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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-12-20 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting December 20, 2011 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, Student Liaisons Avery Strornan and Jordan Coleman, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, Office Manager Paula Schena, Reading Municipal Light Department General Manager ,'Vinnie Cameron and the following list of interested parties: Attorney Brad Latham, Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Camille Anthony introduced Student Liaison Jordan Coleman. Stephen Goldy noted he attended the Police youth Christmas party. Ben Tafoya suggested staging a debt exclusion for the Library or Killarn School project. Camille Anthony noted that she and the Town Manager attended a meeting with Katherine Clark ........................ and surrounding communities regarding hazardous truck.routing. The Mystic Region Emergency Planning will work with the Senator's office. She met with the liquor licensees who were not at the Selectmen's meeting last month. She also met with.National Grid and they will be repairing Wilson Street before the Town paves it. Town Manager's Report—The Town.Manager gave the following report: + Due to Election deadlines the Town Clerk's office❑nl at Town Hall will be 'pen this Friday December 23rd from.9:00 am to 5:00 pm, + Reminder—the Town election and the Presidential Primary election will be held on March 6 at the Hawkes Field douse at Reading Memorial High School. + Due to the precinct line changes, the location in which the Warrants are posted needs to change as well. Attached is a list of the old location and the new. + Census forms will be going out the.first of the year. Remember to license your.do . + 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 January 17, 2012. . + A double pole list from the Reading Municipal Light Department is included in your packet this evening. + There will be a Martin Luther Ling celebration this coming January 16, 2012. While the Clergy Association will not be able to be a major sponsor this year, the Superintendent of Schools and I agree that this program should continue, so we have agreed to make it happen. Look for an update on this program in the corning weeps. Board of Selectmen Meetin December 20 2011 — a e 2 As of right now, Package Stores in Massachusetts will be closed December 25" and December 26Ih. There is a bill on the Governor's desk to allow opening on the 26Th. Community Services The first of the nodular units for the Oaktree development have been delivered to the site and the first units will be stacked probably beginning on Thursday. Public Safety We have discovered some minor cracking in the floor of the Main fire station, and the Facilities department has responded and hired a structural engineer. Some'.remedialwork will be needed - but this is not an emergency situation and the building and the apparatus floor are sound. The Police Department and Middlesex Sherriff's office worked with the Reading School Department to conduct a "lock down" at Reading Memorial high School last Friday. The drill went very smoothly, and no contraband was discovered. Public works Construction work is shut down for the season. The MwRA. needs to blast until Thursday night for blow-off connections in the cloverleaf in Reading and in ' the Stoneham end by Forth Street. That should be it for blasting. They should also be paving Thursday night and will come back in the Spring ,for Final r Paving. Reading's annual,share of the MwRA water use has declined over the past year by 4:4%. We went from I% of the system annual use to .9%. We are notifying the residents of Old Sanborn Lane and the private portion of County. Road that they need to make repairs to their street or we will not be able to plow this year. The needed repairs are relatively minor, but the Town is not allowed by law to repair private ways. Personnel and Appointments Contributga Retirement Board the Cultural Council and the Human Relations A.dviso Committee - Ben Tafeya noted that the Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee -met and considered three appointments for the Contributory Retirement Board, the Cultural Council, and the Human Relations Advisory Committee. A motion by Schubert seconded by Goldy that the Board of Selectmen accept the report of the Volunteer Anpointment Subcommittee and confirm the following ap ntments to the following Boards Committees and Commissions. Richard FoI21 to one position on the ContributoEy retirement Board with a term expirina June 30,201 4 Colleen L. O'Shaughnessy to one position on the Cultural Council with a term expiring-June 30 20141 Robin I. Decker to one Associate position on the Human Relations Adviso Committee with a term expiring June 30 2012 The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Board of Selectmen Meetin —December 20 2011 -- a e 3 Discussion/Action Items - Approve Lease- Burbank Arena--The Town Manager noted that the Ice Arena Authority asked us to bid early. we received one bid and the lease was viewed by Town Counsel, Brad Latham and our insurance company. It is a 10 year lease with two renewable terms. Attorney Brad Latham noted that the lease is consistent with the lease that has been in place for the past 12 years. -A motion bl Tafo a seconded b Goldy that the Board of Selectmen approve the 10 year lease agreement,between the Town of Reading and the Reading Ice Arena Authori for the operation and management of the Nelson S. Burbank Ice Arena at 15 S monds wa effective February 24 2013,was al2proved b a vote of 4-0-0. Review Information on Renewable Energy Certificates R..BC's ---- Reading Municipal Light Department General Manager Vinnie Cameron and RMLD Board members Richard Hahn, Phil Pacino and Bob Soli were present. The Town Manager noted that Bob Soli made a statement at the last Board of Selectmen meeting regarding whether or not to hold the REC's: The Town Manager noted that this is a RMLD action, not a Selectmen's action. Richard Hahn noted that the RMLD added renewable energy to their portfolio and when you buy renewable energy you receive a REC. The issue is whether to keep or renew or sell. He noted that the RMLD doesn't have an obligation to buy REC's but wants to have some. If they sell the REC's,then the rates will increase and they will no longer be renewable, Vinnie Cameron noted that selling REC's can keep the price low. He noted that the RMLD stepped up for the Concord, ISH wind project, He .also noted that 15 municipalities are selling their REC's. Ben Tafoya. asked if this is separate from Green Choice and Richard Hahn indicated Green Choice was the first REC's, but we won't need to buy REC's because there is going to be a different power source. Bob Soli noted that hydro -would sell for $500,000 over 2 years and biomass would sell for $5,2 million. Phil Pacino asked, if the :EC's are sold, where does the money go and Vinnie Cameron noted that they stay in the fuel charge and could reduce the rate. Phil Pacino indicated he wants to recycle the money and he wasn't sure of the amount, He thought the amount was $500,000, not $6 million. He refers the decision to the CAB. Ben Tafoya noted if there is a way to save the community a significant amount of money, then they should aggressively pursue that route. Board of Selectmen Meeting.—December.2o 2011 —Paize 4 Camille Anthony asked about double poles and Vinnie Cameron noted there are 103 double poles and Verizon is on 88 of them. He also noted that there are 10 on Franklin Street.and that is a live project which will take one 'Month to transfer. I Ie also noted that there are signs on poles on.West Street and the signs have to be removed before the pole can be removed. JK Market— Renewal of License to Oven Earl --The Town Manager noted that JK's Market is requesting to open at 5:45 a.m. He sent a letter to abutters and there were two responses. They indicated there are still concerns, but things are better and they have no objection to the renewal. The Town Manager noted,that the fence has been reinstalled, the cleanliness is much better and there is no more early trash removal and the trash.bins remain closed. A motion by Goldyseconded bv Tafo a that the Board of Selectmen ap ve an application b JK's Market 212 Main Street to open at 5:45 a.-M.I.I. Monday-throe h Frid&Y, effective JanuaEy 1 2012 and excludin State designated holidays. This apioroval will expire December 31 2012. The Board of Selectmen finds that in accordance with Section 5.1.0.4 of the General Bylaws: • It is in the interest of the public health safe and welfare or that ubic necessi or convenience will be served by permittingsuch o eration; and ® There is no detrimental effect of such operation on the Town or the immediate) abutting neighbors, The motion was app roved by a vote of 4-0-0. Town Manager's Performance Evaluation Ben Tafoya noted that the reconciliation sheet shows a 4.87 average which was a very good year. Stephen Goldy noted this has been the most successful year with regionalization in the first stages. He also noted that the Community Services Department was cut 10% without affecting customer service issues. Richard Schubert noted that the downtown was the most visible accomplishment and there are still new businesses coming into Town. He also noted that services have not diminished at all. Camille Anthony noted Reading is doing very well and noted the leadership goes down through the ranks. Ben Tafoya indicated the Selectmen appreciate everything everyone does. Re ort on the Ad Hoc Conunittee on Arn lified Sound in Parks —The Town Manager noted that Jaynes Bonazoli is Chairman of the ad hoc committee and they are meeting every other week. The final survey is in the handout and there are 13 0 responses. A draft policy is being worked on and they will make a report to the Board in January. Camille Anthony asked if other towns have policies on amplified sound and the Town Manager noted they could find no mention of sound policies but he will have Join F'eudo check with cities and towns. Board of Selectmen Meeting.--December 20 2011 a e 5 Richard Schubert asked if they clarified the definition of amplified sound and the Town Manager indicated he wasn"t sure. Approval of Minutes A motion by Tafo a seconded by Goldy to approve the minutes of November 22 2011 was a roved by a vote of 4-0-0. • A motion by 'T`afo a seconded-11 Golk to hj2prove the Executive Session minutes of November 22 2011 as written. ,was a roved on a roll call vote ,with all four members voting.-'n the affirmative. A motion by-Goldy seconded by rT`afo a to ad'ou'rn the meeting at-8:55 p.m. was approved by a vote of 4-0--0. Res pe ly su fitted., S etary r