Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969-02-03, Drug Advisory Committee origin (Selectmen's meeting, February 23, 1969) Mr. Gray said that the position of the Board is to get in touch with Mr. Taylor, The Board will make one recommendation and if they wish to come back to the Board and discuss it, come back. If not, the Board will take the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Committee. Mr. Gray informed the Board that the Sons of Italy didn't realize that the hours on Saturday would be from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m. and requests the hours of 12 Ni to 11:00 p.m. The Chairman said that the application has gone to the ABC and we will have to check with them to see if Spns of it requires another hearing. We could vote now to amend Italy the hours and check with the ABC. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to amend the hours from 4:00 to 11;00 p.m. on Saturdays to 12 N. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays on the Club Liquor License issued to the Sons of Italy. Dr. Ellicott and Sumner Perlman of the Drug Abuse Committee met with the Board. Dr. Ellicott presented a report to the Board which Drug stated that early in 1968 a group of interested citizens Abuse of the Town, at the suggestion of Dr. Fobert, formed a committee to take a unified look at the drug problem in Lexington. One purpose of the Drug Abuse Committee was to act as a clearing house for information, films, speakers, etc. relating to the drug problem. Another purpose was to determine what facilities are available for support and treatment for those involved in drug usage or potential usage. The purpose of this presenta- tion this evening is to obtain funds from the Town for a part-time Social Worker-Drug touhscillov. In addition to the salary for this person, other expenditures are a telephone and office space. The requirement for a one- year period is $7,100 which would be, Salary-$1}500; Office and Misc.-2,000; Telephone-$600. Dr. Ellicott said that we are advised by other Towns that a sort of office front would be the best place. Our problem is that young people who are invdived would not go into an authoritarian place. We would have to have an office and a social worker. We have had ten meetings with about twenty people attending and are planning programs for P.T.A. meetings. Mr. Greeley asked if he visualized there would be many contacts between the Social Worker and client? Dr. Ellicott said that the only indication is what Wakefield has done. About two and a half years ago, because of the increasing number of drug problems, a Consultant was hired; she is very busy and told us that she would get four or five phone calls from a person before meeting with him. I Mr. Greeley wondered if they would use a store front or a covert place. Dr. Ellicott said that a store front on a main street might be too open and too expensive; if we could find a home where the front room would be available. . . Mr. Greeley asked if the Visiting Nurse Association would be available? Dr. Ellicott said that they had thought about it. Mr. Greeley said that it is out of the way. Dr. Ellicott said that Mystic Valley Health and McLean Hospital have offered us a roof, but there is a certain stigma attached in going to a health agency. We have worried a lot about what to do if we run into knowledge of crime and not report it; at the front, they would try to encourage the person to pass it along to the Police. We would always have a person who would work discreetly. The Chairman said that you have on your report that Dr. Fobert instigated this. Dr. Ellicott said that he isn't the only one who felt the need. The Chairman asked if they are asking to insert this in the Warrant? Dr. Ellicott said that they had asked the School Department but they said that it couldn't be done. Mr. Perlman said that this is pretty much a problem that is not limited to kids in school; there are kids who have dropped out of school. The Chairman said that it is under the school jurisdiction. Mr. Mabee didn't think this would be an Article in the Warrant, but thought it would be under the Health Department; this is an operating type of budget thing, the Health Department is a member of this Lexington group. The Chairman asked if they were figuring on this person being an employee of the Town and we would have to rent space - a lease and under Article 4? Dr. Ellicott answered in the affirmative. The Chairman said that you know we have a tremendous space problem. Mr. Mabee asked about the Visiting Nurse Association. Dr. Ellicott said that they haven't explored this at all. Mr. Greeley asked if the youth would think of this as inhibiting, if they would think of them as gossipers? Dr. Ellicott said that most of them don't know they exist. Mr. Greeley said that it should not have an institu- tional appearance and not be on a main street. The Chairman asked if they had talked with the Board of Health? iTS j[7:3 Dr. Ellicott replied that when Dr. Cohan was alive, he talked to Mr. Heustis, but not directly to the Board. These individuals know what we are up to. Mr. Mabee felt that the Visiting Nurse Association would be the natural place to have it. The Chairman asked how it is handled now? Mr. Gray said that the Visiting Nurse gets it from the Board of Health. Mr. Legro said that the Mystic Valley Mental Health Association is an Article in the Warrant, under the jurisdiction of the Health Department; it has been carried on by recommendation of the Appropriation Committee. Dr. Ellicott said that he was surprised that they haven't been asked how big a problem this is. They have been advised by outside organizations to try to get a grant for two years, all at once, because once-polling we can keep going. The Chairman said that you can't do this for two years, we have an annual budget. I think the Board is very aware of the problem, the question is, how to imple- ment it. Dr. Ellicott said that, in Wakefield, they are not sure they have done some good as the problem is growing so fast. The Chairman advised them to discuss it with the Board of Health. Mr. Greeley said that he would like them to come back to the Board after a little more exploration with the Board of Health and the Visiting Nurse Association. The Chairman said that there was not much time. Dr. Ellicott said that the Board of Health said last spring that they didn't have the money. Mr. Mabee said that if the Board of Health sub- scr&bes to the idea that it does fall under their baili- wick and would add to their budget, this is the place to come. The Chairman said that if you approached people last spring and you don't get to the Board until February, you are putting yourself in a bad position to get the ground-work laid. We are about to sign the Warrant and you come in with a new program on February 3rd. Mr. Mabee said that there was no question but what this is a serious problem; I'm sorry that they didn't come in six months ago. Brookline had appropriated $15,000 for this and, according to an article I read, they are talking in terms of increasing it another $15,000. He added that perhaps the drug situation hits urban towns at different times and Brookline's problem was more acute but got started late. The Chairman advised Dr. Ellicott and Mr. Perlman to meet with the Board of Health, the Visiting Nurse Association and Chief Corr and come back to the Board. 174 ✓ Mr. Greeley said that he would rather it come on Town Meeting floor as an amendment to Article 4; this is an item for Town Meeting to discuss; I don't want to put another Article in the Warrant. Dr. Ellicott said that we can talk with members of the School Department. The Chairman said that the School Committee turned you down. Dr. Ellicott said that he was told that, for the present fiscal year, they can't sacrifice something else. We as much as told them that they got us into this. We will come back to the Board after talking with the Board of Health, and the Visiting Nurse Association. The Drug Abuse Committee retired. Mr. McSweeney said that he would like to discuss Woburn Street and Commissioner Ribbs. Mr. Greeley said that we have applied for a permit to open and install sewers on Woburn Street. The Chairman said that he had talked to Commissioner Ribbs and had told him that we couldn't give a bond; he said that he will accept a letter. Mr. Legro said that it was left that you were going to inquire with Commissioner Ribbs; I am a little sur- Woburn prised that he is willing to accept a letter. I don't Street think a letter is within your authority. The Chairman said that Commissioner Ribbs wanted something that we acknowledge the fact that we have a liability for damages. We have to accept the fact that there is a possibility and we have to acknowledge it to him. We will write to Commissioner Ribbs, stating that the Board has. voted to assume any additional costs to the State Department of Public Works for any delay in the start of the State' s project to reconstruct Woburn Street in Lexington, which is supported by documentary evidence due to the failure of the contractor employed by the Town of Lexington to complete his work on Woburn Street by May 15, 1969. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the-^Chaif+man to li ite d letter to Commissioner Ribbs regarding the application for a permit for the Woburn Street Sewer Construction Project. Waltham St. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to Sewer sign the Order of Construction of Sewer on Waltham Street. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to Street sign Street Orders for Bridge Street, Hillcrest Avenue Orders (from Circle Road to Albemarle Avenue. ), Manley Court, Stedman Road, Ewell Avenue, Grassland Street, Hillcrest Avenue, Vaille Avenue, Elena Road (entire length), Sander- son Road (turn-around at the southeasterly end) .