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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-09-17 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting September 17, 2009 For ease of archiving, the order that items appear in these Minutes reflects the order in which the items appeared on the agenda for that meeting, and are not necessarily the order in which any item was taken up by the Board. The meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. The Board returned from the Executive Session at 7:45 p.m. Present were Chairman Ben Tafoya, Vice Chairman James Bonazoli, Secretary Camille Anthony, Selectmen Stephen Goldy and Richard Schubert, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur. Following the Executive Session, the following individuals joined the meeting: Town Engineer George Zambouras, Conservation Administrator Fran Fink, Town Counsel Ellen Doucette, Community Services Director/Town Planner Jean Delios, Recreation Administrator John Feudo, Virginia Adams, Bill Brown. On motion by Schubert seconded by Goldy, the Board of Selectmen voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of labor neizotiations and litigation to come back into Open Session at 7:45 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 7:45 p.m. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments—Chairman Ben Tafoya expressed thanks to staff, volunteers and the community for a very successful Fall Street Faire. He attended the North Shore Planning Council and the MPO Regional Workshop. The Town Manager will send a letter reiterating the Town's position on West Street and on the I- 93/1-95 Intersection Improvement Project. Chairman Tafoya noted that we have had correspondence with some property owners in the Lincoln/Prescott area expressing concern that they had not been included in the 40R District. The Town Manager noted that he had responded to that letter, and expressed willingness to meet with the property owners to discuss any plans that they might have. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that the Audit Committee had met, and had developed as a focus the Athletic Revolving Fund, the Food Service Accounts, the Town Clerk's Office (since.there was a change in the Town Clerk) and the Library. She asked for information on the Recycling Grant, and the Town Manager will provide that information. She also asked that the information in the letter to the abutters of the Pine Vale conservation land regarding the coyotes should be included in the Press Release to the community. Selectman Richard Schubert noted that 885 Main Street is in before the Conservation Commission for wetland delineation. Board of Selectmen Meeting—September 17, 2009—Page 2 Public Comment — Virginia Adams thanked the DPW for their efforts on the Fall Street Faire. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: • Franklin Street reclamation and repaving complete. • Wine Nation has filed an appeal with the ABCC on the denial of their Package Store liquor license. • RCASA Annual Meeting is October 1st at 7:00 p.m. at the Library. • The Reading School Committee and Board of Selectmen will host a meeting on Monday, September 21st at the Performing Arts Center at the High School at 7:15 p.m. The results of the local 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey will be presented by Jim Ryan and Sara Grinnell, Northeast Center for Healthy Communities. • Sewer Inflow Infiltration smoke tests being conducted this Summer/Fall. Some 100 properties that had tied into the sewer system without approval from the Town are now being billed. • Preparation for September 29th Boards/Committees/Commissions training. • Children's Room closed 8/31-9/7, carpet in Library, costs covered by mfr. • Collins Field rededication yesterday. • Next Financial Forum is 10-14-09 at the Senior Center. • Flu clinics are on hold pending shipment of flu vaccine. Discussion/Action Items Draft Earth Removal Regulations — Town Engineer George Zambouras, Conservation Administrator Fran Fink, Town Counsel Ellen Doucette and Community Services Director/Town Planner Jean Delios were present to discuss the draft Earth Removal bylaw. This bylaw is fairly complex, and Town Counsel has not received any feedback response from the former Town Planner or the Building Inspector with regard to the draft. Following general discussion, the Board agreed to have Jean Delios as a point person on this hatter, and to bring back to the Board of Selectmen prior to the closing of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, an analysis of the need for earth removal regulations and the options with regard to addressing that issue. The first level of activity will be to determine what we are trying to accomplish. A working group which could include a member of the Board of Selectmen may be established to work through all of the issues. Regarding the Town Meeting draft warrant, the Town Manager also mentioned the difficulties in getting membership for the West Street Historic District Commission, and the fact that we have no members currently. Following discussion, the Town Manager is going to draft an article that will either rescind the West Street Historic District Commission, or allow the Board of Selectmen to delegate the authority of a separate commission to the Historical Commission. Board of Selectmen Meeting—September 17, 2009—Page 3 Birch Meadow Master Plan —Finalize—The Board had previously approved the section of the Master Plan around the Imagination Station site. Recreation Administrator John Feudo presented information on the remainder of the site. The Board was in general agreement with the maps, and the Town Manager is going to submit some revised text for the Master Plan. The Board noted that we needed to address two other issues: 1. Secure the services of a landscape architect to provide guidance for tree planting and landscaping within the site to enhance the site; 2. Address the issue of property ownership between the Town and the School Department as had been discussed when the Reading Memorial High School project was approved. Cemetery Garage - Cemetery Board member Bill Brown was present for this discussion. The Town Manager presented an outline on his recommendation as to how to proceed. The anticipation would be that a progress report would be made to the Subsequent Town Meeting in November, and this would be reviewed with the Board of Selectmen in late October. The process would be to have a final report to Town Meeting at the Annual Town Meeting in 2010. Discussion re: Bollards — Downtown — The Board of Selectmen discussed the bollards, and how they came to be in the plan. . Virginia Adams noted that it was her recommendation to the Downtown Steering Committee that the plan include bollards particularly in the area in front of Simms Jewelers. The Board asked for two actions: 1. Check with Town Counsel about the legality/procedure of not replacing any additional bollards that get knocked down, and collecting the insurance that would be used to pay for the replacement of the bollards and use that funding for other enhancements in the Downtown. 2. Revisit the situation after the Winter. The Town Engineer noted that there are two additional bollards that are on order and would be replaced. These are the bollards that were knocked down by a drunk driver in the area of the Town Hall. Update on Mattera Cabin—The Town Manager indicated that he has not heard anything back from the Vocational School District even though he has made contact. Given the Town Manager's involvement in the process of challenging the Vocational School District Budget, it was decided that Vice Chairman James Bonazoli would make contact with the Vocational School District, and try to get this project back on target. On motion by Anthony seconded by Bonazoll, the Board of Selectmen voted to adi ourn their meeting of September 17,2009 at 10:15 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0. 7pectfully submitted, ,,�21 Secretary 4�