HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-27 Select Board Minutes RECLIVEU
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Select Board
Date: 2020-10-27 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Mark Dockser, Carlo Bacci, Vanessa Alvarado, Karen Herrick, Anne Landry
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Executive Assistant Caitlin Saunders Nocella,
Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, Police Chief Clark, Fire Chief Burns,
DPW Director Jane Kinsella, Assistant DPW Director Chris Cole, Business
Administrator Jayne Wellman, Veterans Agent Kevin Bohmiller, Town
Accountant Sharon Angstrom, Deputy Fire Chief Jackson, Human Resources
Director Sean Donahue, Facilities Director Joe Huggings, Assistant Facilities
Director Kevin Cabuzzi, Library Director Amy Lannon, Administrative
Services Director Matt Kraunelis, Community Development Director Julie
Mercier, Assistant Finance Director Endri Kume
Minutes Respectfully submitted By:
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely on Zoom.
The meeting packet with all documents for this meeting can be found on our town website.
Board of Health Member Kerry Dunnell gave an update. She noted there has been
information going around about a lot of in-home playdates with kids without masks; that is
deeply concerning and a bad idea. Hockey in Massachusetts has been cancelled because
teams were not cooperating with COVID contract tracing. She urged everyone to be smart
on Halloween.
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur informed the group about a letter the RMHS Principal sent
home to all students. There were rumors swirling around the school about a large Halloween
party planned for students. The principal is asking the parents for help to please not allow
large gatherings for your kids; you could hurt your family and other people. He also
mentioned that there will be security at our ballot box from now until the election due to the
incident in Boston the other day. He also noted early voting turnout has been great so far.
Liaison Reports
Karen Herrick reminded everyone of the informational Stretch Energy Code meeting on
Thursday night.
Vanessa Alvarado wanted to remind everyone to shop local businesses during this tough
time. She noted a new Mass Growth Capital Program for small business grants. Lastly, at
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the financial forum Sean Brandt made a point about maybe not holding back capital projects
during this time because of the low interest rates.
Mark Dockser noted Veteran's Agent Kevin Bohmiller is looking for someone from the Board
to speak on Veteran's day. He noted he would like to do it if no other board members want
to. He reminded everyone about the Elder/Human Services survey that is out right now and
the Recreation survey as well.
Town Manage Bob LeLacheur noted the Stretch Code meeting was advertised to over 300
people. He noted there will be a gas leak project update at Town Meeting. He noted staff is
working on getting the board an update on the cell tower project. They could potentially be
ready to give an update in November but they may not be ready by then. Mock Town
Meeting will be Saturday, November 711.
Communication Policy
Anne Landry has been working on updating this policy with the help of the Town Manager.
The new policy talks more about the boards electronic correspondence and closing the loop
with resident emails. It does not address how they manage liaisons as much.
The board discussed a new addition to the policy regarding publishing information on minors
and legal matters. There was also addition to opt out of having your email in the Select
Board Packet. While members agreed legal information and matters regarding minors
should be redacted, there was hesitation about giving people an option to not make their
emails public. The board has not seen many issues or requests to not publish their emails.
As of right now it is handled more on a case by case basis and it seems to be working at the
moment. Ms. Landry noted she intended for it to be incase people were unaware their
comments would be public.
Bunratty Tavern Liauor License
Eilish Havey, owner of Bunratty Tavern, applied for an alteration of premises to her liquor
license. The reason for this application is because they have expended into a new space
next door to them. They will be using it primarily as a function room when COVID is over
but right now during COVID they will be using it as more socially distant dining space.
The board congratulated them on their expansion and wished them well.
Carlo Bacci moved to approve the Alteration of Premises application as presented
for an Annual All Alcohol Restaurant Liquor License for RKR Corporation d/b/a
Bunratty Tavern at 620 Main Street, Reading, MA. The motion was seconded by
Karen Herrick and approved with the following roll call vote:
Bacci - yes; Alvarado - yes; Landry - yes; Herrick - yes; Dockser - yes.
Easement Request
Attorney Brad Latham was present to answer any questions from the board. This is an
easement request previously approved by Town Meeting. In 1979 Town Meeting approved
an easement strip but taking a closer lookat it Town Counsel noted that action is
incomplete or incorrect. The strip is not continuous and not all the land has been treated the
same. A better long-term remedy will be looked at by Town Meeting again but this is the
request for a temporary solution that Mr. Latham and Town Counsel has come up with. It is
for three different easements. The Town Manager used a map to show the exact areas for
the easements. This will allow Mr. Latham's client to proceed with her expansion project.
Carlo Bacci moved to approve the driveway, walkways, and utilities easements for
1312 Main Street as presented. The motion was seconded by Karen Herrick and
approved with the following roll call vote:
Herrick - yes; Landry - yes; Alvarado - yes; Bacci - yes; Dockser - yes.
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Carlo Bacci moved to close the hearing regarding the Bunratty Tavern Liquor
License application. The motion was seconded by Karen Herrick and approved with
the following roll call vote:
Herrick - yes; Landry - yes; Alvarado - yes; Bacci - yes; Dockser - yes.
Gas Leak Project Update
Town Engineer Ryan Percival gave an update noting the consultant found 84 known leaks,
36 with no readings and 69 other locations. He showed the map of where the leaks were
found but also noted it may not be completely accurate at the moment as work has been
being done and some may be fixed now. He explained the phases and next steps.
Mark Dockser suggested setting up a working group to continue with this project consisting
of Andy Friedmann and David Zeek with Karen Herrick as the boards liaison.
The board agreed to have the Town Manager enter Phase II of the project.
Town Manager Goals
The board went through the FY21 Town Manager goals they have been working on the past
couple meetings. The edited document can be found in the 10/27 Packet and Minutes.
Carlo Bacci moved that the board approve the Town Manager's FY21 Goals as
amended. The motion was seconded by Karen Herrick and approved with the
following roll call vote:
Herrick - yes; Alvarado - yes; Bacci - yes; Landry - yes; Dockser - yes.
Town Manager Review
All the Town's department heads and assistant department heads were present.
The Town Manager's review has been published in the past two packets and the board
tonight was taking the time to speak about any comments they made and wish to elaborate
on further.
Mark Dockser spoke about communications with respect to process. He and the Town
Manager would like to try and get meeting packets out on Tuesdays now so that the board
has a whole week to read it. The Town Manager would also write more in-depth memos
regarding each topic.
Anne Landry noted she did have a conversation with Bob regarding his review. She also
mentioned some concerns relative to the health department have been recently tackled (by
the hiring, for example, of the interim Health Director) and that Bob is working with the
Board of Health on how to do address remaining concerns. She expressed her view that
communications with the Board, residents, and businesses could have been improved over
the past year and conflict perhaps better mitigated relating to the cell tower, the police chief
selection process, and the Venetian Moon tent. She indicated that it was important for the
Board to have good and timely information they could rely on, which could be facilitated
going forward through the adoption of the communications policy and through more
substantive Town Manager updates, as discussed with or mentioned by Bob and Mark.
Vanessa Alvarado noted her consistent comment throughout his review was the lack of
information coming from the Town Manager to the board. She believes It goes without
saying that the board needs and deserves every ounce of detail to make any decisions.
Karen Herrick noted the absence of direct notice to residents on a few items has come back
to bite the board a couple times this past year and it is completely unacceptable. She also
noted the health department needs a lot of help.
Carlo Bacci commented that the Town Manager and staff have done a great job dealing with
COVID this year but we all can improve. He has learned we cannot make every resident
happy but they can try to make the best decisions based on the facts.
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Bob LeLacheur, Town Manager, noted staff has done amazing with COVID this year. This is
nothing they could have ever trained for but they have done the best they can,
Anne Landry mentioned the Town Manager has done a great job managing budgets over the
course of many years, which has been made very clear this year as we have not had to lay
off anyone where many other communities have had to.
Karen Herrick noted the Town Manager has strong financial management which is great to
have.
Mark Dockser mentioned his concerns regarding some issues managing conflict.
Vanessa Alvarado noted she was concerned to learn of the morale issues with the police
department and did not understand why the Town Manager had not raised this sooner.
Anne Landry felt the town has done a great job communicating with residents regarding
COVID updates.
The Town Manager noted he is very proud of the staff. He knows they are not perfect but
they do their best.
Minutes
The boarded edited the minutes from October 6t" and 20".
Mr. Bacci moved that the board approve the meeting minutes of October 6' as
amended. The motion was seconded by Karen Herrick and approved unanimously
with a roll call vote.
Mr. Bacci moved that the board approve the meeting minutes of October 20" as
amended. The motion was seconded by Karen Herrick and approved unanimously
with a roll call vote.
Mr. Bacci moved to adjourn at 11:14 PM. The motion was seconded by Karen
Herrick and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
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