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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-13 Finance Committee Packet UPDATED CzUpxoDmfsl)SL*bu4;16qn-Tfq19-3132 2018-07-16 LAG Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Finance Committee Date: 2021-09-13 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Agenda: Purpose: General Business Meeting Called By: Jacquelyn LaVerde on behalf of Chair Ed Ross Notices and agendas are to be posted 48 hours in advance of the meetings excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Legal Holid operation and make necessary arrangements to be sure your posting is made in an adequate amount of time. A listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting must be on the agenda. All Meeting Postings must be submitted in typed format; handwritten notices will not be accepted. Topics of Discussion: This meeting will be held in-person in the Conference Room at Town Hall and remotely via Zoom. WƚźƓ œƚƚƒ aĻĻƷźƓŭ ŷƷƷƦƭʹΉΉǒƭЉЏǞĻĬ͵ǩƚƚƒ͵ǒƭΉƆΉБЍБЍЉЍЏВБЌА aĻĻƷźƓŭ L5ʹ БЍБ ЍЉЍЏ ВБЌА hƓĻ ƷğƦ ƒƚĬźƌĻ њЊЏЍЏЎЎББЏЎЏͲͲБЍБЍЉЍЏВБЌАϔ { ΛbĻǞ —ƚƩƉΜ њЊЏЍЏЎЊБВБЉЎͲͲБЍБЍЉЍЏВБЌАϔ { ΛbĻǞ —ƚƩƉΜ Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 646 518 9805 US (New York) Meeting ID: 848 4046 9837 Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kbpneYBRc3 AGENDA: Review and Vote on Financial Articles for October 18 Special Town Meeting Review Financial Articles for November Subsequent Town Meeting Approve Minutes: August 31, 2021 1 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. Officer's Return, Town of Reading: By virtue of this Warrant, I ______________________________, on October 18,2021 notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote on Town affairs, to meet at the place and at the time specified by posting attested copies of this Special Town Meeting Warrant, along with the written request of Town Moderator Alan Foulds dated September 9, 2021asking that this Special Town Meeting be held by remote participation pursuant to St. 2020, c. 92, §8and St. 2021, c. 20, §9, in the following public places within the Town of Reading: Precinct 1J. Warren Killam School, 333 Charles Street Precinct 2 Reading Police Station, 15 Union Street Precinct 3Reading Municipal Light Department, 230 Ash Street Precinct 4Joshua Eaton School, 365 Summer Avenue Precinct 5Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Avenue Precinct 6Barrows School, 16 Edgemont Avenue Precinct 7Birch Meadow School, 27 Arthur B Lord Drive Precinct 8Wood End School, 85 Sunset Rock Lane Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street The date of posting being not less than fourteen (14) days prior toOctober 18,2021,the date set for Special Town Meeting in this Warrant. I also caused a posting of this WarrantSpecial Town Meeting,tobe published on the Town of Reading website on _______________, 2021. _____________________________________________ Constable A true copy Attest: _____________________________________________ Laura Gemme, Town Clerk 2 SPECIAL TOWN WARRANT COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. To any of the Constables of the Town of Reading, Greetings: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in the Local Elections and Town affairs, to meet in accordance with Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2020and Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021and through the Zoom platform onMONDAY, the EIGHTEENTHDAY of OCTOBERA.D., 2021 atseven thirty acted upon and determined exclusively by Town Meeting Members in accordance with the provisions of the Reading Home Rule Charter. Members of the public may access and witness the deliberations and actions taken at the SpecialTown Meeting in the following manner: RCTV,Facebook,or on local public access television. Town Meeting members and Town officials shall receive a link to join the Zoom video conferencing platform to participate in the SpecialTown Meeting. Non-Town Meeting Members who are registered voters residing in the Town who wish to participate in the SpecialTown Meeting must submit a request to participate to the Town Clerk not less than 48 hours in advance of the SpecialTown Meeting, and when submitting this request, non-Town Meeting Members who wish to make a comment, ask a question, or otherwise address Town Meeting, should contact Town Clerk Laura Gemme (lgemme@ci.reading.ma.usor 781-942-6647) with the following information: (a) First and Last Name, (b) Street Address, (c) Phone Number, (d) Email Address, and (e) Article(s) he or she would like to speak to, and once verified, shall receive follow up information with specific participation instructions for the meeting. If, onOctober 18, 2021, the Town Meeting elects not to hold the SpecialTown Meeting remotely, then the Town Meeting shall adjourn to Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 62 Oakland Road, Reading on ThursdayOctober 21, 2021at seven thirty the evening. ARTICLE 1To hear and acton the reports of the SelectBoard, School Committee, Library Trustees, Municipal Light Board, Finance Committee, Bylaw Committee, Town Manager, Town Accountantand any other Town Official, Board or Committee. Select Board 3 ARTICLE 2To choose all other necessary Town Officers and Boards or Committees and determine what instructions shall be given to Town Officers and Boardsor Committees, and to see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate by borrowing or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, for the purpose of funding Town Officers and Boards or Committees to carry out the instructions given to them, or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 3To see if the Town will vote to amend the FY 2022-32Capital Improvements Program as provided for in Section 7-7 of the Reading Home Rule Charter and as previously amended, or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 4 the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2021, as adopted under Article 16of the Annual Town Meeting of April 26, 2021; and tosee if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to be added to the amounts appropriated under said Article, as amended, for the operation of the Town and its government, or take any other action with respect thereto. Finance Committee ARTICLE 5To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs ofmaking Police Station Improvements, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related thereto, and to authorize the Town Manager to apply for a grant or grants to be used to defray the cost of any portion of these improvements; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 6To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of making energy and water conservationand similar improvements to Town owned properties, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related theretoto pay costs of this project, said sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Town Manager, the School Committee, and/or the Superintendent of Schools,and to authorize the Town Manager to apply for a grant or grants to be used to defray the cost of any portion of these improvements; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board 4 ARTICLE 7To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of replacing the Auburn Water Tank, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related thereto, which amount will supplement funds previously appropriated under Article 17 of the 2019 Annual Town Meeting to pay costs of this project, said sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Town Manager, and to authorize the Town Manager to apply for a grant or grants to be used to defray the cost of any portion of these improvements;or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 8To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board toacquire by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise, on such terms and conditions as the Select Board shall determine, an easementover a portion of Gazebo Circlefor the purpose of accessing 160 Hopkins Street-61)and further, to authorize the Select Board to enter into all agreements and take all related actions necessary or appropriate to carry out said acquisition and other acts authorized herein; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 9To see if the Town will vote to (1) authorize the Select Board to acquire by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise,on such terms and conditions as the Select Board shall determine, a portion ofland shown asAssessors Map 44 as Parcel 24 andis more specifically shown as Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on an Approval Not Required Plan prepared by Massachusetts,revision date of December 9, 2020 and which plan is on file with the Town Clerk,for not more than $2,250,000.00 (two million two hundred fiftythousand dollars); (2) raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to payfor the cost of the acquisitionand all other costs related and incidental thereto; and(3) authorize the Select Board to enter into all agreements and take all related actions necessary or appropriate to carry out said acquisition and other acts authorized herein; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board 5 and you are directed to serve this Warrant,along with the written request of Town Moderator Alan Fouldsdated September 9, 2021to hold this Special Town Meeting remotely, by posting an attested copy thereof in at least one (1) public place in each precinct of the Town not less than fourteen (14) days prior to October 18, 2021, or providing ina manner such as electronic submission, holding for pickup or mailing, an attested copy of said Warrant to each Town Meeting Member. Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the time appointed for said meeting. th Given under our hands this __day of ___________, 2021. _______________________ Karen Gately Herrick, Chair _______________________ Anne DJ Landry, Vice Chair _______________________ Mark L Dockser, Secretary _______________________ Carlo Bacci _______________________ Chris Haley SELECT BOARDOF READING _______________________________ , Constable 6 September _8__________, 2021 DELIVERED BY EMAIL Dear Members of the Select Board, In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the federal, state and local advisories to practice social distancing and avoid the congregation of crowds, I request approval to conduct the Town of Reading's Special Town Meeting, scheduled to commence on October 18, 2021, through remote participation via Zoom Webinar videoconferencing platform in accordance with IT department and the positive experience we had with prior remote Town Meetings, that the Zoom Webinar videoconferencing platform is suitable to use to hold the Special Town Meetings. In addition, I have consulted with Laura ator for the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), and I have confirmed that the meeting will comply with the ADA, if held over Zoom. I hereby certify that: (A) I have tested the Zoom videoconferencing platform; and (B) the Zoom videoconferencing platform satisfactorily enables the Town Meeting to be conducted in substantially the same manner as if the meetings occurred in person at a physical location and in accordance with the operational and functional requirements set forth in the Acts. I further certify that the Zoom system provides for: (i) the Moderator, Town Meeting members, Town officials and any other interested members of the public to identify and hear the Moderator and each Town Meeting member who attends and participates in the remotely-held Town Meetings, as well as any other individuals who participate in the remotely-held Town Meeting; (ii) the ability to determine if a quorum is present; (iii) a Town Meeting member, Town official or other individual to request recognition by the Moderator without prior authorization; provided, however, that, to the extent technologically feasible, the request is visible or audible to the public in real time and upon review of the recording of the Town Meeting, preserved according to the Acts; (iv) the Moderator to determine when a Town Meeting member wishes to be recognized to speak, make a motion, raise a point of order or object to a request for unanimous consent; (v) the Moderator to recognize a Town Meeting member, Town official or other individual to speak and to enable that person to speak; (vi) the ability to conduct a roll call vote; (vii) any interested members of the public to access the meetings remotely for purposes of witnessing the deliberations and actions taken at the Town Meeting; and (viii) the Town Meeting to be recorded. Sincerely, Alan E. Foulds Alan E. Foulds Town Moderator 7 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. Officer's Return, Town of Reading: By virtue of this Warrant, I ______________________________, on October 18,2021 notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote on Town affairs, to meet at the place and at the time specified by posting attested copies of this Special Town Meeting Warrant, along with the written request of Town Moderator Alan Foulds dated September 9, 2021asking that this Special Town Meeting be held by remote participation pursuant to St. 2020, c. 92, §8and St. 2021, c. 20, §9, in the following public places within the Town of Reading: Precinct 1J. Warren Killam School, 333 Charles Street Precinct 2 Reading Police Station, 15 Union Street Precinct 3Reading Municipal Light Department, 230 Ash Street Precinct 4Joshua Eaton School, 365 Summer Avenue Precinct 5Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Avenue Precinct 6Barrows School, 16 Edgemont Avenue Precinct 7Birch Meadow School, 27 Arthur B Lord Drive Precinct 8Wood End School, 85 Sunset Rock Lane Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street The date of posting being not less than fourteen (14) days prior toOctober 18,2021,the date set for Special Town Meeting in this Warrant. I also caused a posting of this WarrantSpecial Town Meeting,tobe published on the Town of Reading website on _______________, 2021. _____________________________________________ Constable A true copy Attest: _____________________________________________ Laura Gemme, Town Clerk 8 SPECIAL TOWN WARRANT COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. To any of the Constables of the Town of Reading, Greetings: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in the Local Elections and Town affairs, to meet in accordance with Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2020and Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021and through the Zoom platform onMONDAY, the EIGHTEENTHDAY of OCTOBERA.D., 2021. atseven thirty acted upon and determined exclusively by Town Meeting Members in accordance with the provisions of the Reading Home Rule Charter. Members of the public may access and witness the deliberations and actions taken at the SpecialTown Meeting in the following manner: RCTV,Facebook,or on local public access television. Town Meeting members and Town officials shall receive a link to join the Zoom video conferencing platform to participate in the SpecialTown Meeting. Non-Town Meeting Members who are registered voters residing in the Town who wish to participate in the SpecialTown Meeting must submit a request to participate to the Town Clerk not less than 48 hours in advance of the SpecialTown Meeting, and when submitting this request, non-Town Meeting Members who wish to make a comment, ask a question, or otherwise address Town Meeting, should contact Town Clerk Laura Gemme (lgemme@ci.reading.ma.usor 781-942-6647) with the following information: (a) First and Last Name, (b) Street Address, (c) Phone Number, (d) Email Address, and (e) Article(s) he or she would like to speak to, and once verified, shall receive follow up information with specific participation instructions for the meeting. If, onOctober 18, 2021, the Town Meeting elects not to hold the SpecialTown Meeting remotely, then the Town Meeting shall adjourn to Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 62 Oakland Road, Reading on ThursdayOctober 21, 2021at seven thirty the evening. ARTICLE 1To hear and acton the reports of the SelectBoard, School Committee, Library Trustees, Municipal Light Board, Finance Committee, Bylaw Committee, Town Manager, Town Accountantand any other Town Official, Board or Committee. Select Board 9 Background:This article appears on the Warrant for all Town Meetings. At this Special Town Meeting, the Moderator has requested that reports be submitted in writing in advance, although there are no known reports at this time. ARTICLE 2To choose all other necessary Town Officers and Boards or Committees and determine what instructions shall be given to Town Officers and Boards or Committees, and to see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate by borrowing or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, for the purpose of funding Town Officers and Boards or Committees to carry out the instructions given to them, or take any other action with respectthereto. Select Board Background:This Article appears on the Warrant of all Town Meetings. There are no known Instructional Motions at this time. The Town Moderator requires that all proposed Instructional Motions be submitted to the Town Clerk prior to Town Meeting so that Town Meeting Members made. Instructional Motions are normally held until the end of all other business at Town Meeting. ARTICLE 3To see if the Town will vote to amend the FY 2022-32Capital Improvements Program as provided for in Section 7-7 of the Reading Home Rule Charter and as previously amended, or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board Background:This Article is included in every Town Meeting Warrant. The Reading General No funds may be appropriated for any capital item unless such item is included in the Capital Improvements Program, and is scheduled for funding inthe Fiscal Bond ratings agencies also want to ensure that changes to a long-term Capital Improvements Program (CIP) are adequately described. The following changes are proposed to the FY2022FY2032CIP(current year plus ten years): General Fund FY22: +$385,000 net changes $185,000 DPW Snow holder #2 c480 2103 move up one year and add $5k $140,000 Window safety film to supplement the Building Security Project budget $ 60,000GIS flyover (move up one year to meet new State project schedule) Debt Energy Improvements II (add $0.5milFY23 cost) Police Station Improvements (add $1.5milFY23 cost) FY23:+$56,000 net changes $111,000 DPW Snow Primoth SW4S (move up 1yr) +$100,000 Lowell Street paving project (increased to $500k) $100,000 Strout Avenue Improvements (safer Town Forest access) $100,000 Memorial Park rock wall repairs (move up 5 yrs) 10 $ 35,000 Fire Hose replacement (move up 1yr) +$25,000 DPW Mower TORO gang 2007 (increased to $150k) -$50,000 Fire Passenger Car #1 move out one year to FY24 -$50,000 PBC Funding (reduced from $100k) -$55,000 DPW Ford Pickup for P/F/C moved out one year to FY24 -$60,000 Adm Svc: GIS Flyover planimetrics (movedup one year to FY22) -$200,000 Birch Meadow ES site improvements (move out one year to FY24) Debt Community Sustainability (add $1.0mil FY24 cost) FY24+ Various other changes made Enterprise Funds Water FY22: +$435,000 $400,000 Emerson Avenue Water Main work (increasedfund atNovember TM) $35,000 Unidirectional flushing program (moved up three yearsfund atNovember TM) FY23: +$57,500 $40,000 Replace W-20 Trailer (1999) $35,000 Unidirectionalflushing program (moved up three years) -$17,500Engineering vehicle shared with Sewer moved out one year and +$12,500 for hybrid Note: Auburn Water Tank increased by $2.5 million of 20yr debt/grants/reserves FY24+ Various changes made Enterprise Funds Sewer FY22: +$250,000 +$250,000Sturges Sewer Station project (increasedfund atNovember TM) FY23: -$17,500 -$17,500 Engineering vehicle shared with Water moved out one year and +$12,500 for hybrid FY24+ Various changes made Enterprise Funds Storm Water FY22: None FY23: None FY24+ Various changes made 11 Finance Committee Report:The Finance Committee recommends the proposed amendments to the FY 2022FY 2031Capital Improvements Program by a vote of xxx at their meeting on September 13, 2021. Placing items in the Capital Improvement Program is a prerequisite first step but in itself does not authorize spending funds towards these items Bylaw Committee Report:No report. ARTICLE 4 the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2021, as adopted under Article 16of the Annual Town Meeting of April 26, 2021; and to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to be added to the amounts appropriated under said Article, as amended, for the operation of the Town and its government, or take any other action with respect thereto. Finance Committee Background: General Fund Wages and Expenses Account LineDescriptionDecreaseIncrease B99 BenefitsHealth Insurance Premiums -$375,000$375,000 C99 -CapitalPlease see Article 3 for details$385,000 G92 Administrative Non-Union Pay & Class Study$40,000 Services Expenses H91 Public Economic Development Liaison-$15,000$15,000 Services Wages H92 Public Economic Devel. expenses +$15,000$10,000 Services Expenses-$25,000 J91 Public Safety Animal Control -$30,000$30,000 Wages J92 Public Safety Regional Animal Control +$25,000$25,000 Expenses K94 DPW Street Street/Traffic Lights -$20,000$20,000 Lights Subtotals$450,000$450,000 Net Operating Expenses$0 From Free Cash$0 Finance Committee Report:At their meeting on September 13, 2021the Finance Committee voted xxxto recommend this Article to Town Meeting. Bylaw Committee Report:No report. ARTICLE 5To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs ofmaking Police Station Improvements, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and 12 related thereto, and to authorize the Town Manager to apply for a grant or grants to be used to defray the cost of any portion of these improvements; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board Background:At April 2021 Town Meeting, this project was included on the capital plan but described as undergoing cost evaluation, and also waiting for that Town Meeting to approve a suggested organizational change to move Public Health under Public Safety as an independent department. The Police station as built left a large so- that project on budget and also to allow for future assessment of department/community needs. As part of the Dispatch renovation that is underway, as well as the Building Security project now completed, the building received a very thorough evaluation by Public Safety, Facilities and Technology staff. The final plan calls for requesting a Training/Meeting Room in that unfinished space at a cost of $0.8 million, and then when that work is completed to renovate the existing first floor conference room into offices for Public Health, the Coalition for Prevention and Support, and our Mental Health positionadded by Town Meeting last spring. These costs are all-in, including demolition, renovation, and furniture/fixtures/equipment. Training has always been important to the department, and even during lean budget years that budget has been protected. Police Reform calls for even more training, at a time when the availability of training resources has shifted to online. A larger dedicated room in the secure section of the building will allow more in-house training to be conducted, inviting other nearby agencies to participate when space allows. This room will also serve as a Command Center during emergencies, and was called out by the Building Security study as a far more appropriate The first-floor office location will allow full and easy public access to Health, Coalition and Mental Health staff without the need to enter the secure sections of the building. Placing these staff members together, even though they technically are in different departments, also makes a great deal of sense to foster collaboration. We continue to believe this is a model for future change as well as an earlier funding of a Mental Health position than we anticipated. The Town Accountant does not believe any portion of this project would qualify for the Federal ARPA grant. However indirectly and separately from this Article, the grant covers lost revenue, a concept she is still working on. Finance Committee Report:At their meeting on September 13, 2021the Finance Committee voted xxxto recommend this Article to Town Meeting. Bylaw Committee Report:No report. ARTICLE 6To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of making 13 energy and water conservation and similar improvements to Town owned properties, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related theretoto pay costs of this project, said sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Town Manager, the School Committee, and/or the Superintendent of Schools, and to authorize the TownManager to apply for a grant or grants to be used to defray the cost of any portion of these improvements; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board Background:Annual Town Meeting in 2009 approved $4.95 million in 15-year debt for in 2008. A hurdle with RMLD could not be overcome at that point, but the improvements went ahead resulting in significant energy (and dollar) savings for our public buildings(and budget). Here is the background presented to that 2009 Town Meeting, especially for the benefit of newer Town Meeting members, as this Article 7 makes a very similar request again: Reading Public Schools and the Town of Reading have launched an exciting new project to evaluate and then implement a set of comprehensive energy conservation measures in our municipal and school buildings. The Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC)process, as set forth in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 25A, Section 11I, allows a municipality to infrastructure improvements to reduce energy and water consumption with construction costs paid for through the savings generated from the project. The Subsequent Town Meeting in November 2008 approved an expenditure of no more than $120,000 for consulting services and an initial energy audit. The cost of the audit would only be paid if a project does not go forward. In response to a Request for Qualifications, seven leading national ESCOs submitted responses. In accordance with the state-mandated process, the evaluation resulted in the selection of NORESCO of Westborough, Massachusetts as the top- rated firm to partner with Reading. The ESPC Project began with the technical energy audit of all fifteen town and school buildings. The audit process involved comprehensive measurement and analysis of building energy and water use. Teams of energy auditors utilized meters, monitors, data loggers, surveys and on- site inspection to determine how our buildings use energy and establish an energy consumption baseline. A team of engineers then evaluated and designed energy conservation measures that could be undertaken to reduce building energy consumption from the baseline level. This team of energy engineers and specialists presented these alternatives to the Town. As this Warrant goes to print in advance of Town Meeting, Town staff is in the process of finalizing the highest priority measures that best meets the needs and objectives of the community. In addition, a variety of financing options are being evaluated, including seeking debt authorization for some (or all) of this project from Town Meeting through this Article. If the entire project is funded with debt through this Article, debt service will first be paid from energy savings. Any remaining debt service would be paid from the annual share of debt and capital. Town staff is diligently monitoring Federal and State stimulus funding, to see if any (or all) of this project is eligible. In light of the volatile status of stimulus funding and of the financial markets, the widest possible set of financial tools is particularly important at this time. Once the project scope has been finalized, and Town Meeting has authorized debt (if and as needed), the ESCO, acting as general contractor, will design/build the infrastructure 14 improvements over the course of one to two years,depending upon the number of measures well as sub- qualification criteria. Rea management team during all phases of the project and key information will be communicated to Town officials and the general public through a blogincluding project schedules, tasks and timelines. (also see attached presentation) We sold 15-year debt to fund this first phaseof energy improvements, with the last debt payments due in FY25. We had planned to investigate a second phaseof energy improvements to be timed to begin around FY25, but arecent push to join Green Communities has produced the desire for faster implementation, which is certainly affordable at this time. As noted above, for that first phase Town, School and Facilities staff worked with an independent consultant and created a complex procurement process, resulting in the selection of NORESCO. We have enjoyed a great working relationship since then, as they measure and inspect our energy use because they are financially on the hook to guarantee minimum savings. A second phase is far simpler to implement, by simply submitting a change order to our current contractual relationship with NORESCO, allowing us to utilize their expert knowledge of our buildings. A working group consisting of the Superintendent of Schools, School CFO, Facilities Director, Assistant Facilities Director and Town Manager met with NORESCO since last winter to discuss a possible phase II. The initial list of potential building energy improvements (shown below on the left-hand side) was about $13 million, offering annual savings of $326,400 or a 39.7-year payback. Over the summer, Town and School staff worked with NORESCO, examining the cost/payback of each individual item underlying the summary table below, for each Town and School building. We added some items, received updated prices, considered the current capital plan which listed a placeholder for $4.5 million of improvements. We favored replacing existing equipment that would need it over the next few years, and then added in good payback (< ~10 yrs) items, and agreed on the following suggested improvements (shown below on the right-hand side): 9ƭƷ /ƚƭƷΫ9ƭƷ {ğǝźƓŭƭtğǤĬğĭƉ9ƭƷ /ƚƭƷΫ9ƭƷ {ğǝźƓŭƭtğǤĬğĭƉ LED Lighting$ 1,230,600$156,700 7.9$ 1,235,887$151,335 8.2 New Boilers$ 3,040,700$ 10,300295.2$ 2,049,788$ 9,855208.0 New Chiller$ 176,400$ 2,60067.8$ 404,754$ 9,73141.6 Upgrade Energy Mgt Sys$ 726,600$ 27,80026.1$ 499,467$ 35,12814.2 EE Motors & VFDs$ 133,350$ 12,60010.6$ 187,579$ 8,20622.9 New RTUs$ 331,000$ 6,90048.0 New HVAC$ 134,000$ 3,30040.6 New EE Transformers$ 79,700$ 4,00019.9$ 214,607$ 10,32820.8 Building Weatherization$ 26,250$ 2,40010.9$ 194,876$ 14,41013.5 Plug Load Controls$ 78,750$ 8,1009.7$ 5,084 $ 5439.4 Refrigeration Controls$ 56,000$ 2,60021.5 Boiler Controls$ 76,000$ 4,10018.5 Solar Photovoltaics$ 1,308,600$ 71,60018.3 Coolidge HVAC Upgrades$ 5,562,000$ 13,400415.1 υ ЊЋͲВЎВͲВЎЉυЌЋЏͲЍЉЉ ЌВ͵Аυ ЍͲАВЋͲЉЍЋυЋЌВͲЎЌЏ ЋЉ͵Љ *March 2021 figures*August 2021 figures 15 This selected combination with a $4.8 million cost retains as much energy savings as practical ($240k) and cuts the payback about in half to 20.0 years. Note that this approach has two very different elements. First, the $2.05 million of boiler replacements at Parker MS and the Police Station were listed as stand-alone projects in the capital plan, and needing attention in the near-term. They were subsequently rolled into this project and removed as individual capital line items, because doing them as part of a project is far more cost- application. This portion of the project is not meant to be financially efficient in terms of cost/payback as shown abovewith a 200+ year payback.Second, the remaining $2.75 million of improvements have an 11.9-year payback and are very cost/payback effective. If approved by October Town Meeting, we will be in a position to execute a contract that guarantees these costs through December 2021, and puts NORESCO on the hook for the guaranteed energy savings (if not approvedby Town Meeting, as is the standard industry practice, we will owe Norescoa fee of about $60,000for this work that was set aside with nd surplus energy funds from last year). At the Green Communities Forum on September 22 NORESCO will describe individual elements of the project in more detail, and the MAPC will discuss the importance of this project towards the Green Communities application. As currently designed, a 15.7% energy savings is expected and further improvements also planned, which together secure the needed 20% savings. Note that because of our energy improvements done in 2009, which cannot be counted towards a current Green Communities application, Reading had a higher hurdle than most communities to further reduce energy consumption. Finance Committee Report:At their meeting on September 13, 2021the Finance Committee voted xxxto recommend this Article to Town Meeting. Bylaw Committee Report:No report. ARTICLE 7To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of replacing the Auburn Water Tank, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related thereto, which amount will supplement funds previously appropriated under Article 17 of the 2019 Annual Town Meeting to pay costs of this project, said sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Town Manager, and to authorize the Town Manager to apply for a grant or grants to be used to defray the cost of any portion of these improvements; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board Background:A Special Town Meeting in April 2021 authorized the Select Board to execute ground leases for temporary telecommunication facilities at the site of the Auburn Water Tank, scheduled for replacement. The project background for that Town Meeting is repeated below: e $4.5 million in debt to replace the Auburn Street water tank. This followed a couple of years of discussion as to either paint and repair the aging tank every 15 or so years, or replacing it with a composite elevated tank that would not require as much maintenance or any regular painting. 16 as the equipment from several cell carriers from the Water Tank. Building and leasing a cell tower was one of the handful of pre-Override revenue enhancement ideas to come from Financial Forums held in the early 2010s, and Town Meeting approved $100,000 in FY17 for preliminary cell tower design. The 2018 Annual Town Meeting voted to fund $400,000 for the Town to build a permanent cell tower (planned for FY20). However, a few neighbors attended a summer 2018 public meeting and subsequently the Town Manager halted the project, and requested that November 2018 Town Meeting remove the $400,00 funding. A request for $100,000 in order to relocate the temporary cell tower for both themselves and Town equipment. In the winter 2019-2020, cell carriers were non-responsive to a Request for Proposal (RFP) asking them to build a temporary tower. In the spring 2020 the Select Board was provided an update which reviewed the past exploration of building a temporary or permanent cell tower, and asked about next steps. In late 2020 the Select Board voted to allow the Town to build a temporary structure but only for its own equipment. The cell carriers made a presentation to the Board in the spring 2021 showing the loss of cell coverage for a large section of town, and they Board voted to accept this offer. This Article authorizes ground leases, which allows the Town to issue an RFP to again request that a bidder build a temporary structure at the location of the Auburn Water Tank, to be used during the construction project to replace that Tank. Two full construction seasons are forecast, requiring a 30-month term of the ground leases, although construction might be completed more quickly. The Town will also be issuing an Invitation to Bid (ITB) to buy a new Water Tank, and another RFP to allow the cell carriers back onto the Water Tank after it is built. Both RFPs are expected to be issued at approximately the same time, so that the carriers will have some certainty of coming back onto the Water Tank and therefore more readily pursue their offer to build a temporary structure. The Town expects the cost of the Water Tank project to increase by at least $0.5 million, pending the results of the ITB, and is likely to request that November 2021 Town Meeting allocate additional funds from Water Reserves. Further, recent discussions with the neighborhood have explored additional improvements to the area, including a small park. Any changes to the scope of the Water Tank project should also be shown to and could be funded by November 2021 Town Meeting. In the meanwhile, in the spring 2021 the Town borrowed the $4.5 million of Water Enterprise Fund debt at an attractive rate of 1.25%, and is looking forward to moving ahead with the Water th An update to the Select Board on July 13from Town Engineer Ryan Percival described an updated cost estimate of $5.87 million a copy of that memo and details of the estimate are included in this meeting packet. He describes the cost increases from the initial $4.5 million project as follows: 17 $390,000 storage tank -2+ yr inflation (esp. steel) $300,000 demolition of existing tank lower resale value of materials plus 2+ yr inflation $150,000 soil excavation expanded scope $ 50,000 -water main work expanded scope $ 50,000 engineering costs expanded scope $440,000 increased contingencies follow from the increased costs above One bid was received and the total cost of the project was increased by an additional $1 million. For the final Warrant Report, we will update the section above to include this actual bid, and that change will largely be seen in the cost of the storage tank plus the resulting need for contingency funds. The Town Accountant has ascertained that this project qualifies as an eligible use for the Federal ARPA funds. Note that other projects, such as the Police Station renovation do not qualify. As of this date, the Town has received half of the total expected funds as follows: June 21,2021$1,329,290 August 17, 2021$2,466,826 TOTAL$3,796,116 Closing the Warrant does not require complete and final identification of funds for any project. The article as written allows for debt, grants such as those shown above, and the use of water reserves. Amotion on Town Meeting floor must identify the exactmethods by which the new total of $2.5 million in additional funding needed. th For the FINCOM meeting on September 13, technically you do not need to have identified an exact funding either. However, in order to make a recommendation to Town Meeting, it seems prudent to do so. Town Meeting may then discuss and amend as they see fit. th For the purposes of the September 13FINCOM meeting, we suggest the following allocation as basis to start your discussion. Your final vote will be recorded in the Warrant Report based on your actual recommendation: Debt authorization $1.0 million Federal ARPA grant $1.0 million Water Reserves$0.5 million All public comments we have received since the Financial Forum have been supportive of continuing this project and awarding the bid received at this higher cost. Most have suggested planned debt to $1.0 million from the $1.5 million described at the Financial Forum. It makes good sense for one-time projects to include a component of reserves used up front, instead of th reserves being used annually to pay for debt service. For the discussion on September 13, the use of even more reserves would be reasonable. We have awarded a contract to one of the cell providers, and construction of a temporary cell tower for our equipment and that of the carriers will be underway soon. Finance Committee Report:At their meeting on September 13, 2021the Finance Committee voted xxxto recommend this Article to Town Meeting. 18 Bylaw Committee Report:No report. ARTICLE 8To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board toacquire by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise, on such terms and conditions as the Select Board shall determine, aneasementover Gazebo Circlefor the purpose of accessing 160 Hopkins Street-61)and further, to authorize the Select Board to enter into all agreements and take all related actions necessary or appropriate to carry out said acquisition and other acts authorized herein; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board Background:Still in progress Finance Committee Report:No report, as this will be gifted to the Town. Bylaw Committee Report:No report. ARTICLE 9To see if the Town will vote to (1) authorize the Select Board to acquire by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise, on such terms and conditions as the Select Board shall determine, a portion of land shown as Assessors Map 44 as Parcel 24 and is more specifically shown as Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on an Approval Not Required Plan prepared by 020 with a revision date of December 9, 2020 and which plan is on file with the Town Clerk, for not more than $2,250,000.00 (two million two hundred fifty thousand dollars); (2) raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay for the cost of the acquisition and all other costs related and incidental thereto; and (3) authorize the Select Board to enter into all agreements and take all related actions necessary or appropriate to carry out said acquisition and other acts authorized herein; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board Background:To be determined by the Select Board Finance Committee Report:Action pending. Bylaw Committee Report:No report. 19 and you aredirected to serve this Warrant,along with the written request of Town Moderator Alan Fouldsdated September 9, 2021to hold this Special Town Meeting remotely, by posting an attested copy thereof in at least one (1) public place in each precinct of the Town not less than fourteen (14) days prior to October 18, 2021, or providing in a manner such as electronic submission, holding for pickup or mailing, an attested copy of said Warrant to each Town Meeting Member. Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the time appointed for said meeting. th Given under our hands this __day of ___________, 2021. _______________________ Karen Gately Herrick, Chair _______________________ Anne DJ Landry, Vice Chair _______________________ Mark L Dockser, Secretary _______________________ Carlo Bacci _______________________ Chris Haley SELECT BOARDOF READING _______________________________ , Constable 20 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. Officer's Return, Town of Reading: By virtue of this Warrant, I ______________________________, on November 8,2021 notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote on Town affairs, to meet at the place and at the time specified by posting attested copies of this SubsequentTown Meeting Warrant, along with the written request of Town Moderator Alan Foulds dated September 9, 2021 asking that this SubsequentTown Meeting be held by remote participation pursuant to St. 2020, c. 92, §8and St. 2021, c. 20, §9, in the following public places within the Town of Reading: Precinct 1J. Warren Killam School, 333 Charles Street Precinct 2 Reading Police Station, 15 Union Street Precinct 3Reading Municipal Light Department, 230 Ash Street Precinct 4Joshua Eaton School, 365 Summer Avenue Precinct 5Reading Public Library, 64 MiddlesexAvenue Precinct 6Barrows School, 16 Edgemont Avenue Precinct 7Birch Meadow School, 27 Arthur B Lord Drive Precinct 8Wood End School, 85 Sunset Rock Lane Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street The date of posting being not less than fourteen (14) days priortoNovember 8,2021,the date set for SubsequentTown Meeting in this Warrant. I also caused a posting of this Warrant SubsequentTown Meeting,tobe published on the Town of Reading website on _______________, 2021. _____________________________________________ Constable A true copy Attest: _____________________________________________ Laura Gemme, Town Clerk 21 SUBSEQUENTTOWN WARRANT COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. To any of the Constables of the Town of Reading, Greetings: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in the Local Elections and Town affairs, to meet in accordance with Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2020and Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021and through the Zoom platform onMONDAY, the EIGHTHDAY of NOVEMBERA.D., 2021 atseven thirty upon and determined exclusively by Town Meeting Members in accordance with the provisions of the Reading Home Rule Charter. Members of the public may access and witness the deliberations and actions taken at the SubsequentTown Meeting in the following manner: RCTV,Facebook,or on local public access television. Town Meeting members and Town officials shall receive a link to join the Zoom video conferencing platform to participate in the SubsequentTown Meeting. Non-Town Meeting Members who are registered voters residing in the Town who wish to participate in the SubsequentTown Meeting must submit a request to participate to the Town Clerk not less than 48 hours in advance of the SubsequentTown Meeting, and when submitting this request, non- Town Meeting Members who wish to make a comment, ask a question, or otherwise address Town Meeting, should contact Town Clerk Laura Gemme (lgemme@ci.reading.ma.usor 781- 942-6647) with the following information: (a) First and Last Name, (b) Street Address, (c) Phone Number, (d) Email Address, and (e) Article(s) he or she would like to speak to, and once verified, shall receive follow up information with specific participation instructions for the meeting. If, onNovember 8, 2021, the Town Meeting elects not to hold the SubsequentTown Meeting remotely, then the Town Meeting shall adjourn to Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 62 Oakland Road, ReadingonMondayNovember15, 2021at seven thirty evening. ARTICLE 1To hear and acton the reports of the SelectBoard, School Committee, Library Trustees, Municipal Light Board, Finance Committee, Bylaw Committee, Town Manager, Town Accountantand any other Town Official, Board or Committee. Select Board 22 ARTICLE 2To choose all other necessary Town Officers and Boards or Committees and determine what instructions shall be given to Town Officers and Boards or Committees, and to see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate by borrowing or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, for the purpose of funding Town Officers and Boards or Committees to carry out the instructions given to them, or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 3To see if the Town will vote to amend the FY 2022-32Capital Improvements Program as provided for in Section 7-7 of the Reading Home Rule Charter and as previously amended, or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 4 Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2021, as adopted under Article 16of the Annual Town Meeting of April 26, 2021and amended under Article 4 of the Special Town Meeting of October 18, 2021; and to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to be added to the amounts appropriated under said Article, as amended, for the operation of the Town and its government, or take any other action with respect thereto. Finance Committee ARTICLE 5To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, borrow or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay bills remaining unpaid from prior fiscal years for goods and services actually rendered to the Town, or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 6To see if the Townwill vote to amendSection 4.6 ofthe Zoning Bylaw as follows, with additions being shown in bolditalicsand deletions being struck through: 4.6.2Applicability 4.6.2.1Properties containing single-family or two-family structuresdwellings as a principal useare exempt from Site Plan Review. Routine maintenance, and in-kind replacement of lighting, mechanical systems and landscape features are exempt from Site PlanReview. 4.6.2.2 Except as otherwise specified in Section 4.6.2.1, Site Plan Review is required if the proposed construction, Change of Use,or site alteration involves any of the following: 23 a An increase in gross floor area of 500 square feet or more, via the creation of new floor area, that results in the requirement for or addition of 2 or more parking spaces (regardless of parking- related exemptions or waivers); or b AcChange of uUse (from one use category to another)within a structure containingan existing public,institutional or commercial use;an existingmulti-family dwellingstructure;or a structure containing more than one use; to a use permitted by Special Permit from the CPDC.; c the addition of 2 or more parking spaces, a change to the layout or location of 2 or more parking spaces, an increase in pavement of more than 300 square feet, or the alteration of any driveway. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the requirements of Site Plan Review set forth in other provisions of the Zoning Bylaw. 4.6.2.3Except as otherwise specified in Section 4.6.2.1 or Section 4.6.2.2, Minor Site Plan Review is required if the proposed construction, Change of Use,modification to use,or site alteration involves any of the following: aAn increase in gross floor area of 500 square feet or more either by the creation of new floor area or by the expansion of an existing use into adjacent space within an existing structure; bThe addition of 2 or more parking spaces, a change to the layout or location of 2 or more parking spaces, an increase in pavement of more than 300 square feet, or the alteration of any driveway. Changes that exclusively address minor pre- existing site safety or circulation issues may qualify for Administrative Approval under regulations issued pursuant to Section 4.6.3.1; cA Change of Use within a structure containing an existing public, institutional or commercial use; an existing multi- family dwelling; or a structure containing more than one use, to a use permitted by-right; d.Exterior alteration of 500 square feet or more of horizontal or vertical area that is limited to doors, paint, awnings, railings, step replacement, handicapped ramps or building code compliance measures, for a site within the Business B ZoningDistrict; e.Redevelopment or alteration of a site, or the interior of a building, in such a manner that theproposed site or building function is anticipated to generate unreasonable visual or auditory impacts to 24 abutters; f.An existing site that becomes a nuisance to public health, safety or welfare (i.e. due to routine traffic spillover, excessive noise, site illumination beyond the hours of operation, etc.) as evidenced by substantiated complaints to the Police Department and/or Public ServicesOffice; or g.Outdoor Commerce, Dining, Programming, or Storage. 4.6.3Minor Site PlanReview 4.6.3.1The CPDC, through regulation, may authorize the Community Development Director to grant Administrative Approval for a Minor Site Plan Review, with or without conditions, providedifthe proposed construction, expansion,oralteration orChange of Useis not anticipated to result in anyadverse impact on surroundingareas. or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 7To see if the Town will approve the $317,422,620borrowing authorized by the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District Committee, for the purpose of paying costs of designing, engineering, constructing and equipping the New Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School and related athletic facilities located at 100 Hemlock Road in Wakefield, MA 01880, have an anticipated useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children of at least 50 years and for which theDistrict may be eligible for a school construction grant from the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School Committee. current enrollments, is approximately $8,177,164, which amount will be reduced to the extent of MSBA grants received by the District, resulting in an estimated net share of principal allocable to the Town, exclusive of interest, of approximately $4,548,660. -entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any Project costs the District incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the District and its member municipalities. Any grant that the District may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) seventy- six and eighty-four one hundredths percent (76.84%) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA; or take any other action relative thereto. Select Board 25 ARTICLE 8(petitioned) Section 2.1.3 Notification Within seven (7) days of being notified being elected a Town Meeting Member you shall provide the Town Clerk with your street address and a phone contact number for publication and to renumber the present 3.1.3 to 2.1,4 EtC. 26 and you are directed to serve this Warrant,along with the written request of Town Moderator Alan Fouldsdated September 9, 2021to hold this SubsequentTown Meeting remotely, by posting an attested copy thereof in at least one (1) public place in each precinct of the Town not less than fourteen (14) days prior to November 8, 2021, or providing in a manner such as electronic submission, holding for pickup or mailing, an attested copy of said Warrant to each Town Meeting Member. Hereof fail not and make due returnof this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the time appointed for said meeting. th Given under our hands this __day of ___________, 2021. _______________________ Karen Gately Herrick, Chair _______________________ Anne DJ Landry, Vice Chair _______________________ Mark L Dockser, Secretary _______________________ Carlo Bacci _______________________ Chris Haley SELECT BOARDOF READING _______________________________ , Constable 27 2016-09-22 LAG Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Finance Committee Date: 2021-08-31 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Public Library Location: Community Room Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue Session: Forum Purpose: Financial Forum Version: Draft Attendees: Members - Present: Chair Ed Ross, Vice Chair Jeanne Borawski, Eric Burkhart, Geoffrey Coram, Marianne Downing, Joseph McDonagh (remote), Jackie McCarthy, Mark Zarrow Members - Not Present: Andrew Mclauchlan Others Present: Staff: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom, Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, Library Director Amy Lannon, Fire Chief Greg Burns, Police Chief David Clark, School Superintendent Tom Milaschewski, Assistant DPW Director Chris Cole (remote), DPW Director Jane Kinsella (remote), Administrative Services Director Matt Kraunelis, Human Resources Director Sean Donahue (remote) Select Board Members: Chair Karen Herrick, Vice Chair Anne Landry (remote), Secretary Mark Dockser (remote), Carlo Bacci (remote), Chris Haley School Committee Members: Chair Tom Wise (remote), Vice Chair Shawn Brandt (remote), Erin Gaffen (remote), Sarah McLaughlin (remote), Carla Nazzaro, Chuck Robinson Members from the Public: Angela Binda, Bob Holmes; Remote: Nancy Docktor, Martha Moore Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held in-person and remotely via Zoom. Chair Ed Ross called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm. School Committee Chair Tom Wise called the School Committee to order at 7:10 pm. Select Board was already in session having started a meeting at 6:00 pm. Mr. Ross began the Financial Forum by introducing the Committees goal and its members, explaining the purpose and agenda of the Forum, and reviewing the upcoming Finance Committee meeting schedule. Mr. LeLacheur explained that the scheduled Special Town Meeting in September would not work for logistic reasons. It may be rescheduled to October, or articles can just wait until November Town Meeting. If an October Town th Meeting is scheduled, the warrant would be closed on September 14, so it would be too 28 th early to vote on warrant articles at the September 13 meeting, but the Committee is welcome to meet that evening to conduct other business if needed. Review Federal Grant Funding: Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom provided an overview of how the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are intended to be used. The law provides resources for the COVID Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to local governments to respond to the public health emergency caused by COVID. The funds are available until December 31, 2026. This is guidance from the federal government on what the funds can be used for. Reading is going to be awarded just under $7.6 million which is a combined municipal allocation specific to Reading, and Middlesex County allocation, which is reallocated to the communities that make up Middlesex County. Eligible uses for the ARPA grant include: Public Health Spending for COVID mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral health, and certain health and public safety staff; Economic Impacts of the Public Health Emergency, such as economic harm to workers, households, small businesses, affected industries, and the public sector; Loss of Public Sector Revenue payments to use for services based on the lost revenue due to the pandemic; Premium Pay for Essential Workers that can be used to pay the essential workers who were exposed to the greatest health risks; and Water Sewer and Broadband Infrastructure to improve access to clean drinking water, support wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and expand access to broadband internet. The funds cannot be used for a rainy day or reserve fund, or a deposit to the pension fund. The guidelines are intended to help the Town identify the COVID impact on the community and use the funds to address those impacts. Chris Haley asked if the funds could be used for the water tower and to bring wifi to downtown businesses. Ms. Angstrom explained that it is not COVID related, but points toward clean water, and would need to confirm if a portion of it could be covered. The internet infrastructure is intended more for low income families who do not have broadband access. Chuck Robinson asked if the funds cannot be used to replenish rainy day funds, could they be used to pay for things that might otherwise have been paid for using rainy day funds. Ms. Angstrom stated that it might be used to cover lost revenue. Carla Nazzaro encouraged a focus on the senior population. The well-being of seniors could be improved if nursing facilities had appropriate aids making an appropriate wage. Mark Dockser echoed Ms. Nazzaros comments and suggested looking at longer term benefits, assessing the needs of facilities and resources for seniors. He also asked if getting lead out of pipes would be considered a potential use of funds. Tom Wise suggested strategic thought of the categories because there are more single income families, who have a reduced ability to pay for full day kindergarten, and many students are behind due to COVID impacts. Shawn Brandt suggested vocational training might be a potential investment because people of color had higher rates of unemployment due to COVID. Marianne Downing proposed supplementing low wage workers, such as substitute teachers and paraprofessionals, as they are essential for the school system. Ed Ross asked if there are expenses that are already being incurred for health response, in particular mental health, that ARPA funds could be used to replenish. Ms. Angstrom explained that the Coalition is already in place to identify substance abuse and mental health issues, and the salary of the mental health professional, or a portion of it, could potentially be covered by the grant. However, they would have to prove that time spent was COVID related. The Town also has to consider that it is not an endless pool of money. All parties echoed the need to assess the needs in the community, who would be tasked with those decisions, and whether to create a subcommittee to explore those needs. Long Term Financial Planning: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur reviewed the financial health of the Town. He discussed the benefits and cautions of incurring debt, upcoming projects that are already approved for borrowing, and potential projects for borrowing. He also reviewed the current Capital Plan, 29 with spending just under 5.5% for the next three years. At the Financial Forum in October, the FY23 budget will be previewed. There will be approximately a 3.25%-3.5% increase in the operating budget for Schools and the Town based on assumptions. Twelve years ago, the Town conducted its first phase of performance contracting in partnership with Noresco to make energy improvements to Town buildings. Noresco guaranteed certain savings and would pay the Town if promised savings were not met. Noresco continues to work with the Town to make sure preventative maintenance is kept up. They have not yet had to make a payment to the Town, and significant amounts of money and energy have been saved over the last ten years. The Town planned to revisit phase two of performance contracting in 15 years, when the debt was paid off, but the opportunity to join Green Communities prompted the Town to review two years sooner. Noresco will be at the Climate Advisory Committee meeting in September and will provide more information. There is a proposed $5 million for improvements that will save energy and money, and meet a key need to join Green Communities. Because of the work Reading has already done in energy improvements, it is a little more difficult to meet the 20% energy reduction that Green Communities asks for. The proposed improvements can reach 16% reduction, but as long as the Town has a plan for the other 4%, Noresco and MAPC guarantee pricing and sourcing through December in the current uncertain and competitive market for materials. If a Town Meeting is held in October, this project could be included on the warrant. If it has to wait until November Town Meeting, it may still be doable, but the timeline will be extremely tight. Another proposed project is for $1.5 million for the Police Station. It would be a two-part project with part one converting unused space in the secure section of the building into a training/conference room. The second part would be to convert the former conference room in the public part of the building into offices for Public Health, the Coalition, and the Mental Health Professional, which will allow more public access to those resources and privacy for guests seeking those services. The Water Tower project was put out to bid. However, options for replacement, and the cost of those options, will be reassessed, as bids came in much higher than budgeted due to the current price of steel. It may be brought back to Town Meeting to ask for additional funds, or the Town may just wait. When the project was originally proposed a few years ago, it was more cost effective to replace it then to repaint and maintain it. Taking the tank offline will not cripple the water system, as it is a redundant water supply, and the Town now has two connections to MWRA. Mr. LeLacheur recommended listing the project on every Town Meeting warrant for the foreseeable future so it is there and can be done when the time is right, or just left until the next Town Meeting. There may be enough in water reserve funds to cover the cost, but the Town needs to decide how much it is willing to pay for it. Other potential projects include: window safety film, especially for schools; Mass GIS flyover; Lowell Street repaving from the square to West Street; Strout Avenue sports park and parking area; Memorial Park rock wall repairs; and Birch Meadow Elementary site improvements. Other projects not currently on the Capital Plan include the Birch Meadow Master Plan, which is expected to cost between $9 million-$11 million, and larger projects such as Killam Elementary School, that do not yet have a cost associated with them. The Northeast Metropolitan Vocational School in Wakefield plans to build a new school, which is estimated to cost $317 million. It is a complicated system, as the school cannot have a negative vote from any of the towns in their district. However, they have not been transparent. Reading would be assessed $250,000 for 30 years for this project. The voke school is now becoming a financial issue that it was not before, and Mr. LeLacheur stated that he welcomes discussion on it. There is no question that vocational schools provide a great education, but there needs to be more transparency in their financial practices. 30 Mr. LeLacheur finished his presentation with a summary of land use. The Town owns a lot of land and the Committee may want to study the land and its possible uses. School Committee and Select Board have talked about what they need for land. Angela Binda, Recreation Committee member and resident of 10 Orchard Park Drive, spoke about the Birch Meadow Master Plan, the grouping of the projects into critical, sustainable, and visionary, and grouping by cost, and the potential for a phased in approach, and outside funding, for the many features of the project. The top project considered critical, Plan to the Capital Plan. On a motion by Mr. Dockser, and seconded by Mr. Haley, the Select Board voted 5- 0-0 to adjourn at 9:54 pm. Roll call vote: Mark Dockser-Yes, Chris Haley-Yes, Carlo Bacci-Yes, Anne Landry- Yes, Karen Herrick-Yes. On a motion by Ms. Nazzaro, and seconded by Chuck Robinson, the School Committee voted 5-0-0 to adjourn at 9:55 pm, as Ms. McLaughlin had left the meeting. Roll call vote: Carla Nazzaro-Yes, Chuck Robinson-Yes, Erin Gaffen-Yes, Shawn Brandt-Yes, Tom Wise-Yes. Minutes: On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Mr. Zarrow, the Finance Committee voted 7-0-1 to approve the meeting minutes of August 18, 2021, with Mr. Burkhart abstaining as he was not present at that meeting. Roll call vote: Joe McDonagh-Yes, Jackie McCarthy-Yes, Jeanne Borawski-Yes, Mark Zarrow-Yes, Geoffrey Coram-Yes, Eric Burkhart-Abstain, Marianne Downing- Yes, Ed Ross-Yes. New Business: The Committee briefly discussed the upcoming meeting schedule. Mr. LeLacheur noted that th if there is no new business prior to September 13, that meeting may not be needed. Prior to the pandemic, the Committee had discussed whether to vote to move money into a stabilization fund. The reason to move funds into a stabilization fund is to reduce the amount of free cash, and spending from the stabilization fund would require a 2/3 vote of Town Meeting. Mr. Ross noted that it would be a worthy discussion and may help ease the upcoming transition for the next Town Manager following Mr. LeLacheurs departure in February. On a motion by Ms. Borawski, and seconded by Ms. Downing, the Finance Committee voted 8-0-0 to adjourn at 10:04 pm. Roll call vote: Joe McDonagh-Yes, Jackie McCarthy-Yes, Jeanne Borawski-Yes, Mark Zarrow-Yes, Geoffrey Coram-Yes, Eric Burkhart-Yes, Marianne Downing-Yes, Ed Ross-Yes. 31