2009-01-08-LBAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEETING MINUTES Committee Name: Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee Date, Time and Location of Meeting: January 8, 2009, 7 pm, Legion Room, Cary Hall Members Present: Peggy Enders (Chair), Stew Kennedy, Mike Tabaczynski, Abe Shenker (FoLB Chair), John Frey, Jerry Van Hook, Laurel Carpenter, Sandra Shaw (Recreation Liaison). Others Present: Rich Spencer, Bob Hausslein Members Absent: Richard Canale (Planning Board Liaison), Marita Hartshorn, George Gagliardi, Hank Manz, (Selectmen’s Liaison) Minutes: Reviewed and approved with two changes December 11 meeting minutes. Snow Plowing: The committee shared its frustration with the condition of the bikeway, the particularly difficult and unpredictable winter weather, and its general concern with the efficiency of the current arrangement with the town. In response to a question about the costs to date, Peggy said that the first two plows will be covered by the donation from the Trustees for Public Trusts – approximately $1,100. John mentioned that the sand/salt mix on the streets had been changed to a salt/slurry mix and said this may result in more salt ending up in the water. Jerry said that the Sidewalk Committee had met that week to talk about sidewalk plowing, saying that the bikeway plowing was putting additional strain on the system and the equipment. He said that, when the DPW is re- opened in May, better equipment repair facilities will be available again. The committee talked about whether it was sensible to continue the current plowing arrangement, given the condition of the bikeway (i.e., frozen slush) and the prediction of more snow in the near future. After discussing various options, the committee agreed that the best way forward would be to work with the town to decouple bikeway plowing from sidewalk plowing, and until a new agreement was reached, to suspend plowing of the bikeway. Abe read a letter from a plowing donor who was quite unhappy with the conditions on the bikeway. A motion was made to “temporarily suspend plowing until we explore alternatives to the current arrangement and to assure that there are sufficient funds for end-of- season plowing.” The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.