the October 7th uh reading select board meeting to order. Tonight's meeting is being broadcast on RCTV um as well as Zoom. And the first item on the agenda is the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of
America. to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. So, we have a jam-packed meeting tonight.
First, I will go uh over the agenda and the first item is just an overview of the meeting, past and present. Essentially why I put this on here is I just want to um typically it would be Melissa's turn in the rotation for me passing off the chair to
her to run this meeting but I felt like I had to do this myself. Um specifically that I've been running uh well I ran the uh as chair of the charter committee for a year and a half. Um and that me all those meetings went off without a hitch.
Um and it's clear and present that uh I cannot use the same style here at the select board. Um you know whether that's good, bad or indifferent, it's open to interpretation. Um so in that aspect I would just like to clarify a couple items uh just moving forward.
um that every select board member shall respectfully address the chair, shall not speak until recognized by ch the chair and shall speak to the question under debate and shall avoid making disparaging comments about individuals and no speaker at a select board meeting
shall be interrupted except by a member uh making a quarter point of order or by the chair. Um so hopefully going forward um uh we'll see how these rules end up turning out. Public comment is uh two
minutes as well. Um it's going to be strictly enforced now. Jane and Maddie Jane in the room for two minutes. Maddie online for two minutes. You'll hear some music when um your time is up. So I'm going to uh adhere to the strict two minutes for that. Um
and that is essentially it I believe. I think Carlo, you had something. Yeah, I'd like to. Thank you, Chris. All right. Um, want to apologize for some of the comments I made at the last meeting. To the community of writing, please accept my apology for the use of foul and
inappropriate language that was there at the last meeting. As elected official representing the community, we are held to a higher standard, and I will continue to work and lead by a better example. After five years of lies and false accusations, I lost my temper. The
constant political divide is taking away from the work that needs to be done. I can only hope that all five of us will work together for the betterment of Reading and its residents. Thank you. Thanks, Carlo. Anybody else? All right, moving on to
the rest of the agenda. So 75 public comment for any items not included on the agenda. Um I'm going to be clarifying that in the future within the uh agenda that's being posted. That means that um for other items we allow
public comment, meaning on the proclamation for Italian Heritage Month at 7:25, you can speak on that as well. You have two minutes to speak on that, but if you speak during the public comment portion, then you can't speak on the um proclamation for Italian Heritage Month if those are both your same
comments. So you get one per um per agenda item. So after 7:05 public comment is 7:15 town manager report 720 community spotlight 7:25 the proclamation for a town heritage month 7:30 discusses establishment of a
commission on disabilities in reading 7:45 discuss and vote on designation of a special municipal employee status uh fire department. 750 discuss and vote on fire department permit fee schedule correction. That's from the last
meeting. 7:55, a public hearing uh discussing vote on a new annual all alcohol restaurant liquor license for Reading For LLC, DBA Tuscana Foro, located at 45 Walkers Drive. 8:00 is discussing vote on a trash and recycling
contract. 8:15 discuss a lease amendment and memorandum of understanding regarding parking for the Reading Center for Active Living, recal, and the pickle ball courts with Reading Ice Arena Authority and authorizes select board member to engage in negotiations on behalf of the board. 8:20 is an update
from the MBTA regarding the proposed turnback track. Uh 920 is discussing vote on appointments to the rec committee. 9:25 is discuss 32 Lincoln Street proposed roof repairs. 9:30 discuss and vote on an amendment to select board communication policy
section 14 uh an addition of social media and cell phone sections 950 select board the gazone reports 955 future agendas and 10:00 approve two sets of minutes so hopefully we stay on time
thank you um double uh so first off uh public comments Angela two minutes. So, um before you start the clock, um this does delve into something that is going to be on the agenda later. I will
not speak then if it's okay. I just prefer to do it now. Yep. Thank you. Angela Vinda, Orchard Park Drive. Um I'd like to speak to something, an article I actually read in uh writing recap. But first, I'd like to say um on September
10th, I received an email from Slackboard um Nobank Arena Representative Mr. Carl McFaden, which stated in part, "I don't know why as a taxpayer, I can't express my opinion on how we'd like to see the Burbank fund
spent. My question is to the town administrator. Um is that how you see Miss you see this, Mr. Cornelis uh you see the just as a taxpayer expressing an opinion on how Burbank funds are spent.
Miss Wellman expressed several times over meetings recently that she wanted to keep the Burbank and pick parking agreement as simple as possible and that Burbank didn't really want anything just the ability to use town parking occasionally. But that's not what Mr. Nefen announced to the school committee
the other night. In a faring piece in the recap, the editor writes about Mr. McFaden appearing before the school committee. Quote, McFaden revealed that the ice arena has reached a tenative agreement with the town to allocate 50% of its net income towards unified sport.
What the article doesn't say is that the arena that the town now receives 100% of the net income after stabilization fund. So, the town is not receiving anything additional from Burbank in this agreement.
the town could actually lose flexibility in determining how funds are spent in linear. This agreement is a real lose-lose for the town. There are better ways to fund unified sports and those options need to be explored. At the meeting, Mr. McFaden said to the school
committee, "I am your representative and I've been negotiating with the town." It was unclear actually who he was representing in those negotiations, especially as he was announcing this deal that the select board had not yet seen. Maybe if the select board had
moved for a batting cage, he might also input into negotiations, but for now, Mr. McFaden seems to just want your signature. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? two minutes name and address.
Thank you. Good evening. I hope Well, don't start his thing yet. I'll I'll look online in a moment. I think Jennifer said something, but I'll go to you guys after. All right. Go ahead. Good. Sorry. Good evening. Hope everybody had a great summer. Uh my name is Lucas Prao, 85 Hancock Street. I'm a
member of the reading turnback committee RTC which advocates for responsible rail modernizations and supports increased service for reading station. Our concern is not only the proposed turnback track location but the troubling way information has been presented to this
community and ETA project managers have repeatedly shared sound study results that appear incomplete or misleading results that downplay adverse impacts on residents. These findings were presented to the reading delegation to the RTC to
the 9:15 community meeting even after concerns about their accuracy were raised on 99. This is not an isolated issue. Since the outset of the project, it has been marked um by inconsistent data and shifting promises. A few
examples idling duration for diesel locomotives was initially 1 hour, now 15 to 20 minutes. Island time windows have shifted from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. to now 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Road gate closures. On the 2:25 meeting, a 12%
increase was cited. At the 99 meeting, a 40% increase was cited. At the 9:15 meeting, no percentage increase was cited at all. The pattern is clear. Incomplete data, inconsistent promises, and a failure to meaningfully engage the community most affected. We urge the
select board and all relevant reading officials to recognize these issues and ensure that any modernization effort is built on transparency, accountability, and genuine collaboration with a reading residents. It is the responsibility of town officials to safeguard reading residents. Our request tonight, my
request tonight, hold an emergency town meeting at the high school to brief the broader public on these concerns, particularly the butters in the entire reading community. Second, commit to a process that requires complete, consistent, and verifiable data before
decisions advance so residents can trust uh that they are what they are being told. Thank you. President, did you want to go next? All right. Two minutes name and address. Thanks. Mackenzie writings Hancock Street. I'm following up on Lucas's comments and uh
wanted to say that it's the town's responsibility to safeguard the residents, especially children. um which many of us in the room have. Um my I have a few questions that I'm going to lay out that I'm hoping that can be answered before any further discussion
or anything gets approved for the turnback. Um how will the peak hour gates closures be mitigated? How can you promise prompt responses to an emergency? There are school shootings, which is a terrible thing to say. There are asthma
attacks and there are a million other concerns that cannot the turnback cannot take priority over community health. Uh my second question is how will the town prevent intersection lockup and spill back into the neighborhoods because of
more gate closures? Boston police and fire need to be part of all of these conversations. And finally, who is responsible for creating additional parking if ridership increases? I have asked this question of the town multiple times and have not received a sufficient
response. So, I'm bringing it to the select board to hopefully get a better, clearer understanding of what this is going to do to our community. And with that all said, does the town have a plan for developing this infrastructure that
will have to support the turnback? And if not, then this project cannot move forward. Thank you. Hello, Linda Russo, 55 Han Park Street. Um, it shook me to my core when at one
of the last meetings at the library about the turnback, someone said that she was for this project simply because it would be convenient for her not to have to look at a schedule. This con the convenience that some will gain will
make life extremely stressful and some potentially dangerous for other residents of Reading. In my opinion, everyone in this town should be aware that there will be over 60 gate down closings a day that will be
significantly inconvenient for our emergency responders trying to respond to health and fire emergencies, especially on the west side of town. As we have only one ambulance and it is located on Main Street, remember we have
three schools on the west side of town. Parker Barrows and Joshua Eaton. According to this board's overseeing of public safety, how will the town ensure emergency response times are not compromised given the projected
increases in daily gate downtime and activation frequencies? Will Reett need another ambulance to keep us as safe as we are now? I don't think we should be less safe just because someone wants to have a convenient schedule.
according to your authority to coordinate inter agency operations. How will you, the board, implement emergency preeemption when street crossings are blocked more frequently? Would it be possible to have communication between
the train and the fire station to keep the gates open if an ambulance needs to respond to an emergency and have the train stop? something similar to like what happens downtown when the trucks have to go out and there's a red light
for everyone. Would it be possible? Um the the police department has multiple vehicles that can be positioned in different sectors of the town. The the ambulance there's only one. We can't redistrict it.
Thank you. Good evening. Well, good evening at Crowley 71 Vine Street. Since I have been coming here I think since January on this subject I have to ask why are we still here? Um given that the reading
wants town of Reading wants to enhance everybody's life. I question are we doing it for all the residents both the old and the young and certainly I have a lot of youth that ask me when is this
going to stop and why is why are they doing that I'm here to speak really on the environmental justice community and for those that don't know where that is and to those that are at home in the Tannerville I apologize because they
couldn't be here. It's they sit on the tracks virtually on the tracks of the old Reading Highland platform and that community also encomp encompasses more
than just Tannerville. It's other homes in that area. According to the law in 2023, the EPA empowered the state and local governments to protect residents from
air and noise pollution. The residents of Channavville comprised 80 units in nearby homes and they were never involved in any of the planning, any of the discussion of the MBTA. They were never consulted. They never
received the notice of intent the first time. Our group informed them and gave them the information. They were not informed of the recent NOI this past week. We informed them
yesterday. They were sent a label to the housing authority, but none of the residents saw it posted nor received it. who gave them information. Thank you. Sorry. It's two minutes. It goes by quick
unfortunately. Thought I had more. I should have got an email. Couple more in the room and then I'll get to online. Awesome. All right. Good evening. Aaron Perry 55 Hancock Street. I'd like to cover some
topics related to data access integrity and transparency uh related to the turnback truck. So to kind of help frame these topics, um the state auditors March 4th, 2025 audit, the MBTA and COLA contract calls the MBTA a high-risk
agency requiring consistent oversight because of its budget size, operational complexity, and the risks of the service that it provides. That same audit states in multiple ways that the audit was delayed by inconsistent and inaccurate information provided by the MBTA,
prolonged waits for data, and data that didn't align with contracts and procedures. So, the audit clearly outlines issues that directly undermine public trust. Residents have experienced these same exact issues. Repeat requests for raw data behind studies and
presentations have continued to go unanswered. So why does this matter to rain? Concentrated turnback operations affect public safety, emergency responses, gate closures and schedules, and local air quality. We need verifiable data, not just asurances so
that the town first responders and residents can confirm outcomes. So in this vein, I am requesting that the town take the following actions. I would uh recommend adopting a data access and transparency reporting framework that requires the MTA and
Polis to post public data sets monthly to the town's website. Implement a system to share real time gate closing data with a mod uh emergency response teams. Adopt emissions and idling reporting transparency policies. implement a
third-party independent audit and review system to validate emission and idling reports along with emergency response coordinations and then finally uh explore establishing a reading transit committee. So these requests are all rooted in providing
better service to reading and by making decisions transparent, data driven and focused on the health and safety of the residents. Thank you. Uh Jason Russo, 90 Prospect Street. Uh so this is in relation to the turnback track and the 60 gate down closings that
will happen in one day uh every day that this new schedule would be proposed. Um so in relation to emergency vehicles uh and the impact on those vehicles from those 68 down closings, the police department has multiple vehicles that can be positioned across the town. Um
and I'm sure that there's a workable solution for that. But with only one ambulance, it's not possible for that fire department or for the EMTs to be able to be on both sides of that gate uh that's coming down the extra 60 times. So, I'm sure it would weigh heavily on
that EMT uh staff and and their mission if they are kept from having the quickest uh possible response time. So therefore, could you, the board, request that the META provide the fire department with a one-week simulation of
the projected gate closings so that they can have a realistic model to follow as opposed to just waiting until this is put upon them to figure it out after the fact um when it's kind of too late. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you, Karen Janowski. 30A circle. I'm not speaking on the turn back. I have another um something else I did want to bring up. At the last meeting, it was mentioned during public comment that Carlo in his role as chair of the
Simons Way Exploratory Committee was quote continually promoting his interest as a pickle ball player and instructor end quote. And that this was acknowledged by a majority of the committee members. I want to be very clear that statement is not true. I served on swack as the council on aging
representative and I can say with confidence that no such thing occurred. It would have been an ethical violation and it did not happen. Carlo was elected chair at our very first meeting in December 2022. He stepped up to take the chairmanship
and again unanimously reelected in the summer of 2023. If any of us had felt that he was advocating for himself, there's no way he would have been reelected unanimously. It's time to put an end to the that repeated claim. I have heard it mentioned by other others
publicly who did not serve on SWAK. It's inaccurate. It's unfair. And as someone who served on that committee, I want the record to reflect that I strongly disagree with that characterization. On another note, I'm very grateful for those who are working tirelessly to resolve all recal and pickle ball issues
for the benefit of reading citizens. And I want to thank you Jane and Matt for all that you were doing. I was going to say something more about pickle wall but I don't just in case I want to say something later on during that conversation I will based off what you've said Chris I won't say it now thank you
thank you anybody else in the room [Music] Mark Agony Lee Street uh last year the MBTA proposed spending $1 million to lay a mile of track to idle empty diesel locomotives a mile away from the train
station next to a dense residential neighborhood and on top of the town's aquifer uh protected aquifer zone stationary empty trains idling in a new location for seven hours a day all in the name of cutting 15 minutes as we
said then this does not just affect the people who live next to the track reading police and fire chiefs express concerns about the significant impact of public safety do the people of South Street know the impact to the time it will take for an ambulance to cross town because it's stuck at a gate that will
close every 15 minutes. Do the people of Walnut Street know that a fire truck will be delayed for the same reason? What about the people crossing Route 28, Wuburn Street, Willow Street or Ash Street? Over,200 people signed a petition to stop that project back in February.
Today, the MBTA is back with the identical plan, hoping that everyone forgot how bad bad of an idea this really is. We expressed concerns about pollution. This project emits so much pollution it requires diesel made from used cooking oil which has doubled the cost of regular diesel. Have the costs
of the less available diesel been considered. Even assuming its implementation, the MBTA's own chart predicts a doubling of cancerous NOx emissions. We expressed concern about noise. The MBTA performed a sound study in April by idling a train for 20
minutes for one day and claimed noise was insignificant because it was two dB under the allowable limit. Did the MBTA model the actual proposed schedule? Has anybody even seen the proposed schedule? A few weeks ago, the MBTA questioned where we got the seven hours of idling,
which was on their own chart. As the MBTA knows, there's a 10 decel penalty for noise before 7 a.m. Did you know that the MBTA failed to apply that penalty to a diesel locomotive that will be idling in the new location at 5:30 in
the morning? like to dismiss pollution impact. To dismiss noise impact is a deceptive misrepresentation by the NBTA. We deserve answers and they can't be. We're just a railroad and the frequency is an operational issue. Thank you.
I should be the last until we get online. Yeah. So you open it up. Alli Hitler, Alexander more formally. Um, I've been working with these guys since I moved into street. Okay. Thank you.
Um, I've been working with these guys since last year. Um, when I moved here, when this all started, I was breastfeeding one of my kids. So, I have very small children that will be affected by this on Hancock Street. Um, so, thank you to my fellow residents for their questions this evening and to
everybody that's here to listen. I'm a resident. I'm a weekly commuter rail rider from Reading to North Station and a mother of two small children. I can stand here and elaborate on how this turnback track will increase traffic that will make morning drop off a
nightmare. An unwanted pollution to the brand new conservation land. Pollution for our homes, the little lungs that play in our backyards. The noise and disruption. You name it, we've explored it. But rather, I'll pose questions that
were still looking to be answered. According to your authority to call special sessions, will you convene an emergency town meeting if key issues aren't resolved by a certain date? What is the source of the funding for the turnback? Is there a deadline that needs to be met to have that to have that
funding be spent? Will you establish a transit committee? We've brought that up time and time and time again because we feel like we're the most researched, probably more in the actual NBTA employees at this point. um and their data is just not matching up to what we're finding.
If this goes through, I'm under the impression that it will because it seems like we don't have any authority. What is the measurement for success? Is it one person per train? What if there is no increase in ridership? What then? Do we then tell them to decrease it? I ride
that train. I'm looking for improved transit and I do not think that this is the answer. Does this board at this present moment have the baseline data and clarity on what the MBTA's KPIs are for this project? If the answer is no to any of those
questions, there is still a lot more work that needs to be done. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else in the room? Anybody on the line if you want to raise your hands? Yes, but I don't know how to raise my
hand here. Well, you can go first with name and address then, please. I'm Kyle Touro of 43 Vine Street. Uh, of course, we're disappointed that any of this is happening in our town. Uh, one of the key things, not only the
pollution, but the noise pollution. I would like it to be on your responsibility to ensure that if the MBTA is going to railroad us with this development going through and it's not situated at the train station where it really belongs and they're going to park
the train in the middle of the park where it does not belong that acoustic panels be demanded by this committee and consom as a way of mitigating the acoustic problem that's going to occur. That sound barrier can be something
that's not a stone wall. As an architect, I've worked on having designs that baffle the sound of high noise creating HVAC systems when required to address the decel levels in the neighborhood of a new project being
developed, etc. This is a viable ask. It's something that could be the length of just the diesel train where the oil pan tray will be placed. It can be constructed. There's no excuses in terms of the width of the
train bed or and anything else. This is something that as a town board that is acting on behalf of the constituents that in particular live close to the train tracks and will be impacted
that this action should be taken and sure that the MBTA installs that. Thank you. Thanks Kyle. Uh Jennifer I think I saw your hand. You can unmute and um I'm Jennifer Allen. I live at 10
Hemlock Road, very close to Joshua Eden, kind of in the back backyard of Joshua Eden. Um, a few things. Number one, obviously, it's concerning about the emergency response time, especially because I'm very close to South Street in that area. I have a three-year-old
that has had to be hospitalized about seven times for a significant asthma, and I have concerns about um the air quality, which I'll get into in a second. Um, and I have a 5-year-old that is um severe nut allergies. So we unfortunately have had to utilize the ambulance um service more than once for
both kids. Um so there is definitely a concern for me related to that. But the more the even the more significant piece is the long-term um health effect of this and what the air quality component um what that looks like. Um I did swing
by the board of health a few weeks ago and I inquired is there agreed upon air quality testing? who is going to be responsible for doing that. And they were saying that the MBTA has not been very transparent with any of that. Um they haven't even agreed to pay for um
testing. And so again, I think, you know, it's one thing. It sounds like we have no choice. It's just going to be thrown in ratting regardless. But I definitely think they need to be held accountable and they need to be responsible for their actions and we
need to make sure I, you know, I really appreciate um fellow residents here saying we should have a committee in place. How are we going to hold them accountable? What if they violate it and they don't come through? Because the MBTA has been notorious. as someone that rode the MBTA for 15 years working at
Mass Journal, I can say they never come through on many of the promises that they promised over the years um in terms of writership. And so again, um significant concerns with the air quality component um what are and maybe it's been discussed in other um
meetings. I didn't have the opportunity to attend, but what are the chemicals that are going to be released? Um do we have studies on again what that impact would be? Um, thank you, Jennifer. Uh, anybody else online?
Maddie, in case I can't see anyone, is anyone raising? I don't see any more hands raised. All righty. All right. So, we will move on to town manager report. Adam, take it away.
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, a couple brief updates. So reading, the reading coalition held its time to gather, a time to remember those lost to suicide and substance misuse um a few weeks ago. It was a very moving tribute um held right here outside of town hall. I was
happy to participate and present the first ever reading poetry prize to reading high school senior Aaron Sto who came and read his poem. So I would like to thank Erica Mallet, the reading coalition and all the guest speakers that made it a very successful event
this year. were very well attended. I'd like to mention that the Reading Finance Committee is scheduled a financial forum to kick off our budget season season that'll take place tomorrow night, October 8th at 7 p.m. at the library. Um, FINCOM will meet again on October
15th to actually vote on the guidance for the budget for the FY27 budget. So, we are getting right into the teeth of budget season uh beginning tomorrow night. I'd also want to mention that the Reading North Reading Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual fall beer
garden this Saturday um October 11th from 3:00 to 7:00 in the town common. Um this is a free familyfriendly event uh with live music and kids activities. So it should be pretty fun. Um and we're hoping for great weather and we'd like to support the chamber in this endeavor.
Many of the things I've been updating you on the last few meetings um like trash and recycling contract and the MBTA turnaround track uh are on the regular agenda tonight. So I'll be covering those during the regular agenda items. Thank you. Thanks Matt Jane. Did you have some
things? Uh thank you Mr. Chairman. I do. Um the Eastern Gateway Community Workshop is coming up on October 20 uh October 27th. The workshop will summarize project feedback to date, provide active participation in small group design
activities, share visual concepts for the district. Um the public's feedback is needed to help shape future zoning um and can encourage future investment in private development that aligns with the community's vision. Our our SVPs are not required, but they're requested and
they're on the timeline site for that link. Thank you. Thank you. Right. So, we will move on to 720 community spotlight. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, last week, about two weeks ago, I think I spotlighted a volunteer. This week, there's a few employees that I would
like to mention. So, I wanted to congratulate Reading Police Officer Kayn Balbo. She has just recently been named the department's employee of the quarter, and she was very active this summer um with residents helping to foster positive community relationships.
Um, officer Belo stopped by several lemonade stands, issuing many bicycle helmet citations to kids where they get free pizza and ice cream. Um, and this is all during her daily patrol shifts. Um, so she's become quite popular with the children out there. So, I want to
say to keep up the good work uh to the officer and we'll see her out there next summer, I'm sure. And just another brief update also, now that school is back in session, I'd like to highlight two of our most dedicated crossing guards. Tina Lance, who's been a crossing guard for
31 years here, and Sydney Sydney um Assie, who has been a guard for 30 years. So, both are back working hard to ensure that our children are safing safely crossing the streets on their way to school. Um there's sort of unsung heroes out there crossing guards. So I
would like to shine a little spotlight on them tonight. So thank you. Thanks. Um I'll just add to that Cindy. I know that um how you mentioned that she celebrated the 30 years um that uh the residents in
the neighborhood that walked that route, Alicia Williams and a couple other ones ended up giving her some gifts that they raised money for for her. Um, so it's good to see that happening as well because she used to work at Rathon and then answered an ad in the newspaper and
I could write a whole story on this perhaps. I will. Thank you. Thanks. All right. So, we will move on to the proclamation for Italian Heritage Month. This was brought forward by Carlos. So, do you want to go over it or what did
you want to do? Do you want to read it? How am I reading it? I don't know if you wanted to say something first before you did it or you know Oh, no. There's too much to say. I'm just going to read this. Um, all right.
Well, I guess it's good to note I I learned it by googling it that on the state house. This is what prompted this made it a law in 1999 that October um every October is Italian-American Heritage Month and they have a big celebration and my uncle was honored two
years ago. I wish I did this last year as chair, but I didn't. So, I requested it this year. So, they have a really great celebration where they honor distinguished Italian Americans for their contributions to society and uh a lot of communities and states celebrate
Italian heritage month. So, for the proclamation, whereas Italian-Americans have made significant contributions to the cultural, social, and economic fabric of the United States and their influence continues to shape the national identity. And whereas the month of October is a time to honor and
celebrate the rich traditions, history and achievements of Italian-Americans who have enhanced the diversity and strength of our nation through art, science, industry, and civic engagement. And whereas Italian-Americans have contributed to the growth and development of our cities and towns,
enriching our shared history with their distinctive customs, languages, food, music, and festivals. And whereas we recognize the world of Italian Americans in fields such as education, politics, business, entertainment, science, and technology whose accomplishments
continue to inspire new generations to contribute to the greater good of society. And whereas Italian-Americans have preserved their cultural heritage through family values, community traditions, and the nurturing of future generations who continue to honor their heritage while embracing the diverse
American embracing the diverse American identity. And whereas the month of October serves an an opportunity for all to celebrate the history, contributions, and culture of Italian Americans, as well as the importance of cultural exchange and
understanding. Now therefore, we the the select board of the town of Reading do hereby proclaim the month of October as Italian Heritage Month in Reading, Massachusetts, and urge all residents to join in recognizing in recognizing and celebrating the many contributions of
Italian Americans to our community and our nation. In witness thereof, we have here to set our hands and caused the seal of Ready Massachusetts to be affixed the 7th of October, 2025. Thank you, Carla. Um,
I I appreciate um the flexibility since this is being done on October 7th and not requiring a special meeting or anything else at the beginning of the month. So, um I appreciate you being flexible in and how
you handle this. And uh you know I I've learned a lot from Italian uh heritage month uh myself from reading the articles that I've seen pop up and I believe I'm somewhat Italian mainly
Irish. I don't know I know more about my dog than myself. So she's half cavo poo cavalier whatever. Um but in any event um you know it's good to see these kind of things celebrated um and I was going to bring it up in my leazison reports
but we obviously had the pizza fest here a couple weeks back um which was a massive success I think in my opinion and it's it's good to see um this coming after that. Anyone else
anywhere from the public? Thanks. Two minutes name and address. All right. Guy Mangano Richard. I want to thank Select Mini for uh bringing this to fruition. For more than 2,000 years, the genius of
Italian nines has shaped the world we live in and deeply influenced the United States of America. From the ancient world, Cisero taught us the principles of law and liberty that inspired America's founding fathers. Julius C's reforms and leadership shaped
western governance. Virgil's and Dante's divine comedy gave meaning to duty, destiny, and moral courage. Lessons echoed in our own nation story. During the Renaissance, the Italian spirit reignited human humidity's
pursuit of excellence. Da Vinci's imagination breaks the art and science. Michelangelo's masterpieces defined beauty. Galileo, the father of modern science, showed the world the truth is worth pursuing even against all odds.
Macaveli explored the realities of power shaped in political thought study in American classrooms to this day. In the modern age, Italian brilliance powered new worlds. Bolt's electric batteries sparked the age of energy. Marone's radio united continents through sound.
Enrico Fairmy working here in America built the first nuclear reactor and ushered in the atomic era. Rita Mulchini discovery of nerve growth factor opened doors in American medicine and neuroscience. Americans carried the Italian Americans
carry that legacy forward. Amade Janini founded Bank of America to give opportunity to immigrants. Charela Laguardia as mayor of New York redefined public service and integrity and compassion. Tony Scalia shaped modern constitutional
interpretation of US Supreme Court. And through culture, Sinatra, Deaggio, Francisa, Scorsesi gave voice to the American dream through song, sport and film, telling stories that resonate with every generation. Today's innovators like Fagen, creator of the first
microprocessor, Arnold Nobel Prize winning engineer, carry that torch of excellence into the future. Thank you, Guy. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you. Anybody else? Yep. Two minutes name and address, please. My name is Joseph Guy Federa. I'm with a
street. That's fantastic guy. Thank you for the history. I would like to talk about and honor Italian in the Italian-American community. Um, we in the Italian-American community have three things that are embedded in our souls. It's our faith in Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Savior, our family, and our culture. There's nothing that on this planet or beyond that can break that bond. And it's been so for thousands of years, and it will be so for thousands of years more. Thank you.
Thank you. Anyone else in the room? Anyone online? Maddie? Not seeing any hands online. All right, Karen, do I have a motion? Move that October 2025 be recognized as
month. Second. Seconded by Melissa. Any discussion? Any other friendly amendment? Sure. Strike 2025. So okay be just October
and that's fine with me of information to understand your amendment. Um you want it to be permanently annual thing like we do for other proclamations. Yes. For the entire month of October. October is Italian American Heritage
Month. So does this limit other proclamations for the same month? the atheists want a month or named after them. Like does it mean that we can only have one month? Um I don't think so. No, I brought this forward. Anyone's welcome to bring anything forward.
That clarification. I um I'm not sure I am sold on this. I um like our ability to display flags on the common. Um we have to be very careful about how we
do this. and um not run a foul of of um not being able to say no when let's say the atheists want us to declare December as um atheist American month. Um so I'm not
going to support this. I'll abstain that makes more comfortable. Um, I would just like to say I I was under the similar mindset of Karen a couple years back um when I made the same arguments that she's making now.
But the I don't want to say the catch in this scenario because I said I would bring forward anything any resident brings me because listen it's it's not about me up here, it's about everybody else. Um, but to that point it was um
discussed that as long as it was a board member that was doing this, it doesn't fall into the same scenario as a flag policy or something else. Um, do I agree with that? Not really, but that is what has uh stated to me multiple times and
that's the way that I look uh at that going forward. Can I just clarify? Of course. So, we've had a couple of months where we had other um proclamations just for my own information. Do we have to request every year at the same time
for the proclamation? So, would this fall into that category? In August, we'll start planning for October or September for is that it's not a it's not a written ask to move kind of policy. It just Yes. It's been ask each year to do it. Correct.
Okay. Thanks. I'm just following the state, Karen, but the state is done. Oh, no. I just I just was curious. I didn't know if, you know, starting in January, we should look at our calendar and see all the different things that we usually do just so they don't fall through the cracks. And you had some kind of fall through the cracks. So, that's all I was Yeah, there's certain things that we do
on a yearly basis that we have been doing DPW week, Pride Month, um to name a few and we're doing some proclamations for that. So, you know, I brought this forward. I'm an Italian American. I have no problem with it. I just wanted to make sure
that's all. Yeah, you were mentioning following what the state does. Is this been declared at the state level that the entire month? This is a law. Yes. Yes. They're actually flying the flag.
So, I'm just wondering if we need to do this. They've already declared it. We just need to put the flag up. We're not putting the flag up. This is just a proclamation. Let's put the flag up. Well, I like that. Thank you, J.
But unfortunately, we are not. Um, the flag is a whole different scenario. So, the way that this is, uh, did you read it? I think it was the friendly amendment. I think he amended it. Is that okay? I'll second Carlo's amendment. Okay.
Yeah. So, any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor? Opposed? Obstain. 401. Um, so then back to the main motion here, which already read, right?
And Melissa seconded. Any discussion? See, all those in favor? Opposed? Abstain. 401. Thank you. We'll pass this around. Carlo already signed it.
[Applause] Thank you to everyone who came. Thank you. Thank you. All right. So, where are we? Uh 7:30 discuss establishment of a
commission on disabilities and writing. page six in the packet. Um Albert, you did Albert has a presentation the board and he need to present it. Of course. Thank you. Albert. Is it coming up?
Maddie should be bringing to bring it up. Yeah. Um, do you want to just give it a sec, Albert? I know people are still clearing out so everyone can hear you. Thanks. Seats freed up.
Lara is going to handle our difficulties. difficult job. All right, the floor is yours. Thanks, Chris. Um, so again, thanks for the opportunity to talk about the disabilities condition. This is a a good
way to frame it as a discussion. Um, um, just before I just do some big thank yous again, thank you uh, our town manager for his overall It's up to you. Yeah, I hear you overall support for this work. Um, uh,
thank you Karen Herrick for bringing this initially to this conversation and to me and to and to others. Um, I know this is a conversation that has started in the past in terms of having a commission on disability. So, I'm just kind of happy kind of in my role to kind
of further that conversation. Um uh so kind of before I dive in again I just want to give an overall support and thank thanks for our support for the office of equity and social justice. Um that's about three years old now. Um next will be two years for me and so
it's been kind of great being in this role and kind of furthering along the work of um any community here in reading that feels like they don't have a voice or feels like they are are kind of left off of the the conversation. So again, that's my overall work that I'm doing here. So this conversation, I think
again is really about me just sharing um just some information about how it looks to create an office of disability here already. You've created offices, I'm sorry, you created disability commissioners before, so this is not anything I think that's new to you guys, but I think my job is just kind of share
with you a little bit around what I found in my research around this and then obviously decision is yours to kind of if you want to bring this on. So if you want to turn to the second um so I think the context of this discussion kind of sense for me kind of four areas. One is uh you know as I was
coming into this office they did a needs assessment about two years ago and I really I think highlight a lot of the areas around the need of the disabled community. And so I think those popped out pretty clear us. Uh we put those links out publicly. So I think that's out there in the public domain for
folks. Again, the core of the work that I do in the office again is really about addressing any marginalized community, but also those communities that may need extra attention based upon that. And disability commission, disabilities community is definitely one of those. And then finally, I think that fastest growing community here in Reading as we
know it's 55 plus um which is um impacted tremendously by um um disability is impacted in that community tremendously. So, and also finally uh the Reading Public Schools through the CPAC program um really I think highlights the work around the
disability community within the public schools. So, I think those four areas I think really make this conversation particularly now um timely um to have it. So, next please. So, this is a kind of Texas slide but basically I want to kind of highlight
two things on this slide. one is that um you this idea of what is a disabilities commission and also want to pioneer this ADA coordinator which I have um now become for the town of writing for the last about four or five months. Thanks to our town manager for that assignment.
Um so I speak about those two in this particular slide again very dense and also very smaller text but for the most part this commission and its function uh is kind of an advisory role. Um and it advises our municipal government you
guys on um the needs of disability community um I guess the town and city level obviously we're town um also it informs us um about the concerns and best practices that are needed for the disabled community. So again those are
two kind of buzzwords advise inform that center on this uh disability condition. Um, also I think it's important to state that um, the ADA coordinator which is not always tied to the disabilities commission is something I think is
unique. Here we have reading I'll share another slide later some other communities that have the same kind of function but that is something by law um, as a as a municipality we have to have an ADA coordinator. Um, is am I No, it's no, this is being discussed
later on in the agenda. really discussing that. Don't disturb. I don't know what happened. Appreciate you. Um, so this ADA role is something obviously mandated by the state that we have to have for years. You know, laws here is sat in our clerk's department. Um, and so
basically, um, this is something by law, we have to have it. Um, it supports the disabled community and everyday activities that are going on with that community. And the coordinator is a municipal staff person. Again, I'm sorry, Lord. survey that role now may really I think is it really helps to
ensure that we are compliant so it's a compliant kind of position also kind of handles disability related issues um there's a grievance policy that usually kind of follows this process um again I said earlier this has been kind of by default with our clerk's department
since 84 has been a mandate by state so this opportunity now for the coordinator to kind of sit with someone like me who's kind of doing this work is kind of an opportunity if we chose to go that direction in terms of having this you know be in my office also supporting the
commission itself. So next um slide um thanks so I think there's a few ways that this uh commission supports the municipality. One is it as I mentioned earlier it advises us on how to stay compliant. Um, also it really partners,
which I think is a key thing of me and the community should know this partners with people with disabilities to make their voice be heard, which oftentimes is not heard. Um, also it really allows us to assist the town ensuring that we're we're meeting requirements based
upon, you know, there's a link here, but really there's some requirements that we have to kind of meet as a as a municipality that really helps us stay in line with those, ensures that we stay in line with those. also really helps um keep our this is a term we may not be familiar with is really making sure that
we keeping up to date on this transition plan which is something again that we have to have as a state as a municipality we haven't had it um I think we'll be okay uh but I think we need to make sure that we have those two components a transition plan as well as a um a um compliance policy that um we
can um follow also it really helps us to share the concerns of developers so anyone we have two big projects happening right now a town, but make sure that we're reminding developers that we kind of have, you know, this this um this commission in place and it could be a way to partner with them as
well as they're coming in doing their projects. Um also can review projects that are going on like the planning and other town meeting projects really allows us to make sure that we're not just compliant but really just making sure that we are being thoughtful about those spaces. Um and finally again it
coordinates with um you know advocates and those elected officials that are looking to uh uh within the disability around laws and regulations. So it's next but I just want to let you know at least some key ways that this commission supports your role in technology. Maddie next.
So again some of this stuff I think is pretty straightforward the way any board any any you know commission you have. Uh for this we can have up to 13 members. Um and it's chosen by the select board or the town manager. Um it's uh you know
made up of majority of people with disabilities which I really think I love that. Um one member has to be from elected official kind of you guys. One member has to be a family member or person with disability and members are initially appointed. It's a one or two year threeear terms. Um not a whole lot
of requirements on how it you have to attend meetings keep records by report. So it's not a whole lot. It's different than probably any other commission or or board you have here writing. Next slide. So again, something you guys will love. I think there's a couple ways that
finance has kind of come through um through this. One is there's this grant, municipality ADA improvement grant that pretty much is guaranteed to any city or town that has a commission. Um you can do upwards to 35,000. The average awards
about 10,000. um opens up in May, closes in June. So, um that's a timeline for it. And so, it's something I think that we can be mindful of in terms of um revenue for this particular commission. Also, um you can receive gifts and property, you know, things like that to
help support the commission as well. Um a lot of this is based upon what the town decides that or what the commission decides they want to do with their particular kind of program for the year. That kind of drives the budget. Also the other pot of money comes from um something that I've connected with our
our assistant chief of police around parking tickets. So something that legal parking tickets and handicap spots that revenue source set aside in separate fund to support um the commission again. So she was looking into that deputy commission assistant deputy was looking into that to see kind of what that
looked like for us here in Red. Um next slide may so quick dues again just uh you know what the commission commission does advises again um some examples looking at systemic things around barriers and
services you know looking at how to suggest some different policies that can support the disabled community what it doesn't do is help with specific requests from private business or individuals so that's a big distinction and we want to make sure that we're um um doing that and I talked to a lot of folks folks in my research around this a
lot of you know folks that are ADA folks or folks running conditions and this is something I think there's some blurry lines there so I think we just have to be very clear with our residents around that these aren't kind of individual requests that are are taken around this next slide
um again so that's how you started um again you kind of um compose members for adoption again I'm trying to tell you I do your job but this is more just me just putting together this for you um you take a vote um develop goals um and guidelines floor your commission and
you get the members. Uh it's kind of pretty straightforward with that. The good thing and this is live coming in a few minutes that we're not obviously last in doing this and uh and there other folks that you know other towns or communities have done this so I think we um can kind of borrow some similar models around what other um
municipalities have done but again this is something pretty much you guys have done before. So next slide. So these are fair communities. Again, these are hyperlinks, so you can kind of look. I mean, some great things happening. The other communities around their commissions. Um, some folks are being real creative. Some folks are just
kind of there always keeping the seat warm. My town and I live in Winchester, so we have a pretty active community. Um, you guys, we can battle against STEM, aren't you? But, you know, we're um, but yeah, some really great things that folks are doing out there. Um, I think, you know, uh, so these are some examples around I think what we could
kind of follow around some of that stuff. Uh that's it for me. So just want to share some resources. Last slide. Um you know then the state does a really good job of giving us information about these commissions, how to support them,
how to structure them, examples. U so yeah, so I think they make it kind of easy for us to look at to kind of establish things up. So um yeah. So any questions for you guys? Thank you, Albert. Board members, any questions? Melissa,
thank you. Thank you, Albert, for bringing this to us today. Um, I know this has been a conversation um that we've discussed here, but never actually have gone, you know, taken this next step. So, I appreciate you doing that for us. So, I just want to clarify something that I think I'm correct on, but um to
be eligible for the municipal ADA improvement grant, we have to have a commission, correct? Yes. Yes, that's what I thought. Okay. I mean, for me, that seems like not only to try to apply for this grant money and just to, you know, make sure we're, you know, doing the right thing by all our residents in town. I completely support
this. Yeah. Thank you. Yes. So, thank you. You're welcome. Karen, um, can you apply for the grant every year? You can. Yep. And excuse me. What is the transition plan? Yeah, I know. Right. I'm still learning.
Some of this is I'm I'm still doing my homework. I was in school again with some of this stuff, you know. So, you can say you don't know. Uh, I can say that. You can. Yes. Can I say we'll learn it together? No, I mean we'll we all learn together and and and I think what it really encompasses is that everything that you
are doing in your work around um ADA falls in that plan. Okay. And typically the plan is kind of I remember being updated like every five years. It involves like any kind of structures in your community, anything. So, it's all
there, but it's Yeah. So, it's something we work on when the commission is start. Well, no, they're separate. Oh, they're separate. Yeah. So, I'm sorry. I put two things in this presentation together. One is I put some the ADA work. Yep. Which kind of ADA and the kind of which has these two big buckets which is
grievance policy and the transition plan. Those are two things that come with the ADA work. And then separate from that you have the commission. So essentially the commission the ADA stuff is by we have to have that be compliant with the state commission. You don't have to have a commission. Okay.
You're not Yeah. You're not out of compliance if you don't have a commission. Um I love this idea and I got caught so by surprise by thinking that the largest population is over 55. I just assumed it was all school age. I'm like wow. Yeah.
I fall into that category. So um so do I. I love that and thank you for bringing it to us. probably worth getting over. Hey, Karen. Thank you. I was just about to say this is this is brought up by residents. I see at least two here who have brought this up in the past and I I I would love for them to comment this evening.
Sure. But but I have to agree with you. I don't I didn't know anything about this. So, I I I appreciate you being here and taking the time to educate us and I'm fully supportive. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for having the opportunity, Carlo.
Yeah. Thank you. Um, so just so I understand that we're Lara is passing the baton to you. That's already passed. It's already passed. Yeah, we're running. She literally passed it to me five months ago. I've been running. Yeah, I'm running fast,
too. Exactly. No, yeah, that that that is that ADA work that officially um through through our town manager passed to me, the ADA coordinator. So, I am that officially for the town for the last like five months, I think it is. Is that pretty much the Matthew? Okay. And
I and I think most of us know up here that this wasn't brought up because we're lacking in ADA compliance or we're not doing the right thing. This is just formalizing a commission, a committee to help. Yeah. So, kind of separate again a
little bit and I'm sorry again if I confuse folks putting two things in your presentation. I apologize. So, the ADA work, I just wanted to reference it because first you have to have a staff person that has to staff the commission. So um we have we would have that do this
kind of role. Um we were out of compliance with the with the ADA work but just there was some well we slightly out of compliance. So I think we really we didn't have a grievance policy and we did not have transition. Those are two like low hanging fruits things that we and we have to do it now some two of
those one of those in draft form now. So we that's coming out the pipe. So we definitely need to get that up and that's for the ADA work that has to get done up on our website. Yes. Gotcha. Thank you. Thanks, Albert. Um, speaking of running, you don't have a cast on for the first
time in two years. Is that Absolutely. First time in like two years at this point. Like I've been running. Yes. Yes. Pay attention to people wearing casts. Um, so speaking with the the work that um that you're mentioning that we have
to do. So, who oversees the policies and procedures that you're currently doing? Would it just be you or does it get signed off by matter like the grievance policy that you have? Who would be the sign off? So what I understand is that it's the
town manager that would sign off on that reance policy and transition plan. That's how I've understood it from talking to another from other colleagues as well, but I can look into I can look into that a little bit more to find out that for sure. Um for you um both. Yeah, I'm just wondering if it's something we
have to do or it's ends up being the the committee, but that seems separate. I think you mentioned um so kind of the not semantics, you know, the parameters that that would have to go by and you said there was another policy as well.
I think there was something else, two things, right? So, you have a transition plan and you have a grievance policy. Those are two things that typically with the ADA work kind of up on your website. They kind of tell town residents here's the process for us actually having to file complaint
or whatever like that and the town has its way of telling the residents this is what our process is. So it's kind of a process document right now essentially up until this time I think folks would just kind of call Laura directly like I have a complaint and she would respond
to it. And I think these these grievance policy kind of gives us a little bit of a it just allows us to kind of respond when it works kind of us versus kind of on the residents time, you know, so helps keep us a little organized on our side. Excellent. And I'll get back to you about the
transition plan. So I just got to get to I'm getting speed at myself. No, I hear you. Anybody else before I open this to the public? Anybody in the room? Yep.
Two minutes. Name and address. Maria Morgan Lee Street. I hope this is a no-brainer, but I'm getting a portion of people looking like this just in case it's not a no-brainer. Um, we really need this. Every directly accessible town um from Reading has one um
Wakefield established there in May of 1989. So, we are behind the curve, I think, on this one. I'm super thankful to Albert for spearheading this and doing this. Um, I think this really fills a void
that we have in Reading that, um, I have like sort of discovered over the past couple of years and, uh, it's it's been brought up to me twice. Do you guys have a commission on disabilities? You know, no. Well, you should start one. No, I don't have time for that. Um but then
it, you know, I do think that we really need one and I'm glad to see that it's starting and I think um yeah, people people with disabilities um need to have a voice, but we're tired and we're doing a lot. So to have that established commission um makes sure that um yeah,
their voice is our voice is not ignored. So I hope it's a no-brainer. Thank you. Thank you, Melina. Anybody else? Anyone on the line? Maddie. Um, Michelle, first I saw you. Two
minutes of adjust, please, please. Thank you. I'm delighted that we're having this conversation. Uh, disability commission would offer insight and recommendations to prove improve access. And the mass Massachusetts office on
disability offers a structure for these commissions to and how to function and how to have the ADA resources and also grants. So it's a very structured process and an open process.
And I'm just going to say quickly that I've been listening to the community planning and development commission regarding um Burbank recalc and parking and how much time they have spent and talking
about this topic and they're very well-intentioned. However, they don't really know where to go for as appears as a resident that they don't know about the resources. It's one in 25
spaces minimum. If the population such as a hospital or senior center, you want to do more than the minimum and it needs to be close proximity. So, there's a lot of things that this commission could do as far as leg work to help
inform. So, this group, well-intentioned group, and I was delighted to see how much time they're spending, would have a group to be able to help inform them in making their decisions. And that would be the function of such a
commission. And 25% of the American population is considered someone who will be qualified under the ADA for accommodation. So think about 25% of the reading population and the majority of
disabilities invis is invisible and mobility is the number one impairment and only 1% are wheelchair users. I'd be glad to offer more information on the statistics of this as this is my passion. Thank you.
Thank you, Michelle. Uh Jacqueline, I think I saw your hand. Hi, I'm Joselyn Lee on Grand Street. I um as a parent, a local resident, as well as a Reading CPAC board member, we just wanted, you know, first to thank
Albert for bringing this um here tonight and everyone that's worked towards this and just want to say that this definitely is needed for um the community, not just the um children on special education and um you know, the
elderly population and anyone that has a disability. um you know to have representation and have meaningful collaboration uh with the town and the community and anyone that serves on the committee would go so
far to make this a safe and inclusive uh community and um we just wanted to voice our support. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else online? Mattie, not seeing any other hands. Matt, did you have something?
Yeah, I just wanted to say so this would be a local option. So, if if the sense of the board is we want to go forward with it, I would put it on the warrant probably for April and it's a town meeting vote to adopt that statute. So, just to be clear on that, um I wanted I wanted to say that and I wanted to say
thank Albert for his work that he's done so far as ADA coordinator. It's only been a few months. I asked him to do it. hit the ground running and you know brought this presentation together. So I just wanted to personally thank him for his work. Thanks Matt. Um yes
um I um I understand we may be opening a warrant for again for invoking a special town meeting within town meeting. Is there a reason and and I'd ask you and Albert, is there a reason we wouldn't just include this adoption within that special town meeting if we're going to
have to open the warrant again or address the warrant again? Yeah, that if we if we do that, it hasn't been fully decided and you'd have to vote on that. That would be just for the senior tax exemption. Um I I think we may need a little more time to put together a fuller warrant article and
get some background, get things together. So, I think April's a little bit a better time frame for that. not to rush things, but that's just my opinion on it, but um it certainly could be done in time for April. Melissa, I lost my packet, but do we even have
vote tonight on So, I don't think we can vote on it tonight. And we're open. We're making the recommendation for the special town meeting tonight. Correct. No, we're not. We're gonna I'm going to have that for next meeting. I just found out about it as I said in my memo to you. So, I'll have something for next meeting on that.
I I think the best course of action is I think you have our feedback going forward unofficially officially. Um and if you feel as if in um in talks with Albert that you can make potentially a special town meeting
scenario happen then we can put on the next agenda to vote and move forward with that. If not, if you need more time to refine things, then obviously we can go that course as well. Okay. The point is we're going in the right direction. Um,
you know, that's the best that we can do. I agree. All righty. Well, thank you, Albert. Uh, a lot of work to do and, uh, I appreciate it. Thank you.
Thank you, Albert. All right. So now we will move on to discuss a note on a designation of special municipal employee status uh fire department page 19 in the packet Nelson's here. Y
good evening. How are we doing on this beautiful Tuesday night? It's quarter south. I find people. My name is Rick Nelson. I'm the fire chief in town. Two quick agenda items I think we should hopefully we'll get through quick. Um the first one is so our fire alarm
system is managed currently by Lieutenant Brian Ryan who retired beginning of this year. Um he's still maintaining that but it won't be forever. So the goal of this is to get a second second person starting to train up in the system to be able to maintain
it. Um, in order to do that, um, we have to have a disclosure form signed by law and we need the select board to authorize, uh, Matt to sign that that letter so that, um, so he'd be authorized to do that. So, this would be authorizing firefighter David Ferrer to
take on the job as a fire alarm line worker. And, uh, just so you're aware, this is not an increase in budget. It's it'd be within the existing budget. It's just adding another person to help get the job done. And that's u that's the basic thing. So take any questions
board members. Any questions? Karen. Um so clarification. So um while we're all here and if it's that straightforward, why wouldn't we just offer? Why do we need to delegate this? Is there something else we need to know about? Well, when we talked with town council,
the advice of town council was have the board um authorize the town manager to sign the disclosure form. I don't have a better answer. I'm sorry. Yes, that was that was that was advice for town council prior to coming this evening.
Yeah. Haven't we done this before in with DPW? Um I think so. Yeah. For filing. Yeah, we've done this before for other departments. Yeah. No, I don't think we are. I think we just
have to vote. Anybody else? Anyone from the public? Any special municipal employee? No online. Maddie, anybody? Not seeing anyone online.
Karen, do you have a motion? Move that the select board approve the following employees request for exemption pursuant to GL chapter 268A section 20F David Herrera and to authorize the town manager to sign the associated section 20F disclosure form.
Second second by Melissa. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Fine. And you can stay right there. Thank you. Second topic. Uh this is me publicly admitting that I'm human and I
made a mistake. Um so when you guys voted last time on the perma fee schedule, uh three things happened. One, um there was a typo on my part that I labeled something incorrectly. That's the first line. You should read kitchen suppression system permit instead of a
sprinkler system permit. And then we went to implement this within the open gut permitting system. On the back end, we actually found a couple of the things that was initially missed. So, we're asking to add two lines. A commercial fire alarm system, a fee for $25. And then the license to store flammable
combustible liquids, a fee of $50. So, the new vote would simply be adding those two and making a correction on the labeling. That's great. Thank you for admitting that. Um, board members, any questions?
I guess I just have one. So what is what's the residential fire alarm system? Is that that also 25 or so the residential fire alarm system is Yeah. I'm asking for Oh no. Yeah. Resident file is $50. Yes.
Yeah. And that what the difference in that is is the other ones are um 120 volt smoke detectors. What most people have in the house are battery powered. The residential fire alarm system. If somebody has a system, so they have a panel that maybe title security system may
not. That's that's the difference between anyone from the public want to comment on permit fees. Anyone online? All right. Over two. Uh so Karen, do you
have a motion for this? Motion to approve the amendments to the fire department permit fee schedule as presented. Second. Seconded by Melissa. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? 5. Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you.
Thank you. All right. 7:55 public hearing discussion vote on a new alcohol restaurant liquid license for writing for foro LLC DBA. Do you have the the applicant lawyer is here to discuss
the petition? Yeah, if Karen can read the to read something open the hearing a public hearing. Oh, here we go. To the inhabitants of the town of Reading, please take notice that the select board of the town of Reading will hold a public hearing on Tuesday,
October 7th, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the Select Board meeting room at Town Hall 16 LOL Street running mass. are also available remotely on Zoom to act on a new license application for an annual all alcohol restaurant license located at 45 Walkersburg Drive Reading Mass
from Reading Forno LLC DBA Tuscano Forno. A copy of the proposed documents regarding this topic will be in the selected packet on the website at www w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w ww. All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing in person or remotely
via Zoom or may submit their comments or writing or by email prior to 6 PM on October 7th, 2025 to town manager at running ma.gov by order of matthew a kernelis town manager. Thanks Karen and you may go ahead.
Good evening. I'm attorney Josh Leam here tonight. I'm very pleased to be here tonight on behalf of Reading Forno LLC. Uh we are here as applicant for an all alcohol on premises restaurant license for the property of 45 Wook Drive. You may know as the former Veruis
location. Um as you may also know Vertuchi declared bankruptcy. The site is now vacant and my clients are under lease to go into this premises and to open a new restaurant. So with me this evening I have Angelo Perina and Luchio Perina. They are two of the three owners
of Reading Corno LLC. Uh their brother Valentino is not here this evening, but he's also very active within the business. Uh Lucho is the designated manager on the application, so he is here if you do have any questions. Um what I'd like to do is I don't want to take a lot of your time. I'd like to hit the key points. We did submit a very
wholesome application package, which I know takes a lot of your pamphlet. Um and then of course answer any questions you might have. So from an ownership perspective, there are the three brothers that are the owners. So this is not just a traditional investment. This is a family business. It's a small
business. Uh they are equal partners in the business. They also have significant experience in the restaurant industry. This is not a one-off. It's not a one-time trying to make it go of it. Um they opened their first restaurant, Tuscano Restaurante, in 2009 in West
Pee. They opened their second restaurant, Tuscano Baraliano in Beverly, in 2015. And then they opened their third Tuscana Forno in Peavey in 2022. This will be their fourth location. I'm pleased to say every one of those restaurants is thriving.
There's a great success story here. Even better, their 17 years of business experience, they're from Reading. They went to Reading Memorial High School. They have a commitment to this community and they're very excited to be opening a restaurant back where they started.
So, I will talk about Luchu a little bit. Luchu is going to be the proposed manager for this location. He hits all the requirements. He meets the statutory rules. He meets the town bylaw requirements. He will be there at least 40 hours per week as the manager overseeing all responsibilities relative to alcohol service and operations of
this location. He has significant experience with the other restaurant locations. This is not the first time doing this. And all three brothers are very active in each location. So while he will be the designated manager for this site, they are all going to be very active in
operating and making sure that this is a success. Regarding the restaurant concept, this is going to match the restaurant they have existing to scan foro in pe. I don't if you had a chance to check the website, it's beautiful. It's a great location. I would say I define it as a
welcoming uh familyfriendly very accommodating full-ervice bar and huge menu. Uh it serves this idea of authentic Italian specialty and rustic cuisine. They have a great bar menu. It's the kind of location we want in
town, especially in the Eastern Gateway. This is exactly what we're looking for. If you look at the notes from the last meetings and and uh uh workshops we've had, they want small business over there. So, we're replacing what was a franchise, a national franchise with
Reading Small Business. So, it's a great success story over there. The location itself, just to hit the metrics on it, it's 6770 square ft. There's a 945 foot square foot seasonal patio. Uh the interior is depicted on the floor plan that we
submitted. It's pretty faithful to what was there, but obviously it's going to be improved significantly. It's going to be renovated. They're putting a lot of effort into the renovation. If you look at the budget, you look at their financials. This is going to be a really nice result. And I would also say go ahead and look at the website or their other locations. It really gives you a
great sense of the quality that they're going to put into their restaurant, the pride that they have. Uh there will be liquor service on the patio, but they will fully comply with all of the town policies and bylaws relative to outdoor service. They will have the barrier, they will have the necessary signage, all of those things will be fully
satisfied. Um this this entire use, the full renovation, everything will fully comply with zoning, planning, conservation, and health. So everything is an as of right use subject to, of course, getting the licenses that we need. And of course, they will also meet the town's hours of
operation. I will just note one thing they'd love to do would be to go and start doing brunch service on Sundays. The town bylaws don't allow it. Something that we might consider looking at in the future because that would be a really nice addition to the town. They will
do it. I will look into it immediately. Like we don't I will look at I have to require alcohol sales. I I would imagine counselors looking for alcohol sales. That's correct. the hours for alcohol service not allowed prior to noon on Sundays.
So, Bloody Mary is a mimosas not allowed. We'll have a look at that. We'll get right on that. So, then going to the really the key question, safety and security. Uh we did submit uh their alcohol beverage service
policies. They fully comply with every element of the town's own policies. Uh they meet all statutory and regulatory requirements. They go above and beyond. They have an impeccable track record with their other locations. In 17 years of business, they do not have a violation notice. That's what's coming
to town here, and that's a great addition for that reason alone. All their service will be tip certified. They will have all interior public areas under video surveillance, um, CCTV, as well as key exterior areas of the lo of the restaurant. The renovation will
include installation of a new alarm system as well. Um they have zero tolerance zero tolerance policy. If you read the policies that we have, if an employee makes any mistake, if a customer, a patron makes any kind of disorderly conduct, intoxicated behavior, they will
not tolerate that. They're ready to come in and be a good part of the community. So then let's talk about what I think are the benefits to the town. You know, number one, we're talking about the Eastern Gateway District is a very important subject in town. Um and this is really a key piece. We're doing something tonight that we're hoping is
going to be a nice start to everything else we're going to do down the road. It adds a great dining option to the community. You know, we're talking about a great restaurant with a great track record. We know that it's going to be very popular with the town. And we're going to be bringing people in from out of town to this location where it's
located right off the highway, ample parking, it's going to have very accommodating environment. It's a perfect spot. It's a small business. That's who we want to support here. uh local employment, their other locations on average employ 50 to 60
people. So, think about the employment options we're adding by opening this new restaurant. Tax base. We're maintaining if not improving the commercial tax base in town, which we don't have as much as most other towns. And lastly, community engagement. They're from the town. They
look forward to being involved in the community. They play football at the high school. They want to be part of everything that's going on here. This is their chance. They did what they did in a great job in Beverly and Peavey and now they're coming home. So with that, we respectfully request that you'd approve this application tonight. We're
of course happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you. Thanks. Board members, any questions? Melissa? Um I just want to say thank you for coming to town. I've been to the location in Peavey and I love it. So, I'm very excited for you guys to be
coming to town and I think it's um really appropriate tonight on Italian Heritage Night that you guys are here. So, um I will support this and I appreciate the hard work that's being put into this. Karen, thank you. Um yeah, no, I'd like to
welcome this is this is an extensive package. Um and I'm certainly glad that that location will no longer be empty. We could have also mentioned the meals tax revenue which is pretty important. So, um, lots and lots of benefits and I welcome and wish you all the best of
luck. Okay. Yeah. No, thanks. Uh, haven't been. I'm on your menu now. Menu looks great. Thanks for coming to Reading. And, uh, to Echo Countystead, great to see that taken over pretty quickly. Sometimes those those locations stay dormant for a
while. Route one in particular has been empty for years. There's another bridge closed somewhere else. I forget. U, but thank you. And um you guys can rock it. Thank you. Karen, when are you going to open?
For February 1st. Okay. Thanks. Well, Karen stole my question. I thought no one was going to actually ask that, which is kind of ridiculous, but whatever. Yes. Yes, we are, Karen. Yes, we are. Um,
uh, if you're looking for feedback from me on the last four years serving on this board, this is the most well presented alcohol license scenario that I've been a part of. Yes. I mean, if I can grade you on a one of 10, it' be a 10. Not that everyone else
before you has been under that. It's different. Um, so it's good to see your passion. I know you're across the street here anyway as well, right? Um, so it's it's good to see that uh reading is going to be thriving. And I guess my
other uh question would be how did the owners actually hear about the Bertuji scenario? Like what made them did it just come up on social media or how did they find out it was closing and they said I'm in? That's just my one
question I got. I can tell you that we've been looking for a location. We we really had our eyes on that location for a long time. We've I used to go there. Uh you know, we lived in Reading. I haven't lived there here in a couple years, but I grew up here. I moved out when I was like 28.
So, um we've always I used to attend, you know, go to that location. We always eyed it. And we started when I saw that they were British was having trouble, we reached out to the landlord and we've been in talks with them for about 6 months. And then we were waiting kind of for Bruisi to close because we knew it
was inevitable. So we were pretty much ready to go when once they did close. So So you've been with Eric just as everything else has happened. That's why open have plans ready to go. Like we're going gang busters try to get
open for February. Perfect. And there's a golf place opening over there too. So maybe a triple over. Yeah. I'm very excited about the location. We're excited to be back in Reading. So awesome. Super excited. And my favorite is chicken marsala. No mushrooms with linguini.
I don't like mushrooms. I don't have an allergy. I just don't like Thank you. Thank you. Anyone from the public? Any music? You just have to go. You got to go. I have to go up. Yes. Sorry.
Oliver Street, any music? So, at our other location, we have live music on Thursday nights. So, we plan to dabble, you know, sprinkle some of that in here. Okay. We have another minute and 45 seconds if
you want. I come back to my other sub. Yes. Thank you. All right. So, we Anyone online? You No one online. You want to close the hearing? Karen, move to close the hearing regarding the
new annual all alcohol restaurant liquor license for Tesco for second. Second by Melissa. Any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? 5 Z. Next. Move to approve the annual all alcohol restaurant liquor license for Reading
Forno LLC. EVA Tano Forno located at 25 Walkers Book Drive. Second. Second by Melissa. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Best of luck. Thank you. Congratulations. Thanks for your time.
Welcome back. We will see you in February. Thank you. [Applause] All right. And next on the agenda is one of the highlights of the evening is discuss and vote on the trash and
recycling contract page 125 in the Chris Co is going to be presented. Yes. Matt, can I share my screen? Yes, you should be able to, Chris. Chris, is your microphone on? Should be on
microphone on speaking to it. Okay. Well, good evening everyone and thank you for having us tonight. Um, I'm going to try to get through this as quick as possible because I got a lot
here. Um, Okay. So, just a quick little background here. I'm just going to go through these slides really fast because um you have a lot of this already. Um so, as you know, our current contract with the public services expires um
uh on July 4th. Uh it's a be the conclusion of a 10-year contract valued right now at $1,253,000. Um so back starting last summer, summer of 24, uh town staff began meeting weekly and that involves um public works, myself and Mike Kesman,
procurement uh uh Josh and Katie, finance Sharon and town management Matt and Jane um to begin uh putting together what we wanted to have in this RFP. Um and to that end, we um were attending monthly meetings with Mass D staff and
other municipal officials um from different communities around the Commonwealth. Um and we discussed topics such as like challenges um what they were doing for contracts, um procurement issues and best outcomes to get feedback from these other communities on what we
should be doing. And Mass D also helped the town develop this RFP for automated collection um which is representative of industry standards. So, just a brief timeline here. So, starting back this past April, um we
completed the RFP and we sent it off to Mass D staff and town council for review. Uh then back in May 27th, um the RFP was um fully complete and made available to vendors. Then back on July 15th, um the final addendum was issued
by the town for questions. And then on July 31st um all the proposals were due back from the vendors and we received five in total. Um so town staff um in this committee then got together and completed an independent comprehensive
uh review of each vendor's technical proposal and once those were complete then um we looked at the price proposals and they were um let's see then we had the evaluation criteria for the technical proposals.
This is um just a quick uh summary of the criteria that we were grading each uh vendor on for a total score of 28 points and then as I said we received five proposals and those vendors were in no
particular order waste management uh which received a technical score of 26.6 uh republic services um a score of 21.2 2 Pella Waste Systems score of 24.4 Eel Harvey and Suns um 17.4
and Easy Waste Disposal 16.6. Then um for the cost, so Waste Management had an annual cost um of 1,976,850 uh with a um
5% uh annual increase. Now, Republic Services, and I will preface here that um Republic Services, this is their original proposal. Just this past weekend, they came to us with a revised proposal that I will present to you in a in a short while. But this
is their um price back then of 1,991,893 with um again 5% increase each year of the contract. Uh Cassella Waste Systems um had an annual cost of $2,578,243 with another annual 5% increase.
Eel Harvey was at 2,297290 with a 5% increase. And lastly, easy waste disposal was a little over $4 million um with an annual increase of 2 and a.5%. So now um based on the proposals then um
technical and financial um waste management um came out with the best proposal um that's the one circled in red. So I am now going to go through way some of the point uh the qualities of waste
management's proposal and then um we'll also be taking a look at um Republic's new proposal and some of those qualities as well. So for this so a couple of options for waste management. So option one um the
1,976850 um involved weekly automated trash collection including dumpsters, bi-weekly automated recycling, uh the leaf collection that we have in the spring and the fall including the Christmas tree collection, the um two
recycling events that we have at the DBW garage each year and the separate paper shredding event that we have for town buildings and schools over the summer. And then this proposal also would remove any bulk um payments um from the town
and all um burnable bulky items, metal items, white goods, CRT, TVs and monitors, sinks, bathtubs, toilets um would all be paid for um by the resident themselves. Then this was option two. This would be
for all the same options that I just described, but this would be for weekly recycling collection. It would add 300 about $375,000 to the annual cost of the contract. Uh bringing it up to 2,350,764. And then just a snapshot here to
Okay, on the slide on my computer. There we go. Okay. Um, just a snapshot here of how this how this would affect the the overall trash and recycling budget. Um, so you can see what the FY26 budget is
there. Um, now just a little explanation. So as part of Waste Management's proposal at 1,976 is technically a theoretical number because their true number is the 2,99,000 that you see there. Um but
their proposal includes disposal in all of the trash dumpsters. So that is a savings that we can we don't have to pay rework for. Um so that was about 122,000 then that we can deduct from
that $2 million price there. Plus, there is no processing fee for um the recycling dumpsters. So, that's another $4,000 savings on that, which so which brings you down to the 1,976.
Um and then as I said um unlike what we have to do now um we will we will have to pay processing fees for any recycling that is collected um you know outside of the outside of those dumpsters um that I
just mentioned. And there is a budgeted number incorporated into that $2 million um price tag there. Um, but just because it's all based on market conditions and not knowing what the market will do, we wanted to give a little extra buffer. So
that's why we just put $25,000 in there to give ourselves a little safety net, not knowing what might happen. Um, the trash disposal, and this is reflective, this number is reflective of the reduction in the um, the savings that we
would have on the dumpsters is that 596612. And then the miscellaneous recycling of 35,000 uh would be mostly for um processing the all of the electronics that we collect in the styrofoam at the
DPW garage because we have to hire a company to come in and pick those up and you know take them away for us. So that's mostly what that $35,000 cost is right there. Um, so that totals 2 2,756,000. I think I just I just lost Zoom.
I'm reconnecting, Jackie. I mean, Maddie, that's weird. [Music] [Music] [Music]
Okay. go back. Okay. So, um yeah, so that $2,756,000 um is the total budget for trash and recycling for FY27, which would be a 25% increase over the current budget now. And then if you look
in the following column to the right um that would be if we would have utilized that the weekly recycling um proposal from waste management which would bring the budget total up to 3.1 million and increase the budget by 42%.
So now just a few key advantages to waste management. Um so they had a great um a detailed transition plan to ensure a smooth implementation um from a timeline for getting equipment to getting the containers delivered um all
the locations and transitioned over to the new contract and any other phases of the contract um that would have to be done to um by the start date in July. Uh they talk about customer service. Um you know residents could call um on the
telephone to customer service representatives Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 pm. Um they would actually develop a customized local website for reading which we would then link off our own page um where residents could go on there and schedule um all
their items for payment pickup. um they could report any mispickups um or request repairs to carts because um one thing under this contract um while the town will still purchase the carts and any parts, the vendor, the new contractor is going to be responsible
for making any of the repairs or doing any swap outs for carts or delivering new carts and whatnot. Um there is also a live chat feature that will be available Monday through Friday 7 to 6:50 and um Saturday uh 8 to
11:50. Um let's see. Waste management would also develop and mail public outreach program guides to residents. Um and under and the one thing to you know that you
saw is the bi-weekly recycling collection significantly reduces the annual cost of the town. As I said $375 difference $1,000 difference. Um so they would provide three new automated trash recycling collection
trucks to be ordered for reading. Um two there would be two uh new trash trucks and one recycling truck. Um the one recycling truck would still be in here every single week even though um it would be a bi-weekly recycling program, but they would just be focusing on half
the town each week. Um the trucks are their garage is right out of Wuburn. Um so it's only four miles from Reading Center, so very right next door. Um, and as I mentioned about the trash
disposal costs and the recycling processing fees, including in the price of the dumpster, they do this by putting all of their dumpsters on the um, commercial truck routes. And that minimizes the amount of trash and recycling that gets put in the regular curbside route so they have to make
fewer trips to the um, to dump so they can get the uh, routes completed sooner, more efficiently. And also they have truck mounted cameras combined with GPS that actually provides photographic records of service at each
property. they um you know the cameras not only show you know whether the trash or recycling was out when the truck pulls up um but it also identifies contamination through the use of AI because this came looking at what's
being dumped into the truck especially for recycling and um if there's an issue with a certain property it flags that property and then we can provide what they can't put in recycling or trash or whatever.
Um let's see. Okay, so I mentioned the recycling processing fees and that um is based on market conditions. Um there's also going to be fuel search charge costs again based on market conditions. Um one
difference is in this RFP there are going to be 19 liquidated damages. um in the current contract we have there's only three. So there's more um you know keeping tabs on the on the contractor to do what they're supposed
to be doing, you know, so if anything ever goes ary, you know, there's more um ammunition from the town to go after the contractor and make sure that they do the right thing. Um yeah, I mentioned the bi-weekly recycling collection proposal. Um, and
there are a couple options as I showed for um, bulk disposal metal. Um, let's see. The trash and recycling would only be collected from towns carts and waste management would, as I said, would be formed perform form all cart repairs
and cart delivery swaps with the town providing um, all the carts and spare parts to waste management staff. And then just a little snapshot here of some of the um residential charges that um you would
see for the bulky items. So burn and waste management has said that you know this is this can be negotiable you know they will work with us to come up with what fits in each category you know so whether it's you know a burnable bulky
item is up to four kitchen chairs or four chairs and a kitchen table you know that they're willing to work with us to see what fits into those categories. So burnable bulky item will be $30. Um metal item would be 35 which is um
exercise equipment. Um a gas grill, lawn mower, snowb blower. Um sinks, bathtubs and toilets would be 35. Uh white goods would be 45. Um that includes like a dishwasher,
stove, range, air conditioner, washers and dryers. CRT TVs and monitors would be $60 each. And the other um option that Waste Management offers is, you probably seen it like Home Depot, I think, and I think Lowe's does it too,
the um the bagster program. So, you can get a bag at one of these um facilities and $300, but um it holds three cubic yards, maximum of 3,300 lb. You can fill it with your construction debris um
whenever you want to clean out your attics basement and the truck will come by and um and haul it away. Chris, could you just hold up one sec? Cameron, did you need a moment? No, I don't. I actually realized that I
left my not that I explanation, but I am taking notes for liaison reports because I accidentally switched binders and left my notes at home. All right. Well, it's been well over five minutes during his presentation. That's why I decided to mention it now.
That's great. I did read the presentation and I am listening and uh thank you. Okay. Your concern. Thanks. All right. You can go ahead. And then this is just um you have it in your packet. This is just a quick
snapshot comparing the the bulky rates for all five proposals that we received. So they range for the burnable bulky they range anywhere from $30 up to um $75
and um yeah. So and then let's see. So we talked about the revised proposal that we just received by Republic Services. So this is a table comparing um their two proposals plus um comparing it to waste management's proposal.
So Republic um offered a bi-weekly recycling with no bulk um included in the contract. No metal collection included in the contract. Those will be both on the resident to pay for. And the
annual cost will be 1,872,930913,000. um would increase by 5% each year for a contract total of a little over $10 million. Um the other proposal was for again bi-weekly recycling, but this time including one bulk as as we do now with
your weekly trash and one metal item, which um the one metal item would be collected, you'd have to schedule with waste man uh with Republic, but um it would be collected every Friday. um all of all of a town
and that's included in the price. Okay. And that's um just a little over $2 million. Again, 5% increase for a little over for a 5year contract total a little over 11 million. And then that's compared to Waste Management's um price of bi-weekly recycling, no bulk, no
metal for 1,976. Um 5% increase for just under $11 million. Um, a few highlights here of Republic's proposal. Um, so they would offer us two front load trucks for trash, two side
load trucks for recycling. Um they did reduce um their their burnable bulk cost from 80, excuse me, from 80 from $80 down to 75.
And then all the other um items were $80. The uh recycling dumpsters um processing is included in the unit cost. Uh they have GPS enabled on the trucks um which allows them to
you can go on a website and they will um they have track my truck where you can actually see where the truck is in the neighborhood to see whether it's been by your house already. Um it'll alert you of service alerts, report miss pickups, etc.
So Chris, real quick, the cost reduced to $75 instead of 80 for the bulk item. They're still including one item for free, though. And this is an addition. No. No. One of their proposals. So So it's one bulk item and one metal
item included in this price. Yes. If I had seven, it's seven times $75. So I So I would assume then that you're allowed one bulk item free and then any additional bulk items you want to get rid of during the week, you just pay 70 $75 per item to get rid of.
So our current trash contract is one bulk item, correct? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, as you can see from the pricing, you know, financially bi-weekly recycling is what is recommended for the town because
by us, by the committee because it just is cheaper. Um, you know, so you saw several options for payment pickup of the burnable bulky items and metal based on the vendor. You know, the resident can either arrange all pickup payment pickup with the
vendor or the other option is the resident is allowed up to one bulk item with trash, one metal item with recycling at no extra cost to the resident. Um, you know, all sinks, bathtubs, toilets, um, white goods, CRTs, uh, payment pickup scheduled by the resident with
the vendor. But um any subsidation of bulk by the town because that got mentioned at the previous meeting would definitely add to the annual contract cost because you know the co the vendor still is going to want
that um price paid to them per item. So you know whatever the resident doesn't pay the town's going to have to pick up. Um but while you know all these different options are a sign significant increase to the town um it unfortunately
is the reality of the times. You know the contract we have now we have a very good deal. It's 10 years old but those prices are you know just very favorable to us right now and this is the reality of the times. Um
so in summary um we need to award the contract to someone. A decision needs to be made now to give either waste management or republic services ample lead time to procure new vehicles um and have them arrive by July. Um if
the trucks are not ready by July, depending upon which vendor is chosen, um rental trucks um might have to be used and it could be as much as $30,000 per month um the town would have to pay if the new trucks are not um ready by
that time. Um so town staff would obviously work with the new vendor over the next several months um to ensure that everything's smooth as possible. um develop educational materials for residents, including on the town website and social media. And DPW would also hold a series
offormational sessions to educate residents on what to expect under this new contract. I already have three different dates um scheduled um with the Pleasant Street Center to talk to the seniors about what to expect in this new contract. The first one being in
November. Um, and then lastly, what's requested at the select board? So, vote to direct the town manager to award the next trash recycling collection contract to either waste management or public services,
including what pricing options you want to go with. Um, which would commence on July 5th, 2026. Now, we'll take any questions. Um, I will say that, um, Christine D. Rosa from Waste Management is here on the room with us. And um also we have Samantha Gray I believe is on Zoom from
Republic if um you have any questions for either one of the vendors. Thanks Chris. Um real quick I just wanted to mention that Chris Matt uh and Jane had a meeting uh and I had a meeting with Waste Management yesterday.
I wanted to um they advocated our price down and saved us I think close to $400,000 over what original proposals were coming in. So by no means am I belittling the significant effort that
they made. Um, I took into account the emails that we received, the comments that I' I've seen posted elsewhere and felt like I had to advocate for our bulk items to be reduced. That was a big sticking point at this meeting. Um, and
as a result of the conversation, we did get it from 35 to 30 for waste management. They also agreed to do two um at least two events uh per year for residents to bring all their bulk items
just like our paper events that we've always had if they waited a fall and spring cleanup kind of scenario. Um, and then I try to advocate the price increase from 5% to something down to um, four or four and a
quarter because once you start scaling, you know, $10 million contracts by that percent, that ends up becoming significant. Um, unfortunately, they didn't have any leeway on that. They did go down on the the bulk that I had mentioned. Um, and I mentioned also that
I thought this conversation could go sideways in which I'm now making it go sideways is that I didn't know about Republic's other option with the bulk item being included. And it seems as if all the work that I just did got negated
regardless by somebody else's proposal because it's much easier now to have one bulk item still being collected. I understand if you have two, three, four. Listen, it is what it is. to pay more money or wait a minute, but like I don't even know what happens right now. Um I
know this came in at the last minute and you know it was put in our packet the way that it is and I'm curious to see what the board thinks regarding this but like I don't even know what to say at this point. So I'll open it up for board members. Karen,
sure. Um so um to the representatives from Republic and Waste Management and Chris this board didn't ask you to go in and represent the board and I'm concerned Matt and Jane that you didn't bring this
to the board and Chris was taking upon himself to represent the board because it specifically says in our policies that you will only be representing yourself. We will never be representing the board. And we literally spent how much time at the last meeting talking
about who would be our internal designate to work on the contract with Burbank. So I'm very disappointed Mr. Chair and I don't so I wanted to apologize to Waste Management Republic because this board is a board of five
and no single select board member by our vote has been authorized to make any commitments or to negotiate. So that's um so Karen there's there's no need to apologize Karen and firstly I did because
according there's no it doesn't matter the select board policies Karen Karen point of order Mr. the floor. The only person that can interrupt another select board member is the
chair. It's in our select board policy. So, go ahead with your point of order. Mr. Go ahead, Karen. What is your point of order? My point of order is we have a policy that no select board member will interrupt another select board member while they have the floor
other than the chair. Other than the chair that is in our sele I have it right here, Karen. I have it right here. So unfortunately I if you want me to read you do not get to interrupt other selectors. That's what only the chair can and uh I rule that
your point of order is uh uh not accurate. So what I'm going to rule my point of order. Go ahead. Have a great time. And I'm going to read what is on the first page of our select code policy for you right now. Had her hand off. I'm going to call on you. Cut me off.
You're out of order, Karen. You're out of order, Karen. I No. No. Section 1.1.2 chair. The select board. Thank you, Karen. The select board chair shall nominate members to res represent the
select board at appropriate functions, events, and meetings. And I represented us in the negotiation with waste management at after everybody was done with the final numbers that they had. Matt, Jane, and everything. I advocated
for them behind the scenes to handle my wishes and the town's wishes and everything else that I've seen the feedback come in and I advocated and put that on Matt and Chris and everybody to do it correctly. And when waste management was not going to come back to
the table and change their numbers, I then requested a meeting to be able to um attempt the last ditch effort of renegotiating better for the benefit of the town, which is in my purview, just like I read here, that I'm allowed to
actually do that. Um, and I didn't think that advocating for the town and trying to get a lower rate was controversial, but apparently in 2025 in Reading, that's the way that it is. Uh, but I want everybody to be uh, on the up and up and realize that this was at the end
of the discussion. I didn't insert myself until yesterday. So, now that that's on the record, Melissa, if you had questions, I have several. Thank you. Um,
I have a lot of questions. Sorry. Um, do we have I don't believe we do. I asked this earlier, but I would love for us to get a weekly rate from Republic and recycling. Um, this is kind of a sticking point for me. People pay taxes
for public safety, good schools, and services like trash and recycling. I really would like to get weekly recycling. We've done things in town because we've had to with water rates and um you know going down to the
barrels, we're really restricting larger families um and my multigenerational families when we keep taking these services away or increasing their costs. So I really would love to get a price for weekly
recycling from Republic. That's one. Um the second is I'm really worried about the um in one of the or actually several of the charts that says based on market conditions. That's concerning to me. Is
that only with Waste Management's uh quote or is that also with Republiclix? That was Republic's. That was Republic's. Yeah, Waste Management. Um Waste Management. I thought they both have it. Oh, no. No. waste.
No, waste waste management was 5% increase each. Not this chart. This isn't what I'm talking about. There's another one. It's um based on market conditions for things like um fuel and recycling processing. I thought that was waste management. Um
I can probably find it. [Music] This one right here. Yeah, that's it. That's waste management, correct? Correct. Yeah. So, that's concerning to me. Um because fuel check costs can go through the
roof. That that's actually all the vendors. But that is all the vendors on the fuel. Yeah. On the fuel storage charge. So, what about the recycling piece of it? The the recycling. So that is based on um the reading had a composition audit done of our recycling and the vendor
will typically do more over the course of the year to see what the breakdown is recycling. How much cardboard, how much paper, how much um cans and so forth, you know, you have and and each of that has a value and together it combines to give you
like a blended value of what your based on what the dollar rate is on the market for that. And then you take that and combine it with like a processing fee that you know that the facility that processes the recycling gives you and
you come up with a um like an estimate like like a like a per ton price for recycling. Okay. And that's constantly looked at and that's that's the processing fee that we have to pay for. And both companies have that in their
contract. Okay. um who on our side monitors it in case it goes down because I'm pretty sure they're not going to reach out to us if those numbers go down. Okay, perfect. Um I agree with Chris and I appreciate Chris working to get uh waste management
down from 35 to 30, but adding the option of just having one bike bulk item a week is, you know, very interesting. That's only a $24,000 difference. and you know so we can take that off residents so they're not paying for it I
think is important. Um I it was interesting that you're saying that so waste management is saying that they'll repair the carts. Are we still paying for that repair in some fashion? Well, it's included in the overall price
of and that was a requirement on the RFP. So that's that's that's for all the vendors. Okay, great. Good to know. And then you mentioned something about um you'll no longer have to get um someone to do handle electronics and styrofoam. So waste management would include that in
their cost. No, I was saying that that budget price that you saw that 35,000 that is the recite that is the electronic um collection that we do at the garage and the styrofoam that we have to you know once once people bring that stuff down there we have to bring hire a company to come in and you know
take the take the electronics away and Got it. process. So is that an increase in 35,000 from what we do now or No no that's what we have been paying. Okay. Got it. Um do I have any other questions? Um, no. I think the biggest for me is
finding out a price from Republic on a weekly recycling just so we have all those numbers. That I think is really important. I have Samantha Gray on the line from from Republic. Um, Samantha, do you want to comment at all on that if that's possible?
Hi there. Um, can you hear me? Yes. Thank you. I don't know if you can see me too. I just turned my camera on, but I can't see myself. Um, I'd be happy to give you a a option for weekly recycling. Absolutely. Um, I could uh get that over to you
within the next week or so. Um, hopefully sooner than that. Um, I just wanted to make mention too, um, that our revised price would, uh, be a cost
savings to the town of, uh, over half a million dollars over the five years um, compared to Waste Management's contract. Um, also, we wouldn't need to order uh, or excuse me, we wouldn't need rental trucks. So, $30,000 a month uh would not
be something that would need to be considered with our proposal uh or if you were to award a contract to us because we do already service you all. So, there would be no need for rental trucks. Can I ask where you're getting the $500,000 savings? Um, so based off of
our year one price, um, one second. And my comparison, um, uh, price comparison was slightly different than, um, what I saw on the packet just based off of the bid price sheets
between ours and waste managements. Um, so year one, uh, we are $110,000 less. And then um with the 5% increase on both Republic's year one price and
the 5% increase on Waste Management's year one price, uh there's over $600,000 uh delta between Republics and Wastes. Yeah, the 100,000 is scaling
year over year, five years. Okay, I understand. Thank you. Um I did have one other question. um that I was a little confused by uh Chris is that at one point you mentioned that we um
you have these amounts in here but then there's the theoretical amount. So what you the amount in here is more than what you're quoting us is actually the price. So that was for waste management. So the actual price let me just find a slide here.
Um yeah. So this price here somewhere. So this chart right here you see the um trash recycling collection in FY27 at 2,99,668. Y that is the actual
price for um waste management's proposal when you add everything up. this when I when I was mentioning about how disposal is included in the cost of the dumpsters that's so what I did then is deducted
that savings which is something like 122,000 that we wouldn't have to pay reworld for disposal from that price from the DBW yard got it because it's going to be it's going to be an overall plus plus an addition additional 4,000
in processing fees for recycling dumpsters that we don't have to pay either So when you deduct those two savings off of there, you get down to the 1 million 976 because those are costs that we do not have to pay. I understand that and I understand that's a savings. I just wouldn't have
liked it worded that way because that's a little um because their number is bigger because we could can't we can we not deduct that from Republic's? No, because Republic um we have to still we still have to pay disposal for all
the doers. Okay. All right. Okay. All right. Thank you very much, Carlo. Yeah. Thanks. I just I don't understand the $30,000 rental fee and it just
doesn't make any sense. I get vendors ordering a truck could be delayed, but why is that burden to us? because um it's all about when we go to the vendor, you know, they need a certain lead time to get these trucks and you know, we haven't given everybody
a notice to proceed yet, you know, for these trucks. So, they need a minimum time to get the trucks, you know, built from when they place the order and we give them the go-ahad. So, what is the minimum time to get a truck these days trash? Well, waste management told us that it'd
be right around now that we'd have to give them the notice to proceed. um to give us the best chance at getting having new trucks for July. Okay. They were
Mr. Chairman, your permission. Um they asked for an October 1st notification um on their July 31st submission. So, um that's not unreasonable considering supply chains and you know, large equipment. So, that you know that's not unreasonable. They were optimistic that
they wouldn't have to charge a $3,000 rental fee. But if we take long to make decisions, that is a cost that we could be incurring just because it doesn't give them enough time to order the trucks. So, okay. So, thank you. So, the followup question would be
if we, let's say, vote tonight or vote our next meeting still October and something goes sideways getting these trucks. is that we could potentially pay $30,000 a truck for a year. Look how long it
took to get a fire truck. I'm using that as an example. It's a unique more unique than the trash truck, but it just I get it. you know, these are specially built and probably only so many manufacturers, but I think we need a if we decide to go
to waste management, we need like a a bingo of up to so many months because we can't be on the hook for a manufacturer's problem or delivery problem or whatever the problem is. Christine, do you want to comment on that at all or? Yeah, I think we pushed it out.
You want to just come up, please? Don't say my address. No, I mean, if you want to Do you live in writing? I don't. I believe when we spoke, we pushed it out a week. So, we're confident if we can get a letter of intent by tomorrow that we can get the trucks in by July
1st of 2026. But we did put the October one in because we know our lead times at least a year out. But we can be confident. But, but Right. But there's certain things out of your control. Yes. So, if we get to July 1 and we pay
a month, okay, I don't like that anyway, but a month is okay. If it's three months, six months, and it's not your fault, it's the manufacturer's fault. Why should we be penalized? Well, we if we can get the letter attempt by the deadline, we can pull from our network if we don't get the
rental trucks in. We just need a we can't I know how municipalities work. We can't go into November to December. I totally understand that. Thank you. No, I totally understand that. And I just if I were to put a condition on choosing
waste management, it would be $30,000 a month. I want to wave it, but up to so many months, but um Mr. Chairman, with your permission through you to Miss Fulta, um is the town held harmless if the town sends a notice to of intent to proceed to waste
management tomorrow at your word, does that mean the town would be held harmless for um the rental costs? Yes. Correct. So, we wouldn't pay we would be secured not to have to pay that whether they have it or not. We're okay. We're good to go if if we
we're not going to have to pay that 30,000. All right. That's all I have. Melissa asked a lot of great questions this live right now. Thank you, Christie. Kevin, I had a whole lot of questions, but I got thrown a loop today with
Republic. So, Melissa asked a lot of them. I think um from all the emails we've gotten, I think it's important that we get the one belt item a week in the in the contract. I guess I should be talking to all of us, not just him. Um,
do we still get a free recycle barrel for free or is that going away with if we go with waste management? You know how right now we can get a second for free? Is that still in the plan? So, we could do that if you have a big family. Yeah, I would I don't see why not. Okay. Because I think that would maybe
alleviate some of the larger families if you have two. That's on the on the town end. That's not We don't have to deal with the vendors for that. That's us our Yep. Right. two. Okay. which I think you know if we had to go every other week for recycling that is leaked kind of a
solution. Um what else? I I do think that we as a town need to visit other forms of recycling, repurposing, making us more greens into a green community.
Kind of working with with Black Earth to try and take our trash to another level. And it's too soon to do that for this trash contract, but I think by the time this trash contract is done in five years, we should have a lot of time under our belts to figure out other ways to use other resources so that we're not
just depending on waste management or republic or something like that. So either doing more at the at the DPW center or something like that. I think it would be nice to look into that moving forward uh for this contract. Um,
second trash barrel. I know we have to pay for that each year. Is that still something that's consider because that's a town thing? Yeah. Correct. Okay. Um, you asked a lot of the questions I had, but Okay, Karen.
So, um, thank you for this extensive packet and, um, I, um, I don't disagree with the comments made by two of my colleagues that we are getting a lot of push back and concern from residents about the exorbitant bulk pickup prices
we're being asked to absorb. Um, and and and I share that sentiment. So, that is a real concern for me. Um um I would love the weekly recycling and um you know I don't know how much wiggle
wiggle room there is and um I also believe I we're not specifically talking about black earth composting but I think we need to look at it to see what we can do more for the residents and and at the same time encourage more of it because
that is um there's a variable cost in our pickup as you know and we've had multiple great discussions with them and so hopefully I know this was a lot of effort on your plates. So if that's this is settled then we can really get serious about Black Earth Conourse that would be wonderful. Um I had some
specific questions. Um when Republic was in here I don't know a year ago. Um we were talking about electric truck plans that were being tested in Denver and so are either of the vendors um what kind of trucks are we going to have rolling through town? What are the plans to um
reduce emissions? We heard a lot of feedback about that earlier regarding um increased train service. So it applies to um waste trucks as well. Uh Samantha, do you want to comment on that? Yeah. So um we are currently uh using
electric vehicles across the country. Um our Fall River business unit is the first in Massachusetts that's been uh on set to receive electric vehicles. So, they're kind of slowly making their way to Massachusetts. Um, the proposal that
I provided, the trucks that we would be servicing the town with, uh, for trash, it's a frontload Curado truck. So, it's a frontload truck with a Curado can on the front. Uh, there's a arm that extends off of the front of the can and
it tips the cart into the can. Um, and with that Curado uh container that we use on the front, we can also put the bulk items in. So that's how we're able to do to continue with the one bulk item on the trash collection route. The
recycling um that would be with a automatic side load truck. And so um it would be an arm that comes out of the side of the truck. It tips the cart up into the hopper. And um as for yard
waste, yard waste would continue uh similar to with the rear load truck um just because that is the best method for us to collect it. Um and those are the trucks that we would use. So uh
moving on to if there was an option for electric, there absolutely is. um in the future, not at this time. Uh but if there is more interest in the town uh to implement electric vehicles in in town, we can certainly look at that.
So does do we need to put that in a contract? Can the other vendor um comment as to plans? Similar to Samantha, we are we do have an electric truck in London. We are testing out testing it out out there. It
is not something we can bring into the contract the first year, but maybe something in the future. So, we will be coming into town with diesel trucks, but there is talk, no timeline yet of switching the Wuburn hauling site to CNG,
but I don't have a timeline on that. But it is something that we're talking about, but we would do three diesel trucks in July 1st, 2026. But electric trucks could be something we can start talking about. We do have in this area and you know, CNG, that would be an
intermittent option. So can would it would be great if we could get something that I'm not asking for a time guarantee, but if we could get something in that whatever contract we decide upon that we're going to make a commitment to clean our vehicles and reading as soon as possible because that's important to us. That would be great.
Thank you. Um there was one more thing that caught my eye in unacceptable um items that go in the trash. Um pet waste like we have a lot of pets in town. What what are what are we expecting residents to do with pet waste?
Well, pet waste are just one regular trash. It's to the um incinerator. Okay. Yeah. Okay. This was a huge presentation. I'm pretty sure I read in unacceptable trash components. It said
pet waste in the RFP. Yeah. Uh well, in the response, um I don't know what it was. This was huge. But it says unacceptable and it wasn't recycling. Oh, it is mentioned there too, I think,
um, as unacceptable. That's fine. But if we go to uh, let me see if I can just Google pet or not Google, but search on pet waste. I guess unless voice management wants to respond and maybe you know if it's acceptable or not or Republic
acceptable meaning the recycling thing but the trash yes um let me just thank you. Um, okay. The only other thing that jumps out at me is that it's great to have an app and um my phone is um crushed under
the apps that I have. But we have been working really hard to have the use of Cclick Fix. How much value is it to have another app? If Cclick Fix is working, can we not use Cclick Fix? Are you going to need to go to two different locations to resolve residential concern or
commercial concern? Well, for example, with Waste Management's proposal, they would have that um dedicated website just for writing where residents go on to report miss pickups or whatever, they might need to report and that would actually replace the CC click fix option because it kind of eliminates the
middleman, if you will. You know, they they can go directly to the contractor, report them as checkups. Yeah. So, that's my point. So, that's another behavioral thing or another step for residents to um to figure out. So, okay. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. That's it.
Melissa, um just a quick follow-up question. Um the deduction on the waste management um quotes that you took off for the dumpsters, did you take that off the weekly recycling one as well? Okay.
All right. Yeah. So, I guess where I'm at with this is uh I was also thrown for a loop. Like I said, I I was going into this thinking that, you know, case management, uh, getting these additional ask and
whatever included. Uh, you know, didn't get everything that we wanted, but, you know, you never do. But then Republic came back and just I never thought I would actually be saying the word Republic in Reading, Massachusetts after what transpired in
the past. Um, but looking at the proposal for me, it's it comes down to obviously money, yes, but convenience of our residents. Um, and I never put bulk stuff item uh stuff
out. My wife sells everything on Facebook for whatever kinds of money. You know, people show up all hours. Um but it's it's mainly about other residents obviously that you know enjoy this kind of um not luxury that we have but kind of
uh you move to reading for the schools the um uh safe community and you want your trash picked up in like the the the basics here. And I I feel as if um we're getting a little away from the
basics after everything that we've approved in in the town over the the past couple years. Um so that's a long-winded way of saying that I'm not entirely sure which direction I would go with this, but I I uh much to the
chagrin of uh Matt, Jane, Sharon, and you, I kind of think that I want to go down the weekly recycling option as well. Um, and I know Republic didn't include it in theirs. And Waste Management was like 380, 380,000, something like that.
I'd like to see what Republic comes at for theirs. And spoiler, if it's more than 380, then I'm not having this conversation. Um, or whatever the the number was. But I don't know for me if I'm ready to vote on this tonight. At
least that's me personally. I kind of feel that there's some unresolved and if we have to have a special meeting just to to have the final answer then so be it. Um
but I I don't know what I want to do. So Carla I was going to I recommend that I think waiting two weeks would be a disservice to both vendors. Um how quickly can we get us a recycling price?
I'm sorry, the audio broke up. How quickly can you get us a recly recycling price faced into the contract? Um, I can get it to you by Monday, the latest. Okay, thank you, Kevin.
Um, I think that one bulk item is more important than the recycling part. That's just my opinion based on what people have said. And um I came in here tonight willing to go the extra 400 grand or whatever it
was for the bulk item based on the math of well if I threw away one item six times in a year, it's going to cost me $300 a year. If you multiply that by 6,000 homes, that's like a couple million dollars. And so I'm thinking, well, 400 grand is a bargain compared to
that. and we're taking on as a community the burden of the charge as opposed to like an insurance company passing it on to the residents. So that really stuck with me as being much more important than every week recycling. So that's just my opinion on it. But I think every
I think the recycling piece can be quote fixed by having an extra barrel. Not that anybody wants an extra barrel, but I think that that if you have to pick one over the other, I think residents would much rather have a bulk item once a week than have to deal with the recycling.
Melissa, um I actually want both. And Republic's offering both with the 2 million, they're offering the free bulk and now that's why I want to see what they're going to offer. We don't know what. Right. But to Chris's response of saying it's off the table, I don't think I'd
want Republican to be off the table just if it's another saying if it was high if they came in at 679 or some ludicrous. That's I understand what you're saying. Yeah. No, I think both are really important and I
kind of did a um very non-scientific driveby on trash days past couple weeks. Most families that have more than three children already have two recycling bins that fall out every week. So, I just want to be cognizant of those larger
families because I feel like we keep hitting them and I am one of them, but we just keep, you know, hitting them with stuff. So, I really would love to wait until Republic can get us um a price on recycling and I would love for Waste Management to come back with maybe
some improved pricing. Carlo, last question. So, for both vendors, of all the communities you service, are they all two weeks for recycling?
Um, they vary like Wuburn's every other week. They're right next door. Okay. Bigger in size. They've always been every other week. Bedford's every other week for us. Arlington is weekly. It varies. Okay. It varies. Okay. There there's no
it's not it's not uncommon to do, right? But there's still a lot of people do weekly as well. Yeah, there's some communities that still do week. Okay. All right. I was I was thinking it was an industry trend to do every every two weeks. Okay. Except for the community.
All right. Thank you. Probably have anything. Well, yeah, but I'm just wondering because, you know, maybe going electric, you know, doing this first time I heard CNG, you know, so it's trends, industries change over time
and we went from manual to, you know, mechanical pickup obviously less work, less workman's comp and all that stuff and less injuries. So, industry changes. So, that's why I was asking. Samantha, did you have something? Yeah. Um, I just wanted to add on to
that. Uh, another one of my customers, they recently just switched to uh, automated collection, trash recycle. They have weekly trash collection and every other week recycle collection. It's actually the town of Andover. And
um, they have implemented second and third cart options uh, to help with the every other week recycling collection. So, what do we want to do? I'm going to obviously open it to the
public in a moment, but Karen like Yes. Okay. Um, inacceptable waste, which is in the writing RFP, it says pet waste was not acceptable waste. That's where the definition came from. Maybe that came from the state. That's where it is.
Um, so as long as pet waste is okay in both of these contracts, we're good to go. And um, I would like to try to keep weekly recycling and um, include a bulk item. And frankly, to your point, I don't put
out that many bulk items. I do try to sell stuff or recycle or giveaway or free cycle. So is there an other option to do um, bulk options once or twice a month? Yeah. So, let's be a little creative, too. Um, just But I would like to wait
and hear if we could do both. So, I'll open up to the public real quick if you have any questions, comments. Anybody online? Maddie, somebody Chris Ro just a quick question either for DW
or the representatives. Obviously, we saw happen in Republic the catastrophe with the other facility. So, I do want to ask I assume both of your employees are unionized and during this five-year contract, will all the employees be under contract during that entire term? We're not union.
and the location that services um the town of Reading, our Habil location is non-union and um the union contract that we just signed at our PD office that is uh a 5-year contract. So, uh that would
be it's completely separate from any services that the town would receive from Republic. Excellent. Thank you. Anyone online? Maddie, all good? Not seeing any hands raised. So, I think the consensus from us is let's wait. We'll cut the pricing on
Monday. If we have to have a Tuesday meeting, we can schedule it in advance just for this topic to make a a final decision. Does that sound good for everyone? A Zoom only, you know, still public comment, whatever we want to do, but real refined and we'll make an
answer then. There's no let's wait another week or whatever. Yeah, let's go back. I'm good. All right, Mr. Chairman, just for um open meeting law purposes, we'll if you want to call a meeting on Tuesday, we'll have to send
out a packet on Thursday. Yes. Um and so I will ask Republic Samantha um please do what you can to get us uh something by Thursday if possible. Um Republic did not give us weekly prices either in their initial proposal or in
their revised proposal. they chose not to. So, just reminding the board of that. I look forward to seeing some new numbers. We'll ask both vendors to give us their best and final offers on Thursday. Final final. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you, Chris. Thank you both for showing up. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you, everyone. Do we want two minutes or we're moving on? How do we feel? Let's move on.
All right. Uh 8:15 discuss a lease amendment and memorum memorandum of understanding regarding parking recal. Um map chain. Did you want to go over this? Um yeah. I mean this was on the agenda
last time. If you remember, you know, you were talking about having a representative go and and help negotiate with this. I mean, I I think that that I felt that we were, you know, we time was of the essence. We had CPDC last night,
so we had to go forward and get some information first, which we did. That's happening. I CPDC dealt with it last night. They seem satisfied with the assurances we gave them. Um, if you want to still appoint somebody to to work
with us, that's fine. I'm not asking for anybody to work with us. Um, I think we've done a a good job on our own satisfying C CPDC and getting some some original agreements together. But, you know, that's that's where it's at. But if you want to take a second bracket
tonight, you know, that's that's fine. So, can I ask a clarifying? Is there any work that a select board member would have to do on this or you just will present the final one for a vote? We'll present the final one for the vote for sure. And so, it will come to the
select board. The lease amendment will come to the select board. Um, you know, I have the authority to negotiate and that's that's in the charter and that's what I've been doing. That's what I do on union contracts. You know, there's no select board member sitting with me in union negotiations. So, I I mean I think
I'm I'm fine to negotiate it with the team we have. I'm not asking for anybody to be appointed and we're we're sort of getting late in the game, you know, but it's the prerogative of the board obviously. Um, I'm not asking for it. Board me Karen. Um, so the announcement
that was made last night at CPDC about revenue. So, um, CPDC announced that was not their purview. They shouldn't have been talking about it. And, um, and I understand that parking should be resolved early on to get the site plan
approval. So, um, so where does that proclamation that has gone before the school committee and gone before CPDC um, by our select board designate? Where's that? Where's that lead at? Where where does the proclamation leave
at? Yeah. Where he announced to our everyone last night in the audience that he has been working with the town manager's office and come up with a revenue sharing uh I shouldn't say revenue sharing uh a plan to divert some of the rent if and when it's paid from Burbank
to a program over at the schools. I believe it's unified sports. Right. So, Unified Sports, there was a instructional motion at last con meeting to find a way to fund it. Um, so one through the negotiations with Burbank on the parking, they they originally asked
for a lot and there were a lot we couldn't give them. We went back and said, you know, sorry, I didn't want to negotiate it on the floor here. One thing that they wanted was still to find a way to to fund this unified sport. That was one of the terms. So, you know, there's a lot of restrictions on that
money because state law and whatnot, but we found out that we could do an account and that's would all we agree to is to bring that to town meeting. So, it's going to be up to town meeting to decide. Um, that's that's their ask. So, we're asking for parking. They were
asking let's, you know, bring this to town meeting. I said town meetings already said present us with a solution. Here's a funding source in a time that we don't have a lot of funding. interesting stuff here if I may because the schools just got a tremendous increase in their budget this year
thanks to the millionaires um tax. Um so we are being forced to face with the probability or possibility of an override which is extremely unpopular. So if we authorize you the town manager
because I'm sorry I disagree we sign this contract. This is a select board contract. We need to take and in the past if has advised us to take affirmative action to delegate to you and we did it earlier tonight with the fire chief. So I completely disagree.
Nevertheless, this is a really important home um really important project. So in terms of the parking, it's important to that we have a a a way to move forward. Exactly. But what what we're talking about is this is So what would this be? Another
amendment with Burbank. No, it wouldn't be another. So, so we're doing a lease amendment for liability mostly and then anou and theou would be something that I could sign and that would be in the portion regarding parking spaces and using
regarding parking and going to town meeting and asking for this what I just explained. I mean that's 10 persons can bring something to town meeting. Um yeah that's fine too if 10 people wanted
us to bring something that's why I didn't think it was hard to ask Tom meeting asked for it anyway. Well Tom meeting didn't ask us to pay for it. I mean, you know, and they said to find a way to fund it, you know, so and it's an important program. So, it's an important option to have and I
understand there's demand in the community and I understand supposed to be in cross containment mode and the schools just got I I don't even have any data on what this would look like. Are we looking to find a position? It was so like
unexpected and just announced a position hire an outside firm like maybe Saturday Night Lights provide programming in this area. I'm not sure what I'm not sure what that's about. I don't know what it's about either and that's what I'm asking for. More information
on the school department budget. Nope. I'm asking for more information on this proposal that our Burbank designate who's been running around town telling he's accomplished with the town manager's office. and representing himself as a member of the board bank
board. I'm trying to understand and I'm trying to understand exactly the scope of this um if if as you just said you're we're just responding to anformational um foreign article with town meeting we don't need
a memory of understanding with no topic right I'm not saying that's not saying that's the only reason why we're doing it seemed to be a win-win they're asking for something that we've already said we were going to provide to town meeting through the instructional motion process and that's the only thing
they're asking for. Well, I've been asking for a regular a regular rent contribution to that coffer and we're not getting that. So, I don't know what we're getting out of this other than we're getting parking which we need to
move these projects. A draft because CPDC had something to look at last night. Is there a draft that the select board should be looking at? We we can give you that draft. That was mostly on just the liability issues, but yeah, it was in their packet last night. Um, I thought I circulated it to you
before, maybe not, but I can give you the current draft on that. And then this liability issue, that concern that they have, honestly, they've had access to the rear parking lot for many, many years, and residents have been parking there for really, really years. So, did this liability issue cover that as well? Like, this
isn't really a new issue. Residents parking in that back lot. They've been allowing it, but recently they a new mailboard. It's better to formalize things on something like that. Yeah. So, it'll be formalized across the board. Is that the intention? It'll be formalized to the extent of
this agreement. Anybody who parks there, they don't have to worry about liability. It's town parking. We're using it for time. Anybody people could park there for whatever. I don't know about their liability, but for actual the parking we're looking for that that's what it's
for. Yeah. Um because I don't really see the difference. That's a parking lot. Yeah. They're like letting people park there. They're residents. They're using the town ball fields and whatever else. And now
we're like we're officially asking them, can we use some parking for some new amenities we're going to build over there? I would think they would want release from liability for that whole area. if they're gonna it makes no sense to only ask us about five spots or whatever it
is and ignore all of the residents and public that is already parking on that land. Right. I mean that's their call. I don't I don't know. I just know as it pertains to us. That's what I'm concerned. Okay. So they didn't ask us to cover any of that liability. Yeah. That they already they have the same
liability parts there. Okay. Yeah. So that's where we're at. Alissa, it's my understanding that us as the town want to cover ourselves with the pickle ball liability. It wasn't Burbank worried about the parking. Am I confused? Okay. So it's the opposite.
It's the opposite. Okay. So it was Burbank that asked us to cover ourselves with that parking. Okay. The liability. Yes. Okay. Karen, is it only are there going to be assigned spaces behind Burbank Meter
specifically or is it just anywhere behind there? Yeah. Um, so there's a designated area that's intended to be for uh pickle ball when you it's it's right against Range Road. There's tons
of parking in behind Burbank, but basically we would ask the pickle ball community to park like this, not the building like this. Is that what you're telling me? The back of the building is this way, but Range Road is this way. So, it would be never forget it. We have all these drawings. We have so
many drawings there. Yeah. I'm like, I can't follow. Um, if you if you're if you're in Burbank, right, there's these long rows sort of how people tend to orient their parking back there. Longer rows, longitudinal on the axis of the long distance of the building. Okay.
Yes. I know you're familiar with the building. I am. Okay. So, um, so it would be along there. So, if you're if you're going to play pickle ball, you'd pull into the back lot and you would park nose in facing the new courts, so to speak, or facing Range Road. You'd pull in and you'd have your nose in that way.
There's tons of parking there. We're looking for 28 spots. And are they going to be designated so that they they're not going to be they're not going to we're not going to put signs out. If we need to if there is a problem, we won't we'll we'll take care of that. We have staff that will be on
site working at recal every day. um that site is so unused that there are weeds growing in the gravel. Okay. So, it's it's not used. If we CBDC asked us last night if we need to paint or repaint lines out there if we need to. We we don't anticipate that. Uh in order for
people to book book the pickle ball courts through our system. Uh we can put information up there where designated parking is for pickle ball. So, they go over there and they don't park in the recal lot. Um we have members from pickle ball community here. Um, we we will continue to communicate that information and we'll have staff on
site. If it's a problem, we'll address it immediately. I just want to make sure I haven't seen it. I don't know who's liable for what, but I just want to make sure that we have a safe place for people to park for pickle ball and then if somebody happens to be there for some hockey,
dancing, skating event that there's not a lot of crossover, you know what I mean? like as far as that kind of stuff. I That's just what I'm getting at. Sure. I don't anticipate a problem. Okay. But we can review it if it becomes an issue. Of course,
but we will review it. Staff will review it. Honestly, they work very well with Burbank. They've they've been very good to work with for our trash contract. Um their their u rink manager at Pluto has been fantastic to work with with our staff, Chris, and with Mike Kesman. Um,
and with all the other sports that park over there, these are they're very immunable and I guess right now it seems like they're two very different topics and the most important immediate is the parking which we really want to get resolved and the the unified sports thing is separate
because it involves the rent part of it. So, I'm of the understanding that we're just doing an amendment for just parking. And so, can the other thing be handled separately or are is it currently being handled separately or or are they trying to tie it together? Like, are they holding parking hostage
in order to get the the I think that's an unfortunate characterization to say that they're holding hostage. Kind of joking, but do you know what I mean? like I don't so there there have been uh both bodies have show expressed an interest in opening the lease
um to talk about that okay and so Burbank had as Mr. uh Krenelis indicated Mr. I'm very formal, so sometimes uh as as the town manager indicated, they had many asks. Um and in the interest of satisfying our parking agreement, they
eliminated their other asks and asked for a stabilization fund to be presented to town meeting for the purpose of funding unified sports. And that would have that would require a town meeting vote and it would require a town meeting vote annually to approp town meeting to
appropriate those funds into the account based on what the lease payment is to the town that year. So it the decision is still at the town meeting vote and if it's on the lease amendment, this board still has the the right and the authority to sign off on any lease
amendments. If the board were to have other matters they wanted us to open up for the lease, those could come forward. Um, there's nothing to preclude that. It's getting late now. Thank you.
The MBTA giving us the signal. Yeah. So, um, so, you know, we think it's a positive thing. We think it's a positive, right? I just think it's surprising because I
wasn't here a couple years ago when they signed their extension, right? And so to me, that would have been the time to kind of make some modifications. So, this is I guess the timing is the timing, but um yeah, I Yeah, I wasn't here at that time. I understand there was a request
at that time. What other things were Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry. I'm done. Thank you, Karen. May I ask what other kinds of things they might be looking for? Right now, that's all they're looking for is this. That's it. We You mentioned some other things that
in the in the past during the negotiations they they wanted like a longer term an extra 10 years things like that which would be too hard to do probably take town meeting. So you know we needed to move quickly on the parking. So this is what yeah to other Karen's point it's the
lease negotiation that they sign that's their option every every 10 years. um it's in their per uh they can sign it or not and we have no say whether or not they they uh renew or any input in changing things
that requires commun like changes any modification there. Um and the other thing any with any kind of negotiation that Matt and Jane have been doing where it's been mentioned you know a handful of items that Bird wanted they have to
get something out of this. It's not that, you know, if the something ends up being unified sports and as funding source, it's up for a vote and if it passes, it passes. If it doesn't, it doesn't. But that is their only card to ask compared to a litany of other items
that they originally asked for, which would delay things and pickle ball would get delayed and the retail project and all of that. They've acquiesced and settled on that. So that is what um you know is going to get presented to town meeting or you know if we have to sign
off on it we do um but that's it like I don't know what else has to be discussed with it. Okay. So, let me just say that one of one point of negotiation is that this contract be a win-win for the town
and Burbank and that we are not told take it or leave it. And that is you're correct. That is the way it's written. If we reviewed it, I I don't think nobody's happy about that. Maybe you are. No one else is. One item, Karen.
It's not It's not a win-win. It's not collaborative. And that board over there is mostly reading residents. And that was the So the funny thing that I'm still struggling with is that they are a 501c. They literally can raise money or
put aside funds to run their own unified sports program. They don't need to have anything to do with the school department unless it's somehow specifically a skating unified sports program. So I'm still struggling with
why they're even asking for it. And I know you didn't like your characterization, but it kind of feels like that. It just doesn't feel like the two things put together. I don't think that I don't think that they're asking. I think that the fund would go in and it's up to the town perview whether or not the school
committee ran it. The rec committee uh gave money to Burbank for skating. However the town sees fit to run with the money that was put into the account is how that would happen. It's not specific to the school. Yeah, they're giving it away. We It's a give and take. They want one item and we
want parking and pickle ball. Like I don't know what else to say. It seems It seems in the grand scheme of things like Matt knows of other items they've asked for. We're down to one one item. Unless um a couple things. I think the biggest
reason that they would like to put money into that I've heard um in public comments is that you know Burbank was given to the town by Mr. Burbank or built for by Mr. and his, you know, whole,
you know, legacy. Thank you. Legacy was the kids of this town. And we have this program that's been started by a volunteer who happens to be my neighbor and is a teacher in town and it's a basketball program that has arrived, but they struggled to, you
know, bring funds in for it. So, I fully support bringing, you know, Burbank to Reading residents. You may not think that it's a big deal, but I promise you Reading residents think Burbank's a big deal in that ice
rink. And I think that if we even spoke of not renewing a lease with them, it would be a big problem in town. And I know that all the kids that skate there, skate there, whether it's hockey or, you know, ice skating, I believe that most
people would really love to hear that whatever they're contributing is now going back into a unified sports program here in town. Karen, final point. So, um, there's never been any mention of not renewing the lease. There's the
request to discuss the lease which is typewritten and dates to the 90s and the answer that the last time it was signed was an absolute no which was not a great answer and didn't wasn't a good look for the board. Um we also Burbank gave me a
million dollars. Burbank was very savvy financial person and never wanted this drink to be a burden on the town and he also gave money to the Burbank YMCA. In my mind, the YMCA and basketball are a better fit. So, I'm still going to
struggle with why this board would feel like they need to do this. Um, I I I would rather it be if there it's a it's a great thing to have and if the residents want it, we should figure out how to do it. We shouldn't be coming out of an ice skating rink authority. That's
where I'm on. So the Burbank thing real quick for the YMCA, just like we gave ARPA money and ran the program through there, the rec committee could do the same thing with this fund, it's not pigeonholed to just within uh you know, Oakland Road. It can
go elsewhere. Am I mistaken or am I just like creating this? So the unified sports program is through the high school uh sorry through school department. Um recreation helps out actively. It's it's great program and they're looking to expand it to elementary school students. Okay.
So, right now there are no unified sports programs for elementary school students at all. It's middle school track. It's high school uh track. There's a few other components that I'm forgetting at the moment. Um but there I'm sorry basketball. Basketball. I beg your pardon. You did
mention that. Um and so they're looking to expand it um to have inclusive unified sports for elementary school. That is I met with Dr. on that. Um, and it's something that there's a tremendous amount of support for in the community, but there is not a
budget designated. So, it's predominantly will be the school, but there's some leeway in other areas, right? And it's not my understanding um to um Miss Heric's uh question is that it's not to fund um a full-time position. They have um you know, a
record person that on this school side that administers this work. for um you know refereeing and and you know supervision and um equipment and things like that you know so there is some staffing time that's required but it's
not like a full-time benefited position in addition to what they're already doing but we can get more information on that if that would be helpful to the board be happy to get more information on that for the board as we go forward I will all right I haven't spoken yet
I've been listening I I appreciate everyone's comments comments. I I think we need to move on. These people have been waiting a long time. It sounds like we don't need a design uh to help with the amendment and this will be up to
town meeting and town meeting can go any direction town meeting wants to go. So I think us discussing this at nauseium is pointless. We bring it to town meeting, let town meeting decide and then we'll figure it out from there. But that's
just my opinion. I I it's it's 10:00 and we need to we have a lot more to do on the agenda. So I I I everyone has spoken. It's my first time speaking, but we need to move on and that's my two cents. Yep.
Um I agree. So Matt, you can you know work on things how you were and Okay. Thank you. All right. So update from MBTA regarding proposed turnback track page 283 288 of the packet. MBTA no 288. MBTA is here.
Thank you. Waiting. Alistister you shut the lights off. You're here too. He wanted to be noticed. Yes. Do you have a presentation online that Thank you, Maddie. Um good evening. Um, for those of you h
who haven't met before, I'm Sharon Cranston. I am the director of rail modernization delivery. That means it's my uh responsibility to implement any infrastructure upgrades required to support anything to do with the uh rail modernization program. So that's the
more frequent all day service across our network and the electrification. Um, so today I'm here, sorry, uh, today I'm here at the writing turnback track because it's been writing. Um, and I've been here a few times before, uh, in the
community. Uh, next slide, please, Naddie. So, initially the public became or the community became aware of this project because of a notice intent that we filed. Um, and we became aware that communication had broken down. We pulled
that notice of intent. We came to the select ward. We held a public meeting in February. We paused the project. Um and then we took the community concerns which were really focused around some alternative project locations. Um the noise, grade crossing, and emission
concerns. Um and we did some work. We hired consultants to help us look into those issues. Um and then we put together that information. And through the end of the summer and early fall, we met with the writing police and fire chiefs um to talk about the grade
crossing and we gave them the detailed data. Um we also had similar meetings with Wakefield and Melrose police and fire chiefs. Um and we met with elect officials um that represent uh Reading. Um, we held a special meeting with some
of the abutters who have been very vocal in their concerns to show them our public meeting uh, deck and hear their concerns in advance of the public meeting. And we held another full public meeting. Um, we had that one hybrid because um, in our experience there's
some uh, that gets us a better participation um, because some people just aren't able to get out of their homes for one reason or another. Um, so we had that one hybrid um with the predominantly virtual but having that listening room um at the
library to make sure that we could have as much participation as possible. So we've done a lot to try to fix the breakdown in communication that we had. Um and uh tomorrow night we'll be at the conservation commission again with our
new notice of intent. Um so this is the project as it stands now. Um, I know some of the figures have been a little bit more representative. So, this is a technical drawing that is attached to our notes of intent. What you're seeing is on Willow Street's
a little bit faded on the left because it's for the notice of intent. It's a little bit more focused on the environmental items. You can see the dark line for the Ajona River. Um, the dash line is showing the riverfront setback. So the track will be uh
constructed 100 feet back from the riverfront uh setback. The last 100 ft of track is a safety buffer. So there's a bumper at the end of the track when you have 100 ft. And then we'll place the track pan. And that track pan, it's
a metal um pan that we have a liner that absorbs any oil um and that is maintained and replaced as necessary. that will fix the locomotive at that location um because it's got the track pan so the um engineers will know that
that's where they're parking and we have selected to be as far away from the homes as reasonably possible. Um the source of noise and emissions is the locomotive. So, we don't generally talk about the coaches in this conversation
because the coaches will um vary, but they also aren't the source of the concerns. Um that's why when I we talk about things, we're really focused on the locomotive. Next slide, please. Based on the community concerns, we've
added a couple scope elements. One of them is the track pan I just described. Another is some plantings. Um we are working with the conservation for appropriate native species. We want a species that is vertical growing and not horizontal. Horizontal is always a
problem for us for safety reasons. Um arboriday is one that we've used um before in our uh in our projects, but it's not the only one. And we our environmental team has been in communication with the conservation
commission to make sure that any planting is appropriate with the conservation land because it's in the buffer zone. Um we are looking to do a privacy screen. So we're looking for something evergreen. So you're getting that screen for the year and only for the length of the locomotive. We are not
going to be screening the whole length of the train. Next slide please. So the community has suggested several alternative locations. Some of them we had considered early on. We just didn't bring alternatives to the community when
we first communicated. So um we have included those just to make sure that our community members know that we heard them. Unfortunately, none of the alternatives work for our objective um our operational objective of having that
30 minute uh ability to have 30 minutes service. Um some of them were too far along on the single track section um and we have to clear that train single track section um before another train can go the other direction. So, it just isn't
physically possible. Um some of the options required a full station rebuild which is a longer timeline. Um when it's fun uh conservatively speaking when it's uh funded then we're looking at six years presuming everything goes
smoothly. Um and that's because generally you're looking at two years of design, a year of uh permitting and um bidding and three years of construction. So that the six years isn't just a madeup number. Um, and some of the uh
locations required property acquisition, particularly one location that we'd have to move power lines that had been built within our right of way since the second track was pulled up. Uh, next slide, please. So, in April, we conducted a noise
study. We um hired an acoustic engineer who is celebrated in his field. He is certified and he actually has provided input to the FRA and FTA on their guidelines. Um he brought in equipment
and calibrated it, placed three microphones in the area around the turnback track. We worked with Kiololis to idle a train um for it ended up being 20 minutes because we had to balance not blocking any of the trains carrying our
passengers. Uh our target for the time of day, we wanted it to not be during the peak periods when ambient uh car traffic could be masking um some of the sounds. Um so but during the operational
time of day. So noon was agreed that it would work both with our operations of our trains um in order to have a train idling there but also it would be representative. Um so what we did is we had those noise monitors there for over 24 hours. We had
the same time period two days in a row. One day with the idling train, one day without. And so I've really focused down on that 20 minute period because that's your onetoone comparison. Um what we found from those noise monitors is that
you were getting near the houses approximately 5 to six dB difference with the idling train. That is um below any regulatory limit. It's enough that you would notice it if you're in your backyard. You probably wouldn't notice
it in your house. It's not going to stop you from be able to hold a conversation outside. So, it's not It's noticeable, but it shouldn't be enough that it's um getting in the way of your life. Next slide, please.
We um based on feedback from the community and I had a hard time communicating the gate closure data. This is the way I've found best to represent it. Um, what we're showing with the yellow bars is your current gate closures on your busiest hour at
each intersection. And then a representative of what we're proposing is the purple. So, generally what we're going to see is more frequent gate closures. Each gate closure should be restoration
um at Ash Street Main Street because you've got the two streets there. That is a fairly long gate closure. They have to close together and that's always going to happen. But we there's things we can do to try to optimize that and shave a few cycles off each gate closure
which will add up over time. you are increasing about 20 activations per day um but per hour which is really a more um more approachable time scale because you're not going to be going through uh
on the road constantly throughout the day per hour you're going from three to four gate closures. Um uh oh sorry last slide please. Thanks. at Washington Street. That's where we're seeing the um most reduction in the gate closure time for closure and
that's because we're moving the turns out of the station. Right now, we're getting a longer activation because of that turn. Um some of that activation, I don't think the gates actually down, but our computers only record the activation. Um so, we're able to uh by
moving the turn out of the station reduce that activation. Um but simil it's going to be the same number of activations and same activations per hour as with Ashme. Next slide please Maddie. At Wuburn Street this is where you're
going to see the biggest impact because every turn train is now going to be going through Wuburn Street whereas currently they're staying in the station. You are seeing a significant increase in activations. Um so you're seeing about just shy of 40 increase at
Wuburn Street. Um, so you're going from an average of 1.5 to per hour to four per hour. Uh, Willow Street, you're seeing a similar rate ratio increase as you were at the others, but because you're not getting um more than the ones
going through Haveral, you're only going up from 1.5 to two per hour. Next slide, please. for the emissions. We are going to be um spending more time in your community with our trains, but we have committed
to incorporating renewable diesel on the haver line. Um the renewable diesel uh for the same amount of time being used is significantly better on all emissions. What we're showing here in the yellow is your current um uh fuel
and emissions and the purple is under the future schedule with the um renewable diesel fuel. So you'll see that the NOx does increase. If it was one for one the same time, the NOx would be reduced. So the only reason you're seeing that increase is because of the
additional time we'll be spending in your community. Um but even with that additional time, the rest of the emi uh emissions across the board are reduced. Next slide, please. Um, we're going to be at the Conservation Commission tomorrow night with our environmental
experts. So, given that we are over an hour and a half over schedule, um, I'll just Well, you can just go to the next slide, which I believe is questions. Melissa. Um, the MBTA asked Matt for the board to
give questions and I gave I believe six, seven, eight and I haven't received an answer on any of them. No, I sorry it's in my inbox. I was going to answer you this evening. Um, one second. Let me see if I do you have them in front of you to ask directly or I do have some of them. Yeah. But I mean
the most important one was the data. Like you you mentioned data on crossing, you mentioned data on sound and you mentioned data on um emissions and as a town we've seen none of it. So we have provided to the police and fire chief the gate closing closure
data. Not the raw data you have it. Yes. Oh you have? Yes. Has a town received that? Uh did it go through you Matt? Went to the chief the two chiefs I think. So okay just but it was embargoed when it went to them I thought.
I don't do the communication directly. Um so I provided I made sure that the raw data because that's an Excel format. I was able to provide that to the chiefs and I was able to walk through the analysis with them. Um the noise in the sound data um I don't have the software
packages in order to use the raw data. That's why I only get the That's actually a different answer than we were told recently. We were just told that the consultant didn't get the raw data. So which is accurate? You don't have software. The consultant has the raw data, but the MBTA didn't get it is what we were told.
The MBTA doesn't get the raw data from the consultant because we don't have the ability to process it. So, they have the raw data and they give us an output, but there's no I mean, a file format that I have no way of reading isn't very helpful. But if the MBTA hired a
consultant, why wouldn't you think that that consultant should be at these meetings to give the information to the residents and the you know us? That's my responsibility. But you can't give it to us. I am giving it to you. But we want to double check it. Like I mean no one's going to take anything at
anyone's word. We want to actually see the full data. I mean it's it's fair for the town to ask for the all of the data. the plots that I provided at the public meeting that is the full data. Okay. So, you can say that but what was
brought to us tonight is that you know the state auditor just did this study that I'm so glad one of the residents brought up because I did a little background check on it and that Massachusetts state auditor recently highlighted concerns with public trust and outlined issues with public trust
with the MBTA. That's what you're doing right here because you're not being straightforward with the town and the residents and there's no reason to try to circumvent why we shouldn't see the data. No reason. And and the list goes on and
on of why there's no public trust with the MBTA. That was my first question. My second question is um what studies have been conducted to support the need for the additional trains for 30 minutes to Boston from ready. So I mean we've had this we've discussed
this in the previous presentations. This is the rail modernization policy as adopted by the MBTA and MBTA board. It is our policy to provide more service to all riders. Um this was our response to the changes of our ridership during co you've we've previously given you
presentations on this background. There is nobody's going to prove as we very honestly said as good engineers uh how many people are actually going to turn up what day they're going to turn up but there is a lot of good data that a we're providing a service that people want
which is more frequent which gives them more flexibility and we're actually attracted in lots of places including communities around Boston so it is our strong belief it is all the best professional knowledge that this is what hams will
provide better service all day in both directions. And as I can say, I'm never a rider on this line. I've never seen it, including coming to the Hong Kong walk walk uh up the site. There are people riding in the middle of the day on the kind of trains that people are
saying are not being used. So there may be three people at the depot. It is not three people. And we have out there and we've counted them. And yes, we it isn't a huge amount. We shared in our original presentation. time and duration of day. One of the presentations, I believe it
was you that said that there was literally zero people on a train. I mean, I don't understand how the MBTA can take grant money when there's no financial data to support the increase in the trains and the increase in the employees
you're going to need. I can politely say there is we have the employees. We have a contract with an operator that can provide this. We have the equipment and we have the budget. And I can say that um I believe FY25 or
26 the MBTA is currently at a $168 million debt. So there's also that. So clearly there's not great planning there. Nothing to do with this particular contract which is contracted and fixed. This particular contract, my
understanding is only for the track. No, this particular contract to be very clear, this is a capital contract we're talking about about the training structure. You're talking about the operations. The operations is contracted with a third party that is funded.
And as you know, public finance does tend to go year to year. So, it will be fixed next year as it was last year. Nope. Because FY25 had $37 million in debt. So, I don't think it's going to get fixed, but okay. Um, so reading was
awarded over $2 million with an MVP grant to do Mallette sums. Has the MBTA reached out to the executive office of energy and environmental affairs who gave us that grant? We have not. They're an ultimate butter in this sense. Excuse me. Say that again. I said we have not. They are not
ultimate butter in this sense. You're right. They're not. But they also gave Reading over $2 million to do that project. We acknowledge that. Um, we don't have the capability to reach out to everybody affected by every bit of service we have. We run through
150 communities. It is very difficult. We do our best and we are doing our best with you. We're providing a lot of additional information and yes, you don't trust us, but it is very hard to get somebody to trust you when you're saying here is the data and we just get challenged. It's a lie. Um, we can't
prove that data other than saying here is a report done by a reputable analysis. We actually haven't seen a report. We've only seen what you've provided us. That is a report with MBTA writing on it. That's not a report from the person that did the data.
Maddie, can you please give me permission to share? Yes. One second. You're Sharon, right? Yes. Okay. Okay. All right, you should be good to share. There we go. So, these are the slides that we shared at the select board
meeting. This is the data or the sorry, the public meeting. Um, this is the data. This is what is recorded on a microphone. The uh microphones are calibrated before being put in place. No modification is made to the readings. This is what we said at the residence
meeting. This is what we said at the public meeting. This is the data. They have a software program that reads this off of the uh readers from the microphones. The acoustic engineer said that the um profile that he sees here is
consistent with community like reading. He had no reason to have any concerns with this data. Um, you have spikes throughout the uh day. Some of them are trains passing, some of them are airplanes passing. Um, you're seeing sound going down overnight. That's perfectly normal.
Everything he saw was normal. This red band here, that's when the train was idling. And in that window, you can see there's um some noise, but nothing extraordinary, nothing outside of what is expected.
The white band is the overnight when uh outside of the hours of service um and that's the current service. So these are the same slides that we provided already. This is the um plot for Hancock Street.
We are seeing similar trends and this is the plot for Willow Street. Yes, I just wanted to confirm that these were presented at the abuters's meeting. I recognize that actually wasn't I understand that I did watch the but not the meeting the
public meeting. Um I did watch that but I would like a full report not just these random slides and my understanding is when you have someone come out and do testing like this there should be a full official report. That's if we commission a NEPA
required full acoustic study. What we did here was we heard our cons the concerns of the community and we went and gathered data so we could then bring it back to the community. That's a different level of effort because we didn't trigger MEA. So we didn't
uh commission a study that had that kind of report because it wasn't what we needed. What we needed was to be able to communicate to the uh community that we heard their concern. We went and collected data and we're showing the data. This is us showing and sharing you
with you the information that we collected. So, if I could just real quick on that point is that um I've been CCed on the emails from the MBTA for obviously months if not years at this point. Um, but the residents have been
asking for the the raw data for uh months and I then requested it myself in which I was told that I would be able to get it and now you're telling me that that is not going to actually happen. So I'm just wondering I'll chime in if I
could. Cam Dy, director of government affairs emailing you. So I said any raw data that we have we can get from the contractor we will get. We will pass along. I've said that I mean in my communications with Lucas I've said the same thing if we can get it from the contractor we absolutely will but and
any data that I do receive will get passed on to the town of they're all I mean I know you guys are all the same threat but it's it's more along the lines of that people have been asking for it if it doesn't exist they don't have it or whatever scenario you want to come up with then it should have been you know like sorry we don't have this kind of
thing not just we'll get what we got kind of and then that's why I had to inject myself and ask because I'm like Well, now I get to ask for it because they have and it hasn't been responded to. And if and if you can't get it from the contractor, perhaps you need a different highly
esteemed contractor that you had. Um I would think that it's part of their obligation to give you everything they have. And if you give that to us and we can't read it, we can't do anything with it, you're done. But don't tell me you're going to do it and then don't actually do it. No, that's totally fair. I hear your I
know McKenzie submitted a a public request as well which is in process and anything that you know we can get access to from our our consultants who perform the studies in terms of raw data we will get passed on. Yeah, I I I would just hate to have it come to that point.
I understand. I mean, to Mackenzie's point, it's already in question. It's already in process, right? So, just a response for the Hoya is tomorrow. Okay. There's no I'll take public comment at the end, but um I just wanted to point
it out that like for us to ask for like I just told you like say we don't have it. We don't we're going to do it like it the whole trust do I think you're hiding something? I don't know. But it it I don't know why I don't know why I have
to post a question. I know other board members and I have other questions, but I just wanted to chime in on this that this could have been alleviated if we actually got it and like Cam just opened up and you know I appreciate that and you know I think we can move on from
that one topic. So did you have something else? No, you can. Thank you. Anybody else? Um what is the purpose of just having the greenery cover just the local section? Okay. Um,
the community is uh concerned that um after you spent so much time and effort rehabilitating creating that trail, they don't really want to see an idling train sitting there. And so the point of the greenery is to screen the locomotive. But you just said it just would cover
the locomotive. Why would it not cover the whole train? Um, partly because the train varies in length. Um, partly because this is in buffer zone of the conseration commission. So, we're trying to minimize our impact. Um, and though I mean if the conservation commission tells us no, you
can't plant those, you can't plant them. Okay. And then what about one of the sound barriers like you see on the highway? Is that something that could be put up there? We looked into it. Um, it's difficult because the uh the co it's a causeway. It's steep slopes with pretty much the
right of way at the top. um to build a sound wall there would be technically quite difficult, but then you h you run the risk of ricocheting the sound off the sound wall and amplifying it for someone else. And then my next question was the
resident had brought up having a test for a week of like the lane the the gates going up and down. I don't know if that's so the gates are controlled by the U PTC positive train control signals on the uh
on the rails. We can't trigger the gates. We can't um we can't interfere with the gates. They are in communication with the trains. Obviously, it's different when we take them offline to service it, but then it's offline and you cannot run a train.
Right. Okay. Thank you. Um, so quick question. The best thing I heard at the Abutters meeting is that instead of 10 years, we could potentially get a new station in six and a half years. Like
that's once uh funding has been secured. So unless there's money to pay for the design and construction. Um, and am I um am I crazy in thinking that the SIR tax that funds transportation
and education is going to be sending money to the MBTA for these um capital projects? I I don't know that any of us are uh in a position to comment on how the funding of the MBTA is determined, unfortunately.
I mean, we would choose all of the millionaires tax to come to the MBTA, but I think that other people would disagree, right? And and I'm really just asking because what I heard at the get a better meeting was that so it takes six and a half years to get a new stage and I'm 10 of 10 and I heard that if that happens
this goes away. So I got really excited because there's still a lot of concern in the community and personally I aside from well so there's going to be some exhaust there is going to be some noise but it's not going to be driving through the big project that we created. So, you
know, this anti- flooding gorgeous project, I was there yesterday, so the train is not going to be in the middle of it, but I I'm not discounting the concerns. Um, so just really asking as a matter of how do we as a community get to the point where we're celebrating
like Winchester, oh my god, our new station is done. It's fully ADA. We're so excited. And then the residents are like, you no more turn back. Well, the turnback would just be happening in the station. you'd still be having the term. I know none of those people ever come to these news is so funny. The ones who are
directly above the station. Yes. Um well, I guess we can say a bit more. So, I mean, as we've said to you before about the station, uh it is still our plan. We're still working on plans for it and we have should I say an innovative idea to accelerate the
procurement, but we still require funds even of that innovative idea. So, it really is on one of our was that top 10 for replacement stations at the moment. So, I can't promise anything. As you know, trying to be super honest with you guys. We may not have as we're trying to
be. Uh, and we're not giving up on that station because obviously part of the reason for building this turn track is to provide better services. So, we should just keep on our delegation. We have three representatives and just keep reminding them that this is really important. Is
that okay? All right. Thank you. No. No. Carlo. Yeah. I just want to thank everybody that spoke tonight and all the effort that you've put in. And I wish we had a
say in this. I really do because I would vote no. But we don't have a say. We want to hear from you. I'm sure the team wants to hear from you. I'm sure they're sick of you. Um they found the notice of intent. Um, but
I've been doing this for almost six years and the way you guys galvanized and got together and and did the research and just counterattack and attack. It was amazing and keep it up. But I sound like this is going to go through unfortunately unless something crazy
happens. But um and I wish we had a say because I think a majority of us aren't here. Not maybe not all of us, but a majority of this would this know in a second because it doesn't make sense to me. I just had a couple other quick questions. So um
uh so the gate scenario that you put up there, why can't you change the gate timing now? Why is Ash Street 74.6 and you can take it off by two seconds? Um there's a couple small things we're still working on. Um particularly putting up signs um to pin where the
locomotive is stopping. It makes them more efficient when they're stopping. Um we're also just working with COLA to go through and optimize. We replaced a lot of the signal and gate infrastructure over the last couple years of all work you guys suffered. Um, and so some of
that is just with the new equipment you need to go through and optimize because I did sit at Asht Street um this morning and you're right, it it it takes forever and I just thought to myself, I'm like, they're coming before us here and we're going to increase it. So
that is a geometry issue. It's the same as when you're at a traffic signal that the amber light is timed based on the geometry of the tra of the intersection. And it's the same thing with the gates. the longer the area that you're crossing, the longer the gates have to be closed.
Yeah. And that's my biggest concern is the other gate crossing that's increasing by 40. I I understand that you're doing one and a half to 4x or whatever, but that is fairly significant. And I don't know how we're overlooking it. I'm not sure what the
the police saw or how you could heard 40 counts in that scenario. Like it's fairly significant. it is fairly significant. What's important to um what's what I was trying to show with those plots that wasn't coming through
with just the numbers is those increases aren't concentrated. They're spread throughout the day. So right now you're getting a little bit more concentrated on the peak times and during the day in the middle of the day when there's less traffic on the roads the gates are
closing less often. Um, so that those more frequent gate closures are spread throughout the day. So you actually end up seeing more gate closures during the less busy times on the roads and fewer increases during the peak periods because we're going to have more regular
and not so clumped around the um it's not very clumped around the peak periods, but is a little bit um so it's just going to be more smooth throughout the day. I might disagree with that, but you know, like it's I don't see how you go
from 20 to 60 and think that anything's going to be smooth, but you know, uh the pollution aspect, I understand that you go into some other form of diesel. I thought diesel was diesel, renewable diesel. It's um actually not
diesel at all. Is it more expensive than regulation? actually because we're able to get it delivered by rail, we are saving money because we don't have to pay for it to be in trucks. I'm sure it's typically more expensive. It's more expensive if you were doing it
in your pump trucks or your because I know you did bring up that maybe electrification 10 years from now, whatever. Um that is the ultimate goal. Correct. It's the but as Melissa mentioned, you're boatloads in debt. I don't see where you're getting the money
to do any of this anything at all ever. Like I would never financially make these decisions. Uh I went to college for a week at Boston University. The MBTA was screwed up back then. MBTA is screwed up back now. It's not your fault, but like we got to be real here.
Like if if the MBTA could be fixed, somebody would have done it by now. And it just seems fixed incrementally and this is one of the increments. I would disagree with that because I don't I don't think it is a good financial decision. Uh I would invite Alistister or anybody else to meet me
tomorrow at 10:00. I think it's 10:11 and see how many people get on that train and get off at Reading at the Depot and I guarantee you the number will be one zero. Guarantee and I don't care what studies you have, cameras, whatever. Someone else has a camera. Um,
like it's it's it's my office window overlooks the depot. All I do is go like this and I see nobody there ever. And my point ends up coming down to that. Uh, I feel for the neighbors because if I
could have it outside my window, um, I would. It's weird to hear that you would advocate for, you know, worst scenario outside your window, but I would do it because I bought an office overlooking the train depot where trains are. That's like, you know, you can't argue with
that. Um, but my big thing is the only time I hear these trains, obviously I hear them all the time, but the only time that I hear them is when they're doing the changeovers, 12:34 or whatever scenario when they're there for 20, 30 minutes and these people are going to be listening to that all day. That's the
only time I hear them in a double pane window up on the third floor. Like I it after 5 10 minutes of hearing it, that's what I actually hear. And I'm like, "Oh, cuz the train has been out here this whole time." And I it's got to be in their backyard. Um, and it's extremely
unfortunate. Uh, and the other thing with how I brought up the the diesel and all that is the nitrous oxide. I've had severe asthma my entire life. I had no clue other than your presentation that it was actually bad for me. And now nitrous oxide is going to be going over
here. And it just seems wild to me. Like my goal would be we're not under the EPA requirement by five milligrams or whatever thing you have in the chart. Uh we're under by zero. Just like zero it out. We don't want to have any pollution. I don't see how we could be a
green community and simultaneously advocate for diesel chains trains in Reading Massachusetts ever. Never give our green community plaques back to whoever gave them to us. like it's Thank
you. I I I just It's almost like I want to run for governor. What Why Why is this kind of stuff happening? What world am I living in where we're a green community? Yay. Or whatever. And now we have double diesel trains going behind people's
houses in conservation land with a bird sanctuary over there. And like I can get five feet behind my house in conservation areas. You're right. Right away. like, listen, you don't like it, change the rules. And I can't change the rules. We're going to play by your your
thing. It's just everything is so messed up in Massachusetts and and for you to think that it's going to get any better and you're going to have this funding and do whatever, it's all a pipe dream. It ain't going to happen. Um, and we better be realistic. Um, so Alistister 10
o'clock tomorrow, meet you over there and go to the last corner for dinner. It's fant breakfast cash only. I'll get your pick and egg. No cheese. Hi, Melissa. Real quick. Um, just two quick things. Oh, sorry. Two quick things. One is I think it's um it wasn't appropriate for you to say
that those idling trains aren't going to disturb residents. They are. I was at uh everything but the dog today when there was an idling train. It literally shakes the ground like it's going to disturb these residents. So, I don't think it's fair for you to say it's not going to. Second, the one thing I still don't
understand is the train service has not gone back to precoid train schedules and rush hour. I used to take the train 2008 to 2012. I took the train into Boston. I had to fight as a running resident to
get parking. There is no no issue anymore. We almost leased out parking. We have so much parking down there now. So help me understand why the first step in increasing service to Boston wouldn't be to go back to precoid peak time train
schedules. Okay. So because the riders, as you've just illustrated, haven't gone back to pre-COVID. So they're different people riding different times of the day. And there also people who are working from home who go in for a meeting, go in flex
um and move around childcare shirts and all kinds of other things. So that is the reason why we have moved away because pre-COVID was a lot of service commuters only badged as commuters for a very short period on peak at either end of the day and if you missed any of
those you're driving and that is not good and that is part of the reason it's that is another one that comes from everywhere around the world including here in Massachusetts. If you don't rely on your last train and you know if you miss that train, you're going to be
waiting for 12 hours for the next train. Forget about it. You're just not going to risk it. And I've been in that position myself precoid here in Massachusetts. Um but plenty of others have too. And is well known having the shoulder peak as it's called having no
service is a disaster. So that's why we've gone to this approach which is reliable frequent service. We were in Malden. I couldn't agree more with you. I lived in the city mo most of my life. Like I couldn't agree more with you. But we're not. We're in the
suburbs. And I I do not believe that you are going to have wrership that financially makes sense for you to do this program. like there's there you would have to have
what 50 to 100 people on those trains to make this make sense. That's never going to happen. So a financially it is a public service. So we are trying to provide a service to give people options. So it is not priced
in a way that would be uh cost positive and there are other places that do that and as a result having way higher affairs and have a very different style of service but they also have high frequency service too. Um a because reading is the end of the turn. It is not just reading you talking about we're
talking about all the intervening stations down the line. and B, yes, there are going to be some people in Reading, but there also be some people in Wakefield, a lot of people in Melrose, all those other stations that get to benefit from this. So, we can't make a decision with just one
place in mind. We're looking at a series of people who would otherwise drive. And you've talked to the police chiefs in Wakefield and I mean Wakefield and Mount Rising and the fire chiefs. Yes. Please
Melrose brought their ambulance as well. So I'll open it up to the public for people that didn't speak before and just please direct your questions to me. The T is not required to answer the questions. So let me just preface that I can ask them after the fact or get an
email, but just understand that they're not required to and you know we'll see what we can do with this. You know what I mean? Two minutes. Yeah, two minutes. Name and address. Thank you. Thank you. My name is Jim Riley. Uh,
a lot of good information tonight. Thank you all of you. Uh, I've come to many, many, many meetings. I know all of you almost personally now. Uh, I've lived on Hancock Street for 70 plus years. I've tried to stay
minimally involved in various changes that have gone on in the town of Readings. It was interesting the guy that spoke tonight about uh disabilities. There are times when I force myself become an advocate for various issues. I feel
right now one of these issues is the impact of lives in it. 14 years, 18 years ago, I started to get involved people with youth with disabilities and seniors with disabilities.
At one point in time, I was elected to the governor's office for the state rehabilitation commission and I busted my butt. This leads me to the MB MBTA proposed kind. Second, I'll turn back which I
feel has a major impact on the town of Reading as a community is and is being driven by MBTA leadership who in my opinion are only looking at the potential business opportunities but are not looking at the impact of ready
community as a whole which should include the health, safety, and well-being of my community. One last thing and I'm done. There has been never a discussion about a sound study and the impacts of a sound study on abundance
homes environment properties and our health and well-being. There was not a discussion about that. Kyle come up earlier today and basically asked for
a unique wall. I just want people again to see this is where the trains will sit behind my house this close out my back window and they're going to be moving not idling in the conservation land but moving by my house. Thank you.
Thank you Jim. I'm sorry I saw her earlier so thank you. Yes. Um, I don't know. Okay. But lucky for me, I live at 20 Hunt Street. You turned it off.
Oh, I live at 20 Hunt Street and I want to know where Sorry, restarted. Huh? Name, address. Sorry. Beth Jacob and I live at 20 Hunt Street. I want to know where that sound study
was done. In my driveway or was it in the middle of the woods? There are five houses on Hunt Street that are but the train and that we're going to be impacted the most. I didn't even get a a notice about any of these
meetings and nobody on Hunt Street. I'm more than 100 feet from the track the tracks, but I should have had a notice. I'm a realtor and I'm telling you all our property value is going to go down
and I'll be the first one to come to town and say, "Hey, give me a reduction in my taxes. I should have it." Do they know the people don't travel the train into Boston to work anymore?
Because most of the buildings that they worked in, these people are working from home. You know, you don't see a lot of people getting on the train, but they want this every half hour. Are you kidding me?
You want And hey, wait until all of a sudden they have electric joints. They're trying to people get people to drive electric cars that they're going to thread it with how many trains every
half hour. Not needed. Thank you. Yep. Two minutes. Name and address, please. Thanks. Hi, I'm Margie Carlman. and 52 Hancock Street. I also did not get a notice
because I happen to be on the even side of the road. Um so, and I know that's true for all my neighbors. Um one of the things that has come up in other meetings, although not tonight, is that um they based their projections of use
on the use of the Fairmont Line. Fairmont Line is almost entirely in Boston. It's not suburban. a poor comparison in my eyes. Um, the other thing is, and I'm sorry, this is
big for me to get. Um, the other thing I'm really worried about is the emissions. To me, it's like we we reading saw some of the impact of WR Grace, which was a toxic spill. This is spewing into our air that we're breathing.
And I hope that gets measured on a regular basis and that there is a point that they say, you know what, this can't happen because this is too high. It's going to impact all of us. Um, and cancer became rampant but took a
while to identify. Thank you. Yep. Y thanks. Two minutes, name and address, please. Thanks. Uh, so my name is David KDO. I live at
21 Woodward A and I've lived here for 48 years. Last meeting we had at the library, I asked a question about the sound study. You all have two kinds of engines. One that's very loud, absurdly loud, and one that's not so loud. And I want I
asked which of the two engines you used when you did the sound study, the loud one or the not so loud one? Because if you use a loud one, the whole study is invalid. Excuse me, you use a not loud one, the whole study in my opinion is is is perfectly invalid. So I'd like to
answer that question tonight. If the MBTA knows yes. Yeah. So um we heard your question and we checked with Kolis. We are uh we made the request for it to be the loud engine, the DP40. Fuels is fairly
certain. Unfortunately, when the request was made, the GPS data no longer existed because it only is retained for a certain amount of time. So, I can't confirm and I'm I apologize. We So, don't you think you should do
another one then? Yeah. like on honestly like I understand you owned up to it now and and I really appreciate that because it you could have said something else and you didn't so you know that goes to your character Sharon so I
appreciate that but like they're going to do another one right like honestly I I know you can't commit to something right now to me but like you know how this looks I we and we are when we realize that that information hadn't been recorded by
CQ, we were frustrated ourselves. Um because uh I mean I put in specific requests for that equipment. I would I was expecting it to be confirmed. Um so I I appreciate what you're saying and I just cannot make a commitment.
Correct. But shouldn't shouldn't the vendor so if it was Kolus is the one that you put it into, shouldn't they have to redo it? um or like so did not accept the fuelist only idled the train for us. The uh consultant did
us that we hired a consultant to go out with the noise. So the sound person was good. It's good in airports. It's you don't owe the train from Kolas though it was used. We can't confirm. We So this is more like along the lines of
I get a refund. Do you redo like the kind of scenario? Like because this point is valid. If you had if you I saw in the chart it can't go over this certain amount and if it did it would have been bad but like you don't know which one you used and to me it would
seem like the study was rigged but I'm not accusing you of rigging it. It just seems as if this has to get worked out before something happens. Right. Like just go idle the train. You did it for 20 minutes, right? Was not quite that simple. The reason
why we had to order in those microphones. So we had to have uh we had to pay the consultant to come on board. He had to order in the microphones and work it around the schedule when those microphones were available. Calibrate them, find a time when he could put them out.
It was this is why the MBTA is in debt. I mean like the decisions like it's not you who made this decision. It's late. I have the floor. Please. Thank you. Uh, I just think that the residents deserve a doover. I think you in your
heart of hearts know that you kind of have to do it over. So maybe, you know, you can touch base with some people tomorrow, make a followup and see what we can do. Like we got to be honest here and fair. And if you can't do it, I mean, then own up and say we can't do it again. You know what I mean? So the best
that I can ask you for is just to please make the request. So you know we we can put this thing to bed and perhaps your numbers are correct. Um and then we're all good on that aspect. But like you know what I mean? It just makes you say
well. So so I have two other questions about the sound study. number. Uh so the second question is did you use a pen decimal penalty for uh prior to 7 a.m. Um
because that's a period of time that um you know quiet is is I believe call for. My last question is if you do if you redo the study, can you put the microphones where people live within 10 ft of their house rather than in the woods? Because if I'm going to carry on a conversation with somebody, it's going
to be in my patio or it's going to be in my backyard. It's not going to be uh near the train tracks uh in in the woods. It's going to be where I live. To me, that's the relevance. Otherwise, uh you know, it's it's it's it's studying the effects of of caffeine and
using decaffeinated coffee uh as your subject matter. So, that that would be my suggestion on the sound study. Thank you. Thank you. If you have So, we we placed the sound monitors at the ends of Hancock and Hunt Street as
close as we could to the turnback location. So, that was um capturing as much sound as possible from the idling train. Um, and and it also allowed us to put them on public land rather than at a
specific person's residence because we can't put them at every residence. So, we try we put them in locations that were as close as possible to the um idling train to capture as much sound as possible. I'm sorry, what's the second piece? 10 penalty.
Um, I'm not I I brought that question to our acoustic engineer. He said that that um the that is uh something that gets applied to the data and um I I'll explain it to you. If you ran a
train between 5:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. you would apply a 10 decel penalty to that train. If you only run it at noon, your consultant's not going to put that penalty on. So I asked our our consultant about it. He said that that is not that what he
did was consistent. I'm trying to remember exactly his phrasing. Essentially, he said that that doesn't change the results. Yeah, that was the point because the point the 10 decimal penalty would be applied at a time when we're not idling
the train and not 24 hours later. So, the two bits that actually give the answer, you want to call it that, are not affected by that policy. Same as that cycle of same thing doesn't affect that measure. Did you model? So I guess my followup
question is did you actually model a train prior to 7 a.m. You can't model the sound because it has to be recorded otherwise you're synthesizing data. So we recorded the train Yeah. and the uh adjacent day.
And we were two dB under the allowable limit without modeling the train idling at 5:30 in the morning. 5:30 to 7 a.m. You are idling. The turn service. Yeah. These answers are just unacceptable.
Turn service is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. We don't model the noise. We record the noise. I'm a vice president of engineering for an aerospace company. I would have fired every single one of you if you ran that test for me.
All right. I like I said, just please direct the questions to me and and Lucas, you wanted to ask a question, but you already spoke before, so you're gonna have to get somebody else to ask it. So, um just two minutes name and address.
Just please address me because I know Sal Russo 55 Yanco Street. Um on August 30th at 9:19 a.m. an MBTA train parked directly behind our house
about 50 to 60 ft away. So I just did a little recording. Put it up to the microphone. If I can get it to play. Even I have technical issues, so I can appreciate that. It's fine.
Sound isn't coming on. It's not. So, it's not playing. So, bottom line is my wife and I could not have a conversation standing at the back doorway of our deck
and they were it was 50 to 60 feet away. So whatever the MBTA is saying about it will have no effect is not true. Second thing I want I want to have put on the
record where is the MBTA getting their money for this particular project and what is the actual construction engineering cost design cost that's put into it. Is that public information?
Because it is. I think they should supply to the town already. Do you have the answer to that? Do we know how much? Um, so we received a grant of $10.9 million from the NO.
Um, any shortfall, we have to secure an alternate um source of funding in order to cover the remainder. Um, we don't anticipate a shortfall though. So, it's roughly 11 million. it's not going to be there's been a lot of effort put into addressing community concerns that
weren't in the original budget. Um so those funds are no longer available for construction. So we need to identify alternative sources of funding from within our budget. Okay. Um, and then just real quick, the
uh I think the issue ends up being is the slow trains that are idling from the station as opposed to uh because that's the consistent noise that's going as opposed to just staying stationary. You know what I mean? Uh in
terms of the sound, the slow moving train. Correct. Yeah, that's what I meant. The slow moving is tra now. They're moving pretty fast. Yes, that um
the I mean the trains are going to move. They uh it's I mean it's inadvisable from an emission standpoint for a vid uh train to get up to full speed just to break again. Yeah. Um so I understand what you're saying. Um but that is passing. It won't stay at
that slow speed in one spot. It will get to the turn track park and go down to the uh the idle which is lower and as far away from the homes as we can manage.
Anybody else? Uh blue sharp person. Two minutes name and address. Two minutes. I got to be quick. I have a comment and just a couple questions. Uh Bryce Cheni 1500 street. So I actually live across from Beth. So, um, first and foremost, like it's it's been nice kind of attending this particular
meeting tonight. I've been to ones probably a year ago when this is first started, when this first came out. But, uh, when they're kind of talking about commission with disabilities, we're also talking about having trash trucks with, um, clean energy and then we're sticking this diesel train in the back of our
yard um, in our communities. One of which, I've been to these meetings. I haven't heard a word from the MBTA the entire time, a letter or anything else, even though we talked about how we really screwed up and letting everyone else know what's going on. So my question is after hearing all the
conversations and hearing some of the conversations with other residents, the fact that we wouldn't do another audio study, the fact also that it's in April and not in January or February when there's no leaves on the trees and is extremely loud. That coupled with the fact that I have young kids and I'm
having a diesel train now that's um gonna be having emissions in there that they're, you know, could potentially impact them as well as all other um younger kids in our community. So, I I think this is a terrible idea. I think it's a waste of money. Um at no point have I heard, you know, I know we're
going to we're going to provide this service to folks, but what is success actually look like if we offer this to everyone? I've heard maybe we'll get two or three people attend in the middle of day. We want to provide that service, but we don't actually ever talk about what does success look like? And if there are one or two people, Chris, as
you mentioned before, or zero that actually take the training, are we still going to be offering this every half an hour? I just think that we talked about that. We talked about the commission with disabilities and the reason why we're not doing a new station in town is the fact that it costs too much to be ADA compliant. That's not good enough to
me. I think the fact that we offer that, we then increase some of the businesses that are in and around Haiti Street and all the rest of the area, I think it would be a great service to this community. Um, but by doing a $12 million turnback track that no one wants that these fine people here have been
coming day in and day out to um voice their concerns. I think it would the META or would be doing them a disservice if they didn't clearly hear them at least adhere to some of their concerns they have already redoing some of these studies. Thank you.
Thank you. I don't I don't think I have to answer that. I already broached the subject with sound study they can we'll touch base at another time. Sharon's going to find out if they can do. So all I can ask
can we talk about what does success look like? I I I don't think it's going to be successful at all. I don't whatever metrics they have. But I'd like to hear what that actually looks like as far as ridership is concerned they offer because we're hearing these
pipe dreams that are coming, but I've never actually heard what the numbers need to be to justify having that service. It's just not about Rership. It's about adding 11 million to their balance sheets automatically. That's all it is. It's not
John 11 of John. Thank you. Hi uh John Watson and Bab. Uh just a couple of points. One uh right so um just to to be upfront. This is what I do
for a for a living. I work with the D on commuter rail jobs. Um I'm I'm employed by Mass. I run big um uh transit uh commuter rail extension projects. So I I've been in this business for a long
time. Um and and used to actually run a noise one of the top noise uh and vibration companies probably probably was the boss of whoever did your your analysis. the f first point the 10 dB uh
discount for or or addition for uh for for nighttime noise that's when you're calculating a um average noise over the course of the day. What they did right was what she what Sharon showed you was the noise at every one point. So if you were to if they were to take that and
calculate one number, right, one decibel number which is an average over the the whole day, they would use that 10 decel. But otherwise, but otherwise that 10 decel is just right because people are more sensitive to noise during night time. That's one
point. The another point I wanted to make was about um you know these guys they're they're not going to say it because um you know it would come off as a threat but you know I don't work for them so I'll say it. You know if if
Reading doesn't approve this you know they're still going to move forward with this approach and they'll just turn back in Wakefield. So the all the whole stuff maybe that's fine. Maybe that's fine for you guys and I I appreciate right like the the neighborhood that's an issue but
but I guarantee you threequarters of people sitting in this room move to reading because of the location and the access and that includes the commuter rail. And so if we don't have that same level of of ridership, the same level of
service as our communities the south, you know, we always talk a lot about economic development, we will start to lose out and the town, the livability of the town and the economic the town um will start to um subside.
Thank you, John. In the back, please. Two minutes, name and address. And just please one at a time like I understand you want to respond but like we just it's 11 o'clock. I to quote Karen it's it's late and it is actually
that time we spent 45 I agree with you. Priority is this that's going to affect our entire community. I agree with you. So prioritizing what is going to have the most impact on our
community is far more important in this moment than talking about trash. I agree with you. So can I have two minutes name and address please? Y uh Chris Calibies at 17 Denver Drive. So I just wanted to hopefully don't make any enemies here. I appreciate
everybody's uh passion for like especially if you live near where the trains are. Um I guess a couple points I wanted to make. Just one of the things that um right in terms of wrership things that have kept me from riding the train right
I would be a zero on the train because the train timing does not work. It doesn't take a lot to push you over for that train timing. Number two regarding when I moved to reading I've been reading for about three years now helping coach soccer. My kids go to
Wooden. They're seven and nine. Um, I moved here. I paid an exorbitant price for my house because of the location. That is the reason I would have if I could have moved closer to um Boston, I would have. I could not afford it. I could not find a house. So, the things
that are keeping the house prices up here are that location to to Boston. As you go further away when I was looking, you're not on the rail line. Houses are cheaper. So, I just like to say those. And then the last thing maybe I'd like to say is in terms of the pollution. I know it's acute and you're right next to
it um where you get the the diesel um that you smell, but in terms of I noticed uh um Mr. Elli there that you mentioned unaware of knocks um maybe unaware of some pollutants. We have down Main Street we have cars going all the
way. We have all the highways around. They're throwing particulate pollution all over the place. We've got gas. If you're using gas mowers, gas blowers, they're producing a lot of knocks right next to you. So, there's a lot of pollutants around and things that can
get rid of the cars. I My son played um my son played baseball over at Huntfield this this weekend. Walked over to Capaniro, walked back. We had to wait a minute and a half at each crossing across Main Street as pedestrians sitting there with the car pollution
right next to us. things that could drive down car pollution also better. Thank you. Thanks. Anybody else? [Music] Is there anyone online? Manny?
Yes, we have two hands raised. I don't know if either spoke before. Uh, who is it? Because I can't see anybody. Oh, it's Kyle Touro and Alicia. I don't see a last name for Alicia.
I think Kyle did, but Alicia did briefly. I brought up the issue of the sound barrier, but I was also want to just mention that the town should be asking for monitoring of both the service in the future, the pollution, and the sound
levels post installation of this train turnaround. Thank you. Um, Alicia, go ahead. Two minutes pay and address. Alicia Williams, Mara Lane. Um, this is not Field of Dreams. If you build it, they still will not come. Um, the MBTA
is trying to find riders between building homes and adding tracks and train times. My business is near the train station. I literally look at the train platform and every day I watch the train pull in, drop off two people, and pick up maybe five. More trains is not
what this system needs. Uh the truth is the MBTA is really stuck in the past and they are trying to push forward hoping to garner more riders. I feel terrible for the neighbors of the project and the MBTA is pushing through and they will not gain any new riders by bulldozing
the backyards of our friends and neighbors. I for one will never ride the train again if they do this to my neighbors. Um the MBTA's problems aren't minor, they're systemic. I tried to take the train out of the garden once and after a concert and the train leaves
before the concert's over. When I asked the MBTA about this, they told me that it's uh Kellis that won't run the trains past midnight because it triggers a new day inspection and that's not efficiency, that's bureaucracy. Um, as a
side note, my sister came in from uh Boston last week and she literally lives next door to North Station. She came to an event at the train station in Reading and she took an Uber. If that doesn't tell you there's a problem with the MBTA that a new track will not fix, I don't
know what will. Thank you. Thank you, Alicia. Um I I think we've, you know, we've spent a lot of time on this. I I know uh that people are heated. Believe me, if we could, we'd vote with you. You know
what I mean? I I think that the best that we can do potentially in the future is get the answers to our questions that we had asked of raw data. Um and if I have to call a special select board meeting and have the board of health and conservation there um at the high school
then you know I'll call it and see who shows up. If the NBTA doesn't they don't have to. That's not on them. Um neither is other board members. We still have to have a quorum. But I mean I think that we've we've gone over a lot today. We've got a lot of answers to questions that
we might not have liked. I think that the team has definitely some homework um to do. Obviously, they're going to conservation tomorrow. Um but I I think the biggest thing out of this is is just getting our data getting potentially a new study done on the data that would be
irrelevant in the first place. you know, it seems like um but like I I understand that the Alistister, Sharon, Cam who answers emails all the time. Like I know it's not you per se. Um, so, uh, what I
can say is that I appreciate you showing up here and knowing what you're up against and, uh, against, I don't want to say a hostile group because I I agree with them, but I I think that I think that that she's making a massive
mistake, but that's that's not your job description. You're just doing what you you're told, and if you don't like it, like, what are you going to do? this is what you specialize in. So I sympathize with you. I understand. I understand the resident's purview. I just hope that we
can come to something that's going to be amendable to everybody that like I don't know if that exists. We all like to think that it does, but like I don't know. It's disheartening and I know that people would like to change
things if they could, but you know, we have to do with what's in front of us. So I appreciate your time tonight. Please go to conservation, get us our answers that we need and um we'll go from there. Thank you.
We're we've already got not a there's a lot of questions that are being asked. Is there a place where you can see all the answers whether it be from MDA or some of the questions have been asked or just a central location for this information and not relying on support? I'm not sure that there is. I guess
maybe the town could put something up with what's transpired, but like presentations, frequently asked questions, a lot of emails being sent, I think, by the res. It would just be great to see it. I think a lot of people I agree with you more more transparenc. So, uh, what after a public meeting
takes some time for us to make the presentation accessible? Um the February 25th one I have not verified but I know the one from September I verified uh is up. So I will check the February one waso hosted in on your facility. So that
may have been a problem. We may not have had the recording if you hosted it because whoever has the Zoom link owns the recording. So we might have it on our RCTV um YouTube page.
But I'm not positive that but it should be there. But um also just think if you if like the SLE port is getting a lot of questions and then sending it back to MTA if there was just a central location for folks to see that versus asking same questions over and over again you folks answering
those. I agree with that. Just to put everybody on record since March we have received nothing. Since March we have received nothing in written answers. That's seven months. I I I sympathize. I I agree that, you
know, when I say that people are just doing their jobs, that I would think would be part of your job, but maybe there's other things behind the scenes that we don't know about, but like you've got the feedback tonight, the questions, the study, like you really got to do whatever you're going to do to
get this study done again. Like I know you know it. It's whether or not someone else is gonna say to go ahead and do it. But I know that you would do it if you could instead behind houses. I They have to do whatever they can do within their reason. So I
Okay. Thank you, Sharon. Alice Faram. Thank you. Thank you very much. Well, he got his video. So, we'll give a little speaker. I also just want to say that I'm
incredibly disappointed by the policy that was had from the town manager. We have asked for dozens of questions to be answered, things to be gone back and forth. We ask that you please share your concerns with conservation committee.
This is what it sounded like standing on the exact same question. That's going to be 20 minutes. My kids are going half hour of my life. But I don't even care about that. What I care about is my grandchildren's.
I understand. I know. I heard that at the meeting loud. I guess I was concerned. Sorry. We in a terrible position. And no one gives you
I just ask you any one with All right, we're gonna Thank you. Thank you. I think anything regarding votes we should be skipping
unless All right. So now Mr. Chair, um could we um as a board talk about what we want to get done tonight and what we're going to need to do another night. Okay. I can tell you the communication policy I would that's going to be a lengthy discussion
and it should be a discuss and then vote on it. Jonathan was not here skipping everything else but Jonathan you are okay Jonathan you are important and uh I'm going to have to recuse myself for that
part of the discussion regardless. So, um, if it's up to the board, if we are only going to take one other thing up, I will turn it to, um, Melissa to run the rest of the meeting and then, yeah, I'll
sit in the audience for the next item. Committee. No, we're not. We're we're skipping and I can't I can't recommend to skip something that I can't do. We I think we need a motion to like table for the this meeting like certain items and
Yeah. I mean if if do we we've skipped over other things other nights and we haven't the appointment will take two minutes I'm sorry I was go to historical for the moment well we can take people out of order if that's what you want to do and we're
done. I think that's the most appropriate. Um so let's go to I believe it's the 32 Lincoln Street route that you're here for. Okay. Um just in real quick it's because I own two Haven which overlooks this is my recuse.
Got it. Um I've read the letter. Um I don't know if uh do you have anything that you'd like to add before we vote on this or I was expecting Mr. Demo here as well. So I don't know. Oh, Deica,
uh, the owner of the building who's all we all we had said in the letter is all I would I'd be happy to answer any questions, but Maddie, no one else is online. Correct. There's still a couple of participants
online. I'm not seeing Mr. Demo, though. Okay. Okay. All right. Well, um my impression this would be a quick agenda item. It seemed like the um property owner and his historical commission would come to a a great decision and are ready to move forward and just wanted us
to do what we need to do. I can't represent what his position was. He came before us. We we made our recommendation. I'm not sure what he has presented to you. Just what's in the packet. Okay. But the only thing was in the packet was the letter. Correct. And and the P and the preservation restriction.
Yeah. So what you saw in the packet is what the historical commission agreed to. Yes. Our position is represented in in the letter. Okay. Perfect. I just wanted to clarify before we vote. Um do we have a motion? Yes,
we do. Move to approve the renovations to 32 Lincoln Street as presented. Second. Um any discussion of the board? Any discussion? Public comment.
Maddie, any public comment online? None online. Thank you. Um, all those in favor? 4. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you for coming down. And good job you guys.
Thank you. Glad it worked out. All right. What else? I guess I'm good now. Yeah. Um so I guess uh so direct immediate appointment we only have one. Does anybody have an issue with this or
we just can I just ask a questionally failing? Of course. Of course. Okay. Um so for VAST, is this how it works for future members that want to join throughout the year or do they usually go through VAST and then
they come here? It's onesie twoosies typically like an upgrade from somebody from associate to full member would not technically have to be reinterviewed. So that's the that's the catch is that's why we can just do this if it was one
person that's why it's on the agenda because it doesn't require mass inter is this a switch an upgrade non voting to voting. Okay. Thank you. And it was advertised for 14 days or whatever and it's one applicant. So then
they can advertise a full position after this. I mean an associate position, but they can advertise an opening as opposed to whatever happened. Right, Matt? We're all good. Anyway, okay. Does anybody have any questions on this?
Car uh anyone from the public? Anyone online? Nope. Thank you. Uh Karen, do I have a motion for Yes. motion to appoint Jeppi Federa as a
member of the recreation committee term beginning immediately and ending on June 30th, 2028. Second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Um Karen wants to table the policy. I I
think that's fine. Leah's own reports. Same scenario. Future agendas. Same scenarioish. I don't think we have anything new. Minutes. Uh we can do them at the next one as well. I assume
second. Seconded by Melissa. No discussion. All those in favor. Sorry, I was waiting for you.