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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-02-14 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen's Meeting February 14, 1995 The meeting was convened at 7:35 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Vice Chairman Bill Burditt, Selectmen Camille Anthony and George Hines, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Ed Palmer, Jim Blomley, Bill Brown, Bruce MacDonald, Ralph Meuse, Peter Brown, Ken Maguire, Nancy Eaton, Stephen Crook. Ed Palmer addressed the Board on the issue of funding for the Historical Commission within the annual operating budget. The request was for$1,200. On motion by Hines seconded by Burditt the Board voted to recommend to the Finance Committee an FY96 budget for the Historical Commission of$750. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Approval of Minutes On motion by Burditt seconded by Hines the Board voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting of January 17, 1995, as amended by a vote of 4-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hines the Board voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting of January 24, 1995, by a vote of 4-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hines the Board voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting of January 31, 1995, as amended by a vote of 4-0-0. Liaison Reports/Selectmen's Comments George Hines noted that the Ice Arena is making good progress in final completion details, ice rentals, and donations. Lighting on Symonds Way at the fork in the road is a concern - perhaps that could be addressed with different placement of a light or an additional street light. Hines attended a coffee for Senator Tisei in the snow storm last Saturday, and Senator Tisei noted that he felt the reunification of Reading into a single Senatorial District was beneficial. Bill Burditt noted that he had attended the Haven Street Task Force meeting. Two bids have been received but there was no qualified bidder. It was also suggested that the task force should be restructured - one position of a community member has not been filled, the CPDC member has not been able to attend, and the business community representative is no longer in business in the community. Burditt also congratulated the men's swim team in their success in the league meet. Camille Anthony noted that she received an invitation from Alan Alrich to attend the Congregational Church's 225th Anniversary Celebration. The community is invited. Board of Selectmen Meeting-February 14, 1995 -page 2 Dan Ensminger attended Senator Tises s coffee. He also expressed congratulations to the Reading High track teams. He noted the concerns of the Historical Commission about budgeting. He also noted that the Spelling Bee to raise money for the Scholarship Foundation is upcoming. He reviewed a letter that he had received from Jim Keigley regarding the needs for a grants person. Discussion/Action Items The Closing of the Warrant - On motion by Burditt seconded by Hines the Board voted to close the Warrant for the 1995 Annual Town Meeting consisting of 24 Articles as submitted. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Hines noted that Article 24 in the background should indicate whether the people on the list were there because of non-attendance at Town Meeting or because they had failed to take the oath of office. Public Comment There was no public comment. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager noted that he has appointed David Savio of Reading as a Police Officer replacing Bill Arakalian. The Pearl Street School project is on track and will be before the Board of Appeals this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The Board Chairman and Town Manager met with representatives of the Housing Authority and the developer to review affordable housing issues. The project has strong community support and a firm loan commitment from the MHFA. The veterans' groups need a list of speakers at the Memorial Day activities at the Town's three cemeteries as soon as possible. The Town Manager noted that the Town is pressing charges against a Reading homeowner who attacked a Town snowplow with a shovel during the last snow storm. The Town Manager noted the seriousness of the concerns. Hines asked if we can or should license or permit private snow plowers to avoid the problem of plowing across or into the public way. The Town has received verbal notice that we have been awarded a $75,000 grant under the supplemental police hiring program. There will be a local cost of approximately$10,000 per year. We haven't received the paper work on the program yet and the new Congress could modify the program. Preliminary estimates of MWRA sewer charges for FY96 has been received, and they reflect a decrease of 3.4% from the FY95 actual assessment. In addition, the Governor's proposed budget has an additional $10 million in sewer rate relief. In summary, sewer rates should be going down. The Town has been offered a donation of land along the Aberjona River between Birch Meadow Drive and Lowell Street. The property is primarily wetland and we have been evaluating plans to secure a grant fund for a walkway system connecting into the Birch Meadow area. f Board of Selectmen Meeting-February 14, 1995 -page 3 Staff has met with D.E.P. regarding the landfill closure. It was an excellent meeting and D.E.P. is extremely cooperative. The Board of Selectmen will be establishing a Police Station Building Committee. The five member Reading Celebration Committee that was established by Town Meeting has been advertised and applicants will be asked to state their preference as to whom they will be appointed by. The sprinkler system in the Library broke loose last week, but thanks to the Reading Fire Department and the Department of Public Works, the damage was limited. The ceiling will need to be replaced. Hines noted that he hoped that if we do get an additional Police Officer through the supplemental police hiring program that we can have more presence in the Square. Disabled American Veterans FORGET-ME-NOT Drive - Gerry Horton presented the Veteran's FORGET-ME-NOT Drive. On motion by Burditt seconded by Anthony the Board voted to give approval to the D.A.V. for this drive by a vote of 4-0-0. A formal proclamation will be presented at the next meeting. Review of Elections Procedures at Polling Place - Town Clerk Cathy Quimby reviewed with the Board of Selectmen the Elections Procedures Manual. The Board reviewed the proposed manual favorably, and suggested that signs noting election parking should be posted, that we figure out a way to enforce the no parking on the access drive, that the driveway heading into the football field be barricaded and no parking permitted - it could be used for sign holders; that the lights on the access drive be fixed; that we note at Main Street and Ridge Road that there is no access to Waverly Road; and that the roadway up the hill towards REAP and the Continental Cable studio be blocked for the day. The Reading Housing Authority was not able to attend this evening. No Salt Areas on I93 - The Board directed the Town Manager to proceed with letters to Wilmington and North Reading requesting their Board of Selectmen to petition the Mass Highway Department on providing for no salt areas along I-93 in the area of the Town's wellfields. There was no further follow up required on the FY96 budget and the 1996 - 2005 Capital Improvements Program. Camille Anthony asked for an update on what the history of our contracts have been during the past several years.