HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-10-27 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting
October 27, 1992
The meeting convened at 7 : 32 p.m. Present were Vice Chairman
George Hines, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Eugene Nigro and
Bill Burditt, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, School Committee
members Matt Cummings, Sue Cavichi and Barbara- Philbrick and the
following list of interested parties: Nathan White, Ken Maguire,
Lee Selzer, William C. Brown, Fred Van Magness, Russ Graham,
Ronald Wood.
The Board discussed Article 5 which is funding for school roofs
at Reading Memorial High School. The Board of Selectmen asked
why the timing was such as it is - it was not included in the
' Spring Town Meeting. It was noted that this would be a bonded
project and the Town Manager indicated that he thought School
Building Assistance Reimbursement was available. On motion by
Nigro seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to support Article 5 in
the amount of $143, 000 from bonding by a vote of 4-0-0.
The Town Manager presented the subject matter for Article 6 which
is to bring natural gas service into the schools in the Birch
Meadow complex and eliminate underground storage tanks. The
Board felt that the idea has merit. We do not have figures on
this at this point.
The Board discussed Article 7 with the School Committee members.
This is to provide handicapped accessibility to two areas of the --
Coolidge Middle School. Again the Board asked about the timing
for it and why it is needed now. It was commented that the
School is under pressure to have one Middle School completely
handicapped accessible. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Burditt
the Board voted to support the subject matter of Article 7 in the
amount of $31, 000 with the source of funds to come from remaining.
bond funds by vote of 4-0-0.
The Board of Selectmen and the School Committee members. discussed
Article 8 which requests $25, 000 in funding for reviewing previ-
ously developed plans for Birch Meadow and Joshua Eaton Elemen-
tary Schools, and evaluating and developing plans for Parker
Middle School. Seventeen thousand dollars is for Parker Middle
School and $4, 000 each for the Elementary Schools. All parties
involved agreed that there is a need for such work. There are
two needs for the Elementary Schools - additional space and
renovations to existing space. The Town Manager pointed out that
it is likely that the additional space needs would be met by
portable buildings since it would take too long to put in place a
program to add on to the schools for additional space. He asked
if the renovations to the Elementary Schools couldn't be staged
in such a manner that they could be absorbed within the existing
levels of debt service. Bill Brown spoke from the audience about
empty portions of the High School. Fred VanMagness was concerned
that the School Committee had not used previous discretionary
funds and that the amount of Reserve Funds and Free Cash avail-
able are not large. The Board of Selectmen indicated that they _
were sympathetic to the needs but did not feel sufficient infor-
mation on planning and financing was available to take a position
on the Article.
Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting
October 27, 1992
The meeting convened at 7 : 32 p.m. Present were Vice Chairman
George Hines, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Eugene Nigro and
Bill Burditt, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, School Committee -
members Matt Cummings, Sue Cavichi and Barbara. Philbrick and the
following list of interested parties: Nathan White, Ken Maguire,
Lee Selzer, William C. Brown, Fred Van Magness, Russ Graham,
Ronald Wood.
The Board discussed Article 5 which is funding for school roofs
at Reading Memorial High School. The Board of Selectmen asked
why the timing was such as it is - it was not included in the
Spring Town Meeting. It was noted that this would be a bonded
project and the Town Manager indicated that he thought School
Building Assistance Reimbursement was available. On motion by
Nigro seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to support Article 5 in
the amount of $143, 000 from bonding by a vote of 4-0-0.
The Town Manager presented the subject matter for Article 6 which
is to bring natural gas service into the schools in the Birch
Meadow complex and eliminate underground storage tanks. The
Board felt that the idea has merit. We do not have figures on
this at this point.
The Board discussed Article 7 with the School Committee members.
This is to provide handicapped accessibility to two areas of the
Coolidge Middle School. Again the Board asked about the timing
for it and why it is needed now. It was commented that the
School is under pressure to have one Middle School completely
handicapped accessible. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Burditt
the Board voted to support the subject matter of Article 7 in the
amount of $31, 000 with the source of funds to come from remaining .
bond funds by vote of 4-0-0.
The Board of Selectmen and the School Committee members. discussed
Article 8 which requests $25,000 in funding for reviewing previ-
ously developed plans for Birch Meadow and Joshua Eaton Elemen-
tary Schools, and evaluating and developing plans for Parker
Middle School. Seventeen thousand dollars is for Parker Middle
School and $4, 000 each for the Elementary Schools. All parties
involved agreed that there is a need for such work. There are
two needs for the Elementary Schools - additional space and
renovations to existing space. The Town Manager pointed out that
it is likely that the additional space needs would be met by
portable buildings since it would take too long to put in place a
program to add on to the schools for additional space. He asked
if the renovations to the Elementary Schools couldn't be staged
in such a manner that they could be absorbed within the existing
levels of debt service. Bill Brown spoke from the audience about
empty portions of the High School. Fred VanMagness was concerned
that the School Committee had not used previous discretionary
funds and that the amount of Reserve Funds and Free Cash avail-
able are not large. The Board of Selectmen indicated that they
were sympathetic to the needs but did not feel sufficient infor-
mation on planning and financing was available to take a position
on the Article.
Selectmen's Minutes - 10/27/92 - page 2
The Board of Selectmen went through the remaining Articles and
voted as follows:
On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt Article 9 was recommended
. by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt Article 10 was recommended
by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Hoyt seconded by Nigro Article 11 was recommended by
a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Hoyt Article 12 was recommended by
a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt Article 13 was recommended
by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt Article 14 was recommended
by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt Article 15 was recommended
by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt Article 16 was recommended
by a vote of 4-0-0 with a note of thanks to Mr. McMillan for the
donation of the land.
On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt Article 17 was recommended
by a vote of 4-0-0.
The Board held action on Article 18. (The Board noted on Article
18 that they hoped that access to Conservation Lands to the rear
and interim use for recreational purposes could be confirmed with
the Cemetery Board prior to Town Meeting action. )
On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to recom-
mend Article 19 by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to recom-
mend Article 20 by a vote of 4-0-0.
The Board decided to hold off on Article 22 .
On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to recom-
mend Article 33 by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Burditt seconded by Nigro the Board voted to recom-
mend Article 34 by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to recommend
Article 35 by a vote 4-0-0.
There appears to be no need for Article 36.
Selectmens Minutes - 10/27/92 - page 3
On motion by Burditt seconded by Nigro the Board voted to recom-
mend Article 37 by a vote of 3-1-.0 with Hoyt against.
.The Town Manager brought the Board up to date on the status of
the site cleanup resulting from the gasoline spill.
The Board talked about getting a briefing on the Industriplex
connector.
The Board asked for a follow-up letter from the Chief of Police
with regard to a citizen complaint that was made.
Ron Wood spoke about the new Cable TV law. As he started to
speak about a concern regarding the Town Manager, the Chairman
declared Mr. Wood out of order.
On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to adjourn
by vote of 4-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
A .
Scret y Cie—