HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-11-16 Board of Selectmen Minutes j
Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting
November 16, 1992
The meeting convened at 6:55 p.m. in Room 209A in the Reading
Memorial High School. Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Vice
- Chairman George Hines, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen Eugene
Nigro and Bill Burditt; Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner; CPDC
members Tom Stohlman, Bill Goodrich and Jonathan Barnes; Town
Planner Jonathan Edwards; Bylaw Committee Members George
Theophanis, Ed Murphy, Phil Pacino and guest Al Vas.
The subject of discussion was Article 24 - a Bylaw amending the
Planned Unit Development to provide for biotech uses. The Board
of Selectmen asked the Bylaw Committee what their position was on
this Bylaw. George Theophanis indicated that he felt that the
Bylaw requires Town Meeting to become too informed. There is a
risk versus benefit decision to be made. Bill Goodrich and Al
Vas explained the different BL hazards. BL4 level exists only at
the National Institute of Health in Washington. BL3 hazard would
be permitted within this Bylaw and requires a secure room
designed to keep material away from people. Clean suits but no
respirators are required. The BL2 is work with human blood and
requires lab coats. The BL1 uses bacteria that is not a hazard
to people. Cambridge allows BL3 with a permit and does not allow
BL4. Applications are made for a facility. Most biotech is BL1
and BL2. The Board of Health has supported the Article. The Na-
tional Institute of Health has predetermined the classification.
Al Vas indicated there have been no accidents in Cambridge in 17
years. Gene Nigro asked who would be monitoring and it was indi-
cated that the Board of Health with the assistance of consultants
would be monitoring. The Internal Safety Committee has a com-
munity member or members. All experiments are reviewed. The
Committee has to approve experiments unanimously. They are sub-
jec'L. to unannounced inspections. Minutes of the Committee go to
the Board of Health. There is continual internal monitoring.
Bill Burditt summarized that this proposed regulation would allow
conditional uses of the PUD with additional regulations. It was
indicated that these uses are permitted in the underlying zoning.
This gives the Town more control. On motion by Hines seconded by
Nigro the Board voted to support Article 24 by a vote of 5-0-0.
On motion by Burditt seconded by Hines the Board voted to adjourn
the meeting at 7:30 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Secreta