2007-10-01-WALKS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes October 1, 2007 Present: Olga Guttag, John Davies, Meg Lotz, Judy Crocker, Wayne Brooks, Jerry Van Hook, Sue Ellen Briggs, Jeanne Krieger, Francine Stieglitz, Richard Canale, Dave Pinsonnault, Marianne Lazarus, Lucy Fletcher-Jones The first item was to approve the September Sidewalk Committee Minutes. This was done with a unanimous vote. The next item was to explain how to handle clearing brush, tree limbs or other obstructions from the public sidewalks. First the DPW is notified of a problem area. All are welcome to report obstructions to the DPM by calling 781-862-0500 x252 and leaving a message or by email dpinson@ci.lexington.ma.us . The DPW will investigate the obstruction. If the shrubs are growing from a homeowner’s property they will send a letter to the homeowner asking them to clear the obstruction and outlining the consequences of not getting the work done. If the homeowner doesn’t do the work the DPW will do it and send the bill to the homeowner. After the letter is sent the DPW waits two weeks to see if the work gets done. In the seven years that Dave has been handling these issues only once has the DPW had to do the work. The DPW does send out about 6 letters per year asking residents to clear a path. Francine will send a letter/reminder to the Minuteman about the responsibility we all have to keep our sidewalks clear. Meg reported on the progress of making walking safer to and from Hastings School. The Traffic Safety Officer, Lieutenant Michael O’Connell has approved the request for No Parking signs on Roosevelt Ave. This request has been sent to the Traffic Safety Committee. Wayne reported that there is room on Roosevelt for a sidewalk on the side of the street without fire hydrants and utility poles. He estimates this project to cost $7- 10,000. The next step is to do an official land survey of the area at a cost of $1200. Then the area would be marked off and residents would be informed. Public meetings would be held to discuss the project. Meg reported that Hastings has decided not to move the crossing guard from School St. Hank Manz is looking into a “ghost street” that connects Ellison St. to the Hastings fields. Jerry will contact Hank to find out more details. There was much discussion over the ramp at Fiske. Wayne reported that the proposed Fiske ramp to allow wheeled connection to the school from the Woodland Road path is now planned as an “S” ramp. The straight ramp design was rejected because the Porter Lane neighbors next to the school agreed to the placement of the school if trees would be planted between their property and the school. The straight ramp design would have to remove the trees. The “S” curve design is impossible for the town to plow in the winter with their new snow plows. The school committee negotiated a $500,000 budget from the