HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-30 Board of Selectmen Minutes - Board of Selectmen Meeting
March 30, 1999
The meeting convened at 8:00 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chainnan Bruce MacDonald, Secretary Matthew
Nestor, Selectman George Hines, Town Manager Peter Hecheilbleikner, and the
following list of interested parties: Police Chief Edward Marchand, Joe Veno, Fred Van
Magness, Mike Garcia, Ron Wood, John T. Lamond, Esquire, Nancy Eaton, Tom and
Jane Murphy, Michael and Diane Nickerson, Michael Lee, Denise Gagnon, Ken Leeco.
Reports and Comments
Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments— George Hines noted that he had received a
number of calls regarding George Street. He noted that Joseph Picano, a former member
of the Finance Committee and a member of the Board of Cemetery Trustees passed away.
Hines thanked those who participated in the Election, and congratulated those who were
successful. He hoped to improve the participation in the Election process. He is
beginning his 10`'' year on the Board of Selectmen, and hopes to achieve much this tern
including the quick conclusion to the Reading Business Park sale.
Matthew Nestor offered his congratulations to George Hines and Sally Hoyt. He also has
received a number of calls on the George Street proposal.
Bruce MacDonald has received a number of calls regarding George Street, and noted that
this is scheduled for a Board of Selectmen hearing on April 6t".
Public Comment—Fred Van Magness noted that the Compost Center sign at Grove Street
still has not been relocated for visibility reasons. He hopes this will be done very soon
before the Compost Center is open. He was not aware of some of the items on the
agenda this evening, and hopes that the newspapers will publish the agenda and/or that it
could be put on the website or Cable TV.
Town Manager's Report
The Town Manager gave the following report:
♦ Reading Business Park— The Letter of Intent has been signed, and we are work-
ing on the lease which we expect will be ready for execution within two weeks.
♦ The Police Station project is showing real progress. Steel erection is moving
well, and most of the concrete work is done.
s The Annual Report is now available at the Graphics Shop for$15.10 plus tax for
those who want the lona version.
♦ Town Meeting will be starting on April 12, 1999, continuing on the 15th, and
then skipping to April 26" and 29t"' if needed.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—March 30..1999—Page 2
♦ The Election went well last Tuesday. Congratulations to the winners and to those
who were not successful, thank you for participating. The turnout for the Election
was very disappointing. The lack of contested races may be in part responsible.
♦ RCTV is taking over the reigns of the local Cable TV studio on April 1, 1999.
This is an exciting time. I want to acknowledge the efforts of the past staff and
volunteers, and wish the new group the best of luck. "Ask the Town Manager"
will be one of the RCTV April 1St premier shows on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m.
e We have been receiving complaints about blasting in the Longwood Road/Kelch
Road area. The blasting is being done as part of the Inwood Office Park in
Woburn and is outside of our jurisdiction. It is expected to last another two to
three weeks.
Personnel & Appointments
Reappointment of Town Accountant — On motion by Hines seconded by Nestor, the
Board voted to reappoint Richard Foley as Town Accountant for a term expiring March
31, 2000 by a vote of 3-0-0. The Town Manager highly recommended Ills
reappointment, and the Board noted that Mr. Foley does an outstanding job.
Discussion/Action Items
Introduction of new Police Officers - Chief Edward Marchand introduced three new
Police Patrol Officers — Michael Nickerson, Thomas Murphy and Michael Lee. Their
parents presented them with their Police badges, and the Board of Selectmen welcomed
them.
Hearing on Stop Sian —Grove Street at Franklin Street—The Secretary read the notice of
the public hearing. The Town Manager presented the issue which would be to create a
stop sign on Grove Street southbound at Franklin Street. This had been requested a
number of tinges, most recently at the hearing on the Compost Center.
Mike Garcia, who is at the intersection, expressed several concerns:
1. The stop sign would back traffic up at peak times;
2. Backing up of traffic would create noise;
3. Stopping traffic would have people who were stopped
be inclined to accelerate fast;
4. People who stop at stop signs are more likely to throw
trash out the window.
Fred Van Magness of 243 Franklin Street spoke in favor of the stop sign.
The Board noted a letter from Gail Phillips-Spence in favor of stop signs both ways on
Franklin Street.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—March 30, 1999—Paize 3
Traffic Safety Officer Joe Veno and Chief Marchand indicated that they did not feel there
was a need for the stop sign. There were three accidents in the last five years, and none
of them were related to circumstances which would be solved by the installation of a stop
sign.
George Hines felt that a stop sign is warranted at this location.
Matt Nestor noted that there apparently is not much of a problem.
Bruce MacDonald noted that he will vote for the stop sign. He is aware of Mr. Garcia's
concerns but he feels there are greater public safety concerns.
On motion by Nestor seconded by Hines, the Board voted to close the public hearing on a
stop sign on Grove Street southbound at Franklin Street by avote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Nestor to approve the installation of a stop sign on
Grove Street southbound at Franklin Street was defeated by a vote of 2-1-0, with Nestor
opposed..
Hearing on Stop Sign — Goodall-Sanford Road at Ash Street — The Secretary read the
notice of the public hearing on a stop sign at Goodall-Sanford Road at Ash Street. The
Town Manager presented the proposal.
Fred Van Magness noted that he hoped the Board would use the same criteria as they
used for the Franklin and Grove Street intersection.
Ron Wood felt that no stop sign is needed.
Chief Marchand noted that this is a high pedestrian activity location, and thought that the
stop sign was warranted.
On motion by Hines seconded by Nestor, the Board voted to close the hearing on a stop
sign at Goodall-Sanford Road at Ash Street by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Nestor seconded by Hines, the Board voted to approve the installation of a
stop sign at Goodall-Sanford Road at Ash Street by a vote of 3-0-0.
Hines noted that he understood that the installation of a stop sign included the painting of
a stop line. He also hoped that we would be able to paint the crosswalk at the same time
that we did the other painting.
Hearing on Parking Regulation — Warren Avenue — The Secretary read the notice of the
public hearing on the parking regulation on Warren Avenue. The Town Manager noted
that this was a resident request.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—March 30, 1999—Page 4
The Traffic Safety Officer, Joe Veno, presented the proposal. Several residents spoke in
favor of the parking regulation.
On motion by Nestor seconded by Hines, the Board voted to close the hearing on the
parking regulation on Warren Avenue by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Nestor, the Board voted to approve no parking on
Warren Avenue on the southerly side from Maple Street to the cul-de-sac by a vote of
3-0-0.
Hearing on Approval of Gasoline Tanks .— 1337 Main Street The Secretary read the
notice of the public hearing.
John Lamond, Esquire was present for the applicant. The applicant noted that they are
doing major work at the station. They have the location under contract to purchase.
Work will include replacement of the tanks and construction of additional storage
capacity for diesel fuel. They will be applying to put in a canopy; they have applied for
variances for signs; they will be rebuilding the whole site. They will be leaving the
building. It was noted that the new tank installation will be double wall tank and piping
with all the necessary monitors and computers.
Fred Van Magness noted that the property has been an eyesore, and he hopes that it will
be cleaned up and improved.
Matt Nestor asked about the memo from the Town Clerk regarding outstanding fines.
The Town Manager noted that the fines have been paid today.
On motion by Hines seconded by Nestor, the Board voted to close the hearing on the
approval of a license for gasoline tanks at 1337 Main Street by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Nestor seconded by Hines, the Board voted to approve the license for three
underground storage tanks at 1337 Main Street as follows:
2 gasoline tanks with a total capacity of 19,000 gallons;
1 diesel fuel tank with a capacity of 10,000 gallons.
The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0.
The applicant noted that they own several other stations and it would be operated under
the A. L. Prime label. There will be a mini mart and there will be no service station. The
Town Manager asked whether the truck rental would continue and it was noted that it
would not because there is not enough capacity on the site.
Approval of Transfer of Gasoline License at 87 Walkers Brook Drive - On motion by
Hines seconded by Nestor, the Board voted to approve the transfer of the gasoline license
to Motiva Enterprises, Inc. of the gasoline station at 87 Walkers Brook Drive. The
motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—March 30, 1999—Page 5
- Hines noted that the owner of this station had participated in a wide'range of community
events and he hopes that the new owner will also do so.
Review of Warrant — Annual Town Meeting — The Board of Selectmen reviewed the
remaining Warrant Articles. The report on the Reading Business Park will be given
under Article 24.
On motion by Hines seconded by Nestor, the Board voted to support the subject matter of
Article 5 by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Nestor, the Board voted to support the subject matter of
Article 6 relative to the municipal line items only impending further information on Line
JI —School Department. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Nestor, the Board voted to support the subject matter of
Article 7 by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Nestor, the Board voted to support the subject matter of
Article 8 by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Nestor, the Board voted to support the subject matter of
Article 11 by a vote of 3-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Nestor, the Board voted to support the subject matter of
Article 18 by a vote of 3-0-0.
The Board discussed Article 21 and whether the property should be transferred for the
purpose of conservation. The Board directed that the motion be drawn in that manner.
Nancy Eaton from the Conservation Commission was present and spoke in favor of this
action.
Article 23 — The Town Manager presented the "appraisal" of the property owner of the
gravel easement. The property owner's opinioned value is $5,000 for the value of the
gravel.
The Town Manager noted that he would not recommend this Article in that amount. The
presence of the gravel easement restricts the development capability on the site and,
therefore, would seem to have a much higher value. The Board discussed the relative
merits of retaining gravel easements and, therefore, having less homes and less demand
for municipal services on the property. The Town Manager was asked to try to negotiate
a higher value with the property owner/developer.
Approval of Minutes
On motion by Hines seconded by Nestor, the Board voted to approve the minutes of their
meeting of March 9, 1999, as amended, by a vote of 3-0-0.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—March 30, 1999—Page 6
On motion by Nestor seconded by Hines, the Board voted to adjourn their meeting of
March 30, 1999 at 10:18 p.m. by a vote of 3-0-0.
Resp e fu Ay submitted,
Al
ec etary