1985-02-04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING OF FEBRUARY 4, 1985 The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Offices, was called to order at 7:21 p.m. by the Chairman, Mrs. Smith, with members Cripps, Flemings and Planning Director Bowyer present. Mr. Sorensen and Mrs. Uhrig joined the meeting in progress. 32. Planning Board Budget for 1986 Fiscal Year The Board reviewed the alternative budgets, current effort and expanded effort, submitted by the Planning Department in November. Mr. Bowyer reported that Town Manager Hutchinson had recommended the current effort budget with the following changes: 1) the secretary position would be made full-time rather than having a part-time secretary and a part-time recording secretary to prepare minutes of meetings, 2) the Assistant Planner position would not be full-time but would continue at 24.5 hours on the department payroll, with additional money available in account 1090, Professional Services, to fund specific planning work such as the current arrangement for South Lexington. Mr. Bowyer commented that the amount of money is not significantly different; it appears in different accounts. At 7:30 p.m., the Planning Board recessed to meet with the Board of Selectmen in the Selectmen's meeting room to discuss the Planning Board budget. Mr. Sorensen and Mrs. Uhrig joined the meeting in the Selectmen's meeting room. In the joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen, Mrs. Smith said the amount of planning work to be done, particularly on the comprehensive plan, was such that an assistant planner would be needed full-time for the foreseeable future, at least five or six more years. It makes sense to have the position full-time in the Planning Board budget rather than annually obtaining supplementary funds from the professional services account. Mr. Hutchinson expressed concern that if there were budgetary cutbacks, it would be more difficult to reduce the hours of a full-time person than eliminating them from the professional services account and continuing the planner part-time. It was agreed by both the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen to defer to another time the discussion of an expanded scope of planning work to accelerate progress on the comprehensive plan. At 8:05 p.m., the Planning Board left the meeting with the Board of Selectmen and reconvened in Room G-15. ARTICLES FOR 1985 TOWN MEETING 33. Article 15, Congregate living: Ephraim Weiss, sponsor of a citizens article to amend the existing congregate living provisions, was present and furnished the Planning Board with a copy of the language he will present at the public hearing. Mrs. Smith explained how the Planning Board proposed to handle congregate living as part of the planned residential development provision.