Pink Bags and Senior Taxes Highlight Reading Select Board Night

READING, Ma. - You know that closet in the extra bedroom filled with old clothes, worn out shoes, and just plain junk? With help from your town, it's time to clean house. The Reading Select Board heard of a new recycling plan that could soon bring pink bags to all residents. Clothes? Shoes? Lotsastuff? Throw it in the pink bag.

In a three-hour meeting Tuesday, the board also addressed Reading's Senior Tax Relief, got an overview of updates to Department of Public Works policies, and hear about plans to donate a street clock to the town to honor former Reading Selectman Camile Anthony.

Jane Kinsella and Chris Cole of the DPW discussed everything from sewage flow to shade trees, all related to adjusting the policies that govern the DPW and removing some of those policies from Select Board oversight. Basically, it's time to update the old rules, right down to changing Board of Selectmen to Select Board.

The DPW leaders also introduced a new recycling program that could start soon in Reading. Those red curbside recycling bins will be joined by a pink plastic bag from WasteZero. If the red bins get your bottles and cans, the pink bag will be filled with textiles. As explained Tuesday, textiles make up 11 percent of the municipal solid waste in Massachusetts, nearly twice the US average. Many donate their old clothes but according to WasteZero the majority throw out their old, worn out, or torn clothes to the tune of 41 tons per year in Reading.

If/when the contract with WasteZero is approved by town counsel, residents will be mailed a postcard about three weeks before the program begins. Soon after a pink plastic bag and a brochure explaining how it works will be mailed to residents, followed by another postcard the week it starts.

Residents will fill their pink bags and place them curbside just like the red bins. WasteZero's partner, simplerecycling, will have vans following the same route that JRM trucks use now. And after pickup, another pink bag will be left for you, either on door knobs, or railings, etc.

So other than that old t-shirt, what else can go in the pink bags? It's a long list, including clothing, jackets, coats and shoes; jewelry, purses, hats, toys, pictures, mirrors, blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, drapes, curtains, tools, silverware, dishes, pots and pans, glasses and backpacks. Basically, everything in that closet.

There is no cost to residents and the town will save on disposal costs and receive $20 per ton for textiles collected.

After listening to a presentation from the Town's Chief Appraiser Victor Santaniello, the Select Board voted to renew Reading's Senior Tax Relief program with a new Home Rule Petition to the state. The board voted in a 150 percent reimbursement rate, similar to the most recent year.

The senior discount program was approved at the 2016 town meeting. The goal was to provide a simple, easy-to-use system that would save seniors money and help prevent them from being forced to leave their homes. In FY 2018, 186 residents were granted the break in their property taxes. In FY 2019, 177 were granted. Santaniello will be at the Reading Senior Center on Aug. 14 to answer questions about the program.

The effort to honor Camille Anthony is continuing. Anthony, a member of the Board of Selectmen for 18 years, passed away in March. Her family and friends plan to donate a street clock to the town and have been looking at options both for the type of clock and the best location. They are also looking for donations to the Service is Timeless Fund in honor of Anthony. Tax-deductible donations can be made by sending a check payable to the Service is Timeless Fund to Reading Cooperative Bank or going on the Reading Rotary website and indicating your donation is for Fund.

Town Manager Bob LeLacheur updated the board on Haverhill Street. A MassDOT consultant's opinion is that the road should have a 35-40 mph speed limit. The data from a recently-completed traffic study is being analyzed by MassDOT. Meanwhile, LeLacheur received support from the board for a Home Rule Petition to take responsibility for Haverhill Street away from the state ... the board approved internal borrowing for four town capital projects by a 4-0 vote. The $5.425 million was approved by Town Meeting and includes $2.25 million for the turf field at the high school, $1.7 million for building security, $500,000 for the Auburn Street water tank, and $1 million for the Grove Street water main ... the town is still looking for election help. If you'd like to be a part of upcoming elections and make a little money, contact the Town Clerk's office.