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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-07-30 Board of Selectmen Minutes - Board of Selectmen Meeting July 30, 2002 The meeting convened at 9:05 p.m. in the Audio Visual Room at the Reading Municipal Light Department, 230 Ash Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Secretary Richard Schubert, Selectmen George Hines and Gail Wood, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Edmund Balboni, Audrey Doyle, Jeffrey Everson, James McDonald, Neil Sullivan and William Webster. Personnel and Appointments Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on the Route 128/1-93 Interchange - The Board of Selectmen interviewed the following six candidates. Edmund Balboni, Audrey Doyle, Jeffrey Everson, James McDonald, Neil Sullivan and William Webster. Ed Balboni was interviewed and made a long and detailed presentation. Selectman Gail Wood asked Mr. Balboni if he felt that the committee would come up with an alternative design for the site and he indicated that they would. When also asked if he felt that homeowners would get farther as individuals or as a group in dealing with review of the appraisals, Mr. Balboni felt that they should work together. He indicated that he was not a member of either THAG or PRESERVE. Selectman Richard Schubert asked if Mr. Balboni had read the policy and he indicated that he had. He also asked if he had the time to spend on this issue and he indicated that he was retired. Selectman Richard Schubert asked Mr. Balboni what one thing he would bring to the committee, and he indicated that he would bring experience. Selectman George Hines asked Mr. Balboni if he felt that there was a problem, and he indicated that there was. He also asked if he thought there was solution, and Mr. Balboni indicated that there probably is. He asked if he would have time to spend on this issue since he's also a member of the Board of Appeals and the Board of Appeals is very busy. Mr. Balboni indicated that he would. Jeff Everson was interviewed. He felt the committee should be a technical watchdog with MHD but it was not the committee's role to come up with a design. Selectman Gail Wood asked how we could get Mass Highway to do a cost benefit analysis when they may not want to do it. Mr. Everson indicated that the committee would need to "publicize it to the hilt." Selectman George Hines asked Mr. Everson if he felt there was a congestion and safety problem. He indicated that there was, and talked about some potential solutions including incident management. Selectman Richard Schubert asked Mr. Everson if he had the time availability, and he indicated that he would make the time, and felt that we needed to kill this current project now. Board of Selectmen Meeting—July 30, 2002—Page 2 James McDonald was interviewed. He indicated that he was a newly minted lawyer and he is doing some work in eminent domain with the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority right now. Selectman Richard Schubert asked Mr. McDonald if he had enough experience to bring value to the committee. He noted that he was not an expert. He has good research skills and some experience, and feels that he has the time to devote to it. Neil Sullivan was interviewed as the CPDC member to the committee, and he indicated that he felt we needed to work with Woburn and Stoneham to stop this particular project. Audrey Doyle was interviewed. She is proposed as the PRESERVE member on the committee. She indicated that she fears for her quality of life and for that of her neighbors, and feels passionately about stopping the project as proposed. Selectman George Hines asked Ms. Doyle if there was a solution, and she indicated that she doesn't think the problem has been properly identified. The problem is rush hour. She would want to see some modest improvements like a zipper lane implemented and evaluated before going to a larger project. Selectman Gail Wood asked Ms. Doyle how she would feel if she were told that some solutions like that would not work. She indicated that she would not accept it if she were just told it but would be open to some demonstration and proof. Selectman George Hines asked Ms. Doyle how she would feel about solutions like the extension of the orange line to Reading and whether she would support it. She indicated that she would support it. Selectman Richard Schubert asked Ms. Doyle how often PRESERVE meets, and it was noted that they meet weekly. He commended Ms. Doyle on her passion with regard to this issue. Bill Webster was interviewed. He noted that he had become directly involved in this project through THAG because his was a property that was going to be directly affected. He feels that Mass Highway put out a large design which they can then retreat from -- that way they would look good. Mass Highway indicated that they would get back in writing to proponents of some alternative designs including the McGonigle plan. He feels that we need to involve the other communities. He is retired and has time to spend on this issue. He has no special expertise other than being directly affected. Selectman Gail Wood noted that Mr. Webster does have an additional skill which is common sense. Selectman George Hines asked Mr. Webster if he felt that there was a solution to the problem. He agreed that there is a problem and that there may be a solution. THAG meets Wednesdays every two to three weeks. Board of Selectmen Meeting—July 30, 2002—Page 3 - The interviews having been concluded, Wood moved and Hines seconded a motion to place the following names into nomination for six positions on the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on the Route 128/I-93 Interchange: Edmund Balboni, Audrey Doyle (PRESERVE member), Jeffrey Everson, James McDonald, Neil Sullivan (CPDC), William A. Webster (THAG member). Ed Balboni received two votes and was not appointed. The other five candidates received three votes each and were appointed. On motion by Wood seconded by Schubert, George Hines was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Route 128/93 Interchange by a vote of 3-0-0. Selectman George Hines noted that he will want to talk to the Committee about the Chairmanship and other officers. On motion by Hines seconded by Wood, the Selectmen voted to adjourn their meeting of July 30, 2002 at 10:25 p.m. on a vote of 3-0-0. Resp ctfully�ssu�bmitte , Secretary