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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-02-28 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting February 28, 1995 The meeting was convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 15 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Vice Chairman Bill Burditt, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Camille Anthony and George Hines, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Nancy Eaton, William and Jackie VanHorn, Judith Smith, Ruth VanHorn, Richard and Joan VanHorn, Sandy Michaud, Jane Fiore, Gaynell Knowlton, Bruce MacDonald, Eleanor Dustin, Paul Dustin, Paul Feely, Charles Peacock, Debbie Stackpole, Gerald Horton, Bill Hughes, John Pacino, Lorraine Racca. Approval of Minutes On motion by Burditt seconded by Hines the Board approved the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting of February 14, 1995 as amended by a vote of 4-0-1 with Hoyt abstaining. Liaison Reports/Selectmen's Comments George Hines noted that he was on vacation but that the Ice Arena Authority concerns with regard to lighting have been corrected with installation of a new spotlight. He offered congratulations to the RMHS Hockey Team for the successful season. Bill Burditt congratulated the RMHS Hockey Team and noted that their first tournament game is in Boston Garden on Sunday. He attended the Congregational Church 225th Celebration. He graduated from the Citizens Police Academy and noted that there will be another academy in April. Camille Anthony attended the Open Space and Recreation Planning Task Force. They had Rheta Mullins from North Reading Land Utilization Committee attend and they were impressed with that committee's work. She attended the Congregational Church 225th Anniversary Celebration. Sally Hoyt noted that she just returned from vacation. She attended the Police Academy. She also worked with the Middlesex County Advisory Board Legislative Committee to file eight pieces of legislation. Dan Ensminger noted that he had attended the Congregational Church 225th Anniversary Celebration. Public Comment Ken Ivester from Wes Parkers Restaurant expressed concern about the Board of Health's Smoking Regulations. They are asking the Board of Selectmen to talk among people in Town and suggested that perhaps the Town should consider leaving a couple of restaurants in Town that have smoking sections. Elimination of smoking could put them out of business because it would place them-in a competitive disadvantage with neighboring communities. Hoyt asked if the outdoor area could be used for smoking. Ivester asked for a waiver for four to five years until the ' rest of the state catches up with smoking regulations. Hines noted that the issue of smoking in Board of Selectmen Meeting-February 28, 1995 - page 2 restaurants is better handled on a state level so that businesses in each individual community are not penalized. The Board of Health hearing is continued until March 9 if any members of the Board can attend. Town Manager's Report Fire Fighter Bill VanHorn attended the meeting with his family. His grandmother pinned on his badge as a new Fire Fighter. New Police Officer David Savio had been present earlier at the meeting. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Hines the Board approved a proclamation for the Drug Free Weekend by a vote of 5-0-0. Jane Fiore was present to accept the proclamation. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Hines the Board approved the proclamation for the Disabled American Veterans Forget Me Not Drive: Mr. Horton from the D.A.V. was present to receive the proclamation. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Burditt the Board approved a proclamation for American Red Cross Week. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Bill Hughes was present to receive the proclamation. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Hines the Board approved a proclamation for Vocational Technical Education Week. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. John Pacino was present to receive the proclamation. Personnel and Appointments Celebrations Committee - Moderator Paul Dustin joined the Board of Selectmen to interview applicants for positions on the Celebration Committee. The Town Manager noted that by draw of lots, the following would be the terms as appointed: Board of Selectmen appointee Expires June 30, 1997 Moderators appointee Expires June 30, 1996 School Committee appointee Expires June 30, 1997 Historical Commission appointee Expires June 30, 1996 Board of Library Trustees appointee Expires June 30, 1995 Following the interviews, Moderator Paul Dustin appointed Debbie Ann Stackpole for a term expiring June 30, 1996. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board placed the following two names in nomination for a position on the Celebrations Committee for a term expiring June 30, 1997: Alan E. Foulds, Charles 1. Peacock. Mr. Foulds received four votes and Mr. Peacock received one and Mr. Foulds was appointed. 4 y : Board of Selectmen Meeting-February 28, 1995 -page 3 { Discussion/Action Items Award Sale of Land on Green Street - The Town Manager reviewed the sale of property on Green Street, and on motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to award the sale of the property known as Plat 66 Lot 23 at 162 Green Street to Marian L. Menelly, for the sum of $2600, subject to all of the conditions of the advertised sale. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Review Sale of Land on Track Road-Ms. Lorraine Racca appeared before the Board with regard to the possibility of purchasing property on Track Road. She owns the adjacent property and is interested in expanding her house. However; she cannot expand sideways because she doesn't have enough side yard area. She would like to acquire the adjacent Town property so that she would have the necessary side yard. Any expansion of her house would be on her existing lot and the Town property would be left vacant. The Board of Selectmen was receptive to offering this property for bid. They did note that Ms. Racca might want to make sure that she doesn't have Conservation issues in adding on to the house if she does acquire the property. Review of MMA Annual Meeting-- The Board of Selectmen reviewed the MMA meeting. Camille Anthony indicated that she had attended sessions on salting roadways and had gotten correspondence back from the State with regard to this issue. She had also attended a session on hate crimes and first amendment. Sally Hoyt had given her report earlier, but she did note from the Executive Director's report that MMA had succeeded last year in eliminating the lottery diversion to State purposes, and the cities and towns got $43 million more from lottery receipts this last year. They were also able to get an early local aid resolution, get roadway funding, and have made progress on priority issues of education reform financing and economic development. George Hines attended a session on focus groups and thought that these may have application with the community. He cited the ice rink location as an example. He also attended a session on demographics and understanding how to evaluate these through the census. Additionally, he attended a session on labor negotiations. Hines noted that he is on the Labor Policy Committee for MMA now. He found the trade show especially informative - there was a large group of exhibits on recycling. Bill Burditt noted that he found the keynote address by Paul Tsongas, the speech by the mayor of Santa Barbara, and Representative Flaherty's remarks of interest. He also attended sessions on Transmunicipal Finance, Domestic Violence and how local officials can respond, and Meeting Obligations under the School Finance Law. - Dan Ensminger attended sessions on School Finance Law and has a 12 page write up from this session. He also attended a session on the new Cable TV Law and had some suggestions on things to watch out for especially with regard to "level playing field" language. He also attended Board of Selectmen Meeting-February 28, 1995 - page 4 a session on the information super highway in your community and noted that the internet is available to all households in Cambridge. Presentation - Open Space and Recreation Planning Task Force - Nancy Eaton, Chairman of the Open Space and Recreation Planning Task Force made a presentation. She noted the progress of the group to date, and the work yet to be done. She requested an extension of time until May 1 in order to complete their work. On motion by Anthony seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve the extension for time for the Open Space and Recreation Planning Task Force to report on May 1, 1995. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Traffic Rules and Regulations ations - The Town Manager reviewed in final form the Traffic Rules and Regulations. The Board agreed that these would be scheduled for a hearing at the next convenient time. The Board discussed *the option of having Bancroft Avenue regulated for commuter parking and was in agreement. They also discussed the requested modification at Haven Street at the corner of Main Street with regard to parking. They want to review this further. These will be included in the proposed Traffic Rules and Regulations at their hearing. On motion by Burditt seconded by Anthony the Board voted to approve amendments to the Traffic Rules and Regulations adopted by the Board of Selectmen on April 16, 1948, as follows: Add to Article Vi Section II the following: Street Location Regulation Grand St. Northbound and Southbound at Middlesex Avenue Stop Vine St. Northbound and Southbound at Mineral Street Stop The motion was approved by a vote of 5=0-0. Review Warrant/Bud etg /CIP - The Board discussed the Warrant, Budget and Capital Improvement Program. The Chairman noted that he had read in the newspaper that the School Committee has requested a Prop 2 1/2 Override at a Special Election this Spring. Hines noted that he felt this request was wildly irresponsible because it deviates completely from the budget planning process. The Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager had been cooperative and responsible in the process, and he found the request at this late date to be unacceptable. Dan Ensminger suggested that we meet with the School Committee and the Town Manager will establish a date for this. Bill Burditt noted that the amount of the possible Override was not well thought out - it appeared to be a number pulled out of the hat. The Board directed the Town Manager that, as soon as he receives a formal request from the School Committee, that he establish an available date to meet with the School Committee. Establish a Police Station Building; Committee - The Town Manager presented a proposed policy to establish a Police Station Building Committee. This will be a nine member committee and will be an adhoc committee. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve the Board of Selectmen Meeting-February 28, 1995 - page 5 establishment of a Police Station Building Committee in accordance with the policy presented by a vote of 5-0-0. Licenses, Permits and Approvals On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve a taxi driver's license for Phillip P. Gallante of 17 Colburn Road, Reading, driving for Town Taxi, expiring April 30, 1995, subject to the condition that the vehicle be garaged at 17 Colburn Road and that the vehicle trips to 11 Lothrop Road be minimized. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion relative to the sale of real estate, not to come back into Open Session. On a roll call vote, all five members present voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Secretaryµ