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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-26 Select Board Packet Town of Reading Meeting Posting with Agenda This Agenda has been prepared in advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. Page | 1 2018-07-16 LAG Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Select Board Date: 2023-09-26 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Agenda: Purpose: General Business Meeting Called By: Caitlin Nocella on behalf of Chair Jackie McCarthy Notices and agendas are to be posted 48 hours in advance of the meetings excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Legal Holidays. Please keep in mind the Town Clerk’s hours of operation and make necessary arrangements to be sure your posting is made in an adequate amount of time. A listing of topics that the chair reaso nably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting must be on the agenda. All Meeting Postings must be submitted in typed format; handwritten notices will not be accepted. Topics of Discussion: This Meeting will be held in-person in the Select Board Meeting Room at Town Hall and remotely on Zoom. It will also be streamed live on RCTV as usual. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87613046917 Meeting ID: 876 1304 6917 One tap mobile +16465588656,,87613046917# US (New York) +16465189805,,87613046917# US (New York) Dial by your location • +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) • +1 646 518 9805 US (New York) PAGE # 7:00 Overview of Meeting 7:05 Public Comment 7:15 SB Liaison & Town Manager Reports 7:30 HEARING – Change of Manager – Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza 3 7:45 Discuss Community Preservation Act and Presentation from Community Preservation Coalition 10 Town of Reading Meeting Posting with Agenda This Agenda has been prepared in advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. Page | 2 8:00 Update from Cultural Council 17 8:15 Discussion and Vote on Food Pantry Request for Additional ARPA Funds 8:45 Discuss Request from Recreation Administrator, Jim Sullivan, to hold a second position with the Town; State Ethics Law Section 20(b) exemption 26 9:00 Vote to Close Warrant for November Town Meeting 30 9:30 Designate Town Manager as Town Representative on Designer Selection Panel for the MSBA, Killam School 38 9:45 Discuss Future Agendas 39 10:00 Approve Meeting Minutes 41 Legal Notice (Seal) Town of Reading To the Inhabitants of the Town of Reading: Please take notice that the Select Board of the Town of Reading will hold a public hearing on September 26, 2023 at 7:00 PM in the Select Board Meeting Room at Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA or also available remotely on Zoom to act on a Change of Manager Application for an Annual All-Alcohol Restaurant License for Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza of Reading, LLC located at 48 Walkers Brook Drive, Reading, MA. A copy of the proposed documents regarding this topic will be in the Select Board packet on the website at www.readingma.gov All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing in person or remotely via Zoom; or may submit their comments in writing or by email prior to 6:00 p.m. on September 26, 2023 to townmanager@ci.reading.ma.us By order of Fidel Maltez Town Manager To the Chronicle: Please publish on September 12th and 19th, 2023 Send the bill and tear sheet to: Yamila Benvenuti Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza 200 West Cypress Creek Road Suite 220 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 Phone: O: (954) 618-2030 Email: ybenvenuti@burgerfi.com Community Preservation Act Select Board Discussion – September 26, 2023 Thank you to Winchester Select Board for this presentation! CPA Overview • The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a smart growth tool that helps communities preserve open space and historic sites, create affordable housing, and develop outdoor recreational facilities. CPA also helps strengthen the state and local economies by expanding housing opportunities and construction jobs for the Commonwealth's workforce, and by supporting the tourism industry through preservation of the Commonwealth’s historic and natural resources. •The CPA was signed into law on September 14, 2000 by Governor Paul Cellucci and Lieutenant Governor Jane Swift Community Preservation Fund •CPA allows communities to create a local Community Preservation Fund •Cities and Towns vote to adopt the CPA and a Surcharge of not more than 3% of the tax levy against real property •The State will provide a matching distribution from the Community Preservation Trust Fund which is administered by the Department of Revenue (DOR) •Only communities that have adopted the CPA are eligible for the distribution •Funds can be leveraged through bonding and leveraging Schedule •Firstly, Select Board must vote to establish a Study Group. •The Study Group will be tasked with fact finding and information gathering between today and Fall Town Meeting. •The Study Group will be comprised of stakeholder representatives who will write and submit a report to identify community needs, suggest possible surcharge amounts and lay out a public outreach strategy •Recommend that Public outreach take place, leading into a Town Meeting vote and a ballot vote •Community Preservation Coalition recommends putting on the ballot on a Presidential Election cycle Public Outreach Phase #1: Identifying Stakeholders •The first step in our public outreach plan is to identify stakeholders to research and write the study •The Working Group has met and recommends no more than twelve (12) representatives from the following groups: •Conservation Commission •Historical Commission •Planning Board •Affordable Housing (Housing Partnership Board/Affordable Housing Trust, Housing Authority) •Field Management/Recreation •School Committee •Finance Committee •At large Town Members (no less than 2) Phase 1: Additional Stakeholders •Town Staff and Department Heads will support information requests and preparation for Phase 2, focused on communication with town meeting and residents; •The Community Preservation Coalition will work with the Study Group to share best practices and support a strategy for town wide adoption; •The Fund will ultimately be managed by a committee of residents, who will make recommendations to Town Meeting for project support, spending and disbursement. Select Board Action 1.Move to create a study committee led by the working group; 2.Move to request the working group identify members for the study committee by reaching out to the groups identified; 3.Request the study committee regularly update the Select Board and relevant stakeholder groups on the study; 4.Permit the committee access to staff and resources to create a study report; 5.Request the study committee to identify next steps leading into Spring 2024 Town Meeting. Reading Cultural Council FY2023 Summary Report Reading Cultural Council Reading Cultural Council In Memoriam Kathy Lopez Natale In January our Treasurer, Kathy Lopez Natale, passed away suddenly. Kathy was very involved in her work with the Cultural Council, and she is very much missed. FY 2023 Funding • The Reading Cultural Council was funded $12,200 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. • Additional funding of $8,000 was provided by the Town of Reading. • $4,213 came from interest and funds rolled over from unclaimed grants in FY 2022. • The total was $24,413, which the Cultural Council granted to 26 cultural events in Reading. Reading Cultural Council • Reading Civic Concert Band, Inc. - Purchase of additional sheet music for our library • Reading Art Association, Inc. - Art Exhibitions • Northeast Youth Ballet, Inc.- The Return of the Full Length Nutcracker • North Suburban Child & Family Resource Network - Family Concert: Sulinha's Trio with Ian Coury and Erico Menino • North Reading Community Chorale - Gershwin & Friends Concerty • MUSIC Dance.edu - Hip Hop Chair Dance for Seniors! • McFarlane, Susan - Virtual Art Classes via Reading Pleasant Street Center The Reading Cultural Council supported 26 events and organizations in 2023. Page 1 of 2 • Walter S. Parker Middle School - Purchase of Behringer X32 Sound Board • The Delvena Theatre Company - Nun of This and Nun of That! • Reading PorchFest Committee - Reading PorchFest 2023 • Reading Office of Equity and Social Justice - Reading Martin Luther King Day • Reading Memorial High School Band Parents Organization, Inc. - Downtown Tree Lighting - Musical performance • Reading Engineering Teams, Inc.l - Chain Reaction Event • Reading Community Singers, Inc. - Reading Community Singers Presents: Holiday Favorites Reading Cultural Council • Creative Arts for Kids, Inc. - New CAK Art Room • Chin, Amy - Sound Play Family Concert • Birch Meadow Elementary School - Diverse Voices in Social Studies Enrichment • Bates III, Davis R. - Celebrating the Season: A Performance for Seniors • Arts Reading, Inc. - Discover the Arts Day Cultural Festival • Alice M. Barrows Elementary School - Journey to Juneteenth The Reading Cultural Council supported 26 events and organizations in 2023. Page 2 of 2 • Joshua Eaton School - Multicultural Fair - Drumming Presentation • Hendrickson, Autumn - Research Phase II: Reading & North Reading Involvement in WWII • Helping Hands of Breakheart Reservation, Inc. - Breakheart Fall Festival • Greater Boston Stage Company - Discounted Tickets to Theatre for Reading Students and Seniors • Five Star Theatre Company, Inc. - Five Star Theatre Program • Downtown Reading Art Walk Committee - Downtown Reading Art Walk Reading Cultural Council More information is available at https://massculturalcouncil.org/local-council/reading/ • Each year the Cultural Council reaches out to the community to find out what their priorities are for next year's funding. • This year we rebooted the reception, presenting a slide show of our previous grantees' events. • The reception had not been possible since 2018 because of the Covid-19 shutdown. • The Cultural Council Reception was held at the Pleasant Street Center on May 8. • We had a good turnout of enthusiastic grantees and public figures. • The slide show is available at our Link Tree, linktr.ee/readingmasscc FY 2023 Community Outreach Reception Reading Cultural Council We are Looking for Volunteers Reading Cultural Council • At the end of June we lost some full members and are looking for volunteers to fill those positions. We also have openings for associate members. • The Massacusetts Cultural Council is advocating for youth council members. • We are especially looking for someone who is interested in acting as our Treasurer. • The Treasurer job is not as scary as it sounds. • The accounts and books are actually maintained by the Town Accountants, not our Treasurer. • The Cultural Council Treasurer is more of a liaison to the accountants, collecting the requests for reimbursement from our grantees and passing them to the accountants. FY 2024 Grant Cycle The timeline for FY24 is summarized below. • Friday, September 1: Applications open, grant cycle begins. • Monday, October 17: Grant cycle closes and applications to RCC are due. • October - November 2023: Informational meetings with applicants are held. • Late November and December 2023: Deliberation meetings held to determine the grants. • January 2024: Applicants are informed of the Cultural Council decisions. Reading Cultural Council The Reading Cultural Council would like to express its deep appreciation for the support provided by the Town of Reading. The Reading Cultural Council has a new Social Media presence. We are now on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using the common handle "@readingmasscc". Follow all of our accounts and activities at our LinkTree page: linktr.ee/readingmasscc If you have any questions, contact the RCC at ReadingCulturalCouncil@gmail.com Reading Cultural Council DRAFT November 13(M); 16(Th); 20(M); M(27) as of ->9/21/2023 Art. #Article Description Sponsor Details Notes 1 Reports Select Board Killam School Building Update ReCalc Update MBTA Communities Update 2 Instructions Select Board defer to last night 3 Amend the Capital Improvement Program FY24 - FY34 Select Board Presentation - Sharon Angstrom 4 Amend the FY24 Budget FINCOM Presentation - Sharon Angstrom 5 Approve Payment of Prior Year’s Bills Select Board Presentation - Sharon Angstrom To be Tabled 6 Birch Meadow Phase II: a. Debt Authorization b. Dedicate Land for Birch Meadow Phase II for park purposes as under M.G.L. Chapter 45, Section 3 (PARC Grant) and c. transfer of the parcels from the School Committee to the Select Board Select Board Presentation - Jenna Fiorente If PARC Funds Granted 7 Approve Solid Waste Revolving Fund, from Sale of Trash Bags and Toter Rentals and Approve Funding for Rubbish and Recycle Barrels from Free Cash Select Board Presentation - Fidel Maltez 8 Transfer Funds from Parker Roof Project to Fire Ladder Truck Select Board Presentation -Fidel Maltez 9 Approve Funding for Construction of a Parking Lot on Grove Street Lot 5 from Free Cash Select Board Presentation - Fidel Maltez 10 Approve Funding for Additional Roadway and Sidewalk Improvements from 40R Smart Growth Stabilization Account Select Board Presentation -Fidel Maltez 2/3 Vote 11 Accept Chapter 41, Section 19K, Certified Massachusetts Municipal Clerk Select Board Presentation - Fidel Maltez Subsequent Town Meeting - November 2023 Sanborn Lane Private Road Update - Town Manager 12 Approve Funding for Temporary Pickleball Courts on Symonds Way from Burbank Ice Arena Fund Citizens Petition Presentation - Reading Pickleball Players Association 2/3 Vote COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. Officer's Return, Town of Reading: By virtue of this Warrant, I ______________________________, on ____________, 2023 notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote on Town affairs, to meet at the place and at the time specified by posting attested copies of this Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant in the following public places within the Town of Reading: Precinct 1 J. Warren Killam School, 333 Charles Street Precinct 2 Reading Police Station, 15 Union Street Precinct 3 Reading Municipal Light Department, 230 Ash Street Precinct 4 Joshua Eaton School, 365 Summer Avenue Precinct 5 Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Avenue Precinct 6 Barrows School, 16 Edgemont Avenue Precinct 7 Birch Meadow School, 27 Arthur B Lord Drive Precinct 8 Wood End School, 85 Sunset Rock Lane Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street The date of posting being not less than fourteen (14) days prior to Monday, November 13, 2023, the date set for Town Meeting in this Warrant. _____________________________________________ Constable A true copy Attest: _____________________________________________ Laura Gemme, Town Clerk TOWN WARRANT COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. To any of the Constables of the Town of Reading, Greetings: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in the Local Elections and Town affairs, to meet at the Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 62 Oakland Road, in said Reading, on Monday, November 13, 2023 at seven-thirty o’clock in the evening, at which time and place the following articles are to be acted upon and determined exclusively by Town Meeting Members in accordance with the provisions of the Reading Home Rule Charter. ARTICLE 1 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. Select Board ARTICLE 2 To choose all other necessary Town Officers and Boards or Committees and determine what instructions shall be given to Town Officers and Boards or Committees, and to see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate by borrowing or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, for the purpose of funding Town Officers and Boards or Committees to carry out the instructions given to them, or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 3 To see if the Town will vote to amend the FY 2024-34 Capital Improvements Program as provided for in Section 7-7 of the Reading Home Rule Charter and as previously amended, or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 4 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town's Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2023, as adopted under Article 12 of the Annual Town Meeting of April 24, 2023; and to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, or otherwise provide 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, or take any other action with respect thereto. Finance Committee ARTICLE 5 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, borrow or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay bills remaining unpaid from prior fiscal years for goods and services actually rendered to the Town, or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 6 To see if the Town will vote to: (1) 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 “Project”), including but not limited to, the reconstruction of a municipal parking lot, the improvement of basketball courts, the reconstruction of a children’s playground, and the resurfacing of tennis courts, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related to thereto; (2) Pursuant to G.L. c.40, §15A, transfer the care, custody and control of Assessor Parcel 27-0-342, including any sports facilities thereon located on Bancroft Avenue in the Town of Reading, from the Town of Reading School Department to the Select Board. (3) Dedicate the portions of Assessors Parcels 27-0-343, 27-0-342, and 33-0-57 shown as “PROPOSED PARC AREA” on a plan entitled “Parkland Acquisition and Renovation for Communities (PARC) Plan Reading Memorial High School Birch Meadow Drive, Reading, Mass.”, dated July 7, 2023, and on file with the Town Clerk, to park and recreation purposes under G.L. c. 45, §3, the premises being approximately 4.8 acres of land, including any sports facilities thereon located; (4) Authorize the Town Manager to apply for any and all grants to fund the Project, including the Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grant from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and to take such other actions as necessary to carry the terms, purposes and conditions of any such grants; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 7 To see if the Town will take the following actions: (1) Pursuant to G. L. c. 44, § 53E½, adopt a new revolving fund called the Solid Waste Revolving Fund, effective the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, by inserting a new Section 6.5.8 into the General Bylaws as follows: 6.5.8 Solid Waste Revolving Fund Funds held in the Solid Waste Revolving Fund shall be used to offset the cost of curbside trash and recycling collection, disposal of solid waste, replacement toters, and any other costs associated with the administration of the trash and recycling program that arise due to the sale of second toters and overflow bags, and shall be expended by the Director of Public Works, upon the recommendation of the Town Manager. Receipts credited to this fund shall include the sale of second toters and overflow bags for the disposal of solid waste. (2) Raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of acquisition, management, and distribution of rubbish and recycling barrels for residences currently on the municipal rubbish program, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related to thereto; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 8 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 acquiring a fire department rear-mount aerial ladder truck and associated apparatus, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related to thereto; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 9 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 to build a municipal parking lot on 0 Grove Street, Assessors Parcel 043-0-136, commonly referred to as Lot 5, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related to thereto; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 10 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 roadway and sidewalk improvements, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related to thereto; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 11 To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 19K of Chapter 41 of the Massachusetts General Laws, which authorizes additional compensation for a Town Clerk who has been awarded a certificate by the Massachusetts Town Clerks' Association as a certified Massachusetts municipal clerk, an amount equal to 10 per cent of such regular annual compensation, but not more than $1,000 per year; to qualify for such additional compensation, a Town Clerk shall submit to the Select Board proof of the award of the certificate; or take any other action with respect thereto. Select Board ARTICLE 12 To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Reading Ice Arena Funds Account 4715 a sum or sums of money not to exceed $200,000 to pay to build eight (8) temporary, outdoor pickleball courts on the land adjacent to the Burbank Ice Arena off Symonds way, subject to successful negotiations of lease with the Burbank Ice Arena Authority and obtaining any required permits, or take any other action with respect thereto. Citizens Petition and you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting an attested copy thereof in at least one (1) public place in each precinct of the Town not less than fourteen (14) days prior to November 13, 2023, or providing in a manner such as electronic submission, holding for pickup or mailing, an attested copy of said Warrant to each Town Meeting Member. Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the time appointed for said meeting. Given under our hands this __th day of ___________, 2023. _______________________ Jacqueline McCarthy, Chair _______________________ Mark L. Dockser, Vice Chair _______________________ Karen Gately Herrick, Secretary _______________________ Carlo Bacci _______________________ Chris Haley SELECT BOARD OF READING _______________________________ , Constable Designate Town Manager as Town Representative on Designer Selection Panel for the MSBA, Killam School General Bylaw 3.3.1.3 requires that a member of any board, committee or commission who ceases to be an inhabitant of the Town automatically ceases to be a member. The bylaw - by its terms - is not limited to membership on a Town board, although that may have been how it has been interpreted. The Designer Selection Panel (DSP) is not a Town board, but rather a board of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, primarily comprising MSBA members but to which 3 local representatives are invited to serve for the purposes of the local building project. If one interprets 3.3.1.3 as limited in application to Town boards, nothing in the town bylaws bars the Town Manager and the Superintendent from service on the DSP. Even if the Town bylaw applies, however, I interpret the Town Charter as overriding the Bylaw and permitting the Town Manager’s service on the DSP. Section 5.1 of the Charter states that the Town Manager is empowered to engage in any business expressly authorized by the Select Board. Specifically, the Town Manager cannot hold any other elected or appointed office in Town, but “with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, the Town Manager may serve as the Town’s representative to regional boards, commissions or similar entities . . ..” The DSP is a similar entity. Per Section 5.2 of the Charter, the Town Manger is responsible for “the proper administration of all Town affairs placed in his charge by or under the Charter” including responsible for all functions and performance of “any other duties” authorized by the Board of Selectmen. Thus, the Select Board should designate the Town Manager as the Town representative on the DSP. October 10, 2023 Tuesday Overview of Meeting McCarthy 7:00 Public Comment Board 7:05 SB Liaison & Town Manager Reports Board 7:15 Select Board Appointment of Board of Registrars Member, in accordance with M.G.L. c. 51, s.20 Board 7:30 Discuss Future Agendas Board 9:30 Approve Meeting Minutes Board 9:45 October 24, 2023 Tuesday Overview of Meeting McCarthy 7:00 Public Comment Board 7:05 SB Liaison & Town Manager Reports Board 7:15 HEARING Tax Classification Santaniello & Board of Assessors 7:30 Vote to Accept Easement from Meadow Brook Golf Course to Conservation Commission, Lot 5 Board 8:30 Discuss Future Agendas Board 9:30 Approve Meeting Minutes Board 9:45 November 7, 2023 Tuesday November 13, 2023 SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING November 16, 2023 SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING November 20, 2023 SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING November 21, 2023 Tuesday Novmeber 27, 2023 SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING December 5, 2023 Tuesday Vote to approve annual licenses (delegated to TM Office) Vote to approve Liquor Licenses December 6, 2023 Wednesday Department Budget Presentations December 12, 2023 Tuesday Department Budget Presentations Future Meetings - Agenda Items VASC Policy Changes and Recommendations VASC Discuss Early Sunday Hours at Recreational Fields & Parks Rec Comm Public Safety Quarterly updates Board Air BnB update CPDC Update on 186 Summer Ave / Review of Select Board role (consult with Town Counsel) Town Counsel Discuss Police Department Policies with respect to Police Reform Legislation & Department Accreditation Board Discuss and Approve Flag Policy Board Recurring Agenda Items Close Warrant: Annual Town Meeting March 3/1/2022 Close Warrant: Subsequent Town September 9/27/2022 Appoint Town Accountant March Annual HEARING Approve Classification & Compensation May Annual Appointments of Boards & Committees May/June Annual HEARING Approve Tax Classification October Annual HEARING Approve Licenses December Annual Liaison: RCTV members Report Annual Liaison: CAB (RMLD) member Report Annual Liaison: MAPC member Report Annual Liaison: Reading Housing Authority Annual Liaison: Reading Ice Arena Report Annual Town Accountant Report Qtrly Economic Development Director Semi-ann Parking/Traffic/Transportation Task Town Board & Committee visits Town Department visits Review Select Board Goals Review Town Manager Goals February/March Select Board Draft Minutes September 12th, 2023 Public Comment Bill Brown has some questfons about how associate members work and he thinks it is something the Charter Committee should look at. Nate Williams noted he is in support of the pickleball request. Nancy Ziemlak noted there was an odor in the PSC and she thanks the town for looking into that. Nancy Docktor wants to know why we renovated space at the Police Department for the Health Department but they haven’t moved there. State Delegatfon Visit Representatfve Haggerty noted the State passed the budget in July and Reading is set to get $11.4 in Chapter 70 educatfon money, $4.1 Million in unrestricted government aid, $25K for the performing arts center at the high school, 35K for a certffied preservatfonist to restore some monuments at Laurel Hill cemetery, and $600K is chapter 90 money. They are currently pushing for the release of the Green Communitfes regulatfons so Reading can work towards those initfatfves. Representatfve Jones noted they filed two home rule petftfons before the last session ended. They filed two others in the new session. They are working on the one pertaining to the Board of Health and expanding the number of members on the board. He congratulated the town on a great Fall Street Fair. Senator Lewis noted they fully funded their Chapter 70 budget as well as their special educatfon circuit breaker including state reimbursement for transportatfon which was just recently added in. The fair share amendment AKA millionaire’s tax did get approved by the voters so that will go into effect for the first tfme this budget cycle. That money will go into a trust fund and will be transparent on how it is spent. The funds are only appropriated for educatfon purposes and some of that money was used to fund free universal school meals for all students in Massachusetts permanently. Some of the funds from the tax are also being used to fund the Chapter 90 money which will increase Reading’s allocatfon. They are also working towards making higher educatfon more affordable including free community college for residents and better financial aid for the state four-year schools. Lastly, some of the funds from the tax will be used to better the MBTA. Laision Reports Bacci noted the Fall Street Fair was great. Recreatfon met last night and they introduced a new coordinator. They are discussing changing how pickleball is reserved. They also discussed a dog park and got a Phase II update at Birch Meadow. He mentfoned Black Earth Compost and asked people to join. Haley mentfoned the overdose awareness event put on by the Coalitfon. The Fall Street Fair and the dunk tank raised $1000. DRAFT Dockser noted Council on Aging met and discussed changes on the RFP for the senior center. There is a lot of interest about what is happening at Symonds Way. ReCalc also met and are working on the new charge. McCarthy noted CPDC gave preliminary approval to a subdivision on Beacon Street. The site plan review for McDonalds was contfnued. Staff is hard at work with MBTA Communitfes; they have a public forum coming up next week. She thanked our first responders for their quick response to last Fridays storm. There will be a Trash and Recycling forum next week as well. She thanks Krystal from the Coalitfon who is moving onto a new opportunity in Chelsea. Town Manager Report Maltez noted there are three procurement items out for bid right now. A few respondents from the RFQ for Symonds Way are asking for additfonal tfme which staff will be grantfng notfng it will be beneficial for better responses. The commuter rail closure has been in effect and there will be additfonal busses around town untfl it is complete. There will be a trash and recycling forum next week. There will also be a MBTA Communitfes forum next Tuesday as well. The pop-up farmers market will be this weekend. Octoberfest will be September 23rd on the common. Hearing – Personnel Policy; Military Leave Haley read the hearing notfce opening the public hearing. HR Director Sean Donahue was present to answer any questfons. The board discussed this at their previous meetfng and had no further questfons. Dockser moved to close the hearing regarding the personnel policy. The motion was seconded by Haley and approved with a 4-0 vote. Haley moved to approve the Town Personnel Policy: Military Leave as presented. The motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with a 4-0 vote. Pavement Plan Town Engineer Ryan Percival gave the board a presentatfon on the Towns’ pavement plan and the details that go into it. The presentatfon can be found on the town website in the Select Board packet. Maltez noted there is an artfcle going before Town Meetfng this November to ask for money to cover the shortiall this year due to an increase in material costs and labor shortages. Food Pantry Request for Funds Maltez gave an update on the status of the ARPA funds. The Food Pantry was already given $46,200 in ARPA funds originally but have noted that increased costs are leaving them struggling stfll. They are now requestfng an additfonal $28K in funds. While the board is empathetfc with the Food Pantry, some members are also worried about other potentfal requests that may come forward. The board would like the Food Pantry to come back and answer some more questfons about their actfvitfes and fundraising. DRAFT Pickleball Presentatfon The Reading Pickleball Players Associatfon gave the board a presentatfon asking for the Town to pay for temporary pickleball courts behind the Burbank Ice Arena. The presentatfon can be found in the Select Board packet on the town website. They were hoping to get an artfcle before November Town Meetfng. It was noted the meetfng warrant has already been done and is set to be closed at their next meetfng. It was noted an alternate way to get on the Town Meetfng warrant would be to do a citfzen’s petftfon. Town Meetfng Warrant Maltez went over the November Town Meetfng warrant with the board again. He noted he will have a more formal update at their next meetfng on the Fire truck cost increase. The board heard from Jessie Arnold, Chair of the Bylaw Committee, regarding Artfcle 11, the snow removal bylaw. She noted the reason the Bylaw committee is doing this is because an instructfonal motfon was made at Town Meetfng. They have looked at other towns’ bylaws and they all do it differently. They spoke with Town Counsel and then they drafted this bylaw. Bacci wanted to amend Artfcle 6 to keep pickleball courts in the artfcle. Maltez noted this artfcle is related to one specific property of Phase II and this property is not where the courts are going. Capital Plan Maltez explained the Capital plan documents in the Select Board packet to the board. They are asking FINCOM to do an additfonal .5% for a total of 5.5%. This capital plan is balanced with the 5.5% and they plan to go back to 5% in FY26. Special Committee for Charter Review McCarthy Move to appoint Haley as the Select Board designee on the Special Committee for the Charter Review. The motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with a unanimous roll call vote. Future Agendas The board discussed future agenda items. Minutes The board discussed previous meetfng minutes and decided to vote on them at their next meetfng pending clarificatfon. Bacci moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:47 PM. The motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with a unanimous roll call vote. DRAFT