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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-03-26 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting March 26, 1996 The meeting was convened at 7:05 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Sally Hoyt, Vice Chairman George Hines, Secretary Camille Anthony, Selectmen Bruce MacDonald and Dan Ensminger, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Counsel H. Theodore Cohen and the following list of interested parties: Donald F. Horton, Gerald W. Horton, Ruth Clay, William Murphy, Allan Sheehan, Susan Pustorino, Rick Schubert, Andrew Herlihy, Susan DeMatteo, Kevin Nestor, Paul O'Donnell, William Gray, Joan Toler, Brian Murphy, John W. Kilborn, Richard Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Winston Moore, Anna Toomey, Conni Sforza, Evelyn Paste, Virginia Thompson, Jean Gabriel, Virginia Davenport,Nancy Eaton, Silva Gerety, L. Fleury. On motion by Anthony seconded by Hines, the Board voted to approve a Certificate of Appreciation for the Reading Overseas Veterans Club for their efforts in implementing the TIPS Program. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0, and Gerry Horton was presentto receive the Certificate. On motion by Anthony seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to approve a Proclamation recognizing April 22-28, 1996 as Disabled American Veterans Forget-Me-Not Week. The -- motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0, and Gerry Horton was present to receive the Proclamation. On motion by Anthony seconded by Hines, the Board of Selectmen approved a Proclamation recognizing April 1-7, 1996 as Public Health Week by a vote of 5-0-0. Bill Murphy, Vice Chairman of the Board of Health and Carol Fiocco, member of the Board of Health, were present to receive the Proclamation. On motion by Anthony seconded by Hines, the Board voted to approve a Proclamation recognizing the month of March, 1996 as Red Cross Month. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0, and Bill Hughes was present to receive the Proclamation. On motion by Anthony seconded by Hines, the Board of Selectmen voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to litigation, to come back into Open Session at approximately 7:45 p.m. On a roll call vote, the five members present voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. The Board of Selectmen returned from Executive Session at approximately 7:45 p.m. The Board interviewed applicants for positions on Boards, Committees and Commissions. Personnel & Appointments Cable TV Committee - One application has been received - Joan M. Toler, and she was not present to be interviewed. Board of Selectmen Meeting-March 26, 1996 - page 2 Community Planning and Development Commission - The Board of Selectmen interviewed Susan M. DeMatteo, Kevin Nestor, Paul O'Donnell and Richard W. Schubert. Andrew K. Herlihy presented himself to the Board of Selectmen but withdrew his application. On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to place the following names into nomination for a position on the Community Planning and Development Commission for a term expiring June 30, 1996: Susan M. DeMatteo, Kevin M. Nestor, Paul O'Donnell, Richard W. Schubert. Ms. DeMatteo received 3 votes and was appointed to the Community Planning Commission. Conservation Commission - The Board interviewed candidates for the Conservation Commission. John W. Kilborn, Kevin M. Nestor and Richard W. Schubert were interviewed. Nancy Eaton, Chairman of the Conservation Commission, had talked with all of the applicants and submitted a review of their qualifications. On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to place the following names into nomination for a position on the Conservation Commission for a term expiring June 30, 1998: John W. Kilborn, Kevin M. Nestor, Richard W. Schubert. Mr. Kilborn received 3 votes and was appointed to the vacant position. HousingLAuthority - The Board interviewed William G. Gray for a position on the Housing Authority. Ensminger moved and Hines seconded a motion to place the following name into nomination for a position on the Housing Authority for a term expiring June 30, 1999: William G. Gray. There were two other candidates who had applied for the position, and one other potential applicant. Therefore, on motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted to table this item for a future date when hopefully all candidates could be interviewed. The motion to table was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Substance Abuse Advisory, Council - The Board interviewed Susan Pustorino for a position on the Substance Abuse Advisory Council. On motion by Anthony seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to appoint Susan Pustorino to a position on the Substance Abuse Advisory Council for a term expiring June 30, 1998, by a vote of 5-0-0. Discussion/Action Items: Unit Pricing for Rubbish Collection Disposal Martha Moore and Kay Clark made a presentation on a proposal for unit pricing for solid waste collection disposal. Also present from the Solid Waste Committee were Chairman Robert Brown, Vice Chairman Sara Sabo and Anne Mark. The Solid Waste Committee went through a detailed presentation on how a unit pricing structure would work. The purpose of it is to encourage recycling and to reduce the tonnage of materials that are sent for disposal. The Board of Selectmen noted that if they were to approve such a program, they would want it to be revenue neutral. Therefore, if there was a charge on a per bag basis, there would be a resulting decrease in the tax rate. This could be done through a Prop 2 1/2 Underride, but one would want to make sure that there was some history and experience for at least a year before a permanent i i Board of Selectmen Meeting-March 26, 1996 -page 3 Prop 2 1/2 Underride was undertaken. There was discussion about getting feedback and developing consensus. Through Cable TV and articles in the Reading Notes, the Board of Selectmen will try to get feedback. At the same time, the Solid Waste Committee will go out and have small group meetings within the community to secure public input. Bruce MacDonald and Dan Ensminger volunteered to be Selectmen Liaison to the Solid Waste Committee for this purpose. This will be back on the Selectmen's Agenda in May. Sally Hoyt asked that consideration be given to helping the elderly with any such program. E.J. Davis from Summit Towers spoke and asked how this would effect condominiums. It was suggested that the Finance Committee and School Committee get a presentation from the Solid Waste Committee. It was asked how this would effect current rubbish hauling and disposal contracts, and the Town Manager noted that any proposed changes in contracts would be able to accommodate such a program. It was noted that the first effort of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee should be to define the purpose of such a program. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hines, the Board voted to table item 8c. to be taken up at a later date. Item 8d. will not be taken up later. Rubbish Collection for Condominiums - The Town Manager reviewed the 12 issues that were raised by the Board of Selectmen and the responses that were prepared by staff and by Town Counsel. Pat Black from Greenhouse Acres spoke. She asked if the Board's concern is that this will be a financial burden. Hines noted that when the property where Greenhouse condominiums is developed was rezoned, it was rezoned for a higher level of development in exchange for reduced level of services and, therefore, reduced economic impact on the community. Black noted that there are only three children in the 90 units, and the Town is saving a lot of money. Dan Ensminger noted that the ZBA would need to change the special permit if the Board was going to go forward with rubbish collection at this site. Wendy Fiscus, Regina Cancelleri and Dick Smith spoke. Questions raised were why are we going through this evaluation of cost when the Board of Selectmen can't make a decision (the Board of Selectmen can make a decision for all except for Greenhouse Acres); it was also asked whether the Town is losing money on recycling (it is); it was noted that the condominiums are a "good deal for the Town" based on taxes paid versus services used. Hines noted that the claims that condominiums are a good deal are exactly what was claimed when the zoning was developed, and these are commitments that were made at that time. Board of Selectmen Meeting-March 26, 1996 - page 4 Bruce MacDonald noted that the agreements made in the past for allowing condominium development in the community were not with the current owners. He asked if the folks representing the condominiums saw anything in the Solid Waste presentation on unit pricing that changed their minds or would resolve the concerns. George Hines noted that there were no "deals" with developers. The change in zoning to allow condominiums had benefits for both the Town and the developers and future residents. This was done in public session and involved the Planning Commission, the Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting. Barbara Ward of 2 Summit Drive spoke. She noted that things change, and sometimes circumstances have to change. She thought that if the unit pricing structure would enable the condominiums to be dealt with on the same basis as the rest of the community for trash collection, then she thought it would be a good deal. She asked about the percentage of the tax rate that goes for trash versus education (the Town Manager responded that $1 million in FY97 will go for trash collection versus $19.5 million for education. The revenue source is not just the tax rate). She asked about the number of children per household in a single family home (there are approximately 4000 children in the public schools in Reading, the total single family homes are 7,177). Emery Morse of 1 Summit Drive spoke. He believed a deal was made. He believes the Town is making money, and that there is double taxation for trash, street plowing and street lighting. He did not have a part in the negotiations with the developers. A lot of units in Summit Drive are owned by widows, the elderly and empty nesters. Camille Anthony noted that any discussion on this item needs to also include Bear Hills 132 units. Dan Ensminger noted that discussion of unit pricing and condo trash collection are interlinked, and there might be other issues such as bulk waste collection and recycling that are interlinked. Dick Smith noted that the Condo Association has been looking at recycling but it is very complex for a condominium development. He noted that the Board has been talking about this for three years. Dan Ensminger stated specifically that there would be no condominium trash collection for FY97. It is not included in the budget. MacDonald reiterated that the question of condominium trash collection was on the list developed by the Board of Selectmen, but it was not deemed a high enough priority to be funded this year. Silva Gerety from Summit Towers asked why this process has taken so long. Scot Miller from Greenhouse Acres also spoke. It being late, the Board of Selectmen decided to meet next Tuesday, April 2, 1996, at 8:00 p.m. George Hines left at 11:20 p.m. On motion by Ensminger seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to adjourn at 11:30 p.m. by a vote of 4-0-0. Respectfully submitted,.-, �f �Secre-rary