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Home My WebLink About2008-03-11 Board of Selectmen HandoutTOWN MANAGER'S REPORT Tuesday, March 11, 2008 • Former Reading resident Ben Nichols 100th birthday is on April 8. We will have a large birthday card that Kim Honetschlager has created. We'd like the Board of Selectmen to sign it, and it will then be available at the Reading Public Library up through March 31 for residents to sign. Bill Brown will take care of getting it mailed to Ben at his new home in Pennsylvania. • Appointments to BCC - The Board has previously indicated an intent to reduce the number of Constables to 3 through the appointment process. We currently have 4, 2 of whose terms expire in June. We just want to confirm the Board's intent. • Results of NAG review are attached. They have: • Refined cost estimates • Developed standards for HC accessibility for trails • Proposed a trails committee - I am attaching a draft policy to establish the Trails Committee for the Board of Selectmen review and future public hearing We have a need to set up an ad hoc Washington Park Master Plan committee. The Capital Improvement Program anticipates reconstruction of the playground in 2010, and already there is interest in the community in doing fundraising for the playground. Prior to the fundraising we should have a master plan for the park so that everyone knows the location and nature of the new playground. We have also programmed court replacement and want to make sure that this is also coordinated as to location etc. Suggested membership would include: 1 Member appointed by the Recreation Committee 1 Member from Friends of Reading Recreation 3 Residents at Large that do not fulfill any other requirements of the other categories 1 Member Representing Reading Babe Ruth Baseball 1 Member of the Police Department 1 Member of RCASA 1 Member of the Board of Selectmen • I would like to plan on doing an Update on the Downtown Improvement Project monthly at the last Board of Selectmen meeting of the month. From the last community meeting several items came up: • Can we do traffic counts (pre-construction) on several side streets - Linden, Sanborn, John • What are the tree species to be planted, and how many (this is now on the FAQ section of the web site) • We should let the School Department (particularly Parker MS) know about the project - there are a number of PNS student from the east side of Main that walk to school through downtown. • If we have to remove the PO boxes on Haven while we do construction in that area, can we re-locate them to another spot? • Have we let the MBTA know about the project? Will they have to re-locate their routes? • The workers on the 4 family at Green and Elliott are supposed to park on site and they are not - they are parking on the street (CK - can you get Glen to address this if it is in fact a condition of the ZBA or CPDC decision) • Can we provide alternate locations when the "blue zone" parking locations are disrupted or eliminated because of making some of the streets 2 way? • Construction of new commercial building on Woburn Street is underway with its demolition last week. • Capacity - Venetian Moon restaurant • Veterans Benefits budget • World Cafe follow-up • The Summer edition of Reading Recreation Magazine will be available around April 1 st, 2008. Once the Magazine is distributed to Reading Residents via mail, the Magazine will be available on-line for viewing. • Re colors for the tennis courts at Bancroft Ave. The overall feeling is to go with the US open Colors of Blue and Green. The AD prefers the Red and Green, only because Red is a school color. He otherwise did not have a preference. We are told by tennis players that the ball is better seen on the blue surface versus the green playing surface. • RCTV's Audit report for the year ending October 31, 2007 is attached to this report. • Adopt-an-Island reception - March 25 at the Senior Center before the Board of Selectmen meeting that evening • RCASA Town Hall event - April 2 - 6 PM. • Earth Day -April 12 • April 22 - Board of Selectmen Forum • Town Meeting - April 28 • Friends and Family Day - June 21 READING POLICE :DEPARTMENT r 15 Union Street - Reading, Massachusetts 01867 Co Emergency Only: 911 - All Other Calls: (781) 944-1212 - Fax: (781) 944-2893 The Reading Police Department is pleased to announce that the incident where a teenager was approached by an older male in a red Jeep Cherokee on Friday, March 7th has been resolved. After seeing the front page article in the March 1oth edition'of the Dailv Times Chronicle the driver in question immediately came to the Reading Police station and spoke with detectives. After questioning, it became clear that the driver did stop near the teenager in an attempt to ask him a question about the neighborhood. The teenager, not knowing this person, did the right thing by running away and notifying an adult. Photos were taken of the driver and his car which were then shown to the teenager who immediately identified the driver as the person in the car. During this meeting, Detectives discussed with the teenager and parent what information the driver was seeking. Parents, as always, are urged to remind their children to be cautious when they are approached by people they do not know. They should run away and notify an adult immediately. If they can get a description of the person without risk to themselves, as this teenager did, it will help in the investigation. The Reading Police Department and the Reading Public Schools work very closely in cases such as this in getting information out to parents. The Town of Reading continues to be a very safe community. 0 Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867-2683 March 7; 2008 Ed Pawlowski BWP Compliance and Enforcement Department of Environmental Protection 205B Lowell Street Wilmington, MA 01887 Dear Mr. Pawlowski, HEALTH DIVISION Phone: (781) 942-9061 Fax: (781) 942-9071 Website: www.ci.readina.ma.us RE: Noise complaint referral - 15 Tennvson Circle, Reading MA 01867 I wish to request assistance in conducting noise level tests and pure tone measurements and refer a noise complaint at 15 Tennyson Circle, Reading MA 01867, for your action per your regulatory authority under MGL 142 A-M and 310CMR7.00. The Reading Health Division has received complaints of noise from the owners of 15 Tennyson Circle, Reading. We conducted tests with a noise level meter (loaned to us by your department thru Tom Notario), at the location. The residents, not being satisfied with my findings, contacted the "State" (per an e-mail we received from them), they were advised that the complaint may be a pure tone issue also a subsequent e-mail alluded we used the wrong equipment, did not conduct proper testing etc.( see attached). While we have made good faith efforts to investigate and seek resolution to the complaint, it is apparent that the testing methodology and investigation required is beyond what my Department can provide. Background: The Reading Health Division received a complaint from the residents of 15 Tennyson Circle, Reading, Mr. and Mrs. Chai Bhat, on January 14, 2008 about incessant loud noise that was keeping them awake at night. At the time of the complaint, they indicated that the noise was coming from roof top 14VAC units on the top of the Coolidge Middle School, on Birch Meadow Drive,( to the rear of their property). We investigated and identified loose fittings and shielding on the rooftop compressors, and once corrected the noise went away, a week later Mr. and Mrs. Bhat, indicated the source of the noise was now, the YMCA located at Arthur Lord Way. I visited the YMCA, and Tennyson Circle, on February 12, 2008, while I did not discern any appreciable noise, at Tennyson Circle. I decided to conduct testing with a noise meter, (which we requested and obtained from your Department) to gather objective data, so I could form a reasonable opinion as to the complaint. The testing was done using the loaned sound meter on February 25 and I noted the following: P The YMCA is approx. '/2 to 3/4 mile away as the crow flies, there is a swimming pool dehumidification unit on the roof of the YMCA with a vent that points towards the Temzyson Circle. Some rattling from vent louvers was noted. • Sound levels were taken at 12:15 pm on the roof of the YMCA -4 feet away from the dehumidification vent and the noise levels registered at 84.3db • On the grounds of the Arthur Coolidge Middle school, 42.7 dB (approx. 150 yds.) in center of field to rear of building, no obstructions between vent and measurement location except trees crow noises in background. • Noise levels were not taken at 15 Tennyson Circle as there was a work crew on the Birch Meadow Drive drilling holes and had a running pump compressor. That would have given flawed background levels (approx 25 yards away from house). • Please note that the YMCA has repaired the rattling louvers and have indicated that they are seeking to redirect the air flow upwards instead of laterally, and are in the process of ordering shielding to retrofit the dehumidification unit to achieve same. I went to 15 Tennyson Circle on February 17 at 7:30 pin and gathered the following information: Property line at street • 56.4- 45.7 dB (with the dehumidification unit off, at the property line with street, car noise in background) • 58.3- 46.2 with the(YMCA dehumidification) - Unit on ( car noise) Driveway to right of shed • 57.3- 46.2dB - Unit on ( car noise and students talking loudly in driveway noise ) • 55.2-45.4 dB ( Unit off) Back of House • Left comer of lot with clear sight line to YMCA roof -47.1- 55.6 dB (car noise)- Unit on. I advised the complainants that we did not observe any major shift above l Odb in noise levels with the unit off and on. They contacted a State regulatory department and were advised that their complaint may be related to pure tone noise. Please note we are not equipped to conduct pure tone testing. Therefore, in light of their complaint and advice on issues with pure tone measurements and the specialized testing required to establish the noise levels and pure tone measurements, I am referring this complaint to your department for investigation per your expertise and authority under MGL111 and 310CMR7.00. Please feel free to call me at 781-942-6653, if I can be of assistance. Yours very truly, Larry Raindin, MA REHS CHO Health Services Administrator Reading World Cafe Highlights and Themes from the Harvest February 27, 2008 The Reading World Cafe Community Conversation drew 217 people, from High School students to Senior Citizens and Parents of children from every age. Business people, residents, volunteers and advocates came together to talk about what they wanted for the future of Reading. After four rounds of conversation, the participants were asked to create sticky notes with ideas for each of four Categories: ■ What DREAMS do we have for the future of Reading? • What OPPORTUNITIES currently exist? ■ What DILEMMAS are present that need to be addressed? ■ What are some NEXT STEPS we can take to get what we want? The number of responses for each category is as follows: Dreams = 119 Opportunities = 86 Dilemmas = 79 Next Steps = 52 There was duplication in each of the categories, as well as across categories. Some cross category duplication can be attributed to personal perspective of what a dream vs. an opportunity is for example. Overview ■ The participants were happy with the event; they want to do it again with more and different people. ■ They want more/better access to leisure activities within their community, i.e. outdoor recreation, cultural arts center, community center. ■ They are interested in 'boundary crossing' structures for connection, increasing diversity, multigenerational interaction, interfaith activities and ways to come together as community to learn and celebrate. ■ They want to have more information/better communication about what is happening in their community. ■ There is a strong interest to go'green' and become more environmentally friendly. ■ They want to have the results of the event acknowledged and used by the governing bodies. 0 DREAM Themes The `flavor' of the dreams was a strong interest in increased connection and accessibility, to each other, to information about events in the community, to businesses, streets and fields, and to other generations. ■ A significant number of dreams were expressed about the personality of downtown area. Participants expressed interest in connecting, and in having businesses there that would support leisure time (ice cream parlor, bookstore) and provide a social center for the town. ■ Along those same lines, other dreams reflected a desire for places that draw participation and connection, such as a community center and an arts/cultural center. ■ Other dreams and desires were for accessible outdoor space, ranging from sidewalks to walking paths at existing outdoor spaces such as Birch meadow. ■ Another theme involved becoming more environmentally friendly and becoming more `green' in how we build, plan, and preserve. OPPORTUNITY Themes Data from this category reflects what the participants saw as community strengths to be capitalized upon. The results include both tangible and intangible community characteristics, from vacant space in the downtown to ready volunteerism. ■ There were a number of suggestions regarding business opportunities in the downtown. ■ Suggestions maintained the `flavor' of the Dreams, reflecting a desire for greater connections between teens, elders, and diverse families. ■ Practical suggestions such as increasing library hours, leveraging service hour requirements, and coordinating volunteer opportunities were also prevalent. DILEMMAS Themes Data in this category acknowledges the practical challenge of funding and implementing the dreams and opportunities. 0 Specific issues include concerns about noise, police patrons, drug abuse, and about a tack of interest in town activities such as town meeting. ■ Money or funding was also a prominent Dilemma. NEXT STEPS Themes These reflections include broad ideas, as well as quite specific suggestions. ■ The data reflects a strong desire to build on the momentum of World Cafe by having another cafe, and by disseminating the information gathered. ■ There is an expectation that the information be used by government bodies in town (Master planning group, town boards, and economic development). ■ In addition to using existing structures, there are some suggestions for additional programmatic structures including an implementation committee, a full time ombudsman, a volunteer coordinator, a mentoring program for teens, and many ideas for increased information sharing by the town. ■ There were also suggestions that reflect an awareness of the need to address issues beyond those specific to the community. Full Harvest Transcript attached. do Reading World Cafe HARVEST TRANSCRIPT February 27, 2008 DREAMS ■ Thriving business community in reading center • A downtown community Diverse businesses in the downtown area i.e. restaurants, retail, businesses ■ Economically diverse downtown ■ Beautify south main ■ Upgraded town center with greatly expanded parking and several good, locally-owned restaurants • Vibrant, welcoming, pedestrian friendly downtown dream and opportunity • Make downtown the heart of the community ■ Vibrant and varied downtown ■ Healthy and active downtown ■ Revitalize downtown bring in diverse businesses ■ Cool new bookstore in downtown ■ A welcoming downtown • Ice cream parlor and a bookstore ■ New downtown • Revitalizing the town center i.e. family space, place to socialize, attractive business ■ Destination downtown walk, picnic, and shop • Skating board park at old imagination station ■ Bike path ■ Sidewalks and bicycle paths ■ More open spaces for residents and kids a bike trail or ipswich river park type place ■ Pedestrian/cycle friendly pathways in Reading ■ Bike paths, walking paths, mass transit within town • Emphasizing biking and walking, use less cars ■ Farmers market and community farming ■ Village ■ Green conservation space and open-space around town, example- walking paths around Ipswich River ■ Create walking path around Birch Meadow area, fields, etc. ■ More athletic/recreational space for all ages • Gazebo town green or memorial park ■ Green belt ■ Comprehensive green space plan • Become more environmentally friendly ■ Preserve open space and undeveloped land ■ Fnd ways to be environmentally conscience ■ Preserve and maintain open spaces ■ A beautiful green Reading • Make town more ecologically balanced and green ■ Thinking green first ■ A greener Reading • Greening Reading ■ Trees 9 ■ Communtity garden ■ Develop organic community garden ■ A recycling center people drop off/pick up items- reduce trash and waste ■ Multi generational community center • . Human center for all ages • Community center to bring all generations together ■ Community center • Arts community center (music painting theater) • Create a community gathering place (intergenerational center - youth/seniors) • Outdoor gathering activities places • A community center. Something for everyone to be able to go and do different activities • Community gathering spaces (pool, bandstand, picnic areas) neighbors, family, youth, seniors ■ Community center for group events - larger senior center, youth center, multipurpose center ■ More and bigger community space • Small town feeling with open minded thinkers ■ Mixing it up bringing people together for fun and the common good • Meet the needs of all age groups in town ■ Keep small town feel ■ Neighbor helping neighbor ■ Maintain small town atmosphere • Community involvement volunteering for all age groups intergenerational connections ■ Interacting with all age groups • Social and cultural opportunities for a range of ages in the cmmunity ■ Continued focus for doing the right things for our young people • Student involvment in the community ■ Focus on teens-involvment ■ Focus on teens-perspective • Can we create more opportunites in the community-youth center ■ Destinations for middle schoolers and high schoolers ■ Activity center for kids ■ More resources for teens, teen center • Youth center • Keep education a priority and moving forward ■ Free full day kindergarten • Introducing arts at an early age way before 6th grade ■ A life long coordinated education system for all ages ■ Reading schools center of excellence in STEM ■ Work to obtain more funding for special needs to allow greater funding for other school needs- we need state and federal funding to include more special needs ■ Diversity • More diversity ■ Celebrating & learning diversity • Diversity age, family, culture, creed & race ■ Diversity 12 • Diversity • How can we increase diversity in the community? ■ To have a mall in Reading ■ More small businesses, friendly, local ■ Controlled business development. Limit to how many types of businesses can stay • Creating incentives to localize businesses (have less practical stores) • Committee to bring in new, interesting businesses to town ■ Businesses that offer more of a "hang out" place. For example a coffee house. Somewhere that could draw people from other towns. • High school orchestra • Support for the creative economy ■ Arts center ■ Creative arts center • Communtiy/cultural center ■ RCTV on demand (Youtube?) ■ One Central internet site for all volunteer needs & opportunities (ie volunteermatch.com) • Communication • Community board with communications & update (similar to Edline) but with town news ■ Have news and current information and issues going on in Reading on a website or other accessible place • Well designed parking garage ■ Town-wide transportation ■ Parking structure ■ Fewer cars • Central area shuttle bus and/or more senior vans ■ Long term thinking ■ Keep the momentum going and see results ■ Global hookup ■ Sponsor a positive week only • Habitat for reading Stop the increase of taxes and maintain budget while improving Reading ■ Maintaining a strong stable financial base • Substance abuse prevention ■ Drug free town • Have Reading come together as a community bridge generational and interest group gaps ■ Earlychildhood center and arts center OPPORTUNITES ■ Coordinating our cultural resources ■ Use senior citizens more effectively & keep them in town ■ Coordination of volunteering - bring together different generations, different schools, different geographical areas to share skills & work together ■ Senior Center available on Friday nights as a Teen center • Community service credit ■ Community gathering space Arts, Culture, for different groups & ages ■ Volunteer Coordination - person/facility • Youth activity multi-generational center (crafts, games, entertainments, social activities) ■ Places for kids to go ■ Senior/teen community center ■ Youth centers • Engaging the youth of reading - passing knowledge, showing & teaching about the community • Places for our teens! ■ Supporting teens & seniors • Tap into elders history & experience ■ Reach out to youth in the community/high school to encourage them & increase involvement in healthy activities around them ■ Arts Center • Drop-in volunteerism ■ A community center for the town where job & volunteer opportunities are posted • Leverage service hours of the high school students • Utilizing all of our resources - collective wisdom, elderly, our students, business/school partnerships ■ How do we use the downtown reconstruction to more fully engage the community & bring it together ■ Fabric town • Use the open space in town to attract light manufacturing, bio-tech, etc, businesses that Will support a diversified tax base ■ Diversity of of shops and restaurants ■ New downtown opportunity for diverse shops & restaurants ■ Revitalization of downtown businesses ■ More appealing downtown ■ Downtown renovation ■ Downtown ■ Reuse the empty buildings in the center ■ Make town more attractive to businesses ■ Preserve feel downtown vibrancy ■ Keep the close knit "small town" community & build on it • So many people in town who want to improve the community & make it more desirable. So many people concerned with what goes on in the town. ■ Strong sense of volunteerism ■ Highly educated community ■ A strong & generous & concientious community (and good looking) ■ Momentum ■ Leadership capture talent ■ School district nationally recognized • RCASA Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse grant • Presence of undeveloped space that has potential for the "right" development ■ Tremendous energy of our residents DI ■ Healthy solvent tax base • Responsive involved government ■ Provide more opportunities for using existing outdoor open space & getting more space • Green beautification ■ Imagination station space • Outdoor recreation-including town forest-conservation land • Recreation and athletic complexes used better ■ Trail walks ■ Develop passive recreation opportunities in our open spaces • Ecology/green theme gateway to bike trails, Ipswich-encourage green businesses ■ Expand access to communtiy/town trails and forest ■ Utilizing town web site to its full potential ■ Local interest blogs ■ An internet based community calender ■ Strong collaboration • Communication to all levels ■ Increase communication • Sunday library hours • Open Library on Sundays ■ Improve & keep funding for arts ■ Continued success in pursuit of grants ■ Not very expensive grants? ■ Focus on getting funds & grants to help reach our dreams ■ Increase in jobs • Supporting local small business ■ Enrich our values to include more of what people without school age kids..... • Make Reading education an examplar for the state ■ Use the schools & improve on it • Town/school space more useable by the town • Keep and utilize town forest ■ Town forest ■ Town forest used more ■ Building on positive experience of the world cafe - example of courteous communication & collaboration ■ Reading World Cafe ■ Get federal government to solve national healthcare problem ■ Advocacy at state level • Open space preservation (preservation act) • Interfaith opportunities • Celebration of our community again (eg. 350th energy better than community day) is • Pedestrianese • parking • "Green" buildings - environmental building standards for future projects DILEMMAS ■ $ ■ Questioning ability to afford to stay in Reading ■ Money ■ Money! How do we get it without raising taxes? ■ Research grants and fund matching grants to improve Reading without raising taxes • How to support services within $ constraints ■ Inflation impact on town budget (prop 2 1/2) ■ How to fund the dreams ■ How to pay for change? ■ How do we pay for it all? ■ How to financially support the dreams? ■ Time money & space ■ Money . $ • Attract businesses we really need ■ Bring viable small business into town (no more banks, pharmacies, nail salons) • How do you attract businesses that will succeed • Maintain local boutique type stores & encourage patronage by Readingits & other . community customers ■ Depth of business diversity • Downtown welcoming development & access ■ Active downtown . ■ Road conditions throughout the whole town ■ How to overcome auto vs. foot conflict ■ Four lanes split downtown • Infrastructure - curbs, roads, lighting ■ More of a walking/biking community vs. a driving community. Better the sidewalks. Make them safer. ■ Where to find accurate town information ■ Communication within the community. Ways to get information to everyone ■ How to find out why people move in & out of town ■ Communication ■ Informing the community about what the town has to offer ■ Communicating community opportunities ■ Reading has many people who want to contribute but some structures do not allow for cross-pollination of resources ■ Lack of interest in Town Meeting • How do we encourage greater volunteerism ■ Housing ■ How can Reading allow for more recycling? ■ More creative art accessibility for all ages ■ Where can youth hang out? ■ Safety - police patrol ■ Lose town forest - Conservation commission ■ Sustainability • Noise levels from schools and YMCA • That the children do not feel pressures of overachieving in extra-curricular activities ■ Research grants & fund matching grants to improve Reading without raising taxes • Lack of diversity ■ Trying to welcome diverse groups, trying to spread the word about town events is hard ■ Not enough diversity in community • Outreach to acquire diversity ■ How do we have more people of color come to live & stay in Reading • How to increase diversity & welcome different ethnic groups ■ Cultural diversity ■ Lack of diversity ■ Space location ■ More creative art accessibility for all ages ■ Parking • Parking ■ Parking downtown • Parking downtown & at railroad station ■ Parking vs. green space ■ Parking downtown • How do we encourage the right kind of growth ■ How dome go beyond business as usual to encourage new ideas? ■ Lack of public transportation & safe access to downtown area ■ Lack of diversity with current downtown business also prevents the draw of people ■ Improved awareness for existing public transportation - buses and trains more incentives ■ Informing the community about what the town has to offer ■ Who will drive the going forward usage of information • Moving forward and keeping our roots • Preserving Reading feel, yet change is inevitable • How to we go beyond business as usual to encourage new ideas? ■ Hidden service s costs of new development (commenrcial & residential) ■ Drug free community - community awareness • Substance abuse problem • As a community coming together to acknowledge & address substance abuse ■ Any area developed is a burden on certain areas which creates conflicts with opinions ■ Conflicting priorities 0 NEXT STEPS ■ Town Meeting proposal • Fund the School district improvement plan • Cross reference the themes under "opportunities" with existing plans. Identify commonalities and gaps ■ More trees - 1 tree per house/drive ■ sidewalks & walkways ■ Community traditions & activities (fireworks, tday football, family day, 360th dance peforming arts • Continue community reforms like this ■ Online bulletin boards • Diversity - encourage cultural diversity for the community (eg, international food fair) ■ Community calendar ■ Follow-up program on rctv summarizing results to extend conversation to entire community • Keeping the community involved • Continued community activities (such as this) ■ Getting the word out around town about events • More and broader Reading World caf6 ■ Communication vehicle for residents on information on town related activities & programs ■ Community transportation system • Work with town groups to identify businesses that will work with & for Reading ■ More of these events (Keep this momentum going) • Follow up to events like this ■ Staying involved ■ Taking common themes through our existing government to move ideas forward ■ World Cafe idea within RMHS for students ■ Full time ombudsmen ■ Face lift for South Main Street ■ Fundraising events to support the needs of Reading residents ■ Report data through newspapers, mailings, website, RCTV • Online collaboration ■ Make downtown no smoking district - ban outdoor smoking ■ Implementation committee NEED FOLLOW UP • Support greenway • Library & schools could have education programs to promote other cultures & world issues • Pass the community preservation act • Need citizens of reading tro embrace environmental plans and ideas such as recycling, conservation, climate action, green design of buildings ■ Sponsorship/champions Support for people who spearhead new projects/businesses • Library needs town support for extra hours • Ask teenagers what they would like to see • Need welcome for new residents/means of dispensing information for people - a welcome wagon type of approach ■ Town boards should look at and use this output • High school assembly to educate/inform students of importance of Reading community ■ Coalesce ideas for Economic Development Committee • Town Trolley - easier access between neighborhoods ■ The master planning group should use this output • Get more people involved, more community discussion ■ Focus group - feasibility study 9 ■ Look at other towns to learn successful ideas ■ Create a mentor program of community volunteers with high school studnets to encourage town involvement ■ Centralize information about afterschool & community programs. Create forums for people to share ideas & information ■ Trail maps (updated & accurate) for open space ■ Use resourceful talents of Reading residents to plan for future ■ Quality of life for seniors ■ Make the world cafe an annual affair 9 Page 1 of 1 Hechenbleikner, Peter From: Ellen Doucette [ecdoucette@brackettlucas.com] Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 11:34 AM To: Johnson, Cheryl Cc: Hechenbleikner, Peter Subject: AG correspondence - Articles 4 and 5 - STM Cheryl, The correspondence from the AG indicates that the CPDC notice under c.40A, sec. 5 was defective in that it was posted only 5 days before the public hearing. The statute requires 14 days. Therefore, the AG is suspending its review time to allow interested residents to file a statement that the defect in notice was misleading or somehow prejudiced them. You have to post the Form 299A Attorney General's Notice in the town hall and have it published once in a paper of local circulation. Because the 14-day CPDC notice is mandatory, this procedure is the AG's way of rectifying that defect and to allow people to file a statement. It does not necessarily mean that the warrant articles will be disapproved. After you have posted and published the notice, you must complete the certification form and send it back to the AG's office. When they receive it, the 90=day review period starts to run again. If you have any questions, please call. I cc'd Peter H. on this because this is an important town issue and he should be kept apprised of what is going on. Ellen Ellen Callahan Doucette, Esq. Brackett & Lucas 165 Washington Street Winchester, MA 01890 (781) 729-1500 (781) 729-5444 Facsimile 3/10/2008 ti~ MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION Dear Local Official, ONE WINTHROP SQUARE, BOSTON, MA 02110 617-426-7272 . 800-882-1498 o fax 617-695-1314 • www.mma.org We are pleased to announce the spring Legislative Breakfast Series. We have finalized all the dates, times and locations. The breakfast series will take place on three consecutive Friday mornings from 8:30 am to 10 am: on March 28 in Wayland, Medford, and Duxbury; on April 4 in Great Barrington, Amesbury, and Amherst; and on April 11 in Franklin, Leominster and Lowell. We are also working with the Cape Cod Selectmen and Councilors' Association, and hope to present at their May meeting. As you know, Speaker DiMasi has committed that the House plan for fiscal year 2009 would fully fund the $935 million Lottery aid account and the scheduled $223 million increase in Chapter 70 education aid, the overall levels recommended by Gov. Patrick. DiMasi added that the House budget would fund local aid programs without relying on separate legislation or revenue sources, such as expanded gaming. Legislators are currently meeting with their House and Senate leaders to talk about their own priorities for the budget year. Our breakfast meetings come at a vital time, and it is critically important to have the full participation of our cities and towns across Massachusetts. Legislators want to hear the fiscal problems that communities face, and many representatives and senators have committed to attend. We know these meetings will be successful and productive, and give us momentum leading up to the budget debate. PLEASE SIGN UP TODAY! For your convenience, please fill out the enclosed registration form and send it to the MMA. You can also register online at MMA.org, or by contacting Jackie Le Grand at ilearandOmzna.org, or (617) 426-7272 ext. 104 to confirm your attendance. After you register, please call your legislators to extend a personal invitation to the breakfast. If you have any questions about the legislative breakfasts, please call MMA Legislative Director David Baier at 617-426-7272, ext. 120. Please feel free to forward this information to municipal and legislative colleagues. Thank you very much for your leadership and dedication to public service at home, and to building a strong future for communities across the state. Sincerely, Zq kt Geoff Beckwith Executive Director 0 a 2008 MMA Legislative Breakfast Schedule and Registration The Massachusetts Municipal Association, in association with local municipal officials, will be hosting Legislative Breakfast meetings around the Commonwealth. The meetings will cover budget' and other issues affecting municipalities today. There is no registration fee for these meetings and all municipal officials and personnel are encouraged to attend. All meetings will be from 8:30am-10:00am. Community Date Location Host Duxbury Friday March 28 Duxbury Senior Center Town Manager Richard MacDonald Medford Friday March 28 Montvale Plaza, Stoneham Mayor Michael McGlynn Wayland Friday March 28 Town Building Great Barrington Friday April 4 Town Hall Amesbury Friday April 4 Town Hall Amherst Friday April 4 Town Hall Franklin Friday April 11 Municipal Building Leominster Friday April 11 Public Library Lowell Friday April 11 City Hall Town Administrator Fred Turkington Town Manager Burke LaClaire Mayor Thatcher Keezer Town Manager Laurence Shaffer Town Administrator Jeff Nutting Mayor Dean Mazzarella City Manager Bernie Lynch Registration Form Please fill out this registration form and send it to the MMA Via FAX to: 617-695-1314 Via mail to: MMA, Legislative Breakfast, One Winthrop Sq., Boston, MA 02110 Attn: J. Le Grand You can also e-mail your registration info to: jlegrand@rnma.org Name: Title: Municipality: E-Mail Address: Meeting you will be attending- Directions to the meetings will be posted on the MMA website and e-mailed to all who register. If you need further information, please contact Jackie Le Grand at the MMA at 800-882-1498 ext. 104. Z2 91ON-IN SHEET FOR..THE BQARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING DATE: NAME ADDRESS (Please print) GZ9 W. -?R A v v ~ 53 ~ ti LvYN g2- f . / U . wW,wj 4~