Water Rates Unchanged, 1% Sewer Rate Reduction, and Three-Month RCTV Contract; Arcadia Avenue Parking Issues Draw Attention
Water and Sewer Rates Set for FY26
Reading, MA — After a public hearing on the matter, the Select Board voted 4-1 on Tuesday night to have a 0% increase in water rates for Fiscal Year 2026. Select Board member Karen Rose Gillis was the dissenting vote. Rose Gillis proposed a 1% increase in rates. Increasing costs for water service will be offset by the water reserves fund, which currently has a balance of 62% of annual expenses. Town policy requires a minimum 30% reserve to be maintained. Consultant Matt Abraham indicated that industry standard is to maintain a 10-20% reserve. Member Karen Herrick suggested that the board discuss making the change to the industry standard at some point in the future.
Similarly, the board voted 3-2 to reduce sewer rates by 1%. Herrick and Rose Gillis preferred a .5% reduction in rates. Reserves for sewer are over 93%, and these will be used to offset increasing costs. Public Works Director Chris Cole reported that over 100 second water meters have been installed; however, it is too soon to predict their impact on the town’s sewer expenses.
The board voted 5-0 to retain the stormwater charge at $60 per household annually.
RCTV Contract
The Select Board voted 4-0 to extend RCTV’s contract with the town for three additional months. This vote followed a failed 2-3 vote to extend the contract for six months. After this vote, Herrick, who voted in its favor, left the meeting, noting the lateness of the hour. Herrick later rejoined the meeting via Zoom. Members Carlo Bacci and Chris Haley suggested that they would not approve a new contract unless there is a change of leadership at RCTV. Rose Gillis questioned why board members were basing their decisions on that issue rather than what is stated in the contract.
The vote came after Director of Information Kevin Furilla reported that some security measures regarding the RCTV equipment in the Select Board meeting room had been disabled. It is unclear when or how this occurred. Select Board Chair Chris Haley suggested that this means meetings and other activities in the Select Board meeting room during the day could have been recorded, although there was no indication that this had occurred. Furilla also noted that equipment had been left on twice before, in 2021 and 2023, which prompted the installation of the security measures in the first place.
RCTV received significant support from the community through written submissions as well as public comments. Resident Beth Mosier referred to RCTV’s coverage of meetings and events in town “as a lifeline to for seniors,” while Reading Memorial High School senior Ben Goldbust shared that covering events with RCTV connects him to the town in ways that would otherwise not occur. Parents of former RCTV interns Lucia Corbett and Michael Cohelo shared the difference that RCTV made in the lives of their now-graduated children.
Resident James Bonazoli reminded the board that this is supposed to be a contract negotiation, and not about personalities, and suggested that not verifying security “is our own fault.” Resident Steve Crook noted that the current contract calls for the Select Board to invite RCTV to report to the board annually. He then asked if they had done so in 2023 or 2024. The Select Board had no response to his questions. Bob Beckman asked if RCTV had broken anything in the contract with resident Joseph White, suggesting, “Renewing the contract is a no-brainer.”
The board hopes that the three-month extension will provide sufficient time for the RCTV Board of Directors to make informed decisions and negotiate a new contract. The board designated member Melissa Murphy to lead contract negotiations.
Arcadia Avenue Parking
Many residents also commented regarding parking issues on Arcadia Avenue and the surrounding streets during the school day. On-street parking in the neighborhood is often used by students at Austin Preparatory School, as there is not enough on-campus parking available at the school. Deputy Police Chief Christine Amendola shared that 316 students are driving to Austin Prep daily. She continued to note that the combination of Austin Prep students and parents dropping off their children at Barrows Elementary School has created issues in the area, with multiple complaints and concerns reported to the police department during this school year.
Amendola shared that common violations include vehicles parking in the crosswalk, parked vehicles blocking driveways, vehicles parked the wrong way, and intersection obstructions. She also noted that students will often park, then wait for friends to pick them up to shuttle them to campus. There have also been reports of drag racing in the area.
“We are particularly worried about this neighborhood because of [Barrows] School,” Amendola said.
The Select Board in the past offered to allow Austin Prep students to park at the depot, with students then being shuttled to campus, to help resolve the issues. However, school leadership has rejected the idea, stating that parents would not like the idea of student vehicles being so far away.
Neighborhood resident Roger Lewis shared that some students display a lack of respect for them and their property. At the same time, Mike Fahey noted, “Our streets were not designed to serve as overflow parking for a private institution.” Other residents noted damage to lawns and close calls in crosswalks from speeding cars
“I should not have to hold [my child’s] hand in our front yard,” resident Mary Kimble added.
Amendola noted that Austin Prep has plans to add parking, but no timetable has been set for its construction. The proposed lot still will not accommodate the number of vehicles driven to school by students. Several possible solutions were suggested at a recent neighborhood meeting. The one with the most support is issuing residents placards that would be required for street parking during the school year.
Amendola shared that tickets for violations were issued during the year, but they did not have a significant impact. Several members of the board suggested towing vehicles that violate the rules. “[Austin Prep] needs to feel the pain,” Bacci declared. “This is an Austin Prep problem [to fix],” Herrick noted. “Not a town of Reading problem.”
Other Board Actions and Announcements
The board voted 5-0 to proclaim June 19th (Juneteenth) in Reading. It also approved an inter-municipal agreement with Lynnfield and Wakefield for assessor services. Economic Development Director Kevin McCarthy also provided the board with an update.
The board tabled plans for reintroducing emails it receives into its meeting packet and will seek to rework language regarding the issue in its policies. Both Herrick and Bacci strongly oppose the plan. The board also plans to reinstate office hours.
The Select Board adjourned at 11:54 pm.
