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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-01-21 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting January 21, 1997 The meeting was convened at 7:36 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman George Hines, Vice Chairman Camille Anthony, Secretary Bruce MacDonald, Selectmen Dan Ensminger and Sally Hoyt, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Nancy Eaton, Steve McLaughlin, Connie Sforza, Richard Smith, Bill Scully, Jonathan Edwards, Joe Delaney. Approval of Minutes On motion by MacDonald seconded by Hoyt, the Board voted to approve the minutes of January 7, 1997 with no amendments. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Reports and Comments Selectmen Liaison Reports and Comments - Bruce MacDonald noted that the entire Board had attended the MMA Conference and that they all learned a lot. He attended sessions on regional economy and on overrides. He asked the Town Manager to report on the follow up on the water taste issues. He also noted that there was an accident on I-93 near Reading and wondered what was going on with our water supply protection program. - Sally Hoyt noted that this was the best MMA meeting ever. The Selectmen's Town Meeting focused on County Government. The concerns expressed were that the County owns the buildings and the Registrar of Deeds generates a lot of money. The Middlesex County debt is $17 -$20 million plus the pension liability of$261 million. The Town Manager noted that some of their pension liability is for municipal employees who are part of the county retirement system. Camille Anthony noted that Saturday is the RMLD site visit - it leaves at 9:00 a.m. from the Ash Street facility. Anthony also noted that the Town should try to educate people about driving, especially exhibiting more civil behavior and slowing down. Dan Ensminger brought back packets of material from the law review session at MMA. He also attended the session on electrical restructuring and felt this could be very exciting for the community. He feels that Reading is well positioned for the electric restructuring. George Hines noted that Reading was prominently featured at the MMA, having received the Piccard Award and an MIIA award. The story board on the Piccard Award is here at Town Hall. Hines noted that the deadline for filing for elections is close, and he urged incumbents to declare whether or not they intend to run. He also acknowledged the passing of Senator Paul Tsongas and asked that the flag on the Common be flown at half staff in honor of his service. Sally Hoyt and Dan Ensminger will represent the Board of Selectmen at the Chamber of Commerce tomorrow. Board of Selectmen Meeting- - January 21_1997 - page 2 Public Comment There was no public comment. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager noted that because the School Committee's public hearing on the FY '98 budget is this evening, that meeting is being broadcast live and this Board of Selectmen's meeting is being taped for broadcast on Wednesday, January 22. He noted that the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager attended over 18 separate workshops on a variety of issues at the MMA Conference, in addition to the keynote speech and the Annual Meeting. He noted that the Town is working to develop an alternative method of distribution of the Reading Notes. We have gone for two weeks with our new rubbish collection disposal program and there have been few complaints. Anyone who has any comments with regard to the new rubbish collector should contact the Department of Public Works. A consultant is being hired to help the Town deal with concerns related to the water taste. The water is tested and meets all safe drinking water standards but there is some concern about taste. By the end of the week, the Town Manager will select the Downtown Enhancement consultant - the review committee has met and made a recommendation. The Town has volunteered to be a site for a pedestrian safety "road show" sponsored by the Massachusetts Highway Department and the U.S. Department of Transportation. We hope to hear shortly as to whether or not we have been accepted. Discussion/Action Items Hearing on Developing; Handicapped Parking Regulations - The Secretary of the Board of Selectmen read the notice of the public hearing. The Town Manager explained that a resident had requested that regulations be put in place for handicapped parking enforcement on public and private ways. George Hines noted that there are already regulations for public ways. The Board discussed the fine schedule and the Town Manager advised that once a bylaw is put in place, the Board can set the fines as long as they are not less than those established in the bylaw. Ensminger noted that he had a concern about the amount of handicapped parking for pubic parking spaces. He hopes that maybe the use by temporary handicapped parking stickers can be eased. The Board noted that the parking spaces need to be well marked. On motion by MacDonald seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to close the hearing on proposed handicapped parking regulations by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Anthony, the Board voted to place on the Warrant for the 1997 Annual Town Meeting a bylaw establishing handicapped parking regulations. Presentation of Phase 3 Traffic Study - Bill Scully from McDonough and Scully and Jonathan Edwards presented the study. They noted that Main Street traffic will grow by 24% by the year 2010; West Street will double; Route 129 will increase 95%; Washington Street will increase 55%; and Woburn Street will increase 75%. Board of Selectmen Meeting - January 21, 1997 - page 3 The study determines that we need to enhance alternate ways to get around the community. The question was raised as to whether or not we are seeing increases in raccordance with the study numbers, and the comment is that we are. The growth comes from approximately 50 additional houses per year built in the community, plus through traffic and regular increases in "background traffic." Edwards noted that the Master Plan shows potential for 1,860 additional housing units. This number was reduced by 300 units in the zoning change from SIO to S15. Approximately 400 of these units have been built since the Master Plan was developed. Ensminger asked what sort of building was assumed at Inwood, and it was noted that the full 850,000 square feet was assumed. He asked about undergrounding of utilities on South Main Street, and it was noted that this could be done if the Town was willing to bear the expense which would be in the ballpark of$2 million. There was discussion on the Washington Street bypass. Ensminger noted that this would affect the private property owner, and wondered if there had been any discussions. It was noted that there was initially at the development of the Master Plan some discussion. The Intersection at Ash/Main and Goodall/Sanford Roads would be difficult. MacDonald asked where the growth is for Main Street, and it was noted that the landfill property as well as general traffic growth would account for this increase. There was discussion about a regional bike way and discussion about installing calming devices at some experimental locations. Anthony noted that there is no signal on Main Street from Washington to Summer Avenue, and she felt that we needed one to slow the traffic down. She asked if the study expressed a preference for improvements to South Main Street, and it does not. George Hines asked about instances where three lanes on a major road like Main Street have worked, and it was noted that this has really only worked when there was an increase from two lanes to three lanes. The Board will consider specific action items on its Agendas during the coming months. Hearing on Summer Avenue Project - The Secretary read the notice of the public hearing. Joe Delaney, Town Engineer, was present to explain the project in detail. There is no property taking. There is a 26 foot pavement width which is necessary in order to allow parking on the street. Any greater width would create great problems on the south side of the road. Dick Smith asked about the intersection of Summit Drive and Summer Avenue. The island at that location is confusing, it should have street signs and the hedges on the northwest corner need to be trimmed. Steve McLaughlin asked to have trees planted in the tree lawns. The Board asked for details of the intersection of Summit Drive and Summer Avenue. The Board also asked about the American Liberty Elm Tree Program, and suggested that at Joshua Eaton a second generation of trees should be planted on the school side of the sidewalk so that when the trees within the sidewalk die there will be something to replace them. Board of Selectmen Meeting - January 21, 1997 - page 4 On motion by Ensminger seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to close the public hearing on a project to improve the portion of Summer Avenue from Brook Street to Main Street. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by MacDonald seconded by Anthony, the Board voted to approve the project to improve the portion of Summer Avenue from Brook Street to Main Street dated January 1997 with staff to review the Summer Avenue, Summit Drive intersection and come back to the Board with complete plans. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Approval of Agreement -Health Insurance On motion by Anthony seconded by Hoyt, the Board voted to approve the agreement between the Town of Reading and the coalition of bargaining units representing the employees of the Town, governing the issue of health insurance. The Town Manager reviewed the agreement, and the Board approved it by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt, the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to purchase or sale of real estate, to come back into Open Session not later than 11:30 p.m. On a roll call vote, all five members of the Board voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. The Board came back into Open Session at 11:10 p.m. On motion by Anthony seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to adjourn at 11:10 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Secre ary