off mute screen stuff on. >> It is 7 o'clock on Tuesday, March 24th. I will call the select board meeting to order. We're being broadcast on RCTV as well as Zoom. And the first item on the agenda is the pledge of allegiance. I allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, I will go over the overview of the meeting. Uh 7:05, public comment.
7:20 discuss and vote on appointment of Jane Wellman as town manager. 7:30 discuss and vote to create a town manager search committee and or hire an executive search firm. 7:40 executive session purpose two to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations
with Jane Wellman for the position of town manager a non-union position. 750 executive session purpose 7 approve and review for release of minutes February 24th 2026 and March 3rd 2026 executive session meeting minutes.
And then back at 8:00, town manager report. 8:05, community spotlight. 8:10, discuss and vote on police presence at select board meetings. 8:25, presentation and discussion on Pleasant Street Center status and future planning. 8:55, a presentation by recal
operation subcommittee. 9:25, first reading of discuss and uh discussion on the valet parking regulations. 940, vote to uh reappoint the town accountant. 9:45 discuss 2025 26 electoral accomplishments 10:00 leazison reports
10:05 future agendas and 1010 three sets of minutes um and briefly before I I start I just wanted to address an issue um from the last meeting that we had and offer my
sincere apology to my fellow board members especially um Karen Herrick during that discussion of the town manager contract agenda item. I noticed an email from a resident that contained language very similar to what we were about to discuss, information that should not have been made public. Based
on the absence of any related details in the meeting packet, I incorrectly accuse someone of leaking our confidential discussions. So, upon further review, I now realized that there was a motion in the materials that referenced aspects of our potential discussion which I had overlooked. Uh,
and additionally, upon re-watching that portion of the meeting, I did see that I did not open the floor for public comment on that item uh, as I did for others. Uh, while I stand by my comments regarding a previous similar incident, that does not justify my error here. I
was wrong in this case and for that I apologize unservedly. Um, and I also mentioned that I'd address this at the next select board meeting which is now. Um, so once again, I apologize to my fellow board members and especially Karen and the resident in
this situation and um, I think we can all uh, take a page out of this and just uh, try to move forward and I will open it up to public comment. Nancy,
two minutes name and address, please. >> Nancy, Dr. Pearl Street precinct one meeting member and I'm I'm very glad I'm following your comment Chris. Um I'm here not to talk about your agenda item about your police presence. I'm here to
actually address what the select board plans to do to protect us the public from the select board. Um you have not wanted to adopt a code of conduct and enforce it in this board. you have not
want to have wanted to openly discuss adopting Robert's rules of orders. All of these things I have brought up because of behavior of the select board members, the personal attacks that have occurred against residents um here uh
name calling name calling even not only citizens but fellow select board members. Um, I'm concerned that there isn't anything in place to protect citizens from members of the select board and I would like this to be
addressed. Thank you. >> Thanks, Nancy. Anybody else in the room? Angela. Two minutes. Name and address. >> Angela Bind to Orchard Park Drive. At a recent select board meeting um on
discussion of article 14 funding for unified sports, Mr. Haley said that no one at all had suggested an alternative funding source. I countered that yes, people have been suggesting other funding mechanisms, including making
unified sports a community priority. Well, at the last FINCOM meeting, FINCOM voted 44 on Article 14, a very unusual split. They also voted to make unified sports a community priority which
according to Miss Angstrom would provide funding not just for the next fifth school year because there's nothing there had been nothing in the budget in the school or town but put it into the budget. So a community priority will put it into the budget going forward which
could be um increased in years to come as the program expands. I an important program like this deserves reliable funding. I want to thank the fincom for doing this and I'll be supporting this
at town meeting. I will be supporting making unified sports a community priority because it is important. Um and it will be an addition to the budget that we all town meeting votes for. I hope town meeting supports this and I would like to see unified sports
properly funded. Thank you. >> Thanks. Anybody else in the room? Tony, >> two minutes name and address. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Tony Dzo, 130 John Street. Uh I'm here today just to
ask the board that as they are discussing whether to keep a police officer at the the meeting today or going in the future that uh the board please try to refrain from discussing uh personalities or individuals. Uh
everybody has a right to feel how they feel. I think the questions here are simply do you feel safe and the staff feel safe and that's what you should be focusing on. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else in the room?
Anyone online? Maddie didn't log in. >> I don't see any hands raised. >> I will give it five seconds and then we will move on. >> Still no hands. >> All righty. So, uh we will move on. 720 discuss and
vote on appointment of Jane Wellman as town manager. So, I will open up to the board for discussion. Melissa, >> um I don't have any further discussion beyond what I said last night, but um
for me, this is a no-brainer and I feel like it is. >> Okay. >> Um and I would just like to move forward. Thank you. >> Anybody else? Karen Rose Gillis. >> Um I agree with Melissa. I don't really have that much to say, but I wanted to
say thank you to Jean for um all your comments last night. You did answer a lot of my questions that I was not able to ask in your answers. I thought they were great and um thank you for your time. Thank you. >> Anyone else?
Carla. >> Yeah, I want to echo my colleagues and um the interview last night went very well. A lot of great questions. a lot of great answers and I feel very comfortable moving forward. Thank you. Anyone else?
So, for me, same thing as last night. I said everything I pretty much already had to say and and then some. Um, but no, I'm I'm looking forward to vote voting tonight and um where this is going to end up taking us
in the future, I'm very hopeful as well. So thank you Jane for for participating and you know sticking around I guess you know so thanks. >> Do you have any comments before we
>> just briefly just to thank the board for their um excellent questions yesterday and I think the public benefited from the conversation. I think it was a good well spent 90 minutes um and I appreciated all of your questions and um and and the direction that we went. We've had a lot of feedback today that's
been great and um and I'm grateful for the opportunity before you. Thank you. >> Thanks, Jane. All right, I'll open up to the public before we vote. Anybody in the room? Anyone online? Maddie,
>> nobody online. >> All right, Karen Rose Gillis, do we have a motion? >> Move to appoint Jane Wellman to the position of town manager subject to successful contract negotiations. >> Second. Second of my Melissa. Any discussion?
And I vaguely think this is a roll call vote for some reason, so we will do it anyway. Uh Karen Rose Gillis, >> yes. >> Karen Herrick, >> yes. >> Melissa Murphy, >> yes. >> Carlo Boti, >> yes. >> And Chris Haley, yes. We are 5. >> Thank you. Thank you very much.
>> I'm looking forward to all the work we're going to be doing together. >> It's going to be it's going to be a good time. >> Thank you, Jane. I I really appreciate it. And you know there's always more I want to say but I will I'll just keep it short at that. So
we'll move on to the next agenda item which we don't have to take up now because that was regarding a potential search committee or hire an executive firm. So we don't need that either. So the next item would be for executive
session purpose to Karen Rose Gillis. Do you have a motion? Move to enter into executive session under general law chapter 3A section 21A2 for the purposes of conducting a strategy sessions in preparation for contract negotiations with Jane Wellman
for the position of town manager a non-union position >> and under section and under section 21A7 to comply with section 22 of the open meeting law for the purpose of reviewing and approving for release the minutes of the February 24th and March 3rd 2026
executive session minutes and to invite town council into the meeting and to adjourn from executive session and to return to open session to continue on with the meeting. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Seconded by Carlo. Any discussion?
This is a roll call vote. Karen Rose Gillis. >> Yes. >> Karen Herrick. >> Yes. >> Melissa Murphy. Carlo Bachi. Yes. And Chris Haley. Yes. We are journal session. I'm grand. Thank you, sir. >> Perfect. >> All right. I will call the select board
back to order at 8:16. And the next item on the agenda is the town manager report at 8 o'clock. Take it away, Jane. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I'm going to try to go through this pretty quickly. First, uh we're launching our new bud budget video starting this week. Uh the
first one is up. Um is it on social media yet? It's on social media and it's on the website. Um, so we have uh four short videos that break down the FY27 budget to help residents better understand the pressures that our budget, like many others across the Commonwealth, are facing. Um, we look
forward to hearing feedback on these videos um from anybody. And um just to let folks know, we partnered with Cartoon Edu with whom he worked last year on videos for the Kllum School and the Recal Building Project videos. Um and these were done at no charge to the town. Um along these lines, I had the
privilege of moderating a panel for the MMA titled numbers to narratives with Dave Cartoonin of Cartoon Edu and Doug Lions, Wakefield Superintendent of Schools. Um that video is available on the MMA website. We talked about um how to visually represent tell it tell a narrative about what's going on with
your budget. Um I think the videos that we are releasing um will do that. Um and uh it just kind of provides some basic insight into where does your money come from and how does and where does it go and um and we do that in the context of
$1. So how much of $1 goes to each thing. Um and some other pieces. Uh I want to thank I said it earlier but I want to reiterate this that I want to thank the select board for the interview yesterday. I think the public benefited from that conversation and I'm grateful to move forward with you um following
your vote earlier this evening. Um we're going to do great things together here in running. Um I also want to correct an erroneous comment I made yesterday. While Winchester did narrowly defeat an 11.5 million override at its election on Saturday, Arlington will be holding their override vote this coming
Saturday. U Malden is also coming up for an override vote on Tuesday, March 31st. So I regret the error. I was thinking two had failed and it was two were coming. So, uh to our friends in Arlington, Maya, um I want to let the select board know that we received a
gift this week of $1,000 to the fire department for the purpose of purchasing smoke detectors for elders in need. We have a program with the fire department that um allows them to replace old detectors um with modern smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with 10-year batteries in them so they don't have to worry about replacing them. Um we thank
Carl McFadden for his generous gift. Finally, the town clerk asked me to announce that there was anformational letter in um in the mailing that went out about the charter. And it looks like this,
thisformational letter. Everybody got it at home. And there's this little piece here that talks about what the question will look like. But this is just a letter. It does not need to be filled out and sent back to town. We've been getting a number of them back. Like people think that they need to return it. So this is not voting. Um, we don't
you can keep the letter forformational purposes. Um, they are not official ballots. Uh, the election is April 7th. Early voting starts this Saturday and ballots for those wishing to vote by mail have already been mailed out. >> And that is the end of my report.
>> Thank you, Jane. All right. So, we'll move on to community spotlight unless someone had any questions on that. >> Okay. All right. Uh so I'd like to um first offer congratulations to Professors Market and Frank Pellegrini
and his team on 10 years in Reading. Um Professor's Market opened on March in March 2016 at 505 Main Street and they've become a mainstay in our community and we've been fortunate to use ARPA funds to procure lunches for our Pleasant Street Center um from Professors Market which has been a great
relationship. Um, I'd also like to just take a moment to recognize that we have here in our audience this evening um a member of the family that owns um Dandelions um visiting us tonight. They are in their 25th year.
>> So, welcome being here tonight. I'm sorry I don't know your name. I know your mom. >> Joe. >> Joe. Um so, thanks for being with us. And then um for the employee spotlight, I just want to take a moment to wish two members of our fire department who are retiring this month um best wishes.
Lieutenant Dave Robo had 31 years with um with writing and firefighter Thomas McCarthy 22 years with the town. We thank them for their tremendous service to the community. Um their selfless public service. Um as public servants, it's hard work what they've done. They've saved lives and they've changed
the trajectories of so many lives um in our community. So we thank them for that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Jane. >> Joe, did you want to say anything or you're all good? >> Might as well. >> Okay, just two minutes name and address up there, please. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Joe Melli, uh not
a resident, but 25 North Street, Wilmington. Um just want to thank on behalf of our family, of our staff. Um just thank you to the writing community. I mean, this community has given us so much um kindness and just support over the the years. We really love getting to
know our customers and just building relationships with with everyone. Um, so just want to thank the community for all the support. Uh, we love doing the fundraisers, the sponsorships and everything. Um, so just want to thank for very successful 25 years and we hope
to have another successful 25 more. So thank you. >> Thank you. >> You guys are awesome. >> You're always doing fundraisers, so I appreciate you taking and giving back to people. So, >> all righty. We will move on to
>> Oh, can I add to that real quick? >> Yes. >> Um, so Lobster Claw underwent a major renovation and as far as I can tell, they've reopened. >> So, for everybody out there who is not getting their fried clams and seafood, I
think Lobster Claw is back and back open and I don't know how long they've been around, but I know it's a long time. >> We can find out. >> So is Bangkok Spice as well. Yes, >> that's right. Bangkok reopened. >> That's great. And I have had lunch there since they opened. It was delicious. >> Thank you.
>> Perfect. >> All right. Uh, moving on. 8:10, discuss and vote on police presence at select board meetings. Page five in the packet. Uh, Karen, you proposed this and Melissa wanted it as well. So,
if you had something to start us off. >> Sure. Thank you for gathering this information from the uh deputy chief emandola. Um we've had two more meetings since these numbers. So we're approaching $3,000. Um I think this is an unnecessary expense given the
financial dire straits we find ourselves in. Um I do not feel unsafe. I feel like our officers could be with their families, but um I this in my six years, this has never been necessary. I don't think it's necessary now. So I would
like us to discontinue this because the trails committee their entire budget has been 2500 and we've just spent it on overtime for babysitting for the select board and I think we maybe we've learned our lesson
and we don't need it anymore hopefully. >> Can you share why we needed it? >> No, it wasn't my decision. It was I was told this is what we were doing so no I can't. >> No. Why we needed the police to come? >> No I can't. I don't understand why we needed it because a lot of things have
happened in six years and this was never necessary and I wasn't part of the decision. >> Melissa, I think Melissa was going to answer. Sorry, I didn't phrase my question. No. Um, I did support this being on um the agenda as well because I
feel like the reason that we had to ask for the police presence is because we had two residents that um came to a meeting and verbally accosted town staff and the
select board. And in no world should that be accepted as okay behavior. So until the climate and the emotions of residents maybe come down or we learn our lesson less than $3,000 or it could go to
$20,000 and I'm still going to support that until it comes to a point that everyone should feel safe at these meetings. >> Karen, >> yeah. Um, so I was verbally accosted by a select board member earlier this evening and I
still don't think I need you just because the budgets are so tight. Um, >> what are you referring to, please? >> What are you talking about? >> Oh, I can guess it's me because I spoke back to something that Karen disagreed on and she turned around and told me
that she's been on this board longer and that I'm bratty, but I verbally accosted her. >> Yes. I I I think that we we're not supposed to get into that anyway. >> Yeah. But I'm sorry. I'm not going to allow someone to say that I verbally accosted them.
>> You did. You absolutely did. But again, >> Karen, >> I don't think so. I guess we haven't learned our lesson, but maybe we need to invite our officers to come into the executive sessions. Now, >> I I actually I was debating myself on whether or not I was going to say that because you swore at me as well
>> and and retreats. I I I think that, you know, I I took the higher road and wasn't going to reference it, but you alternatively has decided to uh bring it up anyway. Uh we should not be referencing any part of of anything that
was mentioned earlier anyway. It's not appropriate. What we're dealing with is what we have in front of us. Now, you wanted to have this added to the agenda. >> It's wasteful. It's it it to you it's wasteful, but to me um uh in the moment
that it happened at uh coupled with my uh past history of, you know, having to have orders of protection against people in this community. I'm sorry, Karen. That's just the way that it goes. I didn't ask for somebody to come down at
10:00 at night, come in here, start screaming at me, screaming at Matt and Jane, and then want to follow me to the parking lot. If that's ever happened in your 6 years on here, I'd love to hear it because the police were called, I was
gone, and then they had to call for backup. So, it can't be me that's the problem because the backup came after I was out of here. So I would just love to understand the rationale regarding that because it just doesn't square with with
the the time timeline that happened and everybody should feel safe at these meetings that select the select board is not being babysat by police. It's the police are here to maintain order during the meetings and to prevent what
happened the last time from a repeat offense. It's that simple. So, to answer your question, I don't feel safe at meetings. Sorry, I'm going to say it. And if that makes me look weak, then so be it. But I'm the one with a
restraining order against somebody in this town, not you, unless you'd like to share that with me. But I'm willing to share that all because I won an election in Reading, Massachusetts. I have a restraining order, Karen. So, feel free.
Thank you. Um, so I'm in the police report as a bystander. So I think to put in context, the um the incident happened after the meeting was over. And
there were two select board members who were also yelling and arguing. And there were lots of people yelling and yelling and arguing. They were yelling in the hallway. They yelling out on the front steps. um wasn't a good situation. I think what we said in an earlier discussion that
the select board needs to show some leadership and when we're dealing with people that are upset um it is a truism that you want to deescalate and it was actually a pleasure watching um the officers come that evening and just and
just let people be heard because that is like the biggest deescalator. So, I don't know anything about any other situations you have, but I I am very concerned about the money that we're spending on this. >> So, what dollar figure would you want to
put on the safety and security of members of the public, town staff, and and volunteers? Is there a a cap that we should put on this? Should we just, you know, what's the number you're looking for? No one I was No one was No one was
ever in danger. >> That's your opinion. >> Did Were you going to be followed to your to your vehicle? >> I was did not see anyone follow you to your vehicle. So that's another you know >> that is >> I really didn't see that and I'm named as a witness.
>> Well, this can be cleared up easily, right? If if there was a video taken by somebody here in the room currently, if they would like to share it online, >> video that they referenced in that police report. I've never seen that with audio would be very helpful. I don't know if we have >> You're not on Facebook. There's no audio
cuz it's illegal in Massachusetts just like the person who was taking the video of all of us in the room and it hasn't been leaked yet. So, uh, in my opinion, it would be leaked if if I was a problem. And since it wasn't, um, that would lead me to believe that I wasn't
the problem. Otherwise, it would have been plastered all online. I'm over here apologizing for things previously at the start of at the start of a meeting because I sit up and own what I did. In the instance that happened back in December, absolutely not. You do not
leave a Zoom meeting at 10:00, come down to town hall after the meeting is over, and come after us while they're trying to close down all. I'm sorry. We were sitting here and we had just ended the meeting. There was an honest misunderstanding. >> Correct. I agree that there was an honest misunderstanding.
>> Both sides were tired. It was late at night. >> If you had deescalated the situation instead. I said nothing. >> I know. You could have interjected and actually solved. >> Why would I do that? You were probably Why would you interrupt someone while they're making a mistake? Exactly.
>> Cuz that would just add to the chaos and like we didn't need to do that. I was kind of hoping we would just let it go and it didn't work out that way. >> Let Karen go. >> Karen. >> So, um, to get this moving along, um,
Karen's suggestion is about the cost of it. I think that the best way to approach it is if we briefly discuss today or another day of when we think that we can stop these services um, moving forward. So, we don't have to
talk about it today, but when do the members of the board feel that they're going to feel safe again in order to not have police presence so that we can save the town money? So, I feel like safety is important. This incident could have happened outside of a bar. It could have happened outside the library. It could have
happened anywhere. So, um I think if we try and move forward without relitigating the events of the evening, I think that would be a much more productive conversation rather than revisiting who said what, who did what. Mhm. >> I agree. But I would also like to add to that that it's not just us that we would
be protecting. You know what I mean? So like I understand that certain individuals cannot or should not give their opinion on this matter that are currently here. >> I agree. But I will I will always advocate for them as well >> completely. So I think maybe
>> so as long as we're under >> completely and even residents may feel unsafe sometimes. So to for respect for everybody, I think trying to figure out when we can stop it is much more productive than trying to figure out why we have it here. So
maybe we can revisit it in a month, but I mean the cost is a cost that we didn't budget for and I think um police overtime is high. So I think we have to be mindful of their budget as well and our budget and
>> and and police officers time and everybody's time. So, how can we move that? How can we do this? >> Carl, so I guess I'm going to ask the board
would in in my opinion, uh, the video being released that was filmed of us would help us a a lot because I clearly, well, I shouldn't say clearly, I left the room and was mostly in the hallway for this altercation.
There was a lot of yelling, a lot of back and forth. I didn't hear all of it. And then I decided to leave. I distinctly remember uh me saying, "Chris, let's get out of here." I think Melissa tried to get Chris and diffuse the situation. Miss Heric didn't do
anything to deescalate her friend from having an episode at all. >> I understand, but I am not sure watching the What is watching a video going to do as far as making us feel safe or not? Because because Karen's accusing Chris that this is Chris's fault. >> It does at this point it doesn't matter
whose fault it was. >> Okay. >> I mean, we really need to get beyond it. >> Okay, let's let's get beyond it. And why hasn't the video been released? If there's nothing to see, why hasn't it been released? >> But releasing the video is not going to make us feel more safe or town staff feel more safe. That's just going to explain what happened that night. And I
don't think that that's something that we need to focus on right now. I think that if >> that's the reason we have a police officer right here. It's the reason we had it to begin with, but now it's moving forward. How or when will it take us to feel safe again? Watching the video is not going to make us feel any safer.
>> Okay, that's a good point. So, should we ask town staff when they feel safe? I I don't I'm What's the barometer here? I don't know. >> I don't I don't know. I'm asking you guys like how do we figure out when we feel safe enough not to have an officer here? I I I think to to your point,
Karen, I I would only say that the the absence of something being released or whatever normalizes this kind of behavior because if something was put out there the way that I believe it should be, um that it would dissuade
people from doing this kind of behavior in the future. Otherwise, if someone thinks they just got away with it, what is to prevent it from happening again? What's to prevent me from just lying up here again? You know what I mean? I apologized for for when uh uh for you
know when I made the accusation against Karen and I owned up to it in that. Did I get a apology for anything that's happened since December 18th or whatever that is? I did not. >> I don't think any of us did. >> And is that okay to you? Like that's the
first step to me is to see how we can move past this. It's always like even the the issues with uh Karen and myself and all that. It's just there has to be a conversation here. If a conversation never happens then how can we move past this? It's just going to keep brewing
and I'm going to wing it 6 months from now out of nowhere because it's just sitting here percolating. Is this something that we could address during the retreat as opposed to in the board room right now? >> I don't I don't think that that is
something that we like >> it's a thin line, Karen. >> Well, think about it because I think that this is not being productive as far as a select board in a meeting. So, >> I I agree. I didn't want to put this on the agenda anyway like I had mentioned. I wanted to, you know, just carry on and
and we'll see how it goes. But to answer your question, like I don't want to say we're going to play it by ear kind of thing, but we can see how things go. >> How about we revisit it every month or every six weeks? >> Do you want to have this discussion every month, though? >> No, I want it to stop. >> She wants it to stop.
>> I'd like us to stop spending money. I completely respect people if they're not feeling safe. So, we have to come to some kind of an agreement of when we're going to revisit it. >> Do you know what I mean? To try and come to to make sure people feel safe. So if people don't feel safe a month or two months from now, we'll revisit it again.
That's the only way I can see it moving forward. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes, Jay. >> So I'd just like to add two two pieces of information that may help the board through this and I do think you maybe coming back is is a good idea. But um the first item is just with regard to
the police department and the overtime. I also want the board to know that sometimes, and I don't know that that's true in this case, but um the police department has to order in staff if they don't have enough police officers to cover um overtime requests. And so that is that's that's time that um police
officers would otherwise be with their family um or time off because they nobody's taking the detail. I don't know if that's the case here, but that's a factor in in overtime with the police department. Um and secondly, uh one of the individuals, um who was involved in
this incident came in and had a nice conversation with Matt and I, um back in January, and we had um we had a good conversation and there was uh there was an apology in that conversation and I wanted to convey that to the board. So, it was it was a good conversation and I
think that um we were moving forward well, those individuals and myself. Um, and that doesn't speak to how you feel in the meeting. That is the board's privilege. Um, and and where you are. Um, and I understand that. So, I but I wanted to confirm that to the board in case you
did not have that information. >> I did not know that, but that is good information to know, Jane. I'm happy that that was conveyed to you both. So that that means Mortville listen I don't want to say this is my not my first rodeo unfortunately but like you
know I'm happy that that was squared away in your aspect. So to Karen Rose Gillis' kind of scenario I I think that you know that obviously goes a big way towards things I think you would agree with that right? I do and I and no
disrespect, people have fear for all different kinds of reasons and I'm not trying to make that small or diminish it. So I just think >> costs are tough. >> Safety is important. So I think that we really need to revisit it as opposed to
it just sitting there un untouched. You know what I mean? >> No, I agree with you. So I I think maybe um 30 days or whatever two meetings from now unless town meeting gets involved. I think that sounds reasonable.
>> You know what I mean? >> Well, with town, why don't we just do the middle of May? >> I have a suggestion. Carlo has a suggestion. So in I guess 3 weeks or so, we're going to have a new chair. >> True. And I think uh after we reorganize, it will be up to the new
chair because they set the agenda and then the new chair can decide uh when to stop it, continue it or have another brief conversation about it. And that to me that's the easiest way and fastest way because we don't want to keep
revisiting this like you said. >> Okay. >> Right. It happened. It was unfortunate. Yes, we need to move on but we also need to acknowledge things as well. So, I I think we reorganize after the election. Let's see how that goes and we take it
from there. >> Good suggestion. >> Does anyone feel the need to vote on this or are we all in agreement with that? >> There's no voting. >> No, there is a vote on the agenda, but
we don't have to if if that's the unless you want that to be the vote. That was a suggestion. It was No, I mean I'm I'm fine with what you said. >> Motion. >> Well, I can open it up to public comment before that, but um
>> unless anyone else has anything. >> Okay. >> Anybody for public comment? Anybody online? Maddie, we will give them 10 seconds until the convenient
police or fire alarm thing goes off. >> All right, Cam Rose Gillis, do you have a motion? >> I'm going to wing it. Uh, move that the board continue to have police presence at select board meetings until >> after reorganization.
>> Reorganization. Yes. >> Where a decision will be made by the new chair. >> Second. >> Seconded by Melissa. Any discussion? All those in favor? Four. All those opposed one.
All right. Next agenda item is presentation and discussion on Pleasant Street status and future planning. Page eight in the packet. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Katie Gabriella will join me here and we'll just take you through this. This is um
the results of our road show. Um, we'll go quickly through it um because I don't think this will be news a lot of news to folks and we have um some survey results uh for the survey that we put on. Um and I'm going to hand most of this over to
Kate because she's done it. Turn your microphone up. Um and you don't have to have it close to you either because they've been recalibrated. >> Fantastic. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Happy to be here with you folks. Um this is um call it the epic conclusion to our Pleasant Street Center road show. I believe we came
before you in January and since then um next slide please Maddie you'll see we visited a number of our boards committees and commissions here in town um to discuss kind of future usage of the Pleasant Street Center to see what ideas we had to see what folks are
envisioning or hoping for with this historical building. As we know our first municipal building currently serving as our senior center will no longer be needed to do so once recal opens. um at the end of next summer. >> I'm not going to read off everyone we visited, but it was certainly um many
wonderful >> wonderful evenings. It really was. It was it was nice to hear the perspectives of everyone and kind of get a lot of really good feedback, some of which were showcasing on the next slide, please, Maddie. >> Um we felt we got a strong feeling from our
boards that we visited that the town should retain ownership of this building. Um I've thrown some quotes up here. Um, the most powerful was never ever sell property in Reading. Um, the town should keep this important piece of history. Selling it would be shortsighted. We heard this kind of over
and over again to various degrees that, you know, we're not we're not growing more land here in Reading and it's such a prime location in our downtown. Uh, it would behoove the town to keep it. On the flip side of that, we heard broad concerns about the cost of retaining the building.
across the board, we felt that folks were really thinking that the building should be able to cover its own expenses. So, in a in a perfect world, maybe we are we are generating some revenue from usage of the Pleasant Street Center. The very minimum, whatever the tenant situation, if it is
a lease, it would be great if the building could cover its costs. And I know Jane and I have been in touch with our facilities director, Joe Huggin, to get kind of that number solidified as to what that actually looks like. Um, and I think >> I want to say it was like in the $70,000
range and that includes the heating, the cooling, the electricity, the water. >> Yep. It's actually in the next presentation. It's it's right in the budget there for the next presentation. So, yeah. >> Um, and so we just wanted to point out, you know, the Council on Aging having um
they meet in that building, they use that building, they were really valuable in giving some perspective about, you know, some of the potential limitations. Um, it could be cost prohibitive to do any kind of remodel. We also have the preservation restriction attached to that which um adds a different layer of
kind of um complexity, potential hoops you might need to jump through. That applies to both the interior and the exterior of the building. Um we heard that a new heating and cooling system could cost upwards of $400,000, which was an unwelcome number um to be sure, but you know, hearing about some
of these concerns lends itself to the reason that we had a successful vote and we have recal coming down the pipeline. So certainly trying to be aware of the juggling here of um making this an appealing location to a potential leie well-being aware of the the restrictions
we may have both from a preservation act and from a funding act. So Maddie next slide please. Wanting to display some of the ins and outs of the survey that we launched. Um this was mid end of February. I think it was open for close to four weeks at at
when all was said and done. We were very happy to receive more than 400 respondents. Um >> 700 >> more than 700 respond. It's right there in front of you. It's right there in front of my face, too. >> More than 700 residents um filled out the survey. We publicized it in multiple
ways. It went out in the town manager Minute. It was on Facebook. It was on the RCTV, the Daily Times Chronicle, I think the Recap, The Observer. We had all of our local publications kind of share this out. Um the library was um able to host kind of a station for
physical copies as well as the Pleasant Street Center and the town clerk's office. So those who would prefer filling out a paper version and returning that to us were able to do so. >> I think we had eight of those. >> I think it was it was closer to 15. I think the um the Pleasant Street Center we had to do a reprinting which was
great to see kind of the engagement coming from from that audience there. Um and we also we we utilized um town departments to share this out to um take advantage of the reach from elder services and the running public schools. So we really kind of fired on all
cylinders to hopefully reach as many residents as we could and we were pretty pleased with the results here. Um and then on the next slide you'll see we have some of these kind of initial findings that we thought um not surprisingly reflected what we heard from the boards committees and commissions in a really interesting way.
So looking at kind of the ranked options of the future ownership, we saw 467 in favor of the town retaining ownership with just a little bit less than that at 457 retaining ownership and leasing to a third party. um it kind of fell off
pretty pretty significantly when it came to selling either to a nonprofit or for the highest value with um gifting to the housing authority kind of coming in um in that last place slot for most residents who took this and I think this
the way that this was um tabulated um on the scale it was ranking of first or second place that is where we came up with these 467 57 etc. And then on the next slide, you'll see kind of some of the the we ranked the
values um in terms of what residents felt the town should prioritize in determining the future use. You can see up at the at the top of both of these lists, both in terms of prioritizing and what would you personally be interested in future use, we saw nonprofit use um
very high up there. So I think that speaks to Reading's strong commitment to community service and to community use. with the history of this building as a municipal building. Um I think that kind of trends right along along that way. So you'll see um over on the left hand side
you'll see nonprofit promoting and hosting community events. We heard from many many residents in the survey that um meeting space, event space, even just gathering space. We hear from from clubs, boards that you know meeting space can be tight here in town at town
hall, at the library, at other municipal buildings. It would be great to have, you know, that kind of functionality potentially at the Pleasant Street Center. Um, following up multi-use space, public, we saw kind of that really strong use for public public access space. Where can folks gather whether the third spaces
>> um other and housing came in coming in a little bit lower and then over on the right hand side, you know, we these expanded out a little bit more. Um, and some of them, you know, the food pantry ranked very highly up there. And of course, the food pantry is a nonprofit
here in town. So, we were heartened to see these kind of focuses on public spaces. Art center was up there pretty high. Um, additional public meeting space, third spaces for youth accessible um and the like artist studios. So, it was really
it was a pretty broad sampling um in terms of what folks personally might be interested in in seeing happen at the Pleasant Street Center. And on the next slide, this is just another um visualization that we saw from a graphing. >> This is not in your packet, just so you
know. This this is added. >> This is hot off the press. >> Attention. >> Yes. >> Because you've read me, you've internalized everything already >> and now you can see it in a different you know, it's not just in words, but it it just goes to show that the strong preference that was placed um from a nonprofit use from that kind of
community centric use that we we heard echoed across across the road show. So, that was that was um really good feedback to kind of see that alignment from what we're hearing from residents and what we're hearing from our boards, committees, and commissions. And then last slide here, just a brief
outline of next steps. So, as Jane had mentioned, there's no action for the board tonight. You don't have a vote that you need to take at this point in time. Um but hoping that this could be the start of or the continuation of the discussion around the usage of the building. Um, further in the packet, we
have um a preliminary proposal on a feasibility assessment with potential adaptive reuse of the Pleasant Street Center. Um, we're continuing to evaluate the procurement options we have here. I've been reaching out to some of our peer communities to see how they've
structured RFPs and how they've structured leases. Um, I was talking to um my colleague in Hopington. they are repurposing a school and when they issued their RFP it specified how preference would be given to a community use an arts or a nonprofit. So just kind
of getting those really clear examples of how we're able to weight our preference when it comes to usage of the building if we do decide to move forward with a leasing option. Um and then you know we have the note here and the final bullet. Should the disposition or
release of the Pleasant Street Center need to go before town meeting, we will continue to aim for November subsequent town meeting to put that forward to the to the body. >> Thanks, Katie. >> So, just a few So, we included the
information in the packet from strategy five, which is the adaptive use proposal. Um and so if there's an appetite to pursue that, we can we can go down that road and they'll spend some time um of the spring and the summer and that will give um it'll take into
account the historical aspect and the market valuation and the highest and best use and so forth and all that information is in in that piece. Um and you don't have to decide on that. You can read it, ask me questions, you know, whatever whatever the board feels. What we're um looking to do is
once we have this decision that the board makes, if the decision is made to retain the property and then lease it to, you know, lease it out and and we we go down that road, um then we can start we can start making we can start doing other things. Um one of the things
that's come up recently is green communities. Um, Miss Heric has been an tremendous advocate for green communities and we've done so much work with energy efficiency and so forth in all of our buildings prior to achieving the green community status um that we
don't have a lot of buildings that qualify. Um but Pleasant Street Center would and probably we would use that first grant um on major weatherization through that building. Um and that would open us up to other um grants for HBAC and sort of because it it would be about
$400,000 to update that grant. The grant's about $160,000. So we can use that for other pieces that open doors to the next piece. Um so if we're going to if we're going to keep the building, that's something that we could we could look at doing with that with that grant money.
um because in order to use that grant money, you have to be able to demonstrate where the savings is, where's the energy savings and so it's hard to do that in a lot of our other buildings where we've replaced all the lighting and we've upgraded the heating and so forth. Um so there's some there there that um our staff is looking into,
but that's a a factor that once the board decides we can look at at this as an option. So, um, you have some time. If we go to November town meeting, if we need to, um, go to November town meeting
to approve a lease, we'd want to have some time leading up to that for an RFP or so forth. Um, so we'd want to get that on the street, you know, maybe June, June. Um, and then have that awarded and then the party would be able to, if they want to have an architect do
some plans for changes in the building, they can do that. um and we can talk about, you know, this historic preservation restrictions on the property. So, this there's a lot of pieces we need to pay attention to, but we wanted to get your feedback now that you've heard from the community and we
think we've done a robust job of seeing where people are in town visa v this property. >> So, that's that's it. >> Thanks, Shane, Karen. >> Yeah. Um, so is November and June, June, this June and this November a little
early since when are we predicted to move out of the Pleasant Street Center? >> No, you're right. The recal is on time to open August of 2027. >> We But it takes a while to plan. So for that if you know once that person knows
where they want to go they have time and runway to if they need to fundraise if they need to make plans they need like architectural plans they need to be able to go in and measure and do those things so that once we are ready to vacate the space and the new tenant if we were to lease it um is ready to come in they
could they could have the most best use of their time once they have access because their plans would be ready to go that kind of thing. So that's what that runway is intended to give them. >> And and what we would need to determine whether we're actually going to go to town meeting with a proposed lease,
which wouldn't take effect for 9 months, but that's assuming we need town meeting to >> even if we need Yeah. Even if we need town meeting. That's right. >> Okay. Um so >> because the lease I think we need to go to town meeting if we lease the land. Yes. >> But the board has the right to lease the building
>> and that's just exclusive use of the of the parking lot, right? If it if it remains a municipal lot and is not granted exclusive use to whoever that tenant or tenants might be, we would not need time to meetings approval. >> That's right. they would just stand >> al and there's also you know a notice of
intent which would notice of >> obviously check with legal but um that could that conveys some um commitment to interested parties to to do some of that fundraising and and maybe that's a precursor and because we and then the other
>> could um wondering about that $400,000 number and whether that includes res weatherization or or whether that work still going to be so from the green communities Um, so they were like a year ago allowing you to upgrade gas to an a
highly efficient gas model. They don't do that anymore. So I think there's already some heat pumps. I could be wrong. It looks like there'd be heat pumps, but but this kind of >> reconfiguration would be a weatherization and an electric electric type of situation. So >> I think that
>> I don't know if that's been done yet or you just >> No, I don't think so. Nope, I don't think so. Um the weatherization would be the first step and that's generally how they want you to go, you know, insulate the the basement and the rim joists and then this that and the other thing um in the attic and and around windows and
doors and stuff like that and because there's a lot of historic windows we can't replace >> well at the library we >> you can work with the historical commission like they get it. This is not the first rodeo where they've been like these old windows they're expensive to maintain. We can't find the craftsman. They're not energy efficient. So, the
library does have a I think it's a Palladian window or two that are new reproductions, but great. Awesome. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Anyone else? Melissa, >> just a quick question. Um, so the feas
preliminary feasibility study, is that something we would do? But what's the timing of that? And that what will that tell us exactly? That will give us like what may need to be done on the building. Yeah, it's a it's a market analysis for a historic adaptive use. So, we're keeping the
historic property, >> but it's an adaptive reuse. Um, so strategy 5 has it all written out in here. I am not an adaptive reuse expert, >> turns out. Um, but it will give us it'll give the board more information if you
feel you need more information about how to understand what this what this building could be and what would be some of the shortcomings, what would be as owners need to keep in mind. Um, I think it it may be worthwhile >> and I agree because I think my concerns
would be like I understand that tenants would make maybe some physical changes but I would assume that we would be responsible for weathering the windows, heating system, roof appointment. It's a brick building like do we have any issues with it leaking? Like so stuff
like that would be a concern that we would want to know beforehand because those could be very big costs. >> Correct. and we would like to know sort of what's the what's the what's the liability what's the risk that we would need to do it there's another factor um if we lease the building out and we don't own it anymore we have to insure
it separately it's not covered through Maya um we would have to have a separate policy on that and that would be through I think the lassi would also have some insurance and things these are just little things we need to think about um also how do we structure the lease >> um you know do we want the lei to pay
for the upgrades internally Also, do we want to separate it so the upstairs space is less leased to somebody else? We can do that like a multi-use and then the main floor and the basement or to another tenant. So, those are some of the things that might
be put us in a more advantageous position with experts that have done this work before and there's examples of their work in the packup. >> Absolutely. Okay. So, I would support doing this per preliminary assessment just to kind of see where we stand. So we have more realistic and you
know comprehensive view of what we're looking at. >> Yep. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> She covered what I wanted to ask. >> Okay. Good. >> I'm good. >> Uh so I have a couple questions. So the
pitfalls of why the senior center has to get um why we had to go with a a new recal center still exist. >> They remain. Yes. >> So all the other bad is still in this building.
Um and to hear that potentially we could get you know spend $400,000 on some upgrade that you mentioned. I briefly caught that we'd get reimbursed to 120,000. >> No, it's um it's a little different. So,
the cost to um replace the HBAC system uh the last estimate I think that Joe got was around $400,000. >> We're saying the first step in any work there would be weatherization. Um so that's um sealing the building envelope
better. It's an old building. It leaves a lot of heat. So, making it more efficient from a building envelope standpoint, we would use that first grant to to pay for those costs. And that's that $160,000 from green communities. >> But that that wrapping scenario is
unknown at this time how much that is or is that $400,000? >> No, I think that would be less than $160,000. So, I don't we would limit it to what that grant piece is. So, we're not going to I don't know. We're not if we have to ex if we have enough money to
buy a Palladian window or whatever, you know, then that works within the scope of that that's beyond what I'm prepared to talk about tonight. But we would, you know, spend up to 160,000, whatever that grant is for that first step. So, we can get we can use that, but you have to kind of do the weatherization before you're going to be eligible for the rest
of it anyway. The heating works like there is there is heat. We have the interim director here. She can talk about it. Um, but it's a little bit funky and and that's a factor, you know, with this building. But the reason that we're leaving that building and we
constructed recal was we have a greater 60 plus growing community. This building doesn't fit the need that we need anymore. Um, and so there are lots of reasons why we're leaving this building. Um, but it is um up to code. Um, it has an elevator. It is sprinklered. You
know, it's an attractive building for um for a number of organizations that would like to be um in that space. And so, you know, there are positive benefits to you. >> No, my my initial thing all the time was just to, you know, retain it um like you
mentioned and, you know, lease it out to, you know, it has to I know we can't make money >> That's right. >> of the building. So, if if we have to bring it right to the nearest dollar um on any lease agreements or something like that, so be it. But I I am not in
favor of dumping any money into this building that we're going to be on the hook for. >> Okay. >> Unless we're getting reimbursed like you mentioned through that grant. >> But mentioning that that would mean that some other building or something else that we could have done then we're not
using the money on it for that one which perhaps we should be doing that one instead and we're only doing it on this one. Do you know what I mean? like >> I and if I may that's a great point but there we've done all of that other work and so I don't want to conflate street future with >> so only Pleasant Street is the remaining
building that's eligible for any of this grant money >> I mean just that $400,000 number looks really high everything's expensive I guess so the green communities you can do two years at once that could be up to 500 um but
to Jane's point like if we we start adding air conditioning and heat pumps to the schools, it may go beyond. Yeah. So, you're not wrong, but maybe this project is small enough that we could either through the tenants like Carlo also always likes to remind us or the green communities grant we get kind of
these like critical upgrades funding. >> Yeah. We can't use that initial grant on any new buildings >> and um we've done all that work with Nesco. We have our 15 years. >> Yeah, I know. I know. >> Yeah. So, we can't we've done a lot of the work in other our buildings. >> I I just don't want us to go down this
we're on the hook for the money scenario. Look at McCarrick happened like all of a sudden we're keeping that and look what happens and now we're going to keep the Pleasant Street Center with all the horrible stuff that was happening there that still it's up to code. Yes. But like
there's a reason. So I just once we start opening it up and doing XYZ and then uncovering more, I don't know where this ends. >> Y >> and I know you >> Carlo and Karen just mentioned that we can oh bring it into the lease or
whatever, but like if we want the food pantry, they're going to have to come up with $100,000 to do XYZ and then if not tough. Like I just don't want us to be on the hook for the money. That's all. like something reasonable I'm okay with, but
once you start getting into the 50, 60, 100, 400,000, absolutely not. >> Okay, >> Melissa, >> just a quick follow up to what you said, and I actually I totally agree with you, but I think if I'm understanding correctly, this pre preliminary assessment will kind of help guide us
and see where we stand >> and kind of get a little more information before we're just blindly saying, "Yes, we're 100% going to keep it." And then we, you know, >> you have a better sense of what's what are we really going to be on the hook for? I think then your sentiment has been echoed across the community.
>> Yep. We want to keep it. >> It needs to pay for itself. It needs to be independent and stand on its own two feet foundation, whatever you want to say, but it needs to be independent. We've heard that consistently. Nobody wants to pour more money into this building. Um, but it is a it's a unique
property and you know finding a way for it to be its next best thing um without costing the community money or ideally bringing in revenue would be nice. We can cover all of our costs with that the intention is if we're going to lease it, it has to cover all of the cost and it comes at no cost to the town to maintain
that property. >> Carla, I just had a quick comment to your the leasing aspect. So to me I look at as three floors like a lot of us are looking at it and some tenants will just need space
and that's it. Space, rooms, doors, bathrooms. Other people want want space to accommodate what they want to do there and spend some money to upgrade their space. >> And another tenant might want less, might want more. But ideally, if we're
using the food pantry as an example, which is a nonprofit, to me, they just need space and, you know, a good amount a decent amount of square footage to help the residents be more organized, have a good flow. So,
they're not going to be, you know, tearing down walls, doing new lighting, let's say, putting in security. I mean, you know, they're not going to do the upgrades that another tenant might need. So ideally in a perfect world, we have tenant one, two, and three. They're all
different. They all have different needs and wants, but some is just space. And that rent will reflect that. And the rent will affect a tenant build out, a tenant improvement. Someone's going to come in and say, "We're going to spend $200,000 in the first floor, but we want
six months free." That's a discussion. Mhm. >> You know, so there's all different ways to do this, but until we do the RFPs, until we get a better handle on the building, you know, I I was there today, right today, and uh first floor is being
used. It's going to lunch and learn. I was on the second floor and the building's active. So, uh we'll see what happens. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. My my big thing is just if we need a new roof and then it's historic and then like Anyway, it's a great point.
>> It is on us, but if we didn't have the building, it ain't on us. >> Correct. Correct. >> You know what I mean? Like, so, and I'm I'm not saying that I want to get rid of it in that aspect. I want to retain it. I'm just saying that any of these I'm not talking about we got to replace a TV on the wall. I'm talking about major
expenses, roofs, heating system, >> whatever gas leak that may or may not still be there. >> Um those kind of things. Just um to address the gas leaking thing, often people smell gas in the building. The fire department goes down very often and
they have never detected gas with their with their instruments. So they do go down, they say, "Call us if you smell it." They go down, they don't detect anything. So just just put that out there. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. And I'm going to say when they have us do office hours in the kitchen room
upstairs, every time that vintage 1990s gas furnace kicks on, you get an awesome puff of gas coming through there. And even if it won't kill us, um I think it'll be hard to rent. So it was somehow we got to figure that out or lease cuz it seems like a health hazard and it was
nasty. >> So I know I know what I was like finally I know what you're talking about cuz I was like yeah, you don't want to be there. Mhm. >> Okay. Sorry. >> Okay. >> Anybody else before I open it to the public? Any public comment on this
agenda item? Uh John, >> two minutes name and address. Didn't think I was going to talk at this. Uh John Sasso, 66 Richards Road. Um I just would ask the select board maybe to do one kind of balanced thing here is ask about what the commercial value of this
property would be. Not just in terms of the sale. I mean, we got quoted a town meeting, you know, $965,000 for for an estimate, but but what not just what the sale value would be, but what the tax value would be after in terms of the revenue into the town. We're asking the community in the in the near future to be, you know, bringing in
all this extra debt and all this extra cost. I think we should have a balance to at least understand what the decisions are, what the different information is that we should have. So, not just look at, okay, we want to keep the building, that's great. Maybe we all believe that, but we should know what the balance and trade-off is and be able to present that to the community so that
they have a good decision. Thank you. >> Thanks, Sean. >> Yep. >> Anybody else? Anyone online? Maddie, >> I don't see anyone with their hand raised.
>> All right. Um, we will move on then to the presentation by Recal Operation Subcommittee, page 40 in the packet. Thank you. Um, so we have the operations committee uh with us this evening
>> and you'll be presenting at the podium some of you. Um, >> someone should get up. >> Yeah, I'm just >> Jane's leading. >> Oh, Jane's leading on. >> I am just the first few slides. Um, but I'd like to recognize John Sasso and Jenna and Emily Sison and Carrie Valley
and Jim Sullivan has also been a a big part of this um, presentation. So, now I'm just going to the slides. Maddie, if you can show the slides. We um I don't know if you noticed, but we loaded up your packet with all the things that this operations committee has has done.
And this is great because then everybody can see they've been working on a lot of policy. Um they've been doing it iteratively and then bringing it back to Council on Aging and Recreation Committee and getting feedback and then reworking it. So, a lot of work has been
done. We're we're for the sake of time this evening, we're going to try and move through this presentation fairly quickly. Um, next slide, please, Maddie. If you've seen our uh previous presentations, we always like to lead off with our vision statement. Um, this
just reaffirms that this is a a building that will be working with Elder and Human Services, Recreation, and Veterans Division, and that it's a it's fostering health and wellness, social interaction, strengthening our community, and providing a point of access to programs and services for all ages. Um, we have
our recal mission statement. I'm not going to read that again. And we have our guiding principles. And we use these as touchstones as we write policy and we review it just to are we reflecting our you know our vision statement are we reflecting our principles. So moving on
the next portion is being presented by Mr. Sasso. >> Hello again. So um you might ask so why are we doing this now? Um given that recal is 17 months away. Um there was a lot of extensive effort just to bring recal up to where we were today and get
the vote get the voters to approve it. Um but it still left the construction effort which has now really been put under the purview of the PBC. But what about the plan for what's going to happen when the building opens? Um you know there were questions about initial budget operating estimates. There was
I'd call them they were originally kind of soft. So they needed further scrutiny. Um and we really wanted a better understanding of what those projected costs were going to be. So to help with the fiscal planning um before recal opens there is also going to be a number of changes to the
operating processes in the town um especially within re within recreation and EHS and those really needed to be viewed in in in light of what recal was going to be as well. Um or more I would say more importantly how those processes will dictate the way recal is going to
operate as well. So we needed to kind of make sure we understood that. Um and there were still some undersered questions about how the scope given the scope of each recal um it's was going to cover multiple departments different needs um how are we going to manage that
um and um not on this not on this slide but um as the effort continued we really wanted to give the community insight into what was going on and um giving them an opportunity and a way to have input into this process. Um next slide please. Um so Jane has already
introduced um we we basically put together a small working group the town so town staff is really responsible for the operational plans um and they recruited two two community members myself and and Emily to assist um I guess I would just comment that um there's a lot of great synergy um
bringing some different perspectives um from everybody um and everybody really willing to contribute and and really keeping it small really allowed us to have really good communication and very effective meetings. So, I'm very happy to have been involved in this um and and
can hope to continue. Um next slide. So, as Jane mentioned um you've got about um 78 pages in in the select board packet of work that's been done thus far. Um uh it it's it's been more it's been about seven months worth of effort thus far.
Um but it isn't just what's written on the paper. It's it's all the pres presentations that have made the uh meetings with COA with re recreation uh open to the community. We just had the the ones most I think everybody here was at the budget presentation a few weeks ago. Um I'd like to say it's been a
transparent effort. Um and we've endeavored to respond to all the feedback that's been provided. Um but there's still more work to do and and we'll talk a little bit more at the end of this what what our next steps are. Um next slide please. So this is just kind of a history uh
lesson here. I think everybody uh may or may not know. Um this has actually been 10 years in the making. Um so the town actually made recal a priority and made investments in in the 60 plus community. Um not just opera but also additional budgeting funding and and those were
funded really to address some of the some of the um meet needs that hadn't been met from a from a senior standpoint. Um, and while a significant part of recal is intended to better meet and serve the 60 plus community, um, it's just a building, um, and it really
needs an operational plan to to make it a good working plan and to execute. Um, it's also going to be an asset that's going to serve the community as a whole. So, we really felt this whole planning effort was uh, was the right approach. Uh, next slide. So, Jane already went
through the vision, mission, and guiding principles. I'm not going to go back through that again. Um, but as Jane said, we're reminded every time we we do this presentation, we want to make sure that gets put in front of us. Um, next is Emily. Thank you. >> Thank you, John. Thank you, John.
>> Hi, everybody. Emily s 92 John Street. Um, I missed the meeting this morning or yesterday when they were doing outlines and they were nice and gave me the easiest ones. Um, so I'm just going to talk about operating hours, space, that kind of stuff. So, um, you know, we're we're starting to think about like when
will this building be operating, how how will be open, and the the hours that we've kind of landed on Monday through Friday 8 to 8 and weekends 9 to5 and 9:1 for Saturday, Sunday. But that doesn't uh preclude them from using space in the evenings on weekends for rentals that
would be not staffed by, you know, front desk and that kind of thing. Um so one of the important things uh to note is just the the volume of space we're go we're gaining in this in this. So we did a um an opportunity assessment of how
many hours are we programming PSC right now and I can't see the slide but it's like 190 something >> um and you know we're we're talking more than doubling the amount of time that will be available in this recal space just because there's so much more
volume. Uh, next slide, Maddie, please. Um, so this is just first floor. Just a reminder, we've seen um specs and drawings and renderings of the building. Just a reminder of what the different spaces are. Um, of note, you know, the gym will be 6,600 square ft. The
multi-purpose room will be 2100 ft². So, these are very large spaces um that we can kind of dole out for programming. We can do out for rentals, um, meetings, and and open community space for people to gather in. Um there's, you know, the
lounge, the card room, um and the health and wellness room. And one of the the plans that is in your packet is for the fitness room about how that will, you know, work with the the center. Uh next slide, please. And then on the second
floor, um there's the walking track that we've talked a lot about. Uh almost 19 laps will get you a mile. Um there's the arts and crafts room, which will be great for programming. um the fitness and equipment room that I mentioned and the maker space room uh and the billiards room where they plan to have
two billiards tables um and a small gathering space for for our veterans. So, a little bit smaller up in the second floor than some of the bigger spaces downstairs, but still a lot of great uh usable space for programming and for um you know, community engagement. Next slide.
They even gave me the pictures. So um in addition to the kind of spaces that were listed in the first and second floor um you know we're we're designating uh some of those spaces on the first floor as our senior hub. This this will be for our 60 plus population so they have you know a space for them to be to meet to
have some unstructured time to um you know be together and interact. There'll be outdoor spaces. There's a patio. There'll be a walking trail um and then of course the pickle ball courts will be right there. So, I know some of us are very excited about those. Um, and then
the community services administrative offices will be moved into that building. Um, owing to space constraints here. Um, next slide. And these are just some pictures of, you know, artist rendering of what the card room in the gym might look like. And
this is why I got the easiest slides. Look at these pretty pictures. So, and now the hard stuff. >> Off to you. >> Good job. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Oops. >> Thank you. Thankfully, I don't need
that, but thanks so much, Marilyn. Jenna Wood, community services director. Thanks so much for having us here and thanks for the board's involvement in coming to a lot of these meetings. I feel like you guys are already pretty wellversed and tapped into what's going on. So, we really appreciate that as
staff. Um, we appreciate the support and we know it's a very collaborative process and we just really appreciate all of your help and we're looking forward to feedback. Um, we don't want you to we don't want anyone to think that this is set in stone. This is a
preliminary draft and we do have some time to really fine-tune what we're doing in the building, but we really think that um this operations group and working with the COA and the rec committee and you know the community at large too. people call all the time and give their feedback. We really think
that we have a transparent process going. Um, so I just wanted to say that before I started, but section five of the operations plan is the team at the Reading Center for Active Living. So you'll see all of the current staff that it would be in the building right now.
Um, the person that is not on this is a therapeutic recreation specialist that we intend to hire. That's a part-time position. Um, but other than that, these are all of our team members that are here. Next slide. And I also just wanted to mention too that in the packet, there's a
description, a brief description of what each of those roles entail as well. So, if anyone in the community wants to look to see what Carrie does or what I do um or Jim, you can certainly look in the packet to get reference on that. So, the next section of the operational plan is
the policies and the procedures. Um what we did was we created these packets. We didn't completely reinvent the wheel. Um Sandwich had some really great existing documents and we have reached out to the director and gotten some great
information from her. So, we did use some of that information in Sandwich, but also with the help of our staff and the COA and the recreation um committee, we did come up with fine-tuning all of those packets and presenting them to the
boards. And these are the draft forms that are still being worked on. Um we do have some work to do on that. And existing forms that currently are in change are also on this slide as well that you can take a peek at. Next slide.
Thank you. All right. So, the membership package. Um, these are all the things that the membership packet includes. Again, it's in your select board packet. All of these great documents that we have come up with. So, we have the welcome letter, the family registration
form. We'll also have an individual form that Carrie and her team will be working on specifically as well to um ask some of those more important questions for the 60 plus that's coming in. Uh do you live alone? Um just certain specific
things to Carrie and her team that we want to capture in that individual form. uh general policies, programs, participant consent and waiverss, indoor track policy, standards of independence also in relation to the 60 plus. And
then we just have some quick takeaways of what you can do with this membership form. You can fill it out online or in person. Um all the members will need to um have a key tag to this building for
access, etc. Next slide. The fitness equipment room package includes an intro, room prerequisites, general policy, rules and regulations. Um, we did get some comments in the last meeting about the fitness room specifically. So, I wanted to just
clarify um why we decided to charge a fee right now for the fitness room. And again, this is something that we can discuss at a w at a wider conversation, but um operational costs. Obviously, we'll need a personal trainer for orientations. If people would like to
get an orientation, they're going to be allowed to do that. So, we need to pay for a trainer. Um and we can also offset the costs of our part-time staff and some maintenance inside of that gymn inside of that fitness equipment room. um with the fees that we charge for the
fitness room and um we can also use it as a program funding source to help subsidize low cost or free programs like our youth sports, our senior activities and other classes. And we also did it to um manage demand. So if we're charging a
fee, we can prevent overcrowding and ensure people using the space are really committed to using that space. Next slide. um the room rental policy that that one took a little bit of time. We referenced the facilities existing policy with um
all of their different structures for nonprofits and profits and um and town committees and things like that. So, we really did have to go a little deeper into this one. And then there's some takeaways on here. You'll notice, and I just wanted to clarify on this, that it
says no food prep allowed and it must be done offsite. And that's just the intention for now. We do hope in the future to have some opportunities for um catering companies or perhaps Meals on Wheels to come in there and cook some
food um and have other opportunities. But when we get into this building, we need to get our bearings about us and learn the equipment and learn the safety rules and regulations. But we do hope to create a more comprehensive
subset of um that room rental for the kitchen and things like that. And we'll we'll need to dive a little bit deeper into that. Next slide. So the programming policy is um the next big thing that we talked about. I think we talked about this in
December with the Council on Aging and the Recreation Committee. The programming policy is quite a few pages um in the packet. We really wanted to focus on this and make sure that this was an equitable an equitable space for all ages, but we did want to prioritize
our 60 plus community. So in this particular slide, um this just talks about the programming calendars and um also talks about how the gym will have a separate um calendar as well to manage
the programs inside the gym. Next slide. Um, we will be having frequent programming meetings, as you can suspect, with all of our staff members quite frequently. Um, a lot of our programming we do plan out very far in advance. Our program coordin
coordinators are extremely diligent. So, if we have fall programs, we're releasing them in July, planning them in January. We already have all of the rooms booked and um, all that good stuff. So Anna and Ed do a tremendous job already communicating on several
different um events and programs. Ed runs stuff at the senior center when we're limited with space and we run several different intergenerational events as well. So they have a really good collaborative relationship. And we will have a programming schedule
request form that all of our staff will fill out. So if there's competing interests, we come to the table with that internal document that is also in the packet and people can um collaborate in that meeting and talk about hey here's the space we need, here's the space we need and maybe if there's a
competing interest, you know, we figure out what's most important as a team. Next slide, please. So the programming prioritization um we obviously want to prioritize our 60 plus programs and then next would be
recreation veterans, other town departments, town committees and um the room rental requests. Next slide. So we just wanted to highlight that the fitness equipment room and the walking track were extremely um they're they're
wide open. anyone in the community can go there and enjoy these facilities. Obviously, you do need a pass to go into the fitness equipment room, but you can come in and walk the track. Um, and we wanted to really specify that. The big takeaway that we had in our council on
aging recreation committee meeting was um prioritizing the gym. So, the recreation division um the recreation committee preferred that um the gym be more communal and it's a a large space
and they wanted it to be very equitable for the whole community. So, um we took that feedback and we just edited the program policy to reflect that in the afternoon after like 3:30 or 4. I don't think we specified an exact time yet that that space will not be priority
driven. But again, we'll work together as staff to prioritize all the different needs, make sure that we're um looking at rental opportunities for operations and just being a little bit more collaborative later on in the day. But certainly there will still be 60 plus
programs in there. Um but recreation was just looking for a little bit more um space in that gym since it's so large. Next slide, please. And then sections 8 through 10, as John said, we still have some work to do. We still have some work to do fine-tuning
obviously what we've already done too, um, because it's very complex. Um, but the next thing that we'll be presenting on in, I believe, July will be transportation. Um, I know Jane announced that we have a tremendous grant that we got. Um, Andrew McNichol
was a huge part of helping with that, so I can't thank him enough. And so we'll be coming forward with information about that and our existing transportation structure and what we plan to do in the future. And then obviously 9 and 10 we have worked very closely already with
facilities and our police department and our fire department but we want to make sure that their input is more is more um flushed out in this in this platform. So, for example, um the police
department will come up with a whole emergency plan for us. So, if there's um an active shooter, god forbid, um or um an emergency, there's a fire or they'll help train our staff and come up with those policies and procedures for us.
And same thing with facilities. They already have existing policies that they manage all of their facilities with and checklists and all of that. So, we just want to make sure that we cross reference with them and make sure that everything that they want to include in
this is included. Um, and I think that's it for me and I'll turn it over to Jane. >> All right. Thank Thank you, Jenna. Um, you may be called upon again, Madame. All of all of you don't leave. Um, so,
uh, you've all seen the budget. We haven't changed these numbers since, uh, we presented them previously. Um, but we have reformatted U. Thank you, John Sass of the table. So, it's a little easier to read. Um, and what you're looking at is for the departmental expenses. So,
that's elder and human services. It's looking like an increase of $112,721. Um, this does include our state grant support is um included in covering salaries. Um so the our state grant is is offsetting elder and human services
salaries right now. I have not remodeled this budget with a different model. Um one of the things we've talked about don't really want to confuse the conversation but is moving our state programming grant funds to the expenses side and making sure that our positions
are fully funded by the general fund. So that grant is always going into program support and um we would we'd be able to have more money in in the expense side and we could move um some of what we're doing right now back into salaries and then we'd have to we have to model that
a little bit better but that would increase our our programming funding with grant funds which we think makes more sense. Um but that's not what's presented here. This is sort of under the existing structure we have now just so it's an apples and apples apples to apples comparison. Um it it does include
the uh part-time therapeutic w uh position. Um and then we also carry the um recal part-time staff. Those would be new positions that would allow us to stay open later. Um would probably those will probably be covered by the revolving fund, the recreation revolving
fund. Um you'll note that recreation expenses are not on here. They are currently all covered by the revolving fund. They will still be covered by the revolving fund. So to keep that apples to apples comparison, you know, that's part-time summer staff and things like that um that are covered
there. And then like all the different things that expenses cover for recreation, so many things. So um moving on to the facilities, this is really where the bulk of the increase comes. Um preventative maintenance services, those
are our um contracts that we use to maintain our public buildings. You can see right now with the Pleasant Street Center, it's about $16,000 annually that they're co they're they're taking for um those contracts and that's going to go up to um nearly 70,000
um staffing and cleaning services. This is your big jump. That's 280,000. That includes um the addition of two full-time custodians and um a full-time maintenance tech. and we've talked about, you know, how much um our
facility staffing is. We believe this is um the best model to uh care for a brand new building. And then um the utilities increase is modeled to be about um a 25,000 $26,000 increase. And that is um
our best guess. Um but it's a pretty weinformed guess. So what you're seeing is a total increase between elder and human services increases. And a lot of these increases or some of these increases with salaries are normal,
you know, salary increases, cola increases, but it's not a big portion. Um, it comes to $471,382. We're looking to offset some of these expenses and we have a very conservative projected um revenue here with
departmental funding support. So that's revolving and trust fund support from um trust funds that we have. Some trust funds need to have um approval from the council on aging, others don't. Um and the revolving fund doesn't have to. Um we have the room rental revenue and we
have the fitness and equipment room memberships are estimated there. And then additional recal program revenue. So that's when we're running programs and folks are paying for programs. That is a very conservative estimate at $211,600. I don't know if you want to um give the
background, Jenna, on what how how these numbers were calculated. We talked do you have that? >> Yeah, I do have a document that I could go through really quick. >> I don't know if the board has an appetite for that right now, but um when we talked about it,
when we spoke about it at um the joint meeting, this is a very conservative like we're confident we can make 211,000. We're pretty sure we can bring in a significant amount more, but we want to be as conservative as possible. Um so that is the budget and then if you
look at the timeline um this just tells you so what we did in October we presented draft policies in December the draft programming policy um we discuss we revisited and discussed items from the draft policy in January um we presented the projected
operational cost this month you're hearing that now and we did we try to bring things first to the council on aging and the recreation committee together before we bring them here so they have been able to see everything first and and have a chance to to speak to it. Um in May we'll have an update on
the new programming software. Um and then July we'll be looking at transportation and future needs. So that is the timeline and next slide Maddie um is just for board discussion. So thank you. I just do want to thank all of the members of the operations committee. They did they've been they've been great
to work with and it's a lot and we're meeting a lot. Um and you people are working these are daytime meetings so we're we're grateful for them making time to to do this work. >> Thank you. >> Board members any questions? Melissa,
>> I just want to say thank you to all of you for doing all of this work and bringing this forward. Um, I think I know it was a lot of work and a lot of thought went into this of how to accommodate both our 60 plus community and making them a priority, but also the
whole community in itself because that's how the building needs to be used. So, I really appreciate it and I, you know, it's you guys did a really good job. So, thank you, >> Karen. I would say the same thing and I've been to a lot of the meetings and
my head is spinning and I've seen a lot of this already. So, um, you've done a fabulous job. I'm really looking forward to it and I know that it's like any kind of living project. It's going to up and down and circles and you know, it'll all
come out nice when the doors open. So, thank you, >> Carlo. nothing. >> Well, I just want to not that I want to overshadow anyone else, but John Sasso has been doing this a long time. Uh, a very long time. And you know, talent
staff gets paid. He does not. So, I want to acknowledge uh John Sasso from being on um Recalc with Mark Doxer for many years and the whole entire committee. But um I just want to acknowledge that and and echo my colleagues. Thank you
very much. I think all of us were there at the joint presentation. So, uh this is good for the public to see. I know it's ongoing work and uh we're step by step we're getting closer to uh this building come to fruition. So, thank you.
>> Thanks, Carla. Karen, >> I like echo some of the comments my colleagues have made. Thank you for the hard work. And I was just wondering um do we one thing that the Newton recount provides is like durable durable medical equipment um for the 60 plus population.
How do we handle that in reading? >> I'm going to defer to Jenna and Carrie. >> We don't currently have any rental >> to the podium. Madame, thank you for the folks at home. >> Yeah. Carrie Valley, interimm director.
Um, we don't have space for equipment. My personal experience with equipment would be I don't really want to give out equipment. I think a PT or physical therapist should be measuring people for canes, walkers. I feel like it throws people's balance off if we start handing
out used adaptive equipment. So, I would not want to be doing that in the future. >> All right. And I was just wondering um um questions about the um showers. >> So this is an emergency use building. Um
so showers aren't cheap. Plumbing, tiling, all that good stuff, but they could be closets, too. Was there any discussion? what kind of um we we have cooling centers now that nobody ever goes to on hot heat days, but I'm just
wondering and I'm sure the architect said this is a good idea and I'm just wondering if there were other there were ever discussions about what kind of calamity would occur and send us to a building in this community. >> Yep, that's a great question. Uh Maddie,
if you could just go to the next page. There you go. That's the That's the floor plan. Nobody can see what that floor plans are, but for folks at home, the floor plans are in the packet online, so you can you can take a look at them. Um, and we have floor plans, I think, down at the Pleasant Street Center that people can look at, too. Um,
or you can come to town hall. I have them in my office. Um, this and I think they're also online um on our recal page. Um, yes, we did have conversations. A great example um which I had personal experience with was the
gas pipeline issues in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence. Um at the time I was the senior warden of um an Episcopal church actually and we had four properties that were impacted by that and it destroyed all of our heating and
our and our stoves and um just wre havoc across the whole community. um at Reading I'm sorry, Andover Town offices were closed down. That's why they have a mobile town hall. Um you know, we had we had, you know, insurance companies in
there providing backup heating systems, external boilers, all of that stuff. And emergency services, the people didn't have power, didn't have heat, and it was okay. It was early September, but then as they went into the winter and they were still didn't have their services turned back on, it got to be really problematic. Um the issue with having a
school as an emergency shelter is that the students can't be there when you're utilizing the shelter. Um so do we think the whole community is going to have to use the shelter? Not likely. Um but there are scenarios where we can think there would be some people who would
need to have access to a shelter and um if we have it not in a school this they could kids can still go to school. we don't disrupt education. Um and we can still take care of what needs to happen here. And so those were the factors why we had showers put in. Um why um the
there's a floor drain in the arts and craft room on the second floor. That is so that pets could be accommodated in this building. Um the floor drain is so you can obviously in in crates or whatever, but very few emergency shelters can accommodate household pets and people sometimes won't leave their house if they have to leave a pet
behind. And we h we did experience that this year. Um, we had homes that um, lost heat um, at different points in time. They didn't lose power, but they lost heat. And we had people who would not leave their home because they would not leave a pet. Um, or I don't think we actually had some that lost power, too,
Carrie. You remember? >> It was Elderberry. >> It was, right? Elderberry. Yeah. Um, that just happened. Yeah. >> The other day, uh, like last week. Um, and so, you know, we have p we have residents that are on oxygen or whatever. So we would be able to accommodate them in a building like this
and we wouldn't disrupt school. So that's why those choices were made and that was a a conversation that Chief Burns was a really big part of because he was our emergency management director. Fire chiefs usually are. So um so that's the the backstory of how we got here um to these to these decisions
that were made. And that's the same that's one of the major reasons why the kitchen is a commercial kitchen um because in order to qualify as a shelter it has to be a commercial kitchen. Um, same thing. This generator here is much bigger than the generator, relatively speaking, than kilum because the kilums
will just keep the lights on if they need to for a few hours. This generator is meant to be um running the whole building in an emergency situation. So, >> all right. I um yeah, I just I mean, no one could have predicted that those
awful gas explosions. Um, I just didn't know. I hate to build three different three showers and say for 50 years no one's ever going to use them. And maybe we'll get lucky and uh >> Well, I think they'll be available. People, you know, work up a sweat in one
of the the fitness rooms or um, you know, use the walking track, they can go take a shower. >> Well, that's what I was wondering because this kind of says they're completely off limits at the moment. If I'm reading this correctly, maybe I made a mistake. again up for disc. >> It's a policy. It's a policy, right?
Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's not like a primary bathing area, but you know, I mean, I don't know. >> Or >> I need more exercise. >> If someone had a medical emergency, you know what I mean? That's a different kind of emergency, but if they knew Oh, >> I just had a personal physical
emergency. If I knew there's a shower, I could go get clean. Yeah, that's right. I think you that's a that's a good use. >> All right. Thanks. I was just curious and that's a great example. >> Those are great those are great questions. We welcome them. Um my question I know uh when I visited the
Pleasant Street Center a couple years back with the gas smell that does not exist >> does but it doesn't >> but sometimes >> Schroinger's gas smell >> um I was in the basement and the biggest ask at that time which I'm sure still is
is the the shine counseling in the private kind of space area that is needed. for those kind of um discussions. >> I didn't see that in anywhere in the presentation of an area for like that kind of private where you don't have to
walk through somebody else's room to be able to get to this other conference room thing. >> No, I can show. >> Is that not in here or >> Oh, it's in here. Okay. >> Yeah. Maddie, can you go to the second the next slide? Not really slide. And can you zoom in
on the second floor? Yeah. And then go to the other side. Nope. to the to the left. To the left now. Down a little bit. >> Down a little bit more. Okay. So, I'll get up. Thank you, Maddie. Um, this space right here is for
shine counseling, tax preparation, and so there's a desk here, and this is the nurse's medical equipment. >> And so, this is locked. The nurse is the only person who can access this. >> Um, and then this space, I'm sorry folks can't see. Um, this space is a desk and
so this can be used for those one. So you can have your shine counseling in here. You can have your tax preparation in here. You can have what else Carrie you have. >> We have a one-on- ones. >> Yeah, one-on- ones. You can have >> we bring in therapy. Whatever
>> you could do. >> Bereavement. You could you could it depending on how many people. So this is this is the veterans outer office here. This is a veteran's inner office. And this is meant for some group space as well. So, right now it's got a desk and a small table and some chairs, but it
may be more like couches. Do you know what I mean? Couches and chairs. Um, we do want to have chairs with two two handles cuz it's easier for folks that are older to get up. Um, so you know, the furnishings in here. This is your billiard's room area. These are in this is veterans office here. These are staff
offices here. There is a meeting space here and also the only place in the building that's like a lunch room or a break room um for staff. And uh so there is a little uh spot here where there's some a sink. It's not on this drawing. So that's just to give you a sense.
There's also um this maker space over here. These are these are movable tables. And then there'll be some computer stations down here, but there might be 3D printing in here. There might be robotics in here. We have a lot of fantastic um retired engineers and non-retired engineers that will be able
to do um work in here, keep projects going, um you know, all kinds of stuff. So, and then your elevators here. So, that's just there's your fitness equipment room right there. Um, and we have a list in the packet of all the equipment that will be in there. But, yeah, this is where those one-on- ones
will be. >> So, I guess unless I'm reading this wrong, how do you get into the conference room at the bottom left? >> You come in for community services here. >> So, it's multiple doors before you get to it though, right? >> This is meant to be in mostly for staff use or business use. Okay.
>> So, public meetings would not happen here. public meetings would happen downstairs in the multi-purpose room. And I think uh Maddie, if you can go back to the previous floor plan, please. Yep. The the previous one. There you go.
Thank you. So, multi-purpose room here will have all these tables. Um, this will be designed for public meetings. It will split in half. There's a large screen against this wall. And there's TV screens here like this. So, you can have two meetings at the same time. There's a divider wall here. Um,
you can also have meetings in this room. I believe we have the um the sound set up in this room. So, that there's a there's a hearing aid assist um in the built-in in this room as well. Screen as well. But um we also have um for hearing
assistants, we have separate pieces that people can wear around their neck and they can take it all through the building. It'll work everywhere. >> And my last question is, so I'm sure there's some data back to back this up, but why is Sunday only 9 to1?
>> That seems like a busy kind of weekendy day during the summertime, I would say. Not during the winter, but like base it off library hours. What time is the library open on Sundays? I don't actually know that. >> But it is open I don't know the exact
hours. Library is open like a half day on Thursday. Like it opens late I think at noon or one >> one. There you go. Thanks. >> There you um so that's the those are the hours right now. We can rent them longer hours but the intention is like we would
be offering regular programming during these hours. So we'd have to provide programming and >> Oh, so you'll still be able to rent it though. So my >> yes >> question mark where I just mentioned I think you're lacking in that aspect. You could be renting during that time frame instead. >> Okay.
>> And the renting the rental costs will offset like the custodial we we need to have a custodian there to close the building and make sure the security is operating. So >> and there is a separate entrance and exit to the gym thing. I know this was brought up before. Okay. >> As long as there is. You don't have to
show me. >> There's an entrance here. Okay. >> There's an entrance there. Um and yeah, and you come in here as well and then you have these doors. >> So we'll be able to have the gym so you don't have to clean the whole building. It's just the gym area at certain hours. >> Yeah. These would be open for a egress,
right, for safety purposes, but you could say we're going to monitor the entrances here that you know and direct people to certain. So we're not opening the whole building. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And we'll have staffing in there so nobody will be people won't be wandering around, you know, they'll it'll be be well care for.
Anyone else? Nope. Good. >> Anyone from the public have any questions, comments? Marilyn, >> two minutes name and address. >> Y it won't take long. Um Marilyn Shappley 11 John Carver wrote, "I just
question the Shine model. It fits the current Shine, but I know those lists get filled up fast. I've called on like day two and they're already booked. We need at least two Shine operators operating. at the same time and it will
take more room that's usually going to be available and it's part of a bigger discussion. You know, we're looking for other space as well, but I think it would meet today's needs, but today's needs don't meet all the senior needs. So, my two cents worth on the shine. >> Certain times of the year. Yeah, you're
absolutely right. >> Four months of the year. >> Exactly. No, >> all day and evening. >> Sure. Um, >> so yes, the shine appointments are extremely important. Um, the current
people that we have are volunteers. So there's not a guarantee that we'll have volunteers. Like one year we didn't even have tax prep because we couldn't get people to volunteer um and figure out the AARP tax prep. So same thing with the Shine volunteers. Uh right now
they're not happening sim simultaneously. They're happening in the morning and in the afternoon. Um, and we do have a more comprehensive sheet on that that we'll be presenting at the permanent building committee next week to just show how many times a week that
we can expect and maybe in the future it will expand, but it if we don't have volunteer, it wouldn't even run. Um, and we're lucky to have those two volunteers, but it's not even a guarantee. So, we don't want to like be creating extra spaces per se um and
overthinking that when we we don't know what the future will hold. Alternatively, could be very popular, but um we can only go based on what we know now. And Carrie, do you want to >> Yeah, I just want to say Mystic Valley provides us with the Shine counselors. They train them um and qualify them to
be shine counselors and then they ship them out to the centers. Um we only have two. We've asked for more. They just don't have the capacity to supply us with any more people just because there's lack of volunteers. And Jenna is right. We might not have volunteers in the future for Shine. Um it's a very
comprehensive program. Um it's very complicated with Medicare and all this stuff. So it takes a lot of knowledge to be a Shine counselor. So I don't know what the projection for the future of that would be. I hope it continues because it's a great program for people.
>> But I just >> Thank you. I just wanted to I'm not that familiar with the Shine program. I don't know if anybody else is. Can you give us an overview? >> Yeah, so basically anyone 60 turning 60 plus or 65 plus that needs to go to Medicare or is having trouble finding an insurance policy, a plan that works with
their budget. The Shine Counselors are trained to help people pick the right insurance plan that fits their needs. Um they do not help with assisting people get on on Mass Health. Um but they help with supplemental plans like in addition to Medicare A and B. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Sure.
>> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Yeah. No, I just want to make a quick comment. I know that it's hard to plan for the future, like you said, Jenna, to know if we're going to have the space in that. And hearing that Mystic Valley has to be in charge of this. I I just think
that the opportunity in a new building, a lot more people are going to be going to this than the current one. Um, so I know it's difficult to plan these whatif scenarios, but I just want to make sure that we don't need recal 2.0 like 25
years from now, hopefully when none of us are here, myself included. Um, I I just want to make sure because like I said, that was one of the bigger items that was pointed out to me beyond everything else was that private space and I want to make sure that this is
taken care of. And you know if if it is lack of somebody else that we can't control, I understand that. But if we can do something or control these scenarios, then we absolutely should be. So it seems like you're up on top of it.
So that's all we can really ask for. >> Yeah. >> Um, anyone else in the room before I go online? Ron, I see your hand online. So two minutes name and address. Ron Powell of 328 South Street and
Ready. Can everybody hear me? >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Great. Uh, first of all, I just want to thank the recal operations subcommittee for an excellent presentation. Very informative. Thank you. I just wanted to I just have two questions. I have uh the first question I have I just wanted to
clarify that I heard correctly that the kitchen uh it's not you're not going to be allowed to do food prep. caterers will not be permitted to do food prep in the kitchen. I did I understand that correctly? And if that is the case, I just wanted clarification as to why
that's the case. >> John, >> temporary. >> Yeah. >> Go ahead. Go ahead. >> No. No, you got it. Yeah. Temporary. >> Um, so Ron, that these policies that we're working on right now are sort of when we're ready to open the building where we're going to be. So, initially it will be temporary that we won't be
doing food prep. We're not going to be making meals in the in the kitchen right now. We may move to a model where we're working with I've talked about this a few times. Um the school uh lunch program, the school uh food services program may come down and and prep food
in that kitchen. Um as staff learn to use the um the commercial equipment, they may choose to do something like that or we may have caterers, professional caterers come in and use that kitchen. But initially, we're going to learn to walk before we run. And so that's that's the intention with that.
But the long-term uses, you know, maybe we can get a chef. I don't I'm not making promises, but like, you know, I think that would be a wonderful thing as our 60 plus population grows. >> So So um Jane, the initial intent was the rental one sec, Ron, we'll pause
your time, which was paused previously. John Sasso has a follow. Um, initially the policy was actually targeted towards the rental of the space in the kitchen, not necessarily for not using the kitchen to to cook, you know, car lunch. >> Okay. >> So, thank you.
>> Thank you. So, not we're not renting it out, >> right? >> Thank you for the clarification. I must have missed that meeting. >> Both of your answers. >> Can you add one other question, Ron? >> Yes. Uh, the other question I had was just regarding um Shine and Tax Prep and
the other small group uh space. Uh Jane, I apologize. I couldn't see where you were pointing uh online, but I think you were pointing to the office space outside the nurse's office and and the card room. Is that >> uh on the second floor? Outside the billiard's room.
>> Yeah, immediately adjacent to the billiard's room. >> Okay, great. All right, thank you. >> Thanks, Ron. Anybody else online want to make a comment? I don't see any other hands raised right now. All
>> right. Thanks, Maddie. Uh, and thank you all once again for putting this together. It is, as you said, dozens, if not hundreds of pages in this packet, so thank you for cond Well, listen, you put a lot of work in. Um, so we thank you for it. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. >> Thank you guys. >> All right, we'll move on to the first reading. Discuss valet parking regulations 119 in the packet. We'll just give it a moment for the >> everyone to clear out and then
>> so I would like to move to page 124 in the packet, the draft valet parking regulations. >> The first portion that I gave you was some information that you had last fall to kind of determine did you want a regulation or did you want to go through a procurement model? the board decided to go through a regulation model. So
what you have before you are the draft regulations that IRA has um developed and this is um the first conversation about valet parking. Um I have not given this um to the police department for I've given it to them um only recently
to to get back you know their deep input on these regulations. The conversation has been um with the police department that they are very cautious. Um they're not in favor of valet parking regulations because they um think it'll
be impossible for them to enforce and it's just something that the board needs to be aware of. We will get um more detailed information from the police department though for you. Um but this was just to start that conversation. I know the uh some of the board members wanted to have this conversation and we
want to get ahead of it in case um there are businesses in town should the board pass it um that would like to be doing it when the weather is better. So those are u my my initial comments as we go through. We do have Kevin McCarthy here
um but the board has um the regulations packet. I didn't know if there were particular issues that um you had questions about. board members questions. >> I just think it's a great first draft. Um, you know, a lot of information here and
I think it'll be up to us with the input of the police even though we already heard from them uh last year when this all started that they're not in favor. I don't think they'll be changing their mind. But after reading through this, I think a lot of thought and effort was
put into this and um my feeling is personally that this is not going to be widely used. You know, one restaurant brought it forward. I think it's a great idea and it'll be on a case- by case basis and available to everyone, but most restaurants probably won't use it,
but that remains to be seen. So, I think at the next discussion we can talk more about fees. I know there's some examples in here. Mhm. >> Um, and you know, insurance requirements and a lot of good information here. So, I'm happy with this first go around. I know it took a while to get here, but I
look forward to the next conversation. >> Thanks, Carlo. Karen, >> um, it is a good document. Um, I'm not in favor of LA parking. Um, as we all know, I walk down there all
the time with my dogs and um, it's it's re in front of post 1917. I talked to Jane about it a little bit, saying that Haven Street is just not set up for that. I think that that particular restaurant is probably one of the only ones that would um, need it
until farther down Main Street develops. There might be something down there that goes in that we have no idea years and years from now. Um I I I just I I don't think it's going to work on Haven Street. I think that he would have to move it to um is it
Sandborn that's on the corner? >> Um where the handicap parking space is on the quieter space because there's not a lot of space for people to go around. Like if you're standing there and and when you see everybody's parked in front of it, they're parked on the other side. They're all parked in front in in the
bank parking lot already. So, >> all those people are going to have to move somewhere else, which is fine because we've got a great parking lot where Atlantic was. Um, I just don't think that Haven Street is a good place to have valet parking, especially if somebody can park or double park for you
know what I mean? Like people line up to do valet parking and there's really not many for them to go. >> My question is how many It's not every spot or the whole area over there. How many are you thinking that he's going to be >> even in front of his if it was two spaces, but if you've got people queued
up waiting to get into the spaces, that's my concern. I see what you're saying. >> And so, >> did you have your hand raised? >> I don't mean to interrupt you, but that's okay. I just wanted to before the board tonight is not a specific plan for specific business. It's just the general like process that the board would go
through. I just wanted the public to know this is a great document if we decide to adopt it. I really want to rely heavily on what the police say and get into nitty-gritt nittyritty details with them on those kinds of issues, but
this is a great place to start. Um, >> no, I I understand. >> Do you know what I mean? >> Yeah, I I I understand the queuing aspect. I think that is more of a, as you know, a case byase basis. There could be 100 cars there, which is good
for them and good for us, meals and food. uh good in general, not particular business aspect, but mainly restaurants are going to be taking advantage of this. I I do understand what you're saying. Um there I think the enforcement
aspect I kind of take issue with what's in here. I don't want the police enforcing this. I would want the person who's in charge of the um valet spots enforcing it. You know what I mean? I don't want any burden on the police
department or or um anything to do with that kind of nature. I think that if someone illegally parks in one of these valet things after hours, it should be on the valet permit owner to have the car ticketed, towed, communicate with them. Obviously, that's
the best aspect is just be like, you can't park here after 5 or whatever it ends up being. Um, but I I want as little uh little police presence in that aspect as as possible. So, I understand the double parking thing might require
that. Um, but, you know, I think that it is a good first rough draft that's in here. And maybe those concerns are alleviated by the police who still may disagree with doing it in general, but they might not see those concerns, which
would help you make a better decision as well as the rest of us. >> Well, I think it's like we all said, it's a great place to start and we have no idea what's going to happen over in Eastern Gateway. Like there's so many other places that it might be worthwhile to get something in place >> even if we select not to have a specific
location >> assigned. Do you know what I mean? So, I just >> No, I I I think that, you know, it's the the burden is on the person that would be taking these valet spots. And if we want it to be you can't queue up here for more than 3 minutes or something,
then they have to have additional staff that's going to be able to rotate these through to whatever parking lot that they are going to have to lease from. You know what I mean? So, there's different ways to do it. And if they don't, then they can. it's in here about a violation before the select board, you
know, and if it isn't working, then we can pull the plug on it and everything they invested, you know. >> So, I hear it. It's >> work in progress. >> It's good that it's a work in progress. So, yeah, you bringing that up is is a good aspect, >> Mr. Chairman. >> Yep.
>> Um, would there be an appetite for members on the board to create a subcommittee to dig into the policy and work with the police department and then bring it back? I think if the mindset of the police is we understand their
position of wanting no but understanding the board's position may be wanting yes. If we take it from that position where they realize that we're that we want this to happen against their objection. what is the best way for this to be implemented that you know is the least
burden on all of them and the most burden on the one requesting you know the the permit. Yeah, I would be okay with with something like that, but just not from a an adversarial standpoint that we're not going to do it like
>> No, I I was thinking more like just one or two members that want to come in and work in with town hall and we meet and go over it kind of word by word and work through the whole policy and then bring it back. So there's been save some time here at the table is sort of what I'm
thinking and then and and and then we'll have those and we'll come back with a full recommendation from the from the police department. We'll have some conversation with the police department. >> More of a working group kind scenario. >> Yeah. I mean we post it but it would be in you know the burger room or something. It would be working >> on it if there's an appetite for the board.
>> I think that's a good idea because I can see this being a super long conversation. >> Yeah. >> For something this new I agree. I'm not a big fan of the making more more work for staff and us, but >> in this case is totally brand new for us. >> So, >> I think spending a few months on it,
several months on it would probably be a good idea. >> I think the big aspect is obviously the winter time and snow and and that. So, like I could be I don't own a restaurant, so I don't know if the valet biggest time is July 4th, but to me, I
would think it's more along the colder months in wanting to just park right there and go. Um, so I'm okay with a couple months kind of leeway like you're mentioning here. >> Okay. So, >> but like yeah, obviously something
because Karen brings up a good point. So those concerns have to be addressed and if they can't be addressed then that's the end of it. >> So is it Karen and Carlo want to be on the subcommittee? >> I'll do it but see what happens on April 7th. >> Whatever the appetite of the board is.
I'm I'm just making some suggestions to try and save some time. >> I'll gladly volunteer. I I'm in favor of this. But >> I think we can vote on who it is after the fact kind of thing and just see. But I mean I would obviously be okay with you two being on it. You know what I mean? because you live over there, you know. >> Yeah.
>> You know the area and Carlo's business aspect and >> he also lives downtown. >> And he lives downtown. >> Yes. >> So, I'm good with that. >> Okay. Well, we we'll set something up. >> Yeah. TBD. >> Okay. >> Any other questions before I open it to
the public? Nope. Uh, anyone in the room? No. Online, Maddie? I don't see >> Nobody online. Okie dokie. All right. So, we will move on to 940 vote to reappoint town accountant.
>> So, moved. >> I was going to say, do you have a motion, Karen Rosegillis, but I guess you know, >> did you have anything prepared for this, Jane? I I mean, >> you're still discussing. I just wanted the motion. >> Yeah. No, I hear you. >> This is a routine motion for the folks at home. This is a routine um appointment
>> uh that the select board reappoints the town accountant >> um annually. Correct. Um, our uh, chief financial officer, Sharon uh, Angstrom. I'm getting punchy because it's late. Um, Sharon Angstrom is also our accountant and the select board has the
the privilege and the responsibility of reappointing her annually. >> Yes. >> I Anybody on the board have anything? Do you >> want me to make the motion? >> Yeah, just go with the motion. >> Move to appoint Sharon Angstrom as town accountant for a term July 1, 2026
through June 30th, 2027. Second. >> Any discussion? Anyone from the public online? >> Karen. >> Yeah. >> Um, does Sharon wish to be reappointed? >> She does. Thank you for the question. She sure does. Yes. >> Okay. Appreciate all that.
>> That was loud. Sorry. >> Perfect. >> Want to make sure. >> Uh, who seconded it? Melissa. >> Yes. >> Oh, okay. All those in favor? >> 5. >> Thank you, Sharon. >> Thank you for your service. Thank you for all you do.
All right. Uh 9 uh discuss 2526 select board accomplishments page 131 in the packet. Um so going based off the same kind of community spotlight thing that Melissa
and I had introduced this year. I thought that um in the grand scheme of things um yes I I I hear public feedback that the select board should be focusing on town business and and this and at at
some points I believe that's warranted. Um but at other points like this is a a list that I briefly put together of you know what this board has managed to um accomplish this year and putting it together was a a trip down memory lane
you know what I mean for for the various things that we did here. So it's not inclusive of liquor licenses and all the other day-to-day typical kind of things. It was more of the I don't want to say differing kind of things because the majority of these were all unanimous 50
kind of votes but it's more of knowing you know the list that's in here that um I'll just start briefly that you know we incorporated the pledge of allegiance at the start of every meeting. We've allowed more public comment opportunities than previous select
boards. And that's not a knock to other select boards, but you saw how tonight it worked. And it's beneficial when it works in theory the way that it's supposed to be with other members of the public weighing in on recal and not having that done at 7:00.
Um, uh, adding motions to the packet in advance, which I could, uh, take my own advice. um introduce like I said the community spotlight like I I really hope that these kind of things are carried over for for future chairs doing this because
Jane and Matt highlighting all the the highlights in our community um at every one of these meetings taking a page out of the school committee's book has been phenomenal. dandelions. I I've seen the 25-y year thing online that that Joe had
mentioned, but now Jane mentioned it and other people do. Like these are the kind of things that we should be highlighting in here, which dubtales to last corner 50 years celebrating them. Like that was an incredible um time that we had. We added the brunch
liquor times to the warrant that's up for discussion. So kind of um adopting that kind of language so then the future select board can actually vote on on those times to you know give other business owners you know that early start on I believe it's Sundays.
Um we approved the new three-year RCTV contract which is great and I've I've said it before and I'll say it again. I've seen a lot of social media posting lately um by RCTV um all announcing you
know the select board meetings and candidate forums and all this on their Facebook page. They've posted more times in the last um couple months than you know in previous years combined. So it's good to see that the outreach is already happening there. Um, the hockey games
were covered by parent volunteers, I believe, but they had a score uh score bug thing there keeping scores of the game. It's fantastic. Um, we approved a new 5-year trash contract which was, you know, uh, was supposed to be one vendor
kind of thing. We ended up going a different route. We hashed it all out. It was one of the better meetings that I've been a part of. And it shows, I think, the the harmony of what the select board should be in in kind of
navigating um things that we typically, you know, may or may not agree on. Uh we approved the letter that was state to sent to the state regarding the audit. I had no idea that this would take off like wildfire.
um that all of a sudden, you know, Melissa's recommendation of bringing this forward has now championed other communities to start seeing about doing the same. So Joe Dandelions, his mother, I believe, is on the select board in Wilmington. They were bringing it up. I
saw Wakefield is going to be bringing it up. And as I said, it just takes one person to do something and perhaps something changes. And perhaps not, but unless you do it, I I don't know what to tell you. I mean, we did it and it was,
you know, another unanimous vote and it's good to see that these are the kind of things that we're focusing on. Um, uh, we celebrated numerous businesses coming to reading which is obviously incredible. Uh, including Trader Joe's,
Virginia's was a fantastic time that we all went to. Um, Delazis isn't open yet. Tada Forno I think is next month. Champions Indoor Golf is already open. Dion's Fine Wines is inside of Trader Joe's when that opens. Um, we approved
Chief Rick Nelson as the next fire chief, which was phenomenal. Um, to see, you know, Rick taking over that, um, position for Chief Burns. Um, for the first time since I've been here, we kept the water rates flat and sewer went down 1%. Which is, you know,
something that would should be celebrated by this board. Uh, taking place in that. Uh we approve pride month, Italian heritage month, arbor day, DPW week, Junth, CPAC awareness month, overdose awareness day, and human
rights um proclamations. A lot of those were first time ones brought to the select board. Uh we did dedicated the archive room to Virginia Blahett, which was um obviously uh she's an incredible asset to this town. I mean, it's good
that we were able to um go ahead and do that for her. Uh we approved the fire department permit and ambulance fees. So, redoing all that with Chief Rick Nelson, multiple meetings that he came in here. So, this way here, those revenues can kind of
increase here for the town without a burden on the residents. Um, we successfully supported the turnback track committee, uh, the residents in their efforts against the MBTA. Nobody would have thought that that kind
of upswell and support that they did would result in the way that it did. Um, but obviously, like I said, all it takes is one person. This was a group of people to make a difference. But once again, like when people think outcomes
are prefixed and you don't have a voice in whatever, reading is continuously proving that narrative incorrectly. And it was the same with MBTA communities and it'll be same for the next couple items in the future that arise here. Just don't stop fighting for something.
Um, we updated the select board policies on social media and cell phone use. We participated in a successful selectboard retreat with Jeff Nutting for the first time in a couple years. Jeff was fantastic. I believe we're going to use him again, Jane, for the next retreat.
Um, so, uh, that's something obviously for us to celebrate as well. Um, and I put in many more. I was going to put two items on there uh at the end of that, but they weren't already done, which is
that we successfully um appointed Jane Wellman as the next town manager of Reading. And that's something that this board did, the five of us, and you know, we're going to see where that takes us. And then finally, I
wanted to point out for the first time since I've been on the board, uh, that the select board has successfully not had an open meeting law violation filed against it for as long as I've been
chair up here on the board. So, um, uh, to toot my own horn on that, but I hear comments and concerns about things being violated, and I waited till the last meeting to bring this up that not to jinx myself, we got nothing. Which is
not something to celebrate. Yay, you didn't break the law or you didn't break this. But still, like, listen, keep the street going, whomever is the next chair. Just keep following the rules the way that's supposed to be. have as much info and packets as you can and you know
I'm going to enjoy my time off after this when a new chair is elected and I will let you know I am not being chair vice chair or secretary I'm I am uh going to be relieved to be done with this >> surprise to be seen so
>> yes well thank you um but no I I've really appreciated all everybody's up here's time commitment effort and energy it takes a bought to do this position. That's why nobody really runs for it.
And each and every one of you has done, you know, you've contributed your own roles. I I don't have to name them, but I really do appreciate and I know the town does as well. It's never said enough. So, I'm just thanking you all
for, you know, this time and we'll see where the next uh next term takes us with everyone else. So, unless anyone had any other accomplishments that I might have missed in there, that's briefly what um that what we accomplished here as a board.
>> Well, thanks for putting it together. >> Yeah, it's nice to go down memory lane. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I I just think that, you know, sometimes the c you know, the select board accomplishments sometimes are overlooked because, you know, why should we do this? But I think
this is something that every year like there's a lot of good stuff that we did up here on the board and it'd be easier for me to say let's just focus on that in the future while simultaneously doing other things. I understand that.
But like we should be proud of what we've done. So that's what I got. Anybody else want to comment on select board accomplishments from the public? Anyone online? Maddie, >> all good. >> Any hands raised?
>> Fantastic. Leaison reports Karen Roseillis. >> Woohoo. >> Find it. It's not very long today. Um 311 Finance Committee. I believe we're all there, so I'm not going to say much
about that. Um, on March 17th, I attended the webinar that our infamous Jane was a a member of, the MMA lunchtime numbers to narrative, and it was fantastic. Um, I learned a lot, really good presentations. Doug Lions
was there, who was my son's principal, who I love, and it was really nice to hear his his take on the school side. Um, really looking forward to seeing the videos that she did. It really made it very visual on how you can present your your population budgets and where all
the money goes and how much is left over after you're done paying salaries. It was really really good. Um I attended the um forum for the select board. There was some really nice questions asked of the candidates. Um I
attended the climate advisory committee presentation with Black Earth which was great at the library. um importance of composting programs which enables us to lower our trash costs which is really important. Um the whole goal is to
reduce the amount of trash you send to the dump and um great presentation from Black Earth. Um talked a lot about when um our landfills are going to fill up and then it's going to be even more expensive to ship our trash to Alabama.
as he says, our trash goes very far away and it's probably did he say 2035? Like I it's pretty it's closer than you think when we're going to run out of landfill space. And so um he he presented a list of things that you can
compost that I had no idea how much stuff you could compost if you have the pick it up. Um and um uh well and then my next thing is please note the compost center opens on April 3rd so you can start taking your leaves
and curbside leaf collection is going to begin in April which is very important for me anyway. Um and then I have um upcoming hazardous waste collection day is May 2nd. This week is metal collection week, which is kind of early
this year if you ask me, but I got my stuff out there. Um, electronics collection is on May 9th. These are all different ways to reduce your trash. And then we interviewed Jane last night, which was the highlight of my week so far. Thank you. And that was it. Short,
sweet. >> Thanks, Karen. Uh Karen, >> um on the topic of composting, we have an organization writing composts and um I got an update from them this week. Um because the schools are still planning
to roll out schoolwide composting, but it didn't happen last year. I don't remember I apologize if I said this last time because they wanted the trash contracts to be done, I think. So sorry. So anyway, they are very excited. They're getting more active than they have been. They were quiet for a little bit, but they are working on spots with
RCTV to promote composting and um also with folks at the high school. And they're also considering a field trip to Black Earth's Manchester site. And they're planning a pumpkin smash for November 7th. And um so um that's what
they're up to if anybody wants to get more engaged in composting. And then um so yeah, the finance committee um there were a number of attendees and they did decide to um increase a line item to add $25,000 for
support of unified sports. Um so we'll be seeing that at town meeting and I attended the trails committee meeting and um they were in the basement of this room which I think is also like the break room. Yeah, they got the short
straw. So, so I can definitely see how Recal is going to, you know, give us more space that we need. There's nothing good in the fridge. We checked. Um, but they, as usual, have a long list of trails that they're working on. And we talked about Sturgis. In fact, I think I
walked by it today and I saw the beginnings of it. So, there's a new trail going in and I believe um the one by Pineriidge could be expanded or um there's some wetlands and some crossings they need to deal with. The trails committee always has lots of boardwalk
maintenance to do and then we all know scouts help a lot with that but um you know what lumber is not inexpensive and this is a very wet community so that's really where their budget needs come from. Um and let's see also presented also
attended the Bill Russell document documentary at the library presented by the ACE committee and I had never seen that before and it only very briefly referenced reading and just kept on going but it's a good one and I'm sorry I don't remember the name of it. Um,
and then, um, I stopped by coffee with a cop, which was really like coffee with most of RPD. Um, which was really nice because, um, it's always lots of familiar faces and everybody has different
responsibilities. So, it's good to, you know, connect which officers are handling which responsibilities. And I definitely missed I think I missed Rusty. I think they were pulling away as I looked. But thank you for attending as well. And um Shaos was glad to have them there. So that was fun.
>> That's it. Thank you, >> Alyssa. >> Thank you so much. Um I attended the FinCon meetings either in person or watched them back afterwards. Um so there was a lot of information in those meetings. uh March 19th, school committee
um meeting, our writing high school drama club advanced to the Mass Educational Theater Guild state finals for the first time in 23 years, which I thought was a great accomplishment. Um they also appointed their director of finance who has been their interim
director of finance for some time. Um Phil Little H. >> Um so he will be their full-time director of finance. They also voted on four finalists for superintendent, although two of those finalists have
dropped out. Um, they had 24 applicants and 11 were interviewed by the screening committee and then they came down to what we have as the last two. Uh, one of those interviews with the screening committee I believe was tonight and the other one is tomorrow evening. Both of
those will will have been recorded and will be on RCTV to watch after the fact. But there will also be a public um session that's going to happen um with the full school committee on Tuesday, March 31st at 6 PM. Um and that is at
the high school library and it will also be by uh Zoom. And then today I got to attend the legislative breakfast which was fantastic with our delegation. Um lots of great questions were asked. Um and that's it.
Oh, and last night the interview with corresp Oh, sorry. Put this over here. So, I want to thank the uh Democratic Town Committee for hosting two forums last week, one for the school committee and one for the select board. I also too
I as well was at the legislative breakfast this morning with a multi-chamber event. I think it was uh Wakefield, Stonem and Reading and the the whole delegation as far as state reps were represented instead of Lewis was the moderator. Uh it was a Q&A
session which was great. Um so they took a lot of questions that were prepared and from the audience about the state finances and ballot questions. So that was very informative. I had office hours this morning and I had a great conversation with the 60 plus resident
on the upcoming fees being reinstated at the Pleasant Street Center and their concerns and some ideas going forward. So I will take that offline with Jenna and Jane. Um I was at coffee with the cop uh for
about the first hour. uh very well attended. Uh many RPD coalition was there, town staff, chain was there, uh comfort dogs were there. So, um it was it was nice to go to those and
and at the recreation committee meeting that I watched back um a lot of you may or may not know P Commodoris who's been um the lead for Friends of Ring Wreck and he is stepping down from that role
and unfortunately uh leaving town. So, he's been here for quite some time. I met him when I coached youth soccer. So, he kind of passed the torch uh to the next person. His name is Jake. His last name escapes me, but he's going to be the new steward um along with the
committee for friends of running wreck, who uh raises money for the fireworks and other activities and the father daughter dance and all that fun stuff. So, uh thank you to Pete Commodores for all his service through youth soccer and friends wreck and everything else he's
done for the town. And um that's it. >> Thanks, Carlo. Um yeah, for me obviously um the interview with Shane was fantastic. Um you know, I I I I
kind of knew the way that it was going to go and it went that way and you should be very happy and I don't know if you were questioning anything after the fact, but uh you know, not that my opinion matters, but uh I don't think
you need to worry. Um, and to dubtail off Melissa's thing mentioned with the the um school committee, so Wendy Crocker Robé or Rob um her interview was today. I did attend
that um uh the meeting was at uh central office um on Zoom. I'm not sure if it'll be on RCTV. Hopefully it is. Um but I did attend that and um I you know I will
say after about 10 minutes I I felt as if I could close my eyes and she would have been here forever kind of thing. So it's clear that she did her homework and um was able to answer all the you know
very I think about 15 questions from the community. Um, so it was good to see uh that in action. I know uh Henry Turner is tomorrow um same time 5:15 to 6:00
um and then the school committee like you mentioned is going to have a a separate um public meeting regarding that. But it's good to get a first look and it's you know they had four candidates and yes it's down to two. Um so that's kind of where we're at with
that. And I think that's it. So, future agendas. Carlo. >> Uh, I scoured it a few minutes ago and I I thought I mentioned it recently, but I
don't see uh honoring our Eagle Scouts. And we kind of need to do that either before the the school year ends or right at the end of the summer, which I don't like either because there's vacations and a lot of kids might be going to school uh halfway through August. So,
I'd love to get that >> on the agenda. in May or June. Um, you know, we we've done it before. It's great um to have those seven young people and our first female scout honored as they should be.
So, I'm hoping we can get that squeeze that in um before school year gets out. And if they're seniors, they're going to be out in May. So, they might start jobs. They might who knows where they're going. So, June, you know, they'll coordinate who can come in person and who can't. But I I don't want to see
that done over the summer if possible. >> I think if Jane can reach out offline and just find the best state that works for a majority of them and kind of bring it back up to us or me or whomever is next kind of scenario.
>> Try to avoid um school vacation week. >> Yeah. Whatever the summer school break >> um I might have another one other people go. I didn't have any. >> I think we're all good. You can go back
again. >> Uh, no. I mean, I was looking at everything and I think we're, you know, valet will have to come back to us and >> that's been addressed and uh, yeah, I think that's good. I wanted to make sure the Eagle Scout gets on there. >> Yep. Yeah. No, that should have been on
there. >> All right, Jane, do you have anything? Uh, not at this time. I think I have a small list somewhere. >> A small list? No, you have a list. >> Well, we haven't put the um retreat on the agenda yet. Um, on the future is
>> I got an email about >> You did? >> I thought I saw this on here. >> Is that on here? Discuss 2026 selected retreats on April 14th. >> We need to Yeah, the the tentative date right now is May 2nd and I have um confirmed that time. So it comes in the
middle of town meeting, but that's uh the best time right now. Um so that and I confirm the space and and the availability of Mr. Nutting. Um but setting up the agenda for that. >> That would be on the 14th then.
>> I think that's on the It should be It should be on the 14th. It should be after Yeah, there it is. Right there. Yep. I'm sorry. Yep. Right after the election. Can >> everybody respond or not respond? I >> responses from everyone. >> Oh, good. Um, so we'll see what happens after the
election and if they need to make a change in the time, but at least we have some time set aside. >> Perfect. >> Anything else for right now or you're all good? >> I I'm great. >> Perfect. >> I'm fantastic. I hope you're all great, too. >> Be great if it was, you know, under
10:30, but we'll try. Um, so we'll move on to approving three sets of minutes. I had no changes to three sets of minutes. >> I don't have any changes. >> I'm good.
>> I'm good as well. >> Karen, are you all set? >> Yep. >> Well, I guess we don't need to bring them up then. So, Karen Rose Gillis, do you have a motion for >> Do you want them all at the same time? >> All at the same time. Expedite the first
time ever. Approve the meeting minutes of November 1st, 2025 as presented, February 24th, 2026 as presented and March 3rd, 2026 as presented. >> Second. >> Second by Melissa. Any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor.
5-0. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Seconded by Melissa. Uh, non-debatable. All those in favor? 5. 5. We are adjourned.