1996-05-20 Board of Selectmen Executive Session Minutes

Home Browse Search

i Board of Selectmen Meeting Executive Session May 20, 1996 The meeting convened at 8:00 p.m. in the RMLD Conference Room, 230 Ash Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Sally Hoyt, Secretary Camille Anthony, Selectmen Dan Ensminger and Bruce MacDonald, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Counsel H Theodore Cohen and Vice Chairman George Hines arrived at 8:10 p.m. Also present were Reading Municipal Light Department Chairman Allan Ames, Vice Chairman Bill Hughes, members Phil Pacino and Dave Swyter, General Manager Len Rucker, Special Projects Coordinator Jim Bloomley, RMLD Counsel Ken Barna and Robin Daniels and Secretary Rose Mitchell. Mr. Ensminger spoke about his concerns regarding a previous breach of information from a previous Executive Session. The Town Manager gave the background of where we are. At the last joint meeting in Executive Session by the RMLD Board and the Board of Selectmen, the General Manager, the Town Manager and Counsel for the RMLD and the Town were directed to discuss with the purchasers, PJC, what their true intent was and to see if we could negotiate a deal. Following that, there was a meeting with RMLD staff and Counsel with Town staff and Counsel. There was then a meeting held with PJC Realty Trust. At that meeting, PJC Realty Trust was represented by Counsel, by Peter Schmitz, and by the Massachusetts Environmental Consultant. PJC Realty Trust made it clear that they wanted to stay with the deal, but also that they would not accept an activities and use limitation (AUL) for the property. Subsequently, the Board of Selectmen had an Executive Session which Mr. Rucker attended. The Board discussed the issue of extension of the Purchase and Sales agreement, and it was agreed by all parties that it would be extended until June 14, 1996, allowing time for the Light Board and the Board of Selectmen to meet and see if there was common ground between the two of them. Bruce MacDonald noted that the site is publicly known as being contaminated. If Brooks walks out on the deal, RMLD may have cause to clean up anyway and the future user may be less desirable. He asked if we could discuss a three way arrangement where the costs would be between $5,000 and $30,000 to clean up the site. The cost would be shared by RMLD, the Town and PJC Realty. Camille Anthony asked where the break-even point is. When does it become ridiculous in terms of costs of legal, marketing, keeping the building operating at .a cost of $1,500 per month, compared to the clean up cost. She noted that the Light Board and the Town don't have the same issue. She hoped that if this was another community within the RMLD area, the RMLD would be listening to the Town regarding issues of Downtown development and would try to make this work. She feels that we should try to make this sale work if possible.