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Home My WebLink About2022-12-06 Select Board MinutesOff. OFp�O' Town of Reading RECEIVED aa�r Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK READING, MA. �':�.c°nv°P� Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2023 JAN I I PH 12: 00 Select Board Date: 2022-12-06 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: Mark Dockser, Carlo Bacci, Chris Haley, Jackie McCarthy, Karen Herrick Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Fidel Maltez, Executive Assistant Caitlin Nocella, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom, Treasurer Diane Morabito, Caitlin Coyle, Ceara Somerville, Sudeshna Chaterjee, Angela MacIntosh, Michelle Cropper, Carolyn Johnson, Jordyn Fani, Kate Goldlust, Michele Sanphony,loe Carnahan, Jackie Collins, John O'Neill, Mary Ellen O'Neill, Jane Wandel 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 7pm. Public Comment Carl McFadden informed the board of a movie that is going to be made about Hal Croft. Reverend Emelia Attridge from the First Congregational Church and the Reading Clergy hopes to inspire people to be welcoming and nice to all people of all faiths. Linda Snow Dockser expressed her thoughts about the last meeting and how difficult it was for some people. She also wanted to clarify her letter to the editor. She would like the common to be a space of shared beliefs. Casey Moulten wanted to express her concerns with Karen Herricks treatment of Carl McFadden when he visited the board to discuss the ice arena lease. She opined about other incidents of unacceptable behavior as well. Liaison Reports Haley noted the School Committee finalized school improvement plans. Bacci noted the ice arena board met last Wednesday. Dennis Hughes will be the new president of that board. Page 1 1 McCarthy noted she attended a webinar on affordable housing. She also met with the new RMLD General Manager. Cultural Council met and they are going through applications for grants. Herrick attended the ribbon cutting of the Reading Animal Clinic. Dockser noted Wass submitted the survey results regarding a senior center. Council on Aging met and noted more people are going to the senior center now than pre-pandemic. They are in support of a new center and programming. Commissioner of Trusts met last night. Town Manager Report Maltez noted Town Meeting wrapped up. The last meeting with the MSBA will be next week to wrap up the submittal process for the Killam School. Neighbors of the water tank received notice that blasting would be taking place but that was sent by the contractor without the towns consent. The town has asked the contractor to put a hold on the blasting until a neighborhood meeting can happen. The first SWEC meeting is scheduled for December 12th. Vote to Authorize Short Term Debt—Auburn Water Tank Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom was present for this item. She first introduced Diane Morabito who is our new Treasurer. She explained they are going to do a short-term borrowing BAN (Bond Anticipation Notes) until Bond Counsel has time to review documents and we could do internal borrowing later in the year if we wish. McCarthy noted she will abstain from this vote as she is an abutter to this project. Haley began the motion: I, the Clerk of the Select Board of the Town of Reading, Massachusetts, certify that at a meeting of the board held December 6, 2022, of which meeting all members of the board were duly notified and at which a quorum was present, the following votes were unanimously passed, all of which appear upon the official record of the board in my custody: Herrick moved to suspend the reading of the full motion; this was seconded by Bacci and approved with a 4-0-1 vote with McCarthy abstaining. Herrick seconded the original motion, and it was approved with a 4-0-1 vote with McCarthy abstaining. Holiday Display Discussion There was a request for an atheist symbol or flag on the common. Dockser noted the discussion in the packet regarding holiday displays and amplifying what was said at the last meeting. Haley reiterated government speech vs public speech and read an email he wrote to Fidel asking to discuss the atheist symbol as a part of being inclusive on the common this holiday season. McCarthy feels the law tells us we need to handle every request individually and she disagrees with the notion if they put a menorah and Christmas tree on the common that they then must include every symbol requested. She doesn't feel this is the time or manor to approve this request. Bacci feels this is a much bigger discussion because the process is flawed. He agrees with McCarthy this is not the time for this request. The board discussed the permitting process and asked about civic function permits and the parameters of that. The board requested that the Town Manager seek input from Town Counsel and noted they need to discuss this process further. Page 1 2 ReCalc Final Survey Uodate Caitlin Coyle and Ceara Somerville from UMass Boston gave the board a presentation on the final survey results regarding a new center for active living. The presentation can be found in the Select Board packet on the town website. Director of Equity and Social Justice Update Sudeshna gave the board a presentation about what she has been working on since coming aboard. She created a new group called PAIR which stand for Partner and Allies for Inclusive Reading. Sgt. Pat Silva, the Civil Rights Officer and member of PAIR, gave the board a short presentation on what PAIR does. He was accompanied by other PAIR members Angela Macintosh, Michelle Cropper, Carolyn Johnson and Jordyn Fam. These presentations can be found in the Select Board packet on the town website. Annual Liquor License Renewals The board hear an update on progress at the Common District Meeting House and members viewed this favorably and with hope that the restaurant will open soon. 1. Haley moved that the Select Board renew the All Alcoholic Package Store Liquor Licenses for: • HT Reading Liquors LLC d/b/a Baystate Liquors, 345 Main Street • Raksha, Inc. d/b/a Square Liquors, 13 High Street • lay and Ricky, Inc. d/b/a Reading Liquors, 214 Main Street • Anastasi Brookline Inc. d/b/a Reading Fine Wine and Spirits, 25 Walkers Brook Drive • Kajal and Kevin LLC d/b/a The Liquor Junction, One General Way • Pamplemousse Inc. d/b/a Pamplemousse, 26 Haven Street for a term expiring December 31, 2023 subject to the following conditions: All Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the establishment by the Town Manager or his designee. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 5-0 vote. 2. Haley moved that the Select Board renew the All Alcoholic Club Liquor Licenses for: • Meadow Brook Golf Corp. of Reading, MA d/b/a Meadow Brook Golf Club, 292 Grove Street • Home Building Corp. d/b/a Knights of Columbus, 11 Sanborn Street for a term expiring December 31, 2023 subject to the following conditions: All Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the establishment by the Town Manager or his designee. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 5-0 vote. 3. Haley moved that the Select Board renew the All Alcoholic Veteran Club Liquor Licenses for: • Reading Veterans' Association, Inc. d/b/a American Legion Post 62, 37 Ash Street for a term expiring December 31, 2023 subject to the following conditions: All Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the establishment by the Town Manager or his designee. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 5-0 vote. 4. Haley moved that the Select Board renew the All Alcoholic Restaurant Liquor Licenses for: Page 1 3 • Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza of Reading LLC d/b/a Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, 48 Walkers Brook Drive • Mecom, Inc. d/b/a Cafe Capri, 355 Main Street • CAC Foods, Inc. d/b/a Venetian Moon Restaurant, 680 Main Street • Pepper Dining Inc. d/b/a Chili's Grill & Bar, 70 Walkers Brook Drive • HJB Restaurant Company LLC d/b/a Fuddruckers, 50 Walkers Brook Drive • RARE Hospitality International, Inc. d/b/a Longhorn Steak House, 39 Walkers Brook Drive • Boston Foods Inc. d/b/a Zucca Italian Restaurant and Bar, 601 Main Street • The VI Incorp. d/b/a Public Kitchen, 530 Main Street • KOK, Inc. d/b/a Oye's, 26 Walkers Brook Drive • Bistro Concepts, Inc. d/b/a Fusilli's Cucina, 107 Main Street • RKR Corporation d/b/a Bunratty Tavern, 622 Main Street • Bertucci s Restaurant Corp, d/b/a Bertucci's Brick Oven Ristorante at 45 Walkers Brook Drive • Mandarin Reading Inc, d/b/a Mandarin Reading Restaurant at 296 Salem Street • Haven Street PO, LLC d/b/a The Common District Meeting House at 136 Haven Street • Reading Foods LLC d/b/a Half & Half at 607 Main Street for a term expiring December 31, 2023 subject to the following conditions: All Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the establishment by the Town Manager or his designee. The motion was seconded by Bacci and approved with a 5-0 vote. 5. Haley moved that the Select Board renew the Wine and Malt Restaurant Liquor License for: • Palatat Pattenesuan d/b/a Bangkok Spice Thai Restaurant, 76 Haven Street for a term expiring December 31, 2023 subject to the following conditions: All Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be followed, and subject to a satisfactory inspection of the establishment by the Town Manager or his designee. The motion was seconded by Bacci and approved with a 5-0 vote. Future Agendas The board discussed future agenda items. Executive Session Haley moved to go into Executive Session at 10:13 PM, including staff members Fidel Maltez, Caitlin Nocella and Ivria Fried from Town Counsel's office, under Executive Session Purpose 6 to discuss the acquisition and value of 17 Hamden Street, as the Chair declares that an open meeting could have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the body; and that the board will not reconvene in open session. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a unanimous roll call vote. Documents Used: 2012-12-06 Select Board Packet Page 1 4