Okay, we're sharing. >> I guess we'll share. I don't know if I will share if we have to. >> You are mics are on and closed caption. Is it on? There it is. >> Yes, they're working. >> We are going to call the select board meeting of July 14th order at 7:01.
Um the this meeting is being broadcast RCTV Xfinity Channel 9 and Fios Channel 31. It's also Zoom and live on RCTV's YouTube channel. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> We are doing things a little differently tonight cuz we have a joint meeting with um
our board of Library Trustees. So, I'm going to hand the gavel over to Cappy to call your meeting to order. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Melissa. I am calling the um Board of Library Trustees to order at 7:02 p.m. for the
joint meeting of the Select Board and the Board of Library Trustees. Uh we are here for this joint meeting for one purpose this evening uh to interview candidates and appoint a new member to the Reading Board of Library Trustees to fill what we have a a current vacancy. Uh the appointment will
be made by a combined majority vote of the members of the Select Board and the Board of Library Trustees, a couple of which are online, others will join. Um present this evening um consistent with our procedures for filling a vacancy, which if you care, are the Board Bylaws Article 2 Section 3 and
Mass General Laws Chapter 41 Section 11. Um for this joint item, I will preside over the discussion. I will manage the speaking order, uh recognize members of both boards, uh keep the discussion focused on the appointment, guide us through the nomination and voting
process. Uh we have two candidates this evening. I want to thank both of them for their willingness to be considered for public service and their interest in supporting the library. Um serving as a trustee is a meaningful responsibility. Um our role includes stewardship, policy, budget oversight,
long-range planning, advocacy for the library, and support of our wonderful library director, Amy Lennon, and her staff. Um my intention is for everybody to ask candidates, if you have questions, the same core questions, so that both have an equal opportunity to present their
qualifications, judgment, and understanding of the role. Um but members of the board either board may ask follow-up questions as long as they're [clears throat] brief and focused on the candidates' ability to do the job. Um after the interviews, I'll invite discussion
um if we have any of the members of the boards, and at the appropriate time I'll open the floor for nominations. We just need a motion or a nomination, we don't need a second. Um but motions may come from either board. Um we will be conducting roll call votes
for the Board of Library Trustees because I have people online. I believe you guys have a quorum and everybody's here. Um Melissa will handle the voting for the Select Board. I will handle the voting for um both. We will combine a single tally. And um the one the candidate with the
most votes will have the position. Um and that's pretty much it. Before we begin, I want to emphasize this is not a simply a question of who appreciates the library. I think everybody in this room does. The question is best suited at the moment who could help govern, support,
um and strengthen the library going forward on behalf of the entire community. So, with that being said, I believe we can start the candidate interviews unless there are any points of discussion or any questions. >> Um you just have to call your meeting to order with a roll call.
>> I Oh, I do? >> Yes. >> Calling a vote to order. Um can I get a motion? Do I need a motion to call it to order? >> No, I just think you need to do a roll call of who's here in attendance cuz some are online and some are in person.
>> Very good. Um roll call vote call to order. Pat. >> I'm here. >> Kelly. Hello Kelly. Andrew. >> Here. >> And I am here as well. So, we are officially
there. Um okay. I think to start I would like to give each candidate a couple minutes to introduce themselves and just explain why they're interested in the role. Uh try to keep the responses brief, under 2 minutes, so we can get to the questions,
if that's okay. Um we will start with I guess I will randomly choose. >> Are we going in alphabetical order? >> Pardon? >> Are we going in alphabetical order? >> I suppose. I'll choose Jason first. >> [laughter] >> Do I come up or stay here or >> Come to the podium, please. >> I'll come to the podium, please.
>> And when you get up there, if you just put your mic on, make sure it's green. >> Okay. Hi, my name is Jason Clark, uh 342 Ash Street. Um I'm a town committee mem- town meeting member. Uh until recently I was a I spent, I
think, 8 years or so on the um Bylaw Committee. Um worked in libraries since I was an undergraduate in the 1990s. Um currently um resource sharing manager at Harvard College um library. And uh I've always been
interested in library. My wife is a power user of the library. I don't use it quite as much simply because I have access to Harvard's libraries, but if I didn't, I would use the library just as much as she does. Uh and my daughter also was a frequent visitor there for both her own interests and uh other in like some events and
stuff. Um and you know, when I saw there was a vacancy, I'd always thought about trying for the Board of Library Trustees, and so I saw there was a vacancy and I thought I'd offer my whatever help I might be able to present. Uh I've lived in Reading since 2012, if that matters.
>> Thank you, Jason. Um also uh introduce you to Branna Sullivan. >> Hello. Uh my name is Branna Sullivan. I have been a resident Reading resident for 25 years now, about uh my entire life. Uh
I'm currently a bookseller at Whitelam Books, the local bookstore downtown, and I am a nanny during the week. Um so I spend a lot of time around readers, around Reading residents, specifically Reading families. Um I see I meet a lot of people at the Reading school systems picking up the
girls that I nanny. Um so I felt very excited about this opportunity and felt like I could bring um a unique point of view, specifically um as someone who has communicated a lot with Reading residents in a bookseller capacity, readers. Um and I really appreciate the local
library. I have used it all my life. Uh I use it a lot still uh for books, for uh I've taken classes there. Um I've been able to go to museums and and uh to fun events through ticketing through the library. So I'm very uh
grateful for the Reading library and just wanted to put my name in the ring to see if I could help in any way possible. >> Thank you, Brittany. >> Um I will now open the discussion for questions of the candidates. Um
I guess I will have to recognize anybody that would like to ask a question. So does anyone on either board have a question to begin? >> Chris. >> Andrew. >> Great. >> Andrew Verso first. >> I'll recognize Christopher Haley. >> Um all right. Question for
>> Sorry. >> Question for the both of you. Um what would you say is the most valuable service that the library provides the community? >> Can we just have them come to the podium? >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you both want to come >> Yeah, they should just cuz no one will hear you. >> Yeah, cuz no one will hear you.
>> Sorry about that. >> Uh I believe the most valuable community that the library provides our community is a safe space for all people. Um that everybody is welcome, that you can come into the library and um
basically get a lot of education as well. I would say the education the the books themselves um are a huge asset to the town. Literacy, particularly children's literacy, are something I'm very passionate about and allowing the Reading residents to all Reading
residents, every single one, to access that for free is what I would say is the most valuable asset. >> Yeah, I feel similarly. Libraries are invaluable resource. Access to all the different Access to information is essentially one
of its greatest attributes, but as as she said, it's also a great safe space. It's a place where they can serve the community in all sorts of ways. It's sort of a community hub, which I think is just one of its best aspects. >> Thank you.
>> Any follow-up questions or comments to Andrew's question? If not, then the chair recognizes Christopher Haley. I believe you had a question, sir. >> Yep. Thanks, Kathy. And thank you both for volunteering. Um it's it's hard to find new people. You
are both new, at least in this room, anyway. Um so the biggest thing on the horizon for Reading is the looming override. And while the library does not play a major role in it, there is still a blip on the
radar for their budgeting and everything. Um so if it is needed, would either one of you be able to potentially do any cuts to the library budget that are needed to keep it operating and running? >> Um
I feel it would be a very difficult decision because everything that the library provides is extremely valuable to our community, as we've stated tonight. But I do believe I would be able to. I think uh information is key and educating myself
on where we would be cutting uh would be the most important part and discussing with fellow board members as well. Uh I can't say I have a solid grasp of the library's budgeting at the moment, but it's something I know is a very important part of this role and would be willing to take on and
think seriously about. Uh so I think if the cuts were necessary to allow everybody to continue the access uh that they currently have to the library, then yes, I I would be able to make cuts.
>> Uh this is the place where I feel like my current experience could maybe come in useful. Uh as the resource sharing manager at Harvard, I manage a budget that includes um 10 staff. Uh Let's see, we currently get uh or order
articles, that's about 20,000 a month um in terms of purchasing articles for patrons. And I often am under crunch to find more efficient ways of doing things because I can never add another staff member no matter how busy we get. So I've spent a lot of time thinking about workflows, efficiency of workflows, and basically
finding ways to do more with what we have. Uh for example, just recently we weren't able to introduce a DOI resolver. Uh it's a software functionality that was able to shortcut uh so currently staff have to open up
every request if it doesn't go through automatically, figure out what's wrong and fix it. The DOI resolver was able to um start if the DOI is included with the request, it's this URL, that can fix the uh automatically fill in the data. And
anyway, long story short, it saves 30% in our turnaround time, which very much saved me from having to hire any extra assistants or any extra help to process requests. We were just about there. Uh so, you know, I'm always just interested in trying to find uh
efficiencies in workflow, places that could be improved. Uh Um so, that's the one way I can look at things. I I like to think in those terms. I'm a I'm considered a workflow specialist. So, um I'm always looking for efficiency. So, that's that's what I would try to do first before I had to make cuts. I can make
cuts. I have made cuts um into my own budget, but most of the time I'm able to find efficiencies that are able to save the money a better way. >> Thank you both. Any other questions? If not, I have one.
Um in your view, uh what's the proper role of a library trustee? And what's uh what's the line between board governance and sort of professional responsibilities of a library director and their staff? What do you see as the difference as your role?
>> Um I feel the difference is in the main goal of a library board of trustee is to uphold the uh rules and beliefs that have been put in place. And I believe that the library staff and librarians are extremely
educated on what they do. Um they know so much about the community, they know so much about what the library offers. And as a board member, I feel it's more offering in a way support um and also being a voice for the community as well
as for people who are not thinking like a librarian or like a a library director. Um so, I feel that upholding the the policies that are in place and um the mission statement that is in place is
the most important role for a board member. And yeah, it's just bringing a difference of perspective possibly from a an actual librarian. >> Thank you very much, Brooke. >> Yeah, and similarly, think of my own experience. I know that as my I manage
myself, my job is to advocate for my team and my and what we do, but um my manager is her job is to advocate for that, but also the larger organization. So, as I see the board as a more like advisory capacity in that um I understand that the director and
her staff are going to want to do the best for everything that they have. And I think the perspective we offer is maybe just a level level of distance from that just a just a little bit of a distance from that to have a slightly different perspective on what's needed. >> As basically as she said. >> Thank you very much, guys. Um any other questions?
Board recognizes Karen. >> Thank you. Um not really a a question, but just a comment. I just want to thank both of you for stepping up. Um I would not say it's been the easiest that last several years for the library Board of Trustees. Sometimes there are some very difficult meetings and and sometimes
that can keep people from stepping up and stepping forward. So, I appreciate both of you and um Jason, um thank you so much. I was so disappointed to hear you were stepping down for the By-Law Committee, but you know, if um if you join the board tonight, it would certainly be for good reason. And I just wanted to let you know we all appreciate
your efforts. And Brenna, um thank you again. It is um the more voices we get from the community with your individual perspective, um the better. >> Thank you, Karen. Any other questions? >> I had a quick one, Brenna.
>> Okay. Board recognizes Kelly. >> Thank you. Hi, Brenna. Um I was just wondering if we could um ask you what you might have had for [snorts] experience with clubs or organizations or teams in high school or college? >> Yes. So, thinking back to my high school
years, so I was I played on two varsity sports teams and I was captain of both, field hockey and tennis. And then I was in a club also in high school that was um funded by it was the Patriots in like Northeastern University and it was about
um kind of founding and nurturing young leaders and being a leader of my high school peers. Um in high school, I mainly focused or and I was part of uh Century Club as well um and National Honor Society, so lots
of volunteering. In college, I'm I mainly focus on my academics, so I didn't I don't have any club experience from college. Um but that was that was my high school years. >> Thank you. >> Was that Sorry, Kelly.
Sorry, Kelly, point of order. Was that just directed at Brenna or would you like Jason to reply as well? >> Uh it was just directed at Brenna. >> Very good. Thank you. I just wanted to clarify. Uh do we have any other questions? If not, I have another question um
and that is um one thing about the Board of Library Trustees is that um we already have uh a substantial access to professional expertise as far as the library goes. Um so, what perspective or experience or
judgment um could you guys personally add to the board that you feel um is not already well represented? >> I feel that I could bring a younger perspective to the board. Um I'm 24
right now and I was very recently a teen and a tween and I remember going to the library and being ecstatic at everything that the library offered for teens and tweens. That's something I am very passionate about is spaces that are made for young people where they're not just welcomed, but
they know that this space is specifically for them. Uh that's something that I would very much have in mind uh if I was able to join the board. And just the younger perspective of um someone who doesn't necessarily have a family in Reading, but cares about
uh the greater well-being of young families and children in Reading. I care a lot about young families. I work with them every day. Uh I talk to Reading residents who are specifically readers at Whitelam Books uh when when I'm working there. So, I feel that I have a lot of actual
conversation experience with what people and members of our community who are readers care about. And even members who are not readers who come to the bookstore for again a safe welcoming space. Um it's great to get to know so many people in my community. And I feel lucky that I've gotten to meet a wide variety of of
Reading uh members. >> Thank you very much, Jason. >> Yeah. Well, I think I obviously what I'm bringing is some technical expertise. So, if you have plenty of that, that's that's great. Um uh the only thing I can say that I can bring is sometimes I do know that I I'll
I have sometimes like as a workflow specialist and stuff I've noticed odd things that people have missed that I can help things better. For example, uh back actually back when I was an undergrad we back in the '90s we introduced a service called ordered received where if we purchased a book but hadn't cataloged it yet, which
happens a lot, person could fill out a request. And it used to be a paper request and they put it online. And they're handing out these slips for this. And um people aren't using it. They're coming up and saying this URL doesn't work. This URL doesn't work. And I looked at it and I'm like they wrote the word received in the URL. No
one can spell received consistently. So, I let them know about this and they fixed it and then it was fine. So, I think that's the kind of thing I tend to notice just I sort of look at something and be like, "Well, why is it like this?" Um but, you know, that's that's basically but I would say the kind of thing that I could bring to the to the table. So, I was the same way
in bylaw. Um so. >> Wonderful. Thank you guys very much. >> You have one more. >> We do. >> Um So, you know, it's a >> Andrew. >> Thank you. So, uh short interim position, so just a yes or no, are you
going to be seeking election uh this coming round? >> I I would. >> Sure. Yeah. >> Yes, I would very much be open to >> that. >> Any other questions? Thank you, guys. Chair recognizes Manette Berry. >> Thank you both for coming and
volunteering. Um a couple of years ago, and Karen alluded to this, we went through a really challenging time in our town, particularly with um book challenges, and um members of our community uh challenging us about where books were placed in our library, and also what materials were being offered.
Um if you had been on the board at that time, how do you think you would have handled that, and and how would you have been part of that conversation to address those concerns? >> [clears throat] >> So, if I was part of those conversations, I feel I would have been
pretty vocal because uh freedom to read is something I'm very passionate about. Um I'm pretty anti-book banning. Um and what I would have really honed in on is supporting the decisions that our librarians make, because they are experts in these matters. They are
educated and have experience in what is best not what is best, but um what is appropriate for people to read, or would be beneficial, or just you know, what people have the right to read. Um so, I would have very much uh backed them and encouraged the
decisions that they were making, because this is their livelihood, and they they know a lot about about the subject matter. >> I mean, I was raised on a healthy diet of Fahrenheit 451 and whatnot, so like I'm Yeah, no, I I would have been strongly
in support of uh whatever the library itself wanted. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys very much. Are there any other question Oops, sorry. Are there any other questions? Okay. Any other points of discussion? If
not, um I believe point of order we move on to nominations. Would I need a motion for a nomination or do we just have a nomination? Motion. So, we have to have motion to nominate. Okay. Um do you have a motion to nominate either candidate, either Jason or
Brendan to the seat? >> I'll move to nominate Jason Clark to the interim board seat. >> Excellent. Jason is nominated. Do we have any other? >> [clears throat] >> I'll nominate um Vanessa Holliman to the open Board of Library Trustees seat.
>> Thank you very much. And as I mentioned earlier, the the way the procedure works is we will have each board will handle their own voting. The select board, since they're all present, will be a normal vote and we will do a roll call vote. Um but just out of curiosity, how do we
handle the voting? Is it simple all in favor of X, raise your hands? Is that how we're going to do it? Or is it need to be more formal? >> We might have to do a roll call for everybody. >> No, it's two separate. >> Two separate. She's going to have to >> We'll do a roll call and we'll do our
regular stuff. >> Okay. >> But I think it's >> Doesn't matter who goes first. >> but is it okay just to say Okay, yeah, I think we can just do a roll call all in favor. >> Okay. All right. Um so, I will handle the bulk part of it. Um it will be a roll call
vote. So, all in favor of electing Jason to the open vacancy or awarding Jason the open vacancy on the Board of Library Trustees, I will do roll call vote starting with you, Patrick Egan. >> Unmute.
>> Yep. >> I didn't think I was going first. >> [laughter] >> You're just in the top left, I can't help it. >> And I and I didn't know if we were having a um >> So, I don't know or or do we just say pick your candidate? >> We're just voting yes or no for the discussion.
>> Oh, sorry. I thought I said further discussion. If not, Patrick, do you have any further Pat, do you have any further discussion? >> Uh no, I'll add to the comment that I think we're very lucky um to have two such solid candidates put their selves up uh and both bringing
very different strengths. And I've heard both candidates say things tonight that really resonated with me very strongly. Um that that are making this uh somewhat difficult. So, um
that said, is is the vote to me? >> It is to you, sir. >> I'm going to vote uh no. >> Very good. Um Kelly. >> And I I echo um Patrick's sentiments on two great volunteers and so so many
thanks for for coming forward. So, this is on Jason right now? >> Correct. >> No. >> Andrew. >> Yes. >> Lynette. >> No. >> And I am a no as well. So for both, um
the votes are four against one four. Is that correct? Yes, correct. And I will pass the voting to Alyssa. >> Thank you. And I just read in here that we also need to do a roll call vote. So I will call a roll call vote. >> Oh, did I say that? Oh, sorry. >> Um no, it's just in the procedure. Um
Karen Herrick. >> Um yes. >> Karen Ruscillus. >> Uh no. >> Uh Chris Haley. >> Uh this is on Jason Clark. >> Correct. >> Um am I allowed to elaborate or no? >> Um if you like, but
>> Usually there's discussion. Well, >> had our discussion. >> Uh I don't I don't I >> I won't take it personally. >> I'm fine with it. >> I would uh I originally came in thinking yes, but I will be voting no. >> So, Vermont is >> Yes. >> Melissa Murphy, no.
So we have two yeses, three nos. >> Three yes, three no. And for us is four no and one yes. So um that is three yeses and seven nos. So as far as the Board of Library Trustees
recognizes, Brenna, you have received the position. Correct? >> No, now we have >> No, you need to vote. >> We have to vote for Brenna? So we have to do the same thing. >> Very good. >> Sorry. You will be this. Pardon me, guys. Um I will do the roll call vote for the
Board of Library Trustees. Do we have any discussion at the end of the prior vote? I don't want to If not, um Board asks Patrick Egan. Your vote, sir. And this is for Brenna. >> Yes. >> Kelly.
>> Yes. >> Andrew. >> Yes. >> Monette. >> Yes. >> I am a yes as well. Uh both is five oh in favor. Passing the vote to Melissa. >> Thank you. Uh Karen Herrick? Yes. >> Karen Burgess Gillis? >> Yes. >> Sal Bramante?
>> Yes. >> Chris Haley? >> Yes. >> Melissa Murphy? Yes. And we have a 5-0 vote as well. >> Excellent. Unanimous. And so the position has been awarded to Brent. >> Yes. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> [applause] >> VERY VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR
BEARING with me and an odd procedural thing. Um so um I will be passing the control of the meeting back to Melissa. So the Board of Library Trustees will have to have a motion
to um What do you call it? >> Adjourn. >> To adjourn. >> I move to adjourn the board meeting. >> Do I have a second, please? >> I second the motion. >> Excellent. Roll call vote starting with you, Mr. Egan. >> Yes. >> Kelly? >> Yes.
>> Andrew? >> Yes. >> Monette? >> Yes. >> And I'm a yes. We are adjourned at 7:30, and I pass control back to Melissa. Thank you guys. >> And we'll just take a 2-minute pause to readjust. >> Thanks. Thank you guys very much for bearing
with me. I'm going to lose two of that. I didn't lose two of that either. >> I'm going to call the select board meeting back to order. Thank you, everyone. And now we're back to our regularly scheduled program. But before we move on to
tonight's agenda, I'd like to briefly address something from our last meeting. During our discussion of board and committee appointments, comments were made that have understandably caused concerns among members of our community. Healthy discussion and differing viewpoints are part of serving on the select board. At the same time, I
believe it's important that our conversations reflect our commitment to treating every volunteer with fairness and respect. We should be careful not to leave anyone with the impression that personal characteristics such as gender or race outweigh an individual's qualifications, experience, or willingness to serve.
Reading is fortunate to have residents who are willing to volunteer their time and talents. We encourage that spirit of service and ensure that everyone feels welcome to step forward knowing they will be considered on their merits and the needs of the committee. When comments made in the room lead people feeling hurt or discouraged, I hope we all take the opportunity to
reflect on their impact and when appropriate make that right. As chair, I remain committed to fostering respectful discussion and ensuring that everyone who wants to serve this community feels welcome and valued. All right, we are going to move on to our agenda.
>> Question, I could >> You elaborate on what comments you were talking about for the audience and and press like word numbers. >> I can. It's not on our agenda, so I'm not going to but it was the comments that you made about Carl McEvoy being a white male and that board being white
male and that you felt that individuals um that member that you would like to see different individuals on that board and I have received feedback from many residents that they were very upset with those comments
and they felt they were inappropriate. Um and so I just felt like I wanted to make sure the residents of this town understood that we do not take things like gender, race, religion into deliberation on volunteers for boards
and committees. >> Okay, so let me just make sure I understand. So um I commented that there's a lack of diversity on the Burbank Ice Arena board. I did not make any specific comments related to Mr. McEvoy other than than true statements of his past
behavior, but I just want to be clear. So So because I made a statement that I'd like to see a diverse Burbank um board, you took offense and you feel like you need to apologize to the community. Just want to be clear. >> That isn't what you said, though. You said the board >> I'm asking you what you just said. You
want to apologize to the community because I asked for a diverse board and committee. >> No, that but that isn't what you said. >> That is what I said. >> We You go back to what you said verbatim, but that's not what you said. back to what you just said, too. But, I just want to be clear what I just heard is that >> Okay, we're going to move on now. >> apologize if I make a statement asking
for diversity. So, thank you. >> But, that's not what you said. So, we're going to move on now. >> That is what I said. >> Okay, Karen. We will now move on to our agenda items for the evening. At 7:12, we're way past 7:25 at this point, but public comment. We will have a town manager report.
Discussion on election ballot recommendation and election outreach signage. Uh community spotlight. Uh consent agenda, which will include vote to update town clerk fee schedule, vote to appoint members to the town forest committee. A presentation by Zoll to honor the fire department staff who
had their first cardiac arrest saving using save using Zenex equipment. Update from our police chief. Vote to close a warrant for September 1, 2026 state primary election. Review and discuss policy for the naming of the town-owned facilities and properties. Override
discussion. Select board liaison and future agenda items. Do we have any public comment in the room? Nancy. Uh name, address, and you have 2 minutes. And make sure the light is green, but I think you know that.
>> Nancy Doctor Pearl Street uh town meeting um precinct 1 uh meeting member. Um these are two issues that were previously discussed. Um I had voted against joining the MRW MWRA
way back when we still had town meeting in the old high school. I was probably one of a dozen. Not because I didn't want to save the Ipswich River, but I did not want to give up water rights. So, I was relieved when our town manager um alluded to that we haven't completely
abandoned that. Um And And that is why I'd like you not to be penny wise, pound foolish. Um keeping that 20,000 a year to maintain our water rights is like term life insurance, this board just spent thousands of taxpayer money
for your safety detail. Keeping our water rights is safety for the town of Reading. So, I really would like you to really think broadly and have a little bit more future in mind before you give that up. The
second thing is I appreciate the attempt to put public comment on the agenda. Um I think it should still go on the agenda because there was so much deliberation around that request that was leaning into an open law open meeting law violation. I think it should go on an
agenda and it should be openly discussed. Thank you. >> Do we have any other public comment in the room? Do we have any public comment online that you can see? >> Nobody online. >> Okay, great. We're going to move on to our town manager report.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um we'll try to be brief tonight. Um for building projects, we're humming right along. Um the Killam school building project mobilized this morning, actually, um with the first construction trailers placed on the site by our contractor, Brady Builders.
Um steel is going in on the Rec Hall site that began last week. Uh the building is coming up quickly. Wood framing is scheduled to begin next. Um so, they're moving along very quickly and we'll be placing a time capsule under the entryway for future generations of Reading residents to
discover many years from now. We've had a lot of different input. Um we've got patches from the fire department and the police department, um a town report which probably nobody will read 100 years from now, but I'm sure it will be fascinating. Um and we have a the the
grocery store flyer from Market Basket for the 250th for the 4th of July weekend for the which is John Coots saved that for us and it's perfect. So, um and a number of other things and I'll also include a letter to future Reading generations. We have photographs from
the the groundbreaking for everybody who attended. So, it's a it's kind of a fun little thing to think about what what future generations might be thinking about many many moons from now. So, um so, that's one thing. Um
Let's see. Also, High Street is closed beginning today as crews began pulverizing the roadway. Uh paving will begin later this week. We are working very hard to stay on top of our messaging. Um and we appreciate feedback that we're getting from the community and from our businesses downtown to keep on top of
that. So, it is a very challenging issue to message um as things change but and there's many components going on. Um I do assure the public and our businesses that town engineering, um economic development, DPW, and in
total operations, and several other departments are involved in in all of this work and I'm grateful for our staff for all the work that they've been doing. Um we have an update from the alcohol beverage control commission. They recently approved the all alcohol restaurant liquor license for the new restaurant Bean and Barrel, which will
be opening downtown. And I know when I was a select board member, I always kind of wanted to know from time to time, "What's our current liquor license um number?" So, right now we have 21 issued all alcohol restaurant licenses and we have seven remaining uh
available. So, now's a great time to open a restaurant in Reading. I'm just saying we got some licenses. Um and finally and most importantly, um I am placing a hiring freeze across all town departments for FY27. We do have several vacancies that we will fill
um and for which we are funded. Um however, we will be leaving we are leaving some positions open for now including the assistant town engineer and the volunteer coordinator in elder and human services. We will maintain priority for public safety roles but we will critically, as always, evaluate
every position as it opens. What this means practically speaking for department heads is that they cannot advertise any position unless it's approved by me first. So, that is what I have for you right now. We do have, actually, on the agenda here, the next topic that was supposed
to be a subtopic here is the language around an override question if the select board were to call for an override, and then some conversation about signage and outreach. However, we do have an override conversation later in the meeting, and so I didn't know if there was an appetite to defer
that conversation till later in the meeting. >> Yeah, I think at this point, it makes sense to defer it to our override discussion. >> Okay. All right, thank you. And then, um, moving on to the community spotlight,
um, I want to take a moment to honor and thank Tim Kerwin for his significant body of work in service to the Town Forest Committee, where he served for 5 years. Uh, for the last 5 years, he also served, um, concurrently on the Trails Committee from 2022 to 2024. And we've all said earlier this evening we're
grateful to all our volunteers, and I especially wanted to honor uh, Tim's gift of time and talent to the community. Um, and then in a little while we'll be talking about the fire department and their um, experience with the new Zenex uh, products, and so I'm going to leave
that as our true community spotlight for this evening. Thank you. >> Sounds good. We will move on to our consent agenda. Do we have a motion? >> Motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Seconded by Chris Haley. Um, all those
in favor? 5-0. We will now move on to our presentation by Zoll to honor the fire department staff who had their first cardiac arrest save using Zenex equipment. >> Absolutely.
>> Absolutely. >> Come right up front. >> You guys can set up front if you'd like. >> Come right up front, guys. Come right in. Come right in, guys. >> All right, thank you. Sorry for the delay. >> No, no delay at all. >> Pack them in.
Awesome. Thank you, everybody. Thank you uh to the town of Reading, uh the fire department. Uh my name is Corey Ferricks. I am the territory manager for northern New England for Zoll Medical. Um Uh I've got a my little corporate canned speech I've got to run through that
we'll run through it quick, but before I go through that, um I just wanted to say that since partnering with the town of Reading, um it's it's been a breath of fresh air. Um it's my responsibility to drive through all of New England working with fire and
EMS departments, and the men and women of Reading Fire are second to none. Um the culture that that Chief Nelson, Assistant Chief Keough have built, the camaraderie amongst the guys and girls, uh it's second to none. So, it is a department that the residents of Reading
should be proud of. Um and uh as someone who frequents Reading myself living in the area, I'm certainly proud of them. Um so, tonight we wanted to present the chief, the department, uh the men and women um in a word for being pioneers in patient care.
So, on behalf of Zoll Medical Corporation, our entire EMS and fire team, it's truly an honor to recognize Reading Fire Department as a member of Pioneers in Patient Care. This recognition is reserved for a very select group of organizations around the world, true early adopters who are
willing to lead from the front, embrace innovation, and help shape the future of emergency care. Today, there are only approximately 20 organizations globally that hold this distinction. Reading's team's decision to implement the ZOLL X monitor defibrillator demonstrates a commitment not only to
innovation, but to continually advancing the level of care delivered to the community. By adopting groundbreaking technology early, you are helping redefine what's possible in the pre-hospital space. At [clears throat] ZOLL, we often say the X is inspired by you.
That phrase is more than a tagline. It reflects the partnership we have with providers like the Reading team. The insights, challenges, and experiences of clinicians in the field directly inspire the technology we create that innovates. Your willingness to partner with us,
provide feedback, and push the boundaries of patient care helps us continue improving the tools that providers rely on every day to save lives. Together, we're building the future of emergency medicine. Today, we want to sincerely thank the Reading Fire Department and the town of
Reading for not only trusting ZOLL, but for your leadership, your partnership, and your dedication to the patients in the community you serve. Congratulations to the team. We recognize you as a pioneer in patient care. We're proud to stand alongside you on this journey. So, I've got a nice plaque for Chief.
Pioneers in Patient Care for the Reading Fire Department. >> [applause] >> And then, uh, for our two gentlemen here, uh, we've got a couple of save certificates and, uh, some challenge coins for them. So, first firefighter
paramedic Ben Braz. Um This is one of the first saves that we have in the field with the new Xenix device. So, Ben, thank you. >> Thank you. THANK YOU. >> [applause] >> SECONDLY, FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC DOUG I'M going to destroy this. Man, I'm so sorry.
[laughter] Cote du >> Cote du. >> Close enough. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Uh thank you very much. We greatly appreciate the partnership. Um it's truly one that we we cherish and we value. Um you know, and again, Chief
Nelson, the entire team, you know, all the men and women of Reading Fire, they're they're amazing amazing to work with and it's, you know, they're a group of people that departments in the area should strive to be like. All right. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Does the board have any feedback that
they or comments they'd like to share before we Go ahead, Karen. >> I just want to say for a group of people that you never want to see at your front door, thank you very, very much for all your service and we're really Thank you for saying all that kind words about the department cuz we feel the same way, but
we don't all get to experience their skill level. So, thank you. >> Chris. >> Thanks, Melissa. Uh and thank you all. Uh to Karen's question, unfortunately, I have seen some of you at my door, so uh sorry about that. Uh if you can just
briefly tell us what this actually does. It's different than a defibrillator. Like, what makes this so special? >> So, with the upgrade of the technology, there was a number of things we gained, but I'll highlight I'll highlight three three of them for you. So, when firefighter Braz and firefighter Cote du
showed up with a 57-year-old male in cardiac arrest, they had to go to work. They have a lot of the same tools that they had the day before, but now they have this new tool. And there's a couple three couple things. So, first of all, they have to be able to read the electrical activity of the heart, the EKG. Okay? Well, one of the things that
this monitor now does is it reduces called artifact. So, extra squiggly lines that make it really hard to read. So, by doing that, they get able to get a much clearer picture of what's going on the heart and make a diagnosis to give the right meds and the right treatment at the right time. Okay? The other thing it does is it actually has a
a more accurate blood pressure cuff. So, they're getting better more accurate blood pressure blood pressures. So, as they do treatments, they then again can make their assessment. Do they need to give a medication or not give a medication? And then the last one is this new machine actually has a feedback for manual compression. So, manual
compression is super important in this because blood has oxygen in it. But if it's not moving, it doesn't get to the brain. So, doing the right compression with the right time and the [clears throat] right depth to get that blood moving is critically important. So, this machine actually gives you feedback on rate,
depth, tells you all that and it flags it, okay, you're not going fast enough, you need to go faster. So, what this machine does is allows for better more accurate care at that patient immediately right away. So, it's really up the game and what allows these gentlemen to do and the rest of the providers you see here is give better
accurate more accurate care to the patients when they need it. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Any other feedback? >> I just want to say thank you to all of you for all of your hard work always. Um we're always >> so proud of all or everything you do for
Redding, the residents, people that live here, people that drive through here, or or just here visiting. And to hear the recognition from outside is incredible and you all deserve it and we really appreciate all your hard work. >> Thank you guys. Appreciate it. >> Thank you very much. >> [applause]
>> THANK YOU. >> DO DO A PHOTO? >> CHIEF, CAN WE DO A QUICK PHOTO? >> Would you like a quick photo? >> Yes, please. >> With who? >> Um Totally we could do it with the smaller group or the bigger group. We might have to get everyone back here. They tried to run out very quickly.
>> [laughter] >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, yeah. >> You sure you want my mug in there? No, but we'll do it anyways. >> Come on, we're going to take we're going to do a picture, right? >> Sure, guys in front. >> [laughter] >> Faces of the short guys in front.
>> Try to get the brown. >> Do you want to go back further? >> [laughter] >> Yeah, but it's good. It's good. >> Thank you, guys. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, gentlemen. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Nice to see you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Chief, congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Oh, I hate you.
>> All right, now we are moving on an update from our police chief. >> [clears throat] >> I hate following the tall chief cuz I feel like I always have to uh >> [snorts] >> address the uh with the microphone. Um I want to thank you for letting me come tonight. Um, give you an update on something.
Um So, um Ah, much better. I thought I was having an issue. Okay. Um Thank you. >> [laughter] >> Just joking. Sorry. So, today I formally notified the town manager um that I'll be retiring on
Monday, May 10th, 2027 after more than 32 years of service to the town of Reading as a police officer. Um I know what you're all thinking. How could you be retiring? I look like I'm 30 years old. I get it. I understand. But, um thank you. I appreciate that. Um it's been my greatest honor of my professional career to serve the
community. A town where I grew up, where my parents still live, where my family and I probably call home. Um I want to seriously sorry, sincerely thank the residents of Reading for the trust and support you've shown me throughout my career. Serving this community has truly been a
privilege. I especially want to thank those residents who supported me during my process of becoming chief and who have continued to support me throughout my tenure. I also want to thank the dedicated men and women of the Reading Police Department. There is no finer group of professionals I would have could have hoped to have
served alongside or the privilege to lead. When I became acting chief in 2018, I set out to continue moving the department forward. And I'm incredibly proud of what we've accomplished together. During that time, we've diversified the department, introduced comfort dogs to
our support to support our school resource officers, added a mental health clinician, established a drone unit, brought uh the department's first ever canine unit in. We have the child safety seat inspection program come in, significantly increased our social media presence, and increased
our community outreach programs many times over, including adding a youth academy, and increased outreach efforts with our senior community. We've also enhanced officer training, expanded de-escalation techniques, and invested in more less-than-lethal options to give the officers more
options on calls. Sorry. Perhaps more importantly, we've accomplished these initiatives through grants, donations, and seizure funds, not by increasing the burden on our taxpayers. I also want to thank Town Meeting Town Meeting and the Town Manager's previous
Town Managers for approving funding to replace our outdated 1980s era CAD system, which is a computer-aided dispatch system. With a modern public safety platform that will significantly improve our ability to serve the community. I want to make it clear that my decision to retire was made
quite some time ago, well before any discussions regarding an override. I had had this discussion with the previous Town Manager, Matt Cronalis, about retiring and I wanted to give the chance to have Town Manager Jane Wellman settle in a bit before I walked in and said, "Hey, I quit." Um so
Um but I wanted her to get settled in before I shared my plans. Um I look forward to working alongside with her during my remaining months of service with the town, and Reading is very fortunate to have her as our Town Manager. Many of you are wondering why I'm announcing this retirement now. It's a great question. Thank you for
asking that, Cameron Ross Gillis. Thank you, that's great. So Um the Police Department [clears throat] and the entire town, for that matter, is about to enter a challenging period. With negotiations with all three bargaining units at the same time the the town faces an important budget decision surrounding a potential
override. Those decisions will shape the future of this department, and it should be made by the person who is responsible for implementing them, not someone who will be retired when they take effect. I will, of course, assist during this transition, but the next chief should have the opportunity to lead these
discussions from the very beginning. Looking ahead, our department will need a strong, experienced leader to navigate the challenges that lie ahead. Fortunately, Reading already has that leader. If I may take a moment to give my opinion, I offer my unequivocal recommendation
that Deputy Chief Christine Amendola be appointed as the next chief of police for the Reading Police Department. You will not find a more qualified, more prepared, or more respected candidate for this position. Some people may understandably call for a nationwide search. The town can spend thousands upon thousands of dollars in
consultants, assessment centers, and recruitment efforts. But I firmly believe that no search will produce a candidate more qualified than the leader we already have serving this community. Many of you know Deputy Chief Amundola through her work, but I believe her full background deserves some recognition.
Deputy Chief Amundola served 12 years in the United States Army as a military police officer, and she achieved the rank of staff sergeant. She graduated from Airborne School and earned her jump wings. Now, I know some of you might think she volunteered to jump out of a perfectly good aircraft, that either makes her brave or completely nuts, but tonight we're going
to go with the fact that it makes her brave, okay? So, let's just stick with that. Uh Deputy Chief Amundola served three combat deployments, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia. For her leadership in Afghanistan, she was awarded the Bronze Star for
Meritorious Service. I want to note that none of my department veterans, myself included, have ever received the Bronze Star. It's a high achievement to earn that in a combat zone. By the time I retire, she'll have served 21 years with the Reading Police
Department, including 6 years as Deputy Chief. Throughout her career, she has served as a patrol officer, traffic and safety officer, field training officer, RAD instructor, patrol sergeant, and the lieutenant overseeing support services, and she's the accreditation manager for
the town. She successfully led the department through multiple accreditation assessments, and she became Deputy Chief in 2021 after topping every promotional examination and every assessment process required for her advancement. Today, she serves on the Municipal Police Training Committee, helping shape
law enforcement training standards across Massachusetts, while advising the POST Commission, the Commission of Police Officer Standards and Training. She also serves in the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission Training Committee. Instructs and accredits and manages it statewide and serves as an M PAC Assessor.
She has been selected to teach and speak at numerous women in policing conferences throughout New England. She is also a certified promotional assessment center assessor. For those unfamiliar with what that means, that means that Deputy Chief Amundala serves as an assessor on all promotional assessments from from every rank in all
police departments across the state. All right, helping evaluate candidates for advancement through a fair, structured and standardized process. So, any assessment that we done, that's what she does as well as serves as an assessor. Deputy Chief Amundala is currently attending a three-week National Senior Management Chiefs Training at BU and
she's living over there for the next three weeks while she's attending this national program with hundreds of police officers from across the country, all captain and above. These accomplishments only represent a portion of her distinguished career. One of the most important responsibilities for any leader is succession planning.
Ensuring [clears throat] continuity and stabilization within an organization is not optional, it's a fundamental obligation. I began this process when then Lieutenant Kristin Amundala was selected to serve as a Deputy Chief because I believe she was the right person to eventually lead this department upon my retirement.
The purpose of succession planning is simple. To ensure that whatever the whenever the Chief is absent, whether it be on vacation or on an emergency, there's a complete confidence that the department will continue to operate seamlessly. You do not place someone in that position unless you're fully capable of leading the organization.
And when that person has already demonstrated the capability every day for years, there's no need to make them jump through unnecessary hurdles simply because a vacancy has occurred. The Reading Police Department is operating exceptionally well today because we've built a strong leadership team that
continuity should continue. With contract negotiations approaching and a significant budget season on the horizon, time is not a luxury we have. For that reason, I respectfully urge the town manager to appoint Deputy Chief Kristina Amadola as the next Chief of Police and ask the select board to confirm that appointment.
Thank you for allowing me the honor of serving this remarkable community for more than three decades. It's truly been a privilege of a lifetime. And I will always be grateful for the trust the people of Reading have placed in me. Thank you. >> Thank you, Chief. >> [applause] >> Do we have any comments within the
board? Anyone? Karen? >> Do you want to go first? >> Chris? >> Karen can go. It's motioning. >> I was not expecting this at all. You caught me completely off guard and some kind of speechless, but thank you for sharing.
And I'm looking forward to coffee in the next year so we can chat. That's all I have to say. I'm literally speechless. Chris? >> Thanks, Melissa. Uh and thanks, Chief Clark. Um it's
clear by your presentation now that you spoke more about Christine than yourself. And that's what a true leader is about. Um you elevated her to the position that um she should be at and spoke more about her, like I said, than than your own
self. Um So, thank you for being a class act. Thank you for, you know, protecting us here in Reading for all these years. Uh and I really wish you the best uh on your next adventure, whatever that might be. So, thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Anyone else? Karen? >> Mhm. Well, congratulations. You made it. >> Thank you. >> And um I thank you. I I concur with the board thanking so much for your service. Um I I seem to remember that you were stepping up even as interim while we
were implementing security measures that nobody could talk about across the town and um that's my earliest memory of when I met you and I you have a number of accomplishments and you did a great job of outlining them and I I don't want anyone to forget that you were also um,
a leader among departments in in in trying out hybrid and EV technology and and incorporating into the future as we seek to reduce um, carbon emissions. So, I appreciate and applaud that. And um, I also wanted to recognize the fact that
I have always thought that after you were promoted, we also had a very difficult time in our country and it was a very difficult time for um, policing, I think. And um, so you had to keep up the morale of your staff and team and
continue the outreach and the policing of the community and that couldn't have been easy and I'm glad it's in the rearview mirror and congratulations for that as well. >> Great. Thank you and I appreciate you recognize that, Karen. Yeah, I took over in within a couple of weeks. Um, yes, with George Floyd happened and
then COVID happened which impacted our ability to go out and reach out to the public because of all the restrictions. So, yeah, it was a very interesting first couple of years. So, I appreciate you acknowledging that. Thank you. >> Pleasure. Thank you. >> Sam. >> It's not I know if we don't know each other very well. Uh,
it's been a short time, but I appreciate you reaching out for me when I got on the board and I hope we'll have coffee for retirement. I'll get to know each other a little >> Well, I'm willing to help and have coffee with anybody. >> Yeah, all right. I'll take it. >> Okay. >> Thank you so much for all of your work
for Reading um, over the past 32 years. Um, we you know, appreciate everything you've done in your position as chief and you know, before that. Um, I know that we'll have many opportunities to celebrate you in the next so many months, but I just want to say
congratulations on retirement and um, you know, looking forward to working with you to you know, fill the next seat. >> All right. Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you so much, Chief. Appreciate it. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Well said. >> MHM. >> WELL SAID. >> [applause]
>> YES, THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> I THOUGHT YOUR BOYS WERE here for this. >> Uh no, they were >> [laughter] >> Madam Chair, in light of that uh announcement, um I would like to uh schedule a meeting with you to talk about the succession uh to the police chief role.
>> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> We'll get that on the calendar. >> We will get that on the calendar. Maddie will take care of that for us tomorrow. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> All right, well. Um let's move on to vote to close the warrant for the September 1st, 2026 state primary
election. I don't know what we have. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you to both of you. We appreciate it. >> Thank you all. >> Sorry. >> I can't get it down short enough for me. >> [laughter] >> I know, it's annoying.
>> So, um I I wasn't sure. I'm taking I'm assuming you wanted me to come and talk to you about the warrant. But, um it's the basic warrant that you would sign off for the state primary for September 1st, and all the offices are listed on the warrant.
If anybody has any questions? >> Um does anyone on the board have any questions? >> No, I think it's pretty straightforward. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Do we have that to sign now or >> Okay, great. >> If you could, that would be great. >> Fantastic. >> I have a copy right here if you need it.
>> We got it. >> We ready for a motion? All right. We're going to vote to close the warrant. >> Um do we have a motion? Yes, we must have a motion. >> Move to close the warrant for the September 1st, 2026 state primary election. >> Second.
>> Seconded by Sal Bramante. Any discussion? All those in favor 5-0. >> Thank you, Art. >> Thank you. >> Look at the sign for you. >> No, we postponed one. We postponed it >> We postponed it to override discussion. >> Oh, I thought it was
>> Yeah, no. >> That's my fault. >> Yeah, I was like, what? >> Um okay. Do you need another one? Now we are going to move on to review and discuss policy for the naming of town-owned facilities and properties. I believe we have a memo from Evria.
>> So yeah, Madam Chair, we have a policy in your packet and there are comments from Evria in here. And Jim Sullivan is the author of this uh Sure. >> [laughter] >> Of the Cliff Notes. We will say the Cliff Notes to start this.
>> ours? Was this naming policy Redding's or were we just kind of >> So we don't have a naming policy. >> what I thought but I didn't want to assume. >> do have one, so I've been doing some research over the last 2 and 1/2 weeks or so looking at schools, looking at other towns, and seeing what they have. This is a draft. This is a starting point. In the end, the select board, you
have the authority. >> Okay. >> Um we hope we've set you up to look at this and say this will work. You may look at it and say start over. Um what I did was I put together a presentation, basically Cliff Notes of what I sent over in the packet. Um I
think Maddie has that to pull up. It's maybe 4 minutes or so. >> Yep. >> So, I'll go through it and then if we can hold questions to the end, I think that would be best. There are some questions that we know we'll have for you that hopefully you can answer so we can help us go back to this draft and try to get it to uh
where we think it is nice and tight and bring it back again for potential approval. Um, this is the first policy I've had the chance to to write as an administrator, not a department head. Appreciate Jane giving me the opportunity. So, I'm going to quickly go through this little presentation. Um, as
I mentioned, the town does not have a policy for naming facilities. Since I've been here, I think we've done one. It was the Jamie Montpath that went through Conservation Committee, it went through Recreation Committee, then it came to the Select Board. Um, I see in the future that there's going to be some
more coming this way that could be hard of conversation. So, I think it's important that we lay out how we're going to do this moving forward just so we're consistent across the board. Um, if you want to go to the next slide. Purpose of the policy: establish fair, consistent, and transparent process for naming town-owned facilities and
properties. Recognize those individuals or organizations whose lasting contributions have significantly benefited the town of Reading. Um, ensuring all the name requests are evaluated using consistent criteria. Providing opportunities for public input before final decisions are made. Serve
as a guide for naming and renaming town-owned assets. And then preserve the Select Board's discretion and final authority over all these naming decisions. Um, throughout this town you can see this one here. We have a field, uh, Pete Mascaro Ballpark, also known as Nute Morton Memorial Field. Um, we have a few
of these throughout town. It does get confusing for some folks. So, coming up with policies on how we can name fields, how many times we're naming them, and what we're naming them I think it's going to be very important moving forward with some of our ballparks and our new amenities that we are building right now. Go to next slide. Basically, the criteria, um, what we're
looking at is town buildings. It could be interior rooms. I know some of the rooms in here are named after folks, parks and playgrounds, athletic fields, courts, pathways and trails, pavilions, open spaces, historical buildings, and any other public facilities that could come forward. Um We do have an evaluation criteria that's
in there. It's on there right now. I'm not going to go through this and read all of them. It is all in that first initial draft packet. You can go to the next slide. Eligibility: Individuals or organizations who have demonstrated exceptional service or made significant contributions to the town of Reading may be considered for naming recognitions.
Eligible nominees may include but not limited to former town employees, board and committee members, volunteers, former elected or appointed officials, coaches, educators, community leaders, donors, or civic organizations. Um All the above shall possess contribute, you know, lasting positive impacts on
the town of Reading, obviously, to be considered. Next. All right, this is uh the kind of the tricky part. I don't know if you guys saw the flowchart. I did make a flowchart. It was uh It was a map and it was it was >> questions about a flowchart. >> You? It's a good flowchart.
>> But like it's a flowchart. >> It's a flowchart requested by Miss Wolman here. Um so, this kind of breaks it down a little easier for my mind to read. Um so, the way this would work is we'll set an application process that will be on the town manager's um
website. The application would be filled out online. It would go to the town manager's office. Maddie and Jacques would get it. They'd review it, make sure it was complete, and then they would pass it on to the appropriate party or department, who would then give it to their committee, whether it's recreation committee, Council on Aging,
historical um We've got a lot of committees. So, they would determine who it belongs to based on the request and where the field is. If it's a ballpark, if it's a basketball court, it's probably coming to recreation, the recreation committee. If it's somewhere over at the senior center, it's going to go to to COA.
They will review that application. They will open it up for public comment, they will have a discussion, and then what will be is a vote whether it's favorable or unfavorable to go on to the next process. Regardless whether it's favorable as far as a vote or non-favorable, it would go to the next committee, and that would be a naming
review committee. I know we love our committees here. I'm not saying we have to put it together another committee. That's going to be up to you guys, but I think having as many hands in this is not only going to protect the initial committees, but also the select board at the end because it's a
hard decision. I think having your name put on something in a town as a citizen probably one of the highest honors you can get, so I think it's important to do. So, the naming review committee, they would have a meeting, do the same thing, discussion, public feedback, discuss
their thoughts, their opinions. They would give a unfavorable consideration or a favorable. That would go to the select board. You are the ultimate vote on this based on the recommendations that are coming forward to you. Um it would be placed on an agenda item for you, posted
like any meeting is, um and it would be up to you to make that final decision. The whole process, I think it's broken down 6 months. I think it gives us enough time to get these committees all together, um but again, this is just a draft.
Next page. Upon the approval of the select board, um giving the thumbs up to name a facility after someone, um then it would go back to the original department or division or committee to implement. Well, that's the signage, the plaques, the memorial marker, um set up the
public recognition, set up a dedication ceremony, and any other related administrative actions needed to complete the entire process. Um a question was who's paying for this? I reached out to what the facilities department just did with the Charlie Hardy Lacrosse Field, formerly known as
Turf 2. That was all donated by family, and I believe Reading Youth Lacrosse had contributed some money as well. Some towns will have the town pay for it. I think the nominating party should pay for that if at all possible, but that's something for you to decide, but it's a question we'll have for you guys moving
forward. Um as far as the signage, we would bring in community development. I talked to Andrew McNickle today just to make sure the signage and everything we're doing is consistent, it's fluent, it matches what the town has already. Next page.
And the fun part, renaming or removal of a name. This does happen, so in this policy we'd make sure that we'd have a process in place if something comes up that was not favorable favorable for a name that we had given a field. What we would do is we'd repeat this process.
There'd be an application to potentially remove a name of a field or a facility, and it would go through this process again starting from the bottom going to the naming review committee up to the select board. Here's a little bit of homework, the forming of the naming review committee.
I think Jan and I might have spoke with Laura a little bit how we want to do this, whether it's an actual committee, an ad hoc, or we combining boards that are being appointed. I don't know if Jan you want to speak on this as far as forming a new board. I've never formed a new board. >> Oh.
No, I don't have anything to add to this. It's up to the select board if you want to create a new a new board and go through the vast. Thank you. Why, thank you um for turning on my mic. Um it's up to the select board if they want to create a new committee and put it to the vast process to appoint. Um can you tell us
how the naming committee is formed on the school committee? >> So it starts with the school committee. There's an application that is placed, then it goes to their advisory board for review and final decision. >> Okay. >> So they do have an advisory board similar to what we'd be doing here with
our naming review committee. >> Okay. May add to that? >> Sure. >> So >> Should you come up here, Laura, so everyone at home can hear you, too. Sorry. >> [laughter] >> Sorry, I thought it was loud enough. >> I mean, you probably are, but I'm just trying to cover all the bases. >> [laughter]
>> So, they just recently formed an ad hoc committee to do naming. So, that every time they name a the school committee that names a building, they form an ad hoc committee. That's how it's happened in the past. >> So, she said that one that one is correct.
>> Correct. >> Okay. Just one at a time. >> As needed. That's what I got to point it to last meeting or the prior meeting. >> Oh, yeah. >> Right. >> And they change it for each item, project, building, bench,
whatever. >> Correct. >> I think the way I understood it from school committee is they set it up so it was like a member of the select board, a member of the school committee, a member of >> Correct. >> etc., etc. So, I think that's how we'd set it up is that it has to be a member from certain boards. And then when the
name if something comes forward, you get a member from each of those boards. >> a new member from each of the boards, or do you stick with that group for a period of a year or two or three? >> I think it would depend on elections. And who's on current boards and committees at >> Right. >> those times.
Cuz you could have one naming and then not have anything for years. >> Right. So, >> Right. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I understand. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I could see two coming up in the next year. >> Yeah. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. But then we may not have anything for 5 years, right? So, Okay.
>> I think that um we may have a couple coming up in the near term, but typically you don't have them. And so, this the first step going, "Okay, this is vetted. This is real." And you send it to the um appropriate committee for that round one. If they say, "No, this shouldn't go forward." then it stops it right there. Like, "No, we're not going
to do this." But they say, "Yeah, this is this this makes really good sense, and we do think that the select board should be how to go forward. That's when the board would, you know, create that effectively an ad hoc committee to take it to the next level and do that that deep research
and, you know, um, that that would be required to see if it meets the standard and then go forward from there. >> Okay. >> So, by the time it gets to the select board, you'd have the recommendation of your naming review committee and also the recommendation of that applicable board, so recreation or conservation or
whatever it might be. Um, so you got, you know, a a number of recommendations advising you, which I think is really helpful. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Chris. >> Just real quick, unless I'm misremembering the school committee scenario, I think they had a difficult time actually
filling their ad hoc naming committee this last time around. So, just to be cognizant for us doing the same thing. They had difficulty even filling it. Where I believe I got mentioned of doing like three roles cuz I'm a local business owner and and all these other things. I couldn't
they would have subbed me out for another select board member, so. >> Okay, good to know. >> Garrett. >> Thank you. Um, so yeah, I did serve on an ad hoc committee for um, not the field house, but the the courts. >> The Vaccaro?
>> Vaccaro, yes. So, um, um, a couple things. This policy says that after 20 years the the name could revert to the town, which seems to me, um, could be, um,
an an administrative burden and I I'm not sure I would be in favor of that policy. Although, having the out if you need to make a change or you want to make a change is certainly important. And by the way, thank you for putting all this together. I've been asking for this for months and thank you. It's a lot of work. Um,
and then the other thing I'd like So, the school committee has a lot of things that they name and um a couple years ago one of our members was appointed to the um Halcroft stadium naming committee. What was >> At John
>> What was it? It was the track. >> Yeah. >> Halcroft track naming committee. >> At Hollingsworth Stadium. >> And what? >> At Hollingsworth. >> John Hollingsworth. >> Yeah. So, it's another one of those almost like a >> Yeah. >> two named fields. >> So, I it's sort of, you know, if we want to go through a a process and make sure
we pick the right person and get lots of input. I don't think we should name the committee after the person like before we've gone through the process. So, that'd just be like like it's a Halcroft naming committee. Like who do you think they're going to name? >> Yeah. This is more I think more just general
so that it would encompass all. >> Yeah. >> I agree. I would not want it to be specific for one because you know what you're getting. >> Yeah. And I do like um the the folks that are super excited and and and taking on the cost of uh the
those granite pillars and that expensive sign, you know, that's um and I they This process is probably long enough to give them time to raise money if they need it and um we erected a clock for um former select board woman Camille Anthony and that was done by donations
from the community over a period of time. And um you know, I might add that we created a new park up by the new water tank and we could um consider naming that and that could give this policy a test run. >> Thank you for your hard work.
>> You're welcome. There'd be an application too, but like I said, it's all going to come back to you guys are the final voices. I'm just kind of lay the groundwork and I am happy to get input. Jane's happy to get input. Happy to go back to the board. Um but looking at what the other towns I looked at
Lexington, Wellesley, Dedham, Burlington, and it's a mix of all this. Some of them is just it goes to the select board and you guys vote and it's on you. Um, I don't think that's necessarily fair because when you do have to say no, it puts you in a hard spot, but if you have two groups that have looked at it
prior and it's similar situations, um, it's hard to say no to people especially when they're dealing with someone who may have just passed or something happened tragically. So, it's a little bit of protection for I think all and I think it gives the group coming in, um, a lot of respect that it's being vetted so much before a final decision
is made whether it's a yes or a no. >> Absolutely. So, curious, what do you think I had some I did go through it and like just had some thoughts about it. Should we share them with you and like now or like in a separate document?
I feel like we could be here all night if we're just throwing things. >> I think it would be great if you sent me your thoughts. >> Yes, okay. >> Um, just shoot it you can mark up the document or you can write a separate document. >> Verbal it that's fine. >> you don't want to write it up, you want to call and talk it through, >> we can do that too. I'm happy to do that
one-on-one and then we will, you know, take those changes. Evria had a bunch of really good ones. They came in right before we sent the packet out. So, I was like, include them. You know, we're not going to rewrite the whole thing, you know, Thursday afternoon. So, she we were grateful that she sent them, um, on our timeline. And,
um, so we'll incorporate her pieces as well and then we'll bring it back for, um, another reading and, you know, potentially approval with incorporating everybody's >> Fantastic. >> to the best of our ability or, you know, we would like you to decide on this or this and see where you are with it. >> Great. >> So, if we So, I think if we could ask
board members to share their thoughts, opinions, input, you know, over the next couple of weeks, >> Yep. >> that would be helpful for you guys to look at it and then incorporate it for a next run at it on a future agenda. >> And if we don't hear from you, we will
haunt you for comments. >> [laughter] >> Yes, so if you don't >> Or maybe you don't have any comments, that's fine, too. >> You know, it looks good or or Just so they're, you know, you guys are aware that, you know, >> Yeah, we're good. >> Okay, great. Good. Yeah, I appreciate it. >> Thank you, Jim. I really appreciate you doing this. >> I appreciate all of you guys, too, as
well. >> Appreciate it. >> Jim. >> Thank you. >> All righty. What are we on? We are on, yes, override discussion. And also, we'll talk about the ballot questions that we skipped over earlier in the evening. So, the purpose of tonight's um
conversation initially was to talk about um two pieces. One, the form of an that an override vote could take. And so, we have those ballot questions taken directly from DLS. I did not augment
them for Reading in any way. They are just taken that language is taken there. And so, we'll go over that. Um there was some discussion about could we do a better job of separately from the override, but somewhat related, we have the primary ballot on
uh that you closed earlier. Um and then I think you probably meant the warrant for uh the primary election. And then, we have other conversations about override votes. So, there's a conversation about can we do a better job about informing the public about all elections. Um so, we have a a little
conversation on that. Um and then, we also have an outreach [snorts] calendar that we've discussed previously at a at a select board I'm sorry, at a financial forum that I'll go over with you. Um we included in the packet
um the previous financial forum presentation that was given by myself and Sharon for you to look at. Some of these numbers have changed um and we'll be presenting them tomorrow at the select board meeting. So, we can go over these
as well. We can talk about any questions you have. If you want to talk about numbers or that kind of information tonight. So, it depends on what the appetite of the board is, but I wanted to bring that and give you that opportunity um to have that conversation
um now because the request is that the select board will vote next week to determine if you want to bring something forward and what that number will be um because that number we have to pull all of that together and send it to the state by
August 5th. So, that gives us the runway. And the question's basically we take it right out, so it's really the number. Um so, what's the appetite of the board? You know, that's the that's the conversation we want to have a little bit tonight. >> Okay. >> So, first um if you go back to the
beginning of your packet we have the question format um that we're talking about. And if you have questions about sort of what's before us and um you know, how this works and I don't
know the answer, uh we will have some runway to get that back to you. So, um the Division of Local Services from the Department of Revenue has this document called Proposition 2 and 1/2 Ballot Question Requirements and Procedures, and I've included the link to that document in your packet.
Um can you make that a little bit bigger? Thank you. Um so, we're exploring three options. Does the board have the appetite for a single override question? Um is there an appetite for a tiered
override question? So, that would be multiple multiple options at different uh values. Or a multi-year override. What that might look like is um if we were to increase the levy limit by
round number $10 million, but the first year it would but the first year it would the taxes would go up 4 million. And then the second year, it might go up 2 million. And then the third year, it would go up 4 million again. So, it's still $10 million, but it's taken in smaller chunks over 3 years that may be easier
for residents to um you know, say I can I can that's more affordable to me than all at once. Um and so, we want to be cognizant of, you know, inflationary pressures that residents are feeling and also um the borrowing that we've done for our debt exclusions. So,
um So, these are the options that we have before. So, um in a single override, a single question override, um you can do a general purpose or general category. So, shall the town be allowed to assess an additional $2 million in real estate and personal property taxes
for the purpose of funding operating budgets of the town and public schools for, you know, fiscal year beginning July 1st, in this case, 2028. Um or general categories. So, the same thing, additional $2 million in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose
of funding local and regional school, public safety, library, highway, parks, recreation, and general government expenses for fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2028. So, it's one is just operating budgets for towns and schools, and the other one is
more specific which departments, which categories you're looking for here. Um it achieves the same purpose. Um but it's somewhat nice It might be nice to know when they're in the ballot box which division, which departments
are being uh funded through this particular um increase. A tiered override question example. So, we've seen this in a number of towns. Marblehead um did this recently. They passed their middle tier. Melrose did this recently. They passed their higher
tier. Stoneham did it on their second round, and I think they passed their lower tier. So, we are seeing this more commonly in communities than we've seen in the past. Um so, what this would do is it provides voters with a choice of two or more
different funding levels. Um and you can do it again for general spending purposes for or for specific services or programs. Um a separate question is offered for each funding level. Um and the funding levels are presented as alternatives, not independent proposals, which means a
higher funding level proposed in a question also includes all the lower questions. Maybe that seems obvious, but it's important to mention. Um so, therefore, if voters approve more than one question, the approved questions the approved questions stating the highest dollar amount prevails, and the
community's levy limit is increased by that amount. So, if you were to pass like a if there were three tiers in Marblehead, they passed the middle tier, but not the highest tier. So, but the lower tier and the middle tier got high votes, but the but the middle
tier got the highest number of votes and, you know, over the third. Does that make sense? Okay. So, uh we have an example in here as well. And um then you have a multi-year override, and this again presents two or more
questions which apply to different fiscal years. So, for example, um the amounts and purposes don't have to be the same. So, I do believe they also did this in Marblehead, and maybe um our guest in audience knows, but um
the school portion of the Marblehead override was phased in this will be phased in in the second year of theirs. So, uh an interesting proposal. Um so, in this case, it would say, "Will you allow the town to assess a million dollars in
taxes for the fiscal year beginning like July 1st, 2028? And then, will you allow the town to assess an additional $500,000 in taxes uh for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2029. Okay? So, that um or whatever the years are, but it's
just the following year and the amount for the following year. Okay? So, these are some of the options um before the board um cuz we would have to make a decision before going forward. And if you have questions, I can always go back and get answers on them um in
advance of tomorrow even um before we go to uh when we go to finance committee. And we'll have a little bit of this discussion with M&C sort of if they have um a request to the select board that they would they would like to see. Okay.
>> Do any members have any input on, you know, an opinion of uh single number, multi-year, tiered over years? Does anyone have any feedback on that to share with Jane? >> Can I ask a question? >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Um Jane,
and I and I probably read over it. Has anyone successfully done a multi-year override where it was one number one year, one number another year, and one number a third year? >> I don't know if there I know Marblehead did this two-piece >> Right. >> the school department portion was coming
in the second year. Um I don't know the full multi-year if if another town but I can find out. >> And theirs was specifically operating first where it's like something you could see or touch. Like they knew school was going the second >> Yeah, it's on on the documentation that
I've seen that was >> communicated >> Okay. >> to voters. So. And you could put it I mean, I suppose we could put it in here. I didn't put the exhaustive list of all the different forms of these questions, but it says that the questions don't have to be the same, and the purposes don't have to be
the same. So, for example, you could say in the first year, could we do $1 million for, you know, funding schools and towns, you know, and the the department, and police department, and all those different categories. And in the second year, could you
would you approve this amount of money to fund schools and fire? And just limit it in that second up could be another option, too. Not to confuse things. >> So, knowing that this is an operational override, everybody
does that make it more confusing if you're going to say, "Well, we're going to hold" and I'm just using examples. This means nothing. But, if we're going to do one thing the first year, we're going to wait for the police and the fire for the second year and the school children >> I'm not proposing that, just so we're clear. I'm not proposing that at all. I
don't want to It's just an option you could do, but I don't want to propose that. I just don't want to go that We're proposing spoiler alert a 6.5% I'm sorry, 6.5 million-dollar override >> [snorts] >> for FY28 for the
>> That is that is >> That is the the low tier that we're now the board wants to massage those numbers. It it just there are consequences into what that looks like. That leaves positions on the table with a passed override that would not be
filled. Um but and it it leaves a a few other things on the table as well, but we we think that that um is a proportional number to what was presented and passed in 2018. So, we'll have lots more discussion about how we got to that number tomorrow night, but I'm happy to talk more about
it tonight, sure. >> more about that tomorrow. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> But, again, happy to talk more about how we arrived at these numbers. >> We can do that tomorrow. Is that all right with you guys? >> Yeah. I just I was going to add on the question, but if anyone else would like
to go first. >> I have comments. >> Chris. >> Karen. >> Oh, Karen. Doesn't matter. You think either way. >> All right. Um so, um so, you want to have a more in-depth discussion tomorrow. Is that what you're saying? >> No, I just I don't know where we're
going tonight as far as this goes. I don't know if we want to get into the nitty-gritty of the dollar figures with that you have because that's the one thing I think it education's going to be hugely important on this and I want to try and make it really simple for people to understand. And so, that's what I was trying to get at. And so, as far as the numbers, you
know, people have told me today what does it mean? You know, where's it going to go? And they don't know what we spend our money on. And I think the override is going for, you know, as I said before, and not the sexy stuff. It's not the stuff you can touch or you see a school and you see a recall, but this is like we don't see IT. We don't
see all the stuff in the background and unemployment insurance and that's what this is basically going towards. So, I think not that we need to make it exciting, but it means a lot, you know? I mean, if you lose insurance in business or home, it has a huge impact on your family and residents. So, I think that education
part of it we really have to dig into. >> We definitely do. Um part of tomorrow's presentation goes through a real list of sort of what happens if there's no override. What does that really look like? Because that's where you're going to see more of the consequences. The override that we're
bringing forward is for a 3.75% budget. Um with that number, it is basically looking at level services. This is to continue what we're doing as we're doing it. We have a well-funded
and um and operationally excellent fire department, as you heard earlier. Well-funded and operationally excellent police department. Our school department is well-funded and has incredible reputation and operationally excellent.
So, in order to keep the service level where it is, this is where we need to be because we have been funding our budget for too many years with supplements from free cash. Okay? And so, our free cash utilization to support our operating budget has
increased significantly since 2020. And what has happened as the amount of money that we're using to to close that budget gap, it's called a structural deficit. Um that amount of money is now greater
than what we're regenerating in utilization. And so tomorrow I have a deep discussion about how we got here, why now, like why wasn't it done earlier? And there are there are lots of reasons and and different leadership approaches, but we have been talking about this as a
community that this was coming. And you know, it is our belief that in order to continue the level of services for the community at the high expectation that Reading residents have come to expect and deserve, then this is this is where we are. Now,
that number 6.5 million is still has some austerity built into it, right? It's it's we have maintained level services for so long. That's why the regeneration is less, okay? Because we don't have leftover money's in our
budgets because inflationary pressures have driven up the cost of everything that we do, like most people are experiencing it at home. So, the margins that are available at the end of the year that contribute to regeneration have have diminished
significantly. What's a big part of our regeneration right now is interest income in our investments. If we didn't have higher interest rates and we didn't have a treasurer who is moving money around to aggressively chase returns, our free cash position would be more
deleterious than it is. Okay. >> Thank you, Jane. Um for the sake of just a little bit of um organization and efficiency, if anyone has any questions on the general override question, can we just do that first and then we'll jump into the other
questions? Just so we're kind of staying in order here. So, Karen, did you have a question or comments on the general override questions, the three options? >> Um my general comment is that I agree with Karen. We have to keep it simple, and that would eliminate like one, two,
or three. >> Mhm. >> I'm sorry? >> My general comment is to agree with Karen that we need to it's complicated to to communicate, so it needs to be simple. So, >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> three options for me is off the table. >> Okay.
>> Okay. >> What do you mean three options? >> Like you want this tier, that tier, the other tier. >> 6 7 10. >> [laughter] >> Oh, okay. Cuz okay. >> That should save some work. >> Right? >> Yeah. So, you're looking more towards
two options or >> I'm I'm open. I'm not hard. I people like options, choices. They feel like they look a little bit in control. >> Okay. Just keeping it to general comments. >> Okay. >> Okay. That's helpful. >> Krista, do you have a comment on the question piece? >> And then we'll dive into the other
stuff. >> Yes, pretty much. So, there's the the three various options that we can do here. Um and uh I know why that we're doing the override now. I made my prior
comments on how we are, you know, approaching this because the November ballot, it's free to put it on this ballot kind of scenario. Um but uh my going through the motions just to do it uh thing waned on me the other day when
I got my tax bill in the mail as everyone else did. I did the math times four, came up with the number, and said, "What is going on here?" And uh having said that, I will not be voting for any override options um until
the April ballot instead. I feel that we don't even know what any of the questions that we want to how we want to even approach this now. I understand there's going to be other meetings with it. But I think the town has to do a significant amount of due diligence and do this right the first time because
I think it was going to fail regardless and I don't want to I don't want to put ourselves in this position. It's a lot of serious talks have to be done with it. You mentioned 6 and 1/2 6 and 1/2 is is way too low. We know that number is way
too low. We're going to have to come back again in 3 years or something like that. It um you have to shrink the denominator. That's it. We got the packet. It showed where we're going in 5 years. Huge number up there and it's like how are we going to bridge we're like
going tens of millions of dollars 5 years into the future on this. Who is going to be able to afford any of this? So for me I'm not voting for any of this. We just have to go back to the drawing board. It's going to give you time
to refine and go forward you know with the best approach. And I don't disagree with the approach because the general direction was to rush this and go in this kind of thing. But for me we're going to step back and
and put a pin in this. We can still have our meetings go through the the discussions but I'm not voting for anything until April. >> So so >> So I guess my question is so if we go with the if we do go with the 210
approach that means that the override passes no matter what. >> No. >> Is that correct? >> No. >> So >> No no. >> No it it doesn't matter it doesn't mean that they it passes. >> So one option wouldn't pass over the other? >> One might get out more votes than the
other but you could still have more no votes than yes votes in which case neither option prevails. >> So they both could theoretically not pass. >> That's correct. >> Okay. All right. >> The option with the with the tiered option it gives people some choice. >> Mhm. >> Um and I think that that feels more
empowering to voters. Um so you know that's a factor. Some pieces will be available in the higher So in the in the lower tier weekly recycling's not included. Weekly recycling's off the table in the lower tier. We can't afford it. So but we
could put it in in a higher tier. >> The lower tier is the 6 million. >> 6.5. That's correct. Yep. Um so you know you're right. Right now I think it's important to know that with um the fully loaded estimate of what we
would have to cut if there's a failed override. Um that includes unemployment and and benefits and so forth. We would have to uh based on an average salary of 85,000 and 15,000 dollars in benefits. Um and then the unemployment that would
have to be budgeted for for these um layoffs. We're looking at 74 positions between the town and the school. That is a number that will if impact our services
significantly. Everybody will feel that in our community. And it's also a large number is all that's going to put staff in a difficult position. Um it will affect morale. And so and
then if we decide to wait to Mr. Haley's point which is very valid and I I hear your your comments and respect them. Um if we wait to go to the April ballot, we can do that. But that is two full budgets that we're bringing forward not one. It's it's a lot more stress and
work if it were to pass in November. You know it's a little bit it's a little bit better. Um but again these are discussions for the board. These are decisions for the board to make and I'm here to give you the information to help the board make these difficult decisions. You'll find yourself in a position
as a board and me as your manager looking at a structural deficit that is greater than has been seen prior in in any prior year. And so that's a big responsibility. So right now that structural deficit is
about 6.6 and 1/2 million dollars right now. We are supporting in our budget with free cash 6.475 million dollars of free cash to buttress our operating budget this year. So that's your that's your structural deficit. Which as Mr. Haley points out
will only increase over the years if you look at the projections that Sharon presented previously. And I do want to note that the CFO is on this call and she is available for questions. And I appreciate that she's on the call at this hour. Um So one of the policy proposals I will be
presenting to the finance committee and I present to you tonight is I think that we need to do a better job with free cash utilization as part of our fiscal discipline. What do I mean by that? In many other
communities we don't use free cash to buttress the budget. Reading has a tradition of using that to to to upfront as we balance our budget. But there's a reason for this that's a good reason. We fund as a matter of
policy 5% of our capital investment in our budget every year. Many other communities appropriate their money for capital investments. So fire trucks, field replacements, those roofs on buildings,
those big capital investments are budgeted in the fall after free cash is certified by DOR at their fall town meeting. Okay? So that's how they fund their capital plan. We have a tradition of funding 5% upfront. We have done this
for many years. It's an excellent policy. We've been recognized for it at the state level and we've been rewarded for it with a AAA bond rating as part of the part of the rationale for our bond rating because we invest in our in our public buildings and our infrastructure regularly and that's built into our
fiscal discipline. What I'm proposing is that we tie whatever amount of money that we're using for free cash directly to the amount of capital that we're spending in our budget. So um for example, we are proposing reducing
this year we're using 4 and 1/2% capital in our budget capital and debt. Um if we were to have a failed override, I have proposed an additional almost million dollars in capital cuts
and we would defer those expenses out that would include an ambulance, that would include the equipment to go on an ambulance and some other investments. Those would be deferred and then our capital budget would be about $3 million and I would request that FinCom would fund with free
cash up to $3 million so that our capital matches whatever free cash we're using which is still a model that is sustainable. It replicates what other other towns do but it still fulfills that upfront investment but it limits what we're
doing with free cash so we don't find ourselves again in the future with so much free cash we're using to buttress the budget. Probably we should have had override conversations perhaps a little earlier or made reductions earlier.
So this this is where we are. Policy discussions, thank you. Also good. Um and we've also done a lot of things on the town side to address some of the inflationary pressures like um as you know uh renegotiating our
public with our public employee committee our health insurance agreement which we anticipate will save about 3.9 million dollars over the three-year agreement and we're so grateful to our employees for working with us on that aggressively to share that savings with them. So,
you know, we're we're working on the background stuff that's pushing up the inflationary pressure as well. We're not just sitting still and taking it as it were. We've been working very hard as staff to attack these things um one by one. But, you know, this is what we're looking at right now.
>> Thank you for that. Um I just wanted to touch base on what everyone else has kind of said here that I agree with simple, clear, transparent um options for our residents um and I would
support a single number going forward on the ballot although I do I do understand what Chris is saying and um I think that we have a lot of work to do because I think that we need to clearly explain why we have the structural
deficit and you know, really make it very simple for residents to understand what's happening and where that uh lack of funding like what happened with health insurance and unemployment and all the other stuff. So, residents can understand that
um with just passing the two debt exclusions, I think a single number with a clear explanation of why is a little easier to swallow because I don't think asking to fund
wants and new programs right now is the right approach um with a new building being built and or or new buildings being built, I just don't think that's appropriate right now. I think that we need to sustain our core services and, you know, help residents understand
what where that structural deficit is and why we are looking for this one number. I mean, we're the leaders of the town. We've been elected to be here and I think that, you know, if we're putting a tiered rate for me is confusing, I think, for a lot of people.
I also don't want to pit school versus town or department versus department. So, I really want to make it an operational over- question-wise. Um I would like to see it be an operational override for the whole town
with one number and, you know, the support needs to be there of why that is needed. And, you know, this isn't because we want to do X, Y, and Z in these new programs. It's just to sustain what we have currently and I think that that will be very important
to, you know, get across to everyone and, you know, help residents understand where we stand. >> Thank you for that. Um I would like to add that when we asked when I asked the department heads to put together their level one budget, I said, "We haven't had a level one conversation in years. What are things that you think
your department should have that you don't have right now. Um and we'll have that conversation." And then I cut a lot of it. I cut $1.6 million out of their requests before we went to level two. So, just so that we can maintain a 3.75
budget. There's a lot of things that we're not doing. Um we can put that information out to folks what that list is, but there's a lot of things that we're not doing and it makes budgets tight and it means we have to make choices about what we can uh what we can do and, you know, how how far we can go
with certain things and if we are cutting um our staff down the road, it's going to impact every service. It's going to impact snow clearing. It's going to impact, you know, response times. It's it's going to be every We're going to do our best to to
preserve our high level of quality of services, but if I'm if we're cutting, you know, 74 people or so between the town and schools or the equivalent, that number, that equivalent, um that's significant. And I do want to take a moment to just thank the school department. Um we met with them last
week and we've met with them previously. Um I want to acknowledge that um Philip Littlehale, their business director, is here um with us tonight and um we have met with them to to continue this work and to work together to show that we are one community and our schools matter to
our to all our residents, our elder and human services matter to all our residents, our public safety matters to all our residents. We are one community going forward together to make this decision. >> Cara. Um question. Um
in either case, if we go forward with a single number or uh an either/or tiered approach, both of those solutions could be a multi-year implementation. Is Is that a correct assumption? >> I believe it is. I believe it is. I can confirm that for
you. >> Okay, cuz I've been having a lot of conversations with residents and on the typical the typical house in Reading, which is 960, let's just round it to a million, a lot of people are seeing a 10% hit this year. And I confirmed with our CFO, who's
online, that we we are we are seeing payments. We had no debt last year. >> Correct. >> We are seeing payments on Rec and Killam plus the regular inflationary 2 and 1/2% that it goes up anyway. So I don't I'm not sure if the community all
understands where that came from and we talked about whether when we were going to start paying off the debt. So Sharon can, you know, talk to us later tonight, but clarify it. So great news, we borrowed the debt January, we're making payments. I mean, so we paid off, but it it's painful. So, so, you know, in
hindsight, people's tax bills, average home, didn't change much the last year because it was only going up by that like 2 and 1/2%. We weren't paying debt, and that kind of absorbed it. So, a lot of people, including myself, might have seen your tax bill and your assessment not change that much in the last 18
months. That was awesome. Well, this year it changed 10%. What um what I think in terms of being transparent and showing leadership we need to think about for our community members is that the next couple of years, no matter what we do, we're going
to be tough in terms of increases in our tax bills. And what I think I'm seeing, based on a a quick conversation with Sharon, is that let's just assume we do an override for a 6 and 1/2 $850 per average household. I don't know if 6 and 1/2
might be a little less, but >> Yeah, it's like $750. >> year, we're looking at if we do the override, it takes effect pretty quickly, yeah? So, if we do the override in November >> were to do the override in November, Sharon, you correct me if I'm wrong, I think it would
I don't know if it would hit in July or the following tax bill. >> It would hit in July in the preliminary bills. >> Okay. So, I'm I'm perfect if this is the way it has to be, and we tell people, "Guess what? You're going to see another 10% hit in July. Maybe it's a little less cuz now your bill's higher, but
it's another big hit in July." And this is what's going to be scaring people. And then then Sharon um explains to all of us, "So, we're about halfway through our borrowing, yay. Um but we she has to do another borrowing. Those buildings are both going to be
opening September, well, fall of 2027. So, she has to borrow between now and then, and it sounds like, since you had to get permission from the Department of Revenue to pull the payment back, Sounds like the opposite could be true. We might have a little flexibility to delay
starting the payments on the next tranche to maybe 2027. But to make a long story short, even if we do that, we got another 10% or maybe a little less hit coming cuz it's roughly an equivalent borrowing. We're still going to have the 2.5% Hopefully,
that's it. That our levy goes up anyway. Um And then, so that's that's like very simple math. That's 3 years of 10% hit, which is tough. If you bring into a fact that we pass an override that you can implement over
multiple years, I'm not I don't know operationally what it does to you guys. It could It could stretch it out into 4 years and make it a little more palatable. I don't know if it could go to five, but that's what I'm looking at. I'm looking at like little to no change last year,
10% this year, 10% for the next 2 years, assuming we pass the override. And And you're going to explain to us if we don't pass the override, we're seeing lots and lots of cuts. >> Yeah. >> Or the other thing we're not We're choosing not to do by talking about this override is we still have free cash to pay our
bills. We could write another check. But then we'll be below the red line. We'll be below the red line and we will get whacked. >> Well, I mean, you're right. It we will be below the red line, but it it won't be just like just below the red line. It'll be It'll be a little bit more than what we have.
It'll than we're using. So, I mean, yeah, Sharon, I don't know if you want to speak to it, but it's like you're thinking at the end of FY 2027, we're going to have maybe $7 million in free cash. So, it would be hard to >> I guess it that depends on how much free
cash FinCom allows us to use, you know, for fiscal 2028. >> changes, if policies don't change, then yeah, then yeah. >> We Yeah. >> And so, that then likely So, we're going to be very low. We have $2 million in the stabilization fund, and we're going to have little to no
free cash left, maybe $6 million in total. So, it's pretty dire. So, we have to communicate that to the residents as well. It's pretty dire. >> that's correct. >> And if nothing changes. >> So, um I love the way that you kind of laid out what's going to be coming on the horizon in the next few years. And
so, we do have a tax calculator that's active on our website that speaks to the debt exclusion. Once we have a number, and once we know sort of the direction that the board wants to go, we'll update the tax calculator, and people can look at that, and they can
see what it will look like. And um you know, we if we want to do a multi-year option, we can show what that looks like. I mean, considering that we're borrowing these debt exclusions, um you know, I think that uh a multi-year
approach, and I know that um Sharon has been an advocate. She's talked about this a number of times over, I think, the last year I've heard her talk about it. Um that that softens the blow. I mean, it's like it would
effectively be like an extra car payment for many households um for the for the increase uh in their taxes. It would feel something like that. Um actually, probably lower than that, because I mean, the average car payment is $1,000 in this world today, which is wild to
me. Um so, yeah, I mean, we would be able to model it on our website, and people would be able to look at that, and and see, you know, can they can they stomach this? Can they not? >> What is affordable? >> you know, tonight everyone's hearing
that if we don't we don't do an override, we're looking at 74 positions. I can't even imagine what that is going to look like. So, I mean, that's the other thing that the residents. That will make it real for the residents, I think. >> It's a significant number. Police officers,
town hall staff, firefighters. 74 is a big number. DPW >> It is It is >> We got we've outsourced trash collection. >> Correct. Um but it is it's not something that's affordable. And we'll look at all the expense side cuts that we can make to preserve service levels and staffing.
Um we can reduce you know, small things like brush pick up, leaf pick up in the fall, go down to 3 weeks instead of we added four we added a week with the new contract. We could drop that down. We can do lots of things and we have, you know, reduced
how much we pay for rodent mitigation. And this year is not a good year to do that. We're we're funding that as as well as we can um and more than we have in previous years. But um we can we can reduce that. So we're reducing everywhere we can. But because we have been
such small margins for years, we haven't increased those numbers. There's just not a lot on the expense side that we can cut. When you interviewed me for this position, I told you that government is people. And that's what's going to take to balance the budget if we don't pass an
override. Candidly. So. >> So when you say you're going to propose 6 and 1/2% >> million million 6.5 million >> million, sorry. Um That that's not buying us a lot of time.
And so my concern is you know, if I think the sweet spot is 10 million or 10.5 and I want to try and get there from a 3-year approach. Let's say that's that's what I'm aiming for. Even if you start at the 6 and 1/2 is the first year and two the next year and
two the next year, what does the 6 and 1/2 million look like for the first year and what are we losing and how do we and then the two the next year, what comes back into the equation and how long will that last us into the future? >> Sure. We can model that for you. Um
what we're looking at right now is if we did 6 and 1/2 million, then we would um be leaving positions unfilled. Um there would be some restructuring that is done um to maintain that level.
Um and that would provide perhaps some operational efficiencies, but then we could restore positions later on or we could, you know, look at some of the the things that were cut out of that 1.6 million in the level. So, one of the things the fire department asked for were four additional firefighters.
You know, we could consider doing that in a later iteration. >> or third year. >> Yeah, potentially. But what we know is that that gap will increase. We also have assumptions that were we're looking at, right? We were assuming that health insurance will increase 10% per year. We we hold that number aside. We are very
hopeful that with the changes that we've made to our health insurance agreement, that it's not going to be a 10%. And so, we'll see some of that. By the time, and I think this is really kind of a great note on the horizon, and it speaks to fiscal discipline that has been you know, in utilized in previous years, is
that by FY 32, we will have paid off our pension liability. And that's millions of dollars that can go back into our operating budget, but also go toward our OPEB liability, which we're funding at about half a million dollars. So, you know, that's big. So, by the time we get
to FY 32, it frees up some money. So, if we get there, it makes things a little bit easier. You can talk about growth. You can talk about programs that the town we want to take on at that point. But this budget I'm proposing is not about new programs and new growth. It
will fund the new buildings that we're building. Um but if we don't pass the override, I'm not hiring as many people as would be the the recommended level to to, you know, properly care for those buildings. So, we're not going to be able to do that, but we'll be able to keep the
buildings open. >> So, I feel like a strategy for this is we tend to think of it year by year and how many positions are we going to lose, but if you think about it like a 10-year plan, when in the best of worlds, you know, Eastern Gateways you know, much closer
to to doing something in 10 years from now or whatever it is that will kind of change the environmental coffers of Reading. Do you know what I mean? So, if we look at it in a much not like the water where we look at 10 years out, but we really have to look at things kind of
>> that far out because things could change in our favor 10 years from now. >> Well, you're absolutely right and this is work that we're doing. So, you're right. Eastern Gateway becomes the economic engine. Um the MassDOT has put Walkers Brook on the tip. We know for sure. We know for sure that once the
project is put on the tip and completed, you see greater economic investment on that corridor. Um we have exciting new things happening in our downtown with development and um we have opportunities there as well uh for for
build-outs and development there. So, yes, economic development is important, but Reading has limited land that's available and so, you know, we will not be able to stave off overrides >> Right. >> in you know, forever because we can
build out sections of our town. So, we we know we we can't do that. Some communities have been able to do that, um but we won't be able to do that because we're built out. >> Right. >> Can I just add one piece of this too that we need to consider is that we also have CPA on the ballot for November.
>> Mhm. >> So, I do think that that needs to be added to our online calculator so people understand what the full ramifications if all are voted yes on or, you know, a portion are because I think, you know, whether this passes or not, our
responsibility to the residents is to make sure they have all the information. I think you said this, but I want to confirm. When they do the calculator online with whatever number we come up with, we add CPA in there. >> Mhm.
>> And will the um second piece of the borrowing be in there and when that time frame will be so people really understand what their tax bills will look like in a year and a half to two years? >> Um we can try to model that. I would
defer to Sharon. >> Okay. >> Um about because my understanding is she's going to ban additional borrowings and then do that final borrowing after the projects are finished so that we're not borrowing excess funds. >> Yeah, >> absolutely, which is fantastic that
she's doing that. I'm just afraid that there could be residents out there that think that money already got fully borrowed. >> Mhm. >> And then they're going to get a shock when, you know, addi- that additional >> The second piece. >> second piece comes onto the bill. So, I
think we just need to be very transparent on what those bills will look like with everything there. >> I agree with you. >> Okay. >> I agree with you. Um Sharon, I didn't >> There we go. >> Go ahead. >> So, just so so we're clear, um those
that first tranche of debt that's hitting in fiscal 27 was $50 million for Killam and $20 million for um the recap, which is more than half um and was supposed to get us through June of 2027 and without needing to borrow.
However, both both projects are coming in well below budget. So, that cash that we borrow will probably last longer than anticipated and probably prolong our need to borrow. So, if there is a need for a borrowing, my plan is to borrow by short-term borrowing, which would not
require a bond rating. It's a quicker process and we would just um pay interest um in that year and I we could definitely show the impact of that. Problem is that I don't have any updated cash flows yet for Killam. Like we just brought on the general contractor. So, um I need to get a get a feel for how
the change in pricing is going to impact that affect that cash flow. I would guess our cash flow is going to last longer what we did borrow um because because the overall project is lower. Um and the same probably is true for recall. So, getting updated cash flows will definitely help me get a more
accurate figure. Um but the longer we can go without borrowing where we borrowed more than half knowing that the override was coming. I'm hoping we won't have to borrow anything or have a debt payment hitting in the same year as the override hitting. So, I'm hoping that the second tranche of debt will not hit
until 29. If we you know, I just have to confirm with those cash flows. How long will the cash we bought uh borrowed last? Um cuz we borrowed more than half of what our portion would have been about 130 million for um for Killam. Killam, I think our our our
end of it our our share was supposed to be at 86 million. So, we don't have if we if it was 130 million, we were supposed to borrow another 35 million or 36 million. But the project's coming in much lower than that based on what we saw from the general contractor. So far, it looks
like we're we're not going to need as much. So, I do think that that's going to work in our favor, but I can't say for sure without updated cash flows which I've requested and hopefully I'll get soon so I can give you some better timing if you know, cuz what I'm using is older data which was fully loaded at
the 130 million for Killam and 29.7 for recall. I'd like to see some cash flows from um the contractors that kind of show me the timeline updated for the new costs. So, but I don't think we're we're going to do everything in our power to minimize what hits in the same year as this
override. >> Okay. So, that's FY 29 which is calendar 28. >> It starts in 28. That's right. >> Okay, cuz I know okay. That's cuz that's what I was thinking. >> Yeah. >> So, the later we get into fiscal 28 >> Yeah, the if we had to do that second
tranche of debt towards the end of fiscal 28, you wouldn't see any payment in 28 related to that second tranche of debt because, you know, we pay two interest payments, one every 6 months, and one principal payment. So, depending on when we have to borrow,
it will dictate if we'll even have an interest payment on that ban if I need to ban. So, um I I definitely think that it it's very possible for us to structure this so that fiscal 29 is when the second tranche will hit, and it will be more accurate reflection of the total
cost cuz we as you get closer to the end, you avoid over-borrowing. Um so, we're able to, you know, surmise what the project will actually cost with all change orders and all the things that are going on. So, we'll have less of that issue where we
have leftover money. We might still have leftover money, but it'll be a smaller amount, so. >> Yeah, and I think that's all really good news, obviously, to hear that the both of these projects are under budget. I just think that and and and this is
really hard after you just explained what you did, but we really just need to be very transparent that there's still more to come for those projects. Yeah, great, it may be under budget. So, I don't really know how you estimate what that might look like, but
I just think that we need to be very transparent that that full borrowing wasn't done. There will be more in your bill for it. It may be spread out longer, which is fantastic, but >> Well, it's not nearly I mean, Recal was total budgeted at, you know, 28 million,
and Killam was the full project is 130 million. However, our portion of it was 86 million, and it's now looking like it might be closer to like 65, something like that. We've already borrowed 50. So, the the second tranche
will be significantly smaller. It's coming. >> For both. >> Yeah. >> For both. >> For both. >> Even if retail was 27.9, we'd only have 7.9 more to borrow, but I don't think it's going to come in that high. So, the second tranche is significantly lower than the first. >> Yeah. Which is Which is fantastic.
>> And trans- being transparent and communicating that's really important. And so, we will we will work to do that. We do have a a schedule we've gone over previously at a financial forum of what outreach will look like and that'll be multiple um
multiple public forums, online only forums where people can ask all kinds of questions, daytime, nighttime, I'll go to people's houses and answer questions. You know, maybe not a lot of houses, I don't know. But no, I'll I'll go anywhere and talk to anybody. So,
we'll we'll we'll do that outreach. We also have a video that will help explain the rationale. Again, it's complicated now as I'm explaining to you how municipal finance is complicated. Um but as we distill it out for the
residents, we will do our very best to simplify it so people get the information they need, but if they want more information, it'll be there for them. >> Fantastic. >> And um yeah, regarding the CPA at that the timing couldn't be more unfortunate.
We have worked so hard on this. It would be so good for our financial stability and our capital investment going forward. But again, getting back to the keeping it simple for the community to try to if we figure like
we need to get them to pass an override. Could we could we put off the CPA till the spring? Could we just because also time is money. Um time and time and staff time. >> [laughter] >> Earlier, things are free, you're right, but but things really aren't free. Like
I don't want to do a failed override. That is that is so much of your time and we're not working on other things when we're working on a adventure that isn't going to be successful. Anyway, so I also I'm very worried about CPA and I firmly believe in it. But what
why why put all that hard work to waste? >> I believe town meeting voted to put that on the ballot, so >> [laughter] >> Um so no judgement. I have no I have no horse in this race. So but I do believe town
meeting put that forward. So I would I would defer to our town clerk about what a process might be. >> It has to go on the ballot. They voted for it so it has to go on November. >> Um >> Just one other thing Melissa. Yeah, I forgot not to be lost in all this is pickleball
also came in way under as well. That's correct. I've seen a lot of comments about that and [clears throat] it's significantly under as well as donations offset a lot of that. >> That's correct. I think we had Uh
Sharon you can remind me was it was it 425,000 dollars or was it We had 225,000 dollars in donations. The donations for pickleball and then we had [clears throat] other resources. >> 200,000 came over from we took it from
Verb Bank. I issued a debt fund prior to us closing it out. So so 425 was just money that we you know had. Was it part of the operating budget? >> Right and then we also had we dedicated 100,000 from the capital and we
we got a park grant for 100,000. So 425 525 625,000 dollars of pickleball is not borrowed. >> That's great. >> So, it's significant. It's I mean >> That is all good news. >> We've brought a lot of projects forward,
but through fantastic work from our OPMs and our architects and our con- you know, our contractors um and the volunteer committees who meet It's mostly the same people who meet twice a month on these projects. We have followed a process that has delivered us
in a time of great uncertainty huge savings on our on our estimates, and that is that's no small feat. >> So, so to feed into what Chris says, if we wait until April, we could have better numbers and a better estimate of what we need for an
override. >> No, I would not concur with that statement. >> No. >> So, we would have we would have probably the same numbers. >> Mhm. >> Um we would have more runway. >> That's what I'm talking about. >> Oh, if we would we know more by April?
How much is left to borrow on this Surprise, is that your question? Okay, I apologize. That That makes sense. Um I'm not sure that's true because we'll be using cash flows that were develop- We're asking to have those cash flows now. So, Sharon, that number may be more refined as to what additional tranche you'll
have to do for borrowing um for these projects. >> clear right away because I think we'll get we'll get an updated cash flow at every month we'll probably get updated cash flows based on changes and delays that are happening in construction. So, it that's a ever-moving target once it
gets moving um and so, that first cash flow is going to tell me a lot about when I might need to borrow the second, but if there's any delays in the project or we incur anything that's just unusual, um it that could delay when they need to you know, the second tranche to
commence. So, I don't think we'd be any different of a spot in April. That's just not far enough away for me to know. Um I I just think that the the Tranche piece we can definitely give estimates of how much that exposure is related to um, that that second Tranche and give
estimates in terms of when we think it would come on, but I do not think it'll be fiscal 28. I would do everything in my power to avoid something coming in in the same year as override. Um, that was the whole point of doing more than half was to try and make the cash last longer
cuz we were going to borrow less up front. But when we looked at those cash flows and we knew that we were going to need to look for the override in fiscal 28, we went with a higher number. And there are a lot of limitations when you're borrowing. You have to be able to spend by a spending timeline. So you
have to have spent 10% of this money by, you know, 6 months in, you know, so you have like all these spending thresholds that you have to meet. So we could not have borrowed any the whole amount up front. It would have been hard to meet the thresholds in the beginning of the project. Once construction starts, you
start spending money much faster. So, um, I would just say that I think we've been pretty transparent. We can continue to be transparent with the residents about that there is another Tranche coming, a much smaller Tranche, and an estimate of time and how much it would cost the average taxpayer. The Tranche
that is out there right now, we calculated at um, $568 for the average home. So I'm not sure if the reason people saw 10% is the combination of the appreciation of their home value on top of a debt exclusion being added because it does feel like
appreciation of property value in Reading is very quick. I mean, the last time we looked at it it was 890, now it's near like 960 and it's like, "Wow." That was what, a year, a year and a half ago that we had 890 as the average value and now it's not almost 950. So, there's a lot of things at play. There's
appreciation in the assessed value of your house um, that can actually increase your tax rate, especially if your house is appreciating at a faster level than others. So, there's a lot of things at play. I was surprised to hear the 10% but I did know that the first tranche of
debt was going to be in the preliminary bills. >> Okay. Does anyone have any further questions or comments? We'll delve into all this tomorrow night as well. >> Okay. >> Um one other thing I just wanted to mention briefly because we did have it
on the agenda and the town clerk is here to speak to it was um we did receive a request to do a better job of notifying the public when we have elections. And um any election. So, this would apply to all elections and Wakefield was um listed as an example. And so, one of the
things that Wakefield does is they post um like metal signs on you know, like stop signs or you know, town signs. They're not stop signs but on town signs. Do we have a picture? Thank you. Thank you very much. There you go. Town meeting or town they have also town election and there's a magnet that
changes the date. So, it's reusable. Um >> Madam Clerk, would you care to elaborate, please? We had a nice conversation about this I don't know a couple weeks ago. >> I did. >> Okay, we got to fix this so that short people can talk into it. Um
so, it's been mentioned several times about the advertising more for elections and one of the things that myself and the staff worked very hard to is to keep elections very fair and um
commutative to the to the uh voters. So, when um I went through uh Wakefield and I saw this sign and this is a perfect way to not spend a whole lot of money and to not have consistently spending money. Um what Wakefield did is they
ordered a bunch of these signs, they ordered the magnets with the dates. So, I DPW puts them up on the signs. I've um spoke to Chris Cole and asked him to get a quote on how much they could cost. The magnets I'll I'll do a quote um get do
some research on cost. And I'm also going to work with the police department to determine what the best intersections are to put these as far as the most volume for the intersections. Any questions? Any questions?
>> Okay. How many signs you're looking for? >> Well, that's something that I'll determine with the police department. I spoke to Chris Cole today and he said less than 20. >> Okay. >> Uh I'm I'm looking for major intersections, which is and I'll talk to
the town clerk in Wakefield to see what how many they put out. Wakefield's a little bit smaller than we are area-wise, I believe. Um but I'll talk to them and see how many they use as well. >> Is this a >> I'm thinking about 20. >> Okay. >> And they do it for both, as you can see,
town meeting and elections. We would just do it for elections as we have representative town meeting. >> Karen. >> Um yeah, I was just going to share. So, I've been asking residents if they know there's a primary coming up September and a lot of them don't, but then they say, "But I'm getting the mail-in
ballot, so I'll know about it." And they're relying on it. It's interesting how their behavior's now. I don't have to worry about it when the ballot shows up, I know there's an election. >> Which it Vote by mail has increased voting turnout and it every year, as we do in every election, the increases is going
up for every election because of vote by mail. So, putting those vote by mail applications um in the with the senses is helping with the increase. It's helping the knowledge. Also, just so everybody's aware, um starting this week, the state has
sent out postcards to anybody that has not requested a vote by mail ballot for September. So, if um um if you haven't received that postcard already, that means that you will within the next few days or you've already requested a vote by mail
ballot for September. >> Thank you. I love this. I think it's great. >> I've been wanting to do this for a while and um just >> I think this will be more effective than the you know, the DPW can put out the flashing signs sometimes. They'll
sometimes put outside of town hall, which is great, but you know, not they don't have so many of those. You can't put them everywhere. >> Well, when you think about it, drivers are looking at street signs. >> Right. >> They're not necessarily looking at the flashing signs or the sign that's out in the common, but they are looking at
street signs. Any suggestions on um intersections? I'd be happy to to listen. If you want to send me an email about so we can get an idea of the number, but I will talk to the police department um next week at least at the latest.
>> I think it's a great idea. Yeah. Does anyone else have any other feedback? >> No, I I know a great stop sign that lots of people look at. >> You do know I'm sorry. You said you do. >> Which one would that be, Cara? Which one do you think it is? >> I I honestly have no idea.
>> outside my door. >> [laughter] >> One that everybody runs the stop sign. >> Oh, see, I didn't know that. >> Well, maybe this will get get their attention and they'll start stopping at that stop sign. >> Probably not. >> We can have wishful [snorts] thinking. >> Yeah.
So, maybe Wakefield can give you an analysis somehow of where they put the signs and realize they weren't effective and why and if whether they moved them around. Do you know what I mean? >> Uh yeah, I'll reach out to the clerk and get some input. >> How long have they had it in their town? >> Well, um
I don't know the answer to that, but I will tell you that I've noticed them ever since I've lived here, so >> Oh, okay. >> 17 years at least. >> Okay. >> It's a pretty [clears throat] pretty easy easy solution. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I know. I think it's fantastic. Anything that increases awareness of
elections. >> Well, thank you very much. >> um as soon as I get the information on costs, I'll share that with Jane and she can share that with you. >> Yeah. >> That'd be great. >> Fantastic. >> Thank you very much. >> Thanks. Appreciate it. >> Thanks. >> All right, I think we can move on to
select board liaison reports. Does anyone want to volunteer to go first? >> So, um so, I went to the permanent building board uh committee, sorry. Um they just talked about milestones for
the center of um the center for active living, sorry. Um they had Well, they had um potential credits um for the rooftop and mechanical access. Um
they had approved payments for J&J vendors and What else was it? J&J and BH&A for $1.3 million for J&J, $33,000 for BH&A.
Um they were talking about uh bidding out two two um uh windows, I guess, two window options to uh cuz they were going to divide a room into two different rooms. Um
and they were talking about timelines, too. So, the steel erection was supposed to be done 4 to 5 days after that meeting. And I think they might be a little bit behind cuz I was driving by there today and it just looks like they're still putting up steel.
Um and the elevator The is all built. >> Good. >> Um that's all I really had. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Does anyone want to go next? >> Sure. >> Karen will. >> Um I had office hours at Tanerville on
the 25th of June. Great attendance. They have a lot to say. Um really good ideas in their community. Um one thing I wanted to try and do at the beginning of my um after I was elected was trying to tie residents together and they're really interested in becoming more of a part of the town. They supposed to feel
like they're in a little world over there and this year they had PorchFest for the first time. So it was great. I went to PorchFest. I saw Karen there a little bit. Um which was really great for them. They had a really good time. Um we had our finance committee select board meeting on the 25th.
The 27th I went to PorchFest. Fabulous day. Fabulous weather. It was great. 110 acts or something. It was wonderful. Um 29th had a town forest committee meeting in the town forest. We did a walk-through of the areas that we had
recently planted over Arbor Day weekend and lots of successful plantings, which is always a good thing. They said that usually you have about 10% but it I think there's going to be more. So it was really good. Talked about the vacancies, um the upcoming forest management plan that
they're working on, funding, um invasive plant removal plans that are um going on. And they talked about the bird walks that have been going on that have been incredibly successful. Thank you to Dave Williams for doing them. Um Some of the events have 90 people attending. So there's a lot of people
interested in birds in Reading. Um On the July 1st I was at the library reading at the Frederick Douglass Together program. It was really wonderful. There was a bunch of us that all had a couple of paragraphs to read as part of his speech and it was really
learned a lot about his life and how he got to where he was. Um I went to the climate advisory committee board on the second. Um during the vast interviews, it came to our attention that their their committee is shrinking in size. They've
had some a couple people step away, so I'm trying to support them um to try and get their name out there. Um they're thinking of rebranding their name to kind of help residents better understand their goal and their purpose, so there'll be more on that later. Um and then
a historical commission meeting on the 8th. They always have a very full packed meeting. It was probably as long as one of our meetings, if I can say that. Um yeah, and um talked a lot about the updates on 32 Lowell Street. They talked briefly about the electronic signage
that they talked Jane about in the town common. Um and then I attended the CPDC meeting yesterday. Uh Eastern Gateway made a update um presentation to them to give them an idea of the zoning and discussing their recent a butter's
meeting. So, that's that. >> Thank you, Karen. Chris, Karen, anyone want to go next? >> Yeah, can I ask is So, is anything going on with the disabilities commission just because there could be grants they could be applying for? >> They um I don't know when the next
meeting is. They've had a couple of meetings and they have formed their group. Um I don't know when the next one is, but they've been having some really good meetings. I don't know if there was a scheduling conflict this with vacations this summer, but um they are meeting.
>> Chris, you can go if you want. >> I know. Yeah, just brief. Um I'm going on vacation tomorrow. Uh so, >> [snorts] >> um Uh Dr. Henry Turner had his first school committee meeting. You're just going to say that, Melissa?
Well, sorry. >> [laughter] >> You know, it is what it is. Um so, congratulations to him being officially on board. There is nothing really going on in Reading right now, so I'm sure he's got lots of free time. Um
and then I met earlier today with Jane on something uh but a potential app for the town and whatnot, so that'll get discussed and brought up before the full board uh at a future meeting. Um lots of good things with that at no cost to us.
>> going to ask. >> No cost to us, which is the big >> But staff time cost, there's a cost. >> Uh but still no cost to us, which is great. Um and I think that's it. I did attend lots of meetings, but you
know, I don't want to say it's late, but it's late. Thank you. >> Yep. Uh so yeah, [clears throat] I attended the Redding Historical Commission cuz I hadn't seen them in a while and um yeah, 3-hour meeting. That was um that was impressive and um
what was really nice uh our my takeaway was that these folks next door at the church, um as Cam mentioned, were there and they've been really struggling with this building. And it is on the market for a lot more money that Pleasant Street than Pleasant uh
Pleasant Street Center was assessed for, so I would never go with that assessment or appraisal. But um they they have an accepted offer, but they really want to stay in that building, but they have some serious maintenance issues, um roof issues in
particular and um but one of the things that um is important for you to know is that, you know, they started a conversation with the Redding Historical Commission. They really want to keep that building and one of their ideas would be
um and they don't really want to sell it, so could they come up with a um a place to live in that building? And so they were really going to the commission to ask where do they start and I think we pretty much directed them to Andrew, but you know, that's kind of neat that would
be It's not like we don't have multi-use buildings in our downtown. So, this church, which is kind of weird cuz it's a church and it's zoned residential 15. You know, so that we left it there. But, they are the nicest people. This is not an easy building. And And it's such an
important part of our center. I was really impressed. And And sometimes people come in before these boards and committees that have to enforce the laws are not really like They're not really happy to be there. So, these people were so so nice. So, thank you for that.
She runs It's two nonprofits in that building. So, then, you know, mentally actually then the commission started thinking about They also touched briefly upon the Pleasant Street Center because again, that's Then those two buildings start seeing similar because she's like got her historical building with two nonprofits
with deed similar style deed restrictions as that. So, it's good. So, the commission is like, you know, all about like what what do we have to do to get Mass Historical to support what we're trying to do? And in general, if the local historical commission wants to
do something that says we support this, then they are generally inclined to agree. And I think it's just a good um it could be a good practice run for moving forward with Pleasant Street Center. So, I wanted to let you know about that. And then um okay, yeah. So, PorchFest was past was fantastic. Big
crowds at Tanager Village. I'm so happy for them. And And the gardens are amazing over there. I took pictures of gardens. So, they have local gardeners. That's such a such a nice model for senior housing. I love it. And um I also went to the uh Unitarian Church.
They had a big um rock band going, local residents and Summer Avenue residents. Had so much fun. The weather was good. So, thank you for the PorchFest committee. Appreciate that. Um so, yep. I attended a Permanent Building Committee meeting with Sal. And
um I also I didn't have office hours this month, but this month what I was able to attend a community luncheon at the Pleasant Street Center and and sit with some residents and and and we talked about the tax bills. I'm like, "Hey, you get your tax bill yet?" And we talked
about it. And it's you know, so starting wanting to have the right information cuz we're starting to have conversations. It went up where, you know, what what what's up with this override? When's that happening? You know, things like that. So, very much appreciate having this conversation tonight. And then let's see. Um one
thing that came across my transom is that the mass the Massachusetts was giving out some pretty hefty trails grants. Like I'm just going to round to I saw three of them in the $30,000 range. And I was like, "That is serious money." They went to like Newbury
Newburyport, maybe another couple towns up there that were sort of close together. And then conservation had applied for one. They didn't get it for this year, but I was like, you know, that's I wanted to make sure they knew about this and I saw it on their agenda. And you know, they can just go back again with the parks grant. I I know um
the recreation department applied year one and they didn't get it, but they applied again a couple years later and made them feel guilty and they got it. So, you know, so I just wanted to encourage that because and I was happy to see those giant trails grants because what are they trying to do? What are we what are we giving them a couple
thousand dollars? If they could get, you know, $30,000 or $50,000, that would really really help keep our boardwalks through the wetlands in good shape. Um Council on Aging is not having a July meeting, so I don't have to do that. Um and that's it. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> It's been quiet for me as well. I could um attended the FinCom meeting back in early July or actually I didn't take that back, late June. Um and then select uh school committee meeting was July 9th, our China's first
meeting. They also did talk about um the override a little bit. Um you know, the consensus of their board was just stressing the importance of, you know, providing detailed information to the public, what the potential impacts will look like, very similar to what we've all said here. So,
that's all I have as well. So, we will move on to future agendas. Um, on future agendas, one of our meetings coming up, we are going to do our select board goals. So, I'm going to ask everyone here to send their select
board goals to Maddie to put on um for a future agenda. I think did we have it on for August? We do. Yeah. So, if you could send them to Maddie um within the next week or so, so she can make sure she has
that for the packet, that would be fantastic. >> What are the goals related to? >> Our select board goals and they could probably I think that we had a discussion about like kind of mimicking them a little bit off of the some of the town manager goals that we gave her and then if you have any others, you know,
please share um them with Maddie and then we can talk about them at the August meeting. >> Personal one? >> Team select board. Yeah, the whole group, I think. And then, you know, if we piggyback off the town manager
goals, you know, stuff like that. And then, if anyone has any um future agendas that they want to make sure we have, please Jeff. Yep. >> Uh,
Karen mentioned the Pleasant Street Center and I don't see that on there. So, just maybe an update on that. I know you did the road show, Jane, and but where we stand. >> Yes, that's excellent. >> We do need to talk about that. Um, I'm not sure best time to talk about but
yeah, we do. Um, and then we need to have another conversation about Matera Cabin. >> Yeah. >> Um because great news, Northeast MetroTech is very interested in taking that work on. Yeah, it's big news. We
can we'll talk more with them in September when they're back in school and we have people to talk to, but it's fantastic. Um their superintendent uh DeBerry was fantastic. They were really enthusiastic, so I'm grateful for them. Um and we will still have to work on what that budget for materials would
look like and how we would fund it. >> Yeah. >> And then we need to bring that forward for the um perhaps the fall so that they could get that work done in the spring. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Maddy, can you just scroll up so we can see what that August 4th meeting looks like? Public comment. Okay. Do you uh
is it possible to add the Pleasant Street Center to the August 4th meeting? Do you think that's you have that or should we wait till September? >> I have to bring September because I have to bring what we have to the permanent building committee and it wasn't ready
for their last meeting. The beginning of July, so I need to bring it to them for the beginning of August. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> Does anyone else have anything that they would like to see as a future agenda item? Okay.
We all make sure those two are on there. Um do we have a motion? >> Motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> Seconded by Sale and we are adjourned. >> Uh vote. >> Oh, yeah. Sorry. I thought >> skipped the vote.
>> Oh, you're right. All right. Um any no discussion. All those in favor? 5-0. Good night. [laughter] >> It's 9:30. >> I know.