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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-04-24 Special Town Meeting Minutes344 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 13, 1989 borrowing, as provided for under Chapter 44, Sections 7(3A) of the General Laws or any other enabling authority, the sum of One Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($175,000) for the purpose of reconstruction, remodeling, renovation, or making extraordi- nary repairs to the High School for use as general offices of the School Department, including the office of the Superintendent of Schools, and including all costs incidental and related thereto; all monies to be expended under the direction of the Reading School Committee. 114 voted in the affirmative 6 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 12. On motion of George J. Shannon, it was voted that the Town appropriate and raise by borrowing as provided un- der Chapter 44, Section 7(3A) of the General Laws or any other enabling authority, the sum One Hundred Ninety-Five Thousand Dol- lars ($195,000) for the purpose of initiating compliance with the requirements of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response act; such appropriation to include all engineering and industrial hygiene fees and all costs for making extraordinary repairs to remove as- bestos from the Reading Public Schools as described as Priority 1 in the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act Management Plan for Reading Public Schools; all monies to be expended under the direction of the Reading School Committee. 96 voted in the affirmative 1 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required A quorum call was requested by John R. Rivers, Town Meeting - Member, Precinct 8. 102 Town Meeting Members were present. I ARTICLE 13. On motion of John H. Russell, it-was voted that the subject matter of Article 13 be tabled. ARTICLE 14. On motion of Daniel A. Ensminger, it was voted to table Article 14. On motion of William C. Brown, it was voted that this meet- ing stand adjourned. On motion of Paul C. Dustin, it was voted this meeting stand adjourned until after Special Town Meeting. Meeting adjourned 10:35 P.M. 120 Town Meeting Members were present. A true copy. Attest: Doris M. Fantasia Town Clerk SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 24, 1989 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Paul C. Dustin, at 7:45 P.M., there being a quorum present. The Invocation was given by Reverend Ronald L. St. Pierre of Saint Agnes Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 345 Special Town Meeting 704. April 24, 1989 Moderator, Paul C. Dustin, recognized members of Scout Troop "Tonight we have members of Scout Troop 704 with their As- sistant Scoutmasters, John Humphrey and Bill Coveney. These young men are working on their citizenship in the community. This is one of the requirements for an Eagle Scout, which Reading has so very many to be proud of." The warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk, Doris M. Fantasia, when on motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted to dispense with further reading of the warrant, except for the _ Officer's Return, which was then read by the Town Clerk. Russell T. Graham presented the following Resolution to Les and Irene York. Resolution Honoring Les And Irene York WHEREAS a Community reflects itself through the conduct and good works of its people; and WHEREAS Les and Irene York have, through their unfailing devotion to the activities of the Youth of Read- ing, demonstrated all that is good and decent in our society; and WHEREAS Les and Irene York, through their work with Scouts of Reading, through their attendance at sporting activities and other school functions, through their never compromising fight against the abuses of drugs and alcohol, have consistently and un- failingly exemplified to that youth and to all of us the highest degree of good citizenship. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Meeting assembled on April 24, 1989 that we express on behalf of the people of Read- ing our appreciation and deep gratitude for their outstanding contributions to Reading. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be presented to 'Les and Irene York as a permanent reminder of the high esteem and special affection with which they are held by their fellow citizens of Reading. Paul C. Dustin Moderator ARTICLE 1. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted to table Article 1. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted to table Article 2. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Mary S. Ziegler, it was voted that the subject matter of Article 3 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 4. On motion of Donald C. Allen, as amended by John W. Price, it was unanimously voted that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to file a petition to the General Court for a special act providing essentially as follows: "Section 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section sixty-three of chapter forty-four of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the Town of Reading is hereby authorized to establish a special fund for the proceeds from the sale of real estate received;° after March 1, 1989. .The town treasurer shall be the custodian of such funds and shall invest such funds in the manner authorized by sections fifty-five, fifty-five A and fifty-five B of chapter forty-four of the 346 Special Town Meeting April 24, 1989 General Laws. Investment income or proceeds received from any in- vestment of funds shall be credited to and become part of the special fund. The special fund may be appropriated by a 2/3 vote at any town meeting to provide funding for capital projects or for the retirement of the debt service related to capital projects of bonds issued after November 1, 1988, or to provide funding for the unfunded pension liability. Section 2. In accordance with the agreement between the Town of Reading and Homart Development Company for the sale of the Town's former landfill site the Town is authorized to establish an in- demnity fund in the amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) from the proceeds of the sale for the indemnification of poten- tial hazardous waste issues which may require the future expendi- ture of monies. Use of the monies in the indemnity fund shall be in accordance with the agreement, including the power of expendi- ture by the Board of Selectmen without appropriation by Town Meeting. The investment income and any part of the principal of the indemnity fund released to the Town shall be added to and be- come part of the special fund authorized in section 1 hereof for the proceeds of the sale of real estate received after March 1, 1989. Section 3. Any proceeds from the sale of real estate received after March 1, 1989 shall, as appropriate, be transferred to either the special fund authorized by Section 1 hereof or the in- demnity fund authorized by Section 2 hereof upon the effective date of this act." ARTICLE 2. On motion of John W. Price, it was voted to take Article 2 from the table. ARTICLE 2. On motion of John W. Price, it was voted that the Board of Selectmen be and are hereby instructed to bring an article to the Fall Town Meeting that will remove the balance from the Real Estate Account and put that amount in the fund that was established under Article 4 of the Special Town Meeting dated April 24, 1989; and that the Finance Committee or the maker of any motion in the Annual Town Meeting highlight any monies to be spent from the existing Real Estate Fund. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Virginia M. Adams, it was voted that the Moderator appoint an advisory committee to oversee the plans and construction of the Town Hall/former library rehabilitation and connector. Said committee to be composed of five Town Meeting Members. 73 voted in the affirmative 50 voted in the negative ARTICLE 2. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted to table Article 2. ARTICLE 5. On motion of Elizabeth W. Klepeis, it was voted that the Town appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Twenty- Five Thousand Three Hundred Eighty-Four ($225,384) to Health In- surance from the following: the sum of One Hundred Eighty Thousand Three Hundred Eighty- Four Dollars ($180,384) from Certified Free Cash the sum of Thirty-five Thousand Dollars ($35,000) from Water Surplus the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) from Sewer Surplus ARTICLE 6. On motion of Elizabeth W. Klepeis, it was voted that the Town appropriate the sum of Thirteen Thousand Dollars ($13,000) from Certified Free Cash to Medicare. 347 Special Town Meeting April 24, 1989 . ARTICLE 7. On motion of Robert I. Nordstrand, it was voted that the Town appropriate the sum of Twelve Thousand Dol- lars ($12,000) from Certified Free Cash to the Board of Assessors for appraisal services. ARTICLE 8. On motion of Elizabeth W. Klepeis, it was voted that the Town appropriate the sum of Fifty-Six Thousand One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($56,150) from Certified Free Cash to Street Lighting. ARTICLE 9. On motion of Elizabeth W. Klepeis, it was voted that the Town appropriate the sum of One Hundred Forty Thousand Five Dollars ($140,005) from Certified Free Cash to Long Term Debt Service. ARTICLE 10. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted that the Town appropriate the sum of Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars ($35,000) to Public Works for asbestos abatement as follows: the sum of Two Thousand Four Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars and Three Cents ($2,425.03) from the Stabilization Fund the sum of Two Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty-One Dollars and Thirty-Eight Cents ($2,731.38) from the bond balance of the completed Coolidge Middle School roof (1985 ATM Art. 26) the sum of Four Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety-Four Dollars and Fifty-Eight Cents ($4,894.58) from the bond balance of the completed Barrows School roof (1987 ATM Art. 17) the sum of Seventeen Thousand Nine Hundred Forty-Nine Dol- lars and One Cent ($17,949.01) from Certified Free Cash the sum of Seven Thousand Dollars ($7,000) from Water Surplus. ARTICLE 11. On motion of Mary S. Ziegler, it was voted that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to file a petition to the General Court for a special act providing essentially as follows: "Section 1. Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 32B of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the Town shall provide to retirees and their de- pendents the schedule of health benefits provided for active employees and their dependents and required to be continued under Section 9 of Chapter 32B pursuant to a procedure whereby the Board of Selectmen may determine from time to time: (a) the claims experience for retired employees and their dependents separately and apart from the claims experience applicable to active employees and their dependents and the premiums for coverage of retirees and their dependents may be calculated apart from the premiums for coverage of active employees and their dependents; or (b) the claims experience for retired employees and their dependents may be made a part of the overall claims ex- perience including active and retired employees and their dependents and so called "blended" premiums may be calcu- lated therefrom. Section 2. When blended premiums or rates for coverage of ac- tive and retired employees and their dependents are calculated, the Town's percentage contribution toward the monthly premium cost or rate for coverage of retirees and their dependents may exceed, but shall not be less than, the Town's percentage con- tribution toward the monthly premium cost or rate for coverage of active employees and their dependents. Section 3. When the premiums for coverage of retirees and their dependents are calculated apart from the premiums for coverage of active employees and their dependents, the Town's percentage con 348 Special Town Meeting April 24, 1989 tribution toward the monthly premium cost or rate for coverage of retirees and their dependents may exceed the Town's percentage contribution toward the monthly premium cost or rate for coverage of active employees and their dependents, provided, however, in no event shall the monthly payment by retirees toward the total monthly premium cost or rate for coverage of retirees and their dependents exceed the amount paid by active employees toward the total monthly premium cost or rate for coverage of active employees and their dependents. Section 4. The Board of Selectmen may choose what method of calculating claims experience and premiums to use for any year and may change the method used in any subsequent year." 94 voted in the affirmative 7 voted in the negative ARTICLE 12. On motion of Mary S. Ziegler, it was voted that the Town accept the provisions of the General Laws 32B, Sec- tion 9E which permits the Town to pay more than 50 percent of the premium cost for health and certain other insurance for retirees and their dependents. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted that this Spe- cial Town Meeting stand adjourned to meet at 7:30 P.M. on Thursday, May 11, 1989, at Reading Memorial High School. Meeting adjourned 11:05 P.M. 98 Town Meeting Members were present. A true copy. Attest: &~C, 4."T, frcCc. Doris M. Fantasia Town Clerk I ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 27, 1989 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Paul C. Dustin, at 8:01 P.M., there being a quorum present. The Invocation was given by Reverend Harold W. Garbarino of the Church of the Good Shepherd, followed by the Pledge of Al- legiance to the flag. ARTICLE 15. On motion of Elizabeth W. Klepeis, it was voted that the Town rescind the remaining bond authorization for the purpose of replacing the roof of the Hawkes Field House in the amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) authorized by Ar- ticle 12 at the Annual Town Meeting of 1988. ARTICLE 16. On motion of John H. Russell, it was voted that the Town appropriate from free cash to Public Works non- personal expenses the sum of Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000) to fund the removal of subsurface contaminants located at the former Department of Public Works garage. ARTICLE 17. On motion of John H. Russell, it was voted that the Town appropriate from Water Surplus to Public Works Water- Capital the sum of Thirty-Five Thousand ($35,000) for the purpose of making improvements to the water system, including subsurface investigation and testing and the installation of wells, pipes, fittings, equipment, and related facilities. ARTICLES 18 - 26. On motion of Russell T. Graham, it was voted to table Articles 18 - 26.