HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-11-17 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
November 17, 2009
For ease of archiving, the order that items appear in these Minutes reflects the order in
which the items appeared on the agenda for that meeting, and are not necessarily the order
in which any item was taken up by the Board.
The meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading,
Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Ben Tafoya, Vice Chairman James Bonazoli,
Secretary Camille Anthony, Selectmen Stephen Goldy and Richard Schubert, Town
Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur.
Reports and Comments
Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Selectman Camille Anthony noted that she
had been contacted by neighbors regarding the proposed 40R District and someone should
meet with them. It was agreed that she will set up a meeting with representatives of the
neighborhood, and will be joined by either Chairman Ben Tafoya or Selectman Richard
Schubert.
Selectman Stephen Goldy commended the Health Division on the Flu Clinic. He's also
going to meet in Andover with some of the communities that have had discussion on
regional cooperation.
Chairman Ben Tafoya noted that he had been approached by the Mayor of Melrose about
having discussion on providing assessor services. The Town Manager will talk with Steve
McGoldrick from the Collins Center about facilitating such a discussion.
Vice Chairman James Bonazoli attended the dedication of the Mattera Cabin on Saturday,
and he was impressed by the number of people who turned out especially in bad weather.
Also, this morning he met with Recreation Administrator John Feudo and Bernie Winne
regarding suggested amendments to the donation's policy. This will be scheduled at a
workshop meeting. He also recommended having Recreation in to discuss their programs in
the highlights section.
Vice Chairman James Bonazoli noted that he and Selectman Steve Goldy met with
Representative Brad Jones and representatives of Wine Nation at the request of
Representative Jones. Wine Nation had been an applicant for a package store license for a
facility to go into the Linen `N Things property on Walkers Brook Drive. They have
developed a new approach to the facility at this site, and have also submitted an appeal to
the ABCC of the Board of Selectmen's denial of their application. They would like to meet
with the Board of Selectmen in a workshop meeting to explain their proposed business plan.
Representative Jones had noted at the meeting that if Reading wanted one additional
package store license to dedicate to a specific location.in the community, that can likely be
worked out with the legislature through a special act.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 17, 2009—Page 2
Selectman Camille Anthony asked if Brad Jones called the meeting and why. Vice
Chairman James Bonazoli noted that the applicant of Wine Nation had contacted him and
asked to set up a facilitated meeting. This is because of the legislature potentially being
involved in providing one additional package store license for Reading, and also because of
interest in job creation.
Selectman Richard Schubert noted that if the community was to do anything, it should be
done by the full Board. Selectman Camille Anthony felt uncomfortable that Representative
Jones would be involved. Selectman Schubert agreed noting that it seemed to be
circumventing the local licensing authority. Selectman Anthony noted that she may call
Representative Jones. Chairman Ben Tafoya noted that going forward, any discussion
should be by the full Board of Selectmen.
Chairman Ben Tafoya thanked everyone for participating in the Veteran's Day events, and
noted that Selectman Richard Schubert is a veteran. Selectman Schubert noted that he takes
a low key approach in Veteran's Day celebrations. He is a veteran of the post Vietnam War
era. Chairman Tafoya thanked the Health Division for their excellent job on the flu clinic.
He asked if we should do an evaluation of Town Counsel. Following discussion, the Town
Manager will pull together the previous evaluation and send it to Selectmen Stephen Goldy
and Camille Anthony who will form a subcommittee on the Town Counsel evaluation.
Selectman Camille Anthony asked about the Town Manager evaluation, and it was noted
that Selectman Stephen Goldy and Vice Chairman James Bonazoli will form a
subcommittee who will do the evaluation this year. They will have information out to the
Board shortly and solicit their comments.
Selectman Richard Schubert noted that Town Meeting finished quickly at the Subsequent
Town Meeting.
Town Manager's Report
The Town Manager gave the following report:
• Flu Clinic — IIow many vaccinations were given and were any residents turned
away? 579 vaccinations were given, which was all we had available. No residents
waited in line to be later told that we were out of vaccine. About 20 people who
came in between noon and 1:00 p.m. were told we were out of vaccine.
• The Board of Selectmen does not want a hearing for the Dunkin' Donuts early
opening, or for the Shell Station 24 hour opening.
• The Town Manager will take care of posting and advertising the opening on the
Board of Assessors.
• James Bonazoli thanked the DPW for their operation of the Compost Center — it
seemed to go better this year.
• Ben Tafoya will do the Memory Tree Program again this year
• The Primary Election of the U.S. Senate seat is on December 8th, not the 9th.
Assistant Town Manager's_ Report— Bob LeLacheur reviewed the budget calendar with the
Board of Selectmen. Selectman Camille Anthony noted concern about whether or not this
Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 17, 2009—Page 3
gives the Board of Selectmen adequate time to address difficult decisions. Vice Chairman
James Bonazoli felt that an additional session could be set up for the workshop meeting on
the Tuesday night following these budget sessions.
Discussion/Action Items
Discuss Possible Appeal of Fees to the Board of Selectmen—The Town Manager reviewed
the issues raised about possible appeal of fees to the Board of Selectmen. The consensus of
the Board was to empower staff to waive fees as long as there was consistency and fairness.
The Town Manager indicated that there may be other issues that residents want to appeal to
the Board of Selectmen. The Town Manager tries to deal with all of those issues, but will
make sure that residents are aware that they can appeal some of those issues to the Board of
Selectmen. There are, of course, issues that cannot be appealed to the Board of Selectmen
like conservation reviews, approvals or denials as well as zoning decisions.
Discuss Dogs in Parks — The Town Manager reviewed the request from a dog owner to
allow dogs to ran at large in parks during certain designated times when they would not
otherwise be heavily utilized. He also reviewed the existing Dog Bylaw and noted that
having dogs run at large in parks is permitted only in the Town Forest and in Conservation
areas. The Board asked the Town Manager to check and see what North Reading does —
they used to have a dog park, and they also seemed to allow dogs to run in the Ipswich River
Park. The Board also talked about the possibility of doing a pilot program to allow dogs to
run at large in parks at the Water Treatment Plant site.
Review Goals—The Board of Selectmen reviewed the progress on goals to date. The Board
will use the goals statements as part of the Town Manager's evaluation this year. The Town
Manager indicated that he would get draft goals for 2010 to the Board of Selectmen in
December.
Approval of Agreement — Cedar Glen — Town Counsel has not received a draft agreement
from the purchasers of the Cedar Glen property to review and, therefore,there is no action
by the Board of Selectmen at this time.
Review Special Town Meeting Warrant — The Board of Selectmen asked to have Marie
Ferrari, Reading representative to the Northeast Vocational School District Committee, be
available at Town Meeting. The Board also asked for information on the past several year's
history on the Vocational School District Budgets and the Town of Reading School Budgets.
With regard to the Downtown Smart Growth 40R District, the Board asked for the following
infonnation:
1. Full area ratio for the proposed development of Oak Tree and at the Maughn
building.
2. Staff should do the presentations and Counsel and CPDC be present for their
reports.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—November 17 2009—Page 4
3. For the underlying zoning,mixed use zoning, and proposed 40R zoning, have
an analysis of the differences permitted for height, full area ratio, and parking
as well as building set back.
4. The Board.of Selectmen will do a formal presentation to Town Meeting. This
will be coordinated between Selectmen Richard Schubert and Camille
Anthony.
5. Visual of Oak Tree proposed development should be available.
There being no other business, on motion by Bonazoli seconded by Goldy, the Board of
Selectmen voted to adiourn the meeting of November 17, 2009 at 10:09 p.m. on a vote
of 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
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