HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-07-07 Board of Selectmen Minutes A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
JULY 7 , 1986
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened on July 7 , 1986 at
7 : 30 p .m. in the Selectmen' s Conference Room of the Executive Office
Building located at 6 Lowell Street , Reading , Massachusetts . Present
were Chairman Paul E . Landers , Board Members Russell T . Graham,
Eugene R. Nigro , John H. Russell , and Mary S . Ziegler. Also in
attendance was Acting Executive Secretary Anthony V. Fletcher.
The meeting opened with a lengthy discussion focusing on the new
Town Charter with regard to the correct procedure for appointments to
Boards and Committees and also placement within the Town ' s employee
workforce. As stipulated under Article 8 , Section 12 of the Charter
Provisions a 15 day posting is required with the position not being
filled for a period of 28 days . The Board of Selectmen pondered over
the various problems which could arise due to vacancies caused by the
wait in the posting process and agreed that a consultation with Town
Counsel , H. Theodore Cohen and Chairman of the former Charter Commission,
f John Faria, was needed in order to discuss an interpretation of the
By-Law. An extension process to resolve current Board and Committee
vacancies was suggested as a temporary solution to the appointments
scheduled on The Board ' s agenda. It was pointed out that extensions
were necessary in order to maintain a quorum on all the Boards and
Committees for meeting and voting purposes .
Immediately following the posting/appointment discussion a
blanket motion was made covering all seated appointments and employees
in order that they may remain seated until such time that they will be
seated through the legal process in accordance with the Town Charter .
The Board of Selectmen voted all in favor, 5 : 0.
It was noted by Selectmen Russell that the current vacancies will
still exist and cannot be filled through the blanket motion extension
process .
On the next order of business , the Town Treasurer, Elizabeth M.
Klepeis , petitioned the Board of Selectmen for support granting funds
} allowing a series of seminars to be held in order to implement the
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July 7 , 1986
Page 2
major provisions of the new Charter through training and development
of the Town' s Selectmen, Town Manager , and various management personnel .
Ms . Klepeis went on to explain the valuable concepts of such a
program and Chairman Landers noted that this type of program was also
discussed during the interview process with Town Manager applicants .
The total estimated projected cost for the program is $6 , 000 with the
state absorbing $4, 500, leaving the Town' s share to be a total of
$ 1 , 500 . A motion was made by the Board to indorse the application
for state funds amounting to $4 , 500 with the understanding that the
remaining $1 ,500 will be forthcoming from the Town. The vote was in
the affirmative, 5 : 0. Discussion ended with the Town Treasurer
promising to have the necessary papers ready for signature by the
end of the week.
Ms . Klepeis also made a request of the Board of Selectmen to sign
the yearly contract for Computer Services , with the Board requesting
that she be assigned as the Project Coordinator.
After a motion to accept the minutes of the June 26 , 1986 meeting
discussion focused on the wording of the description of the parcel of
land known as the access road . With the wording from the informational
paper corrected to read "from John Street to the railroad crossing"
(where the entrance will be to the Department of Public Works) it was
moved and voted in the affirmative to accept the minutes of the
June 26th meeting .
The next order of business was a motion to approve the May bill
for services rendered by Holland , Crowe, and Drachman in the amount of
$1 , 189 . 52 . The Board voted in favor 5 : 0 to approve the. payment . it
was noted that the June bill will be incumbered in agreement with
Ted Cohen and Holland , Crowe and Drachman.
A motion was also made to approve the deductable payment of
$5 ,000 for the Col-een MacDonald case with regard to legal litigation
fees for a police brutality case . The Board voted in favor , 5 : 0 .
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July 7 , 1986
Page 3
On the next order of business the Board discussed concerns with
the Purchase and Sale agreement with Jack Rivers of Beech Tree Associates.
Town Counsel,, H. Theodore Cohen, and Mr. Rivers attorney 0 . Bradley Latham
agreed to amend the document ' s date to read October 15th. Also brought
up for discussion was the gift of $120 ,000 to be used as relocation
money. Acting Executive Secretary, Anthony V. Fletcher , noted that the
Town Accountant , Richard Foley saw no legal ramifications with the
acceptance of this gift. Mr. Fletcher gave a very brief synopsis of
moving and renovation costs and then the discussion ended.
It was mentioned that Board Members were in the process of
checking on references of the applicants for the Town Manager ' s position.
Selectman Nigro reported that of the $5 ,000 requested to close
out the Fire account only $1 , 900 was used and the balance remaining will
be returned to the general fund .
Only small matters were reported to the Board by the Chief of
Police regarding Police business .
It was reported by Chairman Landers that the Board is now
receiving "water" complaints due to the illimination of the Board of
Public Works .
The Chairman also requested that the Agenda be published and
copies of the minutes of the meeting be sent to the library and to the
Town Clerk.
Acting Executive Secretary Fletcher reported that the first
meeting of the Community Planning & Development Commission is being
held tonight. He noted that it was an organizational meeting with only
one item of business on the agenda concerning Gallahue ' s land.
Under the next order of business a motion was made authorizing
Acting Executive Secretary Anthony V. Fletcher to sign for the Board of
------ Selectmen in accordance with the policy of yearly review of betterments
for sewer and water. The Board of Selectmen voted all in favor, 5 : 0 .
iMr. Fletcher noted that his position' s title was now Director of Public
Works .
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July 7 , 1986
Page 4
The Board signed the salary adjustments of 52% voted by the
Town Meeting for Leonard Redfern - Fire Chief , Richard Foley - Town
Accountant , and Anthony V. Fletcher - Director of Public Works .
With regard to the Town' s insurance Acting Executive Secretary
Fletcher reported that "the insurance is all set now" .
Acting Executive Secretary Fletcher requested that the Board
also consider setting up a committee to which they could delegate some
of the workload regarding rate hearings for water and sewer. He noted
that the State Law clearly states that either the Board of Selectmen
handle this or deligate by the formation of a committee.
For the next several minutes Jack Russell reflected on some
comments made to him about the Fourth of July. He requested the help
of the press in recruting ideas and support from the people in the Town
and various organizations in the hope of a possible celebration for
`Reading next year.
A report of progress from Mr. Fletcher was given regarding the
railroad crossing , future meetings with the MBIA, Arthur Gelb - President
of TASC , and appraisals on the John Street land . Fletcher assured the
Board that all appraisals will be in by August 15th. In addition he noted
that he has not heard a word from Hobart Development since the vote of
Town Meeting .
The moving of the cable dish was reviewed by the Board with
Acting Executive Secretary Fletcher . Various options regarding a site
location, a lease contract , costs , and shielding requirements were
discussed.
Acting Executive Secretary Fletcher also reported on a bank
account of $233 , 000 in trust for the building of a hospital in the Town
of Reading . Since the Town is not going to build the hospital , Town
Counsel H. Theodore Cohen is researching the legalities of a possible
;investment of the funds . It was noted by the Board of Selectmen.
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July 7 , 1986
Page 5
that a Hospital Trust Study Committee was formed to oversee the account ,
however , no report was ever made to the Board . It was suggested that
Chairman Landers try to contact the chairman of the committee.
As final points of information Acting Executive Secretary,
Anthony V. Fletcher stated that the Community Center will be emptied
as of July 15th and comments regarding the disposal of the "cemetery
house" on Pearl Street to be resolved.
A motion to ajourn the meeting of the Board of Selectmen
was made at 10 : 05 p .m. and voted in the affirmative , 5 : 0 .
Respectfully submitted ,
Secretary