North Reading MWRA, Civil Service Bills Enacted

From North Reading District and State Elected Officials: The year 2017 is off to a good start for North Reading with the passage of two home rule petitions designed to meet the town’s future water needs and expand the pool of qualified candidates to fill vacancies in the police department.

In addition to securing authorization for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) to begin supplying water to North Reading, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) were also successful in passing legislation requested by the town to exempt all local police officers from the Civil Service law. Both bills received final approval from the House and Senate on January 3, the last day of the 2015-2016 legislative session.

“These two bills will address North Reading’s water needs and provide the town with more flexibility and control over the hiring and promoting of police officers,” said Representative Jones. “Both bills were identified by the town as priorities, and I’m pleased that Senator Tarr and I were able to get them past the finish line and on to the Governor’s desk before the end of session.”

“I am pleased to have worked with Representative Jones on this pair of bills which were speedily enacted before the close of the session only one month after they were filed in the House and Senate,” said Senator Tarr. “North Reading will be able to begin the MWRA process without delay because we also added an emergency preamble to the bill to make it effective immediately upon Governor Baker’s signature. The town has been through a lengthy and comprehensive process with the MWRA on its water needs and I am glad they will achieve their goal.”

House Bill 4743 authorizes the MWRA to provide water services to North Reading by establishing a connection to an existing pipeline in Reading. Both communities have been working closely with the MWRA over the past two years to facilitate this project. North Reading plans to begin construction by mid to late 2017, and hopes to achieve full interconnection with the MWRA system by July 1, 2019.

North Reading currently draws about 30 percent of its water supply from groundwater wells, with the remaining water purchased from the town of Andover. However, the town experiences an excess demand of 350,000 gallons per day during peak water usage periods. Town officials have been seeking an alternative water supply source, and believe joining the MWRA will not only meet residents’ current and future water needs, but also will save money.

House Bill 4747 prospectively exempts all police officer positions in North Reading, including the police chief, from the provisions of the Civil Service law. Pursuant to a Memoranda of Agreement between the town and the unions representing the patrol officers, sergeants, and lieutenants, all future hiring or promotions within the police department will not be subject to the Civil Service law. The Civil Service status of any police officer already employed by the town, including the police chief, will not be impacted.

With the passage of House Bill 4747, North Reading will now be able to implement its own hiring, promotional and disciplinary practices for the police department. The town will also be able to select candidates from a larger pool of applicants than it would under Civil Service.

The two North Reading bills are now being reviewed by Governor Charlie Baker, who has until January 13 to sign them into law.

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