HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-11-04 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Minutes
November 4, 1992
The meeting was convened at 7: 04 p.m: in the Selectmens Meeting
Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were
Chairman Dan Ensminger, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Gene
Nigro and Bill Burditt, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner,
Finance Director Beth Klepeis, Town Accountant Richard Foley,
School Committee members Matt Cummings, Tim Twomey, Robin
D'Antona, Barbara Philbrick and Sue Cavicchi; Finance Committee
members Richard Coco, Fred VanMagness, Bill Murphy, Bill Albro,
Nate White, Jim Keigley, Gerry MacDonald and Carroll McMillan.
The Chairman of each Committee called their Committee to order.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Hoyt the Board of Selectmen voted
to go into Executive Session for the purpose of the approval of
minutes, labor negotiations, and real estate negotiations to come
back into Open Session at approximately 8: 30 p.m. All four mem-
bers present voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried.
On motion by VanMagness seconded by MacDonald the Finance Com-
mittee members voted to go into Executive Session for purposes of
discussion of labor negotiations to come into Open Session in the
Town Manager's office at 8 : 00 p.m. All eight members voted in
the affirmative and the motion was carried.
On motion by Cavicchi seconded by D'Antona the School Committee
voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing
labor negotiations not to come back into Open Session. All five
members of the School Committee voted in the affirmative and the
motion was carried.
Selectman George Hines joined the meeting at 7: 15 p.m.
The Open Meeting reconvened at 9:26 p.m. in the Selectmens' Meet-
ing Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. The Board of
Selectmen was joined by Paul Carson, Len Rucker and Phil Pacino
from the Reading Municipal Light Department and David Nugent and
Bob Nordstrand from the Board of Assessors.
Paul Carson, Len Rucker and Phil Pacino attended for the RMLD.
They made a presentation on their evaluation of the feasibility
of the RMLD handling water meter reading along with their
electrical meter reading. The conclusion was that it was not
feasible from a cost saving perspective. Phil Pacino indicated
that the RMLD is looking at fiber optics and if a fiber optic
network is developed then it may be very feasible to eliminate
meter reading and do remote meter reading.
The RMLD agreed that they would do a survey of all properties in
Town over the next several months to determine how close the
electric meter is to the water meter. Bob Lynch asked a couple
of questions of the RMLD.
Public Hearings
At 10: 00 p.m. the Board opened the Public Hearing held in accor-
dance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 369 of the Acts of
1982 in the issue determining the residential factor in assessing
the percentage of tax burden to be borne by each class of
Selectmen's Minutes - 11/4/92 - page 2
property for fiscal year 1993 . David Nugent presented informa-
tion for the Board of Assessors. The Board of Assessors recom-
mends the factor of one for tax classification - i.e. that all
properties be classified at the same rate. The Board of Asses-
sors also has eliminated open spaces as a separate classification
because there is no open space uses in Reading which are not
classified in some other manner. The Board of Assessors recom-
mended not having a residential exemption. They felt that it is
not of general value in a Town like Reading, and is an ad-
ministrative nightmare.
Chairman Ensminger read a letter from the Chamber of Commerce and
a letter from Reading Rifle and Revolver Club. Carroll McMillan
from the Reading Taxpayers' Association spoke. He wanted to know
why taxes are going up so high. His numbers show that the rate
has been going up 9% or 9 1/2% per year. If that is the case un-
der Prop 2 1/2 someone is getting a large decrease in valuation.
He feels that the commercial values have gone down 24 to 25%
while single family home values have gone down an average of only
six to seven percent. Dave -Nugent and Bob Nordstrand spoke for
the Board of Assessors and indicated that the property is based
on market value. Because of vacant store fronts, commercial
property values have declined faster than residential properties.
Following discussion, Nigro moved and Burditt seconded the motion
to close the Public Hearing. The motion was approved by a vote
of 5-0-0.
On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board of Selectmen
voted to set a residential factor of one for fiscal year 1993 .
The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-1 with Ensminger
abstaining.
On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board rejected a
residential exemption by a vote 0-5-0.
The Secretary read the notice of the Public Hearing on acceptance
of MGL Chapter 44 Section 28c Clause f which allows the Town to
lien property for non-payment of rubbish fees. Mr. Lynch asked a
question related to the Town's requiring single family homeowners
to have an alternative source of rubbish disposal.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Hines the Board voted to close the
Public Hearing by a vote of 5-0-0.
Mr. Hines asked if the Town Manager recommended the acceptance of
this section, and the Town Manager indicated that he very
strongly recommended it because of the equity of requiring all
property owners to pay fees that are owed.
On motion by Nigro seconded by Burditt the Board voted to accept
MGL Chapter 44 Section 28c Clause f which allows the Town to lien
property for non-payment of the rubbish fee. The motion was ap-
proved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Mr. Nigro asked about the possibility of advertising and promot-
ing reverse mortgages to help property owners to stay in their
homes. The Town Manager indicated that the tax deferral was a
Selectmen's Minutes - 11/4/92 - page 3
method to allow people to stay in their homes and defer taxes and
other fees. The Town Manager will get back to the Board with
more information on what the recent trend has been on deferrals.
With regard to the Town Meeting Warrant, on motion by Nigro
seconded by Burditt the Board voted to recommend Article 18 by a
vote of 5-0-0. The Town Manager indicated that the Cemetery
Department agreed to permit interim uses on the Batchelder Field
site for recreation purposes and to design the facility so that
access would be provided to the properties to the rear which
would be used for conservation purposes.
The Board agreed to meet Monday before Town Meeting at 7: 00 p.m.
Public Comment
Bob Lynch suggested to the Board of Selectmen that they should
establish a search committee to look for a new Town Manager since
the Town Manager had indicated his intent to move on from Read-
ing. On motion by Hines seconded by Nigro the Board voted a mo-
tion of confidence in the Town Manager by a vote of 5-0-0.
The Town Manager reported that the election turnout of 91.1% ap-
peared to be a record in Reading. The election workers worked
very hard and everyone expressed appreciation for their hard
work.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary