HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-01-25 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
January 25, 1994
The meeting was convened at 7:06 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting
Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. Present were Chairman
George Hines, Vice Chairman Eugene Nigro, Secretary Sally Hoyt,
Selectman Dan Ensminger. Selectmen Bill Burditt came into the
meeting at 8: 20 p.m. Also attending were Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner, and the following list of interested parties:
Deirdre Hanley, Jim Biller, Nancy Eaton, William F. Crowley,
Gaynell Knowlton, Sandra Michaud, Patricia Donnelly, David H.
Bryant, Marc Alterio, Jean Russo Parks, Nathan White, Camille An-
thony, Gordon S. Richard, :John B. Pacino, William Downing, Robert
Bennett, Steve Kajander, Ruth Cogan, Cathy Baranofsky, Bill Mur-
phy, Lois K. Bond.'
Approval of Minutes
On motion by Ensminger seconded by Nigro the minutes of the meet-
ing of January 18, 1994 were approved as amended by a vote of
3-0-1 with Hines abstaining.
Liaison ReportsJSelectmen's Comments
Sally Hoyt noted that the tax payment workshop presented by the
Assessors and Elder Services staff was completed and the health
care proxy workshop will be conducted on February 8, 1994. Radon
test kits are available at Town Hall and the Library, and this
evening is session four of the seven smoking cessation program
session sponsored by the Tobacco Control Grant. She noted that
Reading resident Natalie Nordstrand sent her an article regarding
used cars being donated for the Special Olympics; and a notation
that Florida recycles Christmas trees by chopping them into wood-
chips.
Dan Ensminger had no report.
Eugene Nigro had no report.
George Hines had no report but noted that the North Suburban
Planning Council legislative breakfast meeting is at 8: 00 on
Friday at the Lynnfield Town Hall.
Bill Burditt noted that he has been attending the smoking cessa-
tion program and commended those who attended as well as Town
staff who are running the program for their fine work.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Town Manager's Report
The Town Manager reported on the first meeting of the Arts Cen-
ter Task Force; there are vacancies on the Solid Waste Committee
and the Town's representative to the MAPC; the School Committee's
meeting and tour of Parker Middle School is rescheduled for
February 9, 1994; the Town is soliciting quotes from Appraisers
to effectuate the landswaps with Reading Rifle and Revolver Club
and with Harper; the seat belt law becomes effective February 1,
1994; the Motor Voter Bill has become law and its implementation
will be phased in, including a local option to be exercised on
Board of Selectmen Meeting - January 25, 1994 - page 2
January 1, 1998 with regard to the census; the next edition of
"Ask the Town Manager" is scheduled for next Monday; the Library
is dedicating a new reference desk on February 6, 1994; the Town
received notification that Route 129 funding has been approved by
the State and Federal Governments.
Personnel & Appointments
Arts Center Task Force - The Board interviewed applicants for the
Arts Center Task Force - William F. Crowley was present for an
interview. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board
voted to appoint the following to positions on the Ad Hoc Reading
Arts Center Task Force: CPDC representative Jonathan Barnes, and
resident/voter William F. Crowley. The motion was approved by a
vote of 4-0-0.
Substance Abuse Advisory Council - The Board continued interviews
for memberships on the newly formed Substance Abuse Advisory
Council. Interviewed were Robert T. Bennett, Jean Russo-Parks,
Patricia A. Donnelly, Gaynell Knowlton, Sandra J. Michaud, Wil-
liam H. Downing, David H. Bryant, Janet E. Cloutier, Marc J. Al-
terio, and Walter Shirkoff. Final interviews and appointments
will be made at the next meeting.
Sign Review Board- There were no applicants available for the
Sign Review Board.
Discussion/Action Items
Presentation of Park Plan John Pacino and Gordon Richards from
the Recreation Committee presented the Park Plan. Priorities for
new construction are baseball, little league and softball, and
all purpose fields. Dan Ensminger asked if they had reviewed the
issue of lighting the High School fields, and they indicated that
that was not part of their charge because this is school
property. The demand for fields is greater than can be supplied,
especially this year, and is due to success of programs and
specifically increases in girls and coed programming. Dan
Ensminger indicated that there is competition for 'land fo"r parks
use and for other uses - he's part 'of the DPW Operations Task
Force. Dan Ensminger asked if other sites including the Fox Run
Site had been evaluated and it was indicated that it had not.
John Pacino indicated that there is enough land at school sites,
but it needs to be developed. He indicated that the Ice Rink
construction at the Haverhill Street Nike Base should lead to ad-
ditional recreational development at that site. Steve Kajander
noted the tie in between recreation needs and substance abuse
concerns. George Hines indicated that there is perhaps a need to
privatize and go into partnerships to operate and maintain lands.
Gordon Richards indicated that one concern is that we charge a
users fee and different organizations are wondering what they get
for that fee. Bill Burditt indicated that through the sale of
real estate we've been successful in preserving and probably in
creating some additional recreational facilities. The Board of
Selectmen offered their congratulations to the committee on the
pian,
i
Board of Selectmen Meeting —January 25, 1994 - page 3
Discussion with Conservation Commission - Chairman Jim Biller and
Vice Chairman Camille Anthony joined the Board of Selectmen.
Camille Anthony presented the draft Conservation Plan. She indi-
cated that this was an outgrowth of the joint Conservation
Commission/Recreation Committee meeting last winter and the in-
formation in both pians was part of the information supplied for
the SCORP update. The other pieces of the Conservation Master
Plan will be to have a chart showing the different lands and what
is available at each site. There is a strong recommendation to
establish a "friends" program for different conservation lands.
Many scouting projects have resulted in improvement of different
conservation lands. The Conservation Commission wants to stress
the need to educate the public to the sensitivity of these lands
and to make them available for active and passive use. The Con-
servation Commission members reiterated the need for a recording
secretary, additional computers in the Community Development
Department, and the potential need for money for appraisals for
the landswaps.
Final Comments on CIP - The only comment on the Capital Improve-
ment Program was whether or not there was adequate information
from the Schools to do the Capital Improvement Program. The Town
Manager indicated that all of the project requests were in fact
included in the Capital Program for FY95.
Budget Review - The following budgets were reviewed: Human Serv-
ices, Library, Public Safety/Fire. The other budgets will be
reviewed on February 8.
Library - With regard to the Library, Gene Nigro asked if it was
still a good idea not to collect fines, and there was discussion
about the amount of donations received and the cost of collecting
fines. Deirdre Hanley will try to develop some information on
the level of business and what activities would not be done if we
were to go back to collecting fines.
Human Services - With regard to Human Services, Cathy Baranofsky,
Chairman of the Board of Health, asked about the difference in
the Health Budget if we don't get the Tobacco Grant. The Town
Manager assured the Board that if the Tobacco Grant is not
renewed in FY95, then there is adequate funding to go back to the
level of service that we have had prior to the Tobacco Grant in
FY94. It was indicated that the shopping assistance coordinator
becomes a priority for funding from Town funds since the other
source of funding will probably not be available next year.
Public Safety - The Fire Chief was commended on the mission
statement.. It was noted that the mission of the department is
changing from fire suppression to emergency management service.
The Chief expressed concerns about cuts in two areas proposed by
the Town Manager - equipment and supplies on. farm D was one of
them. Gene Nigro asked about Dispatcher training and whether a
Head Dispatcher would improve the program. The Chief indicated
Board of Selectmen Meeting - January 25, 1994 - page 4
that it definitely would improve the program and there has been
as of now no improvement but that there are training programs
available through the Fire Academy.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to go into
Executive Session for purpose of discussion of sale of real es-
tate negotiations, labor negotiations, and approval of minutes
not to come back into open session. All five members present
voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried.
Res ctfully submitted,
ecret ry