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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2022 DEC 14 AM 10: 19
Select Board
Date: 2022-11-21 Time: 5:00 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 via
Zoom
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Town Manager Fidel Maltez, E.A. Caltlin Nocella, Eileen Litterio, Bill Brown,
Nancy Tawadros, Lois Bell, May Erwin, Tim Mathieu, Jen Traino, John Halsey,
Diana Halsey, Krissandra Holmes, Richard Holmes, Alan Beaulieu, Brook
Chipman, Linda Snow Dockser, Bobbie Botticelli, Kerry Dunnell, Sherilla
Lestrade, John Arena
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Executive Assistant Caitlin Nocella
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in person and remote via Zoom.
Dockser called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. This meeting was to talk about a winter/holiday display
on the Town common.
Town Counsel started off by noting that any holiday display must be done by the town with town funds.
It is important to convey this is government speech and the town is not trying to promote any religion.
There is a note in the Select Board packet that lays out the issues of Government speech clearly.
Public Comment
Eileen Litterio feels the board should either include all religions or none.
Bill Brown felt Herricks behavior at the last meeting, specifically during the ice arena agenda item, was
unprofessional.
Nancy Tawadros wanted to know what the board was actually voting on tonight because she felt the
agenda item wasn't clear and there was nothing in the packet.
Tim Mathieu noted the board should display all symbols in harmony.
Jen Traino noted the board is full of hypocrites explaining they voted to put on a menorah on the town
common to symbolize inclusion but then refused to vote on a Christmas tree.
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John Halsey feels the town common should be used for the towns people to express themselves. The
town people should do it not the government. He also feels using tax payers money on this is wrong.
Linda Snow Dockser explained that this is not a competition, it is about inclusion and making everyone in
town feel welcomed.
Bobbie Botticeli feels the town should not be paying for any of this.
Sherilla Lestrade doesn't like the way this is being presented and wants the town to celebrate all
religions.
John Arena feels this meeting is unnecessary and is not sure how the board ended up here.
Morgan Steir noted he is Jewish and feels all religions should be included or it just becomes hypocrisy.
Put a Christmas tree next to the menorah.
Michael Giacalone noted the lights on the trees in the common are done by the Chamber of Commerce
and have been that way for years. He feels the board should do nothing else on the common and leave
it the way it is.
Angela Binda noted she is saddened by this discussion.
Board Discussion
Dockser feels the board would be taking a huge step backwards if they rescind the previous vote about
the menorah. He suggests adding a Christmas tree to the common.
Haley feels the board should rescind their vote and go with nothing on the common as it has been.
McCarthy noted she voted for the menorah last week and will vote to add a Christmas tree tonight.
Herrick echoed McCarthy s comments but also noted process is important. She feels the board should
have had discussions in a meeting prior to taking any votes.
Bacci noted he is upset that two lawyers are present tonight wasting tax dollars.
The board edited a motion.
Haley moved to direct the Town Manager to cause a Menorah and a Christmas Tree to be placed on
the Town Common to demonstrate the Select Board and the Town of Reading's commitment to
diversity and inclusion in the community; and to place a sign near these items stating that these
symbols are here to reflect the Town's strong commitment to these purposes. The motion was
seconded by Herrick.
The motion passed with the following roll call vote:
Herrick — yes; McCarthy — yes; Baal — no; Haley — no; Dockser— yes.
Select Board Mission Statement for Inclusive Government
McCarthy started off by saying this is not something new, as the board discussed a similar statement or
code of conduct at its June retreat. She feels a statement could be helpful in events like this.
Herrick noted the School Committee did an equity statement and this board should do one as well. She
suggested working on it at their next retreat in January and also suggested inviting Sudeshna.
Haley feels creating a statement will not change anything and it is just an overreaction to what just
happened. He then asked when this got added to the agenda because this was not on the original
agenda.
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The board agreed to work on this at their retreat.
Bacci moved to adjourn at 6:43 PM. The motion was seconded by McCarthy and approved with a
unanimous vote.
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