Published November 12, 2020
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — The Select Board’s annual tax classification public hearing to determine the percentage of the local tax levy to be borne by each class of real and personal property for Fiscal Year 2021 is Monday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
For the first time ever, this public hearing must be held virtually, as permitted under Gov. Baker’s March 12, 2020 order which allows the suspension of certain provisions of the state’s Open Meeting Law due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The setting of the tax rate for each fiscal year is authorized by MGL Chap. 40, Sec. 56.
The town currently has a single tax rate, meaning the tax rate is equal for residential, commercial, industrial and personal property classes. The FY20 tax rate is $15.60 per thousand dollars of valuation.
All interested taxpayers may present oral testimony at this hearing or they may submit written comments to the Select Board’s office by either U.S. mail to: Town Hall, 235 North St., North Reading MA 01864 or via email to: townadministrator@northreadingma.gov by the deadline of Thursday, Nov. 12 at noon.
To access the tax classification hearing, via the internet, go to https://zoom.us/join and enter Meeting ID: 869 4751 0218 followed by Passcode: 283174. To access the hearing by telephone, dial 929-205-6099 (New York) and enter the aforementioned Meeting ID and Passcode.
Two “show cause” hearings
The Select Board will also preside over two separate “show cause” hearings on Nov. 16 on the liquor licenses held by two businesses in town which had sold alcohol to minors during alcohol compliance checks conducted by the North Reading Police Department last month.
These hearings will provide the NRPD with an opportunity to “show cause” to the board as to whether the violations warrant a suspension of the license. If cause is determined the board will also determine the length of the suspension and when it will take place.
Both license holders will be provided an opportunity to explain their side of the situation as well.
The first show cause hearing will be held on Monday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. for Lucky Mart, 202 Main St.
The second show cause hearing will be held on Monday, Nov. 16 at 8:30 p.m. for New England Beverage, 160 Main St.
New England Beverage was also granted an extension of time on its license transfer and pledge request because the current owner has obtained a new attorney who sought additional time to get up to speed on it.
Select Board Chairwoman Kathryn Manupelli explained to the new attorney that by granting this extension of time the applicant acknowledged that the transfer and the pledge “would not be constructively approved” due to the board not yet taking “official action” on the request, to which he agreed. The transfer hearing was continued to Monday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m.
The board will also discuss at a future meeting whether they should reduce the annual alcohol license fees for various businesses and restaurants due to the hardship these businesses have faced over the past year and by what percentage.
