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Home My WebLink About2020-07-13 Select Board Packet Town of Reading Meeting Posting with Agenda This Agenda has been prepared in advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. Page | 4 Schaeffer, not explicitly copying the Select Board  Email from Michael Soper, re: Parking  Email from Simard Family, re: VM tent  Email from Pamela Romano, re: Liquor Junction  Email from Mary Ellen O’Neill, re: VM tent  Email from Mary Ellen O’Neill, re: Haven ST incident  Email from Kevin Leete, re: OML Complaint  Email from Nick Boivin, re: VM tent 1 Saunders, Caitlin From:Michael Soper <michael.soper@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, June 26, 2020 7:39 PM To:LeLacheur, Bob; Reading - Selectboard Cc:Bradley.Jones@mahouse.gov; Richard.Haggerty@mahouse.gov Subject:Parking / Reading Square / Lowell Street Writing to inform you all that a Stoneham Resident has started a campaign on Facebook looking to have the outdoor dining area on Lowell St in the square immediately removed. Her complaint is that no one can access the animal hospital, which is completely untrue. She goes by “Julie Ann” on Facebook and does not use her last name which is Orsillo. I have posted a screen shot of her outrageous allegations below. She is a strong advocate when it comes to anything to do with dogs or animals and can be very vocal. Pease be aware as you are all likely to get emails or phone calls from her and her followers most who are not Reading residents or who have even seen the location. Personally, I saw the area in question and feel it is a nice and appropriate addition to the square. I am disabled and had zero difficulty accessing any of the businesses in that area. I was easily dropped of at the adjacent curb. Just wanted you all to be aware and have a heads up. Thank you all for what you do for Reading. -Michael Soper 2 3 1 Saunders, Caitlin From:Linda Sandstrom Simard <lsimard@suffolk.edu> Sent:Friday, June 26, 2020 1:03 PM To:LeLacheur, Bob; Bradley.Jones@mahouse.gov; Richard.Haggerty@mahouse.gov; Reading - Selectboard To whom it may concern, I am writing to request that the town provide fair access to parking in front all of the business located in the center, including the Middlesex Animal Hospital. I have had to use the curbside pick/drop off service at Middlesex Animal Hospital several times during the Covid pandemic and I have found it safe and convenient. I greatly admire the town's desire to help businesses get back on their feet during this unprecedented situation, and I think it is particularly important during these times to balance competing interests fairly such that all of the businesses in the center of town have an opportunity to thrive. Thank you for your consideration Take care The Simard Family ------------------------------- Linda Sandstrom Simard Professor of Law Suffolk University Law School 120 Tremont St. Boston, MA 617 573 8087 1 Saunders, Caitlin From:Pamela Romano <rjpevents@comcast.net> Sent:Saturday, June 27, 2020 5:21 PM To:Saunders, Caitlin Subject:Fwd: Liquor Junction Reading Appeal Pamela Romano RJP Events, Inc. 26 Hurlburt Road Reading, MA 01867 781-389-8858 rjpevents@comcast.net ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Pamela Romano <rjpevents@comcast.net> To: "townmanager@ci.reading.ma.us" <townmanager@ci.reading.ma.us> Date: 06/27/2020 10:56 AM Subject: Liquor Junction Reading Appeal Hello, My name is Pam Romano and I am the owner of RJP Events, a wine tasting agency. Not only am I a customer at Liquor Junction and a Reading resident, I also have performed hundreds of small and large events there. I am thrilled that they are proposing an education center for the purpose of holding future consumer oriented events. As a fine wine consumer, I am also excited about the temperature-controlled wine room, that will increase higher end offerings, something needed in Reading. Not only has Liquor Junction been an important business partner, but a consistent merchant for many years and it is my hope you will approve the project. Thanks, Pam Romano 26 Hurlburt Rd Reading, MA 01867 2 Pamela Romano RJP Events, Inc. 26 Hurlburt Road Reading, MA 01867 781-389-8858 rjpevents@comcast.net www.asipatatime.net 1 Saunders, Caitlin From:Mary Ellen O'Neill Sent:Monday, June 29, 2020 4:03 PM To:Reading - Selectboard Subject:Relief for Other Small Businesses on Main Street Dear Select Board Members, For the past 15 years our animal family members have been patients at the Middlesex Animal Hospital at 668 Main Street. Through the years we've brought our dogs and cats in for annual physicals and many sick visits. The dogs have been carried on occasion, the cats must always be carried. Accessible parking is a must for a business that provides health care to dependent living creatures. The recent decision to devote all of the public parking in front of the vet's office (and other small businesses) to outside dining did not take into account the needs, and indeed, the rights of the other businesses and their patrons. A few of those other businesses along Main Street, such as CVS, have direct access to the rear municipal parking lot. The vet is one which does not. There is no access to accessible handicapped parking or short term parking. Our family has a long-standing relationship with Dr. Harrison and her employees. We very much want her business to remain where so that it can continue to provide the kind and professional care that we and many others deeply appreciate. I hope the Select Board will discuss this further and develop some remedies that will help the Middlesex Animal Hospital and other nearby small businesses stay in business. Sincerely, Mary Ellen O'Neill 1 Saunders, Caitlin From:cmsmailer@civicplus.com on behalf of Contact form at Reading MA <cmsmailer@civicplus.com> Sent:Monday, June 29, 2020 3:46 PM To:Reading - Selectboard Subject:[Reading MA] Incident on Haven Street (Sent by Mary Ellen O'Neill, maryellenoneill@hotmail.com) Hello Select Board, Mary Ellen O'Neill (maryellenoneill@hotmail.com) has sent you a message via your contact form (https://www.readingma.gov/user/475/contact) at Reading MA. If you don't want to receive such e-mails, you can change your settings at https://www.readingma.gov/user/475/edit. Message: I wanted to make you aware of something that happened when I was walking down Haven Street last Thursday, June 25, around 6pm. I have already contacted the Reading Police Department and asked to have this logged in. My friend (another Reading resident) and I had gone out for a walk that afternoon, stopped at Cafe Nero for a coffee, and headed back home down Haven Street. As we were passing by 30 Haven Street, a car with several young men in it passed by on our left and one of its occupants shouted out, "Happy Hanukkah!" While we were both taken by surprise, my friend, who is of Jewish heritage, was upset. Being yelled at by strangers going by in a car is always unpleasant, but even more so when the comments directed at you are of a discriminatory nature. Please continue your efforts to promote the importance of tolerance, diversity, and compassion. 1 Saunders, Caitlin From:cmsmailer@civicplus.com on behalf of Contact form at Reading MA <cmsmailer@civicplus.com> Sent:Friday, June 26, 2020 12:29 PM To:Reading - Selectboard Subject:[Reading MA] Response to OML Complaint (Sent by Kevin R Leete, mayorkl@gmail.com) Hello Select Board, Kevin R Leete (mayorkl@gmail.com) has sent you a message via your contact form (https://www.readingma.gov/user/475/contact) at Reading MA. If you don't want to receive such e-mails, you can change your settings at https://www.readingma.gov/user/475/edit. Message: Hello all, My submission of an OML complaint earlier in the week was not an invitation for Mr. Bacci to show up at my house unannounced (video available), or contact me through FB Messenger (screen shots available). Showing up at my house is fully inappropriate, and a further example of Mr. Bacci's unwillingness to take his role, and the rules he agreed to in accepting it, seriously. Thi s is unacceptable. Would he do the same thing to just anyone who submitted an official complaint against him? Would some not take this action to be a means of intimidation to not speak up again? Or is it just that he doesn't want any conversation about his actions "on the record"? Mr. Bacci - if you have a question for me, my contact information was in my email and on the complaint (both email and cell phone). I would prefer for everyone's sake that you reach out through official channels though, even if just to introduce yourself, given the circumstances. Understanding the world we live in, please let me know if video or screenshot proof is required. Thank you, Kevin Leete 895 Main St 1 Saunders, Caitlin From:cmsmailer@civicplus.com on behalf of Contact form at Reading MA <cmsmailer@civicplus.com> Sent:Saturday, June 27, 2020 7:37 AM To:Reading - Selectboard Subject:[Reading MA] Restore Parking lot access outside Venetian Moon (Sent by Nick Boivin, nmboivin@gmail.com) Hello Select Board, Nick Boivin (nmboivin@gmail.com) has sent you a message via your contact form (https://www.readingma.gov/user/475/contact) at Reading MA. If you don't want to receive such e-mails, you can change your settings at https://www.readingma.gov/user/475/edit. Message: Dear Members of the Select Board, I am concerned about a report I received from a local business regarding parking lot access between 650 and 680 Main St (i.e., business between CVS and Venetian Moon). Please ensure parking access to all businesses from 650 to 680 Main is allocated in an equitable manner after consulting with ALL affected businesses in the area. For example, patrons for CVS, Middlesex Animal Hospital and other businesses at this location require reasonable parking access to these business during outdoor dining hours at the Venetian Moon. I myself enjoy dining at the Venetian Moon (the sea bass is a personal favorite and their bar is known for offering a terrific assortment of cocktails and other beverages to be enjoyed responsibly), and I appreciate the importance of making accommodation for all businesses in Reading to operate as safely as possible given public health risks resulting from COVID-19. Specifically, I am concerned about reports that access to handicap and other parking has been removed or limited to provide outdoor dining for the Venetian Moon. If this report is accurate, it raises serious equity and healthcare concerns for anyone who requires handicap parking at the CVS (e.g., to pick up medication). In addition, please ensure that patrons of the Middlesex Animal Hospital bringing their pets for medical care also have access. I realize there is additional parking in the rear of the building, but recognize that the number of parking spaces is limited and that parking lot can fill at busy times. Blocking off parking in front of the Middlesex Animal Hospital requires patrons with pets in tow to walk significantly longer distances from parking spaces, and asks handicap patrons to play a "parking lottery" with longer odds to provide appropriate parking access to essential medical care products at the CVS. Consider the geographic layout of outdoor dining. For example, could tables be placed on only half the parking lot nearest the lawn between the parking lot and the sidewalk (perhaps with additional dining on this lawn area)? Thank you for your service volunteering to serve Reading. The work is not easy and answers are often not clear or simple. I recognize you spend many hours on town business, and appreciate your added careful consideration of this request. We need to protect and respect ALL of our local businesses. Share the parking lot fairly! Respectfully, 2 Nick Boivin 3 Estate Lane 781-605-5775 1 Saunders, Caitlin From:kendrb@verizon.net Sent:Friday, June 26, 2020 10:17 AM To:LeLacheur, Bob; Bradley.Jones@mahouse.gov; Richard.Haggerty@mahouse.gov; Reading - Selectboard Subject:Venetian Moon Parking Lot- Reading Massachusetts Dear Representatives of the People, A notification has been sent regarding the implementation of a outside restaurant front parking lot at 680 Main Street Reading,Massachusetts.I understand this was voted in with no regard to the surrounding businesses that will be effected.The parking is compromised initially as the businesses all compete for the limited spaces and has been since the front lot had been reconfigured. The parking lot in the rear not only feeds these businesses in front but also numerous businesses in the back.Personally I have witnessed numerous near miss accidents by cars racing to get a coveted parking space. No business should have to suffer because of another.The pandemic has effected all businesses not just restaurants and this HAS to be taken into consideration. As an employee of Middlesex Animal Hospital and client as well, I have witnessed the total disregard people have for their elderly population.These people unable to find close parking spots are relegated to distant parking spaces having to carry pets in carriers, leading on leashes, while dodging aggressive drivers. It is difficult enough in the area competing with a coffee shop offering free wi-fi, and group gatherings, a pharmacy, nail salon, second restaurant, trophy and children shops, among other local businesses in the rear.It was tolerated up to now, this will cause many of these stores to take a major hit. I have ordered from a large chain restaurant multiple times, that has an enormous parking area but continues to offer to-go only. Surviving in this time is difficult enough where there are options so the difficulty is shared and not favored to one. Sincerely, Kendra Berube 12 Glen Rd Topsfield,Mass. 01983 978-314-7922