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Home My WebLink About1990-11-20 Board of Selectmen Minutes Minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting November 20, 1990 The meeting was called to order at 7: 34 p.m. in the Selectmens.. Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. Present were Chair- man Russell Graham, Vice Chairman Dan Ensminger, Secretary George Hines, Selectmen Eugene Nigro and Sally Hoyt, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Debbie H. McCulley, Dick Howard, Bill Goodrich, Ann Gentile, Phil LeBlanc, Courtney Evans, Leonard Redfern, Edward W. Marchand, Gary M. Roux, Leslie McGonagle, William J. Scully, Diane K. McLaughlin, Bobbi Maillett, Jonathan Edwards, Tony Fletcher. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board approved the minutes of October 23, 1990 as amended by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board approved the minutes of November 7, 1990 as amended by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ensminger seconded by Hoyt the Board approved. the minutes of November 13, 1990 as amended by vote of 5-0-0. Liaison Reports Under Liaison Reports, Eugene Nigro indicated that Article 25 would require information on the grant prior to action by Town Meeting. The Town Manager recommended that Article 25 proceed subject to receipt of grant and the Board agreed; Chief Marchand received the Kinlock Award by the Mass Juvenile Officers Association; the Fire Department ladder truck is back in service; the Fire Department is concerned about wood stove operations in the colder weather and with higher fuel prices; Engine 4 is back in service after being out for repairs; ambulance fees generated $5,350 in October. George Hines indicated that he had attended the Thanksgiving Din- ner on Saturday and thanked' the Town Manager and Lois Bond and other staff who participated. On the 24th Jonathan Edwards and George Hines attended the MAPC dinner where Frank Baxter was honored. MetroPlan 2000 is making progress. The North Suburban Planning Council is meeting next week. Russ Graham extended his congratulations to Chief Marchand for receipt of the Kinlock , Award, and to the Town Manager for the Thanksgiving Dinner. Dan Ensminger assisted with the Thanksgiving Dinner; assisted in. the cleanup of the High School organized by Mark Piechota, Prin- cipal, and participated in by students and neighbors; and has up- dated the school projections for the School Committee. Sally Hoyt offered congratulations to the Chief for the Kinlock Award; attended the Thanksgiving Dinner for senior citizens ; delivered Dr. Hinnendael's proclamation for -' P years of service to the community; indicated that the van had been received and was first used at the Thanksgiving Dinner; indicated that the Rotary Club is going to assist with food distribution; expressed concern Board of Selectmen Minutes - 11/20/90 - page 2 about misinformation in the Lawyer's Diary by listing C & C Con- stables and Associates as a Constable in the Town of Reading. Debbie McCulley, President of the Friends of the Playground, was ----= present. Friends of the Playground is now incorporated, and she officially gifted to the Town the playground as constructed. December 1 the maintenance group is going to go over the struc- ture to see if anything is needed and to do some ground main- tenance. There will be additional landscaping completed in the spring and all plaques and other mementos will be installed in the spring. The Friends of the Playground has approximately $8, 000 in the maintenance fund, and is considering setting it up as a trust fund with the Town. Ms. McCulley expressed thanks to the Selectmen for the installation of the light for security pur- poses and indicated that more than one light may be needed and it may be funded through the maintenance fund. The intention is not to light it for night use but to deter vandalism. The parking lot has been striped, and concrete barriers placed. There are 40 parking spaces plus two handicapped parking spaces. The original intent to place bricks in some areas will not be done and they are looking to get rid of the bricks. They have asked for the speed limit in the parking area to be posted, and for a sign to be installed indicating that the playground is closed after dark. The Town Manager outlined the process of the Reading Square traf- fic study, the study of Town-wide traffic issues, and Eastside -- Neighborhood issues. Bill Scully from McDonough and Scully indi- cated that part of the purpose of the downtown study was to bring the Washington Street signalization into the system that runs through the Square. He noted that parking changes are proposed on southbound Main Street south of Haven Street, and some changes to the parking on Lowell Street and Main Street in front of the stores including CVS. There will be some loss of parking and discussion took place as to whether or not parking can be im- proved on the Union Street site, or at other locations. Chief Marchand indicated that parts of the downtown plan can be and probably should be implemented now. In discussion of the Town-wide traffic studies, Bill Goodrich in- dicated that the next phase should be underway as soon as funding is secured from Homart. They are suggesting that some short-term "signs and lines" can be implemented prior to completion of the study and its full implementation. Leslie McGonagle from the Chamber of Commerce indicated that the Chamber had some concerns about loss of parking related to the downtown traffic study, and would be meeting next Tuesday night with staff and McDonough and Schully regarding parking. Phil LeBlanc speaking for the Eastside Neighborhood presented a petition to the Board requesting five items. 1. Signs prohibiting left turns from Salem Street westbound onto Manning, Eaton and Wilson Streets from 6: 00 a.m. to �_- 9: 00 a.m. weekday mornings. School busses and emergency ulation. vehicles would be exempted from the reg Board of Selectmen Minutes - 11/20/90 --page 3 2. Signs and lines to establish a four-way stop at the inter- section of John Street and Pleasant Street. 3. Establish a demand cycle for pedestrians for the existing traffic signals at the intersection of Main and Salem to im- prove traffic flow. 4. Establish a demand cycle for pedestrians for the existing trophies signals at the intersection of Salem and Pearl. 5. Signs prohibiting through trucks either way on Washington Street between Main and John Street. There was considerable discussion regarding these five items, and at the meeting on December 18, the Board will be prepared to make decisions on several of them. McDonough and Scully will do some research work on the potential for modification of the signals at Main and Salem and at Salem and Pearl. There was some discussion about the legality of four-way stop signs, and Chief Marchand felt that they were not legal. Town Counsel will be asked for comment with some additional information being made available from McDonough and Scully. We will check on the Mass DPW regulations on trucking, and specifically whether restrictions can be made by hours. The Board will post hearings on these changes for its meeting on December 18. The Town Manager is appointed as a contact person with regard to these issues. At its meeting on December 4, the Board of Selectmen will meet at 7: 00 p.m. in Executive Session, and the School Committee will be in at 8:00 to discuss the need for trash fee. The Board sug- gested that other issues to be discussed with the School Com- mittee would be how we can best combine forces and use our best .efforts to cut costs in business operations, building and grounds maintenance, equipment maintenance etc. Gene Nigro reminded the Board that they need to give the Town Manager input on the proposed Class I, II, and III motor vehicle license policy. Questions he raised specifically included: whether or not cars that are for sale should be identified as such; whether the price should be posted on the vehicle; what the standards may be for being a primary business on the property; and what requirements should be made for the landlord to keep up the property. The Board also expressed appreciation to the Police Department regarding the policy on high speed chases. The Chief will be asked for a report on the progress of accreditation. Gene Nigro indicated that he had had concerns about the Depot improvement and specifically the impact on parking along High Street. Now that the project is primarily completed, he agrees that parking on High Street isnot a problem. The Board wished the residents of the Community a happy Thanksgiving. Board of Selectmen Minutes - 11/20/90 - page 4 on motion by Nigro seconded by Hoyt the Board voted to adjourn at 10:58 p.m. by vote of 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted , Secretary