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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-13 Bylaw Committee MinutesTown of Reading AE = Meeting Minutes Tpl�yCtiVE:b REA,'?(NC�ERK �, MA. Board - committee - commission - Council: MR OCT -$ AM J0: IS Bylaw Committee Date: 2023-09-13 Time: 7:30 PM Building: Virtual Address: Purpose: Warrant articles; Snow Removal bylaw Attendees: Members - Present: Jared Belliveau Jason Clarke Jennifer Hillery Jesse Arnold Liz Sullivan Members - Not Present: Others Present: Matt Kraunelis Mary Parr Jackie McCarthy Location: Zoom Session: Open Session Version: Final Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Liz Sullivan Topics of Discussion: The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM. • Liz Sullivan made a motion to take the agenda items out of order. Jason Clarke seconded. The motion passed with a roll call vote of 4-0 (Jen Hillery had not joined meeting yet). Article 7 — Solid Waste Revolving Fund • Liz Sullivan asked for an explanation of a "toter" and Matt Kraunelis explained it means the trash barrels that can be lifted and dumped automatically by the trash trucks. • Matt Kraunelis explained the bylaw needs to be amended because it involves the revolving fund. The money paid for extra toters or overflow bags would go into the revolving fund, which would be used to offset the costs of curbside trash and recycling. • Jesse Arnold suggested tabling until October when the warrant is set. Article 12 —Additional Compensation for a Town Clerk • Jason Clarke asked if Laura Gemme's certification had been recently awarded. Matt Kraunelis explained that the general law allowing the bonus had been around for a while, and Laura Page I 1 Gemme has been certified. The town manager thought she works hard, especially with the elections, and this is a small amount that is allowed under the law. • Jesse Arnold suggested cabling until October when the warrant is set, but may want to edit from ,.per cent" to "percent' to be easier to read. Article I I — Snow Shoveling Bylaw • Jesse Arnold explained that she met with Jackie McCarthy, Jane Kinsella, Jennie Merrill, Ivria Fried, Matt Kraunelis, and Fidel Maltez about the proposed bylaw. In August, the Select Board raised concerns about whether there had been enough outreach to the general public. Town Hall could hold a forum this fall (October) ahead of the November town meeting, but the Bylaw Committee would need to explain the bylaw. • Jackie McCarthy added that Select Board has to close the warrant on September 26, and there may not be enough votes to pass. • Jesse Arnold explained that the Bylaw Committee is being asked to make a policy decision about whether the bylaw is not only well crafted, but also right for Reading. Or, the committee could say that it is not right for the town. There was also a suggestion to not have the bylaw go into effect until November 2024. • Jason Clarke asked, if this were delayed until the April 2024 town meeting, could it go into effect. • A clarification was made that the IM had not passed town meeting, it was indefinitely postponed at town meeting, and the previous chair of Bylaw Committee suggested that the committee would help develop it. • Liz Sullivan suggested that it would be better overall to have the Bylaw Committee work with town hall to host a forum, and that it should not be rushed to get on warrant for November town meeting. • Several bylaw committee members expressed that they were supportive of making this policy recommendation, especially given the perceived non-partisan nature of the topic. It was discussed that this was within our purview to bring forward, even if it was not originally an approved IM at town meeting. Liz Sullivan mentioned that this committee had been the ones to do the research, think through the options, and consider whether it would have the desired impact. Jason Clarke added that this is a safety issue. Jesse Arnold also raised that it is important to get public input, both for the landlords of affected buildings but for the people who live, work, and shop in downtown. She also highlighted that this would bring us in-line with surrounding communities. Jared expressed concern with making a policy recommendation, raising that few had been involved in the process to -date. Liz Sullivan raised that the Bylaw Committee would not be the ones making the final decision — any change to the bylaw would require the town meeting. And the suggested town forum would be away to get that public involvement ahead of a vote by town meeting. • The Committee discussed the pros and cons of having the article on the November vs April warrant. Eventually, it was agreed that trying to hold vote in November would require rushing, and that there needed to be sufficient time to allow town residents to weigh in. • Jared Belliveau made a motion to remove the article from the warrant in order to continue discussion to prepare for the April town meeting. Jen Hillery seconded. The motion passed with a roll call vote of 5-0. 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 9:47pm. Page 1 2