HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-07-10 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting
July 10, 1990
The meeting was convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting
Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were
Chairman Russell Graham, Secretary George Hines, Selectmen Sally
Hoyt and Eugene Nigro, Town Manager Peter I. Hechenbleikner, and
the following list of citizens: Jim Chisholm, Stanley Quinlan,
James O'Leary, William Hughes, Jr. , Jane McKenzie, Eva Hakanson,
Lorraine Salter, Fran Brown, Linda King, Allan Ames, Peg Plansky,
Jean Galvin, and Richard Dempster.
On motion by Nigro, seconded by Hoyt, the minutes of June 19,
1990 were approved by a vote of 4-0-0.
Liaison Reports
Eugene Nigro reported on a Police Department court case.
George Hines had no liaison report.
Sally Hoyt reviewed the status of the camp season, carnival, con-
cert series for recreation; reviewed the activities of the Elder
Services Division on the carnival, the status of the van pur-
chase, and the new Outreach Worker; in the area of Health, indi-
cated that Ruth Cogan would be in the dunking tank at the car-
nival on Saturday, that the Town has received a diabetes screen-
ing machine, and the Health Inspector has been receiving training
--- in weights and measures and lead inspection; with regard to the
Housing Authority, Ms. Hoyt attended the meeting on the 9th, and
heard the presentation of the OCD on tenant selection, on the
status of hotel/motel housing for needy people, and the cost of
housing the homeless.
Russ Graham reported on the Solid Waste Committee, and indicated
that the Finance Appointment Committee had appointed Gerry Mac-
Donald, Nate White, Fred Van Magness and Marty McWilliams to the
FinCom.
Allan Ames, Jim O'Leary, Bill Hughes, and Phil Pacino from the
Light Department were present, as was the General Manager Len
Rucker. The agreement between the Light Department, and the four
consumer communities was signed by the Board of Selectmen. This
agreement will equalize street lighting, - establish a citizen's
advisory board, establish in lieu of tax payments, and provide
for twenty-year stability in terms of the Light Department.
George Hines commended the Light Department on the good working
relationship with our surrounding communities.
Gail Valentinsen was not present to be interviewed for the Coun-
cil on Aging. On motion by Hoyt, seconded by Hines, Eva Hakanson
was appointed to the Council on Aging for a term expiring 6-30-92
by a vote of 4-0-0.
Stan Quinlan was interviewed for a position on the Recreation
Committee. On motion by Hoyt, seconded by Nigro, Fred Conover
was appointed to a position on the Recreation Committee for a
term expiring 6-30-92 by a vote of 4-0-0.
Selectmen's Minutes - 7/10/90 - Page 2
On motion by Hines, seconded by Nigro, James Mullen, Stan Quin-
lan, Lorraine Salter and Steve Sullivan were appointed to As-
sociate Membership on the Recreation Committee for terms expiring
6-30-91 by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Hoyt, seconded by Nigro, Sally McDonald was ap-
pointed to the Arts Council for a term expiring 6-30-92 by a vote
of 4-0-0. On motion by Hines, seconded by Nigro, Jane McKenzie
was appointed to the Arts Council for a term expiring 6-30-92 by
a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Hoyt, seconded by Hines, Paul Exner and Regina
Snyder were appointed to the Hazardous Waste Committee for terms
expiring 6-30-93, by a vote of 4-0-0.
On motion by Nigro, seconded by Hoyt, Linda King and Brian
O'Shaugnessy were appointed to Associate Membership on the Haz-
ardous Waste Committee for terms expiring 6-30-91 by a vote of 4-
0-0.
On motion by Hines, seconded by Hoyt, Arthur J. Reynolds was ap-
pointed to the Reading Housing Authority for a term expiring 6-
30-92 . This will then even out the terms so that one expires
each year.
On motion by Hoyt, seconded by Nigro, Tyler & Reynolds was ap-
pointed Town Counsel on a month-to-month basis at a stipend of
$7, 967.00 per month until such time as the Town goes through a
Town Counsel review process and makes an appointment for the
remainder of the fiscal year. The motion was approved by a vote
of 4-0-0. Selectmen George Hines and Eugene Nigro were appointed
as the Board of Selectmen members to develop a request for
proposals on reviewing and appointing Town Counsel.
The Town Manager reviewed his appointments including Tamsen Al-
meida as Outreach Worker , Mary Ann Cummings as
Clerk/Receptionist, Frederick Kirkland as Custodian, and Don
Nadeau as Conservation Administrator. The Town Manager also in-
dicated that May DPietro, part-time Clerk in the Department of
General Services was laid off effective June 30, 1990. Three of
the four police officers who have been laid off have other jobs,
and the Town Manager has, therefore, recalled the fourth police
officer to active duty because of a savings in unemployment com-
pensation. The Town Manager will request a transfer by Town
Meeting in November of the funds from savings in unemployment to
the Police Salary Account to fund this position. Steven Baer has
been transferred from the Department of Public Works Engineering
Division to the Department of Public Works Water Division to do
necessary work on the well field.
The Board of Selectmen asked for an update from the Police Chief
on our staffing levels and how police operations are working.
The Town Manager went over a proposed Management Calendar and
schedule of meetings for Town Meeting. He suggested the pos-
sibility of a Special Town Meeting on September 10, 1990. The
Selectmen's Minutes - 7/10/90 - Page 3
Town Manager also reviewed with the Board of Selectmen a list of
six residents who have not responded to have the new meter in-
stallation done in their homes. Their water service will be
drastically reduced.
On motion by Nigro, seconded by Hines, a peddler's license for
Ida's Stationhouse Restaurant for the hours from 6: 00 a.m. to
6 : 30 p.m. and expiring 12-31-90 was approved by the Board of
Selectmen by a vote of 4-0-0 , subject to Health Department
regulations.
On motion by Nigro, seconded by Hines, the Board voted to ap-
proved a Common Victualler's License for the Subway at 323 Main
Street (formerly the Reading Bakery) by a vote of 4-0-0. The
Board advised the applicant that they cannot be open past mid-
night, and that they should check our sign regulations before
putting up signs. A member of the Board also reminded the Town
Manager to check Domino's for its hours of operation.
The Board discussed the Bylaw Committee's Land Use Committee
proposal. The Board felt that most of what is proposed falls in
the Community Planning and Development Commission area, and it
seemed redundant and the antithesis of simplifying government.
George Hines will attend the Bylaw Committee meeting on July 18
to hear the Bylaw Committee's concerns, and make any comments or
suggestions.
The Board appointed Peter Tassi, Supervisor of the Water Treat-
ment Plant, to the North Suburban Water Supply Protection Com-
mittee on an ad hoc basis. The Town Manager will also ask CPDC
for a nomination of a member for the Board of Selectmen to ap-
point to this Committee.
Dick Dempster, Chairman of the Reading Housing Authority, and
Jean Galvin appeared before the Board of Selectmen. Peg Plansky,
Executive Director, was also present. Mr. Dempster asked the
Board to delegate to the Town Manager the authority to sign a
Section Eight application for Federal rent subsidies. There are
currently twenty-five certificates available in the Town, and
they will be requesting an additional twenty-five, but will prob-
ably get ten. The program has been run for twelve years now, and
it is extremely successful . In addition, there are nineteen
housing units under the State rental subsidy program. The Hous-
ing Authority now owns ten family units, plus the eighty senior
citizen units at Tannerville in addition to the rental subsidy
units. The Authority also operates the facility at Middlesex and
Bancroft Avenues for eight mentally and physically handicapped
residents. They are looking for other future similar develop-
ments. The Housing Authority brought the Board up to date on the
linkage for the former high school project and the Greenhouse
Acres project. The Housing Authority requested that the Board of
Selectmen keep the Housing Authority up to date on what is going
on in the various real estate activities of the Town. It was
agreed that the Executive Director of the Housing Authority and
the Town Manager would communicate on these issues.
Selectmen's Minutes - 7/10/90 - Page 4
The Town Manager reviewed a draft of a legislative agenda. The
Selectmen will review these items in detail and make suggestions
in two weeks so that a revised legislative agenda can be prepared
for Selectmen's action on July 31. The Town Manager's evaluation
will take place on the 31st.
On motion by Hines, seconded by Nigro, the Board approved a
citizenship certificate for John Lautzenheiser for his work as an
Eagle Scout by vote of 4-0-0.
The Town Manager discussed the North Suburban Planning Council
voting protocol and the following was agreed to:
1. George Hines will be the Selectman Representative and will
have the vote for the Town when he is present.
2. CPDC will be asked for their recommendation for a member of
the Commission to be a member of this Council. In the ab-
sence of Mr. Hines, this member will have the vote.
3 . Jonathan Edwards, as Director of Community Development, is
the third Town representative to the Council. In the ab-
sence of the other two, Mr. Edwards will have the vote.
The issue of MBTA noise was raised. Mr. Nigro suggested that
residents should be notified that they can call the Police and
perhaps through telephone communication reach the MBTA dispatcher
when engines are on loud idle. The Town Manager is also going to
arrange a meeting with the appropriate staff from the MBTA to try
to address this issue.
On motion by Hines, seconded by Nigro, the Board voted to go into
executive session for purpose of real estate negotiations, labor
negotiations, litigation and approval of minutes. All members
present voting in the affirmative, the motion was passed and the
Board went into executive session at 11: 10 p.m.
Respectful�l/fys bmitted,
Secre ry