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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-06-16 Board pf Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting June 16, 2009 For ease o archiving, the order that items appear in these Minutes reflects the order in which )f 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 Chairman Stephen Goldy, Vice Chairman Ben Tafoya, Secretary James Bonazoli, Selectmen Camille Anthony and Richard Schubert, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, Office Manager Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Bill Brown, Ron O'Keefe, Jr., Barbara Stewart, Bob Redfern, Jeffrey Perkins, Angela Binda., David Williams, Bing Xai, George Katsoufis,Doug Greene, George Rio,Kara Fratto. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Selectman Camille Anthony noted that she attended a meeting of the Fall Street Faire Committee today. They received a loan from the Celebration Trust Fund. The money will be used for deposits for certain events and repaid to the Trust Fund after the event. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: ® Collins Field Rededication - June 18th at the Parker Middle School — 5:30 p.m., weather permitting. 9 Follow-up on Mosquito Spraying' Program. e Follow-up on YMCA Learn to Swim Program. 9 What is the Board's intent with respect to the BCC chairs and vice-chairs training — in September? What assistance do you need from staff? * Community Services Director and Town Planner Carol Kowalski is leaving the Town of Reading's employ to take a job as Town Planner in her home town of Arlington, ® The Town has received a notice from the Architectural Access Board that the new crosswalk at Birch Meadow Drive, and the fire access lane at Birch Meadow School is not HC compliant. A ramp on the southerly(field) side of the crosswalk will cost about $2860. How do you want to proceed? Install the ramp or remove the crosswalk. The Board directed the Town Manager to seek a Reserve Fund Transfer for the funding. ® Glen Road was paved yesterday following the installation of a new sewer line. ® Tennis Court painting next week—weather permitting. Assistant Town Manager's Report — Bob LeLacheur noted that the Energy Agreement with NORESCO was approved by the School Committee by a vote of 6-0-0. It is a $5.47 million total cost. Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 16, 2009—Page 2 Personnel& Appointments Board of Appeals —The Board interviewed Robert Redfern and Jeffrey Perkins for positions on the Board of Appeals. Anthony moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following names into nomination for two positions on the Board of Appeals with terms expiring June 30, 2012: Robert Redfern and Jeffrey Perkins. Each applicant received five votes and were appointed. Board of Health — Tafoya moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Board of Health with a term expiring June 30, 2012: Barbara Meade. Ms. Meade received five votes and was appointed. Cities for Climate Protection Program Committee—The Board interviewed David Williams and Bing Xai for positions on the Cities for Climate Protection Program Committee. Tafova moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Cities for Climate Protection Program Committee with a term expiring June 30, 2012• Ray Porter. Mr. Porter received five votes and was appointed. O Tafova moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following names into nomination for two Associate positions on the Cities for Climate Protection Program Committee with terms expiring June 30, 2010• David Williams and Bing Xia. Each applicant received five votes and were appointed. Community Planning and Development Commission—The Board interviewed George Katsoufis for a position on the Community Planning and Development Commission. Tafova moved and Schubert seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Community Planning and Development Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2012• Claire Paradiso. Ms. Paradiso received five votes and was appointed. Tafova moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one Associate position on the Community Planning and Development Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2010• George Katsoufis. Mr. Katsoufis received five votes and was appointed. Conservation Commission — The Board interviewed Doug Greene and Barbara Stewart for positions on the Conservation Commission. Anthony moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following names into nomination for three positions on the Conservation Commission with terms expiring June 30, 2012: Douglas Greene, Barbara Stewart and Brian Tucker. Each applicant received five votes and were appointed. Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 16 2009—PaRe 3 Constables-- Tafoya moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position as Constable with a term expiring June 30, 2012: Thomas Freeman Mr. Freeman received five votes and was appointed. Council on Aging—Tafoya moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following names into nomination for two positions on the Council on Aging with terms expiring June 30, 2012: Margaret Havey and Marguerite Bosnian Each applicant received five votes and were appointed. Economic Development Committee — The Board interviewed George Rio and Kara Fratto for positions on the Economic Development Committee. Tafoya moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Economic Development Committee with a term expiring June 30, 2012: George Rio Mr. Rio'received five votes and was appointed. _Tafoya moved and Anthony seconded to place the following names into nomination for three Associate positions on the Economic Development Committee: John Russell, Michelle Ferullo and Kara Fratto Each applicant received five votes and were appointed. Historical Commission — The Board interviewed Angela Binda for a position on the Historical Commission. Tafoya moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Historical Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2012: Kathryn Greenfield Mrs Greenfield received five votes and was appointed. Tafoya moved and Schubert seconded to place the following name into nomination for one Associate position on the Historical Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2010:_ Angela Binda Ms Binda received five votes and was appointed. Housing Authority— Anthony moved and Tafoya seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Housing Authority with a term expiring June 30, 2014: Timothy Kelley. Mr. Kelley received five votes and was appointed. Land Bank Committee— _Tafoya moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Land Bank Committee with a term expiring June 30, 2012•- Edward Smethurst Mr. Smethurst received five votes and was appointed. Trails Committee — Tafoya moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following names into nomination for two positions on the Trails Committee with terms expiring June 30, 2012: Thomas Gardiner and Susan Giacalone Each applicant received five votes and were appointed. Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 16, 2009—Page 4 Bonazoli moved and Schubert seconded to place the following name into nomination for one Associate position on the Trails Committee with a term expiring June 30, 2010: John Parsons. Mr. Parsons received five votes and was appointed. West Street Historical District Commission—No applicants. Discussion/Action Items Hearing—Stop Sign on Pine Ridge Road at Oak Street—The Secretary read the hearing notice. The Town Manager apologized for the fact that the stop sign was installed before the hearing. He noted that the Joshua Eaton PTO Safety Committee brought this issue to the Safety Officer. He also noted that the sight distance is not optimal. He has received two calls from people not happy with the sign, and there is a letter in the handout from Janet Latham who does not want the sign. The Town Manager noted that there have not been a lot of accidents there, and they are trying to be proactive. Selectman Richard Schubert asked if someone could be ticketed for not stopping without a sign, and the Town Manager indicated that he did not know. The consensus of the Board was that they wanted to see the request for the stop sign and documentation as to why Pine Ridge Road was chosen. A motion by Bonazoli seconded by Tafoya to close the hearing on the stop sign on Pine Ridge Road was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Bonazoli seconded by Tafoya to amend the Town of Reading Traffic Rules and Regulations adopted by the Board of Selectmen on March 28, 1995 by adding to Appendix Al2, Section 6.12: Street Location Pine Ridge Road Northbound at Oak Street failed by a vote of 0-5-0. Review Draft Policy — Ad hoc Municipal Building Committee — The Town Manager reviewed the draft policy. He noted that "municipal" is all Town and school buildings. The term expires December 31, 2010 and the purpose will be to look at building needs for the next 10 years. He also noted that he spoke with the Superintendent of Schools and Vice Chairman Ben Tafoya talked to the Library about this matter. Chairman Stephen Goldy noted that we have a Facilities Department to tell us what we need, and his conversations with the School Department indicated that they were.not interested. Vice Chairman Ben Tafoya noted that Oakland Road and the cemetery garage need to be considered. He feels that we should have a committee to tell us what our space needs are. Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 16, 2009—Page 5 Selectman James Bonazoli noted that the schools and the Library are already doing this, and he doesn't see any value in this. Selectman Richard Schubert noted that this would be a planning exercise that may or may not build awareness and could get to the point of a master plan. He also noted that if the Town had a master plan, then Longwood Poultry Farm might have been a priority. The consensus of the Board was to schedule a joint meeting with the School Committee, Library Board and Finance Committee to discuss the concept. Discussion re: Cell Phone Licenses — The Town Manager noted that there are currently cell phone installations on the Auburn Street Water Tower, on Summit Towers and Addison-Wesley. The existing company needs more cell space and other companies need locations in Reading. There is already a proposal for Beacon Street. The Town needs to find out if there are locations on public property where cell equipment can be installed. Current proposals are on flag poles at schools, the light poles at the Stadium, and the hose tower at the Fire Station. - The Town Manager noted that he would like community input. He suggests a community dialogue in the Fall. Vice Chairman Ben Tafoya indicated that he will want to see examples of installations.' Selectman Richard Schubert noted that the Town needs a process to be proactive. He also noted that residents will not have any say in what it looks like, or have any control if they are installed on private property. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that cell towers on private property would need a permit. She also noted that the community will need to see where the installations can go. The consensus of the Board was to have a community input session with the School Department, and have examples and a process available at the meeting. Consideration of Reviewing Reading Home Rule Char-ter — The Town Manager noted that Chairman Stephen Goldy requested this item be put on the agenda. In 2005, the Board established an ad hoe Charter Review Committee. Small changes were made, but other changes could not be made because they weren't a full Charter Commission. The Town Manager noted that some of the issues are related to the number of write-in votes for Town Meeting, and perhaps change the term from three to four years due to the low number of people running for Town Meeting. Selectman Richard Schubert noted that this would have to be approved by Town Meeting, then go to the voters, and then back to Town Meeting and then to the voters again. He also noted that this is a two year process. Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 16, 2009—Page 6 Vice Chairman Ben Tafoya noted that the turnout of the voters is determined by the stake in the outcome, and certain precincts turn out more than others. He is not sure the Charter process will change anything. Chairman Stephen Goldy noted that Charter changes will not drive interest, but he wants to look at succession planning. He wants to change the powers of the Town Manager and also the budget process. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that she is not interested in going through a two year process without any issues. Bill Brown suggested putting the Municipal Building Committee in the Charter, otherwise the schools can do whatever they want. Vice Chairman Ben Tafoya suggested going through the Charter some night with a one item agenda. Selectman Richard Schubert had concerns over the timing of this, and feels that this could impact replacing the Town Manager. Bylaw Committee Member Ron O'Keefe noted that he would like to change the Charter so that the budget is approved line by line instead of lumping it all together. A motion by Anthony seconded by Bonazoli to adjourn the meeting of June 16,2009 at 9:50 p.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Secre ry