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Town Manager continued from previous page Transportation • LEXPRESS service has resumed in a reduced capacity through private donations and without the use of tax levy subsidies. • Chair Car service eliminated. • Coordination of transportation demand management and alternative transportation services eliminated. Information about transportation options is available at the Town website, the Senior Center, the Library, and service counters at Town Hall. Recreation • Athletic field lining program from DPW eliminated. Users may contract out /pay for services. This will affect school interscholastic athletic programs and recreation users. • Playground and park safety inspections done by DPW reduced. • Park and athletic facility maintenance program from DPW reduced with mowing, trimming, and general maintenance less frequent. • Reduction of school department custodians impacted evening and weekend recreation and community programs from September through June. Social Services • Eliminated Wayside Replace services including youth and family mental health counseling, peer mentoring pro- grams, and prevention programs for substance abuse, domestic violence, bullying, and other issues. This will directly affect service calls to the Police Department. • Eliminated town contribution to CMARC straining the local agency that serves citizens who are developmentally and physically disabled and possibly resulting in elimina- tion of services. • Reduced Social Worker presence at the Senior Center will mean delayed response time to people with social service needs. Planning • Fewer long -term planning products and special studies. • Delayed implementation of the Comprehensive Plan resulting in delayed response for issues surrounding trans- portation and land use concerns. • Appointments now required for questions about subdivi- sion of lots, the status of streets, and interpretation of reg- ulations, or interest in an element of the Comprehensive Plan. Reduced analytical and technical skills. Statutory support to Town Meeting for technical analysis, hearing, and report preparation on warrant articles reduced in depth, quality, and quantity. Community Development (includes Board of Appeals, Building Inspection, Conservation, Health, Historic Districts, and Zoning) • All mosquito - control programs designed to protect the community against Encephalitis eliminated. • Some health screening and health promotion programs, flu clinics, and immunization efforts, including checks for diabetes, drop -in high blood pressure, and high cholesterol eliminated. • Most animal control efforts eliminated. Police and the Health Director will perform only emergency response for animal control issues. • Ability to serve customers reduced, resulting in increased response time for permit customers and other business with- in the Community Development department. Response to phone inquiries delayed. Staff support to regulatory boards also reduced, placing greater burden on volunteers and decreasing staff analysis of regulatory decisions. General Government (includes Board of Selectmen, Town Manager, Treasurer /Tax Collector, Assessor, Town Clerk and MIS) Treasurer /Tax Collector — Increased response time in answering telephone and in- person inquiries associated with the activities of the office. Callers will be asked to leave a message until a staff person is available. Persons making in- person payments are encouraged to utilize the drop box in front of Cary Hall or to mail their payments. Assessors — Recent personnel reductions have forced the office to investigate the use of self- service tools in order to provide quality property valuations. Self- service methods include: a mail slot for drop -offs, online and kiosk access for Vision Real estate system, and online forms. — Telephone calls addressed secondarily to counter inquiries. Callers will be asked to leave a message. Messages will be returned as soon as a staff person is available. — Copies of deeds no longer available. All requests will be referred to the South Middlesex Registry of Deeds. — Requests for written or printed information must be submitted by mail (not by fax) accompanied by check. Information will be available for pickup within ten days. Town Manager — Economic Development Office eliminat- ed; limited economic development to be performed via the Town Manager's Office. Town Clerk — Fish and Wildlife Licensing services discon- tinued. — Support to Town Meeting reduced. — Records Management initiatives reduced, jeopardizing permanent archival records. — Telephone response and replies delayed. — Public Notary eliminated. Citizens will need to find private notaries. Page 8 2003 Annual Report, Town of Lexington