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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-06-08 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting MinutesAdjourned Annual Town Meeting June 5,, 1978 ARTICLE 12. On motion of Paul C. Dustin it was voted that the sum of Two Hundred Forty -Eight Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($248,600) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated for the Board of Public Works as follows, each item being considered as a separate appropriation: Salaries for Rubbish Collection and Disposal $ 4,212 White Expenses for Rubbish Collection and Disposal $ 199,980 years Salaries for Sanitary Landfill and Recycling $ 26,908 1 Expenses for Sanitary Landfill and Recycling $ 17,500 Total $ 248,600 Mr. Latham announced that the By -Law Appointment Committee would meet June 8, 1978, at 7:00 P.M. in Memorial High School instead of in Room 2 of the Town Hall as previously scheduled. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned to meet Thursday, June 8, 1978, at 8:00 P.M. in the Reading Memorial High School Auditorium. Meeting adjourned at 11:40 P. M. 149 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Auditorium June 8, 1978 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Kenneth C. Latham, at 8:00 P. M. The invocation was given by the Moderator, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The Moderator, Kenneth C. Latham, as Chairman of the By -Law Appointment Committee, announced the following appointments to the By -Law Committee: George A. Theophanis 3 years Nathan C. White 3 years Virginia M. Adams 2 years Corliss T. VanHorn 2 years Peter C. Hichborn 1 year The above appointments were made by the By -Law Appointment Committee at a regularly scheduled meeting held at 7:00 P.M., June 8, 1978, at the Memorial High School. On motion of John H. Russell it was voted to take Article 3 from the table. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Lynn G. Stasz it was voted that the Conservation Commission be directed to accept a grant of $29,000.00 from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management to be utilized on the Pinevale parcel, acquired by the Town for conservation purposes in 1977. On motion of John H. Russell it was voted to lay Article 3 on the table. Adjourned Annual Town Meeting June 8, 1978 .ARTICLE 12. On motion of John H. Russell it was voted that the sum of Ni4e' Thousand Three Hundred Fifty -Six Dollars and seventy cents ($9,356.70) be transferred from the following accounts: Street Betterment - Barbara Lane Street Betterment - Hemlock Road Street Betterment - Maple Ridge Road Street Betterment - Countryside Lane Street Betterment - Boyce Street Street Betterment - Norman Road Street Betterment - Johanna Drive Street Betterment - Arrow Circle Modification of John Street Facility School Sites and Recreation Areas Aomm. Expense School Sites and Recreation Areas Study School Sites and Recreation Areas Land Purchase $ 319.11 388.76 279.74 539.03 3,512.59 1,388.11 735.80 440.85 19.41 71.82 1,000.00 661.48 and the sum of Fifteen Thousand Six Hundred Forty -Three Dollars and thirty cents ($15,643.30) be raised from the tax levy and that said sum totalling Twenty -Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.) be appropriated for the purpose of maintaining, improving and constructing facilities in the Parks and Playgrounds, such sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Board of Public Works. ARTICLE 12. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Two Hundred Fifty -Eight Thousand One Hundred Dollars ($258,100) be raised from the tax levy and that the sum of Seventy -One Thousand Dollars ($71,000) be transferred from the Municipal Light Operating and Maintenance Account, and that the sum of Seventeen Thousand Dollars ($17,000) be transferred from the Public Works Water Construction and Maintenance Appro- priation Account, and that the sum of Thirteen Thousand Dollars ($13,000) be transferred from the Sewer Maintenance and Operation Expense Appropriation and that such sums totalling Three Hundred Fifty -Nine Thousand One Hundred Dollars ($359,100) be appropriated for all insurance except Group Insurance for Town Employees, and that said sum be expended by and under the direction of the Board of Selectmen. ARTICLE 12. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Three Hundred Seventy -Six Thousand Two Hundred Fifty -Two Dollars and fifty - two cents ($376,252.52) be raised from the tax levy and that the sum of Forty - Two Thousand Five Hundred Seventy -One Dollars ($42,571) be transferred from the Municipal Light Department Operating and Maintenance Account, and that the sum of Four Thousand One Hundred Thirty -One Dollars 1$4,131) be transferred from the Group Insurance Dividend Account, and that said sums totalling Four Hundred Twenty -Two Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty -Four Dollars and fifty -two cents ($422,954.52) be appropriated for group life insurance, group accidental health and dismemberment insurance for Town Employees in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 32B of the General Laws, and that said sum be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen. �IARTICLE 12. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Five Hundred Sixty -Six Thousand One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($566,150) be raised from the tax levy and that the sum of One Hundred Twenty -One Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Dollars ($121,570) be transferred from the Municipal Light Department Operating and Maintenance Account and that said sums totalling Six Hundred Eighty -Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Dollars ($687,720) be appropriated for the Contributory Retirement System as itemized, in accordance with the provisions of Section 22,7 of Chapter 32 of the General Laws: r Pension Fund $672,165 Expense Fund $ 15,555 ARTICLE 12. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Sixty -Five Thousand Six Hundred Forty Dollars ($65,640) be raised from the tax levy and that the sum of Forty Thousand Four Hundred Eight Dollars ($40,408) be transferred from the Municipal Light Department Operation and Maintenance Account and said sums totalling One Hundred Six Thousand and Forty-Eight Dollars ($106,048) be appropriated for non - contributory pensions and annuities. 70 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting June 8, 1978 Carl H. Amon, Jr. moved for reconsideration of the following vote under Article 12, presented by John H. Russell: Article 12: On motion of John H. Russell Nine Thousand Three Hundred Fifty -Six Dollars transferred from the following accounts: Street Betterment - Barbara Lane Street Betterment - Hemlock Road Street Betterment - Maple Ridge Road Street Betterment - Countryside Lane Street Betterment - Boyce Street Street Betterment - Norman Road Street Betterment - Johanna Drive Street Betterment - Arrow Circle Modification of John Street Facility School Sites and Recreation Areas Comm. Expense School Sites and Recreation Areas Study School Sites and Recreation Areas Land Purchase it was voted that the sum of and seventy cents ($9,356.70) be $ 319.11 388.76 279.74 539.03 3,512.59 1,388.11 735.80 440.85 19.41 71.82 1,000.00 and the sum of Fifteen Thousand Six Hundred Forty -Three Dollars and thirty cents ($15,643.30) be raised from the tax levy and that said sum totalling Twenty -Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) be appropriated for the purpose of maintaining, improving and constructing facilities in the Parks and Playgrounds, such sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Board of Public Works. This motion to reconsider above vote did not pass. ARTICLE 12. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated for unemployment benefits. ARTICLE 12. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that the sum of One Million Five Hundred Ninety -Five Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety -Four Dollars ($1,595,594) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated for maturing debt and interest as follows: Schools Water Sewer Incinerator Planning Garage Addition Anticipation Loans Maturing Debt Interest $525,000 $278,163 $ 93,000 $16,731 $335,000 $137,780 $ 75,000 $ 53,250 $ 15,000 $ 1,015 $ 15,000 $ 5,655 $ 10,000 $ 35,000 ARTICLE 12. On motion of Donald E. Trudeau it was voted that the sum of Eighty -Eight Thousand Three Hundred Eighty -One Dollars ($88,381) be transferred from Overlay Surplus Revenue and that the sum of Seventy -Six Thousand Six Hundred Nineteen Dollars ($76,619) be raised from the tax levy and that said sums totalling One Hundred Sixty -Five Thousand Dollars ($165,000) be appropriated to the Reserve Fund for expenditures under the direction of the Finance Committee. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted to lay Article 12 on the table. ARTICLE 41. Lynn G. Stasz moved that the Town amend the General By -Laws by adding a new section as follows: 1. The purpose of this by -law is to protect the floodplains and wetlands of the Town of Reading by controlling activities deemed to have a significant effect upon wetland values, including but not limited to the following: Public or private water supply, groundwater, flood control, erosion control, storm damage prevention, water pollution, wildlife. No person shall remove, fill, dredge, or alter any bank, fresh water wetland, flat, marsh, meadow, bog, swamp, or lands bordering any creek, river, stream, pond or lake, or any land under said waters or any land subject to flooding, other than in the course of maintaining, repairing or replacing, but not substantially changing or enlarging an existing and lawfully located structure or facility used in the service of the public and used to provide electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, and other telecommunication services without filing written notice of his intention so to remove, fill, dredge or alter and without receiving and complying with an order of conditions and provided all appeal periods have elapsed. Such Adjourned Annual Town Meeting June 8, 1978 7.1 notice shall be sent by certified mail to the Reading Conservation Commission, including such plans as may be necessary to describe such proposed activity and its effect on the environment. The same notice, plans and specifications required to be filed by an applicant under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 131, Section 40, will be accepted as fulfilling the requirements of this by -law. The said Commission may hear any oral presentation under this by -law at the same public hearing required to be held under the provisions of said Chapter 131 Section 40, of the Massachusetts General Laws. Definitions set forth in said Chapter and section are hereby made a part of this by -law. 2. The term "person ", as used in this by -law, shall include any individual, group of individuals, association, partnership, corporation, company, business organization, trust, estate, political subdivision of the Commonwealth, administrative agency, public or quasi - public corporation or body, or any other legal entity or its legal representative, agents or assigns. 3. The Commission shall make a determination as to whether or not this by -law applies to a specific situation prior to the filing of a written notice of intent under the provisions hereof, within twenty -one days of the receipt of a written request sent by certified mail from any person desiring such determination. The Commission, its agent, officers and employees, may enter upon the land upon which the proposed work is to be done in response to a request for a prior determination or for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this by -law and may make or cause to be made such examination or survey as deemed necessary. 4. The Conservation Commission is empowered to deny permission for any removal, dredging, filling, or altering of subject lands within the Town if, in its judgement, such denial is necessary for the protection of public or private water supply, groundwater, flood control, storm damage prevention, or the prevention of pollution. Due consideration shall be given to possible effects of the proposal on all values to be protected under this by -law and to any demonstrated hardship on the petitioner by reason of a denial, as brought forth at the public hearing. 5. The Commission may, as an alternative to a denial, impose such conditions as it deems necessary to contribute to the protection and preserva- tion of subject lands in accordance with the purposes of this by -law. Any Order of Conditions issued under this by -law shall be subject to the same constraints and be identical to any such order issued by the Reading Conservation Commission under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 131, Section 40, as amended. 6. The notice required by the first paragraph of this by -law shall not apply to emergency measures by the owner or occupier of improved land necessary to protect the improvements from the damage by flooding nor emergency projects necessary for the protection of the health or safety of the citizens of Reading and to be performed or ordered to be performed by an administrtive agency of the Commonwealth or by the Town. Emergency projects shall mean any projects certified to be an emergency by the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering and the Conservation Commission if this by -law and Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 131, Section 40, as amended, are both applicable, or by the Conservation Commission if only this by -law is applicable. In no case shall any removal, filling, dredging or altering authorized by such certification extend beyond the time necessary to abate the emergency. A nonconforming lot which at the time of its recording or endorsement, whichever occurs sooner, was held in common ownership with any adjoining land, conformed to the then existing requirements, and had less than the increased requirement but at least five thousand (5,000) square feet of area and fifty (50)feet of frontage may be built upon for a one or two family use, if it is located in a district permitting such use, with a Special Permit issued by the Board of Appeals in accord with the procedures and provisions of Section 7.3.0 through 7.3.4. A Special Permit, under this paragraph, will be issued for a nonconforming lot whose frontage and area is compatible with the neighborhood. On motion of M. Frances Osborn it was voted that this article be indefinitely postponed. This motion did not pass. 47 voted in the affirmative 60 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 42. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning By -laws by adding the following to paragraph 6.3.1.2, or take any other action with respect thereto: A nonconforming lot which at the time of its recording or endorsement, whichever occurs sooner, was held in common ownership with any adjoining land, conformed to the then existing requirements, and had less than the increased requirement but at least five thousand (5,000) square feet of area and fifty (50)feet of frontage may be built upon for a one or two family use, if it is located in a district permitting such use, with a Special Permit issued by the Board of Appeals in accord with the procedures and provisions of Section 7.3.0 through 7.3.4. A Special Permit, under this paragraph, will be issued for a nonconforming lot whose frontage and area is compatible with the neighborhood. On motion of M. Frances Osborn it was voted that this article be indefinitely postponed. 72 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting June 8, 1978 ARTICLE 43. To see if the Town of Reading will adopt the following By -Law: The following procedure shall be followed for the widening or relocating of the pavement on all existing streets and roads within the Town of Reading except for numbered and state highways. 1. There shall be a public hearing before the Planning Board duly advertised twice in a newspaper of general circulation as to time, date, place, and purpose, the last publication to occur at least five days prior to such Public Hearing. Notification of such public hearing will be mailed at least ten days prior to the public hearing to all owners of property abutting said streets or roads as recorded in the office of the Reading Board of Assessors. 2. The Planning Board shall report the proceedings of the public hearing to the Town Meeting immediately prior to the Town Meeting's vote on the appropriation of funds for such widening or relocating of existing streets and roads. On motion of Jean R. Cary it was voted that this article be indefinitely postponed. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted to take Article 35 from the table. ARTICLE 35. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted that the Town authorize the Council on Aging to sell or exchange or otherwise dispose of, upon such terms as they may determine, the van used by the Council on Aging, and that the sum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated together with receipts, if any,from the sale, exchange or disposal of the van for the purpose of purchasing a new van for the Council on Aging. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted to take Article 12 from the table. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted that Article 12 be indefinitely postponed. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted to take Article 3 from the table. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted that all Town Boards, Committees, Commissions, Officers, Departments and Agencies receiving appropriations under Article 12 of the 1978 Annual Town Meeting be, and they hereby are, instructed to report to the Board of Selectmen on or before October 1, 1978, specific services, staff and expenses that would be required to be reduced in order to achieve a reduction of ten per cent (10 %) in the total amount of said appropriation; and that the Board of Selectmen be, and they hereby are, instructed to report such information to the 1978 Fall Special Town Meeting, and at least seven days prior to the Fall Special Town Meeting the Board of Selectmen are instructed to issue a written report to each Town Meeting Member. The Board of Selectmen are further instructed to issue such necessary instructions as to identification, reporting format, risk assessment and other matters which, in their judgement, are required to carry out the intent of this motion. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted that Harold B. Currell and Irving C. Dickey, Jr. be appointed Measurers of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Virginia M. Adams it was voted that not more than five townspeople be appointed by the Moderator to a committee to meet with members of the Planning Board and to bring before this body an amendment to the Zoning By -Laws regarding paragraph 6.3.1.2 (pertaining to Article 42) on or before the regularly scheduled Town Meeting of November, 1978. 73 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting June 8, 1978 ARTICLE 3. On motion of Diane K. Haynes it was voted that Town Meeting approve the appointment of a Child Health Center Review Committee to review the status of the Reading Child Health Center and report its findings at the next regularly scheduled Town Meeting. The committee shall consist of five members: three Town Meeting members appointed by the Moderator; one member from the Board of Health appointed by that Board, and one member from the Child Health Center Advisory Board appointed by that Board. ARTICLE 3. On motion of Curt E. Nitzsche it was voted that the School Committee present to the next Town Meeting a report of the various playgrounds' safe playing conditions under their control. And further, that the School Committee report what maintenance program they have initiated to up -grade these playgrounds to an acceptable safety standard. ARTICLE 3. The following motion was voted: that the Department of Public Works be directed to allow the use of any style rubbish container convenient to each individual citizen, as long as the container meets the basic requirement of being able to be handled by one person. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted to indefinitely postpone Art. 3., On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted to take Article 2 from the table. ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by Frank A. Smith, Jr.: Ambulance Service During 1977 there were 737 ambulance runs; in some cases there was no transportation to a hospital. No. bills sent 635 No. bills paid 424 * Not billed 102 Medicare paid for 30% of bills Medicaid paid for 7% of bills Insurance Companies paid for 7% of bills Individuals paid for 55% of bills y * Because of mutual aid to other towns, 67% Paid no transports (D.O.A.) (accidents) (refusals) (fire fighter injuries) This report was accepted as a report of progress. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted that Article 2 be indefinitely postponed. Michael M. Guenther moved for reconsideration of the following vote under Article 35: Article 35: On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted that the Town authorize the Council on Aging to sell or exchange or otherwise dispose of, upon such terms as they may determine, the van used by the Council on Aging, and that the sum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated together with receipts, if any from the sale, exchange or disposal of the van for the purpose of purchasing a new van for the Council on Aging. This motion for reconsideration of the above vote did not pass. On motion of Frank A. Smith, Jr. it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned sine die at 12:20 A. M., June 9, 1978. 142 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk