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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-11-19-LCC-min.pdf LEXINGTON CENTER COMMITTEE November 19, 1987 PRESENT Chairman Battin, Mary Hastings, Carla Fortmann, Norma Bogen, Ed Barsamian, Marian Powell, Bill Bowen, Bob Ossman. Also in attendance were Joyce Miller, Conservation Commission; John Eddison, Board of Selectmen; Leo McSweeney, Board of Selectmen; Jere Frick, MAPC Rep , Mary Anne Lazarus; Meriam Hill Association; Liz Banks, Lexington Minute-Man MINUTES The minutes of the L C C meeting on October 29 , 1987, were approved as corrected. PARKING STRUCTURE PROPOSAL Mrs Battin read her letter published in the Lexington Minute-man on 11/19 , in which she had clarified and corrected the impression given in an article which had stated that the LCC would be proposing construction of a parking deck to the Board of Selectmen Mrs Battin had stressed that the LCC would be presenting the concept to the Selectmen, Planning Board and Chamber of Commerce and asking direction as to whether to proceed with any further exploration. Mr Bowen reported that David Wells of the Parking Subcommittee had met with Bob Bowyer to request information from the Planning Dept' s files on costs for parking structures Mr Bowyer had indicated that his work load was extremely heavy at this time and asked for a written outline of exactly what information was being requested Mr Wells suggested that a directive from the Selectmen to provide the data might be necessary He noted the difficulties in getting the existing information, which he estimated would involve about an hour of the Planning Director' s time Mr Eddison advised talking to Judy Uhrig, Planning Board Chairman, to request a very limited demand on Mr Bowyer' s time Mrs Battin will do so Ms Adler' s report on money available in the Parking Meter Fund for possible use for a parking structure study was noted The report contained appropriations for each year since 1983 Ms Adler will be asked to also provide figures on yearly receipts broken down by source and projected capital expenses Mrs Battin pointed out that if funds for a study are to be taken from Parking Meter revenues, it will be necessary to request that an article be inserted in the Warrant for the 1988 Town Meeting. Mary Ann Lazarus of the Meriam Hill Association voiced the Association' s opposition to a parking deck anywhere in the Center and the use of federal, state and local funds for such a purpose She felt that it would result in an increase in traffic and would impact the home-town character of the Center Carla Fortmann referred to a letter in opposition from Pat Doherty which pointed out non-parking lot options i e upgrading of LEXPRESS (cleaning , non-smoking) to encourage use and completion of the bike path. -2- Marian Powell added a suggestion for parking on Lincoln Street with shuttle buses to the Center. The Parking Subcommittee will explore this concept Mr Bowen questioned whether people would be willing to be inconvenienced by waiting for buses Norman Bogen agreed with him, feeling that shoppers would not come to the Center unless parking is provided Mrs Battin summarized the sense that the Parking Subcommittee members will proceed with efforts to meet with Bob Bowyer to explore parking structure costs on a preliminary basis The cost figures for shuttle buses from Lincoln Street will be looked into Following the meeting with Bob Bowyer, the LCC will then decide whether to ask the Selectmen, Planning Board and Chamber if the LCC should study the parking deck option in greater detail Mrs Frick reported that a Lexington resident is in the business of constructing parking garages and suggested that he be invited to an LCC meeting ART CONTEST , SCHOOLS Marian Powell reported on her meeting with Isa Zimmerman who has indicated that the art program to publicize the safety program will go forward , starting with letters to be distributed by the schools, announcing a poster contest. The students will drop off the posters at the Minute Shop by December 15 Prizes will be awarded at the Annual Chamber of Commerce meeting Mrs Powell questioned the impact of the current "work to rule" practice by teachers and whether it would interfere with the 12/15 deadline because of no after school assistance Mary Hastings will call Dr Zimmerman to ask about sending the letters to homes encouraging students to work on the posters out of school. DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE Norma Bogen reported that the D A.0 has requested a consultant to prepare a design plan for the Center The Committee Chairman, Norma Bogen, Mary Hastings and Bob Ossman of LCC will prepare a Scope of Work for the consultant which will be submitted to the Selectmen within a few weeks The Arts Counsel is still interested in placing sculpture in Emery Park The consultant will be asked for recommendations on the concept CENTER BASE MAP Bob Ossman reported that he did check with Peter Chalpin and there is no Base Map of the Center we can use He had asked if Engineering can assist with preparation of a complete base map and was told that it would not be possible One of the Engineer- ing staff-people had called him to express his willingness to do the work to gain experience, which Mr Ossman felt would be a great opportunity He suggested that a small amount be set aside to pay for the work Mr Eddison noted that he had been told by the Town Manager that any such after hours work by a Town employee was really impossible Non-Town funding i e Arts Council , Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, will be explored Mr Ossman estimated a cost of $1, 000 to $2 , 00 for the project -3- Leo McSweeney suggested that Minuteman Regional Vocational School possibly could help with the map He will pursue this option Rotary Club, Lions Club and the Chamber of Commerce will be asked to help contribute to the funding of this project CENTER CLEAN-UP EQUIPMENT Bob Ossman thinks that this project is in need of a person to be assigned for the responsibility of this area and that specific equipment i e Vac - blower is needed to do the job thoroughly The committee concurred that the appropriate DPW staff should be asked to meet with the LCC soon to discuss the needs and present problems of the cleaning of the Center and also how best the LCC could help with this ongoing situation. CROSSWALK DESIGN The present use of the glued on rubber type strips for crosswalk designation has not proved to work well Mr Ossman recommended using a template and light reflective paint - with distinction between major and minor pedestrian crosswalks as an alternative Mr Eddison said that the Town intends to get rid of these strips as soon as possible but that it is not an easy task as the strips are very difficult. to remove in certain areas Mr McSweeney reported that the new drosswalk designated for Waltham Street will use the new design Mr Bowen asked if the signs used to remind motorists of pedestrians in crosswalks and also to remind pedestrians not to jaywalk, have been successful BLUE GHOST Norma Bogen, Carla Fortmann and Marge Battin had met with the H D C , and D A C to discuss proposed location of the memorial The LCC had reached a consensus that the location of the memorial be changed so that it is located to the west side of the Visitor' s Center Mrs Battin suggested and the committee agreed to request the Selectmen to develop policy guidelines to be used in the future for the acceptance and placement of memorials on public lands or in public buildings The meeting was adjourned at 1 35 p m Respectfully submitted Marion H. Snow Audrey E Deshler