The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2009 Annual Report - Town Manager LetterTown of Reading Massachusetts d x`39. INC0R~4 ANNUAL REPORT 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page # TOWN MANAGER'S LETTER 1,2 ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE DEPARTMENTS 3 Accounting Department........ 3 Finance Department.... . 3 Finance: Assessment Division.. 3,4 Finance: Collection Division . 4,5 Finance: General Division.. 5 General Finance - Trust Funds 5,6 Finance: Human Resources Division.. 6 Finance: Technology Division.. . 6,7 Finance: Town Clerk.... 7,8 Finance: Trust Funds.. 9,10 Report of the Town Collector 11-15 FY 2009 Real Estate Abatements....:. 16 Financial Statements.. 17-92 COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.. 93 Board of Selectmen 93-96 Conservation Division... 96-99 Elder/Human Services' Division 99-107 Health Division 108-112 Inspections Division.. 113 Zoning Board of Appeals.. . 113 Planning Division.. 114-116 Veterans' Services Division.. 116,117 Town Counsel....................... 117,118 The Arc of East Middlesex............ . . 118-120 Downtown Steering Committee.......... . 120 Historical Commission......... 120,121 Land Bank Committee.. 121 Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPQ.................................... 122-130 Mystic Valley Elder Services.. 131-133 Trails Committee 133,134 West Street Historic District Commission.. 134 Page # HOUSING AUTHORITY.. 135-142 LEGISLATIVE BODY................. 143 Town Meeting Reports and Voting Results.. 143-371 Organization Chart 372 READING PUBLIC LIBRARY . 373-384 PUBLIC SAFETY 385 Fire Department. 385-389 Police Department . 390-398 Animal Control.. 395 . Parking Enforcement Officer........ 395,396 Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse 398-402 PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.......... 403 Director's Report 403 Administration Division..... 404 Cemetery Division 404,405 Custodian of Soldiers' & Sailors' Graves . 405 Engineering Division........ . , . 405-407 Highway Division............ 407,408 Town Forest Committee 408 Forestry - Tree Warden's Report 409 Parks Division 409 Water Distribution Division.......... 409,410 Sewer Distribution Division 410 Water Supply Division..... 410-412 Recreation Division.. 413-419 SCHOOL DEPARTMENT 420 Superintendent's Report 420-459 Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School : 460-475 BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS T 476-486 I. OFR~4O~Y Torn of Reading c a 16 Lowell Street P~ Reading, MA 01867-2685 3g. IXCE, - FAX: (781) 942-9071 Email: townmanager@ci.reading.ma.us TOWN MANAGER Website: www. readingma.gov (781) 942-9043 April 2010 TO: Residents of the Town of Reading Dear Resident: The attached Town of Reading Annual Report for the calendar year 2009 details highlights of the many activities in this community for the year. Some of these activities are very visible and are well known to many residents. But much of what the Town does, if done well, is done quietly and efficiently each and every day of the year. We, as a community, take these efforts for granted. The water keeps pumping, the sewers keep flushing, the streets get plowed, fires get put out, medical emergencies get treated and transported, traffic laws get enforced, the bad guys get locked up, bills and payroll get paid (and taxes get collected), the Library is opened and busier than ever, permits get issued and inspected, flu shots are administered, students are taught and excel in academics and in a variety of activities, and the lights stay on. All of these things are done routinely and in extreme conditions by the dedicated men and women who work for the Town of Reading as employees and as volunteers. This Annual Report is dedicated to all of the men and women who work and volunteer for their community of Reading. Some of the activities in 2009 include: ♦ DPW Director Ted McIntire retired after spending his entire career working for the Town of Reading. ♦ New employees hired during 2009 include Town Clerk Laura Gemme, Community Services Director/Town Planner Jean Delios and DPW Director Jeff Zager. ♦ Superintendent of Schools Pat Schettini passed away from pancreatic cancer. Pat was a tireless advocate for Reading Schools and for the entire Town of Reading. He will be missed enormously. ♦ The Downtown Streetscape Project was completed in the Fall. An excellent contractor, Marchese and Sons, and a diligent Town staff headed by Town Engineer George Zambouras made this project go as smoothly as possible considering that the Town's major commercial street was dug up and reconstructed. ♦ The Town's first annual Fall Street Faire was held in mid-September to celebrate the completion of the Downtown Streetscape project, and to highlight Reading's new Downtown. The Town's Economic Development Committee spearheaded this activity, and the EDC and their associates were incredibly organized and energetic. The results were beyond anyone's expectations with attendance estimated to be 5000. s Town and School staff, led by Town Accountant Gail LaPointe, succeeded in securing the major part of the MSBA reimbursement for RMHS, resulting in the average residential property tax bill being lowered $75 beginning with the first bill in 2010. Town and School staff continued implementation of a new financial software and hardware platform for all of the Town's financial and Human Resources' functions. The accounts payable, payroll, and tax and water, sewer and storm water management billing processes have all been implemented. In addition, the initial phases of the electronic records management system are being implemented in the Town Manager's Office. o The Town has completed a number of major road projects including Franklin Street, School Street, Lincoln Street, Sandra Lane, South Street - Main to Hopkins Streets and Scotland Road. The Fire Department took delivery of a new pumper truck in September 2009 and retired a 1986 pumper truck. e Property master plans for the Birch Meadow area and Washington Park have been completed, and the Town was out to bid at the end of the year on the improvements to Memorial Park. Nelson and Rita Burbank have committed a donation to this later project. ♦ Economic Development activities continued strong in spite of a weak economy nationally. Several new businesses including Salem 5 Savings Bank, Be Gifted, Swiss Bakers, Old Redding Butcher Shoppe, Ristorante Pavarotti, DiCara's Deli on North Main Street, Encore Consignments and Sam's Bistro have started construction or opened in Reading during the year. The Town approved a Downtown Smart Growth 40R Zoning By-Law in November which will permit mixed use development in much of the Town's Downtown area. ♦ The Library reinstituted Sunday afternoon openings and inaugurated a new website. ♦ The Town has continued to maintain its sound financial picture even with mid-year 9c reductions in State Aid, and even with a weakening local and national economy. Reading had its first one night Annual Town Meeting in at least 100 years. ♦ Directed by the Board of Selectmen, the Town has worked hard to enhance its Customer Service focus. These achievements and many more are due to dedicated staff and volunteers, and the ongoing support of the residents and businesses in this community. THANK YOU. For those who have need for detailed information about the Town of Reading, we hope this Annual Report will be complete and valuable for you. It provides a good historical record of what has happened in the Town of Reading in calendar year 2009 We welcome. any questions, suggestions or comments that you may have with regard to this report, or to the provision of the services within the community. You can address them to me at townmanager@ci.reading.ma.us, or call at 781-942-9043. Much information is available on the Town of Reading web site at www.readin ma.gov and while you are there, please fill out our customer, service survey found on the home page. Sincerely, Peter I. Hechenbleikner Town Manager PIH:lm 2