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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-02-25 Board of Selectmen Minutes k Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Selectmen Date: 2014-02-25 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Selectmen Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business Attendees: Members - Present: Chairman James Bonazoli, Vice Chairman John Arena, Secretary Ben Tafoya, Selectmen Daniel Ensminger and Marsie West Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Kevin Sexten, Andrew Marino, John R. Halsey, Karl Weld, Office Manager Paula Schena Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Secretary Topics of Discussion: Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments - Ben Tafoya noted that he missed the last meeting due to a work conflict. He is concerned about the amount of free cash that is being used for the FY15 budget along with the deficit in snow and ice. He thanked everyone for the Special Town Meeting and noted that there will be another debt exclusion on the ballot. He also noted that he had mistakenly taken out papers to run for Town Meeting but he found out after the fact that his term does not expire until next year. James Bonazoli thanked everyone for the Special Town Meeting, especially DPW who did an excellent job clearing the snow and ice. He also requested a signalized no right on red for pedestrian access that was approved on Main Street at Lowell. The Town Manager will get the cost for that. Marsie West dittoed James comments regarding the Special Town Meeting. She also noted that there is a Zoning Advisory Committee forum next Monday and the public is invited. Town Manager's Report - The Town Manager thanked the Town Meeting Members for shoveling themselves out to get to the Special Town Meeting. He noted that the State Primary is March 4th at the Fieldhouse. He also noted that he attended a meeting of the Climate Advisory Committee and they didn't know that performance contracting was such a good success. We need to improve on our communication and he suggested doing an update to Town Meeting. John Arena noted that people should be made aware of the success of big budget items such as technology and regionalization. The Town Manager noted that departments are willing to come in and update the Selectmen if they want. Discussion/Action Items Compost Center Waste Pile - Chairman James Bonazoli noted this is the ledge and surplus material from excavations, not the leaf compost. Page 1 1 Board of Selectmen Minutes-February 25 2014-page 2 Town Engineer George Zambouras noted that Business Administrator Jane Kinsella spoke with Inspector General's office and they indicated we have to go out to bid. He noted that there is a contractor who is interested in the material and he has a site two exits down on Route I93. Mr. Zambouras inquired of other companies to see if they were interested and there is another contractor interested in the material. The first contractor offered $4,000 but will take 800 truckloads to remove it. The same contractor then came back with a new price of $1 but the Town cannot barter. He suggests going out to bid so the price can be structured and the Town can regulate the hours and days of delivery. The material also needs to be tested and certified clean. He will also give them a timeline of one year to remove the material because removing all of the material in two months would be too hard on the neighborhood. James Bonazoli asked what will happen if the test comes back positive and George Zambouras noted that would have to be dealt with separately. Daniel Ensminger asked if the testing will be done first and if there will be rock crushing on site. George Zambouras indicated testing will be done first and rock crushing will be done on site. Andrew Marino was present and noted he was the contractor who bid $1. He owns a gravel pit in Acton but it is too expensive to truck gravel from Acton to Wilmington. He needs the gravel now and suggested that the two bidders work together on this. He told Target that he would be starting tomorrow. The Town Manager noted that Town Meeting approved the disposal of surplus material but the Inspector General said to go out to bid. George Zambouras noted we have to look at the processed value. When the value is under $5000 we can get three verbal quotes, but we can't barter with the bidders. We have no choice but to formally go out to bid and that process will take about three weeks. West Street Traffic Agreement - George Zambouras noted this is a standard item to approve for federal aid for the project. The Parking, Traffic, and Transportation Task Force will go through the current regulations to see if there are any conflicts. James Bonazoli asked if the West Street Historic District Committee has approved and Mr. Zambouras noted that their comments were that the signs be kept to a minimum. A motion by Tafova seconded by West that the Board of Selectmen approve the Traffic Control Agreement No. 79469 between the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Town of Readine for improvements on West Street was approved by a vote of 5-0- 0. Whittier Road Sewer Easement - George Zambouras noted that the proposal is to demolish the existing house at 63 Whittier Road and reconstruct a new one. The easement has an active sewer line on it. The applicant submitted a new plan to the Zoning Board of Appeals for two special permits and a variance that was approved by the ZBA. He can't approve the plot plan because the house is on the easement. The builder showed a plan proposing the new easement line to get the building permit. If any of the foundation is within five feet of the active sewer line there has to be sheathing left in place. If the configuration of the house can't change, then they will have to ask the Town to abandon a portion of the easement. Page 1 2 Board of Selectmen Minutes—February 25 2014—page 3 The Town Manager noted that the ZBA was presented the fact that the house was not on the easement. Daniel Ensminger asked if the building permit has been issued yet and it was noted it has not been issued. Architect Rex Ingram noted that it is difficult to design adequate space for two families. The main house entry is in the front and the in-law entry is in the rear. He can't shift the house anyway except for back which would be further into the easement. He indicated that he asked engineering to survey and he was told it would not impact the ability to access. The plan submitted was to allow for demolition, not to build. He was told the easement issue was not in the purview of the ZBA. The Town Manager noted that there is an email in tonight's handout from Mark Field. Marsie West asked what makes it more expensive and Mr. Ingram noted there is a deck and the roofline would change and the vestibule would be pushed into the home. Ben Tafoya noted he had no problem abandoning the easement as long as Public Works can do what they need to do. The consensus of the Board was to include an Article on the 2014 Annual Town Meeting Warrant to abandon the easement. Close Annual Town Meeting Warrant — The Town Manager noted that the Warrant consists of 18 Articles. There is one new Article to include MWRA money. The West Street project is $1 million, but the local costs will be $1.2 million because the State wants to bill the Town for everything and the Town will be reimbursed from the MWRA. Daniel Ensminger asked why the wording for Article 5 is the same as the wording in the petition and the Town Manager noted it needed to be broader. A motion by Ensminger seconded by Tafoya that the Board of Selectmen close the Warrant consisting of 18 Articles for the 2014 Annual Town Meeting to take place on April,28, 2014 at Performing Arts Center,62 Oakland Road at 7:30 p.m.was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Approve Regional Housing Services Agreement — Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios noted that this is an inter-municipal agreement between the Towns of Reading, North Reading, Saugus and Wilmington for shared services for housing services. This will give us a constant eye for monitoring and it will create a central repository to be ready when a unit becomes available. A motion by Bonazoli seconded by West that the Board of Selectmen approve the Regional Housing Services Agreement between the Towns of Reading, North Reading, Saugus and Wilmington was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Ad Hoc Zoning Advisory Committee Update — Jean Delios noted that the biggest piece is the public participation and Monday night will be the second session. Wednesday morning is a stakeholder breakfast. They want to hear from people who have been through the process. This is the first comprehensive update since 1926. The existing bylaw will be replaced by the new Page 1 3 Board of Selectmen Minutes—February 25 2014—page 4 bylaw. People want changes to the aquifer protection district and accessory apartments. The zoning diagnostic is complete. They are keeping to their schedule and are targeting Town Meeting Members. Ben Tafoya noted that the State had offered to use accessory apartments to count as part of affordable housing and he wanted to know if we tried that. Jean Delios indicated she did previously, but it is tough because it needs to be a deed restriction and most people don't want a deed restriction. She will put that on the Housing Coordinator list though. Economic Development Update—Jean Delios noted that the Economic Development Committee has done studies. Reading has hosted downtown initiatives and applied for grant money for implementation. They are looking at money for a cultural district. Ben Tafoya indicated he has a conflict with EdSat and can't discuss it so Jean Delios ended her presentation until a later date. Economic Development Committee member Karl Weld noted that the EDC was looking to expand the membership on the committee by adding Associates to form subgroups. He noted there is no strategic economic development plan in place. They will try to attract marketing people. John Arena asked if the EDC has visitors at their meetings and Mr. Weld indicated they do not. James Bonazoli suggested that the EDC work with the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Weld noted that the Town of Franklin has design guidelines for the future. Marsie West noted the Selectmen should be involved in the strategic process, not the EDC. Mr. Weld agreed and noted that the EDC could do forums, etc. They are an advisory committee. Marsie West requested copies of the Franklin documents and any others that were available. Marsie West asked if there are any stats on the fagade and signage improvements. Mr. Weld noted that they did two rounds and most of the recipients were signage improvements. They actually thought about restructuring it to address nonconforming sign issues. Marsie West requested a breakdown of the number of businesses and how satisfied they were with both programs. Hearing=Approve Classification Plan — The Secretary read the hearing notice. The Town Manager indicated he is seeking to add one position — a Business Analyst. This is a downgrade of the Andrew Scribner McLean administrative position. This position will not be hired until after the Assistant Town Manager is hired. A motion by Ensminaer seconded by Arena to close the hearinE amending the Classification Plan was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Ensminger seconded by Tafoya to approve the amendment to the Classification Plan to include the position of Business Analyst was approved by a vote of 5- 0-0. Page 1 4 Board of Selectmen Minutes—February 25, 2014—page 5 Approval of Minutes A motion by Tafova seconded by Ensminger to approve the minutes of January 29,2014 as amended was approved by a vote of 4-0-1 with West abstaining. A motion by Bonazoli seconded by West to approve the minutes of February 11, 2014 as amended was approved by a vote of 4-0-1 with Tafova abstaining. A motion by Tafova seconded by West to approve the Executive Session minutes of December 17,2013 as written was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. A motion by Ensminger seconded by Tafova to adiourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted, 9.a- C/ e,` Secretary