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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-04-17 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting Minutes19 ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School April 17, 1986 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Stephen J. O'Leary, at 7:45 P.M., there being a quorum present. The Invocation was given by the Rev. Harold W. Garbarino, of the Church of the Good Shepherd, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ARTICLE 2. The following report of the Planning Board, presented by Maureen Rich, was accepted as a report of progress. PLANNING BOARD REPORT To the Citizens of Reading: A major concern of the Planning Board in 1985 was to preserve and protect the character of the Town while contending with the pressures of development in the region. The Planning Board feels strongly that the landfill site - because of its size, location and zoning - is the most important resource the Town has to create a broader tax base and remain financially healthy. Early in 1985, with the approval of Town Meeting and the assistance of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), Requests for Proposals for a study of the John Street area were sent out. Three options were outlined: develop the entire site privately; - develop the site with the Department of Public Works (DPW) located on the 8.32 acres as designed, with the remaining land being developed privately; - reconfigure and relocate the DPW garage and develop the remaining land privately. Four finalists were interviewed, with discussion centering on the consultants' proposed approach to the study and presentation of their credentials and projects of similar scope. Since this area involved industrial land, the Planning Board requested that a member of the Industrial Development Commission be included in this process. Following the interviews, members of the Planning Board and the Industrial Development Commission reviewed the presentations and voted to award the contract to Minot, DeBlois & Maddison, Inc. and their subcontractor Haley & Aldrich. Minot, DeBlois & Maddison's final report was presented to Town Meeting in September. Based on this report, the Planning Board and the Industrial Development Commission urged that the DPW garage not be sited on the landfill. Alternate sites were presented and argued - with no solution forthcoming - until a motion was made and passed, to instruct the Board of Selectmen to establish a Task Force to study sites in the John Street/Ash Street area for the purpose of establishing a site for the Reading Board of Public Works facility. Board member Michael F. Slezak represented the Planning Board on the Task Force. During 1985 the Planning Board worked to prepare a new Zoning By-Law to allow for cluster development in an S-10 District. With cooperation between the Board and the developer, inclusionary housing was incorporated into the By-Law to help meet the Town's need for elderly and moderate income housing. In a cooperative effort, the Board of Public Works and the' Planning Board developed and presented an Aquifer Protection By-Law to establish a district in which the Town's groundwater resources would be carefully safeguarded. This By-Law was unanimously accepted by Town Meeting. The Planning Board sought technical assistance from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council in the development of a Site Plan Review By-Law. The Board feels this By-Law is a necessary and valuable tool to ensure that the Town of Reading is able to plan development to its fullest and best potential while maintaining and preserving the character of the Town. Under Site Plan Review the Planning Board will act as an agent through which all authorities will have input to all phases of a proposal before the project commences. A Municipal Reuse Rezoning By-Law was drafted by the Planning Board and approved by Town Meeting. This By-Law establishes an overlay district and provides guidelines for both the Board of Appeals and for developers who wish to explore an alternative use for a municipal building. 20 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 17, 1986 Town Meeting chose not to approve a proposed amendment to the Zoning By-Laws which would have removed the power from the Board of Appeals to issue variances for use, and to restore to Town Meeting the authority to approve proposed zoning changes for,use. The Planning Board had submitted a proposal to the State in hope of obtaining a grant to update our twenty year old Master Plan. Although the proposal received high praise and the support of Reading's State Representatives, the Town did not reach the final round of funding since it is not in compliance with State Fair Housing Laws. The Planning Board has, however, managed to develop Zoning By-Laws which, it feels, will assist in growth management in the Town until an updated Master Plan can be approved. It continues, also, through its Townhouse and Municipal Reuse Rezoning By-Laws, to work toward helping the Town comply with MCAD (Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination) regulations. In addition, Chairman Maureen Rich agreed to serve as a Planning Board representative on the Fair Housing Committee. She was also appointed interim volunteer director for Fair Housing. A Fair Housing Policy is one of the requisites for obtaining State funding. During the past year the Planning Board has monitored developments in the following areas: - Impacts of proposed industrial development in Woburn, off West Street in Reading, on traffic and services. The question of the legality of crossing residential land to gain access to industrial land is before the courts. - Proposed building rehabilitation of Trancoa on Ash Street and continued use of a right-of-way over the access road through residential land. The Planning Board opposed the granting of a variance by the Board of Appeals and supports the residents' appeal to restrict infringement on residential land to gain access to industrial land. - Proposed I-93 interchange at Commerce Way, Woburn and its impacts. - The Planning Board's 1984 appeal of a Zoning Board of Appeals decision granting a variance to C & C Associates for development on Criterion Road. An agreement was reached between the Planning Board and C & C Associates which resulted in an escrow account of $15,000 to be held until all conditions were met. This issue is still not resolved, but the escrow account is still held by the Planning Board's attorney. The agreement also included a donation of $1000 to the Reading Library, which was presented to the Library in May of 1985. - New construction projects in the John Street area. - Community Center sale and its impacts. - Riverpark/93, North Reading, impacts on Reading's wellfield. The Planning Board, represented by John D. Wood, has worked closely with other concerned parties in a Regional Water Study Group chaired by State Representative Geoffrey Beckwith. Mr. Beckwith proposed organization of this group, whose goal is the mutual protection of the water supplies of Reading, North Reading and Wilmington. - Reading's future space/building needs. In addition, the Planning Board has continued its review of proposed building projects in adjacent towns and assessment of their impacts on the Town of Reading; the statutory requirements of Chapter 40A, M.G.L. and court cases affecting zoning. Current and future projects include downtown revitalization; development of regulations for single-family/cluster developments; "Bed and Breakfast" establishments; satellite receiving dishes, and solar energy systems; and updating the Zoning By-Laws. In July of 1985 Administrative Assistant Margaret K. Plansky left the Planning Board, after seven years of service, to accept a full-time directorship of the Reading Housing Authority. Although the Planning Board is functioning with only a part-time Administrative Assistant and is unable to receive State grants needed for studies to plan for the orderly growth of the Town, it is dedicated to the continued economic and social well-being of the Town. Two new members were welcomed to the Board to assist in this commitment. Sandra J. Trainor and Michael F. Slezak were elected to fill these positions. The Board is grateful Adjourned Annual Town Meeting April 17, 1986 21 to all those citizens and groups who have provided information and input. READING PLANNING BOARD Maureen Rich, Chairman John D. Wood, Clerk David A. Devine Michael F. Slezak Sandra J. Trainor ARTICLE 2. The following report of the Finance Committee, presented by Philip B. Pacino, was accepted as a report of progress. Mr. Moderator: This is an update on the Finance Committee report made Monday night. The amounts that this body will be asked to appropriate for the Town's operations for FY 87 total $27,449,657. The Finance Committee work on these amounts is now complete. We refer you to the hand out that is on the checker's table for the breakdown of these amounts. The tax calculation for FY 87 now stands as follows: TAX CALCULATION FY 87 Total To Be Appropriated $ 27,449,657 Offsets 550,532 County Charges 240,411 State Charges 502,233 Overlay Reserve 500,000 Gross Amount To Be Raised $ 29,242,833 Less Receipts and Revenues From Other Sources: Borrowing 150,000 Revenue Sharing 220,000 Available Funds 221,239 Local Receipts 6,106,100 State Receipts 6,298,002 Total Receipts and Revenues $ 12,995,341 To Be Raised From Taxation $ 16,247,492 Maximum Levy Limit Prior Year Levy 15,693,497 Plus 2%z% 392,337 New Construction 175,000 $ 16,260,834 As stated Monday, there is some flexibility in the revenue estimates. Conversely, as also stated Monday, certain costs, such as casualty insurance, are estimates and could change dramatically to the detriment of the Town. ARTICLE 2. On motion of John H. Russell it was voted to lay Article 2 on the table. ARTICLE 3. On motion of John H. Russell it was voted to lay Article 3 on the table. ARTICLE 4. William C. Brown moved that the Town vote to amend Article 2, Rule 7, of the General By-Laws of the Town, by adding to the end the following: "On any article that requires a two-thirds or more majority vote, a tally of all Yeas, Nays and Abstentions shall be recorded, and if such tally shows a lack of a quorum, Town Meeting shall stand adjourned." This article was voted in the Negative. 2 2 Ada o=ed Annual Town Meeting April 17, 1986 ARTICLE 5. On motion of Elizabeth W. Klepeis it was voted that the Town authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning July 1, 1986, in accordance with the provision of the General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 4, and to issue a note or notes therefore, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with the General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 17. ARTICLE 6. On motion of Elizabeth W. Klepeis it was voted that the Town authorize the Treasurer and/or the Collector to enter into written agreements with banking institutions under the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53F. ARTICLE 7. On motion of Russell T. Graham it was voted that Article 7 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 8. On motion of Carol Beckwith it was voted that the Town amend "Schedule A -Classification Plan" of Article XXIV of the By-Laws of the Town of Reading by changing the grades and/or position titles of employees of the Reading Public Library as follows: * One full-time Circulation Librarian, Grade 6, to head of Circulation Department, Grade 7. * One full-time Circulation Clerk, Grade 3, to Library Clerk, Grade 4. * One full-time Technical Services Technician, Grade 4, to Library Technician, Grade 5. * One permanent part-time Technical Services Clerk, Grade 3, to Library Technician, Grade 5. * One permanent part-time Reference/Circulation Technician, Grade 4, to Library Technician, Grade 5. * Two permanent part-time Library Clerks, Grade 3, to Library Clerk, Grade 4. * Four part-time Library Clerks, Grade 3, to Library Clerk, Grade 4. * Library Pages, presently unclassified, to Grade 1 of "Schedule A - Classification Plan." ARTICLE 9. On motion of Bayard R. Lincoln it was voted to amend "Schedule B - Compensation Plan" of Article XXIV of the By-Laws of the Town by deleting the existing pay ranges and substituting therefor the following, effective July 1, 1986: Grade Min. %4 Pt. Mid. Max. 1 167.49 177.96 188.42 209.36 2 184.77 198.61 212.47 240.16 3 212.69 228.64 244.59 276.49 4 239.72 259.21 278.71 317.70 5 269.85 293.45 317.04 364.23 6 302.42 331.16 359.91 417.40 7 340.74 376.53 412.30 483.87 8 383.72 425.94 468.14 552.55 9 430.25 481.87 533.49 636.73 10 486.08 548.01 609.93 733.77 11 549.00 623.11 697.22 845.43 12 615.47 704.75 794.04 972.60 ARTICLE 10. John H. Russell moved that the Town accept the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 108L relating to a career incentive pay program for police officers. This article was voted in the Negative. ARTICLE 11. On motion of Randolph R. Harrison, Jr. it was voted that the Capital Outlay Plan, as provided for in Article 3, Section 11 of the By-Laws of the Town, as adopted at the Subsequent Town Meeting in November, 1985, be amended as follows: FY 1986 CHANGE: BUILDING MAINTENANCE Truck - From 12.0 to 10.0 Adjourned Annual Town Meeting FY 1987 CHANGE: BUILDING MAINTENANCE Building Improvements - From 25.0 to 15.4 POLICE DEPARTMENT Traffic Lights - From 25.0 to 0 Radio Equipment - From 5.0 to 3.0 Radar Guns - From 1.2 to 0 April 17, 1986 23 FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Station - 1500.0 to 0 SCHOOLS Roof Replacement - From 100.0 to 90.0 Chapter 504 - From 26.5 to 0 PUBLIC WORKS Storm Drain Construction - From 160.0 to 97.7 Roadway Overlay - From 58.0 to 0 Roadway Reconstruction - From 240.0 to 180.0. Equipment Replacement - From 135.0 to 108.0 Sidewalk Construction - From 0 to 15.0 Parks & Playgrounds - From 35.0 to 11.5 Street Betterments - From 20.0 to 2.0 CEMETERY Equipment Replacement - From 13.0 to 20.2 RECREATION Pool - From 25.0 to 0 MUNICIPAL SPACE COMMITTEE Old Town Hall/Library Const. - From 1965.0 to 0 FY 1987 ADD: MINERAL STREET BRIDGE Bridge Repair - 18.0 FY 1987 DELETE: DOG OFFICE Truck - 4.0 FY 1988 CHANGE: FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Station - From 0 to 1500.0 MUNICIPAL SPACE COMMITTEE Old Town Hall/Library Const. - From 0 to 1965.0 On motion of Carl H. Amon, Jr., it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned to meet at 7:30 P.M. on Tuesday, April 22nd, 1986, in the Reading Memorial High School auditorium. Meeting adjourned at 10:05 P.M. 133 Town Meeting members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk