The Select Board will be meeting tonight at 6:30pm in the Select Board room at Town Hall. The earlier than normal start time is to accommodate the Open Session and/or Executive Session Purpose 1: Discuss and potentially respond to May 17, 2024 Open Meeting Law Complaint filed against the Reading Select Board by Daniel Dewar. The complaint on page 3 of the packet alleges an April 22nd violation by Karen Gately Herrick and the Select Board stemming from the resignation of Jackie McCarthy.
Following the OML complaint will be a Public Hearing: Discuss and Vote FY25 Water & Sewer Rates. Listed in the packet are two options for both Water and Sewer:
• Water Rate Option 1 – 4.0% in FY 2025
- Average Residential User: $6.64 – $9.92 increase per bill in FY 2025 ($26.56 – $39.66 annually)
- Large Residential User: $21.02 increase per bill in FY 2025 ($84.08 annually)
• Water Rate Option 2 – 3.5% in FY 2025
- Average Residential User: $5.81 – $8.68 increase per bill in FY 2025 ($23.24 – $34.71 annually)
- Large Residential User: $18.39 increase per bill in FY 2025 ($73.57 annually)
• Sewer Rate Option 1 – 4.0% in FY 2025
- Average Residential User: $6.31 – $9.43 increase per bill in FY 2025 ($25.24 – $37.72 annually)
- Large Residential User: $20.07 increase per bill in FY 2025 ($80.28 annually)
• Sewer Rate Option 2 – 3.0% in FY 2025
- Average Residential User: $4.73 – $7.07 increase per bill in FY 2025 ($18.92 – $28.28 annually)
- Large Residential User: $15.05 increase per bill in FY 2025 ($60.20 annually)
Lastly, there is a Discussion on sunsetting Reading Center for Active Living Committee (ReCalc) which dovetails into a Discussion on a formation of Reading Center for Active Living Committee (ReCalc) Building Committee. In order for the potential Senior/Community Center project to continue to move forward, a building committee is required to be formed by the Select Board. At the boards last meeting, Mark Dockser was considered to be the Select Boards representative on the newly formed committee.
The complete agenda is listed below:
- 6:30 Open Session and/or Executive Session Purpose 1: Discuss and potentially respond to May 17, 2024 Open Meeting Law Complaint filed against the Reading Select Board by Daniel Dewar
- 7:00 Overview of Meeting
- 7:05 Public Comment
- 7:15 Select Board Liaison and Town Manager Reports
- 7:30 Hearing: Discuss and Vote FY25 Water & Sewer Rates
- 8:15 Hearing: Discuss and Vote on Traffic Amendment 2024-3; Amend Article 12 Traffic Rules and Regulations – Public Ways Article 5.9.1 No Overnight Parking of Heavy Vehicles or Commercial vehicles
- 8:30 Parking Traffic Transportation Task Force (PTTTF) Update
- 8:45 Discuss Reading Community Television (RCTV) compliance with its contract with the Town of Reading and its use of public, educational and governmental access funds; discussion of the relationship between RCTV and The Reading Post; discussion of potential RCTV annual review and budget audit
- 9:00 Vote to grant Gazebo Circle Easement
- 9:10 Vote on annual budget requests for boards and committees
- 9:25 Discuss sunsetting Reading Center for Active Living Committee (ReCalc)
- 9:35 Discuss formation of Reading Center for Active Living Committee (ReCalc) Building Committee
- 9:45 Discuss Future Agenda Items
- 10:00 Approve Meeting Minutes
The 6:30PM meeting will take place in the Select Board meeting room at Town Hall. The public can attend in person or watch via several options: via a broadcast on RCTV’s YouTube channel at this link or on the RCTV Government Channel (Xfinity ch 22, Verizon ch 33). The Zoom link for this meeting is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84245663499
