What's today's date? The 26th. >> Oh, sorry. Okay. Uh, call to order the May 26 select board meeting. Um, we are being broadcast via RCTV on
Xfinity channel 9 and FiOS channel 31, also Zoom and live on RCTV's YouTube channel. Please stand 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. >> Sorry everyone, it looks like the room is still muted. >> Thank you, Maddie. I can see the little mute on the corner there. >> Yeah,
>> in here. >> There you go. >> I got it. >> Maddie, does it seem okay now? >> Yep, you're good now. I'll turn on the closed captions as well in the room. >> Okay, perfect. We will review our agenda
for tonight. Uh 7:05 public comment 7:15 town manager report 7:20 community spotlight 7:25 pride month resolution 7:30 we have a public hearing to discuss and vote on early opening of 273 Salem
Street and 110 Main Street. 7:45 public hearing to discuss and vote on new annual allcohol restaurant liquor license for Bean and Barrel LLC DBA Bean and Barrel located at 45 High Street in Reading. 8 o'clock, a public hearing,
discuss and vote on FY27 non-UN classification and compensation plan. 8:15 preview FY27 water and sewer rates. 8:45 discuss and vote to appoint select board member to the school committee naming policy committee. 8:55 discuss
and vote on public comment practices. 9:05 discuss and vote on police presence at select board meetings. 9:15 discuss and vote on consent agendas. 9:25 liaison reports, 9:35 future agendas, and 9:40 approve prior meeting minutes
for May 2nd and May 12th meetings. Do we have any public comment here in the room? I don't see any hands. Maddie, do you have any hands online? >> Nobody online. >> Thank you.
We'll move to your Nobody online. Uh we will move to town manager report. >> Thank you madam chair. Um I want to thank our veterans agent Will Valier for his efforts organizing the memorial day
remembrances yesterday. Also to our police uh honor guard and our fire department for participating. I want to thank Ray Boyd also for and um all the volunteers for their work setting out flags and markers. Um and especially our cemetery staff did an excellent job
preparing the grounds, bring in speaker systems, chairs, and even a tent. Um one one employees personal tent to um keep us dry um despite the downpours in the early part of the day. Um I'm grateful the residents who came out to honor our
fallen heroes. And um some of folks came to every location and listened to our speeches four times, which really is resilient on their part. Um, and thanks to Karen Rose Gillis for making the trek around as well. We had a good time. Um, and it the day ended in beautiful
sunshine. So, um, it was really worth it. Um, following a five-month role as interim elder and human services administrator and a posting and interview process. I'm proud to welcome Carrie Valley as the official new elder and human services administrator. She has served as a skilled case worker
who's been at the Pleasant Street Center for 14 years and is supported by the current staff and members of the 60 plus community. She will help lead the community services team as they prepare for the opening of the reading center for active living and has already contributed tremendously in this new new role which is official beginning today.
Um I want to thank the finance committee, the select board and the school committee as well as superintendent Dr. Milichsky for a robust discussion at the financial forum last week regarding the FY28 budget. We are continuing to meet with department heads um this week and uh the week after
next to discuss budget needs going into FY28. um which is about six months ahead of schedule uh so that we may identify the best numbers to bring forward to the select board to consider for potential override vote in the fall. Um we are holding Wednesday, June 24th open for a
community conversation about budgets, overrides and collect feedback from our residents and we've secured space at the library for that event. So more to come on that and we'll put that information online. Um, I will be at the MMA conference this
week, Wednesday through Friday. Um, that's the Massachusetts Municipal Managers Association. I'll be on the Cape. I will have my computer with me and I will be available via email. Um, so as time allows and I look forward to gathering with our colleagues and learning more about how the others are managing their delletterious budget
conditions. Um, and then next week I'll be on vacation for folks to know and I will be appointing Police Chief David Clark as acting town manager during my temporary absence. Um, we have several upcoming events in June that went through our departmental review process uh last week. First, the annual pride
parade is back on the common on June 6. This will be a family-friendly event with DJ, guest speakers, and of course a car parade. Junth is scheduled for June 20th from 1:00 to 5:00 pm on the common with a pop-up marketplace food truck butter and biscuit which I'm told is
fantastic. Um and well as well as some ice cream and the community discussion will be taking place at the Old South Church. Um which is really kind of the big the big highlight for that event. Um there will be African drumming and dance ensemble along with live music and a DJ.
And then finally, Porchfest is on Saturday, June 27th from noon to 6 p.m. We have 46 locations selected as of last Thursday. Oh, I thought I heard somebody. They think there might be over 50 by the time they're done. And um with over 100 bands
and so for more information, go to reading porchfest.com. Um we thank all the organizers of this community events for working well with town staff on logistics and public safety. And we're looking forward to these events. >> Great. I was going to add one thing. I saw the pride parade this year is adding
a dog parade. >> A dog parade >> the afternoon. I I think it's just on the >> on the common. Just on the common. People can dress up. It's going to be fun. >> So just >> I think it'll be fun. I might bring my dog, >> so I don't know. He likes to he likes to wear a little Patriots jersey. It's a
little early, but I'm hopeful. >> Um community spotlight. Um, the fire chief, uh, Rick Nelson completed his one-year anniversary as chief on May 5th, and assistant fire chief John Kio completed his one-year anniversary last week on
May 19th. So, that is great news for them. They're doing a fantastic job in their roles. Um, you may know the Birch Metal Playground open on Friday to great success. Um the community services Facebook page posted absolutely fantastic pictures of sunset um with
with the kids down there and the families having a great time. Um we've received tremendously positive feedback from the community and it butters with accolades for the construction team, the town staff and the police department throughout the process. So I think it's a jewel of a park and I hope everyone
takes a stroll over there to see the creativity at work. Many thanks to Jim Sullivan, Ryan Percal, Activitas and Quirk Construction for making this space just fantastic. And to the Butters for tolerating all the work that's gone on there for quite some time. And then
finally, congratulations to Presence and Company and Hannah Corbett for approaching their one-year anniversary that's coming up next month. Um, it's a great space offering classes, meditation, um, as a well-being focused social club. And you can find out more
at presence and co presence a ndco.net. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um Carrie. >> Um yes. Um in the next town manager report, could we get an update on the plans for uh filling the assistant town
manager position? >> I'm going to give you a little bit more in information on that tonight. >> Okay. Under which agenda item? >> That's under the reclassification. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Yep. Anything else from board members? Okay, we'll move on to um 725 Pride
Month resolution. Do we have the resolution? I have a Oh, you have it. Okay, sorry. Reading select board. A resolution for Pride Month. Whereas the Reading Select Board believes in the inherent dignity of everyone who helps form our
community. Whereas Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall uprising of June 1969 and elevates the pursuit of equal justice and opportunity for LGBTQ plus Americans. And whereas the Reading Select Board values diversity, equity, and inclusion and is committed to equal
rights and opportunities for writing LGBTQ plus residents and is dedicated to fostering the acceptance of all members of the writing community. And whereas the writing select board recognizes the important contributions of its LGBTQ plus residents to the town's history,
culture, economy, and civic life. And whereas it is imperative that residents of all sexual orient orientations and gender identities and expressions feel valued, safe, empowered, and supported by their peers, educators, and community leaders. And whereas we affirm our
support for LGBTQ plus residents and stand with them to protect their civil rights and ability to live openly without fear. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the Reading Select Board, do hereby resolve that June 2026 be recognized as Pride Month in the town
of Reading and urge members of the Reading community to recognize the contributions made by members of the LGBTQ plus community and the importance of this month. Thank you. Do we have a motion?
>> I'm sure we do. Let's see. Okay. Move that June 2026 be recognized as Pride Month in the town of Reading. >> Second. Seconded by Karen Rose Gillis. All those in favor? 5 Z. Thank you everyone. We'll have um
the resolution to sign um 7:30 public hearing to discuss and vote on early opening of 273 Salem Street and 110 Main Street. Okay, we get a notice.
Oh, there it is. To the inhabitants of the town of Reading, please take notice that the select board of the town of Reading will hold a public hearing on May 26th, that's 7 2026 at 7 p.m. the Select Board meeting room 16 L Street, Reading, Massachusetts, and remotely via Zoom to
act on request for early opening at 5:00 a.m. for Dunkin Donuts at 273 Salem Street and 110 Main Street. A copy of the proposed documents regarding this topic will be in the selectboard packet on the website at www.ritingmass.gov. All interested parties are invited to
attend the hearing or may submit their comments in writing or by email prior to 6 p.m. on May 26, 2026 to town manager at readingmma.gov by order of Jane Wellman, town manager. >> Uh all those and Oh, do we have a
second? >> Second. Seconded by Cara Rose Gillis. All those in favor 50 to open the meet uh public hearing. And do we have anyone here representing Dunkin Donuts? >> We do. >> Perfect. >> Do we stand? >> Yeah. If you could come up to the podium
and just state your name, that would be fantastic. >> Oh, we'll come as a team. Let's do it. >> That's fine. Thank you. >> I mean, I'm wearing the colors. >> Good evening, board. Uh, my name is >> I'm sorry. Can you just make sure that the green light Yes,
>> it's on. Okay. All right. Good evening, board. Uh, my name is Vipin Cara. I'm the regional manager for Dunk Donuts. Alongside me is Lena Strausski. She's the district manager for she handles all the stores in Reading. And then we have Jim from our office that deals with real estate. >> Okay.
>> Um so as noted in the proposal, we have uh three locations in Reading. um one on 85 Walkers Book Drive that already opens at 4:30. And then we have 273 Salem Street next to the gym that opens at 6:00 a.m. And then 110 Main Street that
opens at 6:00 a.m. And we asking for approval to open at 5:00 a.m. Um we've done some research in town, the gym that opened up a few years back. Um that gym opens at uh 5:30 and we constantly have customers coming to us to see if we are
open. And invariably since we're not open, they end up going to the stores in Reading or the stores in Wakefield or they have to go all the way up to Walkers Brook Drive. Um the deliveries won't be affected. Uh would stay the same. Everything would stay the same. Um
and um we wanted to see if we could go ahead and open at 5:00 a.m. moving forward. >> Okay. Do we have any feedback from anyone else on the board or the public? Any other public input?
Maddie, do we have anyone on Oh, >> I I have a petition. >> Okay. If you would like to come up to the podium and just if you could state your name and address, that'd be helpful. >> Good evening. Uh my name is Don Budro. I live at 261.
>> Sorry, you do have a two-minute timer. Two minutes to speak. Okay. >> Thank you. >> 261 Salem Street Reading. Uh, I went around to the neighborhood and had a petition signed saying not to open at 5:00 a.m.
>> I'd like to give it to the board if I may. >> Mhm. >> Which location? >> Um, >> which location, sir, are you talking about? >> Salem Street. >> Too many. >> How do you know that? >> Here we go. >> Oh, he said Oh, I'm sorry.
The majority of people I spoke to are not against a company making money and and providing services for reading, but we as a butters feel it's unnecessary at 5:00 in the morning. >> I have a couple of quick questions and
the first one is shouldn't this have been sent out by a certified letter to everybody the butters? >> No, it's not legally required. >> Okay. Okay. Uh hours of delivery. Mhm. >> There are trucks that are there sometimes even before 5:00 in the
morning and they're banging >> their carts that I guess they they bring in um donuts. I guess it is. All right, >> sir. If you could just um have your questions come to the board, that would be great. >> If you could just address your questions to the board and that would be fantastic.
>> Is there anything in the town that stops early deliveries? >> Yes. Uh we'll clarify. Yeah, the the deliveries the normal retail hours are 6:00 a.m. to midnight. >> Okay. >> So, retail delivery should be within that that window. >> Okay. >> Mhm.
>> Um, >> anything outside of that would need u permission I believe from this body. >> Okay. How about dumpster pickups? I mean, it's not necessarily Dunkin Donuts dumpsters, but other dumpsters in the area. Is there a certain time that they're not supposed
to be picked up in the morning? Um, do you know off hand? >> 6:30. >> 6:30. Dumpster pickups should not be before 6:30, but I think your comment should be relative to this board, to this party tonight. >> Okay. All right. I I guess that's it. I guess that Thank you for allowing me to to
talk. >> Thank you. We appreciate the feedback. Do we have anyone else in the room? >> Maddie, do we have anyone online? >> No one online. Does the board have any feedback
before we close the public hearing? Okay. Oh, Chris, sorry. >> Thanks, Melissa. Um, I guess I would like to hear from either one of you uh regarding the delivery thing because not
specific to Dunkin Donuts trash, other things that have been brought up. I've heard in the past, not just by you, but other apartment complexes having their dumpsters emptied at 4:30 and and things like that. So, I'm very cognizant about the the early morning delivery time. So,
do you have any feedback on why >> allegedly this kind of stuff is happening at at your development? >> Well, thank you for bringing up the question. Um, as far as deliveries are concerned for dumpsters, I'm pretty sure they do it in during the day after 11:00
a.m. So, that is not a concern. Um, we have a Duncan here that we get delivery at 9:00 p.m. I'm pretty sure it's the same truck that delivers to 273, but I can check it and that's an easy fix. If the deliveries are allowed to be made till midnight, we can make that happen. Um, mostly 7 8 9:00 p.m. is when the
deliveries get done. The drivers, they have keys. Even though the store's closed, they have keys. They bring the product in, leave the product for the morning crew. So, that should be an easy fix. As far as people coming in on 273 Salem Street with where the gentleman resides, there's a gym that brings in
tons and tons of, you know, customers that go to the gym. And, you know, being Dunkin Donuts, our customer is a customer that comes at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30. By 9:30, 10:00, our business is mostly done. 80% of a business is done at 4:30 in the morning. We don't take care of
them. Somebody else is taking care of them. They're either going down the the street to North Reading, uh, by Kodas Finger Home. There's a Duncan there. They're either going there or they're going to West Street or they're going to Starbucks which opens at 4:30. There's two Starbucks in town in Reading. They open at 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. So, they are
going somewhere. People are in their cars. They're getting in, getting out. Um, there's no drive-thru at 273. So, I would assume there would be not so much noise if people are coming in. And during that time, I I expect maybe 20 to 30 customers come in. I don't expect a
huge volume of customers. Our main business really starts at 6:00 but there are customers whether they be police officers or nurses doctors going into Boston uh and they work different hours people working in the airport they don't work a 7 to 5 8 to 55 9 to5 and those are our customers and um they are
getting coffee somewhere and the question that we always get is hey I wish you guys were open so I won't have to go to weightfield I wish you guys were open so I didn't go to North wedding I wish you guys were open so I don't go to another store but I can make sure that the delivery is happening uh between the hours that it's allowed,
which is 6:00 a.m. to 12 midnight. >> Thanks. Yeah, I'm I know you mentioned that maybe the dumpster is getting emptied at 11, but I'm not saying people like people are making things up, but something is
happening at 4:30. Like, and if nobody is there, you can like what time do your employees get there regardless. I know they might get there early and then >> by 5 a.m. >> 5:00. So there shouldn't be anything prior to 5 >> ever >> for employees like employees coming in
or deliveries >> or deliveries or anything. So nothing is happening after midnight and before 5:00 a.m. >> We get two major deliveries during the week which brings in our coffee, the cream, the plastic products. That's um two times a week. uh Wednesdays and Saturdays and that's after 11:00 a.m.
And then we get delivery for donuts on a daily basis and that's between 9 and 10 p.m. But I can make sure and double check and make sure that that is happening. Shouldn't be nobody coming at 4:30 in the morning for any reason. >> Yeah. The the way that I see this
there's twofold. The other one we didn't receive any push back on on the times getting changed to. And I'm all for businesses making money. I'm a small business owner. I understand I'm very pro business, but I'm also pro not being annoyed at 4:30 in the morning when
stuff's supposed to start at 5, >> of course. So, I guess for me, I'm willing uh to vote one way on one thing and then just push this off to the next meeting so we can find out really what's happening um during the early morning hours either from the residents or you can said you'll follow up and check back
and if you have you know you find out someone's delivering 12:30 or some thing that you didn't weren't aware of then you know we make a correction and then everyone's happy. >> Absolutely. >> So that's kind of where I'm at. So, >> so you were saying one of the locations had a drive-thru, right?
>> I'm sorry. >> One of the locations has a drive-thru. >> Yes. 110 Main Street, the Shell gas station down the street. Yes. >> Okay. So, the drive-thru will be open at 5. >> Um, yes. >> All right. Um, I don't I mean, I just want to talk to the board cuz we didn't
let Bagel World open at 5. So, I don't know if it's just to keep it consistent. >> Agreed. >> Madam Chair, I apologize. Um, Bagel World can open, but they cannot have their drive-thru open the lobby. Yeah, they go in at the lobby. So, that might
the board because the speaker noises in the morning >> just to keep it consistent. I mean, you know, we don't want to give one firm, you know, an advantage, I guess. >> Yeah, I agree. It was both uh >> Bagel World and McDonald's. We allowed them to open earlier, but their drive-thru couldn't open till 6 a.m.
>> Is it because where it is the zone or >> the loc just being close to homes? >> Okay. that that speaker and that got >> so just to keep it consistent for what this board has done in the past. That would be my support is to not open the
lobby. You can open the lobby inside. Yeah, that would be my >> Yeah. >> Does anyone have any >> That's acceptable. >> Karen, um I agree with Chris. I I don't know if we can split it up, but I was um I was all for it thinking great. I know
people go to Plan of Fitness, but the noise issue, I think we really want to make sure that that's not an issue because um >> that's important. So that's all I have to say. >> Yep. Absolutely. >> Any other Karen? >> Yeah. Well, so um the Salem Street,
there's also RVI there, so you know, it could be anybody. There's a multiple businesses there. So yeah. Um >> and all the dumpsters are in the back in the back, >> right? So, um I don't want to penalize one business.
It could be any of them, but the owner of the um property is reachable if you wanted to reach out to her. As far as I know, she's still reachable. Um I know not everyone's open that early. Um,
but since only one business is before us tonight, and I agree with the rest of my colleagues that I'd like to be consistent with what we've allowed for time starts for drive-throughs and lobby and um, for now, see how it goes. It could change in the future.
>> Great. >> Does anyone else have any public comment? Maddie, any public comment online? >> Nobody online. >> Okay. Do we want to close the public hearing? >> Move to close the public hearing
regarding the early opening request for 273 Sound Street and 110 Main Street. >> Seconded by S. All those in favor? 5 Z. Um, I think what I heard from everyone, and please correct me if I'm wrong, is that
we all agree to 110 Main Street opening their lobby at 5:00 a.m., but the drive-thru um cannot open till 6:00 a.m. And then we will put uh
273 Salem Street on our next uh agenda just to double check that there's no early deliveries. Am I correct? >> And to Karen's point, maybe it is somebody else's dumpster scenario cuz like I said, I I've heard of these trash
collection things come at ridiculous hours in the morning. And if it is true that it's somebody else and you shouldn't bear the uh the brunt of that but you know we just got to find out before we make a decision. >> Okay. >> What does that look like? What is what
what would you come back with? What kind of >> So maybe we can do a little bit of a deep dive and we got some emails from a couple residents. So, I would be more than happy to follow up with them and see the one resident that complained about the um
what she said was a delivery. I'd be curious if was it a delivery? Was it a tra pickup? So, maybe we just follow up on that. >> We can we can follow up on that. Um and just to let the board know, um our economic development director reached out to the police department today to
see if there was a record of noise complaints um for the 273 Main Street location. There is there was one complaint of um young people making noise outside at 8:00 p.m. um some years ago, >> I believe. So,
>> yeah, some and that's the only complaint that's been received about that location. So, there have been no noise complaints regarding dumpsters or anything else. >> Carrie. >> Yeah. So, um, Miss Arch Deacon, who's at 261 Sound Street, reached out to us as
well and mentions that she was opposed to the 5:00 a.m. opening and would like to know about the policy for delivery. So, um, what I'm hearing is consistency in the level of noise at 5:00 a.m. So, I would think that if trash is being picked up when it's
supposed to be picked up and and it's just cars coming in and walking in your lobby, it shouldn't it shouldn't be as noisy as a drive-thru or any >> sure I can call the trash company. They have GPSes on their trucks now, cameras, everything. I'm pretty sure they have a record of when they pick up the trash,
my trash. I don't know what so I can get that the last one month. They can exact times when they picked up the trash and exact days. >> We can forward that to Jane or our economic development director. >> We'll reach out >> and if you want we can reach out to the landlord and get that and have the
landlord reach out to REI and Planet Fitness and get their records for their trash backup exact dates and times. >> Fantastic. That would be really helpful. We would appreciate that. Yeah. >> Yep. You can work with my office. We're happy to get I think Lynn has our email um and um we can coordinate that and
bring that back to the board at your next meeting which I think is what June 12th June something. >> May I speak please >> we closed our public hearing already. >> Um >> bring it up later. >> If you want if you want to get back up
I'll give you a minute or two to give some feedback just so we can understand and you know work on this for next meeting. >> Thank you very much. In reference to the trash there there's >> Can you just I'm sorry. Just state your name and address again. It's >> Don Budro 261 Salem Street writing. >> Thank you. >> In reference to the trash pickup, there
is a a very large gate that can be closed to stop trucks from going into the background to pick up dumpsters. It's also good to keep kids out of there on the weekend. >> Okay. >> I You don't own the building, right? No. Okay.
>> So, it's pro that's probably the owner's responsibility. >> That's something I'll try to pursue. Thank you. >> Thank you. I appreciate you you coming in. >> So, if we want to move forward with a motion um to support the change for 110
Main Street and then um we can put 273 Salem Street on our next agenda. Um, I'm just looking at this motion for approval to open for business not earlier than 5:00 a.m. >> and won't cause unreasonable disruption.
It doesn't mention a drive-thru specifically. >> So, if we could add that wording in somehow, Karen, if you can >> Well, then S Street doesn't have a drive-thru, >> but when we voting on Main Street. >> So, we're voting on Main Street. So, did we
did we want to include uh specificity? Yeah. >> Yeah. I think we'd want to include that it's five for the lobby. >> Open for the business lobby only, not earlier than 5 a.m. >> The approval to open the business lobby only cover. All right. >> Yeah, that works. >> Okay. Okay. Move to approve a license to
operate a retail business between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. pursuant to section 7.7 of the writing general bylaws and f pursuant to section 3.8 of the select board policies to Dunkin Donuts at 110 Main Street writing. This
license is for approval to open for the the business for the lobby service only, not earlier than 5:00 a.m. And granting this license, the board finds in accordance with section 7.7.4.1 of the general bylaws that the operation
of the establishment will not cause unreasonable disruption or disturbance to or otherwise adversely affect the customary character of any adjacent or nearby residential neighborhood. And in accordance with section 7.7.4.2 of the general bylaws that the operation
of the establishment is reasonably necessary to serve the public health, safety and welfare, serves a public need and provides a public convenience which outweighs any increase in the impacts on the adjacent or nearby residential. >> Second.
>> Seconded by Chris. All those in favor? >> 5. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks. If I could interrupt really quick, and I don't know if I'm correct in saying this, but I think we might have to ask for a continuence on the public hearing for 273 Salem Street
so that we don't have to readvertise. Good >> idea. I like that idea. >> For next time. >> Okay, fair enough. >> We need to go, Maddie. >> Yes. Thank you, Maddie. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So moved. >> Perfect. There you go. Have a second. >> Second. >> Seconded by Chris Haley. Any discussion?
>> All those in favor? five to continue the discussion on 273 Salem Street. Thank you, Maddie. >> Thank you, everybody. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Great. Perfect. >> We are moving on. 7:45 public hearing. Discuss and vote on new annual all
alcohol restaurant liquor license for Bean and Barrel LLC. DBA Bean and Barrel located at 45 High Street Reading Mass. Do we have a motion to open the public hearing? I need to recuse because my business overlooks this development and
therefore I can't vote. >> Thank you, Chris. >> Okay. To the inhabitants of the town of writing, please take notice that the select board of the town of writing will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 7 p.m. in the select word meeting room at Town Hall 16 LOL Street
Reading Mass or also available remotely on Zoom to act on a new license application for an annual all alcohol restaurant license located at 45 High Street running mass for Bean and Barrel LLC DBA Bean and Barrel. A copy of the
proposed documents regarding this topic will be in the select word packet on the website at www.readingmma.gov. All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing in person or remotely via Zoom or may submit their comments in writing or by email prior to 6 p.m. on May 26, 2026 to town manager at
reningmma.gov by order of janewell and town manager. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second and byel. All those in favor? >> Good evening. >> Good evening. How are you? >> I'm well, thank you. So, attorney Josh Leam here tonight on behalf of Bean and
Barrel LLC. Uh, with me is Jeppi Federa. He's one of the principles of the company as well. Uh, what we see tonight is an all alcohol on premises restaurant liquor license to operate a new European style cafe at 45 High Street. We also seek approval to pledge the license to
Middle Sex uh, Federal Savings. They are providing a line of credit to help finance some of the fit up of the premises and the startup of the operations. Uh you may know this site well. It is the Flat Iron Building across from the Reading Depot. Uh a high visibility location and a very important
part of the downtown area. Uh with Jeppi here tonight, this is actually a business with his wife Stephanie. She's home with the kids. She couldn't be here this evening. Um but it is a family business that they're starting. U the application package is extensive as I'm sure you've seen. Um, but what I will
just hit is some of the highlights, maybe a 10-minute presentation, but happy to answer any questions that you might have. So, as an initial matter, I will state we have completed legal notice, which is extensive for this type of an application. So, that included registered mail to all direct abutters. That included certified mail to all
butters within 500 ft and registered mail to all churches, hospitals, and schools within 500 ft. We submitted an affidavit today confirming that we did complete that service as well as publication in the local paper as required by the statute. So, with regards to ownership, as mentioned, it's Jeppe and Stephanie who are going to be
the owners of this business. This is a passion project for them. Uh, they don't have extensive experience within the restaurant business. Um, but what I can say is they have a strong commitment to community. This is something they feel very passionately about. And I will say that Stephanie comes from a long legacy.
Uh, her family owns the Parzialis Bakery in the North End since 1907. They've been operating there. There's a really nice synergy in that what we're going to be providing at this location is daily deliveries in the morning of fresh baked goods from the bakery in the north end
to be provided here in Reading as part of the cafe. It's a really interesting business concept because it takes advantage of the idea of doing both the cafe through the morning with the commuters with the locals that are running errands in town. an opportunity to really get together um get these
great great fresh baked goods, authentic baked goods from the north end and it transitions over the course of the afternoon and the evening to become a place to meet friends after work um to just go down and have maybe a dessert with a cordial something like that. This isn't meant to be a barroom. This is meant to be truly if you've been to
Europe the idea of those street cafes where you pop in, it's relaxed, it's not rushed, it's about quality, it's not about quantity and volume. So, it has as to the location itself, it has ample on-site parking. I'm sure
you've seen it, but there's over 27 on-site spaces. There's also over 12 spaces on the street which are meant to be temporary, not part of the commuter rail. Um, so there's really a great location to have this kind of business. The space itself is 952 ft. It's not a
massive location. It's meant to be kind of more cozy, something more inviting. Um, and what we have is a series of tables and booths. You've seen the floor plans. They're part of the package. There is bar seating as well. And there's a counter so that if folks are coming in to buy some of the fresh baked breads, some of the desserts, the
pastries, they can simply go to that counter, they can place their order and then walk away with it. But then you can also come in and have a coffee while you're waiting for that to put together. Or you can come in and have a glass of wine with somebody. So, it's really meant to kind of cover a lot of these types of bases to be a real social location.
Jeppe is the proposed manager for this site. He's going to conform with every single requirement under the town policies and the statute. We've submitted his Corey form, the citizenship requirement. He is dedicated to at least 40 hours per week at this location. He has already completed his
serve safe um training and although he does not have significant experience within food service, he does have significant operational experience running small businesses in leadership. So this is something that he's coming into with a great deal of energy. So, the concept itself, it's meant to be
welcoming, casual, a warm atmosphere. Um, they're really excited to bring the best of the north end to Reading, and I think that's the way we need to consider what this is proposed today. Um, it's something that we haven't had in town since the bakery went out of business um on Main Street a few years ago. So, this is going to provide a really nice
diversity to what the dining options are in town. Uh, so great coffee drinks, delicious breads and pastries, and unique wines, appertise, and cocktails. I think it's a pretty good combination. Um, regarding the question of financing,
we did submit the necessary paperwork. Uh, I think what you'll saw is there was a bank statement that showed sufficient liquid funds available to cover the costs of the proposed budget, but really as additional security, they did secure a line of credit with Middle Sex Federal Savings. That line of credit is already
in place. It does require your approval to pledge the license, which was a requirement or a condition of that loan. So that's the second aspect of this application today. When it comes to safety and security, this is a primary focus of what they're intending to do here. They are very mindful of the
responsibility that comes with serving alcohol. It would be against their values and their business uh to do anything that would be allowing disorderly conduct, intoxication on site. It's not meant to be that type of environment. We included within their application the alcohol beverage service
policy which con fully conforms with the town's requirements and goes above and beyond. Uh as noted within that policy all servers will be tips or serve safe certified. All of them are required to sign the policies within 30 days of employment. That's part of their ongoing
training requirements. All interior public areas will have video surveillance coverage. In addition, the landlord is is proposing to put some exterior video coverage over key pieces around the building just to ensure we have kind of that additional level of
security. And lastly, there will be a new alarm system installed as part of the fit up. So, I'd like to also turn to some of the economic benefits. This is the downtown and this type of a use small business, a local family. Jeppi is from Reading, has
grown up and lived in Reading his whole life. He's very committed to this community. Uh it this conforms fully with the town's master plan. It conforms fully with the town's downtown smart growth district. The idea of having these walkable um locations that will draw
people in to create a more vibrant downtown. This is exactly what we're looking for here. It will create a create a great new diversity of dining options for the town. Local employment. We're anticipating between 12 to 16 jobs being created. It'll be great for some of the the the high school kids in town.
It would be great for somebody that wants to work part-time. So, a really nice opportunity there. Be great for the town's tax base. It's improving what was a location that has been vacant for some time, and we're putting something vibrant and new in there. We expect a good draw. And lastly, the Federas is
going to be very community focused. They are already engaged in town, and this will be another way that they're they're building their roots even further. So, with that, I'll close uh and answer any questions you might have. But again, what we're respectfully requesting this evening is approval of the all alcohol
on premises restaurant license at 45 high street pursuant to general laws chapter 138 section 12 pledge of that license to middle effects federal safety. And lastly to point out um that because there are churches as defined in the
statute within 500 feet, we do require a specific determination by the board that this license would not be quote detrimental to the educational and spiritual activities um of churches or schools within 500 ft of the premises. And with that, I would close and be happy to answer any questions. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> You anyone have any questions, comments, feedback? Karen, so as far as the menu, what exactly is the menu? Am I going to have treats all day long or is there going to be, you know, something more
savory? Do you know what I mean? >> It's not meant to be a place you would go and have dinner, per se. It's more like the cafe where you go in and there's going to be croissants, there'll be other panol, pastries, fresh baked breads. Um, if you're going to be sitting there, you'll probably be
getting a pastry type item to be honest. There'll be all day service >> all day. So there will always It's a good So there'll always be food served at any time that alcohol is served, but food will be served during all opening hours. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> I might have missed it in the day, but
what are the hours? >> So we don't have this fixed hours right now. I think we would just say that we'd work we' be open for all retail hours for bakery and coffee. But then when it comes to liquor service, just within the confines of the requirements of the the policy, which I think is I want to say 11:00 a.m. until I'm not sure if it's
midnight or 11:00 p.m. and then at different hours on the weekend. >> I was just wondering when I can go. >> Carrie, >> y um so we allowed um folks to open for brunch at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Is that a separate petition for business? >> We have to vote that in as a board yet,
which we haven't done yet. >> Yeah, it's going to be at the next meeting. We have a process. >> Okay. So, 11 a.m. is what it is on Sundays. >> I think we'd love to be able to do the brunch part of it, too. That timing, but >> Okay. Not yet. >> So, so yeah, we take the alcohol very
seriously. Um, if if somebody underage gets served at your restaurant, you're going to be here and we're not going to be happy. I know you know that. Um, >> what I'm wondering is that are you is Mr. Federa and his partner both going to
be um alcohol certified because what if you have a cold? I I I'm not seeing on what you presented. Yes. Where the background is. >> I'm sorry. So I could just because Jeppi is the manager, the proposed manager, >> I made I made a point of saying make sure you get certified before we show up tonight. >> Okay. >> Um Stephanie is going to be actively
involved in the business as well. So she will certainly be certified. Um take the course and get that necessary certification. >> So I don't know the rules probably as well as you do. I know. I know. But someone always has to be on site certified to the highest level. >> Absolutely.
>> Good. Okay. Thank you. >> I have a question about the the Middle Sense Bank and the and the connection with the liquor license and them. And this is just anformational thing. I've never heard that before. So, what what happens to the liquor license if they're not
successful? >> So, what the pledge allows is that before it just goes away. The bank has an opportunity to try to make sure they find somebody else to preserve that license. So, it's it's kind of like a security for the loan, but technically
the license itself is not a piece of property. It's not something that somebody can actually sell, >> but it's kind of collateral for them at this time. >> It is, and it's allowed under section 23 of general laws uh 138. >> Sorry. Thank you. >> I'm personally very excited for this place. These are I used to go to the
north end with my uncle and my dad all the time to bakeries just like this or cafes just like this. So I'm really looking forward to it in reading. Um any public comment here in the room? >> Maddie, do we have anyone online? Nobody online.
>> Great. Do we have a motion to close the public hearing? Move to close the public hearing regarding the annual alcohol restaurant liquor license for Bean and Barrel LLC. DBA Bean and Barrel >> second in by S. Um all those in any
discussion all those in favor and do we have any further discussion um before we have a motion? >> Okay. Do we have a motion? Um to
>> move to approve the annual all alcohol restaurant liquor license for Bean and Barrel LLC, DABA Bean and Barrel located at 45 High Street. Second by Karen Rose Gillis. Any discussion? All those in favor? 40. Congratulations.
Looking forward to a new business. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. APM public hearing discuss and vote on FY27 non-UN classification and compensation plan. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Um before you tonight, you have >> Do we need to open the hearing? I do. >> I beg you to find it. >> Yeah. No, that's fine. That's fine. I knew you were looking for it up the top. >> Sorry. Page 102. Come on. Sorry, my clicking's not
working. No worries. No rush. Goodness sakes. Come on already. page 102 it does. >> Yeah. Um it didn't click from the agenda. So sorry have to do this the hard way. 102. Okay. Excellent. Sorry. Thank you for your patience. To the
inhabitants of the town of Reading, please take notice that the select board of the town of Reading will hold a public hearing on May 26th, 2026 at 7 p.m. the Select Board meeting room 16 LOL Street Reading, Mass and remotely via Zoom to approve the FY27 non-use union classification and compensation
plans. A copy of the proposed documents regarding this topic will be in the selectboard packet on the website at www.reingmma.gov. All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing or may submit their comments in writing or by email prior to 6 pm on May 26 to town manager at readingmma.gov by order of jane wellman
town manager. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second by cell. Any discussion? All those in favor? 5. >> Thank you. You're welcome. Um tonight we have with us our HR director Shawn Donahghue who helped um with this plan
and this is his um somewhat his wheelhouse. He presents this annually with the town manager um as some of you who have been on the board for a while know. So this is um the classification reclassification plan is something that is uh presented to the board annually um
after the budget is adopted um for any changes to uh job titles things like that that we have. Um I don't know Sean if you have a better way of that's good. Is that fair? Thank you. Um, so what we're presenting tonight are some
changes that we're that I would like to make um to our classification chart. Some of these are to create um some equities um because positions that are sort of equal um are not on the same uh classification line.
So we wanted to include that. Um and I wanted to make some changes to the manage management structure in town hall. um particularly with regards to administrative services and public services departments. Um and as a
informationally this is a revenue neutral uh changes. It'll actually save a little bit of money. But it is my intention to not fill the assistant town manager position and leave it on the chart but not to fill it at this time because the way that it's set up. So
after Fidel came in, um when Gene Delios retired, he combined the two departments um into one position under the assistant town manager, which I don't think is particularly great. And with FY28 coming and part of this
department moving to a new building, um I think that some of these changes are a little bit better and they serve us well. So it's also to build resilience in the instance that we don't have an override um approved. So um the the
bigger changes are to elevate the current uh community development director and the current um community services director to department head positions. Um and then we want to bring
back or I want to bring back um the administrative services director role that is a department head role. The intention here is that it will be a budget heavy position. Um it will not be taking over the the role of the CFO in
the budget but it will be doing budget projections working um budget projections on salaries um expenses and so forth and assisting department heads. um as the CFO currently does. This is to take some work off that plate. Um this role would manage uh the HR department
as well. So this position would be so much of our budget is personnel and going into this year we'll be looking at probably building three budgets um and also contract negotiations all 12 of our unions. So there's going to be a lot of salary projections and work that we need
to do and um so this role is intended to do that. This will also be the position that held the former ombbudsman work. It'll be um now the constituent services officer with the changes to the charter. So this is a position that did exist
previously. Um Matt held this position previously and then it was eliminated under uh Fidel Mail's. So, I would like to bring that position back. Um, another So, we're also bringing back the business administrator position. That's to reclassify a current role um to
reflect an existing position, but they're doing additional duties. And so, this is more appropriate of a role for that person. Um, we would be bringing the recreation administrator position up to the same grade as the Elder and Human
Services administrator position. and the senior center coordinator would be brought up to the same grade as a recreation coordinator. >> Um the assistant to the town manager role is a new role that is also rec
reclassifying a current position. Uh so it's not none of these are you know really new hires um to reflect additional duties. So the administrative services director would be a post an interview uh position. So that would be
um you know either somebody internally may apply or we somebody externally may apply. But um that'll go through the normal hiring process. Most of the rest of these would be reclassifying current positions. >> You said that was the administrative service director. Correct. Correct. Okay.
All right. Anyone have any feedback, questions? >> Thanks, Mora. And thanks, Jane. So, you're saying that essentially it's a shell game of positions. >> I wouldn't say shell game.
>> Shell. We are moving people around. It's a little bit >> but there's no assistant town manager or there is in its administrative service director or what is the deal again? >> So there's no title. Nobody will hold the position assistant town manager.
I'm not planning to open. I'm planning to leave it unfilled. >> So if you get hit by a bus who takes over? >> If I get hit by a Well, I'm not >> very big. >> A very a very big very problem. Um, the select board would have to appoint
somebody internally just like you did last time. >> And finance-wise, the numbers are not changing. They're going down a little bit. >> They're going down about $20,000. Is that our estimation? >> I beg your pardon. >> Shake out how the shell game works.
>> Wow. >> Sorry. Wow. >> It's a 211. Jane, you have now been out. >> I'm not saying that analogy. >> I do not like that analogy. No. Um yeah yeah yeah it may be more that would be the minimum savings
>> and I guess my big question is is it because your position is not being filled that we are saving the money therefore if it was being filled we would be over budget by 100,000 or something like that.
>> I wouldn't be able to make these changes if we filled the assistant town manager position so we would keep the existing structure. I don't believe the existing the existing structure is um as efficient because it doesn't it's too
many different kinds of things that that position overseas and doesn't allow sort of the depth and breadth of understanding in each of those divisions. Um whereas if they're department heads they can do more. Additionally, with the administrative services director role that I'm
envisioning with a bigger budget um role working with the finance department, but really heavily on the personnel side, it HR work that we're already doing. You know, that's that's um a big role that we don't have now and is it doesn't
exist under the current structure. >> But we're only able to do this because you're not filling the assistant town manager position. That's correct. If that got done, hypothetically, it would the budget
would have increased because you'd have to hire that spot and that's 100. >> Well, I wouldn't make these changes. So, if we were keeping the if I were planning to fill it, it's my intention not to fill it and use the savings in this way. Um, the assistant town manager position, I intend to keep it on the
chart for down the road someday. It could be that we elevate another existing position, another department head to that role with a a stipen or a salary increase. So, it doesn't have to it's not really a change in headcount.
It's just a different organization. >> All right. I I I still think it's, you know, override issues aside and all that, it it, you know, I understand the cost savings, but going down a position like
that seems semi-proatic. You know what I mean? Like you wouldn't be here if this actually existed. Correct. >> Um, maybe, maybe not >> because you were the assistant town manager and that position would not exist. So, like
it's just, you know, it's good to see this in in print in you making changes, you know what I mean? To >> free up some money. It's just that one
position, you know, just seems problematic not filling it. >> In other communities, those positions are starting to be whittleled away. Um, in some communities, assistant town managers, you know, it
it's it's what a town wants to make of it. Sometimes they just are kind of next to the town manager and they go to everything with the town manager. Sometimes they are department heads. You have different kinds of assistant town managers, assistant town managers. Um, I think Wakefield has two assistant town
managers they just appointed. Um, but one is, I think, for finance and one is for human resources. So, So you don't have any intention on filling this in the next three years? >> No. >> Okay. >> Anyone else? Car.
>> So it sounds to me that it's more of a tightening and and the reorganization. I like the reorganization. And as far as the assistant town manager position in the past seem to be um it seems like the
duties or the responsibilities of the the other directors underneath that are are it's kind of tightening it up and making it more defined. >> Yeah, this is sort of a flattening of the organization. So previously we have currently we have a very um
the administrative there's lots of layers that go down and so in this way the town manager is a little more direct into the departments um instead of you know multiple layers between them. Um and these department heads are experienced in these areas and they know
their areas very well and they're experienced in town here so they're ready to take on these roles. So, the administrative services director, we're bringing that role back and we'll interview for that. Um, but that's the intention and that job description requires seven years of experience and a
master's degree. So, you know, these are serious rules. >> I really like that. I think that the finance will need that. >> I think it will be strategically very helpful. Um, the finance department is a very busy department. They they do a lot of work. We do our payroll internally.
We have trust funds that we're managing. There's there's a lot going on and we have talented staff. Um but the budget is going to be a big lift this year. I don't anticipate that that's that's ever going to change and we'll be able to off administrative services is sort of a de
department that um helps other departments do their pieces you know so there's um you know HR is a good example operations serves all of the town departments. HR serves all the town departments. So in this way we think um
this is a role that's heavily working with all the the divisions. It's an extra role. It reports directly to the town manager and um we'll be able to take some stuff off the plate. Currently I'm doing the town manager, assistant town manager, you know, three department head roles. So um so it's a little bit
not ideal. Um so that's kind of what I'm thinking right now. >> So >> I'm a big fan of the directors owning the department. I like the structure. Um I just wondered how many director points would you have? >> I don't know. That's a
>> I'm thinking it's around 12 because there's nine department heads now. >> Yeah. >> No, no, nine with the assistant town manager. So 11. >> Yeah. >> Everybody report to you. 11. >> Yeah. >> Not that you can't handle. >> Oh, no. We have an excellent staff.
They're very very good. And if they're if they're good, they should be controlling their own departments anyway. So, >> yes, exactly. >> It's it's a function of, you know, >> um making it a little bit easier to access the manager to make certain decisions that only the manager can kind
of provide. And so, >> I also know like the assistant manager is kind of like a roadblock sometime too. Like >> that can be strategic though. >> Sometimes that's useful. Sometimes you need a blocker. >> True. >> True. Um there is a role here the assistant to the town manager. >> Yeah.
>> Um that's a differentiator from um executive assistant. >> Um that's so that's one of the existing roles in the division. And um that will be more of um taking more of an active role in day-to-day meetings, day-to-day operations and so forth. So that will be
um a a bit of a promotion for that individual and additional responsibilities that that person's ready for. >> I like it. Anyone else have any questions? Carrick. >> Yeah, I um so the charter specifies that we can have an assistant town manager
and we've always had one and um I um I agree that this is going to be a heavy year for preparing budgets and I'm sure our financial department needs the assistant need could use the help this
year. Um is Sharon on the line? Sharon is on. This isn't the uh Sharon is on the call right now. Um but she is on for the water rates. So I don't know if she's
waiting. There she is. She unmuted. >> Hi. >> Say hi. Um yeah. Um I I think this is a big change and especially saying it for three years makes me uncomfortable. Um I
would agree. I Matt held a a role um assisting um Mr. Lasher. It wasn't it was very much behind the scenes. It wasn't out front. Um so one of the things that Matt did was you were put
out front and you were given more responsibility, which is absolutely what an assistant town manager should be doing. Um, so but I also I just wanted to hear from um Sharon because I want to make sure that there's no like you're in
agreement that these are um resources that will help you get us through a really tough year together and that >> Yeah, this is a big change for us. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I definitely agree that um the way it was structured um didn't make a lot of
sense to me in terms of you know putting public services and administrative services together. I I didn't think that was the greatest fit because then the department head didn't have the specialties. So I would agree with that. Um and I do think we're just trying not
to fill positions that don't need to be filled right away. Um >> and that makes a lot of sense and it's it's kind of a smart thing to do. So I can't argue with that. So So we're not bringing in anyone new. So do we have someone on staff? Okay. Go ahead.
>> I do have somebody on staff in mind. However, we will publish it. We will post it and we will interview. It'll be a competitive interview process. >> Okay. And I was looking at the charter and we talked about like highly skilled qualifications for budget development. I am happy to share with you not only that
job description that we have developed. I'm happy to share with you the resume of the person that an interdisciplinary team chooses. >> Yeah. Okay. Cuz I I mean that's going to be critical. I think we are seeing some departments that maybe could use some help in that area. Great.
>> Um >> and I think it's important for I apologize. I didn't mean to interrupt you. I think >> well it's just that you've been spread pretty thinly and even without the override your plate is full and you can't be everywhere. >> I thank you notice.
>> No, but I thank you so much. No, I feel I thank you for that and I feel the support of this board and I'm grateful for that support. Um, these roles I think put us in a good position for for these positions to do the work that needs to be done and I
think it supports our other department heads who um are doing a great job and I'm meeting with them and Sharon's meeting with them. Um we've been meeting with people weekly uh last week this week and then we'll be finishing up the week after
next and um to give them support to help them think outside the box to find ways that we can u meet the needs that we have and then to and to strategize budget growth too because we're going through that level one. So, not to go deep into like a budget conversation, but um I'm confident that this petition
will be able to help with that work and and this structure it this is not just one move one chest piece. This is a kind of a holistic movement in a bunch of different places to make it align the way that I think strategically it will work best. And so, I do appreciate the
board's support for my role and to not be spread too thin because work life balance is a thing I've heard. I don't know. Um, but I'm looking forward to making these changes effective um for July 1. >> And um can we I I don't see an orchard in here. Just make sure to miss it. Can
you to Sal's point, can you um provide us with an orchart? >> I can. >> Okay, that would be super >> I can provide you. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> That's a great great ask. >> I just wanted to voice my support for this. I think it makes actually a lot
more sense, especially for like community development and community services director to have those people be more specialized in those departments and then add administrative services to help out with budgets and HR and stuff. So, I am full support of this and I appreciate you doing the work and
bringing this to our board to, you know, help the town hall run more functionally, save us a little money and, you know, especially when it comes to budget time and right now with the override.
I'd rather put the money instead of into an administrative position >> like an assistant town management position. I'd rather put the money into the specialists that are doing the department heads. Um it's >> it I think that that is going to be um
the priority and I would I would say that that's going to do better. It's not going to save enough money to hire an assistant town manager, but um you know if that's something that we need somebody to step into, it could be a small change on an existing position. >> So in the future?
>> Yeah, absolutely. And how long do you think it will take um to hire someone for that administrative services director position? >> Um we are about ready to post that position. So we can we can go ahead and post that I think probably within the
next uh week and start collecting resumes and so forth. >> Fantastic. >> Um and which Sorry. >> No, go ahead K. >> Um yeah, which of these positions could also u be appointed when you have an assistant town manager? We've done rotations before as to who's the acting
town manager. So but when and when you have an assistant town manager is a natural go-to as Chris alluded to earlier. So um aside from the um police chief who >> right >> will will be rotating through positions blank. >> So yeah I that was Fidel did that
initially. He said he would and he would rotate through department heads because that's what something that he was he had experienced I think in Chelsea. Um I appointed for my departure the police chief because he's already on duty 24/7 >> and Sharon already signs all the same
wires and financial documents I sign. So um to have a third set of eyes look at that you know and and the treasurer also uh signs all those documents. So in this role with this structure I would probably appoint the administrative services director um would be my
intention right now as an acting town manager when I'm out of office. >> Okay. And that is a position we don't know who that is right now. >> That's correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Well, that's just that's the intention >> posted. >> Well, because that individual works across all the different departments
>> and so and is heavily administrative. So, that would be the intention. Yeah. And budget oriented. >> So, looking at that wire, >> does this make sense? You know, looking at things with that same kind of eye. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity.
>> Do we have any public comment? Maddie, do we have anyone online? >> Nobody online. >> Great. If we could close the public hearing, that would be great. >> Move to close the public hearing regarding the FY27 non-UN classification
and compensation schedule. >> Second. >> Second by Karen Rose Gillis. Um, any further discussion? All those in favor? >> Thank you very much. I appreciate that. Thank you. >> And then do we have a motion to approve this?
>> Yes. >> Okay. Move to approve the F FY27 non-UN classification and compensation schedule as presented. >> Second. >> Seconded by S. Any further discussion? All those in favor? 5 Z.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Sean. >> We are moving on. 8:15 preview FY27 water and sewer rates. Our favorite topic. >> Matt, do you want to come up to the um podium? >> We're excited to have Matt in person today. in person.
>> Yeah, I know. He's like live and in person. >> Recognize him, but you've always been on >> not on a screen. And he's This is his second meeting tonight, I think. Is that correct? >> No, the other one got cancelled. >> You are. >> First meeting tonight. Only meeting tonight. >> Only to meet. All right. >> That's always good news.
>> Okay. So, we have um in your packets, we have um all of the information. Matt is going to present um information board. Also in the audience now we have the uh director
of public works Chris Cole and the assistant director of public works Mike Kesman. And um this was a really neat process this year. Uh the board put together a little committee. Um Karen Rose Gillis served on it and resident
Paul Silva who you've seen many times before the board um participated. And I thought this was um a really interesting uh way of bringing forward a good discussion on um rates. Uh Chris Cole obviously and um Sharon Angstrom
participated in this work um critically as well. So I did put um a memo in your packet um with some recommendations. The intention here um the board has
always looked out 10 years and um we have a very conservative policy around how we budget um and with these uh the water and sewer enterprise funds. What we have found is um higher rates of retained earnings particularly this year
with water and sewer. Matt's going to walk us through his presentation. Um but the intention with these with this rate structure was to find a way to bring down the retained earnings and um apply some stability on the water side and
savings on the sewer side um because we've used up some of the some of the excess in the water fund. So we're going to we're going to go through that. We're going to show you the five years. It's important to understand that beyond five years, confidence is low in what will
happen because with our conservative um approach and with interest rates uh being what they have been, which is great, it's increased our retained earnings and so we can we want to provide some relief to rateayers if we can. So we provide this information to the board to set the table for this
discussion. Um and then you'll have that conversation. and then we'll vote at the well at the next meeting. >> Great. >> Okay. >> Okay. Great. Uh, good evening everyone. Matt Abrahams here from the Abrahams Group to talk about water and sewer rates. Um, as the board knows, we've
been helping the town for a few years now on water and sewer rates. So, this is an update, but as was just mentioned, we worked together as a group this year to dial in the analysis a little bit more than we have in past years. And I'll cover everything with some overview slides this evening. Uh we have a few
slides just on water. We have a few slides just on sewer. Those mirror each other. And then we have some intro slides that precede those and I'll walk you through those now. Um so some of the objectives for this year was to focus on retain earnings balances compared to the town policy of a 30% target of fund
expenditures. Um 30% is I believe a true town policy, but one that we've that we've always focused on that percentage with the work that we've done on water and sewer rates. And what the percentage really represents is how healthy a an enterprise fund is. We tend to use those
percentages to determine how healthy those balances are. Um 30% I would argue is a is a healthy balance, arguably a very healthy balance. Um, and what we do is we compare the retain earnings balance to the total fund expenditure. So, whatever your total budget is,
compare the retain earnings balance to that. 30% is great. And you'll see as we go forward here that both enterprise funds have balances well above 30% currently. Um, so that is generally the target that we're looking at. Not necessarily trying to get the target in one year, maybe two
years. We took a little bit of a longer term approach to get there and you'll see that as we move forward. um compare other communities retain earnings balances to readings was another uh objective tied to retain earnings. Um projections as we've done every year for
the town. We look out several years into the future projecting revenues expenditures and uh their impact on retained earnings. Um a few years back we decided to expand our our outlook to a 10-year look. Um and as was just mentioned um we have looked at 10 years.
Now, we're dialing it in to go a little bit more like five years, but we still did the 10-year analysis. This year, we decided to present a five-year rate plan as opposed to a 10-ear rate plan, which you might remember, we had a 10-year rate plan last year when we did this work.
Uh, next slide, please. So, one of the tasks um I was asked to work on this year was to compare uh Reading's retained earnings balances, that percentage I was just talking about a moment ago, for each of the enterprise funds, both water and sewer, to other
communities. Um in this case, other communities was mishmash of different communities, most of them being um communities that I work with currently, as well as some other ones that were of interest to the town of Reading. Um, so the one on the table
on the left is segregated because those are just water and or those are just water or sewer enterprise funds. So you see a water column and a sewer column. That table, you see the reading's right in the middle of that. On the right, that's a water and sewer combined
enterprise fund. So I just put those in a separate table. Uh, but you can see the percentages reading. We have water currently at 54% around 54% sewer around 96%. Um the average for water down at the bottom 43%
sewer around 71% and the average for the water sewer was um about 28%. So just gives you a little bit of an idea of how the enterprise funds and their health here in reading compared to some of the other communities um that I
was looking at. Was that long enough on that slide for everybody? >> Yeah. Okay, great. All right. So, now we're going to go on to just talk about water for a moment before we transition to sewer. Um, so recent results, this is kind of looking back a few years. Um,
I've been working with Tatarang. I believe this is my fourth year now. So, the the table on the top, some of the changes that took place precedes the work that I did, but uh because of records that um Sharon keeps, we're able to easily access that information. Um so
the the top table there is that's a I think that's a eight year look nine year look for the last nine years of rate changes on this is water um up until FY24 it was a flat rate so that meant all the usage was charged at at the same
rate FY24 was the first year that I worked with the town um tiers were implemented that year as well as some tweaks to what the rates were in those tiers. Um, in FY25, water rates were increased 3.75% and no rate change last year. All right, if we go back a year,
there was no rate change implemented for the current fiscal year of FY26. Um, the graph on the left compares uh water revenues to water expenses over the past nine years um including our current pro the projections that we have
for FY26. That's the current fiscal year. We don't yet know what the final results will be, but we have a decent idea at this point. Um, so the rightmost uh year is our projection for FY26. The orange line are is revenues and the gray
line is expenses. You can see it kind of goes back and forth a little bit, but probably overall the orange is outpacing the gray for the most part. Um, the graph on the right is retain earnings compared to that 30% target. That blue line is your 30% target. And you can see
the retain earnings has maintained a balance above that 30% for the entire of the past nine years. Although it has fallen off a little bit from where it was back about nine years ago. Uh next slide, please. >> Can I just ask a quick question on the
side on the left? Sorry, Maddie. Um do you know what has caused the spike in from FY 25 to 26 in our expenditures? Okay. So, one thing to keep in mind with this is um the work that I do with these
projections, unless I know definitively that it's not going to happen, I assume that the budget's going to be fully spent. So, that expense amount there is the full budget, which may or may not happen. I think historically maybe the full budget has not been spent. So,
maybe the gray is slightly below that when it ends up being your final results for FY26. But still, there might be something in there that is still bumping it up a little bit. So, I'll just take a quick look to see if anything stands out. Maybe I don't know if Sharon has any input on that too. Do we know if we're
looking if we're on track to spend our full water enterprise expenditure budget for the year? >> I'd have to take a look. I mean, it's we're not done with the year yet. We still have another month. Um, you want to see what percentage were spent for water?
>> If you could, that would be great. I would just be curious. That seems like a a big jump a million dollars. >> We just approved to um But it's for FY27 to sewer pump stations. That would be in sewer, not in water.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. It's water maintenance. >> Oh, sewer. No, no, water. Don't do water. I'm confused. >> Talking about water right now. >> So, right now we're at 80% of our expenditures. We've got about almost $2 million remaining. >> Okay.
>> From the budget. $2 million in the budget not spent or $2 million in retained earnings. >> $2 million from the budget. >> Okay. >> $2 million in budget. >> Okay. >> Okay. All right. Am I looking at that right? So, just some quick quick analysis. I
mean, there's nothing too alarming here. Salaries went up, and again, this is a budget number, but it went up $65,000. End of assessment went up about $230,000, but that's not unusual. I guess that's probably a regular jump I
would consider. Um, some other expenses in your budget went up about $280,000. Again, that's a budgeted amount, not necessarily spent amount. Your debt service is pretty much on par with where it was last year. Your capital outlay line, which is capital
spent just in this year rather than being a borrowing, is budgeted at $725,000. Last year it was the actual is $244,000. So that's a little bit of a jump and I don't know if that'll be fully spent. Maybe Sharon can comment on that. But again, that's a budgeted number. May not
be may not be fully spent. >> Okay. >> So nothing too alarming in there. Okay. >> In my opinion at least. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, sure. We can move on to the next slide. >> Um, so the I guess the little caption
thing is blocking the bottom of this graph, but that's okay. I can still read it. >> Sorry. >> That's okay. No, it's it's a cool little feature. That's for sure. >> We've had a lot of requests for that. >> Yeah, I can see why. So, um, this is just a pie chart to show you what makes up your your budget. In this case, the
FI27 budget. Uh the largest expense is the orange area, which is your MW assessment. That's about $3.2 million making up the FY27 budget, 34%. Your next biggest expense line item is debt service, about $2.3 million. 25%. The
bottom area, which you can't see really, um is other expenses. And and that's my term. It's anything that's in your regular operating budget that is not salaries. I call other expenses $1.5 million 16%. Um salaries make up just
under a million 11% then indirect 755,000 8% and capital LA nice round number of 600,000 6%. >> Does that may I ask? >> Yeah. Does that other seem like a reasonable size bucket for that
>> for what? for our budget, >> which >> I can't read it, but you said it was $ 1.5 million for other >> for other expenses. >> Does that seem in line with what other >> 4.41? >> Yeah.
>> Um I mean, it's it's right around where your 26 budget was. Uh very similar amount. It's a little bit higher than the 25 actuals. A little bit higher than the 24 actuals. I I don't really know enough about what's in there to comment further than
that. >> Um since you work with other towns like salaries is salary are salaries usually around 11% 10% of the budget or >> do you not usually have this punch? I'm just >> Yeah. >> Does anything here look out of the ordinary?
>> Um >> and you probably work with non RMW towns as well which also makes things different because they won't have that big orange. they will not have that big arms, but then they have to also have other expenses to get them their water, right? So, they still have those expenses to source water, to distribute
water. So, their chart would look a little bit different. Um, now I I mean, first glance, I think it's perfectly fine, but I also don't have that information at the top of my mind right now. I think we can move to the next slide,
please. Okay. So now we're transitioning into the options. Um so option one we focused on uh for this particular option we focused on a level increase in the five years that we
looked at 3.25% annually. And one thing I want to comment on with each of these options is that our goal was to target that 30% that we talked about earlier, but to do so over multiple years, not just in a one year or two year. So when
I was putting these options together and I had we had collaboration with the group as well just to make sure that these looked okay. My main goal uh was to make sure I got down to the target by the end of the fifth year, which you can see the blue falling down to the orange
there. Just above it is where the 30% is. Um as long as I got that kind of on a steady uh decline to get out to get to the 30% by the end of the fifth year, I was I was okay with that. So, this is you're going to see a pattern, a theme
with each of these graphs are going to look very similar and that they kind of work their way down to that 30% target over the 5-year period. So, this option one is a 3.25% annually. Um, when we talk about bill impact,
we tend to focus on the average res residential user. Um, and we have two here for you. That's really based on how much water is used in the household. Um, the first one being 45 gallons per day and the second one being 65 gallons per
day. Just going to pull this up so I can refer to it. So for option one here for water, um, the annual impact is I'm sorry,
where am I? There we are. All right. So, for the this the first a uh average residential user, it's about that's about $23 per year for one year for FY27 and the other one being about $34
for the entire year under the 3.25%. Okay, next slide, please. Option two is no increase for FY27. If that were to be approved, that would mirror what happened for FY26. As you'll recall, there was no increase for FY26.
Um, so you can see the graph again gets you down to the target. Um, but what if you're going to do a lower increase or no increase for FY27, then that means presumably you'd have to do higher ones in the outline years. That's why you see rate increases greater than what we saw
in the last slide for the outline years. And there would be no bill impact. So it's not worth discussing that. >> Can I ask a quick question? >> Yeah, sure. Go ahead. >> So last year when we discussed this um and in the scenario that you gave us in
your presentation last year, if we you said if we made no changes to the rates last year, um that by FY28 we would be under our 30%. And now you're saying that we won't I mean that's if we
increased it to 4.5 till 20 228 but like we're way above it. What's changed from last year to this year? >> Yeah. So the first thing that comes to mind is that um the weather patterns define a lot of what happens with water sewer enterprise funds. But when I say
that I'm going to caveat by saying for rural communities, right? it's not going to have the same impact in an urban community >> because of outdoor water usage. So, >> people who really care about green lawns >> and watering their gardens, >> if they if you get a really dry season,
they're presumably going to use a lot of water to make that happen. >> And if we think about the last two summers, those were very dry. The last last summer was was even drier than the one before it. So, um, what that ultimately
means is that revenues come in stronger than we're projecting because when we do when we project, we're usually on the conservative side when it comes to revenues just to guard against that wet season. >> You get that wet season, then you're not going to have as much outdoor water usage and therefore your revenues aren't
going to be quite as high. >> Um, so when we did our projections last year, it was based on conservative revenue estimates and then they came in the opposite. They came in strong. >> Got it. Um, so that's probably number one. And then there are also other things, you know, maybe baked into
there. Um, I know that town staff reviews the plans every year. You know, we include in our analysis whatever the latest plan is for in capital, what the town plans on investing over a 10-year period. If anything changed there, then our update would include those changes
as well. >> That's one reason why we look at this every year because the assumptions generally change. It's not too often that they're the exact same, >> but I would say probably, you know, the revenue piece has got the biggest impact there. >> So, the increased water use because we
added second water meters. >> Yeah. >> Is actually helping us. >> From a revenue standpoint, yes, >> from a standoint. >> From a revenue standpoint, yes. But it also means that you're drawing more water from the MW and they're going to charge you for that as well. But that's
like a one-year delay when that happens. So >> okay. >> Yeah. >> So you think that with these second water meters we may see an increase next year >> an increase in >> revenue. You say there are delayed a
year >> the charges from the MWR when they charge you their assessment that's based on water usage from the from a year before. >> Okay. >> So if you think about last summer >> Mhm. >> the water usage last summer is going to hit in FY27. So that's already part of
your budget, but it's not it doesn't hit in 26 when the water when you're charging your users >> for their usage, there's a delay of one year from when the MW charges the town for that usage. That's what I meant. >> Okay. But are you So would you expect
that the revenues that we take in wouldn't cover that? They should. Correct. the revenues that we take in with the increased residential water use should cover any increase that we're getting from the MWR. >> I haven't done an analysis on that, but
I would think so. Yes. >> Okay. Just wanted to come. Thank you. I appreciate Oh, Chris, go ahead. >> Yeah, just one quick point on that. that um to Melissa's point that was trailing off there at the end, we're buying water
from the MWA for like $5 and selling it to reading residents for $13. You will never get the math to change on that. We want to buy more water. We want to sell more water and our water reserves are always going to be high the more water
we sell. That's a period end of sentence on that scenario. Nothing is changing that demographic ever. We buy it for five and sell it for 13. I want to buy my own water and sell it for 12 bucks to everybody in reading and undercut everyone. That's what somebody else
would do if if they had the opportunity. But that's what essentially what we're doing. I mean, am I wrong? Like, we're buying it for five and selling it for 13 or whatever our our rates end up being right now. Am I just making this up or is that essentially >> I actually am not aware of what the end
of charges for for its water. I know what your assessment is. I don't know the the per gallon. >> I believe the breakdown on the assessment is like $5 a gallon or something like that. >> Okay. It very well may be, but that's also not the only expense that you have in your budget is the MW assessment
there. And we covered earlier is like what 34% of your budget. >> Yeah. But if we went ahead and doubled the sale of our water, if we're getting it for one rate and you just double it on the other end, I mean, you could just
live off the interest from that forever if you doubled it. Like that's essentially what Melissa is alluding to is by us allowing second water meters, we want to allow more than just second water meters. just everyone just keep using
water because when you buy it for so low and sell it for so high that's what we're doing. I mean you can say staff and all that. The only real outlier is whether or not the impact on
the infrastructure with that double increase um if it could uh sustain that. But you're not tripling the amount of people that you have. You might have a couple extra water breaks or whatever, but beyond
that, like it's just simple math. It's five bucks and sell it for 13 or whatever this is. It's something outrageous. So, >> okay, I think we can move on. >> Okay, >> thank you. >> Next slide, please. >> All right, so option three um is in the
middle of the previous two options. We had a 3.25%, 25%, we had a zero. Now we're at 2% for FY27. Again, the graph looks the same. And based on our analysis, if if it were to be 2%, we're looking, we believe, 3.5% in the outlying years to get down to the
target. And the impact there looks to be $14ish for one of the average residential users. And I can't see the other one right now, but it's going to be slightly higher than that. It looks to be about $14. Uh, no, sorry, wrong one.
About $20 for the year. And those are all the water slides. So, we have similar slides for sewer. Would you like to cover those now or you want to pause here to talk about water? >> Does anyone on the board have any questions about water? No. Okay, we'll move on to sewer.
>> Okay, great. Very similar slides. Oh, sorry. I forgot about this one. Uh, we did a comparison of water rates really to bills because I think we calculated based on the average residential user um what readings uh bills were compared to
neighboring communities and that's presented for you here on an annual basis. >> And which one of those Are those all non MWR? >> No, they're MW. >> Yeah, sorry North.
>> I have that on the slide here. It's not showing on the screen for some reason. >> Um, all communities listed are MWA water customers other than North Reading. Wakefield and Wilmington are partial customers, meaning they don't get all of their water from the MW. >> Wakefield and Wilmington are partial. Stonem is all MWR.
>> Yep. >> Sus is not MW. >> No, Sus is. >> They are. >> Yep. For sure. >> Yep. For sure. >> Okay. They have great water rates >> and Wuburn does as well.
>> Yeah. I didn't look at Wuburn. >> Thank you. >> Sure. Okay. I think we can move to the next slide. Now we have similar sewer slides. I'll try and go through them relatively quickly. Um so the the rate changes on the top again tiers were implemented in 24.
That was my first year working with the town on water and sewer rates. Um FY25 3% increase. Last year there was a 1% decrease for the current fiscal year of FY26. Um same graphs orange on the left is revenues. Uh grays gray is expenses. Uh
you can see that for the most part um the revenues have out outpaced expenses over the last several years for sewer and no surprise that the graph on the right is showing that kind of a building up of retained earnings over the last few years to a very high level above
100%. Um in with our current projection for FY26 um so so retain retainings for water was strong retainerings for sewer very very strong. Next slide please. uh pie chart for the sewer budget. The
MW assessment makes up a greater amount in the sewer budget than it did for the water budget about $5.3 million or 72%. And then everything else is a percentage that's below 10%. Other expenses 8%, salary 7, debt is 5%, think about debt
for water. Debt was a lot higher for water than it is for sewer. Very small number for sewer by by comparison. Um, capital 4% and indirect 4%. >> So, um, can I ask a question? >> So, Sharon, so we have two pumping
stations coming, Chris, too. So, are we going to borrow for those and we'll see the debt increase here? >> Uh, so I can comment on that a little bit and then Sharon, I'll let you do it. chair. I think this is something that they look at every year. So, um there's a 10-year analysis that goes out for the capital plan
>> and um I know at least one of the sewer pump stations was kind of a hot topic for some of the discussions that we were have when we were putting this together. Um one of them is I think they're both probably pretty expensive, but one of them was assumed to be um spent out of capital outlay and it was a large amount
of money. It was like $2 million, but it's in like towards the back end of the 10-year plan. But based on what the town currently has borrowed, there may be a decision to switch that to debt sometime in the future. But it's something that I know the town staff is going to work together to come up with the best way to
fund that project. But we just don't know if 10 years from now if it's going to be outlay or if it's going to be debt, >> right? But I mean, we just tell we we have two eminent projects. Are we are we going to borrow or spend from these
funds to finance them? So for for the most recent um town meeting, we did ask for authorization for debt for the two sewer stations. Um and the one that he's referring to is a few years out. And because our reserves are so high, sometimes we do just choose to pay it
out of reserves and not borrow. So as it gets closer, we make those decisions about whether or not we borrow or not. Since sewer is particularly high on reserves, um it would be a good use to bring it down and and then we save interest. We're not paying interest on
that debt. Okay. Thank you. >> Thanks, Sharon. Next slide, please. >> And on to the options. So, for sewer, the first option, we're looking at a another level plan. You might remember option one for water was also a level
plan with the same rate changes in every year. This one has a 1% decrease annually in each of the next five years, getting down to the target. And if it were um approved this way, we're looking at a $6 difference for one of the average residential users and a $10
difference for the other one annually. Next slide, please. Option two, 3% decrease in 27. Um, this plan has 3 years of a 3% decrease and then 2 years of a 3% increase to get
to the target by the fifth year. And the FY27 impact is on the average vision initial user is a range of about $19 to $29 annually. And option three, next slide, please. 5% decrease.
And then we we follow that up with no change the next few years. Um 5% decrease for the average presidential user is about $32 to $48 in FY27. And as we as we covered earlier, it's just a lot the reserves are very very
strong for sewer. So we do think that some semblance of no change decrease is definitely in play for sewer here. And next slide would be the final one. So a comparison. Um I couldn't find any sewer rates on north reading so I put an
NA there. >> They have subject. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um but you can see the other communities that I included in the water table. Um I was able to gather information on those.
And in terms of who's MW, I have that for you. Sus doing >> sus is not MWR for sewer. They are for water. >> Um >> they're not MW. >> They are not MW. They belong to Lin Water and Sewer.
>> Oh, okay. >> And um Northreading is not Well, North Reading doesn't matter. We're not looking at that one anyway. But of all the communities that do have dollar amounts, Sagas is the only one that's not MWR for sure. >> Okay.
So, the thing we don't really know yet, um, is what impact, maybe you guys talked about it, what impact the second water meters are going to have on our retained earnings going forward as people use them. Um, they're predicting they're
predicting coastal communities in Massachusetts and knowing it will be hotter and drier as opposed to wetter. So, well, I mean, nobody knows what's going to happen 5 years out, but I guess what we pick for a strategy tonight is somewhat dependent on the unknown unless you've already built some predictions in
there. >> No, just we do have some revenue in there for people is purchasing water meter is the right term. They do they pay they have >> they paying into it, >> right? But in terms of the usage tied to
those, um, we have a little bit in there, but not a whole lot, we think, because it's still kind of in in its infancy >> that we don't truly know what's going to happen there, >> right? >> But definitely it's going to be a gain for for water revenues, but also on the flip side, sewer presumably wouldn't
gain as much, right? >> Because right now those users are paying for sewer that they wouldn't be paying for when they do their outdoor water usage using second meters, >> right? But they're part of a community and we need sewer. We have a lot of pumping stations. Do we not? Yes. So we
do. So that's kind of the the debate we've had internally as you know you belong to a system. So >> we um if I may, Madam Chair, I think we have 250 second water meters we've sold. Chris, is that about right? >> Uh yes.
>> And that was throughout last year and then we turned off installations like in the late fall. So, um, we don't have enough data to to assess where that would be right now. Is that about right? >> 227 that are completed and installed and 46 still active.
>> So, 227 are completed and installed and 46 are still active. Haven't been done yet. So, and in the permit applications have been open for a little while now this spring. >> Okay. Um, >> so those are all the slides I have for
you tonight, but happy to take more questions and comments. >> Um, do we have any public comments? >> Paul, question maybe. >> Paul, can we just have you come up to the I'm sorry. If we could just have you come up to the podium, that would be great. Thank you. >> It's going to be a question.
>> Paul, if you could just direct it to the board and then we can have that answer. Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Uh, the question I guess I'd like to see answered. >> Name and uh name and address. Oh, Paul Silver 12 autumn lane >> on if on the you saw the slide a few minutes ago on reserves
>> and we saw 51 I think for water and 96% for sewer. The question I have is I believe we made another projection for a year out. What are those numbers? Okay. >> If you want to >> following year on the water and so reserve,
>> which year are you referring? >> FY 27. >> One year after the 90, the 51 and the 96. >> If you just want to let Matt come back to the podium so everyone at home can also hear his response, that would be great. >> It's on your chart, so that helps you.
>> Maddie, can you put the chart back up, please? >> The comparison of retained earnings balances. >> Yeah, but I think he's referring to something that you haven't seen on the screen yet tonight. Oh, okay. >> So, if I understand the question correctly, what he's wondering is
so the chart where we showed the retain earnings percentages at this at the beginning of the presentation was based on what was last certified for retain earnings and that took place last fall and that was after FY25 was completed. So, I believe what he's referring to is
what our projection is for the end of FY26. Now, FY26 is not completed yet, but we have a decent idea of where it's going to end up based on the work that we've done. And for water, we're projecting it to be 52%.
And for sewer, um, o almost 108%. >> Did you say 108? >> 108%. It said 90. It was 96 on the chart. 96.1, but we believe there's it's going to grow at the end of FY26 as well.
>> Yeah. But what about FY27? I think you show it you kind of show it on your rate option plans >> because that's where it peaks, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Yep. Yeah. So, we have it going up in 27 as well. Is that why you're Okay. So, at
the end of FY27 based on again it's based on the assumptions right now. Um FY27 hasn't started yet, but we know what the budget is at this point. 148% for sewer. >> Yeah. So we we anticipate it growing even further from where it is now. >> Yeah.
>> But that's reflected on the chart here. That's the peak that was just referred to a second ago. >> Yep. >> So the projection that you have right now, I just I'm sorry. I just want to clarify that I'm understanding this is that by FY27 our retained earnings at what percent increase goes to 148%.
>> Um that's based on no change for sewer. I >> think I thought you said 108 >> 108 at the end of this fiscal year. one. >> We're already projecting into the future one additional year at no change. We think it's going to grow. That's where you see it going up to the peak there before it starts to fall off. So,
actually the rate plan that's here, this is a sewer slide. The rate plan that's here is saying if you were to do 0%. Again, a lot of assumptions baked into here, >> but Oh, no. You Okay, that's fine. Two is just stay right there. That's fine.
Um, actually, can you go to Oh, we were looking at a water slide, right? Yeah, we were looking at a water slide. So, this is a sewer slide. Um, I don't have any that shows 0%, but even with the the 1% decrease, you can see it's still growing at uh FY27 before it starts to
fall off. But this these projections, that graph is based on the 1% decrease over these few years. >> So, even with that peak, we still think it's going to fall off into the future. >> And that jump for FY27 to 148%. What is
what is creating that increase if are you taking into account the second water meters >> um for sewer? No, we're doing it based off >> well because the I sorry are you taking into account the addition of second
water meters which will take away some sewer people that won't be paying into the sewer even though they weren't using it. >> We did not include that in our analysis. Okay, >> it's based on the current environment. >> Okay, but what causes the increase then?
>> Um, we have the sew the we have the supervisor for 27 a decent amount below what it was in 26. Part of the reason why is because debt has really fallen off in that year. >> That's a big reason why. So the the budget is a lot lower. >> Okay, >> for 27. Okay, that's good to know
because even if this board decided to lower the rates um for residents currently, we would still have money if we needed to use that money for projects for capital projects. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Sure.
>> Just one other um one other comment on the extent of conservatism. I know Matt didn't mention, but I think he told us at one of the meetings, he's basing the revenue budget off of 2022, which is a rainy year. Rainy years are bad for the
budget. He keeps going back to 2022. We've had a ready, we've had a drier year, and and use more water in 23, 24, uh 24, 25, and uh even through 26 through March, we've used 6% more. So
some of these rates, you know, I I'm comfortable with what the chart shows for 27. Those other numbers, I'm not that comfortable because I think we still have some conservatism in there, excess conservatism in projecting what the revenue is. One of the reasons why
we've gone up in our reserves and why we're so much higher in reserve balances than our um local towns and the same thing with why our rates are higher than the local town. At least a third of that reason why we're higher is because we're using an overly conservative rate and I
would suggest in the future if we can't do it for this year for next year use a rolling three or fiveyear average. Instead of going back to 2022 and picking the worst year we've had in the last seven or eight or 10 years, let's use a rolling average and smooth it out and try to limit the risk that we're
going to overpric as we always have done. So again, I think rolling average on my only concern is we should be using a rolling average on the seasons and not just keep going back to 2022 because it was a wet year. That's one of the
reasons why we're overcharging residents both on sewer and water. >> Thank you, Paul. >> Do we have any other public comment? >> Maddie, any public comment online? >> Yes. >> It looks like we have one hand raised
for Guy Manganelo. I'll ask him to unmute. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Guy Manganello, 10 Richard Road. Uh couple couple questions. Uh one, we kind of glossed over the expenditures to date with one month left
in the fiscal year. Uh with a looked to be about 2 million left in the budget, you were Yeah, I think it was >> you was looking to drill in further as to how much of that is anticipated to be spent just to see how it's tracking for
this year. And then the second question is related to the debt service. Um, looks like we're spending close to 3 million in debt service annually and I'm assuming those are for some type of payment on capital projects. Just curious why some of the
retained earnings aren't being used to pay down those principles faster so that we're not incurring the high interest payments when we could be accelerating um that schedule. on yielding longerterm
benefits. >> So for the sewer, can you hear me? >> Yes. >> The $1.984 million or was it were we looking it was water that we were asking that question? Um I believe it was water. Let me look.
I I ran the actual it was water. Um I actually ran a breakout and it's it's because there are certain things that haven't been expended. So, there's $675,000 of capital that hasn't been expended yet. There's another $500,000 that
hasn't been expended for long-term debt. So, there's just timing of when payments are due, I'm imagining is the reason for the long-term debt. As far as um using the reserves to pay off um debt for water, we had talked about it, Paul and
I, about you know, paying off the buy in, but we're so close to it being um paid off already. Um the earliest we would have been able because I didn't have it built into the budget that we brought into fiscal 27 would be 28 and that's the last debt payment on that buy
in already scheduled for 28. So, we do tend to pay our debt off very quickly. Um, and we're we're trying to do the best we can um with the reserve situation, trying to find things that we can use it for. Sometimes we'll use more reserves in a given year to to pay for
more capital, not borrow for it. So, we do tend to do a lot of that. >> Sharon, can I ask a follow-up question? out of that um uh 500 in capital and 600ish I think you said
in um expenses. What do you expect to be paid out? Do you have any idea? >> I would say that the if it's the debt we don't usually put a lot of extra in the debt. I would expect all of that to be paid and that 675 I would just expect it
being covered by year end. It could be that we won't have it in, but there will be a PO probably issued for whatever the 675 was if it was, you know, infrastructure work. It looks like it's infrastructure work. Um, I would expect capital to be spent. Usually, we don't
plan for capital and not use it. I don't think we I don't think we leave $675,000 on the table. At this time of year, I tend to reach out to all the department heads and highlights their capital because there have been times where um they thought they issued a PO and they
didn't and then the money closes up to free cash. So, I do kind of have a tendency to remind the department heads of what's um what's on there for capital, but it tends to be some of the larger expenses. We want to make sure that that money doesn't close up, that we actually get a incumbrance in by the
end of the year, even if we're not going to get the asset in place by the end of the year. Fantastic. One quick question just to follow up on what Guy had asked. Did I hear you correctly in saying that our debt to the MW MWR will be paid off in FY28?
>> Correct. >> Doesn't Won't that increase our retained earnings? >> No, it won't. >> Make our budget overall less. So, we definitely, you know, but it we've got some planned debts going out. So this
past town meeting, we actually had debt authorizations for not water, but sewer. We always have infrastructure work. So we probably replace the debt with something some more infrastructure work that we're doing. >> Um but it it's a but the what we had for
MWR was a very large >> debt, bigger than what we normally would borrow for um in the water department. So to have that fall off is a good thing. It just we hadn't planned to pay it off early. A lot of the municipal debt, there's guidelines of when you can
pay things off. You can't pay things off early always, but closer to at the end of the term, you absolutely can. So, we could have um but I had already built a budget without paying it off for fiscal 27, I would have had to change what FINCOM had um voted on and you know,
when Paul brought it up to me like as a potential way to use some of the reserves and then he said, "Well, why don't we do it for 28 a month? That's when it's scheduled to be paid off." So, we are very very close. >> Fantastic. Thank you. Sorry, Chris. >> No, I just wanted to mention that um 600,000 of that un unexpended um capital
for FY26 is for the Hopkins Street water main and we're opening bids on that in two weeks. So, once we know the um what that comes in at, then we'll encumber that money. >> Fantastic. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> And it'll be encumbered. >> Here it is. >> Appeal.
>> Do we have anyone else online? Maddie? Um, Guy has his hand raised again, but nobody else. >> Okay, Guy, go on mute. >> Thanks. Uh so just as a followup to that, do we have a mechanism in place
that would make I'm sure I'm I'm sure you're you're all doing this internally, but where this can be reviewed in a in a more um frequent cadence so that decisions like paying the debt off early, like how much would we have saved
had we paid the MWA off earlier for the 2028, how much would the interest savings have been, right? So I keep hearing the word uh override being thrown around and these are the exact type of critical thinking situations that we need to look at on every line
item in a budget to find ways to minimize our debt burdens especially when they're frivolous and we have the cash to pay them. So just wondering what that savings would have been had we paid it earlier. >> So the debt um for the water department was at 1.49% and 1.26% 26% and currently we're
already earning more money on our reserves than I would be saving in interest. That's the short answer. >> Well, that's awesome. That's good to hear. So, that that answers that. And then and then is there a mechanism for us to be looking at this in a more frequent cadence or maybe you're already doing it? So,
>> we do look at it on a regular basis. We look um the the twice a year we're looking at capital and debt with the department heads very closely to determine are we going to borrow for things? when are we doing certain capital items? It is looked at at least twice a year if not more. Um and it is
something that is heavily questioned in terms of capital for sure like especially in the general fund what's priority, what should we be doing? So, there's definitely probably more that we can do to get um resident input on what they think should be priority on the
capital plan, but since um the pandemic and all the cost inflation we've experienced in capital, we're we're not kind of reaching the timeline of, you know, when it comes to replacing assets, we're we're we're late to replace assets. If an asset's got a useful life of 10 years, we're lucky if we get to it
by 12 or 13 years because the cost have gone up so much. So it's it's more kind of like the timing of and it's the timing ends up being what asset can last long enough to wait. Do you know what I mean? Like so and so that so we're in that situation that the cost of kind of
flatted out anything that's nice to have and it's kind of you know priority is based on what has to happen. >> Yeah. Okay. Just interesting thought because you know and I appreciate that I just we we see we have an interest reserve. I mean sorry
reserve account that's that's enterprise fund that's increasing to 100% of the plan budget. So you you're you wonder those retained earnings, you know, are we being I guess what is the thought process against using them more often because we've obviously had the ability
we've had expenditures, right? What is what is triggering the no decision on using them and allowing that to continue to balloon? >> We use them every single year to try and stabilize or reduce the rate. So in in large volume over a million dollars every year we've been using for water
and sewer stabilization you know so we're using we're using these these reserves to try and bring down or stabilize the rate. So we're not not using it we're using large amounts of it and then continuing to regenerate. So sometimes, I mean, when it comes to
water and sewer, specifically water, you know, we are conservative about how much water we're going to sell because we don't know if it's going to be a rainy season or not. And so the way we do budget is is the way we've always budgeted and it it's turned out to yield a lot of reserves, but it doesn't always
work out that way. Um, so I I feel like we are always looking at the level of reserves and trying to use as much as humanly possible in every given budget year um to try and bring the rate down instead of up um and use as much as we can to kind of have the reserves start to go down. Just things sometimes come
out of our you know out of nowhere that really help us. I mean, we are getting great returns on our investments and that always outperforms what we put in for budget because we tend not to um have very aggressive um investment earning returns because we expect the
interest rates are going to go down and we continue to perform at a high level with our investment returns. So, so some of those areas where we're conservative and projecting the budget yields, you know, regeneration of our retained earnings. >> I can also speak to that, Madam Chair.
Um that's a great question. And part of the limitation is also human capital. Um we have we're down in engineer in engineering. It's it's funded but we're not filling it. And I'm I'm the previous town manager didn't fill it and I'm not going to fill it. Um
and part of the reason for that is because we don't know what FY28 is going to yield. So, um we are getting ready to start two new sewer projects, uh sewer pump station replacement repairs at replacements, right? Yeah, full
replacements. And then, um we have another one planned a few years out. I think it's FY31 or FY30, something like that. It's in the capital plan. Um and we talked about, do we want to move that up? That was one of the conversations, but we have to do design work before we can do that up. So it's a year of design
work and we have to put that out to bid and we can also only put so much pressure on the engineering department with everything else that's going on with paving with you know construction projects we have going on town with with the high street project going on. So guy
uh to your point um we we only have so much capacity in human capital to run projects internally >> if that makes sense. So >> yes it does. Thank you Jade. doesn't. >> No, it doesn't. And and thank you both for for explaining that in great depth. I just, you know, we sit back, we look
at our water bills, and we think, "Wow, these are high." And then we we, you know, for those of us that have the the time and the patience to get granular to these things, uh, you know, you wonder how can we and it sounds like Sharon's done a great job of putting the money to work. So, at least it's it's hurting and growing for us so that we can pay down
the rates a little more aggressively and offer a better rate. just getting nervous about this the word getting thrown around on an override and seeing we have these kinds of surpluses and thinking, you know, gee, what else can we do to >> to really drill into these things and
and challenge the board here in front of us to to get granular on each one of these line items and find ways to get creative to help us mitigate those overrides. So, thank you both. Appreciate your time. >> Thank you guys. Any more discussion with
the board? Chris, >> thanks Melissa. Um, so I looked it up and we currently pay $4.99 per thousand gallons to the MWR for the water and then we're selling it between, you know, 11 and $13 to residents. And
obviously there's capital and all the other expenses that everyone has gone over. So we're not just ripping people off in that aspect. Um but it is more along the lines of the more water that we end up selling, the more um we're
going to have in reserves. Um and then the Quabin reservoir is at 85% even though current drought conditions for the last month or two. Um so that uh does not seem to be moving. Um which sometimes would cause worry if
it was dipping, but >> excuse me. >> Bless you. Um, but that's currently at 85%. So, I just think that um looking at the rates that was presented to us, I mean, the the sewer thing is
just outrageous. And I I just I wonder how long that we've been continuing that on. if we didn't do what we did last year, what position we'd be in because, you know, we we quabbled over zero and
under 1% or whatever we did last time. Um, and look where it got us in the phenomenal position of us potentially keeping everything at zero or going down or whatever again. So, I'm not sure how this doesn't continue every single year when we see projections that always tell
us that we're screwed 5 years from now every single time. and it just never seems to be actually happening. So, >> um, Madam Chair, I think you make an excellent point and the committee talked about that exact scenario and that's why
we're recommending um, option three, particularly on your sewer, which is a 5% rate reduction next year. You're going to look at this again next year. We're going to bring this back to you next year. We'll see what the reserves are. Then, >> you know, we'll know what the capital expenditures are going to be and they're already in the all of the 10 years out.
he's put those in the model. So, you know, we don't know what the future will bring. We don't know what it holds. We budget conservatively, but we think that we can be aggressive um in the short term. And we think that looking sort of further than 5 years out, we shouldn't make our decisions on what
might happen in year six. we should look at where we are right now because we look at this again annually and we're happy to you know bring back mid year if you want to uh what current you know reserves are what sales are looking like that kind of thing if that's of of an
appetite to the board. So >> and then one other item um that maybe would go for future agendas is the whole water restrictions that we have in place. So, I know we discussed um the wells and everything here and that's
what's tying us with to the outside watering restrictions. So, we have to have a discussion based off that because in my opinion, well, I guess it's on the agenda. We're talking about water. Um because in my opinion, that's handstraining us on the
water rates again. We're just restricting people from buying water that we want to sell them so that the rates can go down for everybody. Sure, you're going to pay for your water, whatever you end up using. But overall, the rates for everybody will go down if
you use more water. So that's why I'd like to see, you know, us just look at at that. And I think we were going to get numbers, Jane, or something, right? How much the wells have been costing us to maintain over the couple years. >> Yeah. No, I >> I don't need them now. just for a future
thing when we end up >> on a future agenda. We've discussed that. We'll bring it back to the board. >> No, it's a great point. Um and it's worthwhile for people to understand that it's it it's due to um an interbasin transfer agreement and an agreement with the D um when we moved from
um the current system, the old system to the MWR. And that's what makes us have this water restriction that only allows outdoor watering every other day. And I guess for the future thing, if you can find out what the penalty for violating that
would be us just not mentioning it ever again. Do we have to mention it >> or do we not have to mention it? >> That's a great question. >> You know, if we don't have to mention it, then maybe we don't mention it >> and everyone wins.
>> Any other discussion with the board? >> Okay, we're going to move on. Thank you very much for tonight. Thank you Paul. Thank you guy for public comment. >> Um we are moving on to >> 8:45 discuss and vote to appoint select
board member to the school committee naming policy committee. Um uh chair of the school committee reached out to me Sean Brandt. Um they are putting a committee together for um
athletic facilities to their uh naming committee and one of the membership spots as a select board member. Um I Chris and I are both the school committee liaison. I don't think I can take this on
anymore. So I would like to nominate Chris, but I wanted to bring it to the board um for a vote. not entirely sure that it was required. It was a little unclear in our uh policies, but I just thought it was the right thing to bring it to our uh board is for a vote. Um so
I am nominating Chris to be on that committee and if any feedback discussion, we'll be happy to take it. >> I'm not even sure what it does. So, they are um they I don't know if this committee um I don't know if they
just added this policy because they have two athletic facilities to name or if it's just their current policy, but >> I'm not familiar with that. >> Yeah, I'm not sure either, but they do have two um the weight room and >> a failed. Do we know what else they're
naming? >> It's going to be the weight room and then probably the training at the other. It's in the field. fitness the fitness center. We have a new fitness center that was >> all donated by a donor. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Two different mix.
>> Yeah. Two different donors. >> That's right. >> Yeah. It's two different um areas that they are putting this committee together to name. So their requirement for their committee is to have one select board member. >> Any feedback? Yes. Karen. Um I served
last time um for the um fieldhouse. I'm happy if Chris wants to serve this time. >> Great. Thank you. >> Any other discussion? >> Yeah, >> I'm just happy to do it. I know um I'll mention it in Leison reports, but I
attended the Charlie Hardy naming facility for the field over there and you know it's good to see um the recognition for people that have given so much to the town given back. So, >> thank you.
>> We don't have any more discussion. Do we have a I do we have a motion. Karen, do you have a motion? I think you do. Excuse me. Move to adopt public. Sorry. Uh move that the board appoint select board member Chris Haley to the school
committee naming policy committee. Second. >> Seconded by Karen Rose Gillis. All those in favor? 5 Z. >> Thank you. Um I will let Sean know. Um discuss and vote public comment practices. Um this
was something that I know that we've kind of gone back and forth. Again, I wanted the board full board's input on this. Um I will be transparent and say that I loved the new practice of adding public comment after every agenda item. I thought it allowed residents to, you
know, give us, you know, real-time feedback, but I also see that it created challenges um at times. So, just kind of wanted the board's feedback on this um and then if we, you know, could vote on an agreement
and just that. >> So, >> so just to clarify the two policies, it used to be only at the beginning of the meeting. >> Um yes. And now it's uh before every agenda. >> After every agenda. Yeah. >> Every agenda. Okay.
>> So, just wanted to get any feedback, Karen. >> Um well, I agree with you. It did create some um challenges and so did our old policy because sometimes people would like to raise their hands and comment and if we don't have a policy, you're kind of trying to figure out, you know, how far you want to let it go before
your meeting. It goes off the rails. And um that was another aspect of it. So the other thing that um without going off topic, we also used to do discuss one meeting, vote the next meeting, which also gave the community time to send us
emails. We're not getting as many emails anymore. So >> you know, that could be something else we could discuss separately. Um, I I I I think the challenges of this after every agenda item outweigh the benefits. Personally,
>> I think it it made our meetings too long. >> Fair point. >> Anyone else? Chris, >> thanks Melissa. Um so if anyone has paid attention to how this meeting has gone,
the reason why Paul and Guy um got to speak technically is because they were public hearings um so that you know we had to open it up to the public and you know um that's why they were able to participate and if it could be like that
all the time which was in theory the way that Melissa and I had instituted this in the That would be great because that's the way you know in a a perfect world that that is supposed to operate because we are going to end up like Karen just
mentioned in the gray area of having somebody here who has input on something with a recal or something and then it's going to be like the chair is playing favorites with picking this person but then next time someone else is going to and then you know what I mean we're
going to put ourselves in that position where it's going to look like we're um picking sides and favorites. So um to Karen's point, I agree that the it has devolved beyond outweighing the
benefit of us doing it. I wanted more public participation in the meetings. It's not up to me to describe to say what's should be allowed and shouldn't. we put the policy in the place and the
public can, you know, um, go by that policy. And I might not have agreed with some of the things that were said or instances that were brought up, but that's, you know, the bed that I chose to make on this and that's what ended up
happening. So, you can't fault people as much as I would like to that seem to take advantage of it at times. Um, but I think that having it go back to the way that it was, um, specifically for the next agenda topic, um, I think would be
more beneficial. It's unfortunate and we're going to be put in the position next meeting, the following one where someone's going to want to say something and then like it's going to get awkward, but you know, it's up to the chair to allow comment and that's the way it
goes. >> So, I just feel like you can't get consistency if you if you know you open it. It just should be a certain amount of time and then cut off because there's always going to be, you know, hard feelings that you heard this one and
didn't hear this one. >> Mhm. >> In my opinion, it's it's I try to live, you know, very consistent, very rule orientated. I think that's that that would be my vote. >> So, are you saying keep it after every agenda item or No, >> no.
>> Okay. Just want to understand. Okay. So, I like it after every agenda item. >> I think we're here for the people and um I think that yes, sometimes it goes off the rails, but we have to expect that
dealing with the public. I thought I do think that during hearings it's a little bit more flexible. Like I appreciated you having the gentleman come back up again, even though technically, you know, you may not have wanted to, but I think it's important that they feel heard. I I agree with Karen in the sense
that we are not getting as many comments or emails from people. And I I don't know what that is about. Um so I I don't know if we'll ever figure it out, but I think um I I did I did like it. >> You do? So I don't know if there's a way to
>> tweak it to make it >> So I think my understanding is is at any time if if we took it away after each agenda item um at any point if there seems to be a topic that is of great interest to residents, the chair at that
time can allow public comment after the board discusses it. But you do run into a situation. You can run into situations where if one person comes in and they may be online and you don't call for public comment that they're going to
it could be you allowed it for this but you didn't allow it for that and I don't really want to run into that. So >> oh yeah no no I that's I just don't want to run into those situations. That's all I was going to say. >> Yeah. So I mean I agree with Karen. We
we are here for the people, right? But I also feel like tonight was only three people in the crowd. >> Mhm. >> Well, we don't know how many people are watching online. >> No, but I'm saying like people who want to talk and once you start getting like 50 people, then it starts getting out of control, right? >> And I also like what Karen
>> um Eric said like, you know, don't vote till the next maybe we maybe hybrid something like that. We discuss this meeting then we get more emails hopefully and we can >> do it a more controlled fashion and then we hear the people as well.
>> I don't know. I'm just a bit long. >> Yes, Chris. >> Thanks. Um I I think that goes to the 9:15 discussion and vote on consent agenda because that's kind of doing that. It's getting taking away a lot of
formalities that we usually vote yes on. I don't want to say it's automatic but it's automatic. Um and trying to get away from that which will shorten the overall theme of the meetings and then have more time. Um the reason for discuss and vote that was happening um
it's just you know a lot of hot button items still are discuss one meeting vote at the next. Like water rates we're discussing we're voting at the next one. Um split tax rates same thing. Um, so those kind of HUD items
the public still gets to weigh in on. They can still send emails, but like those kind of things. Like there's not a, you know, uh, a long line of people wanting to speak up on who gets appointed to the school pol uh, naming committee, you know what I mean? So,
um I don't maybe we leave it up to the chair's discretion if we're all in agreement on that that you know if somebody has something relevant like Brian Bo I know Bowie has been at a bunch of meetings and always wanted to give con feedback on
conservation stuff and now it gets into the you know what I mean like we don't let them kind of thing on the topic. So maybe we leave it up the ch to the chair because if you if you take public comment obviously at the beginning of
the meeting like we do then we're good. If you take public comment on an item, then you have to allow it for everybody on that item. But then on another item, you don't have to do that because you're not selectively picking and choosing. But we just have to be in agreement as a
board that you know the chair and and a bunch of us if we've felt like you know you're not making the right decision or something that someone else should be able to speak kind of thing, we can kind of you know go that route. But I think if we leave it up to you and if we're in
agreement with that, we'll see how it goes and if you know we can always add it to another agenda to completely just erase it. But maybe that's the happy medium. You know what I mean? So we still get >> So do you think maybe topic by topic
like on the agenda actually state >> for instance today let's say the naming thing you can say public in parentheses public comment allowed at this time or >> no I think it's more played by ear by the chairs just chair and maybe vice chair you know what I mean if you both
agree then it happens >> if it's a split it's the rest of the board kind of thing just see how it goes then we get both worlds I I love that. >> I just don't want to put too much pressure on like Melissa is going to be like you can talk and you can't talk.
>> Well, no. It would be for me or even for the my understanding is is if a chair allows public comment on a agenda item, they would have to allow >> everyone to talk for the same amount of time. You can't just say, "Oh, only two people can speak on that." That's my
understanding of how it would have to work. >> Yeah. >> Um >> so I'm good with that. If everyone else on the board is, I think we just need to try to focus on making our meetings more efficient and >> um not as long. >> I don't know what I'm good with. What
what was the actual outcome? >> Yeah. So, I think I think if and please correct me if I'm wrong. I think we've agreed to um adopt a new public comment practice that it will be just public comment in the beginning and then at the chair's discretion on a topic, we can
allow public comment on that topic. And I think we could make it more broad that it's just chair and vice chair kind of thing. You know what I mean? You two working together. >> I'm I'm happy to take that input. >> Input from the town manager. >> Yep. >> People might be stopping on the street.
>> Please take questions. >> Yeah. No. And I I think it I feel like in most cases it's pretty clear when there are topics that residents feel like they would like to give input on. I feel like that's usually pretty clear. And >> I agree. >> Yeah. And I feel like if as long as
we're allowing two minutes per person, you know, keeping it very consistent, then that >> okay, >> I think that's a great decision on the part of the board and it gives you the best of both worlds and gives you all the flexibility in the world. If people come in and they something's changed and
they they want to talk about something on the agenda later, but they want to hear the board's thoughts first and respond to that, that's valuable. I think if we also impose something saying if you have something additional to say as opposed to sometimes it's the exact same verbiage over and over and over
again like maybe we could try and you don't want to shut people off but explain that we'd like to hear all the different points of view >> force that or not can't control what people say. That's true. That's true. >> You can suggest it and they can tell us to go.
>> No, but no controlling what people say. So it's >> just the beginning and then up to the discretion of >> chair vice chair >> the full board really like if there was input from you guys I would take input from you guys at any point if you thought that there was
>> residents that wanted to give some feedback >> stuff not being said. Yeah. Stuff that hasn't been said yet. >> Yeah. Absolutely. Um did we have a actual vote on this? >> Um >> Oh yeah we did. Okay. >> Okay. Um move to adopt public comment
practices as discussed. Um move to move to um continue public comment with the two-minute limit at the beginning of the meeting and allow the chair and the vice chair and the town manager to add um public
comment to um other agenda items as needed. >> Second. >> Uh seconded by Karen Rose Gillis. Any further discussion? Nope. All those in favor by zero. Thank you. We will now move on. 9:05. We're a little behind.
Discuss and vote on police presence at select board meetings. Um, as we all know, we've had a police detail. Thank you. for uh many of our meetings recently. Um I I did support keeping this the last
time we discussed it um for various reasons, but I do think at this point it's not needed um we need to be cognizant of spending money, which um I am aware of, although it wasn't overly expensive. But
I do still want to point out that going into override discussions, I feel like, you know, people are going to be a little um emotional about conversations. So, you know, just hopefully we can um keep
things respectful and um you know, allow conversations to still happen. Um, but you know, just keep things respectful and appropriate. So, >> yeah, I really feel like it's our job to do that. It's another job to keep, you
know, as leadersh, >> you know, conduct the business of the town in a respectful manner. >> Absolutely. >> I think it'll carry into the crowd. >> Agree. Agree. >> You can always take recesses if you think things are getting out of control. Take a five minute break. I
>> agree. Uh, Chris, sorry. Thanks, Melissa. Um, Jane, just a couple questions on the billing. I see that on two instances it it noted 5 hours next to each one. Is there a 5h hour minimum
or why are these ones being called out for 5 hours? >> They're long. We have to be 11 p.m. >> They have to be rounded. See that there's not a 5 hour minimum. >> Oh my god. Another incentive. No, no,
it's 10:59 now. We have to finish. >> Extends past the time. >> Yeah. >> I only mentioned >> come at 6:30. >> That because when I saw the two ones being called out for 5 hours, I wondered why these ones are mentioned at 5 hours and no other ones are mentioned.
>> So I went back and checked the RCTV thing. And one meeting was four and a half hours. So that makes sense. But another meeting was 3 and a half. So unless it went into executive session at the end and someone was still kind of here. >> What day was it?
>> The I believe the 310 one was shorter by an hour than the 324. >> So that's only 310. I mean there was definitely an executive session. I don't know. Um, >> and I only say that because like I said,
these ones are both being called out as 5 hours for some reason as opposed to all the other times that are in here >> cuz the other ones are just within that 4hour limit. Um, okay. >> Yeah, I'm happy to check into make sure it's not a scrivener's error if you are
cool with that. >> Perfect. And then the other one is that the 512 meeting, Lieutenant Jones is overinflating this actual number because he was here for the parking enforcement thing
>> for Wurn Street. >> So these rates are based on who's available and we pay overtime to who comes in. So um you might have two different rates there as well. So you've got Lieutenant Jones is lieutenant and
you pay a higher rate for that. >> But what I'm saying is that that when somebody looks at this number, they think that it's $4,500 for the select board to have a police presence here related to what happened in December. And that is not accurate
because Lieutenant Jones on 512 was here for the parking enforcement. >> No, that's correct. which means you minus 532 off this number and then takes you under 4,000. So I'm just saying it's inflating the number. >> So we asked the select board to give I'm sorry we asked the police department to
give us their their values and so they gave us the values for all of the officer coverage at the at select board meetings which includes um Lieutenant Jones. So to your point related to this policy, yeah, I would take off Lieutenant Jones's value. >> Somebody was there.
>> Yeah, it was two officers. There's two numbers. >> Yeah. >> Um, so yeah, if you can find out what the other thing is with the numbering thing. >> Yep, I can find that out. >> But yeah, other than that, I mean, uh, how Melissa had mentioned, you know,
maybe changing the public comment thing, tweaking it a little is going to curtail things. Um, in my opinion, unfortunately, I don't think that's going to be the case. I just think that it's if if not now, but
when is something going to happen again? Not pertaining maybe to the select board or maybe wreck or somewhere else, Vincom >> override stuff. I I just think that, you know, it's we can only control what we can control within, you know, the select
board kind of meetings. Um, and uh, I'd like to say that things have tapered down, but um, you know, hopefully it stays that way. Being optimistic, I guess the only reason that I would be okay with this and I
think that I'm settling by saying that because at the same time, like I said, I I I don't want anything to happen in the future, not just with us, with any boards or committees, you know what I mean? And we can't police everybody. is that you know uh you mentioned at the
last meeting or the prior one that uh you know an apology was made to you and your office over what happened >> and I think that is at least a starting step in this entire equation. >> So I'd be okay with you know suspending
this for now and then you know hoping for the best. Any other further discussion? Great. I think we have a motion.
U move that the board we decide. Is this going to be a not continue? >> Yes, I think. Correct. I think everyone agrees. Yeah. >> Okay. Move that the board not continue to have police presence at select board meetings. >> Second. >> Second by Karen Rose Gillis. All those
in favor? 50. Fantastic. Um, moving on to our next agenda item, which was a discuss and vote on consent agendas. Um, Karen, Karen, yeah, Karen and Karen and myself
were all at a uh, WEIMO virtual mentoring um, conference a couple weeks ago. uh we had some breakout sections and one of the things that I really took away from this session was that uh the use of consent agendas during meetings. Um I
just think I I also know the school committee uses consent agendas. I think it's just a way that we could have a tool for um some just administrative things like minutes, licenses, appointments, standard contracts,
routine budget things, um resolution proclamations, all of those things can be put on a consent agenda to just try to compress our meetings a little bit. Um and just uh you know allow us to get
into you know more discussion on maybe some more strategic stuff or controversial stuff especially with override talks coming. I just think it could help make our meetings a little more efficient and I wanted to get everyone's
feedback on what they think about that. Um, one thing I will say is that even if something is on a consent agenda and a board member feels strongly that they don't want to just vote yes or no on that piece of it, they can ask for that
to be removed. So then it can go on to our regular agenda and we can have a conversation about that um topic. So that's why when the consent agenda is listed on our agendas, if that's something we go forward with, we would be very specific on those items so that at any time we can remove it from
consent agenda and have a conversation on it. So just wanted to get feedback from you guys and see if that's something we could do moving forward just to, you know, move our meetings along a little bit. >> Go ahead. before.
>> So, operationally, >> we would get the consent agenda items originally a couple days in advance. >> I think it would be with our packets. >> With our packets and on our agenda and do we let you know in advance what we'd like pulled off or do we tell you during the meeting?
>> I don't think it's necessary to tell someone ahead of time unless you know, but it could. Yeah, it could be on the fly. Yeah, absolutely. I don't think it's necessary to, you know, make it known beforehand. and let's say a proclamation and I'd like to read it. >> I could just say, "Hey, can we just pull
that out of the consent and put it in and we move on that way?" >> Yep. That's my answer. >> And do we vote on the items if I want to have something pulled off or is it automatically pulled off? >> That is a great question. Jane, do you know the answer to that? If a board member asks for a consent agenda item to be pulled off the consent agenda to go
on as a regular agenda item, does that go to a board vote or >> or does it just get pulled? Usually it's just sort of a personal privilege. >> Okay. >> So as you're going through you would one member would say you know madam chair can we take this item out of the consent agenda. Yep. And then you just vote the
rest of the consent agenda and then that member can talk about it. >> Okay. >> That's been my practice with consent agendas. >> So >> so consent agenda could be five different items and you just order them all at once. >> Yes. That's what I understand. Okay.
>> But they would still be listed on our agenda. So the public would be clear of what they are and any supporting information would still be in our packet like normal. Just would not be five different discussing votes on topics. >> Okay, just speed it up.
>> I'm going to Dave for that. >> Thanks Melissa. Um, I think that, um, it gets in the gray area of open meeting law scenarios where if board members in advance are telling you to take stuff
off that you and Karen may have already discussed. So, I think if things go to um Jane and then if we can just agree that if one board member wants it to come out, then it comes out regardless. I think that would be fair.
>> That's a fair assessment. But I I also think it's not I don't think it would ever be necessary to have to bring it up beforehand. That needs to be I was just someone before before we're talking about it. So >> yeah, because we'll get the packets on
um Thursdays and whatnot. So we won't know until >> right >> then. Anyway, so I mean as long as one person wants to have it out and we're all in agreement, then that's fine. >> I think it will add the school committee does it well. Um and they have tons of
items on their consent agenda. Like I don't see us ever hitting the numbers that they have. Um and they seem to do it well. So, it's something good that we can pull from them. >> Yeah, absolutely. Okay. Any further discussion?
I believe we have a motion. >> Yeah. Um, move to implement consent agendas as discussed. Second. Second by Rose Gillis. All those in favor? 5 Z.
And we are moving on to liaison reports. Who would like to start? Would you like to start? >> All right. Okay. All right. Um on 520, I attended the financial forum with a
number other board members and and and finance committee members and the super the superintendent as Jane alluded to. So, um Jane and I don't know if Sharon's still on, but thank you. It was a it was a terrific presentation and and I know we had already seen a preview at our retreat and I still think it's great and
>> I'm glad the attendance was really good and um as we're already getting questions in public comment about you know how this override is going to impact us and how can we minimize it um the one of the things I wanted to just let the public
know is that we also discussed that there are 10 ballot questions coming up in the fall and one of the ballot questions is reducing the income tax from 5% to 4%. And um um if that passes, it throws well it already throws an
element of uncertainty into the an already difficult budgeting process. But a study or a report by an analysis by Tus University said that you know in November at the same time we may be voting for our override if that passes it could be a 10% hit in the funds that
we get from the state every year. So, just wanted to make sure people were aware that these ballot questions were coming up. Um, I met with the MMA Energy and Environment Policy Committee. Um so we had a great discussion on water
and sewer rates today and one of the things that came out of that was making sure that um member communities in Massachusetts knew that there are a number of state and federal organizations that do provide extremely lowcost water and sewer infrastructure financing
and um I shared that with Jane and Chris and um Sharon. In the past, MDR has not given us a rebate, but always offering 0% financing, which is but but so anyway, I wanted to make sure that was
known as Sharon and Chris are figuring out what to do with these sewer stations, that there are no grants necessarily, but if it's cheaper than going to the market um to get debt, we might as well consider that as well. Um
I miss Memorial Day activities. However, I wanted to provide kudos for DPW and the CE cemetery staff and the resident volunteers, including members from the Lions Club and the scouts um who put out all of the plant stakes and um one of
our boards and committees was um um I forget which one. Sorry. Some of our hardworking volunteers put out all those plant stakes and this was my first time participating in that and the wooden cemetery looked fabulous. looks better than the town hall lawn. So, I
know where they were, you know, putting all their effort. Um, but that was really great and I just appreciate all those volunteers who put out those hundreds, must have been thousands of stakes in all five cemeteries in town. Um, I also attended the last game
changers session of the ACE committee. Um, this one featured a book discussion on Red and Me um regarding um Bill Russell and his longtime coach. And the library has multiple copies that they were able
to bring in from um surrounding libraries. And it's a it's a good read. It's a quick read. So, I highly recommend that. And kudos to the ACE committee for a really well attended um three-part series um really educating the community on on on Bill Russell and
his accomplishments on and off the court. I was able to attend the plant sale and I know Jane did as well and that was really popular and the weather cooperated and that was wonderful. Um, the audit committee met with RMLD and the RMLD citizen advisory board a week
or so ago to review the last audited financials. Um, no issues were brought up. Um, the general manager did commit to no rate increases for this upcoming year and I thought that was very bold, but I thought it sounded great. Um,
let's see. And the only other thing I wanted to highlight, I am the are the library is having a ribbon cutting. I believe it's next week um for their terrace. So I'm sure I'm sure that has already been publicized on our website and the
terrace looks great and I'm looking forward to that. Thank you. >> All right. Ready? >> Ready. Uh May 13th, I attended the first of two episodes of a MMA sponsored override
webinar. It was really, really great. Um they talked about how to get your message across, how to frame your narrative. Um maintaining the goal of doing the least harm when discussing overrides and budgeting. Um I know staff is already doing more with less and at some point we don't want less to become
permanent. So when people say they're going to add new things to the budget, it's really not adding new. it's adding what was there before. So I think we'll have many many thoughtful conversations about that. Um same day attended my first historical commission meeting. Uh
they had a very packed agenda. I had to leave halfway through to another meeting but they're a very um very intelligent bright group of people that are very vested in the history of writing and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm getting a tour of the archives later
this week. um Eastern Gateway, we had a quick catchup meeting to see where we're at. The consultant was there. Um staff has been working with CPDC and others on the zoning issues in that area. So, we're kind of moving along on that. Um on the
18th, the Mass Housing Partnership held a training on train on managing housing programs. Um I attended that and it was full of really great information. We had did have somebody speak at one of our meetings from this group and she was really informative and actually
made us feel like we're really kind of going in the right direction. Um it's kind of been taken some time to get off the ground, but I feel like we're getting um we're getting up and running. Um 518 town forest committee. I wasn't able to do attend because of the
training session, but Jeff Lampson provided that there was a DCR state forester. Chris Prior attended the meeting and he said he provided a lot of good information. The discussions on how to fund forest management plan which we really need to look into um in greater depth and um it's one of those
situations where you can spend money to get more money. So it might be something to look into. Well, we will be looking into it. um to unlock additional funding. Uh they reviewed the Arbor Day um event which was a huge success and um their upcoming
events is a June 18th grain communities event. And you can always go to the town forest the second Tuesday of every month to pull some um weed. Now I can't remember the name of the weed, but anyway, it's on the website >> to choose from.
>> Um I know that's a lot. uh 18th police and fire awards ceremony which is one of my favorite things. Anytime there's a bag piper I'm there. It was really lovely to see all the families watching their fathers, mothers, sons and daughters being recognized. It's a
really lovely event. Um and thank you to all their all of them for their service. Uh recreation and council on aging had a joint meeting where they presented the new software by the operations working group and that went pretty well. the finance form as um Karen talked about
and um uh Sal and I have been doing Vasque interviews for a couple days. Those are going very well. Uh I love meeting all the people that are volunteering their time. And Memorial Day parade, the rain held out during the actual parade.
I started to speak and it started to pour, but people were gracious to still stay, including Chris, who was holding his bag over his head trying not to get wet. Um, cemeteries are beautiful. Everybody did such a fabulous job. And I was walking my dogs at 6:00 a.m. and
they're out there putting up the things. So, those guys worked for a very long full day. So, we appreciate everybody that participated. >> Chris, >> thanks Melissa. Um, I attended the Charlie Hardy naming of uh Turf 2. He
was the longtime lacrosse coach over there um that brought lacrosse to reading. Um I didn't know that my neighbors um were all involved in that too. So Patika who wked with Jane on the
health insurance stuff um uh Tibetan Edetos the Gallaghers everybody over in my neck of the woods seemed to be involved in that back in the day. Bring that. Um, so it's good to see that Charlie Harley, Charlie Hardy got um, Turf 2 named after him um, after his
long-term dedication to the town. I attended the police and badge pinning ceremony as well. Um, it was good to see um, all the, you know, various um, new promotions and people that were getting
awarded. I've said it many times that if you can get sick or anything happens to you, you want to, you know, have it happen in Reading because, you know, you're going to be in good hands here between the police and fire and EMS that are showing up. Um, they do a a pretty
spectacular job and just hearing the stories of, you know, the lives that they've changed by, you know, saving various people. Um, it's really inspiring. Um and then the finance committee meeting that we um attended uh
just going over the override. So it was good to see you know the discussion starting now um and I know Jane is working on a timetable for all the various other public input sessions and things that we can do um just to you
know advertise it more that something like this is most likely coming on the November ballot. Um, I also attended the Memorial uh day event and it's true it started raining right when Karen started talking so I'm
sure that had nothing to do with it. Um, but no, it was, you know, to see everybody there that just stuck it out and the scouts and the band, you know, compared to prior years where it's 100° and people are passing out. this time, you know, it's all in the rain and all
the kids are just standing there holding the flag and everything just as if nothing's happened. So, um it's good to see, you know, even with um the weather like that, people still came out and and supported our veterans.
Um and then lastly, I attended the uh Burbank Ice Arena Authority meeting before the FinCom meeting. Um so that was what last Wednesday or whatever. Um and they went over all the various um
uh budgeting things that has happened since um their season um technically ended with um the Northshore Skating Club um having their event there um a couple weeks back. Um so Ed Paduto went
over all the various um you know how the attendance was, what they're projecting for the future years with um with ICE and it's this long rigma roll of how the various sports teams who plays who and
you know whether or not you get home ice and now they're going to a different playoff schedule and it just a lot of the stuff went over my head. But the big takeaway from that was just seeing that, you know, Ed was working right up until the meeting came upstairs and, you know,
he was just actively involved and rifled off a 100 things on a piece of paper in front of him. Um, you know, and it's he he does seem like he's very overworked there. Um, so it'd be good to see if he
can get some help in the future kind of thing, but I don't think he wants it. I think he enjoys what he does and he's good at at that. So, um that meeting went quite well and then I had to leave for the uh finance committee discussion
before it was over. Um and I think that's it. >> Do you have anything? >> I have a Vasque obviously that >> Carrie stole my gun there a little bit. >> I kept it short. >> Yeah. No, you did. It was It was great.
It's great to see all the uh people coming back. It was mostly incumbents, right? I think we only have one new new uh applicant so far out of two meetings. Um everybody's very enthusiastic about volunteering for all their uh you know,
different boards. Um and I went to the police and fire awards benefit. So, it's great great to see all the families up there and you know just to reiterate what everybody said we have a great community great you know emergency services and I'll have them more next
week next meeting. So, >> thank you. >> Um I listened in on the board of health meeting from May 12th. Um they discussed their new regulations on feeding wildlife agreed that they needed to have
some clearer guidance and you know some interdep departmental coordination when making guidelines like that. Um they will be revisiting that regula regulation um with broader stakeholder p uh participation. Um, also they discuss protocol for
future uh changes to bylaws and you know communication with residents, other departments, stuff like that, public notices. >> Um, I attended the police and fire ceremony for new hires promotions and award uh awards, some state awards, and
we also awarded four high school students. I believe it was four, three or four high school students with awards uh this year. Yeah. Um on May 19th, RCTV had a board meeting that I attended. Um they have started discussions with the
town on um their Verizon renewal and there is an ask for capital um with Verizon. So hopefully we can uh get that to help them. Peg funds continue to go down. Um their new executive director,
Dearra Morales, is phenomenal. Um, she I was very impressed by her at that meeting. I haven't met her in person yet, but I know she came to the site for meeting that I was on Zoom, but she is she seems like she is like on her game. She's going to do good things over
there. So, I'm really looking forward to that. Um, they're trying to figure out some ways to diversify their revenue stream and to increase that. They have a fundraiser set for June 22nd at um Anony's Cold Fire Pizza, which is an easy one. It's the last day of school,
so go get some pizza, you know, give some dollars back to RCTV. They are looking into offering some different community classes and also are going to be doing coffee at the studio for with their executive director in
June. So, that will be great. Um I don't have those exact days so I've got those to make sure I uh mention those in my next uh please report. I attended the financial forum with everyone. Um
>> Jane remind me did we have any um community sessions scheduled for June? >> We're looking at June 24th. Initially we talked about June 25th. Okay. um at the financial forum and we think that Thursday is not going to get a lot of
turnout but Wednesday might have better >> June 24th. >> June 24th right now and we'll publicize it once we're making sure that we don't have conflicts. >> Got it. So it looks like we will have a a community conversation in June and we'll get that out to everyone. want to call it community conversation, but if
the board has preferences about what you would like to see it called or how we want to call attention to it, we're open to that. Shoot an email to Katie Gabriella. >> Great. >> While I'm out of the office. So, >> fantastic. Thank you. Um I was actually
unable to it. I signed up for the MMA override, manage your budget without override um conversation and I was unable to make it, but they sent me all the slides. So, if anyone wants them, I'm happy to share. Um, I was unable to attend the Memorial
Day celebration. I was away with my daughter, but I want to thank you all for being there, especially with the rain. Um, I saw all the pictures. It did look like it cleared eventually, but um, but that's it. That's all I got.
And we are moving on to future agenda items. What does anyone have anything specific that they'd like to add? Um, Maddie, do we have do we have what we have coming up already listed?
>> Sorry for future agenda. >> Oh, she's got it. Thank you. >> Can you zoom in there, Maddie? Oh, god. Yeah. tricky on the camera. There we go. I think that we're um for the 9th we're
going to add um discuss and vote or the continuation of the public hearing for 273 Salem Street for Dunkin Donuts somewhere. Can we do it before the water since they've already been here once? >> Yeah.
>> Should be fairly quick. So, we could do that before water >> like right after Junth. >> Yes. Yep. I think that's fair. >> All right. >> Karen. >> Yeah. Um, so we have, um, well, I was wondering if we could get an update of
our two, um, three building projects from the town manager. >> Yes. >> Okay, that would be great. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> All right. And I'm including pickle ball as a separate project cuz that's how it >> No, happy to. >> Thank you. Like I think that'll be good. Not well because we're not all at the
same meeting. So, I have a broad understanding and also for the residents watching at home, a reminder of when they're coming and where we are. >> I'll put it as um a separate agenda item under the town manager report so it'll be on the agenda so we can >> discuss it at length. Yeah.
>> Awesome. >> Can you add um the High Street project, too? I felt like there was going to be a schedule dispersed and um I walked down there and I don't know if anything's going on and somebody mentioned to me that they thought that they were going to have a schedule of how things were
going to happen and they haven't gotten one. >> Sure. >> Business owner. Thank you. >> Just wanted to schedule it. sometime later this summer. This doesn't have to be an immediate, but can we talk about um I brought this up before, a select
board naming policy and how we would like to do that? >> Yes, that's on the list. >> Okay, good. >> For sure. >> Okay. >> Is it on a meeting? >> I haven't seen it on there yet. >> Um I have it on my list. I just can't figure out if we've actually
>> I didn't see it, but I was going to mention that as well. needs to be um yeah in this earlier in the summer >> naming policy by August >> for naming the select board run the south select >> board components of that there's pickle ball
there's yeah >> we can get in on the fund too >> we have staff working on it >> we'll definitely >> we never named the park the new expanded park up at the water tank I mean >> oh yeah yeah underneath that y
>> we could name that That would be fun. >> Um could I I would love the select board to discuss um moving the liaison reports back to near the town manager report. Yeah, because I the purpose of a liaison we a we all spend a lot of time doing
this a lot of unpaid hours as volunteers doing this and it's about breaking down silo communication improving communication and improving knowledge among all of us um and knowing what is happening in the different committees
and so I really feel as for many years it was next to the um earlier in the agenda and next to the town manager report and I still think it it belongs there I don't think it's an afterthought. I'm like, I'm spending four or five hours a week doing my job. I'm not an I'm not an afterthought. I
don't know if anybody else feels like that. But >> there there was a reason we moved it, but I'm blanking on. >> I think part of the reason was to make sure that um we got to staff related um agenda items earlier on or public
related agenda items earlier on. So that was part of the reason why I think it was moved initially, but that's the board's decision. >> Well, we just need shorter meetings overall, right? >> Agenda should help. >> Yep.
>> I mean, the consent agenda will help. And so maybe we can do it meeting by meeting like if there's no town staff at the Do you know what I mean? Like maybe tweak it a little bit. Can we do that? >> What do we want to do? >> Yeah. >> I'm good with that. If we don't have a lot of people,
>> right, there's no staff presenting to us, then maybe we can sneak it in that way. >> Or I mean, again, I think like we could also say for the if the meeting's heavy, we move the town manager report down to the liaison report and we just we take
other staff and all of that and we move it around that way. >> I have no issue with that. >> She has to be here. Maybe we can play with it a little bit then depending on the agenda topics. Okay, >> Chris, >> thanks Melissa. Um, so Karen brought up
the naming committee scenario and then also what dovtales to that is the the fencing bylaw scenario that we brought up last year about advertising on fences. >> Oh yeah. >> So
>> sponsorships, right? >> Sponsorship. Yeah, great. Let's do that. Um, it's the same. It's working on both of those, >> but also the schools control their own. So, some quasi joint >> thing there as well. >> Yes,
>> it's complicated. >> Yes, it is. >> We'll get into it. >> We will uncomplicate it hopefully. >> I would. All right. I like that. All right. >> Um, the water restricting that I brought up already before about the Ipsswitch River thing. Is that on there? What is
that weird one that's on the June 9th? It said like water well. >> That's it. >> That's what it is. >> Um well actually no that is um during our conversation >> uh with >> was that executive
>> well fields maintenance. What is that cost? >> We talked about um getting an update about what our wells cost us for maintenance and what that cost. So that's >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. >> Oh, all right. So >> yep. I thought that that meant well
fields because it's capital that it's some dude or something like that that's coming in for some maintenance. >> No, it's just to get an update on what we're paying >> for those wells to be up maintained. Kind of connected to what you're talking >> kind of sort of. >> Yes. Minus the shell.
>> Um all right. So I got that. Uh the trash and recycling thing is getting done what? July 1st or something that's swapped over and I know you're doing Tuesday trashies or whatever you're doing the >> Tuesday trash talk. >> Tuesday trash talk. >> That's right.
>> I think that the board just has to have maybe its own separate agenda item cuz maybe more exposure I guess cuz people still have no idea that the trash thing is going automated. >> No. And and actually I'm glad you brought it up because um Chris Cole
earlier asked to be on an agenda to explain it. so we can get him in in June. >> Great. >> Would be great. He's prepared to talk it through. Yep. >> Cool. >> And then >> probably the 23rd. >> And then lastly is the the brunch scenario that we have to vote on for the
alcohol. >> We received the pro process today from so we'll be prepared for that for the 9th or the 23rd, whatever you want to do. >> Oh, probably. >> Then what about the other thing that town meeting voted on last fall that we were waiting to be approved? the voting
mechanisms. We haven't done that yet. I don't >> I don't know what >> No, the versus >> Oh, those >> changes to the charter. You mean those back from the state? We're waiting for the state on those. >> We're still waiting for the state to
approve the charter. So, that's >> should be done soon. Okay. Anything else? All right, let's go to minutes. Maddie, did anyone send any changes over?
>> I did not have any changes. >> I didn't receive any changes from anyone. >> Did everyone have a chance to review them? >> Okay, let's do a combined motion then. I think we can. Motion to approve the meeting minutes of
May 2nd, 2026 and May 12th, 2026 as presented. Seconded by S. All those in favor 50. And do we have another motion? >> Motion to return. >> Motion to return. >> Second. >> Second. All those in favor.
Thank you.