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Home My WebLink About2024-05-22 Bylaw Committee Minutes Town of Reading !�"�� ._. x ,., �. �„� Meeting Minutes � " ` � � � t -' V^e � �� • '.'f-` . °'`n,�noav C`i a , �: ';c� Board - Committee - Commission - CounciL• �� Bylaw Committee Date: 2024-OS-22 Time: 7:30 PM Building: Virtual Location: Zoom Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Town Meeting warrent artides Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: ]ared Belliveau Jason Clarke 7esse Amold Liz Sullivan Members - Not Present: Jennifer Hillery Others Present: Matt Kraunelis, Laura Gemme Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Liz Sullivan Topics of Discussion: The meecing was called w order at 7:40 PM. Snow Removal Bylaw • Ac a previous meecing,the Commitcee decided to delay bringing the snow removal bylaw to Town Meeting uncil November 2024. However, as Jesse Arnold raised, we expect a bt of ocher warranc arcides and discussion ac che November Town Meecing, including the MBTA voce. • Members of the Committee discussed the pros and cons of having the item on che November warrant, vs moving ic to che April meeting. The Commitcee considered the delays thac have aiready occurred, the issues wich trying to hold community forums in che fall (e.g., wnfliccs wich summer vacacion and sutt oi the school year), and chat the Commi[ree had previously agreed that there would be a delay in implementation (which would mean that it would miss the 2024- 25 snow season, if approved). • Members of the Committee generzlly agreed to postpone [he irem until the April Town Meecing. Communiry forums will be held the week offanuary b and fanuary 13. Options indude holding one in-person and one vittual meeting, or have both meetings be hybrid. The community forums should be on diHerent days of the week (i.e. not both on Tuesday),to increase participation. • No voce was raken. Update on Electronic Voting • Laura Gemme provided an update on the town's Elettronic Vocing Implemen[a[ion Sub- Committee (ELVIS). She reporced �hat several rowns have statted using dickers, bu[ have had vage I i issues, such as dickers failing and mces noc being recorded. She would like to wait at least a year co see how other towns handle this before buying[he equipment. • Additionally, it is possible [hac the $cate will change rules about hybrid meetings,which might make dickers a non-preferable mechod of colleaing mtes, if some people are vo[ing remotely. • Jared Belliveau asked what the impems for having elettronic voting was, and Liz $ullivan ezplained i[was for cransparency and accountabiliry. • Members of the Committee generally ezpressed agreement that it made senre for Reading to wait and see how othe�mwns work chrough the issues before spending money on devices. • No voce was taken. Preliminary Discussion of Instructional Motions Approved in April • Regarding the motlon mode by Linda Snow Dockser regarding Town leadership creating a policy that requires accommodation (or religions and ethnic proaices (or the s<heduling o(community meetlngs and events: f esse Arnold will reach out to Linda Snow Dockser regarding wha[[he schooi policy is, to see whether it can be adapced for Town Meeting. • Regarding[he motion made by Linda Snow Dockser regording Town leadership adding o lond acknowledgemen[crediting[he Indigenous Tribes who originally owned and inhabited our land: Members of[he Commitcee generally expressed agreement thac thls would not belong in che rown bylaws, but muld belong in the Charter, which is outside of the Commiccee's purview. • Regarding the motlon mode by fohn Sasso regarding outdoor lighting policy: Members of the Commitree generally ezpressed agreement that the Committee should wait to see whether che CPDC ukes up this motion for consideration under the zoning bylaws, and thac it muld pocentially be adopted in the general bylaws as well, if appropriate. • No votes were taken. Discussion oT Membership and Reorganization • Jared Belliveau and Liz Sullivan indicaced cheir intention ro reapply to continue membership on the committee. Any reorganization would occur ac che July meeting, aher appointments have been made. Future Agenda Items • The Commitree will need ro rake a fnal voce on the dogs in the Town Forest ar[ide. • Regarding che 10-year review of the general bylaws,Jason Clarke will reach ouc co f eff Scruble, the(ormer chair o(the Bylaw Commiccee, co get any nores he has from pasc work on this ropic Approval of Past Meeting Minutes • Jared Belliveau made a mocion ro approve xhe minutes from che April I I, 2024, meeting, and Jesse Arnold seconded. The mocion passed with a roll call vote of 4/0. Jared Belliveau made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Jesse Arnold. This motion passed with a roll call wte of 4-0 and the meeting adjourned at 9:12pm. Pa9e I 2