April Town Meeting starts tonight at 7:30PM and is currently scheduled to run for approximately three 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: April 2024 Warrant
Article 1
The following Town Officers were elected on March 5, 2024:
- A Moderator for one year;
- One member of the Select Board for three years;
- Two members of the Board of Library Trustees for three years;
- Two members of the Municipal Light Board for three years;
- Two members of the School Committee for three years;
Each of Reading’s eight (8) precincts elected eight (8) Town Meeting members for a three-year term.
In addition, the following Town Meeting members were elected:
- Precinct 1 – One (1) Town Meeting member for a 2-year term
- Precinct 2 – One (1) Town Meeting member for a 1-year term
- Precinct 3 – Two (2) Town Meeting members for a 1-year term
Article 2
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 3
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 4
To see if the Town will vote to amend the FY 2024-34 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 5
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town’s Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2023, as adopted under Article 12 of the Annual Town Meeting of April 24, 2023 and amended under Article 4 of the Subsequent Town Meeting of November 13, 2023; 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 6
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.
There are no prior years’ bills; this Article is expected to be tabled
Article 7
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 for the purpose of funding the irrevocable trust for “Other Post-Employment Benefits Liabilities”, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 8
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.
No Smart Growth revenue has been received to transfer, therefore, this Article is expected
to be Indefinitely Postponed.
Article 9
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds, including the reallocation of funds from the Parker Roof Project borrowing authorized under Article 14 of the 2021 Annual Town Meeting, or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money for the purpose of installing a new replacement fire alarm panel at Coolidge Middle School, including the costs of installation, consulting services, plans, documents, bidding services and all related expenses incidental thereto and necessary in connection therewith, said sum to be expended under the Town Manager, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 10
To see if the Town will vote to take the following actions:
- Raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds, including the reallocation of funds
from the Parker Roof Project borrowing authorized under Article 14 of the 2021 Annual Town
Meeting, or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money for the purpose of designing a new floor at
the Reading Memorial High School Field House, including the cost of consulting services, plans,
documents, cost estimates, bidding services and all related expenses incidental thereto and
necessary in connection therewith, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Town
Manager; and - 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 11
To see if the Town will vote to (1) establish the limit on the total amount that may be expended from each revolving fund established by Article 9 of the Town of Reading General Bylaw pursuant to Section 53E½ of Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts General Laws for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024; and (2) amend Section 6.5.2 of the General Bylaw, establishing the Inspection Revolving Fund, as shown below, with the deletions being in bold and struck through.
Article 12
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 for the operation of the Town and its government for Fiscal Year 2025 – beginning July 1, 2024, 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, or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money for the purpose of developing a zoning plan compliant with the requirements of G. L. c.40A, §3A, so called the “MBTA Communities Act”, including the hiring of consultants, the preparation of plan documents, and the distribution of relevant information, and all related expenses incidental thereto and necessary in connection therewith, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Town Manager, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 14
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 infrastructure improvements to 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.
Article 15
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to grant an easement to the Reading Municipal Light Department to install, construct, reconstruct, repair, replace, add to, inspect, maintain, and operate for the transmission of high and low voltage electric current and for the transmission of intelligence, overhead lines and all necessary equipment and appurtenances thereto, and an underground electric distribution system consisting of lines of buried wires and cables and lines of wires and cables installed in underground conduits, together with all equipment and appurtenances thereto for the transmission of intelligence and for the furnishing of electric service, on a portion of 160 Hopkins Street (Assessor’s Parcel 8-0061), or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 16
To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to Section 2-6 of the Reading Home Rule Charter, to declare the seats of certain Town Meeting Members to be vacant and remove certain described persons from their position as Town Meeting Members for failure to take the oath of office within 30 days following the notice of election or for failure to attend one-half or more of the Town Meeting sessions during the previous year, or take any other action with respect thereto.
