HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-06 ad Hoc - Reading ARPA Advisory Committee MinutesTown of Reading [OWN CLERK
Meeting Minutes rt_,: c, PAA
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Reading Arpa Advisory Committee
Date: 2022-09-06 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:
Chair Marianne Downing, Vice Chair Mark Dockser, Shawn Brandt (remote),
Geoffrey Coram, Andrew Grimes, Chris Haley, Joe McDonagh, Tom Wise
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Town Manager Fidel Maltez, Karen Pinette (remote), Kit Lonergan Trinity
Church (remote). John Feudo, Chris Kovalesky, Kevin Briere
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in-person at the Town Hall Select Board Meeting Room and remotely
via Zoom.
Chair Marianne Downing called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Public Comment:
There was no comment from the public.
Approval of minutes:
On a motion by Mark Dockser, and seconded by Tom Wise, the Reading ARPA
Advisory Committee voted 8-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of August 31,
2022 as presented.
Roll call vote: Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Andrew Grimes - Yes,
Tom Wise - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Shawn Brandt - Yes, Mark Dockser - Yes,
Marianne Downing - Yes.
Premium Pay Formula Discussion:
Tom Wise reviewed minor updates to the spreadsheet for premium pay calculations. The
formulas have not changed, but additional data was refined and added. Union contracts
were reviewed to determine where pay bands might make sense. The federal poverty level
is $55,500, which was set as the low bar. Anyone making over $97,125 was placed in the
high category. The calculations are based on base rates, with no overtime or stipends
included, and are adjusted for full time or part time salary. All of the data needs to be
validated, but works as a model conceptually. Human resources staff will need to assist
with determining which employees fit into which category.
Burbank YMCA - Follow up to Presentation:
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John Feudo of the Burbank YMCA was present to answer questions from the Committee on
how the YMCA plans to Implement the programs as proposed with giving priority to Reading
residents. The YMCA would like to do 144 adaptive swim lessons over three years, but can
do it over a year and a half. There are 45-50 spots per year that they would like to hand out
for free. They can add a caveat that the classes are only open to Reading residents, or have
a registration period only for Reading residents, with a wait list for out-of-town residents to
fill vacant spots. But Mr. Feudo stated that he feels strongly that the classes will sell out or
be filled by Reading residents. The target date to implement the programs is January 2023
in order to give the YMCA time to staff and administer the program. The Committee
discussed at length the other portions of the YMCA proposal, program Implementation, and
distribution of the funds.
Chris Kovalesky of Grove Street spoke in support of the program and noted that the families
would be willing to pay a nominal fee for a sustainable program. Kevin Briere of Graystone
Way echoed Mr. Kovalevsky's support for the programs, and the nominal fees.
Premium Pay Formula Discussion (Continued):
The Committee continued their discussion on how to determine how to compensate
employees who worked during the pandemic, and the many challenges of what factors to
consider. Regardless of the model, the Committee needs to determine how much of the
ARPA funds the Committee suggests dividing among employees.
Continued Allocation Recommendation Discussion:
To date, based on RAAC recommendations, the Select Board has voted to allocate
$3,996,620 of ARPA funds, which leaves $3,595,614 of ARPA funds remaining. RAAC
members reviewed and discussed the remaining requests.
The RAAC members agreed to support the Burbank YMCA proposal, but requested that the
Recreation Division be the supervising entity in the distribution of the funds.
On a motion by Marianne Downing, and seconded by Geoffrey Coram, the Reading
ARPA Advisory Committee voted 8-0-0 to recommend to the Select Board to
allocate $96,100 to support the Burbank Y proposal to be administered by Reading
Recreation as discussed on July 9, 2022 and as further refined on September 6,
2022.
Roll call vote: Geoffrey Coram - Yes, Andrew Grimes - Yes, Tom Wise - Yes, Mark
Dockser - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Shawn Brandt - Yes,
Marianne Downing - Yes.
RAAC members agreed to support the Birch Meadow Phase 1 request, but still noted their
concerns regarding the parking area.
On a motion by Marianne Downing, and seconded by Tom Wise, the Reading ARPA
Advisory Committee voted B -O -O to recommend to the Select Board to allocate
$1,500,000 for Phase I of the Birch Meadow proposal.
Roll call vote: Shawn Brandt - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Mark
Dockser - Yes, Tom Wise - Yes, Andrew Grimes - Yes, Geoffrey Coram - Yes,
Marianne Downing - Yes.
Committee members agreed to support the request of the Historical Commission, as it
seems like a small amount of money for projects that might never get done otherwise. Mr.
Wise noted that this subject did not appear on the survey at all, and did not fit into any of
the ARPA guidelines.
On a motion by Andrew Grimes, and seconded by Chris Haley, the Reading ARPA
Advisory Committee voted 7-1-0 to recommend to the Select Board to allocate
$13,500 for the Reading Historical Commission proposal.
Roll call vote: Shawn Brandt - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Mark
Dockser - Yes, Tom Wise - No, Andrew Grimes - Yes, Geoffrey Coram - Yes,
Marianne Downing - Yes.
The Committee discussed the request of the Conservation Commission
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Andrew Grimes moved to recommend $22,500 to Conservation, seconded by Mark
Dockser.
Chris Haley noted that $2,500 for a bike rack at Mattera Cabin seemed high, and that he
has not seen many bikes there.
Tom Wise moved to amend the motion to recommend $20,000 for Conservation,
which was seconded by Chris Haley, but failed by a vote of 6-2.
Roll call vote: Shawn Brandt - No, Joe McDonagh - No, Mark Dockser - No, Chris
Haley - Yes, Tom Wise - Yes, Andrew Grimes - No, Geoffrey Coram - No, Marianne
Downing - No.
On the original motion by Andrew Grimes, and seconded by Mark Dockser, the
Reading ARPA Advisory Committee voted 8-0-0 to recommend to the Select Board
to allocate $22,500 of ARPA funds to the Conservation Commission.
Roll call vote: Shawn Brandt - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Mark
Dockser - Yes, Tom Wise - Yes, Andrew Grimes - Yes, Geoffrey Coram - Yes,
Marianne Downing - Yes.
The RAAC had previously recommended, and the Select Board voted to allocate $100,000 to
the Town Forest Committee for Phase 3 of their tree removal project. The Town Forest
Committee's original request was for $200,000 for both phases 3 and 4 of the tree removal
project. Members agreed the other $100,000 could be pushed to Town Meeting for funding,
as it is for a later phase of the project.
The Committee discussed the Reading Food Pantry's request for three years of gift cards,
two refrigerators, and a space consultant. Mr. Wise suggested recommending $31,200 for
one year of gift cards at $1,600 per month, and both freezers at $6,000 each.
Andrew Grimes moved to recommend $31,200 for Food Pantry requests, seconded
by Tom Wise.
Mark Dockser stated that he was inclined to recommend their full revised request of
$84,600, which includes three years of gift cards, both refrigerators, and $15,000 for a
space consultant. Shawn Brandt agreed and noted that the Food Pantry was responsive to
the Committee's feedback, and that identifying space needs will help generate more
fundraising initiatives. Mr. Wise stated that he could support the space consultant, but gift
cards could be funded year over year. Mr. Haley stated that he is against the space
consultant, but supports at minimum one year of gift cards and refrigerators.
Mark Dockser moved to amend the recommendation to $84,600, which was
seconded by Shawn Brandt, but failed by a vote of 5-3.
Roll call vote: Shawn Brandt - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Chris Haley - No, Mark
Dockser - Yes, Tom Wise - No, Andrew Grimes - No, Geoffrey Coram - No,
Marianne Downing - No.
Shawn Brandt moved to amend the recommendation to $46,200 for both
refrigerators, space consultant, and one year of gift cards. The RAAC accepted the
amendment by a vote of 6-2.
Roll call vote: Shawn Brandt - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Chris Haley - No, Mark
Dockser - Yes, Tom Wise - Yes, Andrew Grimes - Yes, Geoffrey Coram - Yes,
Marianne Downing - No.
On an amended motion by Andrew Grimes, and seconded by Tom Wise, the
Reading ARPA Advisory Committee voted 8-0-0 to recommend to the Select Board
to allocate $46,200 of ARPA funds for the Reading Food Pantry which provides
$19,200 for one year of gift cards, $12,000 for two refrigerators, and $15,000 for
a space consultant.
Roll call vote: Shawn Brandt - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Mark
Dockser - Yes, Tom Wise - Yes, Andrew Grimes - Yes, Geoffrey Coram - Yes,
Marianne Downing - Yes.
The Committee also discussed, but did not come to consensus on other topics including
water projects, food truck and activities for the senior center, and affordable housing.
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Smaller private requests can be discussed at the end after the two big items (water and
premium pay) have been recommended.
Future Agenda Items:
At the next meeting scheduled for October 121M1, the RAAC will discuss the remaining
allocations, and continue the discussion on water and premium pay.
On a motion by Tom Wise, and seconded by Mark Dockser, the Reading ARPA
Advisory Committee voted 8-0-0 to adjourn at 10:29 pm.
Roll call vote: Shawn Brandt - Yes, Joe McDonagh - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Mark
Dockser - Yes, Tom Wise - Yes, Andrew Grimes - Yes, Geoffrey Coram - Yes,
Marianne Downing - Yes.
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