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Home My WebLink About2017-05-04 Annual Town Meeting Minutes ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 4, 2017 Performing Arts Center The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Alan E. Foulds, at 7:37 PM, there being a quorum present. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was said by all in attendance. The following announcements were made by the Moderator: Tonight we start with consideration of the 18 sections of the budget. Before that, however, the Chair would like to make a couple of comments regarding the events at the end of Monday's session. Before the meeting I was asked by a member of the school committee if she could address some questions posed by a town meeting member. I agreed, feeling that answering questions could only help push the discussion along. The member saw it differently and called for a point of order, saying that she was being singled out. After some thought and some heavy discussion I addressed the issue. Although I felt the answers to her questions were presented in a civil manner, her point on being singled out was correct. I understand that the member of the school committee apologized to her. A second point: The debate got heated, and I understand that, under the circumstances, but I ask that all members refrain from making personal attacks either directed at individuals or committees. Also, the ruling of the chair must be respected - not for my sake, but for the sake of Town Meeting. That's necessary for the system to work. We all need to heed the words we heard the first night from Mr. Pacino. I paraphrase, but his point was that we may come here with different ideas, we may leave with different ideas, but we also leave as neighbors and friends, all of whom are here to do what's best for the town. Motion made by John Arena, Board of Selectmen to dispense of the reading of the warrant and all motions in their entirety. Motion Carried ARTICLE 16: Move that the Town raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, and appropriate the sum of: $104.551.681 for the operation of the Town and its Government for Fiscal Year 2018, beginning July 1, 2017. Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item B99 (Benefits): $16.496.047 to be provided as follows: Line B99 - $1,200,000 from Free Cash; $400,000 from Overlay and the balance from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item C99 (Capital): $2.259.400 to be provided as follows: Line C99 - from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts. Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item D99 (Debt): $5.057.915 to be provided as follows: IIPa9e ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 4, 2017 Performing Arts Center Line D99 - from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item E99 (Vocational Education): $386.000 to be provided as follows: Line E99 - from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item F99 (FINCOM Reserve Fund): $150.000 to be provided as follows: Line F99 - from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item G91 (Administration Services Wailes), $1.300.300 and Line Item 692 (Administration Services Expenses): $1,478.600 to be provided as follows: Lines G91 and G92 - from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item H91 (Public Services Wages): $1.256,875 and Line Item H92 (Public Services Expenses): $376.250 to be provided as follows: Lines H91 and H92 - from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item I91 (Finance Wailes): $656.100 and Line Item I92 (Finance Expenses): $148.950 to be provided as follows: Lines 191 and 192 - from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item 391 (Public Safety Wages) $9.591.72S and Line Item 392 (Public Safety Expenses)• $483.200 to be provided as follows: Lines 391 and 392 - from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item K91 (Public Works Wages) $2.517.175 and Line Item K92 (Public Works Expenses): $4145,400 to be provided as follows: K92 - $25,000 from the Sale of Cemetery lots to support Cemetery expenses; and the balance of Lines K91 and K92 from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts 2Va9e ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 4, 2017 Performing Arts Center Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item K93 (Public Works - Snow & Ice Expenses): $625.000, Line Item K94 (Public Works - Street Lighting Expenses]: $180.000 and Line Item K95 [Public Works - Rubbish Collection & Disposal Expenses): $1.596,500 to be provided as follows: Lines K93, K94 and K95 - from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item L91 (Library Wages): $1.212.683 and Line Item L92 (Library Expenses) 5314 200 to be provided as follows: Lines L91 and L92 - from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item M91 (Core Facilities): $2.997.180 to be provided as follows: Line M91 - $100,000 from School Rental Revolving Fund; and the balance of line M91 from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item M92 (Town Buildings): $299.935 to be provided as follows: Line M92 - from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item U99 (School Department): 441.401.661 to be provided as follows: Line U99 - from property taxes, State aid and non-property tax local receipts Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item W99 (Water Enterprise Fund): $6.199.885 to be provided as follows: Lines W99 - $600,000 from Water Reserves and the balance from user fees and other charges Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item X99 (Sewer Enterprise Fund): $6.252.900 to be provided as follows: Line X99 - $450,000 from Sewer Reserves and the balance from user fees and other charges Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget as presented for Line Item Y99 (Storm Water Enterprise Fund), $467,800 to be provided as follows: 31Page ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 4, 2017 Performing Arts Center Line Y99 - $200,000 from Storm Water Reserves and the balance from user fees and other charges. Move that the Town approve and appropriate the proposed FY 2018 Budget, exclusive of State and county assessments: $104.551.661 • Representing the total of all motions made under ARTICLE 16 as amended • Funds are to be provided as set forth in said motions as amended Backaround: Please see the yellow pages of the Warrant Report for the full details of the FY2018 budget. Finance Committee Report: Please see the yellow pages of the Warrant Report - Spending Scorecard of this document for the votes of the Finance Committee online items in the FY2018 budget. The Finance Committee recommends the subject matter of Article 16 as explained by these votes at their meeting on March 22, 2017 with a vote of 9-0-0 on all line items. Bylaw Committee Report: No report Board of Selectmen Report: The Board of Selectmen on March 7, 2017 voted 5-0 to support this Article as presented to the Finance Committee. Amendments Presented: Motion made by Ron D'Addario, Precinct 6 to adjust Line item L91 as follows: Line Item L91 (Library Wages): $',�3 1,245,683 change is +$33,000 from free cash After some discussion a motion was made by Ian Brown, Precinct 8 to move the question 2/3rds Vote Required 114 Voted in the affirmative 27 Voted in the negative 153 Town Meeting Members in Attendance Motion to Move the Ouestion Carried There was a Point of Order called that requested a counted vote Counted Vote 58 Voted in the affirmative 86 Voted in the negative 153 Town Meeting Members in Attendance Motion Does Not Carry Motion made by Bill Brown, Precinct 8 to adjust Line item U99 as follows: Line Item U99 (School Department): $41,401,66141,301,661 change is -$100.000 After some discussion a motion was made by Angela Binda, Precinct 5 to move the question 2/3rds Vote Required 118 Voted in the affirmative 41 Page ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 4, 2017 Performing Arts Center 20 Voted in the negative 153 Town Meeting Members in Attendance Motion to Move the Ouestion Carried Motion to Amend Does Not Carry After some discussion a voted was taken on the entire motion: Motion Carried as Presented ARTICLE 25: Motion made by the Board of Selectmen that the Town vote to, pursuant to Section 2-6 of the Reading Home Rule Charter, to declare the seats of,certain Town Meeting Members to be vacant and remove certain described persons from their position as Town Meeting Members for failure to attend one-half or more of the Town Meeting sessions during the previous year. Remove Keep as From Town Town Meeting First Sessions Meeting Member Precinct Name MiddlerLa7stNam, [Term Present - yes - No 1 Roger J D'Entremont 2018 2 X 1 Thomas J Ryan 2018 4 X 2 Sean P Kelly 2019 2 X 3 Lori Briere 2019 1 X 3 Francis P Driscoll 2018 0 X 3 Julianne Joyce 2018 2 X 3 Sandra M Kosta 2018 4 X 3 Marianne McLaughlin-Downing 2018 4 X 4 Demetra Tseckares 2018 2 X 5 Daniel Knowles 2019 2 X 5 Kevin Walsh 2019 1 X 6 Kenneth Mathew Lafferty 2019 0 X 6 Lori Ann Russo 2019 2 X 7 Brandon P Chapman 2019 4 X 7 John A Lippitt 2019 2 X 8 Matthew A Annunziata 2018 2 X 8 Ian Charles Brown 2019 3 X Background: The Reading Home Rule Charter provides for the removal of Town Meeting members who attend less than one-half of the sessions through this required Article: '... If any person elected as a Town Meeting Member fails to attend one-half or more of the total Town Meeting sessions within one year preceding the most recent Annual Town Election, his seat may be declared vacant by a majority vote of the Town Meeting. The Board of Selectmen shall place an Article on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant to remove any such Town Meeting Member from office. At least seven (7) days prior to the Annual Town Meeting, the Town Clerk shall notify any such Town Meeting Member that he may be removed from office, provided, sl"a' e ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 4, 2017 Performing Arts Center however, that such notice shall be deemed adequate if mailed postage prepaid to the Town Meeting Member's last known address ..." In the preceding twelve months there were 61 Town Meeting members with perfect attendance for those ten sessions - congratulations! Motion Carried as Amended Motion made by John Arena, Board of Selectmen to take Article 3 from the Table Motion Carried ARTICLE 3: Move to choose all other necessary Town Officers and Special Committees and determine what instructions shall be given Town Officers and Special Committees, and to see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate by borrowing or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, for the purpose of funding Town Officers and Special Committees to carry out the instructions given to them, or take any other action with respect thereto. Instructional Motion 1 - Plastic Bag Ban: Motion made by David Zeek, Climate Advisory Committee Move that Town Meeting direct the Climate Advisory Committee to explore options and to draft a bylaw to regulate the use of single-use, thin-film plastic bags in Reading in accordance with similar practices across Massachusetts and in consultation with stakeholders in Reading and to present the proposed bylaw for consideration at the next Subsequent Town Meeting. Motion made by Charles Donnelly-Moran to move the Question 2/3rds Vote Required 106 Voted in the affirmative 90 Voted in the negative 153 Town Meeting Members in Attendance Motion to Move the Question Carried After some discussion a vote was taken Instructional Motion Carried Instructional Motion 2 - Memorial Park: Motion made by Bill Brown, Precinct 8 Move that the Board of Selectmen acting as the Park Commissioners enforce the conditions of the gift of the eleven and one-half acres of land (Memorial Park) as voted by Town Meeting under Article 6 of 1917 Annual Town Meeting which in part states "But said land shall not be used as a playground for football, baseball, soccer and kindred games, or any games that in their nature are hazardous or require fenced enclosures" 6 Page ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial Nigh School May 4, 2017 Performing Arts Center After some discussion the motion was withdrawn Instructional Motion Withdrawn Instructional Motion 3 — Reading Municipal Light Department: Motion made by Bill Brown, Precinct 8 on behalf of Carl McFadden Instruct the Board of Selectmen, in light of the town's difficult financial situation, to study the Reading Municipal Light Department with an objective of increasing annual revenues to the Town of Reading, including the possibility of a sale in the longer term. Proposed by Phillip Pacino, RMLD Board of Commissioners: Reinstate the Subcommittee created in 1998 to include One Member of the Board of Selectmen, Two Members of the RMLD Board of Commissioners and Two Members of the RMLD Citizens Advisory Board to look at agreements with RMLD and the Town of Reading. Motion made by Russell Graham, Precinct 4 to amend as follows: Proposed by Phillip Pacino, RMLD Board of Commissioners: Reinstate the Subcommittee created in 1998 to include One Member of the BeardofSeleetrnen Finance Committee, Two Members of the RMLD Board of Commissioners and Two Members of the RMLD Citizens Advisory Board to look at agreements with RMLD and the Town of Reading. Motion to Amend Does Not Carry Motion made by Peter Brown, Precinct 8 to amend as follows: Instruct the Board of Selectmen, in light of the town's difficult financial situation, to study the Reading Municipal Light Department with an objective of increasing annual revenues to the Town of Reading; nelud ng the pessibil ty ef _ sale in _ lenger term. Motion to Amend Carried After some discussion the motion was withdrawn by presenter, with objection therefore cannot be withdrawn Motion made by John Arena, Precinct 1 to move the Question 2/3rds Vote Required 76 Voted in the affirmative 4 Voted in the negative 153 Town Meeting Members in Attendance Motion to Move the Ouestion Carried Motion to adjourn sine die made by Bill Brown, Precinct 8 Motion to Adiourn does Not Carry Instructional Motion Carried as Amended Instructional Motion 4 — Bylaw Submissions: 71 P., e ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 4, 2017 Performing Arts Center Motion made by John Sasso, Precinct 2 Instruct the Town Manager, Board of Selectmen, and all Town Departments, Boards, Commissions and Committees, to submit both redline and clean versions of all changes proposed to Town Documents, which are subject to the review and approval of Town Meeting (e.g., Zoning Bylaws, General Bylaws, Town Charter, etc.), and to include the complete material (wording, figures and tables) of the next highest section and all of that higher section's subsections of such document (for each subsection being changed) even if no changes are being proposed to that higher subsection. Instructional Motion was not presented to Town Meeting; therefore a vote was not taken John Arena, Board of Selectmen moved to adjourn the 2017 Annual Town Meeting adjourn sine die at 11:53 PM with 153 Town Meeting Members in attendance. Motion Carried A true copy Attest: Laura A Gemme, CMC/ CMMC Town Clerk 81Page