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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-01-09-BOS-min 105 SELECTMEN'S MEETING January 9, 1978 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, January 9, 1978 at 7 30 p.m Chairman Battin, Mr Bailey, Mr Busa, Mrs Miley and Mr Kent; Mr Hutchinson, Town Manager; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel; Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present Mr Hutchinson recommended that the Board approve transfers in '77 Art 5 the total amount of $222,754 from Article 5 to Personal Services Transfers- Accounts He informed the Board that even though we did not pro- Pers Sery vide funds for the fire department settlement, we still fall within the $240,000 appropriated by the 1977 Annual Town Meeting, plus $4,602 anti-recession (federal) funds, total of $244,602 We have been carrying vacancies in the fire department and, with the remaining $21,000, we are still looking at fire overtime All collective bargaining agreements have been concluded and salary in- creases have been granted and instituted in all areas, and this is the money needed to finish the fiscal year Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Town Manager's recommendation to transfer the following amounts from Article 5 to Personal Services accounts, as authorized by the 1977 Annual Town Meeting Acct Personal Transfer from No Account - Services Art 5, 1977 1000 Selectmen $ 2,257 1060 Town Manager 2,900 1075 Clerical Pool 401 1150 Town Clerk 2,257 1500 Board of Appeals 520 1600 Planning Board 1,369 2500 Treasurer & Collector 3,860 2800 Comptroller 4,668 2950 Assessors 1,763 3250 Health 2,145 3500 Animal Control 680 3760 Police - Management & Staff 10,872 3770 Police - Coll Bargaining Unit 68,420 4120 Fire - Coll Bargaining Unit 35,930 4450 Inspection 8,082 4900 DPW - Coll Bargaining Unit 29,740 4950 DPW - Management & Staff 11,020 5100 Engineering 8,531 5200 T 0 B - Maintenance 3,151 7100 Veterans Benefits - P S 427 7500 Library 13,261 7825 Non-Cont Ret Pension Fund 10,500 $222,754 loo Selectmen's Meeting January 9, 1978 Intent to The Board briefly discussed Mr McSweeney's recommendation to Lay out vote the intent to lay out three streets and to hold street hearings Streets on February 9 Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted the intent to lay out the following streets, and to sign notices to the Con- stable to deliver to each abutter a copy of the vote of the Board's intention, including a notice that street hearings would be held in Cary Hall on February 8, 1978 Banks Avenue 800'+ from Chase Avenue to Carville Avenue Cushing Street )425'+ from Sullivan Street to end Tucker Avenue 175'+ from Chase Avenue to Tarbell Town Chairman Battin read a recommendation from the Executive Board of Meeting the Town Meeting Members Association that sessions of the 1978 Annual Nights Town Meeting be scheduled on Mondays and Thursdays The Board agreed to request that the entire T M M A membership be polled for an opinion on changing from Wednesdays to Thursdays Muzzey Chairman Battin read a recommendation from the Traffic Safety Traffic Committee relative to a request from Mr Leonard DiFranco for approval Sign of a project for Junior High students to erect metric speed limit Project signs and elevation markers on Massachusetts Avenue The report stated that the Engineering Division had contacted the Mass D P W and was informed that the policy is not to permit such signs as they create confusion in motorists Also, Mr DiFranco had requested that metric signs be placed below our standard signs and this is not possible as the height is specified in the Manual on Traffic Control Devices in order to prevent injuries to pedestrians, cyclists, etc , and this would make it impossible to mount any metric or other signs below our existing signs Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the recommendation to deny the request for the Muzzey Junior High School students to erect metric speed limit signs on Massachusetts Avenue The Board agreed that Mr Hutchinson is to follow up on Mr Bailey's suggestion of investigating an alternative project for the students Traffic- Chairman Battin read a report from the Traffic Safety Committee Bridge relative to a letter from Mrs Eileen Sussman expressing her concern Schonl Area about traffic in the Bridge School area The report stated that the Engineering Division had investigated the area and arrangements are being made to install a "school" sign; also the Tree Division will trim any limbs or bushes obstructing vision near crosswalks The Board agreed that Public Works is to schedule the approved projects in the Bridge School area In response to a request from the Planning Board, the Board to 107 Selectmen's Meeting January 9, 1978 schedule a joint meeting in February to discuss zoning enforcement, Planning Board the Board of Appeals will also be invited to attend Zoning Enforcement The Board agreed to accept an invitation from the Chelmsford Chelmsford Board of Selectmen to attend a joint meeting of Boards of Selectmen/ Jt Meeting City Councillors in the 5th Senatorial District and Senator Amick to discuss litigation and mutual problems Chairman Battin read request for the use of Estabrook Hall and Cary Hall Cary Hall Requests Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permis- sion to the Citizens for Lexington Conservation to use Estabrook Hall on January 25, 1978 from 7 30 p m to 10 30 p.m subject to payment of the custodian's fee The Board agreed to request the New England Sacred Harp Sing organization for more information on the proposal to conduct group singing sessions on September 30, 1978 from 9 00 a.m to 3 00 p m in Cary Hall Mr Bailey suggested that the group be asked to con- sider one of the local churches as a more appropriate place for their purposes The Board discussed the request from Mr Paul Ciano, Visual Arts Coordinator of Lexington High School, for the use of Cary Hall on May 21, 1979 through May 25, 1979 for comprehensive art exhibits Be- cause the dates are so far into the future, it was agreed to inform Mr Ciano that the reservation would be held open and he is to co- ordinate his plans with the Town Manager and come back to the Board later on in the year Mr McSweeney came into the meeting The Board briefly discussed the elimination of garbage pick-up Garbage throughout the Town and it was agreed that Mr Hutchinson is to come Pick-up back next week with additional information Mr Hutchinson read a recommendation from Mr McSweeney, Direc- Sewer - tor of Public Works/Engineering, that the Board approve a draft of Patricia a letter to be sent to the Town of Arlington regarding Lexington's Terrace/ proposal to install a sanitary sewer in Patricia Terrace, Lexington Town of Mr McSweeney explained that this connection to the Arlington Arlington sewer system would benefit six homes Our Engineering Division has been in contact with the Arlington Engineering Division and we are in the process of meeting their requirements as to plans, etc The Town of Arlington must include an Article in its Warrant to give the Board of Selectmen authority to enter into an agreement with Lexington in order to allow us to construct the sewer Our 1976 Annual Town Meeting Article authorizes the Town of Lexington to proceed once the Town of Arlington has an approved Article Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize 108 Selectmen's Meeting January 9, 1978 Chairman Battin to sign the following letter to be sent to the Arlington Board of Selectmen "Mr Robert Walsh, Chairman, Board of Selectmen, Town Hall, Arlington, Mass Dear Mr Walsh. Reference is made to your letter of November 19, 1975 approving, in concept, our request concerning the installation of sanitary sewer on Patricia Terrace, Lexington Flease be advised that at its meeting of January 9, 1978, the Lexington Board of Select- men voted to approve the following, as outlined in your aforementioned letter 1 The Town of Lexington will assume the costs of all legal documents and easement takings 2 The Town of Lexington would assume a proportional cost of the operation of the Reed Street pump 3 If any new sewer taxes are instituted Townwide, the Town of Lexington agrees that they will also be a part of the new agreement Your cooperation and consideration in this matter is greatly appreciated " S 1901 Mrs Miley informed the Board that Governor Dukakis has until Jan- Middlesex uary 11 to either sign or veto Senate Bill 1901, which would allow County mayors to appoint designees to the Middlesex County Advisory Board Adv Bd Chairman of the Boards of Selectmen may appoint designees and, in her Mayoral opinion, the reason why the Board is ineffective is because of the Designees difficulty in getting a quorum at meetings because, although mayors may send representatives, they do not have the power of a vote Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to urge Governor Dukakis to sign Senate Bill 1901 Chairman Battin recommended that members of the Board attend the Middlesex County Selectmen's meeting on February 9 to discuss the County budget Jury List Mr Hutchinson agreed to have representation at the meeting on January 11 with the new Jury Commissioner regarding the implementation of a different method of compiling the list of jurors to be drawn in Middlesex County Recreation Mrs Judy Uhrig, Chairman, and members of the Recreation Committee Committee met with the Board for an informational discussion on articles on Articles lighting four additional tennis courts at the Center playground at $15,000 and the bicycle paths Tennis Mr Hutchinson said that, at this time, he was not recommending Courts tennis lighting and bike paths to the Board No decisions would be made this evening as this meeting with the Recreation Committee is just for the information of the Board, and more details would be submitted later on Mrs Uhrig said that Recreation had decided to switch places with 109 Selectmen's Meeting January 9, 1978 the four new courts at Diamond (which had been suggested as #1 priority on the first year Recreation Master Plan) with the fifth year item of lighting four tennis courts at the Center; this would cost roughly $15,000 and as we have $3,400+ left over from a 1974 Article to be applied to this, it would bring the cost down to approximately $12,000 on the tax rate We already have staff there and we feel it would essentially mean that we would have 4-court use vs the $15,000 cost of building a new court The lighting we propose to use would be very inexpensive to run and would cost about a third of existing lighting on the other four courts, which is very inadequate because of the wrong position of the lights After discussion, the Recreation Committee agreed to submit figures to the Board on the number of users of tennis courts Mrs Hinkle, Bicycle Submcommittee, discussed the proposed Bicycle Path article on bicycle paths and informed the Board that she expected information from the State by the end of the month concerning authorization for $75,000 The committee is requesting $25,000, to be put on the tax rate, and approval of borrowing $75,000 If authorization is not received from the State, they would only re- quest $25,000 Chairman Battin recommended that this information be given to the Planning Board Mrs Hinkle agreed Mrs Mary Louise Touart, Chairman, and members of the Recrea- Permanent tion Committee met with the Board to discuss the Center pool project Building Mr Wells said that, according to the recreatinn survey, swimming Committee- has the highest priority in the Town The existing pool is 50 Center Pool years old and requires constant repairs, and the committee felt that renovations costing $250-300,000 would not meet the needs of the Town Their second proposal was eliminated as it was for an indoor/outdoor facility at $1 5 million The proposal before the Board would be to demolish all of the existing pools except the instructional pool Cr Wells explained the architect's design of the area, including the pool which is 25 meters long x 45 feet wide, with a ramp for handicapped people to go out into the pool, it is a 6-lane racing pool, 5 ft deep at one end and 3-1/2 ft at the other end, wading pool; deep diving pool; $140,000 bathhouse in- cluding some of the showers for the handicapped - there are codes to be met for the bathhouse; housing for mechanical equipment to run the pool and bathhouse Mr Wells said that a sewer easement would be necessary as there is no sewer; they might go through a parcel of land on Parker Street to the Parker Street sewer but de- tails would have to be worked out The Board agreed that the sewer easement could be included in the regular sewer article Mrs Uhrig said that a meeting with abutters has been arranged for next Wednesday 110 Selectmen's Meeting January 9, 1978 The Permanent Building Pool Subcommittee is to come back to the Board at a later meeting after further evaluation of the project Miss Joan Halverson, Recreation Coordinator, was introduced to the Board, who wished her success in her new position Recreation The Recreation Expense Budget, Account #2480, was discussed and Acct #2480 Mrs Uhrig explained that monies have to be expended for fee-type programs but, in general, these programs are self-supporting The Board had no problem with the budget of $24,800 The Recreation Committee and the Permanent Building Committee retired from the meeting Library Mr Robert Hilton met with the Board to discuss the Library Acct #7550 Expense Budget, Account #7550 The Board noted the $6,000 increase in Library materials, and Mr Hilton explained that the increase in the cost of books and recordings resulted in the estimated figure of $61,000 Mr Hutchinson informed the Board that repairs and maintenance had increased $2,000 because of the need for additional shelving The budget had been submitted at $131,650 and is now at $133,650 Mr Hilton retired from the meeting The Board agreed to address on January 12 the vehicle policy, sewer policy and street construction Planning Mr Albert Zabin, Chairman, and members of the Planning Board Board - met with the Board It was agreed to discuss in Executive Session Center the Lane Construction Company's violations by removing fill from Parking a portion of their construction site Mr Zabin discussed the $5,000 Capital budget item on the Center Business District He said that a Center Business Advisory Sub-Committee had been appointed and they were all agreed on the problem of inadequate parking They are not seeking to develop another study report but are trying to develop a plan that can be made into a program for Town actinn They are exploring the possi- bility fo developing a center parking area behind the Mews and are looking into a possible multi-storage parking structure with stores at the bottom and parking above, and perhaps this could meet the obvious parking problem A parking consultant in New York had been contacted and, at no charge, would submit rough sketches but, if it is feasible, money would be needed to fly them up and for their expenses If successful, it would do a lot for the Town and we would use land that produces substantially no revenue for the Town Another thing that might be done, and wouldn't require a lot of money, is to look at the possibility of leasing space from the Arts & Crafts and some of the churches in the area so that some of the space could be used by the employees of the retail establish- ments to get them off the streets The current practice is that they 111 Selectmen's Meeting January 9, 1978 park - feed the meters and they are using spaces that should be for customers For purposes of exploration, they are reviewing the old plan to extend Worthen Road to Marrett Road Also, they are going to propose a transitional zone around the immediate Central Business District to permit expansion of some kind of commercial activities, to hope that the use with building controls would be compatible with the residential area Mr Zabin agreed with the point raised about poor access at the Mews area parking lot The possibility of a parking structure in the Meriam Street lot was mentioned and Mr Zabin agreed that an economic analysis could be made to determine whether it could be self-supporting Mr Zabin stressed that the only chance for success would be by a uniform presentation so that people can see the relationship of the extension of Worthen Road and the problems of getting out of a parking structure If we get to that stage, this is the Board of Selectmen's responsibility because we are dealing with public land The Planning Board agreed to the recommendation that the $5,000 for the Center study be put in Professional Services, Account #1090 Mrs Miley informed all that the Selectmen had sent a letter to Congressman Tsongas in the hope that he could do something about the fil Post Office employees parking on the land behind Boston Edison Town Meeting had turned down this proposal a few years ago and if Congress- man Tsongas is successful, it would open up many parking spaces in the Post Office/Town Office area During the meeting, the Board discussed various articles to be in the Warrant and it was agreed to delete three of the 73 articles submitted for insertion Plan for the Central Business District; Extension of Worthen Road, Petition the Legislature regarding a By- Law on Ice Cream Vendors Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 by roll Executive vote to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing Session strategy with respect to litigation, with no intention of resuming the open meeting After discussion, it was voted to go out of Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10 55 p m A true copy, Attest 4 Executive Clerk, Selectmen