HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-02-12 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
February 12, 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 7:00 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, Selectman Camille Anthony. (Selectman
Richard Schubert arrived at approximately 7:30 p.m.), Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, DPW
Director Ted McIntire, and the following list of interested parties: Bill Brown, John
Miles, Jeffrey Perkins, Clark Petschek; Bob Nigro, Bill Connors, Kevin Furilla, Kim
Honetschlager, Tracy Sopchak, Ron D'Addario, Gina Snyder, Michelle Benson, Steve
Vittorioso,Mary Ellen O'Neill, Bill Ryperson(Chronicle).
Reports and Comments
Selectmen's Liaison Reports and.Comments — Selectman Camille Anthony reported that
the Audit Committee met and reviewed the audit, and the Town's financial operations are
sound and received high marks. A copy of the audit report will be given to the Board of
Selectmen as soon as it is available.
Selectman Ben Tafoya thanked his neighbors for voting for his re-election. He also
expressed appreciation to all Town staff for running an excellent Election. He noted that
a letter should be sent to the Washington Street resident who sent a letter to the Board of
Selectmen regarding traffic issues. The Town Manager noted that we were going to do
traffic counts on Washington Street as soon as the weather allowed. Vice Chairman
Stephen Goldy suggested that we also do John Street. He also requested that we look at
the timing on the signal at Washington and Main Street.
Vice Chairman Stephen Goldy thanked the community for their hard work on the
Election. He will also be going to a housing cabinet meeting at Peter Sanborn Lane with
Federal officials.
Chairman James Bonazoli thanked the community for electing him to another term. He
noted that there were two veterans who were not available on Veterans' Day, and
requested that we schedule time for them to come into the Selectmen's.Meeting. He was
on a panel-discussion for the World Cafe on RCTV, and is excited about the program.
Selectman Richard Schubert offered congratulations to Selectman Ben Tafoya and
Chairman James Bonazoli on their re-election.
Selectman Ben Tafoya suggested that we mark the handicapped spaces on the map in the
public information, and make sure that the signs are posted.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 12, 2008 —Page 2
Public Comment — Bill Brown suggested that the Memorial Day Parade should be re-
routed to start at the Library and end at Laurel Hill this year in order to avoid
construction on the Downtown.
Town Manager's Report
The Town Manager gave the following report:
• Election"wrap-up."
• 25% design hearing on the West Street project- January 30th.
• Approval from DEP to use the Water Treatment Plant site for recreation,
• Correspondence from Town Counsel re: proposed legislation on penalties for
violation of Open Meeting Law. The Board agreed to send a letter in opposition to
the proposed amendments to the Open Meeting Law whereby individuals can be
individually libel for fines.
• "RX in the Medicine Cabinet"—RCASA program presented last week.
• Meetings with Businesses an&residents re: planned construction on Downtown.
• World Caf&-February 27th.
• Earth Day—April 12th.
• Town Meeting—April 28th,
• Friends and Family Day—June 21 st is possible date.
Personnel and Appointments
Zoning Board of Appeals - The Board of Selectmen interviewed three candidates for one
position on the Zoning Board of Appeals. They interviewed John Miles, Jeffrey Perkins
and Clark Petschek. Clark Petschek is currently an Associate Member on the Zoning
Board of Appeals.
On motion by Anthony seconded by GOO,. the Board of Selectmen placed the
following names into r Ito nomination for position on the Zoning Board of Appeals
with a term expiring June 30, 2008: John Miles, Jeffrey Perkins and Clark
Petschek. Clark Petschek received five.votes and was appointed.
On motion by Anthony seconded by Tafoya, the Board of Selectmen placed the
following names into nomination for one position as an Associate on the Zoning
Board of Appeals with a term expiring June 30, 2008: John Miles and Jeffrey
Perkins. John Miles received three votes and was appointed.*
Discussion/Action Items
Presentation of Award — MMA Essay Contest — Parker sixth grade student Bob Nigro
was present to receive a plaque from the Massachusetts Municipal Association for his
third place finish in the MMA Essay Contest. Vice Chairman Stephen Goldy read Bob's
essay. The Board of Selectmen congratulated Bob on his hard work, and expressed the
hope that he would stay involved in local issues,
Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 12, 2008 —Page 3
Highlights — Technology — Technology Administrator Bill Connors, Technology
Coordinator Kevin Furilla and GIS Coordinator Kim Honetschlager made a presentation
on the status of our Technology improvements in the community. Board members
requested that we get information on the number of hits by sections of the web page so
that we have an ideawhat people are seeking when they go to the web page.
Presentation - Cities for Climate Protection Committee — Tracy Sop6bak, Ron
D'Addario, Gina Snyder and Michelle Benson ma'de a presentation on the Cities, for
Climate-Protection Program and status. The Board appreciated the outstanding job that
the Committee has been doing.
Selectman Camille Anthony asked that we develop a planting program for shade trees.
Selectman Ben Tafoya suggested that we should have Town Counsel review with the
Board the Town's legal authority to report LEED or equivalent development standards.
It has also seen a program in Lawrence that was a "Green Globe" certified which is a
simpler process than LEED certification.
Delegating Downtown Parking Regulations.to the Town Manager during Downtown
Construction — On motion by Tafoya seconded by Anthony, the Board moved to
delegate the authority to the Town Manager to establish and amend parking
regulations in the business district as defined in the "Town of Reading,
Massachusetts Traffic Rules and Regulations adopted March 28, 1995 as amended"
during the construction of the Downtown Improvements Project, said approval to
expire September 30, 2009, or such earlier date as the construction proiect may be
completed. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Vice Chairman Stephen Goldy asked to have a review of all items that have been
delegated to the Town Manager for approval.
Establishing Parking Regulations on Birch Meadow Drive and Oakland Road - The hour
being late, the Board deferred until a future meeting the following Discussion/Action
Items: Establishing Parking Regulations on Birch Meadow Drive and Oakland Road, the
Process of Consideration of Changes to Liquor*Licenses for Restaurants, and Discussion
of the Comcast Cable TV License Renewal.
Finalize FY 2009 Budget — The Town Manager presented the status of the Selectmen's
priorities for budget items. The consensus was that an additional Police Officer was the
highest priority with a cost of$84,000 which includes benefits. There was a discussion
on other priorities including curbside and leaf and grass collection five times a year at a
cost of $25,000, with additional fees for parking, Sunday hours at the Library and
additional training. The Board decided to focus on one time expenses since any A the
other issues may not be sustainable over time. The consensus of the Board was to spend
the additional available funds as follows: Police lights and lasers - $3500, training for
Town employees (by putting in the Human Resources Budget) - $25,000. The Town
Manager will develop for staff a list of the professional development programs to be
established.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—FebruM 12, 2008 —Page 4
DPW Director Ted McIntire asked what the Board's plans were for funding Pay and
Classification results. There was a lot of discussion on the matter but the sense from the
Board was to get the results of the Pay and Classification Study, understand the issues,
and then work towards a resolution.
Reverse Liquor License Transfer — Macaroni Grill — The Town Manager explained that
the sale of the corporation of the Macaroni Grill did not take place and, therefore, the
license needs to be rescinded.
On motion by Tafova seconded by Goldy, the Board moved that the Board of
Selectmen rescind the transfer of the All Alcoholic Beverages Restaurant License
from Brinker Massachusetts Corporation 'd/b/a Romano's Macaroni Grill to
Waterloo Ventures, Inc. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Authorization for Internal Borrowing_—The Assistant Town Manager noted that because
of the delay in the refinancing of two of the school building projects through the SBA,
we needed authorization to provide internal borrowing in the amount of$800,000 for the
purpose of purchase of the ladder truck.
On motion by Tafova seconded by Anthony, the Board voted to approve the
advance of funds in lieu of borrowing in the amount of$800,000 for the purpose of
purchase of a fire ladder truck and equipment, as voted in Article 10 of the
November 13, 2007 Subsequent Town Meeting, with a repayment deadline of June
30,2008 The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Approval of Minutes
The Board deferred the Approval of Minutes until the next meeting.
A motion by Tafova seconded by Anthony to-go into Executive Session for the
purpose of strategy with respect to Labor Negotiations and Approval of Minutes,
not to come back into Open Session was approved on a roll call vote with all five
members voting in the affirmative.
Respectfully submitted,
ecretary