Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-09 Board of Selectmen Minutes RECEIVED Tr"14 CLERK Board of Selectmen Meeting .,(, x'.,15$. October 9,2012 RF ' II: 58 For ease of archiving, the order that items appear in these minutes re, k4A9 �a thh o which the items appeared on the agenda for that meeting, and are not necessarily the order in which any item was taken up by the Board. - The meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Vice Chairman Ben Tafoya, Secretary Richard Schubert, Selectmen John Arena and James Bonazoli, Youth Liaisons Eric Johnson and Mary Kate Kelley, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLachcur, Office Manager Paula Schena, Town Clerk Laura Gemme, Police Chief James Cormier, Town Engineer George Zambouras, Recreation Administrator John Feudo and the following list of interested parties: Tony Capobianco, Steve Zerfas and Ellen Emmons. Absent was Chairman Stephen Goldy. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments—James Bonazoli noted that the Sturgis Park meeting with Conservation Commission was postponed until October 24". Ben Tafoya noted that the Financial Forton is tomorrow night and funding is available for the state's portion of the Library project. ' John Arena noted that he attended the ballet opening evening and it is a beautiful facility. Town Manager's Report—The Town Manager gave the following report: Administrative matters ♦ Volunteers still needed for the: Bylaw Committee, Conservation Commission, Finance Committee (2), Trails Committee, Historical Commission, West Street Historic District Commission,and Zoning Board of Appeals. ♦ Last Day to register to vote is October 17 (Wednesday)when the Town Clerk's office will be open until 8:00 PM. Residents can apply now for an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots are now available. ♦ 3rd Annual Operation Troop Support Gift Wrapping - The Reading Lions Club requests your help at the 3rd Annual Operation Troop Support Gift Wrapping event on Saturday, October 20th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon at the Reading Senior Center. Operation Troop Support, an organization from Boston's north shore area, sends 30,000 holiday presents to service men and women every December and they all need to be wrapped! Operation Troop Support will supply the gifts and wrapping supplies, all we need is YOU! Please consider joining this community event sponsored by the Reading Lions Club. For more information contact Loraine Bary, Ijbary@verizon.net. Board of Selectmen Minutes—October 9, 2012—paee 2 Community Services ♦ October 11, 2:00 PM—Ribbon Cutting— Oaktree. Special guest will be Secretary of , Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. ♦ Veterans Day will be celebrated on Sunday,N ovember 11 at 11:00 AM on the common. A breakfast for veterans will be served at the Senior Center from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Finance ♦ The Financial Forum is scheduled for tomorrow, October 10 at 7:00 PM at the Senior Center. Library ♦ The Town has learned that the State grant for the Reading Public Library has been approved so the Town can now go forward and secure the local share of the funding (Proposition 2 Y2 debt exclusion)and then proceed with construction. Public Works Construction news from DPW: ♦ An overlay of West Street has been done, improving the wearing surface where the water trench was dug several years ago. ♦ Garret Road overlay has been completed. ♦ Main Street between Washington Street and the RR tracks will be milled and ' overlaid within the next couple of weeks—night time work. ♦ Irving and Boswell Streets reconstruction will not be done this year — the preliminary work of lowering structures will have to be reversed for the winter. ♦ Poets Comer sewer repair — bids were opened last week; seven bids were received ranging between $217,322.98 to $349,170.55. As soon as the low bidder, Joseph P. Cardillo & Sons Inc., furnishes his bonds the contract will be executed and the work will start. This should be within the next 2 weeks. ♦ The Howard Street temporary water service finally passed quality tests and the contractor is back to work finishing up that project ♦ Curb and Sidewalk bids have been awarded. It is possible that Bancroft Avenue and Highland Street curb and sidewalk work could be done this fall. Discussion/Action Items CAB Member Update — CAB member Tony Capobianco was present. He noted that RMLD General Manager Vinnie Cameron is retiring and the General Manager Search Committee process is underway. An independent audit report was done and the RMLD is in very good shape. The Reading Municipal Light Board decided to sell 60% of the Renewable Energy Certificates (RFC's) and let 40% expire. The money was applied to the fuel charge, but there is no policy on REC's yet. John Arena asked how much the REC's sold for and Mr. Capobianco indicated it was $230,000. Richard Schubert asked about the timeline for replacing the General Manager and Mr. , Capobianco noted that the General Manager gave six months notice and will be leaving in the spring. Board of Selectmen Minutes—October 9,2012—page 3 ' Ben Tafoya asked Mr. Capobianco to keep the Board informed regarding what options are being discussed regarding the policy on REC's and also when there will be community input and timeline on replacing the General Manager. Close Warrant for November Election — Town Clerk Laura Gemme noted she processed 100 absentee ballots today. October 17 is the deadline to register to vote. A motion by Schubert seconded by Bonazoli that the Board of Selectmen close the Warrant for the November 6 2012 Election was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Review Traffic/Parking Plan — Election — Town Clerk Laura Gemme and Police Chief James Cormier were present. Laura Gemme reviewed the map and the process and noted that the High School will have a delayed start. She will supply the media with the map. Richard Schubert asked Laura Gemme about a letter that was received from a photographer and Lama Gemme noted that in past elections individuals have indicated they don't want their picture taken while voting. In the past she has asked photographers to go upstairs and take an overview and not mom in on any individual. This photographer did not want to do that. A_Wroval of Betterments—Edgemont and Stewart Streets Curbing—The Town Manager ' noted there were questions raised about the calculation of the assessment. Town Engineer George Zambouras noted that the Engineers went out and located property lines and adjustments were made. The big change was in the loam quantities and in one case the assessment went down. One property owner has 88.4 feet of extra curb at $16 linear foot price and 168 feet at$30. The original assessment was reversed. Each resident received a letter and itemized quantities. Stephen Zerfas of 3 Stewart Road noted he had a problem with the increase in loam. He indicated the contractor did a lousy job too. He measured the markers and there was a difference of 39 feet. There was a $593 shift and that is a huge amount of money. The Town Engineer noted that the contractor charges by the square foot and he told the Property owner not to touch it because the contractor will be back in the spring to reseed. Kevin Douglas of 58 Edgemont Street noted that the curbing came out great, but the increase was kind of hefty. The Town Engineer noted the estimate was done on a three foot tree lawn, but most are actually five feet. Mr. Douglas also noted that the contractor did a lousy job on the loam and seed-it's all weeds and rocks. Paula Evans, 19 Stewart Road suggested the Town get a better estimate next time. She feels $1,300 for loam and seed is ridiculous. Her bill decreased $140, but the problem is with the process. The Town Engineer noted that the Town is holding the contingency and he will have the contractor come back in the spring. Board of Selectmen Minutes—October 9 2012—page 4 A motion by Bonazoli seconded by Schubert that the Board of Selectmen confirm ' the betterments for the improvement of Edgemont Avenue and Stewart Road for granite curbing at a total cost of $55.637.77 with the assessments apportioned as follows among the benefitting property owners and at the rate of interest on unpaid balances of 3.97% per annum for a maximum term of up to 20 years: TOTAL ADDRESS PLAT LOT OWNERS ASSESSMENT 74 Edgemont Avenue 20 13 Ronald M. Rancre $ 4,613.96 Carolyn M. Ranere 66 Edgemont Avenue 20 12 Michael Cashins $ 3,771.87 Lisa Cashins 58 Edgemont '. Avenue 15 253 Kevin Douglas $ 3,743.48 Joanne M. Douglas 75 Edgemont Avenue 20 11 Michael J. Long $ 5,113.78 Elizabeth M. Long 69 Edgemont Avenue 20 10 Kenneth J. Lyons $ 3,181.07 Ashley B. Petrillo 63 Edgemont Avenue 20 9 Robert A. Nelson $ 3,066.37 Margaret M. Nelson 57 Edgemont Avenue 20 8 Michael P. Lenihan S 2,916.85 Jennifer A. Lenihan 51 Edgemont Avenue 15 246 Robert W. Shirkoff $ 3,710.46 Pamela A. Shirkoff I J ■ Board of Selectmen Minutes—October 9,2012—page 5 ' 45 Edgemont Avenue 15 245 Louis J. Nunziato $ 3,075.60 Norma Nunziato 3 Stewart Road 15 249 Stephen G. Zerfas $ 8,080.19 Julie R. Zerfas 11 Stewart Road 15 250 Norbert A.Wels $ 3,837.19 Agnes R. Wels 19 Stewart Road 15 251 Robert Emmons $ 3,547.90 Ellen Emmons 25 Stewart Road 15 252 Paul D.Teague $ 3,620.96 Jeanne M.Teague 35 Stewart Road 14 58 Kenneth M. Lafferty $ 3,358.11 Tracey Lafferty $ 55,637.77 ' was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Approval of Fence Extension — Lacrosse Field at Birch Meadow — Recreation Administrator John Feudo noted that both staff and children have been dodging balls at this area. He met with coaches and the best solution is to put up netting. The lacrosse ball is very hard like a cue ball and really hurts if you get hit with it. The intent is to use black netting and the post will merge with the back fence that already exists. The post will be 18 feet high and the height of the netting is 12 feet. There will be 5 to 6 posts for a total of 220 feet. The cost is approximately $8,200 and the intent is for the town and school to split the cost. A motion by Bonazoli seconded by Arena that the Board of Selectmen approve the fence extension at the Lacrosse Field at Birch Meadow as presented was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Presentation of Water Distribution Study and Review of Water Storage Issues — MWRA —The Town Manager noted that we did a master plan 10 years ago when our water came from wells. The Town has been replacing water lines. We have since changed to a different source of water and also changed the direction that it comes from. It now comes ' from the south instead of the north. The northern end of Town has an issue with nitrification. Board of Selectmen Minutes—October 9, 2012—page 6 Barbara Cook and Leah Stanton from Weston and Sampson gave a presentation(which is , available in the Town Manager's office) on the water system. Ms. Cook noted that in 2006 we changed water source to MWRA which reversed the water direction. The chlorine is decaying the water system. They conducted a water quality evaluation in 2010 and updated the water master plan. Two items that need to be addressed are to evaluate the second MWRA connection and evaluate the nitrification issue. The EPA requires surface water systems to maintain a disinfectant residual. The MWRA uses chloramine and when you have chloramine you have nitrification. The chloramine is added at the source and Reading is a long way from that. Ms. Stanton noted that Reading has 111 miles of water mains. Unlined pipes were installed between 1890 — 1930. After 1930 the pipes were cement lined. The Town has approximately 30% unlined pipe and it will cost the Town$25 million to replace it. She suggests coordinating the pavement management program with line replacement. Reading is also eligible for a$4.1 million loan from the MWRA. One solution would be to add chloramine in the Town, but the Town may need to build a facility for testing and it would have to be staffed. The other recommendation is to replace the water lines on Main Street from North Reading to the square. The Town Manager noted that the MWRA has a responsibility to provide safe, clean - water and the Town has the responsibility to maintain the pipes. Having 30% in unlined pipe is not unusual in other communities. Replacing the Main Street line is a priority and should be authorized this year. ' The Town Manager noted that the Town will not need the Bear Hill water tank when the second connection is online. He suggests negotiating with the MWRA regarding the water tank. Add money to the capital plan for water main replacement and for the Board to authorize the Town Manager to work with the MWRA on assuring the maintenance of an adequate supply of chloramine. Also, North Reading has expressed an interest in purchasing water from the MWRA and Reading would benefit from that. The consensus of the Board was for the Town Manager to negotiate with the MWRA since it costs no money to talk. Town Manager Search Process — Ben Tafoya noted the Board received a proposal from the Collins Center and it was the only formal proposal. - A motion by Bonazoli seconded by Schubert to authorize Carol Roberts to go into negotiations with the Collins Center regarding the Proposal letter dated October 3. 2012 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. The Board directed Carol Roberts to request that someone from the Collins Center be present at the next meeting. Approval of Minutes A motion by Bonazoli seconded by Schubert to approve the minutes of August 21. ' 2012 was approved by a vote of 4A-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes—October 9. 2012—Page 7 ' A motion by Bonazoli seconded by Schubert to approve the minutes of September 11 2012 as amended was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Schubert seconded by Bonazoli to approve the minutes of September 18 2012 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Schubert seconded by Bonazoli to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 p.m. was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Respectfully submitted, k S - Secretary