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Board - committee - commission - Council: 2023 FEB -8 AH 9:21
Select Board
Date: 2023-01-10 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 via
Zoom
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Town Manager Fidel Maltez, Executive Assistant Caitlin Nocella, Joe
Carnahan, Health Director Ade Solarin, Mallorie MacDonald, Mary Giuliana,
HR Director Sean Donahue
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Executive Assistant Caitlin Nocella
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in person and remote via Zoom.
Mark Dockser called the meeting to order at 7 PM.
Public Comment
Joe Carnahan wanted to thank the board for their expanded holiday display this season.
Liaisons
McCarthy reminded the board there are a number of town boards and committees that have vacancies
if anyone would like to volunteer.
Herrick spoke about the School Committee budget. Volunteers are putting together a composting
program which will pilot at Birch Meadow. She attended a Climate Advisory Committee meeting in
which Greg Phipps also joined. RMLD has a need to generate local clean energy. Conservation
Commission will discuss lot 5 on January 25'".
Bacci noted Recreation Committee heard about a donation from Reading Little League of a home run
fence. There were discussions about the Sturgis park tennis courts. CPDC's last meeting had an executive
session about 459 Main Street and then an open discussion about the Birch Meadow project. Winterfest
will be on March 9".
Haley thanked the ARPA committee for their work; the board has received a few thank you letters for
their funds.
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Dockser noted RECALC is meeting tomorrow to talk about next steps. There area couple of public
meetings planned as well as a lunch and learn at the senior center. MLK Day celebrations on Monday.
Town Manager Report
Maltez noted the town received two grants; $500K from MassDOT to do sidewalks on Auburn Street and
Parkview Road, and a $2M federal earmark to complete work at Maillet, Sommes, Morgan Resource
Area.
Health Department Update
Health Director Ade Solarin, Health Nurse Mallorie MacDonald and Director of Nursing for Public Schools
Mary Giuliana gave the board a presentation on the current health status of the town. While they did
note we are going through a surge of illnesses right now including COVID-19 again, it is important to
note the numbers are nowhere near where they were the last two years. They explained current CDC
guidelines for if you test positive with COVID and possible treatments that can be prescribed by your
doctor. They will be offering vaccine clinics with the next one being held on January 20'h. The schools are
experiencing similar numbers as the town. The full presentation can be found in the Select Board packet
on the town website.
Housing Production Plan Discussion
Nicole Lambert is a project manager from Anser Advisory, who has been working with Andrew
Machlichol and other planning staff with the town's housing production plan. She gave the board a
presentation and went over the survey results which can be found in the Select Board packet on the
town website.
POST Program
Maltez noted there was only one student in this program and he has since graduated and there are no
students in the pipeline for it. Both Wakefield and Reading are requesting a mutual termination of the
program effective lune 30'h, 2023. This will be $60K savings to the town. The town is currently building
out a program of our own.
Haley moved to terminate the Inter- Municipal Agreement with Wakefield for the POST Program
effective June 30"', 2023. The motion was seconded by Bacci and approved with a unanimous rol I call
vote.
Town Manager Review
The board discussed haw they want to proceed with doing the Town Managers review. They discussed
what they wanted to see in the review as well as it matching up to the goals set earlier in the year. The
board set a deadline for members to return their reviews to Human Resources and they will be shared at
the next meeting.
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board
Maltez noted that the Town Clerk has not heard back from the Attorney Generals Office yet. They do
have to provide us with an answer by March. It was the Town Clerks suggestion to hold off on officially
appointing anyone until we hear back from the AG. If the board wanted to move forward they could
start advertising and looking for members but hold off on doing anything officially until a later date.
Budget Summary
Maltez noted the School Committee has finalized their budget and presented to the School Committee.
He feels they are in good shape now. He went through a brief presentation summarizing the budget
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which has not changed since the board saw it in December. The presentation can be found in the Select
Board packet on the town website.
The board discussed the trash contract costs and rolling out a program to provide trash and recycling
barrels to residents.
Future Agendas
The board discussed future agenda items.
Minutes
The board edited previous meeting minutes.
Haley moved to approve the meeting minutes from December W', 2022 as amended. The motion was
seconded by McCarthy and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Haley moved to approve the meeting minutes from December 7", 2022 as written. The motion was
seconded by McCarthy and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Haley moved to adjourn at 10:46 PM. The motion was seconded by Bacci and was approved with a
unanimous roll call vote.
Documents Used:
2023-01-10 Select Board Packet
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