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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-18 Board of Selectmen Minutes k Town of Reading Meeting Minutes M Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Selectmen Date: 2014-03-18 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 Robert LeLacheur, Office Manager Paula Schena, Library Director Ruth Urell, Town Engineer George Zambouras, John Halsey, Steven Ryan, Kevin Sexton, Steve Goldy, Meghan Burke, Daniel Cotter, Joan Boegel, Laurie Ann Sylvia, Sean Sylvester, Arthur Dulong, Dan Conti, Theresa Boucher, Mary Ann Sweetser, John Davis, Virginia Morency, Andrew Joos, Sheila Narayanan, Paul Cain, Joan Boegel, Ron D'Addario, Laurie Ann Sylvia Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Secretary Topics of Discussion: Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Marsie West noted that the*ad hoc Zoning Advisory Committee will do a brief report at Town Meeting and the Town's website has zoning information on it. She also thanked James Bonazoli and Ben Tafoya for their nine years of service to the Town. Public Comment— Representative James Dwyer and Representative Brad Jones were present to present James Bonazoli and Ben Tafoya with certificates of appreciation for their nine years of services to the Town. Town Manager's Report—The Town Manager gave the following report: Technology - We had a failure in our voicemail system today, that had no advance warning signs. We quickly posted news about that failure via the website and alerted employees, but apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused to anyone. We have funding in the FYI capital plan to replace the phone system, which is over ten years old. Today we learned that our phone technology is too old to easily repair. We will know in 24 hours what the best path forward is, one option is to ask FINCOM for an emergency Reserve Fund transfer and speed up that replacement process. While the phone system otherwise works fine, we know voicemail is now a necessity and not a luxury in order to conduct our business with the community. Page 1 1 Board of Selectmen Minutes—March 18, 2014—page 2 West Street - Today the state officially pushed the West Street advertisement date to April 26th. This is most likely the last postponement. MassDOT typically holds the bids open for a 3 month period which will result in an August to September start date for the roadwork. The project will last approximately 2 years. The gas company is in the process of replacing the gas mains in anticipation of the West St. Project (Woburn Town Line to Edgemont Ave.) The Edgemont area will be under construction during the school summer recess. MWRA is in the bid process for their 36" water main along West(Woburn line to Oak Street). This work is expected to start in May or June 14. The Town will start populating our web site with the latest plans, information and anticipated detour routes in upcoming weeks. Bylaws - The Attorney General approved Articles 12,13,14 & 15 from November 2013 Town Meeting, which placed a variety of amendments on Reading bylaws (Off Premise Signs, Johnson Woods PUD, Exempt Uses, and Medical Marijuana Moratorium). See the attached sheet which contains some significant comments from the AG's Office Finance - As reported via email, the Legislature is preparing their fiscal FY15 budget, and it appears that we will not get much help in additional state aid when compared to the Governor's budget proposal. Specifically, the legislative draft version calls for an additional $77,841 in aid, but we have not yet seen in State Assessments may rise to erase those gains. Volunteers - Thank you to Selectmen James Bonazoli and Ben Tafoya! Nine years ago they joined the Board together, and tonight is their last meeting. We are all better off from their dedication and hard work on behalf of the entire community. Enclosed in your packet tonight are some thoughts from both of them that will serve to have discussion as our last agenda item. Discussion/Action Items Library `Big Read Event" — Library Director Ruth Urell and Andrea Ferullo were present to promote the"Big Reading Event"that the Library is conducting. West Street Easements — Town Engineer George Zambouras noted that this is the final step of the process. He noted that 114 temporary easements are being obtained from 103 parcels and this is required by the State. The extent of the easements range from 15 square feet to 1500 square feet and are for a five year period. The easements will be recorded and will not exist after five years. The total cost is $173,350 and this was approved at Town Meeting. He will prepare the official award letter and the resident will take the letter to the Treasurer and collect their money. The resident has three years to go to court if they feel the amount is not enough. Trees within the 10 foot right of way will be protected. Daniel Ensminger asked if there will be any permanent takings and George Zambouras indicated there are not. George Zambouras noted that the State is advertising on April 26th and plan on starting in August or September. The gas company is replacing one mile of pipe and that has already started and will last until August. The MWRA is installing a 32" water main and they are out to bid and will start in May and complete by September. Page 1 2 Board of Selectmen Minutes—March 18, 2014—page 3 The Town Manager noted that Public Safety has discussed detour routes. West Street will not be totally closed. There will be at least one side open and one detour route will be used. Paul Cain, 319 West Street noted he received a letter that requires a signature if there is no monetary value. He asked what happens if he doesn't sign. The Town Engineer noted that letter should be signed if the resident wants to donate the easement and nobody has responded to that. Mr. Cain asked who bears responsibility for damages to the property and George Zambouras indicated the contractor does. Dan Connor, 6 Summer Avenue asked if the intersection of Summer/Willow and West will be reconfigured and will the culvert be done over. The Town Engineer indicated it will not because it is outside the area. A resident from 299 West Street asked if there will be a sidewalk and the Town Engineer indicated yes there will be some grass area and then the rest sidewalk Arthur Dulong asked if he should expect heavy equipment to be bordering his driveway for years because it is there now and there is no work being done. The Town Engineer indicated there is typically one or two pieces of equipment and they shouldn't be there for prolonged periods of time. Marianne Sweetser asked about the parameters of the easement and the Town Engineer indicated it gives the contractor permission to add loam for grading and to readjust driveway aprons. Ms. Sweetster asked why this is a five year easement when the project is only going to take two years and the Town Engineer indicated this gives them some leeway because they weren't sure of when they would be starting. A resident from 3 Palmer Hill asked what the minimum width is for the sidewalks and asked if any poles are being moved. The Town Engineer indicated the minimum width is five feet and some poles are being moved a couple of feet but her driveway remains the same. A motion by Tafoya seconded by Arena that the Board of Selectmen, acting under the authority of a vote of Reading Town Meeting pursuant to Article 7 of the Subsequent Town Meeting held on November 12, 2013 and in accordance with Chapter 82 of the General Laws of said Commonwealth, and acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto, approves the Order of Taking for temporary easements to construct and maintain roadway improvements on portions of West Street, Wentworth Road, Countrvside Drive, Lewis Street, Scotland Road, Howard Street, Prescott Street, Wescroft Road, Woburn Street, Fremont Street, Winslow Road, King Street, Edeemont Avenue, Palmer Hill Road, and Arcadia Avenue for the construction of the West Street Roadway Reconstruction Pro iect in said Town of Reading,was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Climate Advisory Committee Annual Update — Joan Boegel, Ron D'Addario and Laurie Ann Sylvia were present. Joan Boegel reviewed their mission statement, action plan and progress to date. Ms. Boegel noted that proposed projects include: community shared solar; LED street lighting; recycling for Main and Haven Street businesses; bike lanes in town; trees on south Main Street; publicizing success stories; electric car charging stations in town and follow up on the Climate Change Report. Page 1 3 Board of Selectmen Minutes—March 18, 2014—page 4 Ron D'Addario indicated that the committee would like to work closer with the Board of Selectmen. Second Driveway Request 181 South Street— Diane Miller, Architect and the home owner were present. Ms. Miller noted that they are proposing an addition to the house and a new driveway on the west side. The total frontage is 158 feet. This addition will create additional space to join the family and this driveway will service their use. Town Engineer George Zambouras noted that the driveway will not affect the site distance. Engineering has no problem with this. The only requirement is to verify that the tree is on private property. A motion by Tafoya seconded by West that the Board of Selectmen approve the second driveway at 181 South Street as indicated on the plot plan submitted and subiect to the condition that the Engineering Division shall verify that the tree proposed to be removed is not a public shade tree,was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Hearing — FYI Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rates — The Secretary read the hearing notice. The Town Manager noted that very little has changed. The rates cover local costs, the capital and debt plan and water main replacement. He is recommending a three month delay in the rates to begin in December. Ben Tafoya suggested putting larger water projects as a debt exclusion so it will be a tax deduction. Marsie West asked if this money is to fix culverts and the Town Manager indicated it has not in the past because when the fund was established there was discussion that we wouldn't add anything we weren't already doing. John Arena asked if we have an inventory on culverts and the Town Manager indicated he wasn't sure. This is a discussion that the Board needs to have in the future. Ben Tafoya noted it is ridiculous to increase the rates by 10%to give an early payment discount. John Arena asked how many take advantage of the discount and the Town Manager indicated approximately 70%. A motion by Tafoya seconded by Ensminaer to close the hearing on setting the FY15 water, sewer and storm water rates was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Ensminaer seconded by West that the Board of Selectmen set the FY 2015 Water Rate at $9.45 per 100 cubic feet with a minimum quarterly bill of$19.90 effective with the December,2014 billing was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Ensminger seconded by West that the Board of Selectmen set the FY 2015 Sewer Rate at $10.56 per 100 cubic feet with a minimum auarterly bill of$21.12 effective with the December,2014 billing was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Page 14 Board of Selectmen Minutes—March 18, 2014—page 5 A motion by Ensminger seconded by West that the Board of Selectmen set the Storm Water Rate at $40 per unit (3210 square feet) per year to be billed quarterly effective with the December,2014 billing was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Close Warrant for State Special Election on April 1, 2014 — The Town Manager noted that we will be hying out new voting machines at this election. A motion by Tafoya seconded by West that the Board of Selectmen close the Warrant for the State Special Election to be held on April 1, 2014 at Reading Memorial High School Hawkes Field House, 62 Oakland Road from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Review Board of Selectmen Mission, Vision and Values — The Town Manager noted that he didn't know as much as he thought until he volunteered for the Town. He noted that it is a hardship to take the low bid at times. He noted that for the performance contracting we were allowed to take the P or 40'lowest bid and that worked out fine. James Bonazoli noted that everything stems around communication so how do we get the word out aside from open community sessions. Marsie West indicated that the Zoning sessions are working great. John Arena noted that the next generation is very mobile and the question'is how to lcommunicate with them. James Bonazoli noted that there are a lot of older people working in the public sector. Ben Tafoya noted we have hundreds of volunteers and we should give people choices such as community alerts, email,Facebook and Twitter. John Arena thanked James and Ben for the years that they served the Town. Ben Tafoya noted the hardest part of the job is saying no to neighbors who have reasonable requests. A motion by Tafoya seconded by Ensminger to adiourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. ,Ryspectfully submitted, Secretary i