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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-10-16 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting October 16, 2001 The meeting convened at 7:00 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 Richard Schubert and Gail Wood, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Will Finch, Bill Bogart, Kathy and John Welsh, Eric Jason Smith, Dick Ellis, Gina Lawrence, Marilyn Newal, Attorney Josh Latham, Paul Dustin, Peter Dubois, Peter Simms, Gil Rodrigues. A motion by Cummings seconded by Schubert to go into Executive Session for the purpose of Labor Negotiations (DPW and EWTP) and Approval of Minutes to come back into Open Session at approximately 7:30 p.m. was approved on a roll call vote with all five members voting in the affirmative. The Board reconvened in Open Session at 8:10 p.m. Discussion/Action Items Close Warrant on Special Town Meetiniz, November 13, 2001, 8:00 p.m. — The Town Manager noted that Article 4 is to amend the FY02 Budget. This will allow the tax rate to be set right away instead of waiting three weeks until the Subsequent Town Meeting is adjourned. ....._..... The Town Manager noted that Article 5 is a request to release a right of way and the property owner will donate a portion of his property to the Town. Attorney Josh Latham was present representing the property owner. He noted that of the 6.2 acres, 5 acres or more are wetlands. If the Town extinguishes the right of way, his client will donate up to five acres of land. Chairman George Hines asked if Articles 1, 2 and 3 are essential. The Town Manager noted that they are. Town Meeting requires them on every Warrant. A motion by Cummings seconded by Anthony to close the Warrant consisting of five Articles for a Special Town Meeting on November 13, 2001 at 8:00 p.m. at 62 Oakland Road, Reading, Massachusetts was discussed. A motion by Hines seconded by Anthony to amend the main motion to have three Articles consisting of Articles 3, 4 and 5 failed by a vote of 1-4-0, with Anthony, Cummings, Schubert and Wood opposed. The main motion to close the Warrant consisting of five Articles was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Review FY 2002 Budget - The Town Manager noted that the FY02 Budget is out of balance because we used numbers based on the estimate of State aid from the previous five years. The numbers we used turned out to be higher so we made a list of budget reductions. The Governor's budget is $834,000 less than what we have and, in addition, there is an increase in the Property and Casualty Insurance of$61,000; the Joshua Eaton roof needs to be repaired at $20,000 and repairs to the elevator at Town Hall will cost $13,000. The total shortfall is $930,000 with the Town portion being $309,000. Board of Selectmen Meeting—October 16, 2001 —Page 2 The Town Manager reviewed the list of budget cuts. Chairman George Hines had concerns - about eliminating the Conservation Commission Recording Secretary, and also noted that CPDC needs a Recording Secretary. The Town Manager noted that we have been trying to fill the Conservation Commission Recording Secretary position for a year and one half. The consensus of the Board is to keep the Conservation Commission Recording Secretary and the CPDC Recording Secretary. Conservation Restriction 450 Haverhill Street — The Town Manager noted that Town Counsel, D.E.P and the Conservation Commission have reached an agreement on the grant of the conservation restriction for 450 Haverhill Street. Selectman Gail Wood asked if this will change the assessment on the property. The Town Manager noted that it is valued very low and any change would not be appreciable. Conservation Commission Chairman Will Finch noted that this is a voluntary act by the owner of the property and if it is approved, then it will go into the order of conditions. A motion by Schubert seconded by Anthony to approve the grant of a conservation restriction on the property at 450 Haverhill Street, Reading,MA was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. The Selectmen suggested having the Conservation Commission and Assessors in to talk about how a conservation grant affects the valuation of a property. ._....-.... Review Future of CPA Study Committee - Chairman George Hines noted that the CPA Study Committee made their recommendation to the Board of Selectmen, and the Board needs to decide whether to keep the Committee for educational purposes. CPA Study Committee Chairman Paul Dustin asked if the Committee has sunsetted. Chairman George Hines noted that the requirement was to make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen by September 1, 2001, not to sunset then. The Town Manager noted that the intent was to keep the Committee until after the election when we will know if it has been accepted. Selectman Richard Schubert noted that other activities have been scheduled that require their participation and he wants them to continue until at least Town Meeting. Selectman Gail Wood noted that the Committee should continue because there are still unanswered questions; i.e., is it deductible. Paul Dustin noted that we are waiting for a ruling from the IRS on that question. A motion by Anthony seconded by Wood to have the CPA Study Committee be extended until adjournment of Fall Town Meeting was discussed and then withdrawn. A motion by Cummings seconded by Schubert to amend the policy creating the Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study Committee by striking the language in the first paragraph "after 2002" was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Board of Selectmen Meeting—October 16, 2001 —Page 3 Hearing — Parking Regulations at Police Station Area - Secretary Matthew Cummings read the hearing notice. The Town Manager noted that notices were sent to residents on Union, Pleasant, John, Middle and Hardnen Streets. The "old Police Station parking lot will have a base course of pavement by Winter. The Town Manager noted that he is proposing no parking on one side and the other side regulated on both Union Street and Middle Street. The parking spaces at the new Police Station will be restriped to make them bigger because there have been three accidents. He suggested subscription parking in the`daytime and no parking at night in the Hardnen Yard lot with two hour parking for the center island and west side of the lot. He also suggested subscription parking in the daytime for 14 spaces at the "old" Police Station and overnight parking with a Community Access Sticker. The lot would have to be empty at some point for snow removal. Selectman Matthew Cummings had concerns about restricting the parking on Union and Middle Street when there is no overnight parking in Hardnen Yard. Peter Dubois of 26 John Street noted that there are 38-40 cars parked at the new Police Station constantly. John Welsh of 29 Union Street noted that the spaces at the Police Station need to be restriped because the vehicles are bigger than the spaces. He recommended a snow emergency ban plan, and no night parking on either side of Union and Middle Streets. Peter Simms from Simms' Jewelers noted that there are suppose to be 10 all day parking spaces. He also noted that the two hour spaces are open all day long and the all day spots fill up quickly. Gil Rodriquez from Perfections noted that the problem is no enforcement, and that employees from the banks park all day in front of Perfections. Eric Smith of 12 Middle Street noted that it seems the Police Station has more spaces than before. Kathy Welsh of 29 Union Street requested no parking on Union Street because it is difficult for cars to get down the street. Dick Ellis of 28 Union Street noted that single family houses have become two and three family homes with more cars. The Town Manager noted that the Downtown plan calls for Pleasant Street to be one way with angled parking. Selectman Richard Schubert noted that he wants to go back and look at the overall plan. He indicated that there is a need to monitor and enforce parking. .............. A motion by Wood seconded by Anthony for the Board of Selectmen to close the public hearing on the parking regulations in the Police Station area was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Board of Selectmen Meeting—October 16. 2001 —Page 4 A motion by Wood seconded by Anthony to make the "old" Police Station parking lot available for overnight parking including during snowstorms was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Schubert seconded by Anthony to reserve 14 spaces at the "old" Police Station to be rented to businesses was discussed and approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Wood seconded by Cummings to have no parking on the north side of Union Street and the east side of Middle Street was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Cummings seconded by Wood to allow overnight parking including during snowstorms at the Hardnen Yard parking lot was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. A motion by Cummings seconded by Anthony to adjourn their meeting of October 16, 2001 at 11:00 p.m. was approved by a vote of 5-0-0 and the meeting was adjourned. Res ectfully submitted, Secretary