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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-10-05-BOS-min ", ° / 3 SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 5, 1981 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building on Monday, October 5, 1981 at 7 30 P M Chairman Buse, Mrs Battin, Mrs Miley, Mr Crain and Mr Politi; Mr Hutch- inson, Town Manager; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel; Miss Casey, Executive Clerk were present The Board met with Mr Robert Cataldo, Alternate Representative to the META MBTA Advisory Board, to discuss the results of the meeting of September 18 Mr Cataldo informed the Board that the MBTA had proposed a $31 million dollar increase in its budget, which he had opposed This would mean that an additional $2 million dollar assessment to cities and towns will be re- quired despite the fact that the MBTA promised no increases in local assess- ments Mr Cataldo stated that he felt that it was a '"no win system for cities and towns and riders using the system" and stated that he felt that, if possible, Lexington should get out of the system or support legislation to that effect He also stated that he supported the provision that elderlt people should be allowed to ride the "T" free during off peak hours The budget will be debated at the next Advisory Board meeting on October 14 and the Board's feeling was that the MBTA should be forced to adopt a zero based budget The Chairman thanked Mr Cataldo for his report and he retired from the meeting The Board met with the Center Revitalization Committee to discuss the Center proposed parking plan for the Center area Revit Mrs Battin formed the residents present that the parking plan was Com designed to increase the availability of short-term parking for shoppers Center and increase the Town's revenues for additional parking improvements through Parking a new fee structure She stated that all-day parking restrictions would be implemented to protect residential areas that abut the Center Several residents of the area expressed concern regarding the new plan Mrs Sheila Hoadley stated that she lives at the corner of Waltham and Forest Street and there are two or three cars parked all day in front of her house She stated that she felt that there was room for only one park- ing meter there and requested that there be no parking from there to the corner Mr Michelson expressed concern that notices were not sent out to all the abutters in the area and requested information as to whether or not the towing law will be enforced and if a rental fee had been established for the spaces at the Arts and Crafts and the churches Mr Tonaszuck explained that leases have not been signed at this point and that the towing law would be enforced He also explained, in answer to questions, that proper screening would be put in at the Belfrey Club lot Mr Bowyer explained that the owner of the lot will only permit the Town to use it for a year or two and that as this is only in the experi- mental stage, it will depend on how the people respond. He also pointed out that there is a section in the bylaw providing for municipal parking - 2 l' � in all zoning districts It was explained that all day parking will be provided on a permit basis in six locations Belfrey Club, Arts & Crafts Society lot, the Church of Our Redeemer lot, Hancock Church lot, behind the School Adminis- tration Building and the Muzzey Jr High School Annual charges for these spaces will range from $72 00 for the Muzzey School lot to $156 00 for the lots closest to the Center Parking machines and additional meters will be installed in the Meriam Street and Edison Way lots with a charge of 75C per day from 8 00 a m. until 6 00 p m. Monday through Saturday Mr Bowyer explained that the parking stickers would be issued on a "first come, first served" basis guaranteeing a designated space to the purchaser Mr Albert Zabin, 1 Page Road stated that he felt that to encourage residents to park as far away from the Center as the Muzzey lot, local busses might consider offering a shuttle service to the downtown area The Chairman stated that the Board would continue to welcome any com- ments and suggestions from residents before making a final decision at its meeting on October 19 Rep Doran Representative Stephen W Doran met with the Board to update them on the County budget situation He informed the Board that cutbacks of nearly $2 8 million, recently approved by the House of Representatives' Committee on Counties, in the Middlesex County budget could mean a reduction of as much as $90,000 to $100,000 in assessments charged to Lexington. This could bring the total Town charges to nearly ten percent under last year's ex- penses He informed the Board that the budget reductions voted by the House reflect the elimination of 170 positions in the county payroll in nearly all county departments except the sheriff's office He stated that it was un- fortunate to see lay-offs because the people had families to support, but the Committee had to set priorities Representative Doran also reported that legislation supported by the House and now under discussion in the Senate to amend Proposition 2 1/2 The legislation is designed to rescind the "anti-growth kink" in the tax limit statute which offers no incentive for municipalities to rezone land for commerical use to increase the tax base He stated that the provision has been viewed as an error in the legislation by everyone involved, in- cluding Barbara Anderson of Citizens for Limited Taxation Under the new provision values of new property can be added to the tax base, providing the cities and towns with an economic incentive to encourage growth Representative Doran reported that the House had voted to alter the lo- cal aid formula He is in favor of adopting a local aid formula for next year that will tie aid to a set of predictable factors, such as percentage increases in growth The Civil Service Reform Bill will go to the Senate with a 100-54 House approval, which Rep Doran felt was the first major Civil Service overhaul in decades and will save the taxpayers millions of dollars The Chairman thanked Representative Doran for the update and he retired from the meeting Arts Council The Chairman read a letter from the Lexington Countil for the Arts re- questing clarification of its status as a Town committee and clarification in regard to the solicitation of funds The Manager stated that he will consult with Town Counsel regarding the request -3- S Selectmen's Meeting October 5, 1981 ' Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to table the reply to the Lexington Council for the Arts regarding its request for clarifica- tion as a Town committee and the solicitation of funds The Chairman read a request from William Page, Chairman of the CATV CATV Cfimm Committee for the appointment of David Kuhn to the Committee Appt Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint David Kuhn to the CATV Committee The Chairman read a list of nominees to the Accessory Apartments Com- Accessory mittee to which Mrs Battin raised her objections regarding the appoint- Apts Comm ments She objected to the appointment of an elected official to other Appts Town boards unless their affiliation particularly qualifies them for the second position She recommended that a Planning Board member would be a more suitable appointment as the accessory apartment study is an integral part of the overall housing study the Planning Board is conducting During the discussion that followed, it was pointed out that the Town By-Laws do not preclude serving on two committees Mrs Battin stated that while the By-Laws do not preclude serving on two committees simultaneously, she felt that it had more recently become a custom to include a wider range of citizens on appointed boards Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint the follow- ing to the Accessory Apartments Committee Steven A. Clark, Cornelius P Cronin, George F McCormack, Margaret F Rawls and Jean Gaudet Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Steven A Clark as Chairman of the Accessory Apartments Committee The Chairman read a request from the Choate-Symmes Health Service,Inc One-Day for a One Day Liquor License on October 18 Liq Lic Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the issu- ance of a One Day Liquor License to the Choate-Symmes Health Service, Inc for an art auction on October 18 from 5 P.M until Midnight at the Temple Isaiah Mr Politi abstained from voting The Manager requested the Board to sign a resolution authorizing him Resolution to apply for a State grant for a water main leak detection program The Water Main grant program would make the Town eligible for a maximum of $25,000 to Leak Det continue the on-going water main leak detection program Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign a resolution authorizing the Town Manager to apply for a State grant for a water main leak detection program Mrs Miley abstained from voting Town Counsel requested the Board to sign a conservation restriction Conserve- for a parcel of land in the Battleview Sub-division tion Re- Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the conserva- striction tion restriction for a parcel of land in the Battleview Sub-division -4- The Manager requested an Executive Session for the purpose of dis- cussing matters relating to collective bargaining and land negotiations Mr Politi again reiterated his objections to discussing salary ad- justments for department heads stating that, in his opinion, this does not come within the collective bargaining exception to the Open Meeting Law, and even if it does, that it was not a good policy for the Board to use Executive Session for this purpose The Manager referred the Board to correspondence he had provided as a result of last week's discussion, citing a case, Attorney General V School Committee of Taunton, Mass , in which the Appeals Court ruled that it was lawful for the Taunton School Committee to discuss salaries of non- union employees in executive session since the discussions impacted on collective bargaining strategy (5MLRR 1158) The Attorney General lost the case Mr Hutchinson stated that he felt that the discussion relative to the proposed pay plan for department heads would have an impact on col- lective bargaining if held in open session After further discussion, the Board agreed with the Manager and re- quested Town Counsel's recommendations Mr Cohen stated that it was his opinion that, if in the opinion of the Board, discusion of certain non-union salary matters could impact on collective bargaining if held in open session, it would be lawful for the Board to vote to go into executive session for this purpose Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-1, by roll call vote, Mr Buss, Mrs Battin, Mrs Miley and Mr Crain in the affirmative and Mr Politi in the negative, to go into Executive Session for the pur- pose of discussing items relating to collective bargaining, with no inten- tion of resuming the open session Upon motion duly made and seconded it was voted to adjourn at 10 15 P.M A true record, Attest Executive Clerk %t` I