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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-04-13-BOS-min 4112 SENCIAM SELECTMEN'S MEETING April 13, 1977 A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- men's Meeting Room on Wednesday, April 13, 1977, at 7 00 p.m. Chair- man Kessler, Mr Bailey, Mr Busa, Mrs Battin and Mrs Miley; Mr Hutchinson, Town Manager; Mr McSweeney, Director of Public Works/ Engineering; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel; Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present. Leroy Brown Mr Hutchinson informed the Board that the Trustees of Public Fund-Town had approved the request, voted by the Board on March 30, 1977, for Celebrations the use of the accumulated interest in the Leroy S Brown Fund by Committee the Town Celebrations Committee, for expenses incurred on Patriots Day This year, $500 will be made available to the Committee, but not until approximately 90 days In future years, the amount will be considerably less Manager Mr Hutchinson informed the Board that Mr Smith and Mrs Appointments Solomon have agreed to continue to serve on the Conservation Mr Grossimon has agreed to continue as a member of the Permanent Build- ing Committee and he will be reappointed for a term expiring April 1, 1980 Conservation Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the reappointment by the Town Manager of Mr Francis W K. Smith and Mrs Susan S Solomon for terms expiring April 1, 1980 Permanent The Board agreed with the Town Manager's reappointment of Mr Building Comm.Herbert P Grossimon for a term expiring April 1, 1980 Liquor-Lex. Chairman Kassler read a request from the Lexington Golf Club Golf Club for an extension of hours of operation under the Club Liquor License on Monday through Saturday from 11 30 a.m. to 12 00 Midnight; Sunday from 12 00 noon to 12 00 Midnight Mr Bailey expressed his concern about granting such a sub- stantial extension unless they are changing the use of the Club Before he approved the request, he recommended that a hearing be held to hear what the neighbors think about it. He wondered if anyone had taken the time to talk to the neighbors Mr Busa said that he agreed with Mr Bailey, except for having a hearing He is a member of the Club and, to his knowledge, the neighbors have never complained He recommended that the hours be extended from 6 00 to 8 30 p m. on Monday through Thursday and, if citizens' complaints are received, the Board could vote to re- vert back to 6 00 p m. Also, that the hours remain the same on Friday, Saturday and Sunday If there is a special event, the Club could request an extension of hours, as they have in the past. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to grant 413 Special Selectmen's Meeting April 13, 1977 II/ the following hours of operation under the Club liquor license to the Lexington Golf Club, with the understanding that consideration will be given to a written request for an extension of hours for special events Monday through Thursday 11 30 a m. to 8 30 p m. Friday and Saturday 11 30 a m. to 12 00 Midnight Sunday 1 00 p m. to 10 00 p m. Mr Busa abstained Chairman Kassler read a request from the Ceramic Guild to con- Arts & Crafts duct the annual pottery sale on the grounds of the Arts and Crafts Society on Saturday, May 7, from 10 00 a m. to 5 00 p m. The Board had no objection Chairman Kassler read requests for bike-a-thons Bike-a-Thons Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per- mission to the Lexington Education Association to conduct a bike-a- thon to benefit the Association of Retarded Citizens on Sunday, May 1, from 1 00 p m. to 5 00 p m. , subject to the regulations of the Town Manager and the Chief of Police Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per- mission to Bedford-Lexington Bike-a-Thon to benefit the American Diabetes Association on Sunday, May 15, from 12 00 Noon to 4 00 p m. from the D P W. Building on Bedford Street to the Bedford Town Line, subject to the coordination of the Town Manager and the Director of Public Works/Engineering Chairman Kassler read a request from the Lexington Republican Request for Town Committee to use Estabrook Hall on Thursday, May 12, at 8 00 Cary Hall p m. for a meeting He read the following stipulation in the will of Susanna E Cary relative to the use of the hall " the hall in said building shall be devoted to such lectures free or other- wise upon historical educational or other useful subjects and for such public meetings of a non-sectarian and non-political character " Mrs Battin raised the question of whether the request stated the purpose of the meeting Chairman Kassler replied that it did not and, therefore, in the absence of proof, we cannot grant the request due to the con- straints of the will The Board agreed, and the Republican Town Committee is to be so informed. The Board discussed the establishment of a Sewer Advisory Com- Sewer Advisory mittee A letter had been received in March from 16 T M.M.A. Committee Precinct members requesting that the Board establish this committee and recommending that it would supplement activities of the Board of Health and DPW/Engineering in regard to sewerage planning, and also address questions relative to the betterment law, petition 414 Special Selectmen's Meeting April 13, 1977 system, rehabilitation and maintenance, private systems, and EPA programs After discussion, the Board agreed to establish the Sewer Ad- visory Committee and to appoint four members from the 16 T M.M.A. precinct members and, also, accept the recommendation from the Director of Public Works/Engineering to appoint Mrs Jane Buckley and Mr Gordon E Barnes, Jr Mr Hutchinson added that the Board should keep in mind that this is a temporary committee Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to establish a Sewer Advisory Committee and to appoint the following members, with the understanding that the charge will be approved by the Board as soon as possible SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mrs Joan P. Crothers 60 Meriam Street Mr George F McCormack 32 Hayes Lane Mr John T Harvell 131 Burlington Street Mrs Katherine G. Fficker 93 Marrett Road Dr Kenneth Will 16 Bennington Road Mrs Jane P Buckley 46 Middle Street Mr Gordon E Barnes, Jr 11 Ewell Avenue School Sites Chairman Kassler recommended that the Board appoint members of 111 Conversion the Committee on Alternative Uses for Released School Buildings and Committee Sites Discussion was held on the list of nominees, which included an Architect/Engineer, and agreement was reached on the appointment of Mr Charles Cole as an Architect and Mr Roger Trudeau as a Citi- zen-at-Large The appointment of a representative of the School Committee will be made as soon as the nominee is received. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint the following members of the Committee on Alternative Uses for Released School Buildings and Sites Mary W Miley, Chairman Selectmen 29 Robinson Road Paul J MacKenzie Planning Board 13 Maple Street Herbert P Grossimon Permanent Building Comm. 52 Winthrop Road Sara B Chase Historical Commission 1 Grassland St Robert M. Hutchinson, Jr Town Manager 51 Dexter J Keith Butters Finance/Economics 52 Meriam St Ronald W Colwell Businessman/Realtor 39 Cary Ave Charles H Cole, II Architect/Engineer 20 Fifer Lane Donald H Olson Citizen (Hancock District) 30 Forest St. Robert T Beattie Citizen (Munroe District) 22 Fletcher Ave Anita M. Bonasera Citizen (Adams Distrcit) 24 Theresa Ave Roger G Trudeau Citizen-at-Large 7 Volunteer Way I 415 II Special IIISelectmen's Meeting April 13, 1977 As Chairman, Mrs Miley agreed to convene the first meeting as soon as possible CHARGE TO THE COMMITTEE 1 To determine the best short-term handling of the Hancock School 2 To determine the most advisable final disposition of the Hancock School building and site; bearing in mind, among all other con- siderations, the historic nature of the building, the effect of various alternative uses on the immediate neighborhood and the: overall needs of the Town 3 To gather similar information pertaining to the alternative uses and final disposition of the other schools mentioned in the School Committee's letter of March 7, 1977 Parker - 9/1/78; Munroe - 9/1/79; Adams - 9/1/80; Muzzey - 9/1/80 Mr Bailey asked Town Counsel to give his opinion on the non- Board of vote of the Board on April 11, and how the Board is structured now? Selectmen Mr Cohen said that their organization would be up to the mem- bers of the Board. It is not a legal question but a question that. the Board would resolve But if the Chairman's resignation is not: withdrawn and he departs, the postion of Vice Chairman set up by a majority vote of the entire Board would still remain The Vice Chairman would continue in that position and, as Vice Chairman, there would be certain duties But there are no statutory provi- sions outlining such duties The Vice Chairman would preside at meetings and do whatever the Chairman has done in the past such a: following up on actions that the Board takes as a Board, writing letters that are requested and preparing the agenda for meetings and running meetings Again, as I said to all of you, if the Board wants to change their organization, they can vote to do so Mr Busa said that before we get into misunderstandings, the duties are only to run the meetings of the Board of Selectmen and answer any correspondence generated from a meeting Chairman Kassler added, and set the agenda Mr Busa reiterated, and only things pertaining to the meetings Anything beyond that is the Board's function Mr Cohen said that the Vice Chairman or anyone who holds that position would carry on as the Chairman did before him. Again, remember there is nothing in the statutes Always, you have to keep in mind that the Board acts as a Board Mrs Battin stated that she would say that the Vice Chairman will act in the capacity of Chairman - beginning at 4 31 p m on April 15 - until further action of the Board The Vice Chairman expects to act in the same capacity as the Chairman Mr Busa asked, only in planning the meetings held by the Board Ill and the actions taken by the Board? 416 Special Selectmen's Meeting April 13, 1977 Mr Cohen said that everything has to be done at a meeting No Selectmen has the power to act alone; it has to be as a Board, but the Vice Chairman acts to carry out the wishes of the Board Mr Busa said that, if his question is answered, it is only pertaining to meetings and any decisions by the Board of Selectmen Chairman Kassler asked if there were any comments from the audience? Various comments were offered by several people in the audience, and Town Counsel reiterated what he had said to the Board The Ceremonies scheduled on the green on April 18 were briefly discussed and it was agreed that Mrs Battin would give the greeting to the citizens, Mrs Miley would read the Proclamation, and Mr Busa would meet the representatives of Paul Revere and William Dawes at the Green, and also represent the Board at the dedication of the new flagpole on the Green on Sunday, April 17. Sanitary Mrs Miley expressed her concern about contractors dumping ex- , Landfill cessive amounts of demolition material, generated in Lexington, in the sanitary landfill She recommended that the Board refer the matter to the Town Manager for possible revisions in the regulations Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Town Manager to review the sanitary landfill rules and regulations for possible revisions, including contractors dumping excessive amounts of materials, and to come back to the Board with recommenda- tions Chairman Dr Kassler said farewell to the members of the Board as this Kassler was his last meeting as a member and Chairman of the Board of Select- men, and he thanked all present for their help and support during his tenure Mrs Battin, on behalf of the Board, expressed appreciation to Dr Kassler for all he had done for the Town, and she wished him well Executive Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0 by roll Session call vote, to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to litigation, with no intention of resuming the open meeting Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 8 00 p m. A true record, Attest Executive Clerk, Selectmen I