2011-11-07-WALKS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, November 7, 2011, 9 AM Ellen Stone Room, Cary Hall Present: Judy Crocker, John Davies, Lucy Fletcher- Jones, Bettina McGimsey, Francine Stieglitz, Jerry Van Hook (Chair); Liaisons: Wendy Manz (Planning Board), Hank Manz (Board of Selectmen), Marc Valenti (DPW) The meeting of the Sidewalk Committee (SWC) was called to order at 9:05 AM. 1. The minutes of the October SWC meeting were approved as amended. 2. Proposals for new sidewalks in town: The SWC has heard from a variety of communities in town regarding the need for new sidewalks. Specifically, we are waiting to hear from residents of various streets in town Winthrop Road, Hill Street, and Pleasant Street to determine where their communites are in the process of petitioning for a sidewalk. In a general discussion of the petition process, Jerry Van Hook raised the issue that premature discussions of sidewalk placement may forestall the petition process. First and foremost, abutters of a street need to agree that a sidewalk is necessary. Where the sidewalk will go ideally would be determined by Town Engineering and said determination would be based on objective factors, including easements, physical atrributes of the space, etc. Hank Manz noted that, while sidewalk placement should be a dispassionate decision based on such objective factors, this is not always the case. 3. Safe Routes to School update: Judy Crocker thanked Mark Valenti and his crew for a good job cleaning the debris from the October snow storm. Hank Manz noted that the Board of Selectmen will discuss what to do with debris at their meeting on 11/7/2011. Due to the storm, November's Turkey Trot was postponed until November 9. Ms. Crocker noted that she is working with the Facilities department on a proposal for bike racks. This will be submitted this month and ideally the areas where the bike racks would be installed would be prepared before the winter, as the bike racks will arrive in March. Ms. Crocker reported on the Estabrook Task Force. Access to Estabrook during construction will be at the Grove Street entrance. No construction vehicles will be allowed during arrival or dismissal times. There is still a question as to whether free busing will be provided to students at the school during the construction phase. Mark Valenti noted that his crew is installing the fluorescent green pedestrian signs at the crosswalk by the school on Grove Street.