HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-06-24 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
June 24, 2003
The meeting convened at 7:32 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 (arrived 8:00
p.m.) and Gail Wood, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Paula Schena and the following
list of interested parties: Marcie West, Nicole Cain, Mark Gillis, Robert Redfern, Doug Greene,
Larry Goulet, Nancy Eaton, Richard Ciriello, Kelly Meier, Susan DeMatteo, Wilbar Hoxie, Ted
Smethurst, Charles McDonald, Attorney Mark Gallant, Mr. Posterman.
Reports and Comments
Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Selectman Gail Wood noted that the West Street
Historical District Study Committee is sending a letter to the abutters on West Street and they
would like a response.
Selectman Richard Schubert noted that the Route 128/93 Task Force met to review the scope of
work.
Chairman Camille Anthony noted that she received a phone call from Mary Ellen O'Neill
regarding a visioning session on July 10th from 6:30-8:30 and she would like a Selectman to
attend. She also received a phone call from Dale Merrill regarding the Open House on Thursday
from 6:00 to 9:00 to see the Studio and for a farewell for Amy Brough.
Public Comment—There was no public comment.
Town Manager's Report
The Town Manager gave the following report:
♦ The landfill contractor has begun hauling Water Treatment Plant residuals to the landfill.
The work is going well, although the amount of the residuals is somewhat larger than
anticipated. The completed hauling should be complete by the end of this week or early next
week. A notice went to all properties along the route.
♦ Work on the Walkers Brook Drive improvements should begin after the holiday.
♦ The white lines painted on many streets in Reading are the areas that we anticipate cutting
out pavement and patching it this late Summer or early Fall. The work is anticipated to take
place on the streets that are the highest priority as identified in the pavement management
plan. Additionally, we will begin the crack sealing program this Summer—probably in July.
These are moneys approved by the voters to be expended on pavement management as part
of the Proposition 2 %2 operating override this year.
♦ I am working with Representative Brad Jones and the MHD on funding for Summer Avenue.
Meanwhile, we will be getting prices to do a milling and overlay on Summer and Hopkins
Streets to repair the areas disrupted by the water line project. This work will be useful in
i doing the full Summer Avenue project.
♦ The 128/I-93 Task Force is meeting on 6-26-03 in Woburn.
♦ The Finance Committee will be meeting on 6-25-03.
Board of Selectmen Meetin4—June 24, 2003—Page 4
Wood moved and Cummings seconded to place the following name into nomination for one
position on the Historical Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2006: Wilbar Hoxie
Mr. Hoxie received five votes and was appointed.
Cummings moved and Anthony seconded to place the following names into nomination for
three Associate positions on the Historical Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2004:
Sarah List, Sharlene Santo and Patricia Greichen. Each candidate received five votes and
were appointed.
Land Bank Committee— The Board interviewed Ted Smethurst for a position on the Land Bank
Committee.
Anthony moved and Cummings seconded to place the following name into nomination for
one position on the Land Bank Committee with a term expiring June 30, 2006: Edward
Smethurst. Mr. Smethurst received five votes and was appointed.
Human Relations Advisory Committee — The Board interviewed Charles McDonald for a
position on the Human Relations Advisory Committee.
Schubert moved and Cummings seconded to place the following name into nomination for
one position on the Human Relations Advisory Committee with a term expiring June 30,
2006: Charles McDonald. Mr. McDonald received five votes and was appointed.
Discussion/Action Items
Board of Selectmen Reorizanization—The Board turned the meeting over to the Town Manager.
Cummings moved and Wood seconded to place the following name into nomination as
Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for a term expiring June 30, 2004: George Hines. A
motion by Cummings seconded by Wood to close the nominations was approved by a vote
of 4-0-1, with Hines abstaining. There being no other nominations, Mr. Hines received four
votes and was appointed Chairman.
The Town Manager turned the meeting over to Chairman George Hines.
Cummings moved and Anthony seconded to place the following name into nomination as
Vice Chairman of the Board of Selectmen: Richard Schubert. A motion by Cummings
seconded by Anthony to close the nominations was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. There
being no other nominations, Mr. Schubert received five votes and was appointed Vice
Chairman.
Anthony moved and Cummings seconded the place the following name into nomination as
Secretary for the Board of Selectmen: Gail Wood. A motion by Anthony seconded by
Cummings to close the nominations was approved by a vote of 4-0-1, with Wood
abstaining. There being no other nominations, Mrs. Wood received four votes and was
appointed Secretary.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 24, 2003 —Page 5
Hearing — 24 Hour License — Motiva d/b/a Reading Shell Station — The Secretary read the
hearing notice.
Attorney Mark Gallant and Mr. Posterman were present. The Town Manager noted that Motiva
had a 24 hour license for a number of years but during renewal concerns were raised about clean
up of a gasoline leak.
Attorney Gallant noted that he has gone to the Conservation Commission with a 'Phase 4
implementation plan.
Mr. Posterman noted that they will be injecting micros into the soil to speed up the process.
Selectman Camille Anthony asked about monitoring, and Mr. Posterman noted that they will
monitor for methane and it is regulatory to monitor for two years.
Selectman Camille Anthony asked how long the tank was leaking, and Mr. Posterman indicated
that it was an instant release of 400-600 gallons. She also asked why it wasn't cleaned up, and
Mr. Posterman noted that they tried various ways and are now using biological. She asked if the
tanks were double walled, and Mr. Posterman indicated that they were but the leak was at the
coupling.
Vice Chairman Richard Schubert asked if the valves had containment, and Mr. Posterman
indicated that they do now. He also asked how fast the micros work, and Mr. Posterman noted
about one year.
Selectman Gail Wood asked how frequently the monitoring will be done, and Mr. Posterman
indicated monthly for the first three months and then quarterly. There is a two-week turnaround
on the lab samples.
Selectman Camille Anthony noted that it was nice to have a station that is open 24 hours but she
expects it to be run correctly. She wants to talk to the owner of the station.
Selectman Matthew Cummings indicated that he would like to know the difference in time
between when the leak was seen and when the inventory report was done.
Selectman Gail Wood noted that this gas station is irresponsibly run and a hazard to the
community.
A motion by Schubert seconded by Anthony to continue the hearing to July 29, 2003 at
9:00 p.m. was approved by a vote of 4-1-0, with Cummings opposed.
A motion by Wood seconded by Schubert to extend the 24 hour license to July 31, 2003,
under the same terms and conditions was approved by a vote of 4-1-0, with Cummings
opposed.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 24, 2003 —Pa eg_6
Chairman George Hines indicated that for the next hearing the Board wants a description of
events including when it was reported to the Fire Department, a corporate rep with authority
from Motiva must be present, the Conservation Commission will be invited to the meeting, and
Fran Fink will write to DEP concerning their input.
Approval of Minutes
A motion by Cummings seconded by Anthony to approve the Executive Session Minutes of
June 10, 2003 was approved by a vote of 4-0-1, with Wood abstaining.
A motion by Cummings seconded by Schubert to adjourn the meeting of June 24, 2003 at
10:35 p.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Resctfully submitted,
Secretary