properly recorded on a timely basis. The Town used the auditing firm of Melanson & Heath in FY 2016. b.) Assessors: Assessment of property is the first step in the process of tax revenue collection for the Town of Reading. The Assessment division's function is to provide for the fair and equitable assessment of all taxable real and personal property. A three - member Board of Assessors sets policy. c.) General Finance: Collections is responsible for collecting all taxes and other charges (including ambulance and water /sewer /storm water bills). They also receive and process all deposits (such as schools and recreation). Treasury is responsible for providing the cash for the operation of all Town, School and Light Department functions on a timely basis. In addition, it conducts all borrowing and investing activities, including those on behalf of the Town's Trust Funds (assisted by the Trust Fund Commissioners). Finance: Assessment Division Assessment of property is the first step in the process of tax revenue collection for the Town of Reading. The Assessment Division's function is to provide for the fair and equitable assessment of all taxable real and personal property. The Assessors trend the values each year so that the revaluations done every three years won't result in substantial changes. The Assessors must annually determine the tax levy and obtain State approval of the tax rate so that bills can be issued in a timely manner. The tax rate for FY 2017 was set at $14.03 per thousand, a $0.47 decrease per thousand from the FY 2016 rate. The total assessed value of all properties and accounts for FY 2017 is $4.623 billion which is a 7.3% increase from the previous year. TbA hr,- A-Anlam of Ri -ndina nrnnerty for FY 2017 is as follows: 53 Assessed Value Share Change Residential $4,248,195,850 91.9% +7.4% Commercial $ 322,096,774 7.0% +5.2% Industrial $ 10,732,000 0.2% +6.8% Personal $ 42,410,600 .9% +7.4% TOTAL $ 4,623,435,224 100.00% +7.3% 53 Finance: Collection Division The Collection Division is responsible for collecting all taxes and other charges (including ambulance and water /sewer /storm water bills). This Division also receives and processes all deposits (such as schools and recreation). Massachusetts does not allow Towns to pay any charges associated with electronic collection of tax bills — such as a flat fee or credit card fee. Debit card usage is comparatively inexpensive, and an economical method to pay online. 1VId- ofrnniv Pavmp"k ( *tn 19/11/16) Municipal lien certificates have increased due mainly mortgage refinancing activities. Foreclosures dropped off from a high in 2008, in sharp contrast to economic measures nationally. Municipal Lien Certificates *Fee increased 121112010 CY16* CY15* CY14 CY13 Registered Users 5481 4847 4250 3741 Electronic Payments 4300 3606 . 3218 2636 Municipal lien certificates have increased due mainly mortgage refinancing activities. Foreclosures dropped off from a high in 2008, in sharp contrast to economic measures nationally. Municipal Lien Certificates *Fee increased 121112010 Foreclosures (Foreclosure deeds recorded at the Regis try of Deeds as of 12/31/16) 2016 Issued Fees FY16 773 $41,350 FY15 786 $42,000 FY14 702 $37,600 FY13 1251 $66,450 FY12 1170 $61,400 FY11 * 1107 $40,525 FY10 859 $24,875 FY09 1 969. $26,901 FY08 743 $22,350 FY07 698 $21,252 Foreclosures (Foreclosure deeds recorded at the Regis try of Deeds as of 12/31/16) 2016 10 2015 3 2014 2 2013 6 2012 5 2011 10 2010 18 2009 11 54 Real estate taxes collected were $61.4 million - a 6.2% increase from the $57.8 million in the previous year. Personal property taxes collected increased to $0.561 million from $0.5467 million; and Excise tax collections increased to $3.65 million in FY16 from $3.38 million in FY15. Finance: General Division This Division is responsible for providing the cash for the operation of all Town and School functions on a timely basis. In addition, it conducts all borrowing and investing activities, including those on behalf of the Town's Trust Funds. Interest earnings for the General Fund during FY16 were only $293,087 - a few years ago this figure was about $1.7 million before interest rates began their historic drop. General Finance - Trust Funds: Respectfully submitted, Sharon Angstrom, CPA Town Accountant 55 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 Beginning Balances $8,882,468 $9,025,026 $9,125,527 $9,289,189 $9,556,486 Contributions $154,858 $91,384 $115,146 $130,471 $98,048 Disbursements ($288,129) ($262,441) ($275,268) ($269,343) ($300,238) Interest $258,171 $271,558 $323,783 $406,169 $326,549 Ending Balances $9,025,026 $9,125,527 $9,289,189 $9,556,486 $9,680,845 The Trust Funds disbursed over $1.3 million in the past five years as shown in the table above. The Hospital Trust Fund continued to provide aid through the Reading Response Program, which provides skilled health care services, respite care, medical transportation and Lifeline Emergency call systems to Reading residents who meet specific health and income guidelines. Ending Ending Ending Ending Ending 1 -year Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Change FY 2012 Fl( 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 Cemetery $3,849,339 $3,926,015 $4,021,156 $4,169,742 $4,251,156 2.0% Hospital $4,223,461 $4,246,326 $4,302,000 $4,408,337 $4,466,461 1.3% Library $59,491 $61,301 $59,095 $61,692 $63,842 3.4% Scholarships $159,428 $173,145 $172,384 $171,706 $168,174 -2.1% Veterans Memorial $114,130 $112,472 $119,634 $122,613 $116,544 -4.9% Downtown Imp $41,100 $37,208 $37,363 $37,378 $39,593 5.9% Celebration $42,804 $44,106 $43,923 $45,853 $42,863 -6.5% Historic $75,765 $76,613 $79,409 $83,331 $79,079 -5.1% Preservation Elder Services $420,535 $422,850 $427,823 $428,271 $424,650 -.8% Loans $24,737 $25,490 $26,401 $27,561 $28,509 3.4.% Respectfully submitted, Sharon Angstrom, CPA Town Accountant 55 FIRE DEPARTMENT The Reading Fire Department is responsible for four major functions: fire suppression, fire prevention, the emergency medical system and emergency management. This Department is also responsible to coordinate and apply for all reimbursements for State and Federal disaster declarations. The Reading Fire Department provides emergency medical treatment at the Advanced Life Support level (ALS) of care to sick and injured patients. This is the highest level of pre - hospital care available and we are continually expanding this program as the budget permits. Emergency management continues to expand in importance. The primary goal for Emergency Management is to identify areas of vulnerability to the community, to prepare for all disasters whether natural or manmade, to coordinate the response of a wide range of agencies and assist in the recovery phase. A secondary goal is to ensure the Town of Reading is in compliance with all Federal and State requirements to enable the community to remain eligible to receive reimbursement for Federal and State disaster declarations. Emergency Activity: In 2016 the Fire Department responded to 3,459 emergency calls for assistance. Of these calls 2,026 involved some level of emergency medical response. A review of our Massachusetts Fire Incident Report data indicated we responded to 40 fires defined as structure fires, 10 fires in mobile equipment and 34 outside fires. All these fire incidents were required to be reported to the State Fire Marshal. Significant Events: On Tuesday, June 14, 2016 a second alarm structure fire occurred at 54 Curtis Street. The fire broke out in the unoccupied single family home at approximately 5:00 PM. When firefighters arrived on scene, fire was found in the garage and traveling in the attic area. Property damage was minimized as much as possible as the fire was extinguished and overhauled. We received mutual aid from: Wakefield, Stoneham, Woburn, Burlington and Wilmington. Reading Firefighters responded to our neighboring communities to assist in extinguishing several structure fires, some examples include: • On Monday, February 22, 2016 Reading Firefighters responded mutual aid to Wakefield to assist with their 2" a alarm fire at the Lord Wakefield Hotel located on North Avenue Wakefield. • On March 8, 2016 Reading Firefighters responded to assist the Woburn Fire Department with a structure fire in a row of stores on Main Street between Union Street and Campbell Streets. This was a 3 alarm fire and crews from Woburn, Stoneham, Medford, Winchester, Burlington and Reading responded. • On Wednesday, April 13, 2016 Reading Firefighters responded to assist Stoneham Firefighters with a second alarm fire. • On Friday, May 27, 2016 Reading Firefighters responded to assist Lynnfield Firefighters with a second alarm fire. W • On September 23, 2016 Reading Firefighters responded to assist Stoneham Firefighters with a fire in a multiple unit building. • On December 15, 2016 Reading Firefighters responded to assist Stoneham Firefighters with a second alarm fire located at 154 North Avenue. Emergency Medical Services: The Reading Fire Department provides an Advanced Life Support Level (ALS) of care to the community and this allows Reading Firefighters to treat patients with a wide variety of medications and sophisticated treatment techniques. This level of care is essential to patients who are experiencing a medical emergency that is an immediate threat to their lives. Our emergency medical program is coordinated by Firefighters Joseph Lapolla and John Keough. Our emergency medical program receives clinical oversight and direction from Dr. Alec Walker from Melrose Wakefield Hospital and this year he recommended five of our personnel to be recognized at the EMS Region III Awards Presentation and Fundraising event. The following Reading Firefighters were recognized for their outstanding contribution to EMS in Region III: Captain Paul Guarino, Lt. Tony Delsignore, FF Joseph Lapolla, FF Eric Bagby and FF Matthew Berger. The recognition was due to the Firefighters saving the life of a 48 year old patient who was, pulseless and not breathing. On January 25, 2016 Firefighters arrived on scene and found a patient in the passenger seat of a car and determined she was not breathing and did not have a pulse. The Firefighters immediately placed her on the ground and began CPR. The cardiac monitor was applied and the patient was determined to be in V -fib and the patient was defibrillated. CPR was reinitiated and an intravenous line was established and epinephrine was administered. A second check of the heart rhythm determined the patient was in in V -fib and the patient was defibrillated a second time. CPR was reinitiated and after two minutes, the patient had an organized cardiac rhythm, return of circulation and a strong pulse. The patient was then administered Amiodarone to prevent the return of V -fib. Spontaneous breathing returned and the patient was transported to a local hospital. The patient was released from the hospital a few days later. This year Firefighters also saved the life of a pregnant 27 year old female patient who was found in cardiac arrest upon their arrival at a home in the early hours of April 27, 2016. CPR was initiated and the patient was defibrillated twice. After the second defibrillation a heart rhythm returned. Firefighters Dalton, Forsey and McCarthy continued treating the patient enroute to the hospital. Both the patient and the baby have recovered fully. Firefighters responded to 2,039 total emergency medical responses for calendar year 2016 and transported 1,177 patients. Ambulance transports continue to trend upward. 57 Ambulance Transports 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Ambulance revenue has increased. This is due to higher ambulance fees and the increase in number of patients transported. In fiscal year 2016 $844,306 in ambulance revenue was collected. In fiscal year 2015 $784,518 in revenue was collected. In FY 14 $616,839 in revenues were collected. Ambulance Revenue 1,000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0 FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 FY 16 Emergency Management: Emergency Management is an active component of the Department. Housed within Reading's Emergency Management system are three components, Emergency Management, the Local Emergency Planning Committee and the North East Homeland Security Region ( NERAC). NERAC is one of the 5 Massachusetts homeland security regions created by the Executive Office of Public Safety. Federal and State legislation requires every community in the country to have a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). The LEPC identifies areas where the population is most at risk from a hazardous materials release, facilities and transportation routes that contain hazardous materials and resources that would be used to mitigate an incident. To pool resources the Town of Reading has joined with other communities and formed the Mystic Regional Emergency Planning Committee. The Mystic Regional Emergency Planning Committee has grown to nineteen member communities and is designed to facilitate the sharing of resources in the event of an emergency. The Mystic Regional Emergency Planning Committee has achieved Full Certification Status by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. �'? The Reading Fire Department has developed a Hazardous Materials Emergency Plan to meet both Federal and State statutory planning requirements. For the Town of Reading the Fire Chief is the Local Emergency Planning Committee Chairman. Keeping current with State and Federal requirements is required to remain eligible for reimbursement of expenses when a. Presidential Disaster Declaration is granted. Since 2001 we have seen an increase in storm events being eligible for reimbursements due to Federal disaster declarations. Over this period the Town of Reading and Reading Municipal Light Department have received a total of $1,347,000 in reimbursements for emergency response and damage to infrastructure. Below is breakdown in revenue the Town of Reading has received since 2001. FEMA Reimbursements 400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,0000 Fire Prevention: The fire prevention duties are assigned to the Day Officer. This position is staffed by Captain Richard Nelson and he is responsible to ensure all life safety systems for new construction and renovations are designed and installed properly. This requires pre - construction meetings, plan review, code research and continual site visits to ensure proper installation. In 2016 the Department issued 529 permits and monitored several building renovations. Major projects include: Pulte Homes, Reading Public Library, Artis Senior Living and Johnson Woods. For existing buildings, the Day Officer is responsible to ensure all life safety systems are maintained properly. Other areas of responsibility include ensuring the safety and code compliance of flammable and combustible product storage. Regional Initiatives: We have four Department members who serve on specialized regional response teams. Assistant Chief Jackson is an active member of the NEMLEC (North East Metropolitan Law Enforcement Counsel) Stars Program. This program is designed to assist school systems to prepare and respond to a wide variety of threats in the school environment. Captain Nelson and Firefighter Dole serve on the Essex County Technical Rescue Team and Firefighter Pelrine serves on the State Hazardous Materials Team. 59 Firefighter Pelrine as a. member of the State Hazardous Materials Team provided Hazardous Materials monitoring during the Boston Marathon event. Firefighter Pelrine was deployed along the route and provided public safety monitoring services during the race. SAFE and Community Education: Our community education program consists of our school based SAFE Program and the Senior SAFE Program. Funding for these programs is provided by two State grants that total $7,754. Lieutenant Mark Dwyer is coordinating the Senior SAFE program and Firefighter John Jenks is coordinating our school program. The S.A.F.E program is funded by a $4,837 grant and features Reading Firefighters who are trained as S.A.F.E educators. These Firefighters visit each school classroom of Kindergarten through grade 5 to deliver the fire safety and anti - smoking message. Firefighters use a specially designed trailer that is shared by the Metrofire District to present a very real fire scenario to the students. Using this training aid, the children are taught lifesaving skills in a controlled setting that is not possible to duplicate in the classroom. Our Senior SAFE program is funded by a $2,917 grant that is designed for senior citizens. Statistically, seniors have a high rate of fire injuries and our program has been designed to increase the safety of this population. This year Captain Dwyer gave several group presentations, made home visits to the elderly and assisted needy elderly residents with the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Fire Alarm: The municipal fire alarm system in Reading is in good condition. This is a direct result of the planning, care and maintenance given to the system by our dedicated Fire Alarm Technicians, Michael Holmes, Brian Ryan and Bruce Ayer. When appropriate, we are connecting new and remodeled buildings to the municipal fire alarm system to ensure a rapid response to an incident. In addition to servicing and maintaining the municipal fire alarm system the Fire Alarm Technicians put up and take down the Town of Reading's flag display and Christmas decorations on the decorative light poles in Reading Square. These displays take a considerable amount of time to install and remove. Personnel: This year we have seen considerable changes in personnel. The highlights include: On Friday April 15, 2016 Paul Jackson was appointed Assistant Fire Chief. Nineteen candidates applied for this position. Three candidates were selected to participate in the Assistant Chief's position assessment center process. This was a day long process that required the candidates to complete several exercises. On July 2, 2016 Mark Dwyer was promoted to Captain and on July 3, 2016 Richard Nelson was , promoted to Captain and assigned as the Day Officer. On July 12, 2016 Anthony DelSignore was promoted to Lieutenant. •1 On August 15, 2016 we hired two new Firefighters to fill vacancies caused by the retirement and promotions. Firefighters Eric Beaulieu and Brian Roche were sent to the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Recruit Program and graduated on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Captain Campbell retired on December 30, 2016 after completing over 43 years of service. Captain Campbell began his career in the Reading Fire Department on September 15, 1973. He was promoted to Lieutenant on August 27, 1983 and to Captain on July 29, 1985. Lieutenant David Ballou retired on June 24, 2016 after completing 27 years of service. Lieutenant Ballou began his career in the Reading Fire Department on May 7, 1989. He was promoted to Lieutenant on June 24, 2001. Conclusion: Over the last year we have striven to make advancements in all areas of the Department. We have increased the level of training for our personnel, introduced new technology and equipment and aggressively pursued resources through public safety grants. The Advanced Life Support Program has been expanded to all fire apparatus and continues to provide Reading residents with the highest level of emergency medical care in this area. The condition of our fire apparatus is excellent and this increases our efficiency and capability at the scene of emergency. I would like to thank all Town Officers, Boards, Departments, members of the Reading Fire Department and especially the citizens of Reading for their continued high level of support and assistance. Respectfully submitted, Gregory J. Burns Chief of Fire Department Chief of Department Gregory J. Burns Assistant Chief: Paul D. Jackson Reading Fire Department Roster M Philip B. Captains: Boisvert Kenneth N. Peter L. Campbell' Marchetti Richard L.S. Paul F. Guarino Nelson Mark F. Dwyer Reading Fire Department Roster M Lieutenants: David T. Ballou^ Garrett Antanavica Scott Myette Firefighters: Michael Holmes David Roy Patrick Wallace Brian Ryan Stephen Pelrine Robert Beck Stephen Murphy David Robidoux David Gentile Michael Belmonte Michael Wood Scott Dole Secretary Cynthia M. Keenan Resigned position Anthony Delsignore Eric Blackman John Jenks Paul Roy Derek Loftus Dana Ballou Thomas McCarthy Sean Devlin Bruce Ayer Paul Dalton Ryan Buckley Joseph Lapolla Paul Damocogno David Ferreira *Hired to fill vacancy Steven Binari Robert Loring Robert Drake Daniel Pouliot John Keogh Matthew Berger Brian Yeager John Messer Eric Bagby Robert Forsey Eric Beaulieu* Brian Roche* "Retired 62 Fire Department Statistics for 2016 Permit Fees collected (FY 15) $22,479.01 Ambulance Fees Collected (FY 15) $844,306 Total Emergency Responses 3,524 Emergency Ambulance Calls 2,039 Inspections 968 62 READING POLICE DEPARTMENT MISSION AND VALUE STATEMENT The Reading Police Department is committed to providing the highest level of public safety and service to the citizens and business people within the community. The members of the Department are empowered to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Bylaws of the TOWN OF READING to ensure that the peace and tranquility of our neighborhoods are maintained and that crime and the fear of crime are reduced. We emphasize and value integrity, honesty, impartiality and professionalism from our members in order to create an environment that values differences and fosters fairness and flexibility in our mission. We encourage citizen input and interaction that will assist us in developing sound partnerships between the community and police. Working together we can protect our future and enhance the quality of life for everyone within the town. This report summarizes the participation, activities, sponsorships, enhancements, accomplishments, and other notable events of the Reading Police Department in Calendar year 2016. Personnel Changes: The following personnel changes and adjustments were experienced by the Police Department in calendar year 2016: January 2016 • Detective Pasquale Iapicca retired after 33 years of service to the department. • Community Service Officer James Collins retired after 30 years of service to the department. February 2016 ■ Brian Lewis was hired as a Patrol Officer. April 2016 ■ Dispatcher Cheryl Nahigian resigned as a dispatcher. June 2016 ■ Armorer Justin Martel was appointed to the N.E.M.L.E.C. SWAT team. July 2016 ■ Kevin Edmonds was hired as a dispatcher. August 2016 Lieutenant David Clark was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police. ■ Scott Craven was hired as a Patrol Officer and began his training at the Randolph Police Academy. 63 ■ Dispatcher Alyssa Bryan left dispatch and was hired as a Patrol Officer and began her training at the Randolph Police Academy. After suffering an injury in the academy she returned to dispatch. December 2016 • Sergeant Christine Amendola was promoted to Lieutenant. • Aimee Lowery was hired as a dispatcher. Awards, Recognitions and Other Noteworthy Events: September 2016 ■ The Reading Police Department was Re- Accredited by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission by successfully demonstrating compliance with 237 mandatory policy standards and 70 optional standards. December 2016 ■ AAA Southern New England presented the Reading Police Department with two awards: 1) The Gold Award of Excellence — recognizes achievements in traffic safety 2) Officer Timothy Barrett was named AAA Traffic Hero of the Year for the Town of Reading Support Services Division: The Reading Police Department is here to serve the Town of Reading and we look forward to continuing our existing efforts and are always looking for more opportunities to work with you, our community, to address criminal activity, traffic and safety problems, quality of life, and community development issues in the Town. The Police Department strongly promotes the philosophy of "working with the community ". This year Chief Segalla has reorganized the Support Services Division. Chief Segalla added a fourth Lieutenant to the department, making Lieutenant Christine Amendola the Support Services Division Commander. In the Support Services Division is the Traffic and Safety Officer, the Community Service Officer, the Armorer, the Parking Enforcement Officer, the Animal Control Officer, and the Crossing Guard Unit. The Department sponsors or participates in a number of community events and/or programs. The following are a number of those: Community Service: • In an effort to ensure the highest quality of community service to the Town, Chief Mark Segalla reestablished the Community Service Officer (CSO) as a full -time position working in the Support Services Division. Officer Kristen Stasiak was selected for this position. • Chief Segalla reinstituted and reformed the Department Honor Guard Unit. This unit is comprised of 13 members. The Honor Guard Unit has taken part in many important town events such as the Veteran's Day Parade. The unit was also selected to open the Red Sox Game on Law Enforcement Night this May. - • The Police Department is represented on the Human Relations Advisory Committee (HRAC) by Deputy Chief David Clark. • CSO Stasiak partnered with the Middlesex Sheriffs Office to educate the Senior Citizens at various locations about protection from existing and emerging scams known as the L.E.A.R.N Program. • The department established the "Coffee with a Cop" program locally. Citizens are invited to join police officers for coffee and discuss any issues of concerns. There have been four successful events to date. • The department instructed two Rape Aggression Defensive (RAD) programs for women, training over 35 women in self - defense. • The Citizen's Policy Academy was reestablished and department personnel conducted a nine week academy and graduated over 30 individuals. • CSO Stasiak reinstituted the Bike Helmet Incentive Program. In coordination with local businesses, officers were able to reward children for wearing their required bike helmets with either a free pizza or ice cream ticket. • In May, Bike Patrol Officer Matthew Edson participated in the RMLD Bicycle Day and presented information on bicycle safety. • In June, the Department participated in Friends and Family Day held at Birch Meadow. • In October, the Department in conjunction with its labor unions organized its annual Senior Ham and Bean Supper at the Senior Center. • Chief Segalla participated in the "Buzz Off' for kids with cancer and with the efforts of CSO Stasiak raised money towards the Boston Children's Hospital. Traffic and Safety: • Throughout the year, the Department participated in the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau's "Click -it or Ticket" program. This program is an intensified traffic enforcement effort subsidized by a grant that targets specific traffic issues, such as seat belt use, or impaired operation. • In September, the Department was awarded a grant to participate in the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau's Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Initiative ($3000). The officers stopped motorists who failed to yield to the decoy pedestrian in the crosswalk. The campaign raised pedestrian awareness and educated the motoring public on crosswalk safety. There were 67 traffic stops yielding 60 citations. • Safety presentations conducted at Cobblestone Family Day Care, Little Treasures Pre - School, Joshua Eaton School, Wood End School, and for various Cub Scout packs. • Reading Police Station tours conducted for various Brownie Troops and Cub Scout Troops. • Safety literature was provided to all of the Elementary School Principals for key points in their weekly news bulletins. Topics included bicycle safety, snow safety, and stranger safety. • Traffic assistance was provided for many town events, including: The Barrows School Fun Run, Joshua Eaton's School Jaguar Jog, The Downtown Trick or Treat, Fall Street Fair, Friends and Family Day, and St. Agnes Christmas Eve Mass. 65 • Safety Officer Savio is a. member of the Town's Parking Traffic Transportation Task Force. He is accountable to bring all residential and business safety or traffic concerns to the board. A total of 18 Work Orders were executed for new and replacement signage throughout the town. • The Speed Alert Trailers were deployed to more than 70 locations in efforts to reduce speeding motorists. Firearms Licensing: ■ Armorer Justin Martel processed 300 gun licenses to include new firearms permits and renewal applications. Crossing Guards: . The school crossing guards are part-time, civilian personnel. Currently there are 19 permanently assigned crossing guards and 7 spares. They fill in when a regular crossing guard is unable to cover his/her post. They are under the direct supervision, coordination, and control of Safety Officer David Savio. Each crossing guard plays an essential role in the safe commute of children to and from school. They also serve as an extra set of eyes and ears for the police department and the community as well. These crossing guards have proven to be devoted to their duties and are a great asset to the Town of Reading. Animal Control: The Animal Control Officer is Ronald Burns and he works 13 hours per week and is on call for emergency situations. There were more than 250 calls for service received by the Animal Control Officer. There were eight dog bites over the year resulting in injuries to humans. There were 12 dog to dog bites resulting in veterinary care. There was one dog attack that killed a cat. There were 15 bites over the year resulting from animal of unknown origin (12 dogs and 3 cats). There was one cat bite to humans reported. Those that tested negative for rabies were quarantined for 10 days. There were over 20 coyote sightings reported. Over 300 citations were issued to residents for failure to keep their dog on a leash, failure to license their dog, or for biting and disturbing the peace. The majority of the calls were received from neighbors complaining about other dogs. There was one raccoon incident that tested positive for rabies. There was one bat call which tested negative for rabies. The Animal Control Officer is authorized to isolate and confine domestic animals suspected of being exposed to rabies. Acting according to state regulations and guidelines, Animal Control Officers must: • Investigate reports of domestic animals exposed to rabies. • Determine if the domestic animal has or may have been exposed to a rabid animal, and if the domestic animal has been properly vaccinated. • Make an evaluation of the exposure of the vaccinated animal and prescribe the appropriate action according to state regulations. • Obtain permission to euthanize exposed, unvaccinated animals from their owners or from the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture. ( MDFA) • Carry out euthanasia permitted by the animal owner or MDFA. • Collect the head of the euthanatized animal and deliver or send it to MDPH State Laboratory Institute, if the animal has bitten or otherwise exposed a human or domestic animal. • Inspect residential and licensed kennels that house four or more dogs. .: Ensure that vaccinated domestic animals receive a booster vaccination if needed, and that the animal remains under appropriate strict confinement or isolation. Contact local officials when exposed domestic animals have exposed humans. Although the Animal control Officer is not responsible for handling wildlife calls, he evaluates such calls and assists where possible. He provides contact numbers for the appropriate State or private agency to handle wildlife issues beyond the Town's control. Parking Enforcement Officer: The Parking Enforcement Officer is Ronald Burns. He works 18 hours per week. The major responsibilities of the Parking Enforcement Officer are: Identify and cite motorists who violate Reading's parking regulations and reduce opportunities for violations to be committed through preventive patrols of all parking areas. Identify parking problem areas within the town and forward this information to the Safety Officer. Perform related duties as required. Patrol Division: The Reading Police Patrol Division is the core of policing services in the Town of Reading. The Patrol Division falls under the command of Lieutenant David Stamatis during daytime operations and Lieutenant David Clark on nights (Promoted to Deputy Chief in August of 2016). The Patrol Division is comprised of 2 Sergeants and 8 Patrol Officers during the day; and 6 Sergeants and 12 Patrol Officers on nights. It currently operates a marked fleet of 4 Ford Crown Victoria style cruisers and 5 Ford SUV style cruisers as well as 1 Ford Expedition and 1 Ford Explorer as Support Services vehicles. In addition to standard patrol vehicles, the Reading Police Department's Patrol Division also uses 4 pedal bikes and from time to time will augment patrol as well as unmarked units. The Patrol Division is the most visible section of the police department, providing around the clock service to the citizens and visitors to Reading. They are the uniformed officers who provide the first line of defense for the public's safety. Each law enforcement patrol officer works to protect life and property, uphold the civil rights of individuals, preserve public peace, provide citizen assistance, enforce criminal and motor vehicle laws, and respond to emergency situations. These officers. are dedicated and committed professionals who place their lives and well- being in jeopardy for the citizens of Reading on a daily basis. The men and women of the Patrol Division are responsible for; enforcing state and municipal laws and regulations designed to protect life and property; maintain order in an assigned sector or beat; patrol the community to preserve the peace and to prevent crime; take criminal reports and interview witnesses and suspects; apprehend fugitives and criminals; collect evidence and give testimony in court; conduct investigations for all misdemeanor and many felony cases; direct traffic, issue traffic citations, investigate accidents, and make arrests; participate in crime prevention, public information, and safety programs. Patrol officers maintain closer contact with the public than any other section of the police department. 67 Most likely, the first person you will see when you are in need of the police will be a patrol officer. The men and women of the Reading Police Department's Patrol Division take great pride in serving the citizens of Reading. It is important to realize that in a split second, the most inconsequential and routine activity can develop into a potentially hazardous situation. Without question, the Patrol Division is the backbone of the police department. In 2016, the Patrol Division issued 3,941 moving violations, made 130 arrests and answered 20,555 calls for service throughout the Reading Community. The Patrol Division is responsible for managing many quality of life issues. In 2016 we responded to 23 calls for suicide attempts and threats to commit suicide. We responded to 17 calls for missing adult persons and 12 calls for missing juveniles. We filed 17 orders with the Department of Children and Families as required by MGL ch- 119 -s51A for child abuse and or neglect. The Reading Police Department also maintains specialized units functioning within the Patrol Division. Two of these are the Mountain Bike Operations Team and the Rapid Response Team which are overseen by the Day Shift Division Commander. The Mountain Bike Unit is comprised of 8 Officers who operate the 4 pedal bikes, which work on various shifts. These Officers are able to respond quickly to areas differently from the traditional response vehicle and also offers another level of Community Service by being in the public view on an additional plane. The tactical professionals of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) are Patrol Officers who are part of Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC). These officers are activated into .a team with other surrounding cities and towns on a moment's notice. These Officers have further expertise designed to assist, access, and mitigate extremely volatile situations by making use of specialized equipment and additional manpower. The Reading Police Department currently has three Patrol Officers that are part of NEMLEC RRT and one of the officers is assigned to the highly trained SWAT Team. Each section of the Reading Police Department is designed to work separately and augment the other departments to achieve the collective goal of maintaining a safe community. This is achieved by regular operations of all divisions and delivering customer service via daily interactions with the public and utilization of community policing initiatives. Detective Division: The Detective Division is the liaison of the Police Department with the Reading Public Schools, Austin Preparatory School as well as the Northeast Regional Vocational School in Wakefield.. Outlined are a number of activities the Detective Division was involved in for 2016. ■ The Detective Division handles all court matters, including processing the court paperwork for all arrests, summons, hearings, restraining orders, citation appeals, and any other pertinent issues that deal with the court. - The. Division makes all 'officer notifications for court appearances, gives information on the status of on -going cases. In m addition, the Division is responsible for all discovery requests by the Commonwealth and Defense, which requires a significant amount of time to compile. All juvenile cases that meet the standard for diversion are monitored to make sure all of the obligations set forth for the juvenile are met. ■ Major Crimes the Detective Division investigated this past year included Sexual Assaults /Rapes, B &E's, Larcenies, Sudden Deaths /Suicides /Overdoses, Child Enticement, Missing Person, Possession of Child Pornography, Narcotic Investigations, multiple reports from DCF, Frauds, and Cyber- Crimes. In addition, the Detective Division reviews all patrol reports, and conducts investigations on numerous other types of crimes. ■ The Detective Division registers and monitors all Level 1 and Level 2 Sex Offenders that live and/or work in Town. In addition, Detective's makes the required community wide notifications. ■. The Detective Division reviews all new /renewal or change in manger applications for Alcohol Licenses or any modifications for existing licenses. Over the past several years as the town's business district as has grown, the number of license applications, license transfers, and change in manager applications has increased substantially. • Detectives conducted alcohol compliance checks of all licenses and completed surveillance patrols to monitor underage drinking violations throughout the year. In September, twenty -one liquor license locations were checked with zero violations for `sale-to a minor'. Since police compliance checks were launched in 2008, the average pass rate is 94% for local liquor establishments. • The SRO continues to be involved with "Community Based Justice" which brings all interested parties together to discuss current student issues which are involved at some level with the court system. • The SRO and Detective Division held numerous ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) trainings with all school personal, and conducted ALICE drills in each school in the district and Austin Prep. As this program has become more established in the school system, the schools are taking on more responsibility in conducting these exercises on their own. • In July, SRO Muolo and Detective Halloran became instructors of "Adult Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety ". The credentialing process to teach the Public Safety course required three key components and was a more extensive process than for the youth I odule. The components included: 1) Completion of the 24 -hr Instructor Certification Training in the Adult Course Module in Nashville, TN; 2) Participate in the online Law Enforcement webinar training and exam to enable Public Safety; and 3) Adapt the Public Safety Supplement to address MA laws, jurisdiction issues, and officer safety. SRO Muolo, Det. Halloran worked with the RCASA Director to deliver. the course for 33 Reading Police officers in September of 2016. Training resulted in rapid improvement in 1 how officers responded to individuals exhibiting mental health symptoms, enhanced sensitivity in how officers recorded these interactions, more referrals offered to individuals for services community -based outpatient and /or emergency stabilization services, and more officer support provided to families. • Detective Fitzgerald took over the Prosecutors role with the retirement of Detective Iapicca. • Detective MacHugh continues to work with FBI to their, "Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force ". With this assignment, he works on numerous high level narcotics investigations both locally and nationally. • Detective Halloran has made significant improvements in the way that evidence is packaged, logged, and stored. Retention period requirements and a purging process were added. In December, the Department was granted a civil asset forfeiture in the amount of $3617 for monies that were being held in our safe as evidence in numerous drug cases. • In January of 2014 the Detective Division activated the Reading Police Departments Facebook Page. This past year we gained an additional 1,381 followers, bringing our current total to 3,517 followers. In addition, the Division has been maintaining the Department's Twitter page. The Twitter page currently has 7,519 followers, up from 5,584 in 2015. In August our Twitter account was "Verified" through Twitter. The verification is used to establish authenticity of identities on Twitter and helps users discover high- quality sources of information and trust that a legitimate source is authoring the account's Tweets. This accomplishment is highly sought after and difficult to obtain. Besides those that follow us directly, our messages get shared to thousands more on a regular basis. These pages allow the Department to get important public safety information out quickly including information on; road closures, special events, press releases, weather related concerns, Level 3 Sex Offender notifications, and safety tips. We have seen a significant increase in communication with citizens and other agencies contacting us through these sites. • Detectives processed 108 anonymous tips via the Department's Text -a -Tip program. Crime tips were related to drug activity, domestic violence, juvenile protection, unlicensed firearms, animal protection, noise complaints, impaired driving, cyber- crimes, harassment, neighborhood concerns, and traffic safety. • The SRO participated in monthly RCASA Board of Directors meetings and quarterly special events including RCASA' S HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT, a special educational exhibit on drug prevention. SRO assisted with drug paraphernalia awareness • Detectives worked in conjunction with RCASA to collect and properly destroy prescription drugs through the "RX Round -up" program. This past year 6,690 bottles were collected and destroyed compared to 5,072 in 2015. rill, ■ Detectives are responsible for compiling crime statistics for numerous types of reports and grant obligations throughout the year. They are also responsible for maintenance and technical issues for the Departments Crossmatch fingerprint machine. ■ Members of the Detective Division attended many training programs in the areas of, cybercrime investigation, search warrant preparation, domestic violence, drug and narcotics investigatory techniques, legal updates, and prosecution. ■ In May, Lt. Det. Richard Abate, Det. Rob MacHugh, and Det. Michael Fitzgerald participated in the New England Narcotic Officers Association ( NENOA) 46th Annual Drug Conference from May 25 -27 in Rhode Island. The NENOA represents over 900 law enforcement professionals in the region. RCASA provided travel funds through their federal grant project for officers to participate in courses on cyber prescription drug crimes, undercover operations, narcotics trends, fentanyl and first responders safety, and the Butane Hash Oil process (marijuana product). • In October, Lt. Det. Abate attended the IACP Conference in San Diego, CA. • In November, Detective Halloran completed a 52 hour "Basic Fire Investigation" course at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. • Lt. Det. Abate, represented the Detective's Diversion to present diversion highlights at the Middlesex DA Eastern Opioid Task Force in December. ■ Seven new Police Officer hire background was conducted,this year. ■ Four new Dispatcher hire backgrounds were conducted this year. Detective Criminal Investigations = 146 Public Safety Dispatch: The Reading Public Safety Dispatchers deliver, through communications, a lifeline for the community, Police Officers, and Firefighters. Nine full time Dispatchers are under the direct supervision of Head Dispatcher Victoria Avery and under the command of the Day Shift Patrol Division Commander Lt. David Stamatis. Dispatchers provide support to the Officers, Firefighters, EMI's, Paramedics, and other ancillary personnel within the departments, as well as, outside agencies to augment emergent and non - emergent operations via radio, phone, and computer related activities. Dispatchers receive requests for information and services, triage based on available resources and disseminate accordingly. Dispatchers manage 911 and administrative calls, supply Emergency Medical pre - arrival instructions when necessary, and furnish customer service and information to the public, and provide valuable service to our community. The Dispatch team had positive staffing changes that brought new faces to the team, with the staffing level now at 10. One dispatcher is in training and another is out on injured leave. 71 Each year, Dispatchers participate in various trainings to expand their knowledge and present a higher level of service. Dispatchers issued 4,226 Community Access Stickers. The Dispatch section is the face of Reading Public Safety and in most cases, they are the first, first- responders, and the initial interaction the public has with a Public Safety agency. The following is the Department Roster, a statistical analysis of our enforcement efforts and a record of revenues generated by our department for calendar year 2016. Mark J. O'Brien Kevin M. Brown Detectives: School Resource Officer: READING POLICE DEPARTMENT 2016 ROSTER CHIEF Mark D. Segalla DEPUTY CHIEF David J. Clark LIEUTENANTS Lt. David M. Stamatis SERGEANTS John J. McKenna Christopher E. Jones Corey P. Santasky DETECTIVE DIVISION Lt. Det. Richard Abate Michael D. Saunders Michelle E. Halloran Michael P. Fitzgerald Michael A. Muolo SUPPORT SERVICES Lt. Christine Amendola Christopher R. Picco Patrick R. Silva Derek R. Holmes Robert J. MacHugh Jr Community Service Officer Safety Officer Armorer /Fleet Maintenance Kristen L. Stasiak David V. Savio Justin P. Martel 72 PATROL OFFICERS Christopher J. Voegelin Anthony F. Caturello Matthew C. Edson Joseph J. Belmonte Michael R. Lee Keith D. Hurley Salvi A. Lavita Sean M. Wilson Ian A. Nelson Erik W. Drauschke Mark R. Mullen Laura M. Bullis Patrick A. Dawley Michael S. Scouten Matthew B. Vatcher Matthew J. Orr Kaylyn A. Gooley Timothy L. Barrett Brian P. Lewis Dick Prudente MacKinnon Reading Police Department 2016 Ancillary Personnel CLERKS Administrative Assistant Victoria Cummings Administrative Secretary Joanne Power DISPATCHERS Head Dispatcher Victoria Avery Christopher Finnegan Debra Haynes Ryan Mahoney Joseph Pagnotta Regina Saunders Susan Tapley Jennifer Antczak Alyssa Bryan Kevin Edmonds Aimee Lowery Bob Dewolfe James Hubbard ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER / PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER Ronald Burns SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS (s= Spare) Cindy Asci Mildred Barton John Cain Art Peg Faulkner Dickinson Bob Dewolfe James Hubbard Lucy Intonti Tina Lantz Marsha Leighton Ann Lipchus Joe Lopiccolo Louann Kris McNiel Dick Prudente MacKinnon Rosemary Barbara Wilson Claude Miller (s) Violante George Snow Robert Matarazzo Lynn Upton (s) Mike Upton Joe Veno (s) (s) (s) (s) Service Statistics calendar year 2016: • Arrests 130 • Protective Custody 51 • Motor Vehicle Citations 3,941 • Parking Violations 2,334 • Detective Criminal Investigations 146 ■ Automobile Crashes Investigated 495 73 Fees Collected calendar year 2016 • License to Carry Permits $ 3,612.50 • Firearm Identification Cards $ 150.00 • Police Reports Copied $ 2,404.00 • Parking Fines $60,130.00 • Administrative Fees for details $50,652.10 • Community Access Stickers $82,686.00 • Parking Space Rentals $49,510.00 • Civil Motor Vehicle Infractions $25,792.50 • Community Room Rental fee $ 805.00 • Motor Vehicle Lease Surcharge $ 3,304.20 Conclusion: To summarize our Mission Statement, we are empowered to enforce the laws of our land, but in order to do this appropriately and adequately we have to work with the community. Providing the community with the highest level of police service is a goal that will require dedication, hard work and a strong commitment to and from our community. I want to thank the citizens of our community for their support and cooperation. Working with the community your police department will accomplish its mission. Respectfully submitted, Mark D. Segalla Chief of Police Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse (RCASA) The Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse (RCASA) mobilizes community partners, residents and youth to both build collaborative approaches and reduce youth substance abuse. With grant support, RCASA currently offers educational programs for residents in Substance Abuse Prevention, Youth Mental Health First Aid and Active Parenting of Children and Teens. To address substance use, RCASA staff operates a juvenile diversion program in concert with the Reading Police Department and a Chemical Health Education Program with the Reading Memorial High School. To increase access to mental health services, RCASA sponsors the Interface Referral Service, operated by William James College and promotes local services. Learn more at www.reading.kl2.ma.us/communily/rcasa FINANCE - the Director compiled all required federal reports for annual grant funding totaling $225,258. The town, school and police departments contributed match resources for RCASA's office /meeting space, supervision, and oversight. In April, Board Leaders and staff hosted our Federal Site Visit for Greg Grass, Drug Free Communities Project Officer. RCASA was compliant for all administrative and project management requirements. 74 SAMHSA Grants Supporting RCASA Annual Amount End Renew Sober Truth On Underage Drinking Prevention Act $48,258 $190,032 9/30/16 N Advancing Wellness & Resilience in Education $50,000 $100,000 9/30/16 N White House Office of National Drug Control Policy $125,000 $625,000 9/30/19 Y The Reading Hospital Trustees awarded $2,000 to RCASA to support a portion, of the INTERFACE Referral Project. Our grant application to Winchester Hospital was not awarded. STAFF - During the past year, the RCASA staff included 1.64 full time employees with strong prevention and addiction expertise. They are employees of the Town of Reading and maintain an office at the Reading Police Department. The Project Director oversaw personnel, fiscal management, public relations, and coordinated collaborative coalition work, including community planning, training, coalition communication, data collection, dissemination, reporting, and program evaluation. The Outreach Coordinator coordinated project services and project activities, including training, communication and information dissemination. The OC is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor. A seasonal Youth Organizer provided support during the summers and winter seasons. LEADERSHIP - The RCASA Board of Directors met monthly and served as the core leadership group for the coalition. The group includes 26 members representing 12 -plus community sectors who live, work, or attend school in Reading. The Town Manager, School Superintendent, and Chief of Police all serve on the board. The Board provided overall governance, education, public relations, and strategic plan guidance. GOALS 1. REDUCE SUBSTANCE USE among youth and, over time, among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance abuse 2. IMPROVE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION among RCASA's partner organizations in support of the community's effort to prevent and reduce youth substance use Implementation activities related to the DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES GRANT and the SOBER TRUTH ON UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENTION GRANT are described below: TRAINING- Staff participated in valuable professional development opportunities to enhance our knowledge including the Active Parenting Instructor Programs, Heroin Education Action Task Force Conference, and SAMHSA Webinars on substance abuse topics. The Outreach Coordinator trained Jacqueline Callahan in September, the new Health Educator at RMHS to co- lead the Chemical Health course. Coalition leaders, with grant support, represented RCASA at the New England Narcotic Officers Association Annual Drug Conference. Staff provided a short presentation on lobbying restrictions for board members. The Board President and Vice - President spent considerable effort on educating themselves on the issue of recreational marijuana changes prior to the November election. This included attending educational events on proposed policy changes and reporting to the board. Board members reviewed the MA Senate 75 Study on Marijuana, a yearlong in -depth look at the changing marijuana landscape. Board leaders invited State Sen. Jason Lewis to the RCASA Annual Event to share highlights. COLLABORATION- Staff worked on the Multi - tiered System of Support Plan to expand behavioral health support and substance abuse prevention. The RCASA Director served on the Reading Behavioral Health Task Force and participated in state events to inform the process. Staff and police participated in monthly meetings for the Mystic Valley Public Health Coalition (opioid prevention/overdose prevention); Eastern Middlesex District Attorney Opioid Task Force; and the Woburn Police Opioid Roundtable. to address common challenges. RCASA worked with our partners from Medford, Malden, Melrose, Wakefield, Stoneham and Winchester to promote a stigma reduction initiative, which includes print and PSA advertising in local movie theaters. The group developed a public restroom education campaign on overdose education. The Regional Coordinator came to Reading in November to train Reading's Health Director and Health Inspector to raise awareness on worker safety and overdose prevention. RCASA staff and a Board of Health Member (John Costigan) participated in the Mystic Valley's initiative on reducing overdoses amongst TRADE LABORERS. The region hosted three meetings with the Middlesex Sheriff's Office to bring together laborers, regional, state and federal partners to address this issue. Since 2012, over 40% of fatal overdoses in the Mystic Valley region were individuals who worked in trade labor. The Board Treasurer, Secretary, Nurse Board Liaison, RCASA Director and key school staff worked as an action team to understand the local impact of MA opioid legislation and implemented the SBIRT Pilot. This process included research, specialized training, developing the protocol, and reports. Youth Engagement: • The RCASA Director & Donna Palmerino, Middle School Paraprofessional, as co- advisors, started the middle school Youth in Action Club (6 -12 students participated for 8 weeks). • Staff and School Resource Officer met with small groups of students to conduct Opioid Prevention Workshops in the spring an d fall (reaching 300 students). • The Director presented in the High School's Child Development Course on Substance Exposed Newborns in the fall of 2016 reaching 25 students. • The SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment) Pilot screening went smoothly with 312 freshman students eligible for screening (4 opt outs /308 opt ins). Positive screens recorded for three students with 300 remaining negative screens. Three students provided with additional education, support and. referral services. Twelve high school students completed the skill -based RCASA/Reading Police /Reading Public Schools Chemical Health Education and Diversion Program this year. The RCASA Outreach Coordinator and the High School Health Educator facilitated the program once a month for any students in violation of the school policy or possession laws. Staff contacted parents and provided resource packets for follow -up. With the support of RCASA funded transportation, 3 High School teachers and 25 students participated in the MA Youth Summit on Opioid Awareness. 76 Adult Engagement: • The Director provided technical assistance to elementary health teachers in developing their 10 lessons for health education throughout the year. RCASA hosted their 10th Annual Coalition Meeting featuring the MA Report on Marijuana and a special film screening called BREAKING POINTS about misusing prescription stimulants. The film was screened again in November for 30 adult participants at the high school. Following the film, the audience enjoyed an expert panel coordinated by the RCASA Outreach Coordinator. Panelists included Susan Hooper, General Education Social Worker at RMHS and Margaret Hannah, representing INTERFACE REFERRAL SERVICE. • RCASA sponsored Active Parenting Online Program for 14 parents. After completing the Active Parenting Instructor Program, the RCASA Director was trained seven parents in person during the winter of 2016. • Staff conducted Substance Abuse training for all 26 officers, dispatchers, and school personnel. Staff prepared 200 resource packets for officers to give to residents in need of support. • The RCASA Director and Detectives conducted an audit of 120 pieces of drug evidence to photograph drugs, packaging and paraphernalia for presentations to HS staff, board members, parents, and School Committee. • The School Resource Officer and RCASA Director created a locker search protocol and laminated pocket cards for HS administrators. The School Resource Officer conducted a demo to assist administrators in the proper search of a locker. • RCASA and the Burbank YMCA presented a life -size exhibit of a teen's bedroom with 20 clues signaling drug and alcohol abuse for130 adults in October. The bedroom identified spots where teens may hide drugs and ways teens try to cover up drug and alcohol use. The Mission of Deeds provided the furniture for our teen bedroom. • Staff worked with Reading Police to offer resources to families that experience an overdose (50 resource packets and Deterra medicine disposal pouches). • Staff engaged Hallmark Health homebound clients that need to dispose of unwanted medication collection by disseminating 75 resource packets and Deterra medicine disposal pouches. • The Director presented at the Citizen Police Academy at the Reading Police Department on substance abuse and local resources. PROJECT AWARE (Advancing Wellness & Resilience in Education) -The Reading Public Schools successfully implemented their "Now is the Time" Project AWARE Local Educational Agency 2 -Year Grant through a variety of capacity building and training activities. Erica McNamara, Grant Coordinator and John Doherty, EdD, the Superintendent of Reading Public Schools, provided effective leadership to ensure the team met benchmarks throughout the project period. The goal of the project was to offer the Youth Mental Health First Aid course, which teaches adults how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. The Coordinator organized 37 training courses, monitored certification, enhanced mental health referrals; and facilitated 31 classes in the youth, adult and public safety modules. Nine local 77 instructors were trained to certify 608 Reading adults and they connected 290 youth to community -based mental health services. We integrated Youth Mental Health First Aid training into all new school staff orientations) and developed a fee structure to offer training to neighboring districts in the future with trainings lined up for 2017. DATA ANALYSIS- To accurately assess the number of opioid overdoses, staff audited police log reports from 2014 -2016 to re -code cases that involved Reading residents. The audit revealed 146 overdoses, of which 34 were fatal. There is considerable disparity between men (100 ODs) and women (46 ODs). The audit produced a more accurate portrait of nonfatal and fatal overdoses. Following the audit, the Chief approved the recommended change in log report classification for future opioid case reporting. Staff recorded death certificate data twice in the last 6 months. Working with our regional team, we discovered a slightly higher number of deaths involved adults working in the trades. We reviewed police log reports involving substance misuse. Police responded to 106 alcohol - related calls and 121 drug- related calls for service in 2015 compared to 135 alcohol - related calls and 146 drug-related. calls in 2016. Residents seeking assistance for family members, more residents reporting drug crimes, enhanced police training, and increased availability of fentanyl -laced heroin have all contributed to this increase in calls for service. The Rx Round Up kiosk continues to see an increase in drop offs from residents. In 2015, approximately 5,072 pill bottles were turned (60% narcotics). In 2016, it was 6,690 bottles (70% narcotics). The Director developed the 2017 Reading Youth Risk Behavior Survey for the Reading Public Schools, grades 6 -12 with Rothenbach Consulting. HONORS- the RCASA Director presented at the 2016 CADCA Mid -Year Conference on coalition progress related to prescription drug prevention with SAMHSA's Jennifer Fan, PharmD, JD. RCASA honored Kevin Shannon at the High School Awards Ceremony. The Middlesex District Attorney's Office Partnerships for Youth honored John Doherty, RCASA Leader and School Superintendent with a special award for his prevention leadership. PUBLIC RELATIONS- We worked diligently to expand our communication strategies using print, online and in person approaches. To involve underrepresented populations, the Outreach Coordinator collaborated with members of Reading Clergy Council, Reading Baptist, First Congregational Church, and the Reading Chamber of Commerce to network and exchange resources. We conducted outreach at community events including Friends and Family Day (reaching 91 people on Rx safety) and the Reading Fall Street Faire (educating 120 people on coalition events). Our reach into the community yielded average turnout for coalition events and key media mentions including RCASA in the Reading Patch, Hallmark Spotlight on Opioids Regional Work, and RCASA Joins the Reading Chamber of Conference. RCASA staff and leaders used Twitter more this past year to help increase event attendance at special coalition programs including twitter.com/rcasal5 (70 followers) and twitter.com/ReadingPolice (7,548 followers). We improved the website at Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse with the support of Reading Public Schools and continue to send out our newsletter (600 people). Department of Public Works DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS I am pleased to submit the 2016 annual report for the Department of Public Works. I would first like to thank the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager Bob LeLacheur for all their help and support over the past year. In addition, I would like to specifically thank all supervisors for their continued support, cooperation and dedication, as well as all other members of the Department for their continued hard work, cooperation, and pride, which is evident in the excellent professional service and programs you provide, and projects you complete. The succession process /reorganization within the department has been nearly completed, with the exception of replacement of long time Parks /Forestry /Cemetery Supervisor, Bob Keating, who is scheduled to retire early June 2017; it is our goal to fill this position early in 2017 to provide some overlap /training potential. The now in place, supervisory structure includes Jane Kinsella, (Assistant Director), Peter Isbell _(Supervisor Water /Sewer), and George Strazzere (Supervisor Highway /Equipment Maintenance). Also, Ryan Percival, a long time staff engineer, was promoted to Town Engineer in May, replacing George Zambouras, who retired. I thank George for his many years of service to the Town, and wish him good luck, and good health is his retirement. In addition, as a result of ' a town wide job classification study, long time Administrative Assistant, Michael O'Halloran has been upgraded to Senior Administrative Assistant. Department personnel continue to be actively involved as members or liaisons to a number of Boards and Committees (examples of this being our coordination/work with the Town Fall Street Faire Committee, annual tree lighting ceremony, as well as the Town Friends and Family Day event.). Also work with the Town Forest Committee, has resulted in the implementation of new rules and regulations regarding use of the Town Forest, monitoring /tracking all Town Forest activities (reservations /use now available via on- line /website booking), as well as the installation of appropriate signage and dog waste dispensers. We also as other Departments throughout the year on many projects and programs, as identified in the following report. The Engineering Division continues to be extremely active with a number of ongoing projects (approximately 25 between FY16 and FY17), including outside agency project oversight/inspection monitoring on West Street regarding work from MA DOT, National Grid, and MWRA. Also, the engineering design process has begun on a number of in -house projects including, .Grove street (water main/drainage), Bond Street (drainage /paving), Main street (water line cleaning & lining), etc. 79 In addition, the town continued with its aggressive road paving program, with the paving /repair of 28 streets, construction of a new sidewalk on Prescott Street, as well as ongoing repairs to a number of sidewalks throughout town. Upon final completion, it is anticipated the town pavement condition index ( PCI), will improve from approx., 71% a few years ago, to approx. 80 %; which is excellent, and a testament to the town for committing over 1 million dollars to its road improvement program for a number of years. Also, our continued pavement maintenance program, including crack sealing, skim coating, and pothole repairs, remains a key part of our program. Town meeting also authorized the continuation of a major water capital improvement program, which was initiated in 2014, that will only further enhance the town's water quality and infrastructure for generations to come. The Department continued its customer service program titled "See- Click - Fix ", where residents can, via on -line or mobile application, initiate requests for services, or report on issues that need departmental attention, including potholes, missing signs, hanging tree limbs, etc. It is a program much embraced /utilized by town residents. Discussions have been initiated with the Town of North Reading and the Mass Water Resource Authority (MWRA), regarding the potential of wheeling water through Reading into North Reading. MWRA is projected to continue its aggressive capital/infrastructure improvement program, in hopes of this potential becoming a reality sometime in 2019, following much infrastructure improvement work in both communities. The department also participated in a number of professional development/safety training programs including driving, chainsaw safety, injury prevention, work zone safety, effective communication in the workplace, etc., many of which were sponsored by MIIA, the town's insurance carrier. These ongoing programs not only continue to professionalize the department, but help to reduce the town's insurance obligations. The town continues to be recognized as a leader /innovator in the development implementation of numerous safety programs and techniques. The town entered into a new 10 year trash removal /recycling program with JRM, with the recycling component continuing to run in the 30% range. In fact, in December of 2016, the town attained an all -time record with 35.68% recycling. This is exceptional, and continues to show Reading leading the field in the area. The department continued its .success in applying for and receiving outside grants, including one from DEP in the amount of $1250 to be used in our recycling program, as well as a MIIA Safety grant for $5000, for an outside nighttime construction safety lighting array, to be used during various excavation projects. As you will see in the individual Division reports, the Department continued to be extremely active in 2016 with our many projects, programs, and ongoing daily type maintenance work; while continuing to assist and service the general public on a daily basis. All this work requires a major teamwork/group effort approach to accomplish. It is a credit to the staff that these major -O high profile projects were completed in a timely, cost effective manner, while at the same time, performing the daily, routine tasks needed to serve our residents. I am confident that in the year ahead this department will continue on its path of excellence. Jeffrey T Zager Director of Public Works ADMINISTRATION COMMENT The Administration Division supported the Department with procurement administration, budget preparation and coordination, departmental personnel and payroll services, accounts payable processing, cemetery administration services and responses to public inquiries and concerns over all Public Works areas of responsibility. Significant projects included: • Procurement, project support, and contract management for contracts throughout the public works divisions including highway projects and supplies, water and sewer main projects, fuel, salt, and snow removal. • In July 2016, the town entered into a ten year contract for our Town -wide solid waste collection and curbside recycling. The contract ends in July 2026. The program includes weekly single stream recycling for paper and comingled items, (2) scheduled events for rigid plastics and paper - shredding, metal pickup, (5) curbside leaf collections, along with (1) bulk item picked up weekly curbside at no charge. Curbside TV /CRT and appliance pick -ups are offered directly through the vendor. • Coordination of (2) Household Hazardous Waste Day collection events with the Town of Wakefield. • All water and sewer cards were scanned to enable work crews quick access in the field. • Overall facilitation of the Water Conservation Rebate Program: Appointment scheduling, rebate processing and tracking of high- efficiency washing machines, low -flow toilets, and irrigation system rain sensors, and rain barrels. • Significant strides have been gained in reducing disposal tonnage. Increased recycling efforts through continued media and educational initiatives have led to new programs and new initiatives being instituted. • See -Click -Fix enables residents to enter issues such as potholes, downed tree limbs, and water leaks into the system. The system is monitored by the Administration and work orders are routed to our supervisors and foreman in the field. Emphasis continued on providing public information, responding to inquiries and concerns, and improving all areas of public communications. CEMETERY DIVISION To the Board of Cemetery Trustees The following is from office records for calendar year 2016. IN Interments — 116 Interments for all years — 15,155 Markers set —26 Foundations — 22 Monuments re -set —8 Sale of Lots Forest Glen — 6 lots in the Urn Garden. Total for all years — 2,083 lots, 799 single graves. Charles Lawn — 6 lots, Total for all years 530 lots, 1 single grave 267 single and veterans graves. Wood End — 20 lots and 3 single graves — Total for all years — 488 lots, 42 single graves. Cooperation from other divisions of Public Works was outstanding and much appreciated. The Board of Cemetery Trustees has been very supportive of all the numerous programs and goals of this division. I thank them for all their assistance. Respectfully submitted — Robert L. Keating, Supervisor Custodian of Veteran's Graves — Calendar year 2016 Interments — WWII —7 Korea — 5 Vietnam — 2 Iraq- Peacetime -2 Total of all veteran's interred —1,880 As has been the custom for many years, all veteran's graves were decorated with a flag and a potted flower for Memorial Day. Respectfully submitted— Frank Driscoll, Custodian of Soldiers and Sailors Graves. ENGINEERING DIVISION The Engineering Division provides engineering services to all Departments within the Town of Reading. The Division is responsible for preparation of plans, contract documents, specifications and estimates; survey layout, inspection, design and construction management of Town construction projects; upkeep of traffic markings and traffic signals; review of subdivision plans and site plans for accuracy and conformance with the subdivision and site plan rules and regulations; review of conservation submittals, preparation of subdivision and conservation bond estimates, inspection of subdivision construction and the administration of the pavement management program and Chapter 90 roadway improvement program. The Division also provides technical assistance and guidance on various Town projects, performs traffic studies, regulates and inspects private construction activities within Town roadways; and is responsible for the maintenance of all records concerning the subdivision of land, roadway, water, sewer and drainage construction, town maps, issuance of street addresses, updating 911 address records and the issuance of various permits. The division provided field survey, design and construction management services for ' the following construction projects designed and completed during the year: S Roadway Improvements: Prepared bids, provided project management and inspection for the resurfacing and crack sealing of 28 roadways totaling approximately 5.2 miles consisting of the following: Reclaim the following roadways; • Beech Street (Green St to Lakeview Ave) • Forest Glen Road (Main St to Pearl St) • Green Street (John St to Eaton St) • Kingston Street (Middlesex Ave to Mt Vernon St) • Larch Lane (Franklin St to end of street) • Linden Street (Woburn St to Lowell St) • Minot Street .(Main St to Washington St) • Mt Vernon Street (Linden St to High St) Mill and overlay the following roadways; • Birch Meadow Drive (Main St to John Carver Rd) • Curtis Street (South St to George St) • Intervale Terrace (Lowell St to John Carver Rd) Crack sealed the following roadways; • Barbara Lane (Colonial Dr to cul -de -sac) • Beaver Road (Lucy Dr to 400' south of Latham Ln) • Brewer Lane ( Colonial Dr to cul -de -sac) • Colonial Drive (Linnea Ln to cul -de -sac) • Corey Lane (Zachary Ln to cul -de -sac) • Fairview Avenue (Summer Ave to Riverside Dr) • Haystack Road (Old Farm Rd north to cul -de -sac) • Jefferson Circle (Colonial Dr to cul -de -sac) • Linnea Lane (Pearl St north to Pearl St south) • Lynn Village Way (Roma Ln to cul -de -sac) • Milepost Road (Hopkins St to Haystack Rd) • Old Farm Road (Walnut St to Haystack Rd south) • Pondview Lane (Fairchild Dr to cul -de -sac) • Riverside. Drive (Sunnyside Ave to cul -de -sac) • Roma Lane (Sanborn Ln to cul -de -sac) • Sunset Rock Lane (Franklin St to cul -de -sac) • Vista Avenue (Sunnyside Ave to Pratt St) Crack sealed the following cemeteries and Town parking lots; • Town Hall parking lot • Wood End Cemetery • Forest Glen Cemetery S Sidewalk and Curb Installation and Repairs: Prepared bids, provided project management and inspection for the installation of approximately 300 linear feet of new granite curb and bituminous concrete and concrete sidewalk on the following roadways; • Forest Street — northerly side from Van Norden Rd to Wadsworth including the intersection of Forest St and Wadsworth Rd, new bituminous concrete sidewalk and granite curb • Parker St — northeast corner of the intersection of Parker St and Haven St, new concrete sidewalk and granite curb. Roadway Traffic Improvements: • Main' Street @ Haven Street - Prepared bids, provided project management and inspection for the demolition and replacement of approximately 36 linear feet of brick inlaid crosswalk located on the southern side of the Main St and Haven St intersection. Water Projects • Water Main improvements — During the year the Division managed a water main project that resulted in the replacement of approximately 4,600 linear feet of water main. o Phase I Improvements — project completed o Phase II Improvements — provided project management and inspection for the installation of water main improvement on the following roadways; Location Project Limits Length Improvement Type (feet) Salem Street Main St to Bay State Rd 4,567 Replace w /8 "CLDI Phase III Improvements - continued design for the cleaning and lining of water mains on the following roadways: Location Project Limits Length Improvement Type (feet) Main Street Woburn St to Mill St 12,313 Clean & Line Mill Street Main St to Town Line 1,724 Clean & Line Locust Street Main St to Auburn St Tank 1,016 Clean & Line o Grove Street Improvements — performed project survey and began design for the replacement of approximately 1,100 linear feet of water main to a new 12" DI. Work is anticipated to begin summer 2017 ., • Uni- directional Flushing Program — worked with consultant to update and calibrate the Town's water system hydraulic model and design a uni- directional flushing program. The flushing program is anticipated to start spring 2017. • Main Street Water Main Culvert Crossing — drafted construction plans and assisted Town's consultant in the design and MassDOT permitting of the water main culvert crossing. Work is anticipated to begin summer 2017. • Auburn Water Tank/Cell Tower — attended several meetings with the Town's design consultant and cell companies discussing possible design alternatives and the RFP for additional cell equipment and lease extensions. Reviewed a life cycle cost analysis from the Town's consultant regarding the rehabilitation options of painting versus replacement. The Town will be including the replacement of the water tank in its capital plan for year 2020. Associated with this project would be the design and construction of a proposed new cell tower located on the Auburn Street water tank site. • Supplying MWRA water to North Reading through Reading's Water System — attendance at several engineering review meetings during year with Town's consultant and North Reading's consultant to review water system's Hydraulic Model and to determine needed improvements to Reading's water system to supply North Reading with MWRA water through Town's system. Provided engineering record plans and documents to help assist North Reading's consultant in the design process. • MWRA Reports - prepared quarterly reports for the above water main assistance projects in accordance with grant/loan agreement. Sewer System and I/I • West Street/Batchelder Road Sewer Station Replacement — attended project meetings, reviewed construction submittals and assisted Town's consultant in the project management of the West Street%Batchelder Road sewer station replacement project. The project started December 2016 and currently under construction. • MWRA Phase 8 - worked with consultant and provided project administration on the following portions of the $350,000 grant loan assistance project: o Incorporating Historic TV Inspection into GIS Database and Sewer Asset Management Software • MWRA Phase 9 - worked with consultant and provided project administration on the following portions of the $221,000 grant/loan assistance program: o Internal inspection of approximately 5,000 linear feet of sewer o Develop plans and specifications for the rehabilitation of approximately 24,500 linear feet of sewer main o Develop plans and specifications for the removal of inflow from approximately 20 locations identified in previous studies • MWRA Phase 9 Construction Funding — worked with consultant to submit MWRA Assistance application for a $844,000 grant/loan for the following project: o Rehabilitation of approximately 24,500 linear feet of sewer main o Removal of Inflow and Infiltration from various location previously identified • MWRA Reports o Prepared quarterly reports for above I/I projects in accordance with grant /loan agreement. o Prepared annual I/I report E'er o Prepared annual discharge permit application o Updated various MWRA water and sewer system questioners Parks & Playgrounds • Birch Meadow Complex Lighting — designed and prepared bids for the proposed Birch Meadow Complex lighting. Project has been postponed due to funding. • Birch Meadow School — designed and constructed walkway to provide handicap access to play area. • Killam School Playground Improvements — project has been postponed due to funding. • Joshua Eaton Backstop - performed project survey, design, contract preparation, bidding services and provided project management and inspection for the installation of a new backstop located at the baseball field behind Joshua Eaton School. Stormwater • Orange Street Drain Improvements — performed project survey, design, and provided project management and inspection for the installation of approximately 420 linear feet of drain line on Orange St, from Harrison St to Pearl St Drain line was installed in house by the Reading Department of Public Works Highway Division and the construction of drainage Swale improvements on Howard Street • Bond Street perform field survey, analyzed existing drainage system, develop design alternatives to alleviate flooding conditions in area Grove Street - performed project survey and began design for the installation of approximately 800 linear feet of new drain line on Grove St from Franklin St to Meadow Brook golf course. Stormwater Mapping and NPDES MS4 Assistance Consultant completed and delivered Town's stormwater GIS mapping database. Consultant also incorporated missing water and sewer data into the Town's GIS database. Met with consultant to review database record keeping and updating procedures; field data collection methods and asset management software. Work continued on meeting the requirements of the NPDES MS4 Phase II Stormwater program with the submission of the annual compliance report; completion of system mapping, completion and Town meeting approval of a Stormwater Management bylaw, and IDDE bylaw, distribution of storm water awareness information, and flyers; including attending meeting with the Mystic River Stormwater Collaborative. Attended EPA meetings on release of the final MS4 permit scheduled for release July 1, 2017 Miscellaneous Projects • Traffic Markings — repainted roadway centerlines, edge lines, stop lines, crosswalks, roadway stencils, parking stalls and parking lot markings • Belmont Street to Ivy Lane Wetland /Stream Crossing — assisted Town's consultant with the continued monitoring of the wetlands crossed during the water main installation, and the required reporting under the following permits: Army Corps of Engineers 404 permit and DEP Waterways 401 Water Quality Permit and Reading Conservation Commission Order of Conditions. :. • Reading Police Station Parking Lot Improvements— preformed project survey and designed new parking lot improvements and layout for the Reading Police Department. • Conservation Notice of Intent — provide field survey, prepared plans, supplemental documentation and completed application to receive a Notice of Intent for the following projects: o Annual DPW Drainage and Brook Maintenance o Annual Paving Program o Birch Meadow Complex Lighting Federal /State Projects MassDOT • West Street Roadway Reconstruction Project: In May 2015, MassDOT's contractor Newport Construction began the long anticipated West Street construction project. The project included the West Street corridor from the Woburn City Line to Longwood Road, including improvements to the intersection of Woburn Street at Summer Avenue. To date the contractor has installed new drainage, granite curb, concrete sidewalks, signage, and landscaping, along with the resurfacing and restriping of the roadway. While the traffic signals were upgraded at the intersection of West Street and South Street, new traffic signals were installed at the intersections of West St/Woburn St/Wescroft Rd, West St /Winslow Rd /King St, and West St/Summer Ave /Willow St. The traffic signals at Summer Ave /Woburn St also received upgraded equipment. While the project is now substantially complete, incidental work related to traffic signals, signage, and landscaping still remain to be completed by the contractor. It is anticipated that the project will be closed out by MassDOT in the spring of 2017. During the year the Division continued to perform daily inspections of the work, resolved utility conflicts and held weekly progress meetings. • Main Street/Hopkins Street Intersection — 25% designed • MassDOT Reading Safety Audit — attended meetings and site walk with MassDOT's consultant regarding the south Main Street corridor. MWRA • Phase II - MWRA 36 inch diameter redundant water main: attendance at several meetings with MWRA staff and consultant to review projects impacts and assist with the project management decisions affecting the Town. The Town Engineering and Water Divisions provided resources to help facilitate construction and maintain project schedules. Traffic Signal Maintenance — During the year the Division performed site and equipment investigations, and contracted consultants and contractors to perform repairs to the following traffic signals: S Lowell Street at Town Hall • Replaced damaged wiring that was chewed by rodents • Replaced power supply unit after pedestrian walk light coming on unexpectedly High Street /Woburn Street • Replaced blown load switch after pedestrian walk signal not working properly • Replaced traffic signal head after being damaged by a falling tree limb. Lowell Street at Grove Street /Willow Street • Replaced detection panel, harness, and rack after traffic loop sensors found not working 757 Main Street (Main St fire station) • Replaced air circulation fan after hearing loud buzzing noise coming from cabinet unit • Installed new emergency traffic signal after an unknown vehicle hit and destroyed the existing Main Street /Washington Street • Replaced damaged signal visors after being hit by an unknown vehicle Prescott Street/Summer Avenue • Installed new PED lens after being found smashed for an unknown reason Salem Street / Main Street • Realigned signal head and replace damaged visor after being hit by unknown vehicle • Repaired traffic signal pole after being hit by an unknown vehicle • Replaced damaged pole with temporary pole /signal after being hit by a semi - trailer unit Walkers Brook Drive • Replaced various burnt out traffic signal lenses Walkers Brook Drive /General Way • Replaced a blown Malfunction Management Unit (MMU) Walkers Brook Drive/Newcrossing Road • Replaced faulty push button and wiring Woburn Street/High Street • Replaced faulty pedestrian push button • Replaced two pedestrian push buttons after being hit by an unknown vehicle Woburn Street/Main Street • Replaced faulty pedestrian push button Interdepartmental Reviews The Engineering Division performed engineering reviews of plans submitted to the Community Planning and Development Commission and performed site inspections for site plan compliance, adherence to subdivision regulations and conformance with DPW utility standards for the following private development projects, subdivisions and Town projects: Reading Village 2 Prescott 364 Lowell St Randall Road 172 Woburn St 1260 Main St 186 Summer Ave 149 Van Nordan Rd 119 Salem St Lakeview & Eaton 40B Portable Classrooms at Eaton/Barrows and Killam Elementary Schools ,. . In addition to the above private developments the Division provided general oversight and field inspected work performed by NGRID in the replacement of cast iron gas mains on the following roadways: Forest St (Main to Martin) High St (Vine to Middlesex) Mt Vernon St (Linden to High) Kingston St (Middlesex to 34 Kingston) Orange St (Harrison to Belmont) Pearl St (Orange to Salem) Spring St (Orange to Spring) Pierce St (Orange to Salem) Winter St (Belmont/Orange to Salem) Winslow Rd ( Glenmere to 68 Glenmere) Permitting and Utility Hearings Glenmere Circle (Winslow to Winslow) Main St (Minot to Avon) Summer Ave (Pennsylvania to Victoria) Oak St (Summer to West) Mineral St (High to Vine) Mineral St (Summer to Hancock) John Carver Rd (Puritan to 42 John Carver) Puritan Rd (Lowell to John Carver) Perkins Ave (Woburn to Prescott) Baldwin Lane (Spruce to end) Parker St (Haven to Pleasant) The Division reviewed and held public hearings for the expansion of public utilities for the following; NGrid Gas Main Extensions • Spruce Road (near Birch Road) During the year the Engineering Division issued permits, performed utility mark outs and performed construction inspections for the following: Sewer Connections 36 Gas Permits 97 Sewer Disconnections 10 Street Occupancies 4 Sewer Repairs 6 Street Openings 18 Water Renewals 21 Driveway Permits 49 Water Connections 20 Jackie's Law Permits 53 Dig Safe Requests *292 Soil Test Inspections 23 *Quantity includes the markout for large projects which include: 21 gas main extension, MWRA water project, MassDOT West Street project, and Salem Street Water Main project. HIGHWAY DIVISION The Highway Division at the Public Works Facility consists of eighteen employees; a Supervisor, one Dispatcher, four Mechanics, and the twelve that are left maintain and repair the infrastructure of the Town of Reading. .. Highway Division: The regular projects such as street sweeping, catch basin repair (41), roadside cutting, sidewalk and street maintenance (potholes), tree lawn repair, mixing and sifting loam and compost, traffic control, street signs, (103) new signs installed; 190 of which were replaced or damaged. Cleaning of catch basins (approximately 2600), and ditches continued by priority and need. Street sweeping was started on March 28, 2016, and finished on April 13, 2016. Miscellaneous: Styrofoam and Electronics recycling on a daily basis, held Hazardous Waste Day, paper shredding and rigid plastic recycling twice, and had ADOPT -A- FAMILY in November and December, and Town Day in June. Provided support for the annual Fall Street Faire, did traffic control for Christmas on the Common, and the Halloween Parade. We installed Brackets and Banners, in the square, and maintained Downtown street lights. Vehicle Maintenance: Repaired and serviced the equipment from Police, Fire, School, Building Maintenance, Council on Aging, and Public Works Departments with 4 mechanics. They continued to take waste oil from the public during the week and on Saturdays, and did emergency in the field repairs as needed. Snow and Ice: During the winter season of 2015 -2016 we plowed (8) storms and sanded (17) times. Special Projects: Sidewalk repair and replacement of Birch Meadow Dr. Paving projects included, Larch Lane and the Senior Center Parking Lot. The Division assisted the Water Division with paving due to a water main break on South St. Other projects included: Orange St. drainage replacement, Mattera Cabin parking lot expansion, and construction of retaining wall. Special Notes: After twenty -nine years of service to the Town, Equipment Operator Philip G Perry retired. FORESTRY -TREE WARDEN'S REPORT One hundred and twenty -six trees were removed. These trees were dead or in a dangerous condition as to be a threat to public safety. One hundred and ten hazardous tree stumps were removed from the tree lawns, parks, schools and playgrounds for public safety. Two hundred and sixty -two trees were trimmed. Dead wood and low branches were removed from the public trees as requested or observed. A street by street hazardous tree survey of the Town was completed during the winter months. As a result of the survey 29 hazardous trees were identified as well as thirty -seven trees to be trimmed. There were fifty hanging limbs removed from over the street and sidewalks. Sixty trees were planted by the Town as street trees the varieties included Zelcova, Sweet Gum, Gingko, Elm and Red Maple. Trees were planted roadside and in the parks, schools and cemeteries. The Compost Center on Strout Avenue continues to accept brush and leaves from residents. 35,873 cars entered the Compost Center in 2016. Residents are required to purchase stickers for use of the compost center. HE The holiday lighting put up by the tree crew in the town square was once again very successful. There were 20,000 colored bulbs installed on the common. Reading was awarded "Tree City USA" for the thirtieth consecutive year by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Five hundred Blue Spruce trees were purchased and distributed to all the fifth graders. Thanks to the Reading Rotary Club that has sponsored and assisted in this program to make "Arbor Day 2016" a success in Reading. A special thanks to all the committees and commissions working toward the preservation of Reading's public shade trees. PARKS The division continues to maintain 80 acres of grassed area though out the town, also the facilities within the parks and schools. This includes the renovation as well as continued maintenance of all the ball fields on school or parks grounds. The division maintains sixteen tennis and basketball courts, the tot lots, and the skating rinks. The Division maintains the grounds for all municipal as well as school buildings. The division also assists all Town departments, committees and commissions with tree maintenance, snow and ice removal and election set -up. Respectfully Submitted — Robert L. Keating, Supervisor -Tree Warden WATER & SEWER DIVISION GRNF,R A 1, The DPW Water Conservation Program (WCP) continued along with great success. In 2016, $12,380 in rebates were distributed to Reading Residents who participated in the program. Since the program's inception in July 2003, we have rebated over $588,000 to more than 3,350 residents. The program incorporates emphasis on rebates for HE washing machines, low flow toilets, irrigation system rain sensors, and rain barrels, along with free home and irrigation water system use audits and water use reports. Since 2003, the Reading Water Department has offered home water saving devices for Reading Residents, they are available free of charge to residents through the Reading Water Department located at Town Hall in the DPW office. The WCP school educational phase continued with Meg Tabasco, Education Coordinator for the MWRA, making presentations to all 3rd grade classes in Town focusing on water supply and conservation. As required by the August 6, 2006, Administrative Consent Order (ACO) the Town entered into, with (DEP), the Town continued to retain ownership and control of the Zone I (400' radius) and protection of the Zone II (well recharge area) of the emergency water supply wells and wellfield. As a condition of the DEP ACO, the water supply wells and wellfield continued to be maintained as an emergency water supply to pump water to the distribution system with disinfection capabilities. All nine (9) of our Town wells were exercised monthly; all such wells are ready and operational in the case of a water supply emergency. 91 The MWRA in conjunction with the Reading Water Department compiled and mailed the eighteenth annual drinking water report to all water customers this past June. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, quarterly EPA Uncontaminated Monitoring Rule 3 required sampling was completed and we were fully within all regulations. We are proud to offer Reading Residents some of the highest quality water in the country. The Town has continued and is moving forward with Reading to be a `wheeler of water' for the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) in order to provide North Reading with entry and provision of water from the MWRA's Water Distribution System. The Town of Reading and The Town of North Reading will both greatly benefit individually and collectively from the inclusion of North Reading into the MWRA water distribution system through the Town of Reading's Water Distribution System. SUPPLY The Reading Water Department and DPW has operated and maintained our water supply valve, vault, SCADA and security systems, with emergency water supply wells, pump stations and all emergency power equipment. We have collected and delivered to laboratory for analysis over 550 water system water quality samples in 2016. In 2016, a total of 617.30 MG (million gallons) of water was purchased from the MWRA and delivered to the Town of Reading's water distribution system. The highest single day consumption of water by the Town of Reading in the 2016 year occurred on Friday, August 26, 2016 in the amount of 2.99 MG (million gallons). The highest seven (7) day consumption of water occurred from Friday July 22, 2016 to Thursday July 28, 2016 in the amount of 17.89 million gallons. The Town of Reading's average daily usage of water for 2016 was 1.69 MGD (million gallons per day). That water use of 1.69 MG (million gallons) a day is supplied to Reading Residents and others through 7,703 Residential Water Connections, 70 Municipal Water Connections and 247 Commercial Water Connections. In 2016, through those 7,703 Residential Water Connections, Reading's 2016 Population of 26,230 Residents used a total of 465.31 MG (million gallons) of water. Thus, in 2016, each Reading Resident consumed 17,739.52 gallons of annually, or 341.15 gallons a week or 48.74 gallons per person per day. The average water daily per capita use by Reading Residents (use by each individual) for 2016 was 48.74 gallons per person per day, which is roughly 25% below the State required 65 gallons per person per day. For monthly rainfall in Reading for 2016, see the following chart. Annual total Rainfall in Reading for 2016 was 34.69" of Rain. Reading's 2016 rainfall of 34.69" was down — 31.67 % from the last 29 year's average. The MWRA Redundant Water Main Supply installation work continued in 2016 with further installations of 24 -inch and 36 -inch diameter MWRA water mains, along with water main valves 92 and pipe connections on West Street, South Street and Oak Street all making way to Louanis Drive for a future Town of Reading /MWRA Water Metering Vault and Control Valve. The Town of Reading and the MWRA look forward to Reading's Redundant Water Main Supply loop to be operational before 2019, when the MWRA's Northern Intermediate High System Master Plan is completed. WATER DISTRIBUTION A total of 29 new water services were installed, 22 old water services were replaced, repaired 20 water service leaks, repaired 10 broken water mains, replaced 7 old fire hydrants, repaired 5 broken fire hydrants, rebuilt 22 fire hydrants. Disconnected 18 water services for house demolition, replaced 2 water main gate valves, replaced 160' of water main on Birch Rd, replaced 43 old water services from the water main to. the sidewalk shut off on Crosby Rd, Edwin St, Forest Glen Rd, Sweetser Ave, Park Ave, Warren Ave, Orange St and Bond St for Chapter 90 road reconstruction, assisted with friends & family day and vehicle day at Reading Library, inspected the installation of water mains at Reading Woods, Johnson Woods, Salem St, West St, Oak St and Summer Ave. Continued cross connection control program, flushed water mains in various sections of town, inspected Auburn St and Bear Hill water tanks, all drinking fountains and town irrigation systems turned on in spring and turned off and winterized in fall, 2 seasonal laborers painted and lubricated hydrants over 1/4. of Town, completed annual water inventory, loam and seed on all water jobs, hot topped water and sewer trenches, checked and maintained 2 water booster stations daily, cleaned and maintained the grounds, cutting grass, etc. at the Auburn St tank site, lowered and raised water gate boxes for construction jobs, conducted a leak detection survey, assisted Highway Division during snow plowing operations, The Town's water conservation program awarded 46 rebates for energy efficient washing machines, 11 water saving toilets, 0 irrigation rain sensor and sold 60 rain barrels. METER ROOM The regular quarterly water meter reading cycle was supported, 263 work orders were received and completed, 309 bill -to -date readings were taken, 3 meters were removed, 3 meters were reset, 3 meter tested correct, and 0 meters tested incorrect. SEWER DISTRIBUTION Approximately 20,000 feet of sewer mains were cleaned and 2500 feet TV inspected, replaced 4 sewer manhole frames and covers, assisted with the start of two sewer station replacements on Haverhill St and West St, cleaned wet wells at all sewer stations, checked and maintained 12 sewer stations daily, cleaned approximately 1/4 of the sanitary sewer main system, cleaned and maintained the grounds, cutting grass, trimmed bushes etc., around the sewer stations, completed work orders re: leaks, broken gates etc., exercised emergency generator weekly, completed the annual sewer inventory. Assisted Highway Division during snow plowing operations. 93 2016 MWRA WATER PURCHASED MONTH MILLION GALLONS DAYS AVERAGE MILLION GALLONS DAY JANUARY 43.49 31 1.40 FEBRUARY 39.62 28 1.42 MARCH 41.98 31 1.35 APRIL 43.33 30 1.44 MAY 55.57 31 1.79 JUNE 67.56 30 2.25 JULY 71.66 31 2.31 AUGUST 69.08 31 2.23 SEPTEMBER 56.05 30 1.87 OCTOBER 45.29 31 1.46 NOVEMBER 40.00 30 1.33 DECEMBER 43.77 31 1.41 TOTAL 617.30 365 1.69 2016 READING, MA RAINFALL RECORDS ., READING, MA READING, MA MASSACHUSETTS MEASURED MEASURED MONTH INCHES 2016 INCHES (1981 -2010) MEASURED INCHES RAINFALL & RAINFALL & 2016 RAINFALL & MELTED SNOW MELTED SNOW MELTED SNOW JANUARY 2.93 3.91 3.27 FEBRUARY 3.34 3.73 4.17 MARCH 3.79 5.11 3.16 APRIL 2.77 4.47 2.91 MAY 2.01 4.20 2.83 JUNE 1.68 3.98 1.33 JULY 1.00 4.26 0.87 AUGUST 2.19 3.52 1.72 SEPTEMBER 2.02 3.86 1.38 OCTOBER 6.31 4.58 5.46 NOVEMBER 2.21 4.62 2.70 DECEMBER 4.44 4.53 3.25 INCHES TOTALS 34.69 50.77 33.05 ( Compare to (-31.67%)' (-31.90%) Average ., READING PUBLIC LIBRARY Report of the Library Board of Trustees The year 2016 was an exciting and momentous one for the Reading Public Library, as the greatly anticipated expansion and renovation of the former Highland School Building at 64 Middlesex Avenue was completed. A standing room only crowd of state and local officials, library administration and staff, patrons and special guests from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and American Library Association gathered for a grand reopening ceremony in early October to officially open the new building. The highly anticipated event did not disappoint, as patrons marveled at the new community spaces, expanded collections, children's programming, and technology and service capabilities of the renovated library space. Earlier in the year, as construction and renovations were completed, the library continued to provide a high level of service out of its temporary location at 80 General Way. Despite operating out of a much smaller space, the library circulation, borrowing and services rates approached the same levels as in the "old" library building. After reopening at 64 Middlesex Avenue, the library achieved services and circulation rates that far exceeded levels at the old library, placing it amongst the busiest libraries in the North of Boston Library Exchange network. Amidst the physical transition back to 64 Middlesex Avenue, 'the library also successfully completed a leadership transition and is well positioned going forward for the opportunities and challenges of maintaining and growing a 21st century library. The Board of Trustees thanks Ruth Urell for her 10+ years of service as Library Director. Ruth's leadership, energy and vision were instrumental to the library's development and growth and we wish her the best in her new role at the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. After an extensive search process, the Board of Trustees is excited that Amy Lannon accepted our offer to be the new Library Director. Amy has deep library leadership and technology experience, and did an excellent job in the Interim Director /Assistant Director role with the transition to the new library. She knows the Reading community well and will be able to hit the ground running as we move forward with the library's strategic plan. John Brzezenski Chair, Library Board of Trustees Report of the Library Activities and Services 2016 Overview The highlight of the year was our return to the Library's beautifully renovated and expanded home at 64 Middlesex Avenue. After 21 months of providing full library services from our temporary location at 80 General Way, the Reading Public Library closed for 6 weeks in August and September 2016 to pack up and move the collections, as well as begin training all staff on new systems and services. 95 On October 2, 2016, the Reading Public Library re- opened its doors, welcoming back the community to a 21" century library. Building highlights include expanded meeting room space available for both Library and community use; a dedicated quiet study area and new reading room; expanded and updated spaces for children and teens; and new automated self - service check out and check in technologies. Outreach and Community Engagement In 2016, we continued in our commitment to community engagement and partnerships. Children's librarians visited schools numerous times, including representing the Library at Joshua Eaton's Family Literacy Night and Wood End's Open House. We partnered with the North Suburban Child and Family Resource Network to offer a free family concert event. Children's librarians worked with the Reading Conservation Commission, Chamber of Commerce, and many downtown merchants to coordinate two popular and engaging Story Walks during the year, and our division head was recognized by the Reading Girl Scout Council for her longstanding support of the organization. Technology nd System Upgrades In July 2016, the staff completed the RFID conversion of the entire physical collection. Over 110,000 items received RFID tags programmed to interface with our new Self. -Check Kiosks (item check out), Automated Materials Handling System — AMHS (item check in) and security gates. These technologies increase efficiency of processing and returning items to the shelves, as well as providing patrons with additional convenience and privacy when checking out materials. While the primary benefit of RFID technology is to patrons who take advantage of the self service features, the RFID will also assist with inventory management and improve overall data integrity of the collection. Other new technologies include a SCANNX machine that allows patrons to scan documents and then fax, email or save to USB or mobile device, conferencing equipment in the Conference Room, and RCTV broadcast capabilities in the large Community Room. W. The Library now has 32 public computers, 4 online catalog kiosks, 2 print stations, and tethered iPads for in -house use (Children's Division). Circulation and Collections Reading continues to be the top circulating library per capita with the NOBLE consortium. The calendar year circulation dropped slightly due to six weeks closing needed to move to 64 Middlesex Avenue. However online downloads and database use were generally up from 2015. Professional staff are responsible for the curating both physical and digital collections. All collections are evaluated on an ongoing basis and new purchases are selected according to format and age group. In additional to the purchase of traditional books, movies, magazines and music, the Library continues develop the "Library of Things" collection which now includes items such as a Roku, telescope and variety of STEM related kits. The digital or "virtual library" holdings include Overdrive with over 11,000 eBooks and. eAudiobooks; EBSCO "Always Available" collection with 38,000 eBooks; Zinio Magazine service with 30 subscriptions; Freegal downloadable music with over 7 million available tracks; and a number of popular online databases and services including Consumer Reports Online, Ancestery.com, Tutor.com, and Mango Language Learning. Children 2291 Purchases by Age Group Total Print Total 64% Purchases By Format Total Director Services and Programs The Library was open for 2,761 hours in 2016. The drop in hours was due to the 6 week closure during the move to 64 Middlesex Avenue. Despite this pressure and disruption of the move, the Library had another successful year providing direct services and programs designed to education and enrich the community. Staff answered 44,564 reference questions which translates to an average of 16 questions per hour open. Patron interactions include basic information, reader advisory consultations, research assistance and one -to -one technical help. 97 The Library also provided homebound services to 25 residents. The valued program is supervised by our Elder Services Librarian, Andrea Fiorillo and implemented with the help of essential volunteers. The Library also provided supplemental reading collections to the Pleasant Street Center, Sawtelle Hospice House and Sanborn Place. Program series for adults included: • Community Technology Series (Get Organized with Google Doc, Facebook for Business, Digital Photo Bootcamp and What is the Cloud) • LiveWires (New England Feuds, Lighthouses and the Market Basket story) • LiveWires Miniseries (Death and Dying, Organic Gardening, and Storytelling) The library hosted 10 author and reader advisory programs. Our most popular author program was with Debbie Irving author of "Waking Up White" and involved partnerships with the School Department, Clergy Association, and the Reading Human Relations Committee. The Library led a book discussion followed by Debbie Irving's community presentation. New programs in 2016 included: • Pints and Pages, our new book discussion group aimed the 20s and 30s age group, began in January of 2016. The library partners with the Wilmington Public Library to run this series with programs alternating between restaurants in each town. • The Memory Cafe, a welcoming space for people with memory loss and those who help care for them. The cafe offers an opportunity to socialize, participate in an activity, and make new friends in an accepting environment. The program is coordinated through Elder Services. • Reading's Writers Group, a drop drop -in community of writers developed from a previous LiveWires series. Local History Our final collection of Town Reports went to Boston Public Library for digitization at the end of April and the Boston Public Library has completed scanning and the library is developing a plan to catalog the copies and make them available to the public online through the Internet Archive. Tnnn CPrvinPc Our Book. Mates, Netguide and Teen Advisory (TAG) services continued to grow this year as volunteer opportunities for teens give back to the community. Book Mates offers young children a chance to read to older students, Netguides offer computer assistance and TAG members held a Winter Carnival offering crafts and games to over 60 children. Usage of the renovated Teen area and. teen attendance in general, has seen one of the most dramatic increases at the new library. In order to accommodate this influx, Teen Librarians Renee Smith and Susan Beauregard planned and developed several new services including: • Teennovation — a monthly series offering hands on STEM related programming • Gaming — staff researched gaming equipment, games, and policies to put together a popular gaming option. Homework Center — the library now provides a Homework Center for group, individual and tutored study. In addition to reserved space, students have access to supplies and may reserve computers. Children's Programs . With a new dedicated program room, and feedback from patrons and staff, we redesigned much of our programming in the fall. We added more programs geared toward elementary -aged children, and more programs that foster creativity and exploration. Every Wednesday afternoon, which is early release day from Reading Public Schools, we host Hands -On Hang Out, a drop -in creativity meet up for children. Over 230 people attended this fun event during the months of October through December. Our LEGO club for younger children is now offered monthly, and with a parent volunteer contributing her time, we also offer a LEGO challenge. meet-up for older children each month. Our monthly Literary Lunches for older children have remained popular, and based on parent feedback we added a Ravenous Readers lunch for younger elementary children. Early literacy and services to preschoolers continue to be important parts of our work. With a large program room available in the new building, we were able to move the Sing -A -Long back to the mornings, which resulted in a large increase in attendance (up 86% from same period in 2015). Our storytimes are now entirely drop -in format, with the exception of our Mother Goose Lapsits for babies, and we're offering more sessions of the popular Jumping Beans Saturday storytime for young children. Families are flocking to our new space and programs. Compared to the same time last year, our amount of program offerings at the end of 2016 in the new library space have grown 63 %, and our attendance has increased by 76 %. Appreciation The Library would be lost without the constant guidance of the Library Board of Trustees and the support and generosity of the Reading Public Library Foundation and the Friends of the Reading Public Library. Every day we are grateful for the goodwill and kindness of the people of Reading, and thankful for their commitment to building a wonderful community and an outstanding library. Thank you! Respectfully submitted, Amy Lannon, MLIS Library Director AN LIBRARY STATISTICS Circulation (total) 398,358 Adult circulation 164,004 Children's circulation 152,657 Teen Circulation 15,671 Interlibrary Loans 49,371 eBooks / eAudiobooks (downloads) 16,655 Library Collections (total) 158,386 Adult Books 43,170 Adult Media (audio /video) 17,124 Children's Books 34,410 Children's Media (audio /video) 5,389 Teen Books 5,627 Teen Media (audio /video) 192 Other media 4,119 eBooks and Downloadable & E Subscriptions 48,000 Print periodical subscriptions 314 Digital periodical subscriptions 30 Electronic database licenses 11 Library Services Meeting room reservations 375 (Oct. -Dec.) Museum passes borrowed 1,501 Programs - Total Adults Teens Children 493 128 60 305 Program Attendance - Total Adults Teens Children 13,690 2,328 1,980 9,382 Reference Consultations - Total Adult Children 44,564 30,750 13,814 Library Card Holders: Registered Borrowers 21,050 Open Hours 2,761 (6 wk closed) Visitors N/A Volunteer Service Hours 978 100 Reading Public Library Staff 2016 Administration Director: Ruth S. Urell (January — June 2016 Amy F. Lannon (July — December 2016) Assistant Director: Amy Lannon (January June 2016) Administrative Assistant: Kathryn Melesciuc Children's Division Division Head: Early Literacy Librarian: Primary Grade Librarian: Special Needs Librarian: Senior Library Associate: Children's Div. Pages: Circulation Division Corinne Fisher Brenda Wettergreen, Rachel Baumgartner, Ashley Waring, Mary McIntire Francesca Bester * Meaghan Coughlin*, Jessica Navin, Theresa Teixeira** Division Head: Michelle A. Filleul Senior Library Associate: Patrice A. O'Donnell Library Associates: Donna Beaulieu, Maureen Conwell, Susan R. Haggerty, Louise Hetherington, Andrea Hogan * * *, Carol Macomber, Joanne H. Penta * *, Christine Rutigliano Circulation Pages: Neftali Gonzalez, Lisa Li Reference Division Division Head: Elder Services Librarian: Local History Librarian: Young Adult Librarian: Young Adult Librarian: Reader Advisory Librarian: Adult Services Librarian: Technical Services Lorraine Barry Andrea Fiorillo Rachel Baumgartner Susan Beauregard, Renee Smith Kathleen Miksis Eileen Barrett Division Head: Jamie Penney Senior Library Associates: Dawn Didham Colford, Allison DaSilva Library Associate: Judy A. Newton Sunday and Substitute Librarians Sunday and Substitute Associates Lauren Forsyth Suzy Axelson Kathryn Geoffrion- Scannell Virginia Guazzaloca Sara Kelso Jennifer O'Connell Meaghan Kinton Mary Jeanne Harwood Megan White 101 Custodians (Facilities Department) John Davis Lynda Florence * Hired 2016 ** Retired 2016 * ** Promoted 2016 READING PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2016 John Brzezenski, Chair Andrew Grimes Alice Collins, Secretary David Hutchinson Cherrie Dubois, Vice Chair Victoria Yablonsky READING PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2016 Bruce Austin, Secretary Russ Graham John Brzezenski Bill Hecht, Vice President Lynne Cameron Barbara Mulvey Elise Ciregna, President Bob Nordstrand Amy Coumounduros, Treasurer Maria Silvaggi FRIENDS OF THE READING PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD 2016 Jean Clark, Recording Secretary Judy Coltman, Fundraising Kathy Egmont, Membership Leslie Haley, Co- President Kathy Kelly, Fundraising) Elizabeth Krugman, Co- President Alissa Onigman, Treasurer Sharon Petersen, Ass't. Treasurer Lynda Zarrow, Communications 102 READING HOUSING AUTHORITY From the Chairman It is with great pleasure that I share with you the activities and accomplishments of the Reading Housing Authority over the past year. The start of the New Year has seen some improvement in our economy; however, we remain cautious during this somewhat unstable time. The pressure on the real estate market has continued to create a critical challenge for poor and lower income families to find, keep and maintain their housing. As the real estate values escalated over the past few years, it was certainly felt most dramatically at the low- income levels. Rental units have been at a greater premium once again in this area and participants have experienced difficulty in locating affordable units. Previously, landlords had been able to ask for and receive a high rent, which historically prices the poor and lower income families out of the rental market. Again, we are beginning to see a change in the rental market area with increase inquiries from landlords who are experiencing more difficulty renting units, therefore, willing to negotiate rents within the range of Fair Market Rents established each year by HUD. The Reading Housing Authority (Authority) strives to assist these families to seek and obtain housing that is decent, safe and sanitary. In an effort to ameliorate this impact, the Authority will continue its efforts to develop new units and purchase affordable units when the opportunity arises. The Authority most recently has begun a careful search for a multi - family home in our area with the hope of adding additional family affordable units to our present inventory in the upcoming year. We continue to support private developers and the Town-in their efforts to set aside units for low /moderate income families in their proposed developments. We reach out to owners of multi - family units who would like to work with us to serve our clients. As always, the Authority goes beyond the bricks and mortar and provides assistance to families, elderly and handicapped persons to obtain the services they need. We continue to work closely with Mystic Valley Elder Services and other home care agencies to meet the needs of the elderly residents as they strive to remain independent and age in place. The addition of our local nurse advocate, Alyse Warren, will be someone that elder residents and RHA staff can rely on in greater numbers in order to have seniors remain in their homes. With budget cuts affecting all of us, we strive to maintain our programs, work with other supportive agencies and still offer a safe and decent place for our seniors, disabled and families in need. On behalf of the Board, we want to thank Executive Director, Lyn Whyte and her staff for their continued dedication, commitment and service to the Reading Housing Authority. We look forward to working with them as we meet the new challenges that lie ahead. Respectfully, Kevin Mulvey, Chairman 103 Organization Organized in 1963 to, address the housing needs of the Town's low and moderate income residents, the Reading Housing Authority (Authority) is "a public body politic and corporate " duly organized and authorized by Massachusetts General Laws (MGL), Chapter 121B, s.3. The Authority receives it funds from the State and Federal government to assist our clients with their housing needs. Although the Authority does not receive any local funding, five unpaid Reading residents compose the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Selectmen appoints four of these board members and one is the Governor's appointee. Each member serves for a 5 -year term. The Board is responsible for the overall operation of the Authority. The day to day responsibility is delegated to the Executive Director. The Board meets regularly and has scheduled their monthly meetings for the first Monday of each month. The Annual Meeting of the Board is currently scheduled for the month after the Selectmen makes their annual appointment of a Board member. As of December, 2016, the Board Members and their term of office are as follows: Kevin Mulvey 67 Whittier Road Diane Cohen 173 Hillcrest Avenue Richard Robbins 42 Dudley Street Madeline J. Hodgdon 4 -7 Frank Tanner Drive Timothy J. Kelley 84 Woburn Street Lyn E. Whyte 41 Shore Road, Saugus Chair Term expires 6/30/2018 Vice _Chair and State Appointee Term expires 5/03/2021 Treasurer Term expires 6/30/2020 Asst. Treasurer and Tenant Representative Term expires 6/30/2017 Member Term expires 6/30/2019 Secretary and Executive Director Administrative Staff The Board contracts an Executive Director who manages the day -to -day operations of the Authority. Within State and Federal guidelines and other budgetary limits, the Executive Director hires the supporting staff necessary to achieve the goals and responsibilities of the Authority's programs. The Executive Director, Lyn Whyte, has been in place since August 28, 2001. Administration Lyn E. Whyte Secretary and Executive Director Catherine Sutherland Office Manager Iris Perez - Feliciano CHA Federal Program Coordinator for RHA Emily LaMacchia State Housing Manager Vacant Part-time Program Assistant I' Maintenance Frank Veglia Maintenance Supervisor Joseph Costello Maintenance Staff Edward Bennett Maintenance Staff Supportive Service: Home Care: Jacqueline Carson Daniel J. O'Leary Jane Burns Kerry Valle c Affiliations Sanborn Home Care Director Director, Mystic Valley Elder Services Town of Reading, Elder Services Administrator Town of Reading, Case Worker Financial Institutions Reading Cooperative Bank Eastern Bank Affiliations National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Massachusetts Chapter of National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (MassNAHRO) New England Regional Council of National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NERC/NAHRO) Section 8 Administrators Association North Shore Housing Executive Directors' Association (NSHEDA) Adult Literacy Committee of Reading /Wakefield YMCA Consultants Accountants: Fenton, Ewald & Associates Legal: Latham Law Offices, LLC & DHCD Legal Counsel, Lori McBride Contractors Hiltz Waste Disposal Avon Plumbing Supply Hodson S M Co Inc Mystic Landscaping Automatic Laundry Mystic Painting J.F. Burns, Inc. Banner Glass Shelmar American Alarm Home Depot Maintenance We do it all — from the beautiful paint job to the new appointments before you move into your new apartment. The maintenance staff meets the challenges on every occasion and has done an excellent job. With the four seasons here in New England, maintenance has to be ready to take it all in stride. They do the spring clean -up and plantings; the summer mowing, watering, weeding and trimming; the fall leaf pick -up; and winter's snow and ice removal. The maintenance staff works tirelessly to keep our developments looking beautiful. In the past, we have been lucky enough to 105 have the assistance of the Work Release Program from the Middlesex Sheriff's Department. They have been exceptional in the work that they have done with our landscaping and painting projects. These programs are cost effective and have become a critical component to maintaining our properties. During the course of this past year, the RHA did not utilize this program due to re- organization efforts within the Sheriff's Department and a limited availability, however, we hope to once again make use of their services in the future. We hope to continue our relationship with the Middlesex Sheriff's Department to afford us the opportunity to enhance the appearance of all of our properties. The Authority is responsible for 115 individual units located on 10 different sites. It is no easy task to keep each one looking in its top form. The maintenance staff is also responsible for the daily work orders and any emergency work that has to be done. The Authority has an extensive preventative maintenance program for all major components and has a cyclical paint schedule for all units. 2016 Funding Received Each year the Authority applies for several grants or capital funding when available to improve our properties and better serve our residents and the community. Included in this year's awards were: Modernization of State Housing The Housing Authority has had a very -busy year with projects; some of which are ongoing. To date, we have completed approximately $33,000 in various upgrades throughout our properties; new vinyl fencing around all of our barrel areas throughout our senior development along with the interior painting in our special needs home. In addition, we have plans underway to construct a garage on site at our elderly complex to house work trucks and equipment. Overall, we have state capital funding being awarded in excess of $116,000 for our fiscal year 2017 through Department of Housing and Community Development to cover most of the costs associated with these projects. All of these improvements will benefit all of our residents that live in our developments. Supportive Services Grant - HUD No funding available since we no longer administer an FSS program. Supportive Services Grant - State Funding of Resident Service Coordinator to address elderly /non - elderly needs for Frank D. Tanner Drive residents was approved; however, it is now categorized as an administrative expense. Audits The Authority has a Single Audit of all programs by an independent auditor each year. Ross and Company of Nashua, NH was engaged to perform the latest review of the Authority's programs for fiscal year end June 2016. At this time, the audit has been completed and final copies of report were submitted in late December 2016 to designated agencies; namely, HUD, DHCD and the Office of State Auditors. The Authority had no findings or additional recommendations as a result of this latest audit. The Authority's financial position is adequate to meet the needs of the 1: operation and development of the programs and we are fortunate to maintain a retained revenue agency status. A new compliance audit mandated by DHCD for FYE June 2016 has also been completed as of December, 2016. Final reports were received by year end and no findings were noted in that detailed report. A copy of that AUP audit has been submitted to DHCD for their review. Management Review The Authority has had a current Management Review done of all State programs. The Asset Managers from the State's Department of Housing and Community Development reviewed all the operations of the State programs to insure compliance in the daily operation of the Authority's budget, occupancy, administration, maintenance, services and tenant participation. The Authority received an excellent review with minor comments. In regard to our federal program, the Authority submitted its annual Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) reports for fiscal year end June 2015 to HUD for review and subsequent scoring. The purpose of SEMAP is to measure public housing authority performance in key areas of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program management. It is a tool used by HUD to effectively monitor and assist PHA's. It is our pleasure to report that the Reading Housing Authority received an overall score of 85 percent for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015. As a result of this score, HUD designates the Authority as a "standard performer" with credit going to former Section 8 Program Coordinator, Kathy Rolli for her continued efforts in administering an ever - changing federal program. We will not submit additional SEMAP reports until fiscal year June 2017. These assessments are now performed every two years for an agency of our size per latest HUD changes. As of September, 2015, the Reading Housing Authority entered into an inter - agency agreement with Chelsea Housing Authority to administer our Section 8 housing program. That agreement was extended for our FY2017. This cost effective measure has enabled the RHA to maintain the federal housing program with the assistance of personnel from another agency. The Reading Housing Authority continues to oversee the program and remains responsible for all reporting requirements to HUD. State Programs The Authority currently manages the three programs under the State's Department of Housing and Community Development: 667 Housing (elderly/handicapped housing); 705 Housing (Family housing); 689 Housing (Special Needs Housing). All of our wait lists are open at the present time; however, estimated wait times can be long. All information regarding our agency and the programs we administer can be found on our website at www.readinghousing.org. We encourage applicants to apply for our elderly/handicapped (667) housing by contacting the Housing Authority at (781) 944 -6755 or by accessing the application on our website. 107 HOUSING FOR ELDERLY /HANDICAPPED PERSONS _(667)_effective 11/07/16 80 units Frank D. Tanner Drive Complex Eligibility: 60 years of age or disabled Income: 1 person - $51,150 2 persons - $58,450 HOUSING FOR FAMILIES (705) effective 11/07/16 6 units Waverly and Oakland Road (six 3BR units) 4 units Pleasant and Parker Street (two 2BR units; two 3 B unit) Eligibility: Family of 2 or more depending on Bedroom size Income: 2 persons - $58,450 3 persons - $65,750 4 persons - $73,050 5 persons - $78,900 6 persons - $84,750 7 persons - $90,600 8 persons - $96,450 Federal Programs The Authority manages 125 subsidies for persons of very low income under the Federal Section 8 program. However, the Chelsea Housing Authority is currently managing this program for the RHA through an inter - agency agreement. Currently, the RHA participates in a centralized waiting list administered by the MASSNAHRO organization. Applications for this wait list are available at the administration office building at 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive, Reading or online @ www.readinghousing.org. The income limits are: SECTION 8 RENTAL ASSISTANCE Income limits: 1 person — $34,350 2 persons - $39,250 3 persons - $44,150 4 persons - $49,050 5 persons - $53,000 6 persons - $56,900 7 persons - $60,850 8 persons - $64,750 RHA -OWNED PROPERTIES The Authority presently owns and manages 17 family units located in various locations throughout the Town of Reading. RHA had. the opportunity to add an additional two bedroom unit to our inventory in 2015. We continue to pursue opportunities to expand low income housing units within the Town whenever possible. 1' Applications Elderly /Handicapped Housing (667) The Authority manages 80 one - bedroom units of housing for elderly /handicapped persons at our Frank D. Tanner Drive complex in Reading. To qualify for this housing, a single person or couple must meet the eligibility guidelines and be 60 years of age or older or handicapped. The Authority sets aside 13.5% of these units for non - elderly handicapped persons. The wait list is currently open for all seniors' 60 years of age and older. We encourage Reading residents to apply and are making special outreach efforts to elderly of minority representation. The 13.5% non- elderly handicapped requirement has been fulfilled but applications are still being accepted for our wait list. Non - elderly applicants will be served after the Authority has placed all qualified applicants if the 13.5% requirement has been met. You may obtain an application at the office of the Authority, 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive, Reading, MA 01867 or by accessing one online at www.readinghousing.org. Family Housing — State (705) The Authority operates the State's Family Housing Program with 2 different developments. The first family housing development that was built by the Authority is located at Oakland and Waverly Roads and is called Waverly Oaks. There are six 3- bedroom units. Our second state family development is near the center of Town and is referred to as our Pleasant /Parker location. There are only four units available at this site. Our wait list is open. Approximate wait times for those presently on the list remains in excess of ten years. Section 8 Federal Housing Assistance Program Currently the wait list for our Section 8 Program is open. We now participate in the centralized wait list program initiated in December 2002 and administered by Mass NAHRO. Applications are available at our administrative office or online at www.mnahro.org. An application can be downloaded from that site and submitted to any agency participating in the centralized wait list program. There are currently over 125 member agencies taking part in that joint process. At present there are almost 200,000 families on this waitlist with waiting times for assistance quite long. The State maintains a wait list for its programs through the Metropolitan Boston Housing Program (MBHP). Anyone seeking an emergency application should contact MBHP at (800) 272 -0990 to obtain an application. The local area service agency for emergency applicants is Community Service Network. You may contact them at (781) 438 -1977. Summit Ville First Time Homebuyers Program The Authority continues to oversee the maintenance of the wait list for qualified and eligible applicants for the affordable units at Summit Village through the First Time Homebuyers Program. We presently have no potential buyers on our waitlist. During the past year, one 2 -BR affordable unit was made available and was purchased by the RHA at an affordable price and will become part of the overall affordable inventory held by the Housing Authority. The "affordable" owners must have a fair market appraisal done; the Authority reviews the appraisal and if accepted, provides the owner with the maximum resale price for the affordable unit. If the owner has a friend who would be eligible and income - qualified, then the Authority reviews their 109 qualifications and provides them with an "Eligible Purchaser Certificate ". If the owner wishes to select an applicant from the wait list, the Authority would send the next available and eligible buyer's name to the owner to negotiate the sale. If no one is available or eligible to purchase an affordable unit at this location, the RHA has the "right of first refusal" and can opt to purchase. Interested applicants may pick up applications packets at the Town Clerk's office in Town Hall; at the Reference Desk at the Reading Public Library; or at the office of the Reading Housing Authority, 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive. When making an application, a $10 fee made payable to the "Reading Housing Authority" must be included along with all pertinent documentation. If the family applying for the affordable unit is headed by 2- persons, both parties must execute the application as applicant and co- applicant. Income from all family members age 18+ is included in family income for eligibility. However, if the income of one of these persons is from a dependent (not spouse) who is a full -time student, then a deduction for out of pocket expenses for books, tuition, fees and /or travel is allowed. Documentation from the school must be provided and verification for employment and expenses must be provided with the application. All persons must sign a "Release of Information" to have their documentation verified by the Authority. Highlights of the program are: First Time Homebuyer Cannot have owned a home within the last 3 years; divorced persons cannot currently own home but 3 year restriction is excused. Maximum Family Income Currently, the maximum family income cannot exceed 80% of FY 2016 Medium Family Income presently set at $98,100 (effective 03/28/16) for all persons in the family from all sources (wages, interest, dividends, etc.) Family Housing The 2 bedroom units must have a minimum family size of 2 persons. The maximum number of persons that can qualify for a 2- bedroom unit would be 4 persons. The 3 bedroom units must have a minimum of 3 persons with 2 being minor children living in the household. The maximum number of persons that would qualify for a 3- bedroom unit would be 6 persons. Affordable Price The affordable price is based on a 20% discount from the current fair market appraisal of the unit, which must be verified by the Authority. Deed Restriction Anyone wishing to purchase an "affordable" unit should be aware that a permanent deed restriction would be recorded with their deed. This restriction states that the unit must be sold to a qualified and eligible purchaser at a 20% discount from the fair market value as approved by the Reading Housing Authority. 110 Single Persons Applications are accepted from single family households but persons on the single person wait list will be chosen only after all the eligible family applicants have been served. Local Preference Applicants from the Town of Reading are given preference over other applicants if their application is made on the same day. This local preference is given if a person is employed in the Town of Reading; has a business or enterprise in Reading which has been established for one or more years; if they are parents of a school child in Reading; persons who were residents of Reading for 5 or more years. Conclusion The Reading Housing Authority is proud to provide this information to you. Anyone interested in obtaining an application for any of our housing programs: elderly/handicapped housing, state family or the Federal Section 8 Rental Assistance Program, should contact the authority at 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive or by calling the office at (781) 944 -6755. 111