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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-11-01 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting November 1, 1994 The meeting was convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Dan Ensminger, Vice Chairman Bill Burditt, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectman Camille Anthony, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Virginia Adams, Ken Maguire, Deirdre Hanley, Lois Bond, Stephen Crook. Selectman George Hines arrived at approximately 8:20 p.m. Approval of Minutes On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve the minutes of October 25, 1994 as amended by a vote of 4-0-0. Liaison Reports/Selectmen's Comments Bill Burditt noted that he had attended the all Boards Executive Session last week. Camille Anthony noted that she had attended the Open Space Committee meeting on Thursday, and the survey will be in the Suburban News this week. This is a very involved state project to develop a comprehensive outdoor Open Space and Recreation Plan. Sally Hoyt attended the Middlesex County Advisory Board Legislative meeting. Among other things they are supporting legislation to eliminate county government. _She found the all Boards meeting very productive. She has been elected Secretary of the Middlesex County Selectmen's Association. She attended several of the "Day of Caring" events sponsored by Reading Elder Services, and was very impressed with the commitment of Reading students to these events. She expressed congratulations to.the Reading Memorial High School Soccer Team which has gone undefeated, and expressed thanks to the emergency medical team that came to the aid of George Fennelly. Dan Ensminger acknowledged correspondence from Ken McKinnon regarding Carnation Circle. He has also received a number of calls of concern about the R15 Zoning. He will be attending a pre-Town Meeting session on Wednesday. He will also be attending the RMHS 2000 Capital Needs Assessment Committee. Public Comment Virginia Adams spoke and indicated that she would like to be heard on the issue of budgets later on. She was told at 4:50 this afternoon that budgets would be discussed tonight. The Town Manager noted that the only things to be discussed tonight are the new program requests and that the budget discussion would take place at a later date. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager commented on the Election scheduled for November 8, 1994; and on the ballot question pamphlet. He noted that we had not received bids for the remediation of the wetlands at the Water Treatment Plant, but we do have a contractor who will be able to start - Board of Selectmen Meeting-November 1, 1994 -page 2 within two weeks at a considerably higher price. Veteran's Day will be celebrated on Friday, November 11, 1994, at 11:00 a.m. on the Common, and the Selectmen have a copy of the program. Bids for street crack sealing have taken place but there is a protest to the bid award. Until this protest is resolved, we cannot award the bid for the microchip seal program at Franklin and Grove Streets. Town Counsel is working to resolve this issue. The compost center is now open on Fridays, Saturdays, and all day Sundays for the month of November. Curbside leaf collection is scheduled for the weeks of October 28, November 14, November 28. The Town Manager reviewed the availability of "At Wood End" and a 350th poster in the Town Clerk's Office. He noted that the flu, pneumonia and tetanus clinics are scheduled for November 9, and November 17. Water main flushing is going on this fall in the southside of Reading and should be completed next week. The DPW and Police Department staff have developed an RFP for architectural work for the renovation and addition to the Police Station. Proposals for consulting work to review options and recommend a course of action for residual disposal at the Water Treatment Plant are being reviewed. The Open Space Questionnaire was supposed to be included in the latest Reading Notes but was left out. It will be included in this weeks Suburban News and we hope that residents will take a few minutes to complete and return the questionnaire. "Quit Man", a person in a 7 1/2 foot tail costume, will be making an appearance in Reading Square on November 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., as part of the Health Division's anti-smoking campaign. The Reading Police Department has been requested to embark on a program of warning and then ticketing drivers who park on sidewalks. The Town Manager noted that the Police Department would welcome cooperation from residents who may have witnessed or know who participated in two assault and battery cases on Halloween. The Town Manager noted that the Pop Warner A Team Football Squad went undefeated in the Middlesex League this year, and will be in the playoffs this Sunday. Personnel and Appointments Mystic Valley Elder Services -Rheta McKinley is a candidate for reappointment to Mystic Valley Elder Services Board of Directors, and was not able to be present for medical reasons. The Town Manager noted that Reading is the only community that does not have its Elder Services Administrator on the Mystic Valley Elder Services Board, but that perhaps that could be addressed at another time. On motion by Anthony seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to appoint Rheta McKinley to a three year term on the Mystic Valley Elder Services Board of Directors for a term expiring September 30, 1997. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. Discussion/Action Items Approval of Community Promotion for Chamber of Commerce Holiday Lighting - On motion by Hoyt seconded by Anthony the Board approved the designation of the period from Friday, November 25, 1994 through Saturday, December 24, 1994, as a "Town-Wide Promotional Event" pursuant to sign regulations of the Zoning Bylaw, as requested by the Reading Chamber of Commerce. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-0. It was suggested that this be publicized in the Reading Notes. Board of Selectmen Meeting-November 1, 1994 -page 3 Review of Special and Subsequent Town Meeting Warrants- The Board reviewed the Special and Subsequent Town Meeting Warrants. On the Special Town Meeting Warrant, the Board of Selectmen took the following actions: Article 3 - On motion by Burditt seconded by Hines the Board voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 3 by a vote of 5-0-0. Article 4 - On motion by Burditt seconded by Hines the Board voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 4 by a vote of 5-0-0. The Chairman noted that Articles 4 and 5 would use remaining unused taxing capacity of the Town. Article 5 - On motion by Hoyt seconded by Burditt the Board voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 5 by a vote of 5-0-0. Article 6 -Will be indefinitely postponed. With regard to the Subsequent Meeting the Board discussed the Articles. On motion by Burditt seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to recommend the subject matter of Articles 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 28 by a vote of 5-0-0. Hines moved and Hoyt seconded the motion to recommend the subject matters of Articles 18, 19, 20 and 25. On a vote of 0-5-0 the Board voted not to recommend these Articles. On motion by Hines seconded by Burditt the Board voted to recommend the subject matter of Article 22 by a vote of 3-2-0 with Anthony and Ensminger voting against. The Board discussed Article 12 - the Parker Middles School Project. Hines expressed concern about the use of the same architect for multiple projects, and felt that the concern about time constraints was not a valid concern. He felt that a fresh look at a number of issues, including the issue of keeping the existing auditorium, would be helpful. On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony the Board voted to recommend Article 12 - the Parker Middle School Project, with a strong recommendation that program management review be part of the design and construction process. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Review of Draft Revisions of Traffic Rules/Regulations - The Selectmen reviewed the draft Traffic Rules and Regulations. it was suggested that the Depot Rules and Regulations be included with them. Review New Program Requests & Structural Budget Increases for FY96 - The Board reviewed the Town Manager's list of structural and new program requests by department. The Town Manager explained each of the requests briefly, and the Board of Selectmen got a complete list of the new program requests. The Board agreed that they would set A, B and C priorities for each Board of Selectmen Meeting-November 1, 1994 -page 4 of these, and could add additional new programs. This will be returned to the Town Manager at the earliest possible date. Eugene Nigro Volunteer of the Year Award-- The Board discussed Mr. Hines' memo on the Eugene Nigro Award. They will get comments back to him so that this can be put on an agenda for action. Licenses Liquor Store Opening during the Holiday Season - On motion by Hines seconded by Anthony the Board voted to allow the Sunday opening of Liquor Stores beginning Sunday, November 27, 1994 through Sunday, December 18, 1994, from noon to 5:00 p.m. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Burditt seconded by Anthony the Board voted on a role call vote to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of labor negotiations, not to come back into Open Session. All five members voted in the affirmative and the motion was approved. The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, /Secret