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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-03-12 Annual Town Meeting Minutes 296 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Auditorium March 12, 1973 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Kenneth C. Latham, at 8:00 P. M. The invocation was given by Rev. Matthew J. Coughlin of St. Ag- nes Church. The newly elected Town Meeting Members were sworn in by the Mod- erator. The Warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk, when on motion of Fred C. Kenney, 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 2. Carl H. Amon, Jr. , requested the Finance Committee to report on two items: a. A report on the Finance Committee' s deliberation relative to "Teachers Salary, as outlined in the new State statue. b. How much money was used from the Federal Revenue Sharing Pro- gram and where we stand with these monies now. James J. Sullivan, Jr. , Chairman of the Finance Committee, presented the status of the above items (a and b) and in addition presented several changes to the Finance Committee Report, as published. This report was accepted as a report of progress. ARTICLE 2. The following report was presented by Charles Stratton and accepted as a report of progress: The Reading Council on Aging brings to the attention of the citi- zens of the Town of Reading the progress and status of its programs for the elderly and the need for some adlitional support from the Town. During 1972 the Council 's activities were: , 1. The Community Program for the Elderly consisting of 19 classes in Oil Painting, Ceramics, Knitting, Crafts, Rug Braiding and Hooking, Crewel Embroidery, Contract Bridge, Homemaking, Choral Singing, a Library Group (in cooperation with the Reading Pubo-- lic Library) , and a Discussion Group, plus five Special Summer Programs. This program was taken over from the Reading Housing Authority on April 1, 1972. 2. Three all-day Summer Bus Trips. 3. A Thanksgiving Dinner. 4. Weekly trips to Shopping Centers, in cooperation with the Y. M. C. A. using their minibus and a volunteer driver. 5. Mailing in June and September a newsletter entitled the "Elder- berries" to all known e&Iderly in Reading, giving notices of particular interest to them. 6. A Volunteer Visitation Program for shut-ins. 7. Taking groups to special performances. 8. Many other miscellaneous activities helping the elderly. ' Toward the end of the year the Council was given space in the Com- munity Center by the Selectmen, which has been very much appreciated. This provided the Council with office space of its own for the first time, and about a month ago, the Council opened a Drop-In Center for the elderly on Friday afternoons for sociability, a cup of tea, and sometimes a game of bridge. Annual Town Meeting March 12, 1973 297 Within a few weeks the Council, in cooperation with the Combined Visiting Nurse Association, and with the approval of the Board of Health, will be starting a small Health Program, toward which a grant of $900 has been received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Such programs are being encouraged by the State in many communities. Counseling and educational programs are conducted to help maintain the health of the elderly at as high a level as possible, tending to keep them in their own homes om longer, where they are much happier than in nursing homes. The program will not take the place of their own physicians, nor will any medications be prescribed, but it will be of a preventive and therapeutic nature. In all of its efforts Reading, like most other towns, is finding ' that its greatest problem is transportation. Many of the elderly are not able or cannot afford to drive cars. Also they cannot afford a round trip taxi fare of $2 to get to the center of town from the out- skirts for shopping, classes, and meetings. Volunteer transportation, on which the Council has depended in large measure in the past, has dropped to a very low minimum. Housewives are increasingly taking paid jobs or do not wish to be tied down to a driving schedule, and the FISH Program, which provided more or less emergency transportation, has gone out of existence at least for the time being. The various programs we are engaged in are most helpful and enjoy- able for those who can get to them, but there are many elderly who just can not get to them. Occasionally we have known of elderly people who could like, to do some volunteer work for the community themselves but lacked the transportation. The greatest need of the Council is therefore for a minibus and a driver. Many may wonder why we need to do more for our elderly than was done for them, say, twenty-five years ago. Some of the reasons are that they live longer, there are more of them and their financial resources are us- ually less adequate because of high medical costs, high taxes and prices. Also, there is less tendency to keep them with their families because of ' smaller houses, more friction between generations, often lack of respect, not to mention high financial pressures on their children to provide edu- cation for the grandchildren. Retirement is forced upon the elderly at an earlier age. In spite of declining mobility, they will remain more creative, productive, happier, and healthier if they can be encouraged to lead independent lives of their own and are able to get out into the community. Nathalie C. Beaton, Chairman Council on Aging On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr. , it_was voted to lay Article 2 on the table. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr. , it was voted that the following persons be chosen to serve as Measurers of Lumber for the ensu- ing year: Harold B. Currell Irving E. Dickey, Jr. and that the following persons be chosen to serve as Measurers of Wood and Bark for the ensuing year: Harold B. Currell Irving E. Dickey, Jr. ARTSCLE-3.c-On motion of Barbara E. Winkler it was voted that the Town adopt the following Resolution: WHEREAS, Lewis E. Pierce has been a resident of the Town of Reading since 1929; and WHEREAS, he has attained the still youthful age of 90 years; and WHEREAS, he has been a Town Meeting Member since the adoption by the Town of Reading of the Limited Town Meeting form of government in the year 1944 and has managed to achieve a nearly perfect record of attendance; and J 8 Annual Town Meeting March 12, 1973 WHEREAS, he retired from the New England Telephone and Tele- graph Company in 1947 after 45 years of service and following retire- ment served as Sewer Inspector for the Town of Reading and as a member of the Committee to study the Town Manager form of government; and WHEREAS, he has been a staunch supporter of the Y. M. C. A. , the Reading Symphony Orchestra, the Reading Public Library, the Reading League of Women Voters and many other local town organizations and acti- vities too numerous to mention; NOW, THEREFORE, the elected officials, town meeting members, and citizens of the Town of Reading take this opportunity on the occasion of the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1973, to extend their warmest , thanks to Lewis E. Pierce for his many years of devoted service to the town and to commend him as an outstanding example of citizenship at its very best, 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 1973. The Town Meeting responded to the Resolution with a rising vote of thanks to Lewis E. Pierce. ARTICLE 3. George E. Curtis moved that the Board of Public Works be instructed to provide, for a reasonable time each day, a convenient and suitable place for the residents of Reading to bring and deposit their rubbish, if they so desire. Some relief is needed especially dur- ing the spring, summer and fall. This motion did not pass. On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr. , it was voted to take Article 50 from the table. ARTICLE 50. On motion of David F. Ham, as amended by Robert S. Cum- mings and David F. Ham, it was voted that the Town amend the official classification plan, schedules and regulations in accord with Article XXIV, Schedule A of the By-Laws of the Town, as follows: ' SALARY GRADE Labor Grade Point Range Base Yalary Max. Salary 1 159 74.63 102.85 2 160-174 79.85 110.05 3 175-189 85.44 117.82 4 190-204 91.44 126.00 5 205-219 96.67 133.19 6 220-234 102.18 140.82 7 235-249 108.02 148.88 8 250-264 114.20 157. 37 9 265-279 120.73 166. 37 10 280-294 127.63 175.90 11 295-309 134.92 185.93 12 310-324 142.64 196.55 13 325-339 150.80 207.82 14 340-354 165.76 219.71 15 355-369 168.55 232.27 16 370-384 178.19 245.55 17 385-399 188. 36 259.60 18 400-414 199.15 274.46 19 415-429 210.16 290.15 20 430-444 222.57 306. 72 21 445-459 235.28 324.25 , 22 460-474 248.75 353.89 23 475-489 262.97 362.41 24 490-504 278.01 383.12 25 505-519 293.91 405.05 26 520-534 310.74 428.23 27 535-549 329.11 453.58 Annual Town Meeting March 12, 1973 1299 SECTION I - CLERICAL EMPLOYEES--Hourly Job Title Labor Grade Minimum Maximum Jr. Clerks 2 2.13 2.94 Sr. Clerks B 5 2.57 3.55 Sr. Clerks A 6 2.73 3.57 Hearing Reporter 7 2.88 3.97 Collectors' Admin. Asst. 8 3.03 4.20 Assessors' Admin. Asst. 11 3.60 4.96 Asst. Town Clerk 11 3.60 4.96 j SECTION II - SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES ' Job Title Labor Grade Supervisor 20 Supt. (Cemetery Dept. ) 20 Supt. (Tree & Moth Dept. ) 19 SECTION III - PUBLIC LIBRARY--Hourly Job Title Labor Grade Minimum Maximum Hedd Librarian 21 Librarian, Grade I 16 Librarian, Grade II 14 Librarian, Grade III 12 Library Assistant 7 Library Clerk 4 Library Hourly Employees 1. 32 3.14 Library Pages 1. 32 1.78 SECTION IV - PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - ENGINEERING Job Title Labor Grade Minimum Hourly Maximum Superintendent 27 Assistant Superintendent 23 Civil Engineer 22 Supervisor 20 ' Pumping Station Engineer 19 Sanitary Div. Engineer 18 Asst. Civil Engineer 17 Asst. Sanitary Div. Eng. 14 Land Surveyor 14 3.99 5.49 Administrative Assistant 14 3.99 5.49 Senior Draftsman 11 3.38 4.65 Transitman 11 3. 38 4.65 Administrative Clerk 9 3.02 4.17 Junior Draftsman 7 2.70 3.75 Secretary 7 2.70 3.75 Rodman 6 2.55 3.52 SECTION V Cemetery-Public Works-Tree & Moth Departments (Collective Bargaining Unit) Weekly Rate Weekly Rate Effective Effective Job Title 4/1/73 4/1/74 Master Mechanic 208.40 210.40 Foreman 187.20. 189.20 Mechanic Class 1 (2) 182.40 184.00 Heavy Equipment Operator 178.00 180.00 Asst. Pumping Sta. Eng. 178.00 180.00 Working Foreman 178.00 180.00 Light Med. Equip. operator (2) 167.60 169220 *Skilled Laborer 158.00 159.60 *Mechanic Class II ( 3) 158.00 159.60 *Dump Caretaker 142.00 143.20 *Meter Repairman 142.00 143.20 *Semi-Skilled Laborer 142.00 143.20 *Mechanic Class III ( 3) 142.00 143.20 (1) Laborer 125.60 126.80 Seasonal Laborer 100.00 101.00 300 Annual Town Meeting March 12, 1973 *Step Increases: (a) A full time, permanent employee employed in the bargaining unit on April 1, 1973, shall on October 1, 1973, receive a One Step increase of two d011ais_AS21 per week for the job classi- fications with the asterisk*. (b) A new employee, (one beginning work after April 1, 1973) , shall receive a Step increase of two d011ais_iS21 per week six (6) months from the date of commencement of employment. (1) The Laborer classification step was calculated at five dollars ($5)00) and twenty cents ($.20) to raise this entrance level classi- fication. (2) New classification and rate of pay in the Agreement. ( 3) New job title at same level of pay. , SECTION VI - POLICE DEPARTMENT Job Title Labor Grade Minimum Maximum Chief 26 UNION Lieutenant 19 4/1F73 to Sergeant 18 6/30/74 Patrolman Inspector 220.00 Patrolman 199.50 Police Matron 3.42 (per hour) Patrolman (Starting Rate) 183.25 SECTION VII - FIRE DEPARTMENT UNION 4/1/73 4/1/74 Chief 26 Deputy Chief 270.46 273.16 C®pbain- 242.43 244.89 Lieutenant 224.96 227.21 Private 198.15 200.13 Private (Starting Rate) 182.02 183.84 SECTION VIII - FIRE ALARM DEPARTMENT Minimum Maximum Lineman 11 3. 38 4.66 ' Groundman 7 2. 70 3.72 SECTION IX - GENERAL GOVERNMENT Town Accountant 17 Executive Secretary $5,000. (annual) $15,000. (annual) Superintendent of Buildings 15 Janitor A 8 2.86 3.94 Appraiser 24 BENEFIT CHANGE And that Vacation Policy be amended by adding to the allowable two week vacation two additional days after 5 years of service, adding to allowable three weeks vacation two additional days after 10 years of service. ARTICLE 4. . On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr. , as amended by James J. Sullivan, Jr. , it was voted that the sum of Three Hunfted Eighty-four Thousand Four Hundred Thirty-three Dollars ($384,433.00Y be raised from the tax levy and appropriated for General Government, as follows, each item being considered as a separate appropriation: Executive Secretary's Salary $ 8,565.00 Selectmen's Clerical 5,040.00 Selectmen's Expense 3,800.00 Town Accountant's Salary 18, 300.00 , Accountant's Salary 11,871.00 Town Accountant;a Clerical 3, 372.00 Town Accountant's Expense (including out-of- state travel not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars) 2, 294.00 Treasurer' s Salary 7,500.00 Treasurer' s Clerical 15,900.00 Treasurer's Expense 13, 217.00 Annual Town Meeting k; March 12, 1973 30 1 Tax Collectors Salary (all fees collected $ 9,600.00 to be paid to Town Treasurer) Tax Collector's Clerical 30,000.00 Tax Collector's Expense 6,500.00 Town Clerk's Salary (all fees collected to be paid to Town Treasurer 7, 350.00 Town Clerk's Clerical 22, 303.00 Town Clerk's Expense (including out of state travel not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars) 8,500.00 Assessors' Salaries 6,750.00 Assessors' Appraiser) Assessors' Clerical ) 5$, 334.00 ' Assessors' Expense (including out of state travel not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars) 8, 500.00 Board of Registrars ' Salary 1,440.00 Board of Registrars' Expense 300.00 Election & Registration Expense 31 ,050.00 Board of Appeals Expense 2,900.00 Planning Board Expense 300.00 Finance Committee Clerk 1,800.00 Finance Committee Expense 350.00 Personnel Board Expense 1, 350.00 Town Counsel Legal Services 44,025.00 Town Counsel Expenses 4, 500.00 MUNICIPAL BUILDING - Salaries Superintendent's Salary 14,480.00 Custodian - Town Hall 9,810.00 Custodian - Police Station 3, 531.00 _ MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS - MAINTENANCE Town Hall 14, 733.00 Depot 2,168.00 Conservation Commission Expense 7,000.00 $384,433.00 ' ARTICLE 4. On motion of Edward P. Cameron it was voted that the sum of Two Million SAventy-Eight Thousand Five Hundred Sixty-Eight Dollars ($2,078, 568.00) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated for Protec- tion of Persons and Property as follows, each item being considered as a separate appropriation: Police Department Salaries $ 765, 385.00 Police Department Maintenance 60,000.00 Police Department Traffic Control Schools 55,000.00 Police Department Traffic Light Maintenance 7,500.00 Fire Department Salaries 941,534.00 Fire Department Maintenance (including travel outside state not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars) 49,000.00 Fire Alarm Salaries 11,000.00 Fire Alarm Expense 5,000.00 Forestry Department Salaries 79,476.00 Forestry Department Tree Removal Inc. Labor 5,928.00 Forestry Department Expense 16,515.00 Hydrant Rental 39,000.00 Drinking Fountains Operation 150.00 Inspector of Buildings Salary 10,485.00 Inspector of Buildings Expense 1,480.00 Sealer of Weights & Measures Salary 1,974.00 Sealer of Weights & Measures Expense 540.00 ' Dog Officer Salaries 13, 751.00 Dog Officer Expense 5,000.00 Inspector of Wires Salary 4,100.00 Inspector of Wires Expense 1,500.00 Civil Defense Maintenance & Salary ,4,250.00 $2,078,568.00 On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr. , it was voted thattthise:mdebingd stand adjourned until Thursday, March 15, 1973, at 8:00 P. M. , to meet in the Memorial High School Auditorium. Meeting adjourned at 11:00 P. M. 188 Town Meeting Members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew, Town Clerk