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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-03-21 Special Town Meeting Minutes 7.91 Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex, as. Officer's Return, Reading: By virtue of this Warrant, I, on March 3, 1977, notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in elections and town affairs, to meet at the place and at the time specified by posting attested copies of this Warrant in the following public places within the Town of Reading: Precinct 1. Convenient Food Mart, 1349 Main Street Old Hose House, 1249 Main Street St. Athanasius Church, 300 Haverhill Street Precinct 2. Reading Police Station, 67 Pleasant Street First National Store, 275 Salem Street Anton Cleaners, 47 Harnden Street Precinct 3. Friendly Variety Store, 245 Washington Street Reading Liquors, 345 Main Street Wayside Bazaar, 107 Main Street Precinct 4. Hanson's Service Station, 4 West Street Dragon Corner Store, 206 West Street Spence Farm Market Gardens, 40 West Street Precinct 5. Community Center, 52 Sanborn Street B & M Railroad Station, High Street Joshua Eaton School, 365 Summer Avenue Precinct 6. Fire Station, 267 Woburn Street Housing for the Elderly, 1 Frank D. Tanner Drive Prospect Street School, Prospect Street Precinct 7. Austin Preparatory School, 101 Willow Street Weston's Greenhouses, 9 Auburn Street Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street Precinct 8. Meadowbrook Golf Club, 292 Grove Street Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road Arthur W. Coolidge Jr. High School, 89 Birch Meadow Drive The date of posting being not less than fourteen days prior to March 21, 1977, the date set for the meeting in this Warrant. I also caused an attested copy of this Warrant to be published in the Reading Chronicle in the issue of March 2, 1977, the same being fourteen days at least prior to said date of meeting. (s) Sally M. Hoyt Constable of Reading SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Walter S. Parker Junior High School Auditorium March 21, 1977 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Kenneth C. Latham, at 8:00 P.M. The invocation was given by the Rev. Ward M. Coleman of Old South United Methodist Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The Warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk, when on motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to dispense with further reading of the Warrant, except the Constable's Return, which was then read by the Town Clerk. ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Elizabeth W. Klepeis, Chairman of the Finance Committee: Finance Committee Financial Report (1) Free Cash $386,486 - Surplus Revenue (2) Finance Committee Reserve Fund $61,815.67 Date- 11/8 Real Estate Valuation Listing $275.00 11/30 Election & Registration Expense $2,995.00 Special Town Meeting March 21, 1977 9/28 Board of Health Expense (Dead Animals) $900.00 2/8 Snow and Ice Removal $80,000.00 7/8 Telephone $4,014.33 (3) Revenue Sharing $270,510.00 for a month's period; one more payment expected Anti-Recession payment $37,500.00 There will be a hearing on this prior to Annual Town Meeting (4) Cherry Sheet On Assessments: $137,946. more 1 On Receipts: $ 48,876. more J About $90,000. less than last year School Department understands that if HBI passes, we will have Chapter 70 aid reduced by $125,000. Therefore: we may be facing something around $200,000. less from the State in the coming year. These figures include adjustments to the current fiscal year's receipts, so that we expect to receive all of our payments from the State. This report was accepted as a report of progress. ARTICLE 1. The following report of the Planning Board was presented by Maureen O'Brien, Chairman of the Planning Board: On November 8, 1976 the Planning Board requested and received from Town Meeting the sum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000)for Technical Assistance for a Revision of the Reading Zoning By-Laws. After interviewing a number of consultants, the firm of Thomas Associates, a subsidiary of Universal Engineering, at 100 Boylston Street, Boston was selected. The revision was begun in December of 1976. On March 28, 1977 at 7:30 P.M. the Planning Board is going to hold a public meeting with the intent of reviewing the proposed changes with all interested citizens. These would include a new format or codification of the By-Laws, additions and changes in the definitions, clarification of the permitted and prohibited uses in each district, the changes mandated by Chapter 808 and the By-Law options allowed by Chapter 808 such as Cluster Zoning, Site Plan Review and Special Permits. This meeting is scheduled to be held in Room 2 with plans to move to the Community Center should there be an overflow crowd. This meeting is not the final Public Hearing but an informational forum on the changes to the By-Laws. A final Public Hearing will be held. This report was accepted as a report of progress. On motion of James J. Sullivan Jr. , it was voted to lay Article 1 on the table. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. , it was voted to lay Article 2 on the table. ARTICLE 3. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($4,500.) be transferred from surplus revenue and appropriated for the non-contributory pensions and annuities, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Contributory Retirement Board. ARTICLE 4. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Fifteen Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($15,600) be transferred from surplus revenue and appropriated for Group Insurance as defined in the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 32B, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Insurance Committee. ARTICLE 5. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Sixty-two Thousand Dollars ($62,000) be transferred from surplus revenue and appropriated for all insurance other than Group Insurance, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Insurance Committee. i Special Town Meeting March 21, 1977 ARTICLE 6. On motion of Richard J. Ogden, it was voted that the sum of Sixty-four Thousand One Hundred Ninety-five Dollars and Ninety-four Cents ($64,195.94) be transferred from surplus revenue for salaries of municipal employees for an additional pay week in the current fiscal year and appropriated as follows, each item being considered a separate appropriation: Public Works Salaries $21,144.00 Salaries for Construction, Maintenance and Operation of Water Works 2,848.00 Fire Department Salaries 16,000.00 Police Department Salaries 13,000.00 Selectmen Salaries 427.80 Town Accountant Salaries 551.40 Town Treasurer Salaries 495.91 Town Collector Salaries 625.71 Assessor's Salaries 946.52 Town Clerk Salaries 384.89 Personnel Board Salaries 189.54 Municipal Building Maintenance Salaries 725.05 Building Inspector Salaries 325.64 Dog Officer Salaries 150.00 Conservation Commission Salaries 212.56 Board of Health Salaries 460.16 Veterans Salaries 337.12 Library Salaries 3,500.00 Cemetery Salaries 1,611.43 Council on Aging 260.21 GRAND TOTAL SALARIES $64,195.94 ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the payment, during the year 1977, of bills unpaid for previous fiscal years for goods and services actually rendered to the Town, or take any other action with respect thereto. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that Article 7 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 8. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that the sum of TwelveThousand Four Hundred Forty-two Dollars and Seventy-seven Cents ($12,442.77) be transferred from surplus revenue and appropriated to the Fire Department Salaries Account. ARTICLE 9. On motion of Richard J. Ogden it was voted that the sum of Eleven Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($11,800) be transferred from surplus revenue and appropriated for telephone expenses under the Selectmen's Expense Account. ARTICLE 10. To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds or otherwise and appropriate for the purchase of oil for heating, and for electrical energy supplied to the Reading Public Schools, or what it will do in relation thereto. On motion of W. Bruce MacDonald it was voted that Article 10 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 11. On motion of Edward F. Fuller, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Four Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($4,200) be transferred from surplus revenue and appropriated for professional assistance to the Board of Library Trustees in order to develop a program to provide adequate facilities for the Public Library. Said sum to be expended under the direction of the Board of Library Trustees. ARTICLE 12. On motion of John H. Russell it was voted that the sum of Thirty Thousand Three Hundred and Twenty-nine Dollars ($30,329.00) received, or to be received from the Commonwealth under Chapter 765, Section 4, Acts of 1972 be appropriated for the purpose of improving and constructing Chapter 90 Highways as requested by the Board of Public Works. ARTICLE 13. To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for the Board of Public Works for Snow and Ice Removal Salaries and Expense, or take any other action with respect thereto. 29,1 Special Town Meeting March 21, 1977 On motion of John H. Russell it was voted that Article 13 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 14. To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy, or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropriate for the Board of Public Works for Public Works Department Salaries and Expense, or take any other action with respect thereto. On motion of John H. Russell it was voted that Article 14 be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 15. On motion of James R. Boucher it was voted that the Town transfer the care, custody, management and control of the following described parcel of land held by the Town of Reading for conservation purposes to the Reading Board of Public Works for the purpose of public utility construction; and authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the General Court for such legislation as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this vote. A certain parcel of land being a portion of lot 1 on the Assessors Plat Number 117, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point on the westerly side line of Haverhill Street, 42 feet south of an iron pipe on the boundary between land now or formerly of David L. and Florence J. Richards and the Town of Reading; thence S. 11024'30" E. along said side line of Haverhill Street, a distance of 40 feet; thence S. 78035'30" W. by Town of Reading, a distance of 40 feet; thence N. 11024'30" W. by Town of Reading, a distance of 40 feet; thence N. 78035'30" E. by Town of Reading, a distance of 40 feet and the point of beginning. Said parcel to contain 1,600 square feet, more or less, and being more fully shown on a plan made by the Board of Public Works of the Town of Reading, dated January, 1977, which is to be recorded herewith. 120 voted in the affirmative 0 voted in the negative (2/3 vote required) ARTICLE 16. On motion of James R. Boucher it was voted that the Town acquire by purchase, for conservation purposes under the provisions of General Laws Chapter 40 Section 8C, as amended, the following described parcel of land and that the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) be transferred from surplus revenue and appropriated for such acquisition. A certain parcel of land shown as lot 41 on a plan of land entitled "Haverhill Street, Reading" James Adams, C.E. , dated April, 1899, recorded with the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds, Book 114, Plan Number 39; and, also shown as lot 3 on the Reading Assessors Plat Number 198, bounded and described as follows: Bounded on the east by land of Town of Reading, held for conservation purposes; bounded on the south and west by land now or formerly of Curt E. and Mildred B. Nitzsche; bounded on the north by land now or formerly of Patrick M. Procopio. Said parcel to contain 11,900 square feet, more or less and to be shown on a plan of land to be prepared for the Reading Conservation Commission and duly recorded. Being said parcel of land taken for taxes by the Town of Reading from James W. Phelps in 1923. 120 voted in the affirmative 0 voted in the negative On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to take Article 2 from the table. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that Article 2 be indefinitely postponed. 295 Special Town Meeting March 21, 1977 On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted to take Article 1 from the table. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that Article 1 be indefinitely postponed. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned, sine die, at 10:35 P. M. , March 21, 1977. L141 Town Meeting Members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk L L