HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-25 Finance Committee Minutes Town of Reading
' F Meeting Minutes RECEIVED
TOWN CLERK
READING, MA.
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Finance Committee
2019 JUL -2 AM 9: 21
Date: 2019-04-25 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: School - Memorial High Location: Performing Arts Center
Address: 62 Oakland Road Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair Eric Burkhart, Vice Chair Paula Perry, Shawn Brandt, Dan Dewar,
Karen Herrick
Members - Not Present:
Marc Moll, Paul McNeice
Others Present:
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Bob LeLacheur
Topics of Discussion:
Chair Burkhart called the meeting to order at 7pm, and explained that FINCOM was also
posted next Monday night at 7pm in case they did not complete their work tonight.
Town Manager LeLacheur explained that four Articles still need to be reviewed by FINCOM
and voted on, including Building Security (#16) and three real estate articles (#21-23).
He began by mentioning that four FINCOM members present had attended a session on
building security, and that he would try to catch up with Paula Perry, Marc Moll, and Paul
McNeice as is possible. Given that he thought a focus on the three real estate articles
tonight and then the building security one on Monday might be best.
Town Manager handed out and reviewed a draft presentation on the three real estate
articles (with one more piece of information expected next week). He explained that he was
going to request that the Moderator place all three Articles on the floor at the same time,
and would like FINCOM's opinion after they heard the material. He explained that everything
he was about to review was discussed in a Select Board Executive Session, with himself and
Town Counsel present. The Select Board voted to authorize him to offer to buy all three
parcels.
The presentation reviewed the general details of each parcel. Article 21 was about 13 acres
of wetlands in Timberneck Swamp, and CONSCOM had expressed a strong interest in adding
that as they own all surrounding parcels. A donation could have been made directly to
CONSCOM, but the owner preferred to sell the parcel to the Town, to make that a two-step
process. The Select Board will meet with CONSCOM to review a couple of parcels in the
future. The Town Manager has offered $25,000 for this parcel, but the Town does not have
a purchase &sale agreement as the owner is in Florida for the winter, returning shortly.
Articles 22 and 23 have the same owner. Article 23 is similar to the Timberneck parcel in
that it is wetlands, surrounded by some CONSCOM land and some privately-owned land.
The Town Manager has also offered $25,000 for this parcel, and the owners have agreed
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contingent upon Article 22 passing. The Select Board will use a public process that involves
both CONSCOM and the Trails Committee, as there seems an opportunity for passive
recreation (linked boardwalk trails). There are purchase and sale agreements for both
parcels in Article 22 and 23.
Article 22 is more complex. There is a difference in value, reached through an independent
appraisal paid for by the town a couple of years ago, based on the need for an easement
from the Town for this parcel. With the easement the parcel is appraised at $1.3 million;
without it is only $76,000. The parcel is a mix of wetlands and buildable land. The Town
used an RFP process, and the owners offered to sell at $750,000, which the Town Manager
was authorized to negotiate and that figure is in the purchase & sale agreement. He
explained that the Select Board would use a public process to determine the use of this
parcel that would likely involve CONSCOM for the wetlands portion and Recreation/Athletics
for the buildable portion. Any decision that needed funding would come back to Town
Meeting.
FINCOM asked several questions about the appraisal, and the condition of the land. They
agreed that this was a good opportunity to acquire open space and possible recreation
space.
The Town Manager and FINCOM briefly discussed the building security article, and it was
agreed they could see the presentation planned for Monday at some point in advance on
Monday. They also agreed to meet on Monday night as planned in order to vote on all of
these articles. The Town Manager requested their feedback and questions on all of the
material covered. FINCOM agreed that having all three real estate articles on the Floor at
once would make for a better discussion.
On a motion by Paula Perry, seconded by Karen Herrick, FINCOM voted to adjourn at
7:30pm
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