HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-01-04 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
January 4, 2005
The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Richard Schubert, Vice Chairman
Camille Anthony, Selectmen Joseph Duffy and George Hines, Superintendent of
Schools Pat Schettini, Recreation Administrator John Feudo, Finance Director Beth
Klepeis, Public Works Director Ted McIntire, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, and
the following list of interested parties: Bill Brown, Elaine Webb, Amelia Golini, Allison
DaSilva, Paul Feely, Kathleen Golini, Ben Tafoyo, Pete Dahl, Patrick Fennelly, Jack
Downing, John Dannemiller, Mike and Carolyn Fallica, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Mike
DiPietro, Chris Campbell, Bernie Winne,Nancy Linn-Swain.
Reports and Comments .
Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments— Selectman George Hines indicated that the
Hospital Development Committee is meeting tomorrow night. He is also getting calls
about road work and why particular streets are not on the program. He indicated that all
streets are on the program but some are not within the first ten years of the program. The
program is reviewed periodically and people need to be patient.
Selectman Joe Duffy had no report.
j Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked for an update on rights of entry. She also asked
for an update on West Street trucking enforcement.
Chairman Richard Schubert asked the community to remember the victims of the
Tsunami disaster, and instead of making contributions to worthwhile charities, to assist
with aiding the victims.
Public Comment—There was no public comment.
Town Manager's Report
The Town Manager gave the following report:
♦ Nomination papers are now available for Town Officers. Fifty signatures for Officers
and 10 in their precinct for Town Meeting Members are required. Nomination papers
are due back in the Town Clerk's Office by 5:00 p.m. on February 15th.
♦ The Washington, D.C. Police Department has requested the assistance of the
N.E.M.L.E.C. Regional Response Team (tactical team) for the Presidential
Inauguration. Our mission is to assist with crowd control and additional security
measures related to the Presidential Inauguration. The N.E.M.L.E.C. Regional
Response Team will leave on January 18, 2005 and return January 21, 2005. The
Washington, D.C. Police Department will pay all expenses including overtime,
transportation, hotel accommodations and meals. A memorandum of understanding
is in place that addresses all legal and administrative matters.
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Board of Selectmen Meeting—Jamiga 4, 2005 -Page 2
Patrol Officers Kyle, Edson, Lee and Fitzgerald are the Reading Police Officers
assigned to the N.E.M.L.E.C.R.R.T. Chief Silva is the Assistant Control Officer for
the N.E.M.L.E.C.Unit. If available.and requested, all of the Reading Police Officers
named above would travel to Washington. We will, of course, avoid understaffing
and any additional overtime use in Reading.
♦ Esther Surette d'Entremont celebrated her 100`h biththday in Reading with her family.
She was born on January 1, 1905 in Lower West Pubnico, Nova Scotia. She had four
.brothers one older and the rest younger. She left Nova Scotia in March of 1928 and
lived in East Boston with a cousin until 1930 when she moved to Reading. She
married John Surette (also from Nova Scotia, they knew each other before she came
here) on October 27, 1935. They moved to Libby Avenue in 1941 and she has lived
there ever since. She has five children Gerald (Richmond, VA), James (Naples, ME),
Bertha Rousseau (Chelsmford, MA), Beatrice Boucher (Georgetown, MA) and Helen
Lefavour (Reading, MA). She is grandmother to 12 grandchildren and 17 great
grandchildren. She enjoys sewing, quilting,knitting and cooking.
♦ The final (?) Flu Clinic of the year was today. The restrictions for the flu shots were
reduced to age 50 in this latest clinic per direction of the State Department of Public
Health.
♦ The Board of Selectmen will be meeting on the budget on Saturday, January 15th at
9:00 a.m. at Town Hall.
♦ Three members of the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager will be attending
the MMA Meeting in Boston on this Friday and Saturday.
♦ The Board of Selectmen will be seeking public input on the possibility of having Beer
and Wine Package Store licenses available in the community. The input session will
be on January 11, 2005 at 8:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room at Town Hall.
♦ I have indicated interest on the part of the Town in participating in a regional
application for funding under FEMA of a "pre-disaster mitigation" grant program.
There will be an "in-kind" match equivalent to $3000.
Personnel & Appointments
Cultural Council — The Board of Selectmen interviewed Amelia Louise Golini for a
position on the Cultural Council as an Associate. Ms. Golini indicated that she is a senior
in High School and would be interested in serving until the end of this term, and
depending upon where she goes to college might be interested in continuing. Allison
DaSilva, Chairman of the Cultural Council, indicated that they were trying to recruit
juniors and seniors so we could have some ongoing involvement from the youth on the
Council.
On motion by Anthony seconded by Duffy, the Board voted to appoint Amelia
Louise Golini to a position as an Associate on the. Cultural Council for a term
expiring June 30, 2005. Ms. Golini received four votes and was appointed.
Discussion/Action Items
Approval of Bonds—Finance Director Beth Klepeis was present and reviewed the sale of
bonds and Bond Anticipation Notes.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 4, 2005—Page 3
On motion by Anthony seconded by Hines, the Board of Selectmen approved the
following motion:
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That all action taken by the Town Treasurer in advertising for public sale of the
$8,686,000 Bond Anticipation Notes of the Town, authorized pursuant to Chapter .
44, Sections 7 and 16 of the Massachusetts- General Laws, as amended and
supplemented by votes of the Town, be and hereby is ratified, confirmed approved
and adopted;
That the Note shall be dated as of January 7, 2005 and maturing on January 5,
2006;
That the Note shall be issued by means of a book entry system;
That U.S. Bank National Association in Boston, Massachusetts shall act as Transfer
Agent and Paying Agent;
That the Note shall bear interest' payable at maturity and is hereby sold and
awarded as follows:
Purchaser Note No. Amount Interest Rate Premium
Eastern Bank R-1 $8,868,000. 3.25% $84,909.03
And that the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized to prepare and deliver a
Material Events Disclosure Certificate and the Note to the aforesaid purchaser or
purchasers or order against payment in full of the agreed purchase price.
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The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion -by.Hines seconded by Anthony, the Board of Selectmen approved the
following motion:
That all action taken by the Town Treasurer in advertising for public sale of the
$6,480,000 General.Obligation Bonds of the Town authorized under Chapter 44,
Sections 7, 8 and 16 of the Massachusetts General Laws and by votes of the Town,
and in that connection preparing and distributing a Preliminary Official Statement
and Notice of Sale and a final Official Statement, be and hereby is ratified,
confirmed, approved and adopted;
That the bonds shall be dated as.of January 1, 2005, payable on April 15, 2006 and
each year thereafter until February 1, 2024 in varying amounts, that they shall be in
the denomination of$5,000 or any authorized multiple thereof, that bonds maturing
on and before April 15, 2015, either in whole or in part, are not subject to
redemption prior to maturity; those bonds maturing on and after April 15, 2016 are
subject to redemption at the option of the Town;
That the bonds shall be issued by means of a book entry system, and that interest
shall be paid on April 15 and October 15 beginning October 15, 2005 in amounts
varying from 4% to 4.5% per annum;
Board of Selectmen Meeting—Januga 4, 2005 —Page 4
That the bid of Fidelity Capital Markets to purchase the bonds at a price of -
$6,530,335.19 and interest accrued to date of delivery, resulting in a net interest cost
of$2,436,512.45 and a triie*interest rate of 3.897562% being the best bid received, it
hereby is accepted and the Town Treasurer is authorized to deliver the bonds to the
said purchaser or order against payment; that the Town Treasurer is authorized to
deliver a Continuing Disclosure Certificate and prepare and deliver other
documents as is necessary to effectuate the bond sale.
The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0.
Hearing—Parking Regulations—No parking on one side on Sunset Rock Lane and Roma .
Lane—Vice Chairman Camille Anthony read the hearing notice.
The Town Manager presented the current situation in terms of parking for the Wood End
School.
Superintendent.of Schools Pat Schettini reviewed the status of parking on site.
School Committee Member Elaine Webb spoke in favor of the parking restrictions and
particularly in favor of the parking restrictions on the west side of Roma Lane.
The following discussion took place: Linda Fallica of 52 Sunset Rock Lane noted that
she agreed with the proposals—the parking should be on the sidewalk side.
Karen Johnson on Roma Lane spoke and preferred no parking on one side of street with
parking on the opposite side of the street on Roma Lane.
John Dannemiller of 54 Roma Lane spoke in favor of the restrictions.
The Town Manager will put together the working group on Sunset Rock Lane working
towards improvements to access and parking for the site for the Fall of 2005.
On motion by Anthony seconded by Hines,the Board of Selectmen voted to close the
hearing on the parking regulations on Sunset Rock Lane and Roma Lane by a vote
of 4-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony, the Board of Selectmen voted to amend
the Town of Reading Traffic Rules and Regulations by adding:
West side of Sunset Rock Lane and west side of Roma Lane
No parking, standing, stopping
7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0.
It was noted that this restriction will be around because of potential playground and other
rental use of the school.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 4, 2005 —Page 5
Hearing — Policy on Park Improvements — Vice Chairman Camille Anthony read the
hearing notice.
The Town Manager presented the proposed regulations as they have been modified by
the Recreation Committee. Pat Fennelly spoke and felt that people who want to do
improvements in the park should. go to the Recreation Committee first. Selectman
George Hines disagreed. He felt that the Recreation Committee looks at things from a
different angle. The Board of Selectmen has the responsibility.
Vice Chairman Camille Anthony felt that the Recreation Committee should give advice
to the Board of Selectmen regarding effects on programming, finances, etc. She asked
that the Recreation Committee do some long term planning for parks looking five to ten
years down the line.
Chairman Richard Schubert noted that we have to take advantage of the expertise of the
Recreation Committee but not make the process cumbersome.
Recreation Committee Member Bernie Winne noted that we are all trying to act in the
interest of the Town. This becomes a more complex issue because the Town is
approached by people who want to provide private funding. He feels that the policy as
proposed will lead to frustration, and feels that the Recreation Committee is capable of
handling park improvements under the direction of the Town Manager.
It was agreed under this or any process that the Town Manager is the gate keeper of the
proposals.
On motion by Anthony seconded by Hines, the Board of Selectmen voted to close the
hearing on the policy on park improvements by a vote of 4-0-0.
The Board of Selectmen deleted one word in the Recreation Committee's recommended
changes to the policy.
On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve
the policy on park improvements, as amended, by a vote of 4-0-0.
The Board of Selectmen took the Use of Memorial Park and Sunday Hours for Field Use
out of order.
Discussion on Use of Memorial Park for Summer 2005—The Board reviewed the current
proposal. The consensus was that the Spring of 2005 process worked well. There was no
use on December of 2005 but the Board is willing to provide for use.
On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony, the Board voted to approve the following
use of Memorial Park for team practices:
Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 4, 2005 Page6
Sprinji—No more than four teams per time slot; no more than 66 kinds per time -
slot, no more than two time slots per evening, separated by not less than 30 minutes,
Summer—No more than four teams per time slot; no more than 66 kinds per time
slot; no more than two time slots per evening, separated by not less than 30 minutes.
Selectman George Hines noted that his motion did not include bringing this back to the
Board of Selectmen every year. He would view this as a permanent approval unless
reviewed again by the Board at a future date.
The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0.
Discussion on Sunday Hours for Field Use — The Town Manager indicated that we did
not have any problems.last year with allowing the Recreation Committee to give permits
for Sunday morning use for youth sport practices. The Recreation Committee would like
to continue this for one more Summer, and perhaps for two more Summers depending on
construction of the various school sites.
On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony, the Board of Selectmen voted to
continue for FY 2005 the temporary policy of permitting Sunday morning youth
sport practices for the Spring season, with no activity beginning at the field prior to
9:00 a.m., subject to approyaj of permits by the Recreation Committee. The motion
was approved by a vote of 4-0-0.
Hearing—DPW Policies—Vice Chairman Camille Anthony read the hearing notice.
The Town Manager and Public Works Director Ted McIntire reviewed the policies.
There were some typographical errors that were corrected.
On motion by Anthony seconded by Hines,the Board of Selectmen voted to close the
hearing on the DPW Policies by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Anthony seconded by Hines,the Board of Selectmen voted to approve
the revised DPW Policies as presented this evening by a vote of 4-0-0.
Hearing — Policy on Grant Applications-- Vice Chairman Camille Anthony read the
hearing notice.
The Town Manager presented the background on the proposed policy.
On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony;the Board of Selectmen voted to close the
hearing on the policy on grant applications by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve
the policy on grant applications as presented in the document dated 11-04-05 by a
vote of 4-0-0.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—January 4, 2005 —Page 7
The Board suggested that we pass this grant application policy along .to the School
Department.
On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn
their meetiniz of January 4, 2005 at 10:20 p.m. by a vote of 4-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Aecreta
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