Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-04-21 Adjourned Special Town Meeting Minuteswe on October 26, 1931 in the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds, Book 5604, Pages 48, 49, and 50. On March 5, 1935 a decree was entered and the notice of final disposition was recorded on March 12, 1935 on Book 5915, Page 8 and 9. 67 voted in the affirmative, 38 voted in the negative, a two - thirds vote required. On motion of John W. Price it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned to meet at 8:00 P.M. on April 21, 1981 in the Reading Memorial High School auditorium. Meeting adjourned at 11:35 P. M. 165 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Town Clerk ADJOURNED SESSION, SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 21, 1981 ;The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, John W. Faria, at 8:00 P.M., there being a quorum present. The invocation was given by the Rev. Willard C. Arnold, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 11 The Town Meeting body, by a unanimous vote, adopted a motion presented by Carl H. Amon, Jr. that the Town Meeting body observe a moment of silence in memory of Clifford P. Wadman, Chairman of the Board of Cemetery Trustees, who passed away April 19, 1981. ARTICLE 14. Motion by Ellen C. Childress for reconsideration of Article 14 as voted at the Special Town Meeting, April 13, 1981, was voted in the negative by a vote of 83 in the affirmative, 47 in the negative, two- thirds vote required. ARTICLE 1. On motion of John Zorabedian, Jr. it was voted to take Article 1 from the table. ARTICLE 1. The following report, presented by John Zorabedian, Jr., was accepted as a report of progress. Planning Board Report Special Town Meeting Warrant Article 15 Extension of Bus. A to Include Dooley & French Property on Main Street Pursuant to Section 5, Chapter 40A, General Laws, a public hearing on this proposal was held on Thursday, April 9, 1981 at 7:30 P.M. in Room 17, 52 Sanborn Street (the Community Center), with Board members K. Messina, J. Shaw, E. Childress, B. Mitchel and Chairman J. Zorabedian present. There were three citizens present as well as Mr. and Mrs. French, the petitioners and their Attorney, Daniel Kasper. In accordance with Section 11, Chapter 40A, General Laws, the public notice was published in the Reading Chronicle on Thursday, March 26 and April 2, 1981 and was read into the meeting record. "go 309 Adjourned Special Town Meeting April 21, 1981 This petition was placed on the Special Town Meeting Warrant by petition initiated by Mr. and Mrs. Walter S. French to extend the Business A district to include their land, located at 259 Main Street and also the land presently owned by David L. Dooley. Mr. Kasper presented the case in behalf of the petitioners stating that the present occupancy is a small single family house which is located only 15 feet from the sidewalk on Main Street. The present character of the neighborhood is primarily business - oriented. Mr. Dooley has an oil business at his address, which is a non - conforming use. The attorney stated that Mr. and Mrs. French are desirous of selling this piece of NNW property because of Mr. French's disability and limited mobility due to two strokes which he has suffered in the past few years. They feel that they would not be able to sell such a small piece of property which is presently zoned A -40 and thus would like to have this property rezonedto Business A to allow them to sell their property. The Board noted that the property was located at a dangerous stretch of road on Main Street and that rezoning to Business A could have a serious impact on the traffic safety within the area. Business A would most probably have a greater flow of traffic entering and exiting on to Main Street than the present zoning would and thus would pose greater danger to the traffic safety of the Town. The Board also noted that the property was A -40 zoned in 1967 when the Frenchs purchased this parcel of land and house. Immediately south of the A -40 district on South Main Street is the beginning of a portion of the 5 -10 district in the Town. The present A -40 zoning for this area includes the Belmont Arms apartments, French property, Dooley property and one house immediately south of the Belmont Arms apartments. The Board noted that with a need for high density housing zoning within the Town, it is best to keep what is presently zoned for that purpose intact. After the hearing the attorney for the petitioners informed the Board that they would be seeking indefinite postponement on this Article. In view of this fact, the Board voted unanimously to recommend indefinite postponement of this article. Reading Planning Board Now John Zorabedian, Jr., Chairman Barry J. Mitchel, Clerk Ellen C.Childress John W. Shaw Kenneth G. Messina ARTICLE 1. The following report, presented by John Zorabedian, Jr., was accepted as a report of progress. Planning Board Report Special Town Meeting Warrant Public Hearing - Article 17 Pursuant to Section 5, Chapter 40A, General Laws, a public hearing on this proposal was held on Thursday, April 16, 1981 at 7:00 P.M. in Room 133, Reading Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road with Board members K. Messina, J. Shaw, E. Childress and Chairman J. Zorabedian present. There were 2 citizens also present as well as Selectman Maureen T. O'Brien, representing the Board of Selectmen, sponsors of this Article. The legal notice as published in the Reading Chronicle and posted in Town Hall, in accordance with Section 11, Chapter 40A, General Laws, was read into the record. This matter was placed on the Special Town Meeting Warrant by the Board of Selectmen because of the sharp increase in the number of applications the Board of wow Selectmen has received by private citizens to sell firearms and ammunition from private residences. Ms. O'Brien also stated that the Board of Selectmen is not trying to prohibit the sale of firearms and ammunition in the Town of Reading but is merely trying to restrict the sale to the Business and /or Industrial zoned districts in order to more adequately protect the 310 Adjourned Special Town Meeting April 21, 1981 citizens of the Town. With such a restriction the Police and Fire department would be in close proximity and would thus- be quicker to respond in a case of emergency. Also with the requirement of this being restricted to these districts, the Board of Selectmen can require a burglar alarm system that would provide greater protection against theft. Such a system could not be easily installed into a residence. One citizen spoke in opposition to the passage of this By -law requirement stating: - that guns in this Town were used for recreational purposes only; - that such a restriction would be discriminatory; - Federal and State authorities investigate these license applications long before the local authorities receive such requests; - that the Town should consider the sale of firearms as a commodity and not as a dangerous and sinister business; - careful restriction as to the number of licenses granted would be a better enforcement policy than to totally negate the sale of such firearms from residences; After the discussion, the Board members considered their vote on this Article. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board unanimously voted to recommend adoption of this Article so that the residents of the Town could be more adequately protected against fire, theft and other related dangers as regards the sale of firearms from residences. Reading Planning Board John Zorabedian, Jr., Chairman Barry J. Mitchel, Clerk John W. Shaw Ellen C. Childress Kenneth G. Messina ARTICLE 1. On motion of John W. Price it was voted to lay Article 1 on the table. ARTICLE 15. On motion of John Zorabedian, Jr. it was voted that Article 15 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 17. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that Article 17 be taken up out of order. ARTICLE 17. On motion of Maureen T. O'Brien it was voted that the Town amend the Reading Zoning By -Laws, Section 4.2.2. Tables of Uses by adding under: Business and Service Uses Residence Bus Bus S -10 A -40 A -80 A B S -20 Sale of Firearms S -40 & Ammunition No No No Yes Yes and under: Accessory Uses Residence Bus Bus S -10 A -40 A -80 A B S -20 S -40 Sale of Firearms No No No Yes Yes & Ammunition 104 voted in the affirmative 28 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required Bus Ind C Yes Yes Bus Ind C Yes Yes l Adjourned Special Town Meeting April 21, 1981 ARTICLE 16. On motion of Paul E. Landers it was voted that the care, custody and control of the Highland School, land and buildings, in accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts Laws, Chapter 40, Section 15A, as amended, be and hereby is transferred from the Reading School Committee, Town of Reading, to the Board of Selectmen, Town of Reading, effective July 1, 1981. 93 voted in the affirmative 37 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required Motion by Paul T. Metcalf to indefinitely postpone Article 16 was voted in the negative. On motion of John W. Price it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned sine die. Meeting adjourned at 10:50 P. M. 150 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: ANNUAL TOWN MEETING / Lawrence Drew Town Clerk April 21, 1981 The Annual Town Meeting was reconvened at 10:51 P. M. this date. ARTICLE 6. On motion of John W. Price it was voted to take up Article 6 out of order. ARTICLE 6. On motion of M. Jane Tucker, Precinct 5, it was voted to indefinitely postpone this Article. ARTICLE 46. On motion of John W. Price it was voted to take up Article 46 out of order. ARTICLE 46. On motion of William C. Brown it was voted to indefinitely postpone this Article. On motion of John W. Price it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned to meet at 8:00 P.M. on April 23, 1981, in the Reading Memorial High School auditorium. Meeting adjourned at 10:55 P.M. 150 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk