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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-06-29 Board of Selectmen Minutes f E I Minutes of the Board of Selectmen June 29, 1993 The meeting was convened at 7:30 p.m. Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Vice Chairman George Hines, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Eugene Nigro and Bill Burditt, Town Manager Peter I . Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Loretta M. Spaulding, Mary Rees, Walter Spaulding, Richard E. Munroe, Nancy Eaton, Annette Flanagan, Claire S. Brown, Bill Mur- phy, John Costigan, Dr. Louis Higgins, Martin Offenhauer. Approval of Minutes On motion by Hoyt seconded by Burditt the minutes of June 8, 1993 were approved as amended by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Burditt the minutes of June 15, 1993 were approved as submitted be a vote of 5-0-0. Reorganization The meeting was turned over to the Town Manager to conduct the annual reorganization. On motion by Nigro seconded by Ensminger George Hines'name was put into nomination for Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for a term expiring June 30, 1994 . There being no further nominations, the Town Manager declared the vote unanimous for George Hines as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. George Hines took over the Chairmanship. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Burditt, Eugene Nigro's name was placed in nomination for the position of Vice Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for a term expiring June 30, 1994. The vote being four in favor, none against and one abstention, Mr. Nigro was named as Vice Chairman. On motion by Burditt seconded by Nigro, Sally Hoyt's name was placed in nomination for the position of Secretary of the Board of Selectmen for a term expiring June 30, 1994. There being no other nominations, Sally Hoyt was approved as Secretary by a vote of 4-0-1. Dan Ensminger thanked the Board of Selectmen for their help and support over the last year that he was Chairman. He wished George Hines well. The remaining Selectmen thanked Dan Ensminger for his service as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Liaison Reports/Selectmen's Comments Bill Burditt indicated that he had attended the Challenger Baseball program final night. Continental Cable TV has taped this program. Sally Hoyt commented on House Bill 5102 which will radically change the office of Constable. Dan Ensminger indicated that he had gotten a note from Don Stroble who indicated that we need to be more proactive in adver- tising the landfill for sale. He also encouraged people to fol- low the water restrictions and adhere to the odd/even outdoor water use schedule. Board of Selectmen Meeting - 6/29/93 - page 2 Eugene Nigro indicated that the Town Manager Evaluation Committee will be meeting with the Town Manager on July 12 and there will be public discussion on July 13 . George Hines indicated that he had had the pleasure of attending a Challenger baseball game. Public Comment Ron Wood asked the Board of Selectmen as a courtesy to place a warrant article for November Town Meeting which would take the Police Chief's position out of civil service. He indicated that he would need 100 signatures for the November Town Meeting but only 10 for the April Town Meeting. The Board will consider the request. Wood also indicated that there is a problem with roller skaters in the Square and better enforcement is needed. He asked that there be a total ban on roller skates in the downtown area. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager introduced Dick Munroe who is President of the Dispatchers Union. The Dispatchers have agreed to a contract for FY93 and FY94, with a 2 1/2% increase in FY94. The Board thanked the Dispatchers Union for their hard work in getting this to a contract. On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the Board ap- proved a contract between the Town of Reading and the Reading Public Safety Dispatchers Union for a term beginning July 1, 1992 and expiring June 30, 1994, and authorized the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen to sign on the Board's behalf. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. The Town Manager reported on the following: The Pearl Street School Evaluation Committee met; there is a letter from a resi- dent regarding the Pearl Street proposals; and there have been a number of calls requesting the Board to approve the Longwood Management Company's proposal for "Assisted Housing. " The Police will be increasing the enforcement of water restrictions. The Town Manager warned that the Town is in jeopardy of not being able to meet our supply and we may have to go to complete outdoor water use restrictions. The MWRA meeting with overassessed communities is scheduled for Thursday and the Town Manager asked for a committment of up to $1,000 to join in and participate in this process. Eugene Nigro indicated that there are many avenues that are being followed in- cluding a meeting with Governor Weld. He feels that it is ap- propriate to keep this avenue open and stay involved. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted 5-0-0 to commit $1,000 to the efforts to challenge the rate setting procedure, funding to come from the FY94 Sewer Budget. The Board asked that we get more information as soon as possible on this process. The Town Manager indicated that the staff had an ADA orientation meeting and that Cathy Quimby is the ADA coordinator. He indi- cated that application has been made to the Health Division for a $15,000 Grant for the "Governor's -Alliance" for drug education. Application is being prepared for the "Smoking" grant using 4 t i Board of Selectmen Meeting - 6/29/93 - page 3 tobacco tax funds. The Manager disseminated the State Education Reform summary for the Board's information. There is no update on the State Budget. With regard to construction projects, High Street is completed except for signs, lines and sidewalks. The Washington Street roadway is completed and walks, treelawns, signs and lines will be completed within the next two weeks. The Town Manager showed a proposed type of pole and mast-arm for the Washington and Main Street intersection. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Nigro the Board authorized the Town Manager to develop specific lighting standard by a vote of 5-0-0. Two Home Rule Petitions on swapping of Conservation lands have passed the legislature and await the Governor's signature. The Water Supply Protection Task Force met last week and will be working through the summer to develop recommendations, hopefully in time for the fall Town Meeting Warrant. The Finance Committee met and approved end of the year transfers, and also approved a list of surplus equipment that we will be offering for auction. The Board asked for clarification on two of the major transfer items which were for legal issues. They were both for a labor counsel/civil service and retirement issue. The Town Manager noted that the newsletter had the red and black recycling weeks in error. The Town will be going out for bond anticipation notes within the next couple of weeks in the amount of $2.1 million for emergency work at Joshua Eaton School, the full renovation cost of Birch Meadow School, and a school roof at the High School. Public Hearings The notice of the hearing on the amendment of the Personnel Policies Compensation Plan was read. The Town Manager reviewed the schedules B1 and B2 which will increase the pay rates for non-union personnel by 2 1/2%. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Ensminger the Board closed the Public Hearing on the amendments to the Personnel Policies - Compensation Plan by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Burditt the Board approved the amendment to the Personnel Policies - Compensation Plan as shown on Schedules B1 and B2 for FY94 with the effective date of the compensation beginning with the first full pay period of FY94 which is paid on July 16, 1993 . The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Pearl Street School The Board discussed the proposals from Carriage Estates As- sociates for the purchase of the Pearl Street School. The Town Manager recommended that the proposal be rejected because it is non-responsive to the Request for Proposals. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Burditt the Board voted to reject the bid of Carriage Estates Associates for the purchase of Pearl Street School as being non-responsive to the Request for Proposals in that the proposal was incomplete in a number of areas, and fur- ther that at least one of the organizations named as a member of an "alliance" that submitted the proposal has indicated that they are not supporting the proposal that was submitted. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-1-0 with Hoyt opposed. Board of Selectmen Meeting - 6/29/93 - page 4 Personnel and Appointments The Board began the process of interviewing candidates for ees and Commissions. They interviewed various Boards, Committ Ginny Lane, Loretta M. Spaulding, and Salvatore L. Mele as well as new candidate Claire S. Brown. On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the Board placed into nomination the following names to be appointed to the Council on Aging for three positions with terms expiring June 30, 1996: Ginny Lane, Loretta M. Spaulding, Salvatore L. Mele and Clair S. Brown. Ms. Lane and Mr. Mele received five votes each, and Ms. Brown received three votes to be appointed to the positions. The Board of Selectmen reviewed the Recreation Committee open- ings. Susan Cavicchi is appointed by the School Committee to fill that position. There are two three-year positions, and one position with a term expiring June 30, 1994 because of the resig- nation of Joseph Giordano. The Board interviewed Christoper R. Campbell. On motion by Burditt seconded by Ensminger the Board placed into nomination the following names to be appointed to the Recreation Committee for two positions with terms expiring June 30, 1996: Gordon Richards, Christopher R. Campbell. Each member received five votes and both were appointed. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board placed into nomination the following names to be appointed as Associate Mem- bers to the Recreation Committee for three positions with terms expiring June 30, 1994: Steven R. Sullivan, Gary P. Roberts, and Thomas J. Zaya. All three received five votes each and were ap- pointed as Associate Members. The Board interviewed Martin B. Offenhauer for the Hazardous Waste Committee. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board placed into nomination the following names to be appointed to the Hazardous Waste Committee for three positions with terms expiring June 30, 1996: Stephen G. Oston, Regina M. Snyder, Mar- tin B. Offenhauer. Each member received five votes and each was appointed. William C. Murphy, John E. Cotiins dRonald Healtha Wood were interviewed for theposition on the Board of On motion by Ensminger seconded by Nigro the following names were placed into nomination to be appointed to the Board of Health for one position with a term expiring June 30, 1996: William C. Mur- phy, John E. Costigan, Louis J. Higgins and Ronald Wood. Mr. Murphy received -five votes and was appointed. The Board asked the Town Manager to review the possibility of having Associate Members to the Board of Health. F On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board placed into nomination the following name to be appointed to the Housing Partnership Committee for one position with a term expiring June 30, 1995: John Coote representing the Zoning Board of Appeals. f. Mr. Coote received five votes and was appointed to this position. i i i Board of Selectmen Meeting - 6/29/93 - page 5 License Mr. Kim appeared before the Board of Selectmen with his two sons to discuss a request of a Class II Motor Vehicle License for Smart Auto at 34 Salem Street. Mr. Cann, owner of the property at 34 Salem Street, spoke in favor of the application. The ap- plication is for permission to sell three vehicles at a time. The Town Manager expressed concern about the size of the site and its ability to handle those levels of activity. Mr. Kim indi- cated that the business would initially be 80% sale of cars and 20% repair work, but that they anticipate that the repair work would be expanding as they become better known. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board approved a Class II Motor Vehicle License for Hyung Duck Kim doing business as Smart Autos at 34 Salem Street for the sale of used motor vehicles for a term expiring 12/31/93, subject to the following conditions: no more than two vehicles will be offered for sale at any one time; there will be no on-street parking of vehicles by customers, employees, or suppliers; the price of the vehicles shall be displayed on the vehicle for sale in letters not exceeding two inches in height; the site will be kept in a clean and orderly manner. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt 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 back into open session. All five members present voted in the affirmative and the meeting was adjourned at 11: 15- p.m. Respectfully submitted, � , Secr ary