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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-10-06 Board of Selectmen Minutes OF;? Town of Reading b Meeting Minutes J6'f9t hvcOltPoPr Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Selectmen Date: 2015-10-06 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Selectmen Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business Session: General Session Attendees: Members - Present: Chairman Daniel Ensminger, Vice Chairman John Halsey (participated remotely beginning at 7:20 p.m.), Secretary Kevin Sexton, John Arena and Barry Berman Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Administrative Services Director Matt Kraunelis, Town Clerk Laura Gemme, Executive Assistant Paula Schena, Stephen Crook, Tom Wise Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Secretary Kevin Sexton Topics of Discussion: A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to go into Executive Session to consider the purchase exchange, lease or value of real property and that the Chair declared that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the body and to reconvene in Open Session at approximately 7:20 a.m. was approved on a roll call vote with all four members voting in the affirmative. The Board reconvened in Open Session at 7:20 p.m. at which time John Halsey joined them remotely. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments - Barry Berman noted that he attended a few outside meetings including the 40th anniversary of Mystic Valley Elder Services. He attended the Library Building Committee meeting and the drainage issue has been resolved but it has pushed back the site work a couple of months. He attended the RCASA viewing of "If only" which is a film about kids and families struggling with drugs. There was a full house on a weeknight and RCASA did a great job. Kevin Sexton noted that he attended the Human Relations Advisory Committee meeting and three student liaisons from the High School were present also. He will meet with them more to develop a communication policy before coming in before the Board of Selectmen. He had a resident come in for office hour and the resident wants to establish a committee or commission on disability to work on some small things that get missed by the ADA Coordinator such as closed captioning for RCTV. He thinks this is a good idea. Daniel Ensminger passed that task along to Administrative Services Director Matt Kraunelis. Page 1 1 Board of Selectmen Minutes - October 6 2015 - page 2 Daniel Ensminger noted that he attended the Financial Forum at which time they voted to accept the new Facility Department organization. The Permanent Building Committee Appointment Committee appointed Greg Stepler, Nancy Twomey, Patrick Tompkins, John Coote, Bradford Congdon and Michael Bean as an Associate member. They are meeting again on October 19th to appoint one more member. He and the Town Manager attended the North Reading Town Meeting regarding the first phase of their hookup to the MWRA. They are trying to get the money and it is a win/win situation for both towns. Daniel Ensminger noted there is a MAPC session tomorrow night at the RMLD at 6:30 p.m. Town Manager's Report - The Town Manager noted that there is a chart showing the meals tax history in tonight's handout. The Town has received $1,638,079.79 to date in meals tax. Vote to Discontinue Old Accuvote Machines and Approve the New Voting Machines - Town Clerk Laura Gemme noted it was not an easy decision. LHS was just a little cheaper and has been serving us for 20 years. She feels the best way to go is with the Image Machine from LHS. John Arena asked how much training will be done and Laura Gemme noted that LHS will come out and train her and the Wardens and then she will train the rest. Barry Berman asked if there was enough time to get up and running by March 1st and Laura Gemme noted there was. Barry Berman asked what will be done with the old machines and Laura Gemme noted that they have to go back and we will get credits. North Reading and other communities have asked for the black boxes if that is okay. Daniel Ensminger noted that is fine. A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to discontinue the use of the old Accuvote machines effective immediately was approved on a roll call vote with all five Y.- members voting in the affirmative. A motion by Sexton seconded by Berman to approve the use of the ImageCast machine effective immediately was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative Second Driveway - Request to Revoke Prior Approval for 181 South Street - The Town Manager noted that Tom Wise was before the Board of Selectmen requesting a second driveway and it was approved. Tom Wise noted that part of the ZBA appeal is tied to the second driveway. The court said that there was not proper notification to the abutters. The Town Manager noted these were all allegations. Tom Wise noted that he is asking that the decision be revoked because he will not be using the second driveway. A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena that the Board of Selectmen revoke the March 18, 2014 approval of a second driveway at 181 South Street was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative Hearing - Approve Amendments to the Non-Union FY16 Classification Plan - The Secretary read the hearing notice. The Town Manager noted that Facilities is being reconfigured. The Facilities Director position is being added to Grade M and an Assistant Facilities Director is being added to Grade J. The vacant Business Analyst position is being changed to a Purchasing Agent to take on additional Facilities work. The Assistant Recreation Program Coordinator is being promoted to Recreation Administrator. In addition we are renaming the Appraiser and Assistant Assessor positions. We are adding a Human Resource Page 1 2 Board of Selectmen Minutes - October 6, 2015 - page 3 Generalist which will be shared with schools because a lot of Human Resource time is spent on Schools. The Assistant Building Inspector position is being deleted. Barry Berman asked if we need the Assistant Building Inspector and the Town Manager noted that we have two Building Inspectors doing 1 FTE work. We don't know how long that will work, but it works well now. Barry Berman asked if there will be any feedback from the residents and the Town Manager indicated there will be no noticeable change. A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to close the hearing on amending the Non- Union FY16 Classification Plan was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to approve the amendments to the Non- Union FY16 Classification Plan as presented was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. Discuss HRAC and Communication Policy - This agenda item has been postponed to a future meeting. Vote November Town Meeting Warrant Articles - The Town Manager reviewed Article 3. He noted that the generator at the Main Street Fire Station blew out and needs to be replaced. The sewer project was bid but could not be done so we have turned back $780,000 and asking for that plus $400,000 to do the work. The Cemetery Trustees voted Article 3 for $2 million for the Cemetery Garage. The Finance Committee will vote on this next week. Daniel Ensminger asked what the Selectmen should do if they don't want to do the $2 million for the Cemetery Garage. The Town Manager noted that the Selectmen could move to accept Article 3 except for that line and vote that line separately. The Finance Committee can vote to change it also. The Town Manager noted that he will put the Selectmen's explanation in the Warrant Report. Article 4 is to pay prior years bills. There is a bill from the Fire Department, two or three invoices from the School Department, DPW legal notices from 2014 and a bill for legal services for the RMHS project. Article 5 adds $75,000 for the modular classrooms. John Arena asked if line painting and lighting is being deferred in lines K92 and K94. The Town Manager noted we are adding painting and lighting but the budget line is too much, we don't need that much. The Town Manager noted that Article 6 is accepting private public roads, Articles 7, 8 and 9 are zoning Articles. Article 10 is a Bylaw change regarding ZBA and CPDC associate members. It is up to the Selectmen to decide if they want to vote on it. Article 11 amends the General Bylaw to point to the Charter for removal of Board members. Article 13 is sponsored by the Cemetery Trustees for the $2 million for the Cemetery Garage. Daniel Ensminger noted that he is disappointed that the Cemetery Board is not here tonight to discuss this. He feels it would be helpful to meet with them before Town Meeting. The Town Manager noted he is disappointed that they did not approach him either. Daniel Ensminger asked if there are safety issues at the Cemetery Garage. The Town Manager noted that the new Facilities Director stepped in. MIIA, the Building Inspector and Fire Inspector went out and inspected it. The building is sound but not being used in a safe way. We will use nominal money to make it safe. It is fine for now but the Page 1 3 Board of Selectmen Minutes - October 6, 2015 - page 4 wood stove is a safety issue. He will shut it down if it is deemed not safe. The building is adequate/safe for equipment, just not safe for people. John Halsey asked why we are allowing the use of the Cemetery Garage if there are documented issues that it is being used in an unsafe way. The Town Manager noted that the Cemetery Division put temporary storage on the property but it must be vented. It is difficult to blame the staff when they weren't told otherwise. The Town Manager noted that it seems like more of a straight way to solve the problem instead of spending $2 million. Daniel Ensminger suggests rejecting Article 13. The Town Manager noted that two studies were done on identified sites but there is no plan. Barry Berman suggests reserving a modest amount of money and have the Building Committee do a study. John Arena noted that a design study would be more appropriate. The Town Manager noted that if the fund money is not in Article 3 then Article 13 will go away. Article 14 is the Firearms Bylaw. Kevin Sexton noted that the Committee met five times to look at public safety and proponent owner rights. The Firearm Bylaw is a new one which is a good compromise. John Halsey agreed that it is a common sense compromise and the mapping will be presented at Town Meeting. The goal is to serve common interest. A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to recommend the subject matter of Article 3 of the 2015 Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant minus the $2 million for the Cemetery Garage was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to recommend the subject matter of Article 4 of the 2015 Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to recommend the subiect matter of Article 5 of the 2015 Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to recommend the subiect matter of Article 6 of the 2015 Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to recommend the subject matter of Article 10 of the 2015 Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to recommend the subiect matter of Article 11 of the 2015 Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to recommend the subiect matter of Article 12 of the 2015 Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to recommend the subject matter of Article 13 of the 2015 Subseguent Town Meeting Warrant failed on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the negative. A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to recommend the subiect matter of Article 14 of the 2015 Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative Page 1 4 Board of Selectmen Minutes - October 6, 2015 - page 5 Review Board of Selectmen 2016 Schedule - The Town Manager noted that the Selectmen will meet four times in January and then twice a month. Approval of Minutes A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to approve the minutes of September 15, 2015 as amended was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. A motion by Sexton seconded by Arena to adjourn the meeting at 8:59 p.m. was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. Respectfully submitted, J Secretary Page 1 5