HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-09 Bylaw Committee MinutesIVED
Town of Readingr0WNECLERK
Meeting Minutes R i,D��` ttAASP
_ -421 OCT -5 AM 10: 17
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Bylaw Committee
Date: 2023-08-09 Time: 7:30 PM
Building:
Virtual
Address:
Purpose:
Snow Removal Bylaw, Town
Forest, Meeting Minute approval
Attendees:
Members - Present:
Jared Belliveau
Jason Clarke
Jennifer Hillery
Jesse Arnold
Liz Sullivan
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Matt Kraunelis
Ivria Fried
Jane Kinsella
Christopher Cole
Bill Sullivan
Mary Parr
Location: Zoom
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Liz Sullivan
Topics of Discussion:
The meeting was called to order at 7:34 PM.
Snow Shoveling Bylaw
• Matt Kraunelis provided information requested at the previous meeting, that there are 19 single-
family structures in the DSGD and IS two-family structures in the area. Also some structures
along Green St, and maybe some others that are 3- or 4 -family, but entirely residential.
• Jane Kinsella asked whether the intention was to have people shovel after the town's sidewalk
plow has come through. She also said that this bylaw could be difficult to enforce, but the town
could respond to complains. She also raised concerns about the melting agents used.
• Ivria Fried suggested that the bylaw clarify that the melting agents be on an approved list from
DPW.
• Regarding enforcement, Jen Hillery pointed out that the language says "may" enforce, giving
DFW the discretion to not enforce.
• The bylaw committee discussed the duration following snowfall and agreed that 4 hours was
appropriate.
Page I 1
• Ivria suggested articulating the reasons for limiting the bylaw to the DSGD, such as the high
number of pedestrians, lots of densely packed buildings, and the public transportation in the
area.
• Jared Belliveau suggested removing the sentence about "snow falling from buildings, signs, and
trees, as well as from clouds" and the committee agreed.
• There was some discussion of who would sponsor this bylaw change, but no decision was made.
Town Forest Committee's proposed bylaw regarding dogs
• Bill Sullivan from the Town Forest Committee explained that there had been a lot of complains
about unleashed dogs, especially large groups of them. In peer communities, Reading is in the
minority about not requiring leashes in all public areas.
• Ivria Fried explained that any committee can submit a request for a warrant article. Once the
Select Board approves, Bylaw Committee is provided language to tweak, but the Forest
Committee an submit without approval from the Bylaw Committee.
• Bill Sullivan stated that the Town Forest Committee would work directly with Ivria to get
language on the warrant.
Approval of meeting minutes
• Jesse Arnold made a motion to approve minutes from July 13, 2023, seconded by Jason Clarke.
The motion passed with a roll call vote of 5A.
Future meeting agenda
• The snow shoveling bylaw will need to be voted on and the committee needs to decide if we
will sponsor the warrant article.
• Other items from the warrant will be discussed
• Matt Kraunelis provided a quick update on ELVIS, that Laura Gemme wants to meet with one
more vendor (smart phone app).
Jason Clarke 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 2