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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-10-05 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting October 5, 1993 The meeting was convened at 7:33 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, Selectmen Bill Burditt and Dan Ensminger, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Counsel Theodore Cohen and the following list of interested parties: Nancy Eaton, Nancy Anglehart, Cathy Baranof sky. Approval of Minutes On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the minutes of the meeting of September 21, 1993 were approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Liaison Reports/Selectmen's Comments Sally Hoyt reported on Health and Recreation activities. She at- tended the County Selectmen's Association meeting. She attended the Board, Committee and Commission training session and the CPDC session on signs. She attended the Mystic Valley Elder Services Annual Meeting at the Hillview Country Club, the Reading Women's Club 100th Anniversary party, and the 350th Walk-A-Thon. She has contacted Senator Tisei about Senate Bill 1762 regarding Con- stables. Bill Burditt attended the Middlesex County Selectmen's Associa- tion meeting; the Board, Committee and Commission training ses- sion; the Task Classification Task Force which has recommended a classification of one and the 350th Walk-A-Thon. Dan Ensminger was the captain of the Selectmen's 350th Walk-A- Thon team. He attended the meeting of Overassessed MWRA Com- munities, and indicated that participation by other communities is being actively sought. Reading has committed up to $2 , 500, and the next meeting is October 14, 1993 . Ensminger indicated that he has requested a complete copy of the National Health Care Plan from Markey's office. Gene Nigro attended the Board, Committee and Commission training session and felt it was a good turnout. He expressed thanks to Deirdre Hanley, Cathy Quimby, Russ Graham, Ted Cohen and Peter Hechenbleikner. He also attended the Mystic Valley Elder Serv- ices Annual Meeting and found remarks by Charlie Baker, Executive Secretary of Health and Human Services, regarding health reform to be very informative. He has been working with the committee on donations policy; he thanked Sandy Trainor, Allan Fouldes, and all who were involved in the 350th Walk-A-Thon. He attended the CPDC sign meeting. George Hines attended the . 350th Walk-A-Thon and expressed thanks to Sandy Trainor for all of her efforts. He also attended the County Selectmen's Association meeting, and he found the conflict of interest discussion at the Board, Committee and Commission training session very interesting. He attended the Grand Opening of a new business on Gould Street and made contact with a new computer business. Board of Selectmen Meeting - October 5, 1993 - page 2 Public Comment Cub Scouts from Den 9 asked questions about what kind of problems the Town faces. The Board indicated that major problems were financial, traffic, recovering from the gas spill, and continuing to provide services. Town Managers Report Proclamation for the Knights of Columbus - The Knights of Colum- bus were introduced. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Ensminger the Board approved the proclamation designating October 8, 9, 10, 11 as Knights of Columbus Days for the handicapped, and urged all citizens of Reading to take cognizance of and to cooporate in this effort. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Michael Marnik, Grand Knight for the Reading Council of the Knights of Columbus, spoke and expressed appreciation to the Board of Selectmen for their support. Proclamation for National Business and Professional Womens Week - .On motion by Hoyt seconded by Burditt the Board approved a proclamation designating the week of October 7 - 23 as Business and Professional Women's Week in the Town of Reading and urged all citizens of the community to be aware of this event and to participate fittingly in its observance. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Cathy Baranofsky received the proclamation for the Business and Professional Women's Association. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager reported that we would be postponing discussion of the Substance Abuse Task Force until a later date; the Auction netted $1,991 thanks to Herb Perry, Auctioneer; there is some concern about Medicare vis-a-vis the Flu Clinics and the Board of Health is amending their policy; the Tax Classification Task Force has met and will make a recommendation; the Washington and Main Street bids are being rejected because of cost; the Hardnen and Salem Street sidewalks have been corrected; a Swimming Pool Task Force is being established (on motion by Ensminger seconded .by Nigro the Board appointed Bill Burditt as the Selectmen repre- sentative by a vote of 5-0-0) ; the Water and Sewer Advisory Com- mittee meets regarding revising the sewer rates 'on -October 21; the Regional Household Waste Collection Program is set for Oc- tober 16, 1993 at Stoneham High School; the Selectmen are holding a hearing on the Mineral Street Bridge on October 19, 1993 at the Lecture Hall at the High School; the Board agreed to allow the Pride Stride ReMax Hot Air Balloon on the 17th; concerns at the 350th event about music playing was not the High School Band - it was a live band entertaining the walkers; the 350th had 221 walkers and they raised money for the 350th celebration and raised community consciousness of this upcoming event; the 350th received two $5, 000 donations - one from Reading Rotary and one from the Reading Co-op Bank; the Town Manager presented Reverend Musser with his certificate of appreciation; the Library will be open Sundays starting this Sunday for the remainder of the Fall, Winter and Spring. Board of Selectmen Meeting - October 5, 1993 - page 3 Personnel & Appointments Arts Council - The Board interviewed Karin Ann Samatis for a position on the Arts Council. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Nigro, Karin Ann Samatis was appointed to a term on the Arts Council expiring June 30, 1994 by a vote of 5-0-0. Council on Aging - There is a vacancy on the Council on Aging, and on motion by Nigro seconded by Ensminger Sandra Jean Trainor was appointed to the Council on Aging for a term expiring June 30, 1995 by a vote of 5-0-0. Discussion/Action Items Closing of the Warrant for the Subsequent Town Meeting - On mo- tion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to close the Warrant for the 1993 Subsequent Town Meeting to held November 8, 1993 by a vote of 5-0-0. The Town Manager reviewed the 15 ar- ticle Warrant. Review of the Phase 2 Traffic Recommendations - The Town Manager reviewed the charts and graphs of the Phase 2 Traffic Recommenda- tions. Issues and suggestions raised by the Board of Selectmen were as follows: 1. The map in the back of the small phone book shows South Street as a major road and this should be taken off. 2. We should review placement of barrels with pedestrian signs at key locations such as Main and Pleasant Streets, and the depot area. 3 . We should evaluate a different pedestrian signal in the square - specifically at Salem and Main. 4. The "no truck- ing" sign at Franklin and Haverhill Street may need to be modified. 5. Brush at Elliot and Green Street needs to be trimmed. 6. The "Welcome to Reading" sign in the square in par- tially concealed. 7. We need to review our policy on rol- lerblading and the Board needs to receive a copy of the policy. 8. The Board of Selectmen will be reviewing these policies and proposals and will come back within a couple of weeks with any additional comments. Approval of the Agreement for the Sale of Bear Hill - The Town Manager and Town Counsel reviewed the Purchase and Sales Agree- ment for the Bear Hill property. On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the Board approved the signing of the Purchase and Sales agreement and all related documents between the Town of Reading and Reading Bear Hill Limited Partnership. Gene Nigro expressed appreciation for Ted Cohen's analysis of the Purchase and Sales Agreement. He noted that the Purchase and Sales Agreement does not specify the number of housing units to be built - that will be determined by CPDC. He expressed appreciation for the invalu- able help of Ted Cohen, Peter Hechenbleikner and also Dan Ensminger and Sally Hoyt's assistance. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. ._......... On motion by Burditt seconded by Nigro, Dan Ensminger was ap- pointed as the official to represent the Town of Reading on the Committee of Overassessed Communities, and Ted McIntire was ap- pointed as the alternate. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Board of Selectmen Meeting - October 5, 1993 - page 4 The Board expressed thanks to the Reading Memorial High School Band, the Minutemen, and . those who entertained at the 350th Walk-A-Thon. Public Hearing Americans with Disabilities Act Reasonable Accomodations Policy - The Secretary read the notice of the hearing for the Americans with Disabilities Reasonable Accomodations Policy. Cathy Quimby was present to answer questions. Nancy Eaton indicated that she had information and material regarding hard of hearing, and staff training. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Burditt the Board closed the public hearing on the Americans with Disabilities Act Reasonable Accomodations Policy by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Nigro the Board approved the Americans with Disabilities Act Reasonable Accomodations policy by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to go into Executive Session for purpose of discussion of real estate negotiations, labor negotiations, pending litigation, and ap- proval of minutes not to come back into open session. All five members present voted in the affirmative and the meeting was ad- journed at 9: 56 p.m. Respectfully submitted, f Aecrety