HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-02-18 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting
February 18,1992
The meeting was convened at 8:00 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting
Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were:
Vice Chairman Dan Ensminger, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Russ
Graham, Town Clerk Catherine Quimby and Town Counsel Ted Cohen.
Selectmen Nigro and Hines were on vacation as was the Town
Manager Peter I. Hechenbleikner.
Public Comment
The Chairman recognized Fred VanMagness who indicated that he was
speaking as a citizen as well as a Town Meeting member and a mem-
ber of the Finance Commitee. He specifically expressed his con-
cern over the possible privatization of the Grant Pool. He
presented a brief history of the pool and how the facility was
presently being utilized by the citizens of the community. He
felt that privatization would not be beneficial to the citizens
of the Town and further expressed his concern over the process
that had been utilized by the Town Manager embarking on this en-
deavor. Fred Van Magness specifically asked the Board of
Selectmen what their position on this issue was, and commented
that the issues had never been reviewed by either the Finance
Committee or Town Meeting. He felt that review by both bodies
was necessary in this matter before a final decision could be
reached.
Steven Thomases was recognized and noted that it would be quite
possible that the budget article would not be voted by Town Meet-
ing until May or June and he asked the Selectmen to outline the
various possible scenarios that would be available to Town Meet-
ing because of this. He felt that a Special Election should be
included in the Town's calendar .to bring the issue of trash to
the public once again.
Nate White was recognized and again asked the Selectmen to con-
sider the possiblity of a Special Election for an override,
specifically noting that he felt the citizens should have an op-
portunity to decide whether they wanted the trash cost to be in-
cluded in the tax rate or as a user fee and asked that they con-
sider putting this question on the March 24th local election bal-
lot.
At this time, Sally Hoyt read the warrant for the Presidential
Primary Election for the March 10, 1992 . On motion by Hoyt,
seconded by Graham, the Board voted to close this Primary Elec-
tion Warrant by a vote of 3-0-0.
The articles on the Annual Town Meeting warrant were reviewed by
the Board with Ted Cohen speaking to each one briefly. Mr.
Ensminger specifically commented on Articles 6 and 7 which speaks
to the Northeast Vocational School articles. Ted -Cohen noted
that Article 21 could be used for capital projects. Regarding
Article 22, Phil Pacino indicated that the Light Board had not
taken a final vote on this Article and therefore requested that
this article be placed on the warrant by the Board of Selectmen
rather than the Light Board. He expressed his concern that the
Light Board had just been made aware of this warrant article
Selectmen's Minutes - 2/18/92 - Page 2
early in the afternoon. Ted Cohen commented on the fact that he
had been unable to reach counsel of the Light Board until this
afternoon, and this article was on the warrant in lieu of a pos-
sible agreement coming out of the upcoming meeting between the
Light Board, FinCom and Board of Selectmen with regard to addi-
tional funding to the Town. On Article 29, Mr. Ensminger ques-
tioned whether this article should be submitted through the
School Department. This petition submitted by Richard Nelson and
other citizens of the Town is requesting additional funds for the
purchase of uniforms and equipment for the band and must be
placed on the warrant at this time by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 30 is the petition by Ron Wood requesting revision to the
Home Rule Charter. Town Counsel noted that this is a broad peti-
tion, and it would depend on what motion was presented at Town
Meeting by the petitioner, whether or not action could be taken
under this article at that time.
On motion by Hoyt, seconded by Graham, the Board voted to close
the Annual Town Meeting Warrant, Articles 1-31, by a vote of
3-0-0. On motion by Graham, seconded by Hoyt, the Board voted
unanimously to adjourn the Selectmen's Meeting at 8: 35 p.m.
Respt�fully submitted,
ecret y •