HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-18 Select Board Minutes� ra�0
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Board - Committee
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
commission - Council:
RECEIVED
By Town Clerk (RK) at 9:59 am, Jul 15, 2025
Select Board
Date: 2025-03-18 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Carlo Bacci, Mark Dockser, Karen Gately Herrick, Chris Haley, Mellssa
Murphy
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Town Manager Matt Kraunelis, Assistant Town Manager Jayne Wellman,
Town Clerk Laura Gemme, DPW Director Chris Cole, Community
Development Director Andrew MacNichol, Facilities Director Joe Huggins
(remote), Assistant Facilities Director Kevin Cabuzzi (remote), Vanessa
Alvarado, Eric Bergstrom, Rich O'Connell - Reworid, Taylor Gregory, Tony
D'Arezzo, Angela Blnda (remote), Karen Rose -Gillis (remote), Christopher R.
Cook (remote), Lucas Prato (remote)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in -person in the Town Hall Select Board Meeting Room and remotely via Zoom.
Chair Carlo Bacci called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm and provided an overview of the meeting.
Public Comment:
Vanessa Alvarado, representing the Reading Democratic Town Committee, and Eric Bergstrom, representing
the Reading Republican Town Committee, stated that the Town Committees will be co -hosting an official
candidate form on Wednesday, March 26- at the Reading Public Library. Select Board candidates will debate
at 6:00 pm, and School Committee candidates will debate at 7:30 pm. The event will be livestreamed by RCN.
Select Board Liaison I Town Manager Reports:
Chris Haley stated that he attended the MWRA entrance fee meeting last week that went over resident Paul
Silva's letter that explained why he felt that the Town's $10.9 million entrance fee should be returned. Mr. Haley
stated that he is hopeful that something would be done. He also shared that the Killam School Building
Committee approved a $500,000 extension for LEA to continue doing the design.
Karen Gately Herrick stated that the Mass Municipal Fiscal Policy Committee met today. She shared that the
House and Senate have agreed to a 27-month extension of hybrid meetings, and noted that the team is
keeping an eye on how federal cuts will impact the Commonwealth. Senator Comerford is leading a bill to
establish a Municipal and Safety Building Authority, similar to the Massachusetts School Building Authority
(MSBA), which will provide funds for communities looking to build or upgrade municipal buildings such as
senior centers or fire stations. The Fiscal Policy Committee also discussed municipal bond tax benefits.
Mark Dockser stated that the Commissioners of Trust Funds will present information on various funds to the
Select Board at the next meeting.
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Melissa Murphy stated that the School Committee accepted and approved the David Savio Law Enforcement
scholarship, which will be awarded to high school students pursuing law enforcement or criminal justice. New
School Resource Officer Mike Davis started this week.
Cado Bacci stated that he attended last week's Finance Committee meeting for their budget hearing. The
Finance Committee will be meeting tomorrow evening to vote on the budget and Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Articles. He also shared that the final stages of the interview process for the next Fire Chief are underway, with
an announcement to come in April.
Town Manager Mgtt Kraunelis shared several updates. The Permanent Building Committee met last night and
discussed scheduling, and whether the building should also serve as an emergency shelter. He also thanked
the Chamber of Commerce for hosting the recent Wintedest event and Legislative Breakfast. He reminded the
Board that AV upgrades are scheduled for the first week of April, and as a result their April 1 •' meeting will be
held in the Library. He provided the latest numbers on second water meters including 83 applications, 16
requests for inspection, and DPW has installed 7 meters so far. He noted that he hopes to finalize the decision
for the new Fire Chief in early -to -mid April. The Finance Committee will vote on the Special Town Meeting
articles on April 2n0, after the Select Board has closed that warrant. There will be a Killam and ReCAL project
forum in -person at the High School PAC on April 2n°, and a Zoom -only forum on April 1 r.
Assistant Town Manager Jayne Wellman shared several updates. The Operations Division is currently working
on a tax impact calculator so residents can see how the Killam and ReCAL projects would affect their tax bills.
The trash and recycling cart roll -out will begin the week of April 8r'. Current trash and recycling containers will
be picked up curbside on Saturdays in July and August. DPW will also be hosting a rigid plastic collection on
Saturday May 1T1° at the DPW Garage.
Vote for In Person Early Voting on Saturday March 29 2025 for April Election•
Town Clerk Laura Gemme explained that she is required to be open on Saturday, March 29, 2025 for the last
day of Voter Registration. She requested permission to be open for in -person early voting on that day.
Chris Haley moved to hold In -Person early voting on Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The motion was seconded by Mark Dockser and approved unanimously by a vote of 5-0.
rr^7 to Aopro a Re-W rid Iformedv Covantat Waste Disposal Contract:
DPW Director Chris Cole reviewed the contract with Reworld, the Town's trash disposal contractor. The current
contract expires on June 300 of this year, and the current tipping fee is $101.30 per ton. The new proposal is
for six years, w that the next contract will coincide with the expiration of the next trash collection contract. The
new proposed rate is $98.35 per ton in the first year, and years two through six are based on the Consumer
Price Index (CPI), not to exceed 4.5%. Mr. Cole noted that he, the CFO, and Town Manager all feel the
contract is favorable to the Town.
Rich O'Connell of Rewodd provided an overview of the trash processing process to produce electricity and
salvage metal.
Chris Haley moved to approve the Reworld Waste Disposal Contract as presented. The motion was
seconded by Mark Dockser and approved unanimously by a vote of 5-0.
Master Plan & Capital Projects Priorities Discussion:
The Board discussed the composition and requirements of a Master Plan Advisory Committee. They reviewed
the report from the previous Master Plan Advisory Committee from 20 years ago, which had members
representing various town boards and community interests. They also discussed the possibility of obtaining a
grant to fund the master plan for technical assistance and community engagement of the planning process.
They discussed the need for a more structured approach to capital planning and priontization of community
projects. The discussion highlighted the challenges of balancing various project sizes, from small maintenance
tasks to large multi -million -dollar initiatives, and the importance of community input in setting priorities. The
Board recognized that while they have not been heavily involved in capital planning previously, there is a need
for more guidance and resident involvement to ensure projects align with community needs.
Pleasant Street Center Discussion:
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The Board discussed the need for an appraisal of the Pleasant Street Center building before the upcoming
Town Meeting. They agreed to authorize staff to obtain an appraisal to help inform decisions about whether to
sell, lease, or keep the building once it is no longer needed as a Senior Center. The Board emphasized the
importance of recouping costs and offsetting debt from the new building. They plan to provide an update at the
April Town Meeting, with further information provided at November Town Meeting. Ms. Wellman stated that she
has requested quotes and hopes to finalize a contract for an appraisal next week.
Vote to Appoint Town Accountant to a term of July 2025-June 2026:
Chris Haley moved to appoint Sharon Angstrom as Town Accountant for a term July 1, 2025 through
June 30, 2026. The motion was seconded by Mark Dockser. Each member of the Board expressed their
appreciation for and confidence in Sharon Angstrom and approved her reappointment unanimously by
a vote of 5-0.
Future Aaendas:
The Board raised topics to be discussed at future meetings including display of the state flag in response to a
letter received from Bill Brown, a report from the Burbank Ice Arena, and an update on the appraisal of the
Pleasant Street Center.
Approve Meeting Minutes:
The Board reviewed the meeting minutes from February 18, 2025 and March 4, 2025.
Chris Haley moved to approve the meeting minutes of February 18, 2025 as amended. The motion was
seconded by Mark Dockser and approved unanimously by a vote of 5-0.
Chris Haley moved to approve the meeting minutes of March 4, 2025 as written. The motion was
seconded by Mark Dockser and approved unanimously by a vote of 5-0.
Chris Haley moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 pm. The motion was seconded by Mark Dockser and
approved unanimously by a vote of 5-0.
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