Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-09-11-BOS-min 331 SELECTMEN'S MEETING SEPTEMBER 11, 1978 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, September 11, 1978 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 McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present The Board agreed to sign sewer betterment assessments Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the list Sewer Bet of sewer betterment assessments for Blossomcrest Road Blossomcrest Chairman Battin read a letter from the Traffic Safety Committee in- Traf Safety forming the Board that 25 ft of granite curbing had been installed at the Fottler Avenue entrance to the Hamel Gas Station, 329 Mass Avenue as the existing configuration constituted a potentially hazardous con- dition. Chairman Battin read a letter from the Minuteman School Committee Minuteman regarding the appointment of a representative of Lexington to serve on School the Minuteman School Planning Committee to explore the possibility of Planning expanding the membership of the School District This appointment Com. 11 would be in addition to Lexington's current representative to the School District, Mr Robert Jackson The Board agreed to make the appointment at the September 25 meeting Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission Permit to the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society for the use of the Visitors' Center grmuadefor an art exhibition on Saturday, September 16, 10 00 A.M- 4 00 P.M Chairman Battin read a letter from Mrs Joyce Hals asking that she Resignation be relieved of the responsibility of attending meetings at the 128 West Council Subcommittee meetings The Board agreed and Mr Hutchinson is to see if a replacement is necessary Ms Sara Chase, Chairman, and Ms Anne Grady of the Lexington Historical Historical Commission met with the Board to submit a statement as re- Commission quested by the State Historidal Commission, regarding major policy issues facing historic preservation today Ms Chase said that as this statement indicates, preservation touches Lexington and we are creating an awareness of something that could be done with special buildings of the town There are older houses that need some atten- tion and there were issues that came up with the Hancock School Some areas in town are not applicable and we are primarily thinking of older nieghborhoods These are suggestions for consideration of issues and are not intended to be binding The Board endorsed the submitted statement plus the recommendation of the additional item that any exercise in planning should include provision for preservation 332 Selectmen's Meeting - 2 - September 11, 1978 111 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to write to Secretary Paul Guzzi, Chairman of the Massachusetts Historical Commission, submitting the statement of the Lexington Historical Commission for inclusion in the Commonwealth statement of the current issues facing the State historic preservation programs, as follows "Historic preservation must be linked with housing rehabilitation and with neighborhood conservation Preservation can no longer be thought of only as a means of preserving major national landmarks or an an elitist movement for a privileged few Shifting the emphasis to housing and older neighbor- hoods could give many Americans that sense of place and of individual identity which can come only from recognition and appreciation of the past, as it is embodied in architecture Some specific means to this end include 1 Funds for rehabilitation of housing must include provisions for pre- serving historic features and details of buildings 2 Zoning laws must be examined and perhaps altered to permit owners of larger older homes (even in Lexington) to offset costs of maintaining their homes by legally installing rental apartments in their buildings 3 Guidelines for rehabilitating housing and for new construction in ex- isting neighborhoods should include provisions for design and scale compatibility and, in many cases, for design review 4 Building codes must be developed which will make it economically and physically feasible to rehabilitate and adaptively reuse older buildings, keeping historic features intact when they do not create undue hazards to the occupants 5 Any exercise in planning should include provision for preservation In addition, more "consciousness raising" and education about our built environment must be undertaken at every level in the schools Only as architectural history is taught in terms of each town's own neighborhoods and buildings will the felt need to preserve our cultural environment became urgent A third policy issue is the need of far greater application of scientific technology and research to the problems of building conservation At present, architectural conservation is in the hands of many who have no firmly based scientific approach to solving the difficulties of preserving old buildings Energy conservation in preservation is a vital issue Researchers are be- ginning to be able to compute with some clarity the actual energy savings obtained by reusing already-existing buildings, rather than indulging in I 333 Selectmen's Meeting - 3 - September 11, 1978 wasteful demolition and new construction In addition, more and more possi- bilities for retrofitting insulation in older buildings are appearing Finally, the relationship between historic preservation and conservation of our natural resources should be more clearly defined Both contribute sig- nificantly to the quality of everyday life Especially in Lexington, where the few remaining farmsteads are reminders of a part of the town's history which has nearly disappeared, these buildings should be preserved in their original settings, with as much of the accompanying land as possible left open " The Board agreed to forward a copy of the Lexington Historical Com- , mission's statement to the Planning Board, Housing Authority, School Sites Conversion Committee, and the Building Commission, with a memo suggesting that they may wish to address the involved policy planning and enforcement issues with the Lexington Historical Commission Ms Chase and Ms Grady retired from the meeting The Board agreed to extend the Wild Acre Inn license Wild Acre Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to extend the License Lodging House license for the Wild Acre Inn, 50 Percy Road, from Sep- tember 1, 1978 to December 31, 1978 Mrs Shunney, Chairman, and members of the Lexington Housing Author- Housing ity met with the Board Authority Chairman Battin said that the School Sites Conversion Comittee has asked that the Housing Authority meet with us to discuss the future use of released school buildings and, also, housing needs in the town She read a letter from the Board to the Housing Authority stating, " since we are lacking in housing accomendations for those of modest means who do not qualify for elderly units, town policy should be directed to address this shortage We and our staff would be pleased to work with the Authority and whatever developers or groups are interested to initiate whatever pro- cess is needed to find funding, etc for such programs in Lexington " Mrs Miley said that an emergency law, which sets forth the authority of Housing Authorities, was approved on July 24, 1978 and this would mean that non-profit organizations would work in concert with Housing Authorities on this type of thing. In response to Mrs Shunney's question, Mrs. Miley is to get the information on whether a non-profit organization would be able to apply for funds and then ask for the cooperation of the local Authority In order to satisfy the law, we need a total of 1,000 units of low and moderate housing, which they call family housing (MAPC figures were for 1,300 but this number was reducted) Now we just have housing for the elderly, 16 at St Bridgid's and six for Interfaith We can't keep saying that, down- stream, we are going to do this because downstream will take years and years We didn't get the 60 units at Countryside and it is questionable whether the town could get the 60 units without a further commitment for family housing Mr Scanlon, Housing Director, said that under Section 8, the Housing Authority could go out and issue its owne bonds This new legislation may have done something enabling the Housing Authority to issue their (developers) bonds In talking with HUD, there is llb money available to private de- velopers 334 Selectmen's Meeting - 3 - September 11, 1978 During the discussion, Mr Busa, Mr Kent and Mr Crain felt that because of a lack of information the Board could not make a statement that non-profit developers should become involved at this time and, also, there should be a master plan that proposes elements of the needs of the town Mrs Shunney said that the charge to the Planning Board's Housing Master Plan Subcommittee is to make some ,proposals to the Town Meeting We all have to think seriously about how much we want to accept and how much to give up, and we can't disregard the people of Lexington. Mr Kent pointed out that the Board of Selectmen, in conjunction with a recent grant application (pool) , had committed itself to a housing plan It was agreed that Mr Busa, a member of the Housing Subcommittee, is to ask the subcommittee to address the concerns of the Board. Members of the Housing Authority retired from the meeting Sewer The Board reviewed and voted an addition to the charge previously Advisory given to the Sewer Advisory Committee - to serve as an integral part of Committee the Selectmen's review and hearing procedures before the commitment of Add'l funds to any sewer projects The procedures outlined to Town Meeting Charge were 1 Administrative review of proposed sewer project or package Sewer Advisory Committee to participate and then review and comment 2 Review and comment by other concerned boards, e g , Board of Health, Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Board of Appeals 3 Selectmen's full hearing at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board -- the sewer Advisory Committee to attend and ask questions and comment as requested by the Board Before making its final decision, the Selectmen agreed to have the following information The specific recommendation of the Board of Health. Petition results -- number of proponents and opponents The construction cost per house and the betterment to be assessed per house The potential development of adjacent land if a sewer is installed The Sewer Advisory Committee is to work closely with the Town Manager to put this review process into operation, as promised the Town Meeting Mr. Hutchinson is to report back to the Board after a discussion with the committee on the betterment formula, the legality of the town constructing private sewer disposal systems, and the cost effectiveness of the town DPW doing much of the actual sewer construction 335 Selectmen's Meeting - 4 - September 11, 1978 Mr. Hutchinson recommeded approval of requests for the use of Cary Cary Hall Hall Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the following for the use of Cary Hall Masterworks Chorale on December 2, 3, 15 and 16, 1978; May 12 and May 13, subject to payment of custodial fees and Policemen and Firemen when necessary Lexington Pre-School PTA/Lions Club Eye Screening Clinic on October 15, 1978, subject to payment of custodial fee Lexington Recreation Department for the kitchen area to conduct children's arts and crafts classes on Thursday afternoons from September to April, 1979 Mr Hutchinson recommeridedapproval of the recommendations of the Classifica Classification Review Board to upgrade the classification of the Super- Review Bd - intendent of Cemeteries from an M-3 to M-4 position; also, to establish D P W the position of Mechanic's Helper (W-3) in the Department of Public Works Under Warren Empey's proposal, a W-2 position in the Highway Division is being abolished and a new W-3 position is being established in the Mechanic's division The cost of the new position will be ap- proximately $200, annually We are trying to get an apprentice program going for mechanics rather than just an entry level labor program at W-2 No additional personnel would be involved Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the recommendation of the Town Manager and the Classification Review Board to establish the position of Mechanic's Helper at the W-3 level in the Public Works Department Mr Buse stated that the ADL report did not indicate upgrading the position of Cemetery Superintendent He asked if Mr Spiers has taken on additional duties? The Board agreed to table the matter pending a report from the Town Manager referencing the responsibilities of the Cemetery Superintendent and the reasons for the recommended change in classification Mr Hutchinson reported to the Board that bids on the bleachers Bleachers will be received on September 24 and by the middle of October we antic- ipate having approximately 1300 seats available Dr Lawson and Mr Lord will recommend to the School Committee that the Minuteman Vocational School grounds be used for the first two football games In response to Mr Kent's question whether a judgment had been made on the need for the original 2500 seats, Mr Hutchinson pointed out that if Lexington has a winning season, we have quite a following This is an area to be discussed during the budget review process The Board agreed Mr Hutchinson recommended that Contract 79-2-E be awarded to the lowest Contract bidder, Starrett Paving Corporation, in the amount of $55,786 25 79-2-E Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to award Contract 79-2-E III to Starrett Paving Corporation, in the amount of $55,786 25, for street re- surfacing on Waltham Street, Idylwilde Road, Fletcher Avenue, Sherburne Road, 336 Selectmen's Meeting - 5 - September 11, 1978 Kendall Road, Worthen Road, School Street, Muzzey Street, Center Playground- Basketball Court; subject to approval of Town Counsel as to bid form. Mr Hutchinson reported that - Tax Bills 1 Tax bills are being sent out this week, with the message to the taypayers on the breakdown of the tax rate Parking 2 The new parking meters are being installed (increased feet Meters 3. The informational meeting on scattered sites will be held on Scattered September 21 at 7 30 P M in Estabrook Hall on the scattered Sites sites The Town Manager and the Housing Authority will be Meeting there. This will involve the process, timetable, and the location of the sites It is being emphasized that this is for informational purposes only and it is not the time to ask about what decisions are to be made as the proposals are still not available Mr Hutchinson agreed to report to the Board in September on sewer rehabilitation and the cherry sheet Land Gift Mr Cohen recommended that the Board sign the acceptance of a gift Conserv from Prescott D and Charlotte Crout of a conservation easement for the Eastment protection of the natural and watershed resources of the Town This is Crout adjacent to the Daisy Wilson land, which we have not acquired yet Mr and Mrs Crout signed the deed last Friday and, after the Board signs, it will be sent to the Secretary of Environmental Affairs for his approval Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the deed accepting the gift of a conservation easement from Prescott D Crout and Charlotte L. Crout of Lexington The Board discussed and agreed that - 1 Meetings on the first and third Mondays would be devoted to Selectmen's routine business; policy and planning issues would be dis- Items - cussed on the second and fourth Mondays in the month Meetings Assignments 2 A draft of the Policies and Procedures Manual would be given to the Board on September 22 for discussion on September 25 3 In addition to Mr Crain, Chairman Battin is to work on de- veloping a process for town-wide long range planning, to include the setting of goals and priorities 4 Four of the Selectmen's meetings are to be held at evenly spaced intervals in four quadrants of the town Regular Board business will be covered and special attention will be given to the issues and concerns of the citizens presents Mrs. Miley is to make arrangements for the first meeting to be held on October 30; also to come back to the Board with recommendations on improving better communication with the citizens 337 $electmen's Meeting - 6 - September 11, 1978 5 Mrs. Miley and Mr Kent are to continue relaying the concerns of the Selectmen and the major Boards and Committees to the County (Miley) and the State (Kent) 6 Board members are to continue with the following assignments Mrs. Battin;. MAPC Representative; Liaison Mass Municipal Associations; Long range planning Mr. Busa Dog Hearing Officer; Housing Master Plan Subcommittee; CATV Committee Mrs Miley Middlesex County Advisory Board Representative; Sdhool Sites Conversion Committee; Board of Appeals' decisions Mr. Kent Legislative Liaison; Executive Committee of Library Trustees; Police Manual Policy Committee; Lexington Forum on Aging Mr. Crain Human Services Liaison; Center Revitalization Study; Intra-town transportation proposal; Long range planning The Board discussed the reorganization of the Selectmen's Office Selectmen's Chairman Battin read the recommendations of the Chairman of the Board of Office Selectmen, the Executive Clerk and the Town Manager stating "In view of Reorgani- the increasingly onerous burden of property taxes, we recognize the zation Selectmen's responsibility to carefully scrutinize all budgets, in- cluding our own, in order to effect economies of staffing wherever possible, and recognizing that certain functions of the Selectmen's Office are a holdover from the days prior to the establishment of the Town Manager when the Board of Selectmen functioned as chief admin- istrative officers of the town - and recognizing the wish of the Board of Selectmen to emphasize the importance of the "executive" rather than the clerical role of the Board's Executive Clerk, recommendations are made to the Board for restructuring the Board's office, that the responsibility for functions of primary importance should logically remain with the Selectmen's Office, although the clerical help needed to accomplish them may be drawn upon from other departments through the Manager's Office Other functions currently handled by the Selectmen's Office should be transferred to the Town Manager's Office, the Department of Public Works/ Engineering, and the Town Clerk " During the discussion, Mr Busa did not agree with the recommendations and stated that he felt there would be an erosion of the responsibilities of the Board of Selectmen if the changes were implemented Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-1, Mr. Busa voting in the negative, that the following functions are to remain with the Select- men's Office, with the clerical help needed to accomplish them being drawn from other departments through the Manager's Office 338 Selectmen's Meeting - 7 - September 11, 1979 *1 Complete, detailed set-up and follow up (including minutes) of Selectmen's meetings, budget meetings and special meetings of the Selectmen, including scheduling D P W hearings as part of regular Selectmen's meetings *2 Answer correspondence addressed to the Board and assist the Chairman and the Town Manager in answering the public's questions about the decisions and work of the Board *3. All secretarial work for Town Counsel, including processing requestsfor payments under Town Meeting Articles *4 Liaison with the public on all personal and telephone contacts. *5 Prepare warrants for Annual Town Meeting; Special Town Meetings, Primaries and Elections; arrange for printing and delivery of same 6 Handle all dog complaints and set up hearings as required 7 Process applications and issue licenses, i.e , taxicabs, auctioneers, common victualler, guides, all liquor licenses, theatres, etc 8. Prepare list of annual appointments 9 Prepare jury list 10 Schedule Board appointments and hearings on requests from Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone Company for pole and conduit installations (all clerical work necessary prior to and following hearings to be handled by D P.W - see below) 11 Prepare budgets for Selectmen's Office, Law Expenses and Fees, Elections and Town Meeting Warrant expenses 12 Notorize documents for the Board of Selectmen Process liquor identification cards Purchase Selectmen's Office supplies File all Selectmen's correspondence Certify the Selectmen's Office payroll. * Functions of primary importance The following functions currently handled by the Selectmen's Office are to be transferred to The Town Manager's Office 1 Scheduling and staffing Town Office switchboard 339 Selectmen's Meeting - 7 - September 11, 1978 (Town Manager, cont'd) 2. The clerical preparation and publication of the Town Report (the administrative responsibility for this was assigned to the Town Manager last year) 3 Scheduling Cary Hall. 4 All secretarial, clerical work associated with street,sewer and water hearings To the Department of Public Works/Engineering 1. All secretarial and clerical work associated with Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone Company petitions and hearings 2 Preparation and publication of Town maps. To the Town Clerk Notification to Election Officers of appointment by the Board of Selectmen The Town Manager and the Executive Clerk are to come back to the Board on November 6 with a report on the operation of the Selectmen's Office under the above-voted changes The Board agreed to table the discussion on the staffing pattern of the Selectmen's Office until the meeting of September 18 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 by roll call vote to go into Executive Session, with no intention of resuming the open meeting, to discuss strategy with respect to litigation, land negotiations, and a matter of personal reputation After discussion, it was voted to go out of Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10 45 P.M. A true record, Attest xec�lerk Selectmen