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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-01-29-BOS-min Y2 SELECTMEN'S MEETING January 29, 1979 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, Jan- uary 29, 1979, at 7 30 p.m Chairman Battin, Mr Busa, Mrs Miley, Mr Kent and Mr Crain; Mr. Hutchinson, Town Manager; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel; Mrs Banks, Assistant to the Town Manager; Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present Chairman Battin opened the hearing on Powers Court, a sub divisdon Powers street Notices of the hearing had been sent to the abutters Mrs Court Battin read a letter from the Planning Board recommending that the Lay Out street be laid out Mrs Gabrielson, 3 Powers Court, said that due to the heavy snow and recent heavy rain, she had experienced diffi- culty caused by the drainage system at the Paul Revere Road catch basins; within an hour, two catch basins had overflowed into her yard, going to the back of her lot and the street behind her Two other residents stated that the catch basins are not adequate Mr Hutchinson said there have been problems throughout the town because of the heavy rain but he assured the residents they should call his office and he would get a report for the Selectmen He pointed out that the developer had obligations to conform to the specifications and the subdivision had been approved by the Planning Boards theft Conservation Commission and the Engineering Department The Board noted the residents' concerns and agreed that the Manager would in- vestigate the drainage system and the catch basins in the area Chairman Battin declared the hearing closed The residents retired from the meeting A group of high school students met with the Board regarding the High School bleachers at the high school field They urged the Selectmen to stress Bleachers this need to the Appropriation Committee, and they were informed that the Appropriation Committee had again denied the request for a transfer Mr Hutchinson said that bth&dre being received on lumber and steel in order to get an idea of the costs involved. The Board assured the students that every effort will be made to have the bleachers ready in time for graduation The students retired from the meeting A discussion was held on mosquito control Dr Cosgrove, Chairman Mosquito of the Planning Board, spoke in favor because of children being bitten, Control and the comfort value Dr Jere Downing, Entomologist of the Department of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts, said that, in his professional opinion, the overall health benefits and enhanced stand- ard of living for the community provided by comprehensive regional con- trol vastly outweigh the criticisms that opponents often bring forward. There are 40 different types _in Massachusetts and we do not know what species of mosquito transmits the virus from birds and horses to humans Routine mosquito control can reduce bites that cause annoyance and discomfort, secondary infection and allergic response A water man- agement program and the use of safe insecticides help0 reduce the population Selectmen's Meeting - 2 - January 29, 1979 Dr Manfred Friedman said he couldn't imagine being exposed to 111 things that destroy life can be beneficial There is concern that malaria is on the increase in the world because mosquitoes have become immune He recommended to the Board of Health that a con- trol program be funded for ditching and flood control work Three Selectmen were not ready to take a position but would vote to leave the money in the budget Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that $9,000 would remain in the budget for mosquito control All persons involved in the discussion retired from the meeting Master Mr Albert Zabin, Chairman, and Mrs Laura Nichols, Planning Housing Board, and Mrs Mary Shunney, Chairman of the Housing Authority and Plan member of the Master Housing Plan Subcommittee, met with the Board to discuss the Report of the Joint Government and Citizen Report on Housing Policy Mr Busa raised objections to the report being written without the input of the subcommittee, a meeting being held when he was told it was cancelled, and he had no knowledge of the committee being disbanded Mr Zabin said there was no circumventing; Mr Busa had missed the meeting when the reports were voted unanimously by those present Mrs Nichols agreed and said there was a misunderstanding about the meeting Mr Busa mentioned. Mrs Shunney said technically the report is correct but she had problems with some areas and was interested in submitting a minority report for Town Meeting We were not concerned with seeking funds for subsidized housing and we felt we should try and work within the zoning by-laws She had a problem with the emphasis on Chapter 774 as we would lose home rule Mr Busa said that his subcommittee had discussed methods of being able to create low and moderate housing and to encourage private builders We at no time were looking for subsidized housing Chairman Battin said the committees established four criteria to determine Lexington's housing needs (1) Town objectives; (2) State and federal requirements; (3) Local needs; (4) Regional needs Under town objectives, the committee concluded that a heterogeneous population mix can be maintained only if there is low and moderate cost housing Preservation of the character of the town precludes any large high rise housing project but scattered site single family or duplex houses on individual lots Under state and federal requirements, one fact is if we don't work with them, we will lose federal housing Mrs Shunney said there was a problem as to whether we were addressing ourselves to regional or local needs, but she did realize we can't remove outselves from the region Chairman Battin found the report on local needs very helpful. The Board agreed to an on-going discussion and another meeting is to be scheduled to discuss the warrant article on the resolution relating to a housing policy plan for the town. TMMA Members of the TMMA met with the Board to discuss Article 4 and Article 5 and it was agreed to have a detailed presentation by Mr Hutchinson at a TMMA informational meeting 34 Selectmen's Meeting - 3 - January 29, 1979 III Mr Nyles Barnert informed the Board that theCapital Expenditures Cap Expend Committee agrees with the recommendations of the Manager, with two ex- Committee ceptions - the compactor for the landfill and the Westview Cemetery building At Chairman Battin' ggestioh, hetiakreed to make arrange- ments for an inspection of theilding at Westview Mr Hutchinson recommended that the Transportation Management Licenses- limousine licenses be renewed to May 1, 1979 Since the last time Limousine they were in, everything has been going well We are looking at the details of all the other permits there and will have a report for the Board Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to renew the ten limousine licenses for Transportation Management Corporation until May 1, 1979 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the Abatements recommendation of the Acting Director of Public Works to abate water bills in the total amount of $1,362 70 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the recommendation of the Acting Director of Public Works to abate the sewer betterment assessment of Peter Sowkow, 64 Valleyfield Street, in the amount of $777 00; land acquired by the Conservation Com- mission IIIUpon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Minutes minutes of the Selectmen's meetings of October 30, 1978 and January 2, 1979 i Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve bonds Bonds of $5,000, each, for Deputy Collectors Paul E Kelley, Patrick J Moynihan, Arthur W Degnin, subject to review of the bonds by Town Counsel and the Town Manager Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Warrant Warrant for 79 Articles for the 1979 Annual Town Meeting to be held on March 19 1979 Town The Board agreed to send a letter to the Metropolitan Area Planning MAPC - Council expressing concern relative to the MAPC study being conducted Burlington on the Burlington parcel at the Lexington/Bedford lines It is the Land position of the Board that development not take place until all con- cerns are answered to the satisfaction of all Lexington boards MAPC is requested to keep our MAPC representative and the Planning Board informed of the progress of this study Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to declare the Proclamation week of February 4 - 10 as Lexington Rotary Club Week III Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 1045pm A true record, Attest _:\,klY 4404,4601r, 74)1. ;?%14m Executive Clerk, Selectmen