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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-02-23 Board of Selectmen Minutes { Board of Selectmen Meeting - February 23 , 1988 The Board of Selectmen convened in the Selectmen's Meeting Room at 6 Lowell Street, Reading. Members present: Chairman Russell, Vice Chairman Nigro, Secretary Graham, Selectmen Ziegler and Landers, and Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner. Residents present were as follows: William C. Brown, Jonathan Edwards, Town Planner, George Hines, Lynn Carlson, Arthur J. Reynolds, Jr. , Margaret K. Plansky, Bill McIsaac, Gerald Selfridge, Kathy Sears, Diane Dresser, Paula Bongiorno, Paul Bongiorno, Larry O'Brien, Barbara ;Thorton, Marion O'Brien, Jerome T. Underwood, Debra Kinton, R. Clarkkington, Robert J. Fitzgerald, Thomas J. Thorton Jr. , Joseph Lanthier, Kent George, Gretchen Latowsky, Marlene Wolfe, Pat Keane, Marilyn Lamber, Dianne O'Leary, Kiernan B. Meagher, Judith Mitchel, Barry Mitchel. On motion by Landers seconded by Ziegler the board approved 4-0-0 the February 16, 1988 minutes. Liason Reports - Paul Landers informed the board on the status of the of the new Fire Station. The committee has narrowed the selection down to four architects and will be interviewing them during the next two weeks. Russell Graham, Peter Hechenbleikner, John Russell , Ron Kac- ____ zynski , Town Counsel met with Embassy Suites for a breakfast meeting at the Mariott Hotel in Burlington. Embassy Suites is hoping for a September closing date. f: Licenses - On motion by Ziegler seconded by Nigro the board ap- proved 5-0-0 the following licenses: Class II Foreign Cars, 128 Tires, Hagan Auto Sales, Walt & Sonny's Auto Sales. On motion by Ziegler seconded by Nigro the board approved 5-0-0 the common victualer license for the Meadow Brook Snack Bar. On motion by Ziegler seconded by Landers the board approved 5-0-0 the traffic rules and orders adopted by the Board of Selectmen on !i September 22 , 1947, for the Town of Reading, are hereby amended as follows: By adding to Article VI, Section II, the following: Oak Ridge Road northbound and southbound at Sylvan Road-Stop Sign, 5-0-0. Mr. Hechenbleikner approved the 1 day alcoholic beverage license for the Reading Building Association for March 5, 1988 . The Reading Housing Authority was present to discuss the pos- sibility that Reading become a Massachusetts Housing Partnership community. Both the Community Planning & Development Commis- sion and the Reading Housing Authority unanimously recommend that the Town become an MHP .Community. The Community Planning & Development Commission pointed out four concerns: (1) That any MHP needs assessment, problem definition, goals and objectives formulation, and general planning concerning the provision of affordable housing be con- ducted as an integral part of the Master Planningp- process which we have begun. (2) That a local partnership both be a true public/private partnership with broad-based community representation and involve the highest possible degree of citizen par- ticipation. i (3) That the local partnership be diligent about fully in- vestigating all ramifications of its decisions and ac- tions, concerning potential impacts in terms of economic development, social and demographic effects and land-use and physical development issues. (4) That it exhaustively ensure that the specific provi- sions and obligations entailed from any program it may wish to become involved with be acceptable in all ways to the Town. On motion by Graham seconded by Ziegler the board approved 5-0-0 to make application to the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, conditioned upon the M.H. P. Committee being appointed by and reporting to the Board of Selectmen. Reverend Allen Bond from the First Congregational Church was present to voice his concerns with regard to the parking on San- born St. Mr. Bond has several solutions: first he suggests that the curb on the east side of Sanborn Street be moved in to the edge of the existing side walk by eliminating the grassed area which is about 18 inches to two feet wide; secondly he suggests that the east side of Sanborn Street be striped for diagonal parking, and parking on the west side of the street be eliminated. The Board of Selectmen informed Reverend Bond that they concurred with Mr. Fletcher's recommendation to deny this request, but that we would like him to evaluate the possibility of widening Sanborn Street on the west side to accommodate angled parking. Reverend Bond thanked the Board of Selectmen for their attention on this matter. A number of residents were present from the Middlesex Avenue and High Street area. Their concern is at the intersection of Mid- dlesex Avenue and High Street. If vehicles come to this inter- section you are out in the middle of High Street before you can see the traffic coming because of a stone wall on the corner and a large tree. There is an increase in the traffic flow since the Library has relocated to this area. The Board agreed to the in- stallation of a flashing red on Middlesex/yellow on High Street, and evaluation of tree removal and wall removal at this intersec- tion. Mr. Pierce from 131 Forest Street was present to discuss the on- going problem of speeding on Forest Street. Mr. Pierce is con- cerned over the increasing amount of traffic in the Birchmeadow school area. The sight picture in the vicinity of Forest St. , Colburn Rd. , and Arthur B. Lord Drive has blind spots as Mr. Pierce pointed out in his letter. Mr. Pierce would like 30 mph speed limit signs posted. The Chief Marchand explained in Mas- sachusetts the speed limit in residential areas is 30 mph, which applies to Forest Street. It was determined that improved traf- fic enforcement would be conducted including trying to locate radar closer to the Arthur B. Lord Drive intersection with Forest Street.