HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-05-15-CONCOM-min.pdf .,cam`. � S "'7170'0'
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�.. town of tj” zagton, massachusetts
=Oo a - 1ON COMMISSION
MINUTES of Commission. meeting May 15, 1972.
The meeting was called to order at 8 03 p.m. by the Chrman, "
;Dr. Kassler, with other Commission Members Mr. Cohen ane Mesdames
Frick and Pease and Mr. Mazerall (ex-officio) present. Others SF
present were Dr. Friedman, Mesdames Nichols and Solomon and ReneAsp
3 '#':
°..Cochun, League of Women Voters observer. a� Ni
EE ecuti.on of Federal Contract for Grant (HUD) Mr. Cohen noted 0641W4
e had. received nearly all the necessary papers from the Town 4. X4. 3
h
Mr. :Cohen was absent briefly to see Town Counsel at the Select;iei
meeting. Town Counsel delivered the necessary papers at the e.4;;'
of the Commission meeting, at which time all Commission members
present, signed an agreement for restriction of transfer of land
or interest, which will be recorded by Town Counsel. (Contract
is for $39,000 grant for reimbursement on purchase of Drummer
Boy, Wilson, Frissore and Soule. ) Mrs. Frick will transmit the
agreement to Town Counsel tomorrow so that he can sign he Opinion
of Counsel; Executed contract, etc will be delivered to HUD
Wednesday by Dr Kassler and Mr Cohen
Benort of Meeting with Mr. Kenney. Dr. Kassler reported that
the Commission has been asked to furnish its recommendations
on standard operating procedure in the land acquisition process,
so that division of responsibility can be established clearly.
Along these lines, it has been recommended that in future negotia-
tions the seller should be told that either he is responsible to
have a plan satisfactory for recording drawn up, or the Town En-
gineering Department can arrange to have it done.
1972 Articles
Meek-Hill - Mrs. Frick reported that she spoke with the Hills
and that they are willing to pay up to $1300 for a plan to
be drawn at the direction of the Engineering Department.
Mr. Cohen will write Mr. McSweeney about this,
Hamilton-Baldwin - Negotiations are up to the Commission -
now in abeyance until end of July.
Munroe Brook -- Mr. Cohen will work on the conservation restric-
tion wording for this complex project. Dr. Kassler said
recommended that owners be approached in turn, starting
with Mr. Maloney at the Maple Street end.
Continuing Negotiations
Porter - Selectman Bailey is in charge, with Mr. Cohen to work
with him. Mr. Busa will also be involved, with Mrs. Pease
representing the Commission to work with him.
Pinard - Mr. Busa is the Selectman, with Dr. Kassler to act as
liason, since the Commission established contact originally
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Conservation Commissio s76tes 5/15/72 Page 2
Minutes of the March 13 , 1972 Commission Meeting were accepted
as submitted, with typographical corrections 711
Minutes of the March 20 , 1972 Commission meeting were accepted
as amended 4k '
Minutes, of March 27, 1972 meeting were accepted as submitted. 4 "
Minutes of April 3 and 10, 1972 meeting were accepted- as submit ;.
.ryas'
Minutes of the April 18, 1972 Commission Meeting were accepted:
as amended
Report on State Applications. The Secretary reported that final
applications Nos. 17 and 18 have been filled out and will be sent
in after the HUD contract for the same parcels has been OKed, the
statements of title have been received from Town Counsel and a
few other attested documents have been received, hopefully next
week some time (deadline is June 1, 1972) .
Environmental Concern Committee is working on its organization.
Mrs. Vinger, a new resident, has offered to arrange speakers for
a course on environmental concerns, and the Library has already
offered use of its facilities for such an activity. Commission
members said the Committee should give go-ahead for the course
and said that they would gladly assist and encourage. Recommended
that the Commission should arrange to hold the course in the
Library or Estabrook Hall
Board of Appeals - Titelbaum. Board of Appeals has asked that
the Commission write its opinion on Dr. Titelbaum' s subdivision
application. Dr. Kessler will write the letter.
Whipple Hill Drainage Problem. The Town Engineer was in touch
with the Chairman about a cesspool problem downhill from Whipple
Hill. Mr. Mazerall will check with the Health Department on this.
The Chairman said he gave permission for some adjustments in
drainage to be made so long as they do not alter the landscape.
Great Meadow. Mrs. Frick reported that a definitive statement
from the Great Meadow joint committee is needed by Arlington
before the end of May. The golf course issue is not dead there,
she reported. She said that the statement will probably recom-
mend that "immediate protective zoning" be adopted by both towns
to protect lands and streams around the Great Meadow. Mrs . Nichols
pointed out that golf courses often have to use fungicides to
keep their grass green Many of these chemicals contain mercury,
and have caused trouble in areas such as Cape Cod. Mr. Mazerall
said that recently developed fungicides do not contain mercury.
Commission members pointed out that Lexington will have some
t _, t 5/15/72 . Page 3
@once vatx A ommissiOn Z nu es
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controls, should Arlington go for a golf course. A Hatch
Act hearing would have to- be held, and Ser Town boards would
be concerned.
Harrington Sealing Forest. Committee received 800 seedling
pines which have been and will be planted
at Franklin School, Whipple Hill, Hastings School and its
the Justin-Grove Street conservation lands (the last two are
screenings from $oute. 128) .
Naming lands committee will meet Wednesday evening, May 17 to
come up with. .specific recommendations. The Boy Scout group
vibe $ubini-tted many names are particularly concerned.
Introduction of Newest Town Employee by Town. Manager. Mr. O' Con-
. , nell arrived with David Hughes, who is now working for the Town
.4 as Administrative Assistant under a Federal EEA grant (as long as
the money lasts) . He will be systematizing procedures. As part
Of his learning process he will sit in oh many Town board meetings,
and Town Manager asked that he join the Commission this evening.
News on Federal Funding Programs and Pending Legislation . Mr.
O' Connell atkended a conference on this subject last Thursday and
Friday, and reported that in a probably forthcoming omnibus hous-
ing bill, funds will be granted only on a block grant basis, in
which plans for meeting housing needs will probably play an im-
portant role, as will urban mass transit. (At the present Lexing-
ton is providing low-income housing for the elderly only. )
The BOR-administered local assistance will probably also be on
a block grant basis (a whole plan) . Its finances, which will
probably be increased to $300 million in 1973, are administered
through the states only. Grants are made for the purchase of
open space land. Mr. O' Connell said he would send the Com-
mission additional information on this. He also mentioned
that the Federal government would like to dispose of any lands
"surplussed" by non-use.
Interview with Tufts Graduate Student. Mrs. Frick said that
she spent part of Friday afternoon with a young lady on land
use and local government.
Varian Associates in the Hartwell Ave. area has applied for a
permit to build an addition to its facilities, and there will be a
Board of Appeals hearing.
Land Court Notice - in the Worthen-Kendall Road area. Secretary
will check with Mr. Smith on this.
West Farm. It was reported that an elaborate teenagers' shack
was torn down on the West Farm. Parks Director was asked what
he could do toward clearing the overgrown access way. Question
was also raised about access from Mason Street.
Problems of Illegal Motorized traffic on public lands were aired
briefly. Chairman thought it best to approach individuals person-
ally and also try to build general citizen concern, also call police.
y,
Conservation CoMMiesion: Minutes 5/15/72 Page 4
'$ S '`o Nigh SOhaoj.- Dr.Bft dman said it looked to him as if
heavy'"°-ouipntent cpuld g in to excavate a baein on school land,
but heeaid he would tae mother look to chebk?on this.
Hearing on Hatch Act Lie i5ions will take place Friday, May 26,
at 10 p.m. in the 100 Cambridge Street Building. A copy of the
hearing notice, will be,, sent each Commission member.
Boston Edison Company. Hatch Act Case. It was stated that a
Boston Edison Company man was heard to comment that "towns don' t ;
cooperate" (;with their efforts to provide increased power) , Com r ' .`-
mission agreed that a. letter be sent to Boston Edison Company oz :
fering to help them find an alternative location if they were in '
terested. Dr. Kassler said he would also be in touch with DNB,
since he hadn' t heard from them since the March hearing. He also
noted, that the Bedford Conservation Commission comments on the
hearing, given verbally some time ago, had finally arrived in a
brief -letter.,
Sequel to SpringOfrensive. A conference on implementation of
'recycling programs will be held Wednesday, May 17, morning
through early afternoon in Waltham. Cost including luncheon is
45.50. Dr. Friedman said he hoped Mrs. Hale would be able to go.
Comments on CLC Meeting of May 11. The main difference between
Lincoln and Lexington are population (only 5,000 in Lincoln) and
the amount of money per capita they are willing to spend. on con-
servation. Mrs. Nichols recommended that the Commission obtain
conservation plans of all contiguous towns (and she will do this) .
Metropolitan State Wetlands. Dr. Kessler will look into the pos-
sibility of filing a formal inquiry on this.
Chiesa. Mr. Chiesa will be asked to meet with the Commission at
8 p.m. next Monday.
B.O.B. field representative Frank Colombo will be asked to meet
with the Commission by Mr. Mazerall, who knows him.
Land Acquisition Fact-Finding and Planning, Mrs. Nichols will
hold a meeting at her house for those interested in working on
this at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 19.
Hearing May 22 on Idlewilde Farm subdivision. Mrs. Solomon will
attend.
Meetings in June will be the 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th. Execu-
tive Session was declared from 9 45 to 10 15 p.m. Meeting ad-
journed at 10 25 p.m. , until Monday, May 22, at 7 45 p.m. (no
meeting last week in May) .
Respectfully submitted, 0 ✓rf2e< 9 ,
Mrs. Erna S. Greene
Secretary to the Commission