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Board - Committee
Date: 2024-04-09
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Commission - Council:
Select Board
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
Time: 7:00 PM
2U24 MA" -8 FW3` 47
Location:
Select Board Meeting Room
Session:
Open Session
Version:
Final
Carlo Bacci, Karen Herrick, Chris Haley, Mark Dockser
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Town Manager Matt Kraunelis, Executive Assistant Caitlin Nocella, Nancy
Docktor, Melissa Murphy, Laura Stella, John Arena, DPW Director Chris Cole,
DEI Director Albert Pless, Iris Bond Gill, Town Counsel, Chris Cridler, Linda
Snow Dockser
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Caitlin Nocella
Topics of Discussion:
Chair Bacci called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Public Comment
Nancy Docktor asked why the board keeps appointing Kevin Sexton, a realtor, to the board of
health when she feels there are more qualified candidates. She told the board not to
reappoint him because he is only a realtor and the board needs more health professionals on
there.
Melissa Murphy noted she hopes the board will discuss tiered water rates soon and have a
community session to explain all the tax implications for the upcoming projects.
Laura Stella asked if all the boards and committees can stop overlapping their meetings and
only have one meeting per night.
John Arena spoke about the investigation. He feels the voters are owed an answer on what
happened.
Liaison Reports
Haley attended the Pickleball event at Memorial Park and it was a great event. The School
Committee met at METCO headquarters in Boston.
Dockser noted the Council on Aging and ReCalc are meeting frequentlyto discuss the new
senior center. They are focusing on three sites and now evaluating those areas. They are
starting to speak with Permanent Building Committee. ReCalc will be voting on the criteria
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tomorrow. They will behaving a lot of community meetings to hear neighbors' concerns and
thoughts.
Herrick noted the Killam School Building Committee met last night and they will be doing
tours of Killam tomorrow night while showing site plans. They will be starting to get some
high level cost estimates for the school soon. She thanked everyone involved who put
together the rainbow rally event at the last minute; it was a great event.
Bacci echoed Herrick's comments about the rainbow rally event. He was an instructor at the
Pickleball fundraiser event at the high school. SWEC is wrapping up their final
recommendations.
Town Manager Report
Kraunelis noted he also attended the rainbow rally on the common and thanked Albert Pless
for putting it together. He also attended the Pickleball community day which was another
great event. He mentioned there are several job postings on our website.
Arbor Day Proclamation
Haley read the proclamation and moved to accept the proclamation as presented. The
motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with a 4.0 vote.
Community Diversi Equity and Inclusion Assessment Presentation
Community Diversity and Equity Director Albert Pless introduced Iris Bond Gill of Opportunity
Consulting.
She then gave the board a presentation that can be found in the Select Board packet on the
Town website.
VASO
Earlier tonight, Bacci and Herrick, the Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee (VASC), met
with candidates for the Board of Health and Retirement Board.
Bacci and Herrick agreed on their suggestions for Board of Health.
Herrick noted she would like to see Lannon go on the Retirement Board but Haley feels they
need more information about who is currently on the board and their professional
background before deciding. It was noted the whole board seems to consist of public safety
personnel and the board agreed to find about more about current members before
appointing a new member to this board.
Haley wanted to note that the comments made during public comment about Kevin Sexton, a
volunteer, are completely unacceptable.
Haley moved to appoint Kevin Sexton to a term on the Board of Health beginning
immediately and expiring June 30, 2026. The motion was seconded by Herrick and
approved with a 4-0 vote.
Haley moved to appoint Joan Wetzel to a term on the Board of Health beginning
immediately and expiring June 30, 2025. The motion was seconded by Herrick and
approved with a 4.0 vote.
Investiaation into Board Conduct
Town Counsel was present to answer any questions
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Bacci started off by reading a motion he put together with the help of Town Counsel
Herrick felt the board didn't have the power to do this but Counsel noted this is within the
scope of the board, however, the board cannot force people to participate; so if there is
anyone who does not want to participate, they don't have to.
Haley also noted if McCarthy refuses to participate then the investigation is over and won't
proceed.
Herrick noted McCarthy is not asking for this and hasn't filed a complaint that we are aware of
so she is unsure what the scope of this investigation is.
Herrick motioned to table this agenda item. There was no second.
Chris Cridler called a point of order and asked about the criminal aspects of potential
residents- how did this protect their rights? Counsel noted that this is not a criminal
investigation.
Linda Snow Dockser called a point of order to ask what the scope of the investigation is.
The board worked on the motion and tweaked some of the wording.
Haley moved to authorize the Town Manager to hire an independent investigator for
the following purposes:
1. To investigate the facts and circumstances, including statements made and actions
taken, surrounding Jackie McCarthy's decision to resign from the Reading Select Board
on February 6, 2024, including statements made and actions taken by Select Board
members, other elected and appointed officials, and residents, individually, or as part
of a coordinated effort to unduly or inappropriately influence Ms. McCarthy's vote for
the new Town Manager;
2. To investigate statements made and action taken by Select Board members, other
elected and appointed officials, and residents immediately following the February 6
meeting that relate to her resignation and the Board's response; and
3. To provide a written report to the Select Board within 60 days of the investigator's
hiring date, unless an extension is provided by the Town Manager, which report shall
include the findings of the investigations conducted under Parts 1 and 2, above, as well
as the investigator's opinion on whether Ms. McCarthy was threatened or bullied by any
of these individuals in order to unduly or inappropriately influence her vote; and
whether the Select Board's Ethics and Protocols were violated;
And further that the Town Manager ask the investigator that individuals interviewed
attest to the truth and accuracy of any statement given, and, provided further, that if Ms.
McCarthy does not elect to participate in the investigation that the investigation shall
terminate immediately without any finding of facts or conclusions.
The motion was seconded by Dockser.
Herrick wanted the record to reflect this investigation was not initiated by McCarthy.
The board voted 3-1 with Herrick opposing.
The board took a 5 -minute recess.
CPA Study Committee Modification
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The board wanted to change the make-up of the CPA study committee slightly. They are
voting to replace ex -officio member of Affordable Housing Trust Committee with ex -officio
member of Reading Housing Authority.
Haley moved to amend the CPA Study Committee membership to replace a member of
the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Committee with a member of the Reading Housing
Authority. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 3-0 vote. Haley
did not vote.
Future Agendas
The board discussed future agenda items.
Minutes
The board discussed prior meeting minutes.
Haley moved to approve the meeting minutes from February 17, 2024 as amended. The
motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with a 4-0 vote.
Haley moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:59 PM. The motion was seconded by Herrick
and approved with a 4-0 vote.
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