Are we unmuted? [Music] Okay. Oh, we all Thank you. All right. Thank you everybody for uh joining the May 27th uh select board
meeting. Um starting off uh to quote our town moderator or all who are willing uh and able to please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, next up on the agenda is an overview of the meeting. Um, so we are being recorded uh by RCTV. Rob is our
videographer tonight. Uh Rod has been with us since 2016, which is longer than I've been here. So, it's good to see someone outlasting in that regard. Um next at 7:05 will be a procedural update from chair. 710 is public comment for
any items not included on the agenda tonight, which we'll get to at the prior agenda item. 720 is town manager report. 7:25 is a community spotlight. 7:30 is discuss and vote to authorize short-term depth related to high school field
improvements. 7:35 is a preview of the water rates. We have multiple discussions on that. 7:45 is a public hearing to discuss and vote on FY26 non-union classification and compensation plan. 750 is an Arbor Day proclamation from April 25th to maintain
our Tree City USA designation. 755 discuss leazison assignments. 805 discuss charge for master plan committee. 8:15 discuss RCTV contract renewal. 8:45 discuss pleasant street center appraisal. 855 discuss and vote
on select board policy article 1 section 1.4 communication. 905 is discuss select board retreat. 9:15 select board leaison reports. 9:25 future agendas. And 9:30 we will vote on two sets of minutes.
So, I will move on to the procedural update from the chair, which on page six of the packet for you uh tuning in at home. Um there's going to be a couple changes to the way that we run meetings going forward. Um so, the first was uh
we just did the pledge of allegiance. Um from feedback last year about motions not being in the packet uh going forward, all motions related to votes will be included in the packet going forward. uh public comment for all agenda items after board discussion non-duplicative
other than public hearings which means if you want to uh have public comment on say um the RCTV discussion um if you well no it's public hearing but if you want to have public comment now on the
RCTV discussion uh during the actual RCTV discussion uh the chair will not acknowledge you at that time but what that means is after every single agenda item that we have tonight that I just went over. The public will be able to weigh in on those in real time. Um, what
I've seen in past select board meetings is someone will always have a comment. They want to participate. It could be town staff. It could be someone trying to provide us with info. And it always seems as if we were kind of picking and choosing who we allow to do whatever. So, to resolve that, we've uh completely
eliminated it to allow anybody to speak whenever um after the board is already discussed. And the only exception is public hearings, which you can participate in both aspects because it's a public hearing. You can weigh in then as well as during the agenda topic. Uh so Jane Wellman will be keeping our
two-minute timer for each comment. So we don't have favorites in the room going forward. Jane will be playing a harp noise after two minutes, which everyone will find rather soothing. Um so we're going to be discussing and voting at the same meeting. As you just heard, I went over
18 agenda items or whatever it is, as well as me adding additional items to the agenda that's going to be taking up more time, resources from town staff, um, and other things like that. So, this way here, we're trying to condense things down while also expanding, um,
the need to have public input, um, and transparency on everything. So, that's kind of why we're going the discuss and vote. Everything will be included in the packet. Um, we're going to be also discussing later on uh the email communication going back into the packet. All of these are additional
opportunities for you to uh participate in advance. Uh the new this year following what the school committee has done in the past, they have a focus on excellence, we are going to be doing the community spotlight for either town
staff, local businesses, and residential uh achievements. That's going to be completely up to Matt to come up with those. I don't have any input in it um on any topics that he brings up. Um but if you'd like to participate or know somebody that should be acknowledged for
any achievements or some local business celebrating 50 years like the last corner in December, um that would be good to bring up um to Matt or the full select board to get added to a future agenda. The same thing for the pledge of of allegiance. if you have a kid in
school or if you'd actually like to part participate in leading uh off of that, I would love for that to happen as well. So, please just reach out to Matt or the full select board um uh to get that squared away. Um leas reports move to the end of
the agenda. They've always taken up so much time in the beginning which is great but uh as uh uh moving it to the end of the agenda this way here at least we get through um town staff and everybody else who's been waiting for uh these meetings which is mentioned later
on in this uh all presentations will be kept to 10 minutes or less uh and be in the packet in advance. So, as much as I love hearing about water rates for a half hour, I understand even myself uh after looking at the pack in advance, I don't want to hear about water rates for another half hour beyond it. Um so, to
keep everyone interested and mindful in the uh meetings moving, um we just want to keep it uh to 10 minutes. Obviously, there's going to be a little things that run longer than that that are substantive, but uh we're trying to keep everything just moving here and um just
expediting things. Uh, so like I said, all discussions with town staff or others on the agenda will be at the beginning of the meeting. We value um town staff's time or everyone else who has to sit in and I don't want people waiting sometimes till 10:30 at night. Hopefully we're never there again, but
you never know. Um, so we kind of want to frontload everything on uh who's going to be participating in our meeting. Yes. the we you probably need to stop using we because this is the first time the select board has seen any of this and we are a board of five but
you made all these decisions which I don't necessarily agree with. So please don't use the Wii term. Uh, I appreciate your feedback, Karen. But, um, anytime if you have any concerns, you can always email me or speak to me offline and I would or you could follow protocol and
ask the select board for their input on some changes you'd like to make because that's how we've done it since 20120. As you know, the chair sets the agenda and this is on the agenda. The chair does not override select board policy. The chair does not decide how the meetings are going to be run. The chair needs to
follow Robert's rules. That is how the chair runs the meeting. I I'd love to talk with you off offline further. Yes. Because you made all these decisions. Uh so moving on beyond that uh
alternating uh Melissa and myself will be running the meeting unless someone else is remote because it's very hard to obviously run a meeting when you're remote. Um so this is going to build leadership skills, keep members engaged and diversify perspectives. uh even though people might hearing my voice um
others might end up liking to hear Melissa's style of running meetings etc going forward um so we will see how that goes. I just think that it's uh something new and different to try uh here in Reading and um I believe it'll
be a success. Um and then lastly uh uh a topic that's later on in the discussion which will be more clarity with is uh about email communication going back in the packet. The policies still reference it and I say that in air quotes but the
board previously voted on it so it's up for discussion in vote tonight. Um I'll discuss more on that topic when we get to it. But I just wanted to see about running the most uh transparent select board to date. And I would hope that other board members will feel inclined
to put email back in the packet because between having uh the public discussing things on every agenda topic, email going in the packet, reaching out to us in advance, these are all instances where the public can feel uh
recognized. And then future items go in the agenda. I'll bring that up during future agendas, but a couple items pertaining to that in the packet. So then I will move on to uh before public comment um I just wanted to
reference that um earlier today the uh select board by way of uh Jackie from town staff we received or at least me and Melissa received an email at 12:08 in the afternoon first referencing the time for the pride celebration being
held on June 7th. I was unaware that the Pride event was happening on the 7th. I thought it was on the 14th. So when point of order, which agenda item is this? This is not a procedural update. It's not an overview of the meeting. I appreciate your concern, but I'm I'm uh
I'm point of order. I'm just asking which agenda item that is. I It's a procedural update from the chair. It's not a procedural update. I appreciate your comments, Karen. Thank you. And if you'd like to talk more offline about why this is not I I want to make sure that we don't commit an open meeting law
violation. That's fine. Perhaps you're not the chair. Yes, I know. You can't just point of order and interrupt everything that you don't agree with. By definition, point of order, we need to stick to the agenda items. Okay. Point of order. Which agenda item this relate to? It's pertaining to an item that we
received numerous uh communications on today and I am updating the public on it. If you feel it's an open meeting law violation, feel free to file it or anybody else from the public. I'm explaining the way that things were perceived today and adding clarification that uh the public can be
made aware of so this way here everybody realizes uh the scenario that transpired. So as I was saying in terms of setting the agenda uh with Matt uh and Melissa, we had a meeting. Uh, I
told Matt that on June 10th we could have the Pride Proclamation because I thought the event was happening on the 14th. I said, "Matt, we still have time. We get a couple days. It'll be before that because as you can tell, this agenda is slam-packed with the items that we have." So, um, I thought that we
were in the clear until today when we get a a email referencing at 12:08 that the Pride celebration was being held on June 7th. Uh that is the first time that I received an email mentioning June 7th ever to this select board. And um I also
saw it on the writing post mentioning uh today the same thing that it's going to be held on June uh 7th as well. So to rectify that under future agendas, I've already spoken with Matt and we will discuss a time um to uh put that on the
agenda potentially later this week or next. So we'll discuss that further uh under future agendas. And with that, I will open it up for public comment for items not included on the agenda. Please include your name, address, and keep it to two
minutes or Jane will Angela. Thank you. Angela Binda. Um, I'm just going to read this from today's reading. What's your address? General Park Drive. Thank you. Reading celebrates Pride Month with event on the town common. It's time to mark your
calendars for the fifth annual Reading Pride Parade and Celebration scheduled for Saturday, June 7th with DJ Jazzy Jacob, games, and a bubbly show. This is an exciting event for residents of all ages. Hosted by Reading's Pop Huddle and
made possible with a grant from the Reading Cultural Council. The fund begins at 300 p.m. on the Town Common. You can watch the car parade from several cheering stations along the route. The parade ends back at the common, so you can watch it from there as well. The event runs until 5:00 pm
and is held rain or shine. Prizes will be awarded to the best decorated car and to the cheering station that shows the most pride. Event organizer Laura Wilson said, "This event is always special, but especially following the
executive orders directed against the community. It's a great opportunity for reading to show our support and care for our LGBTQ neighbors and families. She added, "Come join the fun." The parade began in 2021 and has gotten bigger and
better every year with one mom saying, "I'm so grateful for this event. My children is my child has struggled with the LGBTQ plus journey and this parade made them feel seen." I can tell you how I can't tell you how much that means for our family. So for more information you
can go to the writing observer writingobserver.com or the writing post for more information. And um I just want to say uh thank you to the town of writing for um sponsoring this uh contributing to this and um to the town
manager. I think that uh Laura Wilson who has done so much for this town would be a great person to spotlight in your um in your spotlight. Thank you. Thank you. How was that for timing?
It's like Jane almost jumped. Nancy, thank you. Nancy Dr. 371 Street. Three quick items. One, thank you very much Karen for attending tree planting on the 26 to represent the select board.
Um, I'm sure the DPW will talk about that, but I really wanted to give a shout out though to our uh tree warden and his crew, Mike Hannerford. Due to a supply chain issue, we were short 300 trees. We planted 200,
but 300 trees came in and the tree warden and his crew planted all 300 trees. And so they should be spotlighted if you're looking for someone to spotlight would be the tree warden and his crew. Second thing is I just renewed
my RCTV membership and I hope that everyone in the select board has done that because you have to lead by example. This is being televised tonight. We're totally dependent on RCTV and I look forward to you all supporting them. The last issue is something I
can't believe I'm actually raising this again, but I noticed you did not make any changes in your guidelines for notifying the chairs for vast interviews. Once again, you're saying you have up until 5:30 the day of the interviews, which is totally unrealistic
for chairs. So again, for transparency reasons, if you really want to include nighttime government, you need to notify the chairs well in advance of the interviews in order to participate. I hope you change that tonight. Thank you.
Thank you, Nancy. Um, and just to answer that, uh, to give you clarity, the desk appointments haven't been made. They will be tonight. So, thank you. That's okay. Okay, point of order. We don't respond by policy. We don't respond to
public comment. Karen, and I appreciate the sentiment. Just reminding you, by policy, we don't respond to public comment. I'm not sure if you're aware, Karen, but uh the way that I'm going to run the meetings is the way that I'm going to run the meetings of order. And
I'm able to respond back, not we. I'm able to respond back and if I want to, if I want to have the board able to respond back to public comment, that is within my purview. Is it not? That's procedural. It is. No, it is not. No, it is not. I
appreciate your best. It's really embarrassing. He's been on the select board since 2021. He's embarrassing. You're just as embarrassing. Please stop and let's move on. This is ridiculous. You're acting like 5-year-olds. Anybody else comment? Bob Holmes.
Really? Yes. Well, go ahead. I always Nope. Up to the podium. All right. This is a first for everybody. Bob Holmes 123 Police in Road. You know where you live. So I have um was trying to figure out how to do this and let people know and
stuff and tell you guys and I thought, you know, this is the perfect way to do it. Um this is my last meeting covering you guys for the uh the Chronicle. It's been more than five years with the Chronicle, then a couple years with Patch. Um, I want to say it's been fun
every minute, but you know, most minutes it's been fun. Um, but I'm not disappearing. You might see me at some point in the back of the room. Uh, there may be some agendas that come up that uh are entertaining and I'll ask them if I
can uh swing by. And there's always the phone call from Bill Brown telling me to do a story. So, it could happen. So, I'm not disappearing completely, but I just wanted to u let everybody know that uh it's uh it's been fun and I enjoy writing and uh I've learned so much
about this town that I was totally clueless about um before I started doing this. And uh I just want to keep talking so I can hear the thing. Three seconds. All right. Thank you. [Music] [Applause]
We are running out of community spotlight sections for next week. Uh, next, Linda. Thank you. First, I didn't know Bob and I want Linda Snow Dos or Beaver Road. Want to give you a shout out. Many, many years I've been reading your articles. Thank
you so much for your time and your quick turnaround. It's unbelievable. Thank you. Um I wanted to share with you um my experience with RCTV. So I'm not sure whether I'm in
line or not because I'm a little confused by whether I should be saying this now or later. I do you want me to answer? Oh, we can stop that. Sure. She asked a question, Karen. I'm going to answer her and I'm not going to allow her to go forward when she might think
that something else is transpiring. Sorry. Um, this would be our only time to mention it. So, if RCTV comes up, then you know, you already gave your comments on RCTV. It is what it is. You know what I mean? Otherwise, or you can speak about it during the RCTV section.
So, I can stay and speak about it then. No, just one time it because the topic tonight is on RCTV. So, you can either speak during the RCTV topic or during public comment. One, not both.
Okay. Well, I guess I'll take my chance to say it now. Thank you very much. And maybe it'll ring in your ears. Um, for over 27 years, I have been wowed by RCTV. How they go above and beyond. And
reading their contract, I realize now how truly above and beyond RCTV goes. They um not only cover meetings that are required like the select board, the school committee. I appreciated them
being there so that I could rewatch the meetings and learn from what went beyond my filter or didn't go through my filter when I was a school committee member. Um but also when I couldn't be at meetings um I so appreciated them
have so appreciated them covering other meetings and also events in town to have them at the town fair to have them at the Manura lighting to have them at Martin Luther King Day to have them covering the Holocaust
um speakers survivors who have spoken to our town. It really is an accessibility that they have enabled for everybody in the town to watch with closed captioning. They have done it without any kind of push back, any kind
of hand asking for anything back. Okay. Um, so I just want to also I wanted to mention how important they are in the school and for the lives of our children who are learning professional skills from them and out in the public
doing professional skills that are visible to everyone. Thank you very much for this opportunity. I really hope that their contract is ratified again, renewed. Thank you. Thank you.
Anyone else? Caroline. Good evening. Taylor Gregory, Pleasant Street. Tonight, I want to speak in support of RCTV and the fundamental service that they provide for residents of this town. I'm an owner of a news media organization, The Running Observer, and I heavily rely on RCTV's
coverage of public meetings and forums to do my job. Whether it's watching meetings I can't attend live or going back to confirmed details for accurate reporting. The value RCTV brings goes far beyond my own work. That broadcasts make Town government accessible to residents who can't be there in person.
Working families, seniors, parents with young children, and more. This kind of access isn't just convenient. It's vital to a healthy and transparent democracy. Without it, our town would be less informed, less connected, and less equipped to engage in meaningful civic life. That's why I believe it's critical
that we not only maintain but strengthen RCTV's role in our community. They need our support, especially financial support to continue providing this invaluable service. I urge both the town and residents to recognize how essential RCTV is and invest in the future of accessible, transparent local
government. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else in the room? Once, twice, three times. Anyone online, Jackie? Nobody has their hand raised on Zoom. All righty. We will then move on to the
town manager report. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, a couple items. Um, I attended Reading's Memorial Day celebration yesterday. It was a wonderful event. The weather cooperated. It was beautiful. I actually got a little sunburned being out there all day. Um, but a big thank you to our
veteran services officer, Will Valier, and his team and all the volunteers, the DPW department, facilities department, everybody that came out to make it a successful event um for u for our veterans and others. So, thank you very much for that and I I look forward to it
next year already. I wanted to mention that this weekend on Saturday, May 31st, the Reading Police Department will have its annual open house from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the police station, which is 15 Union Street. This is always a
great event every year. This year, we'll have face painting, um, touch a truck, bouncy houses, and free food. Always, always a big attraction. Um, so far the weather is looking okay, so please come out as you can if you can. It would mean a lot to our officers that spend the day
there. As you can see in the select boardroom, we have a new portrait of Harriet Tubman which is hanging behind me. Um, a big thank you to Rob Sheret. Um, and he's the artist that painted it and he's this is our latest contribution to the hero art collection um that he's
he's created. Um, so we moved we actually moved the paintings. If you you probably noticed some of them used to be behind uh the select board. We still had the issue where the cameras were picking up the the faces of the portraits themselves and thinking they were talking. Um, so we thought it was better
to avoid confusion, move them up there for that display. So again, thank you to Rob Sharet for all his hard work on all of these paintings. Very talented artist. A quick update on uh green communities. We're getting to the finish line for that. Um, we were waiting some
minutes that you'll be uh approving hopefully later tonight um that approved your vote uh in the I think it was the prior meeting. Um we'll also have a memo from RMLD later this week. And with that, once I have both of those, I will
forward those to the CEC for their signature and we will be completed the process of becoming a green community. Um, we'll have more information after that about grant opportunities and whatnot, but this is a significant hurdle that we will be completing by the end of the
week. Um, I want to apologize um for all the inconvenience that was caused by our recent hard plastic and trash bin recycling event. Um, we had an overwhelming response, which was great. Um, however, we simply ran out of space and we had to shut it down without
everybody having their turn to bring their bin. Um, so I apologize on behalf of the town in DPW for that, but we've um corrected that. First of all, we've always announced that we're going to have curbside pickup um for several dates in July where we'll come to your houses and pick them up. Um, which is
great. And those um those dates are on the website. And also, we've added a few more dates. So, Saturday, June 7th, rigid PR plastic only, including trash and recycling containers, will be taken at the yard from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
And for that day, we're doing even numbered houses only. So, even number addresses only. The way we we thought to sort of curb down the crowds is to break it into two events. One day even number, the next day odd number. So, Saturday the 21st, the same thing. rigid plastics
and um recycling and trash bins for odd number of houses. And that's 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All this information will be on Facebook and on the website. Um but I just wanted to highlight it here tonight. Again, um apologize for the inconvenience. Also, I wanted to note that residents at any time they can
bring their own trash, their old trash recycling bins to the DPW. Um, we're open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30m. So, at any time during the week, they could also get rid of their trash bins that way. So, there's several opportunities uh to to do that in the
next few weeks. And with that, I'm I think I'm if I may pass it over to Jane Wman, who has some good news and some updates. Thanks, Jane. Really briefly, thank you. Um today the town received its designation
that we are compliant with 3A with the MBTA communities law. So that official designation was delivered today. Um the RFP for the trash and recycling contract, our successor contract um is on the street as of this morning. So
that process will is beginning now. will have some questions coming in from vendors and the goal is to have that contract awarded either in late August or September so that we understand fully what the costs are for that contract when the CFO is putting together the
accommodated cost portion of our budget. So we have done our timeline so that we will have a full knowledge at that point. Um we are hoping that by going with a fully competitive um very transparent process that we will um encourage all the vendors to sharpen their pencils and give us a very
competitive um uh contract. So that should that should work well for the town. Remains to be seen. Just real quick on that. Yeah. Does that include all the options that we've discussed in prior meetings about um potentially every other week for recycling etc. So
that's we're asking for prices for all different kinds of things. There's 13 different appendices, all kinds of stuff. Yeah, Mr. Ch. Yes, um so some of the other communities have this um system which is pretty good where you can go to town hall, buy a
sticker for $2, put it on a thing on your sidewalk. So stuff that you might want to get rid of and you have the opportunity to get rid of two per week and having a bunch of $2 stickers and being able to put stuff on the curb is a
nice a really nice feature once you try it. And um I'd like us to find out whether that's an old school thing that they're not doing anymore or whether that's a newer option that we could um maybe consider for our residents. So that would be for bulk pickup. Um and so
we're looking at two different models, right? So currently bulk pickup is allowed for each household. You can put something out every every week. Um which is a lot of cost that the town is carrying. Um what we're also seeing that is a more conservative approach is that
those charges for bulk pickup are paid by the homeowner. So we'll price both options and see see a $20 option for like big stuff sometimes. Yeah, sometimes it's like, are you going to put out a couch? It's, you know, $15 or
$20. We'll find out what the vendor says. Some towns subsidize that a little bit or on a sliding scale. So, the beginning of the contract, it's subsidized and by the end of the five years, it's phased. It's a little, you know, if increases over time, we have to look and see what the options are and
present them to the board. Um and there, you know, we can work with with what folks want to do, but we do anticipate that this will be a substantially more expensive contract. And so we have to um put as many options out there as we can. So I think it's a great idea. Bulk bulk
items. You could also do it five bulk items or whatever number and then beyond that you would pay a higher fee. Something like that. So we can we can be creative. Okay. Thanks. Okay. That's a great idea. Um and then finally the permanent building committee
and the kilum school building committees are starting doing their meetings again. Um the permanent building committee which is managing the uh writing center for active living project is meeting tomorrow night and then the kil school um building committee will be meeting on
Monday um next Monday. And so the they'll be beginning a regular meeting uh cadence. It looks like recal will meet the first Wednesday of every month and that kilum will meet the first Monday the second Monday or the of every
month. So that'll be how it goes. So that uh no matter which week the select board meeting is Matt doesn't have to go to three meetings in a row. So um so um that's uh unless he wants to you know that's that's a good time. Um
but anyway so that is that's the update. Thank you very much. Thanks, Jane. Um, all right. So, now we will move on to the community spotlight. Matt, take it away. Sure. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do have a few items I wanted to mention under community
spotlight. Um, first, some highlights from town government. Um, this this month marked both National EMS week and National Public Works Week um both during May. So, I'd like to shine a spotlight on both departments for their
incredible work that they do all year round, not just uh not just this week. In your packet, you'll find letters from me that I sent to all of the uh DBW and fire department employees thanking them for their efforts and marking the week.
The theme of EMS week is we care for everyone. And the theme of public works week is people, purpose, and presence. Um, I could say that our employees live by these themes every day they come to work and I would like to thank them for
that. And just a a business update that I was recently made aware of. Um, we have an upcoming business opening. It's called Presence and Company. It's at 557 Main Street, the former Ashley TV
location. And it is a space for um they call it a modern third space, an unplugged space for community to gather, connect with one another and focus on well-being without uh digital distraction. Sounds like a great premise. And our um the owner is a young
entrepreneur with a background in uh health care and wellness. And she plans a ribbon cutting and an open house on June 16th from 4 to 6. Um, so I'd like to spotlight that new business coming to town. I'll I'll also have more information in um in meetings coming
regarding existing businesses with milestones, but I thought that was a good one to mention today. A new business right in our downtown. So, and I would like to thank Bob Holmes. I didn't know before tonight, but I would spotlighted you as well, but I I will thank you for all all your hard work and coming to every meeting and staying up
late and writing those stories and always getting it right. So, we appreciate it from the town government side of things. Thank you. Thanks, Matt. And if anybody else who's watching this in uh in the future would like to send something over to you or the board to take up um it would be greatly
appreciated because there's 27,000 people in town and it's good to hear more about um their successes. Sure. Y just Yep. All right. So, now we will move on to uh discussing vote to authorize short-term debt related to the high school
fieldhouse improvements. Page nine in the packet. And who's so Diane Marabido who's our town treasurer is on Zoom and will lead us through that borrowing discussion. So Diane, can you hear us? Yes. Can you hear me? Yes. Go right ahead. Good evening everyone. What's
going on with my computer? What's going on with my video? Well, we can still hear you. Um Okay. Um Okay. Not sure what's going on with the video. Um good evening everyone. I'm here to request an approval for a
borrowing totaling $3 million for the high school fieldhouse bleachers and floor improvements. Carlo shows up. I cut the wire on the way in. Great. Hello. Yeah, you were spotty. Um, can
you hear me? You might want to turn off your video. Maybe it'll help because we can still hear you at times. So, maybe just close that and we'll see if it gets better. Okay. Can you hear me better? Yes. Yes. We'll interrupt if you don't. Okay. Can you hear me? Yep. Okay. Good
evening, everyone. I'm here to request an approval for a borrowing totaling $3 million for the high school fieldhouse bleachers and floor improvements. The borrowing was previously approved at two separate town meetings. The first
totaling 1.7 million passed under article 10 at the town meeting held on April 24th, 2024. in the additional 1.3 million passed under article 15 at the November 12th, 2024 town meeting. The
bond anticipation notice scheduled to be issued on May 30th, 2025 for $3 million with a 4% coupon rate. It will be a short-term borrowing and mature on March 13th, 2026. At the maturity date, we will repay an
amount totaling 3,94,333.33, which includes interest of $94,333.33. Our financial advisors and bond council have reviewed the articles and all legal requirements associated with this bond note issuance and have provided their approval. Um however in
order to proce proceed we will need the vote and approval of the select board. I had provided Matt with five sets of documents which includes the vote. All documents except for the note will have two signature pages that need to be
signed and I flagged them all. Does anyone have any questions on this? Lauren board members just a quick question. I'm skimming through these and I'm having a hard time seeing um how long these will be outstanding for these 10 years. No, it's it's um it's only 9
and a half months. It's um the maturity date is March 13, 2026. So, I saw that and I said, I must be reading this wrong. We're borrowing money for nine months only. Correct. Because it's a short-term project. So,
we it's a short-term pro project and we like to borrow close to the project as we can. Um because there's certain arbitrage limitations um if you borrow monies that you don't need ahead of time. If you borrow in
advance to what I'm trying to say basically we had to borrow now because we need the money by next week pretty much to start the project. It's a short-term project. So, if I may continue, why would we This is
essentially um putting it on a credit card for 60 days for a from a municipal government. What's the decision process that we go through because it costs money to hire bound council, issue bonds, pay interest for 9 months versus just and I see Sharon has joined us
versus just paying pre-cash. I I was just wondering if you could walk us through the decision process. So um with meeting and with B our bonding agent um we were talking about the kilum and the recal borrowing um and when we would do that borrowing and we had talked about
doing it in January. So this is a short-term borrowing to get us to January so that we can borrow all of it permanently in January borrow the 3 million or no. Yeah. So, we'll borrow the three million, but it it cost a lot of money to do a permanent
borrowing. And so, we banned for um this because we only had one project to borrow for. Come January, we we're going to be borrowing some money for the kilum. We're going to be borrowing for recal. We'll be borrowing this money and maybe something for pickle ball. I'm not sure what I haven't seen the cash flow
for that yet. So, where we are issuing permanent debt um in January, we would just do it once. So, this project needs the cash now so they can get started in June. Um, and then we'll be doing internal borrowings to get us to January. Um, and then have that money
paid back by the borrowing. So, this was by advice of our bonding agent to make sure that, you know, we only go out to, you know, borrow once as opposed to multiple times and also, you know, just structure in the best way because borrowing in January, I will not have a debt payment for any of these borrowings
in fiscal 26. I won't have an interest payment and I won't have um a principal payment. So that would allow us more time before Kilum and the recal actually hit your tax bill. Melissa,
thank you. Can I just ask, wouldn't it make more sense then to use free cash and not pay $94,000 in interest if it's just shortterm and then we can just pay back our own free cash? I think free cash is is at a premium for
us right now because we are going to be issuing so much debt. We want to have our reserves at at you know AAA numbers and so we cannot be using $3 million at once right now um because we did use $6 million at um April town meeting to support the fiscal 26 budget and that
does come out right away. So, so I wouldn't advise taking $3 million out at this point because we did advise the $6 million for the operating budget. Um, and and the money is we get premiums on our band. So, the the premiums pay for
the issue cost. So, it's not like there is really that $96,000 cost to us. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Can you just say that again? What do you mean there's really no $96,000 cost to us? like it's 4% interest. Sorry, this is small on my
screen. So, can you just clear the actual interest rate is lower than that? Um I forget what the actual interest rate is. It's 3 point something, but they give us a 4% coupon. Um so, that's they're they're they're structuring our bond, our ban for resale if it needs to
be. And so they'll pay us that difference in interest up front um so that um we can you know so that we'll pay the 4% because the actual stated interest on our on our band is lower. I think it's 3.4 or 3 Diane could probably
accurately I don't remember what the actual numbers are. So that that that premium helps pay for debt issuance cost. The interest payment is the only thing we would pay and we would be paying that if we borrowed anyway. So, it's like there's no there's no downside
of doing the ban. It's just bringing it to a date that we'll borrow all of it at once because the borrowing, the permanent borrowing is that much more expensive. And so, all we're doing is borrowing short term so that we can get to that January date so that we can borrow all at once and avoid a debt
payment until fiscal 27. Okay. All right. Thank you for that clarity. Anyone else? I just Sharon, for my own clarity, are we borrowing the three million anyway and this is just getting us to that point? That's why we're borrowing the
whole thing or we're not borrowing the 3 million at all? We're borrowing short-term um they call it a bond anticipation note, which is a short-term borrowing, and we're doing that so that we can start the project. We're not technically supposed to start a project until we've borrowed if the debt is the
actual funding source. And so there were there were no other projects that needed to start so soon. So that's why we're doing we normally would have multiple projects that we borrow for and we had hoped to have birch metal phase two as a borrowing to pair up with this. Um and and then we weren't sure that numbers
would come in in time. And so we ended up doing the ban just to bring us to January so that we could borrow it because we know for sure we're going to borrow for kilum and recal in January. So, it's just it's just so that legally we can start working on this project because I cannot show a deficit at June
30th and have it not hit my free cash and they're going to start working on this project, you know, in June. So, whatever they spend would actually hit our free cash. You really want to borrow before you start a project that's funded by debt. So, I guess my followup to that is
hypothetically if this started in January of 26, are you still borrowing $3 million or are you paying it off? Yes, we're going to borrow the money to pay back the ban. So, you know, it's kind of like we're borrowing permanent money to pay back the ninemonth note.
Okay. All right. That makes it more Does that make sense? Yes. But we wouldn't want to wait till January to do the floor because the timeline was that they wanted to do start the floor in June. So, it was it was an important timeline to get the floor ready um for the next
school year. So, so the timeline kind of dictated that we needed to do a short-term borrowing because we only had the one project that needed this money by June. Yep. Perfect. Anyone from the public? Um Oh, Darren, go ahead. No, I'm I'm just not to put you on the spot, but
I'm really glad to see we have a member of the finance committee here because this is the first time that we have heard that our free cash levels are getting low enough that we have to be careful how we borrow or we will not be borrowing at optimum rates and as we're going to head into budget season. I think that is a very important
consideration to keep in mind, we are going to need to tighten budgets this year. Thanks. Thanks for coming. Thanks Karen. Uh, anyone from the public wishing to weigh in on this online? Is there anybody online for the
future? Just so I know, there are people online, but there are no hands raised. All right. Um, so Karen, do we have a motion? So, I'm reading this whole thing. Diane, can I just ask does she have to
read the whole vote of the select or can we just say as presented? you're on there with the motion. I don't believe that. I think in the past that they did not have to read the whole vote. Okay. Okay. Then the motion would be move to accept as presented. I would say move to
accept as presented. I don't know. I think you may have to read a part of the bill though. Okay. I need to Which part, Diane? Maybe the first part. I believe the last I think point of order. In the past, we've done we've started the reading and then made
a motion to dispense with further reading of the motion. I don't know technically which is correct. I just don't want to have to It's just a long it's it's a long vote. So, exactly. I believe Karen is correct. Okay, let's do that. Okay. So, you can start. I the clerk of the select board of the town of
Reading, Massachusetts. Motion dispense to dispense with further reading of the motion before us. Second. All those in favor? 5. Okay. And back to the original vote. Do I have a motion on the original
vote? What's the Well, that was to dispense with the rest of the rest of the to accept whatever to approve or uh it just said see a separate document which was the vote. That's what I was
asking about. So, okay. So, you read it. Discuss it. It should be motioned to approve to authorize short-term debt related to the high school field house improvements. It's the first paragraph or sentence at
the top of the page of this page. Yes. So how it says discussion vote to authorize author. Yes. Vote to authorize short-term debt related to the high school fieldhouse improvements. Second is seconded. Any
discussion? All those in favor? 5. Thank you, Diane. So, there's several signatures required that I provided to the the clerks to pass those around. They're all marked. And if there's any questions, I think Diane is still on the
Zoom. So, thank you. All right. So, while we're getting that passed around, is Matt Abraham's here for the water? I believe he's on. Um Jackie, can you enable Matt to speak?
And this starts on page 69 of the All right. The motion format is usually a little different. Good evening everyone. This is Matt Abrahams from from the Abrahams Group. Good evening Matt. Here to talk about
water and sewer. Give you an update on the state of the enterprise funds as well as start the discussion on potential rate action for FY 26. I have some slides for our presentation this evening and I was planning on just running through them.
Yep. Go ahead. Okay. So, these slides, I believe, were part of the handouts for the select board. So, you should have already had um the ability to look at these yourselves. They're the same slides that are now before you should be before you
on the screen. Can someone just confirm that you can see it? Yes. Okay, great. Thank you. So again, Matt Abrahams from the Abrahams Group. We're here to talk about uh an update on analyzing the water and sewer funds in the form of a rate study for
FY26. Um this is our third year working with the town on water and sewer rates. Um last year we presented uh to this board um a 10-year uh lookout 10 years into the future. Um, so we analyze both
projected revenues and expenses all the way 10 years into the future. And again for you this year we have another 10-year look. And the reason why I raised that is because for some of the communities that we work with, we sometimes only look out five years. Um, but for your community, we've uh taken a
liberty to go ahead and look out 10 years. So it's very similar in that regard to what we presented last year. So I have uh slides for water and then I have slides for sewer. They're very similar. Uh, we're going to start with water. And I know I only have 10 minutes, but that that should not be a
problem. Okay, first slide is about history on water. Just recent history. Um, two years [Music] back, two years, two years back, the town implemented a fourth tier rate structure when rates were set for
FY24. A year ago, um, using the 10ear look I was talking about a moment ago, water rates were increased 3.75% across all tiers. That's for the current fiscal year of FY25. The water fund maintains consistently healthy retain earnings. The most recent
certification was $5.5 million and we often compare that to the budget or the total expenses for a fund to measure how healthy or unhealthy retaining retained earnings are. Um the measurement of that 5.5 is
62.5%. The year before that the certification was 4.8 million that was by 58 and a half%. U town policies to target 30%. The water fund the water funds um retain earnings
balance is above the target. The town consistently balances the budget using retain earnings for rate stabilization. In other words, because you have this retained earnings, it is used to help keep rates a little bit lower. Meaning that if you didn't have them, rates may end up being a
little bit higher. Regeneration consistently allows retained earnings balance to stay at a healthy level. Regeneration in this case would be any revenues that are above the budgeted amount of revenues or any expenses that are not spent, any budgeted expenses not spent, which is also called
turnback. The town typically funds capital improvements as part of the operating budget to avoid additional costs incurred from borrowing. That's that's very prudent planning if the town is able to do that. Um, so in other words, there are cases in your community where debt is not incurred because you
have the ability to just spend on capital, whether it's through rates or through retain earnings. Additional history. Um, looking at the fund expenses, this is holistic for your entire water budget or what's spent for
water every year. Um, it's increased an average of 7.0%. 7% the last five years. So if we look at total fund expenses for water 7% the last five years the MW assessment itself has increased an average of 5.4% annually the last five years that
is slightly above what uh the MA increases for it for all of its members. Usually it's around 3.94%. 5.4 obviously is a little bit above that. Uh fund revenues it generally kept up with expenses.
Uh there were two deficit years the past five five year there past five years a small amount in FY20 and $1.6 million in FY22. Otherwise fund revenues have exceeded fund expenses in the other years for the past five years. And the
amount that was used to balance the budget out of retained earnings is presented for you there. You can see it's basically somewhere around $1 million um for each of the last four years including the upcoming budget for FY26 which is a little bit more than that $1.7 million. Projections for water. Now
we're starting to look forward a little bit. Um debt service to remain consistent as new debt is to be is planned to be incurred when the MW buying debt service rolls off at the end of FY 28. So we did want to point that out that um there should at least at
that point in time there shouldn't really be a big change in what the fund is carrying for debt service right around FY28 FY29 when that buyin debt comes off using inflationary factors from for some expenses total fund expenses are projected to increase by 5.9% for the
next fiscal year FY26 4.6% 6% in 27 and then we have it leveling off to about a6% annual increase from there. As I mentioned earlier, the MWA assessment is generally anticipate to increase
3.9% on average annually over the long term. Of course, it kind of goes up and down based on how much flow is used in a given year for a community like Reading. Um, but overall, that's what we usually see even for a town with the roller coaster effect.
All projections include a presumed regeneration amount of 400,000 for revenues and 200,000 for expenses. We thought this was important to include just because it's a reality in reading that there are often regeneration is a factor and we don't typically include
that in our our analyses but we are including it for this year's analysis for reading because it is it is that consistent in your community with no rate action retain earnings can cover the large projected deficits that we have in our analysis through 29 FY 29 but not beyond that
which means that in order for revenues to keep up with expenses. Rate action is necessary to ensure that the fund remains um sustainable long term. Here's our baseline scenario for water. Um this is not a scenario that we
anticipate happening at all, but we'd like to show is what happens to your fund based on all of our projections if rates don't change or if revenues don't change. And as I mentioned in the last slide, retain earnings can carry you through FY29 but not beyond that without
rate action. Now you see it in a table format and in a graphical format. And now we're getting into the options for water rates. Um this is a transition from the prior slide where you see an updated table and updated
graph. Now that we see the impact of the rate plan that is now before you again we were looking at 10 years. Um often when I present rate plans I like to at least look at the consistent rate plan meaning the rate change the rate change
is the same in each of the years that we're looking at. And you can see that here that we're looking at 2.5% annually. And what we try to do with with what we with when we put together this rate plan is consider what the retain earnings target is. and try to
get the retained earnings projections to approximate or target that target by the end of the 10 years that we're looking at. And that's exactly what's happening here. So the blue line is what we're projecting for retain earnings and we have it even with the 2.5% annual
increase to water rates. We have it still dipping below the target somewhere around FY 29 20 FY30 somewhere in that area and then trending back towards the target by the end of the 10-year look. And we like to show user impact
too. So we just talked percentages. Well, what does that mean to sample users or sample bills? And I I believe we had this chart for you last year in our analysis. Uh we like to focus on the average residential user when we look at this and a 2.5% increase in FY26 if it
were authorized is somewhere in the $4 5 $6 range for the average res residential user which if you go annually that's somewhere between 17 and $26 annually and a large residential user we have is
about $54 annually. That's option one. So you'll see the same slides for other options too. I'll go through through these a little bit more quickly after you saw the first one. It's these slides are the same. Um so now we're looking at a little bit of a lower increase in FY 26 with this
option 1.75% FY26. Um which means if you go a little bit lower now presumably you'd have to go a little bit higher later which is why you see increases slightly above the ones you saw in the outline years with the prior slide up to 2.75%. similar graph where it dips below the
target but works its way back towards the target. Average residential user for 1.75% between 12 and $18 annually. Um large residential $38 annually. Option three, if you do more
now presumably you do less later, 3.25% we have is two and a quarter in the outlying years. Again a similar graph and for the user impact um average residential user about $22 or
to $33 in the range large residential user we have $71 annually. So I'm about to transition to the sewer slides which I'm totally willing to do. I just wanted to pause in case we want to talk about water first.
Board members, any question on the water section? All right, we can move on to sewer. Okay, similar slides. So, I'll try and get through these quickly. Um, history, the same four tier structure was implemented for sewer FY24 two years
back. Last year, 3.3 3% increase across all tiers. Um, like water consistently healthy retain earnings. Actually, these are showing higher numbers than water. 6.9% sorry, $6.9 million was the last certification. That's over
93%. 7.3 the prior year, so it's slightly down. Um 98% for that certification. Again, the policy is to target 30%. Um retain earnings are used to balance the budget for rate stabilization. We see similar
regeneration on the sewer side. And just like with water, wherever possible, the town tries to avoid borrowing um if it has the resources to pay for capital improvements in that year. Um the average increases of fund expenses for sewer was 1.2% the last
five years. The M assessment has actually decreased. Now it's not an increase, that's a decrease of about 0.5% the past five years. That is not typical. I don't know the exact reason why that's happened, but I would not expect that to be the case consistently
moving forward. Fund revenues have generally kept up with expenses. There was one deficit year in FY22 of about $465,000. And you can see the retain earnings that have been used to balance the budget the last few years as well as $1.2 million planned for the upcoming
fiscal year of FY26. Um, we have debt service anticipated to fall off over the next 10 years. It's over $1 million as part of the FY26 budget and it goes to now we're looking at about seven years, but it goes to 750 before it drops down to about $130,000
based on the latest information that the town has provided. Um, capital outlay and we saw this last year when we did our analysis on sewer. Um, it's fluctuating. If you just look at the schedule that's been put together, it's kind of going up and down year to year.
$715,000 in 26, 290 and 27 and 1.8 as part of the schedule that was provided in FY35. Of course, that's way out. That's 10 years out, but the town does look 10 years out and that's what's currently included included in the capital plan. Of course, that could
change. Um using inflationary factors uh we have total fund expenses increasing by 5% in 27 10% in 29 and then an average increase of 2% in most of the other years as part of the 10-year period. And we have the MW
assessment projected to increase by about 3.3% annually uh average over time. And of course that's well above what has historically happened in the recent past for the town of Reading. Um we've assumed the same regeneration amounts as we did for
water, 400,000 for revenue and 200,000 for expenses and with no rate action we have retained earnings carrying the fund through FY32 which is a little bit down the road but not beyond that. So again, in order to maintain long-term sustainability, there would need to be
rate action to make sure that that avoids happen. The baseline scenario for water, this is basically a table and a graphical representation of what I just mentioned a moment ago. You can see that the blue line doesn't get below the target until about FY31 with no rate
action, but eventually does work its way down there and um eventually depletes and goes below zero with no rate action. Option one, again, if we're just focused on a level plan, we have that as 2% annually. And you can see that the
blue line does work its way down, but stays above the target the entire time. but by the end of the 10-year period has worked its way all the way down to the orange. And I do want to point out that if we look at that FY35 column, you can see $1.5ish million of the deficit in
red. That is very much tied to that $1.8 million that I mentioned a moment ago for the cap was part of the capital plan. Um, so expenses bump way up in that year for that reason. And that's why we see that drop off of the blue down to the orange.
Um, sewer rate option one 2%. So, we have that as a a per bill amount of about three and a quarter to about $5 for the average residential user, which works out to be $13 annually or $19 annually. And the large residential user is $41
annually. If um the board interest in option two, we have uh the rate increase of 1.5% in 26. And if you do less now, you do a little bit more later. That's two and a quarter in the outline years to get the graph to look similar as you saw a moment
ago. That's about $10 to $15 annually for the average residential user, $31 annually for the large residential user. And option three, if you do more now, you presumably do more less later. 2.5% in 26, one and one and three/4ers the
other years to get a graph that looks similar to what we just saw. And the impact to the users are about $16 to $24 annually for the average residential user and about $52 annually for the large residential user.
And Mr. Chairman, those are all the slides I had for you this evening. So happy to take any questions or comments. Thanks, Matt. board members. Nobody. Well, I guess I will ask a question. So, I know our target is 30% and I guess
in prior years I've been paying attention more to the red column uh on all of your slides up the top where it goes green into red uh but not paying attention to the 30% portion on the bottom. Uh so if our target is 30% why
are we going out I understand you're scaling it to 10 years but we're hindering the residents with the burden now as opposed to uh in future years which I understand eventually somehow you're going to have to do that but
that's assuming our revenues don't increase um and things like that. So I guess what volume for your rates are you assuming for FY26? Is it the
572 or the 617 that the MWR is assessing this? You're asking what volume? I'm sorry. Yeah. So what volume are you basing your rates off? So is it based off the 572 or is it milligons or? Uh I don't actually
have a usage. What we ended up doing for projecting where the revenues ended up was we looked at your your bill data that we compiled back when we did the the tiers two years back and we calculated what we had as quarterly bill
runs based on that. Um and then we just carried it forward to the current time frame based on the rate increase that took place since then. Um, so it's using your real billing data to get at a projected revenue amount, but I don't
have the actual usage tied to that. I guess I could get it for you. It just would take some digging to do that. Yeah, I think if you could because if our target is 30% and we're sitting here at 98 or, you know, I think the sewer was what, 98% or something. Um, you
know, I I understand we have a healthy reserve because of that, but um I guess more to the point that I would like to see how many more times are we discussing this, Matt? Like one or two more? No. Well, the the public hearing would be the next meeting. So, we have
to the next meeting. Yeah. So I guess in terms for the public meeting next time, Matt Abrahams, if you could also have a a forecast of what 0% on on the water and sewer rates and maybe I guess 1% as well, just forecast that out too because
I know you mentioned two and a half, three and a half um on your tables, but I kind of want to see what zero or 1% looks like. I don't want us to go back because I understand we could go negative and and reduce the rates, but I don't think for
me personally that's something that would sit well with future boards 10 years from now, wherever that may be any. I just want to make sure I'm clear. So, you're interested in seeing a 0% and a 1%. Yes. Is that just are those just
the percentages for FY26 or am I carrying them? No, just carry them out like you did on on both of the tables for water and sewer. Okay. So, if we're doing a 0% then that would be the baseline scenario because that's no revenue changes
and I've already those are already part of the slide deck. I can go back to those if you want to see those again. So we'll start with water just so you can So this essentially is the 0% already is 0%. Okay. So So that's already 0% on this
slide. This this represents no revenue changes, but everything else is in there including the projected expenses and the inflationary increases and all that. So it's it's everything's in there. It's just no rate changes here. That's what this slide is. All right. So that's where it's
projected in FY28 to go under the 30% target. Correct. Okay. And then on the sewer, what does that look like? That goes on forever, right? Like 10 years. Yeah. Sewer has higher level of retain earnings. Um so you're going to see it just take a little bit longer, but
eventually it does get there. Okay. So that's in 2031 that it dips below the 30. All right. So I guess if you could find out the question on the volume for the for the public hearing. Is that in two weeks back? Yeah. On the 10th on
10th a little bit before you question. Yes. If we're uh lucky if we're lucky enough to uh get some money back from the MWRA. Do we have we just have you guys discussed internally what um what we could do with
that or what we should do with that or is that going to be our decision? Um, yeah, we we discussed it a little bit and I know Sharon's on if you have any questions about that. I mean, it I suppose it it depends on how it comes, but it could be put towards our retained
earnings here or, you know, spent. I think it would come into free cash, too. So, one or the other. It's water money. If we were to get money back from the MRA, it would go into the certified surplus for whichever we get it back for. I think it's water um that we paid
all the money for. So, That's where the reserves would go and then we could use it towards capital. We could use it towards supporting our operating budget, however we want to use it. Okay. And do we have an update on next uh steps for them? There's Well, there's another meeting. I believe it's on the 12th. Um
they're going to be discussing it. So, we should know more then. June 12th. And is any of us involved in that meeting or just an internal meeting? I think we could all come. I know Chris had been in contact directly with the MW on that. And anybody's welcome. You'll send the link once you have it. Yeah. So once I
have the link, I'll send it around and and then anyone from the town could come. I guess if we could get posted for that meeting in case there's more than two of us that attend. Okay. Just that. Yep. All right. Thanks. Yep. Any other board members
questions? Anyone from the public have any questions on the water rates, sewer rates? Anyone online? Jackie that has no least. All righty, Matt, thank you for your presentation and we'll see you in two
weeks. Thank you, Matt. All right. Thank you. Thanks. All right. Next up is a public hearing discuss and vote on FY26 non-union classification and compensation plan. Karen, do I have a
motion for that? I just read this. Yeah. Open the notice. Yes. Perfect. To the inhabitants of the town of Reading, please take notice. The Select Board of the Town of Reading will hold a public hearing on May 27th, 2025 at 7 PM in the
Select Board meeting room 16 LOL Street, Reading, Massachusetts, and remotely via Zoom to approve the FY26 non-UN classification and compensation plans. A copy of the proposed copy of the proposed documents regarding this topic will be in the
selected packet on the website at www.reingma.gov. All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing or may submit their comments in writing or by email prior to 4 p.m. on May 27th, 2025 to town manager at reading ma reading ma.gov.
Thanks Karen. And Matt, do you So this is page 91 in the packet. Yeah. And Jackie, could you could you put up the packet for a second just so we can all see it? Um page 91 of the packet. So this this was all approved by town meeting. We do this every year. town meeting makes some adjustments in the
budget. Um there are very few this year and then they have to be approved after by you because you set the classification plan. So on in this case and you can see we have it up on the screen. Um the volunteer coordinator is
being added to the the plan. Um that was a a position that existed that was paid by opera funds. It's a part-time position. Um we now making it a permanent position. it's at the um senior center and a big help to our senior population. So, the request was
made. It was put in the budget and approved. Um the second request was the uh GIS administrator. That's a title change with more responsibilities. Um GIS and database administrator now and that's because he handles all the
databases. He started handing all the databases through town. um it was more than just his GIS job that he was doing which he's he's very expert at um and we wanted to recognize him so we moved that up into the budget. So those are the only two changes. Sean would be here as
well but he's away as well. Okay. Thanks Matt. Board members any questions? Carlo, I know town meeting was the place to discuss it, but is it you said permanent permanent part-time or permanent full-time?
It's part time. It's part time, won't you? Yes, part times. Yes. No benefits or anything, right? Uh, no. I think they they are eligible for benefits plus 20 20 to 21 hours. Really? Yes. If they work over that that amount of hours, you're eligible for
benefits. All right. Doesn't seem like enough. Okay. Yep. That's how it's like paid time off vacation. Yeah. Okay.
Yes. Am I confusing this position with someone? Didn't they share it position? Like they were the volunteer coordinator and then they also did something else. Am I wrong? The nurses shared between the health department and the senior center the public health. Maybe that's confusing. I think that's what and that
was done through oper as well. Any members of the public? Anyone online? Jackie? No hands raised on Zoom. Thanks. All right, Karen. Could I get a motion to
close the hearing? Motion to move to close the hearing regarding the FY26 non-UN classification and compensation schedules. Second. I'm not sure if that was Masa or Karen. I can go with Karen. Um, all those in
favor? 5 Z. Uh, can I get a motion to approve the motion to move to approve the FY26 non-UN classification and compensation schedules as presented? Second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in
favor? 5 Z. Thank you. Thank you. All right. We'll now move on to Harbor Day proclamation page 95 of the packet. Is this not or um yeah I'll just
say that um Chris Cole our our DPW director and assistant DPW director Mike Cman is here. Obviously Arbor Day has passed um but we have that tree city designation that we get every year and on the application a proclamation for the select board is required. There's
other activities that we do along with it that we've done. Um this is sort of the final step. So even though it's it's late this year because of our meeting schedule, I'd ask that you still proclaim it and that way we can put it with our application for Tree City designation. Board members, any
questions? Anyone from the public? Anyone online? No hands online. Uh Karen, can I get a a reading? Proclamation Arbor Day. Whereas in 1872,
J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. And whereas this holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska. And Arbor Day is now observed throughout the
nation and the world. And whereas trees reduce the erosion of our precious top soil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. And whereas trees are a renewable resource,
giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products. And whereas trees in our community, trees in our town increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, beautify our community, and wherever they are planted
are a source of joy and spiritual renewal. And whereas Reading has been recognized as a tree city USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the 40th consecutive year and desires to continue its tree planting ways. Now
therefore, we the select board of the town of Reading, Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim April 25th, 2025 as Arbor Day in the town of Reading and urge all resident, all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and
woodlands and plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations. Thanks, Karen. You all right? Could I get a motion? uh to proclaim April 25th as Arbor Day.
Motion to move to proclaim April 25th, 2025 is Arbor Day in the town of Reading. Second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? 5. Thank you, ma'am. We have something to
Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. So, we're signing that. Uh we can move on to page 96 of the packet, which is the layers on assignments. So, in the packet, I know we see a couple
uh Melissa changes and moves Gillis um also put in her changes. Was there any updates beyond that emails that came in or anything Jackie? No, this was all I got.
All right. So, we can start off discussing this. I will say that the uh new chair of the town forest committee reached out and um and gave his uh remarks of chairman Rose Gillis uh
being the lison for town forest committee. So he was very happy. Um I guess you guys spoke previously. Um so uh to me obviously that that's a natural um transition from Mark over you
especially with Jeff the new chair um making that recommendation. Um as for all the other changes on here does anyone have any questions, concerns, comments? Karen question. Um yeah, so have we finished?
Do we still have a recalc committee and a recalc building committee? Do we still both of those entities? I think. Yeah. Okay. So, which one do we We don't have a re plain old recalc anymore. We got rid of it. Recal. Sorry. Recal sunset. The board had it
sunset last summer. And the permanent building committee is the body that is in charge of that project. Yeah, that still exists. Yes. Yes. Okay. So, then that leads me to another question. Then do we have a recal
building committee like we have the kilm school building committee or we just have the permanent building committee. Okay. So there's like two items then we can take off of our liaison. So which one's recal plus what? Oh building committee. It's two. Okay.
Great. Yippy. All right. Um well I would love to I see we have spaces for two people on the permanent building committee. I would I apologize for not sending mine in in advance. Um I would love to um serve on that and actually that thank you for clarifying
that and then oh so here's the other question I had. Um so economic development Karen and Carlo were on there and in the old days we had an economic development committee that was um done away with and but then we also
have staff leaison. Um, so really what I'm thinking is as a select member like we have an economic development um, director. So if it's if anything
it's really a staff liaison. So if we keep that we probably would just want to move it public works public library facilities public safety or I don't know that was one suggestion. It's a little bit different than those other assignments. It is the
town of writing so we don't have a committee. We used to, but now it's just like, you know, do we have a liaison to liaison with our director of economic development, which is fine. Just throw that out there for the board's consideration. I think that
should be eliminated. Yeah, I'd weigh in and and say that also since we have a a director um that um has given us pretty regular updates, you know. Yeah, he's coming to the next meeting to give you an update. Um, which department is he part of? He's in public
services, which is under Jane's department. Okay. So, we have a lease on a public works, public library, facilities, public safety. All right. Well, we don't have liaison to public services, so I don't know if we need one, but I'm fine with um getting rid of
this one. So, I think the goal is Jackie, strike item nine from up there because that's the other retail building committee. and then also strike well you already did the economic development one that
you put on there. All right so that's already done and I do see that we have two new requests uh the reading food pantry as well as the Eastern Gateway Committee which is under economic development. Um,
so I know Karen, you were claws eye on Eastern Gateway Committee, but is there an actual committee coming before the select board after it gets out of town staff? Because currently it's under town staff, it's town staffled, right? Will
then that transition into a committee that the select board or CPDC might end up creating or what is the goal for that? Um, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, the typical run of events is that after this
piece of work is done with this grant, um, if there was to be further movement, there would be reporting out to the board and then a request to either create a committee to take it to the next step, which might be funding, design, whatever it might be, the
funding for the design and the design and so forth. And that would be um at the purview of ask and and the board to establish that committee and and so forth. But I think that would come from um uh Mr. McNichol and his uh his group
right now to request that or from the manager. So do we think that we need this or not or how does everyone feel? Can I was gonna say so we had a net zero project. Was that a a quasi committee too? Was that what was how is what was
the difference between the net zero group and the group that you were just serving on? I'm just thinking do we treat them the same? I'm not familiar with the net the net zero group I think started. Yeah, I know. I know. But I think it was before I was assistant town
manager. Um assistant assistant town manager. Assistant, she muted the mic in the beginning. Sorry about that. Well, the Eastern Gateway in my opinion is so important and so long reaching. You know, I I would defer I'd love to hear Karen's
input as to whether you know what kind of involvement board should have. So, I think it's uh right now we're just meeting briefly and compiling ideas for zoning and things like that. I I believe Andrew's coming to the select board to give an update in the next month or two.
It's on the future agenda. It's on the agenda and we had already discussed in the meeting, you know, I'll continue to go, but at some point it's either going to be me not being able to go because they're right now it's like a steering committee and they're going to change it possibly to a different kind of
committee that I may have to go as in a different role. So, um I I don't know how to answer that. So, I'm going to continue to go and I don't think it's my job to keep the board updated. It's Andrew's job to keep the board updated until such time that we've made a change for the direction of
the group. Does that make sense? Yeah, because I I believe we can't serve on any other boards and committees in town. So, unless I think you were on their ad hoc or how were you? Uh, someone dropped out so I joined before I was elected and so now I just go I mean I'm listed as a
participant but I'm not on an official capacity of the select board. I'm just we're just exchanging ideas right now. So I do agree with Karen that obviously the Eastern Gateway is the biggest remaining untapped resource. We've gone over this completely agree that
obviously this needs our attention but I wonder does it need our attention now or like I said we rely on your if you're saying that Andrew should be updating us in the interim till it gets there then perhaps we leave this off. I'm just going to leave it off for now. I think that would be the best thing and then
once a change needs to be made we can talk about it again. Okay. Anyone have any comments on that? Um, all right. So, the Reading Food Pantry request, did they make the request or how did this end up coming before us? How did it get on? I made a
suggestion because I thought um with the way things are going now, I think that they're probably I'd like to be involved to keep tabs on it because I think that that more and more residents are going to have to be using them and I think that they are going to need some assistance in some way either just to
have someone to talk to that's on the board or somebody to exchange ideas or just to keep a pulse of how they're doing before things. You never know what direction things are going to go in. So, it's sometimes nice to have somebody to touch base with. That was why submitted. I just made a recommendation. And do they have
meetings regularly by annually or how do they I'm not sure about that. Okay. I do not have meetings. I just don't know how often. Yeah. I guess it doesn't hurt to obviously hear more about the food pantry obviously. Um I know their lack of
funding has come up before in the past with the ARPA money that we supplemented. Um so it would be good to get an update how things stand now. I'm sure it's just going to get worse every single year. I mean, I don't see it getting better. Um, so I guess if you
wanted to be a part of that, I don't have any opposition to to doing that. Karen, um, yeah, I was going to say the only So, I'm looking at these lists. These are all generally official by one either the state or local or some other legal entity. Walkable writing is the
only other one I can find on there. There's just like somebody wanted to be involved at some point in the select board. So somebody, you know, has a role for walkable reading, but they're not a 501c. They're just an active group, right? So that's kind of well, doesn't
matter if they're a 501c, they're literally not walkable reading has no obligation to the town and we don't have any oversight and food pantry is the same way other than as a being a a part of the community. Are you volunteering?
Yes. Oh, okay. For walkable reading. Oh, for sorry. We're almost there. Ace, after we're done with this discussion, you everyone can weigh in. This is why we This is why we have asking, you know, you know, I get I'll go out of order.
Ace. So, we'll have the public weigh in if Ace, if you want to come up or someone else on here. Well, walkable writing is ace, I believe. Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking of the ACE committee. The ACE committee that needs to be on here. Sorry, it's getting really confusing. Thank you for coming.
Did you want to come up and it's up to you if you want to come up to the podium real quick and just name name and address and I'm sure it will be no longer than two minutes. Yes. Virginia Blah at 9 Prescott Street.
Uh former member of Walkable Reading. It is defunct. Uh, we have three people here tonight and my husband Everett's so you can cross it off your list. Okay. You know, we're still kind of in the background, but we're not really doing anything. Good job. Thank you. All
right. Thank you. Off your list. Okay. Bye. But thank you for coming because the ACE committee needs to be on this list, right? It's a committee. Yes. Well, that's okay. It just further highlights why letting the public weigh in on these things and not being a weird about letting them weigh in. It shows
that now we can, you know, ax this off and and move on. Um, can I Yes, the reading food pantry is not under the purview of the town. So, I don't think we should have a leazison to it. They can come in here and request I
guess reading was the same way that Yeah. And that that shouldn't have been on there either, but it's just my opinion. I mean it's everything here is under the perview of the town. So if we're going to start going down this
road then we're opening up you know just I I you know I think uh Rain Food Bank does great work. There's other organizations in town that do great work but we don't need a liazison to
everything. We have too many as it is. So I do agree and I know Karen has brought this up before the whole legazon thing and maybe we can have a discussion with that in a moment regarding the roles that we're supposed to play in all
of these. But I think that if Karen Rose Gillis is willing to to step into this, I think certain things we can kind of make exceptions for. Um like I said, we gave ARBA money before. I mean, I understand the road you're going down. I typically am the all or nothing person.
we either do it or we don't. But I think if if she's willing to do it and then in the future if Karen's no longer here and nobody else wants to do it, they they don't have to. I guess is is my way of thinking on it. I just know that they've come up
uh in multiple meetings before uh as opposed to a lot of items that are on here. Like the same thing with celebration for me that's never been mentioned until I just mentioned it now in my four years here. So in but the food pantry has been mentioned a dozen
times. So we can kind of get into the scenario where does that even make sense to have a celebration committee if we never do it as opposed to the food pantry that always happens. Did you have something here? Yeah, I I can go to the meetings
on my own. doesn't have to be the the guise of the select board person. I just think that um it's part of the community and it's going to become a bigger part of the community. So, if we're not comfortable adding something at this time, I'll just go to the meetings and and keep tabs on them and let everybody
know during certain times if anything if they may need something. I feel like I don't want us to get into a situation where we're waiting for them to come to us for help. You know what I mean? When it's too late. like if you can kind of anticipate or be a little more proactive with them which I don't have to be a liazison I can still reach out to them
on my own but that was more my intention behind it I just think more the theory of at the end of this meeting obviously we have liaison reports so it's kind of more formal that you are the liazison to the writing food pantry so therefore it makes sense otherwise I would be just
opining on things that I'm not even a part of you know what I mean it's more formal and it shows that there's somewhere uh to reach out and it's more official you know, and if you're willing to step up and actually do it, um, as opposed to us axing things off here, I
don't see the harm in in doing that this time around. So, I don't see Vasque on here either. Wait, is Vas staying the same? Because we got a bunch of entities coming up. Vask is on there. Select more Vasque right under administrator. Oh, there is. Sorry, I was looking for Vasque. Okay,
good. I guess we can do tail into that. is I know uh Karen and Melissa have served and we've gone over the cause. I can't do two years in a row. Can't do one scenario. How does everyone feel about VAS this time around?
I'm happy to stay on. Um again, I think we changed it so we're supposed to be every other year, correct? Changing one person. So there'll always be a person that did the year before and then you bring in a new person. Wasn't that the
change you made? Correct. Jackie, while we're discussing other items, maybe can you see about the VAS policy that we changed? That had to be what? Six months ago. Yeah, I think we changed it to like three times a a year. We'll open four times a year. Yeah, we tried to That
sounds right, but I'll bring it up. I think we also wanted to keep it. So, there was one person that would repeat um and then bring in a new person. I believe that's how it was worded. I think so. So, I don't really have time to do four meetings. So, I would like to
um nominate Melissa to continue. Four rounds of nominations a year as is too much. It's as needed. It's not automatic. I don't believe that's the policy we approve, but it's I think it's it's more as needed, but at the same time, yes, you must be
acquiesed to the four times. So, even though something might not happen, you have in the back of your mind that it may happen, which might preclude you from going on vacation, things like that. All right. So, Melissa and Croissa, she added her name to it. Oh, you did? Thank you. Great. That'll be good.
Great. Awesome. Thank you. appreciate that. Oh god, I didn't see that. Sorry. That is how you got secretary. So, um Jackie, were you bringing that up? Okay, just so we can know for the future if
that is I believe Melissa's correct. We got commissioner of trust. Nobody volunteered for that. Mark just one sec. So and culture council vast members shall be appointed a staggering two-year terms so arrange that one year shall expire each year. So that's why this
happens. Yeah. Uh two consecutive terms which is how it kind of was before. Okay. So that means Melissa would be exempt from being on the bas beyond this year. And wait where did it say how many times we have to call for volunteers and do all this. If you want to bring it back up
Jackie if that's in there. Thank you. This is just further down. the process. Let's see. Can you make it a little larger? I think she gets a closeup preview on the left. Yeah, there it is. Keep going. Yeah.
No, it is true. I remember we changed it quarterly. It says quarterly. Yeah. If needed. Like I said, if needed. Well, we're already getting emails that, oh, you haven't done this in a while. When are you doing it? I I guess I'm looking at that now and we've gone through it for six months and I'm like, that's too wishy-washy.
But, um, anyway, that's good. All right. So, We did one round and sometimes the second catch up round. So Karen, you're good with the initial round of interviews have to be completed by June 30th. There's a heavy load, multiple
meetings. Majority are on Zoom and then there might be some subsequent followups. Whatever. Yeah, all good. Thank you. Melissa's fine with that. Okay. And Carla, what did you just have? No one put their name for uh as far as I could tell the only two spots uh
cultural council is another one. Sorry. But for Commissioner Cross, I could do that if nobody else wants it. I know that's not a heavy lift. I guess I want both because they're both What's the other one? Sure. Yep, that's fine. I would prefer to do the
commissioner of trust months because I would like to see um if there's any unique ideas we can do with this hospital scenario. Fine. So what other one did you want to take Karen? So I'll take the veterans memorial trust fund committee. All right. So if you can put me as trust
fund keep Karen on veteran Jackie Karen H. Anyone for cultural counsel? That's blank. culture council on the coalition. On the coalition, too. I can stay on if I need to, but I was hoping to.
Yeah, I can do the culture council. That's fine. I can stay on the coalition if I need to. It's not a big deal. Did you get that, Jackie? That Melissa will stay on the coalition. different department now, but that's
what it was when they were separate. I mean, yeah. Do you think that needs to still be a separate or should Yeah. I don't believe they meet separately. So, I think it could all fall under public safety, which Chris and I are on
anyway. So it doesn't does the coalition meet separately beyond what we have in there under it's not like the public safety departments meet either it was like merged with public safety but it used to be its own entity in a different
building but now it's all one so I don't really know why you would need that to be separate if you're covering public safety. Melissa wants conservation, which is just me, so I'm okay with that. If Melissa wanted to take that Yeah, that's fine. Is it possible to
merge public safety and coalition into one? Just delete the line and it'll be Chris and Melissa. That seems the easiest. Gotcha. Um, public safety and coalition department. probably is it is part of public safety.
So yeah, the affordable housing trust um I think is going to be meeting a lot in the next coming months. So if Karen can step step up with me um so strike Melissa from that
where where is it affordable housing you cut down Karen still okay with that? Yeah. Are you okay? Yeah yeah yeah. So, do we need me to raise someone raise their hand for ace? I could do that. It looks blank.
Is it up there? Oh, yeah. There it is. Oh, yeah. Added. Yep. Add. It's not on this list. She just added establishments linked there. So, that's good. All right. sold to Karen Eric.
Carlo, is CPA even meeting anymore? Oh, yeah. Um, that's good. That's gone. That's good. I guess in terms Oh, sorry. Are you going to stay with the CPA? Yeah. Okay. I guess in terms of heavy lifts,
um obviously the school committee have two members. Um seems reasonable. RMLD seems reasonable. They have lots of meetings. Um, do we need to keep uh and obviously finance committee
that's oh so I guess in that chart so finance committee it's Carlo and Karen Karen Rose Gillis is offering does anyone want to swap out or under finance I prefer to stay on the finance committee if I could okay me too okay
well traditionally says yeah but you can decline obviously So, finance committee strike Karen always kill us from the right column and then uh board of assessors is Karen Herrick. I'm still on the left hand
side. Is that on the left? Yeah, sure. Board of assessors. Board of assessors. Karen Karen Gillis wants to do it. That's fine. Yep, she can do it. Change last name. Um,
all right. Then Reading Ice Arena Authority has two, Carlo and Karen. Do we need two people on this still or I don't think they meet enough for any of that to be two people. So they meet, they don't invite us or Carlo was
privileged enough to get invited. I don't get invited. I They need to meet four times a year. They have rules. I I didn't go last year once. There wasn't one left. I was You were invited one meeting. You told us you reported in super jealous in 23 24. Yeah. No. No.
They really should invite us, but whatever. If if they're coming to give us an update, it's fine. I don't think I've been invited to any meeting formally. Well, they're different because they're a 501c and we have a contractual relationship then and we have a
designate on there. So, they're just a little one of those outliers. So, do we want to keep the two people? One, zero. Two is fine. It was just me and then Karen want to do it's fine. Two is fine. Uh, that's on the left hand side. So,
Chris, I would ask you about the citizens advisory board, the RMLD. So, that citizens advisory board. It's I don't know whether if we have two liaison to RMLD whether we need a third to go to the citizens advisory board and
I know you are doing that. So, it's totally up to you. They literally cover the same stuff in a smaller group. And we have an elected, right? Elected or an appointed person serving on there. So that's um Vivic. Vivic. So is he
appointed or elected? He's not Oh, wait. He's I think I've seen him on the federal ballot before. Right. Elected. Yeah, I think he's appointed then. Okay. I don't know if he's elected. I don't know. I think I saw him. I've seen him mentioned on a ballot before. I can't
remember. Over here. Any comment? citizens advisory board. I don't know. Alan, do you have an answer for Vivic how he's on the RMLD cab? Because he's our I know he's our reading appointee or but like I thought he was elected somehow. I've seen elected elected. It
is elected. I can't remember. How long is the term? I don't know. He's appointed. Thank you. So So that's kind of another group where we have an appointed design like I mean it's up to you. I mean we're all busy so
I I think it makes sense to merge RMLD commissioners and CAB together because they do have the same meeting and I haven't been um it is the same content I bet you know. Yeah. No, I haven't I haven't been in a bit. I watch a lot of their meetings uh
after the fact um because they start at like 6:30 or something. So that's Anybody can go. It's a public meeting. Correct. Yeah. Um, so if you want to merge RMLD commissioners and cab together, anybody want to do that other
than Karen? We can do two or none or it doesn't need to. Doesn't need to. Can I have two? Okay, Melissa, you were on it. You don't want to do it anymore? No. If we could step back from that one, that would be great.
Okay. So just put the one next to RMLD commissioners and CAP and have it be Karen H. So I was like, do we need to have CAP on this list? And CAP. I put CAPA. I know. Do we need it at all? I think it has to
be kind of highlighted that there is a consumer, you know, they're part of our MLDD. So I think it's warranted to at least have it in there because it's the same meeting. Okay. But it just looks nicer that we have less.
So, all right, moving on to the right hand column, we have um Council on Yeah. Up a little more, Jackie. Council on Aging 10 or two, Karen and Mark. So, that's Karen and Karen
Roseellis. Yes. Yep. Okay. Uh, board of health two, wreck, one or two, says Carlo. Anyone else? Uh, custodian of soldiers and sailors graves. I've been to a ton of
those. Oh, yeah. Um, I quiz you on how often they meet, but yeah. Once every five years, I guess. All right. So, we'll move on to community developments, economic development. We just struck that. Yeah. MAPC is Karen. CPDC Melissa and
Carlo Zoning Board of Appeals. It's Melissa. Anybody else want to get on that? No. Karen. No. All right. Uh, historical Carlo. Uh, historic dis district commission. Chris says new. I said new.
Don't think it was new. It's not new. I sat in on their meetings before. So, it's not new. At least two years. At least two years. Just one. Yeah. One person. Yeah. All right. Uh, conservation Melissa. Did that used to be Mark? Is that why I stretched you? That was me.
Oh, all right. Housing authority. Karen. Be Karen. RG. Going forward. No, I thought you wanted to do it. Oh, yeah. That's fine. I mean, you could do two if you both want to do it. Do you want to both do it? That's fine. Yeah. All
right. We'll go with two Karens and change the number to two. Public safety squirted away. Permanent building is Karen and Melissa. Library Karen Carlo. Pair was Mark is now Karen Rose
Gillis. Public works Karen. Board of Secretary Ming. Trails Karen top forest is now Karen Rose Gillis. Food pantry Karen Rose Gillis. Does this look good? Uh, and we got Ace
on there, right? Yeah. Okay. Oh, it's up there. Okay, got it. Any other questions, comments on this? Nope. Can we get this updated on the website page when when the dust time
permits? And I guess did we want to go over the expectations on this? I know we always dance around the subject every year of what our expectations are on this, but it's up to you if we want to
go any further or just keep it how it always has been. I guess I can say what you're saying is and we can be in agreement that I I think that beyond the select board, it's a heavy lift to be on all these boards of committees and the expectation is for
us to always attend these meetings in person and and I don't think that any of us have been meeting that kind of bar. I never set that expectation. All right. So I'm I'm putting it out there that the ex I guess that the what we should
expect is to make whatever meetings that we can within reason. Um that doesn't mean that we don't appreciate the various boards and committees. But if a chair always has a pressing issue, they can always come to us if they need our intervention or they want to share that
they think something's going over budget or something's happening in the town forest that we need to address. Um, so just kind of put something on our agenda, they want to put something on a town warrant. So just kind of reach out to the five of us, but just put it out
there that the expectation is to make meetings whatever possible where time rem uh permits, but that does not take away from the fact that we obviously care um about all these volunteers in uh in town.
Melissa and you may just want to reach out to the chair of the boards and committees just so they're aware that you're the select photo of leazison and you're the point person that's all. Yeah, because a lot of these meetings we can't make in real time. It's easier to watch them back in one and half speed on
YouTube. I mean that's so much easier at least for me to to see and learn from things. Um so just making things in real time seems uh more difficult these days than in past. So the expectation is to not um
always attend them. Just do your best. Not just with you, with all of us. So all right. Anyone from the public? Anything on this? Taylor, Taylor Gregory, um chair of the east committee. I just wanted to remind you
guys that you have David Monahan serving as the your liaison as well as the other Monique and um Eddie serving as your liaison. Just wanted to remind you. Thanks. Uh
Jeff, just name a question. Jeff McCormro two comments. One is you had asked the writing housing authority number to be changed to two and a little quick at that. Um, and also she was highlighting uh RCTV board of directors and cultural council did not get okay
done. All right. So Jackie running husband there already has a one next to it. It's going to get changed to a two. And then RCTV was good with Melissa but cultural council we still need somebody for
Karen. Which Karen was it? I put KH so I Okay, it's cage. Yes. All right. So cultural council. Thank you, Jeff Page. And I'm sorry, which one needed to change to a two? The Reading Housing Authority on the right, Karen Hurricane, Karen Rose Gillis is a one currently.
So, just got it. Thank you. Jeff notices periods, exclamation points, and this. So, thank you, Jeff. Anyone else from the public online? Seeing
nobody. We're all good with this final answer. All right. Where are we in this? Charge for um master plan. Yes. Discards for charge
for a master plan committee. Page 97. So page 97 of the packet. So Melissa and I right and Matt Jane. Yeah. You and Jane or just you? Um talking about meeting with
CPD. Yeah. I think Jane too. No. No. This was on the prior meeting where we met with Heather Kush. No, I was Matt was there and I forget who else but
um I came in in the end of it. Yeah. So, essentially what hap what happened in that meeting we were discussing uh the charge how it should be created under either the select board CPDC a joint of the select board and CPDC. I I think
the general consensus was that the select board and CPDC should be obviously heavily involved. Heather briefly mentioned that um that CPDC she didn't think that all five members would want to serve on the
board. Um so we have to take that into consideration on the charge that we would create. Um, so that's not to say that they wouldn't, but understand that obviously the master plan committee is a heavy lift compared to I mean it's 300page document that was in here. Um,
that's a more of a heavier lift and CPDC sometimes meets for four or five hours longer than us. I mean it's they meet once a month but they have to deal with litigation and all these other scenarios. Um, so obviously a heavy lift for the five members. So Heather mentioned that it might not be all five.
So, we have to take that into consideration on the makeup that we want to do for the committee. Um, what did she recommend? One or two. I don't think she had I think I think the way that we left it off is she was going to discuss it briefly at the next CBDC meeting which
already would have happened as well as have a more formal discussion on her next one. I think that was the case. Yes. Um, so that can kind of guide us in the direction that we want to handle this because we make the old one was 17 for some reason. I thought we were doing 13.
We're assuming five CBDC members. Now we can cut that back. Um, was there anything else, Matt, from that meeting? Kind of those were the takeaways, right? Yeah, those were the takeaways. I think she said that um she sent an email saying she did discuss it briefly at CBDC. Um and I think she she
had recommended maybe a steering committee like a smaller committee because the other committee would be larger. Um you know but she was going to talk about it more formally at her June meeting which I which will happen in June but um that's that's about all I
have on Oh I do remember we also discussed the funding mechanism right town meeting and is it you Carlo that over here that why are we not combining the master plan and separating it from the facilities facilities master plan
and I believe Andrew was looking at grants and maybe seeing if we can somewhat combine things in the interim maybe a portion because they're going to kind of mix in together. Yeah. And I know we were certainly looking at grants. Yeah. Yeah. So the way that it looked was that town meeting approved
it, but that's an FY27. So, we still have time to see how we can do a funding thing, how it would look um on this end to maybe kind of save some of the 200 300 grand. I think it was 200. It's in that capital plan. 200.
Yeah. So, maybe seeing what we can do because obviously the facilities master plan is greatly important, but we understand that some of that has to be in our master plan. So, how we can save some portion of the funding and not be duplicative in our If I may. Yes. Okay.
Um, usually it's it's in the opposite direction. A master plan, an official master plan tells you to do a facilities plan. Um, so the facilities plan is a an integral part of your whole package for your town, but your your your master
plan can tell you go do this plan. So it's more like the opposite. Does that make sense? Yes. It's a part of the overall vision of the community. Okay, Carlo. Yes. So I know we have to wait until November town meeting to ask
for funding but when I was chair I envisioned this starting maybe over the summer being optimistic but more now it looks like more like fall. So to me fall is early fall September October and then late fall is November December. So do we
do can we start this committee without funding or is that not recommended? You could you don't you don't need the consultant meeting one right or meeting two organize. Yeah you could you could I I think you could start meeting the consultant is where the money comes in
and that's you know about $200,000 but I mean you could start talking about it as for the need of a master plan and whatnot but the funding piece would have to be put together later. But does it make we're putting the cop before the horse if we form the committee and the town meeting says no.
We've done we've done things like that before. Um form committees and we brought it to town meeting. But it's up to you. It's I think the biggest hurdle in this is finding out what we have to do for the composition of the committee. I think that's going to take another meeting or two because CPDC is going to
do their thing. Um, that's kind of where I think we're at. And then we're in the, you know, July and then Andrew is submitting grants. I think we might know, I think he mentioned 80 grand possibly. I mean, that would help um steer things in that
direction. Um, but I know it makes to Carla's point, it doesn't make sense to start the committee uh without knowing the funding mechanism because that's going to kind of lead where they're going to be able to stay on not on topic, just don't expend time
and resources that they may or may not have to do. So, I think it's kind of like I said, first we got to find out what we have to do for the makeup of the committee, see what CPDC says, how they feel. um and then go from there and if
we form something we do we don't just got to see what we want to do for the makeup and the charge is that we can handle can you explain a steering committee before the committee what's what would how would that work to it was it was just an idea to have to because the
committee is so large and it may be you know a burden on a lot of people to meet suggested possibly an executive or steering committee that meets regularly um more regularly than the full committee and then they divide up tasks and Oh, okay. I misunderstood. So, this
a steering committee would just be members of the full committee. Yes. Members of the full committee that sort of like I thought we were talking about doing a smaller committee to form the bigger committee. No, no, it's part of that case. It was just an idea. Yep.
Okay. Makes sense. All right. So I guess let me go back to what this was actually about. Um so this is discussing the charge for master plan committee. So do we do we have a charge yet? How do we feel about the makeup? Are we waiting
for CPDC to see how they feel or Oh yeah, we got like who's doing the charge? Is it jointly? Is it them? Is it us? I believe it was a joint. Just the feeling I was getting from Yeah. I think it should be joint because ultimately CBDC has to vote on the master plan. You know, they found legally that they'll be
the ones to vote. So they we want to include them as much as possible. So So I guess we need another I wonder if we have to have a meeting a joint meeting with CPDC or just to discuss how we want this handled
or if Heather comes back from the next meeting. Is their agenda out yet? Do they have another one coming up? Um I I haven't seen it, but she had said that she was going to discuss it at the June meeting. Probably definitely meeting in June. She said we'll discuss bringing it to the
June meeting. Yeah. And then, you know, start reviewing the 2025 plan, which I know a lot of people have already, but So, all right. So, I guess we'll put a pin in this until CPDC has that meeting. Is
that how everyone feels, how we should handle things? Yeah. Yeah, I agree. I think our next meeting may be June 9th. Does that sound right? Is that a Monday? I think so. Uh, yes, that is a Monday. So, that happens before our June 10th
meeting. So, I guess we can kind of future agendas depending upon what CPDC's actual discussion takes place. Maybe none of them want to do it. Then we're in a I'll make sure to attend it or watch it before our meeting. All right. And you can provide an update for
that and we can have um an agenda item if it pertains to something that can be Yeah. Well, subsequently our agenda will be made already. So, just leave it vague, I guess. Okay. Again, well, I guess it depends on what Heather
has on the agenda. If it's on there, then yeah, we'll go from there. Okay. Anyone from from the public on the master plan committee want to volunteer? Ever? You look like you want to say yes. You're shaking. No. Okay. All right. I'm
going to make 251. All right. Challenge accepted. Anybody uh online, Jackie, for uh discussion on the master plan committee? I don't see any hands raised.
All righty. So, we'll leave it at that. See what happens um with Heather and CPDC in the future. Um uh so next up would be discuss our CTV contract renewal. Do we need a couple
minute break before this or does everyone feel I could use the bathroom? I do with a break. Wonderful. Perfect. You will take a five minute break. We'll be right back. Thank you. It's 9:06 and it's 9:14. I get more minutes.
Karen's back. Wait five seconds. All right, we are back in session. Uh 8:15 when it's really 9:15. discuss RCTV contract renewal page 99 of the packet. Um Matt, did you have something
to lead off on this or? Yeah, I'll I'll just say that this is um common. They RCTV has a grant agreement with us. It was last signed um by the former town manager five years ago. It expires at the end of the fiscal year, which is the
end of June. So, it's coming up quick. Um so, you I'll have it in your packet. You see what entails and in terms of duty to televise certain shows and whatnot. A lot of it is legally but um without that without that grant agreement you know
they they can't uh operate uh in our interest. So we need you know I I wanted some direction on which way you want to go with it. Um I can certainly do negotiating but I wanted to bring to the board's attention um to just you know
discuss it and if it is to be signed or extended be back to another meeting to do that. So is Abria online I know she sent us a memo outlining a couple things that gave me
pause but did we she's not No, I don't believe she's on she's on Zoom tonight. So because hero is privileged, I mean obviously we can break privilege if we so decided, right? Um I guess I
wouldn't do that without the full board wanting to go ahead and and do that, but I know that, you know, I will say that she outlined a memo to us that included various options. Um and if we wanted to go over her memo, we can. or if we
prefer not to, we can go other ways. It's typically everyone and she just she lays out our options and we go over over it that way. That's how this has been done in the past. Just reviewing it to see what it's nothing sensitive from. I
didn't think so, but I that's why I was just looking quickly to confirm. I agree. I didn't I In terms of the sensitivity, I would say if I had to comment on that, I would say that the compass scenario that she discusses
probably is sensitive that shouldn't get discussed if I had to kind of weigh that option. Everything else I think is fair game, but the Comcast angle that was in there
um is problematic. I mean, it it is privileged. I checked with her. Um, obviously you could wave the privilege, but oftentimes I'd go back to her and say, "Could you outline it in a way that would be fit for public dissemination, and she's able to do that." Um, with
this document, I think she prepared it um in anticipation of contract negotiation. So, you know, some of that information she probably would want out there. So, I could I could do that and we could, you know, I can come back to you with that. But essentially, you know, you have the option to renew the
contract. If you don't, there's an option to the town could, and it would be sort of a heavy lift, start doing this ourselves. Other towns do that. Um, you could put out an RFP for services um for other vendors out there that would
be able to provide the service. Um, so there are options, but I think, you know, fundamentally, if you had some sort of direction on this, I can take it from there. I can get you more information from legal. You know, we can do, you know, do what we want. But it I remember the last time it was it was
negotiated. It was Bob had handled it mostly himself with RCTV and it wasn't really an extended process. Um I don't think it was, you know, a day, but I took a little bit of an extension on it, I think, and and then it was done. So
I think what outlines in there is going to make it extremely complicated regardless of the scenario that we would go down anyway. It just seems like things have to be renegotiated beyond what's already in the contract. So it's
it's more than just a simple onesie twoosie with any vendor or RCTV for that matter. Okay. Um, so maybe we skip every's memo scenario even though I've kind of alluded to some of the stuff and just kind of focus on anything else but
what she said can be the uh the discussion on this. Did you have something Carla? Yeah, I have a question. I don't know if you guys know. Uh, are we would an RFP include could another cable access community could we partner let's say
with Wakefield, Wilmington, an adjoining town? There there are there are towns like that. Yeah. That they do they It's like inter municipal agreement. Yeah. So that's allowed. That's allowed. I mean, we could really do it any way we wish,
you know. It's just that we want to have that sort of direction. Correct. I always wanted to make sure I was it common sense says yes but I just want to who would get priority right if we did that I guess if they be spelled out yeah there's you feel let's say as an example
the next door and they have a studio you know we no longer have a studio or currently we don't have don't have a stu they currently RCTV does not have a studio where before they did I don't know if Wakefield or Wilmington or Stonem has studios because we used to
use the studio I think They they have some space that they they have space. I'm not sure if it's conducent to the way that it was before. Obviously, it's significantly downsized, but I believe they still have what would be described as a studio, but not not with the amount of space that, you know, we've been
accustomed to. Yeah. Because what whatever whatever direction we go, I think having access to a studio for our residents and for us and for forums and for more interaction with the town because currently, yeah, the school does
their stuff. Um but and and they record meetings but in the past year and a half two years the since they moved and they're saying let's put it that way since they moved the RCTV that we knew no longer exists
because of the space. So and that has affected my opinion services that we used to get that we don't get at all. So what whatever direction we go in to me that's a key part whether we take it over we partner with someone else or we
keep them that a studio has to be in the mix just so we can serve the public better because right now the public is not being served. That's where I stand. Other board members can do we have anyone here from RCV that like to talk
to us? You raised a good point. um we never really got an update on the move and how things were going to change. And so I do I I would admit I've never seen their new facilities and I'm out of the loop and I and and I knew um I knew they would be considerably smaller.
Um and um I don't disagree with Carlo's comments about having access to studio is nice. I want um I'd love to know what facility has been provided at the school as well because I understand there's courses being held there too. that would help us balance how much space we need
or we might ask our provider to have available. So there will be public comment at the end of our discussion. But yes, if you are a member of RCTV then yes then just uh name and address please. That's the only reason why. Yes.
No. Okay. Um my name is Kathy Krook. I'm on Pleasant Street. I am actually the treasurer of the board of directors. I have been the president of the board of directors. In fact, I negotiated the uh
the prior contract with Bob and Matt was in the room as was Jane five years ago. Um we chose to downsize as a cost saving. Um but we looked at all options.
We have a studio available to us in the high school that we created, we staff, we um have all the um equipment in it. So, we have that studio available. We
there are rooms at both the current senior center and the library that are fibered so that we can have anything in there. Um and in fact one of the recent forums was at the
library and it was seamless. Um as far when we were making the decision to temporarily downsize. That's what that's what it is is a temporary downsize.
Um, we knew that there were we looked at the way RCTV had been used by the public since the pandemic. And the reality is with the a with the
with Zoom and even people having their own cameras, they were the public was using us less. And so we had a lot of space that was not being accessed
um being more or less available to the to the public. We've always been available. It's been their choice. Um so she's fine. Yeah,
Jane's always on. I'm not sure if there are any any specific questions that you want that goes beyond the two minutes. Um, I guess Karen's question and Carlos is the studio space thing. I know you just mentioned that it's temporary
downsizing or not. Um, does RCTV have a studio space that's conducive to the public being able to use or is it just offices there? What does the space actually look like? the space on main the new space on Main Street is offices
and for equipment rental, you know, to hold the equipment that the town can come in and um but like I said, we use the high school studio and we have access to that um through the high
school the school committee has allowed us after school full access until I think there's like eight or nine at night or or something like that. So, as as a fully fully functioning studio, so if someone wanted to do a
show on a Saturday, would that be allowed? We would be able to find space for it. Whether it would you could do a full stu you could do a full studio shoot at the library. You could do at the in the
community room. You could do a full studio shoot at um the senior center. You could do it that you could do that. Okay. Anyone else have questions for Kathy? Oh, another quick question. Sorry. How
long you said temporarily downsizing? So, how long is your lease on Main Street? I'm not 100% sure. Three years. Three years as of last year. 24. Uh we moved in in se September. So this
September will be a year. Okay. So and then in two more years from this September you'll re-evaluate to upsize upsize. Obviously before the two years up. Yeah. You know what I mean? You said we will
evaluate whether we need more space, different space or the same space for maybe another three years. And it really depends on the public's what they what they want from us.
Yeah. What the town wants from us because No, no, I I agree. And co changed a lot. You're right. CO changed everything. Never mind. A lot. CO changed everything. And how you operate and but you know, I remember turning on the channels. There
was always content, always content, whether it was pre-recorded, live, kids, adults, cooking shows, there was always different kinds of content, interviews, and now there's almost zero content other than the kids. So that's what I mean by resident use and resident
access, right? any any person who wants to develop a program can can at any point all those that you mentioned the cooking shows that was entirely resident directed
resident run it was not RCTV running the show no I understand it was a lot easier because you had a studio and a kitchen that's what I mean it was a lot easier but that's tr that's true but since the people who
uh wanted or desired a cooking show no longer desired it be before nobody came to us and said I'd like to do another cooking show that's an example right almost all of
the churches have kitchens available we could arrange anything and help residents create their own shows, right? I'm just looking for more proactiveness where I haven't seen
it that compared to other communities, they're very proactive and very involved. And whether they blame CO or not, if you go to other communities, their cable access is a lot more active and engaging than ours. That's without a
doubt. You can't even question it. So that's what's disappointing. I'm not pointing fingers. No, I know. But it's a reality and and I think as a community you can say, you know, so and so can request this, so and so can request that. I know. But what kind of outreach
has RCTV done since they've moved their space to say, you know what, we're still around. We can still do this. Maybe you did. I haven't seen any. But I think we need a robust, active community. If
we're going to keep RCTV as it is, we need to change things around because it's not going well in my opinion. And this is nothing pointed at anyone individually, but the direction of RCT RCTV lately has not been positive. It's
kind of been just coasting and just doing nothing really in my opinion. No fundraising, no proactiveness. Um, you know, I think the community wants that. uh they don't want just recorded meetings. They want to see their kids on TV. They want to see interviews. They
want to see whatever. I I don't know, thank you. Um first off, I want to thank everyone that is on the board for Thank you for being here. Do you Excuse me. You going to have a question for me? Yes, that's fine. Thank you. Thank you
for And I just want to thank everyone here from the RCTV board for coming tonight. I do appreciate that. I am gonna be honest and I'm very disappointed that the board of the executive director is not here, Phil. Um I think it would have been important for him to be here tonight. Um I think RCTV
is extremely important to our community. I think they do a fantastic job at the high school and I am very um I've been very disappointed over the last year or so of how things have happened.
one I think big miss was election night. Um not broadcasting that to our residents was a big miss and a big mistake and I don't know exactly why that happened but that was a big miss. Um I think as like Carl mentioned other
communities and how their uh cable TV works for their residents is much more robust than ours is. We need to be having um live streaming for our residents on their TV, not on YouTube, not on Facebook because not all the elderly residents can see that. Um I got
two messages today, I think, when some residents in town saw that RCTV was coming up tonight. And I believe it's Comcast that hasn't been working. Correct. I think it was Comcast. That's not working. And it wasn't until like 7:30 tonight, I think, or something along those lines.
So, I don't know if this is individual TV's issues. I am uncertain of that. I don't pretend that I know the backs of that, but we're clearly having some issues. Um, and it's really disappointing that the Phil did not come tonight for this
meeting. I think it was very important for him to be here um and listen to the feedback. But I do appreciate all of you being here. Anyone else? Karen Karen Karen. So, I think it's important to to realize that
and it happens in a whole bunch of different aspects of our lives that I don't think we and I'm new to this whole thing, so don't quote me at all, but um from an outsides point of view, you can't force a horse to drink or dog to
drink. So, I don't think it's necessarily their responsibility. they have a part to do in it in in encouraging people to use our services, but sometimes people just don't know that they can use our services. So, I think cooking shows would be great, but nobody really knows that they're supposed to that they have that
opportunity anymore. And so, I think that the town itself has to take part in um advertising and promoting it. I don't think that we can leave it all up to RCTV to magically magically encourage residents to start saying, "Oh, I'm going to do
this. I'm going to do that." I think it's very hard to get people to volunteer to do things. Time, as we've all said, time is really difficult. And I think that they provide so many things to this community that I think that we can do better as a community or as a board to try and
encourage them and help them figure out how to fix it. I don't I don't think um it's hard enough and and I don't even have cable at home and I watch everything on Netflix or or YouTube and I think things have changed. But I I do
believe that the town should participate in in the rejuvenation of RCTB even if it's for the you know six months to see how things shake out to help them manage this kind of tricky time. So can I Yes.
So I think yes and no, but I think that their Bill Rushmore, who leads RCTV, needs to do more. And one perfect example is is thank you for standing up tonight and telling us your availability on space, but I know that when I was reaching out as a candidate and asking
Phil to do something that RCTV has done years and years and years of uh candidate forums, he told me that there was no space available, but clearly that's not true. So I think I my vote is that they need a new board of or
executive director for RCTV. I don't have any confidence that he is going to bring RCTV to where it needs to be and 100% we as a town need to support this because it is a huge asset to this town. But I have no confidence that Phil is
that person. Anyone else have any for my followup? I can just add to Melissa's comments. I requested meetings last year with Phil as chair and he did not meet with me once just to give you guys an idea um
over an issue that we were having and instead of bringing it to the public I wanted to do it internally with Matt and and Phil refused to come. He sent a board member on his behalf. So if that's going to continue that's not acceptable.
So, just to piggy back off what Melissa said. Thanks, Carla. Um, so Oh, Karen. Yes, sorry. Um, so I don't disagree that times have changed and I know I've completely converted over to the YouTube channel and I love it. Although the
searching could be a little better. Um, it it's great and it's critical to our community for accessibility and and what have you. Um um you know it it's interesting that I'm just listening to your comments and I'm thinking in my head I've raised similar
concerns about the Burbank board and it's also a 501c. It's an important part of the community and and I haven't gotten any support from the board members. So, you know, I don't want to go off topic, but I hear your concerns and when I bring these up in the future on other topics, I would love some
support. Um, I mean, I think what I hear the board saying is that times have changed and we'd like to see RCTV take a good look at maybe what what is the future for public access television. And I was glancing at Wilmington. I've heard rave reviews about Wakefield and Wilmington, but I'm not intimately
familiar with them, so I couldn't really tell you what the differences are. Um, I mean, Phil's not the only one running the studio, who's the other um, woman who's been there for many years. Angela Merrell is the deputy director. Okay. Over there. So, I mean, I don't I don't this isn't like it's not let's not just
pile on Phil tonight. It's but it's an organization and I appreciate the board members coming tonight and this is a critical asset for our community but um and I would like as a select board to support whatever innovations you feel you need to do to respond to the place
where we are now and what people need for community access television. Um, and I do see it I do see in these other two communities there is there is studio space. It's a looks a heck of a lot smaller than what we used to have and and I don't recall this being designed
into the recal center. No, but we do have an extra building now. So, um I mean I wouldn't I was going to be on Okay. my idea. Okay. All right. Throwing it out there. I you know I value everything these guys have done. I
I think you know they're hearing some of the concerns from the board. I would not be in favor of doing anything drastic right now. I think it is important to have the conversations though and we we are getting calls from residents um to that we have an issue and not ignore
them. Thanks Karen. Um I will bring up Wilmington a moment uh Wilmington uh in a moment. Um, but for me, I have the luxury or not luxury, however you look at it, of being an IT person. So, my
entire life has been technology. Since my first computer, getting a 144 modem to a 288, I was like over the moon. Um, in those kind of scenarios, any kind of tech stuff that someone tries to pass off on me or something. I've been doing this for, you know, 25, 30 years. I have
my own IT company. uh security. Um so I know a little bit more about certain topics than other ones. I I'd like to know that um I I know more than the average person, not just in media, but anything technological related, but I I
know when I see a company that um has lost its leadership um because I've somewhat got to the point with my own where I've let the town stuff dip into that as well. and my own company suffered. Um, and I can acknowledge that
and um, it's not easy for me to say because you would think like, you know, you spent a decade doing this and now why? Um, but the answer to that is is is because I want to do it and my heart is
in it. I don't think Phil's heart's in this anymore. It hasn't been for a long time. And to Carlo's point, Phil did meet with me as well as Chris Kridler, chair of their their board as well. Um, but my interpretation is that the is the
leadership there from the executive director to the chair of their board um is not going in the right direction. We have no control over who who they hire, who fires, um things like that. But I
mean there's a problem and I kind of get the sense where all of a sudden this is shifting from something that I thought it wouldn't be to kind of the board being in agreement on something. Uh and that's when you know there is a real problem in reading when the five of us
are kind of on the same page maybe more that so than others but that is very rare. And if things can make us come together on something like this, something someone's got work to do. Um, but my overarching thing is is I have
cable myself. My light my wife likes to watch Below Deck, watch all these other shows. It's, you know, it's so much easier for her to do it that way. Um, uh, and like I mentioned in the onset, Rob from RCTV has been here since 2016. He's outlasted town managers. He will
probably outlast me, whatever scenario transpires. Um, he's been a staple here. I don't want to take offense to rename RCTV to Rob CTV, but he's been here day in and day out at all of our meetings.
And Phil cannot walk into this room. There's no excuse. You got to fight for your company. You know what I mean? like beyond saying that you need more money um at town meeting how it was mentioned
more funding um two years after the leases is going away we're going to reevaluate the peg money has been going in one direction south and I said this to Phil and Chris Kridler the chair of um their board that the peg money is only going in one direction and you
cannot expect a bailout from the town of Reading or from the state to change your peg fees to encompass the cord cutters to be cable modems and um Verizon FiOS and try to to bail yourself out that way. Um
uh the other point that I brought up in our joint meeting together is fundraising. Uh it was pointed out by Nancy Doctor that she's a uh a member of RCTV. That's fantastic. Do you know the last time that you heard about being a
member of RCTV was ever with Nancy Doctor mentioning it just now? That is a problem. It's not on RCTV's Facebook page. I I was given excuses why they can't do fundraising. You can't spend $3,500 to make
4,200. Yes, you can. I don't have to tell you this that you have to do it. You do one fundraiser a year, which is the uh casino night. They haven't done anything else. And when I brought it up and said, "What have you done for fundraising in the last 365 days?" They said, "The casino night." And I said,
"You're wrong. That was done in 23, not in 24." So they can't even get that straight. So they want to sit here and ask for money when they haven't asked for money from the public as far as I can tell in the last year. I don't want to go back and and make the determination that it's been since
infancy, but it is crystal clear that a change has to be made over there to get this into the uh next level. I know uh Kathy, unfortunately, you're falling on your sword by showing up here and you shouldn't have to. It's
uh personally it's ridiculous. I And Bill gets paid as an executive director. I don't even I don't know what his salary is. I could assume it's 100 grand. I could be way off, but he gets paid and he's not here and you don't get paid. It's a volunteer and you had to
sit up there and listen to everyone's questions as well as my criticism right now. Cuz the way that my mindset works as I hear things, I process, I counter immediately as people are saying things, play it out in my head, scale it out multiple moves ahead to see who's going
to counter me back and say all of that is going on. So when I hear that you moved because of cost savings, that makes sense to me because that was brought up in the meeting with um Phil, Matt, Chris, uh Melissa couldn't make it. Um that was brought up that that's
one of the fundraising that they did that was cutting costs from moving obviously from the super expensive space to the the lower cost thing. That is not fundraising. That's called running your company and seeing what the forecast looks like and making a good decision. So, it was a good decision for him to
downsize to go to a smaller building. But the problem with that is while our CTV was doing that in Juneish of last year, which you wouldn't know because it was never mentioned on their Facebook page or in social media or anywhere, even on their website, they never said they moved. The only way the public
knows to this day to know other than the address at the bottom of their page was an Instagram post from the Reading Rotary Club mentioning RCTV was having a sale on equipment or whatever they were doing there back in September. That wasn't even on RCTV's page to begin with
and you can look at it now and that should not be acceptable in our town that this kind of thing just is is just status quo. like we can't accept this kind of of uh wanting people to bail people bail people out when you have to cannibate.
So tying it back to my point of RCTV was moving back in June. Do you know what Wilmington was doing back in June of 2024? Because the cost savings makes sense. Um listening to the public and the uses. I understand people might want to do cooking shows. They move on the
person there. I agree with you. But what Wilmington was Wilmington was doing back in June of 2024 is they were renovating and redesigning a state-of-the-art podcasting thing in their studio for people to use. That was in June of 2024.
So the cooking area, etc. The old RCTV could have been done into a podcast thing whenever it was other rooms, those things could have been advertised. But Wilmington Community Television is doing that. And if you go to Wilmington's website right now and you click uh right on their homepage, you scroll down and
it shows they've had 70 plus podcasts recorded. Like I don't have to look and venture out for the data to know 70 plus podcasts recorded since June of last year. Something worked. You have to be innovating. Women also is doing their um
graduation as well as uh text graduation. RCTV is covering ours. It's fantastic. The difference is is that Wilmington since last year and this year is offering uh drone footage, a compilation of all the the various students that want to
um sign on, have their parents sign up. It's like $120 and they'll cut and put together an entire video based off this person's graduation. Another way that they're generating funding from Wilmington Community Television that we are not doing. What we're doing is dialing it
in, packing it in, and just doing the same old same old. We're we are live streaming the graduation. Congratulations. You made zero dollars off that. While Wilmington is getting who knows how many people to sign up for that. It's just
it's exploring. I I spent an hour or two going down a rabbit hole on Wilmington's page um the other day when somebody brought it up and I just got more and more dejected each and everything that I saw that they were doing. It is a travesty in this town for the lack of
what RCTV is doing with innovation or anything else for that matter. Karen Mstone speaking. Thank you. Um, the comparison is is I I wrote down the statistics because I care about analytics and and all those kind of things. That's that's within my
wheelhouse. That reading has double the amount of subscribers as Wellmington Community Television. So, uh, RCTV has 3,500 subscribers. Wilmington has only 1,400. RCTV has double the amount of videos. Uh, they have 4,100 compared to
Wilmington that has 2,300. So, RCTV is leading the way in more subscribers and more videos. But in the last 30 days, because that's the only metric that I can use, uh, Real Maint has 15,000 views on their channels
compared to RCTV only having 8,000. There's a problem. We can't we can't sit here and kind of go with peer communities and see what others are doing. And there's no barometer. But Wilmington gets the same, if not like 10 grand less, their pe thing. I looked
there's um their number is going down to a half million in the next year or two. I think it's 530,000 now. It's on par with the way that uh Reading receives funding. Wilmington has this massive studio in some industrial park. The thing is huge, bigger than RCTV's
original studio. I'm not sure how they pay for it. I didn't delve that much into it, but like I said, just clicking on all the various tabs right now. If you go to wctv.org at the top right. This I'm How is this about the contract renewal? Because I
I've been outlining it the entire reason why I don't have faith in this leadership. They're not innovating. That is how it pertains to the contract renewal. So if you go to RCTV, if you go to Wilmington Community Television right now and click on the top right, it shows the live tab. You can go and actually
see what's live on television right now on your web browser. You don't need to have social media, YouTube, Facebook. Um, Comcast wasn't working earlier today for RCTV. Now it is, but it wasn't working earlier. Who knows the reason for that? But you can go to their page and immediately, and like Karen
mentioned, she wished the search worked better. I agree. On YouTube, the search for everybody is horrendous. Go to Wilmington's page, click on the live view. Can you tell me how difficult it is? They have every select board meeting, school committee, town meeting, meeting podcast. They're doing like some
behind the-scenes thing of all the sports teams they have. They're doing anything and everything. Like I said, I just got more dejected looking at at what they're doing compared to what we should have here. There's no reason we can't. Same amount of funding. It's just that someone doesn't have it in him to
do it anymore. Um it's rather it's rather unfortunate. And like Melissa said mentioned also the election coverage that didn't happen. I was sitting in Cafe Capri wanting to find out the election results. We were trying to find on the channel whatever and it wasn't there and people are asking
where's RCTV, where's this? I'm like I don't know what's wrong. What's I don't know what's happening. And come to find out they weren't covering the election. And I had brought this up to to Matt because I saw a post I believe by Stephven Crook mentioned on here that
the Castas device failed and that's the reason why their live streaming couldn't work and why they weren't able to broadcast the election live like they have in the past. And once again, like I said at the onset of this meeting, I've been doing this practically my entire life knowing technology. So when I saw
that answer, I reached out to Matt and said something doesn't sound right here because they easily could have gone live on um YouTube themselves. They use OBS, which is how I stream live stream certain things. They use the same thing that I do. So what is the excuse saying
a cast device failed? We got I can see my timer. Um the the reason so the reason for the failure was a cast device um not working and that's what proceed uh precluded their live election
coverage and I you know I asked Matt to reach out and find out from and he got a reply back from Angela that the Wi-Fi wasn't working and that's why the conservation meeting could be broadcast live that night because I asked what the deal is. why is conservation working and
they're saying that their device failed and she said that because of Wi-Fi which doesn't make sense but I not everyone's technology like me and that it was being done on Zoom and that's why and then I said to myself well if that's the truth then tonight there is a school committee
meeting and that will not happen because their device has still failed and they have an expedited one and it's coming in next week and they're going to deal with it that way. So I said, "Let's see what happens tonight with the school committee meeting." And sure enough, the school committee meeting that how it's always been run online on Zoom with
YouTube was ran the same way that it's always been run in the past. So I reached out to Matt and said, "Matt, school committee was live last night how it's always been. Take it for what it is." So just to wrap things up in that meeting, I said uh right at the onset to
Phil, how come all this stuff didn't happen? This is the public uh what was the reason that this did not happen and his answer and I quote I didn't think covering the election was that big of a
deal. That is his quote. Now couple that with the fact of what the public was told why this didn't happen and that is the real reason. And I owned up and I gave Phil praise in that meeting and said thank you for owning up to it. But the problem is in this town that only Chris Haley and Phil Rushworth knew why
that didn't meeting didn't work. And if I never preached the issue, nobody would have. And we we are just going to accept that as status quo in this town. But the his chair, the person that hires and fires him sitting next to him heard all this and was just like it's not big of a
deal. Let's just go back to defending Phil and all these other scenarios that happened. Am I really being timed, Karen? for four minutes. I might start after the first. I really I appreciate it. Sorry, just a general reminder. Thank you, Karen. Um, obviously something like this warrants far greater
this discussion than other things in the past because RCTV obviously has been a good um partner. They do cover other items beyond their contract, which I mentioned to Phil in the in the meeting. They do cover items beyond what's in our
contract. They're not supposed to cover the election, but they have. So, I give them credit for that. But, uh, in terms of who should lead RCTV going forward, that's not our decision to make. But my decision tonight or into the future, whatever it ends up being, um, is long
as the leadership between the executive director as well as the chair of their board um, is uh, in play, I will not be renewing any part of their contract. Perhaps it's a 30 6090 extension within our perview. It's 6 months is what it's
worded into the contract perhaps. But as long as things stay that the way that they are, absolutely not. I I won't accept the the bare minimum that has been done over the years and it's unfortunate. I think it's squandered. Sorry. Thanks. Go ahead. Um raised a
number of good points. I wanted to ask the question are are the to the two local access companies that are right next to us in Wilmington and Wakefield also running very well-run um news outlets because I don't I didn't see any
of that on their website. So I see I see what our cable access has has gone in a a different direction. Everything takes time and energy and they've done an amazing job. That is a resource that people rely on in this
community. And you know, and I don't disagree with you. I was kind of asking what happened to the election coverage, too. But on the other hand, Laura got the results up 15 minutes after it was over and they had it up 5 minutes later. So maybe maybe RCTV could have said to us, listen, things are changing.
Subscribers, we'll have we don't need we don't want to film it or we don't have the resources, but we'll have them up to you. You know, that always helps. But they did have them up there within, you know, as soon as anybody else had them. So I I can't fault them for that. And and I but I but I see I don't think
those other news stations have um public news outlets that serve the community like we do, but it's a it's a community of an X size and you only have X amount of resources. So, I I think it would be awesome to have further
discussions with RCTV leadership and let's talk about like where we go from here. I don't disagree with what you said because I looked myself and saw that our that Wilmington has five members on there. Um, you know, they have their executive director. It's kind
of the same. Um, like I mentioned, the PEG funding is is almost on par, the equivalent. Um, but how you mentioned the news that they had it up, the correction to that is they did not have it up. The Reading Post had it up. RCTV did not. Or maybe they did. And now I'm
probably So that's the same organization. I would say that's why I'm I'm that's a whole another I got into I got into a thing with with Chris Kurdler and Phil Rushworth that they went outside the terms of their their agreement. that 1% of their funding goes
to the Reading Post that does not have select board representation on their board and we should they circumvented us because we have a member on RCTV but then they spent at least $6,000 to create the writing post and created their own board with now they can do
whatever they want with the money that's what was outlined and said to me in the meeting that we can't control how they spend their funding and I agree with that point but they did spend the money in a way that they should not have done that they created the writing post. They created a board that we don't have
representation on. That's so funny. Are we talking about Burbank or RCTV here? Well, I don't we can get to that. I already told you like it's on the agenda. I knew you wanted to get this wrapped up by 9:30 and that's not happening. But maybe we could schedule additional productive conversations. No. Well, obviously we we'll still hear from
the public. I don't know if anyone else has any comments beyond this before I open it up now. All right. Anybody in the public? Jeff, I saw you first. Two minutes and address. I know sort of like sort of an
impeachment hearing for the executive director. Like I thought we were discussing the contract and we heard earlier from from people who are pointing out what an important resource RCTV is. The fact that they're filming this particular meeting, right? If if we don't extend this contract, you know,
where do we go with school committee, select board, finance committee, all the things that are spelled out there, never mind things that you want to add in and we just heard that you know our trustworthy reporter is going to not going to be I don't know are we going to have anyone covering the select meetings
for the the red times where where are people going to go for their information but RCTV has this unique fact you know they record all the the entire meeting so you can go back and watch it maybe watch it double speed so you can kind get through the things that you know you
can go back and get you've not restricted to. Uh, thank you. Um, yeah, we heard it. We RCTV might not have recorded personally,
but you can go back. You're not getting a spin from from one media outlet or another where they they type something up. You go back and say, I want to hear this direct from the space. Of course, it's not. Uh, so, you know, I I strongly support renewing this contract, but I think a message has probably been received by the MCPD board that, you
know, they need to look forward to. You know, we're going to drop this contract because, you know, if cooking shows, you know, I just, you know, if you want to see something different, then you spell it out in the contract. You don't drop the contract entirely and leave us with no coverage of all of the meetings that
we really need to have covered by some organization. Thank you. Thank you, Jeff. Anybody else? Ace, I just wanted to point out that I was the producer of this cooking shows
and they started in a home and moved to moved to RCTV after maybe uh three or four years of running. So they can be done elsewhere. That was just an example, guys. It wasn't meant to be the end all be all.
It was an example. I don't do my own cooking, so uh doesn't matter to me. I eat a lot. [Music] Hi, Bob Ecman from Sunset Rock Lane. Uh
also a member on the board of RCTV, though. uh the things that you've been mentioning that you were disappointed RC didn't cover weren't contractedly responsible to cover, right? So everything that RCTV signed up
to do, they've done and they've done so much more, right? That's what everything that's done in the school in the classes and everything that's supported there is not in the contract, right? So RCTV has been a extremely faithful partner all
along. So the idea to say that we're gonna throw throw the baby out with the water uh is ludicrous in my mind. Uh if you want other ideas, other forward thinking ideas, those are great
things to bring up and let's discuss that. And what you mentioned what Wington, hey, those are some great ideas. Let's discuss that. The idea of the show, the only the example of a cooking show. Have you brought any ideas of uh Tars TV to that you wanted to film
a show? I did a show. Unfortunately, it got uh affected by literally co uh never once was it a question. Never once did I have a problem. I didn't use the studio. I filmed it at a restaurant
and that's fine. Uh all this are options for us. the idea of uh filming the debates and everything Kathy mentioned we can do that in the library we can do that at senior center so the studio limitation it's not as convenient but
it's very possible right uh Carla I think you mentioned can we do that on a a Saturday right if I wanted to film something on a Saturday can I do that just as easy as you could before RCTV didn't have a staff on Saturday. So you
would have to make special arrangements to have done that two years ago, but we can do that today just as well. Right? So there's no limitations are stopping us. Uh so you know I think that uh what I'm hearing is different
options that were mentioned. It would be crazy to at least not do the six-month extension tonight, right? That's we need to discuss that. If we're saying the contract ends in June, is this our last chance to say that to do something or
Thank you. Thanks. I guess I would add to that it's it would be on the June 10th agenda. Um most likely and no one is is looking to cut any kind of um uh any of the meetings that are being
uh broadcast. Obviously, that's that's not our intention. Did anybody else have anything public ever load 99 Prescuit Street president for 42 years I'm here with the creation of uh
RCTV uh in a very small studio was not the original studio down there it was the one down by uh RMLD um I think I have questions about what was on your agenda
for tonight. I thought it was a contract and not a roast. Um, I would be asking more questions about would we be getting second fiddle if we went to a grouping
from Whitefield. I know that's the original reading. I did several reading shows very early about Pocket Tabin with Dick Curtis. I did the uh the dummy out of a lot of existence. It's still a
number one um in my heart. Um I would ask what did you ask to put on the agenda? And I would ask how many businesses did not survive on Main
Street and what did we do for them? Wring's been under a lot of pressure. People want to be here. It's the trees, it's the light, it's the essence of keeping up to the neighbors and putting a big addition on their
house, you know, and I did it, too. But I don't think you got the hammer on exactly the right nail. We've got damn good political program. You've got a damn good that hit a lot of
residents. And we hit a wall. And I saw Phil firsthand down there on many Saturday mornings renting that out space out for kids and the cooking shows kind of went away, but the kids kept coming.
I don't know exactly why it didn't work, but you have to be careful about who you throw my act because it hits a lot of people, not just one. Um, there's a lot of businesses that died [Music]
downtown. So, thanks. Anybody else? Oh, I saw her first. Sorry, she's been knitting away. So, sorry, I'm very short. Peter Robertson, I'm on Elma Street. You said you were
discouraged. I too am discouraged. I'm discouraged by the nature of this discussion. I'm discouraged. The chair of the select board has already made up his mind before listening to the constituents and before listening to the entire conversation. And that is what
was said. I'm discouraged because I think we could really build up RCTV and help them. It seems like they need help. I am a member of RCTV. I am not on the board and I'm discouraged that that is not part of this discussion. So I too am
discouraged. I hope that we can work together to build a better RCTV with however it falls. I also worry about things that we don't talk about. For example, RCTV I assume they always have a summer camp for children starts in
July and August. If this contract ends on June 30th, will this board of selectmen be notifying those parents that that program will not run? And what happens in the fall? Will that program still run so that kids in high school can learn about these things? You were a
technology person. Will you take that away from other children? That's your decision, but I'm also very discouraged. Thank you. Hi everyone. I'm Matt Sullivan. I'm at 30 Bear Hill Road. I'm vice president on
the board of RCTV. I've been a board member for six years in August. And I just want to say I appreciate the feedback uh because we can always do better. We're always looking for new ideas. Um looking at other communities and other peers. So, I came into the
meeting with an open mind and so I think that it was good feedback and the board we do discuss different ways to raise money and what else we can do. So, I just wanted to say thanks for the feedback and um I think it's important for the board to to know and listen. So, thank you. Thank you.
Anybody else? Anyone on Zoom? Jackie, no hands raised. Thanks. Um Oh, all right. Sorry, you made the deadline.
Bruce Cooper and uh I do work with RCTV on their books. So I I do help them with that. I was on the committee for 10 years prior to that. Um I think uh uh I don't I don't know what the the
point of uh some of the discussion was here because I think RCTV is doing an exceptional job really if you really look at it. They've got so much programming uh beyond what the requirements of the contract are that I
I just um am astounded that you're so dissatisfied with it. I just wonder what is behind that because um uh I just don't understand it basically.
Um I do think that um Phil needs to be aware of the complaints and and I think he can address them, but I don't think he's aware of the complaints that that you have. So, I just uh am astounded by
the negativity that I hear here because I think he's been doing a pretty good job overall. But anyway, thank you, Linda. I already told you about you already commented during public comment. Different topic.
RCTV. It's on RCTV, but it's Excuse me. I I'll make an exception. I already mentioned it, but you can I'll I'll let you speak. Thank you. I realize it's during the same period, but last time and I spoke about all the things
that RCPD does. Well, I just also want to point out that RCTV is dealing with new kinds of competition. So when there's an event and RCTV is planned to be there and another news media
um social media company comes and streams it that creates a competition that really shouldn't be there especially when it's a reading someone from reading who is
um who is on the select board. So, I think that there's other things going on here, too. And I just needed to say that out loud because it's an elephant in this room. And
and I can be more specific about when that's happened. But the reality is that RCTV, like has been mentioned, has fulfilled all aspects of its contract. And the downsizing was because they needed to do
it and was huge for them to do it. And for me, that's amazing that they've made that work. And the work they've done with the schools has been amazing and that will live on with our
students at Infinitum. But the reality is there are competitions here that shouldn't exist. And I'm just gonna say it. Thank you. Thank you,
Linda. I I guess before Yeah. Yeah. I I understand. But I I I just want to make the public aware, I I'll just mention um that Memorial Day uh uh was definitely covered by another media organization
that is in this room, the entire event, and it wasn't me. So perhaps you should uh make your comments to the person sitting down the aisle from you rather than me. Linda, I I I appreciate it. Yes. Nora lighting actually. Well, I'm
just I went by the last the last one. If if you're going to start to run out of accusations that all of a sudden that I I have a conflict because I recorded a parade. Do we need a parade for five minutes? No, we don't need a parade. A a parade for five minutes while somebody else recorded two and a half hours of
footage sitting next to you. And there's no problem with that. That's fine. But you you're you're you're you're barking up the wrong tree without realizing what you just did. So hopefully you can uh um look further into that after this. Uh
sorry if you could if you can go up. Yes. Sorry. Order. What do we have to do tonight? This is just discussing the contract. Okay. Great. So we're not making any decisions tonight? No. Um, this is Kendra Cooper. I'm actually
from Precinct 8 as well. Um, but I also have, you know, volunteer with uh with first with Scast and then when when RCTV became, um, an independent, you know, thing. I, um, I was the the power behind
or whatever having steel committee meetings on cable. I was the producer. We we spent it's got to be thousands of hours over the years volunteering and just just recording it with great difficulty because school committee did
not want to be on our on any any video. Um and we made a lot of we had a lot of impact on that. Um and I I really I think that everyone's forgetting the fact that RCTV reaches people who are not online. there are a large number of
people in reading and I can see this with various projects who are not reached and often when when you uh look at the newspaper um it's really important to have a phone number because there are many residents in reading who aren't aware except what's on RCTV they
still have cable some people do but there's been a huge drop in cable also um and one of those problems and it's a statewide problem and there's been legislation proposed which has not been passed which would also include the income from
streaming. So there has been a real drop in the income that cable companies get from cable subscribers. Um I know that this is this is late right now but I think um there are quite a few uh students that you know I I know Karen
Herrick had mentioned um there are so many people who have learned about uh about know TV and um and production and there were kids who are out in California now who learned this in reading. Um, I think that it it's really
important that we not focus on what we think is going on. And by the way, I I go to a lot of studios. Um, and um, and that doesn't help when I hear when I hear the angels, you know, but um, but I've been to Bill Rick. I've been to
Wilmington. I've been to Newton. I mean, I've been to a lot of these and um, I mean, Wilmington has a lot of of new equipment, but they also have a lot of facilities to work with. Um it's been very difficult for RCTV to stay within
their budget and and you know people don't realize that a lot of what goes on RCTV is generated and has been generated by local people and who are volunteers. I mean totally um it's and it's it's very difficult um to see uh when they
had to move but they did that for economic reasons and on if they hadn't moved I think there'd be a criticism there that you know why are you keeping this rent is rents going up and up and up and um so I I think they did what they had to do at the time and remember
before they moved to that studio and they before they were near the um uh near the the railroads the railroad tracks. Um, they also they they operated from the high school. I learned how to edit there. I learned how to do a lot of
things and and that's where we had to go and we got there. We wouldn't get back from a school committee meeting until probably because it used to be down the railroad track. We wouldn't get back until like 1 and two in the in the morning. I mean, it I'm just saying that the dedication wrap it up because I know
I let you go over but I let other people go over but yeah. Well, that's okay because I'm still around. So, it's important that I I think I got the impression tonight that you really uh you know don't understand how Redmond
you know how RCTV has been able to produce a lot and and and the difficulties and I I urge you people to volunteer at RCTV because then you would you would see it you would understand better. But thank you. Anyway,
anyone else? Uh yes, Steven, Steven Crook, 137 Pleasant Street, uh member of the of the RCTV board and appointee in fact of uh select board. Two things. Fir first first one was mentioned earlier that I gather Comcast
has had an outage at least today or so on that should not get conflated with RCTV. Um I understand equipment breakdowns occur. We have no control over whether they can roll trucks or fix things. I I trust the town follows that.
The second one is as as one of the select board appointees um have not in the last year couple years gotten really any feedback from select board I will admit to and will apologize that it goes two ways. I have perhaps not reached out to
the select board liaison over the years as much as I should have and so I you know I take that you know your your concerns we I will try to do a better job on that and I would trust that that the new liaison will be more more active
as well if if the board has concerns. So and I I believe also there was it was last fall there was one of the two providers having outages as well. we're hearing about. But um but I I trust on those sides that the town is is is
contacting them and encouraging them to set things up. Thank you. Thanks. I will say uh that while this meeting was going on, I did get a message that channel 22 or 33 is not working, which is Verizon and Comcast. I can't verify
if that's true. I'm just that's what I'm being told. And I think Matt, you got an email. Is that the same? Yeah, that it was it was the Xfinity that I that I got in your attention. Yes. Anybody else?
All right. So, just to to wrap this up uh quickly, um to an earlier question about the summer camps and all that, my own daughter went to two RCTV summer camps. She did the movies ex um um those
kind of things that they do. So, I I do see firsthand. I actively participated in in you know letting her go to these and it's definitely worth it and all meeting all new friends and I see some of the people working there now that
were in the movies so I don't um throw that out. Um, and then lastly, I I I understand that people might think this meeting may or may not have gone into a different direction, but I think the tone was set when somebody didn't come
into this room that should have been here. And beyond that, I don't know what else to tell you. We can't get answers. I Stephen's thing, Carlo and I met with um with Chris Cook last year. Um, Phil Mo Chris Kredler, sorry. uh last year
still wouldn't meet with us and like I don't know what else to do. I gave them numerous ideas in in the meeting that we had a week or two ago about fundraising. You you can't square the no fundraising done in the last year. You just can't there's no there's no desire there I
guess is is my point. And when I mentioned it there, I thought that perhaps maybe they'd make a post about something just to be like, "Look, we're doing something." I didn't see anything and I checked. So, um, anyone else have anything before we
move on? We're not voting. We'll discuss this further. You know, I gave my comments and so did everyone else. All righty. I think my laptop died. We will move on. Appraisal. What?
Appraisal. No, it's Yeah. Hold on. Let me scroll up. Appraisal. Appraisal is next. Yes. Uh discuss street appraisal page 107. Matt, do you have that?
Appraisal. Yep. So, the appraisal is in your packet. The full appraisal. Um, like I said at town meeting, um, we did have the number, I believe was 965,000 that it was appraised at to sell, which I thought might might have been a little lower than what we expected, but, um, it
it was done. Um, we're now open to ideas now that everything passed as to what to do with the building. We'll probably form a working, uh, group to talk about it, to make a plan forward. Um, several ideas have been floated. I I mentioned a
few town meeting myself. Um so anyway, the appraisal had it been ready before your last select board meeting, I would have brought it then, but I figured we'll at least put it on there and get it into the record uh tonight. We don't it's getting we don't have to discuss it
in detail, but just wanted to let you know it's there. So, obviously with the passage of recal, we had to do something with this building. this it was um obviously something has to take place
whether we sell it, lease it. Um are there other options? Probably there are keep it keep it. Um these are the kind of things that we have to discuss. I'm disheartened by the 860 something,0002 because I know there is a a ton of parking over there as well as
across the street that's kind of I would say prime real estate in the grand scheme of things. But I also understand that this building needed to be replaced for a reason and someone would have to do significant upkeep to bring it up. You can't say that there's a smell that
happens with, you know, gas various times and all of a sudden now it doesn't exist because recal passed or water flooding in the basement or that obviously that's still must exist. So there's a lot of things that we have to acknowledge are downfalls and pitfalls
in that building. So that first blush when I see 865 I'm like I'm never selling this thing for 865 965 you gained 100 grand in five seconds. Um I I it's difficult to say that I want to sell it but at the same time you know
I guess um the timeline for recal itself is what two years 27 years 27 y so obviously we we can start planning in advance. This seems like super way in advance. Not
really. Well, start the conversation. Start the conversation. Yeah. So, if we wanted to sell it, what are our options with that? We're getting off this agenda item. So, we would but we I would definitely like us to have a Yeah,
we're only discussing the appraisal. So, thank you. And we did get it before, Tommy. I I agree with you with question. Actually, might be right. I might not be able to ask this question, but do we we have an appraisal for selling it? Did and we didn't get any
appraisal for lease options or what they are there. Sorry, I didn't read. I am not. And just one other question, I'm not trying to get off topic, but do we have any idea what that building would cost to bring up to par? It depends on what up to par means. Um
but it would be a significant investment. I think talking to um the facilities director that's bringing all those systems and you know some of the issues that Chris brought up um I I could find that out from facilities. I know we talked about it during some of
our recal meetings before. So okay Mr. Mr. Chairman um just so you know the building is fully sprinklered so um it in terms of you know it has its flaws. it's older. Um it's not appropriate for um a senior population
at all with no bathrooms and things on the first floor, but there are other are there are other applicable uses. Um the report gives you a a figure that um it would that is backed by data for what it might be marketable. It's this that
there they had to follow their appraisal uh rules. So they did that. um it's an older historical property as well and so that creates some issues and how it can be used for housing um you know is different and I I can't speak to
different methodologies that are used um so that was the the 965,000 the uh rental income for the gross income was about 96,000 estimated with operating expenses around 19,000 again this is estimated so the net
operating income would be about 72. Now, as time goes by, those figures change. So, um other market conditions fluctuate and certainly in two years, the value may increase. You had an unsolicited proposal from a
housing developer. So, you could just calculate how significantly higher. We could just take that proposal out and that's and and back some value out of that. But I mean, some zoning competition. not talking about selling it, but I was just like I am in complete disagreement with that
number. What do you think it should be? Because I agree with you. I just I'm not in real estate. Let's do another appraisal and and make sure they're different buildings. I mean, we we looked at Walgreens and and we looked at that appraisal and we looked at the data we
used and they weren't far off. It was easy to they you know, every appraiser has an opinion. I would, you know, I I just don't agree with the comps they use. So that's where you got that number and it undervalued and the one across the hall I mean sorry the one across the
parking lot 2.1 that's what they were asking for the same kind of I mean they'll sell it eventually but which one is 2 million charge next ours is probably better. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. We're in agreement. Yeah. So yeah. So how much was the
appraisal? I guess I understand getting a second opinion and we have time, but I don't want to go. Um I think it was 4,000 something like that. Oh my god. Really? Couple thousand. Yeah. It's And that was not that was the the least
expensive one. We had engaged another the the appraiser that did the Walgreens property. we engaged him and he um recused himself because he doesn't have experience with historical properties as required by their ethics practices. So
he stepped out. So that's why the appraisal came in so close to terminating because we had to engage another um another vendor and have them do it in a very compressed time period. I wish they did. Carla trying to keep his comment in the
parameters of the appraisal. The appraisal gave us two options. Not two options, two opinions. What it's worth and what we can lease it for. Doesn't talk about what we do if we want to keep it for
town use. So I I think going forward, it's a little out of bounds, but it should be hopefully allowed is that in the coming months we need to discuss what the board, town staff, steering, you know, a committee,
what are the three options because we we're just going to spin our wheels, right? Do you want to keep it? No. Cross it off the list. Do we want to lease it? Do you want to sell it? Whatever the options are, we we we could we could just talk for months and months and months. What should we do? What should we do? What should we do? We're gonna
pick something, stick to it, and that's the direction we have to go in. If we're selling it, we're selling it. While agreement, let's get rid of it. Wouldn't be my decision, but that's an example. Just like cooking show as an example.
So, that's I'll stop there, but the appraisal give us two opinions of value. And I kind of agree with the leasing 20 bucks a square foot. I think that's about in line um with current rates, but it does need a lot of work. So, I just sent you uh the green I'm sorry,
interrupt. I just sent you a leasing number for the greens tomato 28 28. People are asking a lot. Well, that's built out. It's built off of school. So, everything is for the whole building. Oh, again. Tomato, tomato, whatever you whatever. That was a bad one, huh? Um
it's all about the use. And like James said, a commercial user, if we lease it, they are building it out to their specs. Are they going to ask for tenant improvement money? Are they going to ask for free rent? Of course they are. And that's part of lease negotiation. But
back to the appraisal, I think going forward on an extra agenda item, it should be what we talked about before the election, bigger discussion. Three options. Three options. What road are we going down? That's all because we also have an
option. Um, we could ask Tommy to change the zoning if we felt like that was important or if we needed to. And we haven't really talked about that. We did that with Addison Wesley back in the day. Yeah. Twice as a matter of fact. So, we can see about putting on a future
one and take Karen's comment into consideration if this is in the realm of possibility for us to do. It might be because she mentioned it. It might not be. Um, so you could just as far as changing the zoning that comment because I never thought of doing that. It's, you
know, it's a possibility. Yeah, we could do that. If I may back then, it actually it came from um like the potential buyer who said, "Well, we'll buy it, but can you resone it to this?" Because someone said on the We're getting off topic, I
guess. It's interesting. They're the comparables that they used aren't historical. Oh, I know. That's interesting. Well, when's the last time a historical building got sold? Agreed. But like if the original assessor wouldn't do it
because they don't have knowledge of historical buildings, but then we used an assessor that didn't use historical buildings as a comparables, that doesn't make any sense. That's why Karen's right. This is an opinion of an appraiser. In fact, there was some data. Obviously, there's data there, but it's
their opinion. What? They don't know renting like weed. Um, just because you had asked prior, the invoice on that was $3,500 from that. Better save $500. Yeah, great. Save $500. We need a second one. Let's
move on. Um, anyone from the public on this senior center plus street center appraisal only? Anyone online? No. No. All right. We will update future agenda with a more robust discussion on this. Uh so next is discuss and vote on select
board policy article 1 section 1.4 communication um I think in the in the scope of it being 10:30 and in lie of um Melissa and I seeing one policy when that was not the correct policy in
effect at the time even though it's the one that I think should be the policy. I I think that we'll just move this to uh the next agenda and have it better advertised on the packet. Anyone have any disagreement with that? Public
disagree with me. No, they look good. Moving on. Uh does less discuss select retreat um during our um u discussion? Melissa, I Matt Karen,
no Matt and Jane discussed the select board uh potential retreat. Jane, you mentioned Lynfield Marketplace I think was one of the spots. If you want to just bring Can Lake Cany Lake Mark isn't here anymore. The Well, so Lynfield
Marketplace, there is um I think they run their community television out of this area, too. But there's a space um it's it's a nice space. It's four offices. it doesn't look, you know, retail like the the rest of it. So, I had reached out to the town administrator there the last time we talked about a retreat and asked him to
book it. He was nice enough to do that. I'm sure we could do that again if that's where you want to do it. It's sort of nice to get a little bit out of town. We wouldn't have to go too far. Um and then we had we had uh contacted Maya who's our insurance and health company
to find somebody to facilitate for us and they had recommended a former town manager, retired town manager who had a lot of experience board relations and so we had him bind up as well. Um and so that's something we could do again if the board wishes.
Thanks, M. Board members, Kimbles, Richardson's, uh, Not Lynfield. You like the ice cream? I like an activity. Let's Let's Let's do an activity and then we can beat up on each other, right? That's what everyone
wants. What activity are we doing? Feeding goats or Yeah, we go to Richardson, have ice cream, play some mini golf. Oh, and and metal. Sorry. I mean, I really could like playing mini golf, I guess, but you know, it's conducive to
the whole process like the rooster. Um, the I guess I'm I'm okay with the the Lynfield example that you mentioned, Jane. I mean, it's more professional. How does everyone feel about it? I think Lynfield might make more sense.
Maybe we can get ice cream. That would is there a cost to this for us? Nominal. No. Um I don't I don't I could talk to the town manager there, but I think that they rented they they allow it for community use. So even
though it's not their community, right? Right. Well, and it's nearby enough that it's um it's still a public meeting. So, you know, residents could come and there's a space there where they could, you know, listen if they wanted to. Yeah. If they wanted to. And it might be might be easier to do it in a setting
like that versus an ice cream store. We can always have ice cream brought in. We've done that. See, there we go. We have a delivered to my house and they said the wrong amount, so I regret it. All right. So, I guess in terms of this,
unless anyone has any opposition, uh Jane, Matt can reach out to us, get our schedules, what things look like in the future, if it's going to be a weekend meeting or not. we can kind of do a doodle poll and see who can make what and see how it works. It'd be great if the five of us were there, but I understand it's the summer, things
happen. You know, we'll see what we can do to to cover everybody. Can I ask that we have a we have a really specific like list of why we're doing this and what we're trying to accomplish. Yeah, Matt Matt and Jane did go over like they
mentioned the person that's that's done it before. So they'll have a I think a whiteboard and that's what you mentioned with all different Yeah, we we've done a you know some homework in the past. We're going to have the a specific schedule. I think the the intention is for the board to um come up with shared
goals that the board wants to achieve. So it's your off the rails last time and we had shared goals. We scheduled it and it went off the rails and I I am not looking to repeat that. So I don't know what we do this time to make sure that doesn't happen. I think a shared commitment. Yeah. To
working together to come up with car keys away. They can't I mean I I don't even know. I mean I lost all the keys. Yeah. Well, and take all the chairs away. Can't sit down. Maybe to do a plank. Maybe a plank during your talking. That would be short. Okay. That'd be great.
Um but I think if if uh with that shared commitment and um we'll have a neutral third party who understands municipal management really well um and and wants to see the board succeed. You know the board succeeding and working together is is for the benefit of the whole community.
Ken, did you have something? No. Good. I have no idea. I'm like it's awkward retreat. It's real ice cream. I serious. Yeah. Here we almost had it. We're going to Can we almost headed to Canoby Lake, but Mark wouldn't go on the log ride
with me, so we didn't do that. It has been on a Saturday morning, and it wasn't an insignificant time commitment, so you definitely want it to be worth your while. Okay. Is it like a kumbaya thing? Is it a touchy feely kind of trust thing?
supposed it's supposed to be a working session where you kind of bring your ideas for the things that you really believe in and everybody brings their ideas for the things that are most important to them and then you work together to kind of
whittle that list down to say yeah I agree we need to do XYZ these are the things we really need to do and then you can turn those goals that the board has right so there's two big projects happening in town right now you you've talked about budget issues um facing the
community. So these are major major things we all you all agree you guys have done unanimous I think on every vote tonight practically. So you know you're in a good position to go into a retreat and say okay the these big things have been accomplished. We we've
done these big things. staff have done these big things and now we need to manage these big things and then talk about what's the next steps and the board can do that work together you know in an unofficial space where you can you know it's it's not on TV but it is open
to the public um and then those goals become part of what you know you work with Matt on what his goals are and then it's you know it's everybody's shared achievement and everybody working together um not to be too quiet because It's practical as well. Let's come by.
That would be great. Okay. Thank you. All right. So, we'll work on a a doodle poll scenario for the future. Put it out there. See what people can make it. Yep. We'll kind of go go from there. Anyone from the public have input on our retreat? They would like to go.
Bob wants to go. I think we'll allow it. Anybody online? Yes. Angela Binda has her hand raised. All right, Angela, Selectwood Retreat. Uh, name and address. Um, Angela Binda, 10 Orchard Park Drive.
So, I think I'm in between. The last discussion was really quick and I just raised my hand after you finished it and the next discussion about future agenda items. So, I'm in between. Can I speak now or hold till future agenda items? I
wanted to speak on communications, select board communications. I would say for future agenda items, Angela, that should be only a couple more minutes. Okay. So, I'll be I I'll raise my hand. Yep. Thank you. Um All right. So, no motion needed on
that. Uh select board leazison on reports. I will start with Karen on the end. Let's see. Um, April 18th, I attended the Korean Ambassador Peace Medal Ceremony with Karen for Dorothy
Daniels on behalf of her husband Kenneth and it was lovely. Was my first introduction to, you know, anything really. Um, met the general consulate. It was really lovely. Um, as someone mentioned today, I went and planted trees in the rain in the
town forest. And the town forest is incredibly rocky, so it's very hard to plant trees in the town forest. I will tell you that. Um, it was really fun. It was a good time. Really well organized and laid out everything. Then we had town
meeting. I don't need to go into that because it ran as late as tonight. Um, and then Memorial Day. Spoke at Memorial Day yesterday or What day is today? Yesterday. Yeah, it was great. We had a good time. Two days ago now. I know. It feels like forever
ago. Um went to all four cemeteries. I had never been to all four cemeteries before and they're beautiful. Really beautiful. So, I had a really nice time. That was it. Thanks, Karen. Karen. Yep. Um really very much enjoyed the ceremony
that um our veteran services officer planned. He did a marvelous job. And then I stayed for lunch and that was pretty awesome too. That is a lovely Pearl Street. That's a great place. Put me there. I need to go there. I love that place. And
um um was speaking briefly. There's a few things that um are not necessarily my liaison's um areas, but this is the anniversary of Lafayette's visit to Reading this year and we are we haven't necessarily planned anything for um the anniversary
of the country. So, um I have an update on that if you want. Okay, I'll let you take that on then. Okay. So, what I understood is that the uh historical commission is in support of that. they're aware of that and and working it through the town manager's office and
um I spoke briefly to the climate advisory committee and after town meeting after there was unanimous support for that resident for keeping those trees and and avoiding runoff and um strongly encouraged them to move
ahead with their plans to um come up with a tree bylaw for us to present to potentially have for town meetings. So, they thought that they would start working on that this summer. Oh, I attended the unveiling of the I forget the
details. 15 megawatt um power battery center over in North Reading. Oh, right right behind Teladine. Oh, it feels like Wilmington, but it's technically North Reading. and speaking with other people um at Mass Municipal meetings, they
located in that in a great location because it's tends to be pretty noisy with all the fans blowing, but it's right next to 93 and it's right in the back of an unused parking lot. So, you know, you can't really hear it. So, that's really exciting. And I think he I think um the general manager said that
where we to lose power, that installation would support 300 homes for a week. So he is definitely they're looking to do more of them and um you know we talked to Greg Fipps a little bit about you know let's look in writing let's see what we could do um you know
let's revisit the two projects we've approved we've we've approved the as a town two projects right next to each other. there are going to be economies of scale in terms of how we power them and protect them and so and he's you
know will willing to have conversations with us and is that it I think that's about it but um yeah that was also terrific so um they are building their infrastructure I guess we're 55% green powered energy right now and um there were select board
members from North Reading and Wilmington there was very in a number of states senators and reps Um, great conversations. People are pretty excited. And what I did learn is that you don't want to do these battery installations near residential homes. They are too noisy. So, thank you.
Thanks, Karen. Melissa, maybe. Yes. Thank you. Um, I listened in to the CPDC meeting on April 14th where they discussed the birch metaphase 2. Um, that uh phase will include renovating basketball courts. I think
they're changing it to asphalt to post tension just like the pickle ball courts. That's correct. Um they're also upgrading the playground. Um they're taking out the rubber mulch and putting in different mulch. Right. It's a pool place surface. Sorry. And then also they're making it more ADA accessible
which is great. Um and they're also adding ADA parking over there. Um improving drainage, walkways, and lighting. And I know there was a lot of conversation about the making that area safer to cross at that intersection right by that park. Um May 19th I was
able to attend the um promotions awards for the fire and police department which was a great event. Um want to say especially want to re say congratulations to our new fire chief uh Chief Nelson and our new
assistant fire chief uh Kio. Um the ceremony was fantastic and it really made me proud to be a member of this community hearing all the stories and the awards and the prom proate promotions that the officers all received. Um lastly, most of we all were
at four very long nights of uh town meeting. And I am really excited for this town that both Kilum and Recal both passed at town meeting and by town vote, which is amazing for our residents, both young and old. I mean, we're going to get two fabulous buildings. But I think
now is the challenging task for us and to like really make sure our eyes are on the budget and making sure we can do everything for the residents of this town to make sure we push off a override for as long as we can.
Thanks Carlo. Uh mine's easy. I have none. Easy enough. Um uh for me uh like uh I had attended the Mlette Homes and Morgan community cleanup over there um with my
uh secure old Savannah as well as other residents and um um conservation members as well. Um it was good to spend a couple hours over there and just all the trees that had fallen and and they put out I don't know how many wheelbarrows
full of of bark mulch. It had to be 100 or 200. I don't know. I lost count. I handle the sticks uh with my littlest one. Um but uh it's good to see that we did uh you know upkeep the area over there. It it is looking just as good as
it did in the beginning absent the swans that were in the the pond. Now um something happened to them. But now we have a wolf. So there's a wolf over there to scare away the birds and all that. But um it was a good uh good community event and I'm glad that we had
you know the first one was rained out and it was a a makeup day. So it's good to see that kind of planning ahead of time to know that you know we need to have a makeup date for certain events and nobody wants to come out in the rain and they'll get low turn. So it worked out to their benefit. So it's good to
see that kind of initiative. I think a resident created this. So I don't want to speak out of turn with it, but if that was the case, I mean that's very forward thinking of him. Um uh I also attended the memorial uh day
celebration like Karen had mentioned. Um it was good once again to to hear uh different voices from our community speak. Um as well as you know celebrating all our veterans um in town and seeing you know the all the graves
with the flags everything over there you know kind of highlighting their commitment to Renin. Um and lastly I did attend the badge pinning ceremony like Mother said mentioned as well. Um, just once again hearing all the stories over there, we just, you know, someone got
pulled over while we're sitting here doing this meeting and it just like that's what we think, but then there's other scary scenarios that are discussed during that badge getting um that, you know, people sign up for this, but certain things you don't sign up for per
se, I guess. Yeah. I mean, to them, they probably know the the uh what they're going to run into and that's what they signed up for. But somebody like me that grew up watching cops all the time and in those kind of scenarios like what was discussed at at this is you know hits
home because it's here. So the big takeaway I got was right at the end when Rick Nelson mentioned the five days. I happen to know the community member that he was speaking about that you know because of the fire department they had five days to say goodbye to their husband and um it really hits close to
home when you actually know the person. So, I'm just very appreciative of what they do for this town. What's that? Do you have an update on the L? Oh, yes. No, they reached out. They reached out to me. There's they're
seeing a boat working at the um police department for closing it down and having a horse and carriage ride up Main Street. So, we'll um you know, we'll work with Matt and get that squared away. But, they are actively coming here. Yes. Yep.
All right. Um, uh, it's weird to ask public comment on select board leazison reports. I don't think that conducive it. So, when we'll move on to future agendas. Um, page 179 in the
packet. Um, does anybody have any future agenda items beyond what I outlined at the onset of the meeting? We'll go over that after everybody has and someone just got pulled over again. any other future agendas that anybody can think
of? I outlined briefly on page six of the packet a couple ideas at least for me. Um kind of a couple takeaways that I've seen. Hold on. The discussion on a is that not
a public hearing? Are we not having a public hearing on that? No, not yet. Um they just want to discuss the police department has several scenarios. They want to run it by the select board first and then once we get some sort of consensus we'll have a public hearing because I have some ideas too. So thank
you. Yes. Anyone else have anything? So just briefly on my page six I kind of outlined Airbnb status. I know we've had this on here waffling. I just want to kind of see what the status of this is and if we're losing money, we'll have that on a future agenda. Uh it was
brought up at town meeting about the bylaw and fences for sports. I'd kind of like to know more about that, why it exists. I'm sure there was a reason. Maybe there can be a reason why it doesn't exist and we can kind of work on it within reason. That's kind of a thing. Um but like Melissa briefly
touched on um you know going forward in meetings um discussing the town budget you know we uh we 50 finance committee 900's everything um we just need a little bit more in-depth discussion on what is what's h uh happening in the in
the community um and then if any residents know of any other ways that we can raise funds feel free. So that's kind of the future agenda topics I had as well as the um uh pride proclamation that I mentioned at the beginning. So we
will have to have another um separate meeting for that before the 10th to be able to make the seventh deadline. So, um I don't know if we want to it's sort of kind of too late for this week maybe or Friday scenario, but if people
have any availability obviously Monday through Friday all of next week we need to just have a a brief discussion on that. What are we doing proclamation zoom on? Uh yes, a zoom meeting works
to proclamate it or discuss a vote to proclamate it. Well, discuss and vote on a prior to proclamation. Okay. Uh are we adding uh RCTV to the 10th or the 24th because it's not on
here. We can work with Matt and kind of get a little bit more feedback of of what we can and cannot do and and maybe have Avery in on the meeting as well to discuss those other options. Okay.
But in terms of the Pride Proclamation, does anybody have any dates they can't do next week? Obviously, we'll have a doodle poll come up, but are there any? I can't do Friday from like 1 to
3. Doing night, day, what are we doing? Whatever works for everybody. So, the five of us can at least get there. Can we send out the doodle poll? I have my phone at home, so kind of useless. Okay. We can look at some dates and send out a dual Monday through Friday of next week. It would be probably a Zoom only
meeting. Don't we have to signation though? We do, but we can have it. Oh, we can have it here and and come in. Do you have a stamp yet? Oh, yeah. Okay. Or we can come in here just to get Karen stamp. Have stamps.
Any other future agenda items from us in in the room? Anyone? No. Angela is still on Zoom. Jackie, I unmuted myself. All right. Go ahead, Angela. Name and
address, please. Thank you. Angela Binda, 10 Orchard Park Drive. Um, so I would like to address u future agenda items. Um, Mr. Chair, I appreciate that you said that um the motions in the beginning of the meeting,
you said motions would be in the in the packet and you're responding to pre previous comments. Um and I appreciate that, but what I saw in the packet was not very informative and the motion
regarding communications just said move to accept changes. However, there were no changes um listed in the packet. The last time when these communications were discussed was 2021 and the draft changes were in
the packet so that the select board and any other people looking at the the comments would be prepared for them. I also want to comment on future agenda items. The discuss and vote in a
single um in a single evening. This does not allow for time for reflection. It does not allow proper time for the the uh citizens to be informed of what is
going on and to be able to address the select board. Um especially if there's nothing in the packet. You could read the packet, you could see that something is on the agenda. You have no idea what the context are.
So, I'm I'm asking that um a hallmark of transparency, which you, Mr. Chair, said you're in favor of, we're all in favor of, is to allow um thoughtful debate. And thoughtful
debate requires people understanding what they're discussing. It means that people are prepared. They have the ability to prepare ahead of time. they have the pro the they have the ability to respond to what their select board
says. Um seeing the process by which our elected officials come to decisions that is what transparency is about. So, I'm asking that you put
uh regarding future agenda items that you put more information and text that you wish to change in the packets and please allow time between the discussion and votes
um so that decisions are not hasty and they are more thoughtful. Thank you. Thanks, Angela. Um, I I briefly touched on this, maybe you didn't hear the part, but the the the way that it was written
in the packet the first time is the exact motion of how I would have written it. I was not aware at the time that that was not the case. It was brought to you our attention from the email that you sent earlier today uh of of of the other direction that that went. So, I
was basically going off what the packet had said on that uh on this communication. The way that the line item A was written is precisely how I was I was going over it. So, I didn't think that it warranted any any other
um outreach beyond, you know, it was already in the packet. I was unaware that, you know, we were looking at an outdated thing even though it said August 21. So that's kind of why that aspect wasn't in there, but that is why we delayed this vote until the next meeting because, you know, it wasn't
done correctly. So that's the way it goes. That has to be added to to the 10th. Yes. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Thanks. Um All right. So that's future agendas. Anyone else online? Seeing nobody. Uh discuss and
and vote to approve prior meeting minutes. We have two sets of minutes. April 14th and the 28th. Did anybody have any changes? Nobody. Jackie, anybody changes? Nothing. Public's not changing minutes on this. Nobody sent me
anything. All right. So, could I get a motion, Karen, for April 14th and 28 and 28th together? Do you want them separate or not together? Because there's no changes.
Uh motion to move to approve the April 14th, 2025 minute meeting minutes as presented and amended and move to approve the April 28th, 2025 meeting minutes as presented amended. So friendly. So
point of information. Yeah. So he put they put that in front of you. If we make an amended then you could say as amend you get your choice, you know, just so no pressure on camera. Good job. Yes. So the 14th so friendly amendment. So move to approve April 14th and 28
meeting minutes as presented. So moved. Yes. Thank you. Okay. All right. So uh uh all those in favor? Oh, sorry. Any discussion? Those in favor? Opposed?
Motion to adjurnn. Second. Discussion. No discussion. There's no discussion. Thank you. Hitting it. Hit it. 11:00.