Reading, MA — By a vote of 5-0, the Select Board approved in-person early voting for the April 4 town-wide election. This option will be available in Town Hall during normal business hours from March 27-30. There will also be a vote-by-mail option available to residents. By a vote of 0-5, the board rejected a proposal to open for in-person early voting on Saturday, March 25, citing the extra cost involved. Town Clerk Laure Gemme noted that residents wishing to cast absentee ballots may do so on March 25, though they must affirm in writing that they will not be in town on April 4.
The last day to register to vote is March 25. The Hawkes Field House at Reading Memorial High School will be open for election day voting on April 4 from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
election23After a presentation from police Lieutenant Christopher Jones, the board approved increases to the fees for parking violations in town. Jones shared that the increases align with what other communities charge for similar violations. Group A violations, including parking in a no-parking zone, blocking a driveway, or overtime parking, will increase from $20 to $25. Group B violations, such as blocking a fire hydrant, will increase from $50 to $100. Group C violations, including parking in a handicapped spot, will increase from $100 to $300. Jones reported that the department issued 1,700 tickets for violations last year.
“The goal is to say ‘we love you coming to Reading and parking,” Select Board chair Mark Dockser indicated, “but obey the parking regulations.”
The board also discussed issuing multiple tickets for the same violation, noting that Town Counsel has advised that this is permitted. The issue could become a future agenda item for the board.
The board previewed the Town Manager’s recommended Fiscal Year 2024 budget. During public comment, resident Nancy Docktor urged the board to reconsider cuts to the health department budget. Town Manager Fidel Maltez explained that the department is not funding a part-time public health nurse position that was created during the pandemic and primarily dealt with contact tracing and reporting duties. He explained that the position has been vacant for several months and that the department is running “on all cylinders” at the moment. Maltez also shared that if the need arose to refund the position, it could be done through a ‘bridge fund” using monies allocated to the health department from the American Rescue Plan Act.
The Finance Committee will receive the finalized budget recommendation on Tuesday, February 28, and will begin its meetings on the budget on March 1. The final budget will need to be approved by Town Meeting in April.
The board also voted 5-0 to close the 23-article warrant for April Town Meeting.
Reading Open Land Trust (ROLT) Treasurer Robert Conner shared the goals and the vision of the trust with the board. ROLT is a private not-for-profit 501c3 created in 1979 that looks to “facilitate the timely and inexpensive tax-deductible transfer of property ownership, especially from donors confronting deadline issues.” These properties are preserved for passive recreation, open space for wildlife, and the provision of wetlands to help mitigate flooding.
roltROLT owns ten properties in town, the largest of which is thirty acres. Conner’s presentation highlighted the Goodale Marsh on Haverhill Street, the Fairbanks Marsh with frontage on the Ipswich River, and Feinemann Ice Pond off North Main Street. He noted that ROLT accepts financial donations as well as those of open land. Conner also shared that the parking area at the Fairbanks Marsh could use some stabilization and that the site is a perfect spot for a possible observation platform. Select Board member Karen Herrick thanked Conner and the entire ROLT board for their work, noting the clarity and transparency of the ROLT website.
Climate Advisory Committee chair David Zeek updated the board on the committee’s activities, sharing that the committee has two primary areas of activity: education and outreach and policy and planning. Outreach events include weekly articles, participation in the town forest celebration, a booth at Friends and Family Day, a bicycle recycling and giveaway event, and a presence at the RMLD Open House.
Policy and planning activities include the town’s adoption of the stretch code, a clean energy policy for public buildings, continued progress towards Green Communities recognition, the community garden, and the recent polystyrene ban. Zeek also noted the placement of three public electric vehicle chargers in town. Zeek praised newly promoted Community Development Director Andrew MacNichol for his assistance in the pursuit of several of these projects.
The Committee will continue following issues and trends at the state level as well as looking into promoting a farmers market in town while continuing its “net zero” planning, its work on a hazard mitigation policy, and implementation of the polystyrene ban.
Maltez reported to the board that the state had approved initial plans to create the town forest parking area on Grove Street. The plan is for seventeen spaces, two of which are approved as handicapped spaces. The lot will be made of gravel with a wood rail that will extend onto Grove Street. The town is continuing to negotiate regarding an easement from Meadowbrook Golf Club for the existing path on the site. Maltez shared that Article 5 on the Town Meeting warrant includes $27,000 for final plans for the site. He also reported that the $150,000 earmarked from the state for improvements was used towards the $450,000 purchase price of the lot.
After discussion regarding the creation of a group to develop a master plan for the town, the Select Board adjourned at 10:05 pm.
