TOWN OF ARLINGTON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes
Monday, June 14, 2004
7:15 p.m.
Present: Mrs. Mahon, Chair, Mr. Hurd, Vice-Chair, Mrs. Dias, and Mr. Greeley.
Also present: Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Maher, and Mrs. Krepelka.
Absent: Mr. Lyons.
APPOINTMENTS & REAPPOINTMENTS
1. Appointment: Commission on Disabilities
Maureen St. Hilaire
(term to expire 6/14/07)
Mr. Greeley moved approval. SO VOTED (4-0)
2. Reappointment: Parking Clerk
John J. Bilafer, Town Treasurer
(term to expire 4-2-05)
Mr. Hurd moved approval. SO VOTED (4-0)
Mr. Greeley requested a report on the status of parking collections transferring to the Parking Clerk at the next meeting. He would like the transfer to happen by July 1, 2004 to coincide with fee increases and the new fiscal year.
3. Reappointment: Assistant Treasurer & Assistant Collector of Taxes
Alfred B. Fantini
(term to expire 6/30/05)
Mr. Hurd moved approval. SO VOTED (4-0)
LICENSES & PERMITS
4. Request: Common Victualler License
Turano Restaurant Group Inc. d/b/a Tryst, Paul Turano, Pres., 689 Mass. Ave.
Mr. Greeley moved approval subject to conditions set forth. SO VOTED (4-0)
5. Request: All Alcoholic Beverages License
Turano Restaurant Group Inc. d/b/a Tryst, Paul Turano, Pres., 689 Mass. Ave.
Mr. Greeley moved approval subject to conditions set forth. SO VOTED (4-0)
Mrs.Mahon pointed out to the Board that this is the last All Alcohol License available to give out.
6. Request: Awning Permit
Turano Restaurant Group Inc. d/b/a Tryst, Paul Turano, Pres., 689 Mass. Ave.
Mr. Greeley moved approval subject to conditions set forth. SO VOTED (4-0)
7. Request: Food Vendor License
Atiqur Rahman d/b/a Dagg’s Deli, 152 Mass. Ave.
Mr. Greeley moved approval subject to conditions set forth. SO VOTED (4-0)
8. Request: Wine & Malt Beverages Only License/Transfer of Stock
Thai Truong Corp. d/b/a Viet’s Café, Anita Chang, Pres., 303A-305 Broadway
Mr. Hurd moved approval. SO VOTED (4-0)
9. Request Contractor License
John DeNapoli, 26 Dudley St., Arlington
Mr. Greeley moved approval subject to conditions set forth. SO VOTED (4-0)
10. Request: One Day All Alcoholic Beverage License, 7/18/04
Guy Catanzano, Retired Men’s Club of Arlington
Mr. Hurd moved approval. SO VOTED (4-0)
11. 7:45 p.m. (approximately)
CITIZENS OPEN FORUM
These matters were presented for consideration of the Board.
Mrs. Weber read and passed out a letter in regards to a personnel issue at the Arlington Sports Center. Her points of the letter are:
-Her position addresses reprimands that she is aware of against Donna Sullivan. There has been an escalation of problems since an Advocate article was published. She feels the reprimands should not have happened and were uncalled for against Donna Sullivan.
-She stated that during the interviewing for the Rink Manager questions were geared around the person’s relationship to Bob McKewyn and not about job skills.
-She states the problem lies with the Superintendent of Rinks and not with the employees that work for him.
Mr. Buschetta read a note his wife wrote concerning the personnel issue at the Arlington Sports Center.
-They want to know what is going on at the rink-when a very good employee of 26 years, who’s done a tremendous job with special needs, basketball e.t.c., has to leave the job because of mental health/job stress related issues?
-Is the Rec Dept. trying to undo all our work (regarding special needs programs)?
-He believes there is so much stress at the office that no one can work under these circumstances. He believes this is “not a personnel issue-it’s a manager issue”.
At this point Mrs. Mahon stated the Board was not allowed to address the issue because it is against the code of ethics. She thanked the Town Manager for the code of ethics pass out she received. Answers to questions from the Selectmen will be relayed through the Town Manager.
Mr. Sullivan spoke stating “there is a lot of misinformation here this evening. It is a personnel issue and these people spoken of are valued as employees”.
Mr. Carr commented on the issue asking, “where is this situation going-please resolve this issue. Donna Sullivan is a behind the scenes person, let her role come back to where it was. Please can we all resolve this situation”?
Maria Angera asked the Board for help with a problem her family has encountered in opening up a hair salon (across from Jimmy’s Restaurant). They cannot secure a permit for the business due to parking reasons from the Planning Department (sign permit) after restoring a building spending $80,000.00. There are 8 or 9 spaces there and they have checked other businesses that have worse parking conditions. She asked the Board to help resolve this problem.
TRAFFIC RULES & ORDERS/OTHER BUSINESS
12. Report: Hutchinson Road
Larry Englisher/Elisabeth Carr Jones, Transportation Advisory Committee
Mr. Englisher reported the committee’s recommendations on the concerns of Hutchinson
Road. The concerns were about speed, pedestrian safety, and traffic volume. The
recommendations are:
Continue traffic enforcement.
Have the DPW erect warning signs for pedestrian walking.
Prune lower branches of trees and bushes of WCC along the road.
Create informal pathway for pedestrian use-estimate cost to do so.
Mr. Hurd asked the Town Manager to contact Winchester Town Manager to discuss the
Winchester Country Club’s (WCC) lack of response in pruning trees. Mr. Sullivan said he would contact the president of WCC to communicate the disappointment and find out why. The Board thanked Mr. Englisher for his work on the TAC and expressed they will miss him when he leaves the Committee in the near future.
Mr. Hurd moved to receive report. SO VOTED (4-0)
Mr. Hurd moved to administer recommendations. SO VOTED (4-0)
13. Report: Crosswalks
Larry Englisher/Elisabeth Carr Jones, Transportation Advisory Committee
Mr. Englisher gave a brief report on the 7 key crosswalks where thermal plastics were
installed this past year. This year there are 15 more locations earmarked to be done.
Mr. Hurd praised the committee for making good decisions.
Mr. Hurd moved receipt of report. SO VOTED (4-0)
14. Request: Handicap Parking Space
James Jones, 39 Fordham St.
Mr. Hurd moved approval. SO VOTED (4-0)
15. Request: Closure of Franklin St., 7/10/04, 11:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Wild Woman Outfitters, 397 Mass. Ave.
The owner of Wild Woman Outfitters explained this street closing is for a kick off party
for 180 woman before their walk for breast cancer in which they have already raised
$300, 000.00 in donations.
Mrs. Dias moved approval. SO VOTED (4-0)
16. Discussion: Coalition Bargaining for Unions & Retirees
This item has been tabled until the 6/28/04 meeting.
17. Request: Permission to Extend Hours from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m.
David Onanian, Walgreens, 1425 Mass. Ave.
Mr. Greeley moved approval to extend hours until 11:00pm on a 6-month trial basis. SO VOTED (4-0)
18. Discussion: Walgreens, Extended Hours, 6 Month Review
Alef Gutierrez, Walgreens, 324 Mass. Ave.
Mrs. Dias moved to postpone until 6/28/04 meeting so neighbors could be notified. SO VOTED (4-0)
19. Discussion: Information Technology Advisory Committee
Mr. Hurd moved to receive report and have Mrs. Krepelka put together an advertisement
for the newspaper and webpage. SO VOTED (4-0)
Mrs. Mahon said she would write the Ad with input from the Board, sub-committee,
Town Counsel, and Town Manager. After a discussion it was agreed work should begin
on working out the process of putting technology under the Town Manager’s control.
Discussion: Performance Evaluation
After some discussion it was agreed that Mrs. Mahon and Mr. Hurd will put together a
draft evaluation document with input from the departments and job descriptions then come back to the Board for approval. Then evaluations for Comptroller and Board Administrator will take place in the September and the Town Manager in January.
Mr. Greeley moved approval. SO VOTED (4-0)
21. Request: Payment of Bills
Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum
Mr. Greeley moved approval. SO VOTED (4-0)
22. Approval: Tip Fee Stabilization Account Transfer Request
John G. Sanchez, DPW Director
Mr. Greeley moved approval. SO VOTED (4-0)
Discussion: Finance Committee Field Users Sub Committee
Mrs. Mahon would like this to be put in the newspaper for a couple of weeks.
Mr. Hurd moved approval. SO VOTED (4-0)
Correspondence Received
Ed & Elaine Pacheco Concerns re: Sabatino Food Shop Be Rec’d
6 Orvis Rd.
Mr. Sullivan reported Arlington is working with Sabatino’s to take care of the problem and comply with the license and if not there may be possible court action or license suspension.
Mr. Greeley moved receipt of correspondence. SO VOTED (4-0)
NEW BUSINESS
Mrs. Dias reminded everyone of Jack Jones’ e-mail that the bikepath near Alewife is being repaved 6/21-6/25.
Mrs. Krepelka proposed that the fall voting at Dallin be moved to the St. Camilus Parish Center due to the school renovation.
Mr. Greeley moved to approve. SO VOTED (4-0)
Mrs. Krepelka announced this thursday night there will be a Symmes Neighborhood Meeting 7:00-9:00PM.
Mr. Sullivan reported he received an e-mail from the Belmont Board Administrator, a draft letter that the Board is sending to the State in regards to the Uplands. They would be pleased to meet with the Arlington Selectmen and that there is a 6/30 deadline for Arlington to submit a letter to the State. He suggests having a draft letter to approve at the 6/28/04 meeting. Mr. Greeley asked that when the Boards meet it have multiple items on the agenda such as regionalization not just the Uplands/skating rink.
Mr. Sullivan announced the archdiocesan will be holding a meeting on the 24th concerning church closings. Mr. Greeley volunteered to attend.
Mr. Sullivan also informed the Board of his letter to the Senator on local aid-restoring lottery funds back to Arlington.
Mr. Hurd asked Mr. Sanchez to communicate street cleanings through the web and sandwich boards. Mr. Sanchez said he would communicate the cleanings. The DPW is cleaning East Arlington while a contractor is cleaning the Heights.
Mr. Hurd asked Mr. Sullivan to look into speed bumps on the cut through of Water St. to Mill St.
He also asked Mr. Sanchez to cut back the growth in this area of the bikepath to Buzzel Field for pedestrian safety. He also asked that the parking signs in this lot be changed to reflect permit-parking Monday-Friday only not on weekends.
Mr. Hurd thanked Mr. Sullivan and the Dept. Heads for their help in the Feast of the East.
Mr. Greeley asked to have a telecommunications report from Ms. Lewis be an agenda item at the 6/28/04 meeting.
Mrs. Mahon reminded everyone of the stakeholders meeting that the Town Manager is holding this Thursday at 2:00PM in the Selectmen’s Hearing Room. This is to prepare for the upcoming negotiations.
Mrs. Mahon announced this Friday night at Pierce Field the Relay for Life beginning at 6:00PM until 12:00PM Saturday. She also announced that there is a July 20th health care meeting with opening remarks by the Town Manager explaining the changes in health care.
Mr. Hurd moved to adjourn.at 9:07 PM. SO VOTED (4-0)
A true record: Attest:
Marie Krepelka
Board Administrator
Executive Session
| 
