Local Voices

Responses To Bill Brown and Gayle Faller

In a Letter to the editor, resident avoids endorsements but wants to correct certain facts.

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A Letter to the Editor from Mike Barry:

On March 26th Gayle Faller posted to the Patch essentially stating that the completed Reading Woods is going to start bringing in 2.5 million dollars this year! It sounds too good to be true, and it is. The Reading Woods project started in 2011. As each building has been completed and sold over the years we started collecting new tax revenue. The last was building completed in 2017 and is 36 units or about 8 percent of the complex. Assuming equal value distributions, about 200k of new revenue based on the 2.5 million dollar number. Additionally, that new growth is forecasted into the budget every year.

On March 29th Bill Brown’s letter to the editor essentially states the ballot initiative is not compatible with state law. Our town counsel has analyzed his concern and addressed it. Our counsel does not see an issue with the override itself or Town Meeting voting on it. See page 106 of the BOS packet if you want the details. https://www.readingma.gov/sites/readingma/files/agendas/2018-03-27_bos_packet.pdf

On March 25th Bill Brown’s letter to the editor stated: “Apparently my years ago civics class taught me incorrectly, so for all you that plan to vote no on the override do not bother because if you succeed the powers that be will bring it back next year and will wear you down until they get their way. It's called bullying.” Respectfully, I disagree that this is bullying. This is how civics is supposed to work. If you don’t want another override on the ballot, find candidates who will not support on and get them elected!

Thanks for listening. GO VOTE!

Mike Barry, Village Street

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