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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-22 Select Board Minutes o`a OFRr,� Town of Reading Meeting Minutes RECEIVED 3.� TOWN CLERK e6'a:,NCOPvaP READING, MA. Board - Committee - Commission - council: 2619 MAR 20 PM 2* 48 Select Board Date: 2018-01-22 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: General Business Version: Attendees: Members - Present: Andy Friedmann, Barry Berman, Vanessa Alvarado, John Halsey Members - Not Present: Dan Ensminger Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom, Barbara Melanson, Nancy Docktor, Angela Binda, Tim Kirwan, Tony D'Are=, Elaine Webb, Shagha Russell Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Caitlin Saunders ' Topics of Discussion: Andy Friedmann called the meeting to order. Liaison Reports Ms. Alvarado attended the Climate Change Summit. Her biggest takeaway was the future is electric and we should continue to embrace every opportunity to work with RMLD that we can. The ZBA had a meeting about Lincoln/Prescott project. This time is was relative to the building being built differently than the plans. ZBA voted It was an insubstantial change however the neighbors are extremely concerned now that the building is a foot and a half closer to the sidewalk. Ms. Alvarado indicated the board should add to the next agenda to discuss the situation from the town side, unrelated to the ZBA decision. Lastly, she attended the annual MMA meeting over the weekend and learned a lot of good strategies/ common practices for public comment during Select Board meetings. Mr. Berman seconded Ms. Alvarado's thoughts about the ZBA and Lincoln/Prescott incident. He won't comment on their decision but would certainly like this on their next agenda to discuss things like process and staff involvement. He also attended the annual MMA meeting in which he took a workshop regarding supporting downtown/small town businesses. The annual MILK celebration had a great turnout and he thanked HRAC for all their hard work on that event. Lastly, Mr. Berman wanted to mention, a parent in Reading Theresa Wiggins is doing a 'caregiver pledge' that gets parents to pledge to talk to their children about Inclusion. She helps give materials and does this free of charge on her time because she feels this is very important for our young children to hear at home. ' Ms. Alvarado also wanted to mention if the town has any way to create a program for people in town that may be affected by the government shutdown and not receiving a paycheck; perhaps getting leniency on any bills due now. Page I 1 Mr. LeLacheur noted he is unsure of what the town itself can do, however, he has heard of some local businesses in town putting things together to help people out. He will try and confirm a list of businesses offering assistance to put out. Mr. Friedmann noted the School Committee vacancy which they will be discussing later in , the evening on the process moving forward to fill it. He also attended the annual MMA meeting and attended some wonderful workshops on zoning and aging in place, the opioid epidemic and how to save money. He echoed Mr. Berman's thoughts on the MLK celebration. He noted the Lincoln/Prescott project Is continuously having problems and asked the board how the felt about having the developer come to the next meeting to discuss these issues again. Town Manager's Report Mr. LeLacheur noted the DPW used 600 lbs of salt over the weekend treating the roads during the storm. He thanked the DPW crew for their hard work dealing with this difficult storm and then the deep freeze immediately after. He explained there was a fire on Temple Street today; he thanked our Public Safety crews and all the surrounding Town's crews that came to help fight the fire and staff our stations while we were busy. Mr. Halsey wanted to mention the Boston Food Bank is ready to help any government workers in need. All they have to do is stop in and they will be helped as much as possible. Public Comment Nancy Docktor wanted someone to clarification and asked who invited the State Representative of Elder Affairs here tonight. She also wanted to remind the board about pesticides. Angela Binda spoke regarding recreation and their budget. Jean Thomases wanted to let the board know that the Lincoln/Prescott has a real name now ' and that's how we should be referring to them. Tony D'Arezzo has concerns about the Symonds Way easement in which they will discuss further later on tonight. Class I License Application Attorney Brad Latham was present representing the client, Prime Motors. This application is for the current Honda Gallery location which already holds a Class I license. There will be no physical changes to the location; it is simply a change of ownership and management. Mr. LeLacheur informed the board that there were no concerns on the Town side. Ms. Alvarado moved that the Select Board approve the Class I License as presented. The motion was seconded by Mr. Halsey and approved with a 4-0 vote. Discuss Senior Center Building Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios and Elder Services Director Jane Burns thought it would be a good idea to have a State Representative from the Department of Elder Affairs come in and talk to the board about senior centers. Emmett Schmarsow came to have a discussion with the board about senior center buildings and what to think about when building or looking for a new building. Mr. Schmarsow started off by saying the biggest question concerning the growing elder population Is who is going to be doing the caregiving. Senior centers are a 'home away from home' for a lot of the seniors who visit. Elders do not want to be where kids are so ' combining it with a youth/ community center isn't the best idea. Mr. LeLacheur asked if location is important. Mr. Schmarsow noted ample parking is more important. Seniors will go where they like the activities but there must be parking. Page 1 2 Mr. Halsey asked if there was money available from the state to help towns with their senior centers. He explained there are grants for programs but as far as capital goes, no. Town Accountant Ouarterly Update Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom was present to give the board a quick update in the finance department. All of her end of the year reports and work is done. The FY18 audit Is complete. She included a handout regarding Cable TV special revenue funds. She wanted the board to see these options available to towns and cities regarding separate accounts for cable franchise fees collected from customers by cable companies and other cable-related monies negotiated In cable television agreements between the municipality and the cable television operator. This will be going to Town Meeting. Ms. Angstrom noted her department is finally fully staffed and she is very grateful for the override to make that happen. She then showed us Munis worksheets of revenues, expenses and enterprise funds. She noted that at this time they are in good shape and she has no concerns. Preview Warrant Town Manager Bob LeLacheur noted besides the normal articles there is one request before the board to put an article on the warrant regarding Symonds Way. The Zanni's own the land but need an easement to it before they can put it up for sale. Attorney Latham was present to explain the facts regarding this property and why they are requesting a formal easement. He explained a couple decades ago the government seized property from landowners in Reading to help gain advantage points for the war. Once they were no longer needed the Government gave back some of the land, including this Zanni property. Range Road was put in to get to the property behind the now ice rink. It has always been used as an easement but no legal easement was created when the land was given back. They are asking for 100 feet at the beginning of Range Road so they can access ' their property as they have been doing with no issues ever since getting it back. They need the easement so when they go to sell the property they have a legal way in. Mr. Berman noted if the town is interested in purchasing this property, we don't need an easement because we own it. Granting the easement would raise the value of the property and someone else could come in and develop the property. Ms. Alvarado agreed with Mr. Berman's thoughts but also noted they are talking about a family who has been in town a long time and has been very generous to the town while here. She wants to handle this carefully not to hold them hostage by an easement for our own potential benefit. Mr. Halsey explained this area is probably the last land for Reading to develop recreationally and we all know the town is In need of reactional land. However, the Zanni family has always had access to this land and this easement was probably an oversight 50 years ago unintentionally. He believes they should put this on the warrant and let Town Meeting decide. Tony D'Arezzo wanted to mention he believes the Zanni's were compensated when the government took their land. He explained this isn't the 60's anymore and we need to do what is right for the town to benefit. Mr. Halsey also commented if the town is not interested in the property, why wouldn't we want a developer to come in and develop it? That would just be more revenue and tax ' dollars to the town. Ms. Alvarado feels there are pros/cons if a developer comes in and puts a housing development in there. The board felt they wanted to discuss this more and asked if it could be done in executive session at their next meeting. Page 1 3 Memorial Park Town Counsel Ray Miyares was present to explain to the board the deal with Memorial Park. Memorial Park was given as a gift to the town about 100 years ago. It was given with ' restrictions on it; such as not to be used for games that are hazardous. Legally, you are obligated to follow the conditions of the gift; however, the only person who can enforce these conditions is the Attorney General. Some years ago, an AdHoc Committee was formed to look into Memorial Park and its available uses. The committee came back saying It was ok to be used for practices but not games. They did take this to court but the litigation was unsuccessful. The AG doesn't seem to care what's happening at this parcel so his opinion would be to carry on as you are until they do. Mr. Berman asked why this is being discussed. It was noted Bill Brown asked Town Meeting for an Instructional motion to have Memorial Park looked into. Mr. Halsey noted he understands Town Counsel's opinion but we should all be aware we are not technically following the conditions and the AG could care at some point. Ms. Alvarado explained she Is hesitant to go down this road and poke the bear. Mr. Berman noted we have done this once before and we did not prevail; why would we do it again? The board then discussed how and what they would say at Town Meeting for their presentation on this instructional motion. Discuss Process for School Committee Vacancy ' Chair of the School Committee Elaine Webb was present for the discussion. She also brought a letter to the Select Board from the School Committee officially informing them they had a resignation. She also noted the School Committee feels it is not practical to fill the position now where the election is so close. By time the person is appointed there will only be one meeting left before the election. They did not vote on that comment but that was the discussion the Committee had. Town Counsel noted there are no consequences if they do not fill the position right now. The law states they`shall'f II the position but it was noted the word `shall' has many meanings of Interpretation. Mr. Halsey wanted to remind the board they did have one of the School Committee members himself write a letter to the Select Board asking us to do our duty and appoint someone. Ms. Alvarado feels just because there are no consequences of not filling the position does not mean they should not follow the law. They should do as the law states and hold a meeting to fill the position. If we do not get any applications, that is different, but people should be given the opportunity to apply if they would like. Mr. Halsey feels if someone wants to go through this whole process for one meeting then let them. Mr. Berman felt this would be a lot for someone to attend only one meeting. Mr. Friedmann feels this is a lot for one meeting but Is inclined to do as the law states and try to fill the position if someone wants it. Page 1 4 The board ultimately agreed to find a date that works with the School Committee in the next coming weeks to appoint a new member. Minutes Ms. Alvarado made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of December 11`" 2018 as amended. The motion was seconded by Mr. Berman and approved with a 4-0 vote. Ms. Alvarado moved that the board adjourn at 10:52 PM, the motion was seconded and approved with a 4-0 vote. 1 Page 1 5