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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-02-14-BOS-min 35F) SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 14, 1977 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- men's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, February 14, 1977 at 7 30 p m. Chairman Kassler, Mr Bailey, Mr Busa, Mrs Battin and Mrs Miley; Mr Hutchinson, Town Manager; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engineering; Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present New Miss Mary McDonough, Town Clerk, officiated at the swearing-in Patrolmen ceremony for eight new Patrolmen appointed by Mr Hutchinson, Town Manager Chief Corr introduced Norman C Carlson, Christopher Casey, Paul J Clear, Stephen A. Corr, Richard M. Ham, Jr , Maureen Crosby Lusiak, Joseph R. O'Leary, and Charles J Sargent Chief Corr stated that this is the first time in many years that we have a Civil Service list and, with these appointments, are now at authorized strength of 54 in the Police Department Five of the appointees have been in the Cadet program; seven have college degrees, and the eighth will graduate from Northeastern in 1978 Also, it is a "first" for Lexington by having the first woman appointed to our force He proudly acknowledged his son, Stephen, as a new Patrolman Chairman Kassler, on behalf of the Board, congratulated each Patrol111 - man and announced that this has been a highly selective process, and we are very proud of the way in which they have been selected. Miss McDonough, Chief Corr and the Patrolmen retired from the meet- ing Train Mrs Joyce Hals, Chairman of the Transportation Committee introduced Service Mr William O'Neil, a member of the committee Mr O'Neil discussed train service and informed the Board that the situation is not too optimistic about the resumption of one train in the morning and one in the evening He had pursued the matter with the Legislature and the picture is bleak, and it does not look as though the trains will ever run again We recog- nize that having one train on the track would not be economically feasible As soon as the Red Line goes beyond Alewife, META would need the right of way and the train would have to be abandoned Mrs Hals suggested investigating the possibility of having an ex- press bus to Park Street The Board agreed that the Transportation Committee is to look into the matter of express bus service Mrs Hals and Mr O'Neil retired from the meeting Revenue Mr Hutchinson informed the Board that two hearings had been sched- Sharing uled for the purpose of obtaining citizen input on the use of $550,000 Hearings in General Revenue Sharing Funds; a Town Manager hearing on February 28 and a Board of Selectmen hearing on March 7 6 jw^T Selectmen's Meeting February 14, 1977 Chairman Kassler read a request for one-day liquor licenses 1-Day Liquor Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the License one-day special liquor permits for W R. Grace Co on February 22 and March 3, which had been rescheduled from January 20 due to a snowstorm. Chairman Kassler read a request for the use of the Battle Green Permit- Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permis- Battle Green sion to the Lexington Minute Men, Inc to conduct Living History Ex- ercises on the Battle Green on June 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24; August 7, 14, 21, 28; September 4, 1977 Chairman Kassler asked if any member of the audience had ques- School tions Closings Mr Edward Bicknell introduced himself as a TMMA member of Precinct 2, with children in Adams School He asked why the Select- ' men are not considering alternative uses of school buildings, as this subject involves two very august bodies He raised the question as to why it is difficult to a least, without delaying the decision to close the schools, to point this out to the School Committee and citi- zens in the area where schools are to be closed This is a two-pronged issue and he wondered why the Selectmen did not wish to consider it at this time Chairman Kassler replied that if he knew individual members of the Board of Selectmen, they do not duck tough issues However, what is happening is that the Board of Selectmen is trying to be extremely careful to stay within certain bounds and not get into the field of education We are ready, willing and anxious to discuss alternative uses of schools but the Board doesn't want to thrust itself into educational matters and purely educational decisions by the School Committee Once the School Committee has indicated a desire for our help - if they say to us regarding the use - that they have several buildings and educationally it is all the same to them which one closes first, but would you help us decide - we would be glad to join in It is not a reluctance to get involved but we do not want to interfere with a proper function of the School Committee We want to do it, we have to do it, but it must be done timely Mr Zehner, Town Treasurer; Mr Edward Furash, Chairman, and mem- Bond hers of the Appropriation Committee; Mr George Silverman, Chairman, Financing and Mr Myles Barnert of the Capital Expenditures Committee met with the Board for a presentation by Mr Zehner of a proposal for bond financing Mr Hutchinson explained that approval is being requested for a five year bond issue, which reduces interest costs When borrowing, we look at the overall dimension of the picture on how would we be managing municipal costs and to look at the tax rate While there are separate responsibilities on school and other types of services - human and streets - we would hope there will be decisions concerning school en- Selectmen' s Meeting February 14, 1977 rollment and other issues We have an unfunded pension liability, which we somehow have to address; problems of solid waste; problems of aging, housing, etc We recognize that every type of demand has an impact on the overall credibility of the Town - the AAA rating of the Town Mr Zehner said that we have $1 5 million in debt service and we collect one-half on May 1 and one-half on November 1 If we have bonding maturity on July 15, we would need to borrow but if it matures later, we could invest the money on May 1 and have no expense on the other half of debt service To have it mature the latter part of the year, we save money If we sell on April 1, a bond issue to be dated May 1, this would refinance the short term notes incurred for the pur- chase of conservation land voted for bonding at the 1975 and 1976 Town Meetings The issue would be for approximately $825,000 but it may be less if the Town receives any state grants to apply on the costs A 5-year maturity is recommended for the issue, and this would rate a strong plus with Moody Rating Service It is wrong to assume that 5-year financing will place a punishing new burden of taxation on property owners Each year, Lexington liquidates outstanding bonds in significant amounts This liquidation will accelerate and into the place of the redeemed bonds can be fitted debt requirements for new issues without an undue burden If we prudently space out our program and time the financing so that it can be handled in modest annual segments, the percent of the tax levy required for debt service from 1978-1984 will actually be markedly less than it has been from 1965-1977 To finance the $800,000 for five years 111 is to maintain the prudent stance which enabled Lexington to win the AAA rating, and will reflect the determination to retain the rating Mr Silverman stated that the Capital Expenditures Committee con- curs, based on the decline of debt service Mr Furash said that if this were the only bond we were expecting to float, the Appropriation Committee would ordinarily opt for a longer period. We think these will be very popular bonds and there will be no problem in marketing them Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the Town Manager and the Town Treasurer to proceed with arrangements for a 5-year bond issue of approximately $825,000 and to fix the date of the sale between April 1 - 15 and issued between May 1 - 15, 1977 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Execu- tive Session for the purpose of discussion strategy with respect to collective bargaining, litigation, and personal services, with no inten- tion of coming out of Executive Session and resuming the open meeting Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10 35 p m A true record, Attest yy, g� v2) 4 .3A1 Executive Clerk, Selectmen