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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-07-26 Board of Selectmen Minutesi O� F c Town of Reading e Meeting Minutes RECEIVEDK qE ,6�9'INCOP40�� � RE�pCL ING. MASS,. Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Selectmen 101b SEP -1 A 25 Date: 2016-07-26 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Selectmen Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: General Business Version: Attendees: Members - Present: Vice Chairman Kevin Sexton, Secretary Barry Berman, John Arena and Daniel Ensminger Members - Not Present: John Halsey Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Executive Assistant Paula Schena, Erin Calvo Bacci, Bill Brown, Al Sylvia, Lisa Egan, Mark Dockser, Dan Demar, Robert Griffin Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Secretary Topics of Discussion: Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments - John Arena noted that he was "flamingoed" last night by EMARC so he made a donation then picked Daniel Ensminger to be next. Barry Berman commented on last week's zoning charrette with CPDC and noted that he was awed that they had approximately 50 people show up. John Arena noted that some of the developers chose not to make comments of certain things and the Board of Selectmen might want to target developers specifically. Barry Berman noted that the Board should listen to them to create the tool that they will use. The Town Manager noted that he spoke with John Halsey and he has agreed to have a meeting with the contractors. Public Comment - Erin Calvo Bacci, 494 Main Street, asked if the Selectmen have a plan to track and support retailers. Kevin Sexton noted that he does not know of a plan in place. Erin Calvo Bacci noted that five storefronts are empty and asked if the Town is doing anything to attract retail. Barry Berman noted that zoning will increase retail in Reading if more people live there then they will shop. Erin Calvo Bacci noted that the sign on the common can promote downtown businesses. The Town Manager noted that there is an agreement with the Historical Commission that the sign board is just for specific events. She should talk to Jean Delios about signage. James Martin, 245 Charles Street noted that the attended the community listening sessions and he asked if there is language for the override. He also asked why we are not having an election with the Presidential Election and the Town Manager noted that the Town Clerk cannot get enough staffing because we would need double the workers because we would need two separate ballots. James Martin noted that people feel the Selectmen are being manipulative. He noted that the Secretary of State said we can put it on the same ballot. Page 1 1 Board of Selectmen Minutes - July 26, 2016 - page 2 TIhe Town Manager noted that the Attorney General says we cannot put it on the same ballot as the State Primary. Mr. Martin noted that a lot of people are saying that the Selectmen are predisposed. He noted that the Library project left a bad taste in people's mouths. He also noted that the "Yes" group is giving out misinformation and a member of the Finance Committee was advocating for the `Yes" group. Bill Brown, Precinct 8 assured Mr. Martin that if there is any manipulation he will be the first to tell him. Lisa Egan, 8 Oakridge Road thanked the Board for the charrette and she is thrilled that they are thinking about another session. She feels the overlay and smart growth need to be as inclusive as possible. She knows of two businesses looking outside of Reading because they want residential. John Arena noted that developers had a different outlook and can help make some changes. Lisa Egan noted she would be willing to talk to the Historical Commission about the sign to remind people to shop local. John Arena noted that the Town Manager will speak with the Historical Commission. Town Manager's Report - The Town Manager noted on page 21 of the handout is a memo regarding the lead testing in public buildings and all the Town buildings come back showing nothing. On pages 4 and 5 is an update of the working groups to include cable negotiations. Discussion/Action Items Approve the Town Manager's Contract - Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom noted that she surveyed other Town Manager salaries and the average salary is $172,045. Our Town Manager is 13% behind the average. She noted that Bob LeLacheur would not accept an increase higher than non-union increases so he agreed to go to a 40 hour work week and to sell back a week of vacation if it is not used and if the funds are available. The increase in the step and 2% COLA mirrors non-union and he still trails by 5%. Sharon Angstrom noted that one change in the contract is the amount of notice of nonrenewal of the contract to be given is changed to six months' notice. The Board thanked the Town Manager for his hard work and long hours. John Arena noted that the Town Manager's work ethic and work quality shows he is a consummate professional. He denies himself of what he should have and you don't find that very often. The Town Manager noted that paying average is reasonable. He noted that the Board of Selectmen are obliged to do a performance evaluation and he offers the sample on page 13 of the packet for his evaluation. He noted this is the evaluation used for Town employees. A motion by Berman seconded by Arena to approve the employment agreement between the Town of Reading and Robert LeLacheur for services as Town Manager effective August 1, 2016 through July 31, 2018 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0 Birch Road Utility Easements - The Town Manager noted this is to expand the water and sewer. Drainage needs to be added to the motion. A motion by Berman seconded by Ensminger that the Board of Selectmen vote to approve the plan of land entitled "Easement Plan of Land located in Reading Massachusetts (Middlesex County-Southern District) prepared for Sage Development scale 1"=20' Date May 1 2016 prepared by Sullivan Engineering Group. LLC, P.O. Box 2004, Woburn, MA 01888" to be recorded at the Middlesex Page 1 2 Board of Selectmen Minutes - July 26, 2016 - page 3 South Registry of Deeds with a grant of a water, sewer and drainage easement to the Town of Reading, said easement and plan are required in order for the commencement of a Reading Department of Public Works' utility proiect was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Abandon Drainage Easements - 21 Hunt Street and 20 Lee Street - The Town Manager noted that Engineering is still working with Town Counsel on this so it will be brought back to the Board in the future. Hearing - Driveway Waiver - 43 Track Road - The Secretary read the hearing notice. The Town Manager noted that there is an email from an abutter, Ruth Silva in the handout and she has no objections. The Parking, Traffic and Transportation Task Force has reviewed and staff had no objections. Engineer Bob Griffin was present to represent the property owner. He noted that the property is distressed at 43 Track Road and the owner will raze the structure. He is requesting a waiver of the driveway set back from the intersection from 50 feet to 30 feet. There is very little traffic in that area. He will be removing approximately four feet of granite curbing. A motion by Berman seconded by Arena to close the hearing on the driveway waiver for 43 Track Road was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Berman seconded by Arena that the Board of Selectmen approve the driveway for 43 Track Road with a 30 foot offset was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Preview of September 12th Special Town Meeting Warrant - The Town Manager noted that Article 3 is to amend the Capital Improvement Program. The Fire Chief is $1500 short for a new ambulance and he wants an additional piece of equipment for the ambulance which is $24,000. Article 4 is to increase the Senior Exemption from $750 to $1000. Article 5 is to accept optimal cost of living increases for seniors and surviving spouses. Article 6 is to lower the interest rate on tax deferrals. Article 7 is a Home Rule Petition for tax relief for state senior circuit breaker filers. The Town Manager noted this will allow seniors to stay in their home and defer tax payments. If they move they pay a lower interest rate and if they die then the heirs pay the full interest rate. Article 8 is the override. Town Counsel will word the question for discussion at Town Meeting but Town Meeting has no authority over an override. The Town Manager noted that on August 9th the Board of Selectmen will discuss tax policy and the Town FY18 budget. The Selectmen could have a number decided by August 31, 2016 but they don't have to. The Selectmen need to vote at Town Meeting on September 12, 2016. Barry Berman noted that waiting until September 1 is a long time. He feels they should try to decide ASAP to get the word out to the community. He feels the fact that we didn't ask every year for an override when others did is a generational thing. At some point we get to the end of the cliff. Page 1 3 __ _ Board of Selectmen Minutes - July 26 2016 - page 4 The Town Manager noted that the Town is cheap and doesn't like to spend money. We have run out of tools. Town side has run out of options but we will do whatever the Town wants. John Arena noted that we are not changing out spending discipline and at the end of the period then there is a $4.5 million gap. The Town Manager noted that 2 1/2 is too low to cover it. Barry Berman noted that a lot of debt exclusion falls off in 8 - 10 years. The Town Manager noted that the Selectmen need to speak with the School Committee to decide the amount. Senior Tax Relief - Assessor Victor Santaniello was present. He noted he is looking at additional forms of relief for senior tax payers and there are not a lot of options. He noted that Sudbury has a means tested tax. The exemption is based on income. The higher the income, the lower the exemption. The lower the income, the higher the exemption. The residential class will have a higher tax rate to make up for exemptions. The circuit breaker allows up to $1030 off the income taxes for seniors who file taxes. Joint owners must be 60 years old. Victor Santaniello noted that the amount shifted is inside the levy so if a lot of seniors apply then he can reduce the amount to keep it under the cap. Barry Berman asked if there is any back testing that $1million gets split equally between commercial and resident. Victor Santaniello noted with a 1.5 shift the rates would be 14.51 for commercial and 14.89 for residential. Tax Relief - Victor Santaniello noted that the average assessed value and income cannot lower taxes more than 50%. Once it is set the cap can't change for three years. Barry Berman noted that Sudbury had an onerous asset section in the application and we need to reserve the money for people who really need it. Victor Santaniello noted that we can go through asset testing and we can cap it. Daniel Ensminger asked about the application process and Victor Santaniello noted it is an early process. All applications would be due by the end of August in order to determine how many qualify. Victor Santaniello noted that Sudbury's biggest problem was what to with tax deferrals. There is not a lot of support from his peers on these. He noted that some communities do a match. If they qualify for the circuit breaker then they match that amount. John Arena noted that there is a desire to provide a cushion for seniors who want to stay at home. He asked if we can look at the number of years a senior has been in Town and Victor Santaniello noted that it can be structured along the same way others are requiring domicile in MA for five years. Kevin Sexton asked how many years Sudbury tested it and Victor Santaniello noted three years. John Arena asked what happened at the end of year four and the Town Manager noted that Sudbury had to renew the Home Rule process. Daniel Ensminger asked how many participants did Sudbury have and Victor Santaniello noted 135 the first year and 125 the following year. Approval of Minutes A motion by Berman seconded by Ensminger to approve the minutes of June 21 2016 as amended was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Page 1 4 Board of Selectmen Minutes - July 26, 2016 - page 5 A motion by Berman seconded by Ensminger to approve the minutes of ]uly 12, 2016 as amended was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Berman seconded by Arena to adiourn the meeting at 9:12 p.m. was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Resp ctfully submi ted, S ret r yy Page 1 5