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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-26 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting October 26, 2004 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 7:15 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Richard Schubert, Vice Chairman Camille Anthony, Secretary Gail Wood, Selectmen Joe Duffy and George Hines, Human Resources Administrator Carol Roberts, Health Administrator Jane Fiore, Town Engineer Joe Delaney, Town Planner Chris Reilly, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Attorney Mark Favalaro, George Danis, Kim Hazarvartian, John Diaz, Doug Neary, Andy and Kerry Bramhall, Jeffrey Haley, Helen Evans, Tony Darezzo, Susan Miller, Paul Dustin, David Williams. A motion by Wood seconded by Anthony to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of strategy with respect to litigation — Ford; and strategy.with respect to labor negotiations — Police Patrolmen's defibrillators to. come back into Open Session at approximately 7:30 p.m. was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. The Board reconvened in Open Session at 7:55 p.m. Discussion/Action Items Hearing=Pay and Classification—Public Health Nurse—Vice Chairman Camille Anthony read the hearing notice. Human Resource Administrator Carol Roberts and Health Administrator Jane Fiore were present. The Town Manager noted that the Public Health Nurse position has been vacant for four months. Carol Roberts noted that it was advertised in the Globe and Chronicle. There were 10 applicants and they interviewed three. The position was offered two times and was turned down due to the salary. She did a survey of comparable communities and found that we are too low. Some communities contract out. She checked into it but it is too expensive. The Town Manager noted that we have tried very hard to fill this position. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked if this position will be affected by the Elder Services Study. The Town Manager indicated that the only change he could see is an increase in the hours for this position for communicable disease follow-up. A motion by Hines seconded by Anthony to close the hearings on the amendments to the Pay and Classification Plan for the Public Health Nurse was approved by a vote of 4-0-0 (Selectman Gail Wood had left the room). Board.of Selectmen Meeting—October 26, 2004—Page 2 A motion by Hines seconded by Duffy to approve the amendment to the Pay and Classification Plan to move the Public Health Nurse position from a Grade 10 to a Grade 12 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Hearing—Danis—Intersection Improvements—Selectman Joseph Duffy read the hearing notice. The Town Manager noted that Danis received approval to redevelop his property for commercial use. CPDC did not approve a specific plan. Attorney Mark Favalaro and George Danis were present. Attorney Favalaro noted that they are seeking final approval to redevelop the old Frugal Fannie's site. They are requesting a traffic signal at Walkers Brook Drive and General Way or Walkers Brook Drive and Lakeview. Danis'Engineer, Kim Hazarvartian, noted that there are two alternatives, and.Plan A does not include.Lakeview. The left lane must turn left leaving one lane going through the intersection. This plan does not need modification of Walkers Brook Drive by widening. Plan B includes Lakeview Avenue in signalization. A right lane would be added. Walkers Brook Drive would be a single lane one way and two lanes.the other. The two lanes will continue through and taper after John Street. Town Engineer Joe Delaney noted that John Diaz did the peer review. Plan A was the original plan. The concern was that Lakeview was not included and it would be difficult to make that movement. The problem with a left turn only lane is that you're trapped once you are in it. Plan B makes both lanes multi-use but requires widening of the road to taper. Plan B is the better option. Chairman Richard Schubert asked how many traffic signals are on Walkers Brook Drive, and Joe Delaney indicated that there are three. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony noted that the original CPDC decision stated that the existing signals are adequate. Joe Delaney noted that the applicant proposed the traffic signal to make their project work and we are responding to that. CPDC's time was running out so they approved and sent to the Board of Selectmen. John Diaz noted that the full study of the site states that there is a need for a signal at full development. Attorney Favalaro noted that the viability of the project had to include a signal because at full development, it calls for a signal. Marketing warrants a traffic signal to make conditions better. Selectman George Hines asked if the signal was based on traffic, volume data, and John Diaz indicated that it was. Selectman Gail Wood rejoined the meeting at 8:50 p.m. Board of Selectmen Meeting=October 26,2004—Page 3 Selectman George Hines asked about the level of service, and Mr. Hazarvartian noted that it depends on the time of day—either C or B. Selectman George Hines asked if we could require the property owner to make their own lane, and Attorney Favalaro noted that was not on the table with Boston Stove. Chairman Richard Schubert noted that CPDC required future analysis, and what options does that leave for the Selectmen. Town Planner Chris Reilly noted that CPDC concerns were the neighborhoods' concerns. The Town Manager noted that the Town has $100,000 to look at Ash Street/Main Street access. Doug Neary of 155 Village Street noted that he lives in the last house before the intersection. He noted that a stop line is proposed in front of his house and he does not want trucks idling in front of his house. Andy Bramhall of 11 John Street Ct., a professional land surveyor, noted that two lanes eastbound would be beneficial. John Street has been left out of the mix and cars have difficulty getting out in the a.m. He suggested that a right turn only into John Street might hell) because that is where the road tapers. Jeffrey Haley, a Washington Street resident, asked about cueing on Washington Street. Mr. Hazarvartian noted that there are periods of over capacity on Washington Street. I Chairman Richard Schubert asked if this will make longer cue lines onto Route 28, and Mr. Hazarvartian noted that cues will build up and then dissipate. John Diaz noted that the traffic will not clear in one cycle. Washington Street and Route 28 will back up at times about 500 feet. Helen Evans of 128 John Street noted that the taping down of Walkers Brook Drive towards the center of Town is dangerous, and will be worse if more lanes are brought closer to the neighborhoods. She also noted that cars and buses are speeding and need to be slowed down. Tony Darezzo of 130 John Street suggested putting the signal elsewhere. He feels that the traffic will double at fall build out. He also noted that we don't know what will happen with Phase 2 of the landfill. Kerry Bramhall of 11 John Street Ct. noted that the developer is doing this for their benefit. He just wants a grand entrance to the supermarket. She is very much opposed to what is being offered. Andy Bramhall noted that he had to go through three cycles at Main and Washington in the morning. He also noted that Chili's and Home Depot have no cueing. They have a free flow. The light on Walkers Brook Drive automatically turns red when a vehicle begins to exit from Chili's and Home Depot. The Town Manager indicated that the Town is responsible for the cueing. Board of Selectmen Meeting—October 26, 2004—Page 4 Attorney Favalaro noted that he has spoken with TASC and Boston Stove and no deal has been struck. The property is not for sale. Signalization can be timed properly but there will be more traffic due to development. The Town Manager suggested a site visit. George Danis, owner of the site, noted that he offered a skateboard park and he agreed to pay for a speed study. He feels that a light at General Way and Walkers Brook Drive is important. He also noted that the building is already there but it's empty, and he is trying to fill it up because he pays taxes on it. The Board decided on a site visit on October 30th at 8:30 a.m. at General Way. A motion by Hines seconded by Anthony to continue the heariniz to November 16, 2004 at 8:30 p.m. for intersection improvements at Walkers Brook Drive and General Way was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Discussion with ZBA re: Charter Amendment — Susan Miller and Paul Dustin from the ZBA were present. The Town Manager noted that the proposed Charter amendment is to change the ZBA to a five member board. He also noted that the standard for communities is five members and two associates. Susan Miller noted that the ZBA had a lengthy discussion and reached the consensus that they are satisfied with the current membership. She 'also noted that there have never been any problems. She noted that a member cannot vote on a hearing if they were not present at all meetings, and increasing the membership would make it more difficult. Selectman George Hines indicated that he is not advocating for a seven member Board,just five regular members. The compelling factor for him is for the small person who needs a variance and gets tamed down. He knows some members vote just to achieve unanimity where if there were five members, a 4/5 vote would pass it. Paul Dustin noted that with any variance, there are statute regulations that must be met and either they meet it or they don't. He indicated that a quorum is a separate issue from the number of votes required for a special permit or variance. He asked what other cities or towns do. Chairman Richard Schubert indicated that the burden on the members of the Board could be discouraging to volunteers. The Town Manager indicated that he would get the standard for other communities, and then the Selectmen can vote on this at their December 91h meeting. Board of Selectmen Meeting—October 26, 2004—Page 5 SWAC Discussion re: Apartment and Business Rubbish Collection—David Williams, Chairman of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee was present. Mr. Williams indicated that the Committee is in the beginning stages of looking at including apartments to increase the amount of recycling and have them pay. Chairman Richard Schubert asked about the cost, and Mr. Williams indicated that it would cost approximately $68,000 and indicated that if the Town charged $13/unit, it would come out ahead. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony indicated that she would rather the Committee focus on getting the many households who don't recycle to start. Selectman George Hines indicated to pick up at condos but not apartments is discriminatory but we cannot afford it. The consensus of the Board was to leave it as it is but for the Committee to focus on getting a higher rate of participation. Request for Use of Public Way — 15 Timothy Place— This agenda item was postponed because the applicant was out of Town. A motion by Hines seconded by Wood to adjourn the meeting of October 26, 2004 at 10:25 p.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Respyctfully submitted 7 Secretary