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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-06-27 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting June 27, 2006 I i 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 Camille Anthony,Vice Chairman Richard Schubert, Secretary Stephen Goldy, Selectmen James Bonazoli and Ben Tafoya, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, Police Chief Jim Cormier, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Kathy Greenfield, Carol Patterson, Kurt Habel, Clayton Jones, Linda Tuttle, Israel Maykut, Vicky Schubert, Gil Rodrigues. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Chairman Camille Anthony noted that there is a meeting of the I-93/I-95 Committee. Selectman James Bonazoli thanked everyone who attended the Addison-Wesley meeting. The Town Manager noted that the goal was to develop a vision for the property. Selectman Bonazoli asked the status of Jordan's lighting, and the Town Manager indicated that he has not seen it at j night yet. Selectman Stephen Goldy noted that the Friends of Reading Recreation are sponsoring a movie at Hunt Park. He also noted that a 5a' grader sent a letter regarding the burned out building on Main Street. The Town Manager noted that he responded to the letter. The owner of the property is having a problem with the insurance carrier in getting the building demolished, and he is proposing a chain mini mall. Vice Chairman Richard Schubert indicated that we should seek rate relief for the MWRA buy in. He also indicated that we need to advocate for our future rights to the Ipswich River. Redundancy from another source should be looked at sooner rather than later. Selectman Ben Tafoya noted that the IRWA invited the Selectmen to their meeting tomorrow night. He will attend to see what they can do to help. He also attended Leo Turenne's birthday party at Hunt Park earlier this evening. The Town Manager noted that Page 11 of the handout has the home rule legislation, and he met with Bob LeLacheur, Ted McIntire and Peter Tassi today regarding hiring a consultant. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: ® State funding— • Franklin Street sidewalks Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 27 2006—Page 2 • Field improvements • Chapter 90 increase • Walkable Communities—June 28th, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. • MWRA buy-in bill has been filed. • Ribbon cutting tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. for the expanded Wednesday hours at the Library. • Flag on the Common pole is being painted and rope replaced again.. • Downtown Improvement Program—July 26th is date for Secretary of Environmental Affairs Certificate. We had a MEPA meeting here this afternoon. The comment period is open until July 1 lth. The estimated bid date is mid-August. • Addison-Wesley Working Group Meeting Thursday night at Parker—June 22nd, 7:30 p.m. to hear from the community. There were approximately 100 residents in attendance. The comment process went very well in spite of the fact that the room was very warm. The next meeting of the Addison-Wesley Working Group will be June 29, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room at Town Hall. • We will be truck spraying for mosquitoes with surmithrin on June 29th between dusk and 11:00 p.m. In.the event of bad weather (heavy wind or rain), spraying will take place in this area on July 6th. Area—West of Main north of Forest and areas of Grove Street, Willow and Arcadia. The reasoning is the two traps in this area are explosive with volume and difficult to identify the disease causing mosquitoes species to protect against West Nile Virus and/or Eastern Equine Encephalitis. • Street signs for sale=-List will be available on web site. • Verizon Cable TV franchise—Provision of RCTV by end of June. • Status of public construction: Water and Sewer High Street water line Sewer Inflow/Infiltration Auburn Street water line Trench patching on West from Weseroft to County Streets and Roads . Green Street—Main Street to High Street Deering Street, Harriman Avenue Arcadia Avenue, Edgemont Avenue Middlesex Avenue Bancroft Avenue—Hartshorn Street to Cumberland Road Morton Field Hillcrest Road Maple Ridge Road Juniper Circle Cape Cod Avenue, Bancroft Avenue (Lowell Street to Middlesex Avenue) Longwood Road Locust Street California Road West Street—Willow to Wilmington line Curb and Sidewalk: Franklin Street—Fox Run Lane to William Minot Street at Main Street Road John Street— Salem Street to Walkers Governors Drive Brook Drive Board of Selectmen Meeting=June 27, 2006—Page 3 Personnel and Appointments Audit Committee—The applicant was not present. i Anthony moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Audit Committee with a term expiring June 30,2009: Stephen Herrick. Mr. Herrick received five votes and was appointed. Celebration Committee—The Board interviewed Kurt Habel for one position on the Celebration Committee. Anthony moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Celebration Committee with a term expiring June 30, 2009: Kurt Habel. Mr.Habel received five votes and was appointed. Council on Agin — The Board interviewed Carol Patterson for a position on the Council on Aging. Barbara Powers and Marquerite Bosnian were not present. Bonazoli moved and AnthonV seconded to place the following names into nomination for three positions on the Council on Aging with terms expiring June 30, 2009: Carol Patterson, Barbara Powers and Marguerite Bosnian. Each applicant received five votes and were appointed. Sally Hoyt was present and noted that she was considering resigning as a fall member because she requested to place notices regarding the Silver Hair legislator in the Pleasantries, and was informed that she could not do that. The Town Manager noted that the Pleasantries is published monthly and the issue is that a Town publication cannot be used to advocate for a political position. Selectman Ben .Tafoya and the Town Manager indicated that they would follow up with Sally Hoyt to reach a solution, and she decided not to resign from the Council on Aging. Historical Commission — The Board interviewed Kathryn Greenfield, Clayton Jones and Linda Tuttle for positions on the Historical Commission. Susan Patterson was unable to be present and George Doucette withdrew his application. Anthony moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Historical Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2009: Kathryn Greenfield. Ms. Greenfield received five votes and was appointed. _Anthony moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following names into nomination for four Associate positions on the Historical Commission with terms expiring June 30, 2007: Karen Herrick, Susan Patterson, Linda Tuttle and Clayton Jones. Each applicant received five votes and were appointed. Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee—Benjamin Ream was not present. Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 27 2006—Page 4 Bonazoli moved and Goldy seconded to place the following name into nomination for one Associate position on the Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee'with a term expiring June 30, 2007: Benjamin Ream. Mr. Ream received five votes and was appointed. West Street Historic District Commission—David Kruh was not present. Anthony moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the West Street Historic District Commission with a term expiring June 30 .2009: David Kruh. Mr. Kruh received five votes and was appointed. Community Planning &Development Commission—The Board interviewed Israel Maykut for a position on the Community Planning and Development Commission. Goldy moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one Associate position on the Community Planning and Development Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2007: Israel Maykut, Mr. Maykut received five votes and was appointed. Cultural Council=Vice Chairman Richard Schubert recused himself from this interview because the applicant was his wife. The Board interviewed Vicky Schubert for a position on the Cultural Council. Anthony moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Cultural Council with a term expiring June 30, 2009: Vicky Schubert. Mrs. Schubert received five votes and was appointed. Vice Chairman Richard Schubert returned to the meeting. Discussion/Action Items Board of Selectmen Reorganization—Chairman Camille Anthony turned the meeting over to the Town Manager. The Town Manager asked for nominations as Chairman. Schubert moved and Bonazoli seconded to place the following name into nomination as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen: Ben Tafoya. There beim no other nominations, the nominations were closed. Ben Tafoya received four votes and was appointed Chairman. The Town Manager turned the meeting over to Chairman Ben Tafoya. Schubert moved and Anthony seconded to place the following name into nomination as Vice Chairman of the Board of Selectmen: James Bonazoli. There beim no other nominations, the nominations were closed. James Bonazoli received four votes and was appointed Vice Chairman. Board of Selectmen Meeting June 27,2006.-Page 5 Shubert moved and Anthonyseconded to place the following name into nomination as Secretary of the Board of Selectmen: Stephen Goldy. There being no other nominations, the nominations were closed Stephen Goldy received four votes and was appointed Secretary. Selectmen's Liaison Assignments - FY 2007 - The following liaison assignments were made: Ben Tafoya- Board of Appeals, CPDC/MAPC, Economic Development Committee, Historical Commission, Library, Cultural Council; James Bonazoli -Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee, Public Works, Board of Cemetery Trustees, Water and Sewer Advisory Committee/MWRA, Town Forest Committee, Recreation Committee, Downtown Steering Committee; Stephen Goldy - Cities for Climate Protection, Conservation Commission, Public Safety, Human Relations Advisory Committee, Police Department, Fire Department, Reading Municipal Light Department; Camille Anthony - Board of Health, Constable, Board of Registrars, Council on Aging/Mystic Valley Elder Services, Substance Abuse Prevention Advisory Council, Trust Fund Commissioners, Board of Assessors, Finance Committee, Land Bank Committee;Richard Schubert-Accounting, Housing Authority, School Department. Hearing-- Creation of the Master Plan Implementation Committee - The Secretary read the hearing notice. The Town Manager noted that he spoke with CPDC regarding the Master Plan implementation. He drafted a policy establishing an ad hoc committee but CPDC decided to work on this themselves and if that doesn't work, then to go with a subcommittee. A motion by Anthony seconded by Bonazoli to close the hearing on the policy establishing an ad hoc Master Plan Implementation Committee was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Goldy seconded by Bonazoli to table the policy establishing an ad hoc Master Plan Implementation Committee dated 6/27/06 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Approval of Downtown Parking Regulations - The Town Manager noted that he thinks he has the solution for Chapin Avenue but he wants to talk to staff first. He received a phone call today regarding parking on Sanborn-Street and noted that they get all day Parkers because it is unregulated. The caller asked that the regulations be moved up Sanborn Street a bit, leaving a couple of unregulated spaces near Lowell Street. He has also decided to take half-25 spaces - on High Street for merchant parking, and commit to re-evaluating how the program works in the near future. Chief Jim Cormier noted that regulating the parking on Sanborn Street makes sense. The commuter Parkers on High Street are scattered about so it is not enforced. He thinks starting with half the spaces will be okay. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that the whole idea was to provide 50 spaces for employees and we should keep it 50. Chief Cormier noted that they sell 30-40 non-resident commuter stickers per month, and will stop selling them on July 1, 2006. Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 27 2006—Page 6 The Town Manager noted that the nonresidents will park at the Anderson Center. The consensus of the Board was to keep all 50 spaces. Vice Chairman James Bonazoli noted that at the previous meeting, Sanborn Street was not discussed. He feels that a hearing should be held for parking changes on Sanborn Street before changing it. Gil Rodrigues asked if the regulations are in effect Monday through Friday or include Saturdays. The Town Manager indicated that it was Monday through Friday. Vice Chairman James Bonazoli noted that he will add Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A motion by Goldy seconded by Anthony to approve changes to the Town of Reading Traffic Rules and Regulations as noted on revised Pages 1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13;23, 24, 25, 26, . 27, 30 and 31, all of which is intended to implement the parking regulations from Mondays through Saturdays detailed on the map entitled "Proposed Parking Regulations" dated 6- 22-06 and to defer changes to Chapin Avenue 30 minute parking until July 25, 2006 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Appointment of Town Counsel — The Town Manager noted that a survey was sent out to staff and Boards, Committees and Commissions. He received a good response and the evaluations were good. Brackett & Lucas is doing a good job, they have the resources we need, and they don't over lawyer.. Town Counsel expenses are the lowest in the past 20 years. The School Department uses them for contract matters. A motion by Anthony seconded by Goldy to appoint the firm of Brackett & Lucas of Worcester, MA and Winchester, MA as Town Counsel for a term expiring June 30, 2007 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Route 128/93 Follow Up — The Town Manager noted that the Town needs to develop positions and conditions to propose at a hearing that will take place in the Fall. He also noted that if they are talking about an underpass or an overpass, the Town will be in favor of an underpass because it has less impact. The Town will also look at how much of a lane drop that Mass Highway is looking at and where it is being dropped. Selectman Camille .Anthony noted that they will want to know the affect on the Town's local roads. Selectman Richard Schubert noted that a handout was given at the last meeting that included non-highway enhancements, and that is what the community wants to support. The Town Manager noted that the "Big Dig"funded the Anderson Transportation Center. Chairman Ben Tafoya noted that there has been incredible growth since 1970 when the highway was built and the problem is not just design. The Town Manager noted that Route 95 was supposed to go into Boston but it never happened. We are trying to manage the growth of the region. One suggestion is to expand the rail service. Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 27,2006—Page 7 Selectman Camille .Anthony noted that noise barriers need to be included in the list of issues. Chairman Ben Tafoya indicated that he wants to look at the issue of the lane drop, and Selectman Stephen Goldy noted that the impact on the neighborhoods has to be considered. The Town Manager noted that he will go back and develop a list of positions and conditions and bring it back to the Board. Approval of Minutes A motion by Anthony seconded by Schubert to approve the Minutes of May 23, 2006 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Anthony seconded by Bonazoli to adjourn the meeting of June 27, 2006 at 10:00 p.m.was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Oecrtary i