HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-11-08 Subsequent Town Meeting Minutes nn .
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, as. Officer 's Return, Reading:
By virtue of this Warrant, I, on October 15, 1976, notified and warned
the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in elections and town
affairs, to meet at the place and at the time specified by posting attested copies
of this Warrant in the following public places within the Town of Reading:
Precinct 1. Convenient Food Mart, 1349 Main Street
Old Hose House, 1249 Main Street
St. Athanasius Church, 300 Haverhill Street
Precinct 2. Reading Police Station, 67 Pleasant Street
First National Store, 275 Salem Street
Anton Cleaners, 47 Harnden Street
Precinct 3. Friendly Variety Store, 245 Washington Street
Reading Liquors, 345 Main Street
Wayside Bazaar, 107 Main Street
Precinct 4. Hanson's Service Station, 4 West Street
Dragon Corner Store, 206 West Street
Spence Farm Market Gardens, 40 West Street
Precinct 5. Community Center, 52 Sanborn Street
B & M Railroad Station, High Street
Joshua Eaton School, 365 Sumer Avenue
Precinct 6. Fire Station, 267 Woburn Street
Housing for the Elderly, 1 Frank D. Tanner Drive
Prospect Street School, Prospect Street
Precinct 7. Austin Preparatory School, 101 Willow Street
Weston's Greenhouses, 9 Auburn Street
Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street
Precinct 8. Meadowbrook Golf Club, 292 Grove Street
Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road
Arthur W. Coolidge Jr. High School, 89 Birch Meadow Drive
The date of posting being not less than fourteen days prior to November 8,
1976, the date set for the meeting in this Warrant.
I also caused an attested copy of this Warrant to be published in the
Reading Chronicle in the issue of October 14, 1976, the same being fourteen days
at least prior to said date of meeting.
(s) Sally M. Hoyt
Constable of Reading
SUBSEQUENT 'TOWN MEETING November 8, 1976
Reading Memorial High School Auditorium
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Kenneth C. Latham, at
8:00 P. M.
The invocation was given by Rabbi Mordecai Y. Scharf of the Temple Emmanuel,
Wakefield, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
The Warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk, when on motion of James J.
Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to dispense with further reading of the Warrant, except
the Constable's Return, which was then read by the Town Clerk.
ARTICLE 1. The following report was given by Elizabeth W. Klepeis, Chairman
of the Finance Committee:
(1) Free cash is $407,804.00, as certified by the Bureau of Accounts.
Reasons for this: (a) Returned appropriations - Total $276,789.15
(Significant returned appropriations)
School Special Needs $69,000.
Schools salary & expense 64,000.
Snow & ice 13,000.
BPW salaries 23,000.
Insurance (casualty) 18,000.
Non contributory insurance 17,000.
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
Additional Breakdown: $163,695 - Special Needs Grant
24,000 - Bureau of Accounts change
(2) No word on new revenue sharing money. $89,127. of current year's money
has been received.
(3) Haskins & Sells has been hired to audit the Town's books at a figure
of $8,000.00.
(4) From the Finance Committee Reserve Fund the following transfers were made:
$4,014.33 to Board of Selectmen for telephone bill.
$ 900.00 to Board of Health for disposal of dead animals.
$ 275.00 to Board of Assessors for updating valuation books.
The Finance Committee Reserve Fund totals $144,810.67.
This report was accepted as a report of progress.
ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Lynn G. Stasi, Co-chairman of
the Conservation Commission:
At the annual Spring Town Meeting, 1976, the Conservation Commission gave a
progress report on the Reading Conservation Plan funded one year earlier by the
Town Meeting. After much diligence and many re-drafts, the Plan is now available.
The Commission would like to take this opportunity to review for you the Goals
and Objectives which served as the basis for the Conservation Plan and to outline
the Commission's recommendations for the future.
The Goals and Objectives characterizing the aims and aspirations of the
Conservation Commission within its charge to promote, develop and protect the Town's
water and other natural resources are:
1. protection of water quality and quantity of the Ipswich, Saugus and
Aberjona Rivers for municipal water supplies and water-related recreation;
2. protection of the health and safety of the inhabitants of Reading
and downstream communities against the hazards of flood inundation;
3. prevention of air, water, and noise pollution and other forms of environ-
mental degradation;
4. preservation of a variety of open space lands throughout the Town
for greenbelts and outdoor recreation;
5. protection of important wildlife habitats and other critical natural
areas;
6. establishment of an on-going conservation education program in the
Town.
7. initiation of conservation management plan and program for the natural
resources in the Town.
The Town of Reading has made significant strides toward these goals through
zoning, land acquisitions and conscientious implementation of state programs and
laws.
Much still needs to be done, however. New threats to the quality and flow of
Reading's three rivers arise continuously, even with the level of protection
currently afforded them. Open land which was once common in Reading andtaken
for granted as open space for recreation and buffer zones is fast disappearing
as the demand for housing continues to grow. The increasing population of the
Town requires more ballfields, more parks, more open areas to roam, especially
as the local "sandlots" and woods are converted from neighborhood playgrounds to
new developments.
An active conservation education program in Reading's schools and organizations
is non-existent but needed. There is still much to do.
Land Acquisition, Zoning, Education and Management are important tools in
implementing the goals and objectives of the Commiission.
z7:
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
Land Acquisition
Conservation is both the art and science of maintaining, improving and
protecting the natural resources of a community. This includes preserving the
"balance of nature" - a dynamic and complex interrelationship between plants,
animals, soils, water and air. Conservation of open areas for their resource
qualities is the only was that Reading can safeguard a proper balance between the
natural environment and urban development. When seen in this context, conservation
has positive economic and social values to the community.
The acquisition or protection of conservation areas may appear costly, but
there are in fact many resulting economic values. Such areas contribute to protecting
essential water resources, allowing for adequate storage and drainage of storm
water runoff, and preserving desirable natural features for public use and enjoyment,
such as streams, hills, fields and wooded areas.
Land that is set aside in a conservation program is not lost to the Town and its
tax base. A community's open space is as much an essential part of its composition
as homes, stores, public buildings and schools, yet it requires no municipal
services, no major capital investment (after acquisition) , or no continuing
maintainance expense of any magnitude. Sound and healthy community development
demands the inclusion of open space in its growth pattern to complement the
developed space. Open space areas should not be relegated to those unlikely spots
which have been inadvertently left undeveloped but should be given primary considera-
tion because of their essential value.
The experience of many communities throughout the United States and elsewhere,
including carefully documented research studies, has demonstrated the dollar value
of open space and the many amenities associated with it.
As population size increases, new and major costs are generated by the
destruction of natural resources. The problems that are likely to be created
include dwindling ground water supplies, greater flooding damage, increased
pollution potential, and the reduction of open space for increasing numbers of
people. It is these large new costs that the Conservation Plan is designed, in part,
to avoid. Detailed financial studies conducted in numerous locations have
demonstrated that the financial cost of such a conservation action program is far
less than inaction.
Conservation of natural resources also imparts important social values to a
community; though difficult to measure, they are nonetheless real. The opportunity
for outdoor recreation close to home helps to relieve the monotony and tensions of
daily metropolitan life and weekend driving. The quality of the environment,
enhanced by breenbelts and scenic open space, stabilizes individual neighborhoods.
the act of conservation by a community has an educational and cultural impact that
will set a high standard for succeeding generations to follow in passing on these
natural resources to their children.
Open Space
Open space lands should be sufficient in acreage and distribution throughout
the community to provide appropriate and accessible areas for outdoor recreation as
well as greenbelts. From the Plan Map it is clear that most of the largest areas
serving these needs of the community are located in the Ipswich River basin (A) in
the northern portion of the Town. These large tracts of public lands are, for the
most part, passive recreation and/or resource protection areas. There is a great
deficiency of open space lands, particularly passive recreation areas such as
conservation land, in the Aberjona (B) and Saugus (C) basins in the southern portion
of Reading. The majority of the existing open space parcels in these latter two
basins are "developed" parks, ballfields and playgrounds mostly associated with
schools. The section of Reading south of an east-west line through the Town Common
(made up of about equal portions of basins B and C) is particularly deficient in
public open space, especially undeveloped passive recreation areas. The principal
reasons for this uneven distribution of open space within the Town are 1) the more
built-up nature of the southern half of Reading as compared with the northern half,
and 2) the location of the most significant natural resource areas in the northern
half of the Town, which were the primary focus of the Town's conservation and water
supply acquisitions to date.
The Conservation Commission, in this Plan, recognizes the imbalance of open
space distribution within the Town and makes the following recommendation to
rectify this situation:
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
RECOMMENDATION# 1: Purchase, accept as gifts or otherwise acquire additional
open space land in the southern half of the Town wherever possible, in
both the Aberjona basin (B) and the Saugus basin (C) .
These acquisitions need not be limited to Conservation Land, but rather should
be explored by Conservation, Recreation, Parks, Selectmen, or some combination of
these or other Town departments. Appropriate action on this recommendation must be
taken soon, before all desirable parcels of land are developed or before land values
have appreciated to a point where acquisition becomes financially impractical.
Water Resources
The careful protection of Reading's water resources is vital to the future of
the Town as well as the entire three basin region. In terms of water supply alone,
actions taken in Reading affect close to thirty other communities. Reciprocally,
actions taken in Wilmington, Burlington and North Reading affect both the quality
and the quantity of Reading's water supply.
In the Ipswich River basin (A) , Reading should continue its efforts to protect
its present well sites as well as its potential wellfield areas in order to ensure
the Town's water self-sufficiency in a region experiencing increasing shortages.
To meet this challenge the following action by the Town is recommended:
RECOMMENDATION 112: Purchase, accept as gifts or otherwise acquire the
remaining sections of Bare Meadow, Revay Swamp and the Ipswich River floodplain.
All of these locations are considered by the U. S. Geological Survey as "areas
in which properly located and developed wells will sustain yields of sufficient
magnitude for municipal supply or other large-scale use". Again, consideration of
these acquisitions need not be limited to the Conservation Commission. The Water
Department of the Board of Public Works, the Town Forest Committee and the Selectmen
all should share in the concern for these potential wellfields.
Additional parcels of significant Flood Plain or Wetlands Protection District
areas in the Ipswich River basin should also be considered for acquisition by the
Town, either through purchase or acceptance of gifts. Although not as high a
priority in this basin as the potential wellfield areas, some of the other wetlands
draining into the Ipswich River are especially important to protect the continuity
and quality of the drainage system.
In the Aberjona River basin (B) , the major flood plain areas should be protected
for downstream water users. The recent Master Drainage Study for the Town of Reading
states that "the Aberjona River serves as a recharge area for a subsurface aquifer
which serves industrial concerns along the River. Major development of the lands
adjacent to the River may have severely affected its flood storage and recharge
capability".
In the Saugus River basin (C) , Reading's landfill and industrial areas occupy
a portion of the remaining open land. Timberneck and South Cedar Swamps, the
largest headwater wetlands in this part of the Town, should be completely protected.
RECOMMENDATION 113: Purchase, accept as gifts or otherwise acquire the most
important remaining portions of the Flood Plain and Wetlands Protection Districts in
the Ipswich (A) the Aberjona (B) and the Saugus (C) basins.
Education
Most of the schools in Reading are within walking distance of some Town-owned
open space to use as "outdoor classrooms" for nature study and conservation education.
The exceptions are the Joshua Eaton Elementary School and the Barrows Elementary
School in the southern part of the Town, which do not have any undeveloped public
open space nearby. J
RECOMMENDATION 114: Purchase accept as gifts or otherwise acquire land to be
left in its natural state near every school in Reading, especially in the vicinity
of the Joshua Eaton and Barrows Elementary Schools which are lacking this important
resource.
Such acquisitions would also serve to implement Recommendation 111 as open
space areas in the southern part of Town and could also incorporate wetland areas
consistent with Recommendation #3.
7 .)
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
Trails
As part of a comprehensive recreation plan, a series of connecting trails
linking the major public lands in Reading would be most desirable. These trails,
either on purchased property or on pedestrian easements or existing rights-of-
way, could serve as bikeways, hiking, horseback riding or cross-country ski trails
and simple pedestrian access paths, providing off-road travel ways between
neighborhoods and schools and other use areas.
RECOMMENDATION #5: Acquire land or easements for pedestrian and equestrian
trails linking the major public open lands in the Town wherever possible.
In the consideration of all of the five recommendations for land acquisition,
efforts should be made to acquire wherever possible land which combines the
functions or intent of more than one of these recommendations. Furthermore,
actions on all of the recommendations should be taken concurrently since they are
all of importance to the Town and the opportunities for fulfilling them are
dwindling fast.
Zoning:
The Flood Plain and Wetlands Protection Districts of the Reading Zoning By-
law are very important for the prevention of flood damage and the protection of
key water resource areas in the Town. Consideration should be given to the
adequacy of this protection, however, and to the need for incorporating additional
areas into these districts. The Master Drainage Study included the Town's wetlands
as retention areas in its calculations and made recommendations for inclusion of
seven additional wetland areas into the Wetlands Protection District. In the
preparation of this Conservation Plan no critical analysis of these two districts
was undertaken and so the following recommendation is made:
RECOMMENDATION $6: Study the Flood Plain District and the Wetlands Protection
District of the Reading Zoning By-law for adequacy of coverage and amend these
districts if additions or other changes are considered necessary.
(( This recommendation should be considered by the Conservation Commission,
■ the Planning Board and the Board of Public Works in a joint study committee.
■r Education:
The conservation actions of today affect the quality of the living environment
of tomorrow. It is important to give the children of today an exposure to the
natural world in order to instill in these decision-makers of tomorrow a knowledge
of the functions of natural systems, an appreciation for their beauty and complexity
and an understanding of their frailty which allows them to be so easily abused
by human activities. The Conservation Commission has a responsibility to educate
the citizens of Reading about these matters and related concerns.
RECOMMENDATION #7: Establish an on-going conservation education program in
Reading both in all grades in the schools and in the adult community.
Management:
To implement Goal 7 and specific aspects of the other goals, a conservation
management program is necessary in Reading. This encompasses a number of areas
from trailwork on Conservation Land to the encouragement of conservation measures
in household and industrial water consumption to the constant surveillance of all
activities with an impact on the Town's natural resources. The following recom-
mendations serve to focus on these management needs:
RECOMMENDATION #8: Institute a management program for the Reading Conservation
Lands to ensure an optimum balance among public recreation, wildlife, greenbelt
and water resource functions consistent with conservation purposes.
RECOMMENDATION 119: Study the issue of ground water recharge in Reading and
the need for special recharge basins in the Town.
RECOMMENDATION 7610: Institute and encourage water conservation measures in
the Town to reduce unnecessary and wasteful water consumption practices.
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
RECOMMENDATION #11: Encourage Reading's citizens businesses, industries and
government to recycle their solid waste products.
RECOMMENDATION 1112: implement state laws which will aid in protecting Reading's
natural resources such as the Scenic and Recreational Rivers Act, the Inland
Wetlands Act, and the Scenic Roads Act.
RECOMM1EENDATION 1113: Maintain vigilance in all aspects of conservation so as
to ensure the -d g dation of Reading's air, water and other natural resources.
The Conservation Plan is comprehensive in nature and is to be conceived as
a segment of the overall planning framework for the Town. Since the concept of
"conservation" as included in this Plan is broad in scope and involves programs of
overlapping jurisdiction with other agencies of the Town government, the Commission
in its recommendations has formulated an action program for the Town, some specifics
of which will be best implemented by other departments. The Plan is designed to
ensure the proper utilization of all remaining open areas, to take advantage of the
economic and social values inherent in Reading's natural resources, and to encourage
the type of orderly and proper growth which the Town desires. The Plan, therefore,
is a working document, longrange in perspective, whose overall purpose is to protect
the health, safety and welfare as well as the quality of life for the citizens of
Reading and neighboring communities through proper management of land, water and
other natural resources.
We thank you for your patience and attention, the Commission is most pleased
with the final working document. We hope you are equally impressed. Copies of the
Plan will be available to you as you leave the hall or at the Conservation office.
This report was accepted as a report of progress,
ARTICLE 1. Marvin M. Rosenthal gave a verbal report on the progress of
supplying Christmas lights for the Town of Reading for the 1976 Christmas season.
This report was accepted as a report of progress.
ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Joyce K. Miller, Chairman, for
the Reading Bicentennial Commission.
The projects of the Reading Bicentennial Commission have progressed as planned.
The Festival Weekend May 21 and 22, proved a great success as the result of
generous contributions of time, talent and money from individuals and organizations.
Indeed the treasury showed a surplus of $1,323.26. In the spirit of appreciation
and exchange of assistance, the Jaycees and Bicentennial Commission used $389.00 of
this to allow the Reading Minute Men to participate in the Battle of White Plains
Reenactment on Sunday, October 24. The remaining funds will be used to finance
some appropriate project agreed upon by Jaycees and Bicentennial Commission.
The Heritage Trail guide is completed and on sale for 25C in the Clerk's
Office and at certain merchants. The other authorized publications are in various
stages of writing and editing and should be available in a few months.
This report was accepted as a report of progress.
ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Edward F. Fuller, Chairman of
the Board of Library Trustees.
Last May the Board of Library Trustees reported to this body that adequate
library service could not be given to the public due to the crowded conditions
in the present building.
Since then, we have been frustrated in several attempts to obtain an appropriate
site. We again asked the Bacigalupo family if they were willing to seel their
property. We were informed through their attorney that they were not. We have
met with the Selectmen twice hoping to obtain the Community Center site for a
Community Services Center which would include a library. Their inability to decide
on the future of that building forces us to conclude that we must look elsewhere.
We believe that a site can be found that will satisfy our needs. Our main
concern between now and the next regular Town Meeting shall be the selection of that
site, and we shall at that time come to this body with a request for a new library,
providing an appropriate site can be found.
2.
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
Notice of site selection meetings will be posted and we expect that all
townspeople interested in the future of their library will attend.
This report was accepted as a report of progress.
ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Maureen T. O'Brien, Chairman
of the Planning Board.
In September 1976, the Board of Selectmen accepted the proposal by the
Planning Board to do a Study of Municipal Space Needs. The need for such a study
was suggested by Dr. Robert Wells, the Superintendent of Reading Public Schools,
at the July Meeting of all Town Boards, Departments and Committees.
The Planning Board, thus far, has reviewed all previous space needs studies
and drafted a questionnaire to facilitate the collection of data necessary to
complete this study. This questionnaire has been distributed to forty-five Boards,
Departments and Committees within the Town.
Currently the Planning Board is reviewing the returned questionnaires and is
in the process of setting up a schedule of meetings with each Town Department
where further pertinent input is needed.
A final report will be drafted to be presented to all Town Boards, Departments
and Commiittees and to Town Meeting.
Respectfully submittee,
Maureen T. O'Brien, Chairman
George V. Hines, Secretary
Curt E. Nitzsche
Joseph C. Sturm
Charles J. Keller
This report was accepted as a report of progress.
ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Paul T. Metcalf, Chairman of
the Finance Committee Report Committee.
At the Adjourned Annual Town Meeting on May 27, 1976, Douglass L. Barker
moved and Town Meeting voted to have a committee study and recommend ways to make
the "Finance Committee Report" more useful to Town Meeting members. The five-
person committee was to consist of three Town Meeting Members appointed by the
Moderator and two members of the Finance Committee appointed by the Finance
Committee. The committee was authorized to study and recommend ways of:
1) Changing the format of the Report
2) Combining recurring special articles into regular departmental budgets
3) Grouping motions under the present Article #4
The committee was requested to make a final report at the subsequent Town
Meeting in the Fall of 1976.
This committee was appointed and on June 16, 1976, the Town Clerk notified the
members. The following persons were appointed:
Town Meeting Members: Nathan C. White, Thomas J. Ryan and Paul T. Metcalf
Finance Committee Members: Elizabeth W. Klepeis and Charles W. Hewitt
The committee held public meetings on July, September 9, and October 14,
1976. After considerable discussion at these meetings and with the help of input
from other interested Town Meeting Members, the committee formed a list of
recommendations to present in its final report to Town Meeting.
The committee makes the following recommendations:
I. Recommendations related to the Finance Committee Report
A. Prepare the presentation of the Special Articles in the Finance
Committee Report so that the following appear together in one place:
1. The Warrant Article
2. The motion under the article
3. The Finance Committee discussion
4. The Finance Committee recommendation
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
B. Present the appropriation amounts in the Report so that the details
can be easily reconciled with the subtotals and totals.
C. Use footnotes to define and explain the significance of particular
items on the pages where each appears.
1. Continue showing the total appropriation of the previous year.
However, add a footnote to point out that the amount shown
includes all appropriated amounts. The Report should also show
a credit against the Reserve Fund so that the details will
reconcile with the total appropriation.
2. Include a footnote to explain the notations by the Group Insurance
line item.
D. Report the vote of the Finance Committee by each line item wherever
possible.
E. Provide at least one additional blank column in the Report as space
for entering adjustments.
F. Put a map of the Town in the Report with notes to assist Town Meeting
Members in understanding the Warrant articles.
G. Use graphs when reporting the general financial condition of the Town.
II. Recommendations related to the Warrant
A. Place all articles related to the Personnel By-Law ahead of the general
appropriation article.
B. Place articles related to the Personnel By-Law in the following order
on the Warrant:
1. The article which specifies the minimum and maximum payrates for
each labor grade.
2. The articles which specify changes in the labor grades of
individual positions. There should be a separate article for
each change.
3. The articles which specify changes in the fringe benefits given
by the Town. There should be a separate article for each change.
C. Make the annual appropriation for the care and maintenance of the Old
South Clock a special article.
D. In general, organize the Warrant so that the articles may be taken
up in sequence.
III. Recommendations related to the preparation and presentation of budgets
A. Eliminate special articles which recur annually, with the exception
of the "Old South Clock" article mentioned above.
Specifically:
1. Include the Council on Aging under the general appropriations
article.
2. Include the appropriation for Reading Youth, Incorporated, in the
Recreation Department budget.
3. Eliminate special articles for the following items and include
them as line items in the general appropriation article:
a. Police Cruisers
b. Police and Fire Indemnification
c. Police and Fire Uniforms
d. Christmas Lights
e. 4-H Club Aid to Agriculture
f. Funds for Constructing Parks and Playgrounds
g. Conservation Fund for Surveying and Engineering
h. Board of Assessors Real Estate Valuation List
i. Maintenance and Care of Soldiers' and Sailors' Graves
j . Development of Charles Street Cemetery.
B. Include extraordinary, nonrecurring items of less than $10,000 as
appropriation line items within the general appropriation of a department.
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Subsequent Town Meeting November S, 1976
C. Include the Fire Alarm budget as an appropriation line item within
the Fire Department budget.
D. Eliminate the annual appropriation for Water Fountains.
E. Develop a set of standard motions to cover the regular appropriations.
The standard motions should state the total appropriation first
followed by a list of the appropriation line items and a list of the
sources which will fund the appropriation.
F. Move each departmental budget separately rather than using an
omnibus, General Government, motion.
G. Have each motion presented by the policy making body or office under
whose jurisdiction the appropriation is administered.
H. Begin each session of Town Meeting with a presentation by the
Finance Committee giving any adjustments to the Report and a summary
of the results of the previous session.
This completes the final report of the "Finance Committee Report" Committee
This report was accepted as a final report, with thanks from the Town Meeting
body.
On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. , it was voted to lay Article 1 on the table.
ARTICLE 2. On motion of Paul T. Metcalf it was voted that the Board of
Selectmen and the Finance Committee be, and they hereby are, instructed to carry
out, in so far as the Statutes allow, the recommendations of the "Finance Committee
Report" Committee as approved by Town Meeting. Further, the Warrant and the Finance
Committee Report for the next Annual Town Meeting and future Town Meetings shall
reflect these recommendations wherever possible.
On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. , it was voted to Lay Article 2 on the table.
ARTICLE 3. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the sum of Six
Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) be transferred from available free cash funds and
appropriated for a Zoning By-Law Study to be expended under the direction of the
Planning Board.
ARTICLE 4. On motion of Philip R. White, Jr. it was voted that the Town amend
the General By-Laws, Article VI, Section 1, by striking the last sentence of said
section and inserting in place thereof the following new sentences:
"The term of office of said Town Counsel shall begin on the first day of
July or the date of his selection by the Law Committee and shall continue until the
following thirtieth day of June or until his successor is appointed. The Town
Counsel shall serve at the pleasure of the Law Committee."
ARTICLE 5. On motion of Philip R. White, Jr. , it was voted that the Town amend
the General By-Laws, Article V, Section 1, by striking out said section and inserting
in place thereof the following new section:
"Section 1. The Board of Selectmen shall on or after the first day of July
in each year appoint an Executive Secretary who shall serve under the provisions
of Chapter 41, Section 23A of the General Laws, as amended. The term of office
of said Executive Secretary shall begin on the first day of July and shall continue
until the following thirtieth day of June or until his successor is appointed. The
Executive Secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Selectmen."
ARTICLE 6. On motion of Philip R. White, Jr. , it was voted that the Town amend
the General By-Laws, Article XII, Section 1, by striking the first sentence of said
section and inserting in place thereof the following new sentence:
"Section 1. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint annually on or before the
first day of July a Gas Inspector who shall hold office for a term expiring on the
thirtieth day of June in the following calendar year or until his successor is
appointed and qualified."
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
ARTICLE 7. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted
that the Town transfer from available free cash funds and
appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for observance of the
Christmas Seasons by the decoration and illumination of public buildings and public
streets and the decoration of Christmas trees upon municipal land, to be expended
under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 8. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted unanimously, by
a vote of 162 to 0, that the Town rescind a portion of an amount to be borrowed as
voted under Article 34 of the Annual Town Meeting of 1974; by said amount of Six
Hundred Fifty Dollars ($650.00) remaining after bond issue.
ARTICLE 9. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the Town
transfer from available free cash funds and appropriate the amount of Nine Hundred
Dollars ($900.00) for the purpose of repairs of the present Little League Field
(Hunt Memorial Park) at Pleasant and Eaton Street, said funds to be expended under
the direction of the Board of Public Works.
On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was voted to take Article 1 from the table.
ARTICLE 1. The following report of the Site Selection and Police Station
Building Study Committee was read by Chairman Barry J. Mitchel.
This report of progress is being made to bring Town Meeting up to date on
the Committee's progress toward providing the Town of Reading with a new police
facility.
Previous work by this Committee was reported to the Special Town Meeting of
March 22, 1976. That report was devoted primarily to investigation of needs, options
to renovate and selection of possible sites for a new building.
The application for Federal funds, made last Spring, was not forthcoming, due
to a lack of funds. Since that time, the Committee has remained in contact with
Federal officials, through the Board of Selectmen and the Executive Secretary,
regarding the availability of funds.
When the availability of new funding became apparent in mid-September, the
Committee resumed the twice a week meetings for the purpose of reviewing police
stations recently constructed and interviewing architects with past experience
in the field.
During the Sumner, the Boards of Selectmen and Public Works met and decided
that the Committee's recommendation of a site in front of the Public Works garage
on John Street was in conflict with the plans of the Board of Public Works
regarding the future development of that site. In addition, the North Main Street
location originally recommended by the Committee, was dropped from future considera-
tion due to the high cost of acquisition. As a result of these decisions, the
Selectmen and this Committee reviewed again the possibility of using the site
opposite the Boston Stove Foundry on John Street - the site of the old Tree and
Moth Department garage consisting of approximately 1.5 - 2.0 acres.
At a meeting held on September 30, 1976 with representatives of the Board
of Public Works, Police Department, Board of Selectmen and this Committee, it
was agreed that the Tree and Moth site would be acceptable to all present as a
location for a new police department facility. Also at this meeting a review of
space needs was made and no substantial changes were identified since the reviews
conducted last Spring.
Subsequent to this meeting, the Committee visited police facilities in Malden,
Stoneham, Andover and Weston. In doing this we reviewed the work that some of
the architects had done and obtained the opinions of police department representatives
as to the functionability of their stations.
Architectural firms were interviewed for the purpose of recommending to the
Town Meeting through the Board of Selectmen, a firm which would be best qualified
to assist the Town in submitting an application for a federal grant at a
reasonable cost. The firms that the Committee has talked to are:
Philip J. Burne, Inc. Medford
Hughes and MacCarthy, Inc. Natick
Robert Lynch, Inc. Malden
Harry Gulesian Associates Boston
Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson
and Abbott Boston
Goodwin-Gallagher Associates,Inc. Haverhill
Knight, Bagge and Anderson,Inc. Boston
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
The current grant application, unkile the one applied for last Spring,
requires that an architect/engineer be engaged to prepare preliminary plans and
cost estimates. Additionally, soil borings and survey work will be required to
define these costs. Data on Local long range planning, etc. , are also required
to be submitted with the application.
Applications for funds under this Economic Development Administration
Program are now being accepted and must be submitted no later than December 10,
1976. Approval of successful grants is expected within sixty days after the
close of the application period.
The firms interviewed were all qualified and they submitted bids ranging
from $3,000.00 to $40,000.00 for the required preliminary work. The Committee
based its evaluation on the following:
a. size of firm's staff to assure meeting deadlines,
b. cost to prepare applications,
c. current availability,
d. knowledge in filing Federal applications,
e. previous related work,
f. client satisfaction.
The Committee recommends that this Town Meeting vote the amount of $3,000.00
requested under Article 10 on this warrant and further recommends that the archi-
tectual firm of Goodwin-Gallagher be selected to assist the Town in submitting
the application. The Committee believes that the requested appropriation is an
investment in Reading's future, even if Federal funds are not granted immediately.
The preparatory work will remain valid until construction funds are found.
This report was accepted as a report of progress.
On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was voted to lay Article 1 on the table.
ARTICLE 10. On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was voted that the Town
F. transfer from available free cash funds and appropriate the sum of Three Thousand
L Dollars ($3,000.00) for the purpose of planning and designing and supplying
architectural services needed for an application for a Federal Grant to build
a new Police Station under the Local Public Works Capital Development and Invest-
ment Program (P.L. 94-369, 1976) to be expended under the direction of the Board
of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the payment during
the year 1976 of bills remaining unpaid for previous fiscal years, for goods and
services actually rendered to the Town, or take any other action with respect
thereto.
On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was voted that this article be indefinitely
postponed.
On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was voted to take Article 1 from the table.
ARTICLE 1. A verbal report by John H. Russell on repairs to skating rink
at Birch Meadow was accepted as a report of progress.
On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to lay Article 1 on the table.
On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was voted to take Article 2 from the table.
ARTICLE 2. On motion of Gail F. Wood it was voted that the Planning Board
be and hereby am instructed to include a Salaried Planner in their 1977 budget,
and present to next Annual Town Meeting an article on the Warrant to that effect.
On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was noted to lay Article 2 on the table.
ARTICLE 12. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the Town
transfer from available free cash funds and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand
Two Hundred Eighteen Dollars ($2,218.00) for the purpose of funding the Town's
share of the cost for the Expanded Nutrition Project administered by Malden
Action, Inc. to be expended under the direction of the Council on Aging.
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
ARTICLE 13. To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the
tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, to be used in conjunction
with funds previously appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting under Article 4,
for the purpose of repairing a concrete condition at the Reading Memorial High School.
On motion of Neil H. Murray it was voted that this article be indefinitely
postponed.
ARTICLE 14. On motion of Lynn G. Stasz it was voted that the Town acquire
by deed of gift the following described land for Conservation purposes, under the
general Laws, Chapter 40, Section Be, as amended, upon such terms and conditions
as the Conservation Cosmtission may deem appropriate:
A certain parcel of land in the northeasterly part of Reading situated on
the Westerly side of Haverhill Street being a portion of lot 4 on the Assessors
Plat #213, bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at the northeasterly corner of the granted premises on the said
Westerly side line of Haverhill Street and at land of Margaret M. MacDonald. From
thence the line runs Southerly by said Haverhill Street a distance of 142.25 feet
to an angle in said street:
Thence slightly Southwesterly by said Street a distance of 128.39 feet to
another angle:
Thence Westerly by the Northerly side of a Sewer Easement granted to the Town
of Reading through land retained by said Shirley R. Querolo a distance of 193.03
feet to an angle in said Easement:
Thence Northwesterly still by said Easement a distance of 164.31 feet to
another angle:
Thence turning slightly to the Left and still by land of said Easement and by
Querolo a distance of 223.75 feet to land of Joseph F. Sr. and Maureen S. Gomes
and the southwest corner of the granted premises:
Thence turning and running Northerly by land of the said Gomes' a distance
of 82.50 feet to an angle in a ditch and thence by said ditch and land of Gomes'
a distance of 93.66 feet to land of the said Margaret M. MacDonald:
Thence still Northerly by the ditch and said MacDonald land a distance of
107.06 feet to a corner of the ditch:
Thence turning and running Easterly by said ditch a distance of 222.20 feet
to an angle; and thence a distance of 221.66 feet by said ditch and wall to an
angle in said wall:
Ali Thence a distance of 79.50 feet by said wall and still by said MacDonald to
the point of beginning at said Haverhill Street;
Containing 3.66 acres of land, more or less, and being more particularly
shown on a plan on file in the office of the Board of Public Works of the Town of
Reading.
162 voted in the affirmative
0 voted in the negative
On motion of Neil H. Murray it was voted to take Article 1 from the table.
ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Maureen T. O'Brien, Chairman
of the Planning Board.
In accordance with Chapter 40A, Section 6 of the General Laws, a Public
Hearing was held on Monday, October 18, 1976 at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of
the Community Center regarding a proposed Zoning By-Law which would declare a
moratorium on the issuance of permits for the construction of apartment houses
for a period of two years.
The Hearing was orderly and well attended by approximately 150 persons. A
petition with 366 signatures in favor of the moratorium was presented to the Planning
Board at the Hearing.
nry
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
If a moratorium were enacted all apartment building in the Town of Reading
would be halted. This would include the proposal by the Congregational Church
for 100 units of low income elderly housing, as well as apartments with private
ownership.
The moratorium would then deny, in effect, a segment of Reading's population,
namely the low and moderate income elderly, the opportunity to live in decent,
safe housing in the Town of Reading at a rent they could afford. The need for
such housing has been clearly demonstrated by a waiting list of 80 applicants
for low income elderly alone. This list has been compiled by the Reading Housing
Authority for admission to Tannerville. The need for low and moderate income
elderly housing has been identified by the Reading Growth and Development Policy
Committee for the Town.
While the Planning Board does agree with the Proponents of the moratorium
that there is an increasing need for planning in the Town of Reading, using the
method of a moratorium to gain that objective would, in effect, cost the Town of
Reading the opportunity to provide input into the decision making process
provided by the Comprehensive Permit Procedure at the local Board of Appeals
Hearing.
If the moratorium were enacted, and accepted by the Attorney General, and
the Local (Reading) Board of Appeals denies the permit, the State Housing Appeals
Committee could then issue a Comprehensive Permit which would override the local
Zoning Ordinance. Questions on such issues as adequacy of drainage, water, sewer
environmental impacts, traffic, land use, site and building design in relationship
to surroundings would be decided at the State level by the State Housing Appeals
Committee.
The power to override the local authority has already been tested in the
Massachusetts Supreme Court in the case of the Board of Appeals of Hanover vs.
the Housing Appeals Committee, 363 Mass. 339. The Court ruled in favor of the
State Housing Appeals Committee.
The Planning Board recognizes the concerns of the abutters, but feels the
best interest of the Town of Reading would not be served by the moratorium.
Therefore, the Board recommends that the moratorium not be adopted.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen T. O'Brien, Chairman
George V. Hines, Secretary
Curt E. Nitzsche
Joseph C. Sturm
Charles J. Keller
This report was accepted as a report of progress.
On motion of Neil H. Murray it was voted to lay Article 1 on the table.
ARTICLE 15. The following motion was presented by Neil H. Murray, and
voted in the negative:
Moved that the Town amend the Zoning By-Law by adopting a new Article wherein
a moratorium is established on the issuance of certain building permits in
accordance with the following provisions and purpose:
Section I - A Moratorium on Apartment Construction
There shall be declared in the Town of Reading a moratorium on the issuance
of permits for the construction of apartment houses. Said moratorium shall be
in effect until September 30, 1978.
Section II - Purpose of Moratorium
The purpose of this moratorium is to provide the town with time to plan and
provide for the construction of subsidized low to moderate income housing (as
defined in Chapter 774 Acts of 1969 of the General Court) on the most appropriate
land in Town, including that already zoned for apartment use, as the result of
pressure upon the town to provide such housing in the form of apartments, on land
zoned for Residence A use.
Section III - Moratorium Housing Commission
This ordinance hereby authorized the creation of a Moratorium Housing
Commission for the duration of the Moratorium with one member appointed from the
Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, Board of Public Works, School Committee, Board
of Assessors, Board of Health; two members from the Reading Housing Authority, and
two members-at-large appointed by the moderator.
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
The Commission shall make recommendations to the Town and prepare necessary
warrant articles for action by the Town at the next annual Town Meeting after the
adoption of this article. Thereby the town may meet a minimum obligation to
provide subsidized low-to-moderate income housing p co o ng consistent with the intent of
Chapter 774, Acts of 1969, in a manner which promotes the health, safety,
convenience, morals and welfare of its inhabitants.
5 voted in the affirmative
84 voted in the negative
(137 Town Meeting members present)
ARTICLE 16. On motion of Duane B. Heineck it was voted that the Town
transfer from available free cash funds and appropriate the sum of Eight Thousand
Two Hundred Dollars ($8,200.00) for the purpose of renovating, repairing and
modifying the filtration system at the Municipal Swimming Pool to be expended
under the direction of the Recreation Committee.
On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to take Article 2 from the
table.
ARTICLE 2. The following motion by Malcolm E. Reed was voted in the negative.
I move that the Town of Reading create a Council on Low Income Housing the
purpose of which shall be to plan for and to assist with the integration of the
low income housing inhabitants into the economic, educational and social life of
the community. The Council shall report to Town Meeting at least once a year at
the Annual Town Meeting and shall consist of five members to be appointed by the
Moderator, these five members to be chosen to obtain representation in the
following areas of concern by virtue of thir interest, training or experience:
1. The administration of government welfare programs
2. Social work
3. Youth programs
4. The Reading taxpayers
5. A person living in one of the government subsidized facilities in Reading
The members of the Council shall serve for a period of three years with
initial selections being made two for three years, two for two years, and one
for one year to maintain continuity of membership. The members shall select a
chairperson from among their own membership annually.
ARTICLE 2. The following Resolution presented by James R. Boucher was
accepted unanimously by the Town Meeting body.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, H. Kingman Abbott has been a lifelong resident of the Town of
Reading; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Abbott has established over the years a reputation for
professional competance of the highest degree; and
WHEREAS, without Mr. Abbott's generous assistance in survey work and plan
descriptions, the many acquisitions of land for Conservation purposes over the
years would not have been possible:
NOW, THEREFORE, the elected officials, town meeting members, citizens of
Reading and Conservation Commission, acting through this Town Meeting, do hereby
express grateful appreciation for the countless hours most generously dedicated
to the Town by H. Kingman Abbott, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these remarks be spread upon the record of
this meeting and be published in the annual report for the year 1976.
On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that Article 2 be
indefinitely postponed.
On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to take Article 1 from
the table.
2105
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
ARTICLE 1. The following report of the Board of Selectmen on Cost
Reduction in 1976 was presented by James J. Sullivan, Jr. , Chairman.
The Board of Selectmen have instituted several programs to reduce costs
that directly effect the amount of local tax revenue needed. Basically these
programs fall into four categories: optimum use of Federal Funds to replace the
local tax dollar for projects that must be done; centralization of services to
cut administrative cost and to avoid duplication of effort; centralization of
purchasing to obtain lower material costs by ordering in quantity; preventive
maintenance to make municipal facilities and equipment last longer; and
preventive measures in human services to encourage self-sufficiency and li
responsibility in its citizens and reduce dependency on public assistance and law
enforcement. Some of these programs can be measured in terms of direct dollar
savings, while others are more difficult to determine.
During Fiscal '76 the Selectmen's office obtained approximately three hundred
and seventy-five thousand dollars worth of Federal dollars and services that were
used instead of municipal revenue. These funds were in addition to those normally
received by the Town. In many cases a multiplier effect was realized in cases where
elimination of outside contractors meant more services for each dollar spent. A
good example of this was the use of C.E.T.A. workers in the revaluation of the
Town. The C.E.T.A. adult program gave the Town one hundred twenty-three thousand
sixty-six dollars worth of labor. It enabled the Town to bring our personnel
records up to date, make large inroads in a preventive maintenance program for
our municipal facilities and renovation of municipal buildings, clean our parks
and playgrounds, restore school property, provide a central switchboard operator,
expedite the centralization of payroll processing and the transition of program
accounting with data processing, provided help in the centralization of our
inspections department, expand aid to our elderly and young in the human service
area and provide much needed statistical information for planning and labor
negotiations. Not only were these services provided, but the program aided
Reading citizens who were unemployed during a difficult economic period and
prevented additional costs in the area of public assistance.
Through the SPEDY program the Town received thirty-seven thousand three
hundred and seventy-three dollars which gave jobs to over one hundred needy
Reading Young People. Of this amount labor costs of eighty-two hundred dollars
was used to clear trails and clean up our open spaces, thirty-one hundred dollars
was spent restoring and repairing school property, two thousand was spent on
the restoration of the depot and twenty-six hundred on the cleaning of our parks
and playgrounds.
Through other Federal grants new equipment was purchased and old equipment
replaced (ninety-two hundred dollars worth of office equipment; desks, chairs,
typewriters, calculators). Twelve thousand dollars was awarded towards the cost
of an $18,000 ambulance. One hundred thousand dollars worth of Police coumuni-
cations equipment was also received with more expected. Fifteen hundred dollars
worth of paint and materials was received to restore depot and another two
thousand eight hundred for maintenance and equipment needs for the museum at
the depot.
In the area of human services eight thousand was received for counseling,
delinquency and child neglect. Forty-five hundred was received to send needy
Reading youngsters to summer camp, and one hundred and forty thousand to supply
forty-three units of housing to our elderly and poor which included the cost of
administering the programs. The latter saved the Town $4,100 in direct costs to
the Town for housing through veterans services.
Through a grant of twenty-six thousand dollars the Town was able to obtain
acres of badly needed recreational land.
In trying to meet our municipal building space needs, we received a technical
assistance grant through L.E.A. worth forty-five hundred dollars for planning
studies in our police operations.
Aside from these Federal funds which the Selectmen's office anticipates
will double in Fiscal '77, other measures of savings have been instituted.
Centralization of the municipal building maintenance has resulted in a
more efficient pooling of manpower resulting in more work accomplished. This
has enabled us to accelerate our renovation and preventive maintenance programs.
Central purchasing has resulted in about a 10% savings over our 1973 costs.
`J S
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
Heating systems in all nine municipal buildings have been renovated and altered
to economize fuel. Insulation points tightened and other measures such as the
lowering of ceilings has saved in fuel costs. These measures have cut the number
of gallons burned per hour in the Community Center alone by ten gallons per hour.
The Selectmen and the Law Committee have sought to cut legal expenses by
channeling legal problems and thereby make more effective use of Town Counsel's
time. The Selectmen's office has taken over the preparation of the warrants and
motions for Town Meeting, which in the prior year accounted for many hours of Town
Counsel's time.
By redirecting its clerical help, the Selectmen have provided clerical
services to those Boards and Committees who do not have clerical help and often
had to go outside for stenographic help. The Board of Selectmen also initiated
the transfer of the Forestry Department to the Board of Public Works where again
cost savings could be realized through centralization.
A redirection of the administration of the handling of our Memorial Day
observances resulted in cost savings of $1,500 during fiscal '76.
Many of the programs instituted during the past year are difficult to assess
in dollars as they were aimed at increased productivity, where more service is
provided for the tax dollar. Many are in the process of implementation and the
final results are yet to be seen. In more than a few cases any savings has been
wiped out by inflationary rises in the economy. A good example of this is our
centralized telephone system. When instituted a cost savings of about three
hundred dollars per month was projected. Since then there has been a 23% rise in
rate increases. In spite of this, a continuing effort is being made to try to
offset the inflationary factors in all areas and to produce more for less.
From Special Town Meeting, March 22, 1976:
"Article 2. On motion of Douglass L. Barker it was voted that the Board of
Selectmen be instructed to compile a summary of the cost reduction programs
instituted by Town Boards and Committees during the fiscal year ending June 30,
1976 and to deliver a report to the subsequent Town Meeting in the fall of 1976.
The report should describe the titles of major projects, the dollar savings
on an annual basis, and the Board or Committee responsible for instituting the
savings program."
Planning Board
The Planning Board by the level of its budget would appear to have been
maintaining a cost reduction policy over the past several years. In one respect
this is so. Regardless of whether the cost was above $1,000 or not, the Board
has sought price comparative bids on projects such as printing of the By-Laws and
the redrawing of the Zoning Map. However, over the years the Level of planning
accomplished with this level of budgeting has been minimal and it is questionable
as to how cost effective such planning has been from the viewpoint of a total
comprehensive planning effort for the Town of Reading.
Board of Assessors
Our major contribution to the Cost Reduction Program was the completion of
a Town wide court ordered revaluation to full and fair cash value of all parcels
under this jurisdiction. Estimated cost to have this undertaking completed by
an outside contractor would be $140,000. or more. Cost to the town for the total
job was $9,698. Total savings - $1303000.+
Revaluation Cost: Ruth Barrett $3,335.
Mr. Moberger 2,450.
Auto Hire 717.
Arlington Trust 3,196.
Total $9,698.
Board of Public Works
In response to Mr. Barker's motion under Article 2 instructing the Board of
Selectmen to compile a sum of cost reductions by Town Boards and Committees in
the fiscal year 1976, the following is submitted for your consideration:
1. A 15 foot Gain type mower was purchased which reduced the manpower
needed to mow the parks and playgrounds at an approximate saving of $6,000. per year.
2. A seeding machine was purchased for the Park Department which reduces the
man power necessary to reseed the parks and playgrounds.
3. The Public Works Department took over the supervision of the Forestry
Department which resulted in a reduction in heating costs at the Haverhill Street
location in the amount of $1,000. Also other savings were achieved in clerical and
telephone services.
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
4. The operation of the recycling center has resulted in a saving to the
Town both in dollars and extended life of the sanitary land fill.
5. The Board of Public Works introduced a four day collection program
which resulted in overtime saving for eleven paid holidays or $10,000 per year.
Reading Municipal Light Board
1. Personnel
a. Employees at 12/31/75 - 69
b. Employees at 10/12/76 - 64
This personnel reduction was carried out through attrition and
without laying off anyone.
2. Vehicles
1975 - 27
1976 - 26
During 1976 we have not purchased any new vehicles but have used
our existing garage personnel to refurbish a number of units
including our bucket truck. We expect to stretch the life of each
vehicle by several years in this fashion.
3. Customer Count
12/31/75 - 19,028
12/31/76 - 19,325 (estimate)
4. Demand & Energy
1976 Growth to end of Aguust, KWH Sales were 8.6% over 1975
Board of Health
Appropriation Year Returned Year Returned Cost
1975 1976 Reduction
Salaries 21,494.00 -0- 22,761.00 468.59
Expense 1,550.00 7.78 900.00 -0- 650.00
Animal Inspector
Salary & Expense 550.00 -0- 550.00 -0- same
Care of Contagious
Diseases 7,500.00 2,544.87 5,000.00 5.75 2,500.00
Fluoridation 3,700.00 225.75 3,700.00 1.54 same
Mosquito Control 7,300.00 2,305.12 7,300.00 50.60 same
Child Welfare-V.N.A. 2,270.00 -0- 2,270.00 -0- same
Ea.Mid.Ment.Health 28,964.00 -0- 30,000.00 -0- 4% inc.
735, Inc. 26,000.00 -0- 28,419.00 -0- 8% inc.
a) Buying material in advance to save costs of projected raises
(Fluoride - $500 Pesticides - $500)
Conservation Commission
The following information is a budget review summary for the FY - 1976 and
FY - 1977 of the Conservation Commission.
Contrasting the salary and general expense items of FY-75 and FY-76 reflects
an increase of 14% from $12,131.00 to $13,845.00. This increase results from
additional clerical assistance needed for the increased number of Wetland Hearings
as required by Chapter 131, Section 40, as amended, additional secretarial services
for administrative assistance and a general increase in office expenses. One
thousand dollars ($1,000.00) was allocated for the publishing of the Conservation Plan
in FY-76.
During FY-76 and FY-77 expenses for land management were kept to a minimum
with the assistance of a student intern, the Neighborhood Youth Corp. , Boy Scouts,
and interested citizens under the direction of an enthusiastic assistant who
accomplished much of this on weekends and after office hours.
As a result of the assistant's experience with maps, and with the assistance
of a student intern (winter semester and work-study program for the summer)
the Commission has obtained an inventory of open space for the Town of Reading and
a set of seven maps including topography, drainage, conservation lands, wetland
and Flood Plain zoning, land use, and open space for use in the Conservation Plan.
A similar endeavor, if performed by paid consultants, would have been
exceedingly costly and beyond the budget of the Commission.
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
Wetland Hearing expenses - $3,000.00,has remained at the same level for FY-75,
76 and 77. Technical expertise (engineering hydrology) of members and associate
members of the Commission needed for wetland hearings has kept this expense from
increasing.
A review of Salaries and Expense for FY-77 reflects an 11% decrease ($13,845.00
to $12,350.00) .
Clerical assistance for Wetland Hearings was replaced by recorded transcripts.
The weekly hours of the part-time secretarial help were reduced. This reduction
necessitated additional voluntary hours from Commission members and the assumption
of administrative duties by the assistant. The Expense budget was also reduced;
thus necessitating the postponement of some land management and educational
programs.
Land Acquisition from FY-75 to FY-76 reflects a decrease of 93%. Land
acquisition for FY-76 to FY-77 represents a 100% reduction.
The Reading Public Library
The Board of Library Trustees submits the following report on Cost Saving
Programs.
1. August 1975. Through cooperation of Municipal Light Department, the
library combined its air-conditioning and general electric accounts to reduce
the average demand charge.
Annual Saving -- approximately $1,000.
2. Security System installed August, 1974. Inventories indicate losses
have been reduced from 10% or 12% of acquisitions to approximately 2% of
acquisitions.
Annual Savings -- $3,000. - 4,000.
3. We continue to purchase as many library supplies as possible from the
Regional Cooperative.
Annual Savings -- approximately $500. J
Numerous administrative procedures inaugurated during the past few years
are still in practice, and new ones are adopted wherever possible in order to
help maintain a stable budget.
School Committee
Following are four (4) cost reduction programs which have been reviewed and
approved by the School Committee:
Savings on Printing
Active Seeking of Federal Grants
Energy Conservation
School Lunch Program
Savings on Printing - Savings have been effected by the development of an
inhouse capability to carry out some of the regular printing/publication tasks.
This has become possible because of the acquisition of a photo offset press plus
the arranging of manpower through the production printing class at R.M.H.S.
About $1,000 in anticipated expenses were saved by doing Junior High handbooks,
production of Chalkboard, and printing of business forms in our printshop.
Active Seeking of Federal Grants - A series of needs in the school system have
been addressed by funds brought in by our active grant-writing efforts.
Part of the expenses incurred by our obligation to tutor Vietnamese nationals
who reside in Reading was met by a small grant totaling $2,700 from the Federal
Government.
In our Special Needs Program (Ch.766) the services of a psychologist, an
extensive in-service program for teachers, and some staff development for Spec.
Ed. people was financed by a $24,000 competitive grant awarded to our Pupil Services
Dept.
An additional $3,000 was given our Title I program because we submitted a
separate proposal for using funds not expended by other communities.
Our Reading in Reading special library project at Eaton and Pearl brought
$5,000 worth of books and non-print materials to the town under a special award
grant from the State Bureau of Library Extension.
Subsequent Town Meeting November 8, 1976
Our High School FOCUS program is partially funded by a Federal demonstration
grant under Title IV. About $30,000 will come to Reading in 1976-77.
One other project written last year has been funded for this year and will
give us $5,600 worth of therapeutic services to children administered by our Pupil
Services Dept.
We, of course, receive other Federal and State monies each year by virtue
of our regular grant writing efforts (library money, regular Title I, adult
education, practical arts) .
Energy Conservation - The Reading School Department in 1974 initiated a program
L to conserve and reduce the cost of energy in the various schools. The problem
involved adjusting the temperatures of all school buildings to 680 while in use
and reduced to 60 during non-use periods. Boilers are shut down during weekends,
when possible, during the late fall and early spring. A close monitoring system
of controls by the custodial staff allows for immediate correction of any
deviation or mal-function.
As a result of this effort, our records show the following:
Cost 1974-5 1975-6 Reduction
Heating Oil 192375.66 156356.28 36,019.38 18.7%
Electricity 110729.36 105982.14 4,747.22 4.29%
School Lunch Program - As a result of converting the Highland School to a
Satelite Program (Central Kitchen) from on-site preparation program, our records
show a net reduction of cafeteria salary requirements for Highland School as
follows:
1974-5 1975-6 Reduction
Salaries &
Benefits 8,882 2,501 $6,381
On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that Article 1 be indefinitely
postponed.
On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that this meeting stand
adjourned, sine die, at 12:02 A.M. , November 9, 1976.
162 Town Meeting Members were present.
A true copy. Attest:
Lawrence Drew
Town Clerk