HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-01-28 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
January 28, 1997
The meeting was convened at 7:37 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: William Brown, Nancy Eaton, Bryan
Irwin, Gerry McDonald, David Lee.
Reports and Comments
Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments -Dan Ensminger had no report.
Camille Anthony noted that she, George Hines, Bruce MacDonald and Sally Hoyt had gone on a
tour of RMLD facilities. She also attended the School Committee meeting regarding the budget.
Sally Hoyt noted that she had attended the RMLD field trip.
Bruce MacDonald had received a phone call from a business person in Town regarding the
change in area codes. It will cost business people money, and he would like to write a letter
noting that the Town of Reading would like the area codes to stay as they are. Dan Ensminger
noted that he would abstain. Sally Hoyt noted that an organization that she belongs to has a
directory that is printed only every two years. Dan Ensminger felt that sending a letter like this
may be politicizing a technical issue. George Hines noted that the change over may create
personal and business problems, but felt that we should acknowledge in a letter the technical
difficulties. Sally Hoyt understands the need for the new area code because of a lack of adequate
phone numbers. She noted that the last time there.was a change, some communities around were
able to keep their old area code - Lynnfield. MacDonald will draft a letter. MacDonald also
noted that he has been getting calls regarding water taste, is concerned about the PRDG process
issues, and is concerned about PRD trash collection. The Town Counsel Evaluation Form has
been sent to the Board of Selectmen for their comments. George Hines agreed to work with the
Town Manager to schedule a hearing on a policy change on rubbish collection for condominiums.
George Hines attended the RMLD tour. The Budget Council meeting was very successful. The
participants shared news regarding revenues. He noted that the revenues available do not match
the expense request.
Public Comment - Bill Brown gave to the Board of Selectmen a letter that he had sent to the
Police Chief in Franklin regarding the location of a Police Department adjacent to the High
School. He also attached a response from the Police Department.
Town Manager's Report
The Town Manager noted that he had appointed Gates, Leighton and Associates as the consultant
for the Downtown development project. They will get started immediately.
Board of Selectmen Meeting - January 28, 1997 - page 2
The Finance Committee has approved reserve fund transfers for the American Liberty Elm Tree
Program and fund the Crossing Guard at Middlesex and High Streets.
The Board asked for a copy of the scope for the Downtown Streetscape Program. Bruce
MacDonald also asked that the Evaluation for Town Counsel be faxed back to him as quickly as
the Board can do that.
Personnel and Appointments
Open Space Committee- Camille Anthony reviewed the scope of the Committee. A couple of the
major issues are the evaluation of Chapter 61 properties, and conducting Community Day.
The Board interviewed the available candidates. Nancy Eaton was recommended by the
Conservation Commission. She felt the priorities are continued acquisition of land. The
Conservation Commission discussed funding mechanisms with the Finance Committee. She is
proposing to bring a program to create a land bank to the Spring Town Meeting. Five
communities have Home Rule legislation regarding this matter. Legislation proposed is a 2% real
estate transfer tax on the purchase price of property, with the monies to be set aside for open
space acquisition. If State legislation permitting land banks is not passed, then a local referendum
would be required. Open space acquisition in this manner has resulted in increase of land values
in the communities used. Dan Ensminger expressed concern that the Open Space Committee
would be lobbying for the Land Bank. He asked if this would be prime on their agenda. Eaton
noted that it would not. She noted that FinCom asked for ideas on how to fund open space
acquisition.
Sally Hoyt noted that 6500 bills have been filed. Among them are several bills to preserve open
space. One of the things that should be required is the ability to have a developer give some land
or money for acquisition of land to the Town. Bruce MacDonald noted that he is in favor of the
concept outlined by Nancy Eaton. A lot of people have talked about the change in character of
the community. One of the elements is the loss of open space. We should work to "build up a
kitty" of funding for open space acquisition.
The Board interviewed Bryan Irwin who is recommended by the CPDC. He noted that one of the
open space issues is to increase awareness of the open space assets in the community. His agenda
item is education of the public. He is astonished by the amount of open space the Town has, and
that it is poorly accessed and poorly advertised. Irwin was a member of the former committee
and MacDonald noted that continuity is important. Gerry MacDonald was interviewed. George
Hines asked if he would accept the role of chairing the committee and he felt that he would be.
Camille Anthony felt that the action plan was a good outline for the agendas.
On motion by MacDonald seconded by Hoyt, the following names were placed into nomination
for positions on the ad hoc Open Space Advisory Committee for the remainder of its life:
Conservation Commission-Nancy Eaton; Recreation Committee- John McGrath; CPDC -Bryan
Irwin; Town Forest Committee - George Perry; Water and Sewer Advisory Committee - Stuart
Chipman; Water and Sewer Advisory Committee - Richard Moore; Citizen member - Gerry
MacDonald. Eaton, McGrath, Irwin, Perry and MacDonald each got five votes, Chipman got
Board of Selectmen Meeting - January 28, 1997 - page 3
four votes, and Moore got one vote, and Eaton, McGrath, Irwin, Perry, Chipman and MacDonald
were appointed. 5
On motion by Anthony seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to approve Gerry MacDonald
as Chairman for a term expiring in one year. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Discussion/Action Items
Complete Budget Review - The Town Manager reviewed the remainder of the budget, and the
Capital Improvement Program. The latest revenue estimate is $41,823,000. The priorities as
established by the Board of Selectmen were reviewed. The Board directed that the Economic
Development priority should top the list, and agreed that it would be one half funded in FY97,
and one half in FY98. The Reading Business Park Committee will work to get an analysis of
what will be covered under this funding, but it is basically for property appraisals and assistance in
marketing. The Board also agreed that the Pay and Classification numbers should be part of the
base salary. They agreed to deal with the Town Manager's salary also as part of the base salary.
Within the New Program Requests, they advise that the chart should be redone in order to assign
the employee benefits to each position being requested. Some members expressed concerns about
the Assistant Fire Chief being an executive officer position.
With regard to the priority list, the Board agreed to take the items that didn't have support out of
the list. This includes the Community Profile. The Board voted to leave the educational material
for the Senior Center in at $250. The seasonal highway help for pavement work should be
consolidated with the pavement repair line item, and the pavement repair line item was increased
to $25,000.
The Board agreed to delete the lower rated Police Officer's position on a motion by Ensminger
seconded by MacDonald, and approved by a vote of 4-1-0.
The Board discussed line H14 - rubbish collection at condos. Ensminger noted that he wanted to
change his vote from a C to O. Hoyt and Anthony agreed to change their votes from C to O.
MacDonald had been absent during this discussion, and when he came back Hoyt and Anthony
agreed to leave their votes as they were. The Town Manager was directed to bring the budget as
a whole back at their meeting on February 4, 1997, along with the Capital Plan. At that time, the
Board would also discuss the Town Manager's salary.
On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt, the Board voted to adjourn by a vote of 5-0-0 at
11:11 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Sec ary