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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-03 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting t January 3,2012 _ For ease of archiving, the order that items appear in these minutes reflects the order in which the items appeared on the agenda for that meeting, and are not necessarily the order.in which any item was taken up by the Board The. meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting-Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Camille Anthony, Vice Chairman Stephen Goldy, Secretary Ben Tafoya, Selectmen James Bonazoli and Diehard Schubert, Town Manager Peter f-Iechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance. Director Bob LeLacheur, Office Manager Paula Schena, and the following list of interested parties: Paul Feely, Michele Sanphy, Andrew Jeremski,Niloo Hennings,Noah Hennings, Jacob Hennings, School Committee members Hal Croft, Chuck Robinson, Chris Caruso,-Light Board members Phil Pacino and Bob Soli, Finance Committee members Marsi e west, Johan Arena, Marie Ferrari, Paula Perry and Hal al Tor an; Patty DeGaravilla, Vinnie Cameron, Erin Calvo-Bocci, John B. Carpenter, Carolyn Whiting, Erica McNamara, Tone Zaya, Donna Dudley, Robyn Parker, Karen Herrick, Mark Cardono, Angela Binda, Roberta Sullivan, Everett Blodgett, Virginia Blodgett, Sharlene Reynolds Santo, Virginia Adams. Re arts and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Re orfs and,Comments -- Ben Tafoya noted he had a brief discussion with Stephen Goldy and staff regarding the Town Accountant hiring process, James Bonazoli noted that the ad hoc Amplified Sound Committee met and agreed on a definition for amplified sound. A public hearing will be held by the subcommittee on their draft policy on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. Town Manager's. Re ort—The Town Manager gave the following,report: Administrative matters + Reminder--the Town election and the Presidential Primary election will be held on March 6 at the Hawkes Field House at R_MHS * Census forms will be going out the first of the year. Remember to license our dog. + Nomination papers for the,Town election are now available in the Town Clerk's office. All Town Meeting members must run for election due to. re-precincting. Nomination papers must be returned by 1--17-1 2 + There will be a MLK celebration this corning January 16, 2012 at 10 ant in the Performing Arts Center at RMHS. The lobby will open at 9 and food will be.available at that time. + Staff has been working on a Community Innovation Grant applicationfor far enhancements to the Public Health regional initiative begun in 2011. I have created 'a motion for the Board of Selectmen to support the application and also a 1etter.of support. A motion by Tafoya seconded by Bonazoli that the Board of Selectmen approve the filing of a Communily Innovation Grant consisting substantially the substance submitted to the Board of Selectmen on 1-3-12% the purpose of which is to enhance the M Board of Selectmen Meeting--Januar 3 2012— a e 2 ........................ newly created regional Public Health Administration program between Readin Melrose, and wakefleld was a roved b a vote of 5_0-0. + The Town has received.an anonymous donation of funds to support trail work, as well as to support tree adoption. + There is a vacancy on the Board of Library Trustees, to be filled by a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the remaining Library Trustees, Community Services The modular units for the Oaktree development are being delivered and are being stacked probably since last week. Public Safety + The Fire Department has been notified that they have been awarded a grant under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. We applied under Firefighter Safety and requested funding for a joint training program for Reading and Wakefield Firefighters. The concept is to bring in an outside training vendor to develop advanced skills in Firefighter Safety, Engine Company and Ladder Company operations. The goal is to enhance skills, develop new skills and to increase the performance of our Firefighters. The grant is for $111,600 and will be spit between Reading and Wakefield. The grant requires a 10% local match. Reading's share will be $5,500. Captain Boisvert was the lead grant writer. Public Works + The MWRA project is done except for final paving in the spring-. + We are applying to Longhorn's Steak house for a trails grant for enhancement to the trail entrances in the Town Forest, and for partial funding of the Town Forest Master Plan. + We have received a check--front Dunkin Donuts in the amount of$30,000 which will be used to improve'the entryway to Washington Park from Washington Street. + We have been informed that the Stoneham Board of Selectmen no longer supports the Northern Intermediate High water Redundancy Project. (see attached materials) Discussion/Action Items Review OPBB Actuarial Stud with Finance Committee School Committee and Readin Municipal Light Board--- The Finance Committee and School Committee called their meeting to order at 7;26 p.m. Kathleen Riley from the Segal Company was present. She noted they are an employee benefit firm who has done evaluations for several communities. She looked at the average cost of benefits including the trend of benefits and mortality assumption. Ms. Riley noted the Town. has $93 million in unfunded liability. The Annual Required Contribution for fiscal year 2011 is $5,560,000. The RMLD has funded $1 million. She noted that if the Town funds $4.2 million then the amount drops to $63 million due to a change in the discount rate. If the Town sets aside $2 million in a trust then we could do the calculation on a 7.75% discount. Board of Selectmen Meeting=Janugy 3 2012 a e 3 . Camille Ar thou noted that the amount of liability has a negative effect on the Town's bond Y �" g rating. Presentation from Town Man er RCASA Director Su erintendent of Schools Police Chief re: Res onse to Substance Abuse and violence—The Town Manager noted this is in response to the discussion in the community on substance abuse and violence. RCASA Director Erica McNamara noted that her goal is to convene the stakeholders to develop coordinated strategies to reduce substance abuse. The RCASA has recruited and trained youth leaders; have reached over 900 people last year and helped-institute the prescription drug return program. She is in the process of preparing a$125,000 grant application. The Town Manager noted that the grant monies are done by September 2012 so. if we don't received additional funding, then we would have to fund this ourselves. Erica McNamara noted that the RCASA works with the schools and PTO's and also does TIPS training. There has been a reduction in drug use in the middle schools and the high school in specific key areas. Camille Anthony asked if the RCASA is reaching out to adults and Erica McNamara noted that the funding requires a focus on youth but, the information is available to anyone. Camille Anthony asked for information on which liquor licenses have contacted RCASA. James Bonazoli noted that the Board continues to hold liquor licensees accountable and suggested that RCASA should see if they will help. Donna Dudley noted that the message she received regarding the lock down at the high school was confusing. Chief Cormier noted that no contraband was found but the canines alerted on odors in three different areas. Chief Cormier noted that there has been an increase in population. He also noted that the increase in crimes is related to substance abuse. He is suggesting an increase of one officer in the Police Department. He noted that RCASA has helped a'lot and an additional officer could acus on issues. The Town Manager noted that the new growth figures in the fall will probably require aro additional officer also. Richard Schubert asked if $76,000 was for FY 13 and Town Manager indicated it was and it was noted that $100,000 would be needed for a full year. Camille Anthony asked what the call,rate at Archstone is and Chief Cormier noted that any densely populated area will need additional services. He will get the numbers for her. Marsie west asked if there,was any research on how effective we have been on deterring drug use. Chief Cormier noted that they have been successful in deterring drugs in the schools. a Board of Selectmen Meeting -Januar 3 2012- a e 4 ............................ John Doherty noted that there is a strong collaboration with :erica McNamara and Police to be proactive and this is unique to Reading. His concern is with the behavioral health of the students regarding anxiety and stress. They have formed a behavioral health task force and they carne up with 25 changes. Camille Anthony noted that the kids need a Teen Center and-the Town should head down that path. John Doherty noted that there are plenty of activities at the High School level, but not so much for the younger group. Paula Perry asked if there will be increased demands on guidance counselors and John Doherty noted that they will need additional staffing in the high school guidance, but guidance needs to be defined as academic or social, Town Accountant Appointment Effective April 1 2012 — A motion by Tafo a seconded b Gold to reappoint Gail LaPointe as Town Accountant with a terra expiring June 30 2012 or until a successor is avpointed was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Review Instructional Motion _ Historic Inventor — The Town Manager noted that this instructional motion from Town Meeting directs the Historical Commission to draft an appeal process for adding a home to the historic inventory and was sponsored by:grin Calvo Bacci. Camille Anthony asked the definition of historical listed structures. Virginia Adams noted that term is listed in the demolition bylaw. Erin Calvo Bacci noted that when she received her letter all it said was her house.is of historic significance and to show up for a certificate and then a hearing. She noted this is a burden to anyone who has been added. She was led to believe it was a done deal and she doesn't want to pay the cost of appealing. She doesn't understand why they would add someone to the list if they don't want to be on it. She noted her property was added as a result of a grant. Richard Schubert asked how often homes get added to the inventory and Mark Cardono indicated not often, the inventory has only been done once. He noted the process is done and a property owner cannot just request to be on or off the list. Camille Anthony asked how many carne before the Commission to be removed from the list and Roberta Sullivan indicated only a handful. Stephen Goldy noted that the petitioner wants to change the process and he requests that the Historical Commission work with everyone. Robyn Parker, who indicated she was a new-member of the Historical Commission, asked which appeal process does the petitioner want to change and also noted that any change in the appeal process would be going forward. Board of Selectmen Meeting—Januar 3 12012.....paize 5 Virginia Adams noted that all demo delays are similar because they have to get approval from the state. She noted the list can be based on the-whole community or anything older than 50 years. She feels it is easier to work with a list and there is a process for early releases, etc. James Bonazoli agreed there is an appeal process for the demolition delay to the Historic Commission but there is no appeal.process to be put on the list and that is what the petitioner is asking for, Mark Cardona indicated the Commission had a sympathetic appeal to the Commission where one person carne forward and showed that their property was not appropriate. The property is, still on the list but there is no delay for it. Richard Schubert noted there was not an opportunity to communicate whether or not the petitioner wanted'to be on the list, He indicated that the Commission needs to change the process of how to get on the list. James Bonazoli noted that a hearing almost always results in a demolition. Roberta Sullivan indicated that it does not because they released property on Ash Street, released Walgreens, and the Pierce organ Factory out of 16 properties since 1996. Angela Binda noted that the petitioner is actually asking for an opting out process, not an appeal process. Stephen C-oldy indicated he wants the Historical Commission to look at an appeal process to submit to Town Meeting. Phil Pacino indicated the Bylaw Committee favors sending groups off to work out a solution. John Carpenter noted there are two separate issues- one when the demolition delay takes effect and the other occurs much earlier when added to the list. He suggested_the Commission look at the Cape Cod criteria for getting on the list. They did not have a consultant drive around town putting homes on the list. If the Commission has criteria then the dialogue can begin. Ben Tafoya clarified that what the Board is asking for is what the process should look like in the future for adding to the inventory. He suggests that time be built into the process including tinning of mailing of letters. He also wants to know what the process is once the demolition delay process begins. He indicated the Board only wants feedback, not a written Bylaw. Angela Binda noted that the inventory was a year long process of evaluating homes and the criteria was described by the Mass Historical Commission. John Arena noted that truth is in advertising and feels the Commission should re-evaluate the last 100 homes added to the inventory. Marsie west asked if the criteria are listed on the website and Mark Cardono indicated it is not. Virginia Adams noted that each form states the significance of the property. Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 3 2012 page 6 James Bonazoli noted that therocess is flawed and he is asking the Commission to loop at the p g Bylaw to make it more transparent and maybe include the homeowner at a much earlier stage. Mark Cardona indicated they have already met with the petitioners and they need someone in the room who is not objective. Presentation -- Bandstand for Town Hall Site — The Town Manager indicated he is seeking,the Board of Selectmen's consent and approval to put a bandstand in front of Town Hall, not on the Common. He noted that there used to be a bandstand on the Common and it was moved to Memorial Parr. The Downtown is complete and there is more activity there. There is a continuing need for an appropriate venue for music, in the community. It would be used for summer concerts,the Fall Street Faire, Tree Lighting Ceremony, Memorial Day, etc. The Town Manager noted that the Reading Rotary would tape the lead in fundraising. He is asking for approval by the Board and then he will proceed with survey and design. Virginia Blodgett noted that the Town just spent a lot of money redoing Memorial Parr and feels it would be a better location for the bandstand. She feels the Common area is too noisy. She also noted that there was not a picture of the view from.the Common. Phil Pacino indicated he is pleased to see this on the agenda. His mother requested that $10,000 be put aside to fund a bandstand. Robyn Parker noted that the Historical Commission wants to be a stakeholder and she would life a list of all stakeholders. She also indicated that the bandstand should be put in Memorial Parr. Virginia Adams noted that he Historical Commission wants to be involved in the design and,she indicated if it had no roof'it would wort{in front of Town Hall. Stephen Goldy noted that Public warps has to build a stage for the Fall Street Faire and if we had a bandstand in this location it would be used all day. A motion hy,.Goldy seconded by Bonazoli that the Board of Selectmen a rave in conculpt the construction of a Town of Reading Bandstand as presented by the Town Manager on 1- 3--12 with a condition that the Town Manager submit the final deli n to the Board of Selectmen for approval was apj2roved by a vote of 5-0-0. Review AD ment Process for Member of Library,Board of Trustees -- The Town Manager noted that there is a vacancy on the Library Board and two positions expire in 2012. The vacancy has been posted and two people have taken-out papers for the Library Board. The question is whether the Board wants to make a joint appointment to the Board. Ben Tafoya asked if there had been any quorum problems and the Town Manager indicated only with one meeting. r Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 3 2012 page 7 The consensus of the Board was not to fill the position since the election is in March and they did not want to choose between two people who are running for the position. • Mana er's goals -- The requested the goals electronically so they Review Draft X01� Town � �. could add their comments. A motion b Bonazoli s econded h Gold to ad' rn the meetin at 10:42 .m, was approved hya vote of 5-0--0. Respe lly s hrnitted, p retary