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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-11-28 Finance Committee Minutes Joint Finance Committee/Board of Selectmen Meeting November 28, 2006 The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room at 16 Lowell St, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were FINCOM Chairman Andrew Grimes, Vice Chairman Charles Robinson, FINCOM members Harold Torman, Paul Bolger, Michele Williams, George Hines and David Greenfield; Board of Selectmen Chairman Ben Tafoya, Vice Chairman James Bonazoli, Selectmen Camille Anthony, Rick Shubert and Steve Goldy; as well as Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Russ Graham, Paul Feely. Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur joined the meeting at 7:45pm. Resident Jay Lenox joined the meeting at 7:50pm. ………… (I joined in progress) …….. Peter Hechenbleikner suggested that the FINCOM request a $50,000 mitigation measure, so when the land is developed, these funds come back to the Town. Ben Tafoya mentioned that if a 40R project were developed on the location, substantially more than this $50,000 would come back to the towns, based on the amount of housing units. Paul Bolger asked what the current zoning for the property was. Peter Hechenbleikner replied that it was zoned for office and hotel; no residential or retail. He also mentioned the Addison Wesley working group strongly agreed that a mixed use blend was the ideal development. Rick Shubert added that these factors were important to consider: tax revenues to the Town, impact on services provided by the Town; location & access questions. He asked what the appropriate Town role was, and responded that a collaborative community effort was required, with Town leadership. Michele Williams asked what the deliverable of a design charette was. Peter Hechenbleikner responded that it would be a series of drawings & data. They would identify common ground, scenarios to implement the common ground, and a consensus of the community. There was still an undecided question as to whether a zoning bylaw would be drafted from this effort – and if it should be done before or after engaging a developer. Chuck Robinson spoke to his view that the FINCOM reserve fund was not meant for this type of expense, as it was not an unforeseen emergency. Andrew Grimes asked why the January 30 or February 6 time frame was important. Peter Hechenbleikner replied that the property owner was not sure what the intention of the developer was at this point. He pointed out that FINCOM could ask a special Town Meeting to replenish the $50,000 back into the FINCOM reserve fund. George Hines agreed that this was not an appropriate use of the reserve fund, and that there was no need for a rapid time frame. He reminded the group that this was private property, and that the A/W working group was the public process for this issue, and no further action was appropriate. Ben Tafoya said that W/S Development has exclusive rights – and that they are paying a fee for these rights. He noted that the property owner Pearson had no role in the A/W working group. Peter Hechenbleikner added that Pearson was willing to participate in the design charette process. Chuck Robinson and George Hines asked if this participation was on the financial side – Peter Hechenbleikner replied that it was not. He reminded the group that over the many years, Pearson was a very good corporate citizen, a point that was agreed to. David Greenfield noted that the agreement between W/S and Pearson must have an end date. George Hines asked the Board of Selectmen if they would individually stand behind the results of the design charette process, no matter what the conclusion was. Peter Hechenbleikner said that the process was designed to bring out common ground. George Hines noted that regardless of the common ground, there would be some minority position. Rick Shubert pointed out that mixed use was a strong consensus and that if the old W/S proposal went to Annual Town Meeting that it was not a good choice. Camille Anthony added that an affordable housing element should be part of the final design. The requirements of 40R for the Town would be a steep 66 housing units per year. James Bonazoli said that the community needed healing over this issue. He asked if the $50,000 request was enough, or whether $70,000 would be needed. Peter Hechenbleikner said that the higher figure might be need for a civic engagement process, but that the design charette was less expensive. George Hines suggested the cheapest alternative was to do this all locally through the MAPC. Rick noted that the expertise needed for this process was beyond our capabilities, and that an outside party would help to heal and establish trust. Peter Hechenbleikner added that local knowledge was vital to the process. David Greenfield said the time frame was too short. George Hines again asked that the effort be done locally, with Chris Reilly. He again asked if the Board of Selectmen would stand behind the results of such a process. Steve Gold declared that he would stand behind the findings, and acknowledged that there would likely be an inevitable small group that did not agree with the results. He said we needed the experts now, and we need closure on the matter as soon as possible. Michele Williams also expressed concern over the timing & time frame. James Bonazoli noted that we needed to decide about the existence of a zoning bylaw, as that would drive the time frame. Paul Bolger asked that we learn of the terms between W/S and Pearson – at least as to time frame. He said there would be no point in doing any design process if the terms would go on for another five years. He also stated that we already knew the answer such a study would get – mixed use for the property. Chuck Robinson again stated that this was not a FINCOM reserve fund item. Ben Tafoya asked if they should do an RFP pending funding, and ask a later Town meeting for the money. Camille Anthony asked that FINCOM vote on the request. A motion by Greenfield, seconded by Grimes to recommend the reserve fund transfer of $50,000 to fund a design charrette for the Addison Wesley site was not approved by a vote of 1-6-0. (Grimes in the minority). A motion by Anthony seconded by Shubert to adjourn the Board of Selectmen meeting at 9:10 p.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Grimes seconded by Williams to approve the minutes of October 18, 2006 was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. A motion by Robinson seconded by Torman to approve the minutes of October 25, 2006 was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. A motion by Williams seconded by Hines to adjourn the FINCOM meeting at 9:20 p.m. was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Secretary