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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-04-24 Annual Town Meeting MinutesANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 24, 2023 Performing Arts Center The Precincts listed below met at 7:00 PM to conduct the following business: Precinct 1 - With a Quorum present elected Salvatore Bramante as Precinct Chair and Rebecca Bailey as Precinct Clerk. After some discussion meeting was adjourned. Precinct 2 - With a Quorum present elected Nancy Tawadros as Precinct Chair and Emily Sisson as Precinct Clerk. After some discussion meeting was adjourned. Precinct 3 - With a Quorum present elected Daniel Dewar as Precinct Chair and Eric Bergstrom as Precinct Clerk. After some discussion meeting was adjourned. Precinct 4 - With a Quorum present elected Jennifer Hillery as Precinct Chair and Eric Gaffen as Precinct Clerk. After some discussion meeting was adjourned. Precinct 5 - With a Quorum present elected Sherilla Lestrade as Precinct Chair and Nancy Ziemlak as Precinct Clerk. After some discussion meeting was adjourned. Precinct 6 - With a Quorum present elected Kerri Perry as Precinct Chair and Kelly Malone as Precinct Clerk. After some discussion meeting was adjourned. Precinct 7 - With a Quorum present elected Genady Pilyaysky as Precinct Chair and Joseph Carnahan as Precinct Clerk. After some discussion meeting was adjourned. Precinct 8 - With a Quorum present elected William Brown as Precinct Chair and Richard Abate as Precinct Clerk. After some discussion meeting was adjourned. The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Alan E. Foulds, at 7:30 PM, there being a quorum present. The Flag of the USA was presented by the Reading Police Department Honor Guard. The National Anthem was presented by the Laurie Wise, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The Invocation was given by Beth Shurland and Nancy Docktor. All new members of Town Meeting were sworn -in and the Constable's return of the Warrant was read by the Town Clerk. The following announcements were made by the Moderator: Before we begin, the chair would like to remind Town Meeting Members, and inform newly elected members about some of the basic rules, and how we will proceed: When you are recognized please wait until you have the microphone before speaking. In addition to being heard in the hall we want you to be heard on RCTV, as well. The tapes from the cablecast may be used in verifying the official report. Before speaking, please state your name and precinct. Members are limited to no more than 10 minutes. The Chair will call on people roughly in the order that they raise their hands ... taking those who have not yet spoken, first. Non-members may speak, but only after members have first had the opportunity to do so. Non-member proponents of a motion may speak with permission of the body. Remember to try to stay away from personal attacks or, for the most part, personal references. We are here to discuss issues and NOT personalities. Keep in mind, these are our neighbors, and we're all trying to do what's best for the town. After debate has proceeded for a while, we may have someone "move the previous question," or simply "move the question." That is a call for debate to end. That motion itself is non -debatable and we will proceed directly to the issue of stopping debate. It takes a 2/3 vote. The Chair will not recognize that motion from 1 1 P a g e ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center April 24, 2023 a person who has just spoken. In other words, if you want to move the question and stop debate, that must be the only thing you have risen for. Amendments. We may have people offer amendments to motions on the floor. When a motion for an amendment is accepted we move directly to debate on the proposed amendment. Once disposed of, we return to debate on the main question. Other proposed amendments may be entertained as well. Town Meeting Members must be sitting in the lower portion of the hall if they want to be recognized as town meeting members, and have their votes counted. I remind my counters to keep that in mind when tallying votes. Instructional Motions. Article 3 is placed in the warrant by the Select Board, and calls for "Instructional Motions". These motions "instruct" various boards or individuals to do whatever the motion calls for. Proposed instructional motions were due to Town Hall last Friday. We will have three at this meeting. Although the article for Instructional Motions comes early in the meeting - Article 3 - we generally lay this on the table and take it up at the end of the meeting - whatever night that happens to be. There is often confusion with two particular motions, Indefinite Postponement and tabling. Let me give you a brief explanation of the difference: Indefinite Postponement is a motion asking that the body not vote for a particular motion during the life of this town meeting. Although it is thought of not so much as a vote against a particular issue, but rather a postponement, the result is the same. Voting in favor of indefinite postponement has the same result as voting against the main motion. If indefinite postponement carries, the main motion is defeated. A motion to indefinitely postpone is debatable. Tabling is used for another purpose altogether. Tabling temporarily puts a motion aside. It can be brought up again by anyone moving to take it from the table, at any time before the final adjournment of the meeting. This motion is non -debatable, although the chair will allow a brief explanation as to why the motion to table has been made. Adjournment. There are two types of adjournment. At the end of an evening we adjourn to a time certain. Tonight, for instance, when we are done for the evening, we, presumably, will adjourn until Thursday. When we are done with the business of town meeting we adjourn Sine Die, which translates to "without day." In other words, the meeting is complete. Finally, I would like to explain how things are likely to proceed over the next few hours, and next few days. Tonight, we begin with Article 2 of the Annual Meeting warrant, and we will proceed as far as we can. On Thursday the plan is to take up Article 12 - the operating budget. With some luck, we will finish the entire budget in one night. If we should finish early, we will return to where we left off tonight. Also, the School Superintendent requests that we take up Article 11 After the budget - Article 12, so if we get to them tonight there will be motions to table both of them. Motion made by Mark Dockser, Select Board to dispense of the reading of the warrant Motion Carried ARTICLE 2: Motion made by the Select Board to hear and act on the reports of the Select Board, School Committee, Library Trustees, Municipal Light Board, Finance Committee, Bylaw Committee, Town Manager, Town Accountant and any other Town Official, Board or Committee. ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 24, 2023 Performing Arts Center State of the Town Address Mark Dockser Chair, Reading Select Board and Town Meeting Member -Precinct 1 Greetings Town Meeting Members! I speak to you this evening as one of my last acts as Chair of the Select Board. The Select Board reorganizes each year and we will be doing this at our next meeting. We usually reorganize before Town Meeting but this year we had a recount from our election that was successfully completed this past Saturday with no changes in the final outcome. Both of the board incumbents Karen Herrick and Carlo Bacci are returning to the board. Thanks to Laura Gemme, our Town Clerk, staff, and the Board of Registrars for a well-run election and recount. In your report on the warrant this evening are the written remarks that I prepared one month ago as outgoing chair of the Select Board. I encourage you to read that document to get the lay of the land if you will. This evening I want to further emphasize some of my written remarks, and discuss a few aspects of who we are, where we are and where we are going. First and foremost, I am very pleased to report that the State of the Town of Reading is strong, positive and active. Under the strong leadership of our new Town Manager, Fidel Maltez, Reading delivered excellent current services to us, the residents, laid out plans for the future, and accelerated our position as the envy of and model for many neighboring towns. Reading is making strides toward the two highest priorities of the community in my opinion: developing a new active living center to support the quickly growing age 60+ community in town with a new building and services AND a replacement for the Killam Elementary School. Town meeting supported $2.2 MM in funds for the Killam Feasibility Study and we were able to allocate $900,000 of Federal relief funds toward activities for the senior community including $300,000 for a feasibility study for the active living center. In fact, let's talk more about the older adult population in Reading and its needs now and going forward. The population of residents in the town age 60+ stands at nearly 27% today and is forecast to grow to 29% by the year 2030. People love this town and want to stay here. In order to support the needs of the older adult population, we the town need to support more programming activities as well as the facilities that allow for these activities. Town Meeting last year overwhelmingly passed an instructional motion asking that the Town step up its efforts. On the programming side, the federal recovery funds that I mentioned a moment ago represents a good start on this path. However, the Pleasant Street Center does not have sufficient space to house the desired programs. To better understand the needs of the older adult community, last year the Select Board formed a committee called RECALC, the Reading center for active living committee. This group benchmarked many other communities for older adult focused facilities. RECALC also did a community wide survey and found strong support for a new senior/community center with dedicated space for the 60+ community. The report in your warrant from RECALC offers easy to read slides to share the results in more depth. I encourage you all to review these slides. The Reading Council on Aging has been very active with RECALC and has just finished producing a video that highlights where we are today with the facilities at the Pleasant Street Center and how it is not able to meet the needs of the older adult community. You will be receiving a link to this video in the next few days and it will be available on the Town Website as well. ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center April 24, 2023 So, we have identified additional space needs ... where can we find this space? As I mentioned, the Select Board allocated $300,000 of the Federal recovery funds, the so-called ARPA Funds, to use for a feasibility study to explore various sites and bring back plans for Town Meeting and then voter approval. The Select Board believed that we had found a very suitable space at 17 Harnden Street in the middle of our downtown, the former Walgreen's building that has been sitting empty for years. The board designated me to work together with our town manager to negotiate with the current owner to see if we could acquire this space. Several drawings were created to understand the potential for this space, ranging from very modest changes to a more dramatic and highly featured facility. In fact, we hoped to bring a deal back to this Town Meeting in the form of Article 21. Despite a lot of time and discussions, because of how the building is owned and the remaining lease with its former tenant, the town as a municipality was not able to reach a mutually acceptable agreement with the current owner. It was not about price, but rather about structure of the deal. We worked with town counsel and bond counsel to try to find a way but we could not, and we have thus suspended discussions with the owner at this time. When we come to Article 21 later this evening, we will be moving to indefinitely postpone the subject matter of that article because there is no offer for both the space and the development of the space to share with town meeting. This is very disappointing as we believe this space would offer a very good solution and we invested a lot of time and effort to try to make it happen. So, what are the next steps? We continue with our original plan of fielding a feasibility study to review potential locations and return to town meeting in the fall with a recommendation. The Select Board will be discussing this further at our next meeting. The Select Board with the help of an advisory committee of town volunteers allocated more than $7MM in Federal Covid relief funds to community projects. Grants were given to the Reading Public Schools for new materials, to the Birch Meadow Phase I project which with a bit more support from this Town Meeting will result in a "spine" paved path, a pavilion with bathrooms, an environmentally sound parking area, and a lacrosse wall. We also were able to support the great work of the Reading Food Pantry, the Burbank YMCA for an adaptive swim program, water infrastructure replacement projects and special financial recognition for town employees who worked through Covid providing municipal services despite the challenges of the pandemic. Details of the allocations are contained in the report on the warrant. There are many other things moving ahead in town to report on. Our purchase of "Lot 5" at the edge of the Town forest is moving ahead. We have obtained state approval as this is a protected area, for a pervious surface parking area with porta-potties. We also have reached an agreement with Meadowbrook Golf Club for an easement allowing access into the Town Forest from the parking lot. This project was supported by a grant from the state for the site work. • In fact, with the support of staff and elected board members, the town brought in more than $8MM in grant funding supporting everything from sidewalks near the high school to stormwater and environmental management at the Maillet-Sommes area to new community gardens at the Mattera cabin. And there are many more potential grants in the offing. ■ Reading demonstrated its commitment to inclusivity and willingness to be a warm and welcoming community through a variety of community focused programs and events. Some of these activities also brought challenges and an opportunity for us all to learn more about one another. Events included a holiday season celebration that included a Menorah and a Christmas tree in addition to the lighting of the common and hanging of wreaths; parades and celebrations in honor of PRIDE day, June-teenth and programs and discussions about equity and social justice including honoring the legacy of the late, great Bill Russell. PAIR, partners and allies for an inclusive Reading through the library's Office of Equity and Social Justice held regular meetings and community discussions. And in addition to Friends and Family Day and the Town Street Fair, we enjoyed expanded use of the Town Common for family friendly entertainment featuring music, beer and other libations and treats! ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center April 24, 2023 We are moving ahead toward joining the Green communities program sharing a commitment to environmentally responsible practices and the potential to unlock a new source of funds for the community. Town meeting shared with us a desire to develop more affordable housing in Town and we have created a new Affordable Housing Trust and board to guide these activities. The Governor and our state legislators are in tune with supporting these initiatives and the budget proposals being discussed at the State offer additional support for affordable housing. The Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support continued and continues its great work and the RPD's addition of comfort dogs calmed and supported our students as well as the greater community. The town remains in a very strong financial position, spending money responsibly and frugally. Our cash reserves have grown to —14% of our annual budget, well beyond the finance committee guidance of 7% and potentially providing additional opportunities for wise capital spending should Town Meeting authorize those uses in the future. In summary, 2023 starts with a lot of action and a lot of promise. We are a proud community, well managed and with a lot of potential. Here's to 2023 and beyond! Thank you! Motion made by the Select Board to table the subject matter. The remaining reports were printed in the Report on the Warrant. Motion to Table Carried ARTICLE 3: Motion made by the Select Board to table the subject matter Motion to Table Carried ARTICLE 4: Motion made by the Select Board to vote to amend the FY 2023-33 Capital Improvements Program as provided for in Section 7-7 of the Reading Home Rule Charter and as previously amended, by making these changes: General Fund FY23: -$200,000 -$200,000 Glycol Reclamation FY24: +$875,00.0 net change $900,000 Carts for automated collection (debt in FY25) $200,000 Glycol Reclamation -$225,000 Blower unit for Loader moved to FY25 FY25:-$249f500 -$97,500 RMHS Ropes Course moved to FY27 -$66,000 School Buildings Carpet/Flooring moved to FY26 -$76,000 Town Buildings ARC Flash Hazard Study moved to FY26 $225,000 Blower unit for Loader moved from FY24 -$950,000 Pumper Engine 2 moved to FY26 $200,000 2007 Sander moved up from FY26 $200,000 2006 Sander moved up from FY26 $40,000 2006 Cemetery Sedan moved up from FY26 $60,000 2006 Highway Pickup Truck moved up from FY26 5 1 P a g e ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 24, 2023 Performing Arts Center � $215,000 School Site Improvements moved up from FY26 rise Funds - Water FY23: +$0 FY24: +$0 FY25: +$115,000 Joseph's Way Sewer Station Design increased by $15,000 and moved up from FY26 Enterprise Funds - Sewer FY23: +$O FY24' +$0 FY25: +$0 rise Funds - Storm Water FY23: +$0 FY24• +$0 FY25: +$0 Presentation given by: Fidel Meltez - See Attached Background: This Article is included in every Town Meeting Warrant. The Reading General Bylaw (section 6.1.3) states "... No funds may be appropriated for any capital item unless such item is included in the Capital Improvements Program, and is scheduled for funding in the Fiscal Year in which the appropriation is to be made." Bond ratings agencies also want to ensure that changes to a long-term Capital Improvements Program (CIP) are adequately described. Finance Committee Report -given by, Joseph McDonagh: The Finance Committee recommends the proposed amendments to the FY 2023 - FY 2033 Capital Improvements Program by a vote of 8-0 at their meeting on March 15, 2023. Placing items in the Capital Improvement Program is a prerequisite first step but in itself does not authorize spending funds toward these items. bylaw Committee Report: No Report After some discussion a vote was taken Motion Carried ARTICLE 5: Motion made by the Select Board to vote to amend the Town's Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2022, as adopted under Article 18 of the Annual Town Meeting of April 25, 2022 and amended under Article 5 of the Subsequent Town Meeting of November 14, 2022; and to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, or otherwise provide 6 1 P a g e ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center April 24, 2023 a sum or sums of money to be added to the amounts appropriated under said Article, as amended, for the operation of the Town and its government: General Fund - Wages and Expenses Account Line Description 111F Pending Retirements $100,000 Decrease Increase $100,000 B99 - Benefit Wages $35,000 E99 - Regional Essex North $35,000 Vocational Education Wage savings due to vacancies$30,000 G91 Admin Service Wages $111,000 G92 Admin Services Insurance Deductibles $21,000 Expenses Pollution Liability Insurance $90,000 $30,000 G92a Technology Tech Security enhancements $30,000 Expense Wage savings due to vacancies H91 Public Services $125,000 Wages I91 Finance Wages Wage savings due to vacancies $7,000 391 - Public Safety Police Sick/Vacation Buybacks $175,000 Wages 392 -Public Safety Coalition Expenses funded by Opioid $21,790 Expenses Settlement K91 - Public Works Wage savings due to vacancies $150,000 Wages K92 - Public Works Supplies and Equipment $5,000 $214,500 Expenses Hwy Equip. Parts/Maintenance $25,000 Hwy Fuel $85,000 Grove St. Design $27,500 Parkview and Auburn Design $72,000 K-93 Snow & Ice Estimate as of 3.15.23 $50,000 K-94 Street Li hts $15,000 Subtotals $327,000 $737,290 Net Operating Expenses $410,290 From Free Cash $388,500 Opioid Settlement Funds $21,790 W99 Water EF S99 Sewer EF En SCADA Upgrade $50,000 WBD Paving $50,000 Copper tubing $10,000 SCADA Upgrade $110,000 $50,000 Subtotals 1 1 $160,000 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center April 24, 2023 Presentation given by: ■ Fidel Meltez - See Attached Finance Committee Report - given by Geoffrey Coram: At their meeting on March 15, 2023, the Finance Committee voted 8-0 to recommend this Article to Town Meeting. Bylaw Committee Report: No Report After some discussion a vote was taken Motion Carried ARTICLE 6: Motion made by the Select Board to table the subject matter Motion to Table Carried ARTICLE 7: Move that that the Town ratify the vote taken under Article 5 of this Town Meeting to amend the Fiscal Year 2022 Operating Budget by appropriating Five Hundred Thousand ($500,000) from the General Fund, and to transfer Eighty Five Thousand Dollars ($85,000) from the Water Enterprise Fund, Twenty Three Thousand Dollars ($23,000) from the Sewer Enterprise Fund, and Ten Thousand and Five Hundred ($10,500) from the Storm Water Enterprise Fund for the purpose of funding the Other Post - Employment Benefit Liability Trust Funds. Presentation given by: ■ Sharon Angstrom - See Attached Background: Each year at Annual Town Meeting, we ask to transfer funds budgeted for OPEB from that line to the actual OPEB Trust in this Article. Sometimes due to budget surpluses in health insurance premiums we have increased the budgeted contribution figures; we are prepared but have not yet needed to ask to lower the budgeted contribution figures to cover health insurance premium deficits. Recent contributions to the Trust on behalf of the General Fund have been $700,000 (FY20), $793,400 (FY21), $350,000 (FY22). This year, Town Meeting is requested to make the annual transfers of funds previously budgeted and held for the OPEB Trust Fund. This practice is followed each year in case health insurance costs are higher than budgeted, and therefore may be needed to fund a deficit. In FY23, we recommend transferring $500,000 to OPEB in the general fund. Original annual transfers designed to fully fund OPEB liabilities in the Enterprise Funds should continue: $85,000 in the water fund, $25,000 in the sewer fund and $10,500 in the storm water fund. This Article will therefore move the total $620,500 of all these OPEB contributions to the trust for Other Post Employment Benefit liabilities. The most recent OPEB valuation shows the Town's OPEB liability at $59.7 million and 12.46% funded as of June 30, 2022. The three Enterprise Funds and the Light Department are on a full funding schedule, and the General Fund is on a partial funding schedule. As noted, the General Fund will transition to a full funding schedule as soon as possible, as is required by law or immediately after the Pension Fund is fully funded. 8 1 P a g e Net Operating Expenses $160,000 From Water EF Reserves $110,000 From Sewer EF Reserves $50,000 Presentation given by: ■ Fidel Meltez - See Attached Finance Committee Report - given by Geoffrey Coram: At their meeting on March 15, 2023, the Finance Committee voted 8-0 to recommend this Article to Town Meeting. Bylaw Committee Report: No Report After some discussion a vote was taken Motion Carried ARTICLE 6: Motion made by the Select Board to table the subject matter Motion to Table Carried ARTICLE 7: Move that that the Town ratify the vote taken under Article 5 of this Town Meeting to amend the Fiscal Year 2022 Operating Budget by appropriating Five Hundred Thousand ($500,000) from the General Fund, and to transfer Eighty Five Thousand Dollars ($85,000) from the Water Enterprise Fund, Twenty Three Thousand Dollars ($23,000) from the Sewer Enterprise Fund, and Ten Thousand and Five Hundred ($10,500) from the Storm Water Enterprise Fund for the purpose of funding the Other Post - Employment Benefit Liability Trust Funds. Presentation given by: ■ Sharon Angstrom - See Attached Background: Each year at Annual Town Meeting, we ask to transfer funds budgeted for OPEB from that line to the actual OPEB Trust in this Article. Sometimes due to budget surpluses in health insurance premiums we have increased the budgeted contribution figures; we are prepared but have not yet needed to ask to lower the budgeted contribution figures to cover health insurance premium deficits. Recent contributions to the Trust on behalf of the General Fund have been $700,000 (FY20), $793,400 (FY21), $350,000 (FY22). This year, Town Meeting is requested to make the annual transfers of funds previously budgeted and held for the OPEB Trust Fund. This practice is followed each year in case health insurance costs are higher than budgeted, and therefore may be needed to fund a deficit. In FY23, we recommend transferring $500,000 to OPEB in the general fund. Original annual transfers designed to fully fund OPEB liabilities in the Enterprise Funds should continue: $85,000 in the water fund, $25,000 in the sewer fund and $10,500 in the storm water fund. This Article will therefore move the total $620,500 of all these OPEB contributions to the trust for Other Post Employment Benefit liabilities. The most recent OPEB valuation shows the Town's OPEB liability at $59.7 million and 12.46% funded as of June 30, 2022. The three Enterprise Funds and the Light Department are on a full funding schedule, and the General Fund is on a partial funding schedule. As noted, the General Fund will transition to a full funding schedule as soon as possible, as is required by law or immediately after the Pension Fund is fully funded. 8 1 P a g e ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center April 24, 2023 Finance Committee Report — given by Mark Zarrow: At their meeting on March 15, 2023, the Finance Committee voted 8-0 to recommend this Article to Town Meeting. Bylaw Committee Repo : No Report After some discussion a vote was taken Motion Carried ARTICLE 8: Motion made by the Select Board to Indefinitely Postpone the subject matter Motion to Indefinitely Postpone Carried ARTICLE 9: Motion made by Select Board that the Town vote to (1) establish the limit on the total amount that may be expended from each revolving fund established by Article 9 of the Town of Reading General Bylaw pursuant to Section 53EI/2 of Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts Genera/ Laws for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, as follows; Revolving Spending Account Authoritv Conservation Commission Consulting Fees Inspection Revolving Fu nd Conservation Commission own Manager Public Health Clinics and Services Board of Health Library Fines Library Director and Fees and Trustees 91 Page Revenue iAllowed Source lExpenses Clinic fees, Consulting and Fees as provided engineering services for in Reading for the review of General Bylaws designs and Section 5.7, engineering work for Wetlands the protection of Protection wetlands. Legal, oversight and inspection, plan review, initial property appraisals and appeals, Public Services planning and general Building, management, curb, Plumbing, sidewalks and Wiring, Gas and pedestrian safety other permits for improvements, the projects records archiving listed in the and other project Article. related costs. Clinic fees, Materials and costs charges and associated with third -party clinics and public reimbursements health programs Charges for lost Acquire Library or damaged materials to replace Library materials lost or damaged Expenditure Limits -$25,000 250,000 $25,000 'Year End Balance Available for expendit ure next vear Available for expendit ure next year Available IFo r expendit ure next yea r ,Available IFo r expendit ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 24, 2023 Performing Arts Center and fees from items, and for the lure next printing, faxing maintenance, expendit year or similar upkeep and supplies maintenance and supplementary Ifor supplementary Operating Facilities Director fee-based fee-based services -operating expenses year iservices. Conservation Rental and user Available Mattera Utilities and all other::$10,000 expendit Cabin maintenance and ure next Operating Facilities Director Rental Fees -operating expenses year Conservation Rental and user Utilities and all otherl Available Community .Administrator fees maintenance and ifor Gardens at operating expenses, '$10,000 expendit Mattera and project supplies iure next Cabin and a ui ment ear Director of Public 'Works upon the recommendation of the Town Forest own Forest Forest ;ale of timber; ees for use of he Town Forest Planning and Improvements to the Town Forest Available $10,000 for expendit ure next and (2) amend Section 6.5.2 of the General Bylaw, establishing the Inspection Revolving Fund, as shown below, with the deletions being in bold and struck through: 6.5.2 Inspection Revolving Fund Funds held in the Inspection Revolving Fund shall be used for legal costs, oversight and inspection, plan review, property appraisals and appeals, public services general management, pedestrian safety improvements, records archiving, and other costs related to building, plumbing, wiring, gas, and other permits required for large construction projects and shall be expended by the Town Manager. Receipts credited to this fund shall include building, plumbing, wiring, gas and other permit fees for the Seheelhause rGernmens, The Metropolitan at Reading Statien, Pestf"arle Square; 20 24 r_._uld Street, 467 Malinf Gaktree, , Johnson Woods, Eaton Lakeview (23-25 Lakeview Avenue and 128 Eaton Street), 258 Main Street, 267 S`---`, 531 Main Street, 18-20 Woburn Street, 6-16 Chute Street (Green Tomato), 25 Haven Street (Rite Aid) and 459 Main Street (128 Tire) developments. Presentation given by: ■ Sharon Angstrom - See Attached Background: ■ Conservation Consulting Revolving Fund - These funds are used to receive payments from applicants, hire expert consultants where required, and return the balance to the applicant. The balance in this Fund as of March 2023 is $33,225. • Inspections Revolving Fund - The balance available as of March 2023 in this fund is85$�fl3 and of that total $182,750 is proposed by the Town Manager as part of the FY23 budget {$125,250 to support General Admin and Economic Development wages and expenses; and $50,000 to offset Building Inspections division wages}. ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center April 24, 2023 Health Clinic Revolvinq Funs! - The Reading Health Division contracts for third party payments for a number of immunizations. The funds are used to augment the influenza vaccine supply from the State Department of Public Health to insure vaccine for the homebound clients and first responders. The Division also uses these funds for materials for other screening clinics. Clinic client fees are also deposited into this fund to offset vaccine and clinical supply costs. The balance available as of March 2023 in this fund is $19,215. The State has been cutting back on the free flu and other vaccines to be distributed to cities and towns, and the Town therefore needs to purchase extra doses. The necessary amounts used for clinic vaccine, supplies and staff salaries related to the clinics each year directly from the revolving fund is therefore approximately $25,000. Library Fines and Fees Fund - The balance available as of March 2023 in this fund is $10,212. The added flexibility in use of this fund approved by Annual Town Meeting two years ago has been helpful. • Mattera Cabin Operating Fund - Some of the use of the Cabin is revenue generating, and this Article allows those revenues to be used directly for the operating expenses of the cabin. The balance available as of March 2022 in this fund is $00. In response to a previous instructional motion by Town Meeting, the Town Manager moved the responsibility for both the Mattera Cabin and Cemetery garage to the Facilities department. Community Gardens at Mattera Cabin Operating Fund - This fund was created at Annual Town Meeting on April 2022. This new revolving fund is proposed to provide a mechanism for the Conservation Commission to generate revenue (e.g., fees from the gardeners) and expend it on utilities, other maintenance as well as operating expenses, equipment, and supplies. The Community Garden continues to grow and attract regional support. This year the Community Garden received $73,500 in external grants towards the expansion of the garden into Phase 2. The balance available as of March 2023 in this fund is $00. • Town Forest Revolving Fund was created in 2011. The purpose is to allow revenues from controlled timber harvesting and permit fees to then be spent by the DPW Director upon the recommendation of the Town Forest Committee, on improvements to the Town Forest. The Town Forest Committee has had a forest stewardship plan created (through a grant) to make recommendations on forest management including controlled timber harvesting. The balance available as of March 2023 in this fund is �0. Finance Committee Report - given by Joseph Carnahan: At their meeting on March 15, 2023, the Finance Committee voted 8-0 to recommend this Article to Town Meeting. Bylaw Committee Report - given by Jeff Struble: At their meeting on March 27, 2023, the Bylaw Committee voted 5-0 to recommend this Article to Town Meeting. Motion made by Bill Brown to amend as follows: Inspection Revolving Fu nd 11 1 P a g e own Manaqer Building, Plumbing, 'Wiring, Gas and other permits for the projects listed in the .Article. Legal, oversight and inspection, plan review, initial property appraisals and appeals, Public Services planning and general management, curb, sidewalks and pedestrian safety improvements, records archiving 175,000 Available for expendit ure next ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center nd other project plated costs. Motion Withdrawn After some discussion a vote was taken Motion Carried as Presented April 24, 2023 ARTICLE 10: Motion made by the Select Board to Indefinitely Postpone the subject matter Motion_ to Indefinitely Postpone Carried ARTICLE 11: Motion made by the Select Board to table the subject matter Motion to Table Carried ARTICLE 12: Motion made by the Select Board to table the subject matter Motion to Table Carried ARTICLE 13: Motion made by the Select Board to vote to appropriate the sum of Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($900,000) to pay the costs of the acquisition, management, and distribution of rubbish and recycling carts for residences currently on the municipal rubbish program, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related to thereto, and that to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to G.L. c. 44, §7(1) or any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor. Presentation given by: • Chris Cole - See Attached Background: The Town's rubbish and recycling collection contract with Republic Services is set to expire in June 2026, and the rubbish disposal contract with Covanta is set to expire one year prior in June 2025. Both contracts are expected to see significant cost increases. Purchasing rubbish and recycling carts now for residences currently on the municipal rubbish program would align the Town with what many of Reading's peer communities already have in place and would prepare the Town for possible future automated rubbish and recycling collection in 2026. Purchasing the carts now would lessen the financial impact on the Town when the new collection contract is bid in 2026. Supplying these covered carts to households would greatly mitigate: rodent issues, rainfall accumulation issues with current residential rubbish containers, litter blowing around neighborhoods on collection days due to open top containers, as well as an improvement to the aesthetics of the Town on collection days. This proposal would allow for (1) 64 -gallon rubbish cart and (1) 64 -gallon recycling cart per each residence currently receiving rubbish and recycling collection by the Town. If funding for this article is approved, the Select Board would decide at a later date, on what options would be permitted for households that might 12 1 P a g e ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center April 24, 2023 accrue more rubbish or recycling than one cart would hold. Options for addressing extra rubbish/recycling would include residents being able to purchase either 30 -gallon overflow bags (to be placed next to the cart on collection day), or a yearly purchase of a 2nd 64 -gallon cart. The Town does have data which shows that the average weekly household rubbish volume in 2022 was only 57.3 gallons. The average weekly household recycling volume in 2022 was 23.5 gallons. The Department of Public Works is requesting $900,000 to purchase the rubbish and recycling carts for distribution to Reading households currently receiving Town collection services. If the Town approves this funding, approximately 7400 rubbish carts, and 7800 recycling carts would be purchased, and residents could expect delivery of the new carts in the Fall 2023. Public Works is requesting more recycling carts than rubbish carts since recycling in Town Buildings and Schools is handled with carts; rubbish in Town Buildings and Schools is handled through dumpsters. Grants to supplant this funding request have been explored and are currently being applied for, but the outcome of those grants may not be known for at least several more months. Finance Committee Report - given by Emily Sisson: At their meeting on March 15, 2023, the Finance Committee voted 8-0 to recommend this Article to Town Meeting. Bylaw Committee Report: No Report Motion made by John O'Neill, Precinct 6 to amend as follows: One Million One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars 1,150,000 Motion Does Not Carry Motion made by Heather Clish, Precinct 7 to move the entire question 2/3rd Vote Required 106 in the affirmative 45 in the negative 171 Town Meeting Members in Attendance Motion to end Debate Carried 2/3rd Vote Required 93 in the affirmative 62 in the negative 171 Town Meeting Members in Attendance Main Motion Does Not Carry On motion it was voted that this Annual Town Meeting stand adjourned to meet at 7:30 PM at the Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Meeting adjourned at 10:32 PM with 171 Town Meeting Members in attendance. Motion Carried 13 1 P a g e ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center A true copy Attest: Laura A Gemme, CMC /CMMC Town Clerk 14 1 P a g e April 24, 2023 Town of Reading ' FY24 Budget K..a t Town Meeting April 24, 2023 . i IWO0,11, Overview 1. Shared Costs 2. Town Government 3. School Department ------------------------------- 4. Enterprise Funds FY24 Budget Warrant Report Budget votes pages 37-84 no votes pages 85-88 lines B99 to F99 & 270-297 pages 89-179 lines G91 to M92 pages 180-255 line U99 pages 256-269 lines W99 to Z99 1 Overview - Reserve Status April 2023 FREE CASH July 1, 2022 $ 19,9279025 Nov 22 TM — Articles 4, 7, & 18 (2,905,000) Apr 23 TM — FY23 budget (388,500) April 23 TM — FY24 budget ( 3,280,000) $ 13, 353, 525 GENERAL STABILIZATION FUND $ 1,769,433* FINCOM Reserves 200,000 TOTAL $ 15,322,958 13.2% of estimated $115.9 million FY24 net available revenue; FINCOM Policy is 7% minimum 'total excludes funds designated for specific purpose 2023-2025 figures assumes $2.5 million regeneration and $3.28 million in uses in FY24 and FY25 $2.58 million in uses in FY26. 2 C Pages 79 - 84 FY24 Projected General Fund Revenues ($ millions) Prop Taxes 84.40 87.35 +3.5% Local Revs 7.79 8.75 12.3% State Aid 15.16 15.54 +2.5% Transfers & Avail 4.18 4.31 +3.1% Sub Total 111.53 115.95 +4.0% Reserves Used 3.23 328 +1.7% TOTAL 114.76 119.23 +3.9% C Pages 85-88 Shared Costs ($ millions) B99 Benefits $19.84 $20.68 +4.3% C99 Capital 2.89 2.94 +1.8% D99 Debt 5.98 6.07 +1.4% E99 Vocational Schools 0.87 0.90 +4.0% F99 FINCOM Reserves 0.20 0.20 0% Shared Costs $29.78 $30.79 +3.4% Purposefully high figure for Capital + Debt: extra Free Cash added to fund this so as to not detract from the fcmding of the Operations of the Schools or Town. 2 - FY24 Spending Scorecard Page 83 ($ millions) ®®® Shared Costs 29.78 30.79 +3.4% Town Gov't 32.32 33.63 +4.1% Schools 51.78 54.01 +4.3% General Fund 113.88 118.43 +4.0% Water 8.15 7.97 -2.2% Sewer 7.33 7.51 2.4% Storm Water 0.78 0.47 -39.9% PEG Access 0.63 0.62 -0.5% Landfill .04 .04 +0.0% Enterprise Funds 16.93 16.61 -1.9% TOTAL 130.81 135.04 +3.2% Pages 85-88 Shared Costs ($ millions) B99 Benefits $19.84 $20.68 +4.3% C99 Capital 2.89 2.94 +1.8% D99 Debt 5.98 6.07 +1.4% E99 Vocational Schools 0.87 0.90 +4.0% F99 FINCOM Reserves 0.20 0.20 0% Shared Costs $29.78 $30.79 +3.4% Purposefully high figure for Capital + Debt: extra Free Cash added to fund this so as to not detract from the fcmding of the Operations of the Schools or Town. 2 � 9 � Pages 270-296 FY24 Capital (C99) Proposed Capital spending $2.938.000 -4.8"/. $ 190k Permanent Building Committee, RISE playground improvements $ Pages 85-87 FY24 Benefits (Line B99) ($ millions) 163k ARC Flash Hazard Study for school buildings Employee & Retiree Benefits $20.68 + 4.3% Retirement $ 6.68 +5.6% Pension Assessment 6.14 +6.1% 10k Library —shelving and equipment OPEB 0.50 +0.0% 65k Replacement of Fire passenger car # 2 Other 0.04 +0.0% 625k Road repairs, skim coating, seal crack & sidewalk repairs Medicare $ 1.01 + 0.5% Health Insurance $ 12.40 + 4.0% Premiums 12.10 + 4.1% 200k Field, playground and court improvements Other 0.30 + .97% 480k Replacement of trucks 7 & 11 (both are 2008) Worker Compensation $ 0.39 + 1.3% Indemnification $ 0.14 + 3.8% Unemployment $ 0.08 + 0.0% � 9 � Pages 270-296 FY24 Capital (C99) Proposed Capital spending $2.938.000 -4.8"/. $ 190k Permanent Building Committee, RISE playground improvements $ 200k Glycol Reclamation $ 163k ARC Flash Hazard Study for school buildings $ 175k School — card readers, phone system work & technology projects $ 100k Town large-scale technology projects $ 10k Library —shelving and equipment $ 65k Replacement of Fire passenger car # 2 $ 625k Road repairs, skim coating, seal crack & sidewalk repairs $ 75k Parking lot and fence improvements $ 100k Rock Wall repairs at Memorial Park $ 200k Field, playground and court improvements $ 480k Replacement of trucks 7 & 11 (both are 2008) $ 235k Replacement of car 3 (2008), 2 Parks pickups (2011 & 2015) $ 280k Loader to replace Sicard $ 40k Replace trailer (2013) and SKAG mower (20080 5 4 Pages 270-272 FY24 Debt (D99) Pages 298-303 Debt Service 36.068.806 +SA°/o debt premiums paid $ 3,407 within levy $3,380,694 School buildings $ 916,688 All buildings - energy $ 796,731 Building security $ 446,100 RMHS Turf II & Turf I $ 561,025 Police StationRublic Health $ 182,250 Community Improvements $ 477,900 excluded from the levy $2,686,112 Schools (ends 2024) $1,357,012 Library (ends 2025) $1,329,100 1♦ - 1♦ Debt Authorizations Appropriation Ai oRed Amount nadebrthe Amount Nett 06 ArWe Aidorced SBA or other RdrenreetNWBA Adioraed BANS BANS AuthmW umber 3Wun•22 Autorued hoW Grant OfUk beast IkWed 304un-13 Issued Msued $ S S S $ S S $ S $ MWSmr I S I Phase 13 11115118 9 1,040,000 : - --- 1,040,OW TOIIWL'g q 0427119 15 402,000 402,000 402,000 k1WHAWabrLeadMgabon 111MO 8 1,500,000 150.000 — — AubnW&TankAddign 1FurAN 1011801 7 2,00.000 2,000,000 2,000,000 — MNRAWaferLeadMfigabon 110102 14 — 1,543,800 1,543,800 — — Mikf,SannnesandMogan Slow&Syslems 14122 15 — 3,000,000 3,000,000 3,000,000 HaenSbeelRoaNTDes n 11002 16 — 750,000 75.000 75.000 s s s s 7-- 4,942,000 4,942,000 5,293,800 3,043,800 - - - - r 1100 Ina z102.{ o G l��: ' �� Vocational Education (Line E99) Page 87-88 & FINCOM Reserves (Line F99) Vocational Education $904,800 +4.0% This figure annually estimates enrollment, and sometimes needs to be amended at a future Town Meeting. FINCOM Reserves $200,000 +0.0% - Ends presentation on Shared Costs - r '? Page 89 ` Town Government Overview ($millions unless specified) Admin Services 2.65 2.68 +1.3% Technology 1.02 1.08 +6.3% Public Services 1.76 1.73 -1.5% Finance 1.04 1.09 +4.6% Public Safety 13.46 14.04 +4.3% Public Works 6.71 6.90 +2.9% Public Library 2.02 2.11 +4.2% Facilities 3.66 4.00 +9.41/6 TOTAL 32.32 33.63 +4.1% VA I' Pages 93-103 Administrative Services +1.3% Wages (G91) and Expenses (G92) Wages $1,208,975 (+.2%) Expenses $1,472,700 (+2.3%) Wages • Decrease in the number of elections • Removal of funding for the results of the non-union compensation study which was paid for in FY23. • Director of Admin. Services is now changed to Assistant Town Manager • The Assistant Town Manager manages both Admin and Public Services, and his salary is split between the two departments. • Technology is a separate department starting in FY24. Expenses • Elections cost are down due to fewer elections in FY24 • $20k was allocated for the Select Board to allocate funds to their appointed boards and committees, a $5k increase over prior year. • Town Manager reserves increased by $5k to $20k to fund more community events in the Town Common. >=�P,;y Pages 104-105 Technology +6.3% Wages (G91 a) and Expenses (G92a) Wages $484,600 (+8.9%) Expenses $600,360 (+4.2%) Wages • Technology is a separate department starting in FY24. • Salary increases from the pay and class study results Expenses • Rising costs for software licensing and subscriptions for hosted solutions • Options were added to further support the Town's ability to offer more online solutions to residents. 3 Public Services -1.5% Pages 106-127 Wages (H91) and Expenses (H92) Wages $1,429,100 (4.5%) Expenses $302,000 (+15.9%) Wages • The Assistant Town Manager manages both Admin and Public Services, and his salary is split between the two departments. • New employees hired at a lower step than their predecessors • Recreation Program Coordinator goes from part-time to full-time to allow for increased programming, program support, and community visibility. Expenses • More veterans are being served through aid and outreach initiatives. • Increased Elder Services programming including bringing back nutritional congregate lunches for our growing 60+ population. Pages 128-135 Finance +4.6% Wages (191) and Expenses (192) Wages $931,750 (+5.0%) Expenses $159,6150 (+2.2%) Wages • Pay and Class adjustments for management level staff Expenses • Maintain Regional Assessing arrangement with Wakefield • Professional development expenses increased slightly • Tax Title expenses were slightly over budget in recent years, FY24 increased to align with prior year actuals. E Public Safety +4.3% Pages 136-149 Wages (J91) and Expenses (J92) Wages $13,307,475 (+4.3%) Expenses_ $728,151 (+3.5%) • Public Health $ 434,125 -5.9% Pages 138-139 • Fire/EMS $6,136,176 + 4.9% Pages 140-142 • Police $6,451,575 +4.4% Pages 143-145 Coalition $ 290,550 +5.2% Pages 146-147 Dispatch $ 723,250 +3.9% Pages 148-149 Funding may not move between any of these areas above without the approval of the CFO/Town Accountant Pages 138-139 Public Health Wages $ 321,125 (-9.5%) Expenses $113,000 (+6.1%) Wages • Part-time nurse position eliminated in FY24 that was dedicated to COVID response. Expenses • Added professional development budget that was not there last year • Small increase in health supplies and equipment line 10 :� '1© Pages 140-142 Fire and EMS Wages $5,927,275 (+5.1 %) Expenses $280,901 (-0.3%) Wages • Union staff are moving through the step system in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. • Non-union pay adjustments as a result of the Pay and Class study. Expenses Most lines are level funded to prior year The only change in the expense budget is an increase to the stipend paid to the physician who serves as Medical Director. Wages $6,126,025 (+4.4%) Police Pages 143-145 Expenses $325,500 (+6.0%) Wages • Union staff are moving through the step system in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. • Non-union pay adjustments as a result of the Pay and Class study. Expenses • Office supplies increased due to inflation • Budget added for vet care, food and supplies for K-9 and comfort dogs. 11 Wages $248,800 (+5.2%) Wages • No change in staffing; Coalition Pages 146-147 Expenses $41,750 (+0.0%) Pay adjustments due to Pay and Class study results Expenses • Expenses are level funded to FY23 Wages $684,250 (+4.0%) Wages Dispatch Page 148-149 Expenses $39,000 (+1.3%) • Union staff are moving through the step system in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. Grant shown as offset to wages only; per CFOITown Accountant Expenses • Uniform and clothing budget increased slightly 12 Ow.. Public Works +3.3% total Pages 150-166 Division Wages (K91) and Expenses (K92) Wages $3,106,600 (+2.9%) Expenses $950,700 (+4.8%) Wages • Full-time staffing remains unchanged • Union staff are moving through the step system in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. • Trust fund continues to pay a portion of Cemetery wages Expenses • Increase in expenses is associated with an increase in traffic control, line painting, outsourced repairs, and fuel. Public Works Pages 154-155 Snow & Ice (K93) Snow & Ice funding level funded at $675,000 (+0%) 1,600,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 ' 1,000,000 800,000 Budget Actual 600,000 _lOyr Avg +' k+� �� 400,000 t ji a. 200,000 0 � o ry ro„ o 0 o N ,ov o o N ry 'Underfunded' on purpose: why eliminate teachers & public safety in case we have a light winter (FY12 & FY16 & FY20) ? 13 Public Works Pages 154-155 Street Lights (K94) and Rubbish (K95) Street Lighting $135,000 (+3.8%) • Costs continue to be modest Rubbish $2,034,250 (+3.0%) • Rubbish Disposal— long term 5 year contracts expires June 30,2025, +3% increase for FY24 • Rubbish and Recycling collection continues to enjoy a 10 -year contract at a +3% increase for FY24 1� :r .111111® Public Library +4.2% Pages 167-174 Wages (L91) and Expenses (L92) Wages $1,698,150 (+4.8%) Expenses $406,875 (+1.9%) Wages • Non-union wage adjustments from Pay and Class study Expenses • Materials budget complies with 13% Municipal Appropriation required to be eligible for State Aid. 14 Facilities +9.4% Pages 175-179 CORE Facilities (M91) and Town Buildings (M92) CORE $3,633,780 (+10.7%) Town Bldgs $369,650 (-1.8%) No change in staffing levels. Custodian salaries increase per a collective bargaining agreements Increased overtime to setup events at Town Common Increased energy costs for electric, gas and water and sewer Increase in alarm contract and elevator expenses - Ends presentation on Town Departments - Pages School Department 15 Enterprise Funds Pages 256-269 Overview The Select Board will hold a Public Hearing to set rates, probably in May 2023 • Significant ongoing capital expenses in Water and Sewer ARPA funds in the amount of $930,314 will be used to support Water Capital Improvements in FY24 Water Enterprise Fund Pages 256-258 (W99) Rates estimated at +0.0 to + 5.3 % (Select Board Hearing upcoming) • Wages +3.1 % • Overhead expenses +1.1 % • Operating expenses +2.3% • Support to general fund costs +4.0% • Capital & Debt planned at •8.9% Total Local costs - 3.9% • MWRA assessment+3.0% = Gross budget -1.7% • Use P50k Reserves to minimize rates (estimated pending Hearing) = Net budget 3.5% $145k in ARPA funds to cover capital cost to assist in stabilizing the rate 16 Sewer Enterprise Fund Pages 259-261 (X99) Rates estimated at +0.0% to +4.1% (Select Board Hearing upcoming) • Wages +2.6% • Overhead expenses +1.0% • Operating expenses +0.9% • Support to general fund costs +4.0% • Capital & Debt planned at-0.3°Ia Total Local costs +1.1 % • MWRAassessment +3.0% = Gross budget +2.5% • Use $650k Reserves to minimize rates (estimated pending Hearing) = Net budget -1.5% Storm Water Enterprise Fund Pages 263-265 (Y99) Rates estimated as $601residential SF home (unchanged, SB Hearing) • Wages -6.0% • Overhead expenses +0.0% • Operating expenses +0.0% • Support to general fund costs +4.0% • Capital & Debt planned at -141 % • = Total Local costs -34.5% • No Reserves used (estimated pending Hearing) = Net budget -27.2% FUTURE _> FY25 Draining Master Plan for the community _> FY25 Annual drainage funding is increased by $200k to carry out prioritized findings of the Draining Master Plan 17 PEG Access Enterprise Fund Pages 266-267 (Z99) PEG Access $623,000 uil�lllllllll��hl� Projected FY24BUDGET FY23-24 FY20Actual FY21ARua1 FY22Actual FY23 Town Manager Change GENERAL FUND SUPPORT $ 1,000 $ 1,000 $ 1,000 $ 1,000 $ 1,000 00% PgOF5S51ONA111AV S 4 5 ,070 5 W.451 $ 63L.104 $ 626.250 ; _62_2000 -D:51A PEG EXPENSES $ 600,000 $ 586,481 $ 632,204 $ 626,250 $ 623,000 77% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIR .� ' �i Landfill Enterprise Fund Pages 268-269 Landfill $37,000 (Zz9) • The Landfill Enterprise fund was created on December 9, 2002, to establish a financial assurance mechanism per the DEP requirements relative to the closure of the Landfill and the post -closure maintenance and monitoring. • The Developer is required to provide monitoring of the Landfill up to and including the limit of $40,000 per year, with a 3% cost of living factor applied each year. • The Town's obligation is escalated for amounts above $40k per year appropriately escalated. • The Town hasn't had an obligation relative to the Landfill monitoring since December 2011. • Each January the Developer provides a $37k performance deposit and the Town reimburses the Developer from this deposit when proof of monitoring is provided. DOR would like this $37k appropriated each year. IN Budget Motion Move that the Town appropriate the sum of: $135,045,333 for the operation of the Town and its Government for Fiscal Year 2024, beginning July 1, 2023, with the amount appropriated to be raised as set forth below. -FINCOM 19 lll��Qii"Qi� OEM Town of Reading For the PAC Audience use RPS GUEST WIFi password: none Annual Town Meeting April 24, 2023 1♦ '� Pages 3-4 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 5 Adds, removes or changes items in the FY23-33 Capital Improvements Program — does not authorize any funding for these items: FY23 General Fund: -$200,000 net changes -$200,000 Glycol Reclamation FY24 General Fund: -$875,000 net changes $ 900,000 Carts for automated collection (debt in FY25) $ 200,000 Glycol Reclamation -$ 225,000 Blower unit for Loader moved to FY27 2023 Annual Town Meeting Pages 3-4 Article 4 continued FY25: General Fund: -$249,500 -$ 97,500 RMHS Ropes Course moved to FY27 -$ 66,000 School Buildings Carpet/Flooring moved to FY26 -$ 76,000 Town Buildings ARC Flash Hazard Study moved to FY26 $ 225,000 Blower unit for Loader moved from FY24 -$950,000 Pumper Engine 2 moved to FY26 $ 200,000 2007 Sander moved up from FY26 $ 200,000 2006 Sander moved up from FY26 $ 40,000 2006 Cemetery Sedan moved up from FY26 $ 60,000 2006 Highway Pickup Truck moved up from FY26 $ 215,000 School Site Improvements moved up from FY26 Pages 3-4 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 4 (continued) FY23 Enterprise Funds: no changes FY24 Enterprise Funds: no changes FY25 Enterprise Funds: Sewer+$115,000 +$115,000 Joseph's Way Sewer Station Design increase by $15,000 and moved up from FY26 �> Pages 5-6 �� R 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 5 FY23 General Fund budget (continued): Line Pages 5-6 2023 Annual Town Meeting J91 — Public Police Vacation/Sick Buyback Article 5 $175,000 Authorizes these changes to FY23 General Fund budget: Line Description Decrease Increase $21,790 Safety Exp. B99 Benefits 111F Pending Retirements $100,000 Wage savings due to vacancy $150,000 E99 Vocational Education Essex North $35,000 $35,000 K92 — Public G91 Admin Services Wages Wage savings due to vacancy $30,000 Hwy Equip. Parts/Maint. $25,000 Expenses Hwy Fuel $85,000 Grove St. Design $27,500 G92 Admin Services Exp Insurance Deductibles $21,000 $111,000 Pollution Liability Insurance $90,000 G92a Technology Exp $30,000 Technology Security Enhancements H91 Public Services Wages Wage savings due to vacancy $125,000 191 Finance Wages Wage savings due to vacancy $7,000 �> Pages 5-6 �� R 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 5 FY23 General Fund budget (continued): Line Description Decrease Increase J91 — Public Police Vacation/Sick Buyback $175,000 Safety Wages J92 — Public Coalition Expenses funded by Opioid $21,790 Safety Exp. Settlement K91 — Public Wage savings due to vacancy $150,000 Works Wages K92 — Public Supplies & Equipment $5,000 $214,500 Works Hwy Equip. Parts/Maint. $25,000 Expenses Hwy Fuel $85,000 Grove St. Design $27,500 Parkview & Auburn Design $72,000 IIIIIIIIIIIIIS111111111M Pages 5-6 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 5 Authorizes these changes to FY23 Enterprise Fund budget: Line Description Decrease �Sowl Pages 5-6 SCADA Upgrade $50,000 Subtotals 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 5 Authorizes these changes to FY23 General Fund budget: $160,000 Line Description Decrease Increase K93 Snow & Ice Estimate as of 3/15/23 $50,000 $15,000 K94 Street Lights Street Lighting Subtotals $327,000 $737,290 Net Operating Expenses $410,290 From Free Cash $388,500 From Opioid Settlement Funds $21,790 IIIIIIIIIIIIIS111111111M Pages 5-6 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 5 Authorizes these changes to FY23 Enterprise Fund budget: Line Description Decrease Increase $110,000 W99 Water EF S99 Sewer EF SCADA Upgrade $50,000 WBD Paving $50,000 Copper Tubing $10,000 SCADA Upgrade $50,000 Subtotals $50,000 $160,000 Net Operating Expenses $160,000 From Water EF Reserves $110,000 From Sewer EF Reserves $50,000 2023 Annual Town Meeting Page 6 Article 6 Prior Year's Bills — Not Applicable, recommend that this article be tabled. Page 6-7 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 7 Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Move appropriated funds to the OPEB Trust $500,000 General fund $ 85,000 Water Enterprise Fund $ 25,000 Sewer Enterprise Fund S 10.500 Storm Water Entercrise Fd. $620,500 in total 2023 Annual Town Meeting Page 7 Article 8 Move 40R funds to Stabilization Fund No funds received. Not Applicable, recommend that this article be tabled. '±>i IIIIIIIIIIIIIE Pa •. ge 7-10 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 9 Authorizes Revolving Funds Annual Spending Limits and amends Section 6.5.2 of the General Bylaw: 6.5.2 Inspection Revolving Fund Funds held in the Inspection Revolving Fund shall be used for legal costs, oversight and inspection, plan review, property appraisals and appeals, public services general management, pedestrian safety improvements, records archiving, and other costs related to building, plumbing, wiring, gas, and other permits required for large construction projects and shall be expended by the Town Manager. Receipts credited to this fund shall include building, plumbing, wiring, gas and other permit fees for the Schoolhouse %4A1m nsThe Metropolitan at Reading c��r�.. �ig�ark Squafe'20.24 Gould Street; 467 Again Street, Aaktfee Addison-Weskxy4Pearson, Johnson Woods, Eaton Lakeview (23-25 Lakeview Avenue and 128 Eaton Street), 258 Main Street, 267 Main Street; 531 Main Street, 18-20 Woburn Street, 6-16 Chute Street (Green Tomato), 25 Haven Street (Rite Aid) and 459 Main Street (128 Tire) developments. 71 11 `' t © Pages 7-10 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 9 continued Authorizes Revolving Funds Annual Spending Limits Conservation Consulting $33,225 $25,000 Inspections $668,753 $250,000 Public Health Clinics & Services $19,215 $25,000 Library Fines and Fees $10,212 $15,000 Mattera Cabin Operating none $10,000 Community Gardens at Mattera Cabin none $10,000 Town Forest none $10,000 .•.fir, Pages 10-11 4••.� 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 10 Affordable Housing Trust Fund Allocation Plan Pursuant to Article 10 of the 2023 Annual Town Meefing, an Affordable Housing Trust Fund Allocation Plan for the Fiscal Year 2024 in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2001 is as follows: Available Balance — Unrestricted Funds: $ 460,504 Available Balance — Restricted Funds $ 0 Unrestricted funds shall be used for the following purposes: • $10,000 or a maximum of 5% for administration of Affordable Housing • Remainder for constructing affordable housing (including loan and grant programs); or for maintaining and improving affordability of existing housing stock; or for the purchase of existing housing stock to add it to or maintain it as a part of the existing affordable housing inventory. 7 Pages 11-12 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 11 To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 40, Section 13E of the Massachusetts General Laws to establish a Special Education Reserve Fund • To be utilized in the upcoming fiscal years, for the general purposes of funding, without further appropriation, unanticipated or unbudgeted costs of special education and recovery high school programs, out -of - district tuition or transportation, all as provided for by law. • Funds would be distributed after a majority vote of the School Committee and a majority vote of the Select Board. • The balance in such reserve fund shall not exceed 2 percent of the annual net school spending amount established for the school district ,? i� Pages 12 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 12 Adopt FY24 Budget - Separate PowerPoint presentation by Town Accountant, School Superintendent and Town Manager. N. Q Pages 12-13 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 13 Authorize $900,000 of debt to purchase rubbish and recycling carts for residents currently on the municipal rubbish program: • The Town's rubbish and recycling collection contract with Republic Services is set to expire in June 2026, and the rubbish disposal contract with Covanta is set to expire one year prior in June 2025. Both contracts are expected to see significant cost increases. • Purchasing these carts now will prepare the Town for possible future automated rubbish and recycling collection in 2026 and lessen the financial impact on the Town when the new rubbish and recycling collection contract is bid in 2026. • Supplying these covered carts to households would greatly mitigate rodent issues, rainfall accumulation issues with current residential rubbish containers, litter blowing around neighborhoods on collection days due to o en top containers, as well as an improvement to the aesthetics of the Town on collection days. Pages 12-13 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 13 continued • This proposal would allow for (1) 64 -gallon rubbish cart and (1) 64 -gallon recycling cart per each residence currently receiving rubbish and recycling collection by the Town. • If funding for this article is approved, the Select Board would decide at a later date, on what options would be permitted for households that might accrue more rubbish or recycling than one cart would hold. Options for addressing extra rubbishlrecycling would include residents being able to purchase either 30 -gallon overflow bags to be placed next to the cart on collection day), or a yearly purchase of a 2"d 64 -gallon cart. The Town does have data which shows that the average weekly household rubbish volume in 2022 was only 57.3 gallons. • The average weekly household recycling volume in 2022 was 23.5 gallons. 9 Pages 13-16 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 14 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of infrastructure improvements to the Birch Meadow Complex • The infrastructure improvements would include the reconstruction of the parking lot, construction of a passive recreation walkway, installation of a bathroom structure, and the installation of a concrete practice wall. • The $1.5 million in ARPA funding has expedited Activitas and the Working Group to finalize a design for Phase I of the Birch Meadow Project and put forward a bid package for Phase I construction. • Due to the trying times in the current economy, the project bid came back with higher cost imprecations than estimated in 2022 when Recreation asked for construction funding for Phase I. • Supplemental funding of $1,220,000 is needed to complete the project. �0 ® Pages 13-16 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 14 continued Proposed Funding Sources: 1. $600,000 from the Parker Middle Roof Project. This project was bonded at 0.87% interest rate. 2. $180,000 from the Police Station Renovation Project. This project is now completed and has a remaining balance. This project was bonded at 0.87% interest rate. 3. $440,000 from the 40R District Incentive/Bonus Payments from the Commonwealth. We currently have $917,000 in this stabilization fund. The incentive payments can only be used for capital projects. 10 2023 Annual Town Meeting Page 16 Article 15 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of installation and improvements to the Gazebo Circle Pump Station Project • The project will include reconstruction of the pump station, installation of mechanical and electrical equipment, and installation of water mains to and from the station. • A transfer is proposed from previously approved and borrowed funds from the Grove Street water main improvements which has $252,432.41 remaining unspent. The project on Grove Street has been completed, and no future expenditures are needed. • The remaining funds will be transferred to the Gazebo Circle Pump Station Project. With growing construction costs, inflation and supply chain concerns these funds will help to ensure the project has ample funding. • The Gazebo Circle project is anticipated to go out to bid Spring 2023. iti♦ x ]� Pages 16-17 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 16 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of installation and improvements to the Downtown Water Main Project • The Downtown Water Main Project will include the installation of water mains, water services, and hydrants at a cost of $965,486.81 • A transfer from previously approved and borrowed funds of $658,971.72 from the Main Street water main cleaning a lining project, which has been completed, and no future expenditures are needed. • A transfer from previously approved and borrowed funds of $306,515.09 from the MWRA Water Improvements, which has been completed, and no future expenditures are needed. • With growing construction costs, inflation and supply chain concerns these funds will help to ensure the project has ample funding. 11 2023 Annual Town Meeting Pages 17-18 Article 17 Authorize debt through the MWRA interest free loan and grant program for Phase 14 for $1,040,000: • Phase 14 funds will be distributed as 75% grants and 25% interest-free loans with loan repayment over 10 years. ($780,000 grant and $260,000 interest free loan). • Acceptance of the grant/loan offer will enable the Town to continue with its 1/1 removal program to remove unwanted sewage flows from the sewer system which reduces excess assessments from MW RA and decreases the excess demand on the sewer system. • The anticipated project for this Phase will be to perform manhole rehabilitation, spot repairs, lining and replacement of sewers. � Ir Pages 18-19 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 18 Rescind $402,000 of unused debt authorization for RMHS Turf II Project: Town Meetinq Vote Project Total Debt Authorization Reduction Amount New Debt Authorization April 22, 2019 Reading $2,225,000 $402,000 $1,823,000 Annual Town Memorial Meeting, Art. High 15 School's Turf Field 11 Project 12 Ov. � 2023 Annual Town Meeting Pages 19-20 Article 19 To see if the Town will amend the General Bylaws, Article 4, Personnel, by striking Section 4.2.2 in its entirety and replacing the section with the following language: 4.2.2 Requirement of Medical Examination The requirement for a medical examination prior to an employee's entrance on duty shall be governed by the applicable personnel policy, employment contract, or state or federal law. 111111111111111111140 111111111111111111 • �. +: I♦ 2023 Annual Town Meeting Pages 19-20 Article 20 To see if the Town will vote pursuant to Section 8.8.2.1.6 of the General Bylaws, to set the amount of the late fee for dog owners and keepers that fail to renew a license issued under Section 8.8.2.1 of the General Bylaws, by March 31, or by the first business day thereafter: This article is to replace our current late fee structure, which has a monthly escalator, to a one-time late fee, when a pet owner fails to register their dog on an annual basis. Currently, our late fees are as follows: "$10.00 fee on the first day of April and an additional $5.00 per month fee for each month thereafter. • It is administratively cumbersome to track the additional monthly penalty in fees. • The monthly escalator climbs quickly and can become a burden to residents. • We propose that only a $10 late fee be issued, to residents that fail to register their dog by April, and that monthly escalator be removed. 13 2023 Annual Town Meeting Pages 20-21 Article 21 (1) Authorize the Select Board to acquire by gift, purchase, or eminent domain, 17 Hamden Street, Reading, shown as Assessor's Map Parcel 17 Hamden, for general municipal purposes, including senior and community center purposes, on such terms and conditions as the Select Board deems appropriate, and to authorize the Town Manager to take any and all actions and to enter into and execute any and all agreements and other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to accomplish the foregoing acquisition; (2) Raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money for the purposes of (i) acquiring said 17 Hamden Street, including all incidental or related costs, such funds to be administered by the Select Board, and (ii) renovating said 17 Hamden Street, including the costs of engineering and architectural services and all incidental or related costs; provided, however, that this appropriation and debt authorization shall be contingent upon passage of a Proposition 2'/z Debt Exclusion ballot question pursuant to M.G.L. c. 59, §21 C(k); Pages 21-23 2023 Annual Town Meeting Article 22 To see if the Town will vote to adopt a mandatory charge per kilowatt- hour upon Reading Municipal Light Plant's electricity consumers located within the Town of Reading pursuant to Section 20(c) of Chapter 25 of the General Laws, for the purposes of qualifying the Town as a Green Community under Section 10 of Chapter 25A of the General Laws: • 280 communities have been designated as Green Communities across Massachusetts. • Green Communities must contribute to the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund. To do this, all electricity customers must pay a charge of $0.0005/kilowatt-hour collected through their electric bills (approximately $3.00 to $4.00 per year for the average home). • With the implementation of the renewable energy surcharge for Town participation in Green Communities, we expect the average residential customer to pay an additional $0.41/month or $4.92/year, paid to MA CEC. 14 .41� 2023 Annual Town Meeting Page 23 Article 23 To remove Town Meeting members that have not attended at least 50% of the three (3) sessions in the past 12 months, as prescribed by the Town Charter Section 2-6. Town Meeting Members Attendance 2023 Annual Town Meeting - Article Total of 2 Town Meetings resulting In 7 evenings of attendance Usted below are those who attended 3 evenings or less PretlnCt Fifst Name `I`II 1 Middle 11 Lent I Na a Term To[al Pretlnct Remove Remain Vo[e Keep In Tw Remove TFt I Grace Lynn Arena 202, 3 l And— Marie Sliva2024 2 Penny Belmonte 2025 Francis p Burke 2025 3 Laura Faye Wilson 2024 3 3 Thomas C Bellini 2025 t 3 Thomas W Coppola 2024 2 Joseph J Sarofeen 2024 2 Matthew James Sullivan 2025 1 • Jeffrey p lad"' 2020 2 s Vanessa t Alvarado 2025 3 S Chri9tlne 7 Wsk 2025 J 0 Jesse Adam Wilson 2024 _ 42 Town Meeting Members had perfect attendance In 2022 15 Birch IVleadow Pcirk'° liter Plan Phase I - Project Funding Request Town Meeting April 27, 2023 PRESENTED BY: Richard Hand Genevieve Fiorente Emily Sisson PROJECT HISTORY / TIMELINE 2 0 0 7 FORMED MA5fER PLAN SUBCOMMITTEE The plan has been revisited and reviewed multiple times in the capital planning process (2007 - 2009 and 2014 - 2015) 2 0 1 8- 2 0 1 9 REC EATI N COMMITTEE APPOINTS BMMP WORKING GROUP Group revisits existing Master Plan and makes recommendations based on recreational trends and community input. A community survey was sent out in December of 2018 and over 1,000 responses were received in 2019. 2 0 2 0- 2 0 2 1 ACTIVITAS IS RETAINED BY THE TOWN OF READING The mission of the Master Plan update was to create a community-based recreation and open space plan for the acres of land within the Birch Meadow footprint Final report included 64 pages of a detailed conceptual plan 2022 PHASE I DESIGN WORK BEGINS Activitas starts work with the Town of Reading on identified multiple critical projects and starts Phase I Design Work for Birch Meadow Park- Recreation presents in front of the RAAC Committee multiple times and is awarded $1.5 Million in ARPA funding for Birch Meadow Master Plan Phase I "e-52 _ 2019 COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS jon Desrra,� 1rnn�avemgnl5: • Restrooms • Passive Recreation Paths 2020-2021 STAKEHOLDER AND USER GROUP INTERVIEW RESULTS lhg�od] reoceurrina Eoc is areas -we're: • Lighting (more lighting at Fields and walkways) • More Passive Recreation Opportunities (walkways, path and unprogrammed space) Restrooms/Pavilion Building • More Parking 1 ir.,.. EXISTING CONDITIONS ■ • Delineated lined parking spots with the lot meeting ADA compliance • Designated entry and exit points • Safety Lighting Environmental improvements with drainage/storm water management as well as electric car charging stations • Improved walking area along Aberjona • There will be a total of about 55 parking spaces Creates a safe drop-off and pick-up area for Coolidge Middle School Lot function and design included town, school and police collaboration • Overall pavilion area (roof limits, structures, picnic area) is 1,800 SF. Storage and restrooms structures total about 650 SF. • Mechanical Room upgrades capability for lights on Driscoll Field as well as potential future lighting projects throughout the Park. Outside Picnic Area/Gathering space • Central spine will be a safe ADA compliant walkway of a quarter of a mile with low level pedestrian lighting • Many walk or bike to and from sporting events, school, etc. through the park • Most current Open Space & Recreation Plan shows some feedback from community for more areas for walking and biking �i Youth Lax has tried to donate a hit wall project several times in the past and H has been put on hold due to uncertainty of Master Plan Enhances the practice capabilities for both High School and Youth organizations. (Baseball and Softball already have batting cages that are highly used for skill development.) For beginners and youth players, this is the most fundamental and 4 important skill to practice every day. Advanced and elite players dedicate time to hitting the wall every day to maintain their stick skills. • Can be used recreationally for wall ball when not being utilized by organized sports • Towns in MA with Hit Walls 4 Winchester, Lincoln -Sudbury, Medfield, Hingham • Restructuring the parking area Coolidge/Imagination Station parking lot which includes designated parking spots, electric charging stations, safety lighting, and improvements to walking and conservation areas abutting the lot • Pavilion with restrooms, storage and picnic area • Central Spine Walkway with low level pedestrian lights • Lacrosse Hit Wall • Creating safe and accessible areas for our community to park and walk while utilizing multiple areas of our park is of the upmost importance • Gives us the opportunity to focus on our open space and conservation areas by restoring structure and function • Passive Recreation and a Restroom Facility have been priorities of our community in the past 3 surveys since 2007 • Recommended by the Consultant, Activitas, as the best starting point for phasing. Recommendation also supported by the BMMP Working Group and Recreation Committee. 3 Birch Meadow Phase I Project Costs Parking Lot, Corridor, Lighting, Benches $1,349,900.00 Pavillion, including restrooms $ 787,000.00 Police Details and Architect Cost $ 159,845.00 Contingency - 20% $ 423,255.00 TOTAL $ 2,720,000.00 Bids were over the $1.5 Million from ARPA. Recreation Committee discussed asking Town Meeting for the remaining funds for the entirety of the project. Requesting 207o Contingency to anticipate unknowns FINCOM supports and recommends taking funds from existing projects that no longer need the funds and a portion of the 401? Incentive Account. Birch Meadow Phase I Project Funding Sources ARPA Funds $1,500,000.00 Parker Middle Roof Project $ 600,000.00 Police Station Renovation $ 180,000.00 40R District Incentive Payments $ 440,000.00 TOTAL $ 2,720,000.00 4 Presentation to Town Meeting: School Committee's FY24 Recommended Budget This presentation will review the following items: • FY24 Recommended Financial Summary • FY24 Recommended Budget Development • FY24 Recommended Investment Priorities • Beyond FY24 Discussion FY 24 Recommended Budget Financial Summary Finance Committee Budget Guidelines: FY23 Appropriated Budget $51,783,363 FY24 Budget $53.725.343 Dollar Change over FY23 $ 1,942,000 Percentage Change over FY23 3.75% Revised Budget: Allocation of Savings from Utilities Accommodated Costs $ The FY24 Recommended Budget Aligns investments with District Strategic Objectives: • Identified investment priorities totaling $1,723,895. Meets all contractual obligations and legal mandates: • Personnel costs - zero -based budget based on contractual obligations $1,176,905. • Projected non -personnel costs - based on known service contracts, spending trends, and anticipated changes in demand and price. Maximizes sustainable resources & leverages renewable grants/special revenue funds to support Tier 1 and 2 instruction and "invest to save": • Personnel - 240 grant, METCO grant, DPH grant, retirements, Food Service funds, FY23 School Choice funds, consolidation of elementary section. • Non -Personnel - Circuit Breaker increase, end of Special Education services, changes in placements, decrease in unassigned tuition, employee physicals. K Approach to FY24 Budget Development: School Committee Guidance • Continue progress toward Universal FDK • Consider a plan to incorporate ESSER-funded positions into operating budget • Respond to recommendations by DESE and Special Education Program Reviews • Support RMHS Innovation Pathways • Continue Middle School Curriculum Work • Maintain class sizes within School Committee guidance • Examine staffing schedules • Analyze workforce turnover toward increasing retention • Make decisions that are sustainable over time Approach to FY24 Budget Development: Process • Consulted with stakeholders and worked with program, school, and district leaders - identify investment priorities that align with our district strategic objectives. • Used program assessments, student data, and instructional network - make decisions on proven strategies that produce gains in student learning. • Calculated baseline costs to comply with contracts and legal mandates - guided by projected enrollment, class sizes, and student needs. • Maximized resources - redeploy existing resources and leverage grant and special revenue funds to prioritize investments in student outcomes. 3 Approach to FY24 Budget Development: District Strategic Objectives Strategic Objective 1: Supportive and Safe Learning Environment Healthy and successful learning communities exist when all members of the community feel seen, valued, affirmed and connected. Strategic Objective 2: Coherent Instructional Systems High-quality instruction is our best lever for improving outcomes for students, and in particular, groups of students who have not met with success in our district. Strategic Objective 3: School Operations Efficient operational systems are at the foundation of the success of our students and staff. Strategic Objective 1: Supportive and Safe Learning Environment V'%' supporting 9p'h;Rg� nay. M FY24 Investment Priorities: • Full-day Kindergarten, reduced tuition from $3,600 to $2,650 • Elementary Learning Center Teacher, 1 FTE • Seal of Biliteracy • Mentoring Program • Curriculum Content Reviews • Elementary Assistant Principals, 5.0 FTE • K-8 Math Coaches, 2.0 FTE • Multilingual Learner Teachers, 1.5 FTE • Team Chair .40 FTE position and stipends, (Stipends funded by 240 grant) • Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), 1.0 FTE • Secondary Transition Specialist, 1.0 FTE FY24 Investment Priorities: • Annual Community Report • Nurse Per Diem Substitute Wages (Funded by Department of Public Health grant) 31A3°1 59.08% Cost Centers: % to Total Budget Administration 2.4% Regular Day 59.1% Special Education 31.0% District Wide 4.4% Facilities 3.1% Personnel: $ Change $27.232 • COLA and contractual agreements • Applied School Choice Funding Non -personnel: $ Change [ $19.835] ■ Efficiencies in telecommunications, reduced employee physicals, auditing services, and advertising • Increase in legal service rates and added new annual Community Report Publication, which will be supported by students • Budget line items based on expenditures trends and projected needs _ Personnel: $ Change $2,212,740 • COLA and contractual agreements • Investment Priorities Non -personnel: $ Change $36,333 • Project Wayfinder • RMHS Library Books (Portia llyfu n ded through Lost Books Revolving Fund) • New photocopier contract and new copier for RMHS • Investment Priorities Personnel: Chane $686,651 • COLA and contractual agreements • Investment Priorities Hon -personnel: $ Change ($901.626 • Termination of POST contract • Reduction of legal service hours • Increase in transportation services • Increase in Circuit Breaker Reimbursement • Changes in out of district placements: o Increase in private day rate of 14% and 5% all others o Reduced unassigned residential tuition fee o Net decrease of 3 students o Decrease of 1 student from pending services Athletics - 8 sports, 1193. participants Total: $720,528, $ Change $29,423, % Change: 4.26% • Personnel cost increase by COLA (and stipend adjustment in FY23) • Stipend adjustment in FY24 budget • Transportation increase Extra -curricular- 11 activities, 255 participants Total: $78,087, $ Change: $8,539, % Chan 12.28% • Personnel cost increase by COLA ■ Stipend adjustment in FY24 budget • Transportation increase Health Services Total: $913,224, $ Change: $111,275, % Change: 13.88% • Personnel cost increase by COLA • 1.0 FTE 1 to 1 Nurse • Increase in Per Diem Substitute Wages Technology Total: $668,433, $ Change: $8,591, % Cha 1.30% • Personnel cost increase by COLA School Facilities Total: $1,644,782 $ Change: $23,937 % Change: 1.48% Salaries and expenses to clean and maintain eight school buildings and R.I.S.E. Preschool program. Beyond FY24 - Future Opportunities ■ Time on learning • Universal free full-day Kindergarten • Elementary school building project • Higher levels of literacy and math instruction • Supports and connections for all learners • High School Innovation Pathways • Cost-effective and vertically -aligned in -district special education programs ■ Capacity building of instructional staff and district leadership • Instructional and administrative technology plan and structure • Upcoming labor contract negotiations 9 Beyond FY24 - Ensuring Sustainability • Create strategic multi-year financial plan that leverages Operating Fund, Grants, and Special Revenue Accounts and aligns with district priorities. • Ensure that the personnel budget, which represents 85% of the total budget, is efficiently and effectively allocated by assessing and optimizing student groupings, staff ratios, and instructional schedules. • Invest in staff development and Tier 1 and Tier 2 programs that yield highest outcomes for students over time, resulting in future savings. • Manage risk by continuing to budget for all known and potential expenses, pairing with pre- payment of special education out of district tuitions and establishing Special Education Reserve Fund. • Assess and closely monitor financials to identify savings early to redirect toward short-term supports known to produce gains in student outcomes. • Evaluate outcomes and refine budget development process. Beyond FY24 - Additional Information Full-day Kindergarten: • Continue tuition fee reduction $2,650 in FY24, $3,600 in FY23, $4,450 in FY22 • Reduced $1.1M FDK Offset to $600,000 in FY24 • Maintained $621,000 in Special Revolving Fund going into FY24 to create bridge in FY25 and FY26 FY24 FTE Funded throu ki Grants: • Title 1: 1.70 FTE - Tutors • IDEA SPED 240:25.05 FTE - Paras, BCBAs • IDEA SPED 262:.73 FTE- Preschool Para • METCO: 6.0 FTE - Director, Adjustment Counselor/METCO Coordinator • *ESSER: 3.4 FTE - SPED Teacher, Guidance, Team Chair *Note. ESSER Funding ends 9130124.$259,000 will budgeted to the FY25 Budget 10 In Summary, the FY24 Recommended Budget.... ■ Aligns investments with District Strategic Objectives. • Meets all contractual obligations and legal mandates. Maximizes sustainable resources and leverages renewable grants/special revenue funds to support Strategic Objectives. • "Invests to Save" by redeploying funds to our Tier 1 and Tier 2 services districtwide. 11 Planning Ahead — The Train's Coming! • Rubbish Disposal Contract (COVANTA) — Contract expires June 30, 2025 6 — New contract price expected to be significantly higher • Rubbish/Recycling Collection Contract (REPUBLIC SERVICES) — Contract expires June 30, 2026 — New contract price expected to be significantly higher • Purchasing carts now would lessen the financial impact on the Town when the new collection contract is bid in 2026 and would prepare for possible future automated rubbish/recycling collection. • Carts would help mitigate rodents, rainfall issues, litter on windy days, and give better aesthetics for the Town. 1 Current Rubbish and Recycling Services • COVANTA (RUBBISH DISPOSAL CONTRACT) — 5 -year contract: July 1, 2020 — June 30, 2025 — FY23 tipping fee: $95.48 per ton — FY24 tipping fee: $98.35 per ton (3% increase) — Approximately 7,000 tons of rubbish per year • REPUBLIC SERVICES (RIR COLLECTION CONTRACT) — On May 16, 2022, JRM was purchased by Republic Services — 10 -year contract: July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2026 — No change to our current contract: • FY23 Contract: $1,146,975 • FY24 Contract: $1,181,384 (3% increase each year for duration of contract) Current Rubbish and Recycling Services (cont.) • BLACK EARTH COMPOST (CURBSIDE FOOD SCRAP COLLECTION) — Current subscribers in Reading: 423 — Estimated annual tonnage for CY2022: 111 tons • 4.3 gallons / household / week (avg.) — Current Weekly Plans: • $13.99 monthly (weekly pick-up) • $74.99 every 6 -months (weekly pick-up) — Current Every Other Week Plans: • $10.99 monthly (bi-weekly pick-up) • $55.99 every 6 months (bi-weekly pick-up) — New residential subscribers receive a 13 -gal. compost bin and their first roll of 13 -gal. bags from the Town at no cost to the resident. 2 Who Does the Town Provide Rubbish / Recycling Services To? • 1, 2, and 3 family residential — 6,902 • 1, 2, and 3 unit apartment / condominium — 457 • Schools -- 8 (18%) • Municipal buildings — 7 (3:5) What Are the Benefits of Using Carts? • Rodent Issues Rubbish and recycling will be contained in covered barrels • Rainfall Issues — Ensures that barrels do not fill with rain water, preventing rubbish trucks from spilling foul-smelling rubbish infused water on the roads • Better containment of contents -- Any loose rubbish or recycling prevented from blowing around neighborhoods on windy days • Uniform container identity — Containers with uniform appearance, improves the aesthetics of the Town on collection days, and getter allows the rubbish and recycling hauler to differentiate and identify rubbish versus recycling corite nts (recycling cart has different color lid) • Carts would be purchased by the Town and would be property of the Town 3 What Are Reading's Peer Communities Doing For Rubbish and Recycling Collection Services? • Comparable communities surveyed • Size of carts — Rubbish (64 gallon) — Recycling (64 gallon if weekly, 96 gallon if bi-weekly) • Quantity of carts per household — 1 rubbish cart (64 gallon) • Residents have option to lease 2nd cart annually • Residents can purchase overflow bags — 1 recycling cart (64/96 gallon) • Bulk item disposal — 1 item per week (no charge) or unlimited (fee based via rubbish hauler) Resident Options For Extra Rubbish • Overflow bags (preferred option) — to be determined by Select Board — Overflow bags would minimize administrative involvement by the Town. — Residents could purchase 30 gal. overflow bags to be placed with their rubbish cart. — Could be purchased at local grocery and convenience stores. • Retail cost: $2 to $3 per bag (est.); Purchase price by Town: $0.38 per bag (est.) — WasteZero would monitor store inventory; Town would have no involvement with local stores. — Bags are made of a heavy-duty plastic (1.5 mil) and come customized with the Town seal etc. Resident Sign -Up for Black Earth Compost Pickup (preferred option) — Residents could subscribe to Black Earth Compost curbside collection program to eliminate food scraps from their rubbish stream and reduce their weekly curbside rubbish volume. • Additional Carts (less desirable) — to be determined by Select Board — Creates logistical challenges for Town staff (storing and distribution) and payment management. — Each household could potentially obtain 1 additional rubbish cart (64 gal.) for an annual charge; an extra recycle cart (64 gal.) would also be an option. IH Anticipated Questions . How many carts would each household receive? — Each household would receive (1) 64 gal. rubbish cart, and (1) 64 gal. recycle cart. • How many carts will the Town need to purchase? — The Town would have to purchase approximately 7,400 rubbish carts, and 7,800 recycle carts. • How much will this cost, and how will it be funded? — April (2023) Town Meeting would be asked to approve $900k to purchase carts. • Have grant opportunities been explored to fund this? — Yes. Grant opportunities have been found for funding recycling carts (only). — MassDEP grant restricts the weekly household rubbish allowance to 35 gal. (Town is not eligible.) — Recycling Partnership grant — provides funding for purchasing recycle carts, and implementing recycling education/outreach efforts. Recycling Partnership is a national non-profit organization. Anticipated Questions (cont.) • What would be the benefit of switching to carts now? — Having carts in place now would ensure a smooth transition if the Town decided to switch to automated collection when the current rubbish/recycle contract expires 6/2026, and would add flexibility in that the carts would not be tied to a change in collection contracts. If funding is approved, when could residents expect to see their carts? — There is at least a 6 to 8 week lead time, allowing for possible delivery in Fall 2023. • Is Republic Services on board if the Town switched to carts? — Republic Services sees this as an improvement over our current process, no concerns. How will the cart program be rolled out? — The vendor would perform the initial delivery of the rubbish and recycling carts to each household, and then the Department of Public Works would perform maintenance and deliverables as needed (10 —12 year warranty on carts). 5 Anticipated Questions (cont.) • Why would the Town only provide (1) 64 gal. rubbish cart to each household, when the current rubbish limit is 120 gal. per household? — From surveying Reading's peer communities, providing (1) 64 gal. rubbish cart per household would align Reading with what our other peer communities are already doing. — Data shows that the average amount of rubbish generated by a single Reading household is less than 64 -gallons per week. • What options exist if a resident has more than 64 gal. of rubbish per week? — Residents could purchase the 30 gal. overflow bags to be placed with their rubbish cart. — Residents could subscribe to the Black Earth Compost curbside collection program to eliminate food scraps from their rubbish stream and reduce their weekly curbside rubbish volume. — Residents can now purchase home composting bins from Public Works ($30/each — limit of 2). — Each household could obtain 1 additional rubbish cart (64 gal.) for an annual charge; or an extra recycle cart (64 gal.) could be obtained. Average Weekly Household Rubbish & Recycling Curbside Volumes 200 --—— — — — — —— 63.5 .,.---...-------------- 64 -gal. cart 60.5 6�0 57.8 57.3 3 500 S 40.0 CSI Rubbish Ek Recycling 300 20 124 33 235 200 100 2019 2020 2021 2022 Calendar Year A Anticipated Questions (cont.) • What are the pros/cons of an overflow bag versus an extra cart? — PRO: Bags are more economical when you might only have extra rubbish periodically. — PRO: Bags offer the least administrative alternative for the Town. PRO: An extra cart gives the convenience of already having it on hand when it's needed. — CON: An extra cart would require additional storage for a household. — CON: Allowing an extra cart creates logistical challenges for Town staff, since the Town would be responsible for storing and distributing the extra carts, as well as managing resident payment options. • How will residents dispose of bulk items? — Residents would still be allowed to place 1 bulk item curbside per week with their rubbish. A bulk item is defined as a piece of furniture, toilet tub, grill, lawnmower, countertop microwave, etc. (not over 609) • What can residents do with their old rubbish and recycle containers? — The old red recycle bins make great storage containers. -- Any plastic containers can be recycled at a rigid plastic collection event. — Any metal containers can be recycled through the curbside scrap metal collection held annually. Resident Survey Results (1,470 participants) # of Members in the Household *1:3% • 2: 19% • 3to4: 55% a 5 to 6: 22 • 7+: 1% F'`f • Other: Less than 1% Children Under 18 in the Household • Yes: 65 % • No: 32% • Prefer Not to Answer: 3% 0 Age Demographic • Under 18: 2% • 18 to 24: Less than 1% ■ 25 to 34: 6% • 35 to 44: 32% • 45 to 54: 26% 55 to 64: 14% -` 65+: 12% • Prefer Not to Answer: 8% Q1 Would one (1) 64 -gallon cart be sufficient for your weekly household RUBBISH? 64% 36% 0% 10'b W. 70% 90`5 90% lr Q2 If a 64 -gallon cart is not sufficient, would you consider leasing a second 64 -gallon cart for an annual fee (estimated between $150-$200)? 86% 0:'0 lU'o 2- 30% 40`q 90% 6- 70% 90% 911 101 W Q3 If a 64 -gallon cart is not sufficient, would you consider using 30 -gallon overflow bags that can be purchased at a local retail establishment when needed (bags are priced about $2-$3 each). Apsv.Pes 1410 sk,pp- 0 45% �^ 55% 0% 10% 4694 30% 40% 50% 60% T]9r 60% 90K lOPl6 Q4 Would you prefer a cart smaller than 64 -gallons for your weekly household rubbish? Answered: L 470 Skipped 0 yrs ® 12% No 88% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 8^ 90% 100% Q5 Would one (1) 64 -gallon cart be sufficient for your weekly RECYCLING? Answered: 1.470 Skippe 0 Y. 65% - 35% 0% lo% 40% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Q6 If one (1) 64 -gallon recycling cart is not sufficient, would you be interested in the Town providing you with a second 64 -gallon cart? AnswwM 14]n Ski I! n v� 69% No - 31% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 10 Summary • While all survey data may not fully align with the Town's proposal, Town staff firmly believe that the Town's proposal will be best financially and logistically for both Reading residents and Town staff, in preparing for the future. • Summary of Town's proposal: (1) 64 -gal Town supplied rubbish cart per househoK • (1) 64 -gal Town supplied recycling cart per household. • Smaller rubbish 1 recycling cart options for househoids on a case-by-case basis. • Town Meeting asked to approve $900k for the purchase of these carts -- funded through debt (FY -25), • Resident options of purchasing overflow bags or annual lease of 211d rubbish cart for rubbish volumes greater than 64 -gal. will be voted on by the SB at a later date. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?? 11 F :or Special Education Reserve Fund Warrant Article 11 Presentation to Town Meeting April 27, 2023 Warrant Article 11 To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 40, Section 13E of the Massachusetts General Laws to establish a Special Education Reserve Fund to be utilized in the upcoming fiscal years, for the general purposes of funding, without further appropriation, unanticipated or unbudgeted costs of special education and recovery high school programs, out -of -district tuition or transportation, all as provided for by law; such funds to be distributed after a majority vote of the School Committee and a majority vote of the Select Board only; provided that the balance in such reserve fund shall not exceed 2 per cent of the annual net school spending amount established for the school district; or take any other action with respect thereto. "' What is a Special Education Reserve Fund? • The Special Education Reserve Fund was created through the Municipal Modernization Act (Chapter 218 of the Acts of 2016). • By a majority vote of the School Committee and of the legislative body, a municipality may establish a Special Education Reserve Fund to be utilized in the upcoming fiscal years, to pay for without further appropriation unanticipated or unbudgeted costs of special education, out -of -district tuition, or transportation. • The Special Education Reserve Fund is governed by MGL Chapter 40A, Section 13E. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 4oA, § 13E rt�1'11'1111; Any school district which accepts this section, by a majority vote of the school committee and a majority vote of the legislative body or, in the case of a regional school district by a majority vote of the legislative bodies in a majority of the member communities of the district, may establish and appropriate or transfer money to a reserve fund to be utilized in the upcoming fiscal years, to pay, without further appropriation, for unanticipated or unbudgeted costs of special education and recovery high school programs, out -of -district tuition or transportation. The balance in such reserve fund shall not exceed 2 per cent of the annual net school spending of the school district. Funds shall only be distributed from the reserve funds after a majority vote of the school committee and a majority vote of the board of selectmen or city council, or, in the case of a regional school district by a majority vote of the board of selectmen or city council in a majority of the member communities of the district. The district treasurer may invest the monies in the manner authorized in section 54 of chapter 44 and any interest earned thereon shall be credited to and become part of the fund. PEA u How is the Special Education Reserve Fund Funded and Expended? + If approved by Town Meeting, the Reserve Fund will be funded through the allocation of year-end savings at an amount to be determined by School Committee. • Any interest earned becomes part of the fund. ■ The release of funds to pay for expenses is authorized by vote of the School Committee and Select Board. ■ Any balance in the fund can be carried into future fiscal years and remains in the fund until needed and expended. ■ Fund balance cannot exceed 2% of annual net school spending, which is equivalent to approx. $940K. Some Nearby Communities with Special Education Reserve Funds • Arlington • Belmont • Cohasset • Framingham • Lexington • Lowell • Salem + Swampscott • Winchester 3