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Selectmen’s Meeting February 9, 2009 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, February 9, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen Meeting Room, Town Office Building. Chairman Cohen, Mrs. Krieger, Mr. Kelley, Mr. Manz, Mr. Burnell; Mr. Valente, Town Manager; and Ms. Pease, Executive Clerk, were present. Public Comment BAE Systems presented a donation of $17,000 to Chief Middlemiss for the Lexington Fire Department to use for purchasing an Advanced Accountability and Safety Monitoring System. Selectmen Concerns and Liaison Reports The Lexington Symphony had a wonderful concert on Saturday night. Town Manager Report Mr. Hadley, DPW Director, updated the Selectmen on the Snow and Ice Budget. There have been 10 plow operations and 5 sanding operations. It has snowed about 55 inches so far. Snow in the center has been cleared twice. The total spent so far is approximately $850,000. Mr. Valente reported that the Town is preparing to do a bond issue and as part of the process Moody’s has to prepare a revised bond rating report. Moody’s has reaffirmed Lexington’s Aaa bond rating and the draft report comments on progress the town has made in rebuilding its reserves back from 2005 when it had modest reserves. Mr. Valente reminded the Selectmen of the Summit to be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. with the School Committee, Appropriations and Capital Expenditure Committees. The group will look at how the School Department and Municipal Departments propose to close the gap identified for the FY2010 budget and hopefully come to a consensus. Later in this meeting the proposed budget reductions for the municipal side will be discussed. Great Meadows Presentation Mr. Bartenstein presented the 2008 Annual Report of the Friends of Arlington’s Great Meadows. Friends has completed its 7th full year as stewards of the 183 acres owned by Town of Arlington but located within Lexington. Highlights of 2008 which are included in the report: spring fire that burned 7 acres and the aftermath including a meeting with Lexington Fire Department to plan some trail clearing; study by the Massachusetts Audubon Society of possible habitat restoration in certain areas where previously open grassland has begun to fill in with invasive tall shrubs and trees; study of fireflies whose numbers are dwindling; and exciting new developments in controlling Japanese knotweed.