Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-04-28 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting April 28, 1992 The meeting convened at 7:47 p.m. in the Selectmens Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Eugene Nigro, Vice Chairman Dan Ensminger, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen George Hines and Bill Burditt, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, and the following list of interested parties: Victor C. Gilbert, Paul A. Martins, Paul Selvitelli, Pasqual Mar- tone, James E. Day, Penny Richard, Lois K. Bond, Nancy L. Eaton. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Ensminger the Minutes of April 7, 1992 were approved as amended by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Minutes of April 14, 1992 were approved as amended by a vote of 5-0-0. Liaison Reports Bill Burditt indicated that he had attended the open house at the Ristuccia Rink in Wilmington. He also participated with YMCA volunteers at the Boston Marathon. Sally Hoyt indicated that she had attended the open house at the Ristuccia Rink. She reported on activities in Health and Recrea- tion. She has received a number of calls regarding house breaks and found that to date there have been 14 break and entries. She suggested that citizens get involved in a neighborhood watch program. She has attended Senior Citizen meetings including the walk-through tour. Ms. Hoyt stated that she took exception to some of the statements made about the Board of Selectmen at last night's Town Meeting. She found the statements personally at- tacking and offensive. Dan Ensminger indicated that he had also attended the open house at Ristuccia Rink. He will also be representing the Board of Selectmen at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor for the following citizens: Michael W. Midwood, Ryan C. Osterlind, Matthew T. Samalis, and Scott W. Whitman. Suitable Community Achievement Awards were approved for each of the Scouts. George Hines thanked the Board of Selectmen for their attendance at the open house at Ristuccia Rink. He thought it was a display of excellent support by the Board of Selectmen for this project. He indicated that compliments should go to Bud Dickey and the Public Works Grounds Maintenance Crews for the fine job in preparing the fields within limited resources. As a result of conversations with local business people regarding support of youth activities, Mr. Hines reminded Reading residents to support their local businesses who in turn support the community. Eugene Nigro indicated that he had also attended the open house at the Ristuccia Rink and felt that it was an excellent presenta- tion. Two Community Service Awards were approved for Dispatchers Keith Gauvreau and Michael Belmonte for the excellent work they -- did related to a call for medical services. Selectmens Minutes - 4/28/92 - page 2 Public Comments Pat Martone presented the Board of Selectmen with a petition regarding the requirement of a separate water service for ground sprinklers. They would like this policy changed. George Hines indicated that this issue needs to be revisited and the rest of the Selectmen agreed. Mr. Martone also indicated that an employee told him after fairly many discussions, to "mind his own business. " The Board asked for an expeditious review and meeting on this issue. The Board reviewed Regina Snyder's letter suggesting that thanks be sent to Mr. MacKay, and authorize the Town Manager to write such a letter on behalf of the Board of Selectmen with a copy to the General Manager and a copy to the Board and additional copies to the new Director of Community Rail Operations. Discussion/Action Items The Town Manager presented the plans for the Senior Center, which is already out to bid. Sub bids will be taken on May 4 and general bids taken on May 15. The Town Manager introduced Irving Stackpole, Lois Bond, Thomas Stohlman and Sally Hoyt who were in- volved in the process. Sally Hoyt indicated that she had in- tended to make a presentation on this project at an earlier date but that the Board skipped the Liaison Reports that evening to go into discussion on the Ice Rink. The Town Manager outlined the project, and responded to questions by the Board of Selectmen. George Hines commented that this project and the potential for securing the bonus money is a credit to the staff. __` Jessie Mraz, representing Reading Rotary, talked about a proposed circus which would be held in Reading on July 27. Kevin Moran and Tom Wallace from the Birch Meadow neighborhood spoke. The Rotary would be responsible for police details, trash removal, and providing toilet facilities, The circus would come in at midnight on the 26th and after getting the animals "put to bed" there would be no -activity on the site until 8 : 00 a.m. They would start setting up the tent and exhibits at 8: 00 and would have two shows - one at 5:30 p.m. and one at 8:00 p.m. After the last show they would disassemble the circus and be off the site by midnight. If there is adequate demand they may have a third show being a 3: 00 matinee. There is no midway, just a show in the tent and some minor food and souvenirs. The program is oriented to the performance. Kevin Moran asked if the publicity could direct people to come into the site from Main Street along Birch Meadow Drive, and if the police could direct people out of the site using Birch Meadow to Main Street. There will be ad- vance ticket sales. The Board gave general direction to the Town Manager to provide that there is no activity on the infield area of the ball field at this site; that the field and area be re- stored to its usual pristine condition; that there be control of parking on lower Bancroft so that this lot does not fill up; and that traffic exit to Main Street. With these conditions the Board directed the Town Manager to work out the details on the project. Selectmens Minutes - 4/28/92 Tom Stohlman presented for discussion the issue of statehood for Washington, D.C. The Board of Selectmen reviewed the issue in detail, and on motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt voted to send the following resolution to our legislative delegation, the President of the United States, and the Mayor of Washington, D.C. ; Be it resolved that the Selectmen of the Town of Reading, Massachusetts at its meeting on April 28, 1992 supports the ef- forts of the citizens of Washington, D.C. in their desire for statehood. To that end we ask our Representatives in Congress and the President of the United States to grant the citizens of Washington, D.C. the same rights of self determination which our town enjoys. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. The Chairman announced that William Albro was appointed as a mem- ber of FinCom for a term expiring 6/30/94, filling Mr. Burditt's unexpired term. The Board discussed the issue of land trades in order for the Town to acquire properties for conservation or open space pur- poses. Bill Burditt suggested that the Board needs to look beyond the assessed value of the land and look in more detail at the desirability of a particular parcel of land. The Board was not favorably inclined to a proposal to trade for the Sledge Woods parcel of land at this time, and asked that we develop a policy on land donations. The Town Manager will develop a white paper on this issue for the Board to discuss. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Burditt the Board approved the Ar- _,' bor Day proclamation by vote of 5-0-0. The Town Manager reminded the Board of Selectmen that 400 Douglas Fir Trees were dis- tributed to fifth grade students. The funding came from Arnold Berger, and help on the project came from Kenneth Latham, Jr. , K. C. Latham, and Doug Wade as well as Bud Dickey. The Board discussed the process of evaluating a Town Manager. A sub-committee was made up of Dan Ensminger and Eugene Nigro, and the goal will be to have the evaluation ready for the meeting on the May 26. Bill Burditt indicated that he would not feel com- fortable participating in the evaluation process since he has been a Selectmen for only a month. Discussion ensued about potential modifications to the Bylaw to change the election to closer to the end of the fiscal year or to change the term of of- fice of the Selectmen to July 1. This would improve the process of Town Manager evaluation and working on the budget. Regarding Memorial Day, Gene Nigro will speak at Laurel Hill, Sally Hoyt will speak at Forest Glen and Bill Burditt will speak at Charles Lawn. Gene Nigro appointed Sally Hoyt to be the Board's legislative committee to evaluate and make recommendations to the Board on various legislative issues. The Chairman also asked George Hines to attend a going away celebration for Jim and Barbara Cann who - ' are leaving Town to move to another area. Jim has been the As- sociate Pastor at Old South Church for a number of years. The Selectmens Minutes - 4/28/92 - page 4 event will take place on June 13 from 6:30 to 9:00 at Higgins Hall. A community service award will be developed. Town Counsel will develop a timetable for negotiations on the ice r•:ink. The Board members will develop an outline of what they feel should go into lease negotiations. In addition, the Board agreed to consider an open meeting for public input into the lease, and perhaps to hold the negotiations in public session. With regard to Article 7 on the Special Town Meeting, Town Coun- sel will be asked to review whatever material we have for discus- sion by the Town Meeting on April 30. The Town Manager handed out several pieces of information includ- ing the estimated trash fee, Chapter 90 issues to be considered by the Board, and revisions to the 1993 budget. The Town Manager went through the revisions with the Board of Selectmen. These are "housekeeping" revisions based on previous decisions made by the Board of Selectmen. The Town Manager announced that we had received a judge's order today to pay RESCO pass through costs in the amount of $256 , 198 . 75 . This is still less than the $427 , 000 billed by RESCO. The Town has already paid $110.108.21, and therefore is ordered to pay $146, 090.54. This will be discussed with Counsel. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hines the Board voted to ad- journ at 11: 07 p.m. by vote of 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted: Secret ry