🏛️ Select Board 6-10-25 AI Recap

Below is a summarized version of the Select Board meeting, organized by timestamps and speakers, focusing on key points raised during the discussion in Reading, Massachusetts. This summary condenses the discussion into major themes, speaker contributions, and decisions, avoiding excessive detail while retaining the essence of the conversation. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.

🗓️ Reading Select Board Meeting Summary

Date: June 10, 2025
Duration: ~4 hours 55 minutes
Format: Hybrid (in-person + Zoom)
Co-Chair: Melissa Murphy
Main Topics: Public comment, Juneteenth resolution, Arcadia Ave parking issues, FY26 utility rates, RCTV contract extension, economic development, and policy discussions

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🔹 Opening & Agenda Overview

🕒 0:00–2:27

• Meeting called to order and Pledge of Allegiance
• Co-Chair Melissa Murphy reviewed the agenda
• Public comment opened for non-agenda items

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🔹Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items)

🕒 2:27–8:36

• Residents raised concerns about:
  • Select Board speech limitations
  • Conduct of board members
  • Potential conflict of interest involving the chair and RCTV
  • Updates from the Bill Russell Commemoration Committee

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🔹 Town Manager Report & Community Spotlight

🕒 11:09–17:45

• Updates on:
  • Police Department open house
  • Friends & Family Day (June 14)
  • Juneteenth Freedom Festival (June 21)
  • Rigid plastic drop-off events
• Spotlight on:
  • Bill Sullivan’s 12 years of service on the Town Forest Committee
  • Cal’s Creamery’s 4-year anniversary
  • Recognition of Town Manager Matt Kraunelis for 10 years of service

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🔹 Juneteenth Resolution

🕒 17:45–22:34

• Resolution read and unanimously approved to recognize June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth in Reading

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🔹 Arcadia Avenue Parking Issues

🕒 22:34–56:00

• Deputy Chief Amandola presented ongoing safety and congestion issues due to Austin Prep student parking
• Residents shared strong concerns about safety, disrespectful behavior, and lack of action from Austin Prep
• Proposed solutions:
  • Permit parking for residents
  • No-parking zones during school hours
  • Towing enforcement
• Board expressed support for permit parking and aggressive enforcement

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🔹 Economic Development Update

🕒 1:05:39–1:26:18

• Kevin McCarthy presented updates on:
  • Vacant properties and new tenants
  • Eastern Gateway project progress
  • Potential MBTA stop in the eastern part of town
  • Grant applications and business development efforts

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🔹 FY26 Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Rates

🕒 1:26:18–2:08:08

• Consultant Matt Abrahams presented rate options
• Public comments expressed concern over high rates and large retained earnings
• Board voted:
  • ✅ Water: 0% increase
  • ✅ Sewer: 1% decrease
  • ✅ Stormwater: No change ($60/year)

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🔹 Intermunicipal Agreement for Regional Assessors

🕒 2:08:08–2:10:40

• Board unanimously approved extension through June 30, 2028

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🔹 Select Board Policy Discussion – Communication

🕒 2:10:40–2:26:06

• Debate over whether to reinstate policy requiring emails to be included in meeting packets
• No vote taken; item deferred for future discussion

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🔹 Select Board Office Hours

🕒 2:26:06–2:36:00

• Board discussed reinstating monthly office hours
• Members will choose months and formats (in-person, library, etc.)

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📺 RCTV Contract Extension Discussion

🕒 2:48:13–4:52:00

🔍 Background

The board reviewed the expiring contract with Reading Community Television (RCTV), which provides PEG (Public, Educational, Governmental) programming. The contract was set to expire June 30, 2025.

🛠️ Technical & Security Concerns

Town IT Director Kevin Furilla reported that RCTV had failed to implement agreed-upon safeguards:

• A “master power switch” was supposed to control all recording equipment in public meeting rooms.
• Furilla discovered that the switch no longer controlled all devices—some were plugged into alternate outlets, bypassing the switch.
• This meant rooms like the Select Board meeting room could be recording or transmitting without visible indicators (e.g., “on air” light).

This issue had been raised in 2021 and 2023, and despite assurances, persisted into 2025.

📹 Evidence Presented

Co-Chair Chris Haley presented a video recorded from home showing:

• The Select Board room was broadcasting live at 10:30 PM, well after a meeting had ended.
• The “on air” light was off, but the room was still transmitting video.
• A cleaning staff member was visible on the broadcast, raising concerns about unauthorized surveillance.

⚖️ Legal & Ethical Concerns

• Board members expressed concern about potential legal liability, especially if executive sessions or minors were inadvertently recorded.
• Haley and others emphasized that the issue was not just technical but a matter of trust and accountability.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Public Comment

Over 30 residents spoke, overwhelmingly in support of RCTV:

• Many praised its role in civic engagement, youth education, and community programming.
• Students and parents shared personal stories about how RCTV helped them develop skills and confidence.
• Some criticized the board for raising these issues late and questioned the motives behind the scrutiny.

🧾 Contractual & Governance Issues

• The board acknowledged that no formal annual review of the RCTV contract had taken place in recent years, despite being required.
• There was disagreement over whether the board had authority to influence RCTV’s internal staffing decisions.
• Concerns were raised about a private meeting between the chair and RCTV leadership, which some members felt should have been authorized by the full board.

🗳️ Motions & Votes

1. ❌ Motion to extend the contract for 6 months – Failed (2–3) with Karen Herrick and Karen Rose-Gillis voting for the motion
2. Karen Herrick leaves the meeting after the previous motion fails
3. ✅ Motion to extend the contract for 3 months – Passed (4–0)
4. ✅ Motion to appoint Melissa Murphy to lead negotiations with RCTV – Passed (3–1) with Karen Rose-Gillis the lone vote

The board agreed that the 3-month extension would allow time to:

• Address technical and security issues
• Begin negotiations for a new contract
• Evaluate whether RCTV can meet the town’s expectations moving forward

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🔹 Adjournment

🕒 4:52:00–4:54:14

• Meeting adjourned after nearly 5 hours

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✅ Key Outcomes

1. Juneteenth Recognized: June 19, 2025, officially recognized as Juneteenth in Reading.
2. Utility Rates Set:
   • Water: 0% increase
   • Sewer: 1% decrease
   • Stormwater: No change
3. Arcadia Parking: Board supports permit parking and enforcement to address safety issues.
4. RCTV Contract: Extended for 3 months; Melissa Murphy appointed to lead negotiations.
5. Policy & Office Hours: Communication policy and office hours to be revisited in future meetings.