November Town Meeting starts tonight at 7:30PM and is currently scheduled to run for approximately three to five additional days. We’ve updated our Town Meeting member list here: https://www.readingrecap.com/town-meeting to reflect the latest election results of newly appointed and re-appointed members.
Below is a quick guide you can check out that lists all the warrant items in order and here is the complete warrant book compressed from the town that was used to create the articles below: November 2024 Warrant
Article 1
To hear and act on the reports of the Select Board, School Committee, Library Trustees, Municipal Light Board, Finance Committee, Bylaw Committee, Town Manager, Town Accountant and any other Town Official, Board or Committee.
Article 2
To choose all other necessary Town Officers and Boards or Committees and determine what instructions shall be given to Town Officers and Boards or Committees, and to see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate by borrowing or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, for the purpose of funding Town Officers and Boards or Committees to carry out the instructions given to them, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 3
To see if the Town will vote to amend the FY 2025-35 Capital Improvements Program as provided for in Section 7-7 of the Reading Home Rule Charter and as previously amended, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 4
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town’s Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2024, as adopted under Article 12 of the Annual Town Meeting of April 29, 2024; and to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to be added to the amounts appropriated under said Article, as amended, for the operation of the Town and its government, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 5
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, borrow or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay bills remaining unpaid from prior fiscal years for goods and services actually rendered to the Town, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 6
To see if the Town will vote to transfer funds received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in payment for development within the Town’s 40R Smart Growth Zoning Districts from Free Cash into the Smart Growth Stabilization Fund; or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 7
To see if the Town will vote to accept the fourth paragraph of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 58, which allows the dedication, without further appropriation, of all, or a percentage not less than 25 percent, of particular fees, charges or receipts to a stabilization fund established under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 58, to be effective for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2025, and vote to dedicate all of the payments received from the Commonwealth pursuant to Chapter 40R of the Massachusetts General Laws to the Town’s Smart Growth Stabilization Fund, effective for fiscal year 2026, beginning on July 1, 2025; or take any other action relative thereto.
Article 8
To see if the Town will vote to transfer funds received from Opioid Settlements from Free Cash to the Opioid Settlement Receipts Special Reserve Fund; or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 9
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of the Haven Street Infrastructure Project, including replacement of roadway, sidewalks, and related improvements, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related thereto, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Town Manager; and, for the purpose of meeting such appropriation, authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, to borrow said sum in accordance with G.L. c. 44, §7(1), or any other enabling authority, or take any other action with respect thereto.
This item is expected to be tabled and have no action taken.
Article 10
To see if the Town will vote to adopt a mandatory charge per kilowatt-hour upon Reading Municipal Light Plant’s electricity consumers located within the Town of Reading by accepting the provisions of G.L. c. 25, § 20(c), and authorize the Select Board to execute all documents necessary to qualify the Town as a Green Community under G.L. c.25A, § 10, including the Renewable energy Trust Fund Membership Agreement; or take any other action related thereto.
Article 11
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 8.8.1.3 of the General Bylaws, Effective Voice Control, by deleting the section and inserting, in place thereof, the following:
8.8.1.3 Effective Voice Control
An animal shall be deemed to be “under effective voice control” if it is (i) within the handler’s sight, (ii) refrains from aggressive behavior, (iii) comes immediately when called by its handler, and (iv) the handler is carrying a leash per dog. Aggressive behavior is any behavior that would cause a reasonable person to believe the dog poses an unjustified imminent threat of physical injury to a person or another dog, including but not limited to jumping on, repeatedly barking at, or approaching any person without their consent.
Or take any other action related thereto.
Article 12
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 8.8.3.2 of the General Bylaws by (1) inserting a new Section 8.8.3.2.3, as follows:
8.8.3.2.3 Town Forest
The maximum number of off-leash dogs shall not exceed two per handler in the Town Forest. Any dog that does not remain under effective voice control, as defined in Section 8.8.1.3, must be placed on a leash or removed from the Town Forest immediately. Dog waste must be removed in accordance with Section 8.8.3.3. Dogs must be leashed when entering or exiting the Town Forest. Visitors who do not abide by these rules may be required to leave the Town Forest, in addition to any enforcement action provided for under G. L. c.40, §21D and Section 1.8 of these Bylaws.
and (2) renumbering the remaining sections accordingly; or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 13
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, borrow or otherwise provide $150,000 or any other sum or sums of money for the Town Forest thinning project, which will include $50,000 for Phase 4 of the dead tree removal program and $100,000 for Phase 5 of the invasive plants control program; or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 14
To see if the Town will vote pursuant to G.L. c. 40, § 15A, to transfer care, custody, management and control of the property known as Grove Street Lot 5, Assessor Map 44 Lot 136, as shown on a plan of land entitled “GROVE STREET, LOT 5 PARKING,” prepared by Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc., date January 23, 2023, as on file with the Town Clerk, to the Reading Conservation Commission for the sole purpose of passive recreation and open space management, including the installation, maintenance, and repair of a passive trail network with associated signage; provided, however, that Reading Department of Public Works shall have the right to replace, repair, maintain, and make necessary improvements to the existing parking area on the property, as shown on said plan; or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 15
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds, or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money for the purposes of making improvements, including full replacement of the floor at the Reading Memorial High School Field House, including the costs of installation, construction, consulting services, audits, 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, for the purpose of meeting such appropriation, authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, to borrow said sum in accordance with G.L. c. 44, §7(1), or any other enabling authority, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 16
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town’s Zoning Bylaw, for the for the purpose of achieving compliance with G.L. c. 40A, §3A, the MBTA Communities Act, by amending Zoning Bylaw provisions relating to multi-family housing and business uses, and altering the boundaries of existing zoning districts or establishing new districts, including amendments or insertions within Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10, Tables 5.3.1, 6.3, 9.1.1.7 and 10.5.6, and Appendix C found in the Zoning Bylaw and as generally drafted and described in the materials from the September 19, 2024 Community Planning and Development Commission public hearing entitled “Business-D (Main St) + DSGD 40R, Proposed Bylaw Amendments, Track Changes Version, 9-19-24” and “Business D Conversion (Main Street) 11 x 17 Concept Map”, such documents on file with the Town Clerk and available online at https://www.readingma.gov/826/MBTA-Communities-3A-Process, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 17
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town’s Zoning Bylaw, for the for the purpose of achieving compliance with G.L. c. 40A, §3A, the MBTA Communities Act, by amending Zoning Bylaw provisions relating to multi-family housing uses, and altering the boundaries of existing zoning districts or establishing new districts, including amendments or insertions within Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10, Tables 5.3.1, 6.3, 9.1.1.7 and 10.5.6, and Appendix C found in the Zoning Bylaw and as generally drafted and described in the materials from the September 19, 2024 Community Planning and Development Commission public hearing entitled “Apartment-80 + DSGD 40R, Proposed Bylaw Amendments, Track Changes Version, 9- 19-24” and “A-80 Expansion (Existing Developments) Concept Map 11 x 17”, such documents on file with the Town Clerk and available online at https://www.readingma.gov/826/MBTA Communities-3A-Process; or take any other action with respect thereto.
