HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-03-28 Board of Selectmen Minutes - Board of Selectmen Meeting
March 28, 1995
The meeting was convened at 7:03 p.m. Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Secretary Sally
Hoyt, Selectmen Camille Anthony and Bruce MacDonald, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner
and the following list of interested parties: William Brown, Joan Ensminger, Brendan L. Hoyt,
Tom Stohlman, Ellen Mounteer, Nancy Eaton, Marlene Cohen, Lorraine Horn, Chip Hines,
Stephen Crook, Randy Goncher, Michael F. Slezak, Paul Feely. George Hines joined the
quorum at 7:23 p.m.
Swearing in two members of the Board of Selectmen - Town Clerk Cathy Quimby swore in new
Selectman Bruce MacDonald, with his wife Jane and son Andrew in attendance.
Town Clerk Cathy Quimby swore in Selectman Dan Ensminger, with his wife Joan in attendance.
Dan Ensminger congratulated Bruce MacDonald on his election to the Board of Selectmen and
expressed thanks to Bill Burditt for his time and effort on the Board of Selectmen and in working
for the community for the past several years.
Election of Vice Chairman - On motion by Anthony seconded by MacDonald the Board voted to
- place Sally Hoyt's name in nomination as Vice Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for a term
expiring June 30, 1995. Hoyt was elected Vice Chairman of the Board of Selectmen by a vote of
3-0-1 with Hoyt abstaining.
On motion by Hoyt seconded by MacDonald the name of Camille Anthony was placed in
nomination as Secretary of the Board of Selectmen for a term expiring June 30, 1995. Anthony
was appointed by a vote of 3-0-1 with Anthony abstaining.
On motion by Anthony seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to appoint Bruce MacDonald as
Selectman Liaison to the following departments for a term expiring June 30, 1995: Public Safety
Department, Reading Municipal Light Department. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-1
with MacDonald abstaining.
On motion by MacDonald seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to appoint Dan Ensminger as the
Board of Selectmen's representative to the Adhoc 25 Haven Street Task Force by a vote of 4-0-1
with Ensminger abstaining.
Appointment of Reading Representative to the Middlesex County Advisory Board - On motion by
MacDonald seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to appoint Sally Hoyt as Selectmen's
representative to the Middlesex County Advisory Board for a term expiring June 30, 1995, by a
vote of 3-0-1 with Hoyt abstaining.
Board of Selectmen Meeting-March 28, 1995 - page 2
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of March 14 were not approved because three members in attendance at that meeting
were not present.
Public Comment
Bill Brown hoped that one of the positions on the 25 Haven Street Task Force would be
eliminated because it has not been filled and there were quorum problems. The Board assured
Mr. Brown that that was scheduled for later in the evening.
Discussion/Action Items
Meeting with the School Committee regarding the override. Tim Twomey, Chairman of the
School Committee, spoke to the Board. He indicated that an override was not required now but
would be needed some day in the future. He is requesting support of the Board of Selectmen at
Town Meeting to add $108,000 to the School budget to meet their requested budget, with the
source of funding to come out of free cash. He also requested support from the Board of
Selectmen for an additional $212,000 in capital expenses for technology. The Capital Plan now
has $100,000 for technology for the School Department, and it costs $50,000 to equip a lab with
24 computers and peripherals.
MacDonald noted that he is involved in computers and education and noted that Reading is
behind many other school districts. He asked about the state technology plan and whether there
was funding for the technology plan from the Ed Reform monies. Dennis Richards noted that the
state plan proposes one computer for six students, but that legislation to fund the plan is "lost in
committee". The Secretary of Education has written offering to help school districts with plans
and surveys, and Reading is very well situated for this purpose.
Sally Hoyt asked if there were state grants available. It was noted that there were state
technology grants available and 270 applied. The Town of Reading was not successful in getting
funding. Camille Anthony asked about the possibility of debt exclusion and whether or not
technology issues could be dealt with as a townwide issue. MacDonald asked if the technology
coordinator would be shared with the Town, and Dennis Richards noted that this would be a
shared position that would focus on technology applications, training, and grants applications.
Camille Anthony suggested that we look at the School Committee budget and determine whether
there are more creative ways to provide services. This could result in dollar savings or better
results for the same expenses. Lorraine Horn noted that the PTO's are providing $105,000 this
year to the schools.
George Hines suggested that we need to spend some additional time working together to improve
the relationship between the Board and the School Committee. He noted that we are trying to do
long range planning. He asked about the possibility of a technology fee to fund some of the
technology uses. He noted that he could advocate for the use of some free cash and take a -
chance on additional state funding. He asked what the priorities are. Sally Hoyt asked the Town
Manager to revisit the figures and see what we can come up with in terms of additional revenues.
Board of Selectmen Meeting-March 28, 1995 -page 3
She noted that we should continue to pursue grants. MacDonald noted that he supports the
$108,000 for operating costs and supports the capital expenses. He noted that there would need
to be some kind of citizens conunittee to help communicate the long range needs of the
community. He hopes that we will be able to implement a five year plan which might include the
landfill sale, and that we would also provide additional protection to citizens on fixed incomes.
Anthony moved and Hoyt seconded that the Board of Selectmen support the School Committee's
request for $108,000 in increased spending to come from free cash. Hines noted that he couldn't
support the full $108,000 without knowing what the priorities are. Ensminger noted that some
reductions could be made perhaps in the RMHS custodial area. On motion by Hines seconded by
Hoyt the Board voted to table this issue until they get additional information on what would be
cut. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-2-0. The Board of Selectmen agreed to meet next
Tuesday with the School Committee.
Personnel and Appointments
25 Haven Street Task Force - The Board of Selectmen interviewed Bobbi Botecelli for a position
on the Adhoc 25 Haven Street Task Force. On motion by Anthony seconded by MacDonald the
Board appointed Bobbi Botecelli to a position on the Adhoc 25 Haven Street Task Force by a
vote of 4-0-0.
Public Hearing on Traffic Rules and Regulations - The Board opened the hearing on the Traffic
t_ Rules and Regulations. Chief Marchand was present and there were no public comments. On
motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to close the hearing on the adoption of the
Traffic Rules and Regulations dated March 28, 1995 by a vote of 5-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony the Board voted to approve the Town of Reading
Traffic Rules and Regulations dated March 28, 1995, by a vote of 5-0-0. The Town Manager
noted that we continue to review and revise these regulations and it has come to the Town's
attention that parking regulations on Bancroft Street had been inadvertently been left out.
Restructure of 25 Haven Street Task Force- On motion by Anthony seconded by Hoyt the Board
voted to approve the modification of the "policy establishing the Adhoc 25 Haven Street Sale
Task Force" by making it an eight member body eliminating one of the "citizen of the community
at large" members. Hines expressed concern that we were eliminating a citizen at large position,
but the Town Manager noted that it has been posted and advertised for a number of months and
there has been no one forthcoming. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Licenses, Permits and Approvals
Taxi License for Kimberly A. Smith - The Board deferred the remainder of the agenda until their
meeting next Tuesday. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve a taxi
drivers license for Kimberly A. Smith at 605 Governor Drive, Winthrop, Massachusetts, driving
for Acura Industries expiring April 30, 1995, conditioning that the vehicle be garaged at 605
Board of Selectmen Meeting-March 28, 1995 -page 4
Governors Drive and that the vehicle trips to 93 Dana Road be minimized. The motion was
approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the
purpose of discussion of labor negotiations, discussion relative to the sale of real estate,
discussion of matters of litigation and approval of minutes not to come back into open session.
On a role call vote all five members voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. The
meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary