Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-11-07 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting November 7, 1990 - The meeting convened at 7 : 00 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Russell T. Graham, Vice Chairman Dan Ensminger, Secretary George Hines, Selectmen Eugene Nigro and Sally Hoyt, Town Manager Peter I . Hechenbleikner. The following list of citizens was present during the meeting: Ken King,. Barbara Campbell, Richard DeLong, Margaret Cowell, George Shannon, Mary Williams, Stan Nissen, Scott E. Campbell , Carol Lyons, Steve Eldridge, Walter Schumann, Robert Grasso, Paul Caselle, Bob Mun- nelly, Lynn Bak, Donald L. Anglehart, Nancy Anglehart, Robert Powell, Pat Keane, Paula O'Leary, Casey Pillsbury, Bernadette Kodenski, Sue Colozzi, Nathan White, P.L. Hingorani, Carlos Quin- tal, Dot Alworth, Corinne Fisher, Diane Young, Renee Olson, Sally McDonald, Carol Beckwith, Cherrie Dubois, Judith Ladany, Tibor Ladany, Elizabeth Yarjan, Geprad Yarjan, and Andrea R. Cefali. The Board skipped over the approval of minutes, Liaison Reports, Public Comment, and Personnel and Appointments, and went directly to discussion with the School Committee and the School Building Committee, regarding Articles 26 and 27 on the Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant. Nancy Twomey submitted petitions containing 1, 125 signatures petitioning for a special Town election in January. Don Farnham, speaking for the School Building Com- mittee, indicated that ground would not be broken on this project until money was available from the State. They outlined a time f chart within which Town Meeting would approve the project in November subject to an override; an election would take place in January; plan development would take place in January and February; development of construction documents for bidding and approval from special boards would take place in March, April and May; and June 1 would see the submission to the School Building Assistance Bureau for approval and priority setting. At the end of June, the money would be awarded, and we would go out to bid in July for a September groundbreaking. The full presentation on the project will be made at Town Meeting. George Hines asked if other timing was possible, and it was com- mented that the project required a fifteen to eighteen month con- struction time. As of this Fall , two classrooms are needed beyond the current capacity of the elementary schools. It was indicated that funding awards could be done at any time during the year, as long as the project was submitted by June. Last year some projects were funded later in the year because there were additional dollars available. Chairman Graham asked the Finance Director to comment on the funding process. She indicated that a bond anticipation note would be floated and debt service would be excluded from the restraints of Proposition 2-1/2 , but included in the tax rate. She indicated that in FY92 and FY93 there would be interest only on the bond anticipation note and bonds would be sold for ten years to be paid back over twenty years by School Building Assis- tance. Later in the meeting, Ms. Klepeis expressed concern about the construction schedule and that the numbers outlined in the charts may not be accurate if construction is started as soon as Selectmen's Minutes - 11/7/90 - Page 4 Manager also indicated that the operator of the treatment plant also had the responsibility for ensuring that the package treat- ment plant would operate properly and that there would be no groundwater degradation, and no failure of the system. Steve O'Leary, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of North Reading, in- dicated that North Reading appreciated Reading's attention to this matter, and would keep the Town of Reading informed no mat- ter how Reading voted. Russ Graham indicated that he felt that there was no advantage to Reading, and, as the Town Manager out- lined, there was a potential harm to Reading. On motion by Hines, seconded by Ensminger, the Board voted not to approve the tie-in by Hingorani to the sewer system of the Town of Reading as outlined in the memo from the Town Manager and staff, by a vote of 5-0-0. The hearing was opened on the minutes of the Personnel Policies. Chris Redford and Susan Flannery spoke for the Library issues. Bob Nordstrand and Nils Nordberg spoke for the Appraiser's issues. The minimum cost of implementation of the Pay and Class work for the Library employees would be $20,511 which would allow us to receive that amount in state aid. The Assessor's requested an increase of approximately $5, 000 for the Appraiser. On motion by Hines seconded by Nigro the hearing was closed at 10:25 p.m. by vote of 5-0-0. .On motion by Hines seconded by Nigro the Board voted to adopt the Pay and Classification study as it affects Library personnel and the Assistant Appraiser, with the provision that those employees will no longer be eligible for longevity. The motion was ap- proved by a vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to recommend the line item of Article 5 in the Special Town Meeting dealing with Library salaries in the amount of $26, 600 and the necessary amount to place the Appraiser at a Grade 14 Step 5 by vote of 5- 0-0. The hearing on the Small Lane sewer betterments was opened. George Hines read the notice. Mr. Yarjan, Mr. Wilson and Ms. Shaw spoke. Paul Doherty also spoke. The Board voted to con- tinue the hearing to 11-13-90 at 7:00 p.m. at the High School at which time the apportioning of the proposed betterment cash would be outlined and a decision would be made. On motion by Hines seconded by Hoyt to continue the hearing the motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0. Mr. ---Phelen from Pinevale Avenue and his son appeared before the Board of Selectmen. The Phelen's want to acquire a piece of land from the Town which will allow their property to be subdivided and their son to build a house. The Town Manager was directed to get the Assessor's established value and then get back to the Board of Selectmen and the Phelans with regard to the possible sale. The Board was generally favorably disposed to sell the Selectmen's Minutes - 11/7/90 - Page 5 land at a price that would reflect the increased value to the ad- jacent property. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Nigro the Board approved a proclamation honoring Dr. Hinnendael by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board voted t.o--sup- port the subject matter of Article 4 on the Special Town Meeting by vote of 5-0-0. The Board discussed Articles 21 and 22 and decided to take no position on them as a Board. Gene Nigro indicated that there was a concern expressed by the Coster family regarding parking on Oakland Road and Dan Ensminger is working on that with the High School Administration to get the problems resolved. Russ Graham indicated that Pete Dahl was appointed to the Finance Committee filling Don Allen's unexpired term. He also indicated that the Audit Committee had met and we had a good audit. The appraisers commented on the extremely high caliber of the Finance Director and Town Accountant. The Board asked the Town Manager to send their congratulations to the elected candidates - Repre- sentative Krekorian and Senators Tisei and Buell . The Board would like to meet with them sometime soon. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to ad- journ at 11: 15 p.m. by vote of 5-0-0. Respectfully spbmitted, Secretary