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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-09-12 Board of Selectmen Minutes Meeting Notes September 12, 1983 Members Present: J. Russell, M. O'Brien, P. Dustin, M. Rosenthal and P. Landers. The Board met with the Cemetery Board of Trustees in Joint Session to fill a vacancy on the Board of .Cemetery Trustees. All Cemetery Trustees were present with the exception of Mr. Gent. The Boards interviewed two candidates; Virginia Hartshorn and James Sullivan. After the interview, Ben Nichols spoke in favor of Mrs. Hartshorn. The Boards then discussed the candidates and after the discussion voted to appoint Mr. Sullivan by a vote of 9 - 0. The Board of Selectmen came out of the Joint Session and started their regular session by interviewing John E. Walsh who applied for an Auctioneer's License. After the interview the Board voted to grant Mr. Walsh the license provided he sign the new State form stating he did not owe any State or local taxes. The Board then met with Joseph Schlotman of the Fred James Co. and Henry Murphy of Murphy & Beane and Ted Cohen to discuss insurance problems especially those relating to the self-insured Workman's Compensation program. The Selectmen expressed their concerns over the fact that the Murphy & Beane contract did not cover legal expenses incurred if there was an appeal from the Industrial Accident Board and that Murphy & Beane would charge an additional cost of $85.00 per hour on these appeals. After further discussion Mr. Schlotman agreed to find out what the cost would be on a limited liability insurance to cover the legal fees in such an occurrence. Mr. Cohen also again stated in his opinion the Murphy & Beane contract must be approved by the Law Committee. Mrs. O'Brien stated she would work with Mr. Schlotman on the limited policy and also requested a step by step outline of how the Workmen's Compensation cases were to be handled. The Board requested that they meet with the Commissioners of Trust Funds to discuss having the Commissioners handle the Workman's Compensation as a separate fund. and that this meeting be held at their next meeting to allow time if a special article is needed for the Fall Town Meeting. The Executive Secretary reported that he had checked with the Building Superintendent, Mr. Darby, and that the antenna requested by Motorola and I.B.M. could be mounted on an air shaft on the Community Center Roof. He also stated he had checked with John Pineau and received an answer that the antenna would not interfere with the Civil Defense Repeater also located there. Mr. Rosenthal then moved that the Town approve Motorola and I.B.M. 's request to place an antenna on the Community Center Roof subject to negotiations for rent and that the applicants carry insurance saving the Town harmless from liability resulting from the antenna. The Board then met with Carl Berger, the attorney representing the Busy Bee Florist on North Main St. Mr. Berger asked the Board if they would either withdraw their Court injunction and let the Zoning Board of Appeals findings stand or enter into a degree of judgement in which both parties agreed to a list of conditions under which, the Busy Bee could operate. Mr. Rosenthal stated that if a degree of judgement was voted for he would like the list of conditions that Mrs. O'Brien had presented to Town Meeting be the conditions used. Mr. Cohen cautioned that conditions could not be limited to one owner. After more discussion Mr. Dustin moved that the Selectmen 2 enter into negotiations for a degree of judgement in the Busy Bee case. Mrs. O'Brien seconded and it was so voted. Mrs. O'Brien stated she would work with Mr. Cohen on this. Mr. Dustin then asked Town Counsel if he would make a list of conditions which the Selectmen were limited to under the terms of their agreement with the Boston & Maine on the railway Depot so that the Board would know what they can and can not do regarding sale/or lease of the Depot. The Board then requested the Executive Secretary to hold off sending his letter to the M.B.T.A. requesting rent for space used by the M.B.T.A. until Mr. Cohen responds. The Board then met with Chief Redfern to consider his request to hire a new firefighter. A lengthy discussion followed. Mrs. O'Brien stated she felt this was increasing the number of men agreed upon while the Chief stated he felt it was replacing an existing person. Finally Mr. Dustin moved that the Selectmen approve the hiring of the firefighter. It was so voted 4 - 1 with Mrs. O'Brien dissenting. The Board voted to have the Chairman sign a Federal Grant application for partial funding of the Council on Aging's Friendly Visitor Program. The Board acknowledged a letter from the Planning Board regarding a public hearing on Hazardous Waste. . The Board acknowledged a letter from Eugene Sullivan of the M.B.T.A. in which Mr. Sullivan expressed his concerns over the Board's lack of response regarding the Woburn Street Crossing. The Board asked the Executive Secretary to invite Mr. Sullivan and a representative from the Boston & Maine to meet with them in October to disucss the matter and let Mr. Sullivan be aware of the M.B.T.A. ts lack of response to the Selectmen's efforts to meet with the M.B.T.A. Board of Directors. The Board voted to approve the Municipal Light Department's request to light the newly paved Union Street parking lot. The Board acknowledged a letter from the M.D.C. to appoint a Town representative to their Citizens Advisory Board and requested the Executive Secretary forward this to the D.P.W. requesting their recommendation for the appointment. The Board acknowledged a memo from the Town Accountant to the Finance Conmâ–ºittee regarding a large estimated increase in the Town's pension obligations. The Board approved a request from the Historical Committee to have the Tercentennial sign relocated from Route 28 to the Reading Common. The Board approved a bill from Allan Drachman for services during the month of August. The Board acknowledged a letter from Continental Cablevision in which they stated they had increased the duties of their program director from part time to full time. As a result of this the Board requested the Executive Secretary to postpone the scheduled meeting with Continental and the Cable T.V. Committee to October. In response to a memo from the Finance Committee Mr. Russell asked all Board members and the Executive Secretary to be prepared to discuss any amendments they may wish to make to the Town's Capital Improvement Plan.