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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-13 Select Board Minutes O� OFNFq� Town of Reading Meeting Minutes RECEIVED TOWN CLERK 0��° READING, MA. Board - committee - commission - council: 2019 MAR 20 PM 2: 48 Select Board Date: 2019-02-13 Time: 6:00 PM Building: School - Memorial High Location: School Library Address: 62 Oakland Road Session: Joint Meeting Purpose: Version: Attendees: Members - Present: Andy Friedmann, Vanessa Alvarado, Barry Berman, John Halsey, Dan Ensminger @ 6:30 PM Members - Not Present: Others Present: Superintendent of Schools John Doherty, School Committee Members: Elaine Webb, Chuck Robinson, Nick Boivin, Jeanne Borawski, Linda Snow Dockser; Executive Assistant Caitlin Saunders, SC Applicants Geoffrey - Coram, Tom Wise, Gina Healey ' Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Topics of Discussion: The Select Board called to order just after 6 PM. Chairman Friedmann handed the meeting over to School Committee Chair, Elaine Webb, who explained how the meeting was going to run tonight. She explained that Superintendent Doherty would be moderating the meeting so the board members can focus on the candidates and their responses. Each board member will be able to ask the candidate's one question. Dr. Doherty noted each candidate will be able to give an opening statement then he will call on the board members to ask their questions, then the candidate can give a closing statement. First up was Geoffrey Coram. Mr. Coram explained that he applied for this open position because he was at the School Committee meeting when this vacancy happened and feels the person who Is going to fill in needs to be up to date on the budget. He noted he Is a budget parent and up to speed and willing to help out in the short interim this position is for. Ms. Webb asked where his motivation come from to get involved in public education. Mr. Coram explained he has two daughters in the school system and has been Involved in many ways for years now, including being a budget parent and being on the PTO in three different schools. Ms. Snow Dockser asked him how he would feel representing a budget he did not vote on. Mr. Coram noted he would weigh in with his historical experience on past budgets. Page 1 1 Ms. Alvarado asked Mr. Coram what he would expect his contributions to be and Mr. Coram was honest noting not much due to the time frame he would actually have to work with. He noted he feels comfortable filling in given he is up to speed. Mr. Robinson asked if he had any concerns about this year's budget and Mr. Coram noted ' not this year but maybe going forward he would. Mr. Berman thanked Sherri Vanderakker for her service. He asked Mr. Coram if would ever considering running for the full position. He noted maybe in the future when his schedule was less hectic. Mr. Boivin asked what quality of his would fit best with the School Committee. Mr. Coram noted his attention to detail. Mr. Halsey felt all his questions had been answered. Ms. Borawski asked what qualities of the committee would Mr. Coram change or continue with. Mr. Coram noted he doesn't feel he could make significant changes in just one meeting. Next candidate up was Gina Healey. Ms. Healey explained she is a career educator and actually started her career right here at Reading Memorial High School. She loves this community and our school system and would like to offer her expertise to the committee in the interim. Ms. Webb asked her what her motivation was to serve public education. Ms. Healey fully believes education is our future and she would like to share her stories/ experience from all her roles in various school systems. Mr. Friedmann asked if Ms. Healey was up to speed on current issues before the board and ' their budget they just passed. She noted she hasn't followed too closely but she does read the papers and knows the general issues. She has also faced many issues during her time as school administrator. Ms. Snow Dockser asked Ms. Healey how she would feel representing a budget she had no hand in. Ms. Healey noted she is a team player and if the School Committee and Finance Committee have voted on a budget, she would support it with everyone else. Ms. Alvarado asked Ms. Healey what she would expect her contributions to the committee would be. Ms. Healey noted she has a lot of time on her hands as she is retired now, so she could do a lot of prep work and research as needed. Mr. Boivin asked her what her interactions have been with School Committees In her career. Ms. Healey noted she has had very positive interactions with School Committees especially when she was working in Newton. She noted she has been on both sides of the table when negotiating contracts. Mr. Halsey did not have any questions, however, wanted to thank Ms. Healey for returning to town and becoming Involved again. Ms. Borawski asked what qualities she would bring to the committee. Ms. Healey noted she would listen to the committee and be respectful of opinions. Mr. Berman asked if she would ever be interested in running for the full position. Ms. Healey ' noted she is not a political person so no. But she does see this as a way to get involved and contribute her experience. Page 1 2 Our third and final candidate Tom Wise was up next. Mr. Wise read a prepared statement to which he also passed out to the board. In his statement he noted he has taken papers out to run in the election for the full position. He also noted he has two children in the school system and has been an active member on the Joshua Eaton Task Force. He is aware of the current issues facing the School Committee and although his professional carreer is not in public education he feels it can assist him well in being a contributing member on the School Committee. Mr. Berman thanked Mr. Wise for taking out papers and running for this position. He then asked him what his top two priorities for the School Committee would be. Mr. Wise noted he would try and help the communication between the special education program and the parents of the students in it; and also the communication in general between the committee and the community. Ms. Borawski asked what qualities he likes about the school committee or would change. Mr. Wise noted the School Committee is extremely respectful of each other and he would continue with that. He noted he thinks a little differently and would bring a different perspective to the table. Mr. Halsey felt his statement answered all his questions. Mr. Boivin asked about Mr. Wise's experience setting policy. He noted his experience professionally is with data policy and usage. That is his job to which he does every day; however,he feels that will help him in this role. Mr. Ensminger thanked Mr. Wise for pulling papers. He then asked him if he had any specific examples of how to improve communication to the community. Mr. Wise noted he feels being proactive in social media would help, Instead of having none at all. ' Mr. Robinson asked how he would handle the transition from being a parent to a School Committee member. Mr. Wise noted he would not have his personal opinions involved but would instead back the School Committee and their thoughts as a whole. He understands they can't give everyone everything and they will not be able to please everyone. He would mostly use priorities and logical decisions as a member. Ms. Alvarado asked Mr. Wise his thoughts on the current financial situation. Mr. Wise explained he was a 'YES'voter because we did need it; however, he wanted to make sure the money was being used correctly. We know this was a 5 year fix and not a 10 year fix so now we have to continue to look forward. Ms. Snow Dockser thanked Mr. Wise for running. She noted the budget has already been passed and asked how he would feel representing a budget he did not participate in. Mr. Wise explained he would back the budget because it was voted on unanimously. He does think the public needs more information on the'place holders' in the budget. Mr. Friedmann asked him what his take on the salary increase for teachers is. Mr. Wise noted the teachers deserve a lot but contracts are negotiated and it is hard when you have a budget to stick too. Mr. Wise thanked the board for their time tonight and hopes to be able to serve them in the upcoming months. ' Some Select Board members wanted to hear the thoughts of everyone else, mostly the School Committee members, before they vote. Ms. Snow Dockser started us off by saying she will vote for Mr. Coram because he has been a constant at their meetings and is completely up to speed on everything. Page 1 3 Ms. Borawski also noted she will vote for Mr. Coram because he's willing to help out for the one meeting and is a budget parent. Mr. Robinson explained he will vote for Mr. Wise because he is the only candidate who took out papers to run. Mr. Boivin noted he will vote for Ms. Healey because of her deep experience. J Ms. Webb noted she will vote for Mr. Coram or Ms. Healey because they are not running. Mr. Berman agreed with Ms. Webb noting he thinks it would be an unfair advantage for Mr. Wise. Mr. Ensminger explained he will vote for Mr. Wise because there is a potential for him to get elected. There is no use in training someone for one meeting if they are not even running for a permanent position. Mr. Halsey noted all three are exceptional candidates but he will vote for Mr. Wise as it is practical so he can sit, listen, learn in case he does get elected. Mr. Boivin felt bringing the election into this is inappropriate. Ms. Alvarado feels the reality of the election is relevant and we need someone who can help the committee right now so for that reason she will vote for Mr. Coram. Mr. Ensminger made a motion to put all three candidates into consideration. The motion was seconded by Mr. Friedmann. Dr. Doherty then noted they will do a roll call vote. The first candidate they will vote on is Mr. Coram. The votes were as follows: Mr. Boivin — No Mr. Ensminger — No Mr. Robinson — No Ms. Alvarado — Yes Ms. Snow Dockser — Yes Mr. Friedmann — Yes Ms. Webb — Yes Mr. Berman — Yes Ms. Borawski — Yes Mr. Halsey — No Mr. Coram received 6 votes which was enough to be appointed. Ms. Borawski moved that the School Committee adjourn at 7:27 PM. The motion was seconded by Mr. Boivin and approved with a S-0 vote. Ms. Alvarado moved that the Select Board go into Executive Session to discuss interest in real estate where the chair declares that an Open Meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the body and to reconvene in Open Session at approximately 8:30 PM. The motion was seconded by Mr. Ensminger and approved with the following roll call vote: Ensminger — Yes Friedmann — Yes Berman — Yes Alvarado — Yes ' The board came back into open session just after 8:30 PM. Town Manager Bob LeLachuer ran thru the warrant articles noting nothing major has changed from the last time they saw them. Page 1 4 Article 15 is debt for Turf II. Ms. Alvarado noted she has concerns with Turf II and lights asking where this money is coming from. k Ms. Alvarado moved that the Board close the Warrant for the 2019 Annual Town L Meeting, to be held on April 2"d, 2019 consisting of 26 Articles as presented. The motion was seconded by Mr. Berman and approved with a 5-0 vote. Ms. Alvarado made a motion to adjourn at 9:05 PM, second by Mr. Berman and approved with a 5-0 vote. Page 1 5