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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-04-01 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting April 1, 2003 The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Camille Anthony, Vice Chairman Matthew Cummings, Secretary Richard Schubert, Selectmen George Hines and Gail Wood, Library Director Kimberly Lynn, Town Accountant Richard Foley, Finance Director Beth Klepeis, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Paul Dustin. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Selectman Gail Wood noted that the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee is starting to look at the rates for this year. There is a surplus in the sewer account. One of their suggestions is to decrease the sewer rate as the water rate increases. She toured the Water Treatment Plant on Saturday, and attended Congressman John Tierney's Forum on Saturday. Selectman George Hines noted that he has heard comments that people will not vote for the override because the road money won't be in the budget in subsequent years unless it is earmarked. He is asking the Board of Selectmen to commit to keep the money in the budget every year. Vice Chairman Matthew Cummings noted that it makes sense to commit to $300,000 plus 2.5% every year. Selectman Gail Wood noted that she had no problem making it a priority but has a problem with making it a commitment because we don't know what will happen in the future. Chairman Camille Anthony indicated that we should be committing to $850,000 per year. A motion by Hines seconded by Cummings to commit to keeping a budget dedication of 300,000 plus 2.5% annually in the municipal budget for roads if the override is successful in the 2003 Annual Election was approved by a vote of 4-1-0, with Wood opposed. Selectman George Hines noted that he attended the Substance Abuse Prevention Advisory Committee panel discussion. He also noted that the Town has an emergency plan in place and guidelines have been put together for citizens. He further noted that the Water Treatment Plant capital improvements are not included in the override but they come out of the water and sewer rates. He noted that there will be a ceremony for the troops this Sunday on the Reading Common. Lastly, he noted that he very much supports the override and the cuts in the past have been masked by staff, but this time everyone will feel the cuts. Selectman Rick Schubert noted there will be a public forum on the override on Thursday night, and he encourages everyone to vote and support the override. He also noted that there will be a Master Plan Visioning Session on April 9th at 7:00 p.m. Public Comment—There was no public comment. Board of Selectmen MeetingL—April 1, 2003 —Page 2 Town Manager's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: ♦ The Town has expended $559,000 to date on snow and ice control — an over expenditure of the FY 2003 Budget of $307,000. Through Emergency Management and Fire Chief Greg - Burns, we will be submitting an application for FEMA reimbursement for 75% of the cost of the Presidents' Day storm. ♦ Yesterday, we received a check in the amount of $116,074 from the Reading Ice Arena Authority which represents their payment which will go to help balance the FY 2004 Budget. The check is for$16,000 more than anticipated which is always a welcomed surprise. ♦ The Council on Aging will be carrying out a "needs assessment" survey this Spring. This project is being funded by the Dorothy L. Burbank Trust for any costs. ♦ The Annual Town Election is scheduled for April 8th at the Hawkes Field House. Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. There is plenty of parking on site. ♦ Gerry Fiore, Former Finance Committee Member and occasional fill-in Town Moderator, will be moderating the Proposition 2% Forum on Thursday, April 3rd at 7:30 p.m. The Forum will be at the Parker Middle School Auditorium — this is a change in venue that is required for technical reasons. The Forum will be run live on Channel 22, and calls will be taken at 781-944-1236 during the show by a volunteer who will relay the calls to the Moderator. If residents want to e-mail questions, they may do so up until 5:00 p.m. on the 3rd to towrnnana ergci.reading ma.us. ♦ This Sunday, April 6, 2003, there will be a ceremony on the Reading Common from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to honor service men and women in active Armed Services of the United States. Nelson Burbank, a WWII veteran and well-known local resident, has agreed to coordinate this program. We have received a great number of calls here at Town Hall this week requesting such a local program, and a committee of over 15 local residents is working with Mr. Burbank on this project. ♦ The American Flag display in Reading Square will be going up this week (actually probably on Saturday morning). Because of reductions in the FY 2003 Budget (Governor's 9c cuts), we did not have any funds in the Fire Department Alarm Division Account. Finance Committee Member Chuck Robinson and his wife have donated the funds to re-install this display. ♦ We have received many calls about the poor state of the American Flag flying atop the Depot. I contacted Joe Cunningham, the property owner, and he has replaced the Flag. ♦ Reading Fire Department had a visit from the Billerica Elks Club this Saturday with a Flag that had flown at"Ground Zero" at the World Trade Center. Photographs were taken and the Flag will now be retired and displayed at the Library in Billerica. ♦ Staff and consultants hosted a tour of the Water Treatment Plant for the Finance Committee relative to Article 11 on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. ♦ Congressman John Tierney held a"Town Meeting" in Reading on Saturday, and there was a good crowd present. I was only able to stay for a half hour. Selectmen Gail Wood and Rick Schubert, Town Moderator Alan Foulds, RMLB Chairman Bill Hughes and COA members - Betty Cronin and Edwina Kasper were present. Board of Selectmen Meeting—April 1, 2003 —Page 3 ♦ The Third Annual Coolidge Middle School Spelling Bee was held on Saturday. There were 30 teams, including the Select Spellers (with School Committee Vice Chairman Pete Dahl as a last minute sub). ♦ There will be a mercury thermometer swap (trade in an old mercury thermometer for a new digital thermometer) at the Health Division Offices in May. Watch local media for more information. ♦ Compost Center Hours Starting Friday, April 4th April/May Friday and Monday(8:00 a.m. —2:30 p.m.) Saturday(8:00 a.m. —5:00 p.m.), closed April 21"and May 26th holidays June First and third Saturdays only Information on website, Chronicle, Advocate, Cable TV Channels 9, 10 and/or 22, DPW at 781-942-9092 or 9076. There will also be a flyer and calendar in the June 10th Water/Sewer bills. Textile Collection Saturday, April 5th DPW Facility—75 New Crossing Road 8:00 a.m. —2:00 p.m. Household Hazardous Waste Collection May 17th DPW Facility—75 New Crossing Road 9:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. ♦ The Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District is manufacturing some new voting booths for the Town Clerk for use in Elections. ♦ Reading's Board of Selectmen has asked for a joint meeting with other the Boards from the three other communities served by the RMLD. It is scheduled for April 10th but North Reading Town Meeting is scheduled for that evening. Proclamations/Certificates of Appreciation Proclamations — National Library Week — Library Director Kimberly Lynn was present to receive the Proclamation. A motion by Schubert seconded by Hines to approve the Proclamation for National Library Week was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Personnel and Appointments Town Accountant- Town Accountant Richard Foley was present. Chairman Camille Anthony noted that Fred Van Magness questioned the method of how vehicle expenses are being charged at the Light Department. Richard Foley noted that is a RMLD -- internal issue. Board of Selectmen Meeting—April 1, 2003 —Page 4 Chairman Camille Anthony noted that the Town should have a policy that vehicle expenses are W2'd. Richard Foley noted that the government guidelines indicate that all sources of income should be W2'd. The Town Manager noted that he will schedule a meeting with the Light Board to discuss this and other issues. The Board commended Richard Foley for his integrity and hard work. A motion by Schubert seconded by Wood to appoint Richard Foley as Town Accountant with a term expiring March 31, 2004 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Zoning Board of Appeals (Associate] — The Board interviewed Paul Dustin for one position on the Board of Appeals. Hines moved and Wood seconded to place the following name into nomination for one Associate position on the Board of Appeals with a term expiring June 30, 2005: Paul Dustin. Mr. Dustin received five votes and was appointed. West Street Historic District Study Committee — Wood moved and Hines seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Ad Hoc West Street Local Historic District Study Committee with a term expiring December 31, 2003: Clams Jones. Mr. Jones received five votes and was appointed. Ad Hoc Stormwater Advisory Committee - Wood moved and Cummings seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Ad Hoc Stormwater Advisory Committee with a term expiring December 31, 2003: Douglas Greene. Mr. Greene received five votes and was appointed. Discussion/Action Items Report on Status— 128/I-93 —Selectman George Hines noted that the Mass Highway Department has finalized a draft scope of work and has sent it out to the communities. Mass Highway does not plan on having another meeting unless there are a lot of comments on the draft scope. They have already incorporate comments from members of the Task Force. Chairman Camille Anthony noted that this needs to be brought back to the community. This will be scheduled on the April 291h Agenda, and the RFP will be put on website along with a notice on cable informing the public that it is there. Class 2 Motor Vehicle License Application— 1337 Main Street—The Town Manager noted that the applicant had to cancel due to personal reasons. This will be rescheduled. Continued Hearing — Gaels Chase LIP —The Town Manager noted that the Board of Selectmen received the LIP application and set up a working group. They are trying to get good mapping. Two vernal pools have been delineated. The developer has plans for 24 units, 20 units and 16 units. The developer has also suggested doing mitigation on other streets to prevent runoff. There is a site visit on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. - Board of Selectmen Meeting=April 1, 2003 —Page 5 Vice Chairman Matthew Cummings asked about cluster versus single, and the Town Manager noted that the staff s comments lean towards cluster. Vice Chairman Matthew Cummings also asked if there has been any discussion on conveying some of the property to the Conservation Commission and the Town Manager noted that there has. The Town Manager noted that neighborhood issues still need to be addressed. A motion by Hines seconded by Wood to continue the public hearing on the Gael's Chase application for a LIP approval until May 6, 2003 at 8:00 p.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Review Options with respect to tax title property at Main Street (Gray's Towing) — Finance Director Beth Klepeis was present. She noted that the property at 431 Main Street (Global next to McDonalds) was owned by Charles Gray. The Town has foreclosed for failure to pay taxes for four years. Mr. Gray owes $50,000 in back taxes. The property is valued at approximately $775,000. Beth Klepeis noted that the Land Court has deeded the property over to the Town and the options are: (1) notify the owner and sell the property, or (2) notify the owner and work with him to pay the back taxes and vacate the foreclosure. She also noted that many registered letters have been sent to Mr. Gray and multiple notices have been ignored. Mr. Gray rents out the property. Selectman George Hines asked if the signature cards were sent back, and Beth Klepeis noted that they were but she thinks it was Charles Gray Sr. who signed them. The Town Manager noted that some of the property could be used to widen the intersection. The property could be used for something other than a gas station. Selectman George Hines noted that the Town should put forth the same effort as any other property. He feels there should be personal contact to understand the situation. Selectman Richard Schubert suggested sending another notice. Vice Chairman Matthew Cummings noted that we gave 30 days notice for Libby Avenue. He suggests giving the 30 days notice but begin the process to dispose of the property in 30 days. The Board directed Beth Klepeis to have a Constable deliver a letter to the property owner, and to report back to the Board in 30 days. Continued Hearing — LIP Policy — The Town Manager reviewed the changes he made to the policy. Selectman Gail Wood indicated that we should require plans to scale. The Town Manager noted that the Town Planner will determine what is appropriate. The Town Manager noted that we need standards for affordable so we used 70% of the median household income. Vice Chairman Matthew Cummings suggested leaving out the 70%. Board of Selectmen Meeting—April 1, 2003 —Page 6 Selectman Richard Schubert referred to Section 13.01.2 Resale and asked what happens after 120 days of marketing to the affordable. The Town Manager noted that CHAPA develops a marketing outreach and lottery. Vice Chairman Matthew Cummings suggested adding notification to the Reading Housing Authority when the 120 days is started. The Town Manager will email the draft policy to the Board for their changes and bring this back for approval. Approval of Minutes A motion by Wood seconded by Hines to approve the minutes of March 4, 2003, as amended, was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Wood seconded by Schubert to approve the minutes of March 11, 2003 was approved by a vote of 4-0-1, with Hines abstaining; A motion by Wood seconded by Hines to approve the minutes of March 25, 2003 was approved by a vote of 4-0-1,with Cummings abstaining. A motion by Schubert seconded by Cummings to adjourn the meeting of April 1, 2003 at 10:35 p.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0 and the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Secretary