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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-02-21-BOS-min 150 SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 21, 1978 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- men's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Tuesday, February 21, 1978, at 7 30 p m Chairman Battin, Mr Bailey, Mrs Miley, and Mr Kent; Mr Hutchinson, Town Manager; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel; Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present The Board expressed its best wishes to Mr Jeffrey Shaw, Administra- tive Assistant to the Town Manager, and wished him success in his new position in another Town Fire Alarm Fire Chief John Bergeron met with the Board Fee Mr Hutchinson informed the Board that Chief Bergeron is proposing an installation charge of $200 for those business concerns that would like to tie into the fire alarm system This has been a free service but the maintenance of the system has become an escalating cost for the Town We feel that $200 is a reasonable installation charge for a major service for any business or any home that would like to be tied directly into the fire department Chief Bergeron said that we have been looking at providing this service, which is not available to everyone The alternative of a person not using the municipal system would be to install a private system and lease telephone lines, which would mean incurring expense to the business What we are proposing is an initial hook-up fee, which would defray our costs of hook-up and testing the system In some cases in the Hartwell Avenue area, we have had businesses that would like to come into the system but, presently, we haven't expanded in that area; this would offset the cost of the cable and the installa- tion to do that Mr Kent asked if this would apply only to systems which would hook up from this time forward so there isn't an identifiable segment of the people whom we ought to give an opportunity to be heard before we do this? Mr Hutchinson replied that this is one of the reasons we have deferred on submitting another proposal which would call for those currently tied into the system paying a maintenance charge for that service We think that those people should have an opportunity to be heard Those that are not tied in could make a conscious decision whether they want to be in or out That is why we only have one proposal in front of you, recognizing the Board's concern in that area Mr Bailey said that he could rationalize that once a company is in the system, the cost of maintaining and monitoring it is more than balanced out by the ability to respond timely and be effective in what you are doing Mr Hutchinson said, for clarification, then you understand the initial cost and have no objections at a later time to a maintenance fee being proposed? 151 Selectmen's Meeting February 21, 1978 Mr Bailey replied that he has a little trouble with that Mr Kent asked whether a similar fee arrangement is under contem- plation with respect to the burglar alarms that are tied in directly to the police station; that has been suggested as an increasingly sig- nificant activity on the part of the police department, which ob- viously involves some effort and expenditure of time and money He was not suggesting that the two go together but whether that subject is under consideration? Mr Hutchinson said that, right now, there is quite a bit of capability to handle burglar alarms within the system, but we are not addressing that question of fees However, he would discuss it with Chief Corr Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Vote- following (1) no new fire alarm boxes are to be installed in single Fire Alarms family residences; (2) The fire alarm system is to be expanded into industrial and commercial areas Also, a one-time charge of $200 00 is to be instituted to offset the cost of hook-up, testing, and system maintenance The Board discussed a list of nominees submitted by the Council Senior Center on Aging and other Town Agencies for appointment to the Senior Center Site Committee Site Committee Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint the following members of the Senior Center Site Committee C Harry Erickson, C Lynn Hamilton, Joseph 0 Rooney, Jane M Stumpp, Louis Tropeano, Martha C Wood, and Leslie H York A copy of the charge, voted on January 30, 1978, is to be sent to each committee member Mrs Nancy Banks, Assistant to the Town Manager, is to work closely with the committee The Board agreed to give consideration to the appointment of a citizen whose resume has just been received Chairman Battin read a report from the Traffic Safety Committee Traffic Safety- relative to a request from Mr Neil B Turner, 136 Concord Avenue, Concord Avenue that the Town cut away the embankment on his property and grant him permission to install a curved mirror on a pole opposite his driveway The report states that, due to the horizontal and vertical alignment of Concord Avenue at this point, cutting the banking will not signifi- cantly improve visibility from the driveway However, the committee feels that some degree of improvement can be attained, and recommends that DPW/Engineering contact the affected abutters and, if agreement can be reached regarding making a spot highway maintenance improve- ment without taking sight distance easements, a work order for such improvement be issued The committee also recommends that Mr Turner be given permission to have a curved mirror opposite his driveway, to be supplied by Mr Turner and installed by the Town Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the recommendation of tht Traffic Safety Committee for a curved mirror, 111 supplied by Mr Neil B Turner, to be installed by the Public Works 152 Selectmen's Meeting February 21, 1978 Department opposite the driveway at 136 Concord Avenue Mr McSweeney was requested to contact the abutters to discuss highway improvements in the area Noise Chairman Battin read a report from Mr George Smith, Director Complaint- of Public Health, relative to a letter received from Mrs Janet Legere Highland and Mrs Nancy Bray of Grapevine Avenue complaining about the noise, Food Mkt particularly at night, from the refrigeration unit on top of the Highland Food Market, 321 Marrett Road The report states that night noise level monitorings, taken by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering, showed no violations as of Novem- ber 21, 1977 Noise levels were taken at the source of the alleged violation and in front of Mrs Leger's property at 16 Grapevine Avenue Therefore, it is suggested, that since no violation could be established on different occasions by Department De artment of Environ- mental Quality Engineering, that the Board of Selectmen handle the situation as it did on the previous complaint from Mrs Legere in 1974, by requesting the Manager of the Highland Food Market to co- operate Mr Hutchinson agreed to talk with the Manager of the Market, to discuss some means of muffling the noise of the refrigeration unit Solid Waste Chairman Battin said that it had been suggested several times, Committee both members of the Board and the Manager, the possibility of consoli- dating into one committee our regional refuse study committee and the sanitary landfill advisory committee Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to consolidate the regional refuse study committee and the sanitary landfill advisory committee into one committee to be known as the Solid Waste Advisory Committee Mr Hutchinson is to contact members of both committees to see if they would be willing to serve on the consolidated committee Regional Refuse Study Committee - James P Reilly, Peter J Cambourelis, Joyce Hals, Iris G Wheaton, Joan P Crothers, Warren A Empey; Sanitary Landfill Advisory Committee - William J Martin, Susan S Solomon Mr Fred C Bailey agreed to serve on the committee as Technical Adviser to the Town Manager Election Day The Board discussed the request from Ms Jacqueline Ward, 15 Banner Robinson Road, for a "Vote Today" banner to be strung across Massa- chusetts Avenue in Lexington Center on Monday, March 6, 1978 Mr Hutchinson agreed to make arrangements for the banner and signs at precincts to be installed by the Public Works Department Town Mr Leo Gaughan, Chairman, and members of the Town Celebrations Celebrations Committee met with the Board to request an increase from $7,000 to Committee $10,000 in their FY 79 budget a Mr Gaughan informed the Board that the committee feels that a budget of $7,000 would not be adequate and it would prefer not to depend on sponsorships 153 Selectmen's Meeting February 21, 1978 During the discussion, the Board agreed that the committee's budget has been increased by $500, and it was recommended that efforts be made to obtain sponsorships, as the committee has done in past years The Town Celebrations Committee retired from the meeting Chairman Bat tin read an application for a Common Carrier license Common Carrier Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Pierce Transit Common Carrier license for Pierce Transit Co , Inc , Dracut, to transport Greater Lowell residents to their places of employment in Lexington with two stops at Hartwell Avenue/Wood Street and Hartwell Avenue/Maguire Road; license expiring December 13, 1978 Chairman Battin read requests for the use of Cary Hall Cary Hall Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per- mission to the Masterworks Chorale to use Cary Hall for a rehearsal on March 14, 1978 from 3 00 to 5 30 p m and 7 00 to 11 00 p m The Board discussed the request from the Minuteman Home Care Corporation for permission to use Cary Hall for meetings It was agreed to inform them that the Board does not give blanket permis- sion to any private or Town agency to use the hall at will However, if a schedule of dates is submitted, the Board would be glad to grant approval Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per- mission to the Bicentennial Commission to conduct a workshop in Estabrook Hall on June 10, 1978 from 9 00 a m. to 12 30 p.m , sub- ject to payment of custodial fee Mr Hutchinson recommended that the Board approve the request DPW Transfer from Mr McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engineering, for a Snowstorm transfer of $50,000 to cover expenditures incurred during the January 20 to 24 snowstorms and the February 6 to February 16 blizzard expenses Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the recommendation of the Town Manager and the Director of Public Works to request the approval of the appropriation Committee for a transfer from the Reserve Fund to Account #5500-Snow Removal in the amount of $50,000 Mr Hutchinson informed the Board that Lexington is eligible for 75 percent reimbursement for expenses incurred during the February 6 storm and if we receive it, we may not have to ask for more transfers Mr Hutchinson informed the Board that the report of the Sewer Sewer Advisory Advisory Committee, dated February 6, 1978, has been received Copies Committee will be distributed to the Board Report Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 by roll call Executive vote into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with Session 154 Selectmen's Meeting February 21, 1978 respect to litigation and negotiation on property After discussion, it was voted to go out of Executive Session and resume the open meeting Stoico Mr Cohen requested the Board to sign the release of easements, Easements as requested by Mr Louis Stoico, and approved by the December 1977 Special Town Meeting Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to abandon road, sewer, drain and water easements granted to the Town by George J DeVries and John S DeVries, a partnership doing business as Lexington Development Company, by instrument dated November 2, 1959, recorded with Middlesex South Registry of Deeds, Book 9492, Page 188, as such rights and easements cross Lots 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 on an approved subdivision plan entitled "Lowell Estates, Section 2 in Lexington, Mass ", recorded with said Registry, Book 12910, Page 246, for the benefit of Village Development Corp Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 1026 p m A true record, Attest ?)2C 1 Executive Clerk, Selectmen I