HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-04-06-BOS-min ti
‘N, J,\sk• ( 02 V
1 SELECTMEN'S MEETING
April 6, 1981
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select-
men's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, April 6, 1981 at
7 30 p m Chairman Miley, Mr Buse, Mrs Battin, Mr Crain and Mr Politi;
Mr Hutchinson, Town Manager; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel; Mrs Banks, Assist-
ant to the Town Manager; Miss Casey, Executive Clerk were present
The Board met with the Transportation Advisory Committee and Mr Rosen- Trans
berg,Chairman of the Committee, presented several issues for the Board's Adv
consideration Committee
Mr Rosenberg informed the Board that the Arlington Center-Five Forks
MBTA bus which maintains a low ridership may be discontinues The Com-
mittee suggested that one suitably timed run in the morning and one run
in the afternoon to service the Hartwell Avenue area could be requested of
the MBTA.
The Board discussed the request and agreed that the Chairman will
write to Mr James O'Leary, General Manager, of the META and make the
suggestion
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to have the Chairman
write to the MBTA General Manager and request that one bus arriving at
Hartwell Avenue about 8 15 A.M. each weekday and one bus departing at
5 15 P.M. be considered
The Committee requested the approval of the Board to provide lunchtime LEXPRESS
LEXPRESS shuttle service between Lexington Center and Hartwell Avenue The Hartwell
Chamber of Commerce has offered $500 00 in seed money to get this service Ave
started A fare of 50c each way was suggested and service continuance be
subject to the condition that the service be self-supporting. He explained
that this would not affect the regular LEXPRESS bus service as Transporta-
tion Management has indicated that they have a bus than can be used for
this service which would come under the present contract
The questions of what route the bus would take and the fare to be
charged was discussed It was agreed that the 50p fare should apply to
anyone living along the route if they desired to use the service and not
just to employees in the Hartwell Avenue area
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept $500 00
from the Chamber of Commerce as seed money to enable LEXPRESS to provide
lunchtime shuttle service to Lexington Center and business firms in the
Hartwell Avenue area A fare of 50c each way is to be charged and the
Transportation Advisory Committee is to map out a route in conjunction with
business firm representation in the area
The Committee recommended a new fare structure for 1981-82 which the LEXPRESS
Board approved Fares
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the follow-
ing LEXPRESS fares for 1981-82
e1 - 2 -
Regular Fare 40c
Senior Citizen 20c
Children under 6 10c
Transfers l0c
Burlington Surcharge
Regular 25c
Senior Citizens 10c
Book of Tickets 14 @ $5
Annual Pass $50
6 Month Pass $30
3 Month Pass $20
LEXPRESS Mr Rosenberg informed the Board that many requests have been received
Field Trips from teachers who are taking school children on field trips for a reduction
in fare After discussion it was agreed that a reduction in fare be allowed
for field trips but no more than twelve be allowed on any bus
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to allow a reduction
in fare to 10C for school children on field trips but no more than twelve
be allowed on any bus
The Chairman thanked the Committee for the time and expertise given so
generously and they retired from the meeting
Town Celeb The Chairman of the Town Celebrations Committee met with the Board to
Committee present its budget report on the Patriots' Day Parade
Mr Fitzgerald informed the Board that the cost of parade units was
$10,415 25 and $6,000 had been received from sponsors and donations toward
this cost The general expenses were $1,122 00 which included bunting for
the Town public buildings There is a balance of $1,811 05 Mr Fitzgerald
stated that he is anticipating more donations before finalizing the plans
The Chairman and the Board expressed appreciation for the dedication of
the Committee members for a job well done Mr Fitzgerald and Committee mem-
bers
in attendance retired from the meeting
Cary The Capital Expenditures Committee met with the Board relative to the
Library cost of repairs to the Cary Library
The Manager reported to the Board that the Library Committee will be
requesting $196,000 He explained that ten bids had been received and he
did not see any major changes in expenditures The reconstruction costs
are as follows $165,000 - Reconstruction; $14,000 - Testing; $17,000 -
Contingencies
Mr Busa explained to the Board that the architect had recommended re-
placing the window wall on the back of the building with insulated shadow
glass He stated that this would be an energy saving measure which may be
recouped from the previous contractor
Previously incurred costs of $66,144 included $5,300 - cutting and re-
moving panels; $1,500 - bolting and securing remaining panels; $5,300 -
consultant report and architectural services; $19,000 - securing, water-
proofing of addition; $20,000 - legal fees -- judicial proceedings; and
$15,044 - architectural services
Mr Busa explained the reconstruction process to the Committee and
explained that the contractors who had bid on the job had encompassed the
same rules and the same bid and that the difference in the range of the111
- 3 -
Selectmen's Meeting April 6, 1981
bids was most likely due to difference in supervision and in the profit
anticipated The Manager stated that it was felt that it was good bid-
ding because there was a tight cluster of the three lowest bids despite
the wide range overall
It was brought out during the discussion that the Town would hope to
recoup the loss entirely but it was contingent upon the jury handling the
case
The Chairman thanked the Library Reconstruction Committee for all the
work put into the project and they and the Appropriation Committee retired
from the meeting
The Chairman read a request from Mr George Wolf, 38 Peacock Farm Rd Amnesty
Secretary, U S. Group 56 of Amnesty International, that May 28th be de- Inter-
clared "Prisoner of Conscience Day" in the Town of Lexington. The letter national
of March 7 indicated that the group would like to have the opportunity to
address the High School assembly or other schools or organize similar
events The Chairman, at that time, had replied to Mr Wolf that the Se-
lectmen had no jurisdiction over the use of the schools and referred him
to the School Department He had replied that he wished to address the
Selectmen and, thus, it became an agenda item
Mr Busa stated that he believed it was the same group that had gone
to Iran attempting to get release of the American hostages contrary to the
wishes of State Department that no civilian organization become involved in
release proceedings without State Department sanction
Mr, Wolf addressed the Board and stated that he was not fully informed
regarding the incident but he felt that the person who had gone to Iran was
not an American but was an Irishman, at that time the International Presi-
dent of Amnesty and, therefore, did not come under the jurisdiction of
President Carter's request
Mr Crain asked Mr Wolf whether or not Mr. Ramsey Clark was working
under the jurisdiction of Amnesty International when he went to Iran in
his efforts to effect release of the hostages.
A gentleman accompanying Mr Wolf stated that Mr Clark is on the
Board of Directors, but he did not know if his trip to Iran was under the
direction of Amnesty
Mr Busa made a motion not to support the request
Mrs Battin stated that Mr Busa's motion had not received a second
and she wished to make a counter motion to support the request and declare
May 28 "Prisoner of Conscience Day" in the Town of Lexington She stated
that what the schools did about the request for the opportunity to address
the schools was its business
Mr Crain stated that he would require further information about the
organization before he could support the request and whether Mr Clark in
his trip was speaking officially in behalf of Amnesty and moved that the
matter be tabled
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to table the matter
pending receipt of further information from Mr Wolf relative to the role
of Amnesty in regard to Mr. Clark's visit to Iran
� rf,
- 4 -
Sewer & The Chairman read a request for deferment of various sewer and water
Water betterments of outstanding charges of longstanding.
Defer- The Manager requested that the matter be tabled until further informa-
ments tion is obtained from the Director of Public Works/Engineering
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to table the request for
deferment of sewer and water betterment charges as listed.
No Parking Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the request
Center of the Traffic Safety Committee for the installation of a "No Parking" sign
Pool at the Center Pool -- at Worthen Road, East side from Massachusetts Avenue
to 700' southerly,
League of The Chairman read a request from the League of Women Voters of Lexington
Women that Town Meeting not be held on Wednesday, May 20th
Voters Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to advise the League of
Women Voters that the matter would be taken under advisement
Minutes Upon motion duly made and seconded, Mr Politi abstaining, it was voted
to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting of February 9
Recreation Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the request
Little of the Recreation Coordinator for permission to hold the "Opening Day Parade"
League on Saturday, April 25 at 10 00 a m The route would be "down Mass. Avenue,
Parade through the Center, down Muzzey Street and terminate at the Little League
Field at the end of Park Drive. Mr Politi will represent the Board
Connelly- The Chairman read a request from Rep Edward W. Connelly for support of
Mullins House Bill 532 -- Connelly-Mullins Sales Tax Bill
Sales Tax The Manager suggested that the matter be discussed with our own rep-
Bill resentatives and get their reaction to the Bill before making any decision.
The Board agreed
Hennessey The Board and the Manager discussed his recommendation that the Berg-
Stable meyer lease be renewed for a three-year term at a rate of $300 00 per annum.
Bergmeyer for the use of the stable building located on the former Hennessey property
Mrs Miley requested that Manager to take another look at the property
as she had noticed a broken window for some time and under the terms of the
lease Dr. Bergmeyer was to maintain the property
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to table the Manager's
request to renew the Bergmeyer lease pending further information relative to
the maintenance of the property
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0, Mrs Miley,
Mr Buse, Mrs Battin, Mr Crain and Mr Politi, to go into Executive Session
for the purpose of discussing matters of collective bargaining and litigation
with no intention of resuming the Open Session
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at_ 9 40 P.M
A true record, Attest
accoar ea-ur
Executive Clerk