HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-07-13 Bylaw Committee Minutes - DraftTown of Reading
Meeting Minutes RECTOWN LCLt'RK
R"=A,)ING, MA.
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:p(py SEP 18 pM
Bylaw Committee
Date: 2023-07-13 Time: 7:30 PM
Building:
Virtual
Address:
Purpose:
Reorganization; snow removal
and town
forest bylaws
Attendees:
Members - Present:
Jared Belliveau
Jason Clarke
Jennifer Hillery
Jesse Arnold
Liz Sullivan
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Matt Kraunelis
Jennie Merrill
Carlo Baca
Location: Zoom
Session: Open Session
Version: Draft
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Liz Sullivan
Topics of Discussion:
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
Reorganization
• Jason Clarke made a motion to appoint Jesse Arnold to serve as Chair, which was seconded by
Liz Sullivan.
o This passed with a roll call vote of 5-0.
• Jesse Arnold made a motion to appoint Jason Clarke to serve as Vice Chair, which was
seconded by Liz Sullivan.
o This passed with a roll call vote of 5-0.
• Jesse Arnold made a motion to appoint Liz Sullivan to serve as clerk, which was seconded by
Jared Belliveau.
o This passed with a roll call vote of 5-0.
Charter Review Committee
• Matt Kraunelis provided an overview of the makeup for the Charter Review Committee, which
requires a representative from the Bylaw Committee. Jennie Merrill said that town counsel has a
Page I 1
small list of potential changes for the charter. Meetings should start later in the summer and will
likely have a remote option.
• Jason Clarke made a motion to appoint Jesse Arnold to serve as the Bylaw Committee
representative for the Charter Review Committee, which was seconded by Jared Belliveau.
o This passed with a roll call vote of 5-0.
Snow Shoveling Bylaw
• Jared Belliveau provided some suggestions for editing the text of the daft bylaw to exclude
residentially zone areas, specifically to address the concerns raised at the previous meeting
about properties without a building (vacant lots).
• Carlo Bacci asked whether the bylaw would be legal, and whether people on vacation would
need to hire someone m shovel their sidewalk. Jennie Merrill confirmed that it is legal.
• Jennifer Hillery suggested that, if the intent is to make the downtown more walkable, did it
make sense to make exceptions.
• Liz Sullivan explained that the proponent of the bylaw (Mary Parr) had specifically stated she did
not want it to apply to all residences. Her primary concern was the multi -family houses (condos
and apartments) in the downtown area, but had not expressed an opinion on the options of
either applying the bylaw to the entire town, but excluding single- and two-family residences, or
applying the bylaw to only the downtown area, including single- and two-family residences,
which would not cover multi -family properties or commercial properties outside the downtown
area.
• Jennifer Hillery argued that it made more sense to limit the bylaw to the smart -growth district
(hr pt sd/www readinema eov/DocumentCenter/View/2032/Downtown-Smart-Growth-District-
Recent-Developments-Map-PDPbidld=l.
• Jason Clarke suggested that condos and apartments would already have programs to clear snow,
but Liz Sullivan pointed out that part of the impetus for this bylaw was a downtown condo that
did not clear the sidewalks next to the property.
• Carlo Bacci requested clarify regarding the "unusually heavy snowfall". Liz Sullivan suggested that
too much specificity could make it difficult, since it is not just a matter of inches of snow, but
heaviness of snow, presence of ice, etc., that could require additional clearing time.
• Jesse Arnold suggested that a representative from the Department of Public Works (DPW)
should attend a future meeting to make sure the bylaw is written consistent with their
operations. Additionally, she asked if someone from the town could provide information about
the number of single- and two-family properties are within the smart -growth district.
• Committee members agreed to discuss the topic more at the August meeting, hopefully with
Mary Parr and a representative from DPW.
• Carlo Bacci suggested that the first offense result in a warning, rather than a fine.
Town Forest Committee's proposed bylaw regarding dogs
• Jesse Arnold provided links co the existing bylaws
(hgps•//www readingma eov/DocumentCenmrNiew/2241/General-Bylaw-PDP page 81) and the
definition of "dangerous dogs" in MGL (https•//www mass eov/info-details/mass-general-laws-
I
1 n5a#--text=%E2%80%9CDangerous%20dog%E2%80%9D%2C%20a%20dog,a%20domestic%20o
r%20owned%20animalJ.
Page 1 2
• Jesse Arnold suggested that someone from the Town Forest Committee come to explain the
discussions they have had so far, potentially allowing Bylaw to act as an impartial mediator. She
pointed out that this topic has already gotten some attention, and will likely spark a lot of
debate at Town Meeting.
• There was discussion regarding what a vote from the bylaw committee means. That is, voting
yes on a bylaw does not mean the committee supports the bylaw, but that it is appropriately
written and can be brought before Town Meeting.
• Matt Kraunelis confirmed that Town Counsel has reviewed the proposed bylaw.
• Jesse Arnold asked whether the use of the phrase "reasonable person" is using the legally
defined "reasonable person standard" and Jennie Merrill stated that counsel tries to be
consistent and apply MGL, but it can be very difficult.
• It was agreed that the topic be brought to a future meeting when Town Forest Committee
could attend and provide more information, as well as having town counsel present.
Proposed General Bylaw Changes
• The Bylaw Committee is waiting for Jeffrey Struble (former Chair of the committee) to provide
notes from past meetings where changes were suggested.
Jesse Arnold made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Jared Belliveau. This motion passed
with a roll call vote of 5-0 and the meeting adjourned at 9:11 pm.
Page 1 3