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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-03-20-BOS-min 185 SELECTMEN'S MEETING March 20, 1978 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- men's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, March 20, 1978 at 7 00 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 Chairman Battin announced the anniversary of the Selectman/Town Selectmen/ Manager Act In March, 1969, the Selectmen were asked to, and did, Town Manager establish this form of government and, as Chairman of the Structure Act of Town Government Committee, she had watched with concern and care the selection of a Town Manager She thanked Mr Hutchinson for his sound administrative practices, fiscal restraint, wise choice of staff, developing and working with subordinates and giving credit when it is due and sharing credit Although he argued very hard for his point of view, when he had been overruled, he had worked very promptly and dili- ' gently to carry out the directions of the Board It is the Board's responsibility to continue to monitor and evaluate Mr Hutchinson's performance, and the hope is that Board members will be as pleased with him next year Mr Hutchinson expressed his thanks for the Chairman's expression of the Board's confidence in his performance of the past year Miss Ellen E and Miss Ruth T Harrington, 11 Curve Street, and Barnes Place neighbors met with the Board to discuss the Town's proposal to take Sewer- a sewer easement down the lot line between the vacant lot and the lot Curve St - on which the Harrington house is located, with the understanding that Harrington the land would be restored to its original condition During the discussion, the 'Harrington sisters strenuously objected to the location of the sewer easement on their property and after due consideration of the alternatives presented by Mr McSweeney and Mr Martin, it was the unanimous decision of the Board to take the alterna- tive route through the Adams School driveway Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously voted that the Barnes Place sewer would be constructed by an alternative route through the Adams School driveway and connect to the existing sewer servicing the Adams School, at an additional cost of $7,000 The Harrington sisters and their neighbors thanked the Board and retired from the meeting The Board discussed the letter from the Housing Authority regard- Housing ing provisions in the Department of Community Affairs' 667 Request for Authority Proposals for funds to construct no more than sixty (60) units at DCA 667 Countryside Mr Hutchinson and Mr Cohen made recommendations to the Countryside Board and it was agreed to support the items referenced by the Housing Authority, subjectto stipulations Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to support the Lexington Housing Authority on the following items that relate to the 18(5 Selectmen's Meeting March 20, 1978 DCA 667 Request for Proposals for Funds to construct no more than sixty (60) units at Countryside II Municipal Contributions A. Provide street and sidewalk maintenance B The municipality will extend the following infra- structure to the property lines at no cost to the project Access road, sidewalks and benches, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, gas, water, electricity C The municipality will waive the following charges in connection with the project All fees and charges, hearings, filing charges, building permit fee, in- spection charges, connection charges This approval is subject to all necessary reviews and appropriation should this project be further considered Also, the Housing Authority is to be informed that the Town requests more specific information re- garding this proposal so that it can more thoughtfully address the ex- tension of these services Liquor License Chairman Battin read a request for approval of a new Manager at Sheraton- the Sheraton-Lexington Motor Inn. Lex. New Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Manager new manager, Mrs Frances Fletcher, of the Sheraton-Lexington Motor Inn, under the 1978 Innholder liquor license Approval of the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission is also to be requested VFW Permit Chairman Battin read a request from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the VFW Post #3007 to sell Buddy Poppies throughout Lexington on May 25, 26 and 27, 1978, subject to the understanding that there is to be no house-to-house solicitation Auctioneer Chairman Battin read an application for an Auctioneer's License License Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to renew the Auctioneer's license for Mr William Sennott, 10 Douglas Road, expiring March 31, 1979 Treasurer Mr Louis Zehner, Town Treasurer, met with the Board to request ap- proval of borrowing $1,250,000 in tax anticipation Bids were received ranging from 3 00 percent to 3 24 percent The Harvard Trust Company submitted a bid for the entire amount at 3 15 percent but were underbid by the New England Merchants at 3 00 percent on $500,000 and the First National at 3 03 percent on $250,000 Therefore, it is recommended to split the bids Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the 111 recommendation of the Town Treasurer to borrow $1,250,000 from the following banks, notes to be dated March 24, 1978 and maturing on 187 Selectmen's Meeting March 20, 1978 May 2, 1978 Treasurer New England Merchants Bank $500,000 @ 3 00 percent (cont'd) First National Bank of Boston $250,000 @ 3 03 percent Harvard Trust Company $500,000 @ 3 15 percent Mr Zehner added that if taxes are prepaid in the normal manner, he may not have to borrow for another year, but, if not, he would only have money enough to last through April 7 and might have to borrow on April 14 The Board thanked Mr Zehner for his negotiations, and he retired from the meeting Mr Hutchinson presented proposals on express bus service from Express Lexington to Boston Four proposals were received and the recommenda- Lex /Bos tion is to grant a 90-day Common Carrier license to Metropolitan Coach, Bus Mooney Street, Cambridge, to operate on Lexington streets Commuters would be charged $1 35 per ride; $1 10 for 20-ride ticket; 4 bus trips to be made each morning and each evening Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the recommendation of Mrs Nancy Banks, Assistant to the Town Manager, and the Transportation Advisory Committee to grant a 90-day Common Carrier license, expiring June 20, 1978, to Metropolitan Coach, Cambridge, to provide the hours of 6 00 A M.-9 00 A M. from Lexington and 4 00 P.M - 6 00 P M from Boston along routes mutually agreed upon with the Town Manager's office Mr Hutchinson recommended that the Board rescind the vote of Transfer- February 21, 1978 requesting approval of the Appropriation Committee Snow for a transfer of $50,000 from the Reserve Fund as the Town has re- ceived legal notification from the State of authorization to expand against the appropriation ($277,300) that affected the deficit situa- tion during the snowstorms By rescinding the vote, this will give us the capability of keeping the Reserve Fund at a certain level be- cause we are going to have other unexpected expenditures for the remainder of the year Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to rescind the vote of February 21, 1978 for approval of the Appropriation Committee of a transfer of $50,000 from the Reserve Fund to Public Works Account #5500 Mr Hutchinson informed the Board that a seminar for elected and New England appointed officials is to be held by the New England Public Policy Public Institute in Lexington (rather than the previously scheduled place in Policy Sturbridge) on April 14 and 15, 1978 It is hoped to get together 25 Seminar teams to address concerns, such as setting municipal goals, evaluating preferences as a policy maker, etc The registration fee is $40 00, each All members of the Board agreed to attend, with the understanding that further discussion would be held on the properaccount from which the registration fees are to be drawn 1 188 Selectmen's Meeting March 20, 1978 Town Seal- Mr Cohen recommended that the Board approve the request of the Forum on Lexington Forum on Aging to use the Town Seal Aging Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per- mission to the Lexington Forum on Aging to use the Town seal on printed material Lexington High Mr Busa reminded the Board that the Lexington High School basket- Basketball ball team had won the State championship and, therefore, are to be Champions honored at Town Meeting on Wednesday, March 22 He requested the Board to sign the proclamation, which he would present to Town Meeting under Article 2 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the proclamation honoring the Lexington High School basketball team for outstanding achievement in winning the award of Division 1 Basketball Championship in Massachusetts The Board discussed the following Articles for the Town Meeting Art 19- Article 19-Sewers Chairman Battin said that the Sewer Advisory Sewer Committee has two concerns which they would like to become part of the Bonding motion (1) To have the wording not only to allow the $2 5 million for new sewer laterals but also to make it available for the reconstruction or rehabilitation of existing sewers if it turns out that State monies are in jeopardy, as, conceivably, they may be; (2) To change the better- ment formula to have it average over three or two years rather than five years Chairman Battin recommended that the language indicate that the Selectmen be requested to look at ways of improving the betterment formula The Board agreed that Mr Cohen is to amend the wording on the motion for Article 19 to include the above recommendations Art 22- Article 22-Chapter 90 Adams Street The Board approved Mr Kent's Adams St recommendation to include in the motion the language in the vote taken by the Board at the meeting with Adams Street residents "That in development of plans for reconstruction of Adams Street, the Selectmen would confer at every stage with the citizens living in the neighborhood " Art 32- Article 32-Citizens' Article for a Senior Citizens' Center Mr Senior Kent discussed the proposed motion and it was agreed that he is to meet Citizen's with Mr Sen, Chairman of the Council on Aging, to inform him of the Center unanimous opinion of the Board that it could not support a Center for Senior Citizens, only Also, to suggest the deletion of "acquisition of" in the sentence, " to develop a plan for acquisition of permanent and if necessary, temporary facilities " Mr Kent is to come back to the Board at the Wednesday evening meeting 189 Selectmen's Meeting March 20, 1978 For the information of the Board, Mrs Battin said that, on the Art 51 bus tour, Town Meeting members had questioned the need for reconstruct- Cushing St ing Cushing Street Apparently, the residents had paved the road at their expense, and the Town Meeting members were advised that we have a liability to the Town and because there is not a proper slope and the drains are inadequate, it must be reconstructed to meet our standards Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 7 55 P.M A true record, Attest � ] )29 Executive k, Selectmen 1I