News

A ban on the use of plastic bans will take effect in North Reading as of January 1, 2020. This by-law was passed at the June Town Meeting and approved by the Attorney General in September 2019. Information regarding the ban was placed on the town’s we online Code immediately after the AG approval. Full legal notices were printed in the North Reading Transcript.

The fulll details of the ban have been provided by the Town of North Reading and are noted below.

1. Purpose and Intent

The production and use of thin-film single-use plastic bags have significant impacts on the environment of our community, including, but not limited to: unsightly plastic bags caught in trees and shrubs defiling our shared open space, parks and forest; blowing into our yards and spoiling our view; contributing to the potential death of animals through ingestion and entanglement; contributing to pollution of the land environment; creating a burden to our solid waste collection and recycling facility; clogging our storm drainage systems; and requiring the use of millions of barrels of crude oil nationally for their manufacture.

The purpose of this By-law is to eliminate the usage of thin-film single-use plastic bags by all retail establishments in the Town of North Reading.

2. Definitions

“Thin-film single-use plastic bags” means bags, with integral handles, and a thickness of 2.5 mils or less that are intended to be used for the transport of products provided by a retail establishment at the point of sale.

“ASTM D6400 standard” means the testing standard developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials for compostable plastics.

“Biodegradable bag” means a bag that:

a. Contains no polymers derived from fossil fuels; and

b. Is intended for single use and will decompose in a natural setting at a rate comparable to other biodegradable materials such as paper, leaves, and food waste.

“Recyclable paper bag” means a paper bag that is 100% recyclable and contains at least 40% post-consumer recycled content, and displays in a visible manner on the outside of the bag the word “recyclable” or a symbol identifying the bag is recyclable

“Retail establishment” means a business or vendor that sells or provides food, merchandise, goods, or personal services to the public, but not a bazaar or festival operated by a non-commercial entity. 

“Reusable bag” means a bag that is specifically designed for multiple use and is made of thick plastic, cloth, fabric or other durable materials.

3. Use Regulations

a. No retail establishment in the Town of North Reading shall distribute, use or sell thin-film single-use plastic bags that do not meet or exceed the ASTM D6400 standards.

b. Retail establishments may provide customers with recyclable paper bags, biodegradable bags, or reusable bags at no charge or for a fee.

c. Thin-film plastic bags used to contain dry cleaning, newspapers, produce, meat, bulk foods, wet items and other similar merchandise, typically without handles, shall be exempt from the prohibitions of this By-law.

4. Administration and Enforcement

Retail establishments may apply to the Board of Health for approval of new single-use bag products as they come on the market that meet, or exceed, the ASTM D6400 standards.  The Board of Health shall be authorized to promulgate reasonable regulations for the effective administration and enforcement of this bylaw, including to determine the appropriate procedure for establishments to apply for approval of single-use bag products and to establish reasonable reporting requirements for establishments to demonstrate compliance.

This by-law shall be enforced through any lawful means in law or in equity, including, but not limited to, non-criminal disposition pursuant to GL. C.40 section 21D.  For purposes of non-criminal disposition, the Board of Health and the Health Agent / Health Director of the Town of North Reading shall be the enforcing authority

If enforced using non-criminal disposition, the following fine schedule shall apply:

a. Warning for a first offense;

b. $50 for the second offense;

c. $100 for the third offense and any successive offense;

Subsequent offenses shall be determined as offenses occurring within two years of the date of the first noticed offense. Each day or portion thereof shall constitute a separate offense.  A warning or fine may be appealed to the Board of Health within __ days of issuance prior to being forwarded to the courts for non-criminal disposition.

5. Applicability

While this By-law shall be effective upon approval by the Attorney General and in accordance with G.L. c.40, §32, it shall be applicable to retail establishments in the Town beginning January 1, 2020.

Reading banned plastic bags in 2018

The Town of Reading previously instituted a new bylaw limiting use of plastic bags, effective September 10, 2018. See the attached documents for additional detail.

Bag Ban Letter FAQ Format

Bag Ban Plastic Bag – Revised Letter 6.18

PRESS RELEASE

Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce to Host Third Annual North Reading Town Day

Reading, MA, April 27, 2019

The Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Third  Annual North Reading Town Day on Sunday, June 2^rdat Ipswich River Park, 15 Central Street in North Reading from 11 am to 3 pm.  Mark your calendar for an afternoon of celebrating our great community with other local families, entertainment, great food, North Reading nonprofit groups in addition to local vendors, businesses, and services.  This is a fun, free, family-friendly event.  North Reading Town Day is hosted by the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce, and the event is driven by a dedicated committee of local business owners who volunteer their time with months of planning for this event. 

We are excited to host this annual event and bring the community together at our beautiful Ipswich River Park,” remarked Francine Coughlin, Chamber President and Owner of Bark n’ Roll.  In 2018 the Chamber hosted over 80 vendors and 2,500 people were in attendance.  Thanks to generous sponsors, there were many children’s activities that we all free of charge for everyone to enjoy.

“North Reading Town Day is great way for people to see what their community has to offer, support local small businesses and have the town give back to them all in one,” commented Josh Harrington, Event Chair and Owner of J.H. Insurance Group.

Are you interested in having a booth to promote your business and connect with over 2,000 local families?   Vendor spots are $125 and registration is at bit.ly/NRTown-Day2019 (case sensitive).

Are you unable to attend but would like to show your investment in North Reading by sponsoring the event?   Like showing off your entertainment skills for a good cause?   Do you have a creative idea that fits perfectly with this Family-Friendly event? Contact the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce at lynn@rnrchamber.com or at: 781-664-9207.   We look forward to seeing you on June 2!

The mission of the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce is to foster a thriving business community that facilitates connections between businesses, engagement between businesses and residents, and long-term economic growth in our community.

Last year at Small Business Day, business owners from across Massachusetts sent a strong message to Beacon Hill legislators that their concerns matter too. Join us again this year, where many of the state’s leading business organizations will gather to help educate policymakers on the issues most important to your small business. Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of this important conversation in 2019! 

Day & Time: Thursday, May 9, 2019, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon

Location: Omni Parker House, 60 School Street, Boston, MA 02108

Agenda and Panels:

9:00 am  Registration / Refreshments

9:30 am  Introductions and Legislative Briefing

10:00 am  Everything You Need to Know About Paid Family Medical Leave

• Panelists: David Robinson Esq., Ruberto, Israel & Weiner; William Alpine, Esq., Department of Family and Medical Leave; Mike Doheny, Undersecretary of Labor and General Counsel, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

10:45 am Making Healthcare Insurance Affordable For Small Business

11:30 am  Keynote speaker

12:00 noon Legislator visits 

COMPLETE EVENT DETAILS

Outgoing Chamber president Shanna Cahalane, Vice President and Director of Marketing at Reading Cooperative Bank, passes the gavel to 2019 incoming Chamber President Francine Coughlin, Founder and President of Bark n’ Roll of North Reading, MA. As outgoing President, Shanna will remain on the Chamber Executive Board for 2019 and will continue to support the Chamber. 

Thank you Shanna for your leadership in 2018! Francine, we look forward to great things for us in 2019.

The Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce sponsored the 27th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Festival in Reading and the 13^thAnnual Holiday Tree Lighting in North Reading on Sunday, November 25, 2018. This year’s family-friendly entertainment included photos with Santa, tractor, trolley and horse-drawn hay rides, strolling characters, bounce houses, Jenny the Juggler, a direct feed of the Patriot’s Game, ice sculpture demonstrations, digital photo booths, pony rides and great local food. 

Performances by the RMHS Band and Color Guard, Austin Prep Chorus, North Reading High School Band, other local dance and karate studios and the Colonial Chorus in Reading entertained the crowds. Both festivals culminated at dusk when Santa and his elves magically lit the lights in both towns simultaneously for the holiday season.

Thank you to our sponsors and organizers!

The Chamber offers these popular annual events to the community at no charge thanks to our generous sponsors, listed below.

Also thank you to our small committee of Chamber volunteers who worked tirelessly to bring this year’s events to fruition:

• Reading: Robin Krane (chair), Michael Giacalone, Lynn Landes, Bill McElhiney, Leslie McGonagle, John Means, Joyce Mulvaney
• North Reading: Lisa Egan (chair), Jackie Carpenito, Francine Coughlin,  Josh Harrington, Lynn Landes, Lina Pappalardo, Kara Skilton, Brian Shue 

Reading Sponsors:

Presenting Sponsors were Austin Preparatory School and Northern Bank & Trust.  Gold Sponsors were Reading Cooperative Bank, Doyon’s TV & Appliance, RCTV, Middlesex Animal Hospital and TD Bank.  Jenny the Juggler was sponsored by Classified Real Estate.  New this year, Pamko Construction sponsored the digital photo booth. The Patriots Game sponsors were Biltmore & Main, DeMoura Smith, LLC and Reading Gymnastics Academy.  The Bounce House was sponsored by Mark Tango Plumbing and The Maids. The Live ice sculpture sponsors were Michael Giacalone, CPA, Burbank Ice Arena, Eastern Bank, Lumen Wealth Management, Tin Bucket and Keating Law Office. Trolley and Hayride sponsors were O’Sullivan Architects, Elle Salon, MelroseWakefield Healthcare, Lahey Health, State Representative Brad Jones, Sartell Electrical Services, Inc., Reading Rotary, Reading Orthodontics, Artis Senior Living, Wingate at Reading, Latham Law Office, PDA Dental Group, Douglass Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home, Premier Realty Group, Inc., The Goddard School and Salem Five Bank. Police Safety Detail Sponsors were Means Business for Computers and LaPierre School of Dance.

Other supporting sponsors include The Art Studio, Flush Services, and Carli Fence.

North Reading Sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor were The Savings Bank, Reading Cooperative Bank and Service Pumping & Drain Co., Inc. The pony rides were sponsored by Classified Real Estate.  New this year, the digital photo booth was sponsored by Royal Meadow View.  Ice Sculpture Sponsors were Starlight Carwash and PDA Dental Group.  The Patriot Game sponsors were Sweepnman and Cota Funeral Home.  Bounce house sponsors were The Maids, J.H. Insurance Group and Service Pumping & Drain Co., Inc. Our DJ was Paul DiPanfilo’s Professional DJ Entertainment.  Event banner sponsors included MelroseWakefield Healthcare, State Representative Brad Jones, The Horseshoe Grille, Lahey Health, Reading Orthodontics, North Reading Veterinary Clinic, Bark N Roll,  North Reading School of Ballet, Axle Color Studio, Winter Hill Bank and Linnane Insurance.

See the photos! 

The upcoming vote for a proposed split tax rate in Reading will have a major impact on our business community. 

The Reading tax classification vote takes place Tuesday, October 16th at 7 pm in the Town Hall. 

Because of the low density of businesses in Reading, the proposed split tax rate will dramatically impact the town’s businesses (thousands of dollars annually per business) and offer only a nominal decrease for residential households ($60 to $150 per year for an average household).

While the shift is positioned to be consumer-friendly, businesses faced with this tax burden will likely pass along at least some portion of the increase through higher prices for goods and services.

Existing local businesses can be expected to leave Reading for neighboring communities with a more business-friendly tax climate, and new businesses exploring the area will elect to set up shop elsewhere. Empty storefronts will stay dormant — and there will be more of them.

We need your help. The Reading tax classification vote takes place Tuesday, October 16th at 7 pm in the Town Hall. 

Please attend this very important meeting and let your voices be heard. If you can’t attend the meeting, please email the Select Board selectmen@ci.reading.ma.us to share your opposition to a split tax rate in the Town of Reading.  

Thank you to Chamber Board Member Kevin Barile for detailing this issue for our membership, below. 

~~~~~~

Letter from Kevin Barile

Dear Fellow Business and Property Owners,
 
My name is Kevin Barile and my family and I own and operate the Doherty Barile Family Funeral Home on Linden St. in Reading.  I am also a board member on the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce.  I am writing to you on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce to make you all aware that the Select Board will be voting whether or not to shift the town’s real estate tax rate from a single rate to a split tax rate next week. This proposal of a split tax rate will have a major impact on the business community in Reading. The Board of Directors on the Reading North Reading Chamber of Commerce strongly believe that the implementation of a tax split will change the way people in our community shop and support local businesses in the town. We need your help.
 
A split tax rate will:

1. Drastically increase taxes to the business community while only giving a minimal decrease to the residential community. The town’s net profit will not increase from this shift; they are simply shifting it so the business community will take the vast majority of the tax paid. They are hoping to decrease the amount owed by the residents in the town. Business owners could expect their taxes to increase into the thousands of dollars per year while the residents will see a decrease of about $65.00 to $150.00 per year.
2. Force businesses to increase their prices on the goods and services they provide to the community
3. Have the potential to have long time local sustaining businesses close their doors and find another location that is much more affordable. This will also deter new potential businesses from locating to Reading to follow their dream of owning their own company. 

In the last few years, the business community has been faced with higher sales tax from the state of Massachusetts. In the next years to come the state of Massachusetts will be increasing the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour as part of the Grand Bargain Legislation. How much more can our local businesses take? How much longer can they keep absorbing these increases until they are either passed on to the consumer or forced to close their doors?
 
This is where we need your help. The Reading tax classification vote will be on Tuesday, October 16th at 7 pm in the Town Hall.  We are asking that you attend this very important meeting and let your voices be heard. If you can’t attend the meeting please consider writing a letter to the Select Board with your opposition to a split tax rate in the Town of Reading to this email: selectmen@ci.reading.ma.us

Note your message will be entered into the public record on the matter will be sent to the town manager and all five members of the select board. Please tell as many of your local business colleagues about this meeting and encourage them to attend.

Effective September 10, 2018, new restrictions will be in place regarding single-use plastic bags in the Town of Reading. See the Frequently Asked Questions for details.

Over 70 vendors, organizations, restaurants and businesses participated in our Second Annual North Reading Town Day on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Visitor estimates ranged from 3,000 to as many as 10,000! A free, family-friendly event, visitors enjoyed musical entertainment, pony rides, an inflatable obstacle course, games and and performances from many area schools, as well as tasty fare from a variety of local restaurants. Area businesses and organizations hosted booths and offered information, trinkets and friendly advice. With clear skies and a light breeze, it was a perfect day at Ipswich River Park for all who attended. 

Winning Foursome from left to right (Riley Wetmore, Mike Hennessy, Damon Lusk and Carl Branson)

With perfect weather a payback for last year’s pouring rain, this year’s Reading-North Reading Golf Tournament was a giant success. 70 golfers enjoyed a great day on the links under bright blue skies, followed by a hearty luncheon. A variety of raffle prizes were won, including a Titleist golf bag, Calloway driver, Red Sox tickets, Yeti tumblers and a number of intriguing gift baskets among many other generously donated items.