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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-01-12 Board of Selectmen Executive Session Minutes Joint Meeting of Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Finance Committee, Conservation Commission, Community Planning and Development Commission, Recreation Committee, Open Space Advisory Committee Executive Session January 12, 1998 The meeting convened in the Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading, Massachusetts at 7:00 p.m. Present were Chairman Camille Anthony, Vice Chairman Bruce MacDonald, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Dan Ensminger and George Hines, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Joe Connelly, Nathan White, Beverly Zagan, Harry Harutunian, Tim Twomey, Larry Penta, Cathy Martin, Mollie Ziegler, Dick McDonald, Robin D'Antona, Susan Cavicchi, Jim Francis, Rick Schubert, Paul Kurker, Tom Stohlman, Chris Campbell, Jim Keigley, Stewart Chipman, Carol Grimm, Jack Downing, Lorraine Salter, Kate Kaminer, Dennis Lucyniak, Michael Flammia, Jonathan Edwards, Nancy Eaton, Steve Chapman, Harold Hulse, M. Clifton Proctor, Don Nadeau, Mary Williams, Gerry MacDonald, Jonathan Barnes, Richard Howard. Longwood Poultry Farm The Chairman of each of the constituent groups who had a quorum present called their meetings - to order. For the Board of Selectmen, on motion by Hoyt seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of purchase or sale of real estate, not to come back into Open Session. On a roll call vote, Anthony, MacDonald, Hoyt and Ensminger voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. For the School Committee, on motion by D'Antona seconded by Cavicchi, the School Committee voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of purchase or sale of real estate, not to come back into Open Session. On a roll call vote, Twomey, Cavicchi, D'Antona and Stohlman voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. For the Finance Committee, on motion by Grimm seconded by Martin, the Finance Committee voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of purchase or sale of real estate, not to come back into Open Session. On a roll call vote, Keigley, Grimm, Martin, Francis, Kurker, MacDonald and White voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. For the Recreation Committee, on motion by Kaminer seconded by Salter, the Recreation Committee voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of purchase or sale of real estate, not to come back into Open Session. On a roll call vote, Campbell, Kaminer, Salter, Downing and Lucyniak voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. Executive Session—January, 12, 1998 —page 2 For the Conservation Commission, on motion by Proctor seconded by Hulse, the Conservation Commission voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of purchase or sale of real estate, not to come back into Open Session. On a roll call vote, Eaton, Proctor, Hulse and Chapman voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. Present also were Mollie Ziegler from the Board of Assessors, Stuart Chipman from the Open Space Advisory Committee and Michael Flammia and Richard Schubert from the Community Planning and Development Commission. For the School Committee, Tim Twomey noted that the School Committee is concerned about enrollment. However, they do not see the need for this site for a school. There is little enthusiasm on the part of the School Committee for taking the property for open space. Tom Stohlman noted that the Committee needs to be careful with the numbers. Residential development is very close to break even when you consider the taxes paid and expenses. Jim Francis from the Finance Committee asked for input on water usage and how many gallons of water will be used (90,000 gallons per year). Carol Grimm from the Finance Committee expressed that she is very impressed with the work that the Committee did but she was disappointed that the Town could not afford to acquire this land. Using the assumption of$1.4 million acquisition costs, the Capital Improvements Program is not balanced. Many issues are before the Town including land acquisition, Coolidge Middle School project, Police Station development, elementary school enrollment issues and the High School. Sally Hoyt from the Board of Selectmen noted that we should pursue State and Federal grants for open space. Steve Chapman from the Conservation Commission noted that it would be desirable but that we may not be able to afford it. Bruce MacDonald from the Board of Selectmen noted that if we do nothing, then it would be more expensive to the Town. Jim Keigley from the Finance Committee noted that he thinks we should do this project but he wishes we could afford it. Dan Ensminger from the Board of Selectmen asked about the quality and kind of active recreation that can be accommodated on the site. Joe Connelly noted that there are about 7 acres that could be used for active recreational facilities which would accommodate 5 fields as follows: 2 little league scale fields and 3 soccer fields. Executive Session—January 12, 1998—page 3 Dan Ensminger noted that we should be realistic. We need to look at all of our capital needs. Other options include keeping it in private ownership, minimizing the number of kids to be generated from this site, maximize the revenue, spin-off open space for recreation and thereby develop a creative public private partnership. Sue Cavicchi from the School Committee asked if the Committee has decided against that exclusion override, and it was noted that the Committee has not yet excluded that idea. Nancy Eaton from the Conservation Commission asked what the percent ceiling for capital expenses is, and how much we would have to increase our capital expenditures in order to do this project. Nate White from the Finance Committee noted that we have a single tax base for the Town and Reading is low in the assessed valuation of property per school child. It is high in the average residential tax bill per household. We cannot afford this project. Tom Stohlman from the Finance Committee felt that buying the property is worth pursuing but we may be able to accomplish the ends without buying it by working with the property owner, and/or giving incentives to develop this property in a controlled manner. Stuart Chipman from the Open Space Advisory Committee asked about the Inwood property. He noted that there was an option for partial development of the site but that may not be reasonable. The prime area for development of the Longwood property is also the prime area for recreation. Bruce MacDonald from the Board of Selectmen noted that he does not think we should rule anything out—that there could be a positive cash flow from the property. Jim Keigley from the Finance Committee noted that there is no objection to obtaining the property but agreed with Dan Ensminger that the approach of a public private partnership may be the most appropriate approach. Jack Downing from the Recreation Committee said that when we talked about working with developers, there are some scenarios where we have no control. If we let this property go, then we cannot redeem control. Sally Hoyt from the Board of Selectmen asked about State funding to acquire this for open space. The Town Manager noted that it is not likely that the State would be interested in acquiring this property. Don Nadeau from the Conservation Commission asked what the cost would be if the property was developed, and how these costs would be absorbed. At 7:45 p.m., the School Committee, on motion by Cavicchi seconded by D'Antona, adjourned the Executive Session and left the meeting. Executive Session—January 12, 1998 —page 4 At 7:50 p.m., Jonathan Barnes from CPDC joined the quorum, and on motion by Barnes seconded by Schubert, the CPDC voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of purchase or sale of real estate, not to come back into Open Session. All three members present voted in the affirmative. Richard Howard also joined the quorum later. Bruce MacDonald from the Board of Selectmen noted that he was coming to the conclusion that the Town should work with the property owner to develop a creative public private partnership which would generate open space, few school children, few municipal expenses and tax revenues. If that doesn't work, then he would suggest buying it all, perhaps with a debt exclusion override. Steve Chapman from the Conservation Commission asked if we would be dealing with the developer or the owner. Nancy Eaton from the Conservation Commission expressed that the Town of Reading is built out. There are very few areas left to control. The opportunity to influence the future to control the community is now. Three options were discussed as follows: 1. Work with the owner in developing a public private partnership which would acquire the use of significant portions of the site at no Town expense; 2. Let the property go and not do anything; 3. Acquire the property through fee ownership. Of those present, eleven expressed that we should acquire the property through fee ownership, and fifteen felt that we should work with the owner. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn the Executive Session on a roil call vote with all four members present voting in the affirmative. On motion by Grimm seconded by Francis, the Finance Committee voted to adjourn the Executive Session with all five members present voting in the affirmative. On motion by Chapman seconded by Hulse, the Conservation Commission voted to adjourn the Executive Session with all four members present voting in the affirmative. On motion by Salter seconded by Downing, the Recreation Committee voted to adjourn the Executive Session on a roll call vote with all five members present voting in the affirmative. On motion by Schubert seconded by Howard, the CPDC voted to adjourn the Executive Session on a roll call vote with all four members present voting in the affirmative. Respectfully submitted, �T'Secretary r