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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-05-25 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting May 25,2010 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 Chairman Ben Tafoya, Vice Chairman James Bonazoli, Secretary Camille Anthony and Selectman Richard Schubert. Also in attendance were Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, Town Engineer George Zambouras, DPW Director Jeff Zager, and the following list of interested parties: Mark Warner. Reports and Comments Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Selectman Richard Schubert asked about the Aquatics Advisory Board information and correspondence included in the packet. The Town Manager indicated that in accordance with the agreement with the YMCA, the Aquatics Advisory Board will be eliminated within a couple of years anyway and in discussion with the Recreation Administrator, the YMCA, and confirmed by Selectman Camille Anthony, the sense was to eliminate the Aquatics Advisory Board now but have the YMCA aquatics staff meet with the Recreation Committee periodically. Selectman Camille Anthony noted that there were two applicants for the Aquatics Advisory Board and, hopefully, we will have some other areas of interest that they might volunteer for. She also indicated that the tree boosters program has begun. There are a number of trees in Downtown adopted for watering this summer, and the tree boosters need instructions from Town staff. Vice Chairman James Bonazoli noted that he attended the Economic Development Committee where they talked about: ♦ sign bylaw enforcement. (This will be discussed later this evening.) e the Passport to Reading which the Chamber of Commerce is printing, ♦ outreach to commercial property owners Mawn, and Lynch, and o South Main Street. Chairman Ben Tafoya noted that he attended the CPDC meeting regarding Oaktree and the sign bylaw. Oaktree has done a shadow study, improved articulation in the back of the building, placed trees in the parking lot, and discussed the need for the alleyway/sidewalk and two way traffic. They will discuss the issue of two way traffic with abutting property owner Hodson. The completion date is unknown but construction will begin in the spring, 2011. They should wrap up their local approval process in July of 2010. Chairman Tafoya recommended.asking the Historical Commission about a name for the alleyway, and asked whether we should make it. a public street. Vice Board of Selectmen Meeting=May 25, 2010—Page 2 Chairman James Bonazoli asked whether the process could be improved. Chairman Tafoya also noted that Stop & Shop is proposing to redesign their sign. Members of the Board asked about the Memorial Day Parade, and what time they should be at the American Legion. Selectman Richard Schubert suggested a Border Road site visit, and invited Selectman Camille Anthony to be involved in the process. Town Manager's Report The Town Manager gave the following report: Administrative Matters . ♦ Special Election re: Meals Tax—June 23rd ♦ Memorial Day Celebration ♦ MBTA Signs ♦ New Town Hall Hours to serve you better ♦ 128/193 Surveying ♦ Board of Selectmen appointment process Community Development ♦ Reading Fall Street Faire ♦ Non-Conforming Signs ♦ Beacon Court 40b ♦ Walkable Reading is placing "decorated" bicycles at the three Downtown bike rack locations (Town Hall, Simms and Walgreen's) ♦ Cedar Glen—has apparently been sold. Public Works ♦ Restoration of Annual Water Main Flushing Program- June 1 st ♦ Downtown Tree Booster Program — To adopt Downtown tree watering for the Summer of 2010 — 17 of 55 trees are adopted — staff has visited with all of the abutting Downtown property owners or merchants. Construction projects in progress or to be done this year(between now and June 30, 2010): ♦ Done - School Street, Lincoln Street, Sandra Lane, South Street — Main to Hopkins Street, Scotland Road - Landscape Contractor has installed loam and hydro seeded all areas. ♦ Paving in Progress - Bear Hill Road,North Street, Pinevale Avenue and Juniper Circle, binder has been installed, contractor is in progress of raising structures.to accept final wearing course. ♦ Micro-Chip Seal —Mid to late Spring - Hopkins Street (Main to Wakefield Town Line) and two to three other streets. ♦ Skim Coating of Local Streets - Lewis Street. ♦ Memorial Park- Basketball and tennis courts sub-base installed and graded. The Pine tree, to be removed, at the tennis court cannot be removed until August as red tail hawks are nesting. (A migratory bird protected under a federal program.) This will delay the completion of the tennis courts. Skating ponds have been shaped, sub-drains and stone sub-base have been installed. The liner is expected to be installed in approximately three weeks. In process of installing additional Board of Selectmen Meeting—May 25, 2010—Page 3 site drainage. Will start removing loam for pathways and installing electrical conduit. ♦ .Fishing Pier — Lobs Pound Mill — The contractor for the fishing platform has installed the additional parking spaces, and has poured the concrete pad for the bench near the river. He has not been on site for several weeks — probably waiting for the meadow near the river to get dry enough to install the walkway and platform and guardrail. He started just after the March floods when the meadow was under water. ♦ Trail Construction—Bare Meadow -Trails Committee installed the first section of the boardwalk in April and liked the concrete piers. We ordered enough for the rest of the boardwalk and a short section near Haverhill Street that is also wet. The route was staked out last weekend, and there will be additional work days on May 8th and 15th— hopefully, ending with completion of the boardwalks. Other trail-hardening was done last Fall with application of stone aggregate in. soft areas. We also need to install sign boards, blazes and directional information, and plant the meadow where it is eroding — to be done in June. Grant period ends June 30th, and we hope to meet that deadline. ♦ Memorial Park - Basketball and tennis courts demolished. Work underway for new tennis court. One drain line installed from Harrison Street to manhole between the two ponds so ponds can be reconfigured—old drain line is in the way and will be removed. Topsoil has been stripped from the lawn above the ponds where they are to be expanded. Topsoil is being stripped from the floors of the ponds and stockpiled separately. The north pond has been wet for the last few days, which may be limited progress there. I have not seen the south pond since it was stripped so do not know whether water is also present there: ♦ Washington Park Playground — Since the last update, the Friends of Washington Park have had two successful fundraisers — one at Christopher's Restaurant which made $900.00, and another at Fuddruckers which raised approximately $300.00. The playground has been ordered and the target installation range is June 15th — 30th. The construction of Washington Park Playground will take approximately three days, and will be located as advised in the WP Master Plan. The brick campaign continues. Thus far, we have sold approximately 40 bricks, and the goal is to sell 100. We will continue the initial brick campaign until late Summer, and then establish a patio and walkway using the bricks to lead to the playground. Proceeds of the brick campaign will allow for purchase of picnic tables and benches and other amenities. ♦ Killam School Playground—The Killam Playground has been advertised and we are in the midst of getting playground proposals from capable companies. The PTO has virtually accomplished its goal of raising $15K (about $1 K short). The Killam PTO will assist in selecting a final playground structure, and it will be located based on the Killam master plan. I hope to be able to award a contract in June, and have the playground installed around the beginning of August. This installation may be done as a supervised community build so the install date will not be clear until the contract is awarded. ♦ Master Plan for Joshua Eaton Playground - Completion late May. Board of Selectmen hearing -June 22nd. Board of Selectmen Meeting—May 25, 2010—Page 4 ♦ Barrows Site Master Plan - Process will begin in the Summer after Recreation staff have completed the JEMP, and gotten Summer activities started. Dates and Events: ♦ Friends and Family Day (aka Town Day), June 19th ♦ Election-June 23rd o Fail Street Faire- September 12th Public Comment—There was no public comment. Proclamations/Certificates of Appreciation Certificates of Appreciation — Water Emergency — The Town Manager noted that the Town of Reading along with many other communities in the Boston Metropolitan Area have gone through a "boil water" order when a MWRA water main ruptur ed. He commended the collaborative working relationships among all departments of the Town, and the Board of Selectmen awarded Certificates of Appreciation to the following: Health Division Elder Services Larry Ramdin Jean Delios Joan Vitale Marie Ammer Darlene Foley Ruth Boyd Dina McCarron Dawn Folopoulos Casey Mellin Diane Luther DPW Jeff Zager Mike DeBenedetto PaulLaFave Mike DeBrigard Peter Isbell Gary West Peter Tassi Matt Faucette William Lentine Jim Richardson Brian McFadden Jeff Cummings Bob Stark Bob Kennedy Arthur Menezes Fred MacKinnon Dave Chiaradonna Jonathan Reid Ron Laskey Mike Pulson Glen Dakata Thomas Zwicker Tom Doyle Mike Pontone Greg Odin Robert DeMarco Fire Department Chief Greg Burns Captain Kenneth Campbell Firefighter Dana Ballou Captain Philip Boisvert Firefighter David Roy Acting Captain Paul Jackson Firefighter Sean Devlin Lieutenant Richard Nelson Firefighter Brian Ryan Firefighter Stephen Pelrine Firefighter David Gentile Police Department Chief James Cormier Officer Keith Hurley Lt. Richard Robbins Officer Chris Voegelin Lt. David Stamatis Officer Derek Holmes Officer Matthew Edson Officer Anthony Caturello Officer Kevin Brown Dispatcher Victoria Avery Board of Selectmen Meeting—May 25, 2010-Page 5 Officer James Collins Dispatcher Debra Haynes Officer Robert MacHugh Dispatcher Susan Tapley School Department John Doherty Mary Delai Joe Huggins Kristin Morrello On motion by Schubert seconded by Bonazoli, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve Certificates of Appreciation for the Town employees who participated in the emergency response to the May 1-4,2010 water emergency by a vote of 4-0-0. Certificates of Achievement — Library — The Board of Selectmen presented Certificates of Achievement to Children's Librarian Corinne Fisher and Paraprofessional Allison Sloan. On motion by Anthony seconded by Schubert, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the Certificate of Achievement for.Corinne Fisher in honor of her being inducted in the Massachusetts Library Association Hall of Fame by a vote of.4-0-0. On motion by Anthony. seconded by Schubert, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the Certificate of Achievement for Allison Sloan for being named Paraprofessional of the Year by the Library Journal for her advocacy on behalf of Para-librarians working in Massachusetts Libraries by a vote of 4-0-0. Discussion/Action Items Granting of Easement — 767 MainStreet — The Town Manager introduced Town Engineer George Zambouras who reviewed the proposal as approved by Town Meeting for granting an easement to Craig M. Brandt and Jean Brandt for sewer easement over Town property at 767 Main Street. On motion by Anthony seconded by Schubert, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the sewer easement for Craig M. Brandt and Jean Brandt at 767 Main Street, as presented, by a vote of 4-0-0. The Selectmen signed the easement. Presentation of Draft Pavement Management Program — Town Engineer George. Zambouras presented the draft Pavement Management Program. Members of the Board of Selectmen had questions about whether West Street is included in the program (it is included); Belmont Street improvement in the Pavement Management Program (it is included even though this work will be done under the water capital project for the new water line); gas main trench repair on Pleasant Street, Eaton Street, and Smith/Pleasant/ Manning Streets. The resident from 37 Temple Street acted as a spokesperson for Temple Street. The residents on Temple Street feel that there had been a commitment to improve the street Board of Selectmen Meeting—May 25; 2010-Page 6 after the Parker Middle School project was done. This was not done because Town Meeting did not approve the funding. There are a lot of public facilities that use Temple Street as the sole access including Collins Field, Parker Middle School, delivery trucks, basketball, concerts, St. Agnes Church, Unitarian Universalist Church and various construction vehicles. They advocated for reconstruction of the street and placement of curbs and reconstruction of the sidewalk. Mark Warner of 7 Temple Street indicated that with no sidewalk on both sides of Temple Street at the Woburn Street end-, families were walking to church down the street. There was discussion about,when Temple Street could be improved. The Department of Public Works needs to check and see how many water services need to be replaced to make that determination. The Town Manager noted that this project should be a Summertime project — either the Summer of 2010 or the Summer of 2011. The Board members talked about different options to keep the costs as low as possible but fully accomplish the project. The indication from the majority of the Board was that they wanted to do a complete project. The Town Engineer will put together different options, and get information on the number of water services that need to be replaced. Review Rubbish Collection— Potential Extension of Existing Contracts — DPW Director Jeff Zager reviewed rubbish collection issues with the Board of Selectmen. Currently, the Department is looking at two possible extensions: (1) Along with the Town of Reading, Stoneham and Wakefield, we extend the disposal contract to June 30, 2015 which is a 3'/2 year extension for the Town of Reading. The terms appear to be favorable, and there is an advantage to doing this jointly on a regional basis with our neighbors. (2) Additionally, we, are looking at a proposal made by our current rubbish collection recycling contractor to extend the current contract which expires June 30, 2011 for another five years. The DPW is reviewing this proposal and pricing.yet with other vendors to see whether it is advantageous. They should have that process completed in two to three weeks. Enforcement of Sign Bylaw—The Board added this item to the Agenda to follow up on the concerns raised by the Economic Development Committee. The Town Manager reviewed the process that is currently in place with regard to enforcement of the signed portions of the Zoning By-Law. This bylaw requires compliance by all parties by July 1, 2010, and businesses have been given over 15 years to achieve full, compliance recognizing the need for amortization of non-conforming signs. The Town Manager agreed to put together a program and present it to the Board of Selectmen at their next meeting on moving forward with the enforcement process. This Board of Selectmen Meeting=May 25 2010—Page 7 will include completing inventory, categorizing the inventory of violations by type of violation, clarifying with people who have already got enforcement letters (20 businesses), those situations where the CPDC is considering changes to the bylaw that would create conformity out of existing non-compliance, and ensuring accuracy of the information. Selectman Camille Anthony requested that the Minutes of the ad hoc Municipal Building Committee be distributed to all members of the Board of Selectmen as they are approved. On motion by Anthony seconded by Schubert, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn the meeting of May 25,2010 at 10:45 p.m. by a vote of 4-0-0. Respectfully submitted, S Secretary