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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-30 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting March 30,2010 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 Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Secretary Camille Anthony, Selectmen Stephen Goldy and Richard Schubert, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, Town Engineer George Zambouras, and the following list of interested parties: Mary Ellen O'Neill, David Mancuso. On motion by Goldy seconded by Schubert, the Board of Selectmen voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to labor negotiations to come back into Open Session at approximately 7:30 p.m. On a roll call vote, all three members voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. The Board reconvened in Open Session at 7:30 P.M. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Selectman Stephen Goldy noted that today was his daughter Annabelle's fourth birthday and his daughter Elaina's birthday is tomorrow. He wished them a happy birthday. He noted that he and the Town Manager attended a first anniversary celebration at the Swiss Baker a couple of weeks ago. Swiss Baker had asked whether members of the Board of Selectmen would like to arrange for a time once a month to be at the Swiss Baker and meet commuters. The consensus from the Selectmen present was that they would like to do this, and Selectman Goldy will follow up on this matter. He also noted that the Reading Community Singers is having a concert on May 1 st at the Parker Middle School celebrating their 90th Anniversary. Finally, he noted that last Friday night he and several of the Selectmen attended the RCTV "launch" of their new facility on Main Street. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that the Town Forest Committee received a stewardship grant and a meeting has been held to hire a consultant. The staff will be finishing that process and the consultant's work needs to be done by June 3, 2010. She also noted that she has a candidate for the Aquatics Committee position. The Town Manager noted that he will have to confirm with the YMCA that an Aquatics Committee does in fact continue to exist. Selectman Anthony further noted that there is material in the Selectmen's packet regarding an event sponsored by Making Reading Better regarding ticks. David Mancuso was present from Making Reading Better and asked whether the Board would sponsor the event. Mary Ellen O'Neill asked if they would be recommending additional spraying in places like the Town Forest, and Mr. Mancuso indicated that the presenter would not be making such recommendations. On motion by Goldy seconded by Schubert, the Board of Selectmen voted to support sponsorship of the"Stay Safe in the Back-yard Program" by a vote of 3-0-0. Board of Selectmen Meeting`March 30, 2010—Page 2 Town Manner's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: ♦ The President has declared portions of MA including Middlesex County as a disaster area for individual assistance. The names of those who had damage to their homes and have reported it to the Town will be sent to FEMA. The'attached Press Release has the contact information for FEMA, and this document is also on the Town's web site. ♦ As is the case for much of the region, our primary thoughts and focus are on weather related issues. ♦ Election Tuesday ♦ Coolidge Science Olympiad team has won the State title once again. m Update re: Mattera Cabin e Election,for Voke School ♦ There will be a ground breaking ceremony for Memorial Park on April 22nd at 3:30 p.m. ♦ There will be a dedication of the new Tennis Courts in April. The tennis courts are now open, and the lights on Bancroft Avenue are on. ♦ The Spring guide for recreation activities in Reading will be out by the end of next week. ♦ Closing on property at Sumner Cheney Place — Funds will be deposited in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. ♦ The Chocolate Truffle was on TV today — Marshmallow Peanut Butter Cup as the snack of the day will be airing Tuesday,March 30,2010 9:00 on WBZ. ♦ The Compost Center opens Friday,April 2nd. ♦ The Household Hazardous Waste Collection will be in Reading on May 22nd. There is also a Fall collection in Wakefield. ♦ Update on: o Double Pole elimination. o Cell Tower proposal at Prescott near Lincoln o Tree watering and survival o Causeway Road site visit—March 26th. Board of Selectmen liaison o Board of Selectmen site visit re: sidewalk dining — Venetian Moon (see email from Town Engineer re: HC ramps) ♦ The Board asked the Town Manager to follow up on whether or not the tennis courts were lighted even in weather like. this — Town Engineer George Zambouras will check on that. .Also to see if we can get an additional tree planted at the intersection of Chute and High Streets on the private property there. ♦ The Board also asked that if the Venetian Moon was to proceed with sidewalk dining, then can we move the historic marker that would be in the dining area out into the more public area of the sidewalk. Assistant Town Manager's Report The Assistant Town Manager gave the following report: • The Town is slated to receive about$25,000 in reimbursements from the State for the two special senate elections held last winter. Thanks to Rep. Jones for filing an amendment earlier today after this reimbursement was omitted from an earlier version of the budget. Board of Selectmen Meeting=March 30, 2010—Page 3 • Ethics deadline for Boards, Committees and Commission members is.early April. Please contact the Town Clerk if you have any questions. • The FYI FINCOM budget will be on the website next week. This goes to Town Meeting later in April. Discussion/Action Items Follow Up on Mt. Vernon Street Parking — The Parking Enforcement Officer reports that there have been no parking problems on Mt. Vernon Street in the area where parking restrictions were previously put in place. This restriction seems to be working very well. Review Bollards Town Engineer George Zambouras reviewed the bollards and light damage during the Winter. Two bollards, one at the northeast corner of the intersection of Salem and Main Streets and one at the southeast corner of Salem and Main Streets were damaged. The one at the southwest corner of Salem and Main Streets was a hit and run. The Town has information on the driver at the other corner. The Town is in the process of filing an insurance claim with the known driver, and the Board concurred that the Town would not replace either bollard we would use the insurance proceeds to remove the bollard pieces at the northeast corner, and we will retain the remainder of the insurance settlement for other improvements Downtown. The Town Engineer indicated that there had been damage to four street lighting fixtures.but the reason was unknown. The fixtures are not marked or scuffed but speculation is that during Winter,snow plowing, a piece of equipment may have hit the pole and created a vibration in the light that broke the light fixture. Replacement.light fixtures are on order and the delivery time is 8-10 weeks. As soon as they are delivered, those units will be replaced. More particular attention will be paid by Town staff and contractors to avoid this problem in the future. The Town will be stocking additional spare parts for these lighting fixtures. Members of the Board. noted that some of the bases need to be painted, and the Town.Engineer will review this and get this work done. Dogs in Parks — The Town Manager reviewed research from the Town of Brookline, Massachusetts and the Town of Encinitas, California with regard to programs they have to allow dogs to run at large in parks. The Board was interested in pursuing such a program in Reading. The Town Manager will summarize information on the Brookline program. It was a suggestion that, in both the communities cited, the success of the program was because of a robust and active citizen's group. The Board will talk to some individuals and see if such a citizens group can be formed in Reading to help carry out a pilot program. The Town Manager did note that the Animal Control Bylaw does not allow dogs to run at large in parks and that both the Parks, Cemetery and Forestry Supervisor and the Recreation Administrator are not in favor of having dogs at large in parks. Review Junk and Precious Metal Policy — The Town Manager presented the draft policy. The consensus of the Board of Selectmen was not to move forward with the policy and, in fact, to move to rescind the existing bylaw at the Subsequent Town Meeting in the Fall. It's too late for this matter to be on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Board of Selectmen Meeting—March 30, 2010—Page 4 There being no further business, on motion by Schubert seconded by Goldy, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn the meeting of March 30,2010 at 9:10 p.m. by a vote of 3-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Secretary Board of Selectmen Meeting Executive Session March 30, 2010 The meeting convened at 7:05 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Secretary Camille Anthony, Selectmen Stephen Goldy and Richard Schubert, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur. Labor Negotiations The Town Manager reviewed the proposed FY 2011 contract between the Town of Reading and the Engineer's Union. He noted that one of the elements was a side letter guaranteeing no layoffs for two years unless there is a change in State aid. He also noted that one of the options if it becomes necessary would be to shift one of the positions in the Engineering Division to the Storm Water Management System as it was recommend for FY 2011 anyway, and also there is an expectation that there may be a retirement among the members of the Bargaining Unit during the next two years. On motion by Schubert seconded by Goldy, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the contract for FY 2011 between the Town of Reading and the AFSCME Engineer's Union, and to authorize the Town Manager to sin the contract on the Town's behalf. On .a roll call vote all three members voted in the.affirmative and the motion was carried. There was further discussion about the remaining negotiations and particularly the Fire Fighters' request for a change in the 111 F language regarding cancer presumption. On motion by Goldy seconded by Schubert, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn the Executive Session of March 30 2010 at 7:26 p.m. on a roll call vote with all three members voting in the affirmative. Respectfully submitted, Secretary