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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-27 Select Board Minutesra HECEIVELI Town of Reading TOWN CLERK , � Meeting Minutes Fri AF)'n""`, �'�Ac� 11 L, ��'_�.:,„�„ 2U25 DEC -3 AM 9: S9 Board - Committee - commission - council: Select Board Date: 2025-10-27 Time: 7:00 PM Building: School - Memorial High Address: 62 Oakland Road Purpose: Special Meeting Location: Performing Arts Center Session: Open Session Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Chris Haley, Melissa Murphy, Karen Rose-Glllis, Carlo Bacci, Karen Gately Herrick Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Matt Kraunelis, Assistant Town Manager Jayne Wellman, Lucas Prato, Ryan Coholan, Aaron Perry, Mark Agami, Ally Hettler, Bob Levi, Alicia Gallagher, Pat Crowley, Denise Commito, Julie Bowen, David Commito, Kaden Barcikowskl, Stuart May, Fred Ehrhardt, Linda Russo, Debbie Harris, Phil Pacino, Kara Parry, Thomas Loughlin, Sharon Thomas, James Guttadauro, Sophia Oliveira, Kris Holmes, Pat Melanson, Tony Call, Christine Parks, Jim Prato, David Oliveira, Stefan Herlitz, Adam Catarino, John Arena, Genady Pilyaysky, Tony Rodolakis, Ron Powell, Alex Mazza, Joseph White, Justin Perry, Jason Russo, Margot DeNole, John Kastrinos, Taylor Gregory, Chris Calabrese, Stephen Weynicz, Joseph Fleury, Kyle Tornow, Jen Allen, Michael Camadeco, Alicia Williams, Bryce Cheney, Vanessa Alvardo, Carla Nazzaro, Sarah Fuller, Marianne Downing, Amy Miranda, Erin Oliveira, Scott Tank, Joy Beaulieu Minutes Respectfully submitted By: Madeleine Baptiste Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held in the Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center. Chair Chris Haley called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and provided a brief overview of the evening's agenda. Select Board Member Murphy anived at 7:05, Presentation from Reatlina TuM- ck Committee IRTCI Lucas Prato of the RTC thanked the residents for aaentling along with the Select Board and META. He provided a brief overview of what RTC's presentation would include for the evening. He emphasized that RTC supports increased train service and wants the MBTA to succeed but not at the cost of risking the health and safety of Reading residents and views the location as the problem, not the service. He concluded by saying that RTC has worked to come up with proposals to show the MBTA providing solutions and the group has attended MBTA meetings but feel that their concerns have been brushed aside, leaving them with a lack of trust in the META. Members of RTC including Aaron Perry, Mark Agami, Ally Herter, and Bob Levi took turns speaking to their presentation and discussed topics such as the location of the tumback track, data on gate closure times, noise and air pollution, lack of a parking plan and noise bamem, traffic and safety issues caused by the proposed location and the impact on emergency response vehicle times, and the groups concerns with the impacts on environmental factors and validity of the sound study that was conducted. The group presentation concluded Page 1 1 with reiterating the group's support for reliable, improved commuter services but they advocate for safety, accountability, and thoughtful development and RTC wishes to reject the project at the proposed location. MBTA Presentation Chief Operating Officer of MBTA Ryan Coholan acknowledged his appreciation of how Reading came together to show their interest in this project no matter the circumstances and Reading's display of community ownership. He noted that his goal for the evening's meeting was to listen to the community and to inform the residents that no filing decision has been made and they seek to find a solution that works for all parties involved. He commended the spokespeople and staled that the MBTA will work with Reading to find a balance. Public Comment Alicia Gallagher of 36 Augustus Court stated that her primary cencem is emergency response times being affected by the Tumback Track. Pat Crowley of 71 Vine Street asked the Board how idle times will be monitored to be in compliance with the law and if there is a violation, how it will be reported and fined. David Commito of 21 Woodward Avenue expressed concerns with operational costs of this project and lack of current ridership. Kaden Barcikowski of 27 Woodward Avenue, a student at Parker Middle School, expressed concems with pollution impacts and the effects on the ability to enjoy the outdoor spaces surrounding the location and hopes to keep conservation land accessible for everyone. Stuart May of Summer Ave thanked the Select Board and the RTC for hosting this meeting. He expressed concems with noise and vibrations from the trains as a resident near the Conservation area and the large increase in gate closure's effects on safety and traffic. Fred Ehrhardt of 72 Fairview Avenue expressed admiration for RTC and the work they do. He stated he sees benefits for businesses in Town if 30-minute service to Boston is achieved and expressed disappointment if an increased level of service must wart a long time to be put into action. Linda Russo of 55 Hancock Street expressed concerns with the location of the project and the train idling for long periods during the day and asked how noise violations will be addressed. Debbie Harris of 90 Woburn Street expressed concems with the traffic and train idling and encouraged that this project should not go through. Phil Pacino of 5 Washington Street expressed concerns with noise from idling trains and bells at gate closings as well as the impact this proposed project will have on his daily activities and the devaluation of his residence. Kara Perry of 55 Hancock Street encouraged the Select Board to ask MBTA and MASS DEP for clarity as to whether their actions constitute a single-phase project under Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). Jim Prato, a resident of Ipswich, provided background information about the Ipswich tumback track. James Guttadauro of 75 Vine Street expressed concems with the validity of the sound study that was conducted. Sophia Oliveira of 87 Hancock Street expressed concerns for animals being harmed by pollution and noise from the proposed tumback track location in its proximity to conservation areas. Krissandra Holmes of Red Gate Lane expressed concems with pollution and downtown accessibility being affected by the increase in gate closures. Pat Melanson of Hancock Street expressed concerns for the fumes and noise from the trains because it prohibits her and her students from being outside, they cannot be outside and is afraid she will lose business because of this project's location. Christine Parks of 35 Hancock Street expressed concerns with MBTA taking the approach they have and is concerned they may be trying to avoid regulations. David Oliveira of 87 Hancock Street expressed concerns regarding justification for this project due to the lack of ridership he witnesses as he lives and works dose to the train station. Adam Catanno of 83 Prescott Street expressed concerned with noise, impacts on emergency response times, and impacts on traffic in getting kids to school on time. Stefan Heditz of 19 Dustin Road stated his thoughts that as a train commuter, the increased service would be helpful, and he understands people's concerns. He also expressed his hopes to work on finding a way in which the community supports this project. John Arena of 26 Francis questioned what the consequence of a negative vote from the Board on this project is. He also questioned who made the judgement that this is a redevelopment project. Genady Pilyaysky of 3 Harriman Avenue encouraged conducting a new sound study and study on emissions and air quality. Tony Rodolakis of Appleton Lane expressed that he could hear the train running at night as it is loud and encouraged the Board to consider long term impacts to Reading and costs to the Town regarding the project. Ron Powell of 328 South Street expressed his support for a modernization plan for the rail and 30-minute service but does not support the current location. He encouraged seeking alternative locations and would like to have a Town representative at the MBTA advisory board meetings. Alex Mazza of 18 Hanscom Avenue expressed, as a daily commuter on the train, that he does not see a capacity issue on the train and no frequency issue of pickups. He added that he supports modemizaton but does not think this Turnback Track is an immediate need. Joseph White of 65 Prescott Street expressed that he does not want to see a reduction in train services and understands concerns of others in Town. He asked the MBTA if restoring pre pandemic service could be an option and encouraged building a second track from Wakefield to Haverhill. Justin Perry of 47 Whittier Road thanked the MBTA for bringing the Town together even under these circumstances and commented on his concern for decreasing values in homes and he does not see the need for this project. Jason Russo of 90 Prospect Street commented, as a business owner in Boston, that he does not see a need for the project as there is no demand for more train rides with less people working in an office currently. Taylor Gregory of Pleasant Street thanked RTC for their work and stated support for 30-minute service, but they also have reservations due to a lack of transparency surrounding data and studies. They expressed wanting to work with the MBTA to find a solution that works for everyone. Chns Calabrese of 17 Deborah Drive expressed that he would have appreciated seeing more information on RTC's support for increased train service in the presentation and echoed that they would like the Town to navigate a way to say yes to this project. Stephan Weynicz of 38 Minot Street stated that he supports increased service with 30-minute service and sees a benefit to this and expressed he wants the future of the Town to be kept in mind. Joseph Fleury of Willow Street expressed his belief that structure and coordination is needed to responsibly handle future transit growth and encouraged the Board to consider forming a transit group, incorporating future transit plans into the master plan, and addressing the single-track bottleneck. Kyle Tomow of 43 Vine Street expressed his thought that instead of the current project location being used, the MBTA could consider putting the Tumback Track in the train station and requested that the Planning Board become involved in future planning for increased service. Jan Allen of Hemlock Road expressed concems for the health and safety of residents regarding impacted emergency response times. She also expressed concems for the carcinogenic emissions' impacts on long term health and encouraged the MBTA to return to pre -pandemic levels of service. Alicia Williams of 40 Marla Lane thanked RTC for their presentation and expressed concerns for compromising emergency response times as well as air pollution and encouraged the MBTA to investigate alternative solutions. Bryce Cheney of 15 Hunt Street thanked RTC for their presentation and MBTA representatives for attending the meeting and expressed concerns regarding the proposed location. He concluded by encouraging the MBTA to publicly address concems being stated at this meeting. Vanessa Alvarado of Mt Vernon Street thanked RTC and said that she wanted to support this plan and supports 30-minute service. She then expressed her current opposition to the project due to resident concerns and asked that service not be decreased. Carla Nazzaro of 64 Lawrence Road commented that as a School Committee member, she is grateful for grants and their thoughtful approach with spending that money. She further expressed concems with this proposal being funded by a grant due to the Residents' concems with health, traffic and safety and encouraged that the grant money should be given back. Sarah Fuller of Pinevale Avenue encouraged the Board to oppose this plan and expressed concerns with safety due to delayed ambulance service. Laurel McCarthy of West Street expressed concems that this project continues to be considered with the health impacts and cost to residents is not good. Marianne Downing of Heather Drive expressed that this meeting's turnout reminded her of a previous meeting in which the Town rose up to fight against a project, and it led to project adjustments and expressed that she wants that outcome for this project. Amy Miranda of Woburn Street expressed concems for diesel idling trains. She also attested that using biodiesel is not feasible option being a chemical engineer. Erin Oliveira of Hancock Street spoke on behalf of Jim Reilly and expressed concerns with having this project so close to residences and the diesel fumes affecting conservation land. She stated that she does not think the project is feasible for Reading. Scott Tezak of 123 Woburn Street stated he does not see a need for this project with the current low ridership. Joy Beaulieu of 73 Grand Street expressed wanting clarification on what the Board's vote tonight would accomplish. Chris Haley emphasized that their vote is to send a message to the MBTA and if they want to continue with this project, they are free to do so. Chris Haley noted that State Representatives Richard Haggerty and Bradley Jones sent a letter to MBTA objecting to the Tumback Track location. Karen Rose -Gillis expressed her gratitude to everyone involved for their hard work and for being respectful of one another. She noted that she chose to move to Reading for train access to Boston and that she would love to see 30-minute service. Carlo Bacci thanked RTC and everyone involved for their hard work and thanked the MBTA for showing up to the meetings. He noted that he does not see a supply and demand for increased service and validated the concems of the residents. He concluded by saying he is opposed to this project. Melissa Murphy expressed her gratitude towards RTC for their work, time, effort, and for what they have done for this community. She noted her support for increased train service but does not feel this project is appropriate for Reading. She concluded by encouraging the MBTA to take resident concerns into account. Karen Gately Herrick thanked the residents for sharing their concerns and said this is difficult situation because the residents' concems are valid. She also expressed support for increased service and emphasized how important it is for the Board to listen to the concems and navigate how to move forward with the MBTA in a more collaborative process. Chris Haley thanked RTC and the Board for being there and stated that the showing in the room was a great outcome and will allow MBTA to take the concerns serious. He emphasized that the Board's vote is targeted towards the location not the project as a whole. He noted that his office on Haven Street is located right next to the train and the only thing he notices is the idling changeovers and understands this will impact those surrounding the Tumback Track for long periods of the day. He concluded by stating that the MBTA should go back to the drawing board on this to find a new location that works for all involved. Karen Rose -Gillis moved that the Board oppose the MBTA Tumback Track Project Location. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Karen Gately Hertick— Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis — Yes, Carlo Bacci —Yes, Melissa Murphy —Yes, Chris Haley — Yes Karen Rose -Gillis motioned to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved by a vote of 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.