HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-01 Select Board Minutes OFq�'
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READING, MA.
2021 JUL 15 AM 8: 42
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Select Board
Date: 2021-06-01 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Mark Dockser, Karen Herrick, Carlo Bacci, Anne Landry, Chris Haley
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Executive Assistant Caitlin Nocella, Julie
Mercier, Meg Aid, Joe Huggins, Dr. Doherty, Gaild Dowd, Eilish Havey
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:
Topics of Discussion:
All documents used in this meeting can be found in the Select Board packet on the Town Website.
This meeting was held remotely on Zoom and the following Select Board members were in attendance:
Chris Haley,Anne Landry, Karen Herrick,Mark Dockser and Carlo Bacci.
Liaison Reports
Chris Haley noted the School Committee voted to go back to in person meetings starting June 1V and
they will be holding a graduation this year for their seniors.
Anne Landry noted the Library has a bunch of events going on for lune pride month and, in recognition
of Juneteenth,would be a stop on the Reading Remembrance Tour. HRAC may also be putting together
an event for Pride month as well.She then gave out rent relief resources.
Karen Herrick noted she attended the Memorial Day ceremony.
Town Manager's Report
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur thanked Kevin Bohmiller for the Memorial Day Ceremony and Karen
Herrick for speaking at it.Wednesday,June 16' there is zoom meeting regarding local rapid recovery
planning that the board is invited too if they wish to attend. Dog license tickets will be going out soon,
please pay those. Reading was listed at#24 on the Safest towns in the country list;congratulations to
the Police Department for that.
Class II Application
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Charbel el Chami put in an application for a Class II license for 1337 Main Street.This location was
recently granted a Class II application last year to the owner of the entire property.The owner would
like Mr.Chami to run the Class II part of the business so he is here to put the Class II license in his name.
The board had no objections. It was noted the police report was pending so the board will approve
pending PD approval.
Mark Dockser moved to approve the Class II license as presented for Charly's Auto Care at 1337 Main
Street pending final Police Department approval.The motion was seconded by Carlo Bacci and
approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Outdoor Dining Applications
Eilish Havey from Bunratty Tavern is before the board tonight to ask for temporary alteration of
premises for her liquor license under the current state of emergency order. Ms. Havey noted she added
6 sidewalk tables out in front of her restaurant. Her current liquor license does not cover this area but
under the current emergency order, local liquor boards can approve temporary alteration of premises
while the state of emergency is in effect.Town Counsel was also present and noted the ABCC would like
to see a barrier between where alcohol will be served and the open sidewalk if this goes permanently
before them.Ms. Havey noted she intends to put up some large planters at the corners to show some
separation. It was noted this is what she did last year and there were no issues. It was noted this
temporary approval will end when the state of emergency order ends and then she will have to apply for
a permanent alteration of premises or stop serving alcohol at those tables.The board had no concerns if
this was the way she did it last year without issues.
Mark Dockser moved to approve the temporary alteration of premises for Bunratty Tavern under the
current State of Emergency Order to allow alcohol to be sold at the sidewalk tables approved by the
establishments Outdoor Dining License,said tables to be separated from the general public.The
motion was seconded by Carlo Bacci and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Open Meeting Law Complaint
This agenda item was to discuss the open meeting law complaint fled by Walt Tuvell.Town Counsel Ivria
Fried was present to give the background and facts on the complaint.She feels, in her opinion,there
were no violations; however,the board needs to be cautious when texting other members regarding
topics that could be before the other boards.
Karen Herrick gave a statement noting while she does not view her two communications to be the same,
she does recognize that communicating with two members outside of a meeting can look bad.She
recommits herself to the Open Meeting Laws they abide by and will be more careful moving forward.
The board is going to release the texts between Mark and Karen on this subject for transparency.
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Carlo Bacci noted this complainant constantly harasses the board and feels it is inappropriate that Karen
texts him. He feels all the texts between Karen and Walt should be released as well.
Chris Haley wanted to let the board know he also spoke with Karen on this topic which has not been
noted and feels his communications with her should be looked at before responding to this complaint.
Ivria Fried agreed she should see the communications and this topic should be continued until their next
meeting on June 9"'.
Bagel World Early Opening Request
Bagel World owners were before the board asking for a Sam opening.Town Manager Bob LeLacheur
wanted to point out the information in the packet especially the memo from our Police Department.
Bagel World constantly has traffic issues that cause dangerous backups onto Main Street.The board
asked the owners if they felt opening earlier would help their traffic situation and if they are taking any
steps to correct the safety hazards their drive thru creates. It was noted the back-up and traffic issues
don't start until later in the morning so the early opening will most likely not help the current issues.
Anne Landry noted that,given the information in the Police Department memo,they should postpone
this vote until a later time to give the owners an opportunity to respond.
Mark Dockser moved to close the hearing regarding Bagel World's early opening request.The motion
was seconded by Anne Landry and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
POST Program
Superintend John Doherty,Gail Dowd were present for this agenda item.
This contract is done every three years for our agreement with Wakefield.Wakefield has already
approved this.
Mark Dockser Move to approve the Reading Wakefield Inter-Municipal Agreement for the School
POST program as presented.The motion was seconded by Carlo Bacci and approved with a unanimous
roll call vote.
Killam School/MSBA
Superintend John Doherty,Gail Dowd and the School Committee were present for this agenda item.
Dr. Doherty gave a background on this item noting this is step one of the MSBA process.This does not
commit us to anything, itjust gets us started to get into the program.
Mark Dockser moved:
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"Resolved: Having convened in an open meeting on lune 1, 2021, prior to the closing date,
the Select Board of Reading, Massachusetts,in accordance with its charter,by-laws,and
ordinances, has voted to authorize the Superintendent of Schools to submit to the
Massachusetts School Building Authority the Statement of Interest dated lune 4,2021 for the
Killam Elementary School located at 333 Charles Street in Reading,Massachusetts which
describes and explains the following deficiencies and the priority categories for which an
application may be submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in the future
• Priority 5-Replacement, renovation or modernization of school facility systems,such as
roofs,windows, boilers, heating and ventilation systems,to increase energy conservation
and decrease energy related costs in a school facility. This includes the installation of a
fire suppression system, handicap accessibility throughout the school,and replacement of
all plumbing systems in the building due to high lead content in the drinking water.
• Priority 7-Replacement of or addition to obsolete buildings in order to provide for a full
range of programs consistent with state and approved local requirements. This includes,
but is not limited to addressing elementary enrollment increases over the next 10 years,
providing adequate space for special education programs and related services,full day
kindergarten, English Language Learner Services,and preschool expansion.
and hereby further specifically acknowledges that by submitting this Statement of Interest
Form,the Massachusetts School Building Authority in no way guarantees the acceptance or
the approval of an application,the awarding of a grant or any other funding commitment
from the Massachusetts School Building Authority,or commits the Town to filing an
application for funding with the Massachusetts School Building Authority."
The motion was seconded by Carlo Bacci and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Building Security Update
Facilities Director Joe Huggins gave the board an update on the building security project which they have
been working on thru covid to update all town and school buildings security.They are on budget and
hope to be wrapped up by this fall.
Green Communities
Community Development director Julie Mercier and Meg Aki of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council
gave the board a presentation on green communities and specifically a fuel efficiency policy the board
will be asked to vote on in the coming months.The presentation can be found in the Select Board
meeting packet posted on the town website.
Water/Sewer Rates
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Town Manager Bob LeLacheur gave the board some background on rates the past years and the
guidance the Finance committee gave along with what Town Meeting has already voted.The board
does not have to use the same numbers Town Meeting voted.The board did not raise rates at all last
year due to the pandemic.They felt it was ok to do a slight increase this year so next year's won't be so
big.
Mark Dockser moved that the Board close the hearing on setting Water,Sewer and Storm Water rates
for FY22.The motion was seconded by Carlo Bacci and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Mark Dockser moved to set the FY2022 water rate at$10.90 per 100 cubic feet with a minimum
quarterly bill of$21.80 effective with the December,2021 billing.The motion was seconded by Carlo
Bacci and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Mark Dockser moved to set the FY2022 sewer rate at$10.90 per 100 cubic feet with a minimum
quarterly bill of$21.80 effective with the December, 2021 billing.The motion was seconded by Carlo
Bacci and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Mark Dockser moved to set the FY2022 Storm Water Rate at$60 per unit(3210 square feet)per year
to be billed quarterly effective with the December, 2021 billing.The motion was seconded by Carlo
Bacci and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Minutes
The board edited a couple sets of meeting minutes.
Mark Dockser moved to approve the meeting minutes of May 4th,2021 as amended.The motion was
seconded by Carlo Bacci and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Mark Dockser moved to approve the meeting minutes of May 18th,2021 as amended.The motion was
seconded by Carlo Bacci and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Mark Dockser moved to adjourn at 11:19 PM.The motion was seconded by Anne Landry and
approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
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