Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Council Decisions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Reading council approves School Resource Officer agreement, replaces purchasing policy and signs off on appointments
Summary
At its Dec. 10 meeting the Reading City Council approved a one-year SRO memorandum with Reading Community Schools, adopted a new purchasing policy effective Jan. 1, 2025, awarded routine contracts and confirmed multiple board and personnel appointments.
The Reading City Council on Dec. 10 approved a one-year Memorandum of Agreement with Reading Community Schools to provide a School Resource Officer (SRO) for the 1,480 hours requested, and adopted a new municipal Purchasing Policy to replace the 2006 policy.
Council voted unanimously to approve the SRO MOA, which the city clerk said takes effect Jan. 6, 2025. The same meeting approved the Purchasing Policy and Addendums 1 and 2, which the council adopted to take effect Jan. 1, 2025. Councilmembers said the policy replaces the city's prior procurement rules from 2006 and is intended to modernize purchasing procedures.
The meeting also covered routine business: the council approved the consent agenda (including the minutes of Nov. 12, the October Treasurer's Report and financial statements, and payment of operating bills for November 2024 totaling $229,590.29) by roll call vote. The council awarded a $4,800 tree-removal contract to Complete Tree Services to remove five trees and three stumps at the cemetery and a large tree north of 107 S. Union Street. Council approved adding an Employee Benefit Sheet to the Employee Handbook and re-appointed Jennifer Steele to the Library Board for a term beginning Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027.
VanCamp moved and Matz seconded the SRO motion; the roll call vote was recorded as Yeas: George, Matz, VanCamp, Penney and Matthews. VanCamp moved and Matz seconded the purchasing policy motion; that vote was unanimous. The tree bid was approved on a Matz motion, seconded by Penney, and the employee handbook amendment passed on a VanCamp motion seconded by Penney.
Why it matters: the SRO agreement assigns a sworn officer to Reading Community Schools for the coming school year, and the new purchasing rules will govern city procurement beginning Jan. 1. The tree-removal contract addresses immediate public-safety and cemetery maintenance needs. The council's actions also set personnel and board membership for the coming term.
What happens next: the MOA becomes effective Jan. 6, 2025; the Purchasing Policy takes effect Jan. 1, 2025. Routine procurement and personnel onboarding will proceed under the new policy and the approved budget allocations.
