Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-11-04 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting November 4, 1997 The meeting convened at 7:31 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Camille Anthony, Vice Chairman Bruce MacDonald, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Dan Ensminger and George Hines, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, and the following list of interested parties: Nancy Eaton, Fred Van Magness, Phil Pacino, Marjorie Pacino, Bill Hughes, Stephen Crook, Stewart Chipman, Ted McIntire, Paul Kurker, Richard McDonald, Alan C. Smith, David Nugent, Mollie Ziegler, David Billard, Frank Green, Richard Foley, Bob Nordstrand, Jackie Carson, Gail Wood, Richard Moore. Retorts and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Bruce MacDonald noted that the Police Station Building Committee has met with the architect and the construction manager a couple of times. The Police Department met Thursday with the architect. They are reviewing the program, the survey, the schematics and the preliminary cost estimates. It is hoped that a Special Town Meeting will be held on February 20th George Hines noted that he was disturbed by the process because the Board of Selectmen indicated they were going to be hands on. There should have been a scoping session. He feels that the process is out of control. Bruce MacDonald noted that the meeting plan is to meet with the Selectmen on November 201h They are to meet again with the Board of Selectmen on December 8b. In mid-January, there will be a preliminary design meeting. Sally Hoyt felt that the Board of Selectmen does not need to be more involved — Bruce MacDonald will get information back to them as needed. Dan Ensminger noted that the Business Park Task Force met. The easement has been vacated and should be signed within two weeks. The Due Diligence document has been drafted. A rough draft of an RFP has been developed. A November 17'' public meeting is scheduled. George Hines also attended the Business Park Task Force. The RFP is sketchy but being developed. He met with the Budget Council on Wednesday, and attended the Chamber of Commerce event. Sally Hoyt attended Elaine Donahue's Wake and Funeral. She attended the Board of Selectmen Forum and the Dedication of Parker Middle School. She attended the meeting with the Finance Committee et. al. regarding open space acquisition and also attended the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee meeting. She delivered the recycling brochure to 70 households. November 15th is America Recycles Day. She expressed appreciation to the Police.Department Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 4, 1997—page 2 and the Fire Department for services. She noted that, information to the contrary, Middlesex County does continue to exist. The County Government is gone along with the County Commissioners, but there are Middlesex County functions. Camille Anthony noted that the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee will be before the Board of Selectmen at 9:00 to review the possibility of rate stabilization fund. She met with Keri Makin regarding the Ipswich River Watershed Association issues, and feels that the Ipswich River Watershed Association is doing a great job. She hopes we can have a lawn care program available for public distribution in the Spring. In light of the Stuart case and the Donahue case in Reading, domestic violence clearly is an issue in Reading. Neighborhoods need to be activated. Sally Hoyt noted that she has contacted legislators to file a bill to address issues of domestic violence by doing the same as we do for sexual harassment —teach domestic.violence prevention in the schools. Public Comment — Fred Van Magness of Franklin Street spoke. He asked for a report on the Adult Video bylaw at Town Meeting. Relative to the Compost Center, he is upset by the abrupt elimination of the Sunday hours. He questioned what would be done if we had rainy Saturdays. 50% of the Saturdays would have been rain-outs based on the last month. We should have another day if Saturdays get rained out. We should consider opening the Compost Center for two to three weeks at the end of the Fall. Citizens of the community have been disadvantaged. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager gave his report as follows: I have awarded the contract for the Police Staffing and Deployment study to EMS Associates of New Hampshire. They are starting work this week and will be completed within 90 days. • The contract for architectural services for the Police Station has been awarded to Donham and Sweeney, the architects who have designed a number of Police Stations locally, including Wellesley and Tewksbury. S I have also awarded a contract to Daedalus Projects Incorporated for the Construction Management of that project. I have tentatively established 3 presentations to the Board of Selectmen relative to the project: - at the completion of the review of the building program; - at the completion of the schematic design, - at the completion of the Preliminary design. Following the discussion on the preliminary design, it is hoped that the Board of Selectmen will call a special Town Meeting for mid to late February for Town Meeting action on the project. • We have discovered the potential spill of gasoline at the DPW site on Newcrossing Road, a Licensed Site professional has helped us evaluate whether there is a problem. It appears that there is no problem related to the Town's gasoline storage. Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 4, 1997—page 3 • Construction has been completed on temporary pedestrian bridge next to the existing bridge on Mineral Street. This will speed the construction timeframe and reduce neighborhood 4 --° impact. • The reconstruction of the soccer field at the Parker Middle School is in progress, and the field will be out of use until Spring. Town crews have done much of the work, with contractors installing the irrigation system this week. The entire project except for the handicapped ramp and fencing could be completed this week, with the finishing work to be done next Spring. • We have worked with Reading United Soccer and the developer of Longwood to get the soccer field at the Pearl Street site in condition for use. Reading United Soccer has paid for an irrigation system which has been installed, and the developer has re-seeded the site so it can be used in the Spring. • Summer Avenue final paving is scheduled for tomorrow and the project will be completed by the onset of Winter, with some finish work to be done next Spring. • The Board of Selectmen schedule for the remainder of the year is busy, including: - a special meeting for information to the public prior to biding the sale of the landfill - November 17; - � - a Retreat scheduled for December 6, and a neighborhood hearing on December 9 relative to the potential donation of a Town owned lot at Wilson and Pleasant Street to the Reading Housing Authority for affordable housing. • Salt bids and calcium chloride bids (for snow and ice control) are more than 8% less that last year. • Two new staff people have joined us recently - Jack Sullivan in the Engineering Division, and Marie Miles in the Accounting and Finance Departments. A member of the Board asked about the replacement of the trees at the Depot. The Town Manager will be in touch with the General Manager of the MBTA. Personnel & Appointments Northeast Regional School District Committee - The Board interviewed Marjorie Pacino for a position on the Northeast Regional School District Committee. This would fill the term of the late John Pacino. William Hughes had also applied but withdrew his candidacy in support of Mrs. Pacino. On motion by Hines seconded by MacDonald, the Board appointed Marjorie Pacino to a position on the Northeast Regional School District Committee for a term expiring 11-3-98, with five votes in the affirmative. Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 4, 1927=-page 4 Sign Review Board—There were no candidates for the Sign Review Board. Millennium Steering Committee - The Board interviewed Alan Smith and Stephen Crook for a positions on the Millennium Steering Committee. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to appoint the following persons to the Millennium Steering Committee for terms expiring 3-31-2000: Stephen Crook, 5 votes; Mary Williams (representing the School Department), 5 'votes; Alan C. Smith (provisional appointment pending confirmation by the Library), 4 votes. Hazardous Waste Committee—There were no candidates for the Hazardous Waste Committee. Discussion/Action Items Tax Classification Hearing — David Nugent, Mollie Ziegler, David Billard, Frank Reen, Richard Foley and Bob Nordstrand were present from the Assessor's office. David Billard made a presentation of the issues to be considered under this topic. The Board of Assessors is not recommending any of the tax classifications. Bruce MacDonald noted that if we did a 20% tax classification, it could be done without a huge burden on the commercial properties. George Hines noted that a study committee had recommended that there be no tax classification. This committee included participation by the Tax Payer's Association and the reason was ,for economic development. Camille Anthony suggested that this be reviewed for next year. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt, the Board voted to close the hearing on tax classification by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt, the Board voted to adopt a residential factor of"1" by a vote of 4-0-1, with Ensminger abstaining. On motion by Hines seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to not adopt an open space discount by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to not adopt a residential exemption by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to not adopt a commercial exemption by a vote of 4-0-1, with Ensminger abstaining. Traffic Issues — Baystate Road — Jackie Carson from Peter Sanborn Place was present. She is the administrator of Peter Sanborn Place and is concerned about traffic at Baystate Road and Route 129. This has previously been brought to the attention of the Town. The concern is about the speed of traffic and the fact that there are six points of entrance to Route 129 in this area from Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 4, 1997—page 5 the commercial establishments and residential properties. Specific concerns are that there is a crosswalk from the bus stop on the southerly side of Route 129. It is hard for pedestrians to cross Route 129 safely. Additionally, it is hard to get out of Baystate Road onto Route 129 safely. A petition was submitted. The Town Manager will look at crosswalk painting and signs including warning signs. He will also look at a speed limit study. He was also directed to get information on the traffic signal requirement when REI and the registry opened at this site. Review Rate Stabilization Proposal—Water& Sewer Advisory Committee - Gail Wood, Stewart Chipman and Richard Moore, as well as DPW Director Ted McIntire were present. The Water & Sewer Advisory Committee recommends not changing the water and sewer rates this Fall. The Water& Sewer Advisory Committee made a presentation of the information secured to date. Once a policy is developed that the Board of Selectmen feels comfortable with, it should be adopted as a policy. George Hines suggested that the Board of Selectmen use some of the reserves this Fall to reduce the rate. A motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt to recommend to Town Meeting the use of$100,000 for sewer reserve fund to offset sewer rates for the second half of fiscal year 1998 was not approved by a vote of one in favor and four opposed. MacDonald noted that his vote was not in favor of or against the policy on the stabilization fund, but his vote was to preserve the option of doing this at a later date. The Board of Selectmen asked for additional information as follows: 1. What other models are working in other communities for the stabilization fund that might be successful; 2. Using the models recommendations, project them out ten years to the future; 3. Looking at the proposal for a stabilization fund, look at what would have happened over the past ten years had such a stabilization fund been in place. The Water& Sewer Advisory Committee also recommended the deferral of the Wakefield Road water line and the King Road loop until next year. On motion by Hines seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to support the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee's recommendation by a vote of 4-1-0, with Anthony opposed. Prioritize Board of Selectmen Goals - The Chairman reminded the Board of Selectmen to prioritize their goals. George Hines wanted to schedule a scoping session with the Police Station Building Committee and the architect. Bruce MacDonald asked what would be accomplished. Camille Anthony noted that the Police Station Building Committee needs to know what its direction is from the Board of Selectmen. That scoping session will be scheduled on the 20th - The Town Manager asked the Board of Selectmen to approve a license agreement between the Town and the Lovells and Thompsons relative to the abandonment of the cul-de-sac on Lucy Drive. Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 4. 1997—page 6 On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt to approve the execution of licenses for the following property owners on Lucy Drive relative to vacating the cul-de-sac at that location: Edgar and Nancy Lovell, 26 Lucy Drive, Kevin and Patty Thompson, 32 Lucy Drive was tabled on a motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt, and unanimously approved. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt, the Board voted to adjourn the meeting of November 4, 1997 at 11:10 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted, If a�Cretary",