HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-09 Select Board Minutesm rgF+o,
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Meeting Minutes (OG(` MA•
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: tp24 MAR "
Select Board
Date: 2024-01-09 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
Location:
Select Board Meeting Room
Session:
Open Session
Version:
Final
Jackie McCarthy, Carlo Bacci via Zoom, Mark Dockser, Chris Haley, Karen
Herrick
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Executive Assistant Caitlin Nocella, Peter Kramer, Matt Kraunelis, A] Capano,
Jason Carron, Nancy Ziemlak, Jane Kinsella, Sharon Angstrom, Sean
Donahue, Chris Cole
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Executive Assistant Caitlin Nocella
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in person and remote via Zoom.
Chair McCarthy called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM
Public Comment
Peter Kramer expressed his dissatisfaction with the DPW's job snowplowing this past storm.
Liaison Reports
Herrick noted there is a Killam kick-off community meeting this Thursday. She explained the
next steps in the MSBA process including upcoming important dates. She attended a
meeting to get a BID update this morning at Whitelam Books. She visited the Council on
Aging.
Haley noted the School Committee met last week and went over the FY25 budget. Reading
Field Hockey Champions were there. The Charter Review Committee met last night and has
completed their first passthrough the entire Charter. They will meet again at the end of
January and will look to start scheduling a public forum to get more input.
Dockser noted that ReCalc has brought the architect up to speed. They are working on
planning a bunch of public meetings. PAIR had a meeting in late December where the new
Director of Equity got to meet everyone and see what the group does. He noted on Monday,
the Towns' annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration breakfast will take place at the
Highschool.
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Bacci had no updates for this meeting
McCarthy thanked DPW and first responders for their ongoing work during the storm this
weekend. CPDC met last night and approved a sign for the Dollar Tree and the McDonalds
renovations. They continued their hearing on the Pinevale development project. Staff is
hosting MBTA Communities informational session tomorrow and will have a few more. The
Governor announced budget cuts which we will have to keep an eye on to see if/ how it will
affect Reading's aid. The Town Manager screening committee met with candidates last week
and they will announce the finalists at a special Select Board meeting next week.
Town Manager Report
Acting Town Manager Matt Kraunelis noted he reached out to the Delegation about the
budget cuts and it looks like Reading's earmarks are safe at the moment but we will see the
final budget soon. He also mentioned the Killam Community meeting this Thursday and the
MLK breakfast on Monday. Reading received more than 10" of snow between Saturday and
Sunday; DPW has been out working diligently to get roads and sidewalks cleaned up as fast
as possible. Because of the duration of the storm, some staff were out for over 24 hours and
delayed some sidewalk clean ups. He wis working on finalizing union contracts; two of which
are scheduled for Executive session tonight.
New Liquor License Application
The town received a new liquor license application for 136 Haven Street for 1917 POST; a
new steakhouse that will be opening in the spring. Attorney AJ Capano and Owner Jason
Carron were present and explained their plans for the restaurant.
Mark Dockser explained that the board takes alcohol compliance very seriously and he hopes
this new establishment will as well.
Herrick moved to close the hearing regarding the new liquor license application. The
motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Herrick moved to approve the annual all alcohol liquor license for Parc Restaurant
Group d/b/a POST 1917 at 136 Haven Street, Reading, MA. The motion was seconded
by Dockser and was approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
Edge Sports Presentation
This has been postponed until a further meeting.
Update from the Council on Aging
Nancy Ziemlak gave the board a presentation with updates on what the Council on Aging has
been working on. The presentation can be found in the Select Board packet on the town
website.
Future Agendas
The board discussed future agenda items.
Minutes
Herrick moved to approve the meeting minutes from December 12'h, 2023 as written.
The motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with a roll call vote.
Executive Session
At 8:11 PM, Herrick moved that the board go into Executive Session including staff
members Matt Kraunelis, Jane Kinsella, Chris Cole, Sharon Angstrom, Sean Donahue,
and Caitlin Nocella; and previous Town Manager Fidel Maltez, to discuss strategy with
respect to collective bargaining and approve contracts for the Public Works-AFSCME
Council 93, Local 1703 and Public Works Supervisory Union, AFSCME Council 93, Local
1703. Further the Chair declares that an open meeting could have a detrimental effect
on the bargaining position of the body; and the board will NOT reconvene in open
session. The motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with a unanimous roll call
vote.
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