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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-03-30 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of Board of Selectmen Meeting March 30, 1993 The meeting convened at 7 : 30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Selectmen Eugene Nigro and Bill Burditt, Town Manager Peter I. Hechenbleikner. Vice Chairman George Hines joined the meeting at 8:45 p.m. The following list of interested parties were also present: James E. Biller and Ron Wood. On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the minutes of March 16, 1993 were approved as amended by a vote of 3-0-0. Liaison Reports Bill Burditt commented that he had met with Congressman Torkildson and the Congressman had committed to work with Reading on local issues. He attended the Senior Center opening. The Bear Hill Evaluation Committee met on the 24th and 29th and will be meeting on Tuesday, April 6. Gene Nigro indicated that the Friends of the Reading Public Library hosted a lecture by John Kenneth Galbraith that was very well attended. He attended the Senior Center Open House and wished to express thanks to Nils Nordberg for catering this af- fair. The RMLD community meeting is tomorrow at the Lord Wakefield. He extended congratulations to successful candidates and to the people who worked for the override. Dan Ensminger indicated that he had attended the Senior Center dedication. He attended a Pre-Town Meeting session with the Moderator. He announced a future MMA Regional meeting on Thursday 4/29/93. The Northeast Environmental Expo is scheduled for April 13-15 and he has tickets. He received a letter from Walter Spaulding expressing concern that FinCom had recommended cuts to the custodial staff at the School Department. This was not the case. He added to Eugene Nigro's congratulations to can- didates and regarding the override. He indicated that informa- tion is available on exemptions and deferrals if property owners need them. Public Comment Jim Biller indicated that we are a community that collectively shares it's hardships and, triumphs. The science team from Coolidge Middle School recently won the state-wide Science Olym- piad, and will go to Colorado in May for the national competi- tion. He commended the students and especially teachers Dougherty and Reinerman who had made themselves available before and after school and on Saturdays to coach the team. The team needs to raise approximately $12, 000 to make this trip, and dona- tions from the community would be gratefully accepted. Ron Wood outlined that 91% of the voters voted for the Presiders- tial election, and only 50. 1% for the Town election. More people should come out for the local elections. He objected to the political activity at the Senior Center at its dedication - Board of Selectmen Meeting - 3/30/93 - page 2 people were handing out flyers for Yes for Reading. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen pointed out that this was on a public sidewalk and people were exercising their free speech. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager thanked the voters for the confidence in approv- ing the override, and indicated that the responsibility that this carries is taken very seriously. The Town Manager outlined that there was a fire in the attic of the Senior Center today. There was no damage to the building, but the Town is moving to take the bond of the HVAC contractor and has assured that the building and its heating system may be safely operated. He commended the Fire Department, Police Department, and employees of the Elder Serv- ices Division for their professional, prompt, caring response to this situation. He announced a vacancy on CPDC because of Tom Stohlman's elec- tion. There is also a vacancy on the Housing Partnership from the CPDC. A review of the election process is being conducted by staff, and a report discussion will be scheduled for the Board of Selectmen meeting. There are several vacant positions being posted and/or advertised including summer employment with the DPW, a Business Supervisior position within the Department of Public Works, the Administra- tive Assistant in the Department of Human Services, the Recrea- tion Program Supervisor and an Outreach Worker in the Department of Human Services. The Town Manager announced that the Rubbish Collection and Dis- posal bids came in at $112 , 000 less than the FY93 amount. We will need to supply some additional bins, but there will be some significant savings. Dan Ensminger asked if we could accelerate the street sweeping process this fiscal year, even though the override doesn't take effect until July 1. The Town Manager indicated that he had asked the Public Works Director to see what we can do in this regard. Gene Nigro commended the Town Clerk's Office on running the elec- tion, in referencing Cathy Quimby's memo. He dispelled the rumor that the Selectmen selected the Hawkes Field House for the elec- tion to discourage voting. The decision to go to a single voting place was made in the Fall and the override was not put on the ballot until mid-winter. School Building Committee - Roger Sanstad, Chairman of the School Building Committee, and Russ Graham, David Finne and Robin D'Antona presented the proposed school building project. The Town Manager reviewed the proposed funding schedule which would have 20-year bonds sold but called after approximately 10 years for these projects. Within this system the Town can afford the Board of Selectmen Meeting - 3/30/93 - page 3 projects if it maintains a level debt structure. The committee outlined that Parker Middle School renovations would also be con- sidered for expansion to handle the increase in enrollment through the middle school levels at the end of the century. The School Building Committee is scheduling tours at Joshua Eaton School on April 5 at 7:30 and Birch Meadow School on April 7 at 7: 30 for people interested. This item will be scheduled to come before Town Meeting on April 15, 1993 . The Board of Selectmen will put this item on the agenda for April 13 to take a position on it. The Town Manager reviewed the Capital Improvement Article and his background data on it. He is suggesting that sale of real estate funds over and above a $1,000,000 "contigency fund" be used to offset the unfunded pension liability. A presentation on PRIT will be scheduled for a later date. The Board liked the idea of making a permanent investment in the community by using the sale of real estate funds for this purpose. On motion by Hines seconded by Burditt the Board approved the at- tached press release terminating the purchase and sale agreement between the Town and Homart. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Nigro indicated that the major concern was for a big box retail uses on the site. Curbs and Sidewalks - The Board opened a hearing on the policy on the installation, construction and reconstruction of curbs and sidewalks. There being no questions or comments from the audience, on motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the Board voted to close the hearing on a policy on the installation, construc- tion and reconstruction of curbs and sidewalks by a vote of 4-0- 0. On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the Board approved the policy on the installation, construction and reconstruction of curbs and sidewalks as proposed by a vote of 4-0-0. Street Acceptances - The Board opened the hearing on the accept- ances of streets. There being no public comment, on motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the Board voted to close the hearing on the acceptance of streets by a vote of 4-0-0. On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the Board recommended to Town Meeting the acceptance of the following streets to be laid out as a public way with betterments to be charged as noted: Lilah Lane, Verde Circle, Sanborn Lane, Thomas Drive, Fairchild Drive, Lindsay Lane, Ashley Place, Jessica Circle, Stone Well Road, Partridge Road, Duck Road, Old Farm Road, Haystack Road, Gateway Circle, Milepost Road, Riverside Drive, Chapel Hill Drive, Terrace Park, Fairview Avenue. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Renaming of Enterprise Way - Ted Brooks from Winchester Hospital appeared before the Board. He requested the renaming of En- terprise Drive, an unimproved and unaccepted street off of New Crossing Road. The suggested name was Pond View which has his- torical signifigance. The Board was concerned that perhaps a Board of Selectmen Meeting - 3/30/93 - page 4 public hearing should be held. The Town Manager indicated be- cause it was not an accepted public street, no public hearing was required. The suggestion was made that perhaps the street could be named after Dr. Hinindale. This had not been previously brought forward. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hines the Board voted to approve the renaming of Enterprise Drive, an unimproved and unaccepted street to Pond Meadow Drive as requested by the developer of the medical center at that location. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0-1 with Nigro abstaining. The Warrant - The Board discussed the remaining Articles on the warrant. A question was brought up as to the fueling system used at the Public Works Garage. The Town Manager explained the safeguards that are built into that system. The Town Manager in- dicated that DPW vehicles will be going around picking up brush at curbside. This is storm damage created by the most recent hurricane. The Board asked where the additional reductions for snow and ice were, and there was discussion about reinstituting the printing of the Street List. The Board recommended that Ar- ticle 7 be deferred until just prior to Article 19, in early May. This will give us more time to evaluate expanding a trash fee for the last bill, or developing other resources which can be used for funding this item. The Board agreed to meet Tuesday, April 6 to review all Articles on the Warrant. On motion by Burditt seconded by Nigro the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of labor negotiations and ap- proval of minutes, not to come back into open session. All four members voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. The meeting adjourned at 11: 00 p.m. ;Relsectfully submitted, Secre ry OF F?FgO� 'own of Reading - ' - 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867-2685 639:INCORP��P FAX:(617) 442-9070 TOWN MANAGER{617) 942-9043 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 30, 1993 The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Reading and the Homart Company have agreed to terminate their Purchase and Sales agree- ment for the sale of- the 35 acre former landfill site on Walkers Brook Drive in Reading. The real estate market has evolved towards a retail commer- cial market, and after evaluating the impact of that kind of development for this site, the Board feels that such uses are not consistent with the Town's long term goals for the site, in terms of appearance, future tax revenue, impact on the downtown retail areas of the community, and job creation. In the Board's opinion, Homart used their best efforts over the past months to develop a project that would work to the benefit of the Town and the Developer. The Board has determined that selling the property for retail commercial development would be short sited, and that it is in the Town's long term best in- terest to continue aggressive measures to market the site for a combination of office, Biotechnology, and Motel use. There is no financial impact to the Town or to Homart as a result of this action. The Town, by previous agreement, will receive all plans, drawings, engineering documents, and other data that Homart has developed. This material will be of value to the Town in trying to secure another developer. For further information contact Peter I. Hechenbleikner Town Manager 617-942-9043