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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-11-02 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting j November 2, 1993 The meeting was convened 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 and the following list of interested parties: Nancy Eaton, Lois Bond, Whitney Goetz,, Lee Roberts. Approval of Minutes On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the Board voted to approve the minutes of the meeting of October 19, 1993 as amended by a vote of 5-0-0. Liaison Reports/Selectmen Comments Burditt indicated that he had attended the Assessors meeting regarding the Tax Classification Task Force review. He offered congratulations to the RMHS field hockey team who won their first tournament game in the MIAA - they play in Reading on Friday at 2:30. Sally Hoyt indicated that 1,415 doses of flu vaccine were used. We've used all of the vaccine that is available. Health screen- ing is taking place next week. November is Alzheimers month. Recreation registrations for winter programs are taking place. Smoking grant was received. Health care legislation is pending. The date for late filing of legislation is November 3 . She's reviewed the MMA legislation. The Constable's bill will be refiled. House 4160 regarding removal of underground residential storage tanks should be law by the end of the year. Dan Ensminger attended the DPW Task Force on Siting operations. Immediate concerns include traffic, etc. ' There is a conflict be- tween running programs like composting and having the space to do them. He attended the CPDC hearing on zoning issues and espe- cially the Sign Bylaw. An offer has been received from a property owner on Bancroft Avenue to donate a tree to the Town if it can be moved. An MMA representative indicated to Dan that the MMA would bring its health care concerns to Senator Kennedy. Gene Nigro attended the award of the Smoking Grant in Concord. He also attended the Reading Business Park Task Force meeting and issues have been discussed including putting a sign on the property, using the existing traffic study, etc. The National Guard has agreed to provide the flight for the aerial photograph icor the site. George Hines attended the Sign Bylaw hearing by CPDC. It was suggested that the Board meet on November 9, 1993 to hear from CPDC with regard to the Sign Bylaw final review. The Reading Business Park Task Force met last week and is an enthusiastic group which is developing an approach to marketing the property. The Board of Selectmen is set to preambulate the boundaries of the Town of Reading this Saturday with Ben Nichols. Hines asked if we could check to see whether there is money from the transportation bond issue that would be available for a pedestrian overpass at the Mineral Street Bridge. He also sug- Board of Selectmen Meeting - November 2, 1993 - page 2 gested that we write to . our legislators in support of the proposed transportation bond issue and ask for a response. - Public Hearings Tax Classification Hearing - Secretary Sally Hoyt read the notice of the hearing. Present were Chairman of the Board of Assessors Bob Nordstrand, Assessor Molly Ziegler and Dave Nugent, Appraiser David Billard, Finance Director Beth Klepeis, and Task Force Com- mittee Chairman Steven Cool. Chairman Nordstrand introduced the issue of the tax classification, and commended Task Force Chair- mar.. Steven Cool on the thoroughness of their study. Nordstrand and David Billard reviewed facts and figures with regard to the current taxable property in the community, and the Board of As- sessors recommended a classification of one, which means that there would be no difference between the commercial, or residen- tial tax rate. Steven Cool agreed and indicated that it was a matter of fairness and practicality. Bill Burditt, the Selectmen's representative on the Task Force, commended Steven Cool and the Task Force on a job very well done. He felt the issue should be reviewed periodically, but not an- nually, until such time as the issues change. George Hines read the Chamber of Commerce letter recommending a single tax rate. George Hines asked about the issue of the residential exemption and whether it could deal with the issue of providing services to condos. Dan Ensminger suggested that we see how the State resolves the issue of services to condominiums from a legislative basis. Bob Nordstrand indicated that it would be a major ad- ministrative problem to do tax exemption and we need to plan a year in advance. Beth Klepeis expressed concern that doing the exemption now would create a problem for setting a tax rate and sending out bills. Hines felt that residential exemption has some attractiveness and we should plan on taking up the issue early next year. On motion by Burditt seconded by Nigro the Board voted to close the public hearing on tax classification by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Nigro the Board voted to adopt a residential factor of one for the fiscal year 1994 tax year. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-1 with Ensminger abstaining. On motion by Burditt seconded by Ensminger the Board voted not to accept a residential exemption in accordance with Chapter 59 Sec- tion 5C by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted not to ac- cept an open space exemption by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to have staff review the tax exemption in future years, how it will be implemented, and what the residential impact would be. They 1 Board of Selectmen Meeting - November 2, 1993 - page 3 should come back to the Board of Selectmen in time to consider the residential exemption for FY95. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-1-0 with Nigro voting against. Setting of Water and Sewer Rates - Secretary Sally Hoyt read the notice of the public hearing. Ted McIntire reviewed need for the change in the water and sewer rates. The sewer rates are coming down significantly because of savings in the MWRA line item. Water rates are going up because consumption is low because of the water bans. The Board noted that they have received a letter from Senator Tisei regarding ongoing support for sewer rate relief. Dan Ensminger questioned whether or not the reserve was too low. It was indicated that the reserve is lower than we like to see, but that it will be increased when we receive payments back from. Cumberland Gulf for the gasoline spill. Gene Nigro asked if overhead in the Water Division could be reduced, and it was indi- cated that the costs of producing water are relatively fixed. Dan Ensminger indicated that the consortium of overassessed cities and towns is filing a suit and is requesting clarification from the EPA as to the method of establishing sewer rates. They feel that this will take one to two years to be completed. Gene Nigro asked about the minimum charges. It was indicated that there are few homes that use less than the minimum especially since the bill is now on a quarterly basis. The Board of Selectmen noted that the net change from current water and sewer bills will be a $.02 increase in the rate which will be very minimal. It would be less than $2.00 per year per household. On motion by Burditt seconded by Ensminger the public hearing on the modification of the FY94 water and sewer rates was closed by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve the following water and sewer rates effective with the February 1994 billing: Water rate: $2 . 13 per 100 cubic feet - minimum quarterly bill of $10. 65; Sewer rate: $4.63 per 100 cubic feet of water use - minimum quarterly bill of $23 . 15. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. DiscussionjAction Items The Town Manager presented the findings of the Water Supply Protection Tax Force - There was discussion about the recovery of cost from Cumberland Gulf. Camille Anthony also indicated concern that the Conservation Land restoration hadn't been com- pleted yet, although they do have until next Spring to complete it. She also expressed concern that we ought to be evaluating potential land purchases and that we need an update on what is happening in the N. Reading area - specifically with regard to St. Johnsbury trucking being sold. Board of Selectmen Meeting - November 2, 1993 - page 4 Non Union Pay and Classification Study - Town Manager outlined the process and deadlines to complete this work. It was indi- cated that the preliminary work should be completed by the 15th and that the final adoption should be done by the end of this calendar year. Gene Nigro and George Hines will do the Town Manager's salary review by the end of this year. It was asked if the MMA material on Manager's salaries was available in the electronic medium. It was indicated that it is not. The Board commended the Firefighters who helped a family from Franklin, Massachusetts, who's wife went into labor while visit- ing in Reading. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager reported that one underground oil storage tank has been removed at the Nike Base by the Corp of Engineers on an expedited basis; that the bidding of the clean up of the Nike Base has been extended by the Corp of Engineers until November 17; that Washington and Main Street bids were rejected because of cost, and a prebid meeting is set up for November 9, 1993 with bids to be taken on November 16, 1993; there is a hearing on November 9,. 1993 with residents regarding improvements to upper Pearl Street; there is a hearing on November 3 , 1993 regarding improvement of the Summer/Prescott intersection and signal; the legislative alert from MMA includes very important issues of transportation funding and public duty law; the Selectmen will be preambulating the Town boundaries on November 6; the School has approved the use of the field house for the 350th Ball; with no objections from the Board, a common victuallers license will be issued to the Bagel Alley at 288 Main Street; Town Meeting is scheduled for November 15 rather than the 8th. On motion by Burditt and seconded by Hoyt the Board voted, upon recommendation of the Cable TV Advisory Committee, to request the Massachusetts Community Antenna Television Commission to regulate rates for basic tier service and equipment in the Town of Read- ing. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Burditt the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of real es- tate negotiations, labor negotiations, pending litigation, and approval of minutes, not to come back into open session. The mo- tion was approved with all five members voting in the affirma- tive. The Board adjourned at 10:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, /ecre ary