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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-02-05 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting February 5, 2002 The meeting convened at 7:33 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman George Hines, Vice Chairman Camille Anthony, Secretary Matthew Cummings, Selectmen Rick Schubert and Gail Wood, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties. Bill Brown, Gerry MacDonald, Dick McDonald, Bob Brown, Pete Dahl, Susan Cavicchi, Allan Ames, Vinnie Cameron, Bill Griset, Chuck Robinson, Karen Epstein, Dennis LaCroix, Alex McRae, Jacquelyn Mandell, Linda Phillips, Russell Graham and Timothy Twomey. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Vice Chairman Camille Anthony noted that she met with the Library Board of Trustees regarding budget. The Library is having an Open House on March 23, 2002. Selectman Rick Schubert noted that he met with staff and representatives from Boards, Committees and Commissions regarding Spence Farm. He reviewed the pros and cons of buying the property. The end result is that it would be a high risk for a minimal reward. There was discussion by the Board regarding voting on this matter tonight, and the consensus was to delay to a future meeting so appropriate notice could be given to abutters and Archstone. Selectman Gail Wood noted that she is running for re-election. She attended the Selectmen's Forum. She also attended a Recreation Committee Meeting regarding a skateboard park proposal, and a meeting of the Cemetery Board regarding the trust fund. Chairman George Hines noted that he attended the CPDC Workshop regarding Longwood. He also noted that the Court has found in favor of the Board of Selectmen in their decision to remove the former Chairman of the Conservation Commission. Public Comment—There was no public comment. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: ♦ Reminder — Please make sure that you license your dog. If the dog is no longer living in Reading, please let the Town Clerk's Office know. ♦ Nomination papers are now available in the Town Clerk's Office for the Town Election. All Town Meeting seats are up for election because of the implementation of re-districting as a result of the 2000 Census. Papers are due back in the Town Clerk's Office by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12. They must be delivered in hand to the Town Clerk. ♦ The results from the Questionnaire in the Census have been tabulated. The question was - - "How do you get information about Reading Town Government events and issues?" There are 4187 responses to date: Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 5, 2002—Page2 Chronicle 28.6% Advocate 23.1% RCTV 18.0% Town WEB page 2.2% Other 6.8% Not chosen 21.3% TOTAL 100% This information will be very helpful to us in deciding how to best communicate with our residents. ♦ The Kick-Off for the"Bullying Program" at.Birch Meadow School will be 2-12-02. ♦ Four members of the Board of Selectmen and I attended the MMA Annual Meeting last month in Boston. The cost of attending was $99 per person, and the meeting was all day Friday and all day Saturday. A memo on the sessions attended is attached. ♦ Reading received a Wellness Award at the MIIA Annual Meeting earlier this month. ♦ The Chamber of Commerce has requested the designation of a liaison from the Board of Selectmen to attend their monthly Board of Directors' Meetings. ♦ The Fire and Police Chiefs, DPW Director, Health Services Administrator, representatives of the School Department, RMLD representative and I participated in an exercise to test our emergency plan on January 22, 2002. The event scheduled was a"Table Top" exercise and was run by the Mystic Regional Local Emergency Planning Committee. ♦ The Town has received an offer of a donation of 4.342 acres of land on Brook Street to Conservation. Staff is evaluating the proposed donation of this wetland and will have a recommendation in the near future. ♦ The RCTV Annual Meeting was on Friday, January 25`h, and it was very well attended. ♦ I met with the Cemetery Board of Trustees last week, and they have agreed to continue to fund a portion of the expenses for overhead for the Cemetery Division from the bequest funds, although in a slightly lower amount than was funded last year and the year before. The bequest funds are in very good shape— a copy of Beth Klepeis' five year history of the trust funds is attached to this report. ♦ The CPDC held a very well attended meeting last evening on the future of the Longwood Poultry Farm, and will evaluate the results of that meeting in determining how to proceed. The property is zoned for single family homes — a little more than 50 could be built. The property owner has indicated an intent to file a Comprehensive Permit for 288 units of housing, or an alternative zoning for a planned development that the owner is willing to work on with the Town. ♦ Open burning by permit began on Tuesday, January 15, 2002, and will end on Tuesday, April 30, 2002. ♦ Eight additional flags for the Square have been purchased and have been installed thanks to the RMLD. ♦ The Bear Hill Water Tank has been taken out of service for planned inspection, and for installation of a new water valve. It is now back in service. ♦ The Health Division and the DPW have been working to get the beavers in the Line/Track Road area trapped and removed and the dam lowered. The first trapping yielded good results but some additional trapping is needed and will be done immediately. Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 5, 2002—Page 3 ♦ At a fire scene on West Street last Sunday, we had an accident between two of our fire vehicles—one slid into the other on ice. We are insured and are having the adjusters look at the damage and will be having repairs done. Personnel and Appointments Substance Abuse Prevention Advisory Council — The Board interviewed Bob Brown for one position on the Substance Abuse Prevention Advisory Council. Anthony moved and Schubert seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Substance Abuse Prevention Advisory Council with a term expiring June 30, 2003: Bob Brown. Mr. Brown received five votes and was appointed. Discussion/Action Items RMLD — Acting General Manager of the RMLD Vinnie Cameron and RMLB Chairman Allan Ames were present. Chairman George Hines noted that the Light Department was invited in to talk about the paid leave of absence for the General Manager. Allan Ames noted that on January 18, 2002, the Reading Municipal Light Board voted in open session to grant a 30 day paid leave of absence to the General Manager on the advice of their Counsel. Vinnie Cameron has been made Acting General Manager. Chairman George Hines noted that investigations are ongoing by the Inspector General and other charges are being investigated, and it is best conducted with the General Manager removed from the situation. Vinnie Cameron noted that on January 28, 2002, he placed Linda Bernat and Joseph Boyan on paid leave. Since then, Mr. Boyan has retired. Melanson Heath have been conducting the audit for the Town, and Price Cooper Waterhouse is conducting the audit for the RMLD. Choate, Holland and Stewart was hired on January 28, 2002 to investigate personnel issues. Selectman Richard Schubert asked for the timeframe of completing the audit. Vinnie Cameron noted that their audit will take about four months. The Town Manager noted that Melanson Heath's audit will be done around the end of February, beginning of March. Selectman Richard Schubert asked if the timeframe impacted the administrative leave, and Mr. Cameron noted that he would have to wait and see. Selectman Gail Wood asked if Price Cooper Waterhouse has started their audit, and Allan Ames indicated that they have. Selectman Gail Wood noted that there was no public discussion regarding the scope of the audit, and Allan Ames noted that the scope is the charges brought by the Inspector General. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony noted that she was dismayed when she heard that the Light Department's Counsel advised the General Manager not to talk to the Inspector General. She suggested that the Light Board take a second look at their Counsel. Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 5, 2002—Page 4 Selectman Matthew Cummings noted that discussion is lacking at the Light Board Meetings. The motions are made and voted without explanation or thought process. The Town Manager noted that the RMLB Meetings are now televised and copy of tapes go to other communities. Town Manager's Evaluation — Vice Chairman Camille Anthony noted that they were using the same evaluation tool as last year. Out of 170 responses, 155 were graded in the 1's and 2's categories. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony and Selectman Rick Schubert reviewed the evaluation. Follow up will be done on a system of reporting to the Board and system for feedback from Department Heads. The School Committee called to order at 9:17 p.m. Preview Warrant— Annual Town Meetiniz - The Town Manager reviewed the outline of Articles for the Annual Town Meeting. He noted that Ray Porter is requesting an Article requiring financial disclosure for elected officials. The Board requested that Mr. Porter get a petition for this Article. The Town Manager noted that Article 20 is to give the Board of Selectmen authority for service of liquor in public buildings. Town Counsel indicates that the Field House is on Town property but is used for school purposes, so liquor cannot be served there. Chairman George Hines noted that liquor was served there for the 350th Anniversary, and he wants to know what has changed since 1994. School Committee Member Sue Cavicchi noted that she voted for it before but got a lot of phone calls the next day, and she will not vote for it again. Chairman George Hines noted that this would allow adults to show the appropriate use of alcohol. Bill Brown noted that Austin Prep serves alcohol at some of their functions. The Town Manager noted that Article 22 is a petition Article by Bill Brown. Roads C.I.P. — Members of the School Committee, School Building Committee and Finance Committee were present. The Town Manager noted that the Town contracted with a firm to do a road pavement study. The results of that study indicate that to maintain the general standard of our roads, we need to spend$850,000 per year. All we will spend next year is $200,000. The Town Manager suggests asking the voters if they want to maintain their roads. He would recommend a debt exclusion for $700,000 for five years. He noted that a debt exclusion needs Town Meeting approval to put on --- the ballot. A capital override could be done for this year. Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 5 2002—Page5 Selectman Richard Schubert noted that Reading is a hard town for an override, and suggested looking at our priorities and discussing this at the Financial Forum, Selectman Matthew Cummings noted that the roads are a mess and we need to address all of our needs. He feels we need to look at alternative funding. Chairman George Hines noted that State aid has declined. He feels we should let the voters decide. Selectman Gail Wood noted that specific overrides have a better chance of passing, and she feels that the voters are capable of deciding. School Committee Member Pete Dahl noted that items of great importance are being under funded. He suggested funding the priorities; i.e., public safety and let the voters decide the rest. Chairman of the School Building Committee Russ Graham noted that he has a problem with the procedure of adding this to the ballot. School Committee Chairman Tim Twomey indicated that he feels the High School project is more important than the roads. He also feels the voters will get confused if there are too many ballot questions. Selectman Richard Schubert noted that the schools are a good reason why people buy houses in Reading. He has no problem waiting until next year for the roads. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony feels that it is necessary to take care of the Town's assets. She noted that our insurance rates will increase because of potholes, and she feels that the community needs to know this. Linda Phillips noted that people are willing to support if they know what it is for. Selectman Gail Wood noted that she has a problem with a capital exclusion because it leaves out Town Meeting. A motion by Schubert seconded by Anthony to continue the discussion on the roads at the Financial Forum on Monday, February 11, 2002, was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Cummings seconded by Schubert to adjourn their meeting of February 5, 2002 at 11:10 p.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0 and the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, — Secretary