HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-03 ad Hoc - Community Preservation Act Study Committee,�N HfgO
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I Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Committee
Date: 2025-11-03
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
RECEIVED
By AC of 8.57 am, Dx OZ 7018
Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Conference Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Chair Joe Carnahan, Vice Chair Sarah Brukllacchio (remote), Margaret
Donnelly Moran (remote 7:49 pm), Kate Kaminer, Sandy Matathia, Martha
Moore; Advisory Member Katie Gallant (remote)
Members - Not Present:
Carlo Bacci
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in -person In the Conference Room of Town Hall and remotely via
Zoom.
Call to Order and Welcome
Chair Joe Carnahan Called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Roll call attendance: Sarah Brukilacchio (remote), Sandy Matathia, Kate Kaminer, Martha
Moore, Joe Carnahan.
Katie Gallant joined the meeting remotely shortly after roll call at 7:33 pm.
Public Comment
There was no comment from the public.
Liaison reports
Martha Moore shared that at a recent Conservation Commission meeting, the Commission
was asked to vote to support the CPA, but the vote was disappointing with three members
against and only two in favor. She shared that one of the members stated that he did not
want to get involved with political Issues, but she was unsure of the reasons of the other
two. She questioned that if she had framed It differently by voting to support It going before
Town Meeting, the vote could have gone differently.
Sarah Brukllacchio stated that she presented CPA to the Historical Commission, which
responded positively. The Celebration Trust Committee voted unanimously in favor of CPA.
One of the members on the Celebration Trust Committee has a specialty historical painting
business, and has recently completed a CPA -funded project in another community.
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Sandy Matathia shared that a basic project that has been done in different places and in
different ways was tree planting, and noted that the character of Reading could be
enhanced with more shade trees along roadways, and In parks and cemeteries.
Communities including Boston, Ashland, Concord, Medford, Newburyport, and Northampton
used CPA funds for things such as tree plantings, tree inventories, and tree census. He
stated that he reached out to Reading's Tree Warden and plans to have a follow up
conversation with him.
Discuss outreach to committees and organizations
Sandy Matathia stated that he attended the Affordable Housing Trust Committee meeting.
They seemed warm and will likely take it up and give their support.
Joe Carnahan noted that the Finance Committee meets this coming Wednesday. Sandy
Matathia and Kate Kaminer agreed to attend and present.
Mr. Carnahan also noted that he and Sarah Brukilacchio will present to the Open Land Trust
at their meeting on November 12th. As a former member of the Open Land Trust, Sandy
Matathia volunteered to attend that meeting as well, if he is available.
The Committee shared feedback from last week's Connected Reading event at the Library.
While there were some good conversations, the marble activity, which solicited feedback on
a preferred/recommended surcharge, did not have many respondents, as many people felt
they did not have enough information to provide an opinion. Though the recommendation
with the most malIbles was 1%.
Mr. Carnahan stated that he will follow up with the Bylaw Committee after Town Meeting.
Kate Kaminer stated that she Is hoping to get CPA on the next Recreation Committee
agenda. She also reached out to the Board of Library Trustees but is awaiting a response.
She will follow up with Library staff.
Mr. Carnahan explained that he contacted the Town Clerk about setting up an informational
table outside of Town Meeting, which Is permissible with approval from her and the
Moderator. Martha Moore and Kate Kaminer will staff the table on Monday, November loth
ahead of Town Meeting, and Katie Gallant and Sandy Matathia will staff it ahead of the
meeting on Thursday, November 13th.
Margaret Donnelly -Moran stated that she would work with the software and use the
Winchester and Natick reports as examples on which to base Reading's report. Members will
send pictures to Ms. Donnelly -Moran for the board/committee they represent, with Mr.
Carnahan providing charts. The next meeting will really focus on working on the report.
Discuss Future Meetings and Agendas
The next meeting will be held on Monday, December 1�, when the Committee will discuss
the report and any further outreach. In the meantime, Mr. Carnahan stated that he will
contact the Select Board and ask what they would like to hear in the Committee's report.
The following meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 15th.
Approve Prior Meeting Minutes• September 29 2025
On a motion by Kate Kaminer, seconded by Martha Moore, the Ad Hoc Community
Preservation Act Study Committee voted 6-0 to approve the meeting minutes of
September 29, 2025.
Roll call vote: Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Margaret Donnelly -Moran - Yes, Sandy
Matathia - Yes, Kate Kaminer - Yes, Martha Moore - Yes, Joe Carnahan - Yes.
On a motion by Sandy Matathia, seconded by Kate Kaminer, the Ad Hoc Community
Preservation Act Study Committee voted 6-0 to adjourn at 9:06 pm.
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Roll call vote: Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Margaret Donnelly -Moran - Yes, Sandy
Matathia - Yes, Kate Kaminer - Yes, Martha Moore - Yes, Joe Carnahan - Yes.
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