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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-08-30 Board of Selectmen Minutes I BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING August 30, 1988 Meeting convened at 7:35 P.M. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 6 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Nigro. Present were Vice Chairman Graham, Secretary Ziegler, Selectmen Russell, Selectmen Landers and Town Manager Peter I. Hechenbleikner. The following residents were present: Thomas Stohlman, Michael L. Colonna, Carl H. Amon Jr. , Deane Dol- ben, Ed Marchand, Peter C. Garchinsky, Bruce Morang, Drew Boul- din, Kevin Casey, Anne Mark, Trish Brigham, Lawrence Cresta , Raymond Couture, Delia Quinlan, Mike and Janet Guenther, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Micalizzi, Nels H. Nelson, Robert Howe, Margaret A. Howe, Jane Perzine, Jean Mullen, George Hines, Attorney Wagner, Doug Wade, Ed Simpson, Mr. & Mrs. Drinkwater, Mark Favalaro, Dan Ensminger, Richard Howard, and Keith Wolfe, and Tony Fletcher. On motion by Landers seconded by Ziegler the Board approved the August 2, 1988 minutes by vote of 3-0-1 with Russell abstaining. On motion by Russell seconded by Ziegler the Board approved the August 16, 1988 minutes by vote of 3-0-2 . Liaison Reports Jack Russell and Russell Graham met with Town Counsel to discuss the development agreement for Homart and Embassy Suites. Eugene Nigro and Mary Ziegler attended a meeting of the Municipal Building Space Committee. Eugene Nigro attended a meeting of the Employee Awards Committee. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council will host a breakfast on September 13th for area legislators and municipal officials. Patrolman Peter Garchinsky has been promoted to the rank of Ser- geant by the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen. Chief Mar- chand was present and Mrs. Garchinsky. Peter an eight year veteran of the local force will take his first tour of duty on Labor Day. Representatives from Continental Cablevision, Kevin Casey, Drew Bouldin, and Len Tammaro were present to discuss the dismantling of its head-end antenna system atop Bear Hill and link Reading to Woburn via a new "state-of-the art" fiberoptic cable. On motion by Russell seconded by Landers the Board voted 5-0-0 to approve any modification of the license to eliminate the Bear Hill Facility to fiber opter cable from Woburn. The Board of Selectmen held a reconsideration hearing for Crestview Exxon on South Main St that they be allow to operate 24 hours a day. Attorney Wagner was present representing Crestview, contending that public health, safety and welfare were at stake in a 24-hour service station operation. A number of residents favoring the 24-hour operation were present and also a strong turnout of neighbors to the station opposing the 24-hour opera- Page 2 - 8-30-88 Minutes tion. Texaco (Walker's Brook Drive) sent a representative to the hearing but made no request for exemption from the by-law. Texaco may seek such exemption, however, because that station is not near any residential area. On motion by Ziegler seconded by Graham the board denied Crestview's petition to open 12: 01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. as per by-law 5-0-0. The Board of Selectmen approved by vote of 5-0-0 the Sons of Italy Road Race. On motion by Landers seconded by Ziegler the Board approved by vote of 5-0-0 the first reading on a Human Service Revolving Fund. On motion by Russell seconded by Graham the Board approved by vote of 5-0-0 the change of managers from Bonnie Jacobs to Nancy Shea at Wes Parkers Restaurant located at 296 Salem Street, Read- ing, MA. Philip J. Cohen was present to seek a permit for a peddler' s license. The Board of Selectmen deferred action until September 13th meeting, pending approval from the property owner and reviewing a policy. A presentation by the Town's Solid Waste Advisory Committee, ex- plained the plans to utilize a former gravel pit off Strout Ave. (adjacent to the Town Forest) , as a composting center. Keith Wolfe, spokesman for the State's Department of Environmental Quality Engineering was present and informed the Board that Reading's composting site is ideal and the best site he has seen. Public Works Director Tony Fletcher informed the board that a gate is being installed at the site this week and he hopes the 780 tons of leaves and grass cutting now hauled out of the town to the RESCO incinerator in Saugus can now be composed here in town. On motion by Graham seconded by Ziegler the Board in- structed the Town Manager to implement the plan immediately, em- phasizing it will be "voluntary" this fall, but mandatory by 1989 by vote of 5-0-0. Members of the Community Planning and Development Commission and Town Planner Jonathan Edwards appeared before the board to dis- cuss the re-zoning of Bear Hill. The Board of Selectmen and the Community Planning & Development Commission are in agreement with pursuing proposed zoning by-law changes which will eventually lead to the sale of the town-owned acreage. The CPDC are request- ing a reserve fund transfer of $5000 to accomplish a traffic ac- commodation study which would define how much development density can be allowed when the Bear Hill land is put out for developers' bids. A concerned group of neighbors from the Bear Hill area were present to voice their concerns in regard to the density of the buildings. Another concern of the neighbors is that the Selectmen would only be concerned with getting the highest and - best bidder. Selectman Russell suggested the Selectmen advertise immediately for RFP's (Request for Proposals) from developers to help the town gauge the real estate market for such acreage, and then apply an appropriate zoning by-law to accommodate the desig- Page 3 - 8-30-88 Minutes nated developer who will have to meet both the Town's perceived money and the neighborhood's objections to high-rise, high- density structures. On motion by Russell seconded by Ziegler the Board instructed the Town manager to go out for P.R.D. The motion was defeated by vote of 2-3-0. On motion by Russell seconded by Graham the board recommended a reserve fund transfer of $5000 for CPDC Professional Services, for funding a traffic accommodation study by a vote of 5-0-0. Papa's Automotive Class II license was denied. On motion by Russell seconded by Ziegler the Board granted per- mission to the Order Sons of Italy to use the road from Camp Cur- tis gate pursuant to letter of August 2, 1987 by vote of 5-0-0. On motion by Ziegler seconded by Russell the board unanimously voted by a roll call vote to go into Executive Session at 12 : 05 A.M. and not to come out in open session. Adjourned: Respectfully submitted: Secretary