Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-05-03-BOS-min 77 � SELECTMEN'S MEETING May 3, 1976 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- men's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, May 3, 1976, at 7 00 p m. Chairman Kassler, Messrs Bailey and Busa, and Mrs Miley; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr Coscia, DPW Manager; Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk; Mr O'Connell, Town Manager, were present Mr O'Connell submitted a list of recommendations to the Board re- Town Mgr garding appointments to the Conservation Commission Mr Francis Fields Appts to replace Manfred Friedman for a term of three years; Board of Assessors To publicly announce his appointment of John J McWeeney to the Board of Assessor Assessors for a term of three years to 1979; Council on Aging- Rev Shirley B Goodwin to be appointed for a term of three years to 1979; Also, to request the Board to rescind the vote of March 24, 1976 to in- crease the membership on the Council on Aging from 7 to 9 members as it has been brought to his attention that this would take Town Meeting action Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Conservation recommendation for the Town Manager to appoint Mr Francis Fields a mem- ber of the Conservation Commission for a term of three years to 1979 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to rescind the vote of March 24, 1976 increasing the membership of the Council on Aging from 7 to 9 members Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the rec- Council on ommendation for the Town Manager to appoint Rev Shirley B Goodwin a Aging member of the Council on Aging for a term of three years to 1979 The Board agreed to a later discussion of nominees for appointment Recreation to the Recreation Committee Committee Mr O'Connell informed the Board that one bid had been received Fire Dept from Rowe Chevrolet for replacement of a car for the fire department Car at $3,790 with a trade-in A comparison was made with the bid for the police cruiser, and it is competitive It is recommended that the Board approve that the bid be awarded to Rowe Chevrolet Mrs Miley In the past, has there been normally more than one bid on a car? If we have more than one car, do we have more than one bid? Mr O'Connell If bidding on a single car, it is hard to get more than one bid Generally, if we have more than one car, we have more than one bid Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the recommendation for the Town Manager to award the bid to Rowe Chevrolet, Lexington, for a fire department car, in the amount of $3,790 with a trade-in Mr O'Connell discussed garage and yard sales and agreed to submit Garage a recommendation to the Board on a policy to be established Sales 78 Selectmen's Meeting May 3, 1976 Tree- Mr O'Connell informed the Board that a ceremony had been held on Buckman the Buckman Tavern Grounds on Arbor Day, April 30, to plant a Grandi- Tavern folia American Beech tree, which was given to the Town by the firm of Frost & Higgins Mrs Miley I was there and, on behalf of the Board of Selectmen, I accepted the tree for the Town and thanked the representative of Frost & Higgins Upon motion dulymade and seconded, it was voted to accept the poP gift of a beech tree to the Town from Frost & Higgins, Burlington, which was planted on the Buckman Tavern grounds on Arbor Day Ambulance Mr O'Connell discussed the Ambulance/Rescue vehicle bid from J R. Tucker, Somerville, at a total price not to exceed $24,000 They are the low bidder, offering a good quality product I would hope to get final delivery around $23,000 The total approved appropriation is $25,000, and, out of this appropriation, we are trying to get the Town's share of $2,000 for radio equipment The Board agreed and hoped that Mr O'Connell would be successful in his efforts to purchase the ambulance at $23,000, which would mean a $2,000 balance towards the radio equipment Transfer Mr O'Connell recommended that the Board approve a request for a Account transfer of $5,000 to Account #5450 He explained that the original #5450 request was for $20,000 but, as agreed with the Appropriation Committee, periodic requests would be made for $5,000 If this is approved, it is predicted that we will end up in the hole about $1,700 because of the increased cost of parts and materials associated with vehicle supplies Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee for approval of a transfer from the Reserve Fund to Account #5450-Road Machinery in the amount of $5.000 Village Chairman Kessler read a report from Mr McSweeney, DPW Director, Circle concerning a complaint from Mr Joel A. Adler, 22 Village Circle, re- Island garding the condition of the island at Village Circle The report states that this area has been scarified and reshaped, using approximately 1,200 cubic yards of fill to raise the grade and improve the drainage, and landscaped with approximately twelve trees and low covering bushes Also, 1,200 cubic yards of loam were added to fine-grade the area At the present time, there are plans to rototill the area, plant a number of low shrubs and woodchips to refurbish the entire area When this work is completed, a check will be made of the circle to determine whether or not the problem has been solved satisfactorily It was agreed to write to Mr Adler and enclose a copy of Mr McSweeney's report Traffic Chairman Bailey read a report from the Traffic Safety Committee Signs - recommending the installation of two "Caution Children" signs on Allen Allen St Street, as requested by a resident of the area. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the 79 Selectmen's Selectmen's Meeting May 3, 1976 recommendation of the Traffic Safety Committee for two "Caution Children" signs on Allen Street, and to instruct the Director of Public Works/Engi- I neering to make the necessary arrangements for the installation of these signs. Chairman Kessler informed the Board that a meeting of the Governor's Hanscom Hanscom Task Force will be held in a meeting room of the Town Office Task Force Building on May 4 to discuss a Plain Language Draft of the Mass Air- Meeting port Noise Bill Upon motion duly made and seconded it was voted to approve the Minutes minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting held on April 12, 1976 Chairman Kessler read an application from the Lexington Minutemen, Lex Min Inc for a special liquor license Men - 1-day Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the spe- Liquor cial liquor license for May 8, 1976, from 8 00 p m. to 12 00 Midnight, License for the 203rd Anniversary Ball of the Lexington Minutemen, Inc at the Lexington Armory Chairman Kessler informed the audience that he would like to read Selectmen' s a public statement of the Board of Selectmen about a problem existing Statement in the Town We are going to need the help and goodwill of everyone in on Public Lexington to attempt to solve this most vexing problem. Gatherings "The Board of Selectmen is very concerned about large groups of people gathering in various places around Lexington where small por- tions of these groups are creating intolerable disturbances for those living in these areas The Board recognizes the need for people of all ages to socialize and does not presume to dictate the manner in which people should meet with friends We also recognize, however, the rights of all Lexing- tonians to be able to enjoy their homes and grounds, as well as our parks and playgrounds, in reasonable peace, tranquility, and safety The Board acknowledges that success in dealing with this situation re- quires a belief on the part of everyone that fairness and reasonable- ness willP revail We do not feel that the freedom to gather and meet with friends includes the right to be disorderly and disturb others The Board thus wants to emphasize to the entire community that continued anti-social behavior of this sort must and will be handled firmly and fairly by the Town People must know that there will be consequences to this kind of behavior The Board of Selectmen is unanimous in its strong support of our Police Department in this matter, and knows that responsible citizens of all ages will join with us in this support " Chairman Kassler Chief Corr has issued a companion statement, Police as follows Statement 80 Selectmen's Meeting May 3, 1976 "During the past several weeks it has come to my attention that some Lexington citizens may feel that the Police Department does not have the support of the Board of Selectmen As Chief of Police, I would be concerned if this feeling were to become prevalent in the community and, as a result, I find it necessary to publicly state that this is not the case I, therefore, want it known that I believe that the Lexington Police Department has and always will have the support of the Board of Selectmen to perform the very necessary acts that it does each day to maintain the safety and security of the community " Mrs Miley I would comment that, as we have discussed in the past and from what I have heard from the people in the Town who have spoken to me, the Police have used a couple of men in plain clothes who have good rapport with the young people I think this a step in the right direction. Executive Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, by a 5-0 roll Session call vote, to go into Executive Session to discuss the character and reputation of a person and, also, the value of real property After discussion, it was voted to go out of Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 7 55 p m. A true record, Attest Executive Clerk, Selectmen