HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-08-13 Board of Selectmen Minutes i
Board of Selectmen Meeting
August 13, 1996
The meeting was convened at 7:05 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, Selectman Sally Hoyt, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the
following list of interested parties: Nancy Eaton, Peter Tassi, Paul Williams.
Reports and Comments
Camille Anthony noted that she received a call regarding parking on sidewalks in the Washington
Street area near Little Chuck's Deli. Bruce MacDonald noted-that he had received a call about
parking on sidewalks on Washington Street near Washington Park. There is also a concern with
respect to speed in this area. She also attended the EMARC Open House on Pitman Drive. She
was told by Federal, State and EMARC officials that Reading is one of the most welcoming
communities to deal with.
Sally Hoyt met with Drew Dolben, Brad Latham and the Town Manager regarding off-site
improvements for Summit Village. Ted Cohen was also present. She attended the CPDC
meeting regarding Brooks. She attended a meeting with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the
Downtown Steering Committee, the FinCom Chairman, the Board of Selectmen Chairman and
the Town Manager. She addressed the Woburn City Council with regard to adult entertainment
issues. She noted that Woburn officials are concerned that adult uses even in industrial property
would lead to decline in values.
Bruce MacDonald received calls from two citizens noting that the bandstand should be located at
the Common and not at Memorial Park.
George Hines noted that the Board of Selectmen had a joint meeting last week with the RMLD
Board and agreed to extend the Purchase and Sales Agreement for Brooks Pharmacy under
certain circumstances. This was finally reached yesterday with P.J.C., and the Purchase and Sales
Agreement and a letter to CPDC and the Zoning Board of Appeals have been signed by him as
Chairman. He noted that he spent a lot of time last evening getting the final details worked out
with representatives from the RMLD. CPDC approved the petition for the special permit, and
P.J.C. has 12 days to do their additional environmental testing. The Agreement requires closing
by September 12, 1996. He met with the Downtown Steering Committee and the FinCom
Chairman, and the Downtown Steering Committee is meeting with the Board of Selectmen on the
20th of August and with the Finance Committee on the 21st. The business community seems to
be supporting the Downtown Steering Committee's efforts to a greater degree. Hines noted that
the Board needs to follow up on the bandstand request and suggest a site visit of possible areas
with representatives from the Bandstand Committee and suggested that this could be done even
when a concert is scheduled. He noted that he read the letter to the Editor from a volunteer in the
Cable TV studio. He noted that the Board of Selectmen have not made any comments directed
towards the local access channel or their employees or volunteers or the programming.
Board of Selectmen Meeting-August 13, 1996 - page 2
There is nothing but high regard for the local operation. The concerns that the Town has are
about how Continental Cable supports the local access cable system. Camille Anthony noted that
a resident whose daughters live in a U.S. West telephone service area are displeased with their
service.
Camille Anthony also asked about the Summer and Prescott Street location and whether or not
this is a school or Town issue with schools starting very soon. Hoyt noted that we should have a
Crossing Guard there until the signal installation is completed and maybe we could use volunteers.
MacDonald noted that since Town Meeting made the Instructional Motion with regard to the
traffic control at that location, we shouldn't ask a volunteer to do this work. The Board agreed to
ask Town Meeting for funding for a temporary Traffic Crossing Guard at that location.
The Board also noted that they had received a letter from a resident of Haven Street and the
Town Manager is following up on that.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Bruce MacDonald asked if the Board could get a summary of the bid material regarding trash.
He's concerned that we retain the flexibility to go to a "Pay as You Throw" Program and/or to
pick up rubbish at condominiums.
Town Manager's Report
The Town Manager reiterated the difficulties with getting closure on the 25 Haven Street
property but it appears that a closing on September 12, 1996 is feasible. He noted the potential
for expansion of the telephone area codes to provide additional capacity. He asked the Board to
consider taking a position with regard to this issue. The Board asked the Chronicle reporter to
consider this as a question of the week to get some public input on it.
The Town Manager noted that the Main Sail Restaurant is closed; Wes Parker's is closed and is
being sold - there will be a new licensee; there is a bird feed and supply store going into Haven
Street where the dance supply store used to be and a new deli is proposed to be developed where
the former travel agent was located on Ash Street across from Lions Park. Sally Hoyt noted that
she didn't feel this was an appropriate use for this location. The Board also noted that we have a
relatively new bookstore in Town and hope that it was doing very well. The Downtown Steering
Committee will make their presentation on August 20, 1996 to the Board of Selectmen. The
Town Manager asked for input from the Board on the proposed annual Board of Selectmen's
schedule and also on the Town Accountant's evaluation. The smoking cessation grant to the
Town has been reduced 10% from FY'96 levels. The reduced funds are being used to fund health
insurance for needy children in the State. The Vocational School has not received the required
eight votes on its proposed FY 1997 budget and, therefore, is being funded at 1112 of last year's
budget until they get the necessary votes. Reading is one of the votes that they received for their
FY'97 budget.
Board of Selectmen Meeting- August 13, 1996 - paze 3
A joint meeting with FinCom is scheduled for September 17, 1996 (Hoyt noted that is the Primary
Election Day and it will need to be changed) relative to public safety issues and follow up on the
Downtown Steering Committee's request. The Capital Improvements Advisory Subcommittee
has been revised by FinCom to be made up of three members of the FinCom. The State recently
passed legislation which will create a major change in local retirement boards. This will be
discussed with the Board at a later date.
Police Patrol Officer, Rick Nelson, has retired effective this month and we are requesting a new
Civil Service list for hiring his replacement. The Board noted that they felt he was much too
young to retire. Gerry Vitale has resigned from the Finance Committee and the position has been
posted. Human Services Director, Ruth Clay, has announced her resignation to take the position
of Health Director in the City of Melrose. This is an exciting professional opportunity for Ruth,
and we wish her well in her new position.
The Board of Selectmen received a copy of the Cable Television hearing transcript of July 30.
The grant application of the EOCD for consolidated building maintenance study has been filed.
Town Meeting action to acquire the right of entry for one property in order to proceed with the
Mineral Street Bridge will be required in the Fall. Roadway line striping is delayed due to a
change in the State specification for roadway paint. We'll try to get as much of the crosswalks
done prior to school as we can. This program is underfunded by about $9,000 per year. The
Town Manager will be evaluating design firms for the landfill capping. The rubbish collection and
disposal contract is being bid next week with a bid opening scheduled for the middle of
September. Water restriction enforcement has been ongoing.
Discussion/Action Items
Town Accountant Report re: Free Cash - The Town Accountant, Richard Foley, reviewed the
free cash status with the Board of Selectmen. He noted that approximately $900,000 increase in
free cash comes from surplus revenues, and almost $500,000 from under expended line items in
the FY '96 budget. This is a very healthy free cash position. Bruce MacDonald asked for a
history of the use of free cash in past years, and the Town Accountant will get that material
together for the Board of Selectmen. The Town Manager commended the Town Meeting,
Finance Committee, School Committee and Board of Selectmen and staff, particularly the Finance
and Accounting staff, for their outstanding work.
Report on Well Fields - Peter Tassi from the Department of Public Works, Water Treatment
Division, and Paul Williams from Weston and Sampson made a presentation. We have embarked
on a process of"mounding" water at the divide between the location of the monitoring wells and
the location of the recovery wells. The purpose is to create a dam of water between the two to
prevent migration. This process has started and will be continuing through the Fall. During low
water demand times, the closest wells will be shut off, and will be turned back on in the Spring,
and the "mounding" process will be continued. Bruce MacDonald asked if this process was
experimental. Paul Williams noted that it is used elsewhere but each situation is unique. The
} monitoring wells will be tested weekly so that we can detect the success of this program. There
has been no detected contaminate in the early warning wells since July 16, 1996.
Board of Selectmen Meeting-August 13 1996 -page 4
Peter Tassi gave the Town Manager a schedule of the tests and those were copied for the Board
of Selectmen later in the day. Wells 15, 2 and 3 are not being run 14-15 hours per day. The
Town Manager asked how long this process would be used and what the effect would be on
turning on additional water supply on a long term basis. The duration of this process is not
known and will be evaluated in the Spring before next Summer's watering season. The Board of
Selectmen asked for a report on total costs expended to date, total costs billed to date, and total
cost recovered to date. The Board of Selectmen reminded the Town Manager that we need a
meeting with the Massachusetts Highway Department folks regarding spill prevention at I-93. It
was suggested that we ask Weston and Sampson for a proposal to work with us in developing
such a program if need be.
It was also noted that the residuals tank construction cost estimate is much higher than initial
estimates. We are currently doing an evaluation of available funds to see if we can proceed with
this project as planned. The Board will be kept informed.
Review Goals for FY '98 - The Board of Selectmen reviewed the goals summary. Clearly dealing
with the landfill was the highest priority of the majority of the Board members. The first step will
be to activate the Task Force. The second highest priority appeared to be coming to closure on
the Police Station siting. They suggested that this could be incorporated and consolidated with
other Downtown issues. Public Safety was also noted as a high priority and there were some
subgoals including police staffing, Fire Department Assistant Chief staffing, and prevention such
as violence prevention. Facilities maintenance including improved field maintenance was another
priority as was Downtown improvements.
The Board had considerable discussion on a goal which would be to not increase FY '98 property
taxes. Board members generally seemed in support of a concept that would continue to explore
maximum efficiencies in providing services, with a goal in mind to evaluate all current and new
services on an ongoing basis and try to save tax payers money.
The Chairman and the Town Manager will review the goals and take a second cut at putting these
together.
Review Warrant for Special Town Meeting- The Board of Selectmen reviewed the Warrant. The
Town Manager noted a couple of changes that will need further FinCom review. A letter from
the Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals was reviewed. Town Counsel will be at the ZBA
meeting on Thursday night on other issues and, hopefully, will be able to review these issues with
the Board of Appeals that evening. Sally Hoyt noted that in Woburn they are using a 1000 foot
buffer from adult uses to abutting homes. The Town Manager noted that in Reading that would
eliminate virtually all possible locations and that would probably have a legal problem.
Approve Warrant for the September 17, 1996 State Primary Election - On motion by MacDonald
seconded by Anthony, the Board voted to approve the Warrant for the September 17, 1996 State
Primary Election by a vote of 4-0-0.
Board of Selectmen Meeting- August 13, 1996 -page 5
Approval of Minutes
On motion by MacDonald seconded by Hoyt, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the
meeting of December 29, 1995 as amended by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Anthony seconded by Hoyt, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the meeting
of July 2, 1996 as amended by a vote of 3-0-1, with MacDonald abstaining.
On motion by Hoyt seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the
meeting of July 9, 1996 as amended by a vote of 3-0-1, with Anthony abstaining.
On motion by Anthony seconded by MacDonald, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the
meeting of July 30, 1996 as amended by a vote of 3-0-1, with Hoyt abstaining.
On motion by Hoyt seconded by Anthony, the Board voted to approve the minutes of the meeting
of August 5, 1996 as amended by a vote of 3-0-1, with MacDonald abstaining.
There being no further business, on motion by MacDonald seconded by Anthony, the Board voted
to adjourn the meeting at 10:06 p.m. by a vote of 4-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary