ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Reading Memorial High School
April 30, 2007
Precinct 2 met and tie votes were broken with Robert L. Green and Paul F. Robertson.
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Alan E. Foulds, at 7:52 p.m., there being a quorum present. The Moderator led Town Meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ARTICLE 20 – On motion by Stephen Goldy, member of the Board of Selectmen, it was voted that the Town raise by borrowing and appropriate pursuant to Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts General Laws or any other enabling act the sum of four hundred and ten thousand dollars ($410,000) for the purpose of purchasing a fire engine, including the costs of consulting services, plans, documents, cost estimates, bidding services and all related expenses incidental thereto and necessary in connection therewith, said sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Town Manager; and that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen, the Town Manager, or any other agency of the Town, to apply for a grant or grants, to be used to defray the cost of all, or any part of, said fire engine; and that the Town authorizes the Town Manager
to enter into any and all contracts and agreements as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article and authorize the Treasurer-Collector, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to borrow pursuant to said authorization.
On motion by William C. Brown it was moved to raise by borrowing and/or transfer from the sale of real estate fund and appropriate pursuant to Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts General Laws or any other enabling act the sum of Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars ($820,000).
Motion to amend did not carry.
Original Motion:
2/3 vote required
133 voted in the affirmative
1 voted in the negative
ARTICLE 21 – On motion by Stephen Goldy, member of the Board of Selectmen, it was voted that the Town raise by borrowing and appropriate pursuant to Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts General Laws or any other enabling act the sum of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) for the purpose of making improvements to or replacing the Birch Meadow Tennis Courts, including the costs of engineering services, plans, documents, cost estimates, bidding services, construction management services, and all related expenses incidental thereto and necessary in connection therewith, said sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Town Manager; and that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen, the Town Manager, or any other agency of the Town, to apply for a grant or grants, to be used to defray the cost of
all, or any part of, said improvements; and that the Town authorizes the Town Manager to enter into any and all contracts and agreements as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article and authorize the Treasurer-Collector, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to borrow pursuant to said authorization.
2/3 vote required
136 voted in the affirmative
5 voted in the negative
ARTICLE 22 – On motion by Richard W. Schubert, member of the Board of Selectmen, it was voted that the Town raise by borrowing and appropriate pursuant to Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts General Laws or any other enabling act the sum of six hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($650,000) for the purpose of making artificial turf field improvements at the Parker Middle School and/or the Coolidge Middle School, including the costs of engineering services, plans, documents, cost estimates, bidding services, construction management services, and all related expenses incidental thereto and necessary in connection therewith, said sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Town Manager; and that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen, the Town Manager, or any other agency of the Town, to apply for a grant or
grants, to be used to defray the cost of all, or any part of, said improvements; and that the Town authorizes the Town Manager to enter into any and all contracts and agreements as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article and authorize the Treasurer-Collector, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to borrow pursuant to said authorization.
On motion by Russell T. Graham, Precinct 4, it was voted to move the question.
2/3 vote required
112 voted in the affirmative
25 voted in the negative
Original Motion:
2/3 vote required
121 voted in the affirmative
20 voted in the negative
ARTICLE 23 – On motion by Camille W. Anthony, member of the Board of Selectmen, it was voted that the Town raise by borrowing and appropriate pursuant to Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts General Laws or any other enabling act the sum of three hundred sixty five thousand dollars ($365,000) for the purpose of making improvements to the Sunnyside Avenue and Fairview Avenue sewer, including the costs of engineering services, plans, documents, cost estimates, bidding services and all related expenses incidental thereto and necessary in connection therewith, said sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Town Manager; and that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen, the Town Manager, or any other agency of the Town, to apply for a grant or grants, to be used to defray the cost of all, or any part
of, said improvements; and that the Town authorizes the Town Manager to enter into any and all contracts and agreements as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article and authorize the Treasurer-Collector, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to borrow pursuant to said authorization.
2/3 vote required
126 voted in the affirmative
4 voted in the negative
ARTICLE 24 – On motion by Ben Tafoya, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, it was voted to amend Section 2.2.13 of the Reading Zoning By-Laws so that it will read as follows:
2.2.13. Lot Frontage: The continuous uninterrupted length of a lot boundary line along a street line having a depth into the lot of not less than twenty (20) feet, said depth measured at an angle to said street line of not less than 65 degrees, over and through which, actual legal and physical access to the potential building site by both pedestrian and vehicles shall be required. The existence of an access easement shall not satisfy the requirement for actual legal and physical access. The end of a street without a cul-de-sac shall not be considered frontage.
Note – bold and underline is provided for information to Town Meeting and is not part of the motion.
2/3 vote required
126 voted in the affirmative
4 voted in the negative
ARTICLE 25 – On motion by David A. Talbot, Precinct 5, it was moved to table the subject matter of Article 25.
Motion carried.
ARTICLE 26 – On motion by Stephen Goldy, member of the Board of Selectmen, it was voted to delete Section 5.6.2.2.3 of the General Bylaws of the Town of CityplaceReading and re-number subsequent sections of the Bylaw.
ARTICLE 27 – On motion by Stephen Goldy, member of the Board of Selectmen, it was
voted pursuant to Section 2-6 of the Reading Home Rule Charter to declare the following seats of Town Meeting Members to be vacant and remove those persons from their position as Town Meeting Members for failure to take the oath of office within 30 days following the notice of election or for failure to attend one half or more of the Town Meeting sessions during the previous year.
Precinct 2 Robert DeMild Jr.
Thomas F. O’Donnell
Precinct 8 Timothy C. Curren
ARTICLE 3 - On motion by Ben Tafoya, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, it was moved to remove Article 3 from the table.
ARTICLE 3 – On motion by Gary D. Phillips, Precinct 6, it was moved to direct the Superintendent to modify the annual School Department’s budget as presented to Town Meeting for approval by including the following Line items:
- Total Payroll Employees
A. Salaried
B. 40 or more hours per week
C. 19-39 hours per week
D. Less than 19 hours per week
Note: Line items A – D should reflect total number of School Department employees on payroll.
Motion did not carry.
ARTICLE 3 – On motion by Linda M. Phillips, Precinct 6, it was moved to instruct the Selectmen to provide Town Meeting with a complete list of all Town owned equipment for the Police, Fire and Maintenance Departments for the fall 2007 Town meeting that includes the following information:
- Vehicles and equipment
- Year purchased, new, used (or donated)
- Estimated annual maintenance costs
- Reasonable longevity and depreciation
Motion did not carry.
ARTICLE 3 – On motion by George V. Hines, Precinct 7, it was moved that the Reading School Department be requested to prepare a report for distribution to Town Meeting Members prior to the start of the 2007-2008 School Year that includes specific detail on scope and level of effort on District Substance Abuse Prevention Education for the 2007-2008 School Year and include an explanation on how that program is different from the past three school years.
Motion did not carry.
On motion by Ben Tafoya, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, it was moved that this Annual Town Meeting stand adjourned sine die.
Meeting adjourned at 10:32 p.m.
150 Town Meeting Members were present.
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