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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-31 Select Board MinutesTown of Reading HE CEIVEU Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK9SADING. MA wmittee Board - -Commission -Council: 2022 JUN 15 PMI 40 Select Board Date: 2022-05-31 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: General Business Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Mark Dockser, Carlo Bacci, Chris Haley, Jackie McCarthy, Karen Herrick Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Fidel Maltez, E.A. Caitlin Nocella, Assessor Victor Santaniello, Angela Binda, Nancy Docktor, Bill Brown, Donna Brewer, Charles McLean, Town Clerk Laura Gemme, Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Caitlin Nocella Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held in person and remote via Zoom. Mark Dockser called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. The board agreed Herrick will be the board representative at the Pride Day event. Liaison Reports Bacci noted he attended the Memorial Day celebrations and they were great. He also attended the ground break for the EV charging stations out in front of Christopher's. Haley echoed Bacci's thoughts on the Memorial Day celebrations. He also attended the Lowell House opening and got a tour. McCarthy noted the Cultural Council has a meeting next Monday and will seek applicants for its next grant cycle in the fall. Herrick noted she attended the ARPA meeting, the PAIR meet & greet, Memorial Day Celebrations, the joint RMLD Select Board Economic Development meeting and the RMLD audit meeting. Herrick noted that WILD & Select Board agreed to begin utilizing the RMLD Board room for community meetings and that the auditors reported that the audit was very clean and that unrestricted cash reserves were nearly $17million. Dockser noted there is a RECALL listening session tomorrow night. He also went to the Lowell House opening and noted they did a greatjob renovating the building. Page I 1 Town Managers Report Town Manager Maltez also noted Memorial Day Celebrations were wonderful. He then informed the board we have a new Veteran's Agent who accepted the position recently. The ARPA survey is out for a couple more weeks. There is new group at the Schools called the Students of Color & Allies for EJI and they want to share a video with the board. Elder Services ARPA Request Jean Delius, Jenna Fiorente, Kevin Bohmiller and Amy O'Brien were present for this agenda item. Assistant Town Manager lean Delios gave the board a presentation on what and why Elder Services is requesting $900K in ARPA funds. Marianne Downing, Chair of the RAAC, noted the committee voted to approve this request. Haley moved to approve $900K in ARPA Funds for the Elder Services request. The motion was seconded by Bacci and approved with a 5-0 vote. Board of Health Update The Board of Health called to order at 7:50 PM. Ade Solarin, Health Director, gave the board a presentation about the overview of the health department and a covid update. The BOH recommended shifting to a 5 -person committee in the future to support their efforts. Health Director Solarin noted that a 3 -member board works for him but he did not object to a 5 -member board. The Board of Health adjourned at 8:26 PM. Open Space and Recreation Update Conservation Administrator Chuck Tirone and Consultant Krista Moravec of Horsley Witten gave a presentation to the board about open space and recreation needs in town. They are looking for a letter of support from the board. Rickv's Liquors Ricky's Liquors submitted an application for a change of D/B/A. Their new name will be Reading Liquors. Haley moved to approve the DBA on an Annual All Alcohol Package Store License for Jay and Ricky Inc. d/b/a Reading Liquors at 214 Main Street, Reading, MA. The motion was seconded by Bacci and approved with a 5-0 vote. Affordable Housing Instructional Motion The following motion was made at Town Meeting last month: Direct the Select Board, Town Manager and relevant town staff to investigate the creation of a permanent committee to oversee the Affordable Housing Trust and identify opportunities to expand the trust and utilize said funds. If possible, presenting the findings at Subsequent Town Meeting in November 2022. Page 12 The board discussed and decided to let Fidel, town staff and Town Counsel draft something to bring back to the board. Senior Center Instructional Motion The following motion was made at Town Meeting last month: Direct the Town Manager, Elder Services and the Select Board to investigate the availability of additional and /or new space via a leased property to support the needs of the Senior Center. Also, provide a plan that addresses the funding, logistics and staffing required to support the expansion of space and services consistent with the expected (additional) programming. If necessary, return to Town Meeting (even a Special Town Meeting) to request funding and support of such plan. Provide a report back in November of 2022. Town Manager Maltez noted this would need to go through an RFP process. It was also noted this motion was intended to work with RECALC not take anything away/work against that committee. Symonds Way Ad -Hoc Committee Town Manager Maltez and Bacci worked on a charge for this proposed ad-hoc committee, SWAG. The committee would consist of 7 members comprised as follows: . 1 Select Board Member (ex -officio, appointed by the Select Board) . 1 Finance Committee Members (ex -officio, appointed by the Finance committee) . 1 Recreation Committee Members (ex -officio, appointed by the Recreation committee) . 1 Community Planning & Development Commission (CPDC) Member (ex -officio, appointed by the CPDC committee) . 1 Conservation Committee Member (ex -officio, appointed by the Conservation committee) . 1 Permanent Building Committee Member (ex -officio, appointed by the Permanent Building Committee) . 15chool Committee Member (ex -officio, appointed by the School Committee) The committee would also seek guidance and input from various staff members. The purpose of this committee is to serve as an advisory committee to the Reading Select Board for the purpose of recommending the highest and best use of the land located on Symonds Way, formerly known as the "Zanni Property." Members Dockser and Herrick had concerns with the timeline given the current ongoing work of the RECALL. They feel they should get more information from RECALC before starting this committees work. Member Herrick also felt the committee was too large and should only be 5 or less members. She disagrees that Finance Committee and School Committee members are appropriate for this committee and suggested instead that a Senior "needs" voice be added. The board decided to discuss further at their next meeting. Surplus Property The board needs to vote an old police car as surplus property so the town can get rid of it. It has been replaced with a new car. Haley moved to declare Police Car 12 as surplus property. The motion was seconded by McCarthy and approved with a 5-0 vote. Page 1 3 Future Agendas The board discussed future agenda items. Minutes The board edited the minutes. Haley moved to approve the meeting minutes of 5/17 as amended. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 5-0 vote. Haley moved to adjourn at 10:40 PM. The motion was seconded by McCarthy and approved with a 5-0 vote. Documents Used: 1021-05-31 Select Board Packet Page 1 4