Select Board To Reading's Liquor License Holders: See You Soon

READING, Ma. - Two weeks after voting to suspend the license of Baystate Liquors, the Reading Select Board continued an ongoing discussion about closing loop holes in their own alcohol policies, and closing the door on future violations.

It was once again a busy night for the board, one that ended with an almost 30-minute discussion on how to make their meetings shorter. Tuesday's 3 1/2 hour meeting concluded with frustration over the length of agendas, the time it takes to plow through them, and the inability to get to numerous important items.

As for the liquor issue, board member John Halsey pointed out that kids have been trying to buy alcohol forever and it's not stopping any time soon. What the board wants to stop is the ability of those underage individuals to buy liquor in Reading. Baystate Liquors was caught twice in May selling to minors, in part because the Main Street store's employees didn't have TIPS or TAM training. That training is designed to catch and prevent minors from buying alcohol.

Halsey is taking the point in an effort to close loop hopes in the Select Board policies as well as look into what other towns do. He'll report back to the board at its Sept. 24 meeting. The plan then is to hold a public hearing at its Oct. 15 meeting on the changes and then invite all liquor license holders in the town to the Oct. 29 meeting. There are roughly 26 liquor license holders in Reading.

Library Director Amy Lannon appeared before the board to update them about the next Pulse of Reading Community Conversation. On Thursday, Sept. 26 the library will host "A Matter of Civility, Defining and Strengthening our Community." The 7 p.m. event is billed as an in-depth conversation that will get at the heart of what civility means for our community. There are two more community conversations scheduled. On Oct. 17 the topic is "Building Our Community, Sparking Ideas and Action." And on Nov. 21 it's "Belonging: Diversity and Inclusion in Reading." For more information check out their website.

RCASA Director Erica McNamara updated the board on the Sept. 25 annual meeting and film screening of "The First Day," a film produced by former basketball star Chris Herren. The event will be held at the IMAX Theatre at Jordan's and it's free to the public. More information can be found on the RCASA website. McNamara also spoke of the annual recovery celebration event Sept. 30, "Voices 4 Recovery and Remembrance." The event will be held from 6-7 p.m. at Lake Quannapowitt.

The board voted 5-0 to close the warrant for the November Town Meeting. The board voted to include Article 17, the funding of a comprehensive audit to detect natural gas leaks in town. The effort to contain natural gas leaks is spreading, with 18 towns forming a coalition in an effort to persuade National Grid to deal with the issue. Town Meeting members will be asked to support spending up to $35,000 on the audit.

The board also gave Town Manager Bob LeLacheur the go-ahead to pursue a Home Rule Petition to deal with the speed limit on Haverhill Street. Even though Reading owns the road, the state owns the rights to control the speed limit. It's an ongoing tug-of-war the town has been having with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Earlier this year the town changed the speed limit to 30 mph but the MassDOT forced Reading to return it to 40 mph. A successful Home Rule Petition would allow the town to overrule the state.

Earlier in the meeting the board heard of plans to honor the late Nelson Burbank at Friday's opening football game between Reading and Lincoln-Sudbury. Burbank died on Aug. 29 at the age of 98. Students will dress in all black and the zamboni from Burbank Arena will be in attendance. State Senator Jason Lewis will have a proclamation from the state, along with a proclamation from the Select Board that will be presented to Burbank's family. The game starts at 7 p.m.

With the clock ticking, the board expressed frustration at not having time to deal with other subjects, ranging from the Town Manager's review to prioritizing the town's capital planning needs. A Senior/Community Center? Or a new elementary school? Or how about the lights at Birch Meadow?

All subjects for another day that never seems to come.