HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-04-29 Annual Town Meeting MinutesANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Virtual Town Meeting April 29, 2021
Via Zoom Webinar
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Alan E. Foulds, at 7:33 PM, there being a quorum present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all.
Moderator Opening Remarks
As we stated on Monday evening we traditionally begin a session with the budget so that we can finish it in
one night. In a minute we will have a motion to move Article 16, so that we can take it up. Assuming that
happens, here's how we proceed with the budget. It's a slightly different process than with other articles.
You'll note that in your packet of motions the budget is broken into several groups. We start with a general
presentation of the entire budget.
Mr. Ross will give a Finance Committee Report, and Mr. LeL.acheur and Mr. Robinson will give an overview.
Following that, each group of line items will be taken up separately - each with its own presentation.
Amendments to that particular grouping are permitted at that time. Two proposed amendments have been
submitted - one in Section C (Capital) and one in Section L (Library).
Once discussion ends, we vote on any proposed amendments to that section. Then we move on to the next
section, without voting on the section as a whole.
When we have finished all of the sections, we will recess for a few minutes as the various boards reconcile
any differences from the original budget, if any. When they are ready, a motion for the entire amount will
be made and voted upon.
Chuck Robinson, School Committee asked for a Point of Personal Privilege
Thank you, Mr. Moderator
Good evening Town Meeting Members. For those who know me well one of my strong suits is not heaping
praise on individuals but before we present the School Budget I would like to recognize and thank our
Superintendent Dr John Doherty for his 34 years of service to the Reading Public Schools and our Students.
Before becoming Superintendent Or Doherty was a very successful and well-respected Science Teacher and
Principal at Coolidge Middle School and Assistant Superintendent of the District.
I remember the day well back in 2009 when Dr Doherty first became Acting Superintendent when then
Superintendent Pat Schettini needed to take a medical leave of absence. I termed it then and still refer to
it as a "battlefield promotion" as Or Doherty was stepping into the shoes of a beloved and well-respected
Superintendent amid a national financial crisis affecting state and local budgets.
Dr Doherty's work in Reading includes many accomplishments and it is poignant to note that students came
first, second and third In all his deliberations and decisions. There are too many accomplishments to list
tonight, and all will be surely and appropriately recognized over the next couple of months, but some I
would like to highlight are as follows:
• Dr Doherty was integral part of the early work and success of the Reading Coalition Against Substance
Abuse (RCASA) and its current successor organization. As Superintendent he has served on the
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April 29, 2021
Executive Board of this organization which has done and continues to do great work for our youth
and the community.
• Or Doherty has been a member of Reading Rotary which is an important link in connecting the
Community with the Schools. His work included a term as its president and many hours of
volunteering in their role with Reading's very successful Friends and Family Day.
• Dr Doherty participates on many statewide boards and coalitions which helps advance Reading's
needs and goals. On more than one occasion he has been asked by his peers to chair one or more
of these boards.
• Or Doherty has periodically been asked to be a speaker at state and national conferences which
highlights the work being done in Reading.
• Or Doherty has established and maintained an outstanding collaborative working relationship with
municipal and public safety officials which is critical to the mission of the Reading Public Schools and
its students.
• Or Doherty has always been a fierce and loyal advocate for the Reading Public Schools and its
students. Evidence of this was his thoughtful and wise participation in a successful Proposition 2 1F2
Override a few years ago which infused much needed revenues into the Reading Public School
system.
• As you all know a trait of a good leader is to own your decisions and those made by your staff. Or
Doherty's handling of the challengers presented to Public Education during the Pandemic is a prime
example of this trait in action. Or Doherty regularly reported out to the public the good, the bad and
the ugly and excepted criticism gracefully as he knew that these feelings were coming from those
who held the same first, second and third priority as him - the students. History will tell but I believe
that Or Doherty's actions and leadership during the pandemic will go down as a success in a time
that there were no real successes.
There are many traits that define a good leader a few that come to mind when describing Or Doherty are
strong work ethic, passion and thoughtfulness. To use the cliche 24-7 would be how to describe Or Doherty's
work ethic. It does not matter what day or time if something needs to be done or someone needs to talk Or
Doherty always makes himself available.
Or Doherty has a strong and barely controllable emotion or passion when it comes to education. As
previously mentioned, Or Doherty continually Immerses himself in causes surrounding education. It has not
been a job for Or Doherty it has been a life's work.
In the context of leadership thoughtfulness is looking out for the needs of others. As the leader of the
Reading Public School District Or Doherty has always made the needs of the students and staff his top
priority.
Finally, Or Doherty, leadership has successes as well as trials and tribulations and in your thirty-four years
in Reading you have experienced them both in a way that could be modeled by others. On behalf of the
Reading Public Schools its students and the Reading Community I want offer a sincere and heartfelt thank
you for your service to our schools and community. Your legacy will certainly be remembered with fondness
and appreciation.
Best of Luck to you and your family as you enter your next chapter.
Finance Committee Comments by Edward Ross, Finance Committee Chair
Thank you, Mr. Moderator
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Virtual Town Meeting April 29, 2021
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Good evening Town Meeting members, I wanted to make a few brief comments ahead of the budget review
and voting as Finance Committee chair. In a normal in-person Town Meeting you'd see us in the front of the
PAC. I'll acknowledge Town Meeting good fortune of not having to see my mug for the next 3+ meetings. I
feel obligated to acknowledge fellow Finance Committee members: Vice -Chair Dan Dewar, Jeanne Borawski,
Nick Boivin, Eric Burkhart, Marianne Downing, Andrew McClauglin and Mark Zarrow. We have one open
position on the committee and offer interested individuals to reach out to me or other Finance Committee
members with any questions.
I wanted to highlight a key principal that is well represented throughout the budget that Finance Committee
has actively to strategically invest the town's modest resources to provide identified services to the
community and save the town money. The old adage to spend money to save money.
The capital plan and FY22 budge have examples of proactively strategic thinking. Specifically, capital change
changes for RMHS turf and track replacement and Parker roof replacement were items in the capital plan
prioritized from future years and pulled forward to both improve safety, as it relates to the turf and save
maintenance costs.
The FY22 budget has several examples of this. The school budget has a special ed literacy coordinator has
the potential to fund itself by saving out of district tuition and transportation costs. Two others I'd highlight
that world events influenced our local initiatives and decisions. First, the pandemic highlighted the public
health needs. The FY22 budget proposing a new department and head for Public Health. This will address
many of the pandemic health needs and broader health needs for the community. Lastly, the Director of
Equity and Social Justice position is included. I applaud the Town Manager's efforts and leadership in its
advocation. I look forward to hearing more details on its rollout and how it can help our community. Thinking
more long-term, as the world embraces more economic, social, governance statistics i.e. ESG level metrics.
I can envision the municipalities social and governance practices having an impact on bond ratings and
credit worthiness. This point that has influenced my thinking on the position.
ARTICLE 16: Motion made by Finance Committee to see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate, transfer from available funds, borrow or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money for the
operation of the Town and its government for Fiscal Year 2022 - beginning July 1, 2021, or take any other
action with respect thereto.
Move that the Town appropriate the sum of: $124,971,354 for the operation of the Town and its
Government for Fiscal Year 2022, beginning July 1, 2021, with the amount appropriated to be raised as
set forth below.
Move that the Town approve the proposed FY 2022 Budget as presented for Line Item B99 (Benefits):
$19.108.534with the amount appropriated to be provided as follows:
Line B99 - $2,870,000 from Free Cash; $300,000 from Overlay and the balance from property taxes, State
aid and non -property tax local receipts
Move that the Town approve the proposed FY 2022 Budget as presented for Line Item C99 (Capital):
$3.570.000with the amount appropriated to be provided as follows:
Line C99 - from property taxes, State aid and non -property tax local receipts.
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ANNUAL TUWN MEETING
Virtual Town Meeting April 29, 2021
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Presentation given by:
Bob LeLacheur - See Attached
Finance Committee report: Please see the FY22 Spending Scorecard for the votes of the Finance
Committee on line items in the FY22 budget. The Finance Committee recommends the subject matter of
Article 16 as explained by these votes at their meeting on March 17, 2021.
Bylaw Committee Report: No report
Motion made by John Lippitt, Precinct 7 to amend line item C99 as follows:
To reduce line C99 by $110,000 to postpone the purchase of tasers, therefore reducing the total to
$3,460,000.
Motion made by Laura Joelson, Precinct 5 to move the Question and end debate on the amendment
2/3m Vote Required
119 in the affirmative
63 in the negative
186 Town Meeting Members remotely in Attendance
Motion to End Debate Does Not Carry
Motion made by Charles Donnelly -Moran, Precinct 7 to move the Question and end debate on the
amendment
2/3r° Vote Required
159 in the affirmative
21 in the negative
186 Town Meeting Members remotely in Attendance
Motion Carried to End Debate
Motion made for a Roll Call Vote for the Vote of the Amendment
Motion Carried
Roll Call Vote as Follows:
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P
Mine
Name
MI
Last
Name
Roll Call Vote
Article 16
Line C99
Annual Town Meeting
2021-04-29
10:16 PM
1
John
J
Arena
No
1
Roy
A
Benjamin
No
1
Lorenzo
Colomba
No
1
John
L
Corbett
Yes
1
John
M
Devir
No
1
Linda
Snow
Dockser
No
1
Mark
L
Dockser
No
1
Nancy
A
Docktor
Yes
1
W
Megan
Fidler -Carey
Yes
1
Giuseppe
Ciro
Fodera
No
1
Ronald
P
FoUno
No
1
Diana
L
Halsey
No
1
John
R
Halsey
No
1
Deborah
D
Hattery
No
1
Bernard
R
Horn
No
1
Kevin
Leete
Yes
1
James
V
Martin
No
1
Sheila
M
Mulmy
No
1
Shaun
C
Neville
No
1
Brian
P
OMara
No
I
Paula
J
Perry
No
1
David
W
Pinette
No
I
James
F
Reichardt
No
1
Sheilah
Reichardt
No
2
Alan
D
Beaulieu
No
2
Donna
M
Beaulieu
No
2
Francis
P
Burke
No
2
Eric
J
Burkhart
No
2
Howard
D
Cohen
No
2
Susan
S
Craven
No
2
AnthonyD'Arezzo
Yes
2
David
J
Feierabend
No
2
Vicki
Ellen
Fortin
No
2
Denise
M
lozzo
No
2
Karen
T
Janowski
No
2
Gaetano
Man aniello
No
2
Matthew
W
McLeod
No
2
Kaltl n
C
Mercurio
Yes
2
Sean
P
OConnor
No
2
Thomas
B
ORourke
No
2
Simone
R
Payment
I Yes
2
John
I A
Sasso
No
2
John
R
Scott
No
2
Allison
L
Sillers
Yes
2
Emily
K
Sisson
No
2
Christine
L
Steck
No
2
Mark
Salvatore
Ventura
No
2
Laura
Faye
Wilson
No
3
Eric
J
Bergstrom
No
3
John
D
Breslin
No
3
Tony
R
Capobianco
No
3
Audra
M
Cas
No
3
Jason
FC
Clarke
Yes
3
Daniel
John
Dewar
No
3
Laura
M
Fusco
No
3
Fausto
]
I Garcia
No
3
Rachelle
A
I Garcia
No
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April 29, 2021
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
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P
First
Name
MI
Last
Name
Roll Call Vote
Article 16
Line C99
Annual Town Meeting
2021-04-29
10:16 PM
3
Tam
Anne
Giardina
Absent
3
Michelle
R
Greenwalt
No
3
Kristen
M
Lachance
Abstain
3
Stephen
F
Leahy
No
3
Marianne
M
Mclauahlin-Downing
No
3
Cada
J
Nazzaro
No
3
Daniel
V
Pastore
No
3
Joseph
J
Sarofeen
No
3
Michael
J
Shimansk
No
3
Paul
J
Sylvester
Yes
3
Jessica
LB
Tran
No
3
Nancy
J
Twomey
No
3
Heidi
M
Wise
No
3
Thomas
F
Wise
No
3
Meredith
Logsdon
Yoder
No
4
Barry
C
Berman
No
4
Sarah
H
Brukilacchio
I Yes
4
Lynne
H
Cameron
No
4
Richard
H
Coco
No
4
Ann
M
Cruickshank
No
4
Christo er
Scott
Feudo
No
4
Andrew
5
Friedmann
Yes
4
Eric
J
Gaffen
No
4
Erin
E
Gaffen
No
4
Thomas
D
Grant
No
4
Jeffrey
P
Jadul
No
4
Emily
G
James
No
4
James
T
Mau han
Absent
4
Richard
E
McDonald
No
4
David
I W
Mcisaac
Yes
4
David
Alan
Murdock
No
4
John
F
ONeill
No
4
Mary Ellen
ONeill
Yes
4
Chuck
Robinson
No
4
Elizabeth
C
Shurland
Yes
4
Harry
M
Simmons
No
4
Marianne
R
Tompkins
No
4
Karin
Elizabeth
Whitelam
Yes
4
Steven
L
Zessis
No
5
Vanessa
I
Alvarado
Yes
5
Carlo
A
Bacci
No
5
Jonathan
E
Barnes
Yes
5
Angela
F
Binds
Yes
5
Lorraine
ConwayNo
5
Annemarie
C
Cory
No
5
Robert
J
Ferrari
No
5
Michael
Giacalone
No
5
Nathan
Thomas
Giacalone
No
5
Laurence
F
Hayes
No
5
Laura
A
Joelson
No
5
Helena
Marie
Johnson
No
5
Janice
M
Jones
No
5
Dianne
P
Kennedy
Yes
5
Anne
DJ
LandryYes
5
Christine
T
1 Lusk
No
5
Eileen
A
I Mannino
I No
5
Patrick
P
I OSullivan
I Yes
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
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P
First
Name
MI
Last
Name
Roll Call Vote
Article 16
Line C99
Annual Town Meeting
2021-04-29
10:1_6 PN
5
Philip
B
Pacino
No
5
Joseph
Pa liuca
No
5
Edward
J
Ross
_
No
5
David
A
Talbot
No
5
Jeanne
Thomases
Yes
5
Nancy
J
Ziemlak
Yes
6
Geoffrey
C
Beckwith
Yes
6
James
E
Bonazoli
No
6
Jeanne
M
Borawski
Absent
6
Jose h
Clinton
Carnahan
Yes
6
Brendan
J
Carroll
No
6
Steven
0001
No
6
Robert
Coulter
No
6
Ronald
E
Derosa
Absent
6
Jessica
A
Franklin
No
6
Kelly
A
Malone
No
6
Robert
L
Mandell
I No
6
James
Gordon
McIntosh
No
6
John
M
Miles
Abstain
6
Alan
S
Mosier
NO
6
Etain
ODea
Yes
6
Pa aal
K
Patel
Absent
6
Kerri
Lynne
Perry
No
6
Thomas
A
Perry
No
6
Michele
S
Sanphy
No
6
Greg
F
Selvitelli
No
6
Gregory
R
Stapler
NO
6
Cynthia
A
Tozian Cool
No
6
John
F
Weaver
Yes
6
Drucllla
I
Wood -Beckwith
Yes
7
Carl
F
Anderson
No
7
Jesse
D
Arnold
No
7
Lisa
Beth
Bibeau
No
7
Nicholas
M
Boivin
No
7
Brandon
P
Chapman
No
7
Heather
A
Cllsh
No
7
Geoffrey
I
Coram
No
7
Chanes
V
Donnelly -Moran
Yes
7
Marcel
A
Dubois
NO
7
Kerry
C
Dunnell
No
7
Daniel
A
Ensmin er
i No
7
1 Jennifer
I C
Hillery
I No
7
Norman
R
Kozlowski
No
7
John
A
Li itt
Yes
7
Joanne
E
Manville
No
7
Hillary
G
Mateev
Yes
7
Jacqueline
Renee
McCarthyNo
7
Gina
Beck
McCormick
No
7
James
C
Satterthwaite
No
7
Jeffrey
W
Struble
No
7
John
Brendon
Sullivan
Yes
7
Erin
E
Tierney
No
7
Karl
Weld
No
7Carol
n
R
Whitin
Yes
8
Shawn
Brandt1
No
8
1 Ian
I Chanes
Brown
No
B
1 Peter
I A
Brown
Yes
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April 29, 2021
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Virtual Town Meeting
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P
First
Name
MI
Last
Name
Roll Call Vote
Article 16
Line C99
Annual Town Meeting
2021-04-29
10:16 PM
8
William
C
Brown
No
8
Amy
B
Cole
No
8
Kendra
JG
Cooper
No
8
Sasha
P
Corken
No
8
Sarah
Maxam
Doane
No
8
William
O
Finch
Yes
8
Kathleen
O
Goldlust
No
8
Karen
Gately
Herrick
Yes
8
Stephen
W
Herrick
No
8
Peter
McNeill
Kramer
Absent
8
Eileen
Shine
Litterio
No
8
Patricia
Jean
Loyd
No
8
Bruce
A
Mackenzie
No
8
Todd
L
Merkle
No
8
Martha
E
Moore
Abstain
8
Melissa
L
Murphy
No
8
Thomas
COCon
No
8
Vanessa
Sily�
No8
Kenneth
R
1TucciI
Yes
8
1 Theresa
AC
Wi ins
1 10
e
1 Alicia
F
I Wlliams
I No
Roll Call Vote
38 in the affirmative
145 in the negative
3 Abstain
6 Absent
186 Town Meeting Members remotely in Attendance
Motion to Amend Does Not Carry
April 29, 2021
Bill Brown, Precinct 8 moved to adjourn the 2021 Annual Town Meeting adjourn to continue Town Meeting
via Zoom Webinar on May 3, 2021 at 7:30 PM. Town Meeting adjourned at 10:31 PM with 186 Town Meeting
Members remotely in attendance.
Counted Vote
130 in the affirmative
53 in the negative
186 Town Meeting Members remotely in Attendance
Motion Carried
A true copy Attest:
Laura A Gemme, CMC /CMMC
Town Clerk
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