2008-02-04-WALKS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Sidewalk Committee Meeting February 4, 2008 Minutes Attendance: Jerry VanHook, Sue Ellen Briggs, Olga Guttag, Wayne Brooks, Francine Stieglitz, Meg Lotz, John Davies, Richard Canale, Lucy Fletcher-Jones, Judy Crocker and Jeanne Krieger Handouts: Jerry’s letter to the Board of Selectmen and his list of priority sidewalks by elementary school from the safe routes to school committees. The December Sidewalk Committee meeting minutes were passed unanimously. The notes from the small group discussion on January 7, 2008 will be added to these minutes. Francine received a comment from a Lexington resident, Hilton Pryce Lewis, about the problem of walking along Pleasant St. This is a high priority street for the Bowman school district. The Lexington Listserve recently had much discussion about plowing the bike path. Arlington has recently begun plowing and residents are thrilled and would like Lexington to do the same. Wayne Brooks of the DPW said that Lexington currently plows 62 miles of sidewalk. This has been a difficult year to stay keep the roads and sidewalks clear. When one sidewalk plow is out of commission the schedule of clearing sidewalks cannot be maintained. This year with the DPW building under construction sand and salt is not in town. This requires trips get supplies are trouble with availability. If the town supplied him with the budget to plow the bike path he would, but right now he doesn’t have the capacity. Olga commented that Diamond students use the bike path to get to school. Judy spoke with the Diamond principal and she would rather see more sidewalks plowed than the bike path. Wayne reported on how the current budget for sidewalks has been spent. In the last 2 years there has been $300,000 for sidewalks budgeted. There is $90,000 left and it will be spent by June 2008. In next year’s budget there is $200,000 for sidewalks and $75,000 for curbing. Jeanne noted that 8-10 streets in town need major reconstruction. There will be a debt exclusion to cover the cost. Sidewalks should be part of the architecture, planning and engineering of the design. Also there should be a grass strip when possible between the road and sidewalk. Olga reported on the plan for access to Fiske school. Olga emailed the plan for access from the Fiske Condo Assoc. to Fiske school. She will seek approval of the proposed paths from the Disability Commission. Pat Goddard is ready to put this proposal to bid. Candy McLaughlin confirmed that there is money to complete this path and the woodland path ramp. There has been an agreement between the abutters to remove some trees. There is agreement to change the side of the road to park on. Olga is willing to collect comments on both paths and forward a summary to Pat Goddard.