Stoneham Board of Selectmen – Minutes of Meeting of May 29, 2007
Chairman George E. Seibold called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. Also present were Selectmen John F. DePinto, R. Paul Rotondi, Robert W. Sweeney, Frank A. Vallarelli, Town Administrator David Ragucci, and Town Counsel William H. Solomon.
Pledge of Allegiance
Approve Minutes
Selectman Sweeney moved approval of the 4/26/07 minutes, seconded by Selectman DePinto. Motion was unanimously voted. Selectman Rotondi moved approval of the 4/24/07 minutes, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted. Selectman DePinto moved approval of the 5/10/07 minutes, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted. Selectman DePinto moved approval of the 5/7/07 minutes, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted.
Equality Road/Continued
Bob Sansone, 22 Wilson Road, spoke again about his bill to designate Main Street in Stoneham as “Equality Road”. Chairman Seibold told Mr. Sansone he thought what he did was good parenting. He also said he did a report, in 4th or 5th grade, on the history of Stoneham and there was an underground railroad in the old Trodella Building where Santoro’s Sub Shop was. He said we took pride back then. He said he thinks there are people in town who have grown up here who made an impact on a lot of people in the 1700’s and 1800’s. He said something like that, a person like that, over something that happened the next town over to a professional athlete. He said worse things have happened to all types of people. Mr. Sansone said this isn’t really about professional athletes. Chairman Seibold said he had seen the picture on Mr. Sansone’s literature with the caption “From Rachel to Bill Russell”. Mr. Sansone asked the Board to show good leadership. Chairman Seibold said he would like
to see positive things happen to try to get this town up and running again and designating a name for a road doesn’t seem to be the right road to take right now. Mr. Sansone asked Chairman Seibold what is more positive than this, if he believes he wants to focus on positive things. He told Chairman Seibold that in a sense it almost seems like he is contradicting himself. Chairman Seibold said he is not, because to him it is just good old parenting and he is adamant that what Mr. Sansone did is just good parenting. Mr. Sansone said he is adamant about hoping Chairman Seibold would do good old leadership. Selectman Sweeney moved to deny this request and move on to other business, seconded by Selectman DePinto. Selectman Rotondi said there is no doubt that he, and he thinks the rest of the Board, believes in equality. He said they don’t have roads all over town named for things they endorse. He said he is not in favor of
naming a road, and he suggested doing a proclamation. Selectman DePinto moved the question, unless the public wanted to speak. No one spoke. A roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Sweeney
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Vallarelli
Selectman Rotondi
Chairman Seibold
Motion was unanimously voted.
Selectman Sweeney moved to do a proclamation, seconded by Selectman DePinto. Selectman Sweeney asked Mr. Sansone to put some words together. A roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Sweeney
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Vallarelli
May 29, 2007 – Page (2)
Selectman Rotondi
Chairman Seibold
Motion was unanimously voted.
Exxon Mobil Corp/250-256 Main St/Site Plan Hearing/Continued
Chairman Seibold said, for the record, that he saw the video of the first site plan hearing on Exxon Mobil Corp, and he gave the signed certification of this to the Clerk.
Atty. Michael Peirce was present to represent Exxon Mobil Corp. in its petition to remove the existing sales/transaction kiosk and shed, replace the canopy and construct a 2100 s.f. retail convenience store on the property located at 250-256 Main Street, Stoneham, MA on land owned by Mobil Oil corp., c/o Exxon Mobil Corp., PO Box 4973, Houston, TX 77210-4973 and Exxon Mobil Oil Corp., Property Tax Division, CORP-EMB-2305A, Houston, TX 77001-0053.
Atty. Peirce said, for the record, that they are recycling almost everything that will come out of the demolition. He said Mobil has a program for all their new buildings. They use all the most energy efficient materials. Atty. Peirce said there will be no exterior advertising that would call attention to cigarette advertising. He said they are allowed to have up to 30% of interior window space. He said they would agree that any cigarette advertising would be solely the name of the brand and the price. He said that is a voluntary agreement they will make, if agreeable to the Board. Selectman Sweeney asked if there are going to be any outdoor sales. Atty. Peirce said they can’t do that in the Commercial Business District. Selectman Sweeney asked if they have to
come back to the Board of Selectmen, if the Board approves this and they go to the Board of Appeals and get a variance. Atty. Peirce said that, depending upon size limitations, they may or may not have to go to the Board of Appeals. Town Counsel Solomon said if they go to the Board of Appeals and get a variance they really should come back here for site plan
approval for the sign. Selectman Rotondi said one other issue is the hours of operation. Atty. Peirce said that Town Counsel feels the Board does not have the authority to grant them that, so they will not be able to open the convenience store between 12 and 5 a.m. Town Counsel said the decision would say that both parties acknowledge that the current bylaw, Sec. 9-15, prohibits the convenience store from being open past midnight until 6 a.m., but that there be no specific limitation in the zoning decision that would require the closing. Atty. Peirce said he would request that they don’t put a prohibition in the decision, since the bylaw prohibits it.
Chairman Seibold opened the hearing to the public. Michelle Meagher asked about trying to take a left out onto Main Street. Mr. Loin said they will enhance the signage on both sides of the driveway for right turn only.
Selectman DePinto moved acceptance of the site plan, with two years for completion. Town Counsel Solomon said that advertising for cigarettes would be voluntarily limited to price and brand. He suggested that they have the applicant agree they will comply with any stricter Town bylaw or regulations promulgated, going forward. Motion was seconded by Selectman Sweeney, and a roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Sweeney
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Vallarelli
Selectman Rotondi
Chairman Seibold
Motion was unanimously voted.
May 29, 2007 – Page (3)
Appoint Member to Water/Sewer Review Board
Selectman DePinto moved to table this to 6/12. Motion was seconded and unanimously voted.
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Chairman Seibold read the invitation from the Girl Scouts Patriots’ Trail Council. They are honoring Shirley Murray with the Helen Storrow Heritage Award on 6/3.
Selectman Vallarelli referred to the Tremont Street complaint about standing water. Town Counsel said the Building Inspector will file a complaint on this. He said she completed the complaint today to file tomorrow.
Chairman Seibold thanked Chris Abreu for mowing the Town Common and the front of Town Hall on Sunday afternoon. He said he would like to put organic discussion on the
agenda for the next meeting. Selectman DePinto added the soccer fields. Selectman Rotondi asked if they could expand it. He said he has gotten a lot of complaints.
Town Administrator Ragucci said the Tufts Plan will more than likely be the plan as of 7/1.
Selectman Vallarelli asked about closing Town Hall on Friday and extending the workday Monday through Thursday. Town Administrator Ragucci said he would like to discuss it in executive session. He said it is a collective bargaining matter and he would like to get direction from the Board as to the impact.
Executive Session
Selectman DePinto moved to go into executive session. Motion was seconded by Selectman Sweeney who added that they will not return as the Board of Selectmen. A roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Rotondi
Selectman Vallarelli
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Sweeney
Chairman Seibold
Motion was unanimously voted.
Meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Muriel Doherty
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