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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-08-BOS-min Selectmen’s Meeting August 27, 2012 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, August 27, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. in Estabrook Hall of the Cary Memorial Building. Chairman Mauger, Mr. Kelley, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Manz; Mr. Valente, Town Manager; and Ms. Chabot, Assistant to the Executive Clerk, were present. Public Comment Mr. Adler, Precinct 1, commented that the number of bicyclists traveling at a high speed on the sidewalk in the Center is a problem and suggested an occasional police presence to remind people of the bylaw. Ms. Mauger will refer Mr. Adler’s comments to Mr. Valente and The Bicycle Advisory Committee. Mr. Sullivan, Global Montello Group Corporation, appeared at a previous meeting and requested 20 minutes to give a presentation on a Community Choice Aggregation Proposal for Lexington that would help lower electric rates. He came back to tonight’s meeting to request that someone take a look at this program. Mr. Valente reported that he referred Mr. Sullivan’s request to the Energy Conservation Committee and the Committee did not feel that they had time to look at this program right now. Ms. Mauger suggested that Mr. Sullivan contact the Selectmen’s Office to coordinate a time to present his program to the Energy Conservation Committee. (It was mentioned that England and France are considered by some to be failing systems.) Selectmen Concerns and Liaison Reports Ms. Mauger reported that Dr. Ash gave an excellent presentation at the LPS Opening Day Ceremonies, looking at education in England, France and Finland. Mr. Cohen thought Dr. Ash’s comparison of the three countries in his opening remarks was very interesting and noted Dr. Ash’s comment that the US was going in the direction of England and France. Ms. Mauger reported on the Greenways Corridor Committee project creating a trail which links Diamond Middle School to the Chiesa Farm conservation land and was recently completed as an Eagle project by Drew Lapore. Also recently completed was the Conservation Stewards project creating a trail to connect the new Estabrook School site to the Paint Mine Conservation area. Ms. Mauger also noted the beautiful flower boxes at Rancatore’s Ice Cream and took a moment to recognize and thank Rancatore’s for their contribution to the community. Mr. Manz has been asked about the number of roads under construction in Town and commented on the lack of striped crosswalks in the Center. He asked whether the crosswalk warning signs can be put up again. Selectmen’s Meeting – August 27, 2012 Liquor Hearing – 20 Waltham Street – Vine Brook Tavern Restaurant Manager Mark Palmer presented the request for a new liquor license for Vine Brook Tavern located at 20 Waltham Street. Mr. Palmer plans to serve American comfort food and hopes to open in late-October. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve the application and sign a new all alcoholic restaurant liquor license to Great Road Tavern, Inc., d/b/a Vine Brook Tavern, 20 Waltham Street. Update on Across Lexington Trails and Signs Rick Adams, a member of the Greenways Corridor Committee, updated the Board on the status of the ACROSS Lexington project which will aim to connect the Center, the schools and recreation areas via walking trails and biking routes. Mr. Abrams presented maps detailing the 5.5 mile pilot route around Lexington Center and signage plan. He reviewed the approval process the Committee is currently going through with various town departments and committees and hopes to have the pilot route ready by October 15, 2012. st Approve and Sign 1 Amendment for Buckman Tavern Lease Mr. Valente explained that the Town’s 99 year lease with the Historical Society to operate the Town-owned Buckman Tavern expires on July 31, 2013. Selectman Norman Cohen, Deputy Town Manager Linda Vine and representatives of the Historical Society have negotiated a new lease, largely updating many of the provisions (insurance, improvement to the building) for the st current lease. This 1 Amendment is also for 99 years, expiring in July 2112. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the First Amendment to the Lease between the Town of Lexington and the Lexington Historical Society for the lease of the Buckman Tavern. Report on Employee Health Insurance Migration Ms. Casey, Human Resources Director, reported that effective July 1, 2012, the Town’s employee and retiree health insurance program is now part of the State’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC). When the FY2013 health insurance budget was voted by Town Meeting, it did not reflect enrollment in the GIC and the resulting savings. Town Meeting was presented with certain assumptions regarding which of the GIC health plans the Town’s employees and retirees would likely elect and the potential savings from this enrollment pattern. With the open enrollment period now completed, Ms. Casey updated the Board on the GIC enrollment choices and the impact this will have on the FY13 budget. Ms. Casey pointed out to the Selectmen that, in addition to the figures presented, approximately 65 new school employees will be joining these health plans once the School year begins. Most of these school employees will replace existing employees who will be coming off of the Town’s plans as of August 31. Selectmen’s Meeting – August 27, 2012 In May, staff had estimated that the FY 13 budget could be reduced by $3,380,000. Based on the current GIC enrollments, staff now estimates that the FY13 budget can be reduced by $4,039,000. These figures will be finalized once new school employees have completed their enrollment choices. Community Farm RFP – Next Steps At the July 30, 2012 meeting of the Board of Selectmen, the Board reviewed a draft of the Community Farm Request for Proposals (RFP). Based on the Board’s comments the draft RFP has been revised and an updated draft was presented by Mr. Addelson, Finance Director. Ms. Mauger asked Mr. Valente to post the draft RFP on the Town’s website and comments from the community would be directed to the Selectmen’s office. Mr. Addelson will wait to receive additional comments from the Selectmen, Town Counsel, and the Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources before advertising the RFP. Discuss Timing of Muzzey Senior Center Capital Improvements At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting, $561,518 was approved for Phase 1 capital improvements to the Muzzey Senior Center. The Department of Public Facilities has scheduled the hiring of an architect for this September to develop bid drawings and specifications. Given the upcoming review the Town is undertaking of the property at 33 Marrett Road, staff is suggesting deferring this work on the Senior Center until it can be determined whether the Marrett Road property will meet any of the Town’s facility needs. As that determination will likely be made by early 2012, Mr. Valente is recommending that moving forward with work at the Senior Center be reviewed again at that time. Ms. Adler, Chair Council on Aging, concurs with Mr. Valente as does Ms. Rogers, Human Services Director. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to defer the Senior Center Capital project and re-evaluate this project again in early 2013, after the evaluation of the 33 Marrett Road property is completed. Approve Assistant Manager for Omni’s Crushed Grapes and More Omni’s Crushed Grapes and More package store located at 411 Waltham Street has requested that Adam A. Der Avedisian be approved as an Assistant Manager. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve Adam A. Der Avedisian as an Assistant Manager for Omni’s Crushed Grapes and More. Selectmen’s Meeting – August 27, 2012 Discussion of Affordable Senior Housing Issues At the Selectmen’s 2012 goal-setting session, the Board discussed establishing a policy on senior housing production. Beth Rust, the Town’s Regional Housing Services Officer (who was unavailable for this meeting), has offered the following guidance:  Design – For age-restricted housing, often the units are designed with the master bedroom on the first floor, and often the units have no stairs. There are obvious trade- offs as this sort of design may have a lower height and larger footprint – thus giving the appearance of larger structures. The overall unit size is a question as well. Sometimes age-restricted housing has smaller units (700-1000 sq. ft, 2BR). They may also need to be built to include accessible features (wider doorways, etc.)  Funding – If any state or federal funds will be sought, then those sources will come with certain restrictions. DHCD has now published funding priorities for their competitive funding rounds. For seniors in Lexington (or any non-distressed or at risk neighborhoods), the units must be rented to extremely low-income persons, which is under 30% of adjusted median income (AMI). This is very low as a standard, though probably many Lexington Housing Authority tenants are at this level. If funding is all local (i.e., CPA), then all units must be rented to persons under 100% of the AMI.  Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) – It has been the Selectmen’s policy that all new affordable units must count on the SHI. We still do not have approval from the DHCD for our tenant selection requirements. Other units are marketed with requirements that do not meet the DHCD affirmative fair marketing requirements. These issues are being explored for the proposed Fairview units. If DHCD approves our process, the Town will also want to ensure that the LexHAB model does not violate any federal or state fair housing laws. Aside from the tenant selection, the SHI requirement has influence on the rents. To find out what the unmet demand for housing dedicated to seniors in Lexington is, Ms. Mauger would like to have a discussion with the Lexington Housing Authority, LexHab and the Housing Partnership at an upcoming Selectmen’s meeting. Mr. Valente added that Ms. Rust will be working out a housing production plan around the first of the year and a draft will be available for the Board to review. Mr. Adler, Precinct 1, commented that a one bedroom apartment for seniors downsizing from a house in Lexington would be inadequate. Mrs. Adler reported that the Council on Aging has discussed the issue of senior housing and noted that there are a number of long time residents who, when they have to downsize, have had to leave Lexington because there were not appropriate options in Lexington. Selectmen’s Meeting – August 27, 2012 th Approve and Sign Proclamation for Constitution Week (225 Anniversary) thrdth Constitution Week is celebrated every year from September 17 – 23. This is the 225 anniversary of the framing of the Constitution of the United States by the Constitutional Convention. th Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve and sign the 225 anniversary proclamation designating September 17 – 23, 2012 as Constitution Week. Dissolve the Estabrook School Access Ad Hoc Task Force and Ad Hoc Leary Property Community Housing Task Force Ms. Mauger thanked the committee members of both committees for their work. The Leary Committee provided a report and the Board will continue to be in contact with them as we go forward with further discussions about actual designs for affordable housing on the Leary property. Mr. Kelley asked about the status of the existing structure on the Leary Property. Ms. Mauger confirmed that the existing farm house would be demolished but we have not established the number of units for the site and need to formally ask LexHab to come back with design proposals for housing on the site. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to dissolve the Estabrook School Access Ad Hoc Task Force and the Ad Hoc Leary Property Community Housing Task Force. Future Meetings The Selectmen scheduled future meetings. Consent Agenda Water and Sewer Adjustments Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve the following adjustment of water and sewer charges: Adjustments to Water/Sewer as recommended by WSAB 7/26/12 meeting ($34,267.72) Approve One Day Liquor License – St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve a One-Day Liquor License to serve beer, wine and Ouzo at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Trivia Fundraiser on September 15, 2012 between 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. at 17 Meriam Street. Approve One-Day Liquor License – Unidine Family Day Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve a One-Day Liquor License to serve beer and wine at the Unidine Family Day on September 15, 2012 between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at 300 Shire Way. Selectmen’s Meeting – August 27, 2012 Ratify Poll Vote – One-Day Liquor License – Lexington Players Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to ratify a poll vote to approve a One- Day Liquor License to serve beer and wine at the Lexington Players Award Gala -Community Theater Event on Saturday, August 25, 2012, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Cary Hall. Ratify Poll Vote – Use of Battle Green – Hanscom Promotion Ceremony Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to ratify a poll vote to approve the use of the Battle Green for a Hanscom Promotion Ceremony and musket fire by the Lexington Minutemen on Wednesday, August 29, 2012, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Ratify Poll Vote – Use of Battle Green/Musket Fire by Lexington Minutemen Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to ratify a poll vote to approve the use of the Battle Green and musket firing by the Lexington Minutemen on Saturday, August 25, 2012, at approximately 12:30 p.m. during a tour. Ratify Poll Vote – Use of Battle Green – Acton Minutemen Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to ratify a poll vote to approve the use of the Battle Green by the Acton Minutemen and a musket firing by the Lexington Minutemen on Saturday, August 4, 2012, at approximately 1:00 p.m. for a tour for an Army Reserve Unit from Fort Devens. Approve use of Battle Green – Annual Halloween Parade Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve the use of the Battle Green for the LexFUN Annual Halloween Parade scheduled for Saturday, October 27, 2012 (rain date October 28) from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. th Approve Tree Committee Request for 300 Commemorative Tree Medallions Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve the Tree Committee’s request th to use funds from the Tree Revolving Fund to purchase 300 Anniversary commemorative tree medallions. Approve Supporting Bedford for re-election to the Boston MPO Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve supporting and nominating Bedford for re-election to the Boston MPO. Minutes Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve the minutes of July 24, 2012 and July 30, 2012. Executive Session Minutes Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve the executive session minutes of July 24, 2012 and July 30, 2012. Selectmen’s Meeting – August 27, 2012 Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 by roll call to go into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to overall collective bargaining strategy and to reconvene in Open Session only to adjourn. Further, the Chairman declared that an open meeting discussion may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the Town. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. A true record; Attest: Diana B. Chabot Assistant to the Executive Clerk