1988-07-BOS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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SELECTMEN'S MEETING July 14, 1988 An adjourned session of the July 13, 1988 regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Thursday, July 14, 1988, at 20 Nickerson Road, Lexington, at 7 :00 p.m. Chairman Smith, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Eddison, Mr. Dailey, Mr, McSweeney; Mr. white, Town Manager, Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mrs. Snow, Executive Clerk, were present. TOWN ELECTION Mrs. Smith noted the need for the Board's action on a vote to call an election for decision on an override of Proposition 2 as expressed in the vote of Town Meeting approving purchase of the Pine Meadows Golf Course. She noted that four affirmative votes would be required to do So. Motion was made and seconded to call a Town Election on Wednesday, August 17, 1988, to vote on the following question: "Shall the Town of Lexington be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one -half, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds to be issued in order to purchase (i) the land shown as Lot 63 on Assessors' Property Map 66 and (ii) the land shown as Lot 64 on Assessors' Property Map 66, which bonds were authorized by a vote passed at the July 13, 1988 Special Town Meeting?" YES No Mr Dailey referred to his previous statement that he would not support an effort to override Proposition 2 for other than funding of basic services and said that his position had not changed on the matter. He noted the possible need for overrides to meet necessary Town expenses as has happened in other Massachusetts towns and felt that it would be difficult to get the approval of the voters for a series of overrides. He expressed his request for the views of other members but foresaw financial difficulties for the Town in the future. Mr. Marshall stated that he would vote to call an election on an override. He respected the opinion expressed by Mr. Dailey but felt that the purchase of the land was an unusual case and well worth the effort form a long range point of view. He, as well as Mr. Dailey, saw possible trouble ahead relative to the limits of Proposition 2 but felt comfortable about the immediate future. He saw increasing pressure in the State Legislature to allow local taxing options to towns which would relieve the situation for communities such as Hull and others cited by Mr. Dailey which are now having difficulties under 2 He restated his support for outright purchase of Pine Meadows with an election on an override as an appropriate step in the procedure. Mrs. Smith said she also was sympathetic with Mr. Dailey's views and shared his concerns regarding subsequent overrides but felt it necessary to support the override election so as not to disenfranchise the voters of Lexington. She had hopes that the public will become educated on the issues faced by towns under 2� and would agree to future overrides if needed for town services.