HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-08 Select Board Minutes El EIVED
Town of Reading -OVIN CLERK
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Board - committee - commission - Council:
Select Board
Date: 2020-12-08 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Mark Dockser, Carlo Bacci, Karen Herrick, Anne Landry, Vanessa Alvarado
(@ 6:48 PM)
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Executive Assistant Caitlin Saunders Nocella,
Richard Lopez, Mark Delaney, Lt. Abate, Economic Development Director
Erin Schaeffer, Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, Community
Development Director Julie Mercier, Nick Safina, Pam Adrian
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely on Zoom.
Carlo Bacci moved to go into Executive Session including Counsel Greg Pagnini
(BHPK Law) and Ivria Fried and Chris Heep (both from Miyares & Harrington);
staff members Bob LeLacheur and Caitlin Saunders, in order to discuss strategy
with respect to litigation and pending actions involving 59 Middlesex Road and
that the Select Board Chair declare that an open meeting may have a detrimental
effect on the bargaining position of the body, and to reconvene in Open Session at
approximately 7:00 PM. The motion was seconded by Karen Herrick and approved
with the following roll call vote:
Herrick - yes; Bacci -yes; Landry - yes; Dockser - yes.
The board returned to open session at 7:36 PM.
Richard Lopez from the Board of Health gave the update this week. He noted Reading is
now a `yellow'town which means moderate risk/ number of cases. We still need to be
careful because some of our neighboring towns are 'red'. A number of businesses in town
have had to close down for a period of time after COVID exposures. Some parents came
forward with concerns about hockey practice noting the players aren't wearing masks. He
also noted the Governor just rolled the State backwards to phase 1 again.
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur noted the Schools have been discussing letting parents in to
watch sports. Julie Thurlow and the Reading Coop have been working with Bob to come up
with a program to help people struggling to pay their mortgage or rent.
Liaison Reports
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Carlo Bacci noted Recreation had their meeting about the Birch Meadow Master plan. The
whole plan will take years to implement. They will implement the steps based on
need/safety.
Vanessa Alvarado noted she also attended the Recreation meeting noting the presentation
and conceptual design of the Master Plan was great. She does think Conservation should be
included more and be at all the future meetings. She also asked when Town Hall will be
opening because she has people asking her. She then noted she agreed with Nancy
Docktor's recent email asking for a licensed social worker to be hired at the PD.
Anne Landry noted HRAC is working hard on their MLK day celebrations. They are asking
the members of the Select Board to record themselves saying what'beloved community'
means to them. She noted a couple of Reading's firefighters are being awarded firefighter
on the year by the State for their work at a fire back in February. Chief Clark is finishing up
his report on the incident involving an officer on election day. The PD's special patches have
raised thousands of dollars and they would like to thank the town for that. They have
modified all night parking this year and will only enforce the parking ban when there is
plowable snow in the forecast.
Karen Herrick noted she would like Police Chief Clark to come to a board meeting and
explain the investigation and his findings. She also noted there needs to be better
communication with Conservation Commission. She would like the gas leak consultant to
give a presentation soon.
Town Manager Report
Mr. LeLacheur noted he had a meeting with Conservation Chair Mike Flynn and Jean Delios.
He noted the tree policy will solve at least the last two issues they have heard about
recently and they are having an ongoing discussion about communication. He noted the
Board of Health has approved town hall to reopen soon by appointment only; departments
are working on their schedules. The gas leak audit is still in progress but the consultant
hopes to be done by the end of the month. The Permanent Building committee met last
night to discuss elementary school space and the town hall building. He then noted the
Prescott Street incident has no immediate danger on the public.
Public Comment
Mark Delaney thanked the board for their recent vote on the cell tower but now he feels
there is an issue with the timeline the Town Manager set forth. He feels the Town Manager
is dragging this out and is not giving the board enough information.
License Renewals
Every year the board delegates non-liquor license renewals to the Town Manager's office
and his staff. The board noted they would like to continue with this.
Liquor License Renewals
Lt. Abate was present and noted he did all the liquor inspections this year. He noted there
were no major issues that he would note to the board and doesn't see any reason for any
not to be renewed.
Carlo Bacci moved that the Select Board renew the All Alcoholic Package Store
Liquor Licenses for:
• HT Reading Liquors LLC d/b/a Baystate Liquors, 345 Main Street
• Raksha, Inc. d/b/a Square Liquors, 13 High Street
• Jay and Ricky, Inc. d/b/a Ricky's Liquor, 214 Main Street
• Tivaan Corp d/b/a Reading Fine Wine and Spirits, 25 Walkers Brook Drive
• Kajal and Kevin LLC d/b/a The Liquor Junction, One General Way
• Pamplemousse Inc. d/b/a Pamplemousse, 26 Haven Street
for a term expiring December 31, 2021 subject to the following conditions: All
Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the
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establishment by the Town Manager or his designee. 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.
Carlo Bacci moved that the Select Board renew the All Alcoholic Club Liquor
Licenses for:
• Meadow Brook Golf Corp. of Reading, MA d/b/a Meadow Brook Golf Club,
292 Grove Street
• Home Building Corp. d/b/a Knights of Columbus, 11 Sanborn Street
for a term expiring December 31, 2021 subject to the following conditions: All
Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the
establishment by the Town Manager or his designee. 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.
Carlo Bacci moved that the Select Board renew the All Alcoholic Veteran Club
Liquor Licenses for:
• Reading Veterans'Association, Inc. d/b/a American Legion Post 62, 37 Ash
Street
for a term expiring December 31, 2021 subject to the following conditions: All
Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the
establishment by the Town Manager or his designee. 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.
Carlo Bacci moved that the Select Board renew the All Alcoholic Restaurant Liquor
Licenses for:
• Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza of Reading LLC d/b/a Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza,
48 Walkers Brook Drive
• Mecom, Inc. d/b/a Cafe Capri, 355 Main Street
• CAC Foods, Inc. d/b/a Venetian Moon Restaurant, 680 Main Street
• Pepper Dining Inc. d/b/a Chili's Grill & Bar, 70 Walkers Brook Drive
• The Boland Group III, LLC d/b/a Fuddruckers, 50 Walkers Brook Drive
• RARE Hospitality International, Inc. d/b/a Longhorn Steak House, 39
Walkers Brook Drive
• Boston Foods Inc. d/b/a Zucca Italian Restaurant and Bar, 601 Main Street
• Unagi Servers Inc. d/b/a Biltmore & Main Bar and Grill, 530 Main Street
• KOK, Inc. d/b/a Oye's, 26 Walkers Brook Drive
• Bistro Concepts, Inc. d/b/a Fuscilli's Cucina, 107 Main Street
• RKR Corporation d/b/a Bunratty Tavern, 622 Main Street
• Bertucci's Restaurant Corp, d/b/a Bertucci's Brick Oven Ristorante at 45
Walkers Brook Drive
• Mandarin Reading Inc, d/b/a Mandarin Reading Restaurant at 296 Salem
Street
for a term expiring December 31, 2021 subject to the following conditions: All
Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the
establishment by the Town Manager or his designee. The motion was seconded by
Karen Herrick and approved with the following roll call vote:
Herrick - yes; Bacci - yes; Alvarado - yes; Landry - yes; Dockser - yes.
Carlo Bacci moved that the Select Board renew the Wine and Malt Restaurant
Liquor License for:
• Palatat Pattenesuan d/b/a Bangkok Spice Thai Restaurant, 76 Haven Street
for a term expiring December 31, 2021 subject to the following conditions: All
Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth
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of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the
establishment by the Town Manager or his designee. The motion was seconded by
Karen Herrick and approved with the following roll call vote:
Herrick — yes; Bacci — yes; Alvarado — yes; Landry — yes; Dockser — yes.
Beer and Wine Packaae Store Licenses
Town Counsel Ivria Fried was present to explain to the board that the Town a long time ago
decided not to have any beer and wine package store licenses. If they wanted to change
that it would have to go before town meeting and the voters.
The board then discussed their thoughts and if they had any interest in doing this. This topic
was brought to the board after a convenient store owner asked them to discuss adding beer
and wine licenses to help the small convenient stores/gas stations generate more revenue.
Currently, all of the all alcohol package store licenses are in use.
Mark Dockser noted he is not inclined to add more liquor licenses.
Vanessa Alvarado noted she would like to hear the opinions of the Coalition and Police
Department. Anne Landry noted she would also like to hear from the Board of Health as
well.
Lt. Abate was asked by the Chair if he had any thoughts from the Police side. He noted he
did not want to speak for the Chief but also noted he is apart of the Coalition and while he
doesn't wish to speak for them either, he feels they are likely not in favor of adding more
places to get alcohol in town.
Karen Herrick noted she wants to support businesses in town but does not want more
alcohol in town.
Town Economic Development Director Erin Schaeffer urged the board to consider more
types of liquor licenses due to the increase and interest from businesses looking at Reading.
Mark Dockser noted he is on the Coalition as well and he doesn't think we need any more
package store licenses.
Outdoor Dining
Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, Assistant Community Development Director Julie
Mercier, Economic Development Director Erin Schaeffer and CPDC Members Nick Safina and
Pamela Adrian were present.
There was a memo in the Select board packet outlining what staff wanted the board to
discuss regarding outdoor dining next year.
They wanted to see If they had any interest in delegating tier 2 licenses to CPDC since they
deal with site plans like that. Tier 2 licenses are more in depth and are people wanting to
use town property or make parklets.
Economic Development Director Erin Schaeffer gave the board a presentation explaining
what they are asking to change in the policy for next year. They want to extend the
timeframe of outdoor dining given restrictions have not let up yet. They would also like to
modify the review process. Tier 1 applications would still be approved by the Town
Manager; those would be places just using a few tables on their sidewalk in front of their
establishment.
Mark Dockser noted he would be open to delegating to CPDC but not when it comes to
changing parking on public property. He feels changes like that should be handled with the
Select Board.
The board was asked if they are open to parklet ideas and they noted they were.
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As of right now the board cannot extend anything with regards to liquor and outdoor dining
because the state has not extended it yet, but there were asked to extend the date for
outdoor dining in general until December of next year.
Carlo Bacci moved to modify Section 3.9.7 of the Select Board Policies to change
the adoption date to December 8th, 2020 and to change the expiration date to
December 31, 2021 as shown. The motion was seconded by Anne Landry and
approved with the following roll call vote:
Alvarado - yes; Herrick - yes; Landry - yes; Bacci - yes; Dockser - yes.
Retirement Board Appointment
Bob LeLacheur noted Carol has been in this position since she retired and would like to
continue. The Select Board only appoints one member to this board. The SB had no issues
reappointing Carol.
Carlo Bacci moved to appoint Carol Roberts to the Retirement Board with a term
expiring December 31', 2023. The motion was seconded by Vanessa Alvarado and
approved with the following roll call vote:
Herrick - Yes; Alvarado - yes; Bacci - yes; Landry-yes; Dockser - yes.
Elections
The Chair wanted to see where the board stood on asking our legislators to consider
allowing for April elections to have other options other than in person voting. Currently the
legislation in place to allow that ends in March 2021.
Town Clerk Laura Gemme noted if they allow mail in ballots again in April she will need to
time to prepare all the ballots.
The board agreed they think it is best to ask for other than in person option for April. Mark
Dockser noted he will do up a letter on behalf of the board.
Staff Working Relationships
Mark Dockser noted he was told there were some strains between department heads and
the board so he would like to try and improve communication between them. He suggested
he and Anne Landry try and meet with all the department heads individually and just have a
conversation with them.
Vanessa Alvarado suggested having other board members have the conversations.
Karen Herrick noted she would like to attend the command meetings and think it would be
best if all the members swapped going to them instead of the Chair going to all of them.
Minutes
The board put forth their edits to the meeting minutes.
Carlo Bacci moved to approve the meeting minutes of November 17th as amended.
The motion was seconded by Vanessa Alvarado and approved with the following
roll call vote:
Herrick - yes; Bacci - yes; Landry - yes; Alvarado - yes; Dockser - yes.
Carlo Bacci moved to adjourn at 11:17 PM. The motion was seconded by Vanessa
Alvarado and approved with the following roll call vote:
Herrick- yes; Bacci - yes; Landry - yes; Alvarado - yes; Dockser - yes.
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