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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-05-14 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting May 14, 2002 The meeting convened at 7:37 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman George Hines, Vice Chairman Camille Anthony, Selectmen Richard Schubert and Gail Wood, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Counsel Joan Langsam, Public Works Director Ted McIntire, Town Planner Anne Krieg, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Fred Van Magness, Mark Beckley, Bill Upham, Joanne Fitzgerald, Laurie Tuelan, Ray Porter, Rob Travers, Amy Brough, Richard Cohen, Dick Howard, Frank Keene, Attorney Jim Whyte. Public Comment Ray Porter, a resident of Berkley Street, noted that he was the sponsor of an Article at Town Meeting regarding conflict of interest and he was disappointed that it failed. He also noted that he received a copy of the State Ethics Commission Bulletin and it indicates that action was taken against Town Counsel Joan Langsam. He got a copy of the disposition and distributed it to the Board. Joan Langsam was fined $3500 for hiring her husband as a Project Manager for the City of Somerville. Chairman George Hines noted that the Board was aware of this issue. Joan Langsam noted that it was a politically motivated complaint. It was a violation of Section 19 which states that she couldn't participate unless she made a disclosure. She did make a disclosure -- the Mayor knew who her husband was. She was on trial and disclosed the conflict when she came off of the trial. She used a boilerplate contract. She was penalized because she didn't make the disclosure earlier. Chairman Hines asked if any member of the Board of Selectmen wanted to take any further action on this matter. There was no motion by any member of the Board and the Chairman indicated that review/discussion on the matter is completed. Discussion/Action Items Review Options with Respect to the RMLD - Chairman George Hines noted that he asked Town Counsel to look at options for restructuring the RMLD. He wants to know.if there is any level of interest in pursuing these options. Joan Langsam noted that most of the scenarios would take a Charter amendment. She noted five options: (1) amend the Charter so that Municipal Light Board Members are appointed; (2) make the Town Manager the Manager of the Light Department; (3) make the Town Manager the Manager of the Light Department with an Appointed Municipal Light Board; (4) eliminate the Municipal Light Board and establish control under the Board of Selectmen or (5) a temporary solution would be to put it in temporary receivership. Selectman Gail Wood asked if any of these options would change the 20 year agreement with the other towns. Joan Langsam noted that it would not unless there is a prohibition in it. Board of Selectmen Meeting—May 14. 2002 —Page 3 School and security of the equipment are issues that will be resolved at their meeting with RCTV on May 29, 2002. Amy Brough, Executive Director of RCTV, noted that Rob Travers called her and asked if the current equipment has the ability to be stereo. She also noted that the equipment was mounted by AT&T and she couldn't find the information that he was looking for. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked Ms. Brough where we got the modulator, and Ms. Brough indicated from Media One. Mr. Travers indicated that the equipment that was handed over is RCTV's and anything over and above is the responsibility of the Town. Ms. Brough noted that the agreement states stereo and it should have been stereo to begin with. Richard Cohen, President of the RCTV Board of Directors, noted that no other towns pay for their equipment. Rob Travers referred to Article 5 and noted that the signal in stereo is at the head end -- it does not refer to access. Richard Cohen noted that he negotiated the contract and he specifically remembers having it put in the contract because the High School band wants to transmit in stereo. Jim Whyte, Attorney for AT&T, noted that customer service has improved dramatically since January-- they have hired 1000 representatives. Chairman George Hines asked where calls are going when a Reading resident calls. Mr. Travers noted mostly Chelsmford but could be Florida or Atlanta. He also noted that billing questions can be outsourced and trouble calls are routed locally. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked how long we have been dealing with the I-Loop problem. Ms. Brough indicated for four years -- since the beginning of RCTV. The Town Manager noted that the I-Loop connects all of the municipal buildings in Town. They agreed it would work for audio and video. When we had a problem, all they did was drop off some cable. Ms. Brough noted that the central location at the High School is the old cable TV location. She has been told that the buildings are connected with soft cable and it is degrading. The Town Manager noted that the installation that was done in 1987 is a joke. It is a tangled mess of wires in a power box with extension cords. He indicated that AT&T should want to fix the problem. Selectman Richard Schubert asked if conditions could be added to the approval. The Town Manager noted that management capability is the only condition. Selectman Richard Schubert noted that this is the same team and the issues have not been resolved. Board of Selectmen Meeting—MU 14 2002 —Page 5 Hearing — Compost Center Hours — Vice Chairman Camille Anthony read the hearing notice. Public Works Director Ted McIntire noted that there has been a 22% reduction in the number of days. He also noted that he tried to reduce at the time of year when the traffic is slower. He noted that Sundays in April have been eliminated and he has added November 11th back in. The Town Manager noted that we will try to keep the Compost Center open on Monday and Fridays in the Summer months with Senior Tax Workers. Selectman Gail Wood suggested cutting the January day to four hours. Ted McIntire noted that residents traditionally expect it to be open until 2:30 p.m. Chairman George Hines noted that we are charging an access fee and cutting back hours. He feels that if we are going to reduce the hours by 22%, then there should be a 22% reduction in fees. Fred Van Magness suggested having the Compost Center open from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Mondays. Ted McIntire noted that access to the Compost Center is the same as the access to the Water Treatment Plant which gets closed at 2:30 p.m. -- it's a security issue. Anthony moved and Schubert seconded to approve the Compost Center hours as presented on May 14, 2002. Wood moved and Anthony seconded to amend the motion to limit the January day to four hours. The motion to amend failed by a*vote of 1-3-0, with Schubert, Hines and Anthony opposed. The main motion was approved by a vote of 3-1-0, with Hines opposed. Follow Up on 40B Process — Town Planner Anne Krieg noted that Longwood has requested the zoning process. She also noted that with a specified zoning process, the CPDC sends the draft zoning to the Board of Selectmen for placement on the Warrant. The Board of Selectmen then returns to CPDC for hearings. Ms. Krieg reviewed the comprehensive permit process. She noted that the Town has 30 days to comment on the project to the funding source. She also noted that the applicant has to meet with staff first, then a public hearing is held within 30 days of filing and the Development Review Team reviews the application. Chairman George Hines noted that the Town is attempting to work with the developer to develop zoning as an alternative to a comprehensive pen-nit which can benefit the community. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked if CPDC should require a more substantial traffic study. Ms. Krieg noted that it is a cursory traffic study. The Town Manager noted that after Town Meeting approves the zoning, then the developer will do a frill blown traffic study. CPDC Chainnan Dick Howard noted that the traffic study with a no build condition goes from 500 to 1500 per day because of Callan. He also noted that they can recommend to the ZBA to expand the scope of the study to include Lowe's and Kohl's. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked if the ZBA could restrict the number of units based on - traffic counts. Dick Howard noted that they could approve with offsite mitigation. He also noted that the traffic study will be peer reviewed and the zoning article sets the maximum density.