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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-12-03 Board of Selectmen Minutes i i Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting December 3, 1991 - The meeting was convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Eugene Nigro, Secretary Sally Hoyt, Selectmen George Hines. Selectman Russ Graham came in 7:35 p.m. and Vice Chairman Dan Ensminger came in at 7:40 p.m. Also in attendance were the following: Steven DeFinis, Joe Connelly, Gary Demopoulos, S . Thomases, William Warren, Ruth Warren, Bill Tarmey, Dom Tango, Jim Keigley, l Tim Wallace, Kevin Moran, Mark Pine. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Hines the Minutes of November 19, 1991 were approved as amended by vote of 3-0-0. Liaison Reports George Hines indicated that he had attended the November 20 Recreation Committee Meeting, and the Town Manager will be meet- ing with the Recreation Committee next Wednesday. He par- ticipated in the Thanksgiving Dinner for Senior Citizens on Saturday, November 23. On November 25th the Ice Rink Siting Task Force met. They are being careful about use of staff time pur- suant to Town Meeting instructions. He met on the 26th with the CPDC and Conservation Commission Chairmen related to concerns in the budget process about staffing levels. The priority will be given to economic development by CPDC during the coming year. He attended the meeting with FinCom and the School Committee on the 26th. He felt the joint discussion was very positive, but there were comments that we should change the 60/40 split between School and Town Government in' terms of the budget. Thursday he attended the pancake breakfast and football game. Sally Hoyt reported that the street light at 256 West Street was turned back on. She attended the Mug and Muffin program and Thanksgiving Dinner programs as well as the Lighting on the Com- mon. She has expressed support for H5895, the early retirement bill . She supports a furlough program and/or early closing schedule and has heard from a number of employees with regard to this matter. Eugene Nigro attended the Mug and Muffin program for the 350th Committee, participated in the Thanksgiving Dinner, expressed ap- preciation to the Chamber of Commerce for their participation in the activities in the tree lighting, reminded people of the Parker Tavern open house, and attended a Library Planning Board Meeting. Dan Ensminger had no report. Russ Graham indicated that he participated in the Thanksgiving Dinner, attended the 350th Committee's Mug and Muffin program and attended the tree lighting program. - The Town Manager indicated that the FinComm/School Committee/Board of Selectmen meeting would be next Tuesday, December 10th in the Superintendent ' s Conference Room. Selectmens Minutes - 12/3/91 - page 2 The Selectmen expressed concern about the size and location of the room. He also indicated that we had taken bids for the fire truck and there were no acceptable bids. He indicated that the Washington Park Easement issue has been resolved and gates would be installed. He indicated that many Town employees would be "adopting a family" for Christmas and supplying them with gifts for the holidays. Finally, he indicated that the snow plowing was the best that could be done given the current financial situation. The Town's sidewalk snowplowing equipment is down at the current time and should be repaired early next week. Public Comment Mr. Hines read a Certificate of Appreciation to Joseph Connelly who had served on the Recreation Committee for eight years. Mr. Connelly accepted this certificate and was very appreciative. Mr. DeFinis presented his argument that the swimming pool on his property had been abandoned and therefore the filling of this pool should be treated as a "new pool" under the process for abating the water bill. Russ Graham felt that this would not es- tablish a precedent. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to find that the previous pool at this site had been abandoned and that for purposes of water regulations this would be considered a new pool and a one-time abatement for filling the pool should be granted. The motion was approved by a vote of 5- 0-0. Public Hearing The Public Hearing on the Skateboard/Roller Skating Amendment to the Traffic Rules and Regulations ,was opened. Secretary Sally Hoyt read the notice. George Hines felt this was extreme over reaction to a small problem. The Board suggested that we should not include the Business A zone, and perhaps this should be modified to deal with the downtown area during normal business hours. Steve Thomases, Rob Bradley and Bill Warren felt that this was too much regulation and/or would affect people's abilities to use the public streets for rollerblading etc. Ron Wood indicated that Melrose has signs that say no skateboarding and no bicycles in the downtown area. On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to close the Public Hearing by vote of 5-0-0. The Town Manager will come back with a revised policy which would restrict the skateboarding limitations to the downtown area, and would repeal Section 6. This will require a new hearing. Licenses On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve the Restaurant All Alcoholic Liquor License for Harrows Poultry Products, Inc. for a term expiring 12/31/92. The motion was ap- _ proved by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve a Club All Alcoholic Liquor License for a term expiring 12/31/92 - for Home BuildingCorporationof Reading Council Knightsof Columbus Inc. by vote of 5-0-0. Selectmens Minutes - 12/3/91 - page 3 On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve a - Restaurant All Alcoholic Liquor License for Ida's Stationhouse Restaurant for a term expiring 12/31/92. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to ap- prove a Club All Alcoholic Liquor License for a term expiring 12/31/92 for Meadowbrook Golf Corporation of Reading, Mas- sachusetts by vote of 4-0-1 with Hines abstaining. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to ap- prove a renewal of a Package Store All Alcoholic Liquor License for P & B Liquors Inc. d/b/a Square Liquors for a term expiring 12/31/92 by vote of 5-0-0. Mr. Harold J. Wilson, Vice President of First Colonial Bank, who holds the pledge for the liquor license for P & B Liquors, was present to answer any questions that the Board might have. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Hines the Board voted to approve a renewal of a Package Store All Alcoholic Liquor License for Read- ing Liquors Inc. for a term expiring 12/31/92 by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve a Club All Alcoholic Liquor License renewal for Reading Overseas Vets Inc. expiring 12/31/92 by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve a Club All Alcoholic Liquor License renewal for a term expiring 12/31/92 for Reading Veterans Association Inc. by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to ap- prove the a Package All Alcoholic Liquor License renewal for a term expiring 12/31/92 for Uptown Liquors Inc. by a vote of 5-0- 0. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve a Restaurant All Alcoholic Liquor License renewal for Wes Parkers Inc. for a term expiring 12/31/91 by a vote 5-0-0. On motion by Graham seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to ap- prove a Change of Manager for Home Building Corporation of Read- ing Knights of Columbus to Robert J. McKenna by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Graham the Board voted to ap- prove a Change of Manager for Ida's Stationhouse Restaurant to Margaret McCarthy by vote of 5-0-0. The Board discussed the issue of:* traffic improvements in the Birch Meadow area. Kevin Moran appeared as spokesman for the neighborhood. He indicated that the traffic on Birch Meadow Drive has increased from 2300 vehicle trips per day to 3800 vehicle trips per day from 1990 to 1991. He agreed that most of this was related to the elimination of school bussing. There are some problems with heavy trucks - West Lynn milk trucks using Birch Meadow Drive especially early. There are other problems .with regard to scheduling of community events in the Birch Meadow Selectmens Minutes - 12/3/91 - page 4 area including the Field House. They asked for a comprehensive solution and asked for involvement of McDonough and Sculley, Jonathan Edwards , and some experimentation with temporary measures. They would like to eliminate all cut-through traffic. Tom Wallace spoke regarding problems of parking on Bancroft. Mr. Warren spoke regarding keeping all busses off Bancroft. They should be able to use the Field House parking lot. Dan Ross in- dicated that Tennyson Road feels some of the effects of the use of the Birch Meadow area. There was discussion of setting up a committee including members of the Board of Selectmen, CPDC, School Department, staff and representatives of the Birch Meadow area plus perhaps a representative of Birch Meadow School. The Town Manager will develop an outline of a process and a charge to a task force that will review these issues. Mark Pine, an unpaid intern in the Town Manager's office, met with the Board to talk about Capital Improvement programs. A draft of a memo that he had presented as well as one from Dan Ensminger were discussed. The Board directed the development of a policy establishing a Capital Improvements Task Force. This will be scheduled for a Public Hearing at the next Selectmens Meeting on December 17. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Graham the Board voted to ad- ....._..._... journ at 11:29 p.m. by vote of 5-0-0. i Respectfully submitted, Secret ar