HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-07-BOS-minSelectmen's Meeting
July 11, 2005
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held Monday, July 11, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. in
the Selectmen's Meeting Room. Chairman Krieger, Mr. Kelley, Mr. Pagett, Mr. Cohen, Mr.
Manz; Mr. Valente, Town Manager; and Ms. Manning, Clerk were present.
Selectmen Concerns and Liaisons
Acting Town Manager /Town Manager
Each member of the Board said a few words of thanks and commended Ms. Vine for the work
she did while holding the position of Acting Town Manager.
Next each member of the Board welcomed Carl Valente, Town Manager, and expressed how
they each look forward to working with him.
Tree Committee Grant
Mrs. Krieger told the Board she has been contacted by members of the Tree Committee. The
committee is requesting that the Board support the Tree Committee's application for a grant from
the Urban Forestry Administration. The grant would enable the committee to continue the tree
inventory program.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the request of the Tree
Committee to support the committee's application to the Urban Forestry Administration.
LexFest
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to support LexFest by taking out a full -page
ad in the LexFest brochure.
Consent Agenda
Hanscom -BRAC
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to ratify the poll vote of June 29, 2005, to
approve and authorize the Chair to sign a letter to Anthony Principi, Chairman, Base
Realignment and Closure Commission.
Letter of Support — Freedom's Way
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to ratify the poll vote authorizing the Chair
to sign and send a letter of support to the Freedom's Way Heritage Association.
Waiver of Noise By -Law
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to ratify the poll vote taken on Friday, July
1, 2005 waiving the Noise By -Law in the area of Clarke Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue
between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. during the week of July 5.
Selectmen's Meeting — July 11, 2005
2004 Flag Day Recipient
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the request of the Town
Celebrations Committee to sign a letter to present the 2004 Flag Day flag to Ms. Doherty.
Mr. Pagett thanked the Town staff for getting the Water /Sewer Report posted on the Town's web
site in such a timely fashion. He also thanked David Kaufman for setting up a link from the
TMMA site to this report.
Commitments and Adjustments of Water and Sewer Charges for Consent Agenda
Bill Hadley, Director of Public Works Department, informed the Board that while preparing
documentation for the auditors his staff discovered that the Board had not signed the
Commitments and Adjustments of Water /Sewer Charges from February 2005. He is asking the
Board to sign them tonight.
Mr. Hadley also explained that some of the adjustments are for 2003 and 2004 water bills. At
this time he is unable to determine what portion of the commitments /adjustments are for 2005.
However, DPW staff along with finance department staff is working on answering that question
for the auditors.
Mr. Pagett asked for time line on when Mr. Hadley would report back to the Board with
clarification on this. Mr. Hadley hopes to have an answer for the Board at its August 1, 2005
meeting.
Mr. Pagett said he would like the Board to have this information before the Board sets water and
sewer rates for the next year.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the following water/ sewer
adjustments and commitments:
Commitment of Water /Sewer Charges from 11/1/04 to 11/30/04 (Cycle 9)
$167,369.78
Adjustments of Water /Sewer Charges for the period from 1/1/05 to 1/31/05
- $509,156.45
Adjustments of Water /Sewer Charges for the period from 2/1/05 to 2/28/05
- $551,951.37
Waltham Street and Marrett Road Traffic Signals
Mr. Hadley introduced representatives from Mass Highway and its consultant, Vanasse Hangen
Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) who are here tonight to present their strategy for Public Participation
regarding Mass Highway's proposal to replace the signals and to upgrade the geometrics of the
intersection of Marrett Road and Waltham Street.
Marilyn Scheffler, from Mass Highway, began the presentation by saying that tonight she and
representatives from VHB are here seeking input from the Board on the public process and to
help develop a game plan to present to Mass Highway that gives some assurances that abutters
will let the project go forward.
Selectmen's Meeting — July 11, 2005
Ms. Scheffler introduced John Bouchard, from VHB, who gave an overview of the conceptual
plan Mass Highway would like to develop.
The changes to the intersection include widening the two roads, which would include the taking
of land from the gas stations at the intersection, dedicated left turn lanes in three directions, and
prohibiting backing out of the Marrett Square parking lot. Doing this will eliminate five parking
spaces from in front of the strip of stores on Marrett Road.
At the end of the presentation the Board discussed the proposal. Concerns raised during the
discussion were impact to businesses at the intersection, the entrance and exit pattern for Dunkin
Donuts, and the absence of a left lane turn lane in one direction.
VHB representatives responded to these concerns and took questions from the audience. Lisa
Baci asked about pedestrian crossing at the intersection. David Greenberg, VHB, said there
would be 120 - second cycle that will fluctuate depending on traffic volume. Mr. Lazarus asked if
anything would be done to prohibit traffic from cutting through the gas station to avoid the traffic
light. Mr. Greenberg said the gas station is currently planning a reconstruction project and
suggests that the Planning Board address that issue with the business owner.
Mrs. McKenna suggested that Mass Highway coordinate with the group currently working on the
Marrett Road /Spring Street intersection. She also asked if Mass Highway would be offering any
funding for signage at the intersection.
Ms. Scheffler responded by saying she has already been contacted by the consultant working on
the Spring Street intersection and funding for signs could be available if the signage conforms to
Mass Highway standards.
Mrs. Krieger said the real subject tonight was the one of public process. Her understanding is
that the process Mass Highway is proposing involves two stages. First a meeting with the
abutters and secondly to hold a more broad based hearing.
Mrs. Krieger suggested that depending on how the abutters meeting goes there may be a need for
the design team to come back before either the Board of Selectmen or the Planning Board.
Ms. Scheffler said although some of the businesses will suffer some negative impact, the overall
goal of the proposal is to maximize the health, safety and welfare of those that use this
intersection.
Ms. Scheffler said Mass Highway is hoping to solicit some help from the Board regarding the
most effective way to meet with abutters.
Mr. Kelley suggested that Mass Highway contact each abutter and invite then to a workshop to
discuss Mass Highways plans. Mr. Kelley believes these meetings would give Mass Highway
the opportunity to understand the individual needs of each business.
Selectmen's Meeting — July 11, 2005
Ms. Scheffler asked if they could expect the support of the Department of Public Works and the
Engineering Department. Would these departments be willing to work as a team with the
consultants? Mrs. Krieger said that the Town would commit the support of those departments.
LexMedia FY05 Appropriation
Ms. Vine, Assistant Town Manager, told the Board that Town Meeting established a revolving
account to fund local access public educational, and governmental (PEG) programming. This
action authorizes the Communications Advisory Committee, with the approval of the Board of
Selectmen, to spend up to $400,000 annually. The revolving account is funded by payments to
the Town under licensing agreements with cable television companies. The limitation on funds
makes it difficult to get the endeavor off the ground during its first year. As a result, Ms. Vine
has encumbered $150,000 from FY05 for the base operating and start up costs. This money will
be used for replacing aging production equipment and possible build up of studio space.
Upon motion duly made and seconded it was voted to appropriate $150,000 from the FY05 PEG
account for the base operating and start up costs for LexMedia.
Appoint Assistant Manager — Not Your Average Joes
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve Garrett Williams as an Assistant
Manager at Not Your Average Joes.
Appoint Acting Comptroller
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Laurie Dell' Olio as Acting
Comptroller.
FY 07 Street Acceptance Schedule
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the FY 07 Street Acceptance
Schedule as drafted by the Engineering Department.
Appointment of Election Officers
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint the Election Officers as shown on
the list of Election Officers as provided by the Town Clerk for the period beginning September
1, 2005.
Selectmen's Ad Hoc Financial Policy Committee
Mrs. Krieger has not been able to collect resumes from all of the proposed members and hopes
that the Board will be able to appoint the members at the Board's August 1, 2005 meeting.
Selectmen's Meeting — July 11, 2005
Compensation Increase — Selectmen's Office
Upon motion duly made and seconded it was voted to offer a 4% step increase and 2% cost of
living increase to the Executive Clerk and to offer a 2% cost of living increase to the
Administrative Assistant.
Minutes
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the June 27, 2005
as corrected.
Executive Session Minutes
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of April 25, 2005,
May 2, 2005, and May 16, 2005.
Mr. Pagett had a question regarding the minutes of the April 13, 2005, that will be discussed
during executive session.
David Kanter, Appropriations Committee, asked what the process was for making Selectmen's
meeting minutes available to the public in electronic form.
Mrs. Krieger said at this point there is no process in place. However, currently Town staff is
working on putting the minutes on the Town web site and hopefully this will begin shortly after
Labor Day.
Mr. Kanter asked that in the meantime these minutes be made available to his committee
electronically as soon as possible.
Executive Session
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted by roll call Mr. Cohen, Mr. Kelley, Mr.
Pagett, Mr. Manz and Mrs. Krieger to go into executive session for the purpose of potential
litigation, with no intent to return to open session.
A true record, Attest:
Lori Manning
Clerk