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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-08 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting January 8, 2008 For ease of archiving, the order that items appear in these Minutes reflects the order in which 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 7:05 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman James Bonazoli, Vice Chairman Stephen Goldy, Secretary Ben Tafoya, Selectmen Camille Anthony and Richard Schubert, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, Public Works Director Ted McIntire, Water Supervisor Peter Tassi, Town Clerk Cheryl Johnson, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Edward Blodgett, Mary Ellen O'Neill,-Virginia Adams, Gina Snyder, Jim Strack, MWRA representatives Mike Hornbrook, Lisa Marks,Fred Brandon, Tom Lindberg. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Selectman Camille -Anthony noted that the Compost Center will be open on January 12, 2008 for Christmas tree disposal. She also requested that screening of the Public Works Garage be put on the Action Status Report for action by Spring. Vice Chairman Stephen Goldy noted that he will be holding Office Hours at the Senior Center on the 2nd Thursday of the month at lunchtime. Assistant Town Manager's Report The Assistant Town Manager gave the following report: • Your Community Connection-Winter 2008 edition is on the Town's home page. • Town Election update from the Town Clerk tonight. • The FY 2009 Budget Meetings Calendar is on the Town's home page. • Reminder to Town Meeting Members to add contact info. • The rope on the flag pole on the Common has broken(again). We may move it up to April as an FY 2008 capital item instead of waiting until next Summer. It is in the CIP as a $40,000 item. • Erica McNamera has started work as our Substance Abuse Project Director — she is located at the Police Station. • Leslie Carabello was hired as our new Public Health Nurse. Thanks for Dianne Luther (Nurse Advocate) for helping out until Leslie started working. • Lt. Mike Cloonan has submitted his letter of intent to retire next June after 33 years with the Police Department. • Congratulations to Patrol Officer Pat lapicca, Sergeant Mark O'Brien and Chief James Cormier on recently passing their 25th year mark with the Police Department. • The School Department has sent a formal invitation to the Selectmen and Finance Committee to attend their meeting on Monday night. • The Finance Committee Meeting for tomorrow night has been cancelled. Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 8,2008—Page 2 Public Comment — Everett Blodgett, Chairman of the Walkable Reading Group, indicated that sidewalks need to be cleared of snow. He noted that there is a walking program in Reading that needs to be solved. We need to get people out of their cars and walking year round. Vice Chairman Stephen Goldy noted that one remedy is a potential bylaw. Mr. Blodgett indicated that he did not know if a bylaw will solve the problem, and noted that people who live on a corner get plowed in. Age and cost of plowing is also an issue. He feels that it is the Town's responsibility. Selectman Ben Tafoya noted that the Town could not plow all of the sidewalks. Gina Snyder rioted that the Step Wise Program is a way to offer outreach and education. Virginia Adams suggested rewarding those who do shovel their sidewalks. The Assistant Town Manager noted that there is a Public Works Policy against shoveling snow into the public way. Discussion/Action Items Hi slights — Elections — Town Clerk Cheryl Johnson gave an overview of the upcoming Election. Presentation by MWRA re: Water System Redundancy— Public Works Director Ted McIntire, Water Supervisor Peter Tassi, MWRA representatives Mike Hombrook, Lisa Marks, Fred Brandon and Tom Lindberg were present. Mr. Hombrook noted that there are two areas that need to be upgraded. They are looking to provide redundancy for transmission and storage capacity. They are in the early phases of the project and are looking at construction in 2011. Ms. Marks noted that there is one transmission pipe, and the problem is that they cannot take it off line to maintain or repair. They would also like an additional pumping station. There is one storage tank on Bear Hill that holds 6 million gallons. They have concerns with a pipe in part of Stoneham. They also need enough pressure to allow communities to fill their tanks on a maxed day. They need a site at a useful elevation but there are not a lot of hills in this area. They might need more than one location. They have identified three sites in Reading at Route 28/128 clover leaf, Bear Hill and Interstate 93. Mr. Hombrook noted that the pipes need to be looped so if there is a break, they can shut off the valve and back feed. Alternative#7 is preferred at the Route 28/128 cloverleaf. They looked at Apache Pass but that is not a good site. They spoke with Mass Highway and they asked for more information, and requested that they hold a public meeting. He. also noted that site 6 is not preferred because they would.have to acquire more land to put a bigger tank. Mr. Lindberg noted that the short-term solutions are to strengthen the Stoneham and Reading interconnection by building a section of long-term pipe in Reading and Stoneham. They will submit an expanded ENF to MEPA by May 18, 2008 and get the decision by April 25, 2008. Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 8 2008—Page 3 Ted McIntire noted that when the Town went with the MWRA, we asked them to look at redundancy and they are. He also noted that the lights at the Interchange are 120 feet high, and the tank they are proposing is 185 feet high. Selectman Richard Schubert asked what the tank looks like, and Ms. Marks noted that it is a pillar with a bowl on top. Selectman Schubert noted that he would like to see options with less visual impact, and asked if the Town is obligated to fund any land acquisitions. Mr. Hombrook indicated that all the water communities pay, and there will be no special assessment to Reading. Selectman Richard Schubert asked how much say the Town has, and Mr. Hombrook noted that they are here tonight to work with the community. They will get more details and come back. Selectman.Schubert noted that the Addison-Wesley project could be going on at the same time, and also the Mass Highway project. Selectman Ben Tafoya noted that he had concerns with the scale of the towers, and he would like to see conceptual cross sections. Mr. Hornbrook noted that he will get images and views from certain sections before filing the public document. Vice Chairman Stephen Goldy indicated that he would also like to see views coming from Stoneham. Selectman Richard Schubert asked about alternative sites. Ted McIntire noted that they are right in the middle of neighborhoods, and we don't want to put them there. Hearin — Meadow Brook Golf Club.— Alter Premises Outdoor Deck — The Secretary read the hearing notice. Bob Morelli was present representing the Meadow Brook Golf Club. He noted that the club is planning on doubling the size of the deck outside the 19th hole. This requires a change in plan for the liquor license. He has submitted plans with the Building Department, and noted that all servers are TIPS trained. Vice Chairman Stephen Goldy noted that signs should be posted indicating that no liquor is allowed beyond the walls of the deck. Selectman Richard Schubert suggested posting the signs on the rails. A motion by Anthony seconded by Goldy to close the hearing to alter the premises at the Meadow Brook Golf Club was approved by a vote of 5-0=0. A motion by Tafoya seconded by Goldy to' amend the liquor license to include the deck outside the 19th hole at Meadow Brook Golf Club, 292 Grove Street, subject to the proper placement of signs on the deck rails indicating"no liquor beyond this point" was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 8, 2008—Page 4 Review Process for Considering_Sidewalk Plowing Issue—The Assistant Town Manager noted that the Town Manager suggests including the Reading/North Reading.Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown merchants and residents. Chairman James Bonazoli noted that this has been a bad year for sidewalk clearing. He also noted that the Town does not have enough staff to clear all the sidewalks, and noted that a capital adjustment was made to purchase sidewalk equipment. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that mounds of snow blocking the sidewalks are an issue. Vice Chairman Stephen Goldy noted that he has lived in cities and towns that require residents to clear their sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowstorm. The Assistant Town Manager noted that it is difficult to get outside contractors to help in snow plowing.- Sometimes widening of the roads are done a day later because of staff issues. Mary Ellen O'Neill noted that the sidewalks in her neighborhood have been icy for weeks. She asked how DPW clears out blocked in corners. She also noted that the Mineral Street Bridge has patches of ice, and the children are gripping the wall to get over the bridge to get to school. She noted that the Town has a bylaw regarding not plowing snow into the street or onto the sidewalks, and contractors should be educated of the existing bylaw. Jim Strack of 141 Eastway noted that the State paid for the sidewalks to the schools and half the school year, the sidewalks are not useable. He also noted that children take buses and have to walk down the street to the bus stop. He noted that if there is an ordinance, then private contractors would be more willing to do sidewalks. Selectman Camille Anthony suggested sending out a letter to the PTO's. The Board indicated that they would like a map of sidewalk routes that are plowed by the Town, and also the total mileage of sidewalks in the Town. They indicated that they would like to discuss this topic when the Town Manager and Director.of Public Works are available. Review Process for Considering All Alcoholic Restaurant Liquor Licenses for Establishments with Fewer than 100 Seats — The Assistant Town Manager noted that the Town Manager suggests involving the Reading/North Reading Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Committee in this process. Chairman James Bonazoli noted that this is on the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. Vice Chairman Stephen Goldy noted that he will bring this issue to the Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse. Selectman Ben Tafoya suggested reaching out to restaurants who are not in Reading. He also asked if this would be limited to certain sections of Town. This issue will be rescheduled for another meeting when the Town Manager is available. Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 8 2008—Page 5 Approval of Minutes A motion by Schubert seconded by Goldy to approve the Minutes of November 20, 2007 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Schubert seconded by Goldy to approve the Minutes of November 27, 2007 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Schubert seconded by Goldy to approve the Minutes of December 8, 2007 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Anthony seconded by Goldy to approve the Executive Session Minutes of November 20, 2007, as written, were approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. _A motion by Anthony seconded by Schubert to adjourn the meeting of January 8, 2008 at 9.50 p.m.was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Respect lly su mitted, Secretary