HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-05 Select Board Minutes Town of Reading
g Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Select Board
Date: 2020-05-05 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Joint Meeting
Purpose: Regional Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Mark Dockser, Anne Landry, Carlo Bacci, Karen Herrick, Vanessa Alvarado
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Wakefield - Town Administrator Steve Maio, Executive Assistant/Town
Council Clerk Sherri Dalton,Town Council Chairman Ed Dombroski, Town
Council Vice-Chair Ann Santos, Town Councilor Jonathan Chines, Town
Councilor Julie Smith-Galvin, Town Councilor Mehreen Butts, Town
Councillor Paul DiNocco.
Reading - Town Manager Bob LeLacheur
Lynnfield - Town Administrator Rob Dolan, Chairman Phil Crawford, Vice-
Chairman Chris Barrett, Member Richard Dalton
Saugus - Town Manager Scott Crabtree, Board of Selectmen Chairman
Anthony Cogliano
Melrose - Councilor-At-Large Jack Eccles, Councilor-At-Large Leila Migliorelli,
Ward One Councilor John Tramontozzl, Ward Three Councilor Robb Stewart,
Ward Six Councilor& President Jennifer Grigoraitis
Stoneham - Town Administrator Dennis Sheehan, Select Board Chairwoman
Shelly MacNeil, Select Board Vice-Chair Raymie Parker
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:
Topics of Discussion:
Wakefield Town Council Chair Ed Dombroski called the Council to order,welcomed all participants and
presented the following agenda:
REGIONAL SUMMIT MEETING OF NEIGHBORING WAKEFIELD COMMUNITIES
Wakefield-Reading-Melrose-Stoneham-Lynnfleld-Saugus
AGENDA-TUESDAY,May 5,2020 @ 7:OOpm-via Zoom Videoconferencing
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Consistent with the Governor's orders suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law and
banning gatherings of more than 10 people, this meeting will be conducted by remote participation to
the greatest extent possible. The public may not physically attend this meeting,but every effort will be
made to allow the public to view and/or listen to the meeting in real time. Persons who wish to do so are
invited to click on the following link http5://us02web.zoom.usljl85726538299
The meeting ID is 8572653 8299. If you do not have a camera or microphone on your computer you may
use the following dial in number.1-646-558-8656 Meeting ID 8572653 8299. Please only use dial in or
computer and not both as feedback will distort the meeting.
1. Introductions
2. Managing Expectations and Promoting Public Safety:
Open spaces use and events policies going forward
Camps and sports leagues
Farmers' Markets(essential business)
Restaurants
Retail businesses
3. Handling of Town Meeting,Elections,and large public gatherings
4. Managing various board/committee/commission meetings and preserving and encouraging public
participation
5. Local economic rolling re-entry and business supports(transportation,outdoor/public space usage,
liquor licenses,and curfews)
6.Sharing best practices,lessons learned thus far
7. Benefits of regionalization (buying power,advocacy)
B.Access to testing(COVID-19 and antibodies)
9.Opportunities for regional collaborations/communications going forward (services,economic,health)
30.Shared economic and state aid forecasting
11.Closing Remarks
2.Managing Expectations and Promoting Public Safety
Phil Crawford (Lynnfield)stated that they had closed down everything,but hope to look at reopening
golf courses soon. He added that the summer little league is hopeful,and much depended on further
guidance from the Governor.
Ed Dombroski(Wakefield)said that with Sreakheart and Lake Quanopowitt as shared regional
destinations,once the weather improves there will be a strong demand to reopen these areas.
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Anne Landry(Reading)said that their Board of Health was ahead of the Governor's Orders and that
some open space such as the Town Forest and conservation lands were open to the public.
Steve Maio(Wakefield)said that he had heard from many sports groups,including both kids and adults,
that wanted to play. It was tough not to use a new softball field in town.
Phil Crawford turned the discussion to restaurants,and said that the Board of Health, Fire Chief and
Town Administrator were working together to determine next steps.
Mark Dockser(Reading)said they were using the Select Board weekly meetings to broadcast a
consistent message to the community. Bob LeLacheur(Reading)added that it was important that both
the Schools and the Towns were working together closely,
Steve Maio(Wakefield)said that it was not too early to start discussing summer camps. He was not sure
if they would even be able to hire summer staff. Ed Dombroksi asked if the communities should
specialize,and each run various programs for the summer.
Dennis Sheehan (Stoneham)said that May 18th was a target date for summer activities,but the June 29th
date for daycares to reopen was going to cause a challenge.
Carlo Bacci (Reading)asked if anyone had done surveys about resident participation in summer
activities?
Raymie Parker(Stoneham)said that many parents are leery of sending kids out to be with bigger groups.
Given that fear,what programs could towns offer: library and recreation?
Mark Dockser(Reading)said that their Board of Health was engaged in a lot of planning in advance prior
to the proverbial Floodgates reopening.
Jon Chines(Wakefield)discussed the employer side of summer recreation programs.
Tony Cogliano(Saugus)mentioned that Kowloon's was planning to reopen and use a portion of their
parking lot for outdoor seating.
Rob Dolan (Lynnfeld)said they had been meeting with the Market Street management and that Davio's
Restaurant was on the Governor's Reopening Committee.A priority would be placed on outdoor
seating,and there are liquor license implications there.
Jen Grigoraitis(Melrose)said their economic development task force have held two meetings to discuss
outdoor space and dedicated downtown pickup areas.A surveywill soon go outto the business
community.
3 Handling of Town Meeting.Elections and large public gatherings
Phil Crawford(Lynnfield)said they were planning a lune 20 Town Meeting in a parking lot with members
staying in their cars.
Anne Landry(Reading)said their board would vote on May 27"to hold Town Meeting on June 15th and
aim to have a remote session.
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Dennis Sheehan(Stoneham)and Steve Maio(Wakefield)said with Open Town Meetings,they were less
clear on that path forward,but were leaning to being outdoors.
4 Managing various board/committee/commission meetings and preserving and encouraging Public
participation
Mark Dockser(Reading)said they were meeting weekly and encouraging email public participation
during the meetings, but hoping to hear some new ideas from this group.
Ed Dombroski(Wakefield)said that their Zoom meetings were working well.
Raymie Parker(Stoneham)said that their GoTo meetings was also working well.They recently had a
Public Hearing and set aside five minutes for phone calls, but no one called in. For other meetings,some
members of the public logged in but did not participate.They were going to start to use a public
comment email address.
Jack Eccles(Melrose)said they used Webex due to the fact they had Cisco networking gear.The public
could email and then speak live.They were not livestreaming through local cable,and were concerned
they might be missing the elderly viewers.
Steve Maio(Wakefield)asked about Public Hearings,as their ZBA was doing OK and their Planning Board
had some Town Meeting Articles underway.
Bob LeLacheur(Reading)noted that their Conservation Commission had continued to meet remotely,
and had some successful continued Hearings and policy discussions.
S.Local economic rolling re-entry and business supports(transportation outdoor/public space usage
liquor licenses,and curfews)
Julie Smith-Galvin (Wakefield)asked what other communities were doing.
Bob LeLacheur(Reading)mentioned that their Economic Development Director was working closely
with the Chamber of Commerce. Mark Dockser(Reading)added that their ICS Command group was also
working on this topic.
Phil Crawford(Lynnfield)was curious to see what Lynnfield Marketplace would do for a reopening.
6 Sharing best practices lessons learned thus far
Rob Dolan(Lynnfield)said that the vast majority of staff were very professional and creative throughout
this process,and seeing the positive aspects.
Ann Santos(Wakefield)agreed that the staff was very professional,and that it was very important to be
delivering consistent messages.
Jack Eccles(Melrose)said their volunteer network had been very helpful,using their City Councilors as
team captains.
Carlo Bacci(Reading)asked aboutthe use of Reverse-git in communities.This wasto complementthe
work done by the ICS Command team under the direction of the Fire Chief.
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Raymie Parker(Stoneham)also complimented the staff on being very creative.
Leila MigliorelIi(Melrose)said that the Mayors office had been using Everbridge(Rgii)effectively.
7 Benefits of reglonalization(buying Power,advocacy)
Jon Chines(Wakefield)said that he was very impressed and appreciative that the Town Managers and
Administrators had built very strong collaboration. Ed Dombroski emphatically agreed with the point,
and thanked the Managers and Administrators.
S.Access to testing(COVID-19 and antibodies)
Scott Crabtree(Saugus)said they have partnered with a facility on Route 1 for testing of first
responders,and had a 15 minute test result turnaround. He wondered if we should organize this
regionally.
Karen Herrick(Reading)said that at the last Select Board meeting,the Senator and two Representatives
raised this issue,and that we should be prepared for the worst case.
Pat Kelly(Lynnfield Public Library)wrote in that it was very important to test all employees.
Jon Chines(Wakefield)said that we should especially test the higher risk employees,and do it on a
regular basis if this issue was long term.We should include the reginal health care providers in this
discussion.
9 Opportunities for regional collaborations/communications going forward(services,economic,
health
Raymie Parker(Stoneham)asked that other share any surveys done.
10 Shared economic and state aid forecasting
Steve Maio(Wakefield) noted that state revenues are forecasted 14%to 18%lower for next year. He
said they are using a-10%assumption to state aid,and lowering new growth estimates.
Rob Dolan (Lynnfield)said that chapter 70 may revert to the prior formula after modifications were
agreed to last winter.
Bob LeLacheur(Reading)said they assumed chapter 70 would be protected somewhat,but that other
parts of state aid would float with the-18%cuts to state revenues,and that they were also using a-30%
total for state aid
Scott Crabtree(Saugus)said those communities relying more on CIP(Commercial,Industrial,Personal
Property taxes)would be harder hit because of vacancies and lower water use. He said they were
fortunate to have significant reserves of over$2 million in Free Cash and $30 million in stabilization
funds.
Dennis Sheehan (Stoneham)said they were forecasting-13%to state aid,and also taking a hit because
of their local ice arena.
11.Closing Remarks
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Mehreen Butts(Wakefield)thanked all of the Town Managers and the Boards of Health for their
leadership during these difficult times,and noted that Malden had closed streets to allow more walkers.
She also noted that food pantries did not require IDs,and that in Cambridge streaming free movies and
linking that to takeout meals seemed a good idea.
Mark Dockser(Reading)thanked this group for meeting,and said that next steps should be to circulate
ideas and share email addresses. He wondered when the next regional meeting would be.
Paul DiNocco(Wakefield)said it was important to approach businesses.
Carlo Baccl moved that the Reading Select Board adjourn at 8:50om seconded by Anne Landry.and
aooroved by a roll call vote landry-yes,Herrick-yes; Baai-yes:Alvarado-yes:Dockser-yes.
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