1982-03-01- to 1982-06-16-ATM-min

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(Adjourned S ession o f the 1982 Annual. Town Meeting - April 12, 1982.) Article 27. CMARC Presented by Alfred S. Busa. MOTION: That the sum of $5,000.00 be appropriated to be expended by the Board of Health under G.L.c. 40s.5 (40C) and a contract to be entered into with Central Middlesex Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc. (CMARC), which contract shall provide that the funds from the Town shall be earmarked toward a program or purpose designated by the Board of Selectmen, and that such amount be raised in the tax levy. Adopted unanimously. 10:29 P.M. Article 28. LEXINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY - REIMBURSEMENT FOR ATTORNEY'S FEES (See Page Joseph 0. Rooney moved that this article be tabled. 145.) Adopted unanimously. 10:9 P.M. Article 2. David G. Williams, Chairman of the Conservation Commission, read the following report of the commission: The Town Meeting is aware that last year, due to the uncertainty of the impact of Proposition 2 1/2, as well as our inability to complete negotiations with serveral landowners, we did not submit any articles for land purchase. We received much adverse comment about this action. A number of citizens, including many Town Meeting Members, let us know that they did not agree with our decision. We still feel it was a correct decision. This year, we have submitted two articles for the purchase of land. At this time we have a negotiated agreement with the owner of the land covered by Article 31. We are still negotiating with the owner of the land under Article 30. I will table Article 30 until later in the town meeting when I hope to have a negotiated agreement. Although they are not large, both parcels are significant acquisitions. Both have appeared on all of the commission's master plans. You will hear specifics about each article, shortly. I can assure you that we feel strongly that both parcels should be acquired. It appears favorable, at this time, that we will receive state re- imbursement through the self -help program for these purchases. The acquisition of these two parcels will, in all probability, exhaust the $75,000 remaining in the 2 million bond issue, authorized in 1975. Since the passage of that bond, over 600 acres of land have been voted by the town meeting and acquired with the help and ex- pertise of our staff, the Selectmen, Town Manager and Town Counsel. State reimbursement under the bond issue has totaled $850,000. Since the commission acquired its first property at Whipple Hill in 1963, 35 areas have been brought under conservation jurisdiction, and protection. These total 938 acres, about .9% of the total town acreage. The Conservation Commission also holds 26 easements or restrictions, which protect an additional 49 acres. Many of these were gifts and remain a source of pride for both the donor and the recipient. For the future..... there remain about 300 acres of land that should be acquired which would connect previously purchased property, protect important wetlands and areas on scenic beauty and places of natural value. All of these are used for non - structured, passive recreation. These parcels range in size from less than two acres to much of the extensive wetlands of the Munroe Meadows, between Maple and Woburn Streets, owned by the Green and White Realty Trust, and the over 100 acres presently owned by the Pine Meadow Golf Club at the end of Cedar Street.