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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-11-16 Special Town Meeting Minutes i4 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex ss. Officer's Return, Reading: By virtue of this Warrant, I, on November 7, 1970, 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 speeifild by posting attested copies of this Warrant in the following public places within the Town of Reading: Precinct- 1. Central Fire Station, Pleasant Street Jo-Ann's Variety Store, 143 Salem Street Entrance to Municipal Land Fill, John Street Precinct 2. Masonic Building, Main Street Hanson's Service Station, 4 West Street Dragon Corner Store, 206 West Street Precinct 3. Railroad Station, Lincoln Street Community Center, 52 Sanborn Street Municipal Building, 16 Lowell Street Precinct 4. Zitzow's Store, 287 Lowell Street First National Store, 1348 Main Street Northern Residents Association, 1249 Main Street The date of these posting being not less than seven days prior to November 16, 1970, 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 November 5, 1970, the same being more than one day prior to the date of said meeting. Robert M. Graham Constable of Reading SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Memorial High School Auditorium November 16, 1970 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Kenneth C. Latham, at 8:00 P. M. The invocation was given by Rev. Paul E. Samuelson, Old South Methodist Church. ��Tke-iia was artially read by the Town Clerk when ion of Fred C. Ken I ense witfi Turther reading o to rant. except the a;on+caoae-s-�rezurn—which was then read by he Town _Clerk. lOmitted by o e aC in error, lead 23rd meeting) ARTICLE 1. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. , it was voted that the Finance Committee Report of the Special Town Meeting of November 16, 1970, be amended as follows: ARTICLE 2: From RECOMMEND to RECOMMEND $147. 51 be transferred from the Light Dept. Maintenance Account and $344.19 be transferred from Surplus Revenue. ARTICLE 3: From RECOMMEND to RECOMMEND $2, 500.00 be transferred from Surplus Revenue. ARTICLE 4; From ACTION PENDING to INDEFINITELY POSTPONE. ARTICLE 13: From ACTION PENDING to INDEFINITELY POSTPONE. ARTICLE 14: From RECOMMEND to RECOMMEND $500.00 from Surplus Revenue. ARTICLE 16: From DO NOT RECOMMEND to RECOMMEND $20,000.00 be transferred from Surplus Revenue. ARTICLE 17: From ACTION PENDING to RECOMMEND. . ARTICLE 18: From RECOMMEND to RECOMMEND $30,000.00 be transferred from School Dept. Salary Account, $4,179.00 from School Dept. Maintenance Account and $16,921.00 from Impacted Federal Funds #874. Special Town Meeting November 16, 1970 1 lc) ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Nathan C. White, Chairman of the Board of Public Works, on the progress of the Inciner- ator: REPORT OF PROGRESS ON INCINERATION Bids were received on March 9, 1970, for two refuse burning systems. The successful bidder was Combustion Engineering, Inc. with a low bid of $950,000.00. After favorable action by the March Town Meeting, relative to appropriation of requested funds, a contract was signed with Combus- tion Engineering on April 10 for their bid price. Bids were received for the metal building, foundations, and appurten- ant work on September 24, 1970. The successful bidder was Connolly Brothers, Inc. with a low bid of $365,000.00. A contract was signed with Connolly Brothers, Inc. on October 7 for their bid price. These two con- tracts include essentially all the fixed physical plant requirements for the facility. At the annual Town Meeting last March the Board of Public Works in- dicated that June 1971 was the expected completion date for the inciner- ator. Both contractors are making what we feel to be satisfactory pro- gress. However, because of delays which have resulted from numerous causes the estimated date of completion has slipped three months; comple- tion is now expected in October 1971. Funding for this facility is as follows: 1. Appropriation from current tax levy for Study and Engineering $ 69K 2. Appropriation for Construction and Inspection From current tax levy SOK From bonds to be issued 1,450K Total Appropriations $1, 569K Mipenditures and C6mmitrftpts to,date are ascfollowa z. a_-est _.s a . Engineerings and Design $ 69K 2. Construction of Incinerators and Appurtenances 1, 315K 3. Engineering Supervision and Inspection 28K 4. Balance avaibable for non-fixed equipment and contingencies 157K On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr. , it was voted to accept report as a report of progress. herewith ARTICLE 1. $_report_a6r_filed_ was read by Joseph H. Picano, Chairman of the Assessing PracticeAommittee) and which on motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr. , it was voted to accept report with thanks. ARTICLE 2. On motion of Richard E. Gould it was voted that the sum of Three Hundred Forty-four and Nineteen Hundredths Dollars ($344.19) be , transferred from Surplus Revenue and that the sum of One Hunired Forty- _ `- seven and Fifty-one Hundredths Dollars ($147.51) be transferred from the Municipal Light Department Operating Account and that said sums totalling Four Hundred Ninety-one and Seventy Hundredths Dollars ($491. 70) be ap- propriated for the purpose of additional yearly pension for veterans re- tired under the non-contributory retirement law in accord with the pro- visions of Chapter 617 of the Acts of 1970, and the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to make such trans- fer to carry out the purpose of this vote. IARTICLE 3. On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr. , it was voted that the sum of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) be transferred from Surplus Revenue for the purpose of adding the same to the Police Depart- ment Maintenance Account and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to make such transfer to carry out the purpose of this vote. ARTICLE 4, To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing or from the tax levy or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, and appropri- ate for the purpose of adding the same to the Fire Department Maintenance Account, or what it will do in relation thereto. fl 6 Special Town Meeting November 16, 1970 ARTICLE 4. On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr. , it was voted that this Article be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 5. On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr. , it was voted that the Town accept Section 58E of Chapter 48 of the General Laws as amended, which provides that members of the Fire Department, who have beenrmem- bers of the Department for at least five (5) years, may reside outside of the Town provided they reside within the Commonwealth and within ten miles of the limits of the Town. On motion of Ralph T. Horn it was voted that Article 15 be taken up at this time. ARTICLE 15. Ralph T. Horn moved that the action of the Annual Town Meeting fixing the salaries of the Board of Assessors and appropriating the sum of Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($4, 500.00) for the pay- ment of such salaries be rescinded and that the salaries befixed as follows: Chairman of the Board of Assessors $4,200.00 Secretary of the Board 1,800.00 Third Member of the Board 1,400.00 and that the sum of Two Thousand One Hundred Seventy-five Dollars ($2,175.00) be transferred from Surplus Revenue and appropriated for such purpose, and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, author- ized, empowered and instructed to make such transfer to carry out the purpose of this vote, all of the foregoing in accord with Chapter 749, of the Acts of 1970, of the Great and General Court. This motion did not pass. ARTICLE 6. On motion of Gilbert M. Lothrop it was voted that the Towq by and through the Board of Selectmeq petition the Great and Gen- eral Court for authority to provide for the issuance of licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be consumed on the premises to legally chartered clubs located within the Town, not withstanding the provisions of Chapter 138 of the General Laws as amended or any other general or special law, and that said authority shall be upon the local option as indicated by the voters at the next Annual Election in re- sponse to the following question: "Shall the Town grant license- for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be consumed on the premises,to legally chartered clubs within the boundaries of the Town?" ARTICLE 7. On motion of Nathan C. White it was voted that the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) be transferred from the A Street Betterment Account and that the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) be transferred from the E Street Betterment Account, and that these sums aggregating Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) be appropriated to Stla- ries for Construction and Maintenance of Highways and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to transfer such sum to carry out the purpose of this vote. ARTICLE 8. On motion of Nathan C. White it was voted that the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) be transferred from the B Street Betterment Account and appropriated to Salaries for Maintenance of Storm Drains and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to transfer such sum to carry out the purpose of this vote. ARTICLE 9. On motion of Nathan C. White it was voted that the sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3 ,000.00) be transferred from the G Street Betterment Account and appropriated to Salaries for Maintenance and Operation of the Sewer System and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to transfer such sum to carry out the purpose of this vote. ARTICLE 10. On motion of Nathan C. White it was voted that the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) be transferred from Water Available Surplus and appropriate to Salaries for Construction, Main- tenance and Operation of Water Works and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to transfer such sum to carry out the purpose of this vole. Special Town Meeting November 16, 1970 17 ARTICLE 11. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. , as amended by James W. Killam, III, and William H. Diamond, it was voted that the General By-Laws of the Town be amended by adding to Article IV at the end thereof, a section to be known as Section 11 as follows: DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS PROPERTY Whenever an item or collection of items of tangible personal property not exceeding a value of five hundred dollars ($500.00) , within the control of a Town Officer or a Town Board or Com- mittee, but excluding the Municipal Light Board, shall be de- termined by that Officer, Board, or Committee to be surplus, obsolete, salvage, or beyond repair, it may be disposed of by ' sale, trade, turn in, or otherwise, upon the approval of the Board of Selectmen. ARTICLE 12. To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy or transfer from available funds and appropriate for the purpose of adding said sum to the Stabilization Fund under the auth- ority of the General Laws, Chapter 4, Section 5B, as amended, or what it will do in relation thereto. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr. , it was voted that this Arti- cle be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 13. To see what sum the Town will raise by borrowing, or from the tax levy or transfer from available funds and appropriate for the purpose of adding the same to TREASURER-S CLERICAL Account, or what it will do in relation thereto. On motion of Frederick A. Asmussen it was voted that this Article be indefinitely postponed. ARTICLE 14. On motion of Charles Stratton it was voted that the Selectmen be, and they hereby are, for and on behalf of the Town, auth- orized to acquire by purchase, right of eminent domain, deed of gift, dedication, or otherwise for conservation purposes, under Section 8C of Chapter 40 of the General Laws as amended, the following described par- cel of land, and that the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) be trans- ferred from Surplus Revenue and appropriated for such acquisition, the following described parcel of land: The land in Reading being a portion of Bear Meadow bounded and des- cribed as follows: Beginning at the Southeast corner of the premises at an iron pipe at land of, now or formerly of Adelbert E. Batchelder Estate, and land now or formerly of Amy Batchelder Estate. Said point being one thousand three hundred ninety-four and forty-two hundredths feet (1394.421 ) West- erly, measured along the wall and wire fence from Haverhill Street, thence running NORTHWESTERLY: By various courses by said Amy Batchelder's Estate, five hundred thirty-three and seventy-nine hundredths feet (533.791 ) to a drill;.hole at land of Miriam Corey, thence still NORTHWESTERLY: By land of said Corey by the wall five hundred seventy- four and thirty-one hundredths feet (574.311 ) to a drill hole at the corner of the wall, thence SOUTHWESTERLY: Fifty-two and seventh hundredths feet (52.70' ) , still by said Corey and wall to a drill hole at a corner of the wall, thence ' NORTHWESTERLY: By the wall and land of Corey twenty-seven and thirty- one hundredths feet (27. 31' ) to a drill hole at land of Domenick Zelanu, thence still NORTHWESTERLY: By a wall and fence by land of said Zelanu three hi)n- dred thirty and twenty-seven hundredths feet (330.27•) to the Southwesterly corner of these premises at a ditch, thence NORTHEASTERLY: By the ditch and land of owners unknown to the North Reading Town Line, a distance of nine hundred six feet (906' ) more or less, thence 11, Special Town Meeting November 16, 1970 SOUTHEASTERLY: By the North Reading Town Line a distance of one thousand four hundred fifty feet (14501 ) more or less to land of the said Adelbert E. Batchelder Estate, thence SOUTHWESTERLY: By said Adelbert E. Batchelder's Estate a distance of seven hundred ninety-two feet (792 ' ) more or less to the iron pipe at the point of beginning. Said lot contains 27.55 acres more or less by estimation. 141 voted in the affirmative 0 voted in the negative On motion of Nancy Wilson Anderson it was voted to take Article 1 from the table. ARTICLE 1. On motion of Nancy Wilsonlnderson it was voted unani- mously, with thanks from the community, that the Town adopt the follow- ing Resolution: RESOLVED: That the Reading Town Meeting express its sincere appre- ciation to Mrs. Chester D. Stevens, Mrs. Elmer R. Batchelder, Mrs. Harold W. Batchelder and Mrs. Preston E. Corey for gifts of land located in Bear Meadow, an area of important water resources. This land is given to the Town of Read- ing for conservation purposes under the provisions of Chapter 40, Section BC, of the General Laws of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts. Each person's gift has come to the Town in memory of her husband. It is requested that a copy of this Resolution be signed by the Board of Selectmen and sent to each of these four persons, who have hereby demonstrated true affection for their Town and great interest in the welfare of future generations. ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Eben W. Mick, Chair- man of the Junior High Building Construction Committee: The School Construction Committee has had ten meetings as of this date, including one meeting with the State School Assistance Bureau. The Committee has contacted fifteen architectural firms and inter- viewed five. Perley F. Gilbert - Lowell John Guarino - East Boston Rich, Phinney, Lang and Cote - Boston Clinton F. Goodwin - Haverhill Korsland, LeNormand and Quann - Norwood The Construction Committee selected Korsland, LeNormand and Quann. Eben W. Mick, Chairman Junior High Building Construction Comm. On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr. , it was voted to accept report as a report of progress. On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr. , it was voted that Article 1 be laid on the table. ARTICLE 16. Kenneth P. Roberts moved that the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) be transferred from Surplus Revenue and appropri- ated for the purpose of operating expenses and preparation of prelimin- ary plans and drawings for additions and alterations to Barrows and Birch Meadow Elementary Schools, such sums to be expended under the di- rection of the School Construction Committee established under Article 67 of the Annual Town Meeting of 1970, and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to make such transfer to carry out the purpose of this vote. On motion of Paul T. Metcalf it was voted that this meeting stand adjourned until November 23, 1970, at 8:00 P. M. , to meet in the Reading High School Auditorium. As a point of personal privilege a letter of Resignation was sub- mitted to the Board of Selectmen by Ralph T. Horn, Board of Assessors, at this meeting.