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Home My WebLink About1990-10-23 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting October 23, 1990 The meeting was convened at 7:32 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. Present were Chairman Rus- sell Graham, Vice Chairman Dan Ensminger, Secretary George Hines, Selectmen Sally Hoyt and Eugene Nigro, Town Manager Peter HechenbleikneF, and the following list of interested... parties: Elizabeth Mullany, Howard J. MacKilligan, Jean M. MacKilligan, John A. Lippitt, Pat Lippitt, Mark Favaloro, Nils Nordberg, David K. Nugent, Yano Tine, Arthur Bent, William Horan, Bruce Berger. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Ensminger the minutes of October 9, 1990 were approved as submitted. Liaison Reports Under Liaison Reports, Eugene Nigro indicated that he had at- tended Henry Vik's retirement dinner; and that he wanted to pay tribute to the 2000 + people who contributed to Imagination Sta- tion construction. George Hines reiterated the comments on Imagination Station and extended congratulations to the Friends of the Playground and to the community. He has also had discussions with the Eastside Neighborhood Association regarding traffic and requests that they be placed on a future meeting schedule. Russ Graham commended Imagination Station on their enthusiasm and organization. He also indicated that he had attended the Fire Station dedication; had attended a Solid Waste Committee meeting; and had attended Henry Vik's party. Dan Ensminger indicated that he was able to attend the Fire Sta- tion dedication; congratulated the Imagination Station program; attended a School Building Committee meeting and suggested the School Building Committee meet with the Board of Selectmen before Town Meeting - probably 11/7/90. Sally Hoyt attended the Public Power Week tour with the RMLD; had a tour of the Fire Station just after the dedication; attended the dedication of Imagination Station; indicated that the Senior Citizen van is to be delivered the week of 11/7/90, and that van services will be provided to the nursing homes and van fees are being evaluated; the Thanksgiving Dinner is scheduled for 11/17/90; the Formula Grant was cut approximately $200 for Elder Services; flu clinics were held with 525 receiving immunization; Subway received a health license for the sub shop on south Main Street; the Board of Health is holding a hearing on mosquito con- trol issues this Thursday; the after school program at Eaton, coed volleyball, basketball and skiing are all being registered now; fuel assistance applications are being taken now. Public Comment Under Public Comment, Dan Ensminger urged all citizens of the community to thoroughly review the ballot questions so that they Selectmen's Minutes - 10/23/90 - page 2 know what they are voting on. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hines the Board passed a resolution of support for Question 5 (the MMA ballot question dealing with dedication of a percentage of state revenues to municipalities) by vote of 5-0-0. Mark Favaloro was interviewed for a position on the ad hoc Legal Services Selection Committee. On motion by Hines seconded by Nigro Mr. Favaloro was appointed by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt, "Bob Nordstrand from the Board of Assessors and Jonathan Barnes.''from the Community Planning and Development Commission were also appointed to this ad hoc com- mittee by vote of 5-0-0. John Lippitt was interviewed for the Reading position on the RMLD Advisory Committee. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Ensminger John Lippitt was appointed to a position on the RMLD Advisory Com- mittee expiring 6/30/93 by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Nigro the Board voted to close the warrant for the Special Town Meeting of 11/13/90 by vote of 5/0/0. George Hines read the legal notice on the Classification Hearing. Present from the Board of Assessors were David Nugent and Nils Nordberg, and Yano Tine, Appraiser. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to open the hearing by vote of 4-0-1 with Ensminger abstaining. Ensminger indicated that he will abstain from all discussion because he works for TASC, a major property owner in the community. Following a thorough presentation by Nils Nordberg and Yano Tine, and there being no public comment, on motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to close the public hearing by vote of 4-0-1 with Ensminger abstaining. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen indicated that they had received a letter from the Reading Chamber of Commerce recommend- ing against classification. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to adopt a residential factor of one, and not provide for open space or residential exemption, by vote of 4-0-1 with Ensminger abstain- ing. Selectman Hines indicated that the Board should communicate to the business community that the Board of Selectmen has con- tinued to be sensitive to the needs of small businesses in the community. George Hines read the notice of a hearing on Sunday liquor sales. On motion by Nigro seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to open the hearing by vote of 5-0-0. Bruce Berger, Arthur Bent, and William HorarC representing the three liquor stores in Reading were present and requested that the Board of Selectmen approve the Sunday openings for the Sunday before Christmas and the Sunday before New Years from noon to 8 : 00 p.m. They felt that this is needed in order to keep Reading businesses competitive with their neighbors, especially communities that have lifted the ban on Sunday liquor sales entirely, including North Reading and Wil- mington. Selectmen's Minutes - 10/23/90 - page 3 On motion by Nigro seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to close the public hearing by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to ap- prove the opening of liquor stores on the Sunday before Christmas and the Sunday before New Years from 12 noon to 8:00 p.m. by vote of 5-0-0. - -- - The Town Manager reviewed the proposed extension of the Purchase and Sales agreement with Homart for an additional year. In the agreement, the Town agrees to extend the purchase and sales agreement until the end of September 1991, and to work with Homart to get all the necessary approvals and permits. Homart agrees to develop and share marketing plans with the Board of Selectmen, to pursue the approval and/or extension of all per- mits, to pay to the Town the sum of $20,000 to go toward the town wide traffic study, and to cooperate with the use of the landfill site for treatment of contaminated soils from the former Public Works facility. On motion by Nigro seconded by Hoyt theBoard approved the agreement by a vote or 4-0-1 with Ensminger abstain- ing. The Board authorized the Town Manager to develop the necessary policy statements on the establishment of a Solid Waste Committee as a standing committee of the Town. The Board asked that the draft policy on Changes to the Common go to the Historical Commission before being scheduled for a hear- ing. The Town Manager reviewed proposed sidewalk construction to use the $25, 000 contributed by the developer of Fairwood Acres in lieu of constructing sidewalks on Van Norden Road. The first priority will be to install sidewalks along the west side of Main Street from Fairchild Drive to Birch Meadow Drive where they don't currently exist. The second priority will be to construct sidewalks along the southerly side of King Street from West Street to Summer Avenue and north along Summer Avenue to the ex- tent funds are available. This work is to be done by the developer's contractor, not by Town work forces. The Town Manager reviewed the status of the case with Crestview Exxon - the Town won on all counts; on motion by Nigro seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve the settlement with Fuller by vote of 5-0-0 subject to the approval of the Zoning Board of Ap- peals and the Community Planning and Development Commission. The Board reviewed the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting and assigned Article 3 to George Hines, Article 4 to Dan Ensminger, Article 5 to Russ Graham, Article 6 to Dan Ensminger. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Nigro the Board voted to sup- port the subject matter of Article 18 by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hoyt seconded by Nigro the Board voted to support the subject matter of Article 20 by vote of 5-0-0. Selectmen's Minutes - 10/23/90 - page 4 On motion by Nigro seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve the subject matter of Article 23 by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Nigro seconded by Hines the Board voted to approve the subject matter of Article 25 by vote of 5-0-0. The Board requested a legal brief on the procedure regarding Ar- ticle 27 - holding a special election. The Board asked if there is any new background from CPDC regard- ing Articles 22 and 23 on the Subsequent Town Meeting. The Town Manager reported on the issuance of a one-day liquor license for the Reading Masonic Building Association. On motion by Nigro seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to approve a taxi driver license for Nancy Gale by vote of 5-0-0. The Town Manager reported that there are vacancies in Precincts 2, 3, 5 and 8. Interested parties should contact the Town Clerk. The Town Manager distributed a draft policy for Class I, II, and III motor vehicle licenses for the Board's review. The Town Manager reported that the Water Treatment Plant expan- sion program was going ahead, but that the aerators would not be in place until May. The Town Manager distributed materials that were sent to Moodys indicating how the Town would deal with the effects of Question 3 should it be approved. The Town Manager indicated that he would request the class- ification of the position of Head Dispatcher as grade 6 at the Board's meeting on November 7. The Town Manager updated the Board of Selectmen on the enroll- ments for the health insurance program. There being no need for an Executive Session, on motion by Hines seconded by Ensminger the Board voted to adjourn at 11:45 p.m. The motion was approved by a vote 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted, �i Secretary-