HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-07-27 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
July 27, 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 Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman James Bonazoli, Vice Chairman Camille
Anthony, Selectmen Stephen Goldy and Ben Tafoya, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner,
Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, Police Chief Jim Cormier, Town
Planner Jean Delios, Office Manager Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties:
Matt Casey, Meghan Young, Bill Brown, David Mancuso, Chai Bhat, Sheila Clarke, Police
Officer R. W. Robbins, Tony D'Arezzo, Stephen Crook, David Tuttle, Debbie Shontz Stackpole,
Bobbie Botticelli, Mary Ann Quinn, Patricia Dababneh, Michael Palmer.
Reports and Comments
Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Selectman Stephen Goldy congratulated Friends
of Reading Recreation who sponsored the road race. He noted that the deadline for vendors for
the Fall Street Faire is August 1st. He also noted that he requested a sign at the intersection of
Woburn Street and Route 28 that stated"pull forward here to stop" and no action has been taken.
He indicated that the lack of signage is preventing traffic movement because the signal is not
being tripped. He stated that there is an electronic billboard in Stoneham and Medford. Medford
received $100,000 and if the study that the State is conducting proves that they are safe, Medford
will receive another $400,000. He noted that the Town of Reading has town owned land that is
not residential and could be used the same way to raise revenues.
Public Comment - Chai Bhat, of 15 Tennyson Circle noted that two bands were playing at the
High School on Saturday morning starting at 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. He also noted that they
are very noisy and only 50 feet from his house. He indicated that they had a permit from the
Town, and he is asking the Town to enforce State law after 7:00 p.m. during the week and not on
weekends. He noted that he will get a court order if necessary.
Chairman James Bonazoli noted that the area was rented out to four bands for band competition,
and the Town does not have a noise ordinance to enforce. The Selectmen requested a copy of
the permit from the School, and suggested limiting activity to just Reading's band.
Meaghan Tafoya noted that some of the sign bylaw nonconformities are easy to fix, but they
need to be evaluated with due diligence. She also noted that it will cost anywhere from $600 to
$10,000 to correct some of the signs, and there needs to be reasonable cost corrections.
Town Manager's Report
The Town Manager gave the following report:
Board of Selectmen Meeting=July 27,2010—Page 2
Administrative Matters
o I have been appointed as the MMA's representative to the Massachusetts Open Meeting
Law Advisory Commission. I will serve with the chairs of the House and Senate Joint
Municipal Affairs Committee or their designee(s), the Attorney General or her designee,
and a representative of the newspaper association.
Volunteers are still needed—ZBA, CPDC, Conservation Commission.
♦ Liquor Licenses—issue with ABCC.
s There is a new media outlet in Reading—reading.patch.com. This will be going live on
July 30th and is an electronic"newspaper" owned by AOL.
Community Development
o Calareso's is under contract to purchase the Tambone properties on South Main Street,
and move their business there. They have filed preliminary paperwork, and the staff held
an expedited DRT review.
A new Bakery and Coffee shop is proposed for the Haven Junction building —
SammyJo's Bakery and Cafe.
o Sam's Bistro is now open for business.
o Grumpy.Doyle's is expected to be open by about September 1 st.
♦ O'Yes Steakhouse on Walkers Brook.Drive (formerly Bear Rock Cafe) - Occupancy
expected in the next few weeks.
Expansion of Peter Sanborn Place.- Financing packet for Town comment.
Public Safety
♦ RAD Classes beginning in August—Contact Sgt. David Clark at the RPD 781-942-6752.
♦ Bids have been received and awarded for the new ambulance.
♦ Through the efforts of a lot of staff, headed by Fire Chief Greg Burns, the Town has
received FEMA reimbursement in the amount of$56,555.34 for the March rain storm.
o A local veterinarian has donated three animal oxygen masks to the Fire Department. A
large and medium mask for dogs and a small mask for cats. They can be reused.
♦ The Suggested Routes to School Program for sidewalk and curb installation - Surveyors
are getting ready to work. We will do community outreach to let abutters know what is
proposed — On Washington between Woburn and Prescott; Sunnyside from Prescott to
Fairview. The curb work at Temple and Woburn is already being constructed as part of
the Town's Temple Street project.
Public Works
♦ Pavement Management Program for 2011 through 2013 is attached and will be put on the
Town web site.
♦ RR grade crossing-Traversable medians.
o DPW has installed the "Big Belly" trash compactor and recycling bin in Downtown —
outside the Town alleyway.
Construction Projects in progress or to be done this year:
♦ Road Improvements—Temple Street and Harrison.Street are under construction.
♦ Curb and Sidewalk — Bancroft at Woburn — HC access; Washington Park frontage on
Washington Street; small piece of curb on Morgan Park Drive related to drainage; Rotary .
Square—for bike rack area.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—July 27,2010—Page 3
♦ Memorial Park - Good progress. Reading Co-Op Bank will be donating all of the
remaining trees for the Memorial Park project as a result of their drive to go paperless
with bank statements.
® Killam School Playground—Construction in mid-August.
♦ Killam School Parking Lot- Improvements are under construction.
Barrows Site Master Plan - Process will begin in the Summer after recreation staff have
completed the JEMP, and gotten Summer activities started.
♦ Sewer Construction - Bids for the California Road sewer came in very low - $56,000 vs.
$90,000 estimate.
Fishing Platform - Lobs Mill fishing access project completed.
Dates.and Events:
♦ Fall Street Faire - September 12th.
o RCASA Annual Meeting — September 30th — 7:00 p.m. — joint posted meeting with
RCASA, School Committee and Board of Health
Assistant Town Manager's Report — Bob LeLacheur noted that there is a State Primary on
September 14, 2010, and August 25th is the deadline to register for that Election.
Proclamations/Certificates of Appreciation
Certificate of Recognition — 25th Anniversary for Christopher's Restaurant — A motion by
Tafoya seconded by Goldy to approve the Certificate of Recognition for Christopher's
Restaurant's 25th Anniversary was approved by a vote of 4-0-0.
Discussion/Action Items
Field Review Sign Enforcement and Signs not in Conformance — Site Visit -. Chairman James
Bonazoli noted that the Selectmen did a site visit on sign bylaw-nonconformities. This needs to
be put on an upcoming agenda, and schedule a joint meeting with CPDC and the Economic
Development Committee.
The Town Manager noted that the properties in the residential zone need to meet Business B
Zoning District guidelines; i.e., medical buildings,funeral homes, etc. CPDC is looking at these
and will potentially bring this to Town Meeting in the Fall. Side yard setbacks are also an issue.
He suggests sending letters out to get people into conformity rather than have 100 people come
in all at once.
Selectman Ben Tafoya noted that he wants to see a pared down list before enforcement begins
because the process is different depending on what part of Town they are in. He also noted that
there are issues with some signs that were put up in the past few years, and asked if there is a
way to prevent that. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony noted that supposedly the signs met the
specifications but in actuality they did not.
The Town Manager noted that he will put together a list of Business A, Business B and
residential free standing signs nonconformities, and will hold the enforcement letters until the
Selectmen get the list.
Board of Selectmen Meeting_—July 27, 2010—Page 4
Review Information — Request for Parking Regulations — Hopkins Street— The Town Manager
noted that the Selectmen asked for additional information and in the packet is a letter dated July
14th' regarding no parking on one side of the street, a memo from Fire Chief Greg Burns
regarding fire access, an email from the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, and a letter dated
July 22nd from Police Chief Jim Cormier.
Chairman James Bonazoli indicated that he went there on June 13th and drove down Hopkins
Street. He noted that you cannot enter the parking lot from Hopkins Street and there needs to be
better signage. He also noted that the driveway is narrow and he agrees with the quick action for
no parking on the north side. The Town Manager noted that the no parking is temporary until
the Selectmen approve it.
Michael Palmer, owner of Sam's Bistro, noted that parking is available.at Meineke after hours.
He has talked to the owners of the brick office building across the street, and the wife wants to
sell the property but the husband doesn't. He has also spoken to the owners of the property to
the south about renting and then buying, and now they are not talking at all. He feels that no
parking on one side of Hopkins Street makes sense.
Patricia Dababneh of 113 Hopkins Street noted that the owner was quoted that he was providing
8-10 employee parking spaces on site. She also noted that the neighborhood is residentially
zoned. Employees are parking on the street—one ran out of gas then dumped trash on the street,
and some are changing their clothes on the street.
Chairman James Bonazoli asked Ms. .Dababneh if she is pleased with the new restrictions and
she indicated that it is better. Chairman Bonazoli also asked if the new restrictions have
alleviated her concerns regarding backing out of her driveway, and Ms. Dababneh indicated that
it has not and that she would prefer no parking on her side. She noted that employees are
parking there all day — if it were overflow, that would be different. Chairman Bonazoli noted
that there are concerns about people crossing Main Street and Hopkins Street.
Police Chief Jim Cormier noted that all comments have a certain amount of validity, and the
temporary regulations help reduce the hazard. He recommends keeping people on the same side
as the restaurant because if you move the parking on the other side, then people will be making
U-Turns. He does recommend regulating the parking spot between Ms. Dababneh's driveway at
113 Hopkins Street and 119 Hopkins Street.
Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked Mr. Palmer about the issue of employee parking that
doesn't turn over. Mr. Palmer noted that staff starts working before Meineke closes. Chairman
James Bonazoli asked how many employees does he have, and Mr. Palmer indicated that he has
15, and that he has been overstaffing for the opening.
The Board directed the Town Manager to schedule a hearing for August 10th for no parking on
the north side of Hopkins Street and to include the spot between the two driveways. The Town
Manager noted that he will notify the abutters up to Cedar Street and 300 feet of Fairmont Road.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—July 27, 2010—Page 5
Ms. Dababneh requested "no parking here to corner for one spot to the right of the Sam's
Bistro's driveway, and Selectman Ben Tafoya suggested not putting that restriction in the
hearing notice.
Town Planner Jean Delios noted that it was CPDC's decision to exit only onto Hopkins Street
instead of two way because the driveway is not wide enough. Vice Chairman Camille Anthony
asked if everyone could exit onto Main Street, and Chief Cormier indicated that they cannot
because there is no left turn allowed onto Main Street.
Selectman Ben Tafoya encouraged the owner of Sam's Bistro to continue to work with the
abutters with the help of the Town Manager and Town Planner.
Chairman James Bonazoli suggested that the Selectmen visit the site before the hearing. Mr.
Palmer indicated that Friday night is the busiest.
Progress Report on Goals—The Town Manager reviewed the progress on goals.
Vice Chairman Camille Anthony noted that the Board needs an update on #22 — implementing
the priority Downtown parking action items. She asked about the Green Communities and asked
if the RMLD was delaying this. The Town Manager noted that legislation needs to be changed
to allow municipal light companies. Vice Chairman Anthony suggested that contacting the
MMA should be the action item for this. The Town Manager noted that comments from other
Municipal Light Departments are needed first because MMA will not support just for one light
department.
Selectman Stephen Goldy noted that the Water Treatment Plant field is an asset, and requests
that this be put on a future agenda for Selectmen discussion.
Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked about health insurance cost, and the Assistant Town
Manager noted that this is on the agenda in January. Selectman Ben Tafoya indicated that he
would like a summary covering the past 5-10 years showing the number of people insured for
both active and retirees, and the increase in premiums showing the number of people versus the
increase in cost. Vice Chairman Anthony indicated that she does not want to wait until January
for that discussion.
Review Customer Service Survey Results—The Town Manager noted that there were 99 surveys
in the second quarter. They are generally very positive results, and one poor regarding the
reverse 911 not notifying of the water emergency.
Vice Chairman Camille Anthony asked who the surveys go to, and the Town Manager noted that
they are available at all counters, online and the DPW did a mailing. Vice Chairman Anthony
suggested doing a different survey for businesses. The consensus of the Selectmen was to get
comments on more complex services in Community Services from the business community. The
Town Manager noted that a focus group would be needed for a survey on more complex
services.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—July 27, 2010—Page 6
David Mancuso from Making Reading Better asked about accountability at the employee level,
and asked what happens when there is an issue. He noted that Boards, Committees and
Commissions deal with complex services.
Bobbie Botticelli indicated that there should be surveys available for people who attend Boards,
Committees and Commissions meetings.
A motion by Anthony seconded by Tafoya to adjourn the meetiniz of July 27,2010 at 10:00
p.m.was approved by a vote of 4-0-0.
Respectfully submitted
Secretary