From the January 10, 2012 Stoneham Board of Selectmen’s meeting:

Special Town Meeting: February 7:

The board opened the meeting by voting, 5-0, to open the warrant for Special Town Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 7:00 p.m. 

Board votes to grant time extension for construction at 411 Main Street:

Attorney Charles Houghton, representing Frank Petrillo, said his client’s property at 411 Main Street is “closer and closer” to moving forward. Houghton requested that the board grant a site plan extension. Houghton added, “Nothing’s changing.”

Houghton cited “the economy” as the reason for the long delay on the project slated to abut Stoneham Theatre on Main Street. Houghton asked the board for a one-year extension on it previously approved site plan.

The board voted, 5-0, in favor of the extension.

License renewals:

The board voted to renew entertainment licenses for Felicia’s of the North End, 423 Main Street, and Marty’s Catering (Montvale Plaza, 54 Montvale Ave.).

The board voted to renew common victualler’s licenses for Dunkin’ Donuts (128 Franklin St.), Five Guys Burgers and Fries (Redstone Plaza), Andrea’s Pizza (Main St.), Boston Market (Redstone Plaza), Daily Scoop (Main St.), Dairy Dome (Main St.), Deliworks (Montvale Ave.), Dunkin’ Donuts (196 Main St.), Kyoto (Montvale Ave.), Pignone’s Café (Main St.), and Royal Roast Beef (Main St.).

MWRA controversy continues in Stoneham:

Selectman John DePinto noted the town’s upcoming meeting with the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) on January 11. DePinto said that MWRA wants to construct a pipeline through Stoneham to provide water to Reading. He added that MWRA reneged on an implied agreement that the authority would build a soccer field for the town in the area adjacent to the Middlesex Fells Reserve (near the site of the former Boston Regional Medical Center on Woodland Rd.). He added that the authority purchased land from a private company; that purchase takes $90,000 from the town’s tax revenues. DePinto said that until the authority and the town could resolve the property issue the board should not even “consider” allowing MWRA to go through Stoneham to Reading. DePinto said that one-third of the town’s land is already conservation land that does not produce tax revenue.

Selectman Bob Sweeney said there are many related issues. He said if MWRA comes through Stoneham, it would replace all water lines in need of repair or replacement and would pave disturbed road curb-to-curb. He said that the authority proposes to use Spring Court as a staging area; that area is contaminated and Stoneham must address that problem. He said that if MWRA uses that area then it would clean up Spring Court. Sweeney continued that MWRA is close to breaking off discussions with Stoneham and it could cost rate payers $20 million to avoid Stoneham. He said that Stoneham rate payers would be among those who would pay for the detour. 

Sweeney said that Stoneham Police Department work details would also lose income opportunities, perhaps as much as $100,000. The town would collect ten percent of that amount. He added that Stoneham’s Department of Public Work supports the project. 

Selectman Chair Paul Rotondi said that the meeting agenda does not include MWRA as a topic of conversation. He said it would be better to discuss the topic at a later meeting. 

DePinto said board should make certain to resolve the issue. 

Sweeney asked what the board would do if MWRA refuses to meet the town’s requests.

Rotondi said that the board could not consider an offer until the MWRA makes one. The board could later vote on a proposal from MWRA. 

DePinto said “I find it insulting” to spend $5 million for Stoneham land when the MWRA could have spent nothing for land adjacent to the private, taxable parcel. He said the MWRA is needlessly increasing water rates. He added that the town got nothing from the private land transaction, but lost annual tax revenue instead. 

Selectman Frank Vallarelli said that MWRA did not agree to build a soccer field for the town upon the site of the underground water tank built on the recently purchased property. Vallarelli said he never expected such a field because of environmental issues. 

Town Administrator David Ragucci said that MWRA did not provide anything in writing regarding a soccer field for Stoneham. 

Chairman Rotondi said that the board wrote a letter asking MWRA for a decision regard the proposed soccer field, but added that the town would do nothing without an agreement in writing. 

Vallarelli said that MWRA had already denied a soccer field before the board sent its letter asking for a decision. 

Rotondi added that MWRA has denied any Stoneham request for reparation. Selectman DePinto noted the desire for field turf at Stoneham High School athletic fields. Rotondi added that the town suggested Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) funding or a cash settlement, but MWRA refused to accept any offer from Stoneham and failed to make any counteroffer.

Rotondi added that any perceived benefit from MWRA paving streets is overrated as MWRA must pave curb-to-curb on any street it disturbs. 

Selectman Sweeney he would like DPW Director Bob Grover and Town Administrator David Ragucci to voice opinions regarding the town’s benefit from the proposed project. He said that there are not enough people weighing in on the discussion. 

Ragucci said that he provided the board with a packet of information explaining proposed alternate routes, replacing lines, and paving. He said replacing pipes and paving is not a special favor to Stoneham. He said that the proposed four-foot pipes need room that is not there currently. He said that MWRA could not complete its project without replacing lines and repaving streets. 

Sweeney said, seemingly surprised, that Ragucci had told him of a big benefit to Stoneham from the project.

Ragucci said that the project would produce big benefit to the town, but MWRA must provide those benefits. He added that, although there was no agreement for a soccer field, he expected some compensation for the loss of $90,000 in annual tax revenue. He said he expected some benefit to Stoneham but “got nothing.” He said there should be a benefit to Stoneham if MWRA builds its proposed pipeline.

Sweeney, animated, said that he and Ragucci had a different conversation recently about the benefit of the project to Stoneham. Ragucci disagreed with Sweeney’s assessment of their earlier discussions.

Sweeney said that if there are no benefits to Stoneham then MWRA should “go through Woburn.”

Ragucci said that DPW Director Bob Grover agrees that the MWRA work would benefit the town with new water and sewer lines. Selectman Vallarelli said that the town would get infrastructure for nothing.

Chairman Rotondi said it would be infrastructure the town does not need. Rotondi said that Stoneham received a grant from MWRA because its water system is among the four best-maintained systems in the state. He said it makes no sense for MWRA to, now, show interest in fixing that system.

“This is a joke,” Selectman DePinto concluded.

Rotondi said that the board could not make a decision without the facts, but it would the facts at its upcoming meeting with MWRA. Rotondi said the project would cause a three-year inconvenience for Stoneham residents.

Sweeney said the project could be Stoneham’s version of “The Big Dig.”

DePinto said the board could report results from the MWRA meeting at a later board meeting. He added that Senator Katherine Clark called the public meeting between MWRA and the town.

Town Administrator Ragucci reports:

Ragucci thanked Randy Perillo and Know Our Town (www.knowourtown.com) for introducing the town to a furniture liquidator who donated new conference tables and chairs to the town. 

Ragucci announced that Winchester Hospital split the cost of a new guardrail on Maple Street, near the facility that Winchester Hospital recently occupied. 

Ragucci said that plans to place an emergency communications antenna at Stoneham Fire Department met with difficulty as the building is an historic landmark. The town cannot add an antenna without approval from the Stoneham Historical Commission. Ragucci said that group is “not happy with it.” He added that the antenna is likely to go into the DPW yard on Stevens Street. 

Ragucci met with regional 911 and should have a final report soon. He said it should cost the town $130,000 to regionalize its emergency response group with two other communities. He said costs could lower in time and report should be available in the summer. Selectman Chairman Paul Rotondi said that the regionalization costs Stoneham because the town already employs a civilian dispatcher whereas other towns are saving salary expense by hiring civilian dispatchers. 

Ragucci said that the Tri-Community Bike Path continues to work toward its 75 percent design completion. He added that the committee continues to “keep plugging along.” 

Ragucci said he met with North School area residents and plans to meet with them again on January 24. A Request for Procurement (RFP) should be ready in February for sale of the property. He said he hopes to have a final proposal ready for voters to approve at May Town Meeting. He said the possibilities include a proposal to build three single-family homes along the street and an adjacent driveway to additional homes or an assisted living facility. 

Ragucci also reports that the Recreation Park Field House is out to bid once again as the Boys and Girls Club of Stoneham’s plan to build a teen center at the location “broke down.” Ragucci said that Stoneham Youth Football and Cheer stepped up and plans to lease the property for $1 per year, but maintain the building and pay associated costs.