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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-22 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting October 22, 2002 The meeting convened at 7:02 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Camille Anthony, Secretary Richard Schubert, Selectmen George Hines and Gail Wood, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Harry Harutunian, Town Counsels John Gannon and Joan Langsam, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Pete Dahl, L. M. Phillips, Jacquie Mandell, Ruth Goldberg, Judith Mitchell, Bill Griset, Linda Phillips, Peter Wiese, Scott Crowley, Philip Riley, Dave Hersee, Bob Brown. A motion by Wood seconded by Schubert to go into Executive Session for the purpose of strategy with respect to litigation (Fraen and Welch), strategy with respect to the sale of real estate and approval of minutes to come back into Open Session at approximately 7:45 p.m. was approved on a roll call vote with all four Selectmen voting in the affirmative. The Selectmen reconvened in Open Session at 7:45 p.m. Reports and Comments Selectmen's-11 also n Reports and Comments — Selectman Gail Wood reminded the public that tickets were on sale for "Hello Dolly." She attended a meeting of the Storm Water Management Advisory Committee and noted that money will be a problem. The Solid Waste Advisory Committee asked her to inform the public that clean paperboard will be accepted with ' newspapers in the recycling. She noted that the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee met. Bedrock testing has been done at the Town Forest and the yield was not great enough. Testing will be done at Bare Meadow. The Committee is working on the conservation plan as part of the MWRA request for water. Selectman George Hines noted that he attended the street walk of Linnea Lane on Saturday, and the walk will continue for two more Saturdays. He also noted that he was disappointed that the question is on the back of the ballot. The Town Manager noted that only one question is on the front and three questions are on the back. Selectman George Hines noted that there is a problem with stop signs being on telephone poles or on the opposite side of the street, and he requested that an audit of stop signs be done. He also noted that he stopped by the Compost Center and nobody was there, and suggests keeping it open unmanned and have the call person open and lock the gate. Selectman Richard Schubert noted that the School Building Committee is having meetings regarding the options for the High School, and he encourages everyone to attend. He attended the Downtown Steering Committee Meeting to prepare for the streetscape hearing. Chainnan Camille Anthony noted that she attended the Recreation Committee Meeting regarding the skateboard park, and she notified Russ Graham that they are looking at the Birch Meadow area. She also attended a meeting of THAG and hearing on Chapter 40b today in Boston -- it was very interesting. Board of Selectmen Meetin,—October 22 2002 —Paye 2 Public Comment — Members of the Reading Memorial High School Drama Club were present, and noted that tickets to "Hello Dolly" are on sale. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: Personnel ♦ The Fire Department Open House was held last Saturday. ♦ The weekend before, approximately 20 Reading Fire Fighters were in New York City as part of a ceremony of remembrance for fallen New York Fire Fighters. Construction ♦ Haverhill Street repaving is under construction. The project, including the sidewalks, will be done before Winter. This project is fielded using some of the Town's Chapter 90 funds. ♦ A project for sealing the brick work at Town Hall has been awarded. This project was funded a couple of years ago, and has been bid for work this Fall. It is needed to protect the brick work and included cleaning, pointing and sealing. ♦ The Summer Avenue water main contract has been awarded, and work started the week of October 14th. ♦ The Hearing on Downtown Improvements will be held on October 23rd at 7:00 p.m. in the Lecture Hall at the Reading Memorial High School. ♦ Road walks to give residents information about the proposed Road Improvement Debt Exclusion override on November 5th (Question 4) have taken place over the last two weekends. Next weekend, the process will continue on Berkley, Woburn - and Perkins Streets at 2:00 p.m., and on the following Saturday, we will be visiting Wilson and Manning Streets at 10:00 a.m. ♦ The traffic signal on the "Dummy" in Reading Square was blown over on Saturday. The signals in the Square are still on flash until we get the controller fixed. ♦ I have informed the Board of Selectmen that the legal notice process for the Zoning By-Law amendment for the Longwood Farm PUD was flawed -- while the notice of the CPDC hearing did go to the newspaper, they failed to publish it. This matter will have to be taken back to a Town Meeting on a schedule to be determined later this Fall. General ♦ Governor Jane Swift will be in Reading at noon on October 28`x'. She will be presenting a"check" to the Town for the PWED grant for the improvement of Walkers Brook Drive to serve the Walkers Brook Crossing development on the former landfill site. ♦ MHD is beginning to work on setting up the 128/I-93 Task Force that the Town of Reading has requested. ♦ The next Board of Selectmen Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, October 30th, and will be devoted entirely to the Road Improvement Program although calls will be accepted on any topic. Board of Selectmen Meeting— October 22, 2002 —Pare 3 ♦ An Open House is scheduled at Camp Curtis Guild on November 2nd and 3rd -- notice is attached. ---' ♦ Town legal services are budgeted at S3 hours per month for 12 months. Attached is a tracking sheet indicating that for the first 3 months of this year, we are still on track in spite of a very heavy September bill. When one considers the multitude of issues in which the Town has been involved — landfill closure and sale, 40B applications, Special Town Meeting, Warrant for Subsequent Town Meeting, etc., the bill is entirely reasonable. The Board of Selectmen gets a full break- down of the legal services each month. ♦ Residents of"Old" Sanborn Lane have again installed speed bumps on the road. I have again written to them telling them if the speed bumps are there between November 1st and April 15`"the Town will not plow their road and they will bear the liability and responsibility of that action. Proclamations/Certificates of Appreciation Proclamation — United Nations Day - A motion by Schubert seconded by Hines to declare October 24, 2002 as United Nations Day in Reading was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Certificate of Recognition — Matthew D. Johnson, Boy Scout Troop 702 — A motion by Schubert seconded by Hines to approve the Certificate of Recognition for Eagle Scout Matthew D. Johnson was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. ............. Personnel and Appointments Council on Aging — The Board interviewed Ruth Goldberg for one position on the Council on Aging. Hines moved and Schubert seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Council on Aging with a term expiring June 30, 2005: Ruth Goldberg. Ms. Goldberg received four votes and was appointed. Solid Waste Advisory Committee — The Board interviewed Judy Mitchell for one position on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Wood moved and Hines seconded to place the following name into nomination for one position on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee with a term expiring June 30, 2005: Judith Mitchell. Ms. Mitchell received four votes and was appointed. Discussion/Action Items Review Warrant — Subsequent Town Meeting; Revolving Fund and Pay/Classification Plan — The Town Manager noted that there is a memo from Brackett & Lucas on the last page of the handout regarding whether the Town should transfer land to the School Department to get the most reimbursement from SBA. The School Committee approved a motion to develop a lease when we know what land will be needed. Board of Selectmen Meeting— October 22 2002 —Pa-,e 4 School Committee Chairman Bill Griset noted that the motion in the handout is not what the School Committee voted. Town Counsel John Gannon noted that there was a redundant phrase that was removed. The Town Manager noted that much of Birch Meadow is in ownership of the Town as a playground. The School Committee would receive care, custody and control for the term of the lease. Selectman Richard Schubert noted that there is a letter from Christine Lynch of the Mass. Department of Education indicating that they are under no objection for renovation of the Field House. Selectman George Hines noted that "renovations" is in italics. Dr. Harry Harutunian read the letter into the record. Selectman George Hines asked if the lease will be done before Town Meeting, and the Town Manager indicated that it would not. Selectman George Hines noted that there could be difficulty in agreeing on the precise language of the lease and force the Board of Selectmen to accept a lease they do not want. He indicated there needs to be an agreement in principal before he will vote to support because we need to protect the needs of the Recreation Department. Town Counsel Joan Langsam indicated that a Letter of Intent could be done. Bill Griset referred to the language "under such terms and conditions as are deemed appropriate by the Board of Selectmen." He asked if the terms and conditions relate to the terms of the lease and not care, custody and control. John Gannon that noted it would be such issues such as the Town not losing scheduling ability. ' - Selectman George Hines asked if park land needed legislation. John Gannon noted that none of the parcels are park land. Dr. Harry Harutunian noted that there is one issue with the boys practice field and the boys track. They would like to move the concession stand so that it will be open for other events. He indicated that they hope to get as much SBA as possible. Pete Dahl indicated that they could also make improvements to Castine Field. Selectman Gail Wood noted that it is important that scheduling of fields remain as is for the Recreation Department. Pete Dahl noted that they schedule for the High School activities first and then the Town activities. Linda Phillips noted that she spoke with the Department of Education, and they indicated they do not pay for field houses so there is no need for a lease. She also noted that the SBA is concerned that money would be used for private use. Chairman Camille Anthony directed Town Counsel to send the motion that he prepared to SBA for their review and approval. Board of Selectmen Meeting—October 22, 2002 —Page 5 The Town Manager reviewed the remaining articles. i --- A motion 6v Schubert seconded by Hines to support the subject matter of Article 6 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Schubert seconded by Hines to support the subject matter of Article 7 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Schubert seconded by Hines to support the subject matter of Article 8 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Schubert seconded by Hines to support the subject matter of Article 11 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Schubert seconded by Hines to support the subject matter of Article 12 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Schubert seconded by Hines to support the subject matter of Article 13 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Hearing — Four Way Stop — Hartshorn Street and John Carver Road — The Secretary read the hearing notice. The Town Manager noted that there is currently a stop sign on John Carver Road at Hartshorn Street. Peter Wiese of 50 John Carver Road noted that he is in full support of a four way stop, and indicated that more signage will be needed. He also noted that there are crosswalks missing and the curb has sunken where the stop sign will go. The Town Manager noted that the general rule is to put crosswalks where there are sidewalks. Mr. Wiese asked if signs could be put up for no through traffic during specific flours of the day because it is being used as a cut through. Scott Crowley of 52 Hartshorn Street indicated that he was in full support of a four way stop. Peter Riley of 75 Hartshorn Street noted that he was in support of a four way stop but there should also be signage that there is a stop ahead. Dave Hersee of 42 John Carver Road noted that the line of visibility is only a few yards. He is in support of the four way stop. A motion by Wood seconded by Schubert to close the hearing on the four way stop at Hartshorn Street and John Carver Road was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Wood seconded by Hines to approve the four way stop at Hartshorn Street and John Carver Road was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Discussion Re: Membership Substance Abuse Prevention Advisory Council — The Town Manager noted that the Board eight want to look at making this an 11 member council. Board of Selectmen Meetin,7 —October 22 2002 —Paye 6 Substance Abuse Prevention Advisory Council Member Bob Brown was present. He noted that they have had a problem getting a quorum and 11 members is reasonable. Selectman Richard Schubert asked if there is any group not represented. Bob Brown indicated that the Police and School Committee need representation. Selectman George Hines will attend the next SAPAC Meeting and see what they suggest, then a hearing will be scheduled. Evaluation Process — Substance Abuse Prevention Advisory Council —The Town Manager noted that we need to look at options for substance abuse programs, and suggested that the School Committee and Selectmen discuss this. Approval of Minutes A motion by Wood seconded by Schubert to approve the minutes of October 8, 2002 was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. A motion by Hines seconded by Wood to adjourn the meeting of October 22, 2002 at 10:00 p.m. was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Secretary {