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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-10 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting February 10, 1998 The meeting convened at 7:35 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Camille Anthony, Selectmen Dan Ensminger and George Hines, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Jane Fiore, David Bryant, John Castigan, Sandy Michaud, Lucus Michaud, William Lavoie, Mike DeBrigard, James Cormier, Ted McIntire, David B. Tuttle, Paul Dustin, Brett Donham, Gail Wood, Stewart Chapman, Richard Moore, Jim Guarente, Jim Biller, Bernice Svedlow, Brenda Smith. Proclamations/Certificates of Appreciation Proclamation-Drug Free Week in Reading- On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to approve a Proclamation declaring March-March 8, 1998 as"Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Free Week in the Town of Reading." The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. John Castigan, Sandy Michaud and Jane Fiore were present to receive the Proclamation. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments Dan Ensminger had no report. George Hines attended the quarterly meeting of the Ice Arena Authority in their new Conference Room at the Burbank Arena. Media One has donated Cable TV service to the Authority. The - ` Authority will be returning money to the Town by the middle of this year. Hines noted that the Board of Selectmen had adopted a policy regarding anonymous letters to the Editor and not using names of Reading people in articles. He noted a headline in a recent Chronicle "Reading Man Arrested for Third Time in Nine Days" and did not mention the man's name. He felt that this is a community disservice. Camille Anthony noted that she had attended an MMA Workshop on media and the community. People at the workshop were aghast that the local paper would publish Letters to the Editor without names. Anthony met with Indira Balkisoon and Peter Tassi regarding the Stream Team. They are going to develop a demonstration lawn demonstrating environmentally friendly and low water use landscaping. Anthony felt that we should look at cellular towers in light of recent court decisions on this matter. She noted that today was the wake for Robert Foley, a long time community volunteer. Public Comment There was no public comment. Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 10, 1998 —page 2 Town Managers's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: • Bids were received for the Reading Business Park on Friday. The results were disappointing -- only two bids were received and neither appears to be very attractive. I will be contacting some of the potential bidders who did not bid and try to determine the reason that they did not bid. The Reading Business Park Task Force will be meeting next week to discuss the situation and recommend a course of action. • Joseph Belmonte and Alan Perkins have both been appointed to the position of Police Patrol Officers with the Town of Reading. They begin their academy training this month and will be back on the force by the beginning of July. • The Police Staffing and Deployment Study has been completed and has been distributed to the Board of Selectmen. The FY 1999 budget recommendation will be based in part on the recommendations of the study, and I look forward to a full and complete discussion of the study with the Department, the Board of Selectmen, the FINCOM and the community. The study is very complimentary to the Department and the Chief but does recommend some actions to make a very effective Department even more effective. • The Reading Wakefield YMCA, in partnership with the Towns of Reading and North Reading, has gotten a grant to deal with issues of illiteracy and those in the communities who have not received a High School Diploma. Deirdre Hanley, Library Director, will serve as my representative on this project. We will also make the services of Lois Bond, our Elder and Human Services Administrator, available to this project. There are estimated to be 150 adults in the two communities with limited English proficiency and 2800 adults who did not complete high school. • Jane Fiore, our Health Administrator, has passed her examination as a Certified Health Officer. This represents a lot of hard work on her part and signifies a level of professionalism that will be a benefit to the community. • The Hepatitis-B Immunization Program has started in the schools - middle school through high school aged kids are eligible. This is the third year of the program and almost 300 students are registered. • A meeting is scheduled for February 26 on the Title V Program to provide assistance to property owners in getting tied into municipal sewers where possible, or in assisting in the improvement of their systems. Funding is available on a betterment basis. The meeting will be 7:30 to 9:30 at the Senior Center. • Rabies clinics will be offered in March - see Channel 22 and the Reading Notes for further information as to dates and times. Board of Selectmen Meeting-February 10, 1998 -page 3 Discussion/Action Items Police Station Building Committee - Paul Dustin, Chairman of the Committee, and Brett Donham, Architect, spoke. Mike DeBrigard, Bill Lavoie and Jim Cormier from the Committee were also present. A presentation was made on the design of the project. Construction estimates are being done and will be available for the Board in their packet on Friday. The Warrant for the Special Town Meeting of March 9, 1998 closes on Tuesday. The Board asked several questions including whether the window system could be a readily available style rather than custom made, and a suggestion that the chain link fence separating the site from the abutting neighbor could be a more decorative type of fence. It was also suggested that a partial masonry wall on the west end of the community room would be appropriate rather than all glass. George Hines expressed his compliments to everybody involved in the project and the progress on the project including the Chairman, the Architect and the Building Committee. Water and Sewer Advisory Committee Re: Stabilization Fund - Gail Wood, Stewart Chapman, Richard Moore and Ted McIntire appeared. They reviewed the proposed program which would establish operating and capital stabilization funds for water and sewer. The Town Manager recommended that the hearing on water and sewer rates be scheduled in April to avoid residents' concerns about having an increase in billing for water they had already used. The Board and the Committee talked about a process for establishing the funds. They should have a public hearing and FinCom review. Next steps that need to be taken are a legal assessment on how to accomplish the establishment of these funds, and an assessment by the Town Accountant as to the process and numbers proposed. It was noted that if we are going forward with this, we could do this as a Special Town Meeting within the Annual Town Meeting. Cable TV Follow-Up - Jim Guarente, Chairman of the Cable TV Advisory Committee, Jim Biller, Bernice Svedlow and Brenda Smith were present. The discussion focused on three issues: one is whether or not we should request a fiber optic I-loop as part of the process, the second is the issue of the senior citizen discount, and the third was maintaining the performance standards of an upgraded studio. David Tuttle works with the School Department on technology and noted that the new Federal Communications Law could be used to help fund a fiber optic I-loop. On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to approve the RFP with a request that it be amended to include language for an I-loop, that the senior citizen discount language be maintained, and that language relative to maintaining the performance standards of the studio after it is upgrade should be included. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. The Cable TV Advisory Committee noted that the schedule would be to have the RFP out to Media One on February 17, 1998 with a response by March 17, 1998. Negotiations should be - complete by July 17, 1998. Guarente suggested that the Board of Selectmen should establish a negotiating committee, and the Board asked the Town Manager for a recommendation in this regard. Board of Selectmen Meeting—February 10, 1998—page 4 Review Town Manager's Evaluation Form — The following comments were made: Dan Ensminger questioned what 2G meant. George Hines thought that any rating of three or less should require a written comment. The Town Manager noted that the Evaluation Form seems fine. The important aspect is the communications that the process generates. Approval of Minutes On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to approve the minutes of their meeting of October 14, 1997 as amended. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the meeting of October 15, 1997 (Budget Council) as amended. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to approve the minutes of their meeting of October 21, 1997 as amended. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to approve the minutes of their meeting of January 27, 1998 as amended. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. The Town Manager indicated to the Board of Selectmen that he was inclined to appoint Michael Wood to the Fire Department. Since he is the Fire Chief's son, an exemption in accordance with Ted Cohen's letter of August 26, 1997, would be required. The Board agreed to take this up at their meeting on Thursday. George Hines thanked the Town Manager for keeping the interest of the Fire Department upmost in his mind, but exercising the necessary flexibility to hire the best people for the job. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hines, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn its meeting of February 10, 1998 at 10:35 p.m.. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Secretary b�