1990-01-BOS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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r mhl SELECTMEN'S MEETING January 29, 1990 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, January 29, 1990, in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 p.m. Chairman Eddison, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Dailey, Mr. McSweeney; Mr. White, Town Manager; Ms. Radway, Asst. to the Town Manager; Mrs. Snow, Executive Clerk, were present. SKATEBOARDING AREA Mr. Eddison referred to the request of the Recreation Committee for a designated area for skateboarders to meet problems related to this activity in Lexington Center and elsewhere in Town. The Committee had found an appropriate paved site on the High School grounds and near the Center, at the back entrance to the Student Parking lot where there are no neighbors close enough to be impacted by noise and felt that if approval could be gained, that site would be worth trying. Mrs. Marshall, Chairman of the Recreation Committee, was present. Mr. White said that because the area is within School boundaries, the School Committee's permission must be gained, in addition to authorization for the use by the Selectmen. The Manager referred to the question of the Town's liability in the case of injuries to skateboarders, and saw the activity as an additional risk to the Town which would require payment of higher insurance premiums. Mr. White reported that Police Chief Furdon had no objection to skateboarding from a recreational standpoint. There was discussion on the actual degree of danger in skateboarding as opposed to other athletic activities and why the Town would be placed any more at risk than with other sports played on Town owned land. There were several skateboarders present who spoke of the comparative safety of the sport as compared with others such as Lacrosse and football, and reported that they had not been injured in the several years they had been involved in the activity. The Selectmen were not in favor of supplying any equipment such as ramps if the area is approved. Mr. White was asked to discuss the matter with the Superintendent of Schools and the School Committee, adding an additional potential location of one can be located. Mr. Marshall asked that the Police be requested not to unnecessarily restrict the skateboarders if they are not causing any adverse impact to the neighborhoods in the vicinity. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Town Manager to pursue the matter of locating a skateboarding area, within the framework described above. APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE PROJECTIONS Michael O'Sullivan, Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, distributed his Committee's data on "Preliminary Appropriation Committee Revenue Projections ", showing projected receipts, free cash available funds, and available revenues, and taking into account a 5% decrease in the Cherry Sheer receipts. After including amounts for water & sewer enterprise, Pine Meadows debt and the proposed recreation enterprise, the Committee had concluded that there will be deficit of $169,801, in FY91, and even bleaker picture than the Town Manager had predicted.