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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-12-06-BOS-min 271 SELECTMEN'S MEETING December 6, 1976 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, December 6, 1976, at 7 30 p.m Chairman Kassler, Mr Bailey, Mr Busa, Mrs Battin and Mrs Miley; Mr Perry, Acting Town Manager; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engineering; Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present Chairman Kassler read a request from the Town Clerk regarding Voter voter registrations Registrations Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the request of the Town Clerk to eliminate voter registrations in pre- cincts prior to the 1977 Town Election; all registrations to be con- ducted in the Town Clerk's Office Chairman Kessler read a request for extension of hours on New Sheraton Year's Eve Lex Inn Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per- mission to the Sheraton Lexington Motor Inn for an extension of hours under the Innholder liquor license to 1 00 a m. on New Year's Eve Chairman Kessler read applications for renewal of licenses for 1977 1977 Licenses - Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Innkeeper Innkeeper license for Lexington Chalet, Inc , 440 Bedford Street Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Comm. Vict Common Victualler license for Baskin-Robbins Store #1723, 1729 Mass Avenue The Board agreed to defer action on the application of Entertainment LeBellecour Restaurant for an Entertainment license pending further clarification of the request Chairman Kessler read two requests to insert Articles in the Warrant Warrant Articles The Board agreed to insert the Article requested by the TMMA Executive Board to amend the General By-Laws Article 5, s 23 (15 minutes rather than 30 minutes on debate on Town Meeting motion) The Board agreed to refer to the Acting Town Manager the request from the Westview Development Committee for an Article to establish a Remembrance Fund to permit acceptance of gifts or bequests for the beautification of any Lexington Cemetery Chairman Kessler read a recommendation from Mr McSweeney, Waltham St Director of Public Works/Engineering, regarding an award of damages Blossomcrest Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Rd Sewer recommendation of the Director of Public Works/Engineering of an Easement 272 Selectmen's Meeting December 6, 1976 award of no damages on the taking of the Waltham Street-Blossomcrest Road sewer easement Wood St Chairman Kassler read a report from Mr McSweeney, Director of Sidewalk Public Works/Engineering, in response to a petitionsubmitted by Petition Elizabeth Gillis, 6 Conestoga Road and residents of the area, for a sidewalk on Wood Street from Holton Road to Bates Road, because of the hazards caused by excessive speeding The report stated that the dead- line for receipt of a formal petition had passed but the Engineering Department will forward a formal petition to Mrs Gillis in the spring and, if it is returned, consideration will be given to inclusion in the FY 79 budget process Mrs Miley mentioned that she had advised Mrs Gillis to re- submit the petition even though a similar one had been sent several years ago without positive action being taken by the Selectmen Mrs Gillis had pointed out that conditions had changed in the area be- cause of more homes and in increase in traffic The Board agreed to accept Mr McSweeney's recommendation; also, to request the Police Department to investigate traffic conditions in the Wood Street area and, if necessary, to enforce the posted speed limits Senior Chairman Kassler read a report from Mr McSweeney, Director of Citizens Park Public Works/Engineering, regarding a request from members of the Benches Greeley Village Club for park benches at Greeley Village, Vynebrooke Village, and at the intersection of Tewksbury Street and Bedford Street Mr McSweeney recommended the installation of eight benches in four locations at Greeley Village and one bench at Vynebrooke Village He did not recommend the installation of a bench at Tewksbury Street and Bedford Street due to safety reasons and the possibility of excessive vandalism The total cost of the benches was estimated at $600, and they would be installed by Town DPW forces Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Trustees of Public Trusts for approval of an expenditure of $600 for nine park benches to be installed for the convenience of senior citizens No Lexington Chairman Kassler read a report from Mr McSweeney, Chairman of Assoc - the Traffic Safety Committee, stating that a meeting had been held on Traf Comm November 4 with the North Lexington Association to discuss items re- lating to traffic in the area, with the following results To paint a center line on Grove Street and Eldred Street; to paint crosswalkk. on Eldred Street at Bedford, Ivan, Hadley, and Grove Streets; cross- walks on Grove Street at the Estabrook School, Dewey, and Gould Road; to have a volunteer at other streets which join into Grove Street; to request approval of Mass D P W for Stop sign on Eldred Street at Grove Street It was also agreed that safety education in schools 27:3. Selectmen's Meeting December 6, 1976 was important and there p e e should be a joint effort by the Police Depart- ment and the School Department The North Lexington Association was informed that their recommendation to use 6th graders as Crossing Guards lies beyond the realm of responsibility of the Traffic Committee and, therefore, it was suggested that NLA contact both the Police and School Departments to discuss the matter After discussion, the Board agreed that the joint meeting with the North Lexington Association had proved to be most productive Acting Town Manager Perry read a report from the Police Depart- Police ment regarding the number of vehicles towed during October and Novem- Towing ber October November B & R Towing 17 33 Bob's Towing 34 20 Mal's Towing 14 17 Acting Town Manager Perry recommended that, again this year, the Post Office first two officials' parking spaces in the Town Office driveway be Xmas Parking posted for 15 minutes for the use of Post Office patrons during the month of December The Board discussed Mrs Miley's recommendation that the Planning Board take another look at the parking situation as a study had been conducted but never finalized Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that the first two spaces in the Town Office driveway be posted for 15 minute park- ing for Post Office patrons during the month of December Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Planning Bd - Planning Board for an updated recommendation on parking in the area Parking of the Town Office Building and Lexington Center In response to Mr Bailey's question about problems with the Traffic traffic signals at the Minuteman Regional School, Mr McSweeney ex- Signals- plained that, despite the admonitions of the Traffic Safety Committee, Minuteman the State D P W approved the installation and then realized the School hazardous traffic situation in that area At the request of Chief Corr and Mr McSweeney, the lights were put on flashing because the signals were not operating properly Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, 5-0 by roll Executive call vote, to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing Session strategy with respect to possible litigation After discussion in Executive Session, it was voted to resume the open meeting at 8 32 p m Mr Louis Zehner, Town Treasurer, informed the Board that he Town had received bids on borrowing $407,000 to purchase five parcels of Treasurer land approved by the 1976 Annual Town Meeting Article 44-West Farm 27 4 Selectmen's Meeting December 6, 1976 at $28,800; Article 47-Ricci land at $93,750; Article 47-Ricci land at $93,750; Article 48-Chiesa at $69,750; Article 58-Cambridge Farms at $16,000 Bids at 2 39% were received from New England Merchants Bank, County Bank, and a joint bid from Newton/Waltham Banks; 2 26% from the Harvard Trust Company, and it is recommended to award to the highest bidder Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the recommendation of the Town Treasurer to borrow $407,000 from the Harvard Trust Company at 2 26% to purchase five parcels of land approved by the 1976 Annual Town Meeting under the appropriations for Article 44, 47, 48, 49, and 58; note to be dated December 14, 1976 and mature on May 3, 1977 The Appropriation Committee and the Capital Expenditures Com- mittee met with the Board for a preliminary presentation of the D P W Capital budget by Mr John McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engi- neering, and Mr Jerry Martin, Assistant Town Engineer Being in a preliminary stage at this point in time, it was agreed to future dis- cussions regarding possible deletions in several areas Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10 15 p.m A true record, Attest. Executive Clerk, Selectmen /