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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-19 Select Board Minutes RECEIVED Town of Reading TOWN CLERK Meeting Minutes READING, PiA. f LGI 2021 MAR 29 PM 1% 29 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Select Board Date: 2021-01-19 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: General Business Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Mark Dockser, Karen Herrick, Vanessa Alvarado, Carlo Baccl, Anne Landry Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Executive Assistant Caitlin Saunders Nocella, Dr. Lopez, Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held remotely on Zoom. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. Dr. Lopez started the meeting off with a COVID update from a Board of Health standpoint. He noted they hired a second public health nurse. Cases are down significantly from last week. The case count is almost half of what it was. There are still 11 cases in the school system and a cluster at Artis Senior living. They are preparing for vaccination clinics and training staff. Our first responders are almost completely vaccinated. Recently the board was copied on a note from some parents concerned about alleged bias in materials being made available to parents. Dr. Doherty read a statement to the community at the last School Committee meeting and Mr. Lelacheur read an additional statement (attached) to the community taking responsibility for any hurtful comments directed at the teachers that may have come from town employees. Qadgmning ViolenceResolution Vanessa Alvarado brought this to the board. She feels it is important to take a stand on this as a board after the recent violence at the capitol. She drafted a resolution and shared it with the board. Mark Dockser noted he fully supports this. Carlo Bacci noted he agrees with the sentiment of this but he doesn't feel we should be bringing national politics to the board. Karen Herrick noted she has no problems with this resolution. Anne Landry noted she thinks it Is ok to speak out about this and stand united. She supports this and the sentiment. Carlo Bacci noted again he feels this is slippery slope; of course they condemn violence but this Is not something they should be doing. He again agreed with the sentiment of it and does not condone violence but they cannot do a resolution every time something happens. Mark Dockser noted he feels this was a historic moment and we should stand up and support this. Page I t Anne Landry moved to adopt this resolution as written with the exception of the spelling change to `capitol'. Karen Herrick seconded the motion. The board took the following roll call vote: Herrick - yes; Landry - yes; Bacci - abstain; Alvarado - yes; Dockser - yes. Liaison Reports Carlo Bacci noted CPDC is discussing bylaw changes regarding the outdoor dining process/ site plan review on private property. This will eventually go to town meeting. Anne Landry thanked HRAC for a great virtual MLK day celebration. Vanessa Alvarado noted parents want RCN to air kids sports games since they cannot attend in person. Karen Herrick noted a new tree policy is being discussed and she wants all staff involved to be invited. RMLD wants to help Reading become a green community. She also would like Reading to have electric charging stations. Mark Dockser noted a bill was filed in the House and Senate to offer safe voting options through June 2021 and In time for our local election in April. Town Managers Report Bob LeLacheur noted our hearts go out to our neighbors in Wakefield who lost a member of their school department In a very tragic manner. He noted they will fund a full-time health director in the next budget and he will be moving the health department to be under public safety. The Social rights position will be funded. The civil rights officer and more mental health resources will be added to public safety as well. PIjb1ir Comment Jackie Mccarthy and Mark Delaney want the water tank project to go to the permanent building committee as suggested by SB member Karen Herrick. They would also like to see the lease agreement they cannot find online. Reading Business omm nity/ COVID Imnact UPAdle 913d Outdoor Dining Economic Development Director Erin Schaeffer noted the outdoor dining application is up online for businesses to start applying. This is for the use of public spaces also known as our Tier II license. She noted she has been in touch with a lot of the town restaurants to apply but we have not received any applications yet. The bistro table program will be used again in the spring and possibly expanded. There are a couple opportunities for small business grants available that she helped some of our businesses apply to. Reading businesses have been awarded over$60,000 in grants to date that has been really helpful to them. Downtown Initiatives/ BUS113ess Improvement District Erin Schaeffer noted staff is continuing to work with a consultant on this. There Is a Downtown Steering Committee with residents, business owners and other downtown members of town working on this as well. Lots of outreach will be done. The benefit of this will be economic resilience especially after COVID. This is separate program from the Chamber of Commerce. Vanessa Alvarado asked about the financial component for the town In this and noted she would like more information on that aspect before they need to vote on this. Karen Herrick asked if businesses have signed on yet and it was noted it is too early for that to happen. PARC Community Development Director Julie Mercier explained how they are discussing taking a new approach to how to we redo our downtown parking. She would like to revamp the process to Involve more residents and downtown businesses. They want to suggest an Idea of the Select Board creating a subcommittee/advisory committee called the Parking Advisory & Recommendations Committee (PARC). She explained the concept of the Page 12 committee and the make of its proposed 7 members including one Select Board member, one CPDC member and then 5 other members from the downtown community, residents and business owners. The PARC will guide the preparation of a new downtown parking system with the help of staff and a consultant. The committee would then bring their recommendations to the PTTTF and then to the full Select Board to end. Vanessa Alvarado noted this sounds like a great idea and she would be willing to be the SB candidate. Carlo Baccl agreed it's a great idea. He feels 7 may not be the right number though. He feels more members may be useful, more members from the downtown area would bring more perspective. He asked why we need a consultant. Mrs. Mercier noted a consultant is helpful when It comes to new perspectives and Ideas that work for other towns. He then asked if this would be set up like ad-hoc committee and it was noted yes that is how it is being envisioned. Anne Landry suggested maybe increasing it to 9 members noting the finance committee is a 9-member committee and that seems to work for them with that many people. Mark Dockser thought they were making good progress before and worries this is going to drag it out longer. He worries having too many people on the PARC will be hard for them to make a decision. He also mentioned the sunset date being a little far out. Vanessa Alvarado feels this is such a large, important project that the extra time is necessary to make sure we hear everyone and find a solution that works for a majority of people. Karen Herrick wanted to make sure the electric vehicle charging stations don't get lost In a committee. Town Manager Bob LeLacheur noted the reason for the ad-hoc is simple; just coming from a timing standpoint, they have much more time to put Into this than the Select Board. He noted the boards agendas are so full all the time, It would be hard for them to also take on the parking situation with no help and get a result in a timely manner. Municipal Vulnerability Prgpgrgdness Update Staff Planner Andrew MacNichol gave the board a presentation that can be found in the Select Board packet for this meeting date on the town website. Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) is a grant program the State designated for municipalities who have gone through the Community Resilience Building process. It helps prepare for the Impacts expected from climate change. There are grants available in two phases. It is a very competitive program with 89% of communities in Mass are designated. If we become a MVP it allows us access towards other state grants. We were awarded the MVP planning grant in February 2020. Phase 1 is complete and phase two next round will be spring of 2021. Phase two is action grants that can used for many different things including updating local bylaws, infrastructure improvements and ecological restoration. They have been discussing protentlonal Items for 2021 such as updating our subdivision rules and regulations, Floodplain bylaw updates and stormwater design at Maillett land. II Tow r pdat Town Manager Bob LeLacheur gave the board an update on the cell tower. He noted an email from Peter Isabel, our Water Director, regarding clean up of the site. He also mentioned the memo from Town Engineer Ryan Percival. Both these documents can be found in the Select board packet for this meeting date on our website. He noted they are working thru where to put the cell equipment when the work is being done. The project also seems to be more expensive than we planned for so that will have to be figured out as well. The cost of steel has increased since the last quote. A lot of work needs to be done at the site before work can take place. We need to make sure the water Flow is ok when that tower Gage 13 goes offline. We would like to go out to bid after CPDC Is done with them. He talked about communication with the neighbors and how that would look like. Karen Herrick noted she would like to see this go to the Permanent Building Committee. The Town Manager noted this isn't really what they do considering it Is not a building. Mark Dockser noted we need the carriers to tell us what they are going to do with their equipment during construction. Vanessa Alvarado offered and the board agreed to make her the point person. Town Manager noted he will reach out to the Permanent building committee. Beer and Wine Packaae Store Licenses Vanessa Alvarado noted she has no desire to move forward with this. Karen Herrick agreed noting she does not wish to add more licenses. Mark Dockser agreed as well. Anne Landry noted she wishes she had more information on this from other players and because our economic development director mentioned there were businesses interested in licenses. Town Manager Bob LeLacheur noted the board could create a specialty license for a certain business, like what was done for Pamplemousse. Carlo Bacci noted he would like to create opportunities for different businesses in town and this would be a great way to do it. Businesses aren't going to want to come to town if we don't have licenses for them. Mark Dockser noted he would be okay with the board hearing a request from a specific business asking for a license but he doesn't want to create a specialty license just for a potential business we don't have yet. Most of the board agreed with that approach. Biomass Resolution Karen Herrick gave the board a background on the resolution she is asking the board to support. She drafted a letter to our State representatives she would like send from the board. Vanessa Alvarado noted it is Important for the board to take a stand on this. Anne Landry noted while she can vote on this issue she cannot sign the letter due to her role working for the State Legislature. Carlo Bacci asked if RMLD Is Issuing their own statement or resolution. Vanessa Alvarado noted this is a state matter that RMLD can take a stand on If they want but we as a board can also take a stand. Vanessa Alvarado moved that the board approve the letter to our state delegation regarding the proposed changes to biomass rules. The motion was seconded by Karen Herrick. Mark Dockser made a friendly amendment to include the other people the letter will be sent to. Anne Landry noted the new committees for this have not been formed yet so the board discussed who this letter should actually go to since a new session will be beginning and it may be different people on the committee from last session. Vanessa Alvarado suggested they reword the letter to Include some language noting with the understanding that this may be refiled with a new number. The board took the following vote: Bacci - yes; Alvarado - yes; Landry - abstained; Herrick - yes; Dockser - yes. Appoint Volunteers rfla� I a VASC interviewed candidates for a variety of boards and committees. It was noted there was a spot for all the candidates who applied. Carlo Bacci moved to appoint Pino D'Orazio to a full position on the Historic District Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2021; seconded by Vanessa Alvarado. Carlo Bacci moved to appoint Amelia Freedman to a full position on the Historic District Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2021; seconded by Vanessa Alvarado. Carlo Bacci moved to appoint Virginia Adams to an associate position on the Historic District Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2021; seconded by Anne Landry. Carlo Bacci moved to appoint Priscilla Poehler to an associate position on the Historic District Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2022; seconded by Karen Herrick. Carlo Bacci moved to appoint Pino D'Orazio to a full position on the Historical Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2022; seconded by Anne Landry. Carlo Bacci moved to appoint Danielle Di Virgilio to a full position on the Human Relations Advisory Committee with a term expiring June 30, 2022; seconded by Karen Herrick. Carlo Bacci moved to appoint Katelynn King to an associate position on the Recreation Committee with a term expiring June 30, 2021; seconded by Anne Landry. Carlo Bacci moved to appoint Michael Smith to an associate position on the Cultural Council with a term expiring June 30, 2022; seconded by Anne Landry, Carlo Bacci moved to appoint Nancy Ziemlak to an associate position on the Council on Aging with a term expiring June 30, 2021; seconded by Anne Landry. The motions were approved with the following roll call vote: Landry - yes; Herrick - yes; Bacci - yes; Alvarado - yes; Dockser - yes. Minutes The board had no edits to the minutes of December 15 and 161h. Carlo Bacci moved to approve the meeting minutes of December 15th and 16th, 2020 as written. The motion was seconded by Anne Landry and approved with the following roll call vote: Landry - yes; Herrick - yes; Bacci - yes; Alvarado - yes; Dockser - yes. Carlo Bacci moved to adjourn at 10:48 PM. The motion was seconded by Anne Landry and approved with the following roll call vote: Landry - yes; Herrick - yes; Bacci - yes; Alvarado - yes; Dockser - yes. r.Jy( i r For fifteen years, many of us have worked hard to build and maintain the strong relationship between the Town and School organizations in Reading. When we needed budget help to keep RCASA funded after a grant expired, Dr. Doherty did not hesitate to step up and give full school support. When the middle schools needed help to maintain their foreign language program,they received unanimous Town department head support with mid-year draft budget cuts. The list of so-called mutual aid over those fifteen years is long, and to be clear it is one joint list, not two competing lists. The Town and Schools serve different segments but we are all in the same family of public service to our beloved Reading community. Late last week an email to the Select Board revealed some troubling comments directed at our teachers. Dr. Doherty spent a great deal of time in conversation with Police Chief Clark and myself,about what to say to the community at a Thursday night School Committee meeting, and respectfully even more importantly what to do. I would like to thank John for his open dialogue, his comments and an apology that is graciously accepted. I would also like to thank other school employees, including teachers, for reaching out to further that dialogue. After that email and some preliminary investigation, it was clear we had a problem within our Town/School family of unclear origin developing. I asked Chief Clark-well maybe it sounded more like an order—to quickly find the problem and solve it. I was not surprised to learn that Chief Clark was already working on it and within a couple of hours the situation was improved,as reported to me by a member of the Select Board. While words are important, actions are paramount. Dave—your tenure as Chief has been more challenging than anyone could have imagined. You and the Reading Police department continue to rise to meet those challenges with compassion and professionalism,and you all have my deepest thanks. To be clear, I accept full responsibility for any hurtful comments made, directly or indirectly, by any employee of the Town. I offer a heartfelt apology to the community,and especially to our teachers.Your profession is an honorable one;our students remain our future; and your responsibility is now as large as it ever has been. It is clear what I expect of Town employees,and if the steps we have taken so far do not fully solve this family problem,you have my word that R will be solved. We are all dealing with so many difficult challenges to simply move from one day to the next. Stress levels and mental health concerns abound.To think that our own family is creating problems instead of solving them is deeply concerning to me. It feels like a crushing (though not fatal( blow to fifteen years of unity,and it is something that I take personally. Last week John, Dave and I spoke a lot about the need for everyone to take a step back and a deep breath. I very much look forward to the day where we all have the luxury to agree on that course of action. Thank you Mark,for allowing me to say these few words. I will have additional remarks during my Town Manager Report later tonight.