1974-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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BOARD OF SELECTMEN We see no likelihood of having a state - imposed solution forced upon Lexington. Nevertheless an unyielding position on Lexington's part risks the possibility that the state may shift its attention to correcting equally pressing traffic conditions elsewhere in the state.... leaving Lexington to live with an unsolved problem that year by year becomes more unmanageable. An encouraging recent development is the decision on the part of the state highway department to as- sign an engineering firm to make a further study of the environmental impact upon the tie -in of Route 2 and Route 128 with Hartwell Avenue. We wish we could report affirmatively upon prospects of a quick solution. An honest answer is that progress continues painfully slowly and that no quick solution is in sight. The oil and gasoline shortage had a severe impact upon the town's expense budget and a consequent deterrent effect on some of its programs. Very early in the oil shortage we closed down Cary Hall for any but the most pressing need. We also curtailed use of electricity by reducing by 50 per- cent the lighting of halls and corridors in the town build- ings. There were limits, though, beyond which we could not go. Electricity to get the sewer pumps in action was an obvious use that we could not curtail. Similarly, although the cost to the town for gasoline rose from 22.90 per gal- lon in March, 1973, to 39.50 in March, 1974, we did not curtail the activity of the police patrol cars. The public works department has been severely hampered by increases in costs of materials. Some detail regarding this has application in this report because the board of selectmen also acts as the board of public works. The fol- lowing running analysis for some of the DPW's basic purchases compares prices in the spring of 1974 with a year earlier: diesel fuel 32.60 per gallon vs. 13.30; #4 heating oil $16.13 per 42 gallon barrel vs. $5.43; cold rolled steel, 1/2" x 6 ", at 210 per lb. vs. 120 three months earlier; traffic paint at $4.40 per gallon had doubled from the pre- vious year; hot top and cold patch at $8.20 per ton on March 29, 1974 went to $12.20 on April 1. Copper was in- creasing at the rate of 50 per lb. every other week. Not only were prices escalating but many basic supplies were in shortage and work progress was delayed. It reached the point where we limited the work to the dollars remaining in the budget. Such curtailment is feasible up to a point but we must recognize that, long continued, this leads to deterioration of the plant. In recent years interest has increased notably in en- vironmental protection, air pollution, conservation, the sanitary landfill and the like. Our response to that increased interest has been an effort through open hearings to obtain citizen - input. This broadens the base upon which our decisions are made. The most notable result was the hiring in 1974 for the first time in the town's history of an ecological scientist to act as a consultant to monitor construction of the Turning Mill sewer project, - all with the aim of minimizing permanent harmful environmentaleffects. Much as we desire to meet neighborhood wishes we cannot and did not yield to all popular pressures. Nevertheless, we Declaration of Independence .... and for the support of this declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, nee mutually pledge to each other our live; our fortunes, and our sacred honor." Thomas Jefferson