HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-02-WALKS-min
Lexington Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, June 2, 2014, 9 AM
Selectmen's Meeting Room
Present: Judy Crocker, Bettina McGimsey, Sean Osborne, Francine Stieglitz,; Liaisons present: Elaine Celi,
Marc Valenti; Visitors: Bonnie Brown, Hank Manz, Craig Weeks
Judy Crocker called the meeting of the Sidewalk Committee (SWC) to order at 9:10 AM.
1.DPW Update: Marc Valenti reported on the following sidewalk projects:
Forest Street: Sidewalks will be replaced on the northern side of the street. ADA ramps are being
rebuilt at Muzzey/Forest Streets. Started at Clarke and Forest on the ramps. There is a tree in the
way at the pool corner side of Clarke/Forest. May wait to do that part of the sidewalk until Clarke
Street is done. To do the southern side of Forest, DPW may have to request easements to do all lots.
Engineering will need to look into this.
East Street sidewalk: Will be seeded.
Lincoln pathway: The work on the pathway has had good results: no puddles, no residue runoff; the
grade improvements have helped to channel water. The rest of the pathway will be worked on after
July. Craig Weeks noted that one section of the path ices over - the area that is parallel to the home
plate on the way towards Worthen. He also noted that the contractor left black plastic erosion
barriers. Mr. Valenti said that the plastic should be biodegradable, but he will check into this.
Muzzey Street: Phase 2 between Raymond and Forest will happen over the summer.
Diamond Rotary: Will be redone over the summer and sidewalks will be renewed.
Bedford Street: Sidewalks from Revere Street to the bike path will also be redone as part of the
roadway construction program.
Mr. Valenti also noted that he met with John Livsey and Bill Scarpacci from the engineering company
that provides the pavement management system for the Town. They are discussing integrating sidewalks
into the pavement analysis, which would provide an objective view with a survey of the conditions of
sidewalks. The cost of such an assessment is at this point unclear. Presumably a small portion of the
$400,000 allotted to sidewalk maintenance could be used. An additional factor that needs to be
considered when thinking of sidewalk repair is the frequency with which sidewalks are used - those
sidewalks that should be repaired are those where pedestrians most frequently walk. For example, the
sidewalk on Turning Mill gets less use than sidewalks in town. Mr. Valenti would like to make this part
of the overall assessment. A matrix that prioritizes condition and level of pedestrian traffic could be
developed. Ms. Crocker noted that the manual inventory of sidewalks was one of the first things that
Safe Routes to School and the SWC had done. It was inevitable that this would eventually be done
electronically. Mr. Valenti noted that the goal of this is to get an objective viewpoint from an outside
professional. Bettina McGimsey raised the point that the current inventory of sidewalks also includes
streets that do not currently have sidewalks but may need them. It will be important that this information
does not get lost. The current sidewalk inventory needs to be kept as an archival document.
Discussion turned to Hill Street. Mr. Valenti noted that the repaving of Hill Street has been pushed off
until next year to be done in conjunction with Revere Street, which will be done after the culvert near the
bike path is rebuilt. It may be too late for petitioners to put in a petition for a sidewalk on Hill Street to
coincide with the repaving of the road.
School zone signage improvement work is currently in Phase 1, which is regulatory sign inventory (stop
signs, do not enter signs, school zone signs). This should be completed by the start of school in the fall
of 2014. Ms. Crocker expressed thanks for the extra no parking signs on Brookside near Clarke Middle
School. She noted that the ticketing incident at Clarke has been discussed by the Board of Selectmen but
not yet by the School Committee.
2.LPS Transportation Update:
Elaine Celi reported that currently 2807 children are enrolled to ride the bus with 234 of them coming
from Estabrook. It was hoped that the Estabrook number would have increased given that there will be
no queuing on Grove Street. However, the communication with Estabrook families did not occur in a
timely manner.
Ms. Crocker also reported on Bike Walk n' Bus Week which was a success, with a number of people
visiting the Discovery Bus. She also reported that Lexington High School's marketing class has done a
project on alternative ways for children to get to school. LPS Transportation will figure out how to use
this to promote the various ways to get to school - perhaps on LexMedia or via a poster at Kindergarten
orientation.
Later in the meeting discussion turned again to Estabrook traffic and transportation. The question
discussed was how the transportation patterns at the school would affect its potential status as LEED-
certified school. Mr. Weeks noted that if the School Committee approves the traffic mitigation policy,
schools must adhere to the policy. Hank Manz noted that some residents felt that there was an
inadequate window into the transportation planning process at Estabrook. Ms. Crocker noted that the
policy needs to be approved before Town Meeting appropriates funds for the projects to allow the
various schools to come up to code.
3.Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Update: Ms. Crocker reported on a number of issues:
The final SRTS walk was held in May and coincided with MA Walk to School Day. A number of
new volunteers have joined the various schools' SRTS committees.
SmartBike for 5th graders was piloted - over 20 students attended. The hope is that this will be
incorporated into wellness programs from elementary school to middle school. At the high school
there is renewed interest in biking. Important to have a uniform bike policy and bike racks, perhaps
some being covered. Abe Benghiat has done work on the LHS bike program.
4.Correspondence Log: Francine Stieglitz reported on the following correspondence:
An East Emerson resident wants to repave a driveway with stone pavers and asked about the
regulations for sidewalk and driveway aprons. Ms. Stieglitz sent this question to Mr. Valenti who
will contact this resident. Mr. Valenti noted that he recommends that if a resident wants to do a
driveway and apron with pavers, the sidewalk should be done with the material that the Town uses,
as the sidewalk is Town property. The Town is generally responsible for the area from the back of
the sidewalk to the gutter. At times due to drainage or ADA compliance issues, the Town may need
to go utilize some of the area in a person's driveway.
A resident at 18 Prospect Hill Road has concerns about the potential of a new sidewalk. Ms. Crocker
referred him to the SWC minutes when this sidewalk was discussed as well as suggested that he talk
to the PH petition group. It was noted that consideration of the Prospect Hill sidewalk has been
postponed until the Bridge School engineering study will be done. This engineering study will
include opportunities for public input. Engineering is aware that some members of the surrounding
neighborhood want a sidewalk on Prospect Hill. It was noted that the PH petitioners' group is ready
to go to Town Meeting for funding for a feasibility study for the sidewalk. Mr. Valenti will contact
Engineering to clarify what is going on with this issue. In the meantime, the crosswalk at Wachusett
and Prospect Hill should be completed before school starts in the fall.
5.Open Meeting Law Review
Regarding the use of technology and off-site attendance of meetings: It is possible to phone into
meetings, but the acoustics need to be such that everyone, including any audience members, can hear.
There is no guarantee that such technology exists - it is up to the chair of the committee to determine
whether or not the technology is working.
No discussion or deliberation is allowed when using email. Email should be used only for
clarification purposes.
Regarding the Lexington yahoo groups: Committee members should not post to these lists in terms
of how the SWC deliberates.
6.Summer Committee Schedule:The SWC will not meet over the summer. Will convene September 8,
2014.
7.Committee Membership
Jerry Van Hook is still a standing member of the committee. Once he resigns, this will open up a
spot on the committee.
Safe Routes still needs a coordinator. The scope of the role has moved beyond the SWC. Question
is whether it should be removed from the SWC charge and then have the Safe Routes coordinator
serve as a liaison to the SWC.
8.Review of the May minutes: The minutes were approved as amended.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:06 AM. The next meeting of the Sidewalk Committee will be September 8,
2014, at 9 AM in the SMR.
Respectfully submitted by,
Bettina McGimsey