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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-09 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 dis cussed 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: 2024-04-09 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Agenda: Purpose: General Business Meeting Called By: Jacquelyn LaVerde on behalf of Chair Carlo Bacci 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 reasonably 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: Zoom Option: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84693186039 Meeting ID: 846 9318 6039 One tap mobile +16465588656,,84693186039# US (New York) +16465189805,,84693186039# US (New York) Dial by your location • +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) • +1 646 518 9805 US (New York) Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kcu1k5fCU7 7:00 Overview of Meeting 7:05 Public Comment 7:15 Select Board Liaison and Town Manager Reports 7:30 Arbor Day Proclamation 3 7:45 Community Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment with Library Trustees 4 8:15 Discuss and vote on volunteer appointments to the Board of Health and Retirement Board 27 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 dis cussed at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. Page | 2 8:30 Discuss and vote on the hiring of an independent investigator to review and report on the circumstances including statements made and actions taken surrounding the resignation of Jackie McCarthy from the Select Board on February 6, 2024, including statements made and actions taken following the February 6 meeting 9:00 Discuss and vote on modification to Community Preservation Act (CPA) Study Committee membership to replace ex-officio member of Affordable Housing Trust Committee with ex-officio member of Reading Housing Authority 33 9:15 Discuss Future Agendas 34 9:25 Approve Meeting Minutes 37 SELECT BOARD OF READING _________________________ _________________________ Carlo Bacci, Chair Karen Gately Herrick, Vice Chair _________________________ _________________________ Christopher Haley, Secretary Mark L. Dockser _________________________ PROCLAMATION ARBOR DAY Whereas, In 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees; and Whereas, This holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska, and Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world; and Whereas, Trees reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife; and Whereas, Trees are a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires and countless other wood products; and Whereas, Trees in our Town increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, beautify our community, and wherever they are planted are a source of joy and spiritual renewal; and Whereas, Reading has been recognized as a Tree City, U.S.A. by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the 39th consecutive year, and desires to continue its tree-planting ways. Now, therefore, we, The Select Board of the Town of Reading, Massachusetts do hereby proclaim April 26, 2024 as Arbor Day in the Town of Reading and urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, and plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well being of this and future generations. Community Needs Assessment Town of Reading Select Board Meeting April 9, 2024 Presented by: Iris Bond Gill Opportunity Consulting Who is Opportunity Consulting? We are a consultancy that specializes in forging enduring partnerships towards creating opportunities, overcoming challenges, and achieving remarkable outcomes. We are driven by the principle that those experiencing challenges should lead in designing solutions, working at the intersection of policy and practice. We focus on community-led strategies to overcome systemic barriers, using data-driven and community-informed approaches. Dr. Iris Bond Gill Chief Executive Officer Project Director 2 Team Members: David Culley, Chief Data Analyst Nardos Ghebreab, Ph.D., Qualitative Researcher Mileydith Ortiz, Quality Assurance Manager Anannya Sharma, Project Manager and Analyst Our Experience Our work is data-driven, equity-focused, community-centered, and actionable. 3 A Special Thank You We extend our gratitude to the Town Leaders on the project team, PAIR Community members, the Select Board, the Implementation Committee, and all the residents and employees who have generously guided and assisted us throughout this community needs assessment. Their invaluable support, expertise, and the perspectives they shared have been pivotal in our efforts to connect with residents whose voices have previously gone unheard. We are thankful to everyone who dedicated their time and energy to make this project a success. 4 Project Overview The Town of Reading partnered with Opportunity Consulting in the Fall of 2023 to conduct a community needs assessment and understand the extent to which community events and services are accessible to all its residents and Town employees, and how to improve access. The Town’s leadership team embarked on this journey to deeply understand and uncover how they could work together to make our policies and practices more fair and welcoming for everyone. This community needs assessment reveals our findings and suggests strategies for creating an inclusive community where everyone has access to community resources. 5 The "Curb Cut" Effect •When we design systems, policies, and practices for the most marginalized groups, everyone benefits. •The investment can cascade out and up and be an investment in the broader well- being of the communities. •These investments in access and opportunity pay dividends in communities with quality jobs, education, and economic mobility. Access, Opportunity, and New Demographics Source: Sketchplanations 6 Our Approach 1.Utilizing a proprietary, Outcome-Led Equity(OLE) approach 2.Emphasizing local context, stakeholder engagement 3.A focus on the possible 4.Making data and findings accessible to all 7 Our Roadmap Data Community Survey Workforce Engagement Survey Focus GroupsInterviews 8 What We Learned FINDING 1 Housing options, prices, and the cost of living seem to be relatively high, particularly for senior residents and Town employees. FINDING 2 There's an increased sense of vulnerability regarding the Town and School leadership capacity to tackle and prevent religious, racial, and ableist violence, hinting at concerns over its potential recurrence. FINDING 3 The Town Leadership, Boards, Committees, and Workforce lack diversity, suggesting the importance of such diversity for a truly representative government. 9 FINDING 5 Community events and programs might not consistently reflect the diverse needs of groups such as BIPOC, religious, disabled, and senior communities, possibly impacting their sense of belonging. FINDING 7 Town employees may experience limited exposure to diversity and accessibility to career pathways within the workforce. FINDING 6 Communication regarding Town events and services may not always be consistent or easily accessible. What We Learned FINDING 4 The Town's public infrastructure, transportation, and event locations may not be fully accessible to all residents. 10 Community Experience "Our options are quite restricted, with only one or two communities for those 55 and older in Reading, alongside a few senior citizen apartments. This is hardly enough given the significant portion of Reading's population that is over 60." Insight from Senior Citizen Focus Group Participant "Despite the community's intent to be welcoming to all, including families with young children, the physical limitations of [the town] seem to favor a younger, more mobile population. It feels like a mismatch between the community's inclusivity goals and the buildings' current capabilities." Insight from Seniors Focus Group Participant “When incidents of bigotry occur in town, they're not entirely ignored, but the response often feels inadequate. The usual attitude of 'it happened, we dealt with it, it's over' is insufficient. I feel there's a need for a stronger stance—a commitment to ensuring such incidents don't recur and recognizing any failures in our approach if they do. This shift in response is crucial for meaningful change." Insight from BIPOC Focus Group Participant “… Everybody wants to talk about it, but nobody wants to be that driving force and take it on. And having a DEI director isn't enough; this role isn't a solo mission. They require ample support and cannot tackle everything alone."Insight from BIPOC Focus Group Participant 11 What Do These Findings Mean? Affordable and Accessible Housing Trust in Leadership for Inclusion and Intentionality Diversity in Governance and Workforce Enhanced Communication between Town- Residents Accessibility in Infrastructure and Events Community Engagement and Communication Unifying Vision for a Welcoming Reading 12 Our Recommendations Source: Smashing Magazine INITIATE feedback loops into the Town services to enhance direct lines of communication with the community, and upgrade the official website to serve as a key point of information for residents. 1.Enhances Responsiveness: Feedback loops can significantly improve aid and governance by creating mechanisms that listen and act on citizen feedback, leading to more responsive and adaptive services 2.Fosters Innovation: These loops are crucial for innovation, as they allow for the constant improvement of services based on community input, driving a culture of continuous learning and development. 13 Our Recommendations PLACE ADA compliance and housing access at the forefront of infrastructural building and remodeling, particularly access to the Pleasant Street Center, Town buildings, and recreational community spaces. 1.Promotes Inclusivity:Ensuring that public infrastructure is accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities, fosters an inclusive environment where every member of the community feels valued and able to participate fully. 2.Improves Community Engagement: Accessibility improvements can increase participation in community events and services, strengthening the social fabric and enhancing the overall quality of life for residents. Example of Light-touch Density (Source: AEI Housing Center) 14 Our Recommendations INSTITUTE mechanisms to increase social, economic, and racial diversity on events and Town-related Boards and Commissions. 1.Enhance Decision Making Processes: By incorporating various perspectives and experiences, the Town fosters more resilient and innovative solutions to community needs. 2.Increases Engagement and Sustainability: Diverse leadership boards not only build more creative solutions, but also enhance the overall participation and credibility of the boards they serve on by reflecting the demographics and values of their communities. Source: City of Minneapolis, Minnesota official website 15 Our Recommendations DIVERSIFY vendors and suppliers via a supplier diversity program. 1.Economic Empowerment:A supplier diversity program can promote economic growth within underrepresented groups, contributing to a more equitable local economy. 2.Enhances Competitiveness:Diversifying suppliers can lead to more competitive pricing and innovative products and services, benefiting the Town by providing better value and fostering economic resilience. Source: NetSuite 16 Our Recommendations ENHANCE the role of Community- Based Organizations in Town events and communications. 1.Strengthens Social Networks: Integrating community-based organizations in Town events and communications can strengthen social networks, enhancing community cohesion and resilience. 2.Improves Service Delivery:These organizations often have deep understanding of local needs and can help tailor services and initiatives to better address community-specific challenges. Source: Wall Street Mojo 17 Our Recommendations CONDUCT a deeper dive into the state of the Town's workforce to learn the challenges in employee recruitment, training and retention, and create an inclusive and welcoming environment. 1.Improves Employee Retention: Understanding and addressing the challenges in recruitment, training, and retention can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment, improving employee satisfaction and retention rates. 2.Enhances Service Quality: A well-supported, diverse, and engaged workforce is better equipped to provide high-quality services to the community, reflecting a wide range of perspectives and skills Desired Employee Lifecycle (Source: Academy to Renovate HR) 18 Our Recommendations BUILD a wide-ranging partnership pipeline for more effective Town Employee Recruitment: 1.Expands Talent Pool: Developing partnerships for recruitment can expand the talent pool, bringing in new ideas and skills critical for the Town's success. 2.Increases Diversity:Collaborating with a variety of organizations and institutions can help increase workforce diversity, enhancing creativity and problem-solving within Town services. 19 What Happens Now? Our recommendations are designed with both immediate and future goals in mind, aimed at achieving results that benefit every resident and community member. Drawing from our comprehensive community needs assessment, we've put forward accessible and practical recommendations fostering inclusion and a sense of belonging for the community. This community needs assessment serves as a foundational tool for the Town of Reading, offering a roadmap to develop a strategic plan. Such a plan will solidify the Town’s long-term dedication to enhancing community accessibility, engagement, and inclusivity. Final Report will be available by May 1, 2024 20 Contact Information Dr. Iris Bond Gill Chief Executive Officer iris@OpportunityConsulting.com www.OpportunityConsulting.com Find us on LinkedIn & Instagram @OpportunityConsulting_ LinkedIn Instagram 21 22 Questions ? 23 Sexton Wetzel Cramer Town Clerk fax: 781-942-9070 781-942-9050 website:www.readingma.gov Application for Appointment to Boards, Committees and Commissions Name: Date: (Last)(First)(Middle) Address: Phone (Home): Phone (Work): Phone (Cell): Which number should be listed? Occupation: Number of years in Reading: E-mail address: Place a number next to your preferred position(s) (up to four choices) with number 1 being your first priority. (Please attach a resume if available) ___ Animal Control Appeals Committee ___ Audit Committee ___ Board of Assessors ___ Board of Cemetery Trustees ___ Board of Health ___ Board of Registrars ___ Bylaw Committee ___ Celebration Trust Committee ___ Climate Advisory Committee ___ Commissioners of Trust Funds ___ Community Planning and Development Commission ___ Conservation Commission ___ Constables ___ Council on Aging ___ Cultural Council ___ Custodian of Soldier and Sailor Graves ___ Finance Committee ___ Historic District Commission ___ Historical Commission ___ Housing Authority ___ Human Relations Advisory Committee ___ Permanent Building Committee ___ RCTV Board of Directors ___ Recreation Committee ___ Retirement Board ___ RMLD Citizen Advisory Board ___ Town Forest Committee ___ Trails Committee ___ Veterans Memorial Trust Fund Committee ___ Zoning Board of Appeals ___ Other Please outline relevant experience for the position(s) sought: Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading MA 01867 Lannon Amy Fang 1/31/2024 58 Riverside Drive 781-944-0840 617-529-4219 Work Reading Public Library lannon@noblenet.org x Retirement Board I am a long-time, pension-vested Town of Reading employee. As a Department Head, I have experience with both financial and personnel management. I have lived in Reading for 26 years and worked for the Town of Reading in non-exempt, exempt, part-time,and full-time positions.I also think ten years of experience as a legal research librarian will come in handy in understanding related laws and regulations. I am very interested in continuing to serve my colleagues - past, present and future - and working to keep the Reading pension system healthy. I also enjoy learning, even completing a graduate-level certificate while working full-time, and look forward to learning more about the retirement system in Reading and in the larger conext of the State/Federal governments. 26 Lannon Town Clerk fax: 781-942-9070 781-942-9050 website:www.readingma.gov Application for Appointment to Boards, Committees and Commissions Name: Date: (Last)(First)(Middle) Address: Phone (Home): Phone (Work): Phone (Cell): Which number should be listed? Occupation: Number of years in Reading: E-mail address: Place a number next to your preferred position(s) (up to four choices) with number 1 being your first priority. (Please attach a resume if available) ___ Animal Control Appeals Committee ___ Audit Committee ___ Board of Assessors ___ Board of Cemetery Trustees ___ Board of Health ___ Board of Registrars ___ Bylaw Committee ___ Celebration Trust Committee ___ Climate Advisory Committee ___ Commissioners of Trust Funds ___ Community Planning and Development Commission ___ Conservation Commission ___ Constables ___ Council on Aging ___ Cultural Council ___ Custodian of Soldier and Sailor Graves ___ Finance Committee ___ Historic District Commission ___ Historical Commission ___ Housing Authority ___ Human Relations Advisory Committee ___ Permanent Building Committee ___ RCTV Board of Directors ___ Recreation Committee ___ Retirement Board ___ RMLD Citizen Advisory Board ___ Town Forest Committee ___ Trails Committee ___ Veterans Memorial Trust Fund Committee ___ Zoning Board of Appeals ___ Other Please outline relevant experience for the position(s) sought: Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading MA 01867 Abate Holmes CPA Study Committee Move to create a Community Preservation Act Ad Hoc Committee, comprised of 7 voting members and one non-voting member to be appointed by the Select Board, and is charged with facilitating communications with community leaders, Town Administration, Town Meeting Members, the Select Board, local community groups, and the statewide Community Preservation Coalition to share information regarding the opportunities and challenges when adopting the CPA. The Committee will study the need for the CPA and the various methods for adoption and present its findings to the Select Board in time to achieve a town wide vote in the November election including preparation for a special town meeting vote that accommodates the November 5, 2024 election; said committee to sunset on December 31, 2024, unless extended. Members will be comprised of: 5 ex-officio voting members: • Select board member • Recreation member • Historical Commission member • Affordable housing trust member • FINCOM member • Conservation Commission member And 1 resident who will apply directly to the Select Board with preference given to current or past members of either trails committee, town forest committee or conservation commission. And 1 non-voting member who shall not count towards quorum who is the Director of Reading Housing Authority 2024 DRAFT - SELECT BOARD AGENDAS Staff Responsibility Estimated start time April 25, 2023 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING April 29, 2023 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING May 2, 2024 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING May 7, 2024 Tuesday Overview of Meeting 7:00 Public Comment 7:05 Select Board Liaison and Town Manager Reports 7:15 HEARING Discuss and Vote on Traffic Amendments 2024-1 and 2024-2 Scouten 7:30 Killam Building Project Update Discuss & Vote on Bill Russell Committee (BRACE)Board May 21, 2024 Tuesday Overview of Meeting Public Comment Select Board Liaison and Town Manager Reports New Liaison Assignments National Public Works Week Proclamation Chris Cole HEARING Discuss/Vote on FY25 Non-Union Classification & Compensation Schedules Sean Donahue Discuss FY25 Water & Sewer Rates Parking Kiosk Update Andrew MacNichol ReCalc Update/Presentation Discuss creating a Building Committee for the Senior Center Project Board June 4, 2024 Tuesday HEARING Discuss and Vote FY25 Water & Sewer Rates SWEC Presentation SWEC Discuss and Vote on Creation of Building Committee for Senior Center project Board PTTTF Update? B/C/C budget vote? Charter Review Committee Update June 18, 2024 Tuesday Vote on VASC recommendations for Annual board/committee Appointments 2024 DRAFT - SELECT BOARD AGENDAS Staff Responsibility Estimated start time Vote to declare Surplus Items: Fire Department Ladder Truck Chief Burns July 16, 2024 Tuesday August 20, 2024 Tuesday September 10, 2024 STATE PRIMARY September 17, 2024 Tuesday October 8, 2024 Tuesday October 29, 2024 Tuesday Hearing Tax Classification November 5, 2024 STATE ELECTION November 12, 2024 SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING November 14, 2024 SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING November 18, 2024 SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING November 19, 2024 Tuesday November 21, 2024 SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING December 3, 2024 Tuesday Vote to approve Annual Liquor Licenses December 4, 2024 Wednesday Department Budget Presentations December 10, 2024 Tuesday Department Budget Presentations Recurring Agenda Items Close Warrant: Annual Town Meeting March Close Warrant: Subsequent Town Meeting September Appoint Town Accountant March Annual HEARING Approve Classification & Compensation May Annual Appointments of Boards & Committees May/June Annual HEARING Approve Tax Classification October Annual Approve Licenses December Annual Arbor Day Proclamation April Annual Liaison: RCTV members Report Annual 2024 DRAFT - SELECT BOARD AGENDAS Staff Responsibility Estimated start time Liaison: CAB (RMLD) member Report Annual Liaison: MAPC member Report Annual Liaison: Reading Housing Authority Report Annual Liaison: Reading Ice Arena Report Annual Town Accountant Report Qtrly Economic Development Director Semi-ann Parking/Traffic/Transportation Task Force (PTTTF) Town Board & Committee visits Town Department visits Review Select Board Goals Review Town Manager Goals February/March Select Board Draft Minutes February 17, 2024 @ 10 AM Vice Chair Mark Dockser called the meeting to order at 10 AM. Herrick moved to enter into executive session to discuss an open meeting law complaint filed by Bill Brown on Feb 7, 2024 under executive session purpose 1 and to invite Town Counsel Ivria Fried and Executive Assistant Caitlin Nocella into the executive session and to return to open session to continue on with this meeting and a potential open meeting discussion on this topic. The motion was seconded by Dockser. Haley noted that in the spirit of transparency, we should do this in open session and he will vote against going into executive session. It was noted that past practice has been to discuss this in executive session first before talking publicly about it. Town Counsel noted there is not legal reason this has to be done in executive session and it can be done in open session if the board wishes. The board voted on the motion to go into executive session with the following roll call vote: Herrick – yes; Haley – no; Bacci – no; Dockser; yes. The motion to go into executive session fails. Dockser starts off by saying he did speak with McCarthy about the Town Manager search. He did not speak with any other members on the board. Bacci then noted he also spoke with McCarthy about the Town Manager search. During their conversation, McCarthy noted she had spoken with Dockser about this topic however, they continued speaking. Bacci apologized and noted he spoke with Town Counsel and will do whatever is requested of him. Herrick noted she did not speak with any board members on this topic. Haley also noted he did not speak with any board members on this topic. The board needs to respond to the complaint. Town Counsel noted the board needs to commit to future compliance going forward which the board agreed to. Herrick noted she would like to discuss how this breakdown in the process impacts the board going forward with this process. Town Counsel noted from her understanding and her legal opinion is, this does not taint the process. She noted she spoke with McCarthy and at no point did McCarthy share Dockers’ opinions with Bacci or vice versa. On top of that, McCarthy recused herself immediately and the four remaining members had no insight into what the others thoughts were on this topic. Ultimately, she noted that she does not feel it compromises the process and from a legal standpoint she is not concerned with the board moving forward with the appointment; however, it is a policy decision by the board if they feel they need to restart the process or not. Haley feels the board is not being transparent about this topic and asked Dockser if he has anything else he would like to say. He is worried the process of the town manager search has now been tainted. Bacci feels the board should continue as they have been cleared legally from Town Counsel to process. He does not feel it was tainted based on the facts. Herrick noted she shares some of the concerns Haley raised but is willing to discuss further. Dockser felt if two members have concerns, that is a problem. He felt the process has integrity. Herrick clarified she is worried about the transparency aspect and the perception/ and or concerns from the public. Haley agreed with Herrick. The board felt they were stepping into a later agenda item and decided to table the current item regarding the Open Meeting Law complaint and move the agenda along. Herrick moved to table the open meeting law complaint discussion item. The motion was seconded by Haley and approved with a 4-0 vote. Public Comment Bill Brown made a comment that Dockser should step down. Mary Ellen O’Neill asked the board to please continue this process. She has faith in this board and the process. Carla Nazzaro asked board members if they had a role in McCarthy’s resignation. She also would like to the board to move forward with appointing Matt Kraunelis as the next Town Manager. John Lippitt noted he would like to see Matt Coogan as the next Town Manager. John Arena feels the public needs to know what happened with McCarthy. Genady Pyvlyski hopes the board can move on from the McCarthy resignation and be more transparent with the town manager process. Vanessa Alvarado feels the board needs to respect McCarthy’s privacy and move on. Carolyn Whiting asked the board to please continue with the process. She feels if they start the process over they will not get any applicants. She would like to see Coogan get appointed. Marianne Downing wants to ask the board how John Lippit was able to write a letter to the editor that included information that was not made public yet. She wants to know which board member told him that information. Discuss process to fill Select Board Vacancy The board needs to hold a special election to fill McCarthy’s seat or wait until the local election in April of 2025. It was also noted they could combine the election with the presidential election in the fall of 2024. The board agreed the sooner the better to fill the seat. The board will take an official vote on this at their next meeting. The board will have the reorganization discussion at their next meeting. Discuss and Vote on Appointment of new Town Manager The board went back and forth discussing if all members were comfortable moving forward or if there was enough doubt in the integrity of the process to start the whole search over again. The members eventually decided they are comfortable moving forward with a discussion of the candidates. Herrick motioned to proceed with discussions in regards to the Town Manager finalists. The motion was seconded by Haley and approved with a 4-0 vote. It was noted that Clancy Main and Antonio Barletta withdrew their names from consideration leaving Matthew Coogan and Matthew Kraunelis still in the running. Bacci and Haley explained their reasonings for going with Kraunelis while Herrick and Dockser did the same for Coogan. Dockser then said he would consider giving Kraunelis a shorter contract while Herrick did not want to go that route opining Coogan is a better candidate. Community Paradigm Consultant Bernie Lynch expressed his thoughts about the process and the candidates. The board put together a motion that would give Kraunelis a 15 month contract with a list of goals to achieve in that time frame. If the goals were met to the satisfaction of the board, they would then entertain a discussion around a new contract. Herrick Moved to appoint Matt Kraunelis to the position of Town Manager subject to a successful negotiation of a 455 calendar days employment agreement that includes the following: 1.The Town Manager shall function as either the lead or a lead or otherwise actively assist in the following projects: a) Town side of the Killam School Project and the lead to MSBA b) Sr Center/Community Center—Town Lead (like role of School Superintendent in leading new school effort, in partnership with SB and community leaders) c) Community Preservation Act education process and presentation to community in time for Special Town Meeting and November ballot, upon board approval of committee d) Green Communities development of reapplication and subsequent grant application activities upon State approval e) Support for MBTA Communities program, approval and eventually implementation on approval f) Management of new and existing projects g) Strong selection of new leaders for community, considering both external and internal candidates 2. and the Town Manager annual assessment shall include Community volunteer feedback assessment from the School building project and Senior center project, to be further defined 3. and any further background checks as deemed necessary. The motion was seconded by Haley and approved with a 4-0 vote. Open meeting Law Complaint Herrick moved to authorize Town Counsel to respond to the Open Meeting Law complaint on behalf of the board. The motion was seconded by Bacci and approved with a 4-0 vote. Executive Session Herrick moved to enter into Executive Session pursuant to G.L. c.30A, s.21(a)(2) to conduct a strategy session in preparation for contract negotiations or to conduct contract negotiations with Matthew Kraunelis, the selected candidate for appointment to the position of Town Manager, to invite Ivria Glass Fried and Executive Assistant Caitlin Nocella and Bernie Lynch into the Executive Session, and not to return to open session. The motion was seconded by Haley and approved with a 4-0 vote.