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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-09-02 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting September 2, 2003 z f The meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Birch Meadow School Cafeteria, 27 Arthur B. Lord Drive, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman George Hines, Vice Chairman Richard Schubert, Secretary Gail Wood, Selectmen Camille Anthony and Matthew Cummings, Superintendent of Schools Pat Schettini, Recreation Administrator John Feudo, Town Planner Chris Reilly, Town Counsel Joan Langsam, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Kristin Kinsella, Carol Patterson, Pete Dahl, Carl McFadden, Dino Cuscuna, Gary Bernard, Steve Secher, Debbie McCulley, Kerry Bramhall, Stacy Smith, David Lane, George Rio. A motion by Cummings seconded by Wood to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of strategy with respect to litigation and to come back into Open Session at approximately 7:30 p.m. was approved on a roll call vote with Hines, Schubert, Wood and Cummings voting in the affirmative. The Board reconvened in Open Session at 7:35 p.m. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Selectman Camille Anthony noted that she has been meeting with the Finance Committee to do brainstonning. Public Comment—There was no public comment. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: ♦ We are working on the second issue of "Your Community Connection" to go out in September. Camille Anthony has lined up a sponsor for the printing and mailing. ♦ The Town's "emergency warning" sirens are repaired and ready to be tested. October 4th is the first test, giving time to let residents know of the testing. ♦ There will be a tour of the landfill development tentatively scheduled for September 18th at 5:30 p.m. Invited are the Board of Selectmen, CPDC, Conservation Commission and the Board of Health with staffs, as well as the Town's legislative delegation. ♦ The Financial Forum meets tomorrow night, September 3rd, at the Coolidge Middle School. Major agenda items include discussion on the financing plan for the Reading Memorial High School project, review of the FY 2004 Budget and whether to establish a Stabilization Fund, and the beginning of the FY 2005 Budget process. ♦ The Reading Fire Department has sent out a letter to businesses asking for support for the new Advanced Life Support (ALS) Program. The Town has adequate funds to begin the program but we are in need of additional equipment and supplies to optimize the program. ♦ The Home Rule petition to make West Street in Reading a "Heavy Vehicle Exclusion" has _ __ been filed in the House. I will keep you apprised of the progress of this bill. Board of Selectmen Meeting—September 2, 2003 —Page 2 ♦ The School Committee is holding a meeting on September l lth at 7:00 p.m. to discuss with "Veterans and Friends" the proposed RMHS project, and how to provide for an appropriate Veterans' memorial as part of the school construction. ♦ We have awarded the Special Needs contract for Reading Recreation to EMARC. This is a change from the previous vendor and the change is the result of a process of soliciting proposals and evaluating them. ♦ The Conservation Commission has issued a Determination of Applicability for the playground at Hunt Park. A neighborhood group is raising funds to replace the playground in this location and this was the first step. ♦ There is a hearing before the ZBA this Thursday on the property at 1375 Main Street. This was a 40b project, and the issue is the % coverage in the aquifer protection zone. The developer has not conformed to approved plans and is slightly over (750 square feet) on the amount of impervious cover. ♦ I have been invited to participate as an evaluator in the John F. Kennedy School's "Innovations in American Government" Program. There is a $300 stipend for my participation, and all work will be done on my own time. ♦ Free Cash has been certified at $1,707,000. This is a good number but still short of the target of$2,750,000 based on the Town's annual budget. ♦ CPDC is holding a workshop meeting on September 8th on potential rezoning of property on Main Street near South Street. This would be consistent with the Town's master plan. Personnel and Appointments Council on Aging — The Board interviewed Kristin Kinsella and Carol Patterson for two terms on the Council on Aging. Anthony moved and Schubert seconded to place the following names into nomination for one position on the Council on Aging with a term expiring June 30, 2005: Kristin Kinsella and Carol Patterson. Ms. Kinsella received five votes and was appointed. Anthony moved and Wood seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Council on Aging with a term expiring June 30 2006• Carol Patterson. Ms. Patterson received five votes and was appointed. Discussion/Action Items Preview Warrant for Subsequent Town Meeting — The Town Manager reviewed the proposed Warrant Articles. He noted that Article 4 is to amend the FY 2004 Budget, Article 5 establishes a stabilization fund, Article 6 approves debt authorization for Chapter 90, Article 7 authorizes debt for the design of the Water Treatment Plant, Article 8 authorizes debt for buy-in to the MWRA, Article 9 approves sidewalks for Franklin Street, and Article 10 is to amend previous debt authorization to transfer debt for the RMHS schematics to the RMHS project. The Town Manager noted that there is approximately $24,000 left over in the account for the schematic drawings of the High School. The School Committee wants it transferred to the project account. - Board of Selectmen Meeting—September 2 2003 —Page 3 Selectman Matthew Cummings indicated that if the money is not being expended, then don't levy it. --- School Committee Chairman Pete Dahl noted that the money that was approved for the design is being used for that. He also noted that the timetables are built around a strict schedule. If we go out to bid and the bids come back high, then we could use the extra money to offset it or go out to bid again. Selectman Matthew Cummings asked what allows money voted for one thing to be used for another. The Town Manager noted that the uses are similar and he would have Bond Counsel look at it first. Selectman Gail Wood noted that the voters had voted money for certain things. This money would be to enhance the project. She hoped the school would come in under budget. If we move money elsewhere, we will be setting a precedence. She feels that the money should be returned if it is not spent on the specified project. The amount of money doesn't bother her, it's the principle of the matter. Pete Dahl noted that the schematics are an ongoing process and the intention is not to enhance the project. Chairman George Hines noted that if the work gets done under the estimate, then the full amount - shouldn't be levied. i Superintendent of Schools Pat Schettim noted that Beth Klepeis has Counsel looking into the legality of the process. The Town Manager noted that Article 11 is to transfer some of the "new" elementary school debt to the Barrows School project. The "new" school has been bid and there are overages. Barrows hasn't been bid yet so they want to transfer money from one project to another. Selectman Gail Wood noted that this topic was the subject of three separate votes of the populous. She feels that if the School Department needs extra money, then they should go back to the populous. Pete Dahl noted that if the $30,000 isn't transferred, then we could end up paying double for bussing, redesign, etc. School Committee Member Carl McFadden noted that the School Committee is being fiscally responsible because they could have added things in to use up the money but they didn't. The Town Manager noted that Article 12 is for residency requirement for members of Boards, Committees and Commissions, Article 13 is to amend the General Bylaw re: disposal of surplus property, Article 14 amends the smoking policy to make it consistent with the law, and Article 15 is a ZBA article re: non-conforming structures. I Board of Selectmen Meeting—September 2, 2003 —Page 4 Decision to Combine the Local Election with the Presidential Primary Election — The Town Manager noted that the Local Election would normally be held on April 6, 2004 but if we combine it with the Presidential Primary Election on March 2, 2004, then there will be a cost savings. A motion by Wood seconded by Anthony to set the date for the 2004 Local Election as March 2, 2004 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Hearing — Relocation of Imagination Station and Approval of Site for Skateboard Park The Secretary read the hearing notice. The Town Manager noted that the Board had a presentation over one year ago by youngsters who wanted a skateboard park at Memorial Park. The Selectmen directed the Recreation Committee to another site. The proposal is to move Imagination Station to the Higgins property and to build a skateboard park at the current site of Imagination Station. Recreation Administrator John Feudo reviewed the background information and Town Planner Chris Reilly reviewed the plans. Chris Reilly noted that the RMHS renovations may include access through Imagination Station. The Town Manager noted that the Selectmen need to make a tentative decision. An application for wetlands would have to be filed. The construction of the Pitman Bike Path would have to be coordinated, and fundraising for Imagination Station and the skateboard park would have to be done. f Dino Cuscuna of 21 Estate Lane asked if there would be an additional cost to rebuild the Imagination Station at a new site. He suggested putting the skateboard park on the Town Common or at the Home Depot. He noted that his neighbor had problems with the Conservation Commission because his swing set was too close to the Conservation land. He feels Imagination Station should not be moved. Gary Bernard asked why the other sites that the Recreation Committee suggested were not being considered. Chairman George Hines noted that the Selectmen couldn't reach a consensus on the other sites. Steve Secher of 110 John Carver Road noted that he lives 300-400 yards from the Higgins property, and feels it is not the appropriate site for Imagination Station. He also noted that he was fined for moving dirt on his own land, and there is no parking at the Higgins site. Debbie McCulley of 52 Wakefield Street noted that the Imagination Station was built in 1990 and it cost $73,000 and was maintained for eight years. She also noted that she had a letter indicating that the life of the playground would be cut in half if it was not maintained. She noted that the Board of Selectmen voted in 1988 not to put Imagination Station on the Higgins site because it was not big enough and there was no parking. i Board of Selectmen Meeting—September 2 2003 —Page 5 Kerry Bramhall of 11 John Street Court noted that Imagination Station and the skateboard park 1 should be two separate issues. She also noted that the funding for the skateboard park is already in place -- they just need a small parking lot. She feels the Recreation Committee's - recommendations have been ignored. Selectman Gail Wood noted that Memorial Park failed because the tennis courts failed in visibility, accessibility and no parking. Kerry Bramhall noted that Chief Silva indicated that he could put a camera there to monitor the activities. Stacy Smith of 40 Dudley Street noted that she is against moving Imagination Station and feels the two issues should be dealt with separately. Pete Dahl noted that there currently are no plans to use the Imagination Station site for anything, but they are still four weeks away from having a more complete set of plans. David Lane of 43 Woodland Street suggested putting pavement down at the kickboard for the skateboard park. George Rio of 11 Estate Lane noted that the Higgins property is Conservation land and a special permit is needed just to move a dead tree. He also noted that parking is difficult in that location. A motion by Wood seconded by Anthony to close the hearing on the relocation of Imagination Station was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. I 1 Orders of Taking for Street Acceptances—The Town Manager noted that these are 10 additional streets that need to be accepted by the Selectmen. A motion by Wood seconded by Schubert to adopt an Order of Taking of the Layout, pursuant to Mass. General Laws, Chapter 82, Section 24, for each of the following roadways located in Reading Massachusetts, as each layout was accepted by vote under Article 17 of the 2003 Annual Town Meeting voted on May 8, 2003: Emerald Drive Haystack Road Kurchian Lane Milepost Road Old Farm Road Pond Meadow Drive Rice Road Riverside Drive Sanborn Lane Symonds Way was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Approval of Minutes A motion by Schubert seconded by Cummings to approve the minutes of July 22, 2003 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. f A motion by Schubert seconded by Anthony to approve the minutes of July 29, 2003 as amended, was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Board of Selectmen Meeting—September 2, 2003 —Page 6 A motion by Schubert seconded by Anthony to approve the minutes of August 5, 2003, as amended, was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Schubert seconded by Anthony to approve the minutes of August 19, 2003 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Schubert seconded by Wood to adjourn the meeting of September 2, 2003 at 10:15 p.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted, t c Secretary