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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-05-10 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting Minutes13J ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 10, 1979 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, John W. Faria, at 8:00 P. M. The invocation was given by the Rev. Frederick E. Emrich of the Church of the Good Shepherd, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. On motion of Joseph C. Sturm it was voted to take Article 2 from the table. ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by Joseph C. Sturm, Chairman of the Planning Board. READING CENTER PLAN REPORT OF PROGRESS This is a Report of Progress on the Planning Board's Reading Center Plan, copies of which are available for distribution in the hall. The Plan has, to date, been aired at one public meeting, attended by about 40 citizens and businessmen. The Board will continue to refine its recommendations and to incorporate the comments and criticisms received, and currently expects to present the Plan for adoption by the Fall Town Meeting. It is the opinion of the Planning Board that Reading Square, Haven Street and environs, the economic, political, social and cultural heart of the Town, should receive priority attention. We have accordingly over the past year developed thirteen policy recommen- dations focused on the needs and challenges presented by the Center. I will now briefly review these recommendations, accompanied by illustrations of the nature of the problems we are attempting to avoid or solve, or the improvements we aspire to: A. Encourage the development of coherent physical relationships among and between buildings, uses and circulation systems. A primary objective, set at the beginning of this study, was that the Center, especially the commercial part, work as an entity rather than as a collection of individual unrelated enterprises. Efficiency, economy, amenity and equity in the regulatory burden, - to the public that uses it, to Town government and to local land owners and merchants, - are all sought in this policy recommendation. B. Take appropriate measures on Woburn Street and the Common to accommodate changes in use while protecting and enhancing the area's visual integrity. The unique characteristics of this portion of the Town, including its cultural and historical associations in addition to its physical attributes, create an ambiance which merits preservation. Our studies have shown however the continuing infiltration of institutional, multi - family and health service uses into what was once an exclusively single family residential domain. What is sought in this recommendation is the accommodation of an apparently contradictory static goal of preservtion to the dynamic forces which are at work here. C. Improve alternative modes of access to the Center, including pedestrian, bicycle and bus service. Increasing demands on the Center, caused by increased population and increased automotive usage, require accommodation by a street system which is already relatively congested. The increasing cost of energy, and the resultant search for alternative transportation modes in daily life are also factors in recommendation of this policy. D. Develop a pedestrian circulation system which will attract people to the commercial area. Consistent with our goal of making the Center a successful commercial entity, we are recognizing in this recommendation that the commercial customer is *am ultimately a pedestrian, no matter what mode of transportation he used to gain access to the Center. If the Center is to be commercially successful it must provide him with an attractive as well as an efficient circulation system, free, as much as possible, from conflicts with vehicles so that the experience of coming is a pleasurable one and he will want to return often. E. Improve vehicular circulation around the Center. If pedestrian conflict with vehicles in the commercial heart of the Center is to be minimized, clear, adequate paths for vehicles around the Center must be provided. The relevant objectives are to provide easy movements for those whose destination is in the Center, as well as those who are passing by but need not enter and congest. 140 Adjourned Annual Town_ a -eting May 10, 1979 F. Discourage thru traffic movements on streets within the Center Loop systern. Once an adequate Center Loop system for vehicles is established, the function of the inner streets can be concentrated on providing access to major parking areas and providing delivery and other building services. This recommended policy is in many ways the complernent of providing a good internal pedestrian circulation system. G. Regulate, restrict and /or prohibit land uses which generate disruptive or dispropor- tionate traffic flows and volumes. A commercial area which is designed to operate as a pedestrian oriented entity neither needs nor greatly benefits by uses which induce or require inordinate volumes of traffic. Since vehicular movements are particularly a concern here, the proper design and adequacy of the facilities for them on private property are also a subject of public interest, meriting supervision. H. Maximize parking capacity and improve efficiency of operations of existing public parking lots and street rights of way. Our studies have demonstrated a significant shortage of parking, using the most conservative criteria. Before considering land acquisition, we feel that a responsible prior step is to achieve maximum use and return from the land assets already under public control. This recommended policy reflects this goal. I. Reclaim existing parking facilities, presently preempted for all day use, to serve cormercial establishments. A further step in a responsible approach to parking facilities in the Center is to assure that the public facilities already present are available to serve those public needs, which their location allows them to do best. This inevitably leads to choices which must be made between competing users, and the need for adjustments which can sometimes only be accomplished over long periods of time. J. Expand municipal parking facilities where needed and no other reasonable alternatives are available. Where no other solution is adequate, public monies must be expended for land acquisition. Our judgment is that the pattern of at least partial municipal responsibility for commercial parking is too firmly ingrained in the physical layout of the Center to turn back. Unless the Town takes the initiative where critical need exists and no one else can act, congestion will grow, real estate will stagnate and cormercial investment will be lost to other Towns. In balance, we believe expenditures for such purposes would be a prudent investment. K. Minimize the Town's capital cost obligation by utilizing resources of other govern- mental units. Where public investments in expanded and improved parking and circulation are warranted, we believe they should take maximum advantage of funding programs as they from time to time become available. Judicious design and timing of improvements can bring great benefits to the Town without exhausting its treasury. L. Minimize the Town's capital cost obligations by increased use of resources of land owners and developers for provision of off - street parking facilities. Our present parking dilemma almost totally reflects the Town's past assumption of total responsibility for the provision of parking in much of the Center, and the subsequent failure to keep supply in balance with demand. We conclude that the Town, in the forseeable future, is not likely to alone meet the area's needs, and seek recognition of this view in this policy recommendation. M. Encourage land owners and merchants to more actively participate in the development of Reading Center as a successful commercial area. White the Town government has a vital interest in the success of its Center, so do the people who own property and make their living there. This policy recognizes that Town government cannot be the sole participant in improvement programs, if the full commercial potential of the Center is to be realized. This report was accepted as a report of progress. Adjourned Annual Town Meeting May 10, 1979 141 On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to lay Article 2 on the table. ARTICLE 9. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr., as amended by Donald E. Trudeau, it was voted that the sum of Ninety -Nine Thousand Seven Hundred Eighteen Dollars ($99,718.) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to the Board of Selectmen as follows: each item being considered a separate appropriation: Salaries $53,260. Expense (Including out of state travel not to exceed $250.) 6,358. Miscellaneous 40,100. Special Committees 600. Town Report 4,000. Telephone 26 , 000 . Memorial Day Observance 3,000. low Duplicating Costs 6,500. %M= ARTICLE 9. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that the sum of Forty -one Thousand One Hundred Forty Dollars ($41,140.) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to the Town Accountant as follows, each item being considered a separate appropriation: Salaries $39,520. Expense 1,620. ARTICLE 9. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.) be transferred from the Municipal Light Department's Operating and Maintenance Account to the Town Treasurer's Salary Account and that the sum of Fifty - Eight Thousand Two Hundred Fifty -Five Dollars ($58,255.) be raised from the tax levy and said sums totaling Sixty -Three Thousand Two Hundred Fifty -Five Dollars ($63,255.) be appropriated to the Treasurer as follows, each item being considered a separate appropria- tion: Salaries $47,280. Expense (including out of state travel not to exceed $450.) 9,475. Tax Title 6,500. and in accordance with Chapter 41, Section 108 of the General Laws of Masachusetts, the Treasurer's Salary is hereby set effective July 1, 1979 at $10,800. ARTICLE 9. On motion of C. Dewey Smith it was voted that the sum of Sixty -Nine Thousand One Hundred Fifty -Eight Dollars ($69,158.) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to the Tax Collector as follows, each item being considered a separate appropriation: Salaries $47,458. Expense 11,300. Collection of Back Taxes 10,400. and in accordance with Chapter 41, Section 108 of the General Laws of Massachusetts, the Tax Collector's salary is hereby set effective July 1, 1979 at $8,350. ARTICLE 9. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Forty - Two Thousand Four Hundred Seventy -Four Dollars ($42,474.) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to the Town Clerk as follows, each item being considered a separate appropriation: Salaries $34,524. Expense (including out of state travel not to exceed $200.) 4,350. Word Processor 3,600. and in accordance with Chapter 41, Section 108 of the General Laws of Massachusetts, the Town Clerk's salary is hereby set effective July 1, 1979 at $8,350. ARTICLE 9. On motion of Robert I. Nordstrand it was voted that the sum of Sixty -Six Thousand Two Hundred Fourteen Dollars ($66,214.) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to the Assessors as follows, each item being considered a separate appropria- tion: Salaries $59,014. Expense (including out of state travel not to exceed $250.) 7,200. and in accordance with Chapter 41, Section 108 of the General Laws of Massachusetts, the Assessor's salaries are hereby set effective July 1, 1979 totaling $6,650. to be divided as they choose. 14�djourned Annual Town Meeting May 10, 1979 ARTICLE 9. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that the sum of Nine Hundred Sixty Dollars ($960.) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to the Board of Registrars as follows, each item being considered a separate appropriation: Salary $960. ARTICLE 9. On motion of Marvin M. Rosenthal it was voted that the sum of Thirty -Two Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($32,200.) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to Election and Registration for expenses. ARTICLE 9. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the sum of One Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($1,800.) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to the Board of Appeals for Salary and Expense. ARTICLE 9. On motion of Joseph C. Sturm, as amended by Carl H. Amon, Jr., it was voted that the sum of Six Thousand Three Hundred and Two Dollars ($6,302.00) be raised from the tax levy and be appropriated to the Planning Board as follows, each item being considered a separate appropriation: Salaries $4,517. Expenses (including out of state travel not to exceed $250.) 1,785. Motion by Stephen G. Viegas for the reconsideration of the previous motion by Joseph C. Sturm as amended by Carl H. Amon, Jr. and voted as amended, was voted in the negative. ARTICLE 9. On motion of Donald E. Trudeau it was voted that the sum of Thirteen Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Dollars ($13,850.) be raised from the tax levy and appro- priated to the Finance Committee as follows, each item being considered a separate appropriation: Salaries $1,500. Expense 350. C.P.A. Audit 12,000. ARTICLE 9. On motion of Bayard R. Lincoln it was voted that the sum of Fourteen Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty -Nine Dollars ($14,729) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to the Personnel Board as follows, each item being considered a separate appropriation: Salaries Expense $14,329. 400. ARTICLE 9. James J. Sullivan, Jr. moved that the sum of Forty -Seven Thousand Dollars ($47,000.) be raised from the tax levy and appropriated to the Law Committee as follows, each item to be considered a separate appropriation: Legal Services (Fees) Legal Services (Expenses) $45,000. 2,000. On motion of Douglas A. Cowell it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned to meet at 8:00 P. M. on May 14th, 1979, at the W. S. Parker Junior High School auditorium. Meeting adjourned at 10:50 P. M. 157 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk