HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-11-28 Board of Selectmen Minutes Joint Vinance Committee/Board of Selectmen Meeting
November 28, 2006
The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m.. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Pres'ent from the Finance Committee were Chairman Andrew Grimes,
Vice Chairman Charles Robinson, Members Paul Bolger, David Greenfield, George Hines,
Harold Torman and Michele Williams. Present from the Board of Selectmen were Chairman
Ben Tafoya, Vice Chairman James Bonazoli, Selectmen Camille Anthony, Stephen Goldy and
Richard Schubert. Also present were Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur
(arrived at 7:40 p.m.), Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested
parties: Russell Graham,Jay Lenox.
The Chairman of the Finance Committee and the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen called
their respective Boards to order.
Discussion/Action Items
Addison-Wesley Site - The Town Manager reviewed the proposal to conduct a charette for the
Addison-Wesley site so that the Town could proactively address the future uses of this property.
He reviewed the process by which a consultant would have a group charette to determine from
the community what the "common ground"is for the site, would then develop several alternative
scenarios for development, and would then go through a process of determining community
consensus on the best of the alternatives. The consultant would then "tweak" the final proposal.
The estimated$50,000 cost would not include development of a.Zoning By-Law amendment.
Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner suggested that the Town could request a $50,000
mitigation measure from.the developer so when the land is developed, these funds come back to
the Town. Board of Selectmen Chairman Ben Tafoya mentioned that if a 40R project were
developed on the location, substantially more than this $50,000 would come back to the towns
based on the amount of housing units.
Finance Committee Member Paul Bolger asked what was the current zoning for the property?
The Town Manager stated that it was zoned for office and hotel, not residential or retail. He also
mentioned that the Addison-Wesley Working Group strongly agreed that a mixed use blend was
the ideal development. Selectman Richard Schubert added that these factors were important to
consider: Tax revenues to the Town, impact on services provided by the Town, location and
access questions. He asked what the appropriate Town role was, and indicated that a
collaborative community effort was required with Town leadership.
Finance Committee Member Michele Williams asked what was the deliverable of a design
charette? The Town Manager stated that it would be a series of drawings and data. They would
identify common ground, scenarios to implement the common ground, and a consensus of the
community. There was still an undecided question as to whether a Zoning By-Law would be
drafted from this effort—and if it should be done before or after engaging a developer.
Joint Finance Committee/Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 28, 2006—Page 2
Finance Committee Vice Chairman Charles Robinson spoke of his view that the FINCOM
Reserve Fund'was not meant`for this type of expense as it was not an unforeseen emergency.
Finance Committee Chairman Andrew Grimes asked why the January 30th or February 6th time
frame was important. The Town Manager stated-that the property owner was not sure what the
intention of the developer was at this point. He pointed out that the Finance Committee could
ask a Special Town Meeting to replenish the$50,000 back into the FINCOM Reserve Fund.
Finance Committee Member George Hines agreed that this was not an appropriate use of the
reserve fund, and that there was no need for a rapid time frame. He reminded the group that this
was private property, and that the A-W Working Group was the public process for this issue, and
no further action was appropriate.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Ben Tafoya rioted that W/S Development has exclusive rights,
and they are paying a fee for these rights. He also noted that the property owner Pearson had no
role in the A-W Working Group. The Town Manager added that Pearson was willing to
participate in the design charette process. Chuck Robinson and George Hines asked if this
participation was on the financial side, and the Town Manager stated that it was not. He
reminded the group that over the many years, Pearson was a very good corporate citizen, a point
to which all agreed. Finance Committee Member David Greenfield noted that the agreement
between W/S Development and Pearson must have an end date.
George Hines asked the Board of Selectmen if they would individually stand behind the results
of the design charette process no matter what the conclusion was. The Town Manager stated that
the process was designed to bring out common ground. George Hines noted that regardless of
the common ground,there would be some minority position.
Selectman Richard Schubert pointed out that mixed use was a strong consensus and that if the
old W/S proposal went to Annual Town Meeting, it was not a good choice. Selectman Camille
Anthony added that an affordable housing element should be .part of the final design. The
requirements of 40R for the Town would be a steep 66 housing units per year.
Board of Selectmen Vice Chairman James Bonazoli stated that the community needed healing
over this issue. He asked if the $50,000 request was enough, or whether $70,000 would be
needed. The Town Manager stated that the higher figure might be needed for a civic
engagement process but the design charette was less expensive.
George Hines suggested that the cheapest alternative was to do this all locally through the
MAPC. Selectman Richard Schubert noted that the expertise needed for this process was beyond
our capabilities, and that an outside party would help to heal and establish trust. The Town
Manager added that local knowledge was vital to the process.
Finance Committee Member David Greenfield stated that the time frame was too short. George
Hines again asked that the effort be done locally with Chris Reilly. He again asked if the Board
of Selectmen would stand behind the results of such a process.
Joint Finance Committee/Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 28,2006—Page 3
Selectman Stephen Goldy declared that he would stand behind the findings, and acknowledged
that there would likely be an inevitable small group that did not agree with the results. He noted
that we needed the experts now, and we need closure on the matter as soon as possible.. Michele
Williams also expressed concent over the timing and time frame. Board of Selectman Vice
Chairman James Bonazoli noted that we needed to decide about the existence of a Zoning By-
Law as that would drive the time frame.
Paul Bolger asked that we learn of the terms between W/S Development and Pearson—at least as
to time frame. He stated that there would be no point in doing any design process if the terms
would go on for another five years. He also stated that we already knew the answer that such a
study would get—mixed use for the property. Finance Committee Chairman Charles Robinson
again stated that this was not a FINCOM Reserve Fund item.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Ben Tafoya asked if they should do an RFP pending funding, and
ask a later Town Meeting for the money. Selectman Camille Anthony asked that FINCOM vote
on the request.
A motion by Greenfield seconded by Grimes to approve the Reserve Fund Transfer of
.$50,000 to fund a desitm charette for the Addison-Wesley site was not,approved by a vote
of 1=6-0 with Grimes in-the minority.
A motion by Anthony seconded by.Schubert to adiourn the Board of Selectmen Meeting of
November 28, 2006 at 9:10 p.m.Was approved by a vote of,5-0-0.
A motion by Grimes seconded by Williams to approve the Minutes of October 18, 2006 was
approved by.a vote of 7-0-0.
A motion by Robinson seconded by Torman to approve the Minutes of October 25,.2006
was.approved by a vote of 7-0-0.
A motion by Williams seconded by Hines to adiourn the Finance Committee Meeting of
November 28, 2006 at 9:20 p.m.was approved by a vote of 7-0=0.
Respectfully submitted,
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