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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-11-10 Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant ReportTown of Reading Massachusetts Report on the Warrant Subsequent Town Meeting November 10, 2003 SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING NOVEMBER 10, 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS Article Title Sponsor Page # _ 1 Reports Board of Selectmen 2 2 Instructions Board of Selectmen 2,3 3 Amend Capital Improvements Program Board of Selectmen 3 FY 2004 - FY2013 4 Authorizing Payment of Prior Years Bills Board of Selectmen 3,4 5 Amend the FY 2004 Budget Finance Committee 4 6 Establishing a Stabilization Fund Finance Committee 4,5 7 Authorizing Debt - Chapter 90 Board of Selectmen 5,6 8 Approving Sidewalks on Franklin Street Board of Selectmen 6,7 subject to Capital Exclusion 9 Amending previous Debt Authorization to School Committee 7 Transfer Debt for RMHS Schematics to RMHS Project 10 Amending Previous Debt Authorization to School Committee 8,9 Transfer some of "New" Elementary School Debt to Barrows School Project 11 Authorizing Debt - Design of Water Board of Selectmen 9 Treatment Plant 12 Authorizing Debt - Buy-In to MWRA Board of Selectmen 10 13 Authorizing Debt - Birch Meadow 20" Board of Selectmen 10,11 Water Main Replacement 14 Charter Amendment re: Residency for Board of Selectmen 12 Members of Boards, Committees and Commissions 15 Amend Reading General Bylaws regarding Board of Selectmen 12,13 Disposal of Surplus Property Article Title Sponsor Page # 16 Amend Section 5.5.4.2 regarding Smoking in Public Buildings Board of Health 13,14 17 Accepting Section 116 of Chapter 46 - Early Retirement Incentive RMLB 14 18 Zoning Amendment -6.3.1.1 regarding Continuation of Non-Conforming Structures CPDC 15 APPENDIX 1 Finance Committee Report 17-31 11 Proposed Improvements to Louanis Water Treatment Plant 32-41 Maps - Articles 8, 11, 13 42-45 Conduct of Town Meeting 46-52 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. Officer's Return, Reading: By virtue of this Warrant, I, onoctober 2, 2003 notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote on Town affairs, to meet at the place and 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 10, 2003, 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 15, 2003. . A;? es Jr. table A true copy. Attest: heryl J ohnson, own Clerk Y 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 Monday, November 10, 2003, 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 Officer, Board or Special Committee. Board of Selectmen Background: This Article appears on the Warrant for all Town Meetings. At this Subsequent Town Meeting, reports are expected on the following: s RMLD "State of the Light Department" Report e Superintendent of Schools Report on the "State of the Schools" ♦ Status of the Landfill ♦ FINCOM Report on the status of the Town's finances Finance Committee Report: Material on the Finance Committee's review of short and long range financial issues is attached in the Appendix to this report. Bylaw Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 2 To choose Committees and determine what Committees, and to see what st available funds, or otherwise, an( and Special Committees to carry action with respect thereto. all other necessary Town Officers and Special instructions shall be given Town Officers and Special m the Town will raise by borrowing or transfer from appropriate for the purpose of funding Town Officers out the instructions given to them, or take any other Board of Selectmen Background: This Article appears on the Warrant for every Town Meeting. There are no known instructions to be given under this Article at this time. 2 Finance Committee Report: No report. Bylaw Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 3 To see if the Town will vote to amend the FY 2004 - FY 2013, 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 Background: Three amendments to the FY 2004 - FY 2013 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) will be required in order for Town Meeting to be able to consider action on Articles at this Subsequent Town Meeting: ♦ Article 8 proposes to fund sidewalks on Franklin Street west of Main in the amount of $250,000 as a Capital Exclusion. This would require that this project be placed on the CIP. ♦ Article 10 proposes the "transfer' of debt authorization from the "new" elementary school to the Barrow School project. This will require that the Barrows School project be added back onto the CIP in the amount of the proposed new authorization. ♦ Article 13 proposes to fund the construction of a replacement to the water main in the Birch Meadow Area. This project is not on the CIP and would need to be added. Other water distribution projects are on the CIP. The revised Capital Improvements Program with changes will be distributed at Town Meeting. Finance Committee Report: The Finance Committee unanimously recommends the above amendments to the Capital Improvements Program, and reminds Town Meeting that the subject matter of these Articles cannot be considered by Town Meeting unless they are on the CIP. Placement on the CIP does not, by itself, authorize debt or capital expenditures. Such debt authorization or capital expenditure would require further action by Town Meeting under the appropriate Article. Bylaw Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 4 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the payment during Fiscal Year 2003 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 Background: There are no known prior year's bills and it is, therefore, expected that this Article will be indefinitely postponed. Finance Committee Report: No report. 3 Bylaw Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 5 To see if the Town will vote to amend one or more of the votes taken under Article 13 of the April 28, 2003 Annual Town Meeting relating to the Fiscal Year 2004 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. Finance Committee Background: There are several amendments to the FY made at this time prior to the setting of the FY 2004 tax rate ♦ Vocational School District ♦ Property and Casualty Insurance ♦ Debt Service (RMHS Schematics) ♦ FINCOM Professional Development ♦ Rubbish (savings in bulk coll.) s Rubbish (Compost and Christmas Trees) Subtotal 2004 Budget which should be . They include: -$132,913 + $64000 +$156,000 + $750 - $15,000 + $3.200 1+ $76,037 In addition, it appears that the "new growth" element of the property tax will be approximately $50,000 more than initial estimates. Therefore, the necessary adjustments may be made, and funds will still be available to place a substantial amount in the Stabilization Fund under Article 6., Finance Committee Report: The Finance Committe animously recommends the subject matter of this. Article in the amount of $76 037 These are known budget adjustments that should be made at this time before sett he tax rate. Bylaw Committee Report: No, report. ARTICLE 6 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 513 of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, or take any other action with respect thereto. Finance Committee Background: The Town received approximately $700,000 more than expected in State Aid for Fiscal 2004. The available funds could be used to fund other additional expenditures for Fiscal 2004, or to fund a Stabilization Fund. The Town could also use these funds to reduce the tax rate. By appropriating money from the FY 2004 Budget into an unrestricted Stabilization Fund, the Town reserves money from which Town Meeting can appropriate at a future date. A Stabilization Fund is basically a Town savings account. The Stabilization Fund could be used to fund future "budget busters" such as reduced State aid, debt service for 4 the schools within the tax levy (Barrows and the new elementary school), health insurance costs, funding of the unfunded pension liability, SPED, trash collection, energy costs and deferred capital equipment. Establishing' a Stabilization Fund satisfies one of the negative comments of Moody's Investors' Services when they lowered the Town's bond rating in January, 2003. The Town is attempting to reinstate its Aa1 rating when we sell bonds in January, 2004. Establishing a Stabilization Fund at the November Town Meeting would lend credibility to the argument that the Town's finances have improved since January, 2003 in part due to the Town's discipline in increasing its reserves. A $700,000 Stabilization Fund would increase our reserves to 4.6 % of the general fund budget, reversing the drop in the Town's reserves to 2% last year. Given the uncertain financial climate and the enormity of potential budget busters, however, it would be hard to continue the level of service which taxpayers supported in the FY 2004 general override vote without a source of extra revenues which these funds represent. Establishment of a Stabilization Fund takes a 2/3 vote of Town Meeting. Appropriating money from a Stabilization Fund for future appropriations also takes a 2/3 vote of Town Meeting. The Board of Selectmen has recommended the establishment of a Stabilization Fund. According to a 2002 MA Department of Revenue report, only 17 of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts do not have a Stabilization Fund. Finance Committee Report: The Finance Committee. recommends the establishment of a Stabilization Fund, using the one time available revenues because State Aid actual amounts were higher than estimated when the budget was set. Given the current financial situation and the outlook over the next several years, there will be no opportunities to set up such a fund in the foreseeable future, and the need for such a fund will be great if the Town is to maintain services as residents recently voted. Outside bond rating houses strongly recommend Stabilization Funds, and Reading is hoping to have the Moody's bond rating restored to Aa1. The effect on future sales of debt for the High School and elementary school projects could be- negatively affected if the Town is not successful in getting the bond rating restored. Bylaw Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 7 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 Background: The Town annually requests that this Article be approved by Town Meeting so that the Town has the ability to move forward with planning for future year's road projects. Although this Article asks for debt authorization, debt has never had to be sold under this Article. The allocation for Reading recently released by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $306,431. The funds will be expended in accordance with the Capital Improvements Program and the Pavement Management Program. Finance Committee Report: The Finance Committee unanimously recommends the subject matter of this Article. This is a standard request and is important to the Town so that planning can continue on implementation of the roads program. The Town has never had to actually sell the debt under this Article. Bylaw Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 8 To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or transfer from available funds or otherwise and appropriate for the purpose of designing and constructing sidewalks, curbing, and related improvements on Franklin Street west of Main Street and on abutting streets as necessary for the purpose of providing pedestrian access to the new elementary school being constructed at the end of Sunset Rock Lane, provided that any appropriation subject to this Article shall be contingent upon the passage of a capital exclusion referendum question under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59; Section 21 C within 90 days of the close of this Subsequent Town Meeting, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background: This project was placed on the ballot for a Special Election last Winter at the same time that additional funding for the new elementary school on Sunset Rock Lane was before the voters. The voters approved the additional funding for the school which allowed that project to move forward. The voters did not approve the sidewalk project. With the construction of the new school, the construction of the sidewalk becomes imperative. This Article, if approved by Town Meeting, will authorize a capital expenditure in the amount of $250,000 to construct sidewalks on Franklin Street between Main and Grove, and on side streets as may be necessary to access the new elementary school. The Town Meeting vote will be subject to approval of capital exclusion by the voters at the Town Election on March 2, 2004. The cost to the average household would be a one-time expense of less than $30. The intent will be to have the sidewalk construction complete by the time the new elementary school is ready to open in the Fall of 2004. The Board of Selectmen has agreed to hold a public hearing on the project in the neighborhood in which it is to be built, after Town Meeting (if Town Meeting approves it) and prior to the vote on March 2nd. 6 Finance Committee Report: The Finance Committee recommends the subject matter of this Article. This matter was previously placed before the voters on the same election as the one where the additional elementary school funding and the High School funding were approved as debt exclusions. The sidewalk funding was not approved at that time. What has changed since then is that the "new" elementary school is now under construction and will be in operation in the Fall of 2004. Approval of this Article by Town Meeting will give the voters the opportunity to again consider this project. If approved by the voters, the Town will have as much of the project completed before the start of school as possible. Bylaw Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 9 To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Twenty Three Thousand Five Hundred Sixty Five Dollars and Sixty Seven Cents ($23,565.67), which represents the balance remaining from the development of schematic designs of the Reading Memorial High School (Article 4, April 25, 2002) for the purpose of making extraordinary repairs and/or additions to the Reading Memorial High School and said sum to be expended under the direction of the School Committee, or take any other action with respect thereto. School Committee Background: When the Town borrowed $450,000 in January, 2003 to fund the appropriation for schematic drawings for the High School, it was projected by the School Building Committee and architect that the full amount would be expended. When all bills for schematic drawings were submitted, and the School Building Committee disbanded in the Spring of 2003, there remained $23,565.67 unexpended of the $450,000 borrowed. Federal Law requires that these borrowed funds be expended within a certain timetable, or the Town will be subject to fines. State Law (Chapter 44, Section 20) provides that borrowed funds remaining after a project is completed may be used for any purposes for which a loan may be incurred for an equal or longer period of time than that for which the original loan, including temporary debt, was issued. This Article calls for the appropriation of the $23,565.67 to the High School building project which is an ongoing project meeting the criteria cited in the law. Finance Committee Report: The Finance Committee voted 7-0 in favor of this Article to allow the appropriation of the remaining balance originally approved for the development of the RMHS schematic designs to be used for the purpose of making repairs or.additions to the RMHS construction project. The primary influencing factor in the decision is that the full amount estimated for the schematics has already been borrowed and State law precludes their return or use to reduce debt service. The borrowed funds are required to be used within a set period of time and must be used for a purpose related to their original intent. Bylaw Committee Report: No report. 7 ARTICLE 10 To see what sum the Town will vote to raise by borrowing under - Chapter 44, Sections 7 (3) and 7 (3A) or Chapter 70B of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or pursuant to any other enabling authority and appropriate for the purpose of constructing an addition, remodeling, reconstructing and- making extraordinary repairs to the Alice M. Barrows School on Edgemont Avenue, including the costs of original furnishings and equipment, landscaping, paving, and other site improvements, engineering and architectural fees, plans, and specifications, inspections fees, relocation costs, contingencies, and related expenses incidental thereto and necessary in connection therewith, said sum to be expended by and under the direction of the School Committee as an addition to, and in conjunction with, the sum authorized by vote under Article 5 of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting of December 7, 1998, and Article 12 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of April 24, 2000; and that the Town vote to authorize the School Committee to file applications for a grant or grants to be used to defray all or any part of the cost of said school renovations and addition and related matters; and that the Town vote to authorize the School Committee to enter into all contracts and agreements as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article. Further, to see what authorized but unissued amount the Town will vote to rescind from the authorization for the new elementary school approved on November 15, 1999 under Article 14 in the amount of $9,100,000, or take any other action with respect thereto. School Committee Background: The School Committee is planning to proceed with the renovation of and addition to Barrows School during Fiscal 2005 while the Barrows students are housed elsewhere. Bids for the project are being sought late in 2003. Original appropriations for the Barrows project were made in December, 1998 ($6,585,000) and April, 2000 ($515,000). There is a concern that these debt authorizations may not be sufficient due to inflation in `building costs since original plans were made. Therefore, the School Committee has placed this Article on the Warrant. Funding of bonding projects through the tax levy has become more difficult as budgets have tightened. Therefore, this Article proposes to rescind an amount of the authorized but unissued debt appropriated on November 15, 1999 ($9,100,000) for the new elementary school at Sunset Rock. The amount rescinded from the new school appropriation is proposed to be equal to the amount of additional debt authorized for Barrows. To date, debt on the new school has been issued in the amount of $7,300,000, leaving $1,800,000 unissued. This action does not involve the $2,500,000 appropriation for the new .elementary school which was approved by the voters as a debt exclusion on February 25, 2003. Finance Committee Report: The Finance Committee did not make a recommendation on this Article. They are concerned that there are still too many unknowns on both of the elementary school projects. The Finance Committee does not object in concept to rescinding authorized but unneeded debt on the new school project, and does not necessarily object to authorization of needed additional debt on the Barrows project. The Finance Committee would like to see the actual bids for the Barrows project, a projection of the total costs on the new school project including the cost of the construction manager, and then be able to make an informed recommendation to Town Meeting. In order to accomplish this, the FINCOM would like to consider having a Special C 8 Town Meeting after bids are received for the Barrows project. The Town Meeting would have to be held quickly since the bids are only valid for 30 days, but the FINCOM is assured that a Special Town Meeting can be held within this time frame and at minimal cost. Bylaw Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 11 To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for the purpose of making improvements to the Louanis Water Treatment Plant and related facilities by construction of a new ,facility and/or renovation of the existing facility, including the costs of engineering services, plans, documents, cost estimates, bidding services 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 water system 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, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background: The Executive Summary of the "Louanis Water Treatment Plant Feasibility Study," completed by CDM, Inc. in cooperation with Town of Reading Department of Public Works staff is included in the Appendix to this report and details the work done and recommendations on this project. The total amount requested at this time is $1,500,000 for the design of this project. Authorization for construction funding will be requested at a later date once the design is complete and more definitive construction cost estimates are available. Finance Committee Report: The Finance Committee recommends the subject matter of this Article, and would consider a similar process to what is recommended under Article 10 in having a Special Town Meeting at a later date once bids are taken on construction of the new Water Treatment Plant. This project, along with the buy-in to the MWRA (Article 12) and water conservation efforts are all part of a well coordinated program.to assure the Town of adequate and safe water supply into the future. The costs are high but there are no real alternatives. The cost of the capital and the future operating costs have been projected over the next 10 years. They will result in an increase in water and sewer rates of up to 5% per year. Bylaw Committee Report: No report. 9 ARTICLE 12 To see if the Town will vote to apply for admission to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Water System to receive from Massachusetts Water Resources Authority a supply of a supplemental public water supply in accordance with Chapter 372 of the Acts of 1984 of the Commonwealth; and to see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for the payment of entrance fees, costs of connection and other expenses for the same; and to see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen, acting as Water Commissioners, to take such actions necessary or required to apply for admission to and to receive a supplemental public water supply from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Water System, including, without limitation, filing legislation, payment of applicable fees and charges, and entering into an agreement with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority as may be required or necessary to receive a supply of water at prevailing rates charged by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to communities in its water supply system, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background: The Town is applying to purchase an average of 600,000 gallons per day, a maximum yearly total of 219 million gallons. The water would actually be used during typical low flows in the Ipswich River and normal high demands by our water users - May through October. The Town of Reading submitted the Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) to MEPA on September 15, 2003. Comments are due on the Final EIR on. October 24, 2003, a decision is due on October 31, 2003. We must also get approval from the Water Resources Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection, the MWRA Advisory Board, the General Court, the Governor, and ultimately the MWRA Board of Directors. Approval from Town Meeting must be received prior to these approvals. It is anticipated that the completion of the admission process and approval will be completed by April, 2004. We are requesting approval for application of admission to the MWRA water works system at this Town Meeting at a cost of $3.18 Million. We have developed a financing plan for this and all water and sewer related expenses over'a 10 year period. The cost of the MWRA water system service will be financed over a 10 year period - the present borrowing rate through the MWRA is 4.06%. The Town has committed $160,300 to the` project. We have expended approximately $135,000 to date. Finance Committee Report: The Finance Committee recommends this Article. Combined with Article 11, the Town will be assured of a good safe water supply for the future. There will be assistance from developers to help with the cost of the buy-in, but these contributions will be used on a case by case basis to offset the annual cost of the debt service for this project. Bylaw Committee Report: No report. ARTICLE 13 To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for the purpose of constructing a replacement 20 inch diameter water main extending approximately from Bancroft Avenue at the intersection of Hartshorn Street, northerly to approximately the intersection of Forest 10 Street and Colburn Road, including the cost of engineering services,. plans, documents, cost estimates, bidding services 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 water system 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, or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background: The Department of Public Works is proposing to replace an existing 20" diameter cast iron water main from the intersection of Colburn Road and Forest Street to the intersection of Hartshorn Street and Bancroft Avenue, a total distance of 2600'. This is a portion of the main distribution feeder from the Louanis Water Treatment Plant to the Town's 12" diameter loop main located at the intersection of Salem Street and Main Street. The main was constructed in the early 1960's and the material is cast iron pipe. From 1979 to 2003, there have been a total of seven breaks within the area proposed for replacement. One break within Colburn Road was caused by blasting of ledge near the water main. A second break which occurred on Arthur B. Lord Drive was due to the fact that there was improper bedding as the pipe was laying on a piece of ledge. The other five breaks have occurred within Birch Meadow Park and the section of Bancroft Avenue from the intersection of Hartshorn Street to the dead end. We recently had a consulting engineer look at two sections of pipe from recent breaks, and he indicated that it appeared to be a classic example of corrosion. He explained that because the pipe was resting on clay and there was mixed fill around the top and sides of the pipe, these conditions would lead to the corrosion of the bottom of the pipe. The area of the pipe in contact with the clay would actually lose iron molecules to the surrounding soil and only the carbon in the cast iron would be left, weakening the bottom of the pipe. The five water main breaks within the park and the dead end section of Bancroft Avenue were in areas of similar soil materials and the breaks were along the bottom of the pipe. The proposed replacement piping would also be 20" diameter made of ductile iron material. This material is much stronger than cast iron pipe and would be wrapped in plastic to create a barrier between the pipe exterior and surrounding soils. The pipe would also be constructed on acceptable pipe bedding and acceptable materials. The Department will also be working with the School Department to relocate the water main in order to keep it outside the proposed athletic field locations. The plan is to complete the installation of the 20 water main by April 1, 2004 so as to not interfere with any staging areas that may be used during the construction of the High School, and to complete our work prior to scheduled Spring use of the athletic facilities within the park. At this time, we do not have an estimated cost for the project. However, we will have the estimate in time for action by the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee prior to Town Meeting. Finance Committee Report: Action pending. The Finance Committee will report more fully at Town Meeting when we have an estimated price for the project. ( ) Bylaw Committee Report: No report. 11 ARTICLE 14 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Reading Home Rule Charter by adding a new Section 8-17 as follows: "All members of multiple member bodies, whether elected or appointed, and all individuals appointed to unpaid positions by the Board of Selectmen, shall be residents of the Town and shall only be qualified to serve as such for the period in which they reside in the Town. Any such member and/or individual who no longer resides in the Town shall be deemed to have vacated his/her position. Any member of a multiple member body and any individual appointed to an unpaid position by the Board of Selectmen who intends to change his/her residency to outside the Town shall immediately notify the Town Clerk in writing of such change." or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen Background: A couple of years ago, .a member of one of. Reading's Boards moved from the Town of Reading and continued to serve on the Boardfor several months until his term expired. A review by Town Counsel revealed that this was not a violation of Town Bylaw, Charter or State law. The Board of Selectmen then directed Town Counsel to develop a mechanism by which the Town would be assured that, when an appointed unpaid volunteer moved out of Town, they would automatically vacate their position. Town Counsel advises that the mechanism to accomplish this is through an amendment to the Reading Home Rule Charter. If approved by a 2/3 vote of Town Meeting, the Charter, amendment would be sent to the Attorney General's Office for review and, if approved by the Attorney General, it would then appear on the March 2, 2004 Town Election ballot. Approval by a majority of those voting on this question at the Town Election would enact this change in the Charter. Finance Committee Report: No report. Bylaw Committee Report: Action pending. ARTICLE 15 To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 4.6 of the Reading General Bylaws by changing "Five Hundred Dollars ($500)" in the first sentence to "Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) so that the first sentence of Section 4.6.1 reads as follows: "Whenever an item or collection of items of tangible personal property with an estimated net value of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) within the control of an official body, but excluding the Municipal Light Board, shall be determined by that official body to be surplus, obsolete, salvage, or beyond repair, it may be disposed of by sale, trade, or otherwise, by the Town Manager with the approval of the Finance Committee." or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Selectmen 12 Background: The current Town bylaw allows the disposition of intangible personal property by the Town up to a value of $500 without seeking Town Meeting approval. The proposed change in bylaw would allow the disposition of property up to $5000 to be done without Town Meeting approval. This change would make the Town bylaw consistent with the State law in this regard. Finance Committee Report: The Finance Committee unanimously recommends the subject matter of this Article. This is considered a "house keeping" Article to make the bylaw comply with State law and to streamline the Town's business. Bylaw Committee Report: Action pending. ARTICLE 16 To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 5.5.4.2 of the Reading General Bylaws by deleting from that paragraph the following words: "other than specifically designated areas. The Town Manager, the Superintendent of Schools, and the General Manager of the Municipal Light Department' shall designate areas in which smoking shall be allowed and shall post an appropriate number of signs indicating those areas in which smoking is prohibited" so that Section 5.5.4.2 reads as follows in its entirety: "5.5.4.2 No person shall smoke or have in his possession any lighted cigar, cigarette, or other tobacco product in any building or room owned or occupied by the Town." or take any other action with respect thereto. Board of Health Background: Section 5.5.4.2 of the General Bylaws was enacted prior to the local Board of Health regulations on the use of tobacco products in public buildings. The proposed change in the local bylaw are intended to make the local bylaw consistent with Board of Health regulations which do not permit smoking in a public building. The sections proposed to be deleted are those sections which allowed the Town Manager, Superintendent of Schools and the General Manager of the Municipal Light Department to designate smoking areas within buildings. This change, therefore, is intended to provide consistence and clarity regarding the use of tobacco on Town property The Board of Health regulations regarding smoking was passed in 1995. Section 16.2 of those regulations reads: Smoking shall not be permitted in the following public places in the Town of Reading: o Restaurants ♦ Service bars ♦ Retail stores Health care facilities, nursing homes, physician offices, dentist offices and physical therapy offices ♦ Taxis licensed by the Town of Reading o Elevators ♦ Licensed child care homes during operation ( ) ♦ Sports arenas 13 ♦ Buildings and vehicles owned or leased by the Town of Reading, including school buildings and vehicles. (emphasis added) e Any facility which is primarily used for exhibiting any motion picture, stage drama, lecture, musical recital or other similar performance, except where smoking is a part of the stage production. Finance Committee Report: No report. Bylaw Committee Report: Action pending. Board of Health Report: The Board of Health unanimously recommends this Article. ARTICLE 17 To see whether the Town will vote, pursuant to Section 116 (a)(1) of Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2003, to designate the employees of the Reading Municipal Light Department for eligibility for an early retirement incentive program established pursuant to said statute, or take any other action with respect thereto. Reading Municipal Light Board Background: The State legislature enacted a series of laws entitled the Municipal Relief Act as part of the budget process for the FY 2004 State Budget. One of the sections of that Act allows Cities and Towns to offer an Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) Program for municipal employees. It offers an option, if the community so chooses, to offer the ERI selectively by department so that retirements may be targeted by department. If the ERI program is to be targeted to a department or departments rather than being offered "across the board," then Town Meeting approval is required. In Reading, because of the successful Proposition 2Y2 override, there was no need for layoffs and, therefore, no need to offer the ERI to the Town and School Departments. The Reading Municipal Light Department has asked to have this Warrant Article before this Subsequent Town Meeting. They are in the process of conducting an actuarial study to determine the cost of offering such a program and the benefits of the program to the Light Department. Depending upon the results of the actuarial study, the RMLD may request action on this Article. Following the completion of the actuarial report, the Reading Municipal Light Board voted not to accept the ERI for Light Department employees. Therefore, it is expected that this Article will be indefinitely postponed. Finance Committee Report: Action pending the RMLB action. Bylaw Committee Report: No report. 14 ARTICLE 18 To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 6.3.11 Nonconforming Buildings; subsection 6.3.11.9 One Family, Two Family Dwellings by adding subsection (a) as follows: (a) The site coverage of the dwelling within the minimum setback may. . be increased to the extent that the line of extension is either parallel to or divergent from the lot line. In no case may an extension create a new nonconformance. or take any other action with respect thereto. Community Planning and Development Commission Background: The intent of this Article is to amend Zoning By-Laws Section 6.3.11.1 to allow the ZBA to grant Special Permits as appropriate for increases in site coverage. As written, the By-Law is confusing and prohibits extensions to existing structures within a setback that would not create any new nonconformity. Finance Committee Report:' No report. Bylaw Committee Report: Action pending. CPDC Report: This is to certify that, at a duly advertised, posted and notified public hearing of the Community Planning and Development Commission on September 29, j 2003, by a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted: "We, the Reading Community Planning and Development Commission, under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, Section 5, and upon request of the Reading Board of Selectmen, to consider a Zoning By-Law amendment for inclusion in the Subsequent Town Meeting, do hereby vote to forward the following language, as an amendment to Warrant Article 18 to the Town Meeting with a favorable recommendation: a) Amend Section 6.3.11.1.a by deleting the phrase "The site coverage of the dwelling within that minimum setback is not increased, and" and substituting "The site coverage of the dwelling within that minimum setback may be increased as long as no additional encroachment further reducing the setback is allowed. No such increase shall create any new nonconformity, and" The CPDC voted to recommend this Article by a vote of 4-0-0. 15 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 10, 2003, 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 23rd day of September, 2003. George V. Hines, Chair an Richard W: Schubert, Vice Chairman Gail F. Wood, Se tary Camille W. Anthon Matthew C mings SELECTMEN OF READING William . HugDee-t!4 C66 sta e 16 AR'T'ICLE 1 11 Penn E MEW 0 U V C~ nn c~ t11J . v~ w M O O N N cn ~Q 4.~ 4.) 17. 18 ARTICLE 1 ARTICLE 1 cu a O ~ ~ o CCU 0 U •po ~ O o~ ~ O N a~ W c~ a~ a~ a~ 0 Q~ CV F4 U •o V GV F4 • 404 a~ W a a H O ,Poo v ~ OP* ~ CCU F+1 • • 19 v v v cli CCU ® 4° e' W v r A a ~ v v H ~ ° • W w H. ARTICLE 1 20 ARTICLE 1 a 0 o v o 4.0 ® ~ as ~ a~ v l bA sI m a J~ OO c~ CAA ® P WOO vi v' W-4 m (U -+w w (u w o A 0 cl ~ OP* • OOO c a A w W W P.. . POO CID o P* 4-4 4.4 ~ > ' -N bA ~ ~ ~ A GA O ~ • . s CO W Q ~ 21 ARTICLE 1 W H Q N LL o U U) LO V N U) U) U. G N c Y. O O L. i O d W 0 V .O L a o o 0 co n cc o m C) o ti r' N ~O; o ,n o W>.N n ..r v O O cd 'o o O_ d" .r r :r LL N O:' O t0 t0:`0i. v N;.-O 'T O- n o ' N W: S.9 E M N. O 'W th O't0 O''~, N ui'v_ o N' O'-M 'O OO OU ~~.t00 M ~N !j O C6 N 16 : M co wil O OO. tD f0 z ,G. p 1 CO.. " e- M N- M r O N' f M "O :N r r- u. .t0 M : o N to N' r. _ N n.. rn 1+ tC) 00 co N O co. O: D) o ; c r ''p1 N N. M to -~K o co N' e co O'. N o LL tc n M 1D c0' ' o O o uF to OJ, o . +Oi M N : ! r :et f ' N to n co ~ o ~ u~ n nV,~ : . M O. O O. ".et N' c 'N 11 a r co t0 ~ try 'CO 1+ tC L\j 'tD r Lo LO - OL ' ui O O. ' tp [O - d G O . W 00 O O 'sf" N m' NN N O? N'. ~ ;0 N n O IT.. In M cm Y ) (!9 O n O : 0.. 'O N ~ N N O to o M -N . t4 O to N ID-. o O O O <I" N O- tD o LL ~ A r O. 'V' N ~ - 'V' O M' , Cli C N O at°- W O O O cMD W - n p N [D, o , O d , . O) N n t0 .o n C-4 M. t0 . O O . tp . h : :N p 0) 1 r N..N. l r N N - 0) O N v c0 M r OMi N to LL 69 ; M ~ N. r V r O - r - tV : o o o - o v ep o m e- h L. 'Cr ol,o 0 N ti r 01 C1,. o N o O O CD O N O O - 'tD o N O o- O <t tp t~ :0) 'o LL N :O 1` o o ''`W N O -W n G G t0 'O O el' !Q O N h af : co O~ O at c0 O :O O n M N' O O O co co N _p O n q O 01 . C of 'tD co W. N to .V' tD ; ' 0! N :tV -.v'~ t0 O O O ca m - - N N u7 N :r W. O W 'O .N c0 M crnD..N 'tNn u t7 : 4 N a= ~7 t . , : d o m o co co . N N Q! 'M O N o O O O O O O O O . O o N O o O 'O M O O n o f LL t c Q) N O O 't0 tT. O O O O O O N O O O O O O to O to O C ' 'V' W r O O n O O O -O. Liz N c0 O n t0. p . co to tl V'. co . 3 M r tf] N O . M N L M IL tC/ L, 'n O = W 'N ~ O = C~ ` O .0~ C t0 N n V V N. tf) . O N r-Do L Ln (n, oo ` M W ccL N 4'1 v t0 OF r N ' O CD C.0 m r o m 00 N a o" a N N' O h o O O O' O O O :O O :O OL .r. c0 0 ~O V N O -O 'tD o V w to Q ..v O .O, : O O O O O O O :O ' ttf to t0'. h. 1~ O n,. . t0 N O' tt') t0 : ui : O M . O CL O O O C O N ;O o .:n r' LIY 9. Q O: p ' O tD W , O N P.: 'N O .,m r o N N LO O O ' -M :.'M T t O M N m ;t7~ V tD n r N tti' 5L r C%4, M o M :t9 o a CO C4 f tD 7' O 0 oopp O N n 0 t0 Q1 :N O N O N ' O O: tp N rn n 'to tn M c0~ W N N O O 9 M n 0! n 'O O t0 01 N ' r -o LL m N to tD t0 t0 tp w N ~t M . h - V +i L k n t , tQV e~ <O t,, N O C tT ~ M V o t~ u 00 CO m to co t.. o m M O (i - M h O "t2 c tri m Y7 O N n 'O t0 ~f. 0f h'. tti V O ~ N 't0 "n . LL r M ;N tp N N'. N' N N N 0t 00 ' r. V C r7 'r Q m V N L N ~ d YC N E N w d E o w O ° 'Vi - - d d N N d c c o U) O L a`L o t ' € a i N K = a rL G. a c a d a N O c W t a E C c m p y N 'O G d d _0 3 . . 0 = m d w A R N d . d ` r -t ~ d c N d i V N = N L O w d ~ N E 0 w ! CL X J . C O W t ~O tali C H 12 0 ~O O. O. V J co W C to- -j 22 V d N !R W N N ° tU L E y N O N r N C ? w tv 0 m p V E : o L N N ¢ i ° a C U. d N N V 'O v O tL E d N 01 N Z O O m a ` O N •a. O c c m N t v tom J d , Cq CL c V N w W 0 L7 V ~ O w 0 tt) 0 N O y O O N L}i_ co N 0 d 1+ U) U*) ~ O v N cC W N 0 ~ U. r L 4) F- _ W V .O Q. d p m. CD o N. N M ? y o LL ` o 117, w F° o . vS 00 O co o N'. W I O N v- m N O a~i ~ et p W. ' NT t~O O F t7d1 .p ' o ~ o m N v o m rP w ILL F- rn o p. N O ' o tn' !+i O eR N m n'! LO p N Q O L/! O ~ m N t3 G y ~ N O t0 pt O O IIf c d C V C N X07 O ~ C. 0 O O O y y X 0 0 Q O N w- 12 O C y .C T E c~ a m s_qq to •5 .C d ~ C.1 O C O O N O W R tT C ~ O .C > m ~ w t+t cp N ~ O tI1 d ..o C C LL N ~ ~ O O d O m w N N C7 a rn v", c 0 tv m m N R _ s y tQ C O` . pf O C. R v-. r o i n C 7 O t y c . N _ t O l q y j ! w h. tL U J N N is LL' m .N w O . e9: ~ ~ d C _C 8 OG :e E m O i , t t i0 N O 7 C w O d A N W d y Le) ~ C w N ~ C d ttt C y tU N T o O G t- d N d to = tj C al t0 O. U O a c 3 = o N C CL w ttt y y y fA p = q d > a a a = a a . ° p Qmvow F _ 23 ARTICLE 1 d v 0 N Imo. O W ry~ u® H N Li. •F~ Q U N V1 LL ,w c~ N G ~ U) C t: d C. W I.L. ~F. 0 0 (D V V a rn ° m o e 0 N {3. m U 0 U 0 0 0 to 00 ' w ,to co tp ^ ^ C) m. M co W) V ter ARTICLE 1 . - M . CA . i`•• CM c; ° ti o rte m: o 0 et' o o v: rpn1, : v o a.0' °o omo. 'o , L6 (6 c6 c4 vz 0 " { O~ 'd c4 to' 3 - ti0 a) N r - o' 1~- 40 00 ' N ~ ti a o -m O tD tri G . ' Ch Ch O tb o a N .,a. : r : r N M d" C rn . N: n o h:' tl'f O r` C b! l N 7 ~f ti o m M' N• rn ' O m ' o ' .eY. M O 'O) m O O ' to o m o co m m m m rn 1- .rn rn m co t ' j o' w ' m . m m. Im A to r Oml °m 4mY. r m 'V N N O- N o p - p O R O O O O - LU o O 0 0 N N : t+ `o 'm O CO - tC) O M ~ M O : h• - o' CV 't0 O N M GD CA m to T m O to V' Of IT O od O m rn .--t O1 O O O m m O m m h M. co .N . 4] cD . M U m Q1 0 O) . tT t0 m o O Y'1 O N ' to V ~ : M O th O M N 1 r- m N O [O to n O. ul A t0 M O LL' m A V O M ` !ct ' .m 'ef 'M. 'at m M a0 a N m N 'N 1(1 O co C O O 0 Fo-' . v : N N W M 0 0 m r CD O N M ' O tc 0 o 0 N : _ . N M N o - O O to o ~D M W 6'O NM' N O M N M 0) ) tY) N ~ N m M h+ O O O: M 4 [ ul O O O1 tri 1 O M'. tT M' m O of - o N O m. O V /7l r . 'tD d" 00 ? m O t0 , 41. A O ''O N V O O t>O co t G ~ m t` t0 m M 'V'' V=' m' N m' cal Go 'M Q co sf r M tn'.N t~ u 1 V1. o <L O M m c ti h- m N tri m'. e- M 'llt - - O O O O O O O ~ O ~ O O O O . N O M M H. v tD CR O , It ci `o m r Co M O r M O tl7 o N r r 0 0 N m M N ~ to N W) O c~ O O O O M O It1 O. O N ~ m I tA' W M i v ' f0 .fit t0 O~ v '1 O t D O a, h M ' .U ~ to to o O : co v' 4'1 Cr to O r v O 'N V' tC O11 t6 :N e{ W.. O : O co Lo gym~}} A M r-L ' O o V 0 t17 : LL ;cl to. to 0 : N ho N 0 0 to O 00 . 0 r - ^ o 0 0 0 0 11; t 0 ) o m : M h. w O co M O a N v t~ . o f ~ ' ~ ' ' M m ° ti 1 ~ ' t1(/ O ym' O N O: tA ..O o o'sY"ov M o o t~ I .O y r O D ~ t 0 W N O N <t t!i OO O OO O,r O ''fT ~O N 'M ~ N lA' :tV .'ct' tf1 fA to N O iT t•'l M OI co M :'O ~ p YY m IA M m 01 sf M H M N O 'N O { O tf f` M tt(t~1 M . N' :4 N p rn N co M 0 M F v O O 0 0 '.o M r` LO O r-- M r o a m N ~ r N M •tt M N co M [r M' ~ -W ' N 1t~0 O ~tfD1 O O M r- m V1 M. O t0 ° M r N ti N O N t0 ~ t• 1 1 Q 1 0 . . V^ . t o D O ' ~ : V N to to '01 d' M Co ' O' i0 1•: : t0 .M ~tY N N• tD to CO 1+ tD ~Q% r co M K O f` M U . . cD ~ : N '31' . N : r . Q m 0 in W U. 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N Fl tD oD p cc .y d'c r "N. n 69' N 10 H U ~ N U ~ ~ O L _ L ri F tT 0 L d L t C 'i . p m R w a) a A R ; N co LP1 O o. D 6 i I y . 1 IL iv P " cc O d C o , N yj. O c= 7+ o Q ACL cn CIT rR. p • d Lf1 41 U) d d d U) Cc 0 G cp C 0 C .o y C o d N d Lq U) C CO C • O C w M C cc . R rn X d N W W _ + + w 01 !d C L C = d d w E E 1 d E t0 d CL C , d d b E o W O O m 0 0 - c OV1r ~ ~ E O '0 'o c01i ..O O V N ~ v a F- F fA m m F- a. 0 c z A .O w d G d O d O C d 0 O T N d .G d .O i0 7w d. L O d O N LO 41 w cc G_ w •L N LO cc ~ d LO L C T L C1 d d CV LC a Ln ?s .O M .O W U) N Cc W o OQ, ~ w 0 ~ L d C N 0 d O N d N C E L d C tLE r- T r. N T d ~ L 001 p, O L D M = Od p d O cc N N C d LrA. M 'O N L 4) 0 N ~ 0 E . d y N L 7 F- d U). l0 tN0 R T d d N C w N LO 0 0 0 a Ca! E w •f~ .C d It 0 ~ 3 O ~ C. N ylLO i[1 L d d !O L .~1 O a' d O L N C C N N CL d 01 d L .v c L d R O C W) O vQ O' 20! v 0 O O N ~ Cd tea' d N c o d c d E :o rd.. LQ y (p O L= 001 w .G LO = Q d i d u N ;FO ~ 'ep = , ~ co N L d t0 A ,aI LO ~ N V d d .0_ O_ d ,O 0- _ w C III V J2 d d O L O C y O ' Q' t~ V O = = d d d c_0 U IA. 0 S 25. _ O T N d s O ~ N d E LA O 'O d L cN0 es d c Q m o N 0 -0 d N Lc C O U) C E E O N U m N d Q N ~ Z ARTICLE 1 W h~9 U) Z m O w w w La r CO) w J a w I.L. O a w 7 O w a LL J Z O V a 2 LL CO a C) C) O O O O N co CO "It O ti Cl pl~ LC) C7 O N M COO 0) M C~ U2), 619, co C14 LO C) C) 0 CD O N M ~ O C) I Q 00 O LO 04 (0 ~ OD co N ce) O C14 O l (0 d d W Ff? E9 EF? 69- J. "t 0 CD V O O M co N O LJ. O LO N (0 M 06 (D O vi d N CCT EfJ C/}- 0 c o N C~ Ef3 69 ~ N O O 0 N O co d O PI -L O d' O O N CC o c(00 0) CY) Cm Uf l Go). co N r T 691 69, bf? r 69- O N N 0 04 I 0 0 LO O ti T- 00 rl- O O ~ M r 64 LO V3 O O O O C0 CO O q m m 0m0 0c0 O Gf-:~ 6c3 O O O co O LO N ER O O O O O C O O O O C O O O O CD O 0 O 0 C) p O C O N O O O ~ L 1: N Ld (d O ~ ~e~ 0331 N 69 (f} LO ffl CfJ M - W e- C N tq .C N t a @~ a L 4+ E 0 O . LOL M E 0 m co - Z co O d d co O EC) O O d O W -a -a w 0 (n ai Co. a) C a _ a) L 0 2 a C C w = M 0 C 0 cv = o O CU O . O CL -i N CL C6 C CL 0 O C J G otf 4) Z W W N R7 U) Zq 'C N C `l Co CD C fn d N O L U c o m J = N. N 0 0 0 4) 0 ° 2 2 a a E - ARTICLE 1 M h C 00 O r' m 0 a O a ti m N E O ~ 10. r ca 6 N C O co a c a CC) a ~ U 69 O CN .2 Nr O Cl M ~ N H9 ~ .3 s O (0 0). ti 3 6 c w O U) co E m Y W cc~ O O Co" E O O V) O N X N CD ~ O Y m W c0 C O rn O 46 O_ co s N FO' U) Q. CO R co V ~ L 0 O '9 E 0 co B _ Q z 04 ti T a 26 ARTICLE 1 75 U ®.o ~ ~ N N ~ U ~ 4O N .0 (D . • ® c1t v 4J cn c~3 bJ0 ~ ~ cn N H • 27 O O U N O 0 O 4-4 U bi) ARTICLE 1 4.~ W o ~ ~H ° o NH O ~ N ~ U ~ ct M cC3 r_l ~ °v N N O ~ c ® O. U °4 b.A 28 N u cll U a~ ARTICLE 1 4° c~ • ~ . ,..i ap woo ~ ~ ~ ~ C~. A/ o F~ N H • • 29 ARTICLE I 41 s cn • cn cn 7::~ cn 4.0.' ovW' C4 404 W ° O r-+ CAA cu ~ ® ~ ~ ~ v r 30 ARTICLE 1 as O ~ v ~ w ~ ~o acv N ~n ~ a^ P* . ° po - a OPE4 po c ~ ~ p4 0 31 0 a~ 0 0 H • ARTICLE 11 APPENDIX A Proposed Improvements to Louanis Water Treatment Plant Executive Summary Purpose This report summarizes the Louanis Water Treatment Plant comprehensive evaluation and feasibility study. This study resulted from the Town of Reading's desire to investigate their existing water treatment facility and to develop a recommended improvement plan that will satisfy current and future treatment and operational challenges. The following major issues have driven the need for this study: 1. The requirement to meet Stage 1 Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rule (D/DBR) for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) by January 2004. 2. Consumer complaints about the hardness, taste and color of the drinking water. 3. Excessive maintenance of aging and outdated equipment. 4. Heightened security awareness. 5. The need to upgrade the existing WTP to current codes and safety regulations. 6. To increase plant efficiency by integrating the latest operational and monitoring technologies into the treatment facility. Combined, these issues have presented the Town of Reading with an opportunity to conduct a full assessment of the situation. An evaluation of the plant's future needs and an assessment of the efficiency of the current operations were used to develop a recommended improvements plan to provide Reading with high quality drinking water through the year 2025. Background Reading's core Water Treatment facility, originally named the Hundred Acre Meadow Water Purification Plant, was first constructed nearly 70 years ago with a capacity of 1.75 million gallons per day - (mgd). The plant was designed to remove iron and manganese from Reading's groundwater, supply. Treatment consisted of coke tray aeration, sedimentation and slow sand filtration. Reading's Treatment Plant has undergone two major upgrades and a number of improvements since it was first constructed in 1935. The first major upgrade was in 1962 when the plant was expanded and modified to meet increased water demands and to comply with the design standards at that time. The coke tray aerators were converted to spray aerators, the. original sedimentation basins were converted to flocculation basins, and the original slow sand filters were converted to sedimentation basins. In addition, the treatment facility was expanded to include six new rapid sand filters, a 155,000 gallon clearwell, backwash pumping equipment, chemical storage and feed systems, a pipe gallery, and updated instrumentation and electrical equipment necessary to operate the plant. Following the 1962 upgrade, an additional clearwell with a capacity of 500,000 gallons was constructed in 1968, and automatic residuals removal equipment was added to the sedimentation basins in 1972. 32 . ARTICLE The Treatment Plant was rehabilitated for a second time in 1981. A detailed analysis of plant performance, hydraulic capacity and equipment conditions was performed. Recommended upgrades included improvements to the aeration system, adding new rapid mix basins, modifications to the sedimentation basins, additional filter influent piping to increase plant hydraulic capacity, filter improvements, and installation of new chemical feed facilities for chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ammonia, lime, and fluoride. Physical plant upgrades consisted of a new building for offices, laboratory, and chemical storage and feed systems. Construction of a new high service pump station and standby power was also recommended. Except for the new high service pump station, all of the recommended improvements were implemented in the 1981-1983 plant improvements program. However, because MA DEP would not approve chloramines at that time for a distribution system residual, the ammonia system was never placed on line. In 1988, about five years following the second major rehabilitation, the residuals collection system in the sedimentation basins was upgraded. The most recent upgrades were implemented in 1991. A new aeration system was installed above the sedimentation basins and an air scour retrofit was installed below the filters to enhance the backwashing process. Existing Conditions The Louanis Water Treatment Plant has provided the Town of Reading with reliable, good quality drinking water since its last major upgrade in 1981. The raw water quality from Reading's nine source wells is very difficult to treat. Reading has been able to consistently meet current drinking water regulations, except for recent concerns with total trihalomethanes (TTHMs). The plant has managed to keep TTHM levels just below the j previous Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 100 ppb. However, the EPA recently - introduced the Stage 1 D/DBPR, which lowers the MCL to 80 ppb. In order to meet this lower MCL, Reading must modify the plant's existing disinfection treatment process. Water Supply and Demand The current average finished water demand for the Town of Reading is approximately 2.0 mgd, well below the Town's registered raw water withdrawal of 2.57 mgd. During dry years, the maximum day high period demand (May through October) has risen to as much as 3.8 mgd. Average day high period demand for 1995-2001 was 2.2 mgd. In 1999, Reading completed a study to develop a long-term water supply strategy. The study concluded that supplementing Reading's water supply from an inside source was very unlikely. Therefore, any supplemented water would need to be obtained from an outside source. The most promising outside source is the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Waterworks System. The Town of Reading is currently in the process of applying for admission to MWRA as a supplemental source of supply for as much as 219 million gallons of water per year. With the approval of this application, the MWRA will supplement the Town's existing water supply each year from May through October. A supplemental supply from the MWRA will allow Reading to meet current and future high period demands while relieving the stress on the Ipswich River at the same time. 33 ARTICLE 11 Water Quality and Treatment Process Evaluation Monthly workshops have been held since the early stages of this project to identify the most important water quality and treatment process goals for the, Louanis Water Treatment Plant. Workshop attendees included key representatives from the Town of Reading and CDM. The workshops included discussion sessions on the following issues: ♦ Raw water quality from the nine source wells ♦ Current finished water quality ♦ Reading's water quality compatibility with MWRA water supply ♦ Regulatory outlook ♦ Customer focus ♦ Pilot testing ♦ Development of water quality goals The water quality goals for the Louanis Water Treatment Plant are summarized as follows: 1. Reduce disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in the distribution system and comply with Stage 1 D/DBPRs by January 2004. 2. Reduce total organic carbon (TOC) and color levels in finished water. 3. Meet or exceed finished water iron concentrations of 0.03 mg/L or less and . finished water manganese concentrations of 0.03 mg/L or less. 4. Reduce the major consumer grievances such as hardness, taste, and color complaints. 5. Consistently produce high quality finished water from any combination of the nine source wells, regardless of their water quality. Treatment Process Performance Assessment The major recommendations from the water quality and treatment process review include: ♦ Consider using chloramines as an alternative disinfection treatment to meet new TTHM standards by January 2004. ♦ Consider pilot testing the following treatment technologies to help decrease TOC and color levels: • Post filtration. GAC contactors • Membrane filtration system • MIEX ion exchange resin ♦ Reduce hardness in the finished water by decreasing or eliminating the addition of lime (required for pH adjustment) and replace it with potassium hydroxide instead. Existing Facility Evaluation . CDM has conducted health and safety, security, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and control, HVAC, architectural, and structural audits of the Louanis Water Treatment Plant. The audits included analysis, inventory, and. on site inspections of all plant facilities and equipment. Health and Safety Evaluation Several health and safety concerns were identified during the facilities evaluation. It was recommended that Reading replace the existing chlorine gas system with a safer hypochlorite system because of the serious health effects posed by an accidental chlorine gas leak. Due to the risk of contaminating Reading's well supply, it is also strongly 34 ARTICLE 11 recommended that the existing fuel oil underground storage tank be replaced with an aboveground storage tank. In addition, CDM recommends that emergency procedures be developed for a fuel oil spill in case an accident should occur during fuel oil deliveries. Finally, in order to improve operator safety it is recommended that the existing catwalks be extended to the top of the aeration towers and that permanent lighting be installed for maintenance of the distribution tray. Security Evaluation Due to recent events, security has become a top priority for water utilities. In order to address these concerns, it is recommended that Reading update all of the security system alarms and monitors at the water treatment facility including security gates and fencing. Mechanical Evaluation The mechanical evaluation revealed that a majority of the Water Treatment Plant equipment has reached its life expectancy. Most of the equipment needs to be replaced because it is aging, obsolete and/or requires excessive maintenance. Some of the major recommended mechanical improvements are to replace the existing horizontal flocculators with vertical flocculators, reconstruct and relocate the existing rapid mixers into the existing flocculator basins, and replace the existing high service pumping station with all new pumps, motors, valves and building structure. The new pumping station building must also be relocated because the existing structure is located in a flood zone. The town was previously advised to replace the high service pumping station in the 1981 treatment plant evaluation. Electrical Evaluation The electrical evaluation concluded that most of the electrical equipment is aging, obsolete and/or needs replacement. It was also determined that new VFDs are needed at all nine supply wells, the standby generator needs replacement, and an emergency stand- alone lighting system needs to be installed to meet the requirements of the Life Safety and Massachusetts Electrical Code. Instrumentation and Controls An on-site inspection was performed to evaluate current operating conditions and plant needs for instrumentation and control equipment. At present there is little centralized control or monitoring of plant equipment. Most of the equipment is controlled locally with some equipment monitored from the control room. A good deal of the field equipment is corroded and deteriorating while the filter and well pump control panel contains obsolete equipment. The most efficient means of operation and monitoring the plant would be through a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. Implementation of a full SCADA system would provide improved monitoring and control of existing equipment. It would also simplify the instrumentation and control aspects of upgrading and replacing process and mechanical equipment. HVAC Evaluation An on-site inspection of the HVAC system was also performed. The outcome of the evaluation showed that major pieces of the HVAC system have deteriorated due to rust, chemical fumes, and aging. As a result, if was recommended that the air handling units, hot water unit heaters, and dehumidifiers be among the first components of the ( j HVAC system to be upgraded. 35 ARTICLE 11 Architectural Evaluation The architectural evaluation revealed that two issues need to be addressed so that the treatment facility will comply with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Architectural Access Board Regulations and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A lift or an access ramp is required for public access to the main operating floor of the treatment facility. An accessible unisex handicap bathroom must also be added to the main operating floor. Structural Evaluation The structural evaluation showed that most of the structures appeared to be in good condition at the time of the on-site inspection. It was observed that the concrete slats in the roof of the flocculation basins exhibited spalls, cracks, and corrosion over approximately 60% of the roofs total surface area. However, recommended improvements for the flocculator basins include removing the roof above each flocculator basin and replacing it. As a result, this structural problem will most likely be corrected. Improvement Alternatives A, B, and C Alternative A - Rehabilitation Options Al, A2, and A3 Every component of the existing treatment plant has been evaluated in order to appropriately upgrade the facility to meet current and future plant needs in a comprehensive manner. The results of this extensive assessment were used to develop a set of rehabilitation options to be evaluated on the basis of cost, ability to meet water quality goals, and other factors such as reliability, ease of operations, and public reception. A total of three rehabilitation options were investigated. Each option includes the necessary upgrade of aging and deteriorated equipment, required treatment modifications necessary to meet current and future water quality requirements, and also includes those improvements needed to satisfy consumer expectations. The differences in the options are based on limiting new work to upgrading existing facilities (Option Al) to replacing existing process structures and equipment (Option A3). All options are intended to provide similar water quality, meeting project objectives. The three options are defined as follows: Option No. Al A2 A3 Components Remove horizontal flocculators from existing floc basin and install new vertical flocculators and rapid mix chambers in existing floc basin. Abandon existing rapid mix chambers. Construct new rapid mix chambers and flocculator basins in the open space adjacent to existing sedimentation basins. Abandon existing flocculator basins and rapid mix chambers and reuse those areas for other purposes. Construct new rapid mix chambers, flocculator basins, sedimentation basins, filters, and filter pipe gallery in the open space adjacent to the existing sedimentation basins. Abandon existing pre-treatment process train and reuse those areas for other purposes. Cost estimates were prepared for each of the three rehabilitation options including engineering, construction, and contingency costs. The cost estimates. ranged from $13.8 million for Option Al to $18.2 million for Option A3. 36 ARTICLE 11 Alternative B - Construct New Conventional WTP An alternative to rehabilitating the existing plant is to build a brand new state of the art water treatment plant. While the scope of this study did not allow for an in-depth evaluation of a new water treatment facility, estimated costs were developed for new 3.0 mgd, 3.5 mgd, and 4.0 mgd water treatment plants. The estimated project costs include engineering, construction, and contingency costs for a new conventional water treatment plant and post filtration GAC contactors. The cost estimates ranged from $18.2 million for a new 3.0 mgd plant to $22.8 million for a new 4.0 mgd plant. These preliminary costs were developed to compare the cost of a new conventional facility with costs of the rehabilitation alternative. Permitting, demolition, and MWRA water costs were not included in the new WTP cost estimates. Alternative C - Construct New Membrane Filtration System and Rehabilitate Existing Water Treatment Facilities A membrane filtration system is a cost-effective water treatment alternative. Unlike conventional water treatment, membrane filtration can eliminate the need for pretreatment processes such as rapid mix, flocculation, and sedimentation resulting in reduced costs. Reading recently completed membrane pilot testing to determine whether or not membrane filtration could effectively treat their raw water. Pilot study results showed that membrane filtration exceeded iron and manganese removal expectations. The membranes also worked very well in treating high color and TOC levels in Reading's raw water. Overall, membrane filtration produced a high quality finished water that meets and for some parameters exceeds the finished water quality produced by the existing conventional treatment plant. I The estimated project cost for the membrane filtration system and rehabilitation alternative is $14.3 million. This cost estimate could increase or decrease depending on materials of construction and operational design parameters. The project costs include engineering, construction, permitting and contingency costs associated with a new membrane filtration system and necessary upgrades to the existing facilities. The recommended improvements plan identifies Alternative C as the most cost effective and comprehensive improvement option for the Louanis Water Treatment Plant. Funding Identifying outside funding is an important issue for the Town of Reading as it proceeds towards improving its water treatment capabilities. Implementing a recommended improvement plan will ultimately need financing through debt issued and paid back through rates. The Town has applied for the Commonwealth's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan for municipal drinking water projects. The DWSRF loan offers financing at a 2% rate, which represents a fair discount in market rates. The DWSRF loan requires that the project must start within a year from the date that the SRF loan is granted. Reading could also consider conventional municipal general obligation debt. With current long-term rates for municipal debt approaching historic lows, conventional bonding may be an alternative to SRF financing. 37 ARTICLE 11 Recommended Improvements The recommended improvements include the following components: ♦ Fast track conversion to chloramines for disinfection treatment to meet Stage 1 D/DBR by January 2004. ♦ Implement chloramines public awareness program. ♦ Eliminate GAC as a treatment option due to unsatisfactory pilot testing results. ♦ Design and construct a membrane filtration system and necessary upgrades to the existing water treatment facilities. ♦ Complete MIEX ion exchange resin pilot testing to determine if color and TOC removal can be further improved. ♦ Make final recommendations based on pilot testing results. o Continue monthly workshops between the Town of Reading and CDM. The Town of Reading and CDM will continue to hold monthly workshops to evaluate pilot testing results. This additional information will be evaluated and used to develop final recommendations. Summarv Of Costs Design/Bidding $ 1,500,000 Construction $11,400,000 Construction Services $ 1,400,000 TOTAL $ 14,300,000 The request is for authorization for funding the cost of design and bidding services for improvements to the Louanis Water Treatment Plant and related facilities in the amount of $1,500,000. 38 r ARTICLE 11 x" N ~ O O O O O-0 Ocr) ) m M M M y ((f T T T T L f' a W0 L 4) 9® 0 ~.._..._....._...._..__..t 39 C^ 1 (a) U' Z O Y Z = 14- ❑ w w y LU W m0 Oa ~X N D a. Z rc oz ~O mo W Q Q ~q W U ARTICLE 11 LL QZ \ m 0w av 14 J Q Qu.a N w Q W :D 0: mew w a yt r-fjl' Kr, oLU F O Z t6 P~tr~L~Nkah"~"~ ,,tjx ~(7 Jk'•s 2 qzt Y.L '•G' ^,ty i W k ft ;'.F a.5rt ,S:?:Mu ~ 'tY ;,ys„~{y?t„ 'k'~ y s F~c~ I TT ens ~ tit ~ z ~x ~ . r' 1. 0 ii = y.- ~r lu © I~ LL Q I.~ U J I~ ~f7~T i Is W Z Zm WO L 1 L) ui O W Zi tq L ~LL Qp L o I(m ® LL' Z 40 C :.ra. ARTICLE 11 .J 1.4 c l) V O M G¢, i J Y LL i - G I LL I I 0 Z O ~ ~ I I II LL Z - I i ~ I I I b ~ j R. I Z - ;N - - - LL ~ I Z ~ O N Q x; ~ i - ~ - I U- rn C C cv E c E E C '+r (D a 10 L F. m 3 Q W U. ~ c a~ p c 'a m O w 0 ARTICLE 11 i v 1 Ii 8 `+1 11 1 \ \\L i 1 / ARTICLE 8 d''f ti 8 - . s of + I w, d M ' INN 3 ! 4 s w i y ARTICLE 13 I ra ♦J ~ 04. / SS Q d• ~ x 3 d 20 ~ P ~ __ss 126 42 C baH ; G. V^~"'1\2 r~ ~ [et IL ~J 7 ~Py~3 ARTICLE 8 l z z a N C `J 2~ts 1 -k QyQ 3 wl U 3.1 MApTtt, Y B~1.Et, 4 WI ~ WATER TREATMENT ° PLANT ~ o 0 p¢ d R 0 O Q ..e- a 00/// 0 ARTICLE.11. O / © O 44. \ ARTICLE 13 MEAD®W p ~ - an w M JK\ .45 I t " Qr ISO.~ • Wei ~ D, 2.` D\ 1 i CONDUCT OF TOWN MEETING Reading's Town Meeting is conducted in accordance with the rules set down in Article 2 of the Charter and the General Bylaws. Although Robert's Rules of Order is the basic source, a Town Meeting Member need only be familiar with what is contained in the Charter. These notes are intended to outline the major points all Town Meeting Members should know, and which by knowing, will make Town Meeting more understandable. ORGANIZATION ♦ Town Meeting consists of 192 elected members, of. which 97 constitute a quorum. ♦ There are two required sessions: the Annual. Meeting in Spring which is primarily for fiscal matters and acceptance of the annual budget, and the Subsequent Meeting in November. Special Town Meetings may be called at any time that the need arises. ♦ There are three main committees which review certain Articles and advise Town Meeting of their recommendations: Finance for all expenditures of funds; Bylaw for all bylaw changes; and the Community Planning and Development Commission for all zoning changes. Their reports are given prior to dis- cussing the motion. GENERAL RULES OF PROCEDURE ♦ The Meeting is conducted through the Warrant Articles which are presented (moved) as motions. Only one motion may be on the floor at a time; however, the motion may be amended. Often two or more Articles which address the same subject may be discussed together; however, only one is formally on the floor, and each when moved is acted upon individually. Note that the vote on one may influence the others. ♦ Members who wish to speak shall rise, state their name and precinct in order to be recognized. ♦ A Member may speak for ten (10) minutes but permission 'must be asked to exceed this limit. ♦ Seven (7) Members can question a vote and call for a standing count and twenty (20) can ask for a roll call vote; however, a roll call vote is seldom used because of the time it takes. PRINCIPAL MOTION ENCOUNTERED AT TOWN MEETING The following motions are the principal ones used in most cases by Town Meeting to conduct its business. Experience shows that the Members should be familiar with these. ♦ Adjourn: Ends the sessions, can be moved at any time. ♦ Recess: Stops business for a short time, generally to resolve a procedural question or to obtain information. 46 Lay on the Table: Stops debate with the intention generally of bringing the subject up again later. May also be used to defer action on an Article for which procedurally a negative vote is undesirable. Note that tabled motions die with adjournment. ♦ Move the Previous Question: Upon acceptance by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, stops all debate and brings the subject to a vote. This is generally the main motion, or ♦ The most recent amendment, unless qualified by the mover. The reason for this as provided in Robert's Rules of Order is to allow for other amend- ments should they wish to be presented. ♦ Amend: Offers changes to the main motion. Must be in accordance with the motion and may not substantially ( 1 alter the intent of the motion. In accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, only one primary and one secondary motion will be allowed on the floor at one time, unless specif- ically accepted by the Moderator. o Indefinitely Postpone: Disposes of the Article without a yes or no vote. - o Take from the Table: Brings back a motion which was previously laid on the table. ♦ Main Motion: The means by which a subject is brought before the Meeting. THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS MAY BE USED BY A MEMBER FOR THE PURPOSE NOTED: o Question of Privilege: Sometimes used to offer a resolution. Should not be used to "steal" the floor. ♦ Point of Order: To raise a question concerning the conduct of the Meeting. ♦ Point of Information: To ask for information relevant to the business at hand. MULTIPLE MOTIONS SUBSEQUENT (MULTIPLE) MOTIONS If the subsequent motion to be offered, as distinct from an amendment made during debate, includes material which has previously been put to a vote and defeated, it will be viewed by the Moderator as reconsideration and will not be accepted. If the subsequent motion contains distinctly new material which is within the scope of the Warrant Article, then it will be accepted. An example of this latter situation is successive line items of an omnibus budget moved as a block. SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONSIDERATIONS o The maker of any proposed multiple motion shall make their intent known, and the content of the motion to be offered shall be conveyed to the Moderator - prior to the initial calling of the Warrant Article. ♦ Once an affirmative vote has been taken on the motion then on the floor - no further subsequent alternative motions will be accepted. (Obviously does not apply to the budget, for example.) 47 ♦ Also - There can only be one motion on the floor at any one time. You have the ability to offer amendments to the motion that is on the floor. You also have the ability to move for reconsideration. TOWN OF READING BYLAWS except if this day shall fall on a legal holiday, in which case the Meeting shall be held on the following day. The Subsequent Town Meeting shall consider and act on all business as may properly come before it except the adoption of the annual operating budget. ARTICLE 2: TOWN MEETINGS Section 2.1.5 Adjourned sessions of every Annual 2.1 General Town Meeting after the first such adjourned session provided for in Section 2.1.1 Section 2.1.3 of this Article and all The Annual Town Meeting shall be held sessions of every Subsequent Town on the third Tuesday preceding the Meeting, shall be held on the follow- second Monday in April of each year ing Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and then for the election of Town officers and on the following Monday at 7:30 p.m.. for other such matters as required by and on consecutive Mondays and law to be determined by ballot. Thursdays, unless a resolution to Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any adjourn to another time is adopted by year in which presidential electors are a majority vote of the Town Meeting to be elected, the Board of Selectmen Members present and voting. may schedule the commencement of the Annual Town Meeting for the same Section 2.1.6 date designated as the date to hold the The Board of Selectmen shall give Presidential Primary. notice of the Annual Subsequent or any Special Town Meeting at least Section 2.1.2 fourteen (14) days prior to the time The polls for the Annual Town Meeting of holding said Meeting by causing shall be opened at 7:00 a.m. and shall an attested copy of the Warrant remain open until 8:00 p.m. calling the same to be posted in one (1) or more public places in each Section 2.1.3 precinct of the Town, and either All business of the Annual Town causing such attested copy to be Meeting, except the election of such published in a local newspaper or Town officers and the determination of mailing an attested copy of said such matters as required by law to be Warrant to each Town Meeting elected or determined by ballot, shall be Member. considered at an adjournment of such meeting to be held at 7:30 p.m. on the Section 2.1.7 second Monday in April, except if this All Articles for the Annual Town Meeting day shall fall on a legal holiday, in shall be submitted to the Board of which case the Meeting shall be held Selectmen not later than 8:00 p.m. on on the following day or at a further the fifth Tuesday preceding the date of adjournment thereof. election of Town officers unless this day is a holiday in which case the following Section 2.1.4 day shall be substituted. A Special Town Meeting called the Sub- sequent Town Meeting shall be held on All Articles for the Subsequent Town the second Monday in November, Y Meeting shall be submitted to the Board \ 48 of Selectmen not later than 8:00 p.m. on the fifth Tuesday preceding the Subsequent Town Meeting in which action is to be taken, unless this day is a holiday, in which case the following day shall be substituted. Section 2.1.8 The Board of Selectmen, after drawing a Warrant for a Town Meeting, shall immediately deliver a copy of such Warrant to each Member of the Finance Committee, the Community Planning and Development Commission, the Bylaw Committee and the Moderator. 2.2 Conduct of Town Meetings Section 2.2.1 In the conduct of all Town Meetings, the following rules shall be observed: Rule 1: A majority of the Town Meeting Members shall constitute a quorum for doing business. Rule 2: All Articles on the Warrant shall be taken up in the order of their arrangement in the Warrant, unless otherwise decided by a majority vote of the Members present and voting. Rule 3: Prior to debate on each Article in a Warrant involving the expenditure of money, the Finance Committee shall advise the Town Meeting as to its recommendations and the reasons therefor. Rule 4: Prior to debate on each Article in a Warrant involving changes in the Bylaws, the Bylaw Committee shall advise the Town Meeting as to its recommendations and the reasons therefor. Rule 5: Every person shall stand when speaking, shall respectfully address the Moderator, shall not speak until recog- nized by the Moderator, shall state his name and precinct, shall confine himself to the question under debate and shall avoid all personalities. Rule 6: No person shall be privileged to speak or make a motion until after he has been recognized by the Moderator. Rule 7: No Town Meeting Member or other person shall speak on any ques- tion more than ten (10) minutes without first obtaining the permission of the Meeting. Rule 8: Any inhabitant of the Town may speak at a Town Meeting having first identified himself to the Moderator as an inhabitant of the Town. No inhabitant shall speak on any question more than five (5) minutes without first obtaining the permission of the Meeting. Inhabitants shall be given the privilege of speaking at Town Meetings only after all Town Meeting Members who desire to" speak upon the question under con- sideration have first been given an opportunity to do so. Rule 9: Members of official bodies who are not Town Meeting Members shall have the same right to speak, but not, to vote, as Town Meeting Members on all matters relating to their official bodies. Rule 10: No speaker at a Town Meet- ing shall be interrupted except by a Member making a point of order or privileged motion or by the Moderator. Rule 11: Any person having a mon- etary or equitable interest in any matter under discussion at a Town Meeting and any person employed by another having such an interest, shall disclose the fact of his interest or his employer's interest before speaking thereon. 49 Rule 12: The Moderator shall decide all questions of order subject to appeal to the meeting, the question on which appeal shall be taken before any other. Rule 13: When a question is put, the vote on all matters shall be taken by a show of hands, and the Moderator shall declare the vote as it appears to him. If the Moderator is unable to decide the vote by the show of hands, or if his decision is immediately questioned by seven (7) or more Members, he shall determine the question by ordering a standing vote and he shall appoint tellers to make and return the count directly to him. On request of not less than twenty (20) Members, a vote shall betaken by roll call. Rule 14: All original main motions having to do with the expenditure of money shall be presented in writing, and all other motions shall be in writing if so directed by the Moderator Rule 15: No motion shall be received and put until it is seconded. No motion made and seconded shall be withdrawn if any Member objects. No amendment not relevant to the subject of the original motion shall be entertained. Rule 16: When a question is under debate, no motion shall be in order except (1) to adjourn, (2) to lay on the table or pass over, (3) to postpone for a certain time, (4) to commit, (5) to amend, (6) to postpone indefinitely or (7) to fix a time for terminating debate and putting the question, and the afore- said several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they stand arranged in this Rule. Rule 17: Motions to adjourn (except when balloting for offices and when votes are being taken) shall always be first in order. Motions to adjourn, to move the question, to lay on the table and to take from the table shall be decided without debate. Rule 18: The previous question shall be put in the following form or in some other form having the same meaning: "Shall the main question now be put?," and until this question is decided all debate on the main question shall be suspended. If the previous question be adopted, the sense of the meeting shall immediately be taken upon any pending .amendments in the order inverse to that in which they were moved except that the largest sum or the longest time shall be put first, and finally upon the main question. Rule 19: The duties of the Moderator and the conduct and method of pro- ceeding at all Town Meetings, not prescribed by law or by the Rules set forth in this Article, shall be determined by the rules of practice set forth in Robert's Rules of Order Revised so far as they may be adapted to Town Meetings. Section 2.2.2 It shall be the duty of every official body, by a Member thereof, to be in attend- ance at all Town Meetings for the information thereof while any subject matter is under consideration affecting such official body. Section 2.2.3 All committees authorized by Town Meeting shall be appointed by the Moderator unless otherwise ordered by a vote of the Members present and voting. All committees shall report as directed by the Town Meeting. If no report is made within a ,year after the appointment, the committee shall be 50 discharged unless, in the meantime, the Town Meeting grants an extension of time. When the final report of a committee is placed in the hands of the Moderator, it shall be deemed to be received, and a vote to accept the same shall discharge the committee but shall not be equivalent to a vote to adopt it. Section 2.2.4 Motion to Reconsider 2.2.4.1 A motion to reconsider any vote must be made before the final adjournment of the Meeting at which the vote was passed but such motion to reconsider shall not be made at an adjourned meeting unless the mover has given notice of his intention to make such a motion, either at the session of the meeting at which the vote was passed or by written notice to the Town Clerk.within twenty-four (24) hours after the adjournment of such session. When such motion is made at the session of the meeting at which the vote was passed, said motion shall be accepted by the Moderator but consid- eration thereof shall be postponed to become the first item to be considered at the next session unless all remaining Articles have been disposed of, in which case reconsideration shall be consid- ered before final adjournment. There can be no reconsideration of a vote once reconsidered or after a vote not to reconsider. Reconsideration may be ordered by a vote of two-third (2/3) of the votes present. Arguments for or against reconsider- ation may include discussion of the motion being reconsidered providing such discussion consists only of relevant facts or arguments not pre- viously presented by any speaker. 2.2.4.2 The foregoing provisions relating to motions to reconsider shall - not apply to any such motion made by the Board of Selectmen and authorized by the Moderator as necessary for the reconsideration of actions previously taken by Town Meeting by reason of State or Federal action or inaction or other circumstances not within the control of the Town or Town Meeting. In the event such a motion to reconsider is made and authorized, said motion may be made at any time before the final adjournment of the Meeting at which the vote was passed, said motion may be made even if the vote was already reconsidered, or was the subject of a vote not to reconsider and reconsideration may be ordered by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the votes present. 2.2.4.3 Notice of every vote to be reconsidered at an adjourned Town Meeting shall be posted by the Town Clerk in one (1) or more public places in each precinct of the Town as soon as possible after adjournment, and he shall, if practicable, at least one (1) day before the time of the next following session of said Adjourned Meeting, publish such notice in some newspaper published in the Town. Said notice shall include the vote to be reconsidered and the place and time of the next following session of said Adjourned Meeting. The foregoing notice provisions shall not apply when a motion to reconsider any Town Meeting action is made publicly at Town Meeting before the adjournment of any session of any Adjourned Town Meeting. Section 2.2.5 The Selectmen shall, at each Annual Town Meeting, give to the Members information of the State of the Town. Section 2.2.6 The Town Meeting Members and Town Meeting Members-Elect from each 51 precinct shall hold an annual precinct meeting after the Annual Town Election but before the convening of the business sessions of the Annual Town Meeting. The purpose of the meeting shall be the election of a Chairman and a Clerk and to conduct whatever business may be appropriate. Chairman shall serve no more than six (6) consecutive years in that position. Additional precinct meet- ings may be called by the Chairman or by a petition of six (6) Town Meeting Members of the precinct. Section 2.2.7 Removal of Town Meeting Members 2.2.7.1 The Town Clerk shall mail, within thirty (30) days after the adjournment sine die of a Town Meeting, to every Town Meeting Member who has attended less than one half (1/2) of the Town Meeting sessions since the most recent Annual Town Election, a record of his attend- ance and a copy of Section 2-6 of the Charter. 2.2.7.2 Town Meeting Members of each precinct shall consider at a precinct meeting to be conducted in accordance with Section 2.2.6 of these Bylaws and Section 2-6 of the Charter, preceding the consideration of the Article placed upon the Annual Town Meeting Warrant in accordance with Section 2-6 of the Charter, the names of Town Meeting Members in that precinct appearing on said Warrant Article and adopt recommendations to Town Meeting as to what action should be taken regarding each such Member. The Chairman of each precinct or his designee shall make such recommend- ations along with supporting evidence and rationale to Town Meeting. 2.2.7.3 The names of the Members subject to - removal in accordance with Section 2-6 of the Charter shall. be grouped by precinct in the Warrant Article required by said Section. Section 2.2.8 Meetings During Town Meeting No appointed or elected board, commission, committee or other entity of Town Government shall schedule or conduct any hearing, meeting or other function during any hours in which an Annual, Subsequent or Special Town Meeting is in session or is scheduled to be in session. Any such board, commission or committee which schedules or holds a meeting or hearing on the same calendar day but at a time prior to a session of Town Meeting shall adjourn or recess not less than five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled session of Town Meeting. Any board, commission or committee may, at the opening of any session of Town Meeting, present to that Town Meeting an instructional motion request- ing an exemption from this. Bylaw and asking that 'Town Meeting permit it to meet at a date and hour at which a future session of Town Meeting is scheduled and may present reasons for Town Meeting to give such permission. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any board, commission or committee' which meets the requirements of Section 23B of Chapter 39 of the General Laws concerning emergency meetings may, upon meeting such requirements, conduct such a meeting or hearing at a time scheduled for a Town Meeting. 52