HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-10-22 Bylaw Committee Minutes601,
BYLAW COMMITTEE MINUTES #260
October 22, 2001
7:35 p.m. Meeting called to order in the Berger Room in Town Hail:, J
A 88:
Members present: Phil Pacino, Jack Russell, George Theophanis, Nate White and Dolores
Carroll.
Guests present: Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Planner Ann Kreig, C.P.D.C
member Richard Howard, Conservation Administrator Fran Fink, Health Services
Administrator Jane Fiore, Chairman Community Preservation Act Study Committee Paul
Dustin, all present to review articles for the November 13, 2001 Subsequent Town Meeting.
Article 9: Paul Dustin reviewed the Community Preservation Act which establishes a fund by a
placing a surcharge on local property taxes. Proceeds are earmarked for affordable housing,
historic preservation and open space. The first $100,000 of property value is exempt from the
surcharge.
Following a brief discussion, on motion of George Theophanis, seconded by Jack Russell, the
Committee voted to recommend Article 9 by a vote of 4-1-0.
Article 21: This is an amendment to both language and map for the flood plain district so that it
coincides with the FEMA maps and establish consistency for development in the flood plain
area.
The following changes were recommended to Section. 4.4A.1:
Insert "and" after "District" (2id line), insert a "period" after "Massachusetts" and
delete "in Essex County".
On motion of Jack Russell, seconded by Dolores Carroll, the Committee voted to recommend
Article 21, as amended, by a vote of 5-0-0.
Article 22: This amendment to the Aquifer Protection District replaces existing language,
modifies the map and reduces as-of-right allowance of 15 % lot coverage. Twenty percent is
allowed if proper storm water treatment is provided, which is beneficial to contractors.
Philip suggested deleting Section 4.8.8 as it duplicates Section 8.3 of the Zoning Bylaws.
On motion of George Theophanis, seconded by Jack Russell, the Committee voted to
recommend Article 22, as amended, by a vote of 5-0-0.
Article 14: This amendment changes the time allowed for cleaning and removal of dangerous
litter from abandoned commercial and private property to five (5) days, following receipt of
written notice from the Board of Health.
On motion of Jack Russell, seconded by Nate White, the Committee voted to recommend
Article 14 by a vote of 5-0-0.
Article 23: Frank Fink, Conservation Administrator, reviewed amendments proposed to clarify
and amend the Wetlands Protection Bylaw to coincide with the Wetlands Protection Act.
Philip recommended that Article 23 be presented to Town Meeting as two separate motions.
The first to adopt language changes and the second to adopt the revolving fund. George
recommended grammatical and punctuation changes.
On motion of Jack Russell, seconded by George Theophanis, the Committee voted to
recommend Article 23, as amended, by a vote of 5-0-0.
Article 8: This article amends fees charged for various services. Following a survey of twelve
surrounding communities, it was found that Reading fees were among the lowest, thus the
amendment.
On motion of Jack Russell, seconded by Dolores Carroll, the Committee voted to recommend
this article by a vote of 5-0-0.
Article 10: This amendment to Section 2.3 of the Reading Charter, would, in the event of a
write-in tie vote for a vacant Town Meeting member, allow the remaining members of the
precinct vote for the member. It was recommended that the "s" be deleted from "terms" at the
end of the paragraph.
On motion of Jack Russell, seconded by George Theophanis, the Committee voted to
recommend Article 10, as amended, by a vote of 5-0-0.
Article 11: This amendment to Section 8-10 (b) of the Reading Home Rule Charter requires all
boards, committees and commissions to deposit Minutes of their meetings in both the Reading
Public Library and the Town Clerk's Office.
A recommendation was made to replace the word "paragraph" with "sentence" in the second
and last line of the paragraph.
On motion of Jack Russell, seconded by Nate White, it was voted to recommend Article 11, as
amended, by a vote of 5-0-0.
Article 12: This amendment to the "Rules Committee" section of the Reading Home Rule
Charter establishes the Moderator as the permanent non-voting Chairman of the Committee.
The Committee voted not to recommend Article 12 by a vote of 5-0-0 as this matter has
already been addressed in the Bylaws.
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Article 13: Recommendation of Article 13 removes the Police Chief's position from Civil
Service. to implement a more effective hiring process.
On motion of Nate White, seconded by Jack Russell, it was voted to remove the Police Chief's
position from the Civil Service process by a vote of 5-0-0.
Minutes #257 were read and accepted, as amended, by a vote of 5-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Submitted by,
so-~
Dolores S. Carroll, Clerk
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