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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-11-12 Subsequent Town Meeting MinutesCOMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. Officer's Return, Reading: By virtue of this Warrant, I, on s.=ptember 30, 2002 notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote on Town affairs, to meet at'the place ar)d at the time specified by posting attested copies of this Town Meeting Warrant in the following public places within the Town of Reading: Precinct 1 J. Warren Killam School, 333 Charles Street Precinct 2 Registry of Motor Vehicles, 275 Salem Street Precinct 3 Reading Police Station, 15 Union Street Precinct 4 Joshua Eaton School, 365 Summer Avenue Precinct 5 Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street Precinct 6 Alice M. Barrows School, 16 Edgemont Avenue Precinct 7 Reading Library, Local History Room, 64 Middlesex Avenue Precinct 8 Charles Mobil on the Run, 1330 Main Street The date of posting being not less than fourteen (14) days prior to November 12, 2002, the date set for the Subsequent Town Meeting in this Warrant. I also caused an attested copy of this Warrant to be published in the Reading Chronicle in the issue of October 2, 2002. Constable 47 ~v 611~1 ^ A true copy. Attest: eryl A, Johnson, own Clerk 1 SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING (Seal) COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. To any of the Constables of the Town of Reading, Greetings: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, to meet at the Reading Memorial High School Auditorium, 62 Oakland Road in said Reading, on Tuesday, November 12, 2002, at seven-thirty o'clock in the evening, at which time and place the following articles are to be acted upon and determined exclusively by Town Meeting Members in accordance with the provisions of the Reading Home Rule Charter. ARTICLE 1 To hear and act on the reports of the Board of Selectmen, Town Accountant, Treasurer-Collector, Board of Assessors, Director of Public Works, Town Clerk, Tree Warden, Board of Health, School Committee, Contributory Retirement Board, Library Trustees, Municipal Light Board, Finance Committee, Cemetery Trustees, Community Planning & Development Commission, Conservation Commission, Town Manager and any other Board or Special Committee. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 2 To choose all other necessary Town Officers and Special Committees and determine what instructions shall be given Town Officers and Special Committees, and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for the purpose of funding Town Officers and Special Committees to carry out the instructions given to them, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 3 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the payment during Fiscal Year 2002 of bills remaining unpaid for previous fiscal years for goods and services actually rendered to the Town, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 4 To see if the Town will vote to amend the FY 2003 - FY 2012, Capital Improvements Program as provided for in Section 7-7 of the Reading Home Rule Charter and as previously amended, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 5 To see if the Town will vote to amend one or more of the votes - taken under Article 12 of the April 22, 2002 Annual Town Meeting as amended by Article 6 of the Warrant of the Special Town Meeting of October 7, 2002, relating to the Fiscal Year 2003 Municipal Budget, and see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate as the result of any such amended votes for the operation of the Town and its government, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 6 To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, whether in anticipation of reimbursement from . the State under Chapter 44, Section 6, Massachusetts General Laws, or pursuant to any other enabling authority or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, for highway projects in accordance with Chapter 90, Massachusetts General Laws, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 7 To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or transfer from available funds or otherwise and appropriate for the purpose of road improvements including constructing, reconstructing, and repairing roads within the Town of Reading, including the costs of engineering fees, plans, documents, cost estimates, and all related expenses incidental thereto and necessary in connection therewith, said sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Town Manager; and to see if the Town will authorize the Board of Selectmen, the Town Manager, or any other agency of the Town to apply for a grant or grants to be used to defray the cost of all or any part of said road _ improvements; and to authorize the Town Manager to enter into any and all contracts and agreements as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article; all as previously approved under Article 10 of the April 22, 2002 Annual Town Meeting; provided however that any borrowing authorized by this Article shall be pursuant to the passage of a debt exclusion referendum question under General Laws Chapter 59 on November 5, 2002; or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 8 To see if the Town will vote to establish a revolving fund under Chapter 44 Section 53E1/2 of the General Laws for the purpose of using all or part of the receipts generated from the issuance of Building, Plumbing and Gas, and Wiring Permits for the development of the Walkers Brook Crossing development to pay the costs of oversight and inspection of the development on that site, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen ARTICLE 9 To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate into the Stabilization Fund as authorized under Section 5B of Chapter 40 of the Massachusetts General Laws, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen 3 ARTICLE 10 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to transfer by deed to the School Committee the care, custody, and control of all land and buildings owned by the Town of Reading, that are utilized for school purposes, and - placed under the care, custody, and control of the Board of Selectmen, and to determine the terms and conditions of such transfer, or to take any other action with respect thereto. School Committee ARTICLE 11 To see if the Town will accept the donation of $20,000 plus other future donations that may be made to establish an Historical Commission Preservation Trust Fund for the express purpose of forwarding historic preservation in Reading., The principal and/or interest on such funds are to be expended by the Reading Historical Commission and administered by the Town of Reading Commissioners of Trust Funds, or take any other action with respect thereto. Historical Commission ARTICLE 12 To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to Section 5.8.1 of the Bylaws of the Town of Reading, to designate South Street from Walnut Street on the east to West Street on the west as a scenic road, or take any other action with respect thereto. By petition? ARTICLE 13 To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to Section 5.8.1 of the i Bylaws of the Town of Reading, to designate Walnut Street (AKA Walnut Street Extension) from Pine Ridge Road on the east to its dead end at Route 128 on the west as a scenic road, or take any other action with respect thereto. By petition? 4 and you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting an attested copy thereof in at least one (1) public place in each precinct of the Town not less than fourteen (14) days prior to November 12, 2002, the date set for the meeting in said Warrant, and to publish this - Warrant in a newspaper published in the Town, or by mailing an attested copy of said Warrant to each Town Meeting Member at least fourteen (14) days prior to the time of holding said meeting. Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the time appointed for said meeting. Given under our hands this 24th day of September, 2002. Camille- Anthony, Chairman Matthew Cummings, Vice Chairm 1 mkt Richard W. Schubert, Secretary G~ C eorge . Hines Gail F. Wood SELECTMEN OF READING onstable 5 SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School November 12, 2002 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Alan E. Foulds, at 7:40 p.m., there being a quorum present. The Invocation was given by Anthony Rickley, Precinct 2. There was a moment of silence for Carol Beckwith, former Town Meeting member and Board of Library Trustees member, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The Warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk, Cheryl A. Johnson, when on motion by Camille W. Anthony, Chainnan of the Board of Selectmen, it was voted to dispense with further reading of the Warrant except for the Officer's Return, which was read by the Town Clerk. ARTICLE 1 - The following State of the Light Department Report was given by Vinnie Cameron: • RMLD Financial Performance Y Actions taken by the RMLD in response to the Inspector General's Report ® Responses to Article 3 - Motion at the Annual Town Meeting - April 29, 2002 RMLD's Financial Performance i Revenues within. 13% of the 2002 Operating Budget. • Bottom line - RMLD is $972k or 33% ahead of the budget net income. • Purchased Power Adjustment has returned $1.5 million to the ratepayers. • Purchased Power Expense is $1.6 million under budget due to long- teen contracts expiring and replaced with lower-cost contracts. _I • The Rate Stabilization Fund has a balance of $15.5 million. • A one-time refund of $3 million is being returned to the ratepayers in November, 2002. • The RMLD does not foresee an increase in its base rates in 2003. ARTICLE 1 - The following RMLD report with Inspector General's report was given by William Hughes and Virmie Cameron: Action Taken in Response to the Inspector General's Report RMLD Policies have been updated • Travel policy has been updated. • Credit Cards have been eliminated. • Board policy on employee communication has been amended. • Anonymous Letter Policy has been created. Warrant Process • Accounting Services Manager can address the RMLD Board of Commissioners directly with warrant issues. • Warrant Exceptions Procedure for the RMLD Board of Commissioners has been established. Item 8 - Estimated cost for the Town Accountant and Town Manager in response to the Inspector General's reports. [ It -2- Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002 r• H 00 4 !W 0 z a to O W Z =W E" UJ W O 0-' 0 0 J LL a 0 . Z U. U W U ON Z Z = a O 1- a > W 0 m 0 R- -0- -0 0 O 0 0 W M Ltd O LlI (g ra W O t~ oZ OMO 1~ o a ri o U O N 01 ,-I d' LA N d+ W O M w Z a a > A& -W,. 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VV ift iA iPr iR irl. ? ur ifs iPr if) 16 ~ W N O ' N C'N rW m m cr t0 rtD m Wr o o Ln O co E i in m m co M) co Ls H W OD Ln W m IVr .-i m m I~r r N W O w Ln W r O r-i to 17 ko Ln r Ln ,-I W m rn H A O Ln N N W M r r ri m N N (9 O d' r~ c H tD 1S1 ift ift in vy rh.y} ur ul yr ur yr rrr cry v>• vt vt ur VI <a ur W N 00 rn ri N O ri co M N co r Co r o m r r-1 W Ln N o H O N N Ir LA N N W r-I N Ln W N H m co m m a Ln O W 01 Ln r-t Oh O tr) O Ln w r-I m r m ri 11 to o rn O N H N LnNNN O Cr) .A ri m ~D O Mra +iH m H H U w >L if} ifs ift ifs iA v- th u} yr rh rir vy U., t4 01- t~} Ln Cl) E-1 E--i x x C 7 U' H H a ril a to co V) 0 E-4 z z H E-4 H ril O to O O t1J Z w fA U n o z u m 0 $ A A W H w U W n A ~ W A CYH o U w a Z U) w to z z w p W W c O O A ZH z H O O H U) z O Q H m MfTLz H z > W z O U' Hz W 3: W fYf~ ls7 H U) H z 1 O W W W 3 0 0 A H b 'a O a W w 0 W H p z n. x m z z a o W two Z Z Q, 7 O >C W W W H O H 3 O FC H O O $ O O H J w W W ~ O H H W W ; H C7 z N El C7 H H to co H H H ] W W U UuWl H H caul t U ca cwn RG H = O H ~ d , W O O H tx tx W EH R: fx H ' H W a V tnWpu H H U U f~ fx as Wa H a H O W fs zUH14 O H a W H W W 0 zEiH0O w ~[s = w aw00 ~ x HHw U) °HH 04 + G. 11+ O H U H O O H O x F- W 0 co W 0 Z M J 4 D F- H " H W z Response to Article 3 f.ttg9, 2002, Town Meeting Expense Summary for the Inspector General's Report and the Anonymous Letter For Period 12/11/01 Through 8/31/02 REQUESTED ITEMS TOTALS ITEM #1: Legal $161,433.15 ITEM #2: Audit $150,748.59 ITEM #3: Paid Leaves of Absence $47,664.59 ITEM #4: Past Employment Costs $144,570.66 ITEM #6: RMLD Labor Costs $35,556.45 ITEM #7: Other Costs $17,317.52 LESS: ITEM 4 accrued balances which employees are entitled to: (vacation, sick, personal, longevity) ($116,238.81) Sub-Total: Inspector General's Report $441,052.15 ITEM #5: Anonymous Letter GRAND TOTAL $217,639.81 $658,691.96 ITEM 1 RMLD ' Legal Costs Expended by the RMLD Through Period Ending 8/31/02 Summary Lynch, Brewer, Hoffman & Sands, LLP Rubin and Rudman LLP Total $13,357.75 $148,075.40 $161,433.15 Detail: Vendor: Lynch, Brewer, Hoffman & Sands, LLP Date Invoice # Period Amount 4/02/02 138596 February 2002 $1,160.51 4103/02 139633 March 2002 $11,355.02 6/12/02 143205 April 2002 $842.22 Total $13,357.75 Vendor: Rubin and Rudman LLP Date Invoice # Period Amount 1/28/02 249972 December 2001 - IG $19,620.15 2128102 251218 January 2002 - IG $40,836.21 3/29/02 251929 February 2002 - IG $7,052.06 3/29/02 251947 February 2002 - Nepotism $3,391.25 4/30/02 253364 Public Records Request $315.90 4/30/02 253398 Manager Negotiation $3,420.90 4/30/02 253369 Policy 15 Issues $676.99 5/31/02 254683 Assistant Manager's Severance $20,720.59 5/31/02 254692 Manager's Severance $9,972.55 5/31/02 254696 Public Records Request $6,274.29 5/31/02 254681 Restitution $5,575.35 6/28102 256400 Assistant's Manager's Severance $15,854.48 6/28/02 256373 Public Records Request $1,881.65 6/28/02 256386 Manager's Severance $2,676.75 7/31102 257132 Manager's Severance $588.75 7131/02 257123 Legislation $45.90 7/31/02 257137 IG If - Energy Consultants $1,055.70 7/31/02 257134 Restitution $1,031.45 7/31/02 257128 Assistant's Manager's Severance $4,126.08 7/31/02 256387 Restitution $2,958.40 Total $148,075.40 Note: The Town of Reading's legal costs will be answered by the Town Manager. ITEM 2 RMLD Cost of Both Town and RMLD Audits Through Period Ending 8/31/02 Summary: Detail: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP $105,748.59 Town of Reading (Melanson Heath) $45,000.00 Total $150,748.59 Vendor: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Date Invoice # Period Amount 2/11102 RETAINER Retainer $10,000.00 2/11/02 4574-000628-8 Inception thru January 2002 $12,821.00 3/12/02 4574-000669-2 February 2002 $49,949.34 3/27/02 4574-000680-9 March 1, 2002, thru March 18, 2002 $22,508.25 4/11/02 4574-000705-4 March 19, 2002, thru April 11, 2002 $2,200.00 5/21/02 4574-000752-6 April 12, 2002, thru May 15, 2002 $2,425.00 6/13/02 4574-000777-3 May 16, 2002, thru May 31, 2002 $3,850.00 7/09/02 4574-000805-2 June 1, 2002, thru June 30, 2002 $1,995.00 Total $105,748.59 Town of Reading (Melanson Heath) $45,000.00 ITEM 3 RMLD Costs Paid to General Manager, Assistant General Manager and Field Services Manager for "Paid" Leaves of Absence Through Period Ending 8/31/02 Assistant Field General General Services Payroll Period Manager Manager Manager Total 01/14/02 - 01/27/02 $2,692.56 $0.00 $0.00 $2,692.56 01/28/02 - 02/10/02 $5,385.12 $4,115.40 $1,335.36 $10,835.88 02/11/02 - 02/24102 $5,385.12 $4,115.40 $0.00 $9,500.52 02/25/02 - 03/10/02 $5,385.12 $4,115.40 $0.00 $9,500.52 03/11/02 - 03/24/02 $4,846.61 $4,115.40 $0.00 $8,962.01 03/25102 - 04/07/02 $0.00 $4,115.40 $0.00 $4,115.40 04/08/02 - 04/21/02 $0.00 $2,057.70 $0.00 $2,057.70 Grand Total $23,694.53 $22,634.70 $1,335.36 $47,664.59 L 0 N m O 0 a. 0 E L W v Q N o L = r O M N 0 O O 14 W O W a) N r 0 a E~ In C - L y, O c rn a= t O r O 1-- O U C f~ L d cn .II ca ~ +r O F- d c O J .O a N O O U C O Y U Y R U co tII O N L Q~ CL O Q W M LO 00 co LO N O to M f- CO) O T M O co co 00 LO LO N E1). H} 61)- O In O O CO O O T O to m d9 M co N tf} OR ~ N O d M I- O to r O O m co N 6r 69- 69. O h I` Lq LD T r LO T T 69. ~ cfl O T- T- to t~ ui C,4 to tl- 04 'IT N tl- 00 r O co T Vf - d} N dN M Q tto LNO T T LC) O CA d N T D O tom- O O t` t U9. O T tf} L t4 t~ t= c V) ~jtu U L ~ N N U o a E O O I- L'i d' T EA LIB 00 T M co O co M N to T M M O N 6cT O O d' M O N O ti t~ O T tC .4~ O L c~ V C O U vI N O7 RS C tC U C O O ,r O N O L - CL L O CL ITEM 5 RMLD Legal Costs to Review Any and All Additional Areas Such as the Anonymous Letter Received (Choate, Hall) Through Period Ending 8/31102 Summary: Detail: Choate, Hall & Stewart Rubin and Rudman LLP Total Vendor: Choate, Hall & Stewart Date Invoice # Period 1/10/02 1154140 December 2001 2/11/02 1158403 January 2002 4/09/02 1162543 February 2002 4/16/02 1167841 March 2002 Total Vendor: Date Invoice # 2/27/02 251233 3/29/02 251941 4/30/02 253653 Total Rubin and Rudman LLP Period January 2002 - Employee Letter February 2002 - Employee Letter Employee Investigations ~c G N d to N ~ O E C L G O W Z in L N O tt•- CEO O ma ~ O cn 0 Uj 5; Q) Z O CL t6 O N O (n :5 U ~ Q E N N W .0 Q J a F- 0 H N O O N O M O N O O N CD r O N O O N 0 d' O N 0 O N d. N N O N O 0 r N O N O O N ti N r O N O 0 N co r O 0 O N O M N T- a) O C W ~f Y d m 3 m N CO t~• CD e- CD O <t' O to CD M CD CD W ct' r O O N O N~ tO tO M N t~• O M M N 00MON~06 tit`ONNOOai O h O M Iq P M r M CD M CD It q 69 to r cr cD tti t~ cY M N r E9 ER 6A 6R N o0 tt7 •cf EF} 69 ER Eg 69 69 r E9 69 69. 69 O O ~f' O r LO O N of C6 O OD N r- (D ER ~ M d0' d' C N O M M ~t ai vi O B O ti N T- LO CO a) to It m 69, P- 69 N 603, h o 69 d4 ER U). 63 O tO tt) M M CO N O r r r ~ 69 tC) M (D O 64 O h- M CD O N O N T- m m to r• E9 EJT r ~ r 69 O t- to CD O e- O to T- w 1* 00 N M t O N C!? 6R 6R O 0 C D to 0 0 LOO • t_ O 00 t~ a) a) to O d to 69- (n ER t am L CD O o m h - 11 N t 66 o06 6 t-z V- N T- M O CO ti 00 s- (D CO r CO t- M IT to N ~t r ER EF3 E9 E9 w EF} EF} to V M W O O M 00 00 O co 6 w 6 to 1- tO CD co It CO N co N O LO h• N r t d. ~ER d} 69 w 69 Ef} 0 C 06 Css CAS O LL. W 0 = N O U d ~ .U L Q) • N Q O W LL. t) C w N , cC N n U) O Q c m a c Cn ca M O tCI •a V N N N C M N L N O to CSI y U y ,cn u) N fZ- _ C6 (ts (c N Q tSl y O N a) N N as . U U U U N w m> ~ O O L a O Q Q O n a) 0) 11 Q. N d d CL Q CL Q e R O N C O v- its CtI CC 0 O (n C L to 0 w L L L R C o r> L y ~i . C C V C C L O C O O C a) css Co a) E C a) 47 d E E E U " C O R R N R R N O ~ 0 0 0 N a) C O U C d In 0 w M Q CL 0 N u O O i O a X w (D Z3 o< U O <2: _ c/> 2` 0<00< O c t 0< O 000 O M co CA CA O tO tO 14 N T- M (A. LO co CA M (p CA lfl tD ti T- O d• M n r 0 ui CD w w 't M M M N O ct d ,It Iq E9 EH 69 6A r N 3 O s O N r r CA 41 C a) N a) Q L N N O U O tt3 O C tII ITEM 7 RMLD Costs of Newspaper Ads and Other Miscellaneous Expenses Through Period Ending 8/31/02 Summary: Clarke & Company Various Total $11,930.10 $5,387.42 $17,317.52 Detail: Vendor: Date Clarke & Company Invoice # Period Amount 12/31/01 12/31/01 01 /31 /02 01/31102 03/31/02 Total Vendor: Date North Reading Transcript 12/31101 Town Crier 01/31102 Daily Times Chronicle 12/31101 Community Newspaper 12/31/01 Total 11165 December 2001 $10,972.50 11125 December 2001 $105.34 11198 January 2002 $18.89 11253 January 2002 $800.00 11361 December 2001 $33.37 $11,930.10 Various Invoice # Period Amount 163 December 2001 $680.00 133 December 2001 $1,083.60 72 December 2001 $875.00 Dec 01 December 2001 $2,748.82 $5,387.42 Will be answered by Town Manager. Item 9 - Cost of any future payments to the General Manager associated with the contracted terms to share costs of new ventures for the years past employment. The only applicable new venture is the outside streetlight business. The RMLD does not foresee any ftiture payments to the General Manager associated with the contracted terms to share costs of new ventures. The outside streetlight business has a cumulative net operating loss of approximately $288,092 through August, 2002. Item 10 - Present a report on the new business activities of the RMLD including why Reading is not entitled to all revenues received. The original investment in Energy New England was $500,000 in 1998 and the net equity in Energy New England as of August, 2002, is approximately $400,000. As stated in Item 9 the outside streetlight business has a cumulative net operating loss of $288,092. The monies used to start up Energy New England and to start up and operate the outside streetlight business were paid from the RMLD's operating fund; therefore, the intent was that any income from these ventures would benefit the RMLD ratepayers. Item 11 - Include review of the General Manager's contract provisions as part of the overall actions relative to the Inspector General's report and report same to Town Meeting. Said reports to be made to the Subsequent Town Meeting, Fall 2002. The General Manager resigned on April 1, 2002. Item 4 showed $1,077 payment for unused Personal Days. This is the only provision of the contract that was incurred as a result of the Inspector General's Report. According to Item 9 the RMLD does not foresee any fixture payments to the General Manager with respect to business ventures. ARTICLE I - The following State of the Schools report was given by Dr. Harutunian: Good evening Mr. Moderator, Town Meeting Members, Elected Officials and members of the Reading community. It is with a great deal of pleasure and honor that I stand before you this evening and speak to you about the outstanding accomplislunents of Reading's teachers, staff, administrators, parents and, -3 - Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002 - most of all our students. This fall the Reading Public Schools opened its doors to 4,234 students. Since 1992 the enrollment of the Reading public schools has increased by 540 students. This L year we have a kindergarten through fifth grade enrollment of 1,986 students, a middle school enrollment of 1,026, and a high school enrollment of 1,222. But before I go on, I want to take a moment to recognize town meeting and the many hours the elected officials in this room have given to the children of reading. Without your support and your continued hard work, we would never be able to achieve what we have. Tonight, thanks in part to you, Town Meeting Members; the State of the Reading Public Schools continues to be very strong. We continue to perform at a high level in the state's MCAS exams. Our scores in Reading grade 3, mathematics and language arts grades 4, 7, 8 and 10 and social studies grade 8 stayed the same or improved this past year. Virtually every high school senior has passed the MCAS, and we are down to a small group that we continue to work with and remediate so that we can join a very unique group of high schools across Massachusetts that can say every senior who attends our high school will receive a high school diploma, because everyone passed the MCAS exam. Since 1998, the first time the MCAS test was given, reading has been in the mid to upper 20's in its ranking as compared to other towns and cities across the commonwealth. There are many reasons why our MCAS scores continue to be some of the best in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, most importantly the quality of our students and the outstanding teachers and administrators who work with our children each day. I would be remiss not to talk about all the other staff, secretaries, custodians, cafeteria workers, educational assistants and nurses, who daily play an intricate part in supporting our teachers and administrators. Together we provide a top-notch, quality education to Reading children. Another important reason is you, the Reading community, the taxpayers and voters of Reading. I want to extend a sincere thank you on behalf of the entire school system for the support the Reading Public Schools' has received from the town as a whole. Over the past year accomplishments by Reading students and teachers in academics, extracurricular and athletics have been absolutely unbelievable. Downtown, across from the Danvers Savings Bank, a new sign has been erected to celebrate the state championships by Reading athletes, drama students and band. The band and drama signs will be going up shortly. This year our schools have accomplished much. • The 2003 Massachusetts teacher of the year, Dr. Jeff Ryan, is a teacher at Reading Memorial High School • We have a passing rate of approximately 98% for seniors on the MCAS test. • The Class of 2002 at RMHS attained the highest SAT scores we have earned as a school in both verbal and math over the past 11 years. • Class B boys spring track relay - Massachusetts champions -4- Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002 • 3rd place finish, Division 2 for the prestigious Dalton award for athletics. This is based on the cumulative winning percentage (67%) for all sports, male and female • High school athletes are the first two-time MIAA sports sportsmanship winner • RMHS girls' soccer, Division 2 state sportsmanship award • Drama Program was once again a state finalist. In the last five years the Drama Program has won the state championship and have competed in the state finals on three other occasions. • The Reading High School Band is the 2001-2002 United States Scholastic Band Association Division 4A New England Champs and the 2001-2002 MICCA State Final Silver Medallists. • Coolidge Middle School's Science Olympiad Team won the Massachusetts state science Olympiad championship for the tenth time and finished 12`x' out of 53 teams at the national science Olympiad held at the University of Delaware. • At Coolidge Middle School our advanced band and chorus won four silver medals, one gold medal and one bronze medal in the 2002 Massachusetts Instrumental Conductor Choral Association. • The Parker/Coolidge Middle School combined jazz band won a gold medal at the International Association of Jazz Educators Festival. • A Parker Middle School student received high honors in the talented Young Writers of America Contest • The Parker Mathematics Team had the regional high score for the sixth grade. • Parker had 3 qualified and 1 honorable mention globe art festival honor recipients • Barrows Elementary School completed the implementation of their $100,000 two-year bullying prevention school-wide initiative grant. • Barrows implemented specialized content area teaching at grade 5 level this year. • Birch Meadow Elementary School received a two-year $100,000 bullying prevention grant from the Department of Public Safety and is in the second year of that grant. • The Birch Meadow Courtyard Living Science Center completed its third and final phase this past spring with the addition of two more planting beds. • At the Joshua Eaton Elementary School the School-wide Reading Incentive Program had over a 90% participation rate this past year. • Joshua Eaton had a team of 3 students place 2,d in the Town's spelling bee held at the Coolidge Middle School last spring. • Killam Elementary School held an auction and raised over $43,000 for technology, enrichment programs, professional development, classroom materials and school equipment. • Special education working with our schools, helped create new integrated learning programs for severely disabled students at the elementary level so they do not have to leave reading for schooling. I am pleased to share this sampling of some of the outstanding accomplishments and initiatives by students and staff at our schools this past year. The money you have given us this past year has been wisely put to good work and has paid handsome dividends for the children and taxpayers of Reading. - 5 - Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002 During the upcoming fiscal year I want Town Meeting and the Town as a whole to know that we recognize that reductions are necessary to maintain the fiscal integrity of the Town. The FY02 School Department budget went up only 2.5%, and this year's FY03 budget saw an increase of less than 1%. We continue to read about the diminishing strength of our economy that has already hit Reading. In times of economic uncertainty and with the state talking about a 10% to 15% cut in Chapter 70 and forecasts that in the future the state might reduce school building assistance money by 10%, I can tell you that we as a school system will continue to provide Reading students with an outstanding education. We hear from people who have moved into our community in the last few years about the high quality of our teachers, our staff and the high morale of the people who work and volunteer in our schools everyday. In this climate I recognize that in the upcoming year it will be extremely difficult for the Town of Reading to continue to provide us with an increase, even as small as those we have received over the past two years. I can, however, tell you that whatever funding we receive, the Reading school community will continue to provide reading children an outstanding education because of the smart way we invest and use, our money in our school system. We continue to use six portable classrooms at our elementary schools, four at the Barrows School and two at the Birch Meadow School. Two of the Barrows' portables were installed in 1973 and will require a sizeable amount of repair work if we continue to use them as instructional classrooms. Last week the Reading School Committee heard a lengthy presentation from our attorneys, architect, demographers, the Town Finance Director and me about the Barrows and new elementary school construction projects. After the presentation, on a 5-0-1 vote, the Reading School Committee directed me to move forward as quickly as possible on the development of the elementary school projects by bringing to the School Committee a plan to fund the $2.5 million needed to complete the Dividence Road school. You are all going to hear tonight an update on the high school project from Russ Graham, Chairman of the Reading School Building Committee. I have met with individuals who are prepared to help us in moving these projects forward. Many of you have seen the timetable calling for the Building Committee to have a Special Town Meeting in January and a ballot question in February to approve the high school project. I hope as a community we can move all of these projects forward very quickly. In labor negotiations I am pleased to announce we have ratified contracts with all seven of our bargaining groups. We have attempted to pay our staff as close as we can to the average of their colleagues in similar towns and communities in the Middlesex County area. As a school system we believe our teachers are the greatest resource that we bring to our children everyday, and we thank the Reading teachers for their diligence and hard work in securing a contract to the year 2005. The spirit of our school system is strong and vibrant. As I complete my 8t" year as Superintendent I am excited about the prospect of the RMHS project, the Barrows School being renovated, and a new elementary school at Dividence Road so our children no longer have to be -6- Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002 taught in the hallways, cafeterias, closets and portables. Even though we have very little money for new staffing, I believe in the next few years through the development of the landfill and the Longwood and Spence farms initiatives I hope local revenue will come back. We have just completed 10 very strong economic years nationally, regionally and locally. The morale of our staff, the spirit of our community will get us through these very difficult financial times. I ask you this evening, once again, for your time, you're expertise and, most importantly, your contributions to help us provide the best school system possible. Time and time again Town Meeting has been asked by the School Department and the School Committee for its financial support and time and time again Town Meeting has worked to provide us with as much as the Town can possibly provide. It has been an exciting and busy year for the Reading Public Schools, and we appreciate the support, hard work, and dedication of our teachers, administrators, our staff in general, our parents, but most of all, the strong commitment of the Reading students. Before I close I would like to take a moment to recognize two individuals who receive no direct compensation for the work they do for us but who day in and day out provide the Reading Public Schools with incredible financial help, support and input. At this time I would ask Town Meeting to recognize the contributions of Richard Foley, our Town Accountant and, Beth Klepeis, our Town Finance Director for their hard work and dedication to Reading schools. We all recognize that the greatest resource we have in reading is our young people. On behalf of the school committee, the faculty, staff and administration I would like to thank Town Meeting and the Reading community for their continued support of those young people. God bless and thank you. ARTICLE 1 - Russell Graham, School Building Committee gave the following report of progress: The School Building Committee nears the end of its task to bring to Town Meeting a recommendation to solve the problems of the Reading Memorial High School. The Committee is reviewing three options, all with degrees of positives and negatives, and ranging from total renovation of the footprint of the existing building to the tearing down of a significant portion of the structure replacing same with new construction. A decision on an option will be rendered this month. Two very significant factors weigh heavily on the decision. One is the time to construct and the phasing of students during construction. The longer the construction period and the more phasing required, then the more potential for building problems, the more disruption to the academic life of students, and the more likelihood for acceleration of construction costs. -7- Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002 - Two is the response from the Department of Education School Building Assistance Bureau as to their thinking on each of these options,. particularly the option, which replaces large portions of the building with new construction. The SBAB has been slow to commit itself wholly to that idea. While addressing that issue, it is also painfully evident that the fiscal crisis facing the State Budget for the next year will more than likely force the State to take a hard look at School Building Assistance potentially reducing the % of reimbursement to cities and towns, and/or funding the program at a level which will seriously elongate the time period for reimbursement to the cities and towns. Reality of the fiscal problems versus the needs and expectations of the public as regards educational investment will require extraordinary effort and commitment from our new Governor and from our legislators. We urge everyone interested to keep abreast of the situation and to let their views be known on both the State and local levels. The School Building Committee will continue to carry out its charge from Town Meeting to bring to you a reconnnendation that answers the educational, programmatic and physical problems of this building. To that end, since the beginning of the year, more than 53 meetings have taken place relative to the needs of this building. The School Building Committee, the Administration and/or the Architect have meet with staff, students, the Department of Education, the Arts Group of Reading, Band Parents, Drama parents, PTO's and the public at large to garner the information needed to come up with a solid plan to solve the problem. The timetable for further action is: The choosing of an option by the SBC this month. 2. Submission of that option for review and acceptance on December 1St by the Department of Education. That being a required submission to make next years list. 3. Architect works to provide the schematic drawings for the school, and a series of educational and outreach programs outlining same to the appropriate government bodies and to the public. 4. A Special Town Meeting in late January for presentation of the plan for hopeful acceptance by Town Meeting subject to a debt exclusion vote by the people of Reading. A debt exclusion election to approve or disapprove at either a Special Election or at the Annual Town Election. That Election date being a decision of the Board of Selectmen. It has been and remains a very intensive process appropriate to the social, educational and economic importance of this building to our town. As we ponder the timing and the fiscal - 8 - Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002 climate in which we address this overwhelming project, let me share with you the message sent from the proponents of the last High School renovation. On November 5, 1969, thirty-three years ago, the front page of the Reading Chronicle had this message to the people of Reading: We have also been cognizant of the tremendous costs involved in such an undertaking, for we, like you, are taxpayers and parents in the community. We are painfully aware of soaring building costs and the shatp increase in interest rates in the bond market. We are aware, then, that this is an "unfortunate time" to begin a project of this size; but we also know there is no "right time." The more things change, the more they stay the same! That 1969 Town Meeting approved that project, and in a referendum, the voters uphold that decision We hope as we move forward on this project that Reading maintains that foresight and vision and continues its decades old commitment to quality education. It was evidently the right time lien, and we believe it is the right time now. ARTICLE 1 - The following Report on Water Supply Initiatives was given by Ted McIntire: At the April 2001 Annual Town Meeting, the Town Manager reported on water issues that the Town was addressing as a result of the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Water Supply Committee which was appointed by the Board of Selectmen in January 1999. The Study lasted nearly one year and included a comprehensive review of long-teen water supply options. I would like to update Town Meeting on progress that has been made to date on these issues: • Petitioning for Entry into MWRA - Our Consultant, Camp Dresser & McKee (CDM) filed an Environmental Notification Form and Draft Environmental Impact Report with the MWRA, Water Resources Commission and other state and federal agencies. We are complying with environmental requirements during the process with these filings and will be required to file special legislation, along with approval of the governor. We are seeking to buy into the MWRA water system, for 600,000 gallons per day, to supplement our existing supply, at the current buy-in cost of $3.4 million. This supply will be used during the months of April through September when there are typically low flows in the Ipswich River. We expect to be seeking authorization from Town Meeting in April 2003, assuming approvals are received from the required entities. • Water Conservation Program - The Ad Hoc Water Supply Advisory Committee also recommended that the Town develop a comprehensive water conservation program as a means of establishing another water "source". This is also a requirement of our MWRA buy- in. Incorporated into the Draft Environmental Impact Report is a proposed conservation program. We are awaiting the results of the public comments and approval of the program. -9- Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002 The Water and Sewer Advisory Committee is working on guidelines for the many facets of the program and will make recommendations on implementation to the Board of Selectmen. • Renovation of the Existing Water Treatment Plant - The Committee also recommended that the Town retain its existing water treatment plant and supply, and upgrade the plant to meet new water quality standards. The Town hired the consulting fire of Camp Dresser & McKee (CDM) to perform a feasibility study. The major issues that have driven the need for this study are: 1. To satisfy current and future Safe Drinking Water Act requirements; 2. Address consumer complaints about hardness and the taste of the drinking water; 3. Excessive maintenance of aging and outdated equipment; 4. The need to upgrade the existing plant to current codes and safety regulations; 5. To increase plant efficiency by integrating the latest operational and monitoring technologies into the treatment facility. Evaluation of the plants future needs and an assessment of the efficiency of the current operations were used to develop a recommended improvements plan to provide Reading with a high quality water for the next twenty years. This process began in April 2002 with the development of a project schedule concluding with an article for Town Meeting approval in November 2002. The original Hundred Acre Meadow Water Purification Plant was first constructed nearly 70 years ago. Major upgrades were undertaken in 1962 and 1981. There were also interim modifications made in 1968, 1972 and 1991. CDM has conducted mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and control, HVAC, architectural, and structural audits of the Louanis Water Treatment Plant including analysis, inventory, and onsite inspections of all plant facilities and equipment. In addition our consultant has looked at security at the plant, plant and operator safety, operation and maintenance procedures, and instrumentation. After completing a comprehensive evaluation, CDM has identified a number of recommended improvements, which are related to regulatory issues, health and safety, water quality and aging equipment. Preliminary estimates for all of the recommended improvements are in the range of $11 million. An alternative to rehabilitating the existing plant is to build a new state of the art water treatment plant. Cost estimates to construct plants with a capacity of between 3 million gallons per day and 4 million gallons per day range from $14 million to $17.5 million. These preliminary costs were developed to compare the cost of a new facility with the cost of the rehabilitation options. Engineering services, pemlitting and demolition costs are not included in these estimates. Because of the complexity of the issues and the identified costs, the Town is further reviewing all of the issues, prioritizing the improvements and will make a presentation to the Board of Selectmen in January 2003. It is anticipated that the upgraded facility will meet existing and future drinking water regulations, provide quality water with improved technology, and function as a safe facility. Due to the many complex issues to be reviewed and evaluated, it was decided to come back to Town Meeting in April 2003 to request approval of finding of improvements to the facility. ARTICLE 1 - The following 128/93 Interchange Report was given by Camille Anthony: - 10- Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002 On October 24, 2002, Pete Hechenbleikner and I met with three members of the MHD Planning Department with regards to the set up of a new Task Force to implement a feasibility study for the 128/93 interchange. We discussed the paramount concerns of the Town of Reading and how we felt we needed to be involved. MHD has designated a Task Force and has requested that the Town of Reading appoint four individuals. The Board of Selectmen has determined that the slots will be filled with two Selectmen, one member of the CPDC, and a citizen who is a member of the 128/93 ad hoc committee. The first meeting will be November 21, 2002. ARTICLE 1 - The following Status of the Sale of the Landfill was given by Matthew Cummings: We are pleased to report that the landfill closure plan has been approved by the Department of Environmental Protection. It is being reviewed an incorporated into the complete closing process. We had anticipated a closing for today, however, when one takes into account, the deed preparations, the purchase and sales together with the various amendments, the closure plan, the various parties and complexity of the transaction, etc., it was determined to take the extra few days required to make sure all is in order. The Town of Reading has received the building pen-nit application for the main building, the complex that will house both Home Depot and Jordan's Furniture together with the building fees. Under Article 2 this evening, the Board of Selectmen will ask for an instructional motion, to extend the closing deadline from June 30, 2002 until December 31, 2002. Further, to provide information for future action, the Board of Selectmen wanted Town Meeting to be aware that there will need to be a Special Town Meeting to, among other items that may come before it, authorize the establishment of an Enterprise Fund to receive the proceeds from the closing, $3,000,000 which will be released to the Sale of Real Estate Account as certain tmilestornes of the actual landfill closing are completed; and to receive the annual monitoring fee of $40,000 from which the Town will pay incurred expenses for monitoring as required by the DEP and provided for in the purchase and sales agreement. I would anticipate offering, at that Special Town Meeting, a final report. ARTICLE 1 - On motion by Camille W. Anthony, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, it was moved to table the subject matter of Article 1. ARTICLE 2 - On motion by Camille W. Anthony, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, it was voted to amend the motion made under Article 10 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of April 14, 1997, as amended by motion under Article 24 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of April 12, 1999 and as further amended under Article 7 of the September 11, 2000 Special Town Meeting, which as amended authorized the conveyance or lease of the Reading landfill and provided that such authorization would expire unless the conveyance has taken place or a lease has been entered into by June 30, 2002 unless further extended by Town Meeting, by deleting the date "June 30, 2002" and substituting therefore the date "December 31, 2002". - 11 - Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002 On motion by William C. Brown, Precinct 8, it was moved to amend Article 2 by substituting "December 31, 2002" with "June 30, 2003." Motion to amend did not carry. ARTICLE 2 - On motion by Camille W. Anthony, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, it was moved to table the subject matter of Article 2. ARTICLE 3 - On motion by Richard W. Schubert, it was voted to indefinitely postpone the subject matter of Article 3. ARTICLE 4 - On motion by Richard W. Schubert, it was voted to indefinitely postpone the subject matter of Article 4. ARTICLE 5 - On motion by Richard W. Schubert, it was voted to indefinitely postpone the subject matter of Article 5. ARTICLE 6 - On motion by Camille W. Anthony, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, it was voted to raise by borrowing, in anticipation of reimbursement from the State under Chapter 44, Section 6, Massachusetts General Laws, or pursuant to any other enabling authority or from the tax levy, the sum of $154,249.41 for highway projects in accordance with Chapter. 90, Massachusetts General Laws. 2/3 vote required 154 voted in the affirmative - 0 - voted in the negative ARTICLE 6 - On motion by Camille W. Anthony, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, it was voted to raise by borrowing, in anticipation of reimbursement from the State under Chapter 44, Section 6, Massachusetts General Laws, or pursuant to any other enabling authority or from the tax levy, the Slim of $307,424.84 for highway projects in accordance with Chapter 90, Massachusetts General Laws. 2/3 vote required 154 voted in the affirmative - 0 - voted in the negative ARTICLE 7 - On motion by Camille W. Anthony, Chainnan of the Board of Selectmen, it was voted to indefinitely postpone the subject matter of Article 7. - ARTICLE 8 - On motion by Gail F. Wood, it was voted to establish a revolving fiend under Chapter 44 Section 53E1/2 of the General Laws for the purpose of using the receipts generated from the issuance of Building, Plumbing and Gas, and Wiring Pen-nits for the development of the Walkers Brook Crossing development to pay the costs of oversight and inspection of the - 12- Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002 development on that site, said fund to be administered by the Town Manager, and to authorize - expenditures not exceeding $183,000 during Fiscal Year 2003. ARTICLE 9 - On motion by Gail F. Wood, it was voted to indefinitely postpone the subject matter of Article 9. ARTICLE 10 - On motion by William J. Griset, member of the School Committee, it was voted to authorize the Board of Selectmen, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 45, Section 14, to transfer to the School Committee by lease, of at least the minimum duration required by the state Department of Education, under such terms and conditions as are deemed appropriate by the Board of Selectmen, the care, custody, management and control of such portions of the playground land and buildings located at the Birch Meadow Playground, as delineated in a survey approved by the Board of Selectmen, as are needed to achieve the maximum state reimbursement for a school building construction project. On motion by Frederick Van Magness, Precinct 8, it was moved to indefinitely postpone the subject matter of Article 10. Motion to indefinitely postpone did not cagy. On motion by Michael F. Slezak, Precinct 6, it was voted to move the question. 2/3 vote required 101 voted in the affirmative 45 voted in the negative ARTICLE 11 - On motion by Clayton Jones, Chairman of the Historical Commission, it was voted to accept the donation of $20,000 plus other future donations that may be made to establish an Historical Commission Preservation Trust Fund for special projects under guidelines established by the Reading Historical Commission that will help to preserve the Town's historical and architectural assets for public purposes. The principal and/or interest on such funds are to be expended by the Reading Historical Commission and administered by the Town of Reading Commissioners of Trust Funds. ARTICLE 12 - On motion by Jonathan E. Barnes, member of the Community Planning and Development Commission, it was voted, pursuant to Section 5.8.1 of the Bylaws of the Town of Reading, to designate South Street from Walnut Street on the east to the westerly boundary of plat 2 lot 5 as a scenic road. On motion by Jonathan E. Barnes it was moved to amend Articte 12 by deleting lot "5" and replacing with lot "3" Amendment carries. ARTICLE 13 - On motion by Jonathan E. Barnes, Community Planning and Development Commission, it was voted, pursuant to Section 5.8.1 of the Bylaws of the Town of Reading, to - 13 - Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002 designate Walnut Street (AKA Walnut Street Extension) from Pine Ridge Road on the east to its dead end at Route 128/93 on the west as a scenic road. Andrew K. Herlihy requested a point of information to find out the dates of the possible town meetings dates this winter. Response was possibly December 9"'. ARTICLE 2 - On motion by Camille W. Anthony, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, it was moved to remove Article 2 from the table. ARTICLE 2 - On motion by David Lautman, Precinct 4, it was moved that Town Meeting instruct the Board of Selectmen to provide the School Committee the funds to level staff the elementary, middle and high schools. If the funds cannot be made available within the current Town Revenue, the Selectmen are instructed to place an override before the Town at an election in April 2003. Motion carries. On motion by Camille W. Anthony, Chainnan of the Board of Selectmen, it was voted that this Subsequent Town Meeting stand adjourned sine die. Meeting adjourned at 10:32 p.m. 160 Town Meeting Members were present. A true copy. Attest: Cheryl . Johnson Town lerk - 14- Subsequent Town Meeting November 12, 2002