Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-04-27-BOS-min L SELECTMEN'S MEETING April 27, 1981 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Estabrook School on Monday, April 27, 1981 at 7 30 p m Chairman Busa, Mrs Battin, Mrs Miley and Mr Politi, Mr Hutchinson, Town Manager; Mrs inks, Assist- ant to the Town Manager; Miss Casey, Executive Clerk were present The Chairman convened the meeting and called on Mr Zehner, Town Trea- Mr Zehner surer, who explained that the Town has $1,025,000 in bank loans due June 16 Bond and there is $100,000 outstanding on existing contracts He requested the Issue pleasure of the Board as to whether the $1,125,000 debt should be renewed for one year at an interest cost of probably $90,000 or should the debt be funded for five years at an interest rate of about 8% with a bond issue to be dated June 15 He stated that in these chaotic times he was uncomfortable at the Town's exposure to short term bank loans unless rates in June, 1982 dropped below 5 1/2% which he felt most unlikely It was his recommendation that the Selectmen approve a five-year bond issue dated June 15, 1981 to re- finance the $1,025,000 existing bank loans plus the $100,000 additional to be borrowed in May for outstanding contracts IIIUpon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the Town Treasurer to negotiate a five-year bond issue to be dated June 15, 1981 to refinance $1,025,000 existing bank loans plus $100,000 additional to be bor- rowed in May for outstanding contracts The Chairman thanked Mr Zehner for the excellent work he has done for the Town which has resulted in a continued AAA bond rating Mr Zehner ex- pressed his appreciation and retired from the meeting. The Board met with Senator Rotondi and Representative Doran to discuss Rep Doran Proposition 2 1/2 and how developments on Beacon Hill will affect town Sen finances Rotondi It was the feeling of both Legislators that the State budget would not Prop 21/2 be approved until late June or early July which would mean that Town Meeting would reconvene on June 1 without the final "cherry sheet" figures Both Legislators felt that Proposition 2 1/2 was never intended to be anti-growth and Rep Doran stated that most members of the House were en- thusiastic supporters of an amendment authored by Rep Gerald M. Cohen to remedy this provision of the bill Representative Doran also stated that he is supporting other amendments to the bill which includes a provision to allow cities and towns to schedule local referenda to override the 2 1/2% tax increase limit whenever they choose He stated that the current stipulation that municipalities can call a referendum only in November is completely unrealistic as budgets are approved in the spring Rep Doran also supports an amendment which would limit other state and county assessments such as county government spending and MBTA expenses to 2 1/2% - 2 - Senator Rotondi stated that while he supports a curb on State and County spending, he was not sure that this was the way to do it. He felt that lim- iting growth to 2 1/2% was not the answer to the MBTA question Both legislators expressed their support of an amendment which would make fixed expenses incurred by municipalities exempt from the statue's limi- tations A bill sponsored by the Middlesex County Advisory Board to cut County spending will be supported by both of the Legislators Rep Doran stated that with bond ratings being suspended all over the State, towns and cities need the protection of this amendment He noted that the Town of Lex- ington has worked hard for many years to achieve a triple A bond rating and is one of only eight or nine in the State, and without this amendment Lexington would inevitably come up with a lower bond rating and, thus, the taxpayers would be paying several hundred thousand dollars more Senator Rotondi stated that if the Legislature fails to act this year he will support an iniative to put the County Government funding issue on the ballot for 1982, Senator Rotondi stated that the Legislature is aware of the State's role in Proposition 2 1/2 inequities, including unfunded mandated State pro- grams, low State aid to education and an overburdened property tax It was his opinion that the Legislature only reacts when there is a major crisis, and felt no optimism about the possibility of the Legislature working on major tax reforms in this session Both of the Legislators felt that if the Legislature adopts the amend- ments they had referenced, 2 1/2 would be a much more workable piece of legis- lation that would provide for reasonable levels of municipal services Questions from the Board and the audience were answered and the Chair- man thanked both Legislators for coming to the meeting and explaining some of the details of the complex piece of legislation They expressed their appreciation for being invited and retired from the meeting Prop 2 1/2 The Chairman read a letter from Mr Wadsworth, Chairman of the Appropri- Town ation Committee expressing its concern about the Town enacting or increasing Valuation user fees such as water, sewer, etc in order to meet the present financial problems of Proposition 2 1/2 It was its opinion that there were three al- ternatives, 1) initiate or raise user fees, 2) make further cuts in budgets, 3) use additional "free cash". The Committee wished to know what the Board planned to do in this regard so that it could be guided accordingly when preparing its budget figures. The Chairman stated that the Board will not con- sider raising user fees until the "cherry sheets" have been received He also stated that there was the possibility of using some of the "free cash " The Chairman requested the Manager to explain to the audience what the affects of 2 1/2 would be on the Town's finances Mr Hutchinson explained that during a discussion between the Comptroller, Town Counsel and himself, there seemed to be a discrepancy in the language of the statute The statute states that 2 1/2% of the fair market value can be raised, but it also states that property taxes can only be raised 2 1/2% over last year's levy As the Town is now nearing completion of the re- valuation, the question was raised as to whether or not this new figure could be used and was presented to the Office of Revenue for clarification A reply has been received which stated that the Town is limited to using 2 1/2% over last year's levy Mr Hutchinson stated that the Town is now losing over a million dollars in excise tax, but that the estimated budget presented to Town Meeting was based on the total valuation of the Town of one billion, twenty-five million dollars and was "right on " - 3 - 3 3 Selectmen's Meeting April 27, 1981 III He emphasized the need for legislative amendments to the bill as it penalized towns such as Lexington for having been frugal. It was his feeling that "free cash" should not be used to help meet the $350,000 shortfall Mr Busa disagreed and stated that new revenues would be com- ing in and could be placed in the account Mr Busa explained to the audience that the budget will be discussed again before Town Meeting reconvenes in June Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the follow- Bonds ing bonds Town Treasurer $170,000 Collector of Taxes 160,000 Town Clerk 6,500 Town Manager 50,000 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the renewal Auctioneer of Auctioneer License for William G. Marley, 22 Phinney Road, Lexington for License auctioning motor vehicles at Four Seasons Arena, Route 1 and 27, Walpole, Wm G Mass and not in Lexington. Marley Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to issue a One Day 1 Day Liquor License to RAEDAAC Assoc. of W R. Grace Co for April 28, 1981 Liq Lic Mr Politi abstained from voting Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes Minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting of March 9 Mr Busa abstained from voting be- cause he did not attend the meeting Mr Busa informed the Board that he had met with members of the American Cary Hall Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars who were interested in adding light- War ing to the war memorial and flag in front of Cary Hall The organizations Memorial would payfor forslant marker upon a granite the costs setting the present p base and adding lighting fixtures The purpose of this lighting effect was for a special recognition for the Vietnam and Korean Veterans The Town would be required to pay for the cost of electricity During discussion of the request, Mrs Miley stated that the Town's philosophy was toward conserving energy and reducing the amount of outside lighting She requested information as to whether or not there were any re- strictions in this area The Energy Committee is to be consulted regarding the question. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to table the request of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars relative to providing a new base for the war memorial in front of Cary Hall to provide lighting for the memorial and flag The Chairman opened up the meeting to the residents of the Harding/ Simonds Road area to a discussion regarding the problem of all day parking of the commuter bus patrons The problem was generated by people from Bedford who take the bus to Boston, as well as, Lexington residents Residents complained that they - 4 - 3� are sometimes unable to exit from their own driveways and also expressed con- cern for the safety of the children in the neighborhood Mr Rosenberg, Chairman of the Transportation Advisory Committee addressed the audience and stated that the Committee was aware of the problem and were trying to work out a solution There is the possibility that an added run may be forthcoming and would include the Bedford area Various suggestions were presented to the Selectmen and the Chairman assured the audience that the Board was aware of the problem and would look into the possibility of posting the area as a "No Parking" area. The Manager will have a report for the Board on the complete problem and possible solutions in two weeks Bedford St The residents of the Bedford Street/Eldred Street area registered com- Dust plaints regarding the dust and dirt in the neighborhood from the construe- Problem tion going on there The Chairman explained that the contractor was wholly responsible for preventive measures for this problem and the Manager is to contact the con- tractor and register the complaint Bedford St / The problem of the traffic on Bedford Street was brought up and the Eldred St. Chairman explained that, in his opinion, the only solution was for the Traffic reconstruction of Bedford Street He informed the Board and the audience that it has been the goal of the Selectmen to come to a solution of this problem for many years The project would include installation of additional traffic lights, turning lanes and other improvements He attended a meeting in the Governor's office recently and presented the Town's Traffic Study of the North Lexington Area and is now awaiting a reply relative to State funding of the project Deferrments The Manager referred the Board to its copy of the list of sewer, water, street and sidewalk betterment deferrments the Tax Collector's office had presented to the Board The list represented betterment assessment charges that had been previously deferred and further deferrments had never been re- quested by the property owners, resulting in outstanding charges that go back, in some cases, for many years After consulting the recommendations from the Engineering Department, the Board had many questions that needed clarification After further discussion, it was agreed that questions from the Board should be submitted to the Manager and he would update the recommendations of the Engineering Department and resubmit the problem to the Board at a later meeting Conservation The Manager requested approval of appointments to the Conservation Com- Commission mission retroactive to April 1 Appts Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to reappoint David Williams, 1433 Massachusetts Avenue and Angela Frick, 9 Tavern Lane to the Conservation Commission for three year terms effective April 1, 1981 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Ruth Mitchell, 16 Peachtree Road to the Conservation Commission to fill a vacancy to April 1, 1983 The Manager presented a draft of the Charge to the Muzzey School Con- version Committee - 5 - III After a brief discussion, it was decided that the Manager would re- view the charge with Town Counsel to clarify points that had been raised by the Board He is to present it again at the next meeting The Manager referred the Board to the letter from the Executive Sec- Reeds Brook retary for the Town of Arlington requesting the Town of Lexington to re- Drainage move any obstacles in Reeds Brook to help alleviate a drainage problem in Problem the Summer Street area Tn of The Manager requested authorization to reply and recommended the re- Arlington moval of a 36-inch culvert near the access road to Whipple Hill Mr Busa requested information as to when and why the culvert had been installed before he would authorize its removal The Board agreed that Mr Hutchinson is to reply to the Executive Sec- retary after the Manager had obtained the information that Mr Busa had re- quested Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the Town Manager to reply to the Executive Secretary for the Town of Arlington relative to its request to clean out Reeds Brook Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to redesignate Hazardous Walter Tonaszuck, Director of Public Works, as the Town's Hazardous Waste Waste Coordinator Coordinator The Manager outlined a request from the Hub Bus Lines for a rate in- Hub Bus crease and the report from the Transportation Advisory Committee regard- Lines ing the request He stated that there seemed to be inconsistencies in information being provided i e scheduling problems etc He suggested that Mr Goodman be invited to come before the Board again within 60 days with a progress report on the standee problems, route schedules and other problems Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to table the request of the Hub Bus Lines for a rate increase and to invite Mr Goodman back in 60 days with a progress report Mrs Battin reported to the Board that she and Mrs Frick had met with Hanscom representatives of the Bedford, Lincoln and Concord Boards of Selectmen Area with regard to developing an Ad Hoc Traffic Force to deal with the traffic Traffic problems shared in common around the Hanscom Field area Study It was suggested to them to appoint one Selectman and one Planning Committee Board member to the committee and a third member who might have technical experience in the field The committee will look into other studies that have been made and are being made so that their work will not be a dupli- cation of efforts in coming to a solution to the problem. The representa- tives are to report back to their Boards of Selectmen with this inform- tion The first meeting is schedules for May 21 The Manager requested authorization from the Board to write to the Middlesex Middlesex County Government when submitting the check for dues to indicate Cty Gov the dissatisfaction of the Board with the general operation of the County Government Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the Town Manager to write to the Middlesex County Government indicating the Selectmen's dissatisfaction with the general operation of the County Government when submitting the check for annual dues 33 - 6 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4 - 0 by roll call voted, Mr Busa, Mrs Miley, Mrs Battin and Mr Politi to go into Ex- ecutive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to bargaining with Hanscom Air Force re water use contract. After discussion, it was voted to adjourn at 10 25 P.M A true record, Attest (def7W<A51? Executive Clerk < �j II/ 1