HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-10-26 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
October 26, 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, Secretary Richard Schubert, Selectmen Stephen Goldy and Ben Tafoya, Town
Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur,
Town Engineer George Zambouras, Office Manager Paula Schena and the following list of
interested parties: Bill Brown, Stephen Chapman, Joseph Curto, Robert Nordstrand, Ralph
Colorusso, Fred McGrane, Bill Boatwright, Pat Sullivan.
Reports and Comments
Selectmen's Liaison Reports and Comments — Selectman Ben Tafoya noted that he attended the
Memorial Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and thanked the Burbank Family, the Reading Co-
Operative Bank and Friends of Reading Recreation for their generosity. He also noted that he
observed a discussion with Pulte Homes and residents — it was a very good discussion, and they
discussed parallel parking instead of head in for vehicles facing Curtis Street residents. He stated
that the Economic Development Summit was postponed until November 9, 2010.
Selectman Richard Schubert noted that he attended a reception for the historic inventory with the
Town Manager and it was a nice presentation.
Chairman James Bonazoli noted that the Federal Government is looking to get involved in doing
work on Route 93 North of Reading.
Selectman Stephen Goldy noted that he attended the Memorial Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
He also presented the Town Manager with a petition from Whittier Road, Tennyson Road and
Wadsworth Road to have their roads paved. He requested that this be put on a future agenda.
Vice Chairman Camille Anthony noted that she read an article about. a group in Beverly and
Salem trying to recycle bottles out of the public areas, and Selectman Ben Tafoya noted that this
would be a great scouting project. Vice Chairman Anthony also noted that there are eight double
poles on Franklin Street from Main Street to Haverhill Street.
Chairman James Bonazoli noted that he received correspondence regarding how we do health
inspections, and indicated that it would be helpful to know that information at the Economic
Development Summit.
Public Comment-Bill Brown had questions regarding the new municipal sign in the parking lot.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—October 26, 2010—Page 2
Town Manager's Report
The Town Manager gave the following report:
o Help Wanted—RMLD CAB member.
o Library Project = OPM hired, Architect selected, ad hoc Library Building Committee
established.
o Election - November 2nd. The deadline for applying for absentee ballots is'noontime
November 1 st, and the Town Clerk will accept ballots up until close of Election Day.
o There are a number of ballot questions on the November 2nd ballot including.Question 3
which would reduce the Sales Tax to 3%. The impact of this question would be to reduce
State revenues, an estimated $1 billion in the second half of this fiscal year (starting
January 1, 2011), and would reduce revenues an estimated $2.5 billion in FY 2012. If
these reductions were done evenly across the board for State discretionary budget
accounts, the estimated reduction to the Town of Reading would be almost $1.5 million
in FY 2012, in addition to any other reductions that may be required to balance the State
Budget.
Community Development
o The latest business to open in Reading is Embellish Hair Salon at 580 Main Street.
Welcome to this new Downtown business.
o The Wine Bunker is under construction. We had to require the owner to make some
modifications to the plan presented to the Community Services for permits because they
had exceeded the Board of Selectmen maximum allowed retail space by over 10%.
o RCASA students will be doing surveys on tobacco products in the community. We
received a grant for this work.
Public Safety
o The Town has purchased a new Mass Communication Program. We are set to begin the
set-up and once that is completed, we will be rolling out public information on the system
including the "opt in"features.
Public Works
o Recycling and Rubbish — Regular enforcement starts the week of November 1st — all
regulations need to be complied with.
o Curbside Leaf Collection will be conducted the weeks of November lst, November 15th
and November 29th, and two Spring collection dates to be announced.
o We have received signed church snow plowing agreements from the First Baptist Church
and the Korean Church of the Nazarene. We are expecting one more agreement.
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October 2010
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Street Sign Lotter
October Street sign lottery.
Construction Projects in progress or to be done this year:
o Road Improvements—
• Harrison Street -Milling was done late last week. Paving should be done next week.
• Arlington Street - (Woburn Street to Prescott Street), Haverhill Street (Wakefield
Street to Timberneck Drive), Marla Lane (Forest Street to Spruce Road) — Milling was
done late last week. Paving should be done next week.
o Memorial Park- DONE.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—October 26, 2010—Page 3
Proclamation/Certificates of Appreciation
Proclamation— Red Ribbon Week—A motion by Bonazoli seconded by Schubert to approve
the Proclamation proclaiming October 23-31, 2010 as Red Ribbon CampaiLn Week was
approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Discussion/Action Items
Continuation — Causeway Road — Town Engineer George Zambouras noted that the residents
had asked the Town to shift the roadway away from their homes. He also noted that it is 60-
70% more expensive to move the road instead of widening. The revised total cost is $428,000,
and $331,000 of that would be assessed betterments.
Selectman Richard Schubert noted that the RMLD trucks are heavy, and he asked if the
reconstruction will withstand that, and the Town Engineer indicated that it will.
Stephen Chapman of,66 Causeway Road noted that his portion of the roadway floods. He
suggested ways of reducing the cost including taking out $3,000 for the removal and setting of
telephone fence on the RMLD property, and the $20,000 for the police details. He also noted
that the public section of the road.is draining into the private section, and the residents are being
asked to pay the $55,000 to correct it. Mr. Chapman indicated that curbing is not necessary on
Causeway Road because there is no traffic—there are only 12 homes on the street.
The Town Engineer noted that if there is equipment in the road, then a police detail is needed
unless all of the residents park elsewhere.
Joseph Curto of 81 Causeway Road noted that Mr. Fisher purchased the land and deeded it over
to Leighton who abandoned the property so it belongs to the Town.
After much discussion among the Board about the cost with granite curbing and without, the
following motion was made:
A motion by Goldy seconded by Schubert to approve the acceptance of Causeway Road as
a public way, and establish the betterments for the improvement of the private portions of
the road not to exceed a total of $230,000, which reflects the proposed construction
estimates included in the Board of Selectmen packet ($308,000) less the following items:
® Relocate futility poles $30,000
® Remove granite curb except the throat stone as needed.
With the revised betterment cost to be distributed among the assessed property owners on
the same basis as shown on the chart entitled "Causeway Road Estimated Betterment
Assessments" dated 10/26/10. All subject to approval of Town Meeting. The motion was
approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Hearing— Street Acceptances: Benjamin Lane and Kylie Drive—The Secretary read the hearing
notice for Benjamin Lane. The Town Manager noted that the work has been completed.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—October 26, 2010—Page 4
A motion by Anthony seconded by Schubert to close the hearing on accepting Benjamin
Lane as a public way was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
A motion by Goldy seconded by Tafoya to recommend the acceptance of Beniamin Lane as
a public way was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
The Secretary read the hearing notice for Kylie Drive. The Town Manager noted that the work
has been completed.
A motion by Anthony seconded by Tafoya to close the hearing on accepting Kylie Drive as
a public way was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
A motion by Goldy seconded by Tafoya to recommend the acceptance of Kylie Drive as a
public way was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Preview Tax Classification—Board of Assessor Members Bob Nordstrand, Ralph Colorusso and
Fred McGrane were present. Also present were Appraiser Bill Boatwright and Assistant
Appraiser Pat Sullivan.
Bob Nordstrand noted that the Selectmen will need to hold a hearing by December to set the tax
rate. Bili Boatwright reviewed the process including timelines.
Selectman Ben .Tafoya noted that the spreadsheets that the Selectmen usually get for the hearing
are very helpfiil, and he requested that the, actual tax rates for those years be added to the
spreadsheet. He also requested the number of properties involved if the Selectmen choose the
commercial exemption.
The Town Manager noted that there is no need to spend time on open space. He asked if the
Selectmen want a recommendation from the Board of Assessors, and the Selectmen indicated
that they do want a recommendation.
The Assistant Town Manager noted that property valued at $400,000 pays $5,500 in property
taxes.
Review Town Meeting Warrant—The Town Manager reviewed the Warrant Articles.
A motion by Goldy seconded by Tafoya that the Board of Selectmen recommend the
subject matter of Article 3 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
A motion by Anthony seconded by Tafoya that the Board of Selectmen recommend the
subject matter of Article 4 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0..
A motion by Anthony seconded by Goldy that the Board of Selectmen recommend the
subject matter of Article 5 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—October 26, 2010—Page 5
A motion by Anthony seconded by Goldy that the Board of Selectmen recommend the
subiect matter of Article 6 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
A motion by Goldy seconded by Tafoya that the Board of Selectmen recommend the
subiect matter of Article 7 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
A motion by Tafoya seconded by Goldy that the Board of Selectmen recommend the
subiect matter of Article 8 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
A motion by Anthony seconded by Schubert that the Board of Selectmen recommend the
subiect matter of Article 9 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
A motion by Goldy seconded by Tafoya that the Board of Selectmen recommend the
subiect matter of Article 12 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
A motion by Tafoya seconded by Anthony that the Board of Selectmen recommend the
subiect matter of Article 13 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
A motion by Goldy seconded by Tafoya that the Board of Selectmen recommend the
subiect matter of Article 15 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
A. motion by Anthony seconded by Tafoya that the Board of Selectmen recommend the
subiect matter of Article 16 was approved by a vote of 4-1-0,with Goldy voting against.
Selectman Stephen Goldy noted that he will not support this Article because it is complicated
and open to interpretation.
Establish Process of Annual Performance Review for Town Manager — The Town Manager
noted that the Chairman needs to appoint a couple of members to do the Town Manager's
Performance Review. The Chairman appointed Selectmen Ben Tafoya and Stephen Goldy to do
the evaluation on December 14, 2010.
Comments on Scenic Road Application — 46 Walnut Street— The Town Manager noted that the
owner wants to move his driveway over but since he lives on a scenic road, the Selectmen have
the opportunity to comment. There was no comment from the Selectmen.
Review Fees—The Assistant Town Manager reviewed the proposed fee increases. He noted that
it will not raise much revenue but just bring up our fees to what other towns are charging. The
hearing to amend the fees is scheduled for November 16, 2010.
Approval of Minutes
A motion by Anthony seconded by Tafoya that the Board of Selectmen approve the
Minutes of September 7, 2010 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
A motion by Goldy seconded by Tafoya that the Board of Selectmen approve the Minutes
of October 5,2010 was approved by a vote of 5-0-0.
Board of Selectmen Meeting—October 26, 2010—Page6
A motion by Goldy seconded by Tafoya to adjourn the meeting of October 26, 2010 at
10:30 p.m.was approved.by a vote of 5-0-0.
Respectfully sub m'tted,
Secretary