2014-04-07-WALKS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, April 7, 2014, 9 AM Selectmen's Meeting Room Present: Jeanne Canale, Judy Crocker, Mary Hosmer Fanucci, Bettina McGimsey, Francine Stieglitz; Liaisons present: Elaine Celi, Tim Dunn, Marc Valenti; Visitor: Craig Weeks Judy Crocker called the meeting of the Sidewalk Committee (SWC) to order at 9:10 AM. She began the meeting with a welcome to Tim Dunn who will now be the Planning Board liaison to the SWC. 1.Review of the February 3 and 24 minutes: Minutes were approved as amended. A brief discussion ensued regarding the Prospect Hill sidewalk petition. In 2007-2008 money had been approved to fund a sidewalk, but it was never used for that purpose. In this current round of discussion, Marc Valenti has received a number of calls from residents who are concerned about which side of the road the sidewalk would be placed, particularly regarding stone walls and trees. Bettina McGimsey raised the question as to why residential plot plans show only the plot boundaries, as opposed to the lot in relation to the street so that residents would know what part of their lot is their property and what belongs to the Town. 2.DPW Updates: Mr. Valenti reported that his department is currently in the process of being accredited by the American Public Works Association. In terms of maintenance work, his crew will work on line striping in preparation for Patriots Day celebrations. Crosswalks include those along Mass Ave from Pleasant to Harrington, as well as Hancock, Worthen, and Waltham. The crosswalk at Independence and Mass Ave has been redone. They are also working on brick paver maintenance. After Patriots Day they will begin work on the northern side of Forest Street and will rebuild the ramps at the intersection of Muzzey and Forest to correct their orientation. Work will continue on the Lincoln pathway - they will remove the existing pathway to change elevations to deal with drainage issues. Work will continue up to Baskin Road and out to Middleby. They will do surface restoration prior to the final asphalt course. An erosion mat from the path up to Lincoln Field will be installed to deal with the runoff coming from the top of the hill. The path from Worthen Road into Lincoln Park will be redone in the future. Mr. Valenti also reported that the sidewalk on Turning Mill from Robinson Road would be rebuilt. They will trim overgrown hedges, with the understanding that residents will maintain the trimming in the future. The sidewalk on Robinson Road will be done in conjunction with the rebuilding of the road. Calls have also been received regarding the sidewalk on Mass Ave near Woburn Street. That sidewalk is part of the Center streetscape project and will be redone when that is implemented. Construction is expected in FY2016. 3.Correspondence:Francine Stieglitz noted that the SWC received an email from Erin Malone at 84 North Street. She is interested in a sidewalk along North Street as well as other safety options. Ms. Stieglitz sent her the SWC petition forms and information on how to contact TSAC for the safety options. 4.Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and Ad hoc School Transportation and Safety Study Committee (STS): STS has completed its mandate and will present its report to the School Committee and other groups in the near future and to the Board of Selectmen after Town Meeting. The work begun by the committee will continue by school administration and the Dept of Facilities, with the School Committee considering the School Transportation Mitigation Policy in May, school zone signage being addressed by DPW later in the fall, and infrastructure improvements for the schools being considered for the future in two-year cycles. Clarke is already in the design phase, with Bridge and the High School currently in the process of beginning their design studies. In the future, each school will have an infrastructure design study done. STS has recommended that quarterly meetings be held between LPS, Town Engineering, and DPW to ensure that these departments continue to communicate regarding these issues. Mr. Valenti noted that his department has done a regulatory sign inventory and has removed the major