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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-10-08 Select Board MinutesN nrR �a Town of Reading ep Meeting Minutes oxv �`e 3 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Select Board Date: 2024-10-08 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 Carlo Bacci, Karen Herrick, Mark Dockser, Chris Haley, Melissa Murphy via Zoom Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Matt Kraunelis, Executive Assistant Caitlin Nocella, John Sullivan, Rachel O'Neil, Eilish Havey, Julie Centrella, Amy Collins, Marilyn Shapleigh, Anne Marie Ward, John Costigan, Tara Gregory, Linda Snow Dockser, James Saunders, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom, Matt Abrahams, Recreation Administrator Jim Sullivan, Eileen Manning, Assistant Town Manager Jayne Wellman, Deputy Chief Christine Amendola, John Lyons, Barbara Wilson, Nancy Ziemlak, Susan Buckley, Joanne Wooldridge Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Caitlin Nocella Topics of Discussion: Bacci called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Public Comment John Sullivan made a comment about tiered water rates in multi -unit buildings specifically at Postmark. Rachel O'Neill, owner of the flower shop in town, made a comment about the parking meters. Eilish Havey, owner of Bunratty's Tavern, also commented about the parking meters. Julie Centralia, owner of Aine's Boutique, also commented about the parking meters. Amy Collins, downtown business owner, also commented about the parking meters. Marilyn Shapleigh made a comment objecting from reallocating any ARPA funds from the Senior Center. Anne Marie Ward made a comment about the poor condition of the senior center. John Costigan echoed the previous comments about the senior center. Tara Gregory made a comment about tiered water rates and feels information is being left out ofthe packet. Page I I Linda Snow Dockser thanked the board for forming ACE and asked the board to please get involved and appoint a member of their board to be on ACE. Liaison Reports Herrick attended the Maillet Sommes Morgan grand opening and Arts Fest. She also participated in the Athletic Naming Facility Committee. VASC is trying to set some meetings. She will attend the Lunch N Learn at the PSC tomorrow. Dockser reported on ReCalc noting they now have an OPM on board. The town is now under contract to do some testing down at Symonds Way in October. Haley attended Coffee with a Cop and the POST1917 event for Friends of Reading Seniors 60+. He also attended the Maillet Sommes Morgan ribbon cutting. He and Murphy spent Friday down at the CVS parking lot helping people out with the new kiosks. Murphy reported on the School Committee meeting and the CPDC meeting. She also attended Coffee with a Cop, the Friends of Reading Seniors event and the Maillet Sommes and Morgan opening. Lastly, she spent Friday with Haley helping people with the kiosks and she will go into more detail about that during the agenda item. Bacci also attended the POST1917 event for Friends of Reading Seniors and the CPDC meeting last night. Town Manager Report Kraunelis reported on upcoming events happening around town. Close Warrant for State Election Haley moved to close the warrant for the State Election to be held on November S", 2024. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with the following roll call vote: Herrick - yes; Dockser - yes; Haley - yes; Murphy - yes; Bacci - yes. HEARING -Approve New Liquor License Haley read the hearing notice. Applicant James Saunders was present for his hearing on a new liquor license for his distillery business down at General Way. Haley moved to close the hearing regarding the new liquor license application. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with the following roll call vote: Herrick - yes; Dockser - yes; Haley - yes; Murphy - yes; Bacci - yes. Haley moved to approve an annual Distilled Spirits Farmers Series Pouring Permit for New England Barrel Company, LLC d/b/a New England Barrel Company at One General Way, Unit 40. The motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with the following roll call vote: Herrick - yes; Dockser - yes; Haley - yes; Murphy - yes; Bacci - yes. Town Accountant Quarterly Report Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom gave the board a presentation with her quarterly updates. Multi -Unit Tiered Water Rates Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom and Consultant Matt Abrahams gave the board a presentation on possible solutions for buildings with multi -units given the new tiered water rate system. Page 1 2 The board asked staff to come back on October 29" with more information. Update on ARPA Funds Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom gave the board an update on the current amount of money that has not yet been encumbered from the State ARPA funds. She did note the Health Department submitted a proposal for usage of their remaining funds. The board asked to put this on their October 29° meeting for another update and vote to reallocate any left -over funds. Pickleball Presentation and Discussion about Symonds Way Jim Sullivan, Recreation Administrator, gave the board a presentation about putting in pickleball courts at Symonds Way. Eilleen Manning of the Reading Pickleball Players Association noted they have been fund raising and received a sizeable amount of donations to help build the courts. Discuss Select Board Designee for ACE The board members discussed who could be the designee for this newly established committee. All board members noted they do not have the bandwidth to take on another committee at this time. Some members were okay with appointing a designee for this position while others felt it would send a bad message if it wasn't a Select Board member who was appointed. Update on Downtown Parking Kiosks Assistant Town Manager Jayne Wellman and Deputy Police Chief Christine Amendola gave the board an update on how the kiosks were working now that they have been on for 2 weeks. Some board members felt the kiosks are a total disaster given the amount of complaints from the businesses this evening and would like to put a pause to the kiosks. The board will take a vote on that at an upcoming meeting. Future Agendas The board discussed future agenda items. Minutes The board started editing prior meeting minutes. No vote was taken. Murphy moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:41 PM. The motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with the following roll call vote: Herrick - yes; Dockser - yes; Haley - no; Murphy - yes; Bacci - yes.