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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-21 Select Board MinutesorgF - Town of Reading T `I J a i Meeting Minutes 0 Board - Committee - Commission - Council:�J„.i r;, 2:03 Select Board Date: 2024-05-21 Time: 6:00 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 and Karen Herrick via Zoom, Mark Dockser, Chris Haley and Melissa Murphy Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Matt Kraunelis, Executive Assistant Caitlin Nocella, Nancy Docktor, Carolyn Johnson, Linda Snow Dockser, Ian Nelson, Chief Burns, Jenni Katajamaki Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Caitlin Nocella Topics of Discussion: Carlo Bacci called the meeting to order at 6pm. He welcomed Melissa Murphy to the board. Public Comment Nancy Docktor feels the board should discuss and adopt a code of ethics now that there is a full board. Carloyn Johnson feels Haleys prior comments towards Dockser are unacceptable and he needs to apologize to Dockser. Linda Snow Dockser noted she is looking forward to the CATO meeting with the Board on June 18". Liaison Reports Haley noted the School Committee met and they noted the METCO program got level funded. They got an excellence award for the food service program. He thanked Melissa for running and the election staff for all their work. Lastly, he noted he stands by everything he has said while on the Select Board. Herrick noted the Killam School Building Committee is meeting frequently. The sustainability working group kicked off today and they got a presentation from HVAC specialist on all the options for heating and cooling. There was another community meeting at the Senior Center yesterday. The Killam School project now has a website to keep up to date with all the Page 1 1 progress. She congratulated all Police and Fire personnel who were promoted and pinned at the recent badge pinning ceremony. Dockser noted he attended the badge pinning ceremony. ReCalc has been meeting about next steps. They plan to present to the Select Board at the June 18th meeting. He has spoken with the PBC about taking the project. ReCalc is set to sunset at the end of June so the board should consider extending them or not. He would like the board to put a code of ethics on a future agenda. Melissa Murphy thanked all her supporters and campaign team. She thanked Tara for also running and looks forward to working with her. Bacci noted he is looking forward to our Memorial Day celebration. He plugged the upcoming renewal season for boards and committees and noted there are many openings if anyone is interested. Town Manager Report Kraunelis thanked and congratulated all who participated in the badge pinning ceremony. He also attended the Reading Garden Club's annual plant sale and the Police Department's open house. Both events were well attended. The Boston 25 News Zip Trip visit to Reading will be on June 2111at Camp Curtis. Eagle Scout Awards The board recognized three young men from Town who recently achieved their Eagle Scouts award. Nicholas Belous received his award for his service project of designing and building 'Little Libraries' all around the city of Lynn. Jeffrey Lonks received his award for his service project of designing and building a bridge in the town forest. Charles Mace received his award for his service project of designing and building a bridge at Bear Meadow Conservation area. Scout Master Ian Nelson attended the meeting with the Eagle Scouts and accepted Charles Mace's Certificate of Recognition on his behalf as he could not make the meeting. Congratulations to all three on achieving the highest award in the Scouts! Community Preservation Act (CPA) Study Committee Interviews and Appointment The Select Board created the CPA Study Committee recently that includes one resident member. They interviewed three applicants: Elinor Adipis, Sanford Matathia, and Robert Weiden. The board went through and discussed who they were leaning towards. Haley moved to appoint Sanford Matathia to the CPA Study Committee. The motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with a 3-2 vote with Bacci and Murphy opposing. EMS Week Proclamation Chief Burns was present along with many of the Emergency Medical Staff he has to accept the EMS Week Proclamation from the board. Haley read the proclamation Page 1 2 Pride Month Resolution Haley read the Pride Month Resolution that will be given out at the Pride Parade on June 1°. Killam Building School Update Jenni Katajamaki, Senior Project Manager from Lavallee Brensinger Architects gave the board a presentation on the Killam School project. The presentation can be found in the Select Board packet on the Town website. Classification and Compensation Hearing Haley read the hearing notice opening the public hearing to discuss and vote on the FY25 Non-union Classification and Compensation Plans. Haley moved to close the hearing regarding the Non -Union Classification and Compensation Schedules. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 5- 0 vote. Haley moved to approve the FY 25 Non-union Classification and Compensation Schedules as presented. The motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with a 5-0 vote. Appoint Retirement Board Member The board has three applicants for the Retirement Board. Lt. Richard Abate from the Police Department, Retired Firefighter Michael Holmes and Library Director Amy Lannon. The board went through and took a pulse of the board on who they were thinking. Haley moved to appoint Richard Abate to the Retirement Board with a term beginning immediately and expiring March 31, 2027. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 4-1 vote with Herrick opposing. Liaison Assignments The board discussed and divided up the liaison assignments. The new list can be found on the town website on the Select Board page. The board also discussed VASC, the volunteer appointment subcommittee. This subcommittee is comprised of two select board members who do the interviews for the annual board and committee renewals each year. The VASC then brings their recommendations to the full board for appointment. Haley moved to appoint Herrick and Murphy to the VASC. The motion was seconded by Dockser and approved with a 5-0 vote. Friends and Family Day The board discussed what they want their contribution to be to Friends and Family Day. The members could not commit to staffing a booth, so they opted to send a donation to sponsor the event. Future Agendas The board discussed future agenda items. Minutes Page 1 3 The board edited previous meeting minutes. Haley moved to approve the meeting minutes from May 7, 2024, as amended. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 5-0 vote. Page 14