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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-05-09 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting May 9, 1995 ............ The meeting was convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, lb Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Vice Chairman Sally Hoyt, Secretary Camille Anthony, Selectmen George Hines and Bruce MacDonald, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Bernice Herrick, Gretchen Latowsky, Paul Antonelli, Jackie Chipman, Tom Stohlman, Bill Burditt, Lois Bond, Anne Mark, Alan Bond. Approval of Minutes The Board of Selectmen skipped the minutes of March 28, April 4, April 11 and April 25 pending the attendance of a full Board. Liaison Reports/Selectmen's Comments Bruce MacDonald indicated that as liaison to the Police Station Task Force he visited facilities in Billerica and Burlington. The subcommittee is set up to review three potential sites - the RMLD, the so called tree or moth property at the landfill, and the present station. They are meeting again Friday evening. Hines expressed concern that the evaluation of sites other than the existing site was not part of the charge to the committee and we should make sure that task forces are following their charge. The Town Manager indicated that he would check this issue, but the reason for evaluating other sites was a concern expressed by potential architects who were interviewed for the project that we may not be able to accomplish everything on the existing site. MacDonald reviewed the Elder Tax Rebate issue and noted that it would be on the agenda later. With regard to the Mineral Street Bridge design review, he read a statement for review. He was not able to make the last RMLD meeting but will make the next one. On May 17, he is moderating a community discussion on health care at the Unitarian Universalist Church. He noted that there is an international friendship student exchange with students from Barcelona, Spain being sponsored by the Foreign Language Department at the High School and that host families are needed. Camille Anthony noted that the Police Station was considered for the landfill site at one time. She suggested an evaluation of the charge to the committee. She asked for additional information on who owns the Mineral Street Bridge. She also noted that J. Saunders, a former Reading resident, was instrumental in getting an eating disorder workshop produced in Reading. This is a pilot program sponsored by Harvard University through Phil Vaccaro - Athletic Director. She attended the Teen Center Committee and was very impressed with the work that Joe Connelly is doing with the youth in the community. She noted that the Ipswich River Clean-Up is scheduled for May 20, 1995, and people can call at Town Hall if they are interested in getting involved. That day is also the day of the Garden Club geranium sale. On June 10, there will be a big clean up in the Ipswich River area. George Hines commented on the Mineral Street Bridge design review. He expressed concern that residents missed the opportunity to have an impact on the design. The design comment period is still open for 10 days. He attended a meeting of the Commissioner of Trust Funds and they are Board of Selectmen Meeting-May 9, 1995 -page 2 dealing with health care issues on a local basis. The commission is losing a.member, Bob D'Ambrosia, and the commission would value a new member with either investment experience or health care experience. Gene Ngro's name was suggested. Sally Hoyt wished secretaries at Town Hall a happy Secretary's Day on April 26, 1995, on behalf of the Board. On April 30, 1995, she attended Dr. Munnelly's retirement dinner. On May 10, she attended the 10th Anniversary of REAP. She left that meeting to go to the Mineral Street Bridge design hearing. She noted that nearby communities are obtaining funds for rehabilitation of store fronts and wondered if the Town of Reading could do the same (the Town Manager noted that this is part of the Main Street program which Reading has not entered into at this point). She expressed concern about legislation at the State House - H1399 which will allow Middlesex County Commissioners to borrow funds for the County Hospital. She has called MMA to express concern. Even though Reading is not part of the retirement system, the county would be responsible for repayment of this debt. Public Comments Gretchen Latowsky of 93 King Street spoke representing neighbors of the Mineral Street Bridge. She noted that it has been one and one half years since the bridge reconstruction was presented to the Town, and much homework has been done. She feels that both sides might have become entrenched in their positions. She asked that before the 25% design process is completed that the Board reconsider their previous vote to build a vehicular bridge. The Selectmen's concerns about public safety and response time should be mitigated by the fact that hundreds of school children will be using the bridge. She requested the Board to take an opportunity to review the design and present comments to the Mass Highway Department. She presented a list of questions from the neighborhood and asked for time on the agenda during the next couple of weeks. She asked which agencies of the Town would review the design and would like a copy of the comments. She noted that the design has four way stops and a 15 mph design speed and wondered if there would be any gain in response time. She noted there is a question as to who owns the bridge and what impact on the liability these traffic controls would have for the Town if the Town is the owner. She asked how the design would square with subdivision standards. The traffic study is not available. She asked how the design would impact on the Master Plan and the traffic impact study. She asked how the redistricting of the middle school would impact the project. She noted the unpredictability of children and there would be hundreds of kids crossing at intersections with four way stops. They would be crossing the street with commuter traffic. She read a letter from Laurnda Beddingfield that was,sent when the State Rep sent a letter asking for a hybrid bridge, siting poor sight distance. She noted that the Town was suppose to notify abutters of the bridge. She wondered whether the Town has adequate Police coverage to make sure that stop signs and speed limits are observed. Tom Stohlman asked the Town to review the design drawings. He noted that the slope of the bridge exceeds subdivision standards. He is concerned about slope and -- - sight lines. He was disappointed that the Town did not respond at the public hearing. He requested that the Town respond. He suggested that the Town request an extension of time on this project. Board of Selectmen Meeting -May 9, 1995 -page 3 Camille Anthony asked why the neighbors were not notified, and the Town Manager noted that it was his understanding that Tom Stohlman was going to notify the neighborhood. Bruce MacDonald noted that he shares the issue of the group. He knows that there are a lot of people who have an issue with the Selectmen's decision. He hasn't heard from anybody who wants the bridge. He would like the following. 1) that the Board of Selectmen respond to the citizens regarding the comments back to the State - the Board could respond as individuals or as a full Board. He thinks that the Board should request an extension, and that Town Engineer should make comments directly. 2) He would like to respond to what has been said at the hearing and by neighborhood residents by sponsoring a motion to reconsider at the next Board of Selectmen's meeting. Jackie Chipman, 94 Summer Avenue; Mike Curran of 66 Mineral Street spoke. Gretchen Latowsky noted that it is customary for extensions to be granted and would like a copy of the letter requesting the extension sent to her. George Hines noted that the comments from the Town should be focused to address Town government concerns at 25% design. Reconsideration is a separate issue. These should be noted as two separate items on the same agenda. Presentation -Bill Burditt, former member of the Board of Selectmen was present. Sally Hoyt on behalf of the Board of Selectmen presented a plaque to Bill for his years of service on the Board of Selectmen, and his other service to the It Town Manaeer's Report 936 drop voter notices went out because that number of registered voters have not answered their census. Residents have approximately 2 weeks to respond or they will be dropped from the Street List. Cable TV is going through an upgrade. The architect has been hired for the Police Station feasibility work. The Town Manager thanked the screening committee - Tim Twomey, Richard Coco, Joe Delaney and Bob Silva, assisted by David Lee. Street sweeping continues. The water main flushing program has been completed. Street improvements have been scheduled for May 10 on Grove and Franklin Street, weather permitting. The Mineral Street Bridge 25%design hearing was held May 4, 1995. The record is open for 10 days. Water restrictions are still in place and need to be obeyed. The Auburn Street water tank is being repainted on the inside. Reimbursement of a limited amount of RESCO pass through monies are included in the supplemental budget proposal in the legislature and we should know the results within a couple of weeks. A public meeting on phase 3 townwide traffic study is scheduled for June 8 at the Parker Middle School. CPDC is holding the final public hearing on the tree trimming plan for South Street on June 5. This is the final approval that is required in the -- tree trimming plan notes that there are no branches over 4 inches in diameter that will need to be, trimmed to accomplish the pole and utility relocation. Shadow Day with RMHS students is i Board of Selectmen Meeting-May 9, 1995 - page 4 tomorrow. We are filing a grant application under the Transportation Enhancement Program to construct a bike path connecting Grove, Henzie, Criterion and Rice Roads with Birch Meadow Drive in accordance with the Master Plan and the draft open space. We are also applying for funds to complete the Depot parking lot on Lincoln Street. The Town Manager will be attending the RMi.D Board meeting on May 15, 1995 to talk about establishing a formula for the automatic escalation of the earnings distribution from the RMLD to the Town. The Town Manager and Chairman Dan Ensminger attended the Eagle Scout award ceremony for Nathaniel Fowler. He is the youngest Eagle Scout among the 46 Eagle Scouts from Troop 705. The Town Manager noted that enforcement on 430 unlicensed dogs has gone out, and these animals need to be licensed. He reviewed the meeting schedule with the Board of Selectmen and they agreed. The VFW Poppy Sales from May 26 to May 29 is proposed. He noted that we had received a petition regarding a drainage problem. Discussion/Action Items Recycling Report Card SWAC -Bob Brown from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee attended the meeting. He reviewed the "Recycling Report Card" and noted that it is not accurate because it does not include the composting that Reading does. It also does not take into account items such as returnables, and "precycling or trash elimination". He noted that, for example, Lexington recycles the same materials as Reading except they also recycle white paper. They included the trash reduction figured into their recycling. Reading's figures are based on actual recycled tonnage. Lina Zarrow from the SWAC noted that the annual figures include curbside and drop-off recycling but not composting.. Wayland has a landfill and all materials are dropped off, and North Andover shows 46% recycling. Anne Mark noted that compared to Rockport we collect more. With regard to other communities, we are collecting a lot of the same things. We think that we can do better with improved public information. Hopefully next year's RFP for recycling will add paper board and mixed office paper. The SWAC talked about the possibility of additional funding for public education. They have a grant for a brochure that will be out soon. They are networking with other towns and will be attending environmental expo. Bruce MacDonald asked about the budget for education and it was indicated that there is none. There was a discussion about a per bag fee or unit pricing for trash disposal. There is a seminar on the subject on May 31. George Hines noted that the recycling grade is not important. He feels that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee deserves an A+. There is room for improvement. He asked if recycling can make money, and it was noted that the money to be made in recycling is based on cost avoidance, and some communities have a tipping for their solid waste of $80 plus per ton and therefore recycling is effective for cost avoidance purposes. He feels that the SWAC should set priorities on future recycling. The Board indicated that the issue of unit pricing - a per bag fee to encourage recycling - should be placed on a future agenda in the late summer or early fall. It was commented that reinstituting Board of Selectmen Meeting -May 9, 1995 -page 5 a trash fee per say may not be appropriate since it was initially done as a revenue raiser. However, it might be appropriate if there was a corresponding reduction of tax rate and was done for conservation purposes only. There needs to be some preliminary discussion first. Review of Water Restrictions Status - Ted McIntire and Peter Tassi presented the issues with regard to water restrictions. A meeting was held with DEP yesterday, and consultant reports will be out this week regarding the efforts of Handex to clean up the spill site. It was asked if we could bring one well on line, such as well #3, whether we could go to a straight odd/even watering restriction (eliminating the Sunday restriction). The Board agreed that the goal of the Town is zero contamination of the wells. The Board of Selectmen has town-wide responsibility for this issue. Turning on well #3 will not be effective in terms of lifting water restrictions since we only get 300,000 gallons per day out of that on an optimum basis. Well #2 can pump 700,000 gallons per day. The recovery process is going 24 hours per day. Camille Anthony asked if we are doing additional well exploration and it was noted that we are. The Town Manager noted that one option to lifting the water bans might be to request the use of MWRA water in order to eliminate the water ban. There was discussion about the quality of MWRA water and the equity of having the same water supply for the entire community. The sense of the Board of Selectmen was that they would not favor this option at this time. Hines suggested that this be placed as a regular agenda item for every meeting. Senior Citizen Program to Earn Dollars for Tax Payment - Lois Bond was in attendance and reviewed with Bruce MacDonald from the Board of Selectmen a possible senior citizen program to earn dollars for tax payment. This would be an FY97 budget item. The goal is to help people stay in their homes. Following a great deal of discussion, the Board directed that we do some research to find out what the need is - i.e. how many people fall into low or moderate income categories who are elderly and also non-elderly. Mineral Street Area Sidewalk Program - Town Engineer Joe Delaney reviewed with the Board of Selectmen the proposed Mineral Street area sidewalk construction program. On motion by Hines seconded by MacDonald the Board voted to direct the Town Manager to proceed with the sidewalk construction program in the Mineral Street area as presented, and to come back to the Board with a proposal as to sidewalks on Vine Street from Mineral to High. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Review and Approval of Ash Street, Main Street Intersection Improvements - Re: McDonald's Restaurant - Joe Delaney and Bob McDougall from McDonalds were present to discuss the construction of the intersection of Ash and Main Street. This is required by site plan approval by the Board of Selectmen. The play structure will remain, but the signs will be relocated. The sign needs to go to the Board of Appeals but this will not hold up the process. The play area will be kept for its useful-life which is estimated to be about eight years but it won't be replaced. Board of Selectmen Meeting-May 9, 1995 -page 6 On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony the Board approved the design for the_reconstruction of Ash Street and Main Street as presented with all construction to be completed by the McDonalds Corporation pursuant to the site plan approval by the CPDC. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Licenses and Permits On motion by Anthony seconded by Hines the Board voted to approve a taxi driver's license for John Davis Jr. of 10 Edgemont Avenue in Reading driving for Town Taxi for a term expiring December 31, 1995, subject to the condition that the taxi be garaged at 10 Edgemont Avenue and that the vehicle trips to i 1 Lothrop Road be minimized. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Hines suggested that we delegate all authority for taxi licenses to the Town Manager. On motion by Anthony seconded by MacDonald the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of labor negotiations and discussion relative to the sale of real estate not to come back into Open Session. On a role call vote, MacDonald, Hoyt and Anthony voted in the affirmative and Hines abstained and the motion was carried. Respectfully submitted, / Secretary