HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-07-31 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of selectmen Meeting
July 31, 1990
The meeting was convened at 7:34 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting
Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were
Chairman Russell Graham, Vice Chairman Dan Ensminger, Secretary
George Hines, Selectmen Sally Hoyt and Eugene Nigro, Town Manager
Peter Hechenbleikner, and the following list of attendees: Bill
Brown, Arnold Berger, Douglas Wade, Leslie McGonagle, Joseph
Sotomayor, Daniel Doe, Kenneth Latham, Richard Fotino, Perry
Raffi, Arthur Jones, Mary Andreola, Paul Caselle, James Ryan, Les
York and Irene York.
On motion by Hoyt, seconded by Nigro, the Board approved the
minutes of July 10 , 1990 by a vote of 3-0-1, with Ensminger
abstaining and Hines absent.
Liaison Reports
Sally Hoyt outlined the need for converting the former Central
Fire Station into a senior citizen center, and the possibility of
grant assistance to complete the project. The consensus of the
Board was that we should go ahead and apply for the grant which
will be acted upon by the Board of Selectmen on September 4th.
Sally Hoyt also reported on the mosquito issues which will be
discussed later in the meeting with the Chairman of the Board of
Health.
Dan Ensminger attended a 7-16-90 meeting with the School Com-
mittee regarding the school expansion. He outlined a process
whereby Town Meeting this fall would be requested to approve the
project subject to an override, and would fund a special election
in January.
Russ Graham had no report.
George Hines indicated that he had attended the Bylaw Committee
meeting regarding their proposed Land Use Committee.
Eugene Nigro reported that Ben Nichols from the Land Bank Com-
mittee has indicated that the paperwork is complete for the dona-
tion of 31 acres of land from the Rivers Development Corporation
to the Town of Reading for conservation purposes. He also indi-
cated that the library carpet replacement had been completed with
insurance funds, and that the Garden Club had done landscaping
around the library. The library will be closed on December 24,
1990, and the library has changed the threshold for overdue
notices from three to one overdue book.
The Town Manager introduced Perry Raffi, a firefighter with the
Reading Fire Department, who bicycled for forty-seven days from
the West Coast to the East Coast , traveling 3 , 341 miles, and
raising $19, 000 for charity. The proceeds were distributed to
the Shriners Hospital and to Muscular Dystrophy. He was the
third highest fund raiser, and at Ed Palmer's suggestion, he
stopped in Reading, Kansas to say hello from their sister Com-
munity of Reading, Massachusetts. The Town Manager indicated
that he felt Perry Raffi, in this single event, showed the type
�I
Selectmen's Minutes - 7/31/90 - Page 2
of Town employees that we have. He further indicated that there
was- outstanding cooperation from the other members of the Fire
Department in swapping shifts with Mr. Raffi so that he could
have the time off that was needed to do this event.
The Town Manager outlined for the Board of Selectmen the "Adopt
An Island" program, and presented Certificates of Appreciation to
the attendees. The Board of Selectmen noted that volunteerism is
alive and well in Reading, and that this was a terrific example
of such community involvement by citizens and businesses, as well
as charitable organizations within the community. .
On motion by Nigro, seconded by Hoyt, the Board appointed William
Goodrich to the North Suburban Planning Council for a term expir-
ing 6-30-91 and appointed Richard Howard from the Community Plan-
ning and Development Commission to the ad- hoc aquifer protection
study committee of MAPC.
The Board received the resignation of Brian Corbett from the
Solid Waste Committee. The Town Manager indicated that prior to
posting the vacancy, the Board may want to consider whether this
should become a permanent standing committee, or whether it
should continued on an ad hoc basis.
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memo from the Fire Chief. The Board asked that a letter be sent
to the firefighters indicating that the Board has never refused
to meet with them with regard to public safety and staff levels, __.
and that the Board did not feel it appropriate to do Town busi-
ness through the news media.
The Town Manager indicated that Steve Baer had left the employ of
the Town on July 27, 1990 to work for Weston & Sampson. Mr. Baer
was the engineer whose position was cut by Town Meeting. He had
been temporarily assigned to the Water Department to do survey
work regarding water contamination issues in the Town Forest.
Mr. Arthur Jones appeared to discuss his water bill. The Board
asked for the following information: 1) What was the electronic
reading on June 22 compared to the actual reading? ; 2) What is
the reading as of August 20, i.e. what is the pattern of use? We
will ask for the cooperation of the new property owner to get in
and read the meter. ; 3) Has a correction been made to the other
account which may have been falsely billed? Mr. Jones may be
back on August 21st, although the Board indicated that they felt
that the final water bill as rendered was probably accurate.
Chief Marchand was present and discussed the proposed traffic
regulations at Oak Street and Edgemont Avenue regarding making
these streets one way during peak school hours to reduce traffic
e problems because of a lack of school bussing. Concerns were
expressed by residents regarding alternate routes, specifically
Ellis Avenue off of Summer Avenue. Requests were made that speed
limit signs be placed on Edgemont. On motion by Hines, seconded
by Nigro, the Board voted that the traffic rules and orders
Selectmen's Minutes - 7/31/90 - Page 3
adopted by the Board of Selectmen on September 22, 1947 for the �I
Town of Reading are hereby amended as follows:
By adding to Article VI, Section II the following:
to
Oak Street, westbound at Summer - Do Nthr ugh Enter 7:30 ,AM eP
8:30 AM and 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, Monday
tember 1 - June 30; and
Edgemont Avenue westbound at West Street - Do Not Enter 7:30
AM to 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday,
September 1 - June 30.
The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Paul Caselle,
Chairman of the Board of Health, appeared and gave the Board of Selectmen an update on mosquito control concerns
regarding the discovery of Eastern Equine Encephala tispoReserve ntial
in Reading. The Board of Health is requesting emergency
Transfer in the amount of $5,936.00 to deal witg the the Board
period. On motion by Hoyt, seconded by
voted to endorse the Board of Health raquote ofest r5mOs0.oquito control
funding in the amount of $5,936. 00 by
Chief Marchand spoke with the Board of Selectmen regarding door-
to-door solicitation. There are difficulties in controlling or
s.
eliminating such solicitation be °peddlers and solicitors f first amendment to
The Reading Police Department requires p person is
be licensed. if the Police receive a complaint and the
they will make them come to the Police Station to
not licensed,
be licensed. The Board encouraged educational efforts on e
nt
part of the police Department (SergeaRoand nthe Chief f sugr
Frederick are the Crime Prevention Offiorert for no soliciting
gested that residents can post their pr
in doors. The
and may take precautions like installing peepholes le
Police Department suggests that residents not let unknown people
into their house. The Board also
officerd the Town Leone Sullivanager whose
to
write a letter of commendation
quick thinking resulted in the Woburn Police Department being
able to locate the solicitors and make an arrest in the Woburn
murder case.
The Board discussed the legislative agenda. two Board or medium
prioritize the items as one for high priority,
for low priority for the meeting of August
priority, and threew the
21, 1990. The Board also ndiscussed ghcandidates legislative
oatheevagriouus
could or should be use
elected positions in State government.
RML
The Board directed the how secure Manager
appi cants forthe
appoio
ntment on
position and try
Board
August 21, 1990.
The Board reviewed various instructional motions, and asked the
Town Manager to remind the Bylaw Committee he Board1also uasked
ai
motion regarding the Annual Town Meeting. 'r
Selectmen's Minutes —7/31/90 - Page 4
for August 21st for a copy of the laws establishing revolving
funds and a list of what existing revolving funds we have.
On motion by Nigro, seconded by Hoyt, the Board approved two
licenses for New England Telephone for installation of cabinets
at Memorial Park and on the Killam School grounds. The School
Department had recommended approval of the location on the Killam
School ground, and there will be a payment of $2 , 500. 00 each for
these licenses. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
On motion by Hoyt, seconded by Ensminger, the Board approved the
Pirello easement release as authorized by Town Meeting in the
Fall of 1989.
The Board expressed concern about the process whereby Recreation
approval was given to the use of Memorial Park for a group of 250
people without approval by the Town Manager, Police or Fire
Departments, or Department of Public Works. The Town Manager in-
dicated that a process would be established to correct any future
problems. The Board discussed the issue of campaign signs and
campaigning on public property. The Town Manager distributed a
memo from Town Counsel outlining the issue. The Town Manager
indicated his intent to not permit campaign or other political
activity on Town property other than the hand held signs on
street locations or the Common. The Board asked about the parts
of the sign bylaw that prohibit campaign signs on private
property. The Town Manager indicated that Town Counsel felt that
this was unenforceable because of First Amendment rights.
The Town Manager informed the Board of Selectmen of the health
insurance process.
The Town Manager indicated that we were soliciting public input
on two traffic construction projects -- Charles Street and Main
Street, and Oak Street and Summer Avenue. The Oak Street and
Summer Avenue intersection modification was requested by the
School Department.
The Board deferred the Town Manager's evaluation to August 21,
1990. The Board will meet at 6:45 p.m. , and the evaluation will
be the first item on the agenda . The Board talked about the
retreat which the Town Manager had tentatively scheduled for Sep-
tember 22 , 1990. Issues would be to try to establish goals and
objectives, and to review the capital planning process.
On motion by Ensminger, seconded by Hoyt, the Board voted to go
into Executive Session at 11: 16 p.m. , for purposes of discussing
labor negotiations, real estate negotiations, and approval of
minutes. All five members voting in the affirmative, the Board
went into Executive Session.
Res ectfull`yy subm' ted,
Secretary