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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-03-16 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting March 16, 1993 The meeting was convened at 7 : 30 p.m. in the Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading, MA 01867. Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Vice Chairman George Hines, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Eugene Nigro and Bill Burditt, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Richard Smith, Gary Demopolus, Leon DePalma, Lance Watson, Ed Al- len, Nick DeMatteo, Irene & Les York, Greg Smith, Sean Murphy, Rob Bennett, Liz Cuffe, Jenn Pustorino, Jonathan Edwards, Dick Howard, David Nugent, Lois Bond, Linda Nordberg, Gladys Cail, Marie Sweeny, Gail Wood, Ron Wood. Approval of Minutes On motion by Hoyt seconded by Hines the minutes of February 2 , 1993 were approved as amended by a vote of 3-0-2 with Nigro and Burditt abstaining. On motion by Hines seconded by Burditt the minutes of March 2 , 1993 were approved by a vote of 4-0-1 with Hines abstaining. Liaison Reports Bill Burditt indicated that he had attended the Girl Scout week function, and the Senior Center Reception for those involved in the project. Sally Hoyt attended Girl Scout week event with Bill Burditt and Gene Nigro. She attended the Prop 2 1/2 meeting at the Lecture Hall. She attended .the Housing Partnership meeting, and the Housing Partnership reorganized and appointed Paul Kelly as Chairman and Sally Nitzsche as Vice Chairman with Ralph Colorusso as Secretary. Christopher Vaccaro is the Housing Partnerships liaison to the Bear Hill Evaluation Committee. Hoyt indicated that she had received a call from Loretta Spaulding offering a "hopper" as a gift to the Senior Center. A decision needs to be made immediately with respect to the gift. The dedication for the Senior Center will be Sunday afternoon. Rabies clinics are set for Saturday. The Recreation Summer Camp is filled and a waiting list is established. She noted in the Northwest Weekly that Stoneham is making money on recycling but they don't have curbside recycling and it is staffed by volunteers. Gene Nigro indicated that the Friends of Library have donated $6,500 for development of a video collection and the Library is looking for public input with regard to this collection. The RMLD is meeting with the affected communities on March 31, 1993 to discuss the DPU decision. The Girl Scout week event was a very nice affair and Nigro indicated that he is glad to see the scouting program encouraging community values. George Hines expressed congratulations to Town work forces on the snow cleaning up of the blizzard. He attended the Override forum and was impressed with the number of people involved. He at- tended a scoping session regarding traffic and voting and felt , that it was a good meeting and people were open minded. He sug- y Board of Selectmen Meeting - 3/16/93 - page 2 gested that signs be posted at former polling places indicating where the new polling place is. He attended the Council on Aging reception last night and was very pleased with the results and reception by the people. He encouraged people on both sides of the Override issue to exercise restraint - people should be able to disagree without being disagreable. Dan Ensminger indicated that he had talked with the Selectwoman from Weymouth regarding the MWRA challenge. He is attending a Pre-Town Meeting this week and has been working with the folks from Yes For Reading. Public Comment There was no public comment. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager welcomed everyone to the Senior Center and reminded them of the dedication on Sunday. The Town Election is being held this coming Tuesday and issues are being worked out with regard to traffic and other logistical issues. He expressed concern that some residents still don't know that we are voting at'the Field House. He also expressed concern that someone is calling senior citizens and giving them misinformation on ab- sentee voting. The Town Manager commended the Department of Public Works on the job they did on cleaning up last weekends snow storm. The cost will be approximately $50, 000 and will be placed on next year's tax levy unless state aid is forthcoming. He noted that some residents have concerns that sidewalk plows are putting snow back into driveways after they have been cleared and indicated that the Town does not have the resources to go back and clean out those driveways again. The Cable TV Committee has been meeting with regard to the franchise extension. The Capital Improvement Program is being well developed in concert with the Capital Im- provements Advisory Sub-Committee. The annual process of ap- pointments is ready to begin, an announcement will be in the next newsletter. Discussion/Action Items Les and Irene York were present with students Greg Smith, Sean Murphy, Rob Bennett, Liz Cuff and Jen Pascerino to receive a S.A.D.D. Proclamation declaring April to be S.A.D.D. month. The Proclamation was approved by a vote of the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0. Personnel & Appointments On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board appointed Richard Foley as Town Accountant for a term expiring 3/30/94 by a vote of 5-0-0. The Board is very pleased with Mr. Foley's work. On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt, George Hines is appointed as the Selectmen's representative to the Ice Arena Authority by a vote of 5-0-0. 3 0 Board of Selectmen Meeting - 3/16/93 - page 3 Bear Hill Evaluation Committee - The Board of Selectmen inter- viewed candidates for the Bear Hill Evaluation Committee. Inter- viewed were Richard Smith, Nicholas DeMatteo, Lance Watson and Marie Sweeney. Burditt indicated that since there are four eligible citizens for the citizen terms then perhaps we should expand the committee. The Town Manager indicated that that would require reposting. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the following names were placed in nomination for the citizen members on the Adhoc Bear Hill Evaluation Committee: Richard Smith, Nicholas DeMatteo, Lance Watson and Marie Sweeney. Each Selectmen had three votes, and Richard Smith received four, Nicholas DeMatteo received four, Lance Watson received five and Marie Sweeney received one. Smith, DeMatteo and Watson were appointed. On motion by Hines seconded by Nigro the following additional members were appointed to the Adhoc Bear Hill Evaluation Com- mittee: Willard Burditt as a member of the Board of Selectmen appointed by the Board of Selectmen; Richard Howard as a member of CPDC recommended by the Chairman of CPDC and appointed by the Board of Selectmen; John Pacino as a member of the Recreation Committee recommended by the Chairman of the Recreation Committee and appointed by the Board of Selectmen; Donald Allen as a mem- ber of the Housing Authority recommended by the Chairman of the Housing Authority and appointed by the Board of Selectmen; Chris- topher Vaccaro as the member of the Housing Partnership Committee recommended by the Chairman of the Housing Partnership Committee and appointed by the Board of Selectmen; David Nugent as a mem- ber of the Board of Assessors recommended by the Chairman of the Board of Assessors and appointed by the BoardofSelectmen. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. The Town Manager noted that meetings have already been set up for Wednesday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m and Monday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. Jonathan Edwards will serve as staff representative to this committee, and all of the staff of the Town will be available. Review of Process - Bear Hill - Jonathan Edwards reviewed the process of evaluation of the Bear Hill site and the ongoing process. The Town Manager noted that there are a number of Boards, Com- mittees, Commissions which have vacancies which have been posted. He also indicated that he would like to discuss with the Selectmen the future of the Insurance Committee since that Com- mittee has not been active or used within the past several years. Council on Aging - Gladys Cail, Linda Nordberg and Sal Mele from the Council on Aging were present. Lois Bond, Director of Elder Services was also present. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss general issues with regard to the Council on Aging. The Council and the Division of Elder Services are developing educa- tional programs, have- established a' volunteer receptionist posi- tion in the Senior Center, and will have a one year focus on ex- pansions of programs that can be accomodated within the Senior i Board of Selectmen Meeting - 3/16/93 - page 4 Center. Gene Nigro asked what equipment or volunteers were needed for the new Senior Center. The response was that landscaping and a sign will be needed. Bond noted that the Divi- sion of Elder Services uses over 1,200 volunteers to generate 21,000 hours of work a year resulting in a value of approximately $100, 000 to the Town. The Council members indicated that they appreciated the leadership of Lois Bond especially on issues like the Senior Center. Gene Nigro asked about the coordination of trust fund needs with Elder Services, and how the Meals on Wheels program works. George Hines asked if the Council on Aging Van would be available to take seniors to voting on Tuesday, and the response was yes. Conservation Issues - Jim Biller from the Conservation Commission spoke to the Board to update them on several issues as follows: The Reading Rifle and Revolver swap of land is before the legis- lature. Reading Rifle and Revolver has committed $3,748 to the Town but it cannot be accepted as a gift pursuant to state law. Conservation would like to have that money available in a trust fund for use for several projects including property appraisal and upkeep of conservation lands. The Harper land swap requires appraisals. The issue is also before the legislature. Addition- ally, the Conservation Commission is discussing conservation easements and restrictions on other Reading Rifle and Revolver Clubproperty. The Conservation Commission wants to develop some kind of outreach program to get donations for conservation pur- poses and hopes to work with the account and Town Counsel to develop a mechanism to accomplish this. Regarding Article 9 on the Warrant, Biller warned that the original line drawn to separate conservation land from the proposed cemetery would need to be refined prior to Town Meeting action. The line .was naturally drawn based on mapping not on field data. There is a joint Conservation/Recreation Committee set up to evaluate things like equestrian access to lands. Hope- fully concerns about equestrian access to the Batchelder Field Site will be resolved through the Harper property donation. Biller and the Conservation Commission will be recommending changes for the Fall Town Meeting on the act for protection area. Specific issues they want to explore are: a) encouragement of the gas company to provide service into the act for protection area and thereby eliminate the potential for underground oil tanks; (b) enforcement of the act for protection regulations by general bylaw to be enforced by Conservation rather than Zoning; (c) changes in loophole to reduce the amount of imper- vious surface for a whole development. The Commission is concerned about maintenance on Conservation lands and is working with the Department of Public Works to secure some summer help to assist in this area. t Board of Selectmen Meeting - 3/16/93 - page 5 Policy on Curbs and Sidewalks - The Town Manager distributed a copy of the Policy on the Installation, Construction, and Reconstruction of Curbs and Sidewalks. This will be scheduled for a public hearing at the next meeting. It incorporates com- ments from Planning and Public Works. State Funding for Lottery and Highway Aid - The Board reviewed issues of State Funding for Lottery and Highway Aid. The Board of Selectmen will offer instructional motions at Town Meeting re- questing the State to fully fund both of these programs. Review of Warrant - The Board deferred review of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting until their next meeting. Zaltman Settlement - On motion by Hoyt seconded by Nigro the Board voted to approve the settlement in the matter of Zaltman versus Anthony in accordance with a motion of the Conservation Commission voted 3/10/93 . Jim Biller reviewed the settlement. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. School House Condos - The Town Manager reviewed the Certificate of Compliance in the School House Condominium Development. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Hines the Board voted to approve the Certificate of Compliance for the School House Condominium Development according to the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated 9/28/87 between the Town of Reading and H.A. Fafard & Sons Con- struction, Inca The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Town Manager's Evaluation - The Town Manager noted that the Board has the Town Manager's Evaluation material. They will wait until the next meeting to make their appointments to the Evaluation Subcommittee. Licenses On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board approved a Taxi Operators License to Lynn Mahoney of 10 Morgan Park, Reading, driving a vehicle for Town Taxi of Reading. The motion was ap- proved by a vote of 5-0-0. The Town Manager reviewed with the Board of Selectmen several road construction projects and the results of hearings. Projects included Middle Street, Ash Street, High and Lowell Street, and Hopkins and Main Streets. The Board approved the design for Middle Street. The Board approved the construction of curbing along Ash Street, at an increase of approximately $65, 000 a project. The Board discussed the Hopkins and Main Street inter- section. They approved the use of an island but suggested modification in it's design. They would like to go with a painted island if we can but recognize that we might not be able to because of the need to place signs in the island. At High and Lowell Street, the Board approved the general plan but suggest that we look at eliminating the right turn lane from High onto Lowell, and slightly- modify the section of Bond with Lowell Street. i Board of Selectmen Meeting - 3/16/93 - page -6 On Motion by Burditt seconded by Hines the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing sale of real es- tate and approval of minutes, not to come back into open session. All five members present voted in the affirmative, and the motion was carried. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 P.M. Resp ctively submitted, Secre ary i