HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-06-08 Board of Selectmen Minutes i
Minutes of the Board of Selectmen
June 8, 1993
The meeting was convened at 7:02 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting
Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. Present were Chairman Dan
Ensminger, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Bill Burditt and
Eugene Nigro. George Hines joined the quorum at 7: 30. Also
present were Town 'Manager Peter I. Hechenbleikner, Traffic Con-
sultant Bill Scully, Town Engineer Bill Robertson and the follow-
ing list of interested parties: Zahid K. Durrani, Gary
Demopoules, David H. O'Sullivan, Jonathan Barnes, Nancy Shipes,
Jim Biller, Steve Chapman, Nancy Eaton.
The Board opened the hearing on the Improvements to Washington
and Main Street. The Town Manager and Mr. Scully made a presen-
tation on what the proposed improvements were. Mr. Scully indi-
cated that the signal system would be demand actuated, and would
have a fire preempt and a railroad preempt system. The system is
planned for tie in to the rest of Main Street on a coordinated
basis when the remainder of the Main Street signals can be
redone. Bill Burditt asked if the preempt system can be used to
halt trains if the fire trucks need to cross Main Street. The
consultant will check on it. Dan Ensminger asked if there would
be a stop sign at Ash and Main. It is the intent to include a
stop sign. Gene Nigro asked about the overhead mast arms for the
signals. Mr. Scully indicated that there are several options in-
cluding a bronze type that was used in Norwood, and an older
Washington style that he used in South Natick. They will take
photos and show them to us. Nigro also asked about the average
number of cars waiting at the gate. and whether the preempt system
would increase or decrease that. It was determined that this
would not be a problem. Bill Robertson indicated that the cost
of the project would be approximately $170, 000 including lights.
It will be out to bid by about July 1 with construction to start
by the end of the month. We will try to complete one quadrant of
the intersection at a time and it will be done before winter
hits.
On motion by Hoyt seconded by Burditt the Board approved the plan
for the improvement of the intersection of Washington and Main
Street as presented, and the Town Manager is directed to proceed
with final design and implementation at the earliest possible
date, keeping in mind the need to complete the project as ex-
peditiously as possible with the minimum disruption to the abut-
ters and to the public as possible. The motion was approved by a
vote of 5-0-0.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve a
certificate of appreciation for Walter S. Parker Middle School
students to be presented on June 30, 1993 . The motion was ap-
proved by a vote of 5-0-0.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the Board voted to approve
a certificate of appreciation to the Barrows School fifth grade
students for the "It's Good To Care Program" to be presented on
June 14, 1993 . The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Board of Selectmen Meeting - June 8, 1993 - page 2
The Board proceeded with the process of appointments. On motion
by Hines seconded by Nigro the Board placed into nominations the
following names to be appointed to the Housing Authority for one
position with a term expiring June 30, 1998: Reverend Robert K.
Sweet and David H. O'Sullivan. Mr. Sweet received 4 votes and;-
Mr. O'Sullivan received 1 and Mr. Sweet was appointed.
On motion by Hines seconded by Nigro the Board placed into
nomination the following name to be appointed to the Zoning Board
of Appeals for one position with a term expiring June 30, 1996:
Stephen G. Tucker. Mr. Tucker received 5 votes and was ap-
pointed.
On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board placed into nomina-
tion the following name to be appointed as an Associate member of
the Zoning Board of Appeals for one position with a term expiring
June 30, 1996: Robinson Rummel. All five members voted for Mr.
Rummel and he was appointed to the position.
The Board reviewed the Reading Housing Partnership Committee.
Sally Nitzche has not applied for reappointment to the Board of
Appeals and she was a representative of the Board of Appeals on
the Housing Partnership. The Town Manager will check with Town
Counsel and see if her term can be converted to a citizen member
and another person requested for the Reading Housing Partnership
from the ZBA.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the following names were
placed into nomination to be appointed to the Reading Housing
Partnership for two positions with terms expiring June 30, 1996:
John C. Flynn, III; Sally M. Hoyt. Each received four votes in
favor and one abstaining and both were appointed.
The Board discussed the appointment to the Community Planning and
Development Commission. Town Counsel was present to review
issues of conflict of interest. The concerns expressed were
about Nancy Shipes who has applied for reappointment to CPDC.
Shipes is also a realtor in town and some potential conflicts
could exist.
On motion by Hoyt seconded by Nigro the Board placed the follow-
ing names into nomination to be appointed to the Community Plan-
ning and Development Commission for two positions with terms ex-
piring June 30, 1996: Nancy E. Shipes, Thomas B. Baillie, Vin-
cent M. Falcione, and David H. O'Sullivan. Ms. Shipes received
four votes, Mr. Baillie received five votes and they were ap-
pointed to the Commission.
On motion by Hines seconded by Burditt the Board placed in
nomination the following names to be appointed to the Conserva-
tion Commission for two positions with terms expiring June 30,
1996. M. Clifford Proctor, Stephen Alan Chapman, Nancy Eaton,
and David H. O'Sullivan. Mr. Proctor received five votes and Mr.
Chapman received five votes and they were both appointed to the
Board of Selectmen Meeting - June 8, 1993 - page 3
Commission. Copies of the resumes of the other candidates will
be forwarded to the Conservation Commission for their considera-
tion in appointment of associates.
On motion by Hines seconded by Burditt the Board placed into
nomination the following names to be appointed to the Historical
Commission for two positions with terms expiring June 30, 1996:
Edward G. Smethurst, Virginia Adams, David H. O'Sullivan. Mr.
Smethurst and Ms. Adams received five votes each and were ap-
pointed.
On motion by Hines seconded by Burditt the Board placed into
nomination the following names to be appointed as Associate mem-
bers to the Historical Commission for positions with terms expir-
ing June 30, 1994 . Frank P. Orlando, Nancy L. Smethurst, David
H. O'Sullivan and William Falor. Each candidate received five
votes and all four were appointed as Associate members to the
Historical Commission.
On motion by Hines seconded by Burditt the Board placed into
nomination the following names to be appointed to the Land Bank
Committee for one position with a term expiring June 30, 1996:
Benjamin E. Nichols, Nancy Eaton. Mr. Nichols received five
votes and was appointed.
On motion by Hoyt . seconded by Burditt the Board of Selectmen
placed into nomination the following name to be appointed as Com-
missioner of Trust Funds for a position with a term expiring June
30, 1996: Robert S. Cummings. Mr. Cummings received five votes
and was appointed.
The Board of Selectmen opened the hearing on the Water and Sewer
Rates. Gail Wood and Ted McIntire were present to discuss the
rates. On motion by Hines seconded by Burditt the Board voted to
close the hearing on the FY94 Water and Sewer Rates. The motion
was carried by a vote of 5-0-0. ,
On motion by Hines seconded by Burditt the Board voted to approve
the Water and Sewer Rates effective with a billing date of August
1, 1993 as recommended by the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee:
Water - $1. 68 per 100 cubic feet, with a minimum quarterly bill
of $8.40. Sewer - $5.06 per 100 cubic feet of water used, with a
minimum quarterly bill of $25. 30. The motion was approved by a
vote of 5-0-0. The Board suggested that we stay involved with
different processes to evaluate our sewer costs, but we evaluate
all options and not committ any funding at this time.
Sally Hoyt gave a very brief Liaison Report indicating that she
had attended the RMLD ground breaking, she is still concerned
about driving schools and the Registry using Johanna Drive, and
she is concerned about the water conservation ban and its effec-
tiveness.
Board of Selectmen Meeting - June 8, 1993 - page 4
On motion by Burditt seconded by Hines the Board voted to go into
Executive Session for the purpose of approval of minutes, sale of
real estate, and labor negotiations not to come into open ses-
sion. All five members present voted in the affirmative and the
motion was carried. The Board went into Executive Session at
10:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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