Attached are the 7 instructional motions currently filed for April Town Meeting tonight if the budget presentations and voting happens early enough. Instructional motions are typically held for the final night of Town Meeting which potentially could be this evening or Thursday.
Instructional Motion Number: 24-01
Instruction to: Town Manager
By Carolyn Whiting of Precinct 7
Move that the Town Manager (a) investigate the need for repair of roads in the vicinity of the Auburn Street water tank (such as Auburn Street, Beacon Street, Chestnut Road, etc.) because of their use by construction vehicles during the water tank replacement project (including landscaping, construction and removal of the temporary cell tower, etc.), (b) consider funding the repairs needed regardless of whether or not the affected roadway is private, (c) evaluate whether increased revenue from additional wireless carriers can be used to fund such repairs, and (d) report the results back to Town Meeting no later than nine months after the completion of the water tank replacement project.
Instructional Motion Number: 24-02
Instruction to: Fincom, SB, SC, KSBPC, COA, RECALC, CPA, SWEC
By Melissa Murphy of Precinct 8
The Finance Committee, Select Board, School Committee, KIiiam School Building Project Committee, Council on Aging, Reading Center for Active Living Committee, Community Preservation Act Committee, and Symonds Way Exploratory Committee come together for a community meeting/financial forum to give residents an outlook on the property tax implications of the below debt exclusion projects and any other anticipated capital projects that may not fall within the tax levy:
- Killam Elementary School project
- Senior/intergenerational center project
- Symonds Way recommendations/partnerships/projects other than any possible senior/intergenerational center
- Any other capital projects that might require a debt exclusion override vote
- Community Preservation Act (CPA) including exactly how CPA is computed (i.e., on what tax rate such surcharge is computed, including whether it is computed using the base tax rate plus any additions to base tax rate from debt exclusions).
Residents should be informed of the exact reduction on the residential tax rate, per thousand of valuation, and/or average residential tax bill when the Library and Reading Memorial High School debt exclusions come off their property tax bill and the corresponding potential increases (estimated or actual) to the residential tax rate, per thousand of valuation, or average residential tax bill, for at least the above projects/initiatives, broken down for each project. As an example, such a breakdown could look like:
- $0.88 per thousand for $80 million of debt for Killam
- $0.32 per thousand for $28 million of debt for the Senior/intergenerational center
- $150 on an average $10,000 property tax bill for a CPA at 1.5%.
The Select Board should schedule such a meeting before the November Town Meeting and before any townwide votes are taken relating to any of the above initiatives/projects.
Instructional Motion Number: 24-03
Instruction to: By-Law Committee
By John Sasso of Precinct 2
Request that the By-law committee investigate the addition of an Outdoor Lighting policy (for residence only) to regulate outdoor lighting in the Town of Reading and report back to Town Meeting in November 2024. The intent being to permit an amount of outdoor lighting that is appropriate to allow for the safe use and enjoyment of outdoor areas, while also mitigating light trespass and glare to abutters and the public at large, reducing light pollution, and promoting energy conservation.
Background
Over 54 communities in Massachusetts have adopted an Outdoor Lighting policy. Outdoor lighting
from any source, shall be dark sky compliant with a continuous white light installed or shielded so as
to cast no direct beam on a public way, pedestrian way, or on adjacent property or cause a glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or a nuisance. To prevent unnecessary sky glow and other glare, all outdoor lighting fixtures shall be shielded from above so as to prevent direct glare from the light source from interfering with the vision of motorists or pedestrians passing in the street or streets abutting the premises and as to prevent direct glare from the light source from lighting neighboring properties, particularly residences.
Instructional Motion Number: 24-04
Instruction to: CPDC, Town Planning Staff, Select Board and Town Manager
By John Sasso of Precinct 2
In the event Select Board continues to deem compliance with MBTA Communities a requirement, request that Town Planning Staff and CPDC, under the guidance of the Select Board, present zoning changes to Town Meeting prior to December 31, 2024 that align with the following guiding principles.
- Place additional residential and/or mixed use development in underperforming/underutilized zones (e.g., Industrial Zone and South Main St,) to help meet the MBTA communities requirements for additional housing units;
- Avoid placing all or most of the zoning changes solely within the 0.5mile of the commuter rail station, given that the state requirement is that only 40% of the units need to fall within the 0.5 mile radius requirement;
- Take advantage of existing zones that already meet the density or can be easily modified to meet the density requirements of MBTA communities;
- Avoid, as much as possible, impact to existing single-family zones;
- Ensure maintenance of adequate affordable housing inventory by pursuing a higher affordability requirement (e.g., 15%) similar to other communities (Lexington); and
- Meet the number of additional zoned units required by MBTA Communities as minimally as possible and limit the excess units zoned above the requirement.
And, request that Town Manager (with support of Town Accountant) calculate and report the total value of grant money that Reading receives from the State for each of the last five years.
Instructional Motion Number: 24-05
Instruction to: Town Leadership/ Select Board/ Town Manager/ Charter Committee
By Linda Snow Dockser of Precinct 1
Whoever in our town leadership is responsible for our Town Seal consider changing the seal to exclude or
remove the violent sword at the top of our seal.
Background: Our Town Seal is based on the seal of our state and reconsideration of our State Seal is underway. Information can be found at these links: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Resolves/2020/Chapter2 & https://malegislature.gov/Commissions/Detail/565/About
The Change the Mass Flag Website explains the rationale for the need to change the seal. They write on https://changethemassflag.com/
“Why is a change needed?
The imagery of the Massachusetts Flag and Seal – a white hand holding a Colonial sword over the head of an Indigenous person, above a Latin motto that translates: “She Seeks by the Sword a Quiet Peace under Liberty” is seen by many as a symbol of violence against Indigenous people, and a memorial to the violent
colonization of their homelands. Finally, Native leaders of the area are being consulted about a new design for a flag and seal that may better express the ideals of peace, justice, and equality for all the people who now call the Commonwealth their home.”
The update on the status of the Bill for changing the seal is summarized here:
https://changethemassflag.com/2023/11/16/special-commission-issues-final-report-change-the-flag-and-seal-hire-a-designer-lets-get-it-done/
Instructional Motion Number: 24-06
Instruction to: Town Leadership/ Town Moderator, and Town Meeting
By Linda Snow Dockser of Precinct 1
Town Leadership 1including Town Meeting Leadership consider adding a Land Acknowledgment crediting the Indigenous Tribes who originally owned and inhabited our land. This could either be in written or verbal form and added to Town Meeting, the Town Website, and other official town meetings as seen appropriate. Reading Public Library already has such a Land Acknowledgment which could be used as an example.
Instructional Motion Number: 24-07
Instruction to: Charter and Bylaw Committee; Select Board, Town Moderator
By Linda Snow Dockser of Precinct 1
The leadership of our town and town meeting consider creating a policy that requires Accommodation for Religious and Cultural Practices so that Town Meeting and other important, required, or community meetings and events will not be scheduled on the major holidays of Reading Residents. Our schools have this type of policy and past Town Leadership have been very respectfully trying to avoid religious and cultural conflicts for many years. Please consider formalizing this policy so that future leaders will be educated and aware, and will plan their meetings and events in such a way that respects and includes all residents of Reading.
