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Home My WebLink About1990-09-19 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting September 19, 1990 The meeting convened at 7 : 33 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Graham, Vice Chairman Ensminger, Secretary Hines, Selectmen Nigro and Hoyt, Town Manager Peter I. Hechenbleikner, and the following list of guests: Nathan C. White, Frederick VanMagness, Gerry MacDonald, Mary Williams, Warren Hopkins, Lynn M. Bak, Barbara Philbrick, Richard Coco, Nick Agneta, Bill Bur- ditt, Carol Lyons, Bob Munnelly, Beth Klepeis, George McCormack, George Thompson, Michael A. Sandberg, Sharon Ofenstein, Doug Wood-Boyle, and Virginia Adams. On motion by Ensminger, seconded by Hoyt, it was moved to go into Executive Session for discussion of labor negotiations and to come out at 8:30 p.m. All five members voting in the affirm- ative, the motion was carried. On motion by Burditt, seconded by Nate White, the Finance Committee voted to go into Executive Ses- sion for purposes of discussion of labor negotiations with all six members present voting in the affirmative. There was not a quorum of the School Committee present. At 8: 37 p.m. , the Executive Session was adjourned to regular ses- sion. The Board deferred approval of the minutes. Liaison Reports Eugene Nigro indicated that the Subcommittee of the Board of Selectmen reviewing the job description and bidding of Town Coun- sel services had met. George Hines indicated that he had attended the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for John Lautzenheiser. He also attended the CPDC TASC hearing. Russ Graham indicated that he had attended the Solid Waste Com- mittee meeting and was involved in the telephone polling that was done at that meeting. The Solid Waste Committee will be supply- ing speakers at the League of Women Voters Annual Meeting. Dan Ensminger had met with the Superintendent of Schools regard- ing updating of school projections. Sally Hoyt reviewed the status of various elder services projects including the Kids and Caring Program and the MBTA discount passes. She indicated that the health — food clinics are scheduled and home visits can be scheduled if needed. The preadolescent seminars are getting ready to begin, and the recreation programs and after school early . release day programs are beginning. Additionally, the Housing Authority will not be re-issuing new certificates. Section 8 and Section 707 waiting lists are closed. Sally Hoyt also asked the Board to be sensi- tive about meetings on special holidays, and asked the Board to consider putting an article on the warrant for the street accept- ance of Enos Circle. Selectmen's Minutes - 9/19/1990 - Page 2 George Hines mentioned that the handling of the noise issue at the MBTA is somewhat symptomatic of a need to improve communica- tions. He referred to the noise at Reading Rifle and Revolver Club as being concerns that should have been dealt with prior to going to an instructional motion at Town Meeting. The Town Manager indicated that there were some misunderstandings with regard to curbside recycling, and corrected the following points: 1. There are no lids to the bins -- this was a misprint in the newspaper 2 . People do not have to put their addresses on the bins, but if they want to they will need to buff the outside of the bin and put the address on with an indelible marker. 3 . Recycling starts the week of October 1st. 4 . Not all bins have yet been distributed. All of them should be by the end of the day on Sunday, September 23 , 1990 . After that date, if anyone has not received a bin, they should call the Department of Public Works. The bins are, for the most part, being delivered by volunteers. 5. After October 1, if anyone needs an additional or replace- ment bin, they will be available at Johnson's Hardware at cost ($5. 00) . Plastics recycling under the guidance of Mike Shannon, as an Eagle Scout project, will begin the last week in October and the cost will be sponsored by Reading Rotary Club and TASC. The Board asked for a review of the intersection at Sunnyside and Melbourne regarding stop signs, and was concerned about comments that the Traffic Safety Officer had made regarding stop signs at that location. On motion by Hines, seconded by Nigro, the proclamation for the week of September 16-22, 1990 as Emergency Medical Services Week was passed unanimously by the Board of Selectmen. The Board interviewed George McCormack and George Thompson for a position on the Cable TV Advisory Committee. On motion by Ensminger, seconded by Nigro, both names were placed in nomina- tion. With three members voting for McCormack and two members voting for Thompson, George McCormack was appointed to the Cable TV Advisory Committee for a term expiring 6-30-92. Sharon Ofenstein and Virginia Adams reviewed with the Board of Selectmen the guidelines for changes to the Common. The Town Manager indicated that there was a very cooperative relationship between the Town Manager and the Historical Commission. The Board of Selectmen asked that a policy be drafted which would require the Town Manager to consult with these guidelines when- ever any changes to the Common were proposed. Selectmen's Minutes - 9/19/90 - Page 3 The Board reviewed the issues of traffic modifications to Charles and Main. Fred VanMagness has an interest in one of the properties at One Charles Street, and speaking for- the con- dominium association at that location, requested that the Board at least consider the modification proposed to northbound Main Street traffic turning right onto Charles Street . The Board asked for traffic accident data specifically with regard to traf- fic turning left from Charles Street onto southbound Main Street. They asked for a scheme that would allow that movement as well as the others indicated in Scheme 1, but which would not permit southbound Main Street traffic to turn left onto Charles. Sharon Ofenstein suggested that some of the traffic movements be prohibited, perhaps just at rush hours. This issue will be back before the Board of Selectmen on October 9, 1990 as they would like to put into place, at least on a temporary basis, whatever changes are going to be made by the winter of 1990. George Hines and Eugene Nigro reviewed the process for securing proposals for legal services for the Town. The Board agreed to the seven-member review committee, and suggested that the RFP's permit proposals from single practitioner offices, as well as larger firms. Part of the process will also evaluate the poten- tial consolidation of other legal services, i.e. tax title, labor counsel, and bond counsel. The Town Manager will post the posi- tion on the review committee for a local resident, will talk with MMA about firms that specialize in municipal work, and will review with Town Counsel the issue of whether or not the review sessions can be done in executive session or should be done in open session. The Board reviewed Town Counsel's memo on political signs, and felt that even though the prohibition of political signs pursuant to the Town's sign bylaw is unconstitutional , it is a valid statement of the Town' s feeling with regard to placement of political signs in Reading. The Board was concerned that the issue of political signs and their review may be taking time away from developing a policy on solicitors. They also felt that any amendment to the sign bylaw should originate with CPDC. The Town Manager reviewed the CLT Petition, and its impact on municipal government. The Board asked that some information be gotten out to the public regarding the potential impact. The Town Manager informed the Board of Selectmen that Bear Hill Realty Trust has not met their deadline for signing a purchase and sales agreement, and therefore there is no deal with Bear Hill. The Town Manager had met with Bear Hill Realty Trust to review the issue of the money placed in escrow with the Town, and indicated that Town Counsel's opinion was that money belonged to the Town and would not be returned. The Board stressed that al- though the project was a good one, the economic times have created a circumstance whereby the project does not appear to be feasible. The Board indicated its intent to hold the property and to review the market from time to time with regard to future sale. Selectmen's Minutes - 9/19/90 - Page 4 The Town Manager reviewed his issuance of a one-day liquor -; license for Austin Prep for September 29 , 1990 . The Board decided to hold its annual retreat on October 27, 1990, and all parties will be informed. Gene Nigro asked about the dumpster for Imagination Station, and the problem with placing the wood in a dumpster. He asked the Town Manager to review the possibility of taking the scrap wood and mixing it in with rubbish in other dumpsters so that it can be taken as part of regular trash. The Town Manager indicated that there was no need for executive session, and on motion by Nigro, seconded by Ensminger, the Board adjourned at 11:28 p.m. Respectfully su i�tted, � Secretary