Reading Selectmen Approve a $4.15 Million Override

READING, MA — The Reading Board of Selectmen approved a $4.15 million override Tuesday night, ending a 4 1/2 hour meeting with a unanimous 5-0 vote that an hour earlier seemed impossible.

It was a night filled with debate, tension, fatigue, and frustrations, as selectmen started with different views of what they should do and held fast to those beliefs. But along the way another word pushed into the discussion, compromise. In the end, all five gave a little and the result was a number less than some wanted, but more than what many had feared. And oh ya, the only guys in the room who rose above the fray were the three Eagle Scouts who began the night earning thanks and a certificate from the town for their community service.

"This is how sausage is made," said board chairman John Arena after the vote, and he was right. It wasn't pretty but the end result satisfied most in the Schettini Library.

After 35 residents spoke, most supporting the full override amount of $4.7 million, it was the selectmen's turn. Lurking in the backround of their discussion was a failed 2016 override of $7.5 million and comments from a summer survey that strongly suggested the town's residents wouldn't accept a large override request again.

John Halsey got things started by proposing a menu override. There would be six questions on the ballot with each asking voters for a certain amount of money for each menu item. Question 1 was $3,025,678 for schools; Question 2 was $568,246 for five police officers; Question 3 was $424,788 for four firemen; Question 4 was $62,103 for an assistant town accountant; Question 5 added Sunday library hours for $32,294; and Question 6 added administrative hours for elder/human services at $27,325. If all six were approved by voters the override would total $4.14 million, basically the same figure the board agreed on almost three hours later.

"I've created a menu so voters can actually chose what they want," said Halsey. "I think all six should be passed. I want to appeal to a voter who says you can't get everything you want."

Selectmen Barry Berman objected to having six questions and he was joined by Andy Friedmann in wanting just one question. But before Berman could continue, it was Dan Ensminger's turn.

Ensminger proposed a two-tiered approach to the override. Question 1A asked for an override of roughly $4.04 million for schools, four firemen, five police men, and an assistant town accountant. Question 1B asked for an override of roughly $2.83 with the difference coming out of the school portion. The idea comes from the fear of failure, namely that Reading's 19,401 voters might say no to the bigger number but at least would say yes to something. But Berman pointed out, and Arena agreed, it was likely many voters would jump right to the lesser amount.

While Ensminger and Halsey proposed divided override questions, Berman and Friedmann feared what that would create in town. "People will be at each other's throats," said Berman of the expected debate it would create between supporters of schools, and those who supported other causes.

Many in the room agreed with Berman and Friedmann. "A menu approach is extremely divisive," said School Committee member Jeanne Borawski. "I firmly endorse one number for one town." School Committee chair Charles Robinson agreed. "I don't see any way that any kind of menu approach wouldn't be divisive."

Sitting between Halsey/Ensminger and Berman/Friedmann, was chairman Arena. On numerous occasions Arena has expressed concern about setting the override number too high and Tuesday night was no different. "I'm really nervous about having a single number that goes down in flames again," said Arena. "I desperately want this to pass."

Much of the discussion Arena was officiating centered on trusting the voters. Berman said the single question made sense because it trusted Reading voters to make the right decision and the menu format didn't. Halsey objected. "Quite the contrary, I really trust voters."

An informal vote had Halsey, Ensminger, and Arena supporting some sort of multiple question approach with Berman and Friedmann holding at one question. As the discussion continued it was clear few in the room supported the menu/tier approach. It was also clear that energy was starting to wane, to the point where it was suggested that the whole override discussion be tabled until the selectmen's Feb. 13 meeting. But there weren't many fans of that idea and it was back to work.

Slowly a consensus was building. Arena accepted having one question and all five realized the $4.15 million figure was something they could all accept. "The $4.7 million is a much higher risk than anyone imagines," said Arena, who added that he felt even a $4.1 million override is a 50-50 proposition.

Most of the night Town Manager Bob LeLacheur was an observer, but the later it went the more he jumped into the discussion. Eventually, somehow, it all came together and just moments before Tuesday became Wednesday, five hands were raised and Reading had its override. If the voters pass it on April 3, it will be Reading's first successful override since 2003 when voters approved a $4.5 million override.

The next step is the breakdown. The town is getting less than its full override request and the same goes for the schools. Of the $4.15 million, 64 percent will go to the schools. LeLacheur's task in the days ahead will be to determine the exact amount. Then the School Committee will decide on Feb. 5 what part of their override budget stays and what will be cut.

And about those Eagle Scouts who started the night. Adam Clark, Christopher Rogers, and Jared Casalinuovo of Troop 72 were joined by Scout leader John Meyers in being celebrated for their contributions to Reading. Clark built bat boxes in the town forest in an effort to help with the mosquitos. Rogers improved Sanborn Street landscaping, and Casalinuovo helped renovate the Old South Church.

Their accomplishments shouldn't be lost in all the noise at the library.

Photos by Bob Holmes