The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2006-11-21 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting November 21, 2006 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 Board convened at 7:02 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Ben Tafoya, Vice Chairman James Bonazoll, Secretary Stephen Goldy, Selectmen Richard Schubert and Camille .Anthony, Town Accountant Gail LaPointe, Public Works Director Ted McIntire, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, Paula Schena,and the following list of interested parties: Jack Russell, Russ Graham, Annika Scanlon, Frank Petrillo, Lorraine Horn, Richard Foley, Peter Tassi, Meghan Young-Tafoya, Sheila Clarke, Virginia Adams,Kevin Arsenault. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Selectman Camille Anthony noted that she attended a meeting of the Commissioners of Trust Funds. The Town has a new provider for Reading Response and is getting good services from Hallmark Health. Selectman Stephen Goldy expressed a delayed thank you to the Recreation Committee and Friends of Reading Recreation for the Halloween Parade and party. He attended the Tree Lighting Ceremony and noted that the High School's Seusical Play was great. Chairman Ben Tafoya thanked the staff for a successful Town Meeting, and thanked the School Department for getting the Auditorium finished in time. He also thanked the Joshua Eaton School for Reading Day. He noted that new growth certification is over $800,000 and new growth tax revenue is over $1.3 million. He also noted that the new commercial developments on Walkers Brook Drive and the new housing all contribute to this. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: • The"Change a Light—Change the World" Campaign. • Flu Clinics are done. • Enforcement of hours of operation bylaw. Most of the coffee shops in Town open before 6:00 a.m. Police are giving them one week to comply. • Joint meeting with the Finance Committee on November 28th for purpose of discussion of funding for the AWP process. • Governor Romney's 9C budget reductions — affects Reading's "earmarks" for land acquisition, field improvements. • Proposed Montessori School on West Street—see Town Counsel's letter. • Toys for Tots • Tree Lighting Board of Selectmen Meeting-November 21,2006-Page 2 • Curbside Holiday Tree Collection-Week of January 8-12, 2007; Compost Center will be open for trees on Saturday, January 13th. • Construction on Mobil Station on south Main Street Personnel and Appointments Conservation Commission- The Board interviewed Armika Scanlon and Frank Petrillo for one position on the Conservation Commission. Goldy moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following names into nomination for one position.. on the Conservation Commission with. a term expiring June 30, 2007: A-nnika Scanlon and Frank Petrillo-Ms. Scanlon received five votes and was appointed. Cultural Council - The Board interviewed Lorraine Horn for one position on the Cultural Council. Goldy moved and Bonazoli seconded.to place the following name into nomination for one position,on the Cultural Council with a term expiring June 30, 2007: Lorraine Horn. Ms. Horn received.five votes and was appointed. Land Bank Committee-The applicant was not present. Discussion/Action Items Review Action Status Roo - The Town Manager reviewed the Action Status Report. He noted that the Town is taking bids for Gazebo Circle, Jordan's is done, there are concerns about funding for the Downtown project, Barrows will be taken off, Timothy Place has 90 days to pay the fine, Memorial Park- someone from the Attorney General's Office will be coming out for a site visit,hours of construction will be taken off, the MBTA will be taken off. Highlights - Retirement -Town Accountant Gail LaPointe and Contributory Retirement Board Member Richard Foley gave a review of the Town's Retirement System. Water Conservation Re-port - Public Works Director Ted McIntire and Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Peter Tassi were present. Ted McIntire noted that our goal is to reduce the draw on the Ipswich River. He reviewed the current conservation efforts, and noted that cash rebates are given for low use washing machines, low flow toilets, rain sensors and rain.barrels. He received 803 rebate applications and 762 were approved. There was a total of 6,600,000 gallons per year savings. The High. School and Barrows School retrofitting is a 5,000,000 gallons per year savings in the Town buildings alone. For the 2007 Program, they will continue the Water Conservation Program by conducting irrigation water audit, expand the school efforts, and have a portable Water Conservation Program display. Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 21, 2006—Page 3 Ted McIntire noted that the Department of Conservation received a grant and they might try to put weather stations throughout the Town. The weather stations will determine when everyone's lawn needs to be watered. Chairman Ben Tafoya noted that if people conserve, then the water rates will be lower. Vice Chairman James Bonazoli asked about second water meters. Ted McIntire noted that the Water, Sewer and Storm Water Advisory Committee will be looking for direction from the, Board. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that second water meters do not encourage conservation and everyone else's water bill goes up. Report from Economic Development Committee—Economic Development Committee Members Russ Graham, Jack Russell,Meghan Young-Tafoya and Sheila Clarke were present. Russ Graham noted that the Committee has been meeting on a consistent basis. They have created two subcommittees —one to review websites and one to see what other communities are doing. They are reaching out to realtors and developers. The Committee has met with Bob Nordstrand, Mark Dickinson, Representative Brad Jones and Buxton, a consulting firm. He noted that parking is a serious,problem in Reading. The committee welcomes and encourages new business owners and tries to help current business owners. Sheila Clarke reviewed the proposed website with tabs and links to businesses. Meghan Young- Tafoya noted that all forms are printer friendly. She also noted that the goal of the committee is to talk to property owners early when they are selling their property. Russ Graham noted that it would be helpful to have a member of CPDC present when entrepreneurs come in to talk to the Committee. Hearing — Removal of Tree — NE corner of Franklin Street and Sunset Rock Lane — The Secretary read the hearing notice. The Town Manager noted that the Town has built a sidewalk on Franklin Street. We have been working with the abutting property owner since August. The property owner has verbally agreed to an easement. The Town will build the sidewalk around the tree and when the tree does eventually come down,we will move the sidewalk back. Selectman Camille Anthony requested to go on record that she disagrees with putting two holes in the wall, and putting the sidewalk through private property. Virginia Adams noted that she is pleased that the Town is saving the tree. A motion by Goldy seconded by Anthony to close the hearing on the removal of-a tree.on the corner of Franklin Street and Sunset Rock Lane was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Hearing—Classification Plan—Assistant Town Clerk—The Secretary read the hearing notice. Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 21,2006—Page 4 The Assistant Town Manager noted that Town Meeting approved funding of this.position. It is an additional .4 person for remainder of FY07. There is a huge advantage to having two full- time people in the Clerk's Office. The salary range in other communities is $37,000- $48,000. Selectman Richard Schubert asked what the current person's grade is, and the Assistant Town Manager noted that it is a.Grade 5. A motion by Anthony seconded by Bonazoli to close the hearing.on classifying the Assistant Town Clerk position was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A,motion by Anthony seconded by.Bonazoli to approve classifying the Assistant Town Clerk as a Grade 8.was approved by a vote of 5=0-0. Hearing— Fees for Underground Storage Licenses and Tank Removal — The Secretary read the hearing notice. The Town Manager recommended taking the Fire Chief's suggestion and not change the fees at this time until the rules and regulations are established. A motion by Gold_y.seconded by Bonazoli to close the hearing on.fees for the underground storage licenses and tank removals was approved.by a vote of.5-0-0. Change.of Manager — Reading Overseas Veterans — Kevin Arsenault was present. The Town Manager noted this is for a change in manager and the license process went smoothly this year. A motion by Goldy seconded by Bonazoli to approve the change in manager for.Reading Overseas Veterans,Inc. to Kevin J.Arsenault was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Liquor. License Renewals — The Town Manager noted that he did all the inspections and all licensees conform with all rules and regulations. A motion by Anthony seconded by Bonazoli to approve the All Alcoholic Club Liquor Licenses for: o Reading Overseas Veterans,Inc..d/b/a Reading Overseas.Veterans, 575 Main Street ♦ Meadow.Brook Golf Corp..d/b/a Meadow.Brook Golf Club, 292 Grove Street s Home Building Corp..d/b/a Knights of Columbus, 11 Sanborn Street 0 Reading Veterans' Association, Inc. d/b/a American Legion Post 62,37Ash Street for a term expiring December 31, 2007 subject to the following.conditions: All Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of.Reading and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be.followed was.approved by a vote of 5-070. A motion by Schubert seconded by Bonazoli to .approve .the All Alcoholic Package Store Liquor Licenses for: ♦ Busa's Reading Liquors, Inc. d/b/a Busa's Reading Liquors, 345 Main Street ® Athens Liquors, Inc. d/b/a Square Liquors, 11 High Street Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 21,2006—Page 5 ♦ Jai Vaishnodevi& Chirag,Inc. d/b/a North Side Liquors, 150 Main Street 0 Ramos,Inc. d/b/a The Wine Shop of Reading, 676 Main Street ♦ Atlantic Food Mart,Inc. d/b/a Atlantic.Food Mart, 30 Haven Street for a term expiring December 31, 2007 subject to the following conditions: All.Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of.Readinjz and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be followed was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Goldy seconded by Schubert to approve the All Alcoholic Restaurant Liquor Licenses for: ® Mandarin Reading,.Inc. d/b/a Mandarin Reading Restaurant,296 Salem Street ® Mecom,Inc. d/b/a Caf6 Capri,355 Mani Street s Emperor's Choice Restaurant,Inc. d/b/a Emperor's Choice Restaurant, 530 Main Street 0 CAC Foods, Inc. d/b/a Venetian Moon Restaurant, 680 Main Street ® Brinker Massachusetts Corp. d/b/a Chili's Grill &Bar, 70 Walkers Brook Drive ♦ Brinker Massachusetts Corp. d/b/a Romano's Macaroni Grill, 48 Walkers Brook Drive o The Boland Group III,LLC d/b/a Fuddruckers, 50 Walkers Brook Drive for a term expiring December 31, 2007 subject to the followinIz conditions:-All Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be followed was approved by a vote of 5-0-0 A motion by Bonazoli seconded by Schubert to approve the Wine and Malt Liquor Licenses for: ♦ Savory Tastes Inc: d/b/a Savory Tastes Cafe, 601 Main Street 0 Colombo's Pizza& Cafe,2 Braude Court for a term expiring December 31, 2007 subject to the following conditions: All Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Town of Reading and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be followed was approved by a vote of 5=0-0. A motion by Goldy seconded by Anthony to adjourn the meeting of November 21,2006 at 10:24 p.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Respectfully s bmitted, Se retary I