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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-12-28 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting-December 28 , 1987 Meeting convened at 7 : 30 P.M. in the Selectmen' s Meeting Room, 6 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. Present were Chairman John Russell, Vice Chairman Eugene Nigro, Secretary Russell Graham, Selectmen Mollie Ziegler and Paul Landers , Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, and the following members of the public : Catherine Rybicki, Anita Valentine, Bruce Morang, Harold Hulse, Beth MacKillop , Christine B . Redford, Elia A. Dangelmaier , Charlie O'Donnell (Texaco) , Cherrie Dubois , Carol Beckwith, Bill Diamond, Bob Fields , Larry Cresta, James H. Krisch (Exxon) , Mr. & Mrs. John Drinkwater. Minutes were not approved as they were incomplete in the packet. The following liason reports were made. Euguene Nigro reported on the meeting attended by several of the Selectmen with the Reading Municipal Light Department and the Wilmington Board of Selectmen. Mr. Nigro announced that he will run for re-election to the Board of Selectmen. He indicated that three major goals were to continue to implement the Charter and maintain services ; to be sensitive in the Town' s economic development activities about natural resources and traffic to insure balanced development; and to make sure that the Council on Aging has a permanent home. John Russell reported that he and three of the other Selectmen attended the installation of Police Chief Mar- chand as President of the Massachusetts Chief of Police Associa- tion. Chairman Russell also asked K�zesowski motion for this Eagle Scout service award be made to Kenneth Service. Motion by Landers seconded by Nigro and the community service award was approved by a vote of 5-0-0 . r On motion by Landers seconded by Ziegler the Board of Selectmen recommended a reserve fund transfer in the amount of $1 ,111 for ng aid grant by a vote of 5-0-0 . the local match to the purchasi a On motion by Ziegler seconded by Nigro the Board of Selectmen ap- proved the granting of liquor licenses to the following for terms expiring 12-31-88 : Harrows, Home Builders Corporation of Reading- ; Knights of Columbus , Meadow Brook Golf Club, P&B Liquors Inc. Reading Diner Inc. , Reading Liquors Inc. , Reading Diner Overseas Veterans Inc. , Reading Veterans Association Inc. , Stationhouse Restaurant Inc. , Uptown Liquors Inc. , and Wes Parkers. On motion by Ziegler seconded by Nigro the following common vict- ualers licenses expiring 12-31-88 were approved: Anthony' s Atlantic Food Mart, Burger King Corp. , C&K Seafood and Sub , D' s Sub & Deli Shop, Donut Corp. , Capri Pizza, Carvel Ice Cream, Maker Inc . Friendly Ice Cream, Golden Dragon Restaurant , Gregory' s Drive-In, Jo Ann' s Variety, Last Corner Inc. , Mobil Oil Corporation, New Horizens Food Service Inc. , P&S Convenient, Pew ing Diner Inc. , Service of America ter Pot, Putnan Pantry, Read 1 G Corp. , SNR Pizza, Stationhouse Restaurant Inc. , Tony Lena' s, Wes Parkers Restaurant, White Hen Pantry. On motion by Landers seconded by Ziegler thirty day conditional common victualer' s licenses were approved for the following es- tablishments, based on correcting sign violations cleanliness on the site: Brown Bag, TJ' s Roast Beef and Seafood. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0 . On motion by Nigro seconded by Landers the following additional common victualer' s licenses were granted for a period to expire 12-31-88 by a vote of 5-0-0 . Harrows, Last Corner, Cumberland Farms, and Reading Deli & Bakery. On motion by Ziegler seconded by Nigro the following motor vehicle licenses were approved by a vote of 5-0-0 for a period of 1 year expiring 12-31-88: Foreign Auto Union Inc. , and Reading Cycles Inc. On motion by Ziegler seconded by Nigro the following motor vehicle licenses were approved by a vote of 5-0-0 thirty day con- ditional basis , subject to correction of conditions as outlined in the memo from Jonathan Edwards: Foreign Cars of Reading Inc. , Hagen Auto Sales, Maaco Auto Painting Inc. , 128 Sales Inc. , 128 Tire Inc. , Walt and Sonny' s Village Auto Sales. The appointments to the Recreation Committee and to the Conserva- tion Committee were held until the meeting on 1 -12-88 because the applicants were not present. Catherine Rybicki, Vice Chairman of the Recreation committee was present . In addition, the Town Manager indicated that Maureen Rich was not interested in re- appointment to the MAPC, and there were no other applicants . The Selectmen suggested that either the Planner or a member of the Community Planning & Development commission might be interested. There was considerable discussion an the creation of the position of the Director of Human Services . It was 'agreed that some ac tion needed to be taken on this item and the Board asked for ad- ditional information for the meeting on 1-12-88 . The request was for a comparison of grade 11 positions and grade 10 positions in terms of the following issues: number of employees , total budget, educational and other requirements , complexity of the position. It was agreed and understood that this is being reviewed as a position, and that the Town Manager is responsible for the per- formance evaluation. The Town Manager recommended classification of this position as grade 11 . Members of the Library Board were present to discuss their recom- mendation for a salary increase for the Library Director in excess of 5%. After discussion, the Board of Selectmen agreed to take no action, thereby allowing the Town Manager to set the e month probabtionary period at 5%. salary increase for the twelv 2 In addition, the Selectmen asked the Town Manager and the Library Board to discuss the issue further and to see if some reasonable arrangement could be made whereby the Town would not be setting precedent for increases in excess of the 5% permitted by person- nel by-law, but at the same time recognize the outstanding job that the Library Director was doing and the Library Director' s role as part of the management staff. On motion by Nigro seconded by Landers the Board of Selectmen ap- proved by a vote of 5-0-0 the agreement with Local 1703 regarding the smoking policy. At 9 : 00 P.M. a hearing was opened regarding the extension for an additional year of the hours of operation for Jo Ann' s Variety from 5 : 45 A.M. to 12: 00 midnight. The secretary read the notice, and there were no people present objecting to a continuation of this policy. on a motion by Landers seconded by Ziegler the board voted 5-0-0 to close the public hearing. On a motion by Ziegler seconded by Landers the board voted to approved hours of operation of Jo Ann' s Variety Store on Salem Street from 5 : 45 A.M. to 12 midnight for one year expiring 12-31-88 , by vote of 5- 0-0 . All previous conditions would apply. At 9 : 15 P.M. the hearing on Crestview Exxon and the Texaco Serv- ice Station on Walkers Brook Drive was opened. The secretary read the notice which applied to both issues. John Drinkwater of South Street appeared and spoke in opposition to the granting of an extension to Crestview Exxon to continue to operate for 24 hours . He presented a petition with 39 names on it . Mr . Drinkwater indicated that there have been 19 violations of one of the conditions of their approval for 1987 regarding the hours that they are permitted to fill tanks . Larry Cresta from Crestview Exxon indicated that once the violations were brought to their attention they ceased in May. Mr. Drinkwater suggested if they were permitted to be 24 hours operation, then there should be no deliveries from 10 : 00 P.M. to 6 A.M. and none on Sunday. Larry Cresta indicated that that would be difficult, especially regarding Sunday deliveries because they get fifteen to seventeen deliveries per month and cannot always time the usage to avoid Sunday deliveries. Mr. Cresta also indicated they would do their best not to deliver on Sundays. Mr. Landers asked if there were any proposed changes to the operations, and Mr. Cresta indicated that they would like to rebuild and modernize the facility, perhaps going to four bays versus the current 3 1/2 bays . The bays would all face Main Street not the side, and this would benefit adjacent residences. He also indicated that they would like to expand the islands, and may eliminate the bays en- tirely and put in a convenient food store. Mr. Drinkwater indi- �— sated that Exxon had promised to put up a fence but they have not done it yet. He also indicated that there was noise at night from slamming car hoods, the public address system, tools, and people drinking on the premises at night. Mr. Cresta presented a 3 letter from the Chief of Police indicating that the premises had presented no problems . Mr . Cresta also indicated that Mr . Drinkwater had wanted the fence installed on Mr. Drinkwater' s property and Exxon has a policy to only make capital investments on their own premises. Regarding the Texaco Service Station Mr. Charles O'Donnell from Texaco was present. He indicated that plus or minus 20a of their business takes place between midnight and 6 : 00 A.M. The facility is company owned. On motion by Nigro seconded by Ziegler the hearing was closed at 10 : 00 P.M. by a vote of 5-0-0 . On motion by Ziegler seconded by Landers the board voted to con- tinue for one year permission to operate 24 hours a day for the Texaco Service Station on Walkers Brook Drive by a vote of 3-2-0 with Landers and Graham voting against. A motion by Ziegler seconded by Nigro to permit the Crestview Ex- xon to continue to operate for a 24 hour period for one addi- tional year was defeated 0-5-0 . On motion by Ziegler seconded by Graham the new street connecting Walkers Brook Drive to the Public Works Facility was named Newcrossing Road by a vote of 5-0-0 . On motion by Ziegler seconded by Nigro the Board approved regula- tions providing "No Parking Anytime" on the entirety of both sides of Newcrossing Road by a vote of 5-0-0 . On motion by Landers seconded by Ziegler the Board introduced a policy on access to public records by a vote of 5-0-0 . The hear- ing on this policy will take place on January 12 , 1988 . It was mentioned that in accordance with Section 8-10 of the Charter, all minutes are required to be on file in the Library and we need to insure that the minutes are made available to the public even in draft form. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen noted that effective January 1st the Board of Selectmen will be changing their meeting nights to Tuesday nights , and the Board would be meeting the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7: 30 P.M. This was done in order to facilitate scheduling of the Selectmen' s meeting room for other boards, committees, and commissions of the Town. The Board unanimously wished the residents and the staff of the Town of Reading a happy and safe new year. On motion by Landers E seconded by Graham the board adjourned at 10 : 30 P.M. Respectfully submitted: 4 The West Side Task Force was present to discuss the West Street traffic situation. The task force was very forceful in regard to what the Board of Selectmen has done in regard to this situation. They feel as though the board should have more communication with the other Towns, such as Wilmington and Woburn. Adjourned: 11:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted: Secretary i C Donald Dolben and Dean Dolben were present to discuss the feasibility plan presented to the Board which would permit Wil- liam H. Dolben & Sons to buy the land on Bear Hill and develop it. The development being proposed is atop of Bear Hill at the Reading-Wakefield lines. William Dolben & Sons of Boston seek to acquire the acreage surrounding the Reading water tower to con- struct "mid-rise" condo units. The proposal includes relocation of Summit Drive from the Wakefield side of Bear Hill and a new Summit Drive Extension to afford access to the new units. On motion by Ziegler seconded by Landers the Board unanimously voted to go into Executive Session at 11 : 15 P.M. and not to return to open session. Adjourned: Respectfully submitted: Secretary