Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-08-26 Board of Selectmen Minutes ' Board of Selectmen Meeting August 26, 1997 The meeting was convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Camille Anthony, Vice Chairman Bruce MacDonald, Selectmen George Hines and Dan Ensminger, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Counsel Cheryl Blaine, and the following list of interested parties: Jane Fiore, Carol Fiocco, Nancy Eaton, Carol Roberts, Barry Walsh, Dean Hasselman, Mr. Arnold, Mike DeBrigard, Mike Belmonte, Brandon Simpson. On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to litigation to come back into Open Session at approximately 7:30 p.m. On a roll call vote, Anthony, Ensminger and Hines voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. The Board of Selectmen reconvened at 7:30 p.m. Approval of Minutes On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hines, the Board voted to approve the minutes of their meeting of August 11, 1997 by a vote of 3-0-1, with Anthony abstaining. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — George Hines had sent a memo to the Board of Selectmen regarding unsigned letters in the newspaper. He asked the Board to consider resolution opposed to this newspaper policy, and this will be included on a future Agenda. Bruce MacDonald reported that the Police Station Building Committee has met and will work to evaluate RFP's from architects. They are meeting on September 3rd. He received a call regarding the make-up of the Police Station Building Committee - it is all male. He would like the Board to review the Home Page at one of their meetings. Dan Ensminger felt that this was a non issue -- there were no female candidates. MacDonald noted that the meetings are well advertised. George Hines feels that the general public can provide input during the review periods. He also received a call from a Walnut Street resident. Dan Ensminger has received calls about the method of billing on water and sewer bills. George Hines noted that we should establish a stabilization fund and should also go to monthly billing. The Business Park Task Force has met and is scheduled to meet on September 10`x'. They are running a little bit behind on the Due Diligence report but it will be kept on track. Ensminger believes that publishing names of people arrested in Reading should be done and disagrees with George Hines regarding unsigned letters. A Board of Selectmen Meeting— August 26 1997—page 2 Camille Anthony reminded the Board that they had received Mr. Reynolds' letter. She asked if anyone would be able to attend the October 8 ' groundbreaking of the veteran's cemetery in Agawam. She wanted to compliment the caretakers of the islands that had been adopted this Summer. George Hines asked that we make a decision regarding the old Police Station as soon as possible. Town Manager's Report Certificate of Appreciation for Edward W Palmer, former Historical Commission Member- On motion by MacDonald seconded by Ensminger, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve a Certificate of Appreciation for Edward W. Palmer in appreciation of his 11 years of service in the Town of Reading on the Historical Commission. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0, and the Certificate was presented to Edward Palmer with the Board's thanks. The Town Manager reviewed his report: • The "Reading Notes" has begun publication and will be distributed again September 6t" as part of the "Headliners" advertising publication of the Boston Globe. Every household should receive a copy. If you have not received a copy, please call the Town Clerk. • Cemetery Director Bob Keating has returned to work after suffering a heart attack. • Sue Reardon, a long-time employee in the Accounting Department, has been appointed as the Coordinator of Volunteers. • Tom Gardiner from Reading has been hired as an operator in training at the Water Treatment Plant. • Alan Allen has been hired as a Water Treatment Plant Operator. • Chief Wood and I are interviewing for the Provisional Fire Captain position tomorrow, pending the Civil Service exam for the position. • We have received complaints about Sunday hours at the Compost Center, and will be scheduling some time on the Board of Selectmen's schedule on September 9`i' for that issue. We will also be evaluating alternatives to Sunday hours at that site. • The Town has continued pumping the two additional wells that have been closed since 1992 as a contamination preventative. We have been running them together for over a month. We are also continuing to monitor and test the series of test and monitoring wells, and will schedule a full report for the Board of Selectmen on September 9 '. • The Massachusetts Highway Department has conducted the pre-construction meeting on the Mineral Street Bridge. The contractor has proposed building a new temporary pedestrian bridge next to the existing bridge, and then demolishing and building the new bridge all at one time. This proposal is being reviewed by the State. The contractor will be in touch with each of the abutters directly. Board of Selectmen Meeting—August 26, 1997—page 3 • The pre-construction meeting on Route 129 took place in July. Attached is a construction schedule. Most of the heavier work will be done next Spring and Summer. The schedule does not detail where on the road they will be working at any particular time. • Construction on Summer Avenue continues — the base course of pavement is in place, and curbing and wall work are underway. Some of the sidewalk work has been done. • The hearing on the improvement to Walnut Street was held on June 26th. Many residents have expressed concerns about construction of sidewalks and the impact on trees on the street. Staff has put together a synopsis of the comments, and we have scheduled this for a Board of Selectmen's walk on Saturday, September 13t', and for discussion on September 23rd. A notice of both events will be sent to residents. • The RMLD is in the process of converting 357 street lights from mercury vapor to sodium. Additionally, there are lights that will be turned back on with the savings in electrical costs from the conversion. • The reconstruction of the soccer field at the Parker Middle School will be started October Vt, and the field will be out of use until Spring. Joe Connelly is working with DPW and the School Department on this project, which will be funded through the school construction bond. -; • We are working with Reading United Soccer and the developer to get the soccer field at the Pearl Street site in condition for use. Reading United Soccer will be paying for an irrigation system to be installed, and the developer will then re-seed or sod the site so it can be used in the Spring. Joe Connelly is working with both groups on this project. • Dunkin' Donuts has made a donation of$5000 for playground construction, and this funding will help to offset the expenses of the Washington Park playground improvements that are included in the Capital Improvements Program for this year. This program intends to upgrade all of the playgrounds in the community over time to a safe, standard, and easily maintained type of playground structure. • The Town has received an invitation to apply for a grant to implement a GIS system in the Town, and staff is in the process of preparing that application. • As you are all aware, the Town has been successful in securing a $500,000 grant for elimination of blight on the east side of Main Street. This is a complex project that will fund the construction of a 31 car public parking lot, and create a revolving loan program for the improvement of the"Christy's" block of stores. • The Town with the Downtown Steering Committee has made an application for an additional grant for the Downtown Facade and Loan Improvement Program. • We have made an application for a grant for the planning of improvements to the Lobs Pound Mill site on Mill Street pursuant to the Open Space and Recreation Master Plan. Grants for - preservation of Historic parks and open spaces are available, and the Community Development office with the Historical Commission and the Conservation Commission has prepared the application. • The Band Parents' Association is adopting the"Island" at Minot and Washington. T Board of Selectmen Meeting—August 26 1997—page 4 ® Thursday is the first day of the new school year. It is a busy and stressful time, and I'd like to remind residents to leave extra time for your commute to work and/or school to ensure a safe return to school for Reading's 4000 students. ® Following up on complaints about aircraft activity on August 19th, this was heavy over Reading during a time when Massport was testing some of their systems and should not continue. Personnel & Appointments Millennium Steering Committee — The candidates for the Millennium Steering Committee were not present this evening, and that item was put off until a future meeting. Discussion/Action Items Presentation on Hepatitis B Program — Health Services Administrator Jane Fiore and Public Health Nurse Carol Fiocco were present. They presented the success of the Hepatitis B Immunization Program in 1997, and indicated an interest in continuing the program in fiscal year 1998. Fiore and Fiocco reviewed what Hepatitis B is and the effects of it. The target population is adolescents, Grades 6 through 12. Most students will need to have the immunization in order to enter college, and all sixth graders are eligible for immunization paid for by the State. The Board thanked the Health Division for their work. The Town Manager also noted that unless the Board of Selectmen had objections to the contrary, the Town would cease charging residents over 65 years old for flu and pneumonic clinics, but would gladly accept donations. The Board agreed. Hearing on Revised Personnel Policies - The Vice Chairman read the notice of the public hearing on the Personnel Policies. Personnel Administrator Carol Roberts presented the Personnel Policies and the process to the Board of Selectmen. Ensminger raised questions with regard to Section 7.2 on Harassment and Discrimination Prohibited. He thought some of the wording was too broad. Additionally, questions were raised on Section 7.4 Political Activity as to whether or not this restriction represented is constitutional. Both of these issues will be referred to Town Counsel for review. The Board also wanted to change the wording in Section 7.4 Political Activity to prohibit political activity in Town buildings rather than"on Town property." There was no public present to speak. On motion by MacDonald seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to close the hearing on the adoption of the revised Personnel Policies by a vote of 4-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hines, the Board approved the adoption_of the revised Personnel Policies to be dated August 26, 1997. On motion by Ensminger seconded by MacDonald, a modification was made in Section 7.4 to change"on Town property" to "in Town buildings." The amendment was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. The amended main motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. SWAC Report—This matter was deferred for future action. Board of Selectmen Meeting—August 1997—page 5 Hearing on Use of Auburn Street Water Tower for Cellular/Digital Communications — Vice Chairman Bruce MacDonald read the notice of the hearing. A copy of the notice went to all property owners within 300 feet. Barry Walsh and Dean Hasselman were present to discuss the proposed lease. The Town Manager noted that AT&T appeared to be less than cooperative in use of half of the storage building by this vendor and, therefore, this vendor has proposed an outside pad. AT&T was going to charge $90,000 for the use of half the building. The panel antennas will be colored to match the tank and they are 4 '/2 feet high by 6 inches wide. The hearing was open to the public. Mr. Arnold of 31 Auburn Street asked about safety of digital communications. It was noted that digital communications have very low power output. They are regulated by the FCC and by the Massachusetts Department of Health. There have been safety studies. Mike DeBrigard of 37 Auburn Street asked whether the cable would go up the same leg as the AT&T cables. They will not, they will go up a different leg of the tower. Mike Belmonte of Auburn Street was concerned about safety. He did not want to find out later that the sites represented a safety concern. He knows there has to be a limit on how many users there are and how many buildings or installations are installed. He has to look directly at the installation. George Hines noted that some of the complaints have to do with the existing licensee — AT&T. We want these installations to be as sensitive and sensible for the neighborhood as possible. MacDonald agreed with Hines especially with respect to not installing an additional shelter. Bruce MacDonald noted that this installation is not opening the community to health concerns. The alternating current lines in a house and street generate more fields. George Hines noted that the license can revoked if any of the licensees are not meeting the requirements. Dan Ensminger asked about the time line, and the applicants noted that all construction will be done by the end of November and operational by the end of the year. He asked how long a delay could be tolerated. On motion by Hines seconded by MacDonald, the Board of Selectmen closed the hearing on the use of the Auburn Street water tower by Omnipoint Communications, Inc. by a vote of 4-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to approve the license to use the Auburn Street water tower by Omnipoint Communications, Inc. for cellular and/or digital communications, in accordance with the license as submitted and subject to the following conditions: the cabinet will be installed within the existing building; the site plans will be modified accordingly; there will be no work on Sundays. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. The Board of Selectmen directed that AT&T come before the Board of Selectmen at their next meeting if the issues relative to the use of the cabinet cannot be resolved. Discussion of Real Estate Transfer Tax - Bruce MacDonald had asked this to be on the Warrant. Communities faced with open space procurement need some source for funding. He feels the a State should adopt a statewide law allowing such a tax as a local option. Board of Selectmen Meeting—..August 26, 1997—paw This kind of funding has been requested for open space acquisition, affordable housing, and historic preservation. MMA has expressed interest in such a law as a local option. Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket use it. Nancy Eaton informed the Board of several bills that are pending. This will be placed on an Agenda for future discussion, and Bruce MacDonald will do some further review on it. Licenses, Permits and Approvals Request for Class II Motor Vehicle License — Brake Shop — Brandon Simpson appeared before the Board of Selectmen to request a license to sell used motor vehicles. The Town Manager noted that he had denied the request based on the lack of off-street parking. Simpson noted that he would appreciate being able to have the ability to sell one vehicle. He tends to pack his customer's cars in so as not to use on-street parking. He doesn't want any.signage —just a tag on the inside of the windshield. The car for sale will be tucked behind the wall and will look like just another parked car. He will put the vehicle in the garage at night. Camille Anthony expressed concern about congestion and not wanting that kind of use in that location in Downtown. On motion by MacDonald seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to approve a Class lI Motor Vehicle License for the premises at 550 Main Street for a term expiring December 31, 1997 and subject to the following conditions: only one vehicle at a time will be allowed to be sold; all sign bylaws will be complied with; this will be done on a trial basis and evaluated at the time for renewal of the license. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to labor negotiations and approval of minutes not to come back into Open Session. On a roll call vote, all four members present voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. Respectfully submitted, '4 ,Secretary