All right, I will call the Tuesday, September 9th select board meeting to order. It's being recorded tonight uh on RCTV and Zoom. And then the first item on the agenda is 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, indivisibley for all. All right, I will briefly Sorry, I think you're still muted.
Oh, muted. Okay, thanks Matt. Uh once again, we're being recorded on RCTV and Zoom. I was with Pledge of Allegiance. Uh overview of the meeting. 7:05 public comment for
any items uh not on the um agenda. Uh 7:15 time report. 720 community spotlight. 7:25 we'll discuss and vote on 413 Main Street. Uh McDonald's uh early opening.
7:40 an update from the writing food pantry. 810 discuss potential override budget review uh vote on the fire department permit fees from last meeting. 8:25 public information session one on the charter changes uh next
meeting the 16th will be another opportunity for that as well. 9:10 preview subsequent town meeting warrant which will be voted at the next meeting. 9:30 select board and leas reports. 9:35 future agendas and 9:40 discuss and vote
uh to approve meeting minutes from August 26th. Uh so with that uh anyone for public comment? Uh Angela, let's see how this goes. We doing the tire. Yes. Two minutes. Sorry. Two minutes of
name and address. Okay. And um last week a few people spoke for over three minutes. So if I'm running a few seconds long, I do hope that I'm afforded the same uh privilege that they You never cut anyone off, Andrew.
Thank you. Other than yes. So um Angela Binda Fiv five time meeting member. Um at the last select board meeting, the select board designate to uh the
Burbank Ice Arena spoke during that time um in discussion on Burbank and um there were a few uh misstatements that were made by the select board designate that I think need to be corrected. Uh, Miss
Heric did state something in the beginning, but I think that it needs to be repeated because there something that has been I've heard um repeated over the years um by select board members and other
people. Uh the money that the Burbank gives to the town is a payment in lie of taxes. It is a rent payment.
It is not a donation. At town the last town meeting uh during an instructional motion it was stated donation. It has been stated donation several times. It is not a donation. It is a rent payment
in lie of taxes. And I know this because I voted on that in 2011 and I and I've gone back and read the warrant report. So I do think that that needs to be stated that it is a a rent payment. And
I think that this is important because there's also this idea that Burbank gets to decide how the money gets spent. I've heard a select board member state at a FinCom meeting a year and a half ago that it's not our money to decide how
it's spent, it's Burbank's money. And the truth is it absolutely is the town's money and how to spend it. Um the select board designate also stated at the last meeting. Okay. Um
um okay that threw me off for a second. Sorry. Um the select board designate also stated about um he stated at meetings how he wishes this
money to be spent in public and in private conversations. I have paid many rent payments in my day. I have never told the people I am paying that money to how I think that
they should best spend it. I think that it is incredibly inappropriate for a board member from the Burbank ICE Arena to be suggesting to town officials officially and on the record and off the
record how that money gets spent. And lastly, that money was spent a few hundred a few hundred thousand dollars spent on pickle ball. If that money is to be spent this year or next year, I think it would be great that that money goes to the arts or maybe the town
decides that it needs to go to paving roads. I think that there are a lot of um ways that that money could be spent. It was never lost money. We knew where it was. another misstatement by the uh select board designate that the money
was lost and then it was found. It was never lost. We knew where it was. We knew that. Um, so I think that um I hope that the select board has a conversation with their design and um the designate
understands the relationship between the town and the and the uh ice arena and um at the CPDC last night somebody said um it's town it's Burbank's land and uh the assistant town manager
corrected them and said no It's actually townland. So, there's a lot of misperceptions about what the relationship is. I hope those are corrected. Thank you. Thanks. Anybody else in the room? Anyone online? Jackie,
I don't see any hands on the line. Thank you much. All right, we will move on then to town manager report. Matt, take care. Okay, thank you very much. So, first off, I'd like to thank the Reading Rotary Club again for running a
successful fall street fair and to Post 1917 to be the being the premier sponsor. Um, and a big thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors that made to made it uh such a great success this year. So, I wanted to give them a big thank you. Um, even with the rain, it
was success. Um, have a quick update on the MBTA turnback track. Um right now there's a meeting going on with the director of butters, interested citizens around the area. Um that's a smaller meeting meant just for that group. Um
but there will be a larger meeting scheduled um with the general public public at large. Anybody could go. It's Monday, September 15th, 7 p.m. at the library. Um it will be in person and on Zoom. You can check the town website for further details on that. So, that's
again the meeting that we've been sort of waiting for for the general public to get an update on the turnback track. Um, the snow shoveling bylaw, I know we're going to be discussing that a little later tonight as we look to uh preview the warrant. Um, but in
preparation for town meeting, the bylaw committee who's sponsoring that bylaw is scheduled two public forums. Uh the first will be Zoom only and will take place on September 16th at 7:30. And the second is going to be a live one at the
library on September 24th at 7:30. And again, links to that information can be found on the town website. Uh so the finance committee, it's going to be busy times here. They've scheduled their financial forum uh to kick off our budget season. So that forum will take
place on October 8th at 700 p.m. at the library. All are welcome to that and that would also be on Zoom as well. Um, I'd want to mention that Chris and I had had a good meeting today with Dr. Hickey down at Austin Prep. We went down
to see the construction of the new parking lot, which is coming along quite well. They're making progress and doing their best to remedy some of the neighbors concerns that we heard at the last select board meeting during public comment. Um, we saw a water truck down there that has been watering down the
dirt so it doesn't get into people's yards. And they intend to do some more planting and screening, um, but not until the spring when it's the growing season. They can't get much to grow this time of year, but that is on the plan. And I checked with the police department as well, and as far as we know, the
restrictions in the surrounding area are working well. Um, and we hope that continues. is we're going to keep a close eye on it, the parking restrictions, but right now it hasn't been the issue that it was last year, which is great. Uh, probably people had already heard this, but I want to
mention two cheese and reading has unfortunately closed. Uh, they closed at the end of August and surrendered their liquor license. Um, I understand, however, there's a new restaurant in the works for that location and we should have some more information on that very soon.
And I just wanted to mention as we approach the 24th anniversary of 911 this week, um I'd like to take a moment to remember those we lost and those who were injured on that day. Um being part of local government, I'd also like to especially remember the the brave first
responders who responded that day and sacrificed and risked their own lives in the service of others. And I'd like to say you were not forgotten. And that's important. Thanks, Matt. Um, so yeah, just uh two quick follow-ups to
that. Um, so the MBTA meeting tonight is for the director of Butters only, correct? It was set up a meeting for the Butters. Um, they wanted to invite the I I know the police chief and fire chief were down there. The neighbors requested the police chief and fire chief be there
as well. Um, I wasn't there because we had this meeting here, but it was a And there's another public forum. Yes. For everybody. But we had we had said and I think Jane had said that many times. We had asked for this meeting for just for this group, you know, because they have specific concerns. We asked
the MBTA several times and they did finally scheduled the meeting. They, you know, we only found out about it a week or so ago. Um, but it's sort of a as preface to the larger meeting that's happening that I mentioned. So, so I guess if you could text Karen and find out what her status is because she
should be here at this meeting and not that one in my opinion. Uh it's it just seems I don't know inappropriate, but if you could find out what her ETA is over here. She didn't tell me, she only told you. Okay.
Um and then uh the meeting that Matt and I had with Dr. Hickey was um very eye opening. I've never been to Austin Prep before other than um to go to uh field hockey dropoffs over there. But um I got the impression after the first couple
minutes of meeting him, he's a Dr. Milichevsky kind of equivalent, which is a big compliment in my opinion. Um but I I could definitely tell that he he has a significant care and everything else that's going on over there. And the
school is definitely wellmaintained and we did see the water truck which was good. Um, and he did commit to uh there's no plantings on that yellow highlighted area from last time over there, but they're going to be putting them in uh next spring when they're able
to plant. So, um I mean it's progress and they're, you know, trying to get things done uh as fast as they can over there and, you know, that's all we can really hope for. But I mean, the whole property is beautiful what they did. So, yes. No, I agree. Agree.
Um, and no, I think that's that with that. Jane, did you have anything? Um, nothing special for this evening. Just the general all the good things. All good things. I think that's a Frozen reference, but
it it was not, but it could be. I think that's a lot for Frozen. Yes. All good things. All good things. All right. So then 720 community spotlight. Yep. Back to me. So, I do have one business spotlight for tonight. I recently was recently brought to my
attention that um the Reading Restaurant Facility Cooina is celebrating 10 years of operations in Reading this fall. Um for those of you who remember, they were known as Sam's Beastro about 15 years ago um and changed uh 10 years ago to
offer the delicious Italian food they offer now. it had been the same owner, Michael Palmer, and his staff um who were very dedicated to Reading and and staying here. So, I wanted to congratulate them on 10 years as facilities, I think 15 years in business in in Reading, if not longer. Um and
which wish them much success in the future. And for those of you who don't know, they're right at the end of Main Street, sort of on the Stoneham border. So, that's one. And then I had one employee spotlight update. So, our benefits uh specialist uh who works in
our HR department, Avantica has uh just marked her 5-year anniversary here with the town. So, I'd like to congratulate her, thank her for her service, and wish her many more successful years in Reading. As Sean will tell you, she's a big asset to our operation up there. Um
I know she's a Marramac College grad and it was one of her first jobs to come here to reading and she was very excited to come and she is still here and and working very hard up there. So, those are my two spotlights for tonight. Thank you.
All right. Uh 7:25 discuss and vote on 413 Main Street early opening. Is police chief or anybody presenting for this or um No. Well, we have I think is anybody here from McDonald's thing? No.
Okay. I thought McDonald's was going to be here, but they had uh if you give them a few minutes or did they say they were going to come? I thought they uh Is are they on Zoom, Jackie? Anybody from McDonald's on Zoom? Doesn't appear to be. Okay. Well, it's fairly It's fairly
self-explanatory if you look at your package. I guess we can I guess we can skip this one for now then. And because the food pantry is here, right, Simone? Okay. Are you all ready to present? Possibly. Yes. If we bump you. Okay. get to get home earlier, go to McDonald's.
All right. So, are we all good with that skipping for right now? All right. So, update for the food pantry. Yeah, come back to it. Yeah, we'll come back. Yeah, we'll come back. It's supposed to be a public hearing. So, thank you. Yes. Good evening. I'm Simone Pay, the
director of the Red Food Pantry, and I'm here with Sean Toro, who's our board president. He's gonna speak in a little while. Um, will we have the slides from our presentation on the screen? Jackie can put them up and you can tell her when to go forward. Okay,
you have them, Jackie. Thank you. That's That's the last one. All right, that's it. Thank you very much. Welcome. It's been great. You wore green and everything for nothing. Great. Thank you so much. Um, so thank
you to the select board and town staff for having us here tonight. Um, to Karen for inviting us. Um, we have members of our board and our capital campaign committee and some of our awesome volunteers here with us tonight and we
appreciate them for coming with us and showing their support. Also, a quick note that today is National Hunger Action Day. Um, so it's particularly fitting that we're here tonight. um one in three Massachusetts residents are
food insecure and the number in Middle Sex County is uh slightly lower at one in four but that's still a significant number. Um so there are quite a few people struggling to get enough to eat and it's it's often a hidden problem. So
I appreciate being able to present here tonight and get the word out about the pantry. Um so we can go to the next slide. It's actually the last slide again. Great. So, the Reading Food Pantry
opened in 1979 from a closet in the Old South Church right across the street. Um, when we open, we serve just a few red residents um on kind of an informal basis. And now we are open um two times a week and we
have a delivery program and we're serving many more reading residents than we were even a few years ago. Um this is due to economic changes and rising costs of not only food but also housing, insurance,
um all kinds of costs have gone up. So people have to make hard choices about where to spend their money. Um so we many residents have come to rely on the pantry and the use of pantry is
increased substantially in the last three to four years. Um you can go to the next slide. In 2024, we served as many as just over 400 residents um each month and we had
the help of 100 amazing volunteers and we distributed 15,219 bags of food to more than 4,000 residents over the course of the year.
um because we're serving so many people and it's a and we're operating out of a shared space, we have outgrown our current our current space and that has led to several challenges. Um if we can go to the next slide.
So, um, as we expect the need for the pan pantry to continue to grow, we will continue to face these challenges that I'm going to discuss now, including limited accessibility. People have to line up
for service to the pantry um, in the parking lot and out into the street and come in only a few people at a time. Um, we also have a very inefficient layout because it's a shared space and we have to pull everything out and then put
everything else putting put everything back at the end of the um service hours. And that's it causes traffic jams for the volunteers filling orders and um our food storage is spread across
many rooms in the church. Uh some in the basement, some on the main floor. Um, and that can affect the safety of volunteers. We're going up and down the stairs quite frequently. Um on the next slide,
um we also have uh multiple refrigerators and freezers spread across five different rooms, uh which leads to energy inefficiency and limits our ability to store food, which sometimes prevents us having sufficient inventory
between our trips to the Greater Boston Food Bank, which which occur every two weeks. Um, also importantly, the pantry is up a flight of stairs, so people with limited mobility have a hard time accessing the pantry. As I mentioned, we do have a
delivery program that goes to about 37 people um, two times a month for people who physically can't come to the pantry, but there are a lot of residents who have mobility challenges do want to still visit the pantry in person, but getting in the building is is a bit slow
for some people. Yeah. Um, so as I mentioned, we've we've outgrown the space that we're currently using at Old South, and we have considered a long-term agreement for expansion at the church. Um, and over the past several years, uh, pantry
leadership has explored various other options around town, uh, to provide a home that's big enough for, um, the pantry to, um, grow and expand. Um, we've been unable to find that perfect location until now. Um, and
Sean is going to talk a little bit about um, some potential opportunities for us. Thank you. Good evening. And, uh, first, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank the select board for their long-standing support of the pantry. I'm a sucker for symmetry.
And it was this meeting two years ago, if you remember, that we had come, we hadn't yet gotten uh we're just in the process of getting our own 501c3. And we needed funds to be able to facilitate that effort and and to get to the point where we are now to continue serving the
increased number. And that was in no small part, you know, through the help of the town. So again, thank you for your for your continued support. Uh an update in terms of the the structure of the pantry. So we had established the 501c3 and then set on the mission of
okay well how do we uh take to heart the ability to continue to improve our finances and get to a point where we really are continuing to sustain our own operations because I remember that was something that was a question that we had gotten from this group at that time was great we have some funds available
from the town but you know what are you going to do to be able to make sure that you're not coming back you know over and over again and so one of the things that we had done is we had uh taken upon ourselves to create a campaign uh capital campaign finance committee. So earlier this year we created that finance committee made up of community
members uh staff members, volunteers and also uh our consultant uh that has been meeting uh monthly going over different ideas, building and developing our our lists of uh of campaign opportunities and how to be able to build the network
that will make the pantry more self- sustainable in the future. And uh you know the biggest benefit is the opportunity to increase our our fundraising over time. So if you can go to the next slide please. So given the current environment and the
challenges that we have with Simone mentioned, you know, inflation that just seems to to stay higher than what anyone expected, increased food costs, changes in in potential programs, reduction, possible reductions in in things like SNAP and food SNAPs, uh the food SNAP
program, we're anticipating and already seeing that there is going to be a continued and increased need for the services that we provide in the community. And so with that in mind and with the effort that we put into trying to find a suitable location, we would uh respectfully
request from this group the opportunity to make the Pleasant Street Center the permanent home of the of the Reading Food Pantry. Uh it wasn't something that we expected. Uh but as it you know as we were going through and having our capital campaign meetings and then when
when the the vote came through and that became a possibility, we figured it was worth uh putting our our our hand up and and at least staking a claim that it is something we think would be a valuable for the town and and would be a great resource for us for a number of
different reasons. If you think about all of the things that that Simony just mentioned, number one, it's centrally located in the middle of town. you know, it's a stone throw away from where we are right now. It increases the uh dedicated space where, you know, with
increased need, one of the challenges we have right now is that we're only available during certain hours at Old South where having our own contained dedicated space would allow us greater control of distribution hours and also the opportunity to serve more residents. The uh existing infrastructure also is
is attractive in that it would not require a lot of uh changes or retrofitting. And so when you think about the capital expense of trying to find a new location, something that is almost readymade for something like the pantry would would make that transition significantly easier so that it would be
a smooth transition from where we are now to to a new space. uh increased parking and accessibility as Simone mentioned uh you know the the stairs and the inability to to have the ramps to be able to get in uh is a concern and also you know the the positive use of the
building in the local community to support local residents and and again I would I would be remiss if I didn't say that one of the things that we are considering is just partial use of that space primarily on the first floor and that would still retain some additional space uh in the upstairs for more uh or
other groups within the town to be able to access and utilize that space for for a true town effort. And last but not least, one of the things that uh again given the help of this group we've we've worked at and we're now launching is the ability to have a community kitchen where we can also help prepare meals to
be able to for distribution. You know, not just the food that we've been uh doing since day one, but quite honestly being able to make sure that we have some sustainability built into it. So we'll get uh you know anything from truckloads of Brussels sprouts to uh you
know potatoes to carrots. I mean any number of different things that again have a shelf life that you don't have enough space to be able to put it. What are you going to do with it? In a lot of cases that was going into a compost bin. So you know with the dedicated space and now with all of the other benefits that we would have it really be an opportunity to then you know repurpose a
lot of that into actual food that we can give back to uh to local residents. And so that's that's really our ask is uh just the consideration that uh you know when the time comes uh that the food pantry be uh part of that part of that consideration.
Um just to finish up I want to mention that um if anyone needs to use the pantry we invite them to come see us on Monday nights between 6:30 and 7:30 or Friday mornings between 10:30 and 11:30. And um if people want to donate, there
are bins at Market Basket and Stop and Shop. And we're available at the pantry Wednesday afternoons between 4:30 and 6 and Thursday mornings between 10 and 12 for people to come in directly. And on our website and on our Facebook page,
you'll find donation information. Thank you again for having us. Questions? Board members? Carlo, your current situation at the church. Oh, sorry.
Your current situation at the church, are there any, I guess, fees exchange for the use or it's just a donation by the church? Yep. Currently, that's that's the situation, right? All right. And you would expect the same from us from the Pleasant Tree Center.
We're we're just here to start the conversation. So, that's certainly something we'd be happy to discuss. Right. But to that to that end, one thing I would mention, um, we have built into the financials now because we're required to report it as a 501c3. So, we've built into the financials the
necessity of having some version of a rent payment. Uh, because the expectation was that regardless of where we ended up, you know, it's not always going to be the benefit or the blessing we had of being the church. So, it is something that we we've taken into consideration our
I I remember from a few years ago in my mind you wanted to waste money on a consultant to help you find a space that could have been used for the food pantry. That's the way I look at it. So, I'm I'm guessing you didn't choose that path. Correct.
All right. So, uh, the pleasure is and there's an ongoing discussion obviously for the town, for the board, and for the community. And what other sites have you identified uh that would could be suitable if you
people made enough donations to pay the rent? Have you identified any other any other sites in town that would be suitable for your needs? Yeah, we do have a potential option at the church. um it requires significant um infrastructure investment to make
that happen. Um and then at the end of it, it's not our space, right? Are there any other churches or uh or nonprofits in town that have more space that you know unutilized space I should say? We reached out to all the
not Yeah. Not that we've identified. No. Okay. There there's one consideration of uh the uh the Baptist church down the street. Um but it it's an early consideration that their one of their back parking lots, you know, could be converted into a into a dated dedicated space. But one of the charges that we
have for the you know for the board capital campaign is to continue to identify alternative sites because you know nothing's guaranteed. We don't you know even even with our current situation so understood we need to to keep exploring and you know things
change and opportunities present themselves and we're trying to to keep our eyes open for everything. How many square feet do you currently have approximately? Um I think we it's hard to say because it's so fractured. Um but 2000 maybe.
Okay. Roughly 2000. And but again like you know I got you. Yeah. The flow is not good. No, I totally get it. So would double that satisfy your you think your needs a little bit better or more than double that? No, I think I mean we we've sort of
talked about 3,000 as sort of an ideal ideal. Okay. All right. Thank you. Um and you know I'd like to extend the invitation to any board member to come and visit um the pantry. I'll be happy to give give a tour and show you how things are currently laid out. Anyone
else? Uh Melissa, I just wanted to say thank you for coming here tonight and thank you for all that you do for the residents of this town. Um really appreciate it. Um it's clearly um something that's needed here in town. So I really like this
idea. Um, with that being said, like I think that we'd have to have more conversations about, you know, some sort of rent agreement just cuz with the status of the town and money, we can't just say I don't think it can be for free, but I
would love to continue these conversations. I think it would be a great location. I think it sounds like not only would it be centrally located in downtown parking and also if you are going to improve an infrastructure a lot of it may already be there so you could
save some of that money that you may have to put into the church to improve a kitchen or stuff like that. So I appreciate you guys coming and I would love to continue this conversation with you. Great. Thank you. If I could just close with one other piece because when you said you know for what you're doing and
helping the residents um it's fresh in our minds because we were just at the the town fair yesterday and we had a booth and which we've done you know to try to participate in all of the the town events and I wasn't there when it happened Simone was but uh a resident came up and uh brought us a gift brought
a flower um you know that they brought it to show us a gift and they said she said you know you helped me in 2016 I think she had sent uh and you know I was in a really difficult spot had a tough time for for a pinch and you guys were there and you helped me out and I just
wanted to say thank you. There's a real impact for you know for the local community% I really um I really was going to just mirror what Melissa said and I'm super excited to be working with you and I I think
it's a perfect location for you all. Um, big question. How many jelly beans were in the jar yesterday? 1960. 1960. Someone guessed 1957, his birth year, but he declined the
jelly beans. And so, runnerup is coming in tomorrow. They had a lot of people visiting for the cake and the jelly beans. Yes. Yeah. It was nice. Um and just very quickly, anecdotally, last night we were open and we served 24 households, which
equates to 72 people. Three um three households were new. And we're seeing that almost every time we're open now, we're seeing one or two um new residents, and we do anticipate that that's going to increase um when the snap cuts go through in about nine or 10
months. Do you think that you're going to have to increase the hours you're open to to satisfy residents or do you know what I mean? Like it seems when we were serving even more people than we are now um we you know ended up
being open for longer stretches but at the church we just don't have flexibility really due to other um groups using the church at different times. Um, so that's one of the great advantages of Pleasant Street Center as Sean mentioned that we could expand our
hours to, you know, adding a day being open for longer stretches. Okay. Um, and just also quickly, another advantage of the Pleasant Street location, I think, is visibility. Um, we're constantly working to reduce uh
the stigma using the pantry. I think the more the pantry is seen as just a welcoming place for people to come, the Pleasant Street Center is sort of already known for that. Um, at least in the senior community. Um, we would hope that that would increase if we were
located there full-time. I guess for me um so you serve exclusively reading does so there's no outside and and it's hard to actually imagine that we have that many people in reading
I I never I would have guessed like 100 or so I wouldn't have went up as as high as you are that's what it used to be but it's grown it's grown so much um we do serve if somebody comes here from another town will serve them one time and then, you
know, funnel them to the resource that's appropriate for their town. Yeah, it it is, as I mentioned before, it's kind of a hidden problem. You know, people don't want to talk about it. That's why we always say, you know, if you know somebody, if you need help or
if you know somebody who does, we encourage people to just come visit us. We're we're very friendly and and helpful and accommodating. And you're only looking for the first floor, which leaves the top and basement, right? I think we probably need to use the
basement as well as part of that for storage, just given how much space we we have to take up for storage. Um, I think we probably need to use some of that ground floor. And you're aware of all the reasons why we had to move out
of the building, per se, which in theory you would be inheriting smelly gas, weird, funky basement, all this kind of We're kind of used to that. Um but yeah, I I mean for me this seems,
you know, uh obviously the monastery school come here before and I was like we got to be fair wedding 501c3 the whole spiel. Um and you are a reading 501c3 that has been here forever. Um is a good community asset is
actively looking on Facebook for donations all the time, every single month guaranteed. But beyond that, like daily almost kids and all these other fundraisers that are happening. Um, so I I I think that it makes sense and
it's easier for me because when the building came in appraised at what, 800 grand or something, which is like insane, like we're not letting the building go for 800,000 in my opinion. um it seems easier to, you know, uh rent out to a uh a staple community partner
in reading as well as to have some office space up top. I I told Matt briefly about maybe moving the retirement board over there or something because they have an office in Haven and they have to pay for it. But and I don't think we benefit Matt. It's only the retirement board that would benefit. But
still like it could be a win-win kind of thing. But that's just these are all just the ideas out there kind of, you know. Um, but no, I I mean I think it it makes sense over there. Obviously, the location is is
perfect for that. I can already imagine the sign that you would have compared to someone maybe sees it looking real quick uh over there. You know what I mean? like so there's a lot of good that can come from this uh in the future but also
it does have to be fair um but not at least to me this is on the lower fair level compared to you know what I mean because you've been here forever and and it is a a you know legit 501c3 charity
where you're doing you know volunteer work and and all of that. So I I mean for me it's it's a lot easier. Obviously we have to have discussions and if you want to share offline budgetary what you're kind of thinking and touch base
with staff and you know we'll see what we can do for that but I would like to obviously get the top floors somebody in there and then we'll get the the big outlook on what we really can do with this building if if it's you know
can do we even have to procure this? We do even for them. Yeah. If you want to speak. No, we're getting we're getting off topic here. So, is it? Yeah. Well, we're talking about the Pleasant Street Center specifically. So, I
I won't just to the procurement process, not specifically to the building. Um we do if we're going to lease the space there um if it meets certain thresholds for um potential rent and size and so forth then we have to go through a
procurement process. Um it would be an RFP process and we would have we would solicit that through formal channels. It would also be on our website and um and then people would have to submit an RFP. It's a pretty rigorous process. Um and
so that's I mean that we should you as the board may want to take up how we want to go about that and then we'll craft that RFP and put it on the future meeting or something. Absolutely. Yeah. Have to say any more on that. Um and then
quasi semifood pantryish related because obviously you'll need to raise more funds if you plan on renovating or something over there. I know during the um commissioner of trust funds meeting that we have millions of dollars in hospital fund and I asked AI at the time
and I'm not sure that I actually said it publicly or not but I will now. AI seems to believe that we can have a food hospital in Reddit. So if there's a loophole for us to allow this to happen seems we might as well do
something with the money. So I'm not sure how we explore that in the future, but I mean AI has been wrong in the past, but I mean what else are we going to lose on this? So just something to think about and who knows maybe because
then that's going to be like best food pantry in the entire state and that you won't know what to do. Um, but no, I appreciate you coming in and and I'm happy that we could help out with uh especially with the ARPA money with the gift cards and freezers, right?
Or refrigerators back then. So, um, it's good to see that you're progressing. It's unfortunate that numbers go up, but at least you're there to meet the need. So, that's all I got. Thanks, Chris. Just one quick question
that in the conversation that just came across my mind. So being in the middle of town is great for people to walk there and you know for exposure for people donations and all that. Do you feel like there could be any issue with people coming in because it's so
centrally located and other people may see them. Would that be any concern? Just something to think about. I just wouldn't, you know, would hate for people not to come because they felt like it was Yeah. for privacy issues and
like it's a little more open over there where it kind of it's tucked back over there. Just something to think about. Um, it just kind of crossed my mind, but that's all. Thank you. I think to that point there's I I think there there's an entrance in the back of
Pleasant Street, right? Yeah. So maybe that's something for you guys to to work out. But yeah, no, I I catch what she's saying. We may change our service model. You know, right now everybody comes at once and gets in a line. Um we may move to an appointment system where we have people
come in in like 20 minute blocks. Um it it is our hope that in the new space people would be able to come in and shop for themselves. Right now, volunteers pack orders and then bring it out to people's cars and then um people who visit the pantry can come in and choose
from unlimited produce and miscellaneous items. But for the standard orders, the volunteers are packing the orders. And so things like, you know, choices of what kind of cereal or what flavor of jelly um you know are left to the volunteer. And we're hoping that in a
new space, people would be able to come in and make their all their own choices from the food that's on the shelves. Um, and I do want to say thank you to the Reading to to the Reading community who's been fantastic to us um, in terms of donations and as Chris mentioned,
doing doing drives all the time um, at schools and sports teams. The girls volleyball team is is doing a a food drive for us next week. Um, and the people of Reic have really stepped up to
help us. So, we really appreciate that. Uh, anyone from the public have anything in the room? Anyone online? Jackie. No hands online. Thank you. Thank you. All right. I appreciate it. Good.
I don't know if Rob is listening, but I got a a message that RCTV on YouTube is skipping and I brought it up myself and it's just spinning around in a circle. So, I'm not sure if anything he can do on his end, but thank you.
All right, so McDonald's, do we have nobody still here from McDonald's? Online. Somebody joined online, but I'm not sure. Jackie, are they from McDonald's? The person on the I'm not sure. There's someone who joined
as reading. Are you from McDonald's? Why does Probably not. Um, so probably not. But there there's several things we can do. I mean, we could we can open the public hearing and, you know, take any public information and then continue it. I
could check with McDonald's. The motion seems to be I know Karen had some questions on the motion. It seems to be correct. It's just the way we had to write it. Um but it it's up to you or I can reach out again to McDonald's if they're not here tonight to have them come to the next meeting. But it's a public hearing so we had to notice it.
So that's why I'm saying maybe open it and continue it. But it is a public hearing. Yes. Yeah. Doesn't say on the agenda for Well, it's we have the public hearing notice. Oh separate. Yes. So I I guess this seems we have at least for me I have enough information
to vote. Um like uh I saw the the memo from the police. Uh we have a um what's it called again since we did it for somebody else? President um so I guess first we'll just open the
public hearing for if you want to read this. To the inhabitants of the town of Reading, please take notice that the select board of the town of Reading will hold a public hearing on September 9th, 2025 at 7 PM in the Select Board meeting room, 16 LOL Street, Reading, Massachusetts, and remotely via Zoom to
act on a request for early opening at 5:00 a.m. for McDonald's at 4:13 Main Street. A copy of the proposed documents regarding this topic will be in the selected packet on the website at www.reingma.gov. All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing or may submit their
comments in writing to town manager at readingmass.gov by order of Matthew A. Cornelis Squire Town Manager. Thanks Karen. Um so I guess did you want to just briefly go over?
Yeah, it's fairly simple. So McDonald's is is the restaurant. They're asking for early opening. So they currently open at 6. They want to be able to open at 5. And according to their letter, which we got, they want to open one drive-thru lane at 5 as well, which it posed a
problem before about drive-thru. The police department, they're okay with the early opening. Um, the drive-thru gives them pause because, you know, neighbor is in amplified sound. So, you may want to, if you decide to approve this, limit it to uh to the store itself and not the
drive-thru. And I believe that's what we did on Bagel World as well. I could double check that. So that's that's the crux of it. There isn't any further information that they'd probably be able to provide anyway, but that's what we know. So and a notice was sent to our Butters
um back whatever legally we were required to do, we did. I think it was just a I think it was just put in the the newspaper, but you know, I think that's I can double check, you know, again, we can can see, but I I think generally
with these, we just put the notice, we have it, we have a public hearing, we we hear it. So, yeah, I mean, for me, it's the residents don't know about this. Yeah, the police department did check it out and see if there were any noise
complaints, anything like that, but I don't think they went do it in tour. No, no. Right. Right. And we can all say it's only one hour, but Yeah. No, it's concern for sure. I mean, I walked past there and the fence is very, very high and it looks like there's only one house behind it
and then another one's kind of diagonal. So, I think it's really just that one house right behind it. Okay. From what I can see. Anyone else? Just a couple things. Um I assume they'd be looking for the early opening for 5:00 a.m.
7 days a week because um Deputy Chief Emma Madola just just something in her uh reply to us is that it says the select board waiver policy appears only for Monday through Friday, but I'm pretty sure we allowed um Bagel World to
open seven days a week early, not drive-thru, just inside the store. Correct. Yeah. Seven days a week, I think. So, seven days a week. Yeah. Yeah. I wasn't sure what what Deputy Endo was getting at for that, but I mean, I think you could allow seven days
a week. I think that she just phrases it a little differently. I mean, I'm in support of them opening at 5:00 a.m., but inside the store only, not to drive through. We didn't allow Bagel World to do it, so I don't think it would be right for us to allow McDonald's to do it.
Yeah, I agree. Karen, yeah, I agree. I'm under the same mindset. It is a happy media between the both. They wanted one, we give them in the middle, and it in theory isn't going to really
impact um the one or two residents that are over there, but I'm not sure who's going there at 5 in the morning anyway. And if anything, it's going to be very minimalistic. So, um I'm fine with uh
just being inside open at 5 and and not the drive-thru still. Yes, I do see they do put the sign out there at night. They have like a little pylon thing not allowing people on the closest drive-thru to that fence that you just mentioned, Karen. So, they do put interesting because it's dark, you know,
it's going to be dark at 5 o'clock at night anyway. And so, there's more noise at night than there is at 5 o'clock in the morning. So, yeah. I mean, whether they want to revisit it at a later date, I don't know, but um All righty. Anyone from the public on McDonald's 413 Main Street? Anyone
online? Jackie? No, no one online. If you want to close the public hearing. Move to close the public hearing regarding the early opening request for 413 Main Street. Second. Seconded by Carlo. Any discussion? Seeing none. All those in
favor zero. And then on to the actual motion. So this we would be modifying. I think you would want to just exclude the drive-thru. So maybe the license is approved uh for approval to open for
business no earlier than 5 a.m. Um maybe excluding the drive-thru or the drive-thru show open no earlier than 6, which is what it is now. We can we can add some language there. Yeah. So, currently our motion says move to I mean obviously it says a lot more,
but move to approve a license to operate a retail business between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. pursuant to a bunch of stuff. So, we would change it to move to approve a licensed job to retail business between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m.
Um, and then excluding the drive-thru until 6:00 a.m. I would say I I think well the first part of that motion um where they talk about midnight to 6 p.m. pertain to 7.7 that's
what it says in 7.7. So they they're actually I think the way it's written is you state that as part of the bylaw and then you exclude it in the paragraph after when it says the license should be no earlier than 5 5 a.m. because right now they open at 6:00
a.m. So you want to have them make sure that they have um have relief under the first part of the bylaw and then restricted to 5 and so they're not opening at midnight. I know it gets a little technical but yeah. Did you get that, Karen?
Uh, yeah. I would So, I leave everything alone except for Yeah. So, I'm gonna add in the the sentence it says, "This license is for approval to open the business not earlier than 5:00 a.m. indoors only." Is that where
Yeah, I think that would be that fine. That would exclude the drive-thru. Yeah. in six and 6 a.m. for drive-thru like specifically call it out or I don't think you can mention they have it already. I think they have it already. If you want to be more clear, you can
find it that way. But yeah, I think it's I think I'd rather be more clear on this. I don't want it to be like just so say end 6 a.m. for the drive then we don't want the drive-thru open. So I think it has to be called out.
Okay. So, indoors only ends 6 a.m. for the drive, right? Okay. Ready? Um, anyone from the Well, I already did the public. Um, yes. Move to approve a license to operate a retail business between the hours of
midnight and 6:00 a.m. Pursuant to section 7.7 of the Reading General bylaws and further pursuant to section 3.8 of the select door policies to McDonald's, 413 Main Street. This license is for approval to open for business not earlier and 5:00 a.m.
indoors only and 6:00 a.m. for the drive-thru. In granting this license, the board finds one in accordance with section 7.7.4.1 of the general bylaws that the operation of the establishment will not cause unreasonable disruption or disturbance
to or otherwise adversely affect the customary character of any adjacent or nearby residential neighborhood. And to in accordance with section 7.7.4.2 of the general bylaws that the operation of the establishment
is reasonably necessary to serve the public health, safety and welfare, serve the public need and provides a public convenience which outweighs any increase in the impacts on the adjacent or nearby residential. Second by any discussion
seeing none. All those in favor? 4 Z. Thank you, Karen. All right. So, we will move on to 810. Discuss potential override budget review vote on fire department permit fees treats.
So, this is in followup to the last meeting. Um, and so we actually have a vote for you this meeting. Uh, so I thought it was appropriate to still put it under this agenda item. So, do you have just something brief prepared that you just wanted to go over? I mean, for the most part, it's just
that's not there. Um, all right. So, for the most what I presented to you last time I was here, all I'm presenting to you tonight is a cleaned up version, taking the highlights out. All the fees are exactly what we were. The added permits are
exactly what we had on. Um and then if you remember there was some permits that were going to be removed because we didn't you know they're part of like the building permit fees or other things like that. So this is everything that we discussed just in a nice streamlined version that we use dayto day.
So do you have any questions? I'd be happy to answer them. No looks good. I don't have any questions I guess. Did you receive any feedback from the last meeting? Any criticism, praise, anything? or carry on? Nope.
Just uh exact whatever I left here with criticism app praise was what I have what I got on this. So nothing additional. Okay. Y perfect. Anyone from the public?
Anyone on Zoom? Jackie? No one on Zoom. Perfect. Um I appreciate you doing this obviously and and hopefully this goes the direction that we want it to. So, um, Karen, you have a motion. Move that the board adopt the updated
fire department permit fee schedule as presented. Second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor zero. Quickest meeting for you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for coming.
Thanks, Chief. All right. Um, should we move Charter or No, there's a couple Evra is jumping on at 8. Um, so, you
know, in a few minutes she'll be on for the charter review. So, she she's planning on being here for eight for that. So, we are never ahead of schedule. I know. Have we been ahead of schedule? Yeah. Minutes. I mean, do we want to do minutes? Sure.
Yeah. Minutes. We're going to kill a few minutes. Minutes. All right, Kathy, if you want to bring up the minutes, page 97 of the packet. Did anyone have any changes?
Can we change something? No. Good. No. Good. No. Jane, you have anything? Nothing. You stop. Just do it. Whatever. Okay. I had no changes either. Um all frazzled now. I don't know what to
do with my time. All right, Karen. Motion. Motion. Yes. Thank you. To approve the meeting minutes of August 26, 2025 as presented. Second. Seconded by Carlo. Hold on. We didn't have public comment. Anyone from the public online? Still nobody. Show.
Still nobody. All right. Um, so all those in favor zero, we are still ahead. We can do something else. We I mean the warrant is a little bit longer.
I mean, if you wanted to do a reaction, too. Yeah, let's bang that out. Sure. Sure. Who wants to go first? I think Karen's longest, so you know, it was a very short, you know, this week is very busy. Karen was on vacation. Go ahead, Karen.
Um, I'll do them quickly though. Um, Eastern Gateway had a meeting. We went over the forum results. A lot of positive feedback from the town meeting members that um, looked at the plans. Uh, I attended the Zoom, the permanent building committee meeting just to catch up and see what was going on. Um, I'm
sure whoever was at the meeting would cover that. Um, I met with town meeting member Ron Powell at his office hours precinct three. um he's a new volunteer on the Council on Aging RCTV and he just wanted to catch up with me and tell me he's really enjoying his positions and
he's holding office hours once a month um at the library and which I thought was a great idea and especially since town meeting coming up. So anyone from anyone listening from precinct 3, please go visit Ron at office hours. Um went to the fall fair and rain really nice
turnout and um last night was two meetings council on aging. I went and presented my blurb. Um they gave they had a couple of updated things. They kind of had to keep it short because some people were coming here to the CPD meeting. So um they kept
um a lot of the discussions off the agenda, but they're looking forward to the draft operations plan from town staff and John Sasso um that's upcoming. I also met um I had a meeting with the town force committee last night. Um reviewed the map of the progress of
invas invasive plant removal. Um exciting. We're going to have a public community buck form removal event on October 18th, which should be very exciting. Um had a discussion about educational programming opportunities for both students and adults invasive
plant lessons, things like that. Um there is a bird walk scheduled for October 4th um by Dave Williams. Um there's an upcoming Massachusetts town forest conference that um a member too is going to attend and they provided an update on the sign installation for us
with the new rules and regulations which is great. Melissa, thank you. Um so the our RCTV working negotiation group has been meeting um at least once a week over the past couple
weeks. I know Matt gave a update last week. Um, and so the contract, the draft contract that the group has come up with is being reviewed by legal council for the town and RCTV currently. And we do have another meeting scheduled this
week. Um, school committee did not vote in favor of the Malbury Forest Monastery School that came before them and conservation. Um, the failed house project uh floor project has been completed and it looks beautiful.
uh conservation at their last meeting discussed the shutdown of Mata Cabin and they're hoping to work with town to get that squared away with the building inspector and find out what needs to happen there. Um the last several meetings of CPDC both the big town
projects went in front of CPDC Kellum was approved. Um, Rick Cow went in front of them twice and the last meeting I know that um there was the discussion about working with Burbank to do a clarif um an addendum to their lease for
shared parking and I believe they're going to go back in front of CPDC just to do some clarification on some ADA access and parking and also hopefully the addendum to the lease. And that's all I have.
Kylo. All righty. So, fall street fair. I uh the CPA, Community Preservation Act, had a tent on Haven Street and um uh some of us volunteered and manned it and um Martha
Moore was nice enough to bring some marbles and a couple jars and the different percentages that we had as kind of a you know pseudo focus group and we had half a percent and a percent and a half and a lot of
people came out. They were curious. We had a map um that town staff provided for the entire town, some of the historic buildings and it showed all the open space. So when I was there, the the most popular and marbled um cup was
probably a percent a percent and a half. Um you we explained the benefits um of CPA and you know that we added some graphics on what it would impact your house roughly depending on what it's worth. So that was good. And um for
the for the most part the rain held out. A lot of people came down. I was very nervous in the morning. Um we've never had this much rain at one time. It's post fair all these years, but people came out. Um a little bit more sparse
than normal for vendors, but um hopefully that'll get better in the future. Uh so last night I watched the uh CPDC meeting. Just to piggy back what Melissa said, I won't mention the recal. Um the most of you know it as the
Century 21 Boardwalk property on Main Street. Uh that got approved with waiverss and um the main event last night was the Primrose School and a lot of neighbors came out and were very concerned with
safety and parking coming in and out it being on Route 28. Um and you know no long CBDC. they're they're outdoing us pretty pretty well now and um basically there's going to be
continue tomorrow meeting and to go over the decision. So I don't want to speak for CPDC but um the applicant has met a lot of the requirements and uh you know going by our bylaws for that
and that's it for me. Thanks. Thanks Carlo. Um I'll echo sentiments about the street fair. It's always one of the premier events in Reading for the whole year. Um so it's good to see at least the rain subsided towards the end.
Um and there was definitely a lot of um people still out regardless which was good to see. Um as Matt and I mentioned earlier, uh we went to Austin Prep today to meet with Dr. Hickey and and um look over the school and the parking that
they're doing over there. Um, it also got brought up that they don't need to use our parking down at the depot um anymore. I think we approved that or we didn't. And if we did, we got to undo it. Um, I'm actually voted on it. I know it was discussed though. Yeah, have to check.
So then we don't have to. Um, so it's good to see that it's it's moving in the in the right direction over there. Um, last uh last night at Kilum, the big takeaway, at least for me, was we're saving 500 grand now by
swapping to a lower generator because we don't need a shelter in place there because they would rather have it over at the new recal center. Um, so a half million dollars being saved. I don't know if it goes up a half million the other direction, but you know, no
we counted on it for both projects. Oh, all right. Well, knowing that so we are actually saving a half a million. Well, that's we can all go home. Um, so that's good to see. With that, um, I met with Heather Klesh, chair of
CPDC. We went over the master plan committee kind of, um, what we're going to do with that. Um, so they haven't had it on their most recent agendas because obviously all the town stuff and primrose school up till like 12:30 last night. Um, so they haven't been focusing
on that, but she hopes to um have something done in October for us and then we can kind of collab on that. So that's the takeaway for that. Um, for just another update in the community, the Angelone family had a house fire in
Libya. Um, and there is a GoFundMe set up by um, a reading resident, Caitlyn Mccurio. So, if anyone wants to donate to that, they would just go to GoFundMe and put in the search box and just type in a Angelone family. Um, and it's the
first one that comes up. Um, so it's up to 35 grand with a $50,000 goal, but they are obviously displaced because of this fire. Um, and anything that we can help uh to help them rebuild uh would be
greatly appreciated. Um, and then I think that's it. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but I probably I just want to It was interesting. I was on the on driving on the radio, listen
to WBZ a lot, and this is just a FYI, um, the city of Salem is abandoning their parking kiosk program. Um, seven parking lots due to maintenance issues and reliability. So, I just wanted to put that out there that we got ahead of
the curve and um they were very unhappy with their vendor. So, they're going to an app only system, which I do not like at all for various reasons, but I just want to mention that for anyone listening that the city of Salem has abandoned their parking or will abandon
their parking kiosk probleming kiosk in seven parking lots, which is a very big deal for the city of Salem. But they're not getting rid of paid parking. No, no. It's going only for the So only an app. Okay. Y
All righty. Um moving on then. Is on. So, yep. Fantastic. And I think we have a quorum, right? Five people call to order. Yep. So, I will call the charter review
committee to order. And I'll just take a roll call real quick. Uh Jeff Stuvil here. I still remember your name. Jonathan Barnes, Ray Porter here, Alen Folds, and Chris Haley here. Anyone online? Jackie Martins.
Yes, Jesse's online. And yep, me too. I'm here. Jesse Arnold is here as well. Um so, uh feel free to come up to the front, whatever you guys uh feel like,
um doing. So, it's more of um uh just an information session. I was just going to I know we did the um forum at the library and we kind of went over these changes back then and I don't think we really had any significant changes maybe other than
Jonathan and Ray um since that phone we had at the library. So, I know they updated the packet with that meeting. Um for anybody at home that wants to watch and see what all the other changes are. Um, also outlined in the packet on page, let me just go to that real quick, put
together a fantastic cheat sheet which starts on page 22 of um that is uh what she feels is noteworthy of a change or not. Um because kind of at the onset that we were kind of agreeing per se that we
wanted to do one thing or the other if there was substantial changes or not. We had to have a bunch to be able to do special acts and town votes and all these other special meeting things. And as you can see we actually did come up with oh sorry about that
with a very unique ringtone that does not fit your aura. It's my It's my kid, so I might I might go out for a minute. Go ahead. Okay. Um, but yes, the the big takeaway, like I said, page 22 and 23 in the
packet kind of outlines at a, you know, whether or not something was noteworthy or not. Uh, the changes a majority were changing selectman to select board, changing he to them. We had an argument. What did we decide on this? and them
there. We we stay there. Yeah, we went around uh that a couple times. Um so, did you want to just say something? I was going to go over I mean I know I can kind of wing it through all the the
various changes real quick and then you know obviously Jonathan can kind of highlight his changes, Ray on his um and then for the most part um everything on here was uh unanimous. We voted on the things at the end, but you know, if
anyone wanted anything, um, like I know Jesse wanted some changes to the recall stuff and we h ashed all that out. Um, so that's kind of where we're at. So, did you want to just say something? Sure. Um, thank you. So, what I've
created here, um, I'm calling a translation guide. It essentially um is a cheat sheet as Chris uh outlined to kind of help the public process the suggested revisions to the charter. I
think the most complicated aspect of this is going to be um that some of these changes are changes that we can do through a ballot vote and some of these changes necessitate a special act. And so at town meeting we do have two
proposed warrant articles. Um and you can see that um further down in the packet where you have your uh draft warrant. We've created those two warrant articles. Um so we will just need to explain to town meeting kind of the differences there and why we have um two
articles for essentially one holistic review of the warrant. I'm sorry of the charter. Perfect. And the the reasoning that we went with the expedited process is so we can latch on to um like the April
election where if we you know had done things differently um we would have had to have a special election. Correct? Correct. Um so we didn't want to have to have you know we wanted to hit the April town meeting. Um, we could have had a
special I'm sorry, we wanted to hit the April town election so that we didn't need a special election. Um, we could have had a special town meeting to meet that um, April election, but we felt that um, we were ready and able to
present this at in November and to avoid that additional town meeting. Thank you, Arria. Um, and in your legal opinion, do you feel as if so the special acts have to get approved
by the attorney general separately? Is that correct? Um, so it's actually the opposite. So the way that it works for all of the changes that are going to appear on the ballot, so this is the longer warrant article that you see, um, those are the
ballot changes. Those go first to town meeting and then secondly they go to the attorney general who has 30 days to review and either approve or disapprove. Um and then we get authorization to proceed to the ballot. The special
legislation that gets approved by the legislature. They typically will ask uh the municipal law unit of the attorney general's office what they think. Um but that is not a required step. It just tends to be how they operate.
And I don't think, you know, anything here is going to cause any concern from a legislator's perspective or the attorney general's perspective. The town of Reading isn't creating anything novel
in these changes. So, I don't expect any road bumps. Um, but you never you never know. I have shared a draft with the of the whole charter amendments with the attorney general's municipal law unit. They haven't flagged anything um as
being problematic to me. Um and we've had three conversations at this point. So um while I can't promise anything, I'm very hopeful that this won't be a complex process. Thank you. Um, in just for everyone's
knowledge, uh, everything was, uh, the votes for all of this were unanimous other than Ry abstaining from the RMLD portion, but then, um, agreeing to all the other changes that were in here. Um, so, uh, a very diverse group of
individuals has hashed this out. Um and uh I think that we ended up with something that everyone can agree is uh going to improve upon in the town until the next charter a decade from now. Um so I guess in terms of going over
this does everyone want to take a section and kind of go over it? You can speak at the microphone or do you want me to do it all or how does Alan do you want to start on one and then Jonathan or just me? I would rather say if I have to moderate.
Perfect. Have any questions? All right. So, when I get to your part, Jonathan, which was what the end, right? What's 8:12? All right. So, then I'll let you kind of give a little color on that and then Jesse and I can b um bounce off the
whole recall scenario if needed. Um but like I said, for the most part, we're we're all good with this. Um you're just going to go over the major changes, not not the whole thing. Yeah. like kind of the cliff notes because we'll do it again at the next meeting because you know we kind of
agreed at the charter to hold you know public input um and all that. So I wanted multiple opportunities at least for here and I know uh staff and said that we didn't have to do anything other than maybe one meeting. So that's why I
wanted two um just to go over this and it's good to see you know a majority of of the uh committee is here as well. That's good. So um so I'll briefly so if you want to just kind of coincide with me Jackie I
guess so we'll start um just really quick on uh so article one obviously is where we'll start um no big changes right there other than you know selectment to select board moving on once again just
some vernacular there a members um just a clarification on majority vote because we always have that what what constitutes a majority vote. Is it the amount of members that start the meeting or not? Because we kind of quasi ran into this four years ago when
voting for executive session when it was just me, Karen and Mark I think and like I left and it's a whole like so the majority was two people not five. So this is kind of clearing up any kind of
um gray area on that where it means the term majority vote shall mean the affirmative vote of the majority of those present in voting provided that a quorum of the body is present. So that's what that got changed to. So three people has to be present for a group of
five. That's correct if you're right. That's correct. You always need a quorum present. So, if it was five members, you would need three members. Gotcha. Yep. Thank you. All right. Oh, I forgot Laura was here.
You're hiding in the corner, but Laura was also instrumental at all this. She was at, I think, every single one of our meetings and took minutes and participated and provided feedback as well. So, as an additional non- voting
member, uh it was good to to get a another resident's perspective on things. So, thank you, Laura. Um, so moving on to article two, representative town meeting, still 192 members. That may or may not change in the future.
It's not redlined here, but we might have to increase a precinct, but that's not till the next charter potentially red line 2030 is a potential 2030. All right. So, that's just flagged for then. We hashed that out and decided we're not doing anything. Um, so then
select to select board. Wait, I have a question. Go ahead. It's going to be 2026. If we have to add a precinct, how do we add it to the charter? So the um
I don't want to have you go up, Laura. Or can we bring the microphone to you? Whatever. So you have your laptop. I just want people to hear. Sorry. You can probably take the microphone if you need or whatever. So the
It's green. So, the precincts um districtricting is done every 10 years by the federal census and the federal census overrides any charter. So, if if we do have to add a precinct, we would add the precinct, add the additional members, and then fix
the charter when at the next review. Oh, yeah. That's good to know. Okay. Thank you. But that's a good point because we did discuss that as well in the beginning. Well, you know, it's good that Laura
added some clarity. Um, all right. So, moving on to 2.56. So, 2.6 vacancies uh at town meeting. So, we changed their So, we changed it
to from his seat to their seat. um may be declared vacant by a majority vote of the town meeting, after providing the member an opportunity to be heard. Um which kind of dubtales into Jonathan's section um in uh article 8 like he had
mentioned, but this is more just giving you know someone to be heard why um you know they should be afforded uh uh the opportunity to be heard. Yes.
I guess how many opportunities would they be given to be heard? I guess two or you you're going to answer. I think usually Can you go up there please? Just because of the audience, not because of me.
Uh usually in precinct meetings. Yeah. Turn the mic on. It's great. Thank you. uh the precinct meeting is when usually the town meeting member under review uh gets to say their part but I think what this addition does it
says that um uh they can speak if they don't tell me frequently they don't need to make the precinct meeting but if I think it I think it means you tell me I wasn't actually there for this particular vote I think it means that that person can also make the case to be
retained in front of the general meeting as well. So that's what I mean by two. Uh once in the precinct meeting and once in a town meeting as I read this it's kind of vague as far as providing the member an opportunity to be heard to be heard when
so I think it's um sorry this is I think it it it's it follows similar language that we see in employment law. So they have to be provided an opportunity um before town meeting because that's the body that is going to declare the seat vacant and you only need to provide them
one opportunity to be heard. So this is at the time it has to happen prior to the declaration to declare the seat vacant. So you know at the floor of town meeting. This language is not strictly speaking necessary I think. Um but it
was important to the charter commission or the charter review committee to um clarify that individuals were going to have the opportunity to speak. Yes. So I just wanted to um go over a little
bit about what the current process is. Town meeting members are notified in writing. They're also told that they can talk to their um precinct chair and they can attend the precinct meeting which is before the town town meeting. So they're
they have multiple chances to be heard and the charter does state that the letter needs to be sent to them. So that is part of it. Thanks. Does that help? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I just I you know I
know I is here and I'm maybe I'm being picky but it's if they're not there for that meeting would it go to the another you know another town meeting but it sounds like not so yeah I'm good correct yeah because we've given them an opportunity
right right they have chosen not to act on that but they were provided with an opportunity good so I will tell you that in the past they've been notified and they've contacted ed me and said they can't attend. So at that point I they reach
out to their chair. Okay. And and speak up. Yeah. Yes. Plenty of good opportunities since this particular section I think is the first one where we have the notification that this is going to be requiring a special ed. Maybe every you
can explain why this particular section requires a special act and maybe that gives you some idea of what what the other ones are are for too. Correct. So, um there's a couple ways to amend your
charter. The the first way is to go with what we call like the full-fledged charter amendment process. It requires electing through the ballot a charter commission. um the town has not elected to do that process. When you go through
that process, you can make any change to your charter that you want. There's really no limitation. If you go with this more limited review, which the town decided to to follow, that process was the same process that we used back in um 20145,
you can't make any changes that would affect how town meeting members are elected or removed. And so while it's minor, the fact that we are clarifying that they have this opportunity to be heard could be read to affect the manner
in which they are removed. And so in an abundance of caution, this section here should go through the special act process um and be adopted through a special act of the legislature. So what you'll see in the warrant article is
that article one makes all of the changes that you know we the grammatical changes the his to theirs you know the um the he of they the select board change as well and then the second article seeks to adopt a special
legislation replacing 2.6 six of your current charter with this new text here and combined these will be um your charter will read as shown on the screen right here. Yeah. Does that make sense?
Yes. Um and then real quick, so Jane, are we all squared away with RCTV? Like it it's working because if it isn't, we can't continue. So they have he has a clear signal in there to YouTube, but we're getting reports that it's still
spinning. The executive director is working on his end to it. They're doing exactly the same thing they did last night, and everything went fine last night, so they're not sure why it's acting up right now. They're on RCTV just fine. It's just YouTube that seems to be affected. Um, so they're
broadcasting live from in there. It looks like it's fine. Um, and he said that he will upload the video first thing tomorrow. well to YouTube. I know because I'll we're lucky we have Avery in a moment, but I do know that if
um if if uploading videos after the fact does not count as being not committing an OML. So, I guess the gray area what I'm going to ask is if they're still being broadcast on television and YouTube is a
secondary medium, are we still good to continue the meeting? We're still good. We're still good to continue the meeting because the manner in which the public can participate as reflected on your agenda is in person at town hall or through the zoom which is
all functioning. Um the requirement there's no requirement that it be broadcasted live on YouTube. Okay. So for future notice if we lost the zoom then we cannot continue the meeting.
That would be potentially problematic. Yes. And then we can't upload the meeting after the fact though either. Correct. We we just have you stop the meeting. Correct. That's the process that should occur if you if you don't have the Zoom. There is some argument to be made that
if you lose the Zoom but you still allow people in person and you give the public sufficient time to get to town hall that it would be uh defensible. But I think best practice would be to um have a different meeting. Perfect. All right. So as long as you
think we're good, we will continue. All right. So to 27 precinct meeting, so then down to 29 for signing officer. We changed he to the moderator and then hits to there. Um so scrolling down to
the next page, finance committee. Um so this is 212.1. So this is the gray area that we ran into. Why is it allowed in ethical or whatever for the finance committee chair to vote on their own reappoint which
turns out the bylaw committee is doing the exact same thing on their reappoint. Um so this is why this language is going in u in there to to alleviate any issues going forward with that. Um so now it is
um so for the finance committee it gets changed to provided. However, where the chair of the finance committee in their last year and is seeking reappoint, the appointment committee shall be comprised of the chair of the select board, the moderator, and the designate of the finance committee who's not in the last
year of their um term seeking an appointment. So, in terms of semantics now, um Joe Carneahan is chair. if he was up for re reappointment in his final year, the finance committee would then vote to put somebody else there instead
of him to do that. Um, as long as they're not in their final year. And the same thing for the bylaw committee. And then is there anyone else? Is it just those two? Oh, we're going to get to it anyway. Building committee, permanent building committee. Um, but that's not under this section.
So, it's currently just the finance committee and the bylaw committee that these are being changed to. Correct. Yeah. All right. So, then 2.13 warrant articles. Once again, select board all over the place. Moving on to meetings. 214. Same thing.
Um 215.1 referendum petition. Um I believe uh this is Jesse your section correct or the changes not your section but like
where we kind of went over this. Um sorry I'm just double checked. I'm like zooming in. I thought it was section eight but I might be wrong on that. Um no I guess maybe this been a long time since we did this. So I'm like is this mine
multiple I think it's multiple spots right? It's I thought it was here and then somewhere else or maybe we made lots of different changes. Um I don't think this was my spot. All right. So I guess then I'll go over it now. Um so this is uh referendum. So
we're adding in within 3 days of receipt the board of registars shall certify whether the petition is signed by not fewer than 3% of the registered voters. Upon certification, the board of registars shall immediately notify the select board uh and shall within 10 days
after receipt of the board of registars certification that the petition contains the requisite numbers of signatures. So I guess Laura, did you have any color on this for clarity? This is this is getting added in. So, um I How did we
come up with the 3%. Was it? I don't think it was cuz it's redlined. So, it was 3%. I think it's more just um like a clarification. If you can see up, it says like a referendum in the blue that's crossed out signed by not fewer
than 3% of the voters. Um, so it it's maintaining the same percentage. It's just clarifying the process. All right. So, yeah, I I made that more
confusing. So, Jesse is correct. Her changes, etc. will be in the future. Um, all right. So, moving on to article three, elected officers. Um, so once again, select board changed in
there. Um, and then 3.2. So going all over the place. Um, oh, while I get to this. So I, uh, had Laura and everyone reach out to multiple boards and committees to solicit feedback from them. So, we're going to get to the school committee
changes and board of library trustees. Um, all of those various boards and committees were reached out prior, I don't know, like a year at this point. um to uh solicit feedback for them for any changes that they may or may not want to see in here. Um so all of these
boards and committees have been reached out to um multiple times in advance um to this. So these changes you see here with select board um getting changed obviously we changed that for everyone. School committee uh they wanted no
changes so there's no changes. That's why you see nothing. Same thing with um uh other boards and committees other than the cement uh the his to there and then select board as well. Uh municipal
light board of commissioners 3.5 we had multiple meetings on 3.5 and other sections with RMLD and the charter. Um RMLD probably took up more time for the charter than the entire charter in
general. That's my opinion. Um, the end result is nothing. Essentially, that's what this comes out to. The RMLD kind of wanted some changes. IO is um steadfast
that we are in compliance with chapter whatever and all the other things that the town of writing has to be in compliance with. Our charter is fully compliant in her legal opinion. Correct. You've said it multiple times.
I think our charter provision is sufficient and does not legally necess need any changes. Thank you. Um so that's kind of you know we we um Greg obviously former RMLD comm um uh general manager came in and and
provided feedback multiple times back in the day. Um Jeff Strugal just joined towards the No, you're not on RMLD. Ray Porter just joined towards the end replacing Bill maybe or no Phil sorry Bill they both been here forever. Um so
Ray got in at the end and you know like I said there's another opportunity in the future for RMLD to make any changes but um when these the RMLD pertinent sections is where Ry abstained from uh from the vote. So 3.5 RMLD board of
commissioners that's what's here. Um moderator uh I'll speak for Allan. I thought moderator why is it a year? We should extend it. Allan wants no part of that. Therefore, we are sticking with the one year. I'm not going to argue with Allan. That's one thing I will comment on.
Oh, Alan can comment. He's coming up. Yes. That would have been fine if you changed it, but my feeling has always been the moderator is the only position in town where there's just one person. Everything else is a board. So, I thought that's one position you should be able to change quickly if there's a
problem. Everything else one person may not affect the whole uh whole decision process. And it is more traditional on the state that way too. And how long have you been moderator? 35 6 29 29 I gave you more credit.
A lot of balance there. Thank you. Um All right. So, article four appointed board of committees uh board of assessors once again select board and we struck the item towards the end on that.
Is that the deal? So, there was text here that is no longer relevant. It talks about um uh when this section was first adopted. So we were just cleaning it up. Perfect.
All right. So board of cemetery trust cemetery trustees. No changes other than the other typical ones. Um board of health I'll just provide a little color and clarity on this. We kind of went over the whole board of health scenario
where we had to have special act or the the legislature had to do expanding the board of health. So we're in compliance now on 4.4. Is that correct? Yeah. So, as um individuals may
remember, we expanded the um the board of health from three members to five members and we did that through a special act that town meeting authorized the select board to submit and was approved by the legislature. I think the discussion was whether we wanted to convert the board of health to an
elected board um instead of an appointed board and there was lots of discussion about that and um the committee decided that they didn't want to um make that change at this time. Thank you.
All right. So, moving on to CPDC. Um no real changes there other than select board uh conservation. Same thing, Council on Aging, same historical. We were kind of clarifying here. Um,
Jonathan, did you have something on this on historical? Good evening. That one was fairly simple. was based on a the language in in the charter which is for the historical commission and I was speaking on behalf of the historical
commission but it was equally true I think of the uh farest committee that's the only two committees that don't have a specified number of members it says as it as it does there the number of members appointed by the by the board of
selectmen so it seemed like it had always been as far as I've known and I asked the other commission members numbers. It had always been five. Um so it seemed like it was high time to change it. Coupled with the fact that um I had noticed that under under 8.8.4
quorum it talks about majority of the number of members of a border committee specified in the charter. Uh so whereas for the historical commission the number wasn't specified in the charter. It seemed like it'd be a good idea to eliminate that ambiguity and just go
with five. I did uh consult with my colleagues on the historical commission and they all supported changing it to five. I didn't speak with the town forest committee. I don't remember whether we did, but that was why we we made the change to five. I should point out incidentally that the state statute allows for the historical commission to
have no fewer than three and no more than seven members. Um but it always been five and everybody was content with it being five. Thanks, Jonathan. Five voting members. Yes, we have three associates. All right. So, moving on. Um, just some
clarification under the housing authority section. Uh, rec committee, same thing. Select board, town forest committee, we use the same vernacular Jonathan just mentioned here. Uh, zoning board of appeals. Uh, no
changes. Supplement select board. Charter review committee. Same thing uh with us. We kind of went over I think very briefly, do we want to change anything? Everyone was happy with the current composition. Um and then other boards or committees, we left that the
same um because it cites it in the bylaw. So it's easier to change the bylaw than the charter. So that's why we didn't include, you know, 18 other boards or committees in here because then it's harder for us to change. So it's in the bylaw. Those can get changed separately. Um so that's why they're
absent. They're still vitally important, but you know, it's it's easier to change things that way. Um, and then associate membership, we struck that language. Town manager, um, we had a a robust discussion on this
and we brought in someone from what, Hangum or somewhere else of former two? Yeah. Um, two town managers or something. I remember it was very early on like two years ago at this point but
we did bring in um um somebody they were on Zoom in that room which shows my memory. Uh, I don't know who they were, but I I do remember it happening. Western Mass, I think. Yes, that's right. Not at Hangingham. That's Yes. Somewhere. I think I made the joke. I don't want to drive out
there because it was so far away, right? Um, which is probably Hang too, but um, so we kind of hashed out the town manager qualifications. And the general consensus of this whole section was making it a little bit easier on um
making it more towards experience as opposed to requiring certain degrees. And um because we were limiting our applicant pool by doing this. And the individuals that we had at that meeting said the same thing that we would make
it more difficult uh on the town um if we ended up having to go through a search again and do all that. it would be more difficult if we just kept this kind of language in there um as opposed to making it a little bit more open. Um
so that's why we put in there that um they should have um they shall have should shall we hash that up significantly. They shall have at least uh three years of full-time experience as a city or town manager or assistant
city or town manager. So that's going from five to three um or five years of the equivalent level of public experience um or private sector experience. Um so we did have it was probably about
an hourong discussion and that's the general consensus what we came around changing um in here. Um so moving on powers. Yes. Thank you. Um, so, um, having been, um,
through a couple of town manager appointments, um, I'm surprised this section in here is still in there about, um, so town managers all have a contract now, an employment contract like the RMLG general manager. And so,
the language that says a town manager may receive termination pays determined by the select board, we found to be um, problematic. um when Mr. Lasher retired because it's too vague and because town
managers have a contract. Um I was just wondering about the discussion you guys might have had um a thought this might come out of there. So we did have a discussion on that as well. Um do you recall is it because
their contract is superseding everything or what was what was the reasoning? because I know specifically I brought up Karen's point that she just made that I said I want to alleviate any gray area. Is that carried on further in the charter under something and we're just
skipping ahead or do you recall why we did what we did in this section or anyone from the charter? I guess maybe I brought it up at that library meeting but I Karen's point was brought up significantly. So I mean the ambiguity is still here
and and we're all sitting in the seats and it's it's a it's a it's a challenge and and it has to be discussed in public and it's meanwhile we've already gone through a contract negotiation and and everything's in writing. So I did you have something for this?
No. Um I don't recall attending that library meeting so I'm not sure what the conversation was um related to this provision in terms of ambiguity. I think
you know I I'm not sure I read this provision as being ambiguous. It just puts the the power in the select board to make a decision and then to the extent that it need the decision requires payment that
needs to be funded they would have to go to town meeting to get that authorization. Um it's not too late to make additional changes. So if the you know charter review committee wants to revisit this paragraph we can
definitely do that. Um, it's up to, I guess, both bodies, the select board and the charter review committee as to what they want to do relative to this paragraph. I guess I would just Laura if you can make a note just to obviously the minutes are probably online, but I know
we did discuss this and every Ethan was at the meeting. Oh, Ethan was okay. I can talk to him. So, I I know that this was specifically already hashed out and it is whatever we have in here for a reason. So, I'll update us at the next meeting. Um,
if Lauri, if you can just make sure the minutes exist for for this section. And Chris, I can send you a follow-up email or we can connect offline on this as well. Yeah, because we did go over it um quite a bit at that meeting. Is there a recording, Laura? Maybe there's a
recording. It was on Zoom. Um, no, not a recording. Okay. It's a separate issue. All right. So Karen, we'll we'll follow up um on that section because I I said the same thing, but I I I want to know gray area and maybe there is
Blackboard could give some feedback if we want to take a few minutes and think about it. Yep. Great. Thanks. All right. So, moving on to the next section was power and duties. Once again, select board all over the place. Changing him to the town manager. Um uh
I think those are the only changes in there. Yes. Related to that. Yep. Um, all right. So, moving on. 5.3 unbudsman. Matt Matt made the recommendation, I believe, right? To conro the memo on that because I was the
onbudsman for years. A lot of people were confused by the title. They didn't know what it meant. And also, they thought it had a lot more investigatory powers. And um so I thought and I recommended to the committee something like constituent services officer is
more in line with what it is. It's basically dealing with the public um pointing them in the right direction, helping them with issues and problems, not so much investigating and and reporting on those type of issues. So you know and I can forward the board my
memo on I wrote a couple years ago now. But yeah, perfect. Yeah, I think that this falls in line with all the other changes that we were making. Thank you. Um, acting town manager, temporary absence. I think we went over this a
little as well. I vaguely recall that, but uh we didn't make any changes uh in that section. Um, other than uh the bottom under terms of employment to be determined by the select board in accordance with section 4.4, for which is what I was actually referencing
earlier where I said maybe there's followup for something else that we're doing that's here with the employment contract. Um so that's what this is buttoning up under 5.4.4. Um vacancy uh same thing just select
board power same thing removal um same thing. All right. So then 5 5.3 removal. Same thing just changing select board. Um so then article six administrative organization once again select board.
Chris, I'm so sorry to interrupt. Could we scroll up really briefly to 552? Um, so when I was just going over this last week to refresh my memory on this, we had added that um, we have to send
notice to the town manager at his last known legal address on file. And I I I had this in our notes that we had struck legal, but it was but it was still showing up in the draft. Um, I I I think
legal is problematic because it makes we might not know what the legal like it's unclear what legal address really means. So, I'd rather just leave it as last known address on file with the town. Um, if the committee is okay, I'd like to make that revision.
Do we have to do that in a formal meeting or what should we do on something right now? Well, we're not session. Yeah, but we're not It wasn't public. Was was it I'm sorry it was posted. Was it ever called to order this? Yeah,
what is your determination on? I think you guys could make a decision now whether to Well, we do have a follow-up meeting on the 16th as well, but that's fine, too. You can make the decision at that time. I would just advise I think legal address is is a little bit ambiguous and I don't want
there to be debate about whether proper notice was provided to the town manager in this case. So I think last known address on file with the town is is more is clearer and would remove any ambiguity. So I guess just to alleviate a potential
of no quorum at next meeting who knows you say that we are okay to vote right now on something as minimal as this. You posted notice right or an agenda right was posted. Yes.
And sorry what was the agenda item? Was it discuss charter? Uh let's see it is attend select board meeting for charter review discussion. That doesn't seem
Yeah, I would do it at your next meeting just to be an abundance of caution. That doesn't seem all right. So hopefully maybe we can do something zoom whatever we'll we'll have something to do. Yes.
All right. Um, so moving on um, beyond that and I know you cannot speak on the town council portion and you abstain from you and Ethan abstained from all the section on the town council. That is correct. Correct.
And Jesse is an attorney as well as Matt was and we kind of hashed out. Um, Matt still is. Congratulations. Um, we weren't demoted. Um, but we, you know, we we kind of winged it, I would
say, to to a point, but, you know, between, uh, Jesse, Matt, and is there someone else? I think we're all good in this kind of Jonathan. Y, you didn't even tell me. You wanted something new every day.
He's that smart. He's that smart. He's a He is a lawyer as well. This is fantastic. Um, but we kind of hashed this out um with the committee members. Um, and there's no real substantial uh changes in here.
Uh, town accountant, same thing, just changing select board. Um, and then town treasurer, same thing. Bunch of changes there. Town elector, same thing. Uh,
town clerk, same thing. Article seven, budget and capital improvements. Um, same thing, just making it a little bit more obvious that it's the town manager uh for the budget. Um, school committee
budget, same thing. The town manager uh public hearing, nothing. Budget message, nothing. Proposed budget, just um they uh it's a duh. And then all the way down to capital improvements 7.7
um select board and the good on that article 8 general provisions charter changes nothing severability nothing seems as if we were getting tired towards the end and didn't actually change anything um uh 8.6 is just number
uh and we struck gender uh 8.8 procedures of boards or committees. So, we kind of went over the rules of minutes, how um uh adding that uh the clarification about putting it on the
town's website is one of the um official mediums um for notification. There's another spot with that too, right? We didn't just do it here. Is there two? I skipped over it. Okay. Um but yeah
just uh the town website is uh uh adding it wasn't clarified before and why the internet didn't exist 10 years ago but true there is a reason um quorum uh of uh the meeting uh got
changed from time to time which I think this took almost 10 minutes uh to another time um that's what got changed at quorum so just cleaning up the language election questions uh briefly on the election scenario. I know David
Zeke came in at the beginning and presented some stuff about um uh like the recall uh the recount procedures and who would and seeing if people would pay for them and um a couple other items, but the committee ultimately did not end
up taking up any of the recommendations uh on the election section. Um so 8.9.1 annual town elections no changes procedures nothing 93 select board once again um so then here we do
get to the recall uh procedures and I don't know if you want to say something Jesse um on this it like I said Jesse proposed it we kind of hashed it out made it more equitable for you're changing the number therefore we have to change the amount of time that people
need because you're increasing the number and this is what we um all fell on at the end. So, I don't know if you want to give any clarity, Jesse, but um I would say you did a great job summarizing it. And you know, I think it
was just an attempt to make um the bar for recalls a little higher um just because of both the time it demands from the clerk's office and the expenditures to the town as well. Um, so we just wanted to make sure that these are
reserved for instances of impropriy um or situations that were just, you know, really significant. And so that it gives more notice to the person being recalled and just kind of cleans things up and makes it um a little more
efficient. Yeah. And that is why so the change of 2% of registered voters and there's how many now? 21,000ish registered voters. Yes. About 21,000. So 21,000 2% of that is
4,000. Yep. So we're changing 250 to 4,000. Um so therefore as you scroll down beyond that that is where we change it from 21 days to 30 days because obviously we're
making it significantly um uh more of a vote going from 250 to 4,000 and the the amount of voters is only going to increase in theory. So that number is always going to go up. So we changed it to 30 days. Um, and then
also the um the amount of people that would have to uh sign it went from uh 10% to 20% of the voters. Um, and then just um change the uh total number of
signatures from a specific precinct to 20%. Right. That's that's how that reads to zero, not five. So, how do we read that every Yeah, that was a decrease from 25% to 20%. Yes. Yep. Because there's a a larger
pool. Chris, yes. Jonathan, just come up real quick. Just I'm sorry, but I said I was a lawyer, not a mathematician. You said 4,000. Is that That's not correct. Right. 420 420 2%.
Okay. Okay. I trusted Carlo. This will be the last sign that I trust Carlo to be my mathematician. Yes, correct. 20% was I was thinking 20%. Perfect. Thank you, Jonathan. Normally, we need Jeff Corum for that kind of
stuff. So, I'm happy you filled in. So, I know this is more of a I don't want to say a substantial change, but it is one of the bigger ones. So, does anyone need any more? So, so just to clarify because this is a two-step process. So the first step was
the 400 and the second step is the higher threshold. That's the 20%. Yep. Okay. It's just hard to read. Thanks. Yes. Got it. Anyone else on this section? Because I know it was fairly substantial.
All right. So we'll move on to recall election. Um no uh major changes there other than just the language. um nomination of candidates themselves uh which is added to that
uh and then all right so then we get to the Jonathan section 8.12.1 removal process if you want to just give some color on this Jonathan. Sure. I I should also clarify on the subject
of being an attorney. I am an attorney. However, uh I am retired attorney. Um but my status is with the board of bar overseers. I'm still paying the board of bar overseers so that I can jump back in if I need to. Um okay. With respect to article 8
uh.12, this section is the section um that is intended to address uh and does address and did address the removal of a of a board member, board commission or committee member. Um and
importantly uh it provides for the due process uh for for the that that person who is um being removed. And it it became evident that given the way that was to me and I I guess with the commissioner, given the way that uh it
it had currently referenced the the authority that could that could effectuate the removal and thereby call into play the due process rights of a of a hearing and notice etc etc was very
limited. Um the instance that that we became aware of that summer, last summer was there was a um member of a uh one of the one of the committees, the Kilum schoolboard committee um whose members are the appointing authority, the the legal
appointing authority is the uh the permanent appointment committee. Uh and um that in that instance that when that the select board um representative or member was appointed uh the the
permanent building committee um delegated effectively there's been some discussion about the degree of that but the the the school the the permanent um appointment committee delegated the authority to the select board uh to make
the designation. The designation was made and then it was subsequently changed I believe a year later by the select board. Um and that that particular uh committee member was not afforded any of the rights in this section uh because it was determined
that the way in which the the charter was written the appointing authority remained as the permanent uh appointing authority of the permanent um appointing authority uh and that the the that authority had delegated the the decision
to the select board. So this didn't come into play. Um and as a result that particular person wasn't afforded any of these rights. So this change is is intended toffect to allow for that that right to exist. So effectively appointing authority is defined
specifically here different than than elsewhere um to include not only the the actual appointing authority but as it says um whoever exercises such appointment or removal power pursuant to law or otherwise obtain to delegation. So it would cover what we anticipate
would be any other instances given the fact that the purpose for this was to afford anybody who is serving as a board or committee member uh these rights regardless of who actually imposes the the removal. That's really the the primary decision the primary uh change
that was made here. There are some some other language but it just uh provides for giving the notice in writing. Um that's what we did. Very well summarized. Um but yes, we we did go over that obviously um uh we were
okay with putting in um all of these procedures here. Um but uh so just for color or as an example uh me being on the Kllum school building committee, I can be replaced by the
select board at any time on that committee. whereas because that's the way that it was voted on by the permanent building committee to designate the select board to make the appointment whereas Mark is no longer here but he is still serving on recal because the
select board specifically outlined Mark Doxer to be on it. Therefore Mark is on there um for as long as that committee exists. So that's the kind of um I don't want to say legal ease, but that's just the way that this thing fell into. Um so
that's why Mark is still on there. Um so that's kind of obviously, you know, Jonathan wanted to have in have this in here. Um you know, the committee didn't see anything wrong with obviously more notice to anybody. Um so that's kind of why
uh we went ahead with it. And then there's a copy of the notice. um that obviously Lara would do. Um and we changed it to you know fourth width. So the language is in there. Um so they have uh the notification and it does say
in here their last known address and it doesn't say last known legal address. No is kind of right. We're not being consistent with that prior item. So any questions on 8.12.1 Carlo?
I guess this could go for any application, but for this one where it's, you know, there's a reason for someone want wanting someone to be removed. Was there any discussion about if that individual commits a crime? I don't think I don't think that I don't
think that got brought up at all for anything because that could be the same thing for a recall or a recon that we could be like, oh, if you're a convicted felon, then you don't get to um do XYZ. I don't even know if we could make that legal, but we never even discussed it,
but I could kind of see where you're at. Like, so, but yeah, there's no exemption here. So, if someone um commits a crime and you believe that that committing that crime justifies removal, you would have to go through this process. Note, this this
removal process only applies to like boards and committees. It doesn't apply to employees of the town of Reading. So there's a whole statutory scheme that deals with um in employees that have committed crimes and whether or not they
can retain their position. I guess if I rephrase it, not committed a crime, convicted of a crime. Like if someone commits a crime, you know, goes to trial. It's an ongoing long process. But when when that individual finally
gets convicted, we're still obligated to go to the through this process. Yes, I know this the the catch is with this this is the easy thing. This is sending a you know some letter in the mail certified whatever Lara handles
whatever. It's if I committed a crime, got convicted and I wanted to be in jail and still be on the select board, you would have to recall me or I have to resign. That is it. That's like that pretty much in any city or town. Like you wouldn't be a resident anymore, so
you're good. Yeah. You want to be a res? Yeah, it's an easy one. Do we have to test this? No, you can test it. Yes. If you're not a resident, you cannot be on a border committee. Yeah. Okay. Not living within the town. So, if
you're in if you're in a jail that's not within the town of Readen, you cannot be on a border committee. So, a hypothetical. I move to New Hampshire tomorrow. What is the process? You've automatically resigned. Is that true, Andrea?
So, your charter requires residency. Um, I think we'd have to kind of think about whether it's automatic or whether an action needs to be taken. It's not something I've ever looked at. Um, so I'm not ready to right now, but yes, residency is a requirement under Reading's charter. We'll leave our we
had lots of we have two hypotheticals. Go ahead Jonathan. The same conundrum would apply to for example this language sort of tracks the same language that exists with the town manager. So the same situation would be applicable to that and again this is
only affording notice and an opportunity to be heard about it. Doesn't change the ultimate outcome. Well it could. So just for information that the the term automatic was probably not a correct
term but in the past before I time we had a member move out of the state and tried to remain on the board and he was told that he was no longer on the board by our current town council at that time. Yeah. And that makes sense, Laura. I
mean, I think that's where we would ultimately end up. Whether or not like an official action of someone in town needs to be taken, I think we'd need to analyze, but I don't see how a select board member could reside outside the jurisdiction of reading.
And that was an elected member, Laura. Yes, it was appointed. Oh, appointed. Okay. And some clarification, uh, Mark serving in his role as a member of the permanent building committee, if that's just you said he's on there for the life of the
committee, but I'm pretty sure that if it's recal, the rec the recal committee go away. I don't believe so. Well, it's permanent building committee with two special appointees. Recal sounds. You think the select board could
reappoint someone else if we didn't like I don't think I I would like to clarify that because that doesn't make any sense. I I don't think there's any other committee where you appoint somebody and you can't swap them out. That's what we just talked about, you know, with another committee
when we have a who made because we made the appointment. I frankly don't remember. I'm a little confused and especially with recal existing at the same time in the permanent committee. I I'm a little confused. I know. No, we made the appointment. We appointed Mark. He's our designate,
right? So, if we want another designate, we could do that. Like, I don't I I don't think the committee has special powers that we couldn't. No, I don't want to be clear about that. Maybe has the answer. Can you come up, please? So, can you
come up, please? She's talking. She's very loud. I I I had a good good bit of input in rewriting the permanent building committee bylaw and I think it's um what you has put on the building
committee in addition to permanent building committee members uh that is an appointment by ret talking about um and that's there's nothing in bylaw language that says that that is a per decision. Yeah, that's what I just wanted to be
clear. Yeah, you can the whoever whoever you're the you're the the authority making building. Uh you can put anybody on there you want to and take them off. I think that's like consistent with everything else. So I just wanted to clarify the ones you can't touch as a
member of the permanent building the permanent you can't touch. Yeah, COA has a special appointee as well. Sorry. The COA has an appointee on the permanent building committee as well. Okay.
COA has one. The members who apply are their their title is member of the permanent building committee. They are can only be removed by the planning authority and permanent building committee which is
the chair moderator and okay I think it's yeah I can't remember I long ago I can't remember exactly what it was but um yeah they the members of the permanent building committee are secret they attend the debate that was that was
having been on school building comm I did a lot of research in all the towns Um the idea is to put members on there who um you know dedicated professionals who were not influenced by whatever committee they're on. Uh and that's the
reason that they you know in language bylaw they always have to out vote anybody you throw on there I think maximum nine and they have to 65 and that's the reason that they cannot be out voted by the people by the
u the people appointed by the uh authoriz I can't remember terminology [Music] the entity creating essentially school committee cannot out vote the permanent
building on the killing school for examp that's the way it was designing that way so it's a political influence not over overshadow project concerns so yeah so it's kind of I don't is mark
Mark's a select board designigny but like obviously the recal project is going to get wrapped up and finished and then does that I and we don't have to answer that now So I didn't know if that was a spec a specific position created for a project that was being done. Same with the COA because they weren't
originally part of Okay. So like when those projects are completed, they disappear. You call it a building committee, but it's actually, you know, it's a newly newly formed committee based on whatever the building is. Okay. So it'll change over time. Okay. To make sure you have the right representative. Thank you. Thank you.
All right. All right. So that is 8.12.1 and then going into the public hearing we um increased it from 5 days to 10 days. Um and once again their last known address not last legal so it's kind of
consistent. Um just um cleaned up the removal section close of the public hearing uh on that uh resignation their office changing that town seal.
had this get brought up as well. Um, and the way that uh the committee and uh I know can comment as well that stuff can get changed after the fact regardless just like the board of health
position got changed. So if the town seal was to change in the next two three years, there's no barrier beyond just um getting um some help from the legislature on that. Correct. The the easier process is
probably just to seek special legislation to repeal 8.14 of your charter. You could also do it through a ballot vote, but um if you are adopting a new town seal, it's probably easiest to just seek a special act.
But we did go over this also um I don't want to say extensively, but we we did discuss it as well and uh chose to keep it the same. And surprisingly, that is the end.
So, does anyone have any follow-up questions, concerns? We're going to see what we can do for the next meeting on that one language and then follow up on Karen's um question about the town manager um funding.
Anything else? Where's the part where we get paid? Forgot that part. I would love for that to be in there as well. I think, didn't I jokingly bring this up too? that we get paid and then we'd exempt ourselves, but we chose not to put it. So,
it's not too late. Well, do we have a second? Second by Carlo. Yeah. Um, no, I I I know we did kind of jokingly go over over the the whole pay thing and I think I brought up Cambridge, you know, pays
60 grand and healthcare and everything else that we'd all love, but um daycare, not healthcare. Um, but no, we we chose to keep it the way that is. Well, the the reason I bring it up because when we went over this stuff with the
was it a retirement board or from the health on on on health plans? Uh, yeah. With the PC agreement. Yeah. So, we're considered employees and we get no benefits from being designated employee. Comes with all the BS of being
an employee. Are you sure? Yeah. we have to deal with BS. So, shut. So, I'm being half serious. Yeah. Right. I'm not saying like $10,000 and you're
running for a specific reason, but you know, cities get well compensated school and town councils for being on their committees and they meet every two weeks just like us. Yes, they may be bigger, but
you know, because of all these conflicts of interest, we're considered an employee. We can't do this, we can't do that. I can't teach pickle ball and reading, which is BS, right? Because I'm an employee, and other things that other members can and cannot do, past and
present. Like I think it'd be nice to have a small amount that is reasonable that you're not not based on for political reasons. I'm running to get paid, right? But and that you can say, "Oh, well, Carlo, if you're going to get compensated, then conservation to get
conservated finance committee, they meet a lot of CPDC, they go till midnight, they should be compensated." Yeah, but we have to run an election. There's a lot more to it for the for the school committee. I was almost said selectman in the spirit of selectman and other people
have to run for office. So I'm half serious but I'm half kidding as well but if this is our time to do it it's 10 years from now that we can't talk about this again. So I've brought this up in this manner before but now we're towards
the end. Yeah. I wouldn't say no to some money just because the just the cover stuff you know that's all. Karen, you were good with that? Um, I have talked to a lot of folks from
other communities in my work at the Mass Municipal Association. Um, Framingham has counselors who are responsible for one area of the city and they get $7,000 and it's a stipen and it does pay for the driving around and the things you
have to do. Um, so no, I'm not opposed to it. Um, not every town has it and so yeah, it's community by community, but it is pretty common and we could be a city. We choose to keep our town form of government. We have
28,000 residents now. We could be a small city. So, it's really it's not even about that, but um I won't use Carlo's phrase, but and unlike, you know, ward counselors, which are just responsible or getting a stipen, if you
will, for just one neighborhood, you know, we're responsible for the entire community. So, it's not easy. I would agree with Carlo Melissa Karen. We're talking override. Who could we possibly be talking about this?
That's all I have to say. I agree with Card on that, Rose Gillis. I mean, it would be hard. I mean, I I don't disagree. It would be great to get a stipen, but I just don't know that this is the right time to have that conversation considering the state of
the town and we're asking everyone to cut budgets. I don't think that I can ask for a stipen or salary at this point. So, I think I'm the deciding uh not real vote, but sort of kind of. I think that
yeah, it's it's not a good look now. Obviously, I think by the time that this is in, maybe we're not here anymore. Who knows? Um but I don't think it's a good look now. I I don't think that something like 2500 or I made the joke that when I
was running I saw the select board had a budget or whatever and that's what I thought it was getting paid. Come to find out I don't get anything. Um so like you know I it would have been nice. Um but yeah, I don't think that now is the the right time unfortunately. I I do
think that it's it's warranted obviously the amount of time, effort, and energy that we all put in. You know what I mean? Uh Karen Rose Gillis is is competing with me and Allan now for doing the most stuff in the whole town. Like came out of nowhere. Um it's a
compliment. Um but like all of us Karen's going to all these random meetings that none of us are doing. So you know you get credit for doing that kind of stuff. I you know it might not mean much coming from me but I I at least see that you're doing this kind of
stuff. Um, and you know, we we all contribute uh significantly more and you know, I don't think it's the right time, but I absolutely agree it would be warranted. Um, I would go probably 2500 if I had to kind of thing, but I don't
think this is something that any kind of I I don't think it has to be in the charter though. Couldn't we do it at any time? I mean, if times get better in a couple years, it could be just added in. I could always just I guess every how do you see how that that would end up going?
Um interesting. I mean I've only seen it done through charter. I'd have to explore whether it could be done through a different procedure. Um definitely something we could look into. Uh but again it's not
it's not the you don't have one opportunity every 10 years to amend your charter. You can do it at any time. Um so if you know the time warrants and you do want to revisit this question and it does require a charter amendment. It's not like it's off the table because
you're outside you know the standard review periods. Yeah. But then the spotlight is just on that one item. I don't absolutely I don't think so. But even if there is an alternative process, um the spotlight would be on
that one action item anyways. So I'm running for reelection to get $5,000. Please vote for me. Like that doesn't really I don't people would actually vote for me though, so who knows? But I to Carlo's point, yeah, like
nobody's going to do that. That's that's you know I don't want to say career suicide even though it's a not a career but like no it's not a good luck. I don't know we all we all acknowledge that I think that we should be getting compensated. Same thing it's you know school committee.
No other than Karen. Um because you've only been doing this. Yeah I know you've been doing for a minute. I mean the conversation is what would you use the money for? you know, I mean, there's a lot of things that's legitimate, but you know, we're volunteers, so like the argument of, you
know, the town force committee works their asses up. You know, they should be paid for hours of labor that they do, you know what I mean? So, I think, you know, you know, I did want to compensate them with gift cards or something. I think I was uh ridiculed for actually making that kind of thing, but I I acknowledge that other
boards and committees, especially CPDC, they went till like 12:30. You're not doing that. They don't get appointed to they don't have to run for office. Yeah. Correct. But it is very common. I'm sure it is. I just am not. Yeah. So I think we bel that to death more
than the entire charter. Um so any other closing comments from the public? Anyone online? Jackie? Yes. Angela has her hand raised. Angela, do you want to get paid? Go ahead. Do I want to get paid?
Yes, we're we're taking an informal vote. Yeah. No. Um no, I'm I'm not being paid. Um but thank you. I do I did have a a couple of questions. Um and I did come in in the middle of the discussions but
there was something about three days that the board of registars had to certify something and I was just wondering is there any contingency if that's a holiday or if the board of registars I don't you know if there's
some I forget what it was because I I did come in late because I was over at the library but there was something added that the board of regist drawers had three days to certify. It was So you you are correct, but I believe
during our meetings we actually went over this and it's like relegal business town hall days or something. Right. Correct. The definition um of days in the charter for anything under I think it's seven, sorry I don't have the
provision pulled up right away is counted by days in which town hall is open. Anything over seven is calendar days. Um, but let me pull up the actual provision just so I'm not misquing. And if there were one registar who's on
vacation or something, there would be a wait to have somebody else fill in for that. I'll let Laura answer that question. But, you know, these are pretty significant issues and um, we'd want to make sure that we can staff it appropriately. Okay.
So when it comes to certifying the signatures of the board of registars, my office actually does the certifications and and the board of registars sign off on it um and using their stamp as each member of the board of registars
are appointed they vote take a vote to allow us to do the job. So as far as as far as and that vote is taken anytime there's someone new appointed. So, okay, as far as the members, um, if there's
one on vacation, it it doesn't matter. Okay. Thank you. And one other question um 8.12.1 the removal of um members are exeicio members
removed automatically if they resign a position or could there be an instance where an exeicio somebody who's appointed exeicio would actually have to also be removed? No, they would um they
would be automatically resigning from that position. There wouldn't need to be another action taken. So, for example, if um there's a select board member is serving exeicio on the trust fund committee commission
um and then that select board member resigns, they automatically resign from both positions. Okay. Um, okay. And that um and I and I don't know if anybody is aware um regarding the pay
of a scandal um in Stonem years ago about uh a um I think it was I don't know who it was. I think it might have been a a I don't know if it was a select board member um who had a a small
stipend um it might have been the a town moderator years ago and um ended up getting uh health insurance for life after having um figured out how to work
the system. So, um I'm not in favor of um I'm not in favor of um payment for volunteers because I think that takes away what a volunteer is. Thank you. Thanks, Angela. Laura, yeah,
I just wanted to clarify something that um Avery has said and we have to look into this, but you mentioned that the three business days with the town hall hours. I believe Friday is included in that.
Even though we're not open on Fridays, I believe that we have to count Friday as a business day when it comes to elections. I can look into that, Laura, but I don't I'm I know you have to count that under the elections law, but this is a charter
provision. So, I think that our charter provision would govern I just wanted to double check. Yeah, I don't think we the normal election rules would would um uh you know govern how we count the days.
Okay. Anyone else? Going once, twice, three times. All right. Uh there'll be another opportunity next week um at we have a meeting for the select board on the
16th. the charter committee will post for that as well. We'll check offline if we have to do something for the that striking out um that area had mentioned and then we'll get clarification on Karen's question.
Um so, uh I'll make a motion to adjourn the charter review committee, [Music] seconded by Jonathan. Um roll call vote because Jesse is online. Jesse? Yes. Um, Jonathan, yes.
Ray, yes. Jeff, Alan, and Chris is yes. So, we are adjourned. Uh, thank you all once again. Um, like I said, you put a lot of time, effort, and energy into this. Um, as well as, you know, Jeff Beck who isn't here. Um, and
then obviously Bill Brown in the beginning. Phil, am I missing somebody else? One person, library person, right? Andrew. Yeah. Um, he was there at the beginning. and Chuck. Y Oh, yeah. I mentioned Phil. Um, yeah.
No, they put a a lot of time, effort, and energy in so I really appreciate that. All right, so we will move on to the next item, which is preview subsequent town meeting
warrants. Um, every you still there by chance? I am. Yeah. So, it is uh typically uh I meant to ask you this in advance, but I I believe that you're I'm going to be
correct in this is that if a majority of the select is conflicted out of an item, that means that the majority can that means that the conflicted majority can still then vote. Correct? because I'm bringing up this for a point because of
the snow shoveling bylaw that is under the um the town meeting warrant that is in the smart uh growth district. It's a little bit more complex. I mean generally that is the rule. It's called
the rule of necessity. So if um you can't have a if there isn't a quorum of a body that can act because they are conflicted then those individuals can participate but it has to be um a
specific ethics issue that's not waveable or or somehow can be waved through disclosure. So I would need to know a little bit more. Are there three members of the select board that reside
within the district impacted by the snow removal bylaw? I would say yes. And this is once again reside or reside two of us. Yes. But is that the right word? Resside.
Because then my business is also okay. But I don't know if you would be obligated to shuffle, right? I think we'd have to kind of analyze like the impact under the bylaw for each of the select board members and then you need a written determination from council. Um
so what I would advise is um that we consult offline and I can meet with each individual that is potentially impacted and I can give a an official opinion. So how should we handle the preview of the warrant? Just have Matt skip that or
what do you want to do? Yeah, I would just skip that article. Yeah. All right. So, that's fair enough. Um All right. So, Matt, if you want to go over the warrant. Okay. All right. I'll go through it. So, it it's up on the screen. I think Sharon is
also on the call as well. Um because a lot of these are financial articles that we deal with every town meeting. Um article one is reports. The only report I'm aware of right now is I think the community preservation act study committee would like to give a report to town meeting. Um if any other
committees or anybody else wants to give a report, please let us know. But that's the only one I'm aware of. The second one is instructions. That's instructional motions and whatnot. We always defer to the final night on that one. Um the third one, we get into the financial articles. This is amend the
capital improvement program. Um there will be some amendments to that. Sharon and I met with all of the department heads uh recently within the last week to see if there was any changes to the capital improvement program. Usually it's like moving out a a truck a couple years, things like that. Um Sharon has
quite the schedule that she keeps track of all this on and um so we'll have we will have some changes on town meeting for town meeting on this. Um also article four amended the budget. There are um a couple of small things that we'll have to change in the budget as we
do every year. Sharon will have those outlined and those will be in the background and plenty of time for town meeting to digest. Um this other one, article five, transfer of funds um from closeout capital projects. Um that's you can see there is a little more detail in the
article itself. Um, so these are projects that we had we had already borrowed for and we had funding for that have come to an end and there's some leftover money and so we need to go to town meeting and ask for that money to be transferred to other projects. So the
two main projects that we're going to be borrowing for Kilum and senior center. So we tried to divide those equally among the the two projects. Um totally it's a little under $200,000. So, it's not a lot of money, but we do need to clean that up a little bit out out of
those accounts and reallocate those. Um, town meeting will have the final say as to where they they go, but this is something that um Sharon had mostly put together based on being fair to both projects in the need. So, that was article five.
Can I ask a Yeah. Can I ask a question on this? Yeah. Chart. Um, so I guess I don't understand like the library renovations from 2013. How do we have $93,000 that has been sitting there? We didn't
use it for other projects that have come up since like the Parker roof or turf improvements or the floor at the high school. How do we know why we didn't I don't know. Sharon, do you have the answer to that question?
Yes. The library renovation qualifies for a 30-year borrowing and can only be transferred to another project with an equal borrowing term. And so those types of projects would be would not qualify. So we were kind of waiting to transfer the access to the next building project.
So that's why we're doing it now for kill recal. I hope we've been getting interest on that money somewhere. Yeah, we always have interest on all of our funding that we have out there. So, if we've been holding it, it's been in our cash accounts or in CDs, it's
definitely getting interest. Okay, great. Thank you. Okay. Um, article, if there's no questions on that one, article six is approve prior year bills. As of right now, I don't think we have any. And if we don't have any before town meeting,
we'll table it. Um, but we always keep it open just in case a bill pops up and we have to actually pay it. So, article seven, um, this article, this was a request from Will Valier, who's our veteran services officer, works under Jane's department. Um, it's basically
adopting a federal bar. It's it's a it's a local option and I meant sorry, federal state law. And what it allows people to do is if it's totally voluntary, you know, no no no additional tax unless they want to make a donation,
but there'll be on a excise tax bill or on a property tax bill, there'll be a separate sheet or a box where you can check to make a donation and that donation would come and exclusively be set aside for veterans. It's called the Municipal Veterans Assistance Fund. Um,
and so that money would pile up and Will would actually administer the fund. There'd be guidelines on how to um how to apply for the fund. Um, and and it would only be available, it's available for all veterans with their certain needs requirements. So, the way he explained it to me is that if somebody's
having trouble one month paying their mortgage or their rent or, you know, even if they get the regular veterans benefits, and some even don't even get that, it's a little something extra that he could say, "Okay, I have some money on this fund to help you out sort of on a onetime basis, get you through." And
according to Will, there's a lot of veterans, young and old, that find themselves in this situation. So, he'll be there at town meeting to explain it further. Um, I think it helps if it helps needy veterans. You know, I I thought it was something that town media should hear about and decide on. Um, so
that's that's that article. So, it's completely optional like you mentioned and the fund does not exist already. So, if this got approved, we'd have to Sharon might have to create some fund. Yeah. And it could all be done within I thought originally there was going to have to be two separate articles, this
and one to create the fund. I guess it's Every looked into this I believe and I guess it's all if you adopt this um the statute it's all inclusive so okay the fund will be created and it doesn't exist right now other towns do do it and I think Will has some examples that
he'll talk about can you mention what the figure looks like is it $5 a thousand like I think yeah it's whatever they want just an extra check off I I give an extra $100 you know to the veterans assistance fund Okay.
So, totally voluntary. Perfect. Okay. So, then we could move to article 8. That would be the first article for the charter. We just went through a lot of that. This article would be the one for the town election. Article 9 would be for a special actor. You have to
break it up that way. I think you reattached on this. Um, there's actually two separate articles, but they both deal with the charter. And article 10. Um, I believe we have somebody from town forest. Somebody from town for Yeah, town forest here tonight. Right. So, this is a request from town
forest. Um, and it's for an extra $50,000 in the budget this year to pay for invasive control. Um, after we we took care of a lot of the trees there, a lot of invasive plants come to the town forest. And this money according to the
town forest committee is needed for that. It would have to come from free cash. I I didn't see any other um funding source that identified. So, it would be have have to be transferred from precache, but again, it's a request from a committee and it it has to go on
the town meeting warrant, but town meeting can do what they want with it. Chef, did you want to speak any further on this? Are you good? Matt summarized it well for you. Okay. Perfect. Okay. And we won't talk um we won't talk about the final article tonight. Um,
can I ask a question? Yep. When are we closing the warrant next week? So, Avery, we have to call you. Yes. Um, everyone who is potentially impacted, just send me an email and we can set set up a time to talk.
And what is Yeah, Laura is still here. I so and I got also an email from Laura who was I guess it was the um climate committee reached out and may have a potential article but I haven't seen anything yet and it's getting fairly late. So um I'll I'll find out if
there's anything more coming if they voted on anything but I don't even know what it is at this point. So I responded to him today. So Oh, okay. You did. Okay. That's the only other addition that I I'm aware of. you had a question.
Oh, you saw my hand. I just want to point out um if we're moving the snow removal bylaw discussion to next week that we are also running a forum at the same time. So, um
yeah, I can come after, but I don't know if I if it would be later in the agenda or what. All right, we can work offline to come up message. Yeah, just wanted to point that out. And the forums were again we were all trying to accommodate the Jewish
holidays and so once you moved your meeting, they moved their forum. You know that it's tight in September. So, so that's why we try not to have things on the same night as select board meetings, but sometimes it's unavoidable. Okie dokie.
So, that's that's the way it's looking. Anyone else from the public on articles? Taylor name and address. Taylor Gregory Pleasant Street. Um I just wanted to bring up you have on your agenda for next meeting the commission
on disability. So in order for that to be adopted, it really just needs to be sponsored by either the select board or the town manager and brought to town meeting and then town meeting votes on it. Um and then a separate fund is set up basically for it to get going. So if you want to I would suggest that if if
trying to get on to the article for this November, you should probably discuss it before you close the war at the next meeting. Thanks. Yeah, I know that Elbert is going to come to next meeting. It sort of got delayed a few times. Um I was thinking it more of an April item. Um certainly
it could it could go on potentially for uh November, but he's uh he's not scheduled to come until next week. Um, and I haven't seen a draft of an article yet, unless he has one. He just has a PowerPoint. So, I'll follow up with him now. Yeah. I mean, if it doesn't have to go
before the bylaw committee. I I believe the um climate advisory was working on a tree policy, but that's going to need to go by the bylaw committee. So, Oh, is that what they're working on? I think so. Okay. But, so that would really push out to April. But if this doesn't have to
Okay. I'll I'll find out um if I mean uh I have to see what it looks like first. I don't know what it will look like. It's a it's okay. I don't want to guess. So, right. I'll talk to I'll talk to Albert about that. Anyone else online tracking?
Yes, Angela has her hand raised. Angela, I had two minutes address. I forgot to address last time. Thank you, Angela Brenda. Um question. Why would money have to come out of um free cash for
uh the town forest project? It could we not use Burbank money for it? $50,000 out of the Burbank money for for that Sharon or um I mean I think free cash is the most likely suspect here. Um, I don't know that I don't know about
Burbank, but I mean, usually if you're going to ask for an addition like that for that amount, that amount comes from free cash, unless there's a grant or something I'm not aware of. Um, but is there do you know if there's any other funding source separately pursue grants for sure? I
would say it would have to be pre-cash and and we are looking into the Ice Arena revolving fund in terms of it had been labeled as a donation account and um now we're looking at it differently and looking at how it was created and trying to determine um if it's really
properly classified as a donation account. And so I wouldn't want to touch that funding any further until we figure that out. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Last year it was town meeting appropriated three times this amount. I
don't know where that came from if that's helpful. I think that was ARPA money. They did have some ARPA money before to handle this. I'd have to research they matched right something like that. Yeah. I mean certainly it's important. So you think we can figure this out for the next meeting maybe? Is that the
figure what out? This funding source or however Sharon was classifying it or is that just cutting it too close? Free cash. I think we have to go on free cash right now because I know that I has done some research into it. Sharon's working on it. I don't know that we'll
have a definitive answer by next week. So, all right. Anyone else online? Jackie? No. All righty. So, that is the preview of the warrant. We'll vote next uh Tuesday for that. Yeah.
Um Thank you. All right. We already did leazison reports. We already did minutes. So, future agendas, page 94, and I think Jackie could if you can call that up to the screen. And I think that
um we've been updating it because we have a meeting coming up next week, too. So, this is probably the most updated version. Um and we'll we'll add it into the packet. We're working on it even today. So, It's exciting about the golf place. Yeah. Yeah. Very exciting. Yeah. It's
down a general way. Okay. Can you go back? Yeah. Can we put them in paper moves instead? The golf. Yeah. No, they they're going to they're going the general way to George Vanis.
Do you just want to scroll right back up, Jackie? to the beginning. Are you good, Karen, with that? Yeah, you know, I was going to say that um we don't have to do community spotlight like every single meeting if because I'm looking at 15 minutes for
the RCTV license agreement and that's clearly not enough. It's not it's not going to be a it's that's not the it's not a contract. It's we're not bringing the contract to the meeting. It's just going to ask for a potential vote extension for time.
Yes. Okay, that makes sense. What are valet parking fees? The valet thing is I brought it up last meeting, but about outside of post um collecting the funding for that.
Okay, you can keep going if you guys are all good. So, you want to scroll down a little bit more, Jackie, to after both public hearings. Okay. We have to vote on um tax rates soon and we have not had a preview and we've already requested that previous
meetings. Yeah. So, I have that as she scrolls down. I think I have it slated for the no the date Victor gave me was the November 4th meeting, I believe. I mean he he feels like he says every year that we can do it in one night. Um but you know it's up to you
but I it's it's a pro former thing that they so sorry that he does every year. So if it if he if he wanted two nights it would have to be before I guess what he said was November would be if he did it anytime after that you'd be cutting
it close with do and um with tax bills coming up also running usually and traditionally for years and years it's in October mode. So yeah, this is again how's it slipping in in November and that being okay. Um I I have to rely on Victor on that,
but that's the date he told me. So and he's available. So if you want to just get clarification, Matt, um and just see what the deal is for that because I I think that I brought it up that it has to be two meetings, too.
Okay. All right. I'll ask him if it has to be two meetings. Maybe it's the two October meetings. typically like I said discuss and vote on the same thing but traditionally this has always been one of the more hot button issues so I think that it's warranted. Okay I'll follow hop back with him but
right it is on there for the look ahead. So, Jackie, did you want to scroll back up again because I had two things, but it looks like you already put on there down a little about discussing the lease amendment for the recal
um scenario, and we have to see about a um uh appointing one of us to a negotiation committee um regarding the um potential lease extension, etc. That's all covered
in this. So that um we have on the next meeting because obviously um as you saw with CPDC last night um with pickle ball and the recal thing not passing because parking, we kind of have to get this hashed out and we don't have another
meeting until October 7th. So obviously there going to be a broader discussion, right? Because you can call it a lease amendment, but there may be things that we might want to change in the lease that we have not been afforded an opportunity to. So that's why we would be appointing one of us to be on the
negotiation committee to bring back a recommendation. But you need feedback from the rest of the that that's fine, but that person that you appoint takes feedback from the board and goes and and has those conversations and spends the extra time that comes back and reports to the
board. That's how we do that. That's how we purchased the we got all the easements done for example for metal rock right going and just it took time to meet with them and he comes back and reports to us.
Yeah. So that's we're appointing the person for that. We're not there's no voting I I don't know when the vote would be. I said obviously we want to do it sooner rather than later, but there is no there was no concrete date for a vote on that um beyond just a sign uh
I went back to the uh pickle ball warrant article and it says like and I might have asked Jane about it there's money for resurfacing in there. So, you know, last night at CPDC, you know, somebody was saying, "Oh, maybe the town could find some money to
re redo the parking lot over Burbank." I mean, I think there's they have capital needs. They have capital investments. I mean, it it's it make that is a 30-year-old contract. It makes sense now that the building is aging to have a conversation about who's responsible for what and is
it getting done? Because it's it's the property of the town, the building, the equipment that stays with it. I think they might be able to take the Zamboni with them, but and I could be wrong about that, but we own everything locked stuff in barrel, but they're responsible for keeping it running. But that is a very old lease and often it looks like
it was put on a typewriter. So it Well, that's feedback that you can give to uh to you guys. Well, this is our discussion, but we're not inviting our u we're not inviting Burbank to come to this. We're gonna discuss. No, this is this is just okay.
Between the five of us, right? Thank you. Question. So, we're if I'm understanding this this conversation corre correctly, we're going to not do a memorandum of the lease. We're going
to actually go in and try to amend the current lease that's already been signed between the town and them for the live. So, I don't know if you are still on the problem. the way I understand it for liability. So the part of the lease that we're amending is basically liability for liability
reasons. We're amending that and we're doing a separate for shared use of the parking. Okay. And it has to be done in two separate documents and it has to really be a lease amendment and anou. Okay. Um that's the way we're we're proceeding.
But I guess my question is has the arena agreed to open up the lease for amendments in other sections? We haven't even asked about that. Yeah, Jen could speak. Uh, yes, there's an appetite on the part of the board to
um open up the release and and talk about some stuff. I think they have some asks as well. So, I just don't want I wouldn't Okay, great. Perfect. As long as they are involved in this conversation, it's not one spoken to a member of the board, Mr.
Great. Thank you. All right. And then just for um a long night. Yes. Yeah, I know. It's meeting minutes. It was only five minutes. Uh and then the November
4th meeting. Jackie, if you can put uh reorganization on the agenda. Sorry. Reorganization of what? Yeah, select board reorganization on November. November 4th, he said. November 4th. Yep.
So, what's that all about? It's pretty unusual. It is going on the November 4th agenda. Well, you've requested it, but could you give us a little more background on that request? I wouldn't want to start discussing and
advocating things uh in advance. It's just going on and we can have someone else. Sorry. Is this a personal question? I I'm I'm putting it on the agenda. All you have to do is Yeah. Okay. You're putting on a fair. Okay. So, yeah.
Okay. All right. Anything else for future agendas? Once, twice, three times. Well, I guess can we go back to the next week's meeting real quick? I would try to get some stuff off that meeting.
That's going to be hours long. is I don't think that it's going to be only because like you see RCTV that is not two hours public comment the whole spiel that is reserved for a future follow-up
meeting. This is I believe they're just asking because the contract would run out September 30th and we do not have a meeting until October. It is just asking for an extension to keep negotiating like Melissa had mentioned. That's correct. It's not anything beyond that. If you want to make it that, feel
free. But this is just I don't think that's like it's gonna take all the time. No. Can you scroll down, please? I just had a I just had a question. I'm not adding or right now. I want to get rid of things right now, but I might keep going down. I think this is like way too
long. Uh, keep going. All right. So based on what I heard tonight of the building department cabin Mhm.
Do we know what this since it's next week what this the the topic is? Yeah. Yeah. I mean talking to Chris about that. I think you just wanted an update on where where they're at or something. It's more al I don't want to get into the back and like I just told Karen I'm
not I don't want to start discussing items but I I think that given the conversation that you and I had Matt in the u parameters around it I think that like I told you if if we don't hear something
then I would like to discuss it at this meeting. Okay, that's I would rather see it in his manager report. It's opening up to all of us. I I think that it's depending on the direction. I think it might have We have no say in it anyway. We have no
say in I understand that. But there's, you know, I don't want to get more into it. We'll see. We'll see. Matt has Yeah. Yeah. All right. So, can we go back up now so we can start getting rid of stuff, please? I don't think anything has No, no. I'm
just I'm going to put it out there. I think because of the timing issues, what a resident just said, scroll down on the uh disability thing, we're not going to get on that on the warrant. It
doesn't make any sense timing wise. So, I think we can push that out. No, further down. Scroll up. Scroll up. That's just my opinion again. My opinion on that one. Uh, we're having Albert for what?
Okay, for that. All right. So, again, that's just something um I guess that's a potential executive session, right? Discuss and vote on opioids. That's potentially that's not that's not going to be an executive session, but it's essentially
giving me the authority to sign certain documents. Um, we we'll work on a I'm working with Fria on some language for the agenda item in the motion, but there's documents though that have to be signed by the end of the month or else we lose out a lot of money. So, I want
to be able to have the authority to do that. So, I I you know, with the boards obviously it shouldn't take long. No, no, no, not that. I think I think we can afford to push out Albert for right now since he's not going to be on that November town warrant. Okay. And then if we keep scrolling up,
I think that's the only one. Everything else we have to do. We already advertised the Yeah, we get the liquor licenses. We have to do that. Yeah. Uh extension on the RCT. We have to do that. And we have to start talking about trash because we're ready to we're ready to move on that. Do we really? I just asking.
We wanted to do over two meetings. We'll have a to you in October, I think. But I think we need to do it over two. Ballet parking fees. I don't even know what I know says up there, but yeah, that that could be that could be pushed out. I guess it's up to
Chris. I This is one of more of like I said, I wanted that kind of reoccurring discussion on every single agenda. I think this is minimal time required for this and deputy chief can provide a memo in advance. I think we've gotten a little too accustomed to being
done around 10:30. I mean, a little bit earlier, obviously, to not realize that, you know, they might go to 10:30 next week, but I'm going to obviously do the charter section thing a little bit faster than I did tonight because there's more reference points now. They can reference this. We're going to get some questions
answered that we already had. Like, it's not That's what torpedoed this whole meeting. It's like an hour of that. Yeah. So like I think we'll be good. Okay. If not, we can move stuff during the meeting tonight.
All right. Anyone else? I took all that time. Anyone else? No. Are you both good? Yes. All set. Okay. Then we need another motion then because we did everything else. Yeah, we did everything else. Motion to
adjurnn. I gave you time, Karen. Seconded by Melissa. Uh, all right. We're all in person. It's all in favor. Is it?