1984-08-13 Planning Board Minutes

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Minutes of the Meeting of August 13, 1984 .rman Rich called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. with Board members D. Devine B. Mitchel present. Mr. Shaw and Mr. Wood appeared shortly thereafter. Correspondence Mail was reviewed. Mr. Devine, as a representative of the Planning Board, will attend the meeting with the Board of Public Works, Conservation Commission and Hazardous Waste Committee to select a hydrological engineer to study the water problems and protection of the Town of Reading water supply, especially as they relate to the development of the Drinkwater/North Reading property and its affects on the groundwater contamination of the Town's wellfields (which are immediately adjacent to the proposed development). - - Criterion Road - Appeal by Planning Board Against Decision by Reading Board of Appeals Granting of Variances The Planning Board action to `appeal the granting of the variances to C&C Associates Criterion Road development has prompted considerable action within Town government. The Board of Selectmen scheduled a meeting for Monday, August 6, 1984, which had to be cancelled due to scheduling problems with Town officials. The meeting is rescheduled for tonight at 8:45 P.M. Chairman Rich has spoken with Mr. Goldman, Counsel for the Planning Board in this action, and Mr. Goldman will not be able to attend tonight's meeting due to a scheduled vacation. He has advised the Board to listen to the proceedings, but not to agree to any condition, agreements or other ions without advice of counsel. He asked if other counsel would be present at t-ls meeting and, if so, this could present a problem as all parties involved should have counsel present. If any counselor is absent, then all attorneys should withdraw from any discussion on the matter. He also suggested that Chairman Rich inquire as to which Board Town Counsel will be respresenting in these discussions. Chairman Rich also informed the Board that there would be a meeting with the Finance Committee tomorrow evening, August 14th to request funds to be appropriated to the Planning Board to cover legal fees in appealing this case. Mr. Russell, Chairman of the Law Committee, will make the presentation to FinCom with the Planning Board there to answer any pertinent questions. Chairman Rich then reported on a conversation held in the Planning Board office with Mrs. Perkins, a resident in one of the houses on Criterion Road, owned by C&C Associates. During this conversation, Mark Pillsbury (a reporter for the Reading Chronicle) walked into the office. Chairman Rich then introduced him to Mrs. Perkins and asked if there was any objections to Mr. Pillsbury sitting in on the conversation. There was none. Attorney Charles Arthur, former Planning Board member, later appeared and was also informed of the presence of the Chronicle reporter. The conversation continued as to the reasons the Planning Board appealed the Board of Appeals decision, the purview of the Planning Board in matters relative to these houses, and the actions taken by the Building Inspector/Board of Selectmen since appealing the decision. Chairman Rich also informed Mrs. Perkins to seek legal counsel on their own behalf to determine what liability the builder has and what actions can be taken against them by the proposed buyers /occupants of these houses. m'-y,s conversation was later reported in the Chronicle, with portions taken out of ;text and misquoted. The article had an inflammatory tone as reported and Ms. Rich took exception to the published article. The discussion that took place in tone and manner was not as reported by Mr. Pillsbury. Ms. Rich will speak to Mr. Pillsbury as the newspaper account was misleading and unprofessional.