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SELECTMEN'S MEETING
OCTOBER 30, 1978
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday,
October 30, 1978 at 7 30 P.M. in the Clarke Junior High cafeteria
Chairman Battin, Mr Busa, Mrs Miley, Mr Kent and Mr Crain; Mr
Hutchinson, Town Manager; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel; Mrs McCurdy,
Executive Clerk, were present
Mrs Martha Wood, Mr Robert Bowyer and Mrs Lilah Grossier of TMMA -
the Town Meeting Members Association presented a report on suggested Warrant
changes which they felt would improve the readability of the 1979
Warrant The following recommendations were made (1) 81" x 11"
photo-ready copy; (2) A table of contents identifying each article
by title and page number, and articles grouped by major subjects
and identified as such; (3) A brief summary at the beginning, com-
parable to the summary of the referendum questions prepared by the
Secretary of the Commonwealth; for each article, the required legal
language would still appear whether there is a summary or not;
(4) Identifying title for each article; (5) Where relevant, refer
to commonly understood locations, streets or recognized landmarks;
(6) Insert maps or other graphics necessary for the clarification
of articles; (7) On citizens' petitions, identify the sponsor/
initiator of the article and the first name on the petition
Mrs Wood offered the assistance of Town Meeting members in the
preparation of the layout, composition and paste-up of the warrant
The Board was receptive to the recommendations and the matter
was taken under advisement
Chairman Battin opened the hearing at 7 45 p m on the application Liquor Lic
of the 1775 Wine and Spirit Shop, Inc for the transfer of a Retail Transfer -
Package Goods Store license to sell all alcoholic beverages from 1775 Wine &
Joseph Trani, Inc , 1775 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington Spir'it,Inc
A notice of the hearing was advertised in the Lexington Minute-
man issue of October 19, 1978 and copies were sent certified mail by
the petitioner to all abutters Mr William F Foley, Jr , the peti-
tioner, and his Attorney, Leonard F DePaola, were present There
were no questions from Board members, and no one appearing in favor
or in opposition, Chairman Battin declared the hearing closed
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the
transfer of a Retail Package Goods Store license to sell all alcoholic
beverages from Joseph Trani, Inc , 1775 Massachusetts Avenue, to the
1775 Wine and Spirit Shop, Inc , subject to the approval of the
Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission
Chairman Battin read a letter from Mrs Greene of the Town Report Town Report
Committee recommending two appointments to the committee Com Appts
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Ms
Tasha Totman, 46 Moreland Avenue, and Mr Raymond I Culler, 209
Lincoln Street, as members of the Town Report Committee
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Selectmen's Meeting - 2 - October 30, 1978
Meeting with Chairman Battin opened the discussion with Town Meeting members
Citizens and citizens of Precincts 3, 4 and 9, She said that the Selectmen
Prectincts recognized the need for strengthening communications with citizens
3, 4 & 9 and if this meeting proves successful, three more meetings will be
held during the year in the remaining quadrants of the town
Questions were asked from the audience
Wood St Ms ,Madelaine Cavenough, 149 Wood Street, said that two petitions
Sidewalk had been submitted to the Selectmen, one for the installation of a
sidewalk on one side of Wood Street, and one concerning excessive
speed on Wood Street and requesting the exclusion of industrial
truck traffic
Mr Hutchinson said that $56,000 will be provided in the Capital
budget for Town Meeting consideration of a sidewalk on Wood Street
up to Conestoga Road The Traffic Safety Committee will review again
the speed limit and also look at the industrial truck traffic The
Police Department will monitor the area regarding speeding
Mr Cohen pointed out that the State DPW has jurisdiction over
the exclusion of industrial truck traffic; however, we could look
into it and recommend alternate routes
The Board agreed to refer the matter to the Traffic Safety Com-
mittee for a report in two weeks on the speed limit and industrial
truck traffic on Wood Street Also, to define the responsibility of
the Board and the State DPW concerning the exclusion of industrial
truck traffic
Warren St A citizen said that residents of Warren Street were notified of 111Sewer a hearing on the Warren Street sewer, to be constructed at a cost of
$25,000, and one homeowner did not want it installed and the other
lot was vacant
Mr Hutchinson said that the Capital Expenditures Committee is
looking at the list and so is the Sewer Advisory Committee We en-
courage citizens to come to the Sewer Advisory meetings so they may
register objections or support during the hearing process
Chairman Battin explained that the Board had told the Town Meet-
ing that a sewer process would be adopted and there would be an ad-
ministrative review, at which the Sewer Advisory Committee would
participate After it had been reviewed and commented upon by the
Sewer ADvisory Committee and the Board of Health, the Selectmen will
hold a hearing at one of our regular meetings Abutters are to be
notified of both hearings If no one wants the sewer, and thereis
no health hazard created in the neighborhood, the Selectmen will take
that into consideration before spending $25,000
Sewer Bet Mr Hutchinson informed all that the sewer .betterment formula is
Formula being reviewed by the Engineering Department and we may recommend using
a 3-year average at present day costs A suggested formula will be
submitted in December
Drainage Mr Paul Riff in recommended that the drainage study program be con-
Study tinued as there is a definite relationship between overloading the sewers
and not having proper drainage
Mr Hutchinson advised that the drainage study is being completed
and the data indicates a groundwater problem. Tests are now being made111
in the Saddle Club Road area
3"
Selectmen's Meeting - 3 - October 30, 1978
Mrs Ruth Thomas discussed the Center Playground and expressed her Center
concern about violations of the 10 00 p.m curfew and the alcoholic+bew- Playground
erages consumption ban Also, the neighbors are concerned about the Lions Curfew -
Club carnival being extended to-run for seven or eight days last summer; Lions Club
they feel it to be a terrible inconvenience and are disturbed by the noise, Carnival
staying open too late, generators, lights on, etc They hope that when
the Lions Club comes in for a permit, they will be told of the neighbor-
hood's concerns
Mr Hutchinson agreed that the 10 00 p.m curfew being violated is a
problem and we have to keep monitoring the area He advised that if there
is a specific problem, we should be informed and we will ask for police en-
forcement
It was agreed that Mr Hutchinson is to request the Police Department
to monitor the Center Playground area more often Also, the neighbors are
to be informed when the Lions Club meets with the Selectmen to discuss next
year's request for a permit
Ms Georgia Williams asked if there is a replacement program for the Diseased Elm
diseased elm trees which have been removed Mr Hutchinson replied that Trees
Mr Mazerall has saved some trees and he would ask for a report on plans
for replacement Mrs Frick suggested that the money for the Harrington
Seedling Forest be used for this purpose, and Mr Hutchinson is to look
into the matter and report back to the Board
Mrs Lilah Groisser requested reconsideration of a petition submitted
three years ago to change the Precinct 3 polling place from the Bridge Prec 3
School The Clarke Junior High and the Franklin School were mentioned Polling
as possible locations Place
Mr Hutchinson was requested by the Board to reactivate the request
and submit a recommendation Citizens of Precinct 3 are to be invited to
the Selectmen's meeting when the topic is discussed
A citizen raised the question of whether the Public Works Department Allen St
was finished with Waltham Street She said that there is a very dangerous Sidewalk
sidewalk at Allen Street because of a curve and the absence of a berm
Mr Hutchinson agreed to obtain the necessary information, which would
be available at his office
The question was asked as to what format the Selectmen will use on Scattered
low/moderate income housing, and if certain types will be discussed at Sites
certain hearings? Mr. Hutchinson replied that the Housing Authority
will review the proposals, select a developer, and reference the lots;
then, people should talk to the Housing Authority
Chairman Battin added that the Selectmen will decide the date of
the hearings and the Board will look at it in one package
The possible resale of one of the Hancock School condominiums was Hancock
discussed by Sandra Shaw and Ruth Thomas and the Board explained that Condominiums
the developer had cooperated fully and had been asked to investigate
the possibility of a resale
Mr Clarkson of Precinct 4 asked about the status of the landfill Landfill
and a transfer station Mr Hutchinson responded that a report on the
landfill will be filed with the Selectmen at the next meeting We will
reserve an article in connection with mandatory recycling/trash collection
and we will have a program for the Town Meeting Mandatory recycling is
difficult without trash collection The Solid Waste Committee hopes to
finalize a report to the Selectmen, as well as Whitman & Howard It
would not be unfair to go to a recovery facility and to recommend No Andover
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Selectmen's Meeting - 4 - October 30, 1978
There is a figure in the budget now for a proposed transfer station
and this will be a major subject for discussion during the budget
process
Parker Mrs Miley discussed the Parker School and said that forty-two
School proposals were received, including codominiums, offices, family hous-
ing, rental housing, and some low/moderate income housing
Human Ms Sandra Shaw asked what kind of an impact the Human Services'
Services questionnaire would have on the articles?
Mr Crain, the Board's liaison with the human services team,
responded that we really don't know at this time There are 450
questionnaires going out on a random basis ,once the data has been
collected, we can discern what the reactions are from that
Chairman Battin added that we are trying to find out what the
needs and desires are in Lexington
Chairman Battin thanked all for coming and participating in the
discuuponnmotion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 by roll call
Executive vote to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a real
Session estate transaction
After discussion, it was voted to go out of Executive Session
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at
10 10 P.M
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A true record, Attest ��-
&G.d.tee?
Executive Clerk, Selectme
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