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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-20 Board of Selectmen Minutes OFR Off^ Town of Reading 3 p Meeting Minutes roWN c�_: 4'K EAPING, n Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Selectmen 10I1 RAY I l A 8: 43 , Date: 2017-04-20 Time: 6:45 PM Building: Reading Public Library Location: Lower Level Conference Room Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue Session: Open Session Purpose: General Business Version: Attendees: Members - Present: Chairman John Halsey,. Secretary Barry Berman, John Arena, Daniel Ensminger and Andrew Friedmann (remotely) Members - Not Present: Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Assistant Town Manager lean Delios, Deputy Police Chief David Clark, Deputy Fire Chief Paul Jackson, Andrew Corona, Paula S2hena, Jessie Wilson, Julie Mercier, Vicky Avery, Nancy Docktor, Joe Connelly, Eric Burkhart, Erin Gaffen, Amy Cole, Stephen Crook, Kathryn Crook, Phil Rushworth Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Secretary Topics of Discussion: Executive Session A motion by Ensminger seconded by Berman to go into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and the Chairman declared that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the body and to reconvene in Open Session at approximately 7.00 p.m. was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. Reorganization - The Town Manager asked for nominations for Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Daniel Ensminger placed the name of John Arena into nomination as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Andrew Friedmann placed the name of Barry Berman Into nomination as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Andrew Friedmann noted he is concerned that the Board of Selectmen Policies be followed and he asked if either nominee is in their third term. The Town Manager noted that Ben Tafoya was nominated as Chairman during his third term and the Selectmen have not ' followed that policy for a long time. Andrew Friedmann indicated he felt Barry Berman was next in line to be Chairman. Daniel Ensminger responded that Barry Berman was not next in line, he was the Secretary and Kevin Sexton was the Vice Chairman and he is gone. Andrew Friedmann noted that the Selectmen might want to follow the Selectmen's policy until they are changed. John Halsey noted that the policy is out of date and not in use. It Is not a law it is a policy. Page I 1 Board of Selectmen Minutes -April 20 2017 - oage 2 A motion by Ensminaer seconded by Berman to close the nominations was approved on a roll vote with all five members voting in the affirmative ' On a roll call vote John Arena was appointed Chairman with Halsey Arena and Ensminaer voting for John Arena and Friedmann and Berman voting for Barry Berman. Barry Berman asked for an affirmation vote for John Arena and Berman Arena Halsey and Ensminaer voted in the affirmative and Friedmann was opposed A motion bV Friedmann seconded by Arena to appoint Barry Berman as Vice Chairman was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. A motion by Halsey seconded by Arena to appoint Daniel Ensminaer as Secretary was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments - Daniel Ensminger noted that the forum to assess Elder Services was well attended. John Halsey noted that he attended the earlier session and approximately 40 people were in attendance. He noted that there is a dramatic Increase of people over the age of 60 in Town. John Halseyalso noted that he visited the Boy Scouts and delivered the Eagle Scout proclamations. He noted that Reading produces more Eagle Scouts than any other town. Barry Berman welcomed Andrew Friedmann. He noted that Kevin Sexton was a gentleman ' and friend and he wishes him well. He attended the Volunteer Recognition at the Senior Center and the work they do is tremendous. John Arena echoed Barry's comments regarding Kevin Sexton. Andrew Friedmann noted that he attended the Human Relations. Advisory. Committee meeting and they have a few members out of action. Proclamations/Certificates of Appreciation Arbor Day - A motion by Ensminaer seconded by Halsey to declare April 29. 2017 as Arbor Day in the Town of Reading was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. National Public Safety Telecommunications Week - John Arena noted that 99% of the calls go through Dispatchers. A motion by Ensminaer seconded by Berman to proclaim April-2 15 2017 as Public Safety Telecommunications Week was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative Head Dispatcher Vicky Avery was present to receive the proclamation. Deputy Police Chief David Clark noted that the Dispatchers are the voice of the Police and Deputy Fire Chief Paul Jackson pointed out there are many long term employees who are Dispatchers. Personnel and Appointments , Board of Assessors - A motion by Ensminaer seconded by Berman that the Board of Selectmen accept the recommendations of the Volunteer Appointment r Subcommittee as follows: Page 1 2 Board of Selectmen Minutes -April 20 2017- naae 3 . Mike Golden to the Board of Assessors with a term exoirina lune 30. 2018; . Robert Marshall to the Board of Assessors with a term expiring June 30, 2020 The motion was approved on a roll call vote with Arena. Berman. Ensminger and Halsey voting in the affirmative and Friedmann abstaining. Conservation Commission - Daniel Ensminger noted that the VASC is recommending Bob Hayes be appointed as an Associate because he Is not Intimately familiar with Conservation yet. John Halsey noted that he prefers to appoint him to a full voting position. Barry Berman noted that he enjoyed the discussion with Mr. Hayes but he is not familiar with the statute. He needs training and then he could move up to a full position when ready. John Halsey noted that there are a number of people on the Board who can help and we recently appointed someone with no experience. Daniel Ensminger noted that he will vote for a full position. Andrew Friedmann cautioned that the volunteer understand they regulation before voting. A motion by Halsey seconded by Ensminger that Bob Haves be appointed to a Position on the Conservation Commission with a term expiring June 30. 2018 was approved on a roll call vote with Arena Ensminaer, Halsey and Friedmann voting in the affirmative and Berman opposed. Discussion/Action Items Senior Tax Relief - Assessor Victor Santaniello was present. He reviewed the history of the Senior Tax Exemption. He noted that the surviving spouse asset limit is increased from $20,000 to $40,000 and COLA adjustments have been adopted. They have also adopted an annual COLA for the elderly tax exemption and the tax exemption has increased from $750 to $1000. To qualify for Senior Tax relief you have to be 65 or older on or before 12/31/16. Excessive assets i.e. owning a second home will disqualify you. The Board of Selectmen will determine the amount of tax relief as a function of setting the tax rate. The Impact on the tax rate is approximately $81 for an average family home. Barry Berman noted this was crafted to defer to the circuit breaker. He asked if we receive 600 applicationshow will the Assessors handle this. Victor Santaniello noted that he has put in a request for cross training. The forms are fairly simple and August is a slow time for them. John Arena noted that they set the tax rate in November so when will they have the. first view of an amount. Mr. Santaniello Indicated hopefully by the end of September. Barry Berman asked at what point do we go to the higher end of 2% and John Halsey indicated when they set the tax rate. MAPC Member Report - MAPC member Steve Sadwlck noted that he was not prepared to ' give a report tonight. Peer Community Best Practices Project Update - The Town Manager noted that 18 communities were surveyed and the low CIP communities ask for a lot of overrides. He then reviewed an analytical look at the data. Page 1 3 Board of Selectmen Minutes - April 20 2017 - page 4 Jessie Wilson noted that we have 26 peer communities and 18 of them responded to the ' surveys. She noted that Reading Is lagging in new growth and CIP. Barry Berman asked if the communities that were way above was due to large projects or more land and Jessie Wilson responded yes to both. She noted that the residential sector in Reading is doing better than the CIP. Our peers have higher revenue. Reading gets more revenue from residential. John Arena noted that everyone who Is doing better than us is on a major thoroughfare. Jessie Wilson noted that there Is no clear connection between population density and a high CIP. Many high CIP have more children age 5 - 19. Many high CIP towns have a larger percentage of population over 65. John Arena remarked about total average employment in town. He noted that people drive to other towns to work and spend their money there and then go home.- Jessie Wilson noted that Reading has the.lowest ranking weekly wage. John Arena noted that we don't have any companies with over 500 employees. The Town Manager reviewed education. He noted that the State sets a budget that schools must spend. High CIP towns have higher discretionary spending. SAT in Reading is high above the average. The AP test takers are low. Reading is not keeping up with peers on the student/teach ratio. They have found that the higher CIP the lower the number of kids to educate. Jessie Wilson noted that companies are moving to communities that have restaurants and ' shopping. CIP growth is not related to the amount of CI vacant land. Andrew Friedmann asked if there is any indication of what attracts businesses and Jessie Wilson noted that like businesses like to be near each other. Barry Berman noted that the role of the Board of Selectmen is to decide what we want to be. The community needs to have that conversation. Economic Development Update - Andrew Corona noted that retail is still a real challenge. Big retail is downsizing. In residential growth apartment delivery is equal to a 30 year high In 2017. Rent growth is cooling down. The developer for the Post Office is working on new plans because the original plan for 55 condos and 7000 sf didn't get through Mass Historic because the mass was too big. There are also plans for mixed use at 467 Main Street Sunoco and that depends on a Town Meeting vote on zoning 40R expansion. There might be a local match issue with that. Barry Berman noted that we used housing money for 30 Haven Street. Andrew Corona noted that the former Wine Shop is going to be Cafe Nero. Daniel Ensminger asked about the parking conundrum in downtown and Jean Dellos noted that the parking study is 10 years old and needs to be updated. Signage is also an issue. Andrew Corona noted that the next steps will be brainstorming. , PlanninqUpdates: Town Meeting Articles - Julie Mercier reviewed the zoning Town Meeting Articles. She noted that we received a wayfinding/branding grant. She also noted that we need to create parking benefit districts as part of the new modernization act. We will need to have a revenue stream from parking so we will need money up front to put in meters. Page 14 Board of Selectmen Minutes -April 20 2017 - pace 5 She noted that the projects that have been approved by CPDC include: Criterion, Valerie's Bridal, Perfectos and Pizza World. Pending projects include: Post Office, Doyons and subdivisions and housing projects. Affordable Housing Uodate, 40B "Safe Harbor" - Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios noted that we just got certified so we get a break from 40B's going back to February. Reading is at 8.49% affordable. She noted that School House Commons at St. Agnes will likely get approved. Eaton Lakeview Apartments is 160 units and they filed with the state and are waiting project eligibility. ZBA can either accept or reject this project. John Halsey asked if we can hold a joint meeting with the ZEA on this project. Jean Delios noted the two projects in play will bring us to 10.37%. Approval of Minutes A motion by Ensminaer seconded by Berman to approve the minutes of March 7. 2017 as amended was approved on a roll call vote with Halsey, Berman, Arena. and Ensminaer voting in the affirmative and Friedmann abstaining. A motion by Ensminaer seconded by Berman to adiourn the meeting at 10:15 P.m. was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. pectfully Secretary CC� 1 Page 1 5