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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-06-05 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen.Meeting i June 5,2007 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 Ben Tafoya, Vice Chairman James Bonazoli, Secretary Stephen Goldy, Selectman Camille Anthony, Town Counsel Gary Brackett and Ellen Doucette, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Steve Sadwick,Brendan and Sally Hoyt. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments - Selectman Camille Anthony reported that she had attended a Girl Scout Gold Award event for Kim Pompeolo, the Addison-Wesley/Pearson Development Advisory Team had met, and new Town Planner Carol Kowalski was able to attend. Vice Chairman James Bonazoli and Chairman Ben Tafoya had questions about timing and density proposed. Selectman Anthony reminded the Board of Selectmen about concerns on the lack of cleanliness and litter at Hunt Park. Finally, she mentioned that the community should consider some kind of broad civility program entitled "I CARE" to encourage civility in community life including driving. Selectman Steve Goldy reported that he is getting questions about timing and progress on the Addison-Wesley/Pearson proposal. He noted that Friends of Reading Recreation is holding a Fun Run immediately preceding Friends and Family Day on June 30th, and will participate at F&F Day with a bean bag toss and other events. On July 26, FORR will have.a 5K Run and a barbecue. He also mentioned that he attended a visit to the State House by the Barrows third grades. He asked about the status of improvements to the Ash Street Grade Crossing, The Town Manager noted that a meeting with Mass Highway, MBIA and DTE staff is scheduled, and funding for grade crossing improvements is available. Vice Chairman James Bonazoli thanked staff and volunteers for an outstanding event and facilities on Memorial Day. Chairman Ben Tafoya thanked the Scout groups, and the RMHS Marching Band for their participation in the Memorial Day events and parade. He asked that we schedule a meeting with Secretary of Transportation Cohen regarding Reading's position on the I-95/I-93 Interchange plan. He suggested that we discuss Walpole's material received by the Board of Selectmen regarding problems with the 40B process. He is willing to put some information together on this. He also asked about the dates of issuance of building permits at Archstone in the event that, under the Planned Production Program, a "look-back" provision for construction of Affordable Housing is permitted. Public Comment—There was no public comment Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 5, 2007—Page 2 Town Manager's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: • Long time community activist and Town Official Dana Hennigar passed away last week. Condolences to his family. ® Bids have been opened by the Massachusetts Highway Department on the Downtown Improvement Project. There were three bidders, and the low bidder was within the cost estimates from the engineer. Town Engineer George Zambouras is seeking information from the MHD on the award and order to proceed process. 0 Franklin Street sidewalks will be under construction right after the end of school,weather permitting. • The following road construction projects should begin within the next couple of weeks pending a decision by Keyspan with respect to gas installation: Wells Road,Hampshire Road, Lawrence Road, Locust Street,Wentworth Road. ® Water Resources Commission approval of the Town's full MWRA buy-in is expected on July 12th with MWRA Advisory Board approval in September, and MWRA Board approval in October. ® West Street curb and sidewalks are done—loam will be done this Spring and seeding done in the Fall. • Water, Sewer and Stormwater bills will go out next week. • The property owner on 15 Timothy Place has removed the fence, pool deck and other encumbrances from the right of way of Timothy Place. As the Board of Selectmen will recall, there was a settlement of litigation that required this work to be done by June 1, 2007 and it was done. ® The Recreation Committee is holding a public hearing on June 13th on the proposed reconstruction of the Tennis Courts on Bancroft Avenue. • You have correspondence from Walpole in your packet(8b 1)regarding 40B regulations. Y I provided testimony.today to the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy regarding the proposed Verizon legislation which would strip local government in Massachusetts from any role in Cable TV franchising. ® The Reading Lions Club invites you to participate in the Fourth Annual Reading Friends and Family Day. Save the Date _ Saturday, June 30, 2007. The MMA is holding a Leadership Institute at Northeastern on June 13th, and the Board of Selectmen is invited to participate. • New State regulations make the issue of a School Zone for the Montessori School on West Street questionable until we get clarification from the State. Meanwhile, we will not hold up the Certificate of Occupancy for the school while we are seeking additional information. Discussion/Action Items High lights—Lem—Town Counsel Gary Brackett and Ellen Doucette talked about how the firm of Brackett & Lucas provides legal services. Their only business is municipal law. They enjoy providing legal services to Reading, and appreciate whatever feedback the community can give them on their legal services. Ellen Doucette reviewed with the Board of Selectmen major legal issues, including projects that have-been completed such as the acquisition of 1481 Main Street, and outstanding legal issues including the work on Memorial Park. She, along with the Town Manager, suggested that for Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 5,2007—Page 3 FY 2009 the Town Budget for the re-writing of the Town's Zoning By-Laws, they have grown over time but never really been re-codified. Town Counsel is going to review the Town's LIP regulations to make sure-that they address issues raised by the Inspector General's Report on 1375 Main Street. Metropolitan Area Planningl Council Update — Reading's Representative to MAPC Steve Sadwick gave the Board of Selectmen an update on what is happening with this agency. He distributed material to the Board of Selectmen on the regional plan and the survey/questionnaire. There was discussion about affordable housing, and Chairman Ben Tafoya asked whether in Mr. Sadwick's opinion rental housing is being.overbuilt because of the preferred status of rental vs. owner occupied housing under the 4,013 regulations. Mr. Sadwick agreed that this might be the case. Hearing — Curb Cut Waiver — 221 West Street — Brendan and Sally Hoyt of 221 West Street appeared before the Board asking that their curb cut on West Street be allowed in excess of 24 feet — a tree was recently removed and the wider curb cut would allow easier access into their driveway on Woburn Street. A motion by Anthony seconded by Bonazoli to close the hearing on a waiver of curb cut regulations at 221 West Street was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Goldy seconded by Anthony to approve a temporary waiver of- curb cut regulations at 221 West Street for the driveway on Woburn Street, subiect. to final approval of the details of the curb cut by the Town Engineer, and provided that construction shall be completed no later than December 31, 2007. This is a temporary waiver until such time as the West Street improvement proiect is done, at which time the driveway opening will be restored to a 24 foot width. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Hearing—Policy on E-mail Correspondence—The Town Manager reviewed the draft policy with the Board of Selectmen. The policy has been reviewed by Town Counsel. Chairman Ben Tafoya commented that the State law on issues of electronic communication has not kept up with the technology, and our legislators should be urged to work on this issue. Several minor amendments were offered to the policy as drafted. A motion by Goldy seconded by Anthony to close the public hearing on an amendment to Section 1.1.9 of the Board of Selectmen Policies dealing with the issue of "Board of Selectmen Communication"was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A_motion by Goldy seconded by Anthony to approve an amendment to Section 1.1.9 of the Board of Selectmen Policies dealing with the issue of"Board of Selectmen Communication" by adding the sections addressing e-mail correspondence as submitted, amended and dated June 5,2007 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Review Action Status Report — This was postponed until a later meeting of the Board of Selectmen. Board of Selectmen Meeting,_June 5, 2007—Page 4 Personnel and Appointments Animal Control Appeals Committee — Anthony moved and Goldy seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Animal Control Appeals Committee for a term expiring June 30, 2010: James Bonazoli. Selectman James Bonazoli received four votes and was appointed. Audit Committee — _Goldy moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Audit Committee for a term expiring June 30, 2010: Camille Anthony. Selectman Camille Anthony received three votes and was appointed. Board of Registrars trars— Goldy moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one positionn on the Board of Registrars for a term expiring June 30, 2010: Krissandra Holmes. Ms. Holmes received four votes and was appointed. Commissioners of Trust Funds— Goldy moved and Anthony seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Commissioners of Trust Funds for a term expiring June 30,2010• John J.Daly. Mr.Daly received four votes and was appointed. Constable — Goldy moved and Anthony seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position as a Constable for a term expiring June 30, 2010: Alan Ulrich. Mr. Ulrich received four votes and was appointed. Cultural Council — Goldy moved and Anthony seconded to place the following names into nomination for two positions on the Cultural Council, for terms expiring June 30, 2010: Lorraine Horn and Elizabeth Whitelam. Each candidate received four votes and were appointed. Housing Authority— Goldy moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Housing Authority fora term expiring June 30, 2012: Mary E. Connors. Ms. Connors received four votes and was appointed. Human Relations Advisory Committee._ Goldy moved and Anthony seconded to place the following names into nomination for two positions on the Human Relations Advisory Committee for terms expiring June 30, 2010: Nancy M. Naimi and James Comier. Each candidate received four votes and were appointed. Recreation Committee — Goldy moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following names into nomination for one position on the Recreation Committee for a term expiring June 30, 2010: Beth Claroni and Michael DiPetro. Mr. DiPetro received four votes and was appointed. Goldy moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position as an Associate Member on the Recreation Committee for a term expiring June 30, 2008• Beth Claroni. Ms. Claroni received four votes and was appointed. Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 5 2007—Page 5 Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee — Goldy moved and Anthony seconded to place the following names into nomination for two positions on the Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee for terms expiring June 30, 2010• Benjamin T Ream and C Pitt Crandlemire. Each candidate received four votes and were appointed. Goldy moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position as an Associate Member on the Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee for a term expiring June 30, 2008• Douglas M. Reid. Mr. Reid received four votes and was appointed. Ad Hoc Open Space and Recreation Plamzing— Goldy moved and Bonazoli seconded to place . the following names into nomination for nine positions on the ad hoc Open Space and Recreation Planning Working Group Committee for a term expiring December 31, 2007: Camille Anthony, Doug Greene, Barbara Stewart, Frank Driscoll, Pat Lloyd, Mike Collins, 'Gina Snyder, Heather Clish and Derek Cribb. Each candidate received four votes and were appointed. Approval of Minutes A motion by Goldy seconded by Bonazoli to approve the Minutes of May 15, 2007 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. " A motion by Anthony seconded by Bonazoli to adiourn the meeting of June 5, 2007 at 9:35 p.m. was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Res lly submitted, e tart' I