2006-02-10-NAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEETING MINUTES Article 40 ad hoc Committee February 10, 2006 A duly posted meeting of the Article 40 ad hoc Committee held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, was called to order at 7:30 a.m. by Acting Chairman Ingrid Klimoff with members Judy Crocker, Tom Diaz, Derek Fullerton, Jeanne Krieger, Sheryl Mason, Jim Sheehy, Jim Wilson, and Tony Galaitsis (initially scheduled to be absent from the meeting), and citizen David Eagle present. Acting chair Ingrid Klimoff called for a round of introductions for the benefit of Ann Kelly. The 1/12/06 minutes were reviewed, and accepted after minor corrections. The meeting continued with a brief discussion of the state law and a short review of the items voted during the 1/12/06 meeting. ?? Ann Kelley commented on the need for clarification of the word “unnecessary [idling]” and on a clear definition of what and when certain operations should be exempted from the state law or a town by-law. She suggested that the Committee contact Arlington because they may already have such a bylaw. Derek Fullerton indicated that he did not think any town had an anti-idling by-law. Jeanne Krieger said that this issue may be addressed over the next year, when the Committee considers whether to bring a bylaw to the 2007 Town Meeting. ?? Ann Kelly also touched upon the current 5-minute idling limit, commenting that some call for a 10-min limit, many states already have a 3-minute limit, and there are discussions (by whom?) about a 1-minute limit. She added that in all cases the police can have some lee-way in interpreting the law. Jeanne Krieger emphasized the need for clarity in the event of a bylaw. ?? Ingrid Klimoff reiterated the committee’s position that violations of any future anti- idling by-law, if any, will be handled as civil rather than criminal offenses, and asked for clarification of the difference between civil and criminal offenses. Derek Fullerton cited vehicular speeding as an example of a civil offense. Sheryl Mason cited driving without a license as an example of a criminal offense. ?? Ingrid Klimoff reiterated that the committee will consider the wording for such a bylaw, if any, next year. The committee concurred. A discussion of the engine-idling surveys conducted by high school students followed. ?? Tom Diaz reported that the measurements were conducted by 8 students, and suggested they should acknowledged, in addition to receiving community service points for their work. Some students had surveyed for 4 weeks some still had some hours to go. Tom Diaz said that Hastings, Bridge, Bowman and Estabrook offered good environments for the surveys; Harrington and Fiske not deemed typical because 1