Peace, Love, and Understanding At RMLD Meeting

The Reading Board of Selectmen came to Ash Street ready for a fight. But WrestleMania turned into the Love Boat, the adults in the room played nice, and within a month the town's beef with the Reading Municipal Light Department could be a thing of the past. And that's a good thing for Reading residents who pay their monthly electric bill.

The town's frustration goes back nearly a year when a sub-committee was formed last April to look at financial agreements between the town and RMLD. Their first meeting didn't happen until Sept. 27 because, according to RMLD Board of Commissioners chair Phil Pacino, it took time to form the sub-committee then find dates all could attend. At that September meeting, general ideas were discussed but no numbers.

And that second meeting? It didn't happen until earlier this month because as Pacino explained, November was town meeting, December was Christmas, and January simply didn't work. So as the town worked toward the expected override, the sub-committee formed to address RMLD's contribution to the town met just twice in 10 months.

The selectmen's frustration spilled over at their Feb. 13 meeting when all agreed they would attend the Feb. 22 meeting of the RMLD Board of Commissioners. All five selectmen were present Thursday night along with members of the Finance Committee.

The evidence was circumstantial, but the show of strength worked. Their were no fireworks, just the opposite. Pacino began by saying "we are not negotiating tonight," and said he would defer to the committee, which meets again March 12. His tone was conciliatory and he said, "the RMLD wants to support the town of Reading." He said he expected and hoped that the situation would be resolved on March 12.

Commissioner John Stempeck said, "We live in Reading too. Of course we want to support the town of Reading." He added the wish that everyone "take a deep breath and let us do our job."

And Commisioner Tom O'Rourke added his desire to "work as a team" to find a solution that worked for RMLD and its ratepayers along with the town.

When it came time for public comment, confrontation had left the room. Board of Selectmen chair John Arena told Pacino he was "heartened by your opening comments," and that he was encouraged that the process could be wrapped up in March and by April town meeting "have something tangible to report on." When he referred to having "a nice bow on the package" by April town meeting, many of the Commissioners responded with an "amen."

On March 12 at 5:30 the sub-committee, comprised of two members of the selectmen, two members of the RMLD Commissioners, and two members of the RMLD Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) will meet. Their task is to settle on a figure then make a recommendation to the full Board of Commissioners, full CAB, and the full Board of Selectmen. With the RMLD Commissioners meeting the same night and the selectmen meeting March 13, an end is in site.

At stake is money. RMLD paid approximately $2.4 million to the town last year. But as selectmen Barry Berman said, the town wants a "little bit extra." Earlier in the month at the second sub-committee meeting, RMLD proposed a 2 percent dividend back to the town. Selectmen Dan Ensminger, a member of the committee, suggested 5 percent. The figures and the reasons behind them are far more complicated than those two sentences but simplified, the town wants more of what RMLD has.

"I was very gratified by Phil's tone tonight," said Ensminger. "I've known the guy for like 30 years. He's a stand-up guy and he'll get this done. I think we're making great progress. I'm very optimistic."

Photo by Bob Holmes