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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-08-08 Board of Selectmen Minutes Meeting Notes August 8, 1983 Members Present: J. Russell, M. O;Brien, P. Dustin, M. Rosenthal and P. Landers. The Board voted to have the Chairman sign the Section 8 H.U.D. contract for the Reading Housing Authority. The Board asked the Executive Secretary to notify Mrs. Hartshorn of the next Board of Cemetery's meeting and send her a letter. .Mr. Dustin requested that Town Counsel be asked to see if the Selectmen or the Law Committee had the authority to sign the Murphy legal contract regarding Workman's Compensation. The Board acknowledged a reply from Governor Dukakis to their letter concerning binding arbitration and asked the Executive Secretary to reply stating that other groups such as the County Selectmen's Assoc. , Finance Committees Assoc. , School Committees, etc. should be represented on any working committee trying to resolve the problems. The Board voted approval of Insurance bills to be paid. The Board instructed the Executive Secretary to send a reply to the Executive Office of Transportation in which they requested comments on the F/Y'84 T.I.P. The Board asked the reply include the traffic lights at South and Main Sts. , Summer and. Main Sts. , the 1-93 interchange on Woburn St. , and the traffic lights in Reading Square. The Board met with Ronald Thompson, Traffic Engineer from Vanasse Hangen who explained the preliminary plans for a traffic light installation at South and Main Sts. Mr. Thompson explained part of the design delay was due to differences between the State and Federal Offices. The Board also listened to his comments regarding the proposed installation of lights at Summer and Main Sts. , and requested he prepare a proposal for them regarding this. He replied he would prepare three proposals, one under the Federal Plan, one if the Town did it themselves and one dovetailing it with the South St. installation. The Board requested that the D.P.W. update them on the progress of the John St. negotiations and T.A.S.C. The Board met with Brad Latham and a representative from Continental Wingate, a company that is proposing to build and run a one hundred and twenty-three bed nursing home with 3 levels of care. Mr. Latham explained that Hill Haven Associates, a subsidiary of National Medical Care, will manage the facility when it is built. He also stated they were planning a 20 patient day care center and also respite care. He anticipated the project to take 3 years to complete and they would be applying for their certificate of need the end of the month. A citizen, Mr. Raymond Baer of 1391 Main St. , stated he felt the proposed site should not be built on as it was land fill over a bog. The Board then met with the Town Treasurer, Town Accountant and Assessor Mr. Locke to discuss the new Cherry Sheet figures. Most of the discussion centered on the 2 disposition of anticipated "surplus" funds over anticipated funds and what to do with them. It was decided they should be used to replenish the Stabilization Fund. It was suggested that a Special Town Meeting be called to accomplish this and agreed on. Mrs. O'Brien moved to hold a Special Town Meeting on September 26, 1983 and open the warrant for this on September 6, 1983 at 9:00 A.M. and close the warrant the same day at 5:00 P.M. Mr. Rosenthal stated he felt this could be accomplished at the regular Fall Town Meeting and that it was a waste of money for the Special. Other Board members felt if they waited for the Fall Town Meeting the Town would be forced to borrow and the Finance Committee would not have enough time to set budget guidelines. The question was finally moved on a 5 - 0 vote. The vote on the question was 4 - 1 with Mr. Rosenthal dissenting. The Board granted permission to Timothy Kirwan of 48 Hanscom Ave. , to hold a block party on September 1, 1983 pending a Police Department and D.P.W. approval and with the provision the street is restored to its original condition. The Board held a brief discussion regarding the open meeting law and its application to current problems with the Board of Health meetings. The Board asked the Executive Secretary to provide them with the laws regarding the Selectmen's authority to investigate and have these at the next meeting. The Board acknowledged a letter from Allan Drachman regarding the proposed multi town legal actions concerning Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The Board posponed action regarding the Busy Bee Florist on North Main Street to the next meeting. The Board approved the July invoice from Allan Drachman. The Board approved a request from the Reading Boosters Club to hold their annual canvas on September 10, 1983. The Board voted to have the Chairman sign the interrogatories on the Pemsler Case. 8/15/83