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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-10-14-BOS-min 444 SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 14, 1975 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Tuesday, October 14, 1975, at 7:30 p.m. Chairman Kenney, Mr. Busa, Dr. Kessler, Mrs. Battin; Mr O'Connell, Town Manager; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engineering; Mrs. McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present. Permit Mr. O'Connell discussed a request from Mrs. Nancy Wiesner, 16 Hudson Road, for the residents of the area to conduct a street dance in front of her home on Saturday, October 18, 1975, from 6 00 p.m. to 9 00 p.m. with the intersection roped off. The Board had no objection and it was agreed to inform Mrs. Wiesner that she could contact the Public Works Department to make arrangements to pick up sawhorses to be used at the intersection of Hudson/Woodcliffe/ Winston Roads (There will be a small deposit fee for the sawhorses, which will be refunded when the equipment is returned.) Publica- Mr. O'Connell informed the Board that, in accordance with the ! tion of Board's request, a memo will be issued to all Town agencies requesting Agenda that meeting agenda be submitted to the Clerical Pool Office to be for- warded to the Minute-man for publication. This would encourage more advance planning by Boards and Committees and interested citizens would be able to attend when a particular topic is discussed. Chairman Kenney pointed out that the agenda would be incomplete at the time of publication. Mrs Battin and Dr. Kessler felt that this would encourage committees to plan in a more efficient manner. In response to Mr. O'Connell's question of whether this would include all subcommittees, Retirement Board, Trustees of Public Trusts, Traffic Safety Committee, and the Town Report Committee, it was agreed that the Retirement Board would be the only one excluded as it involves just employees Also, citizens should contact the Committee Chairman con- cerning questions on agenda items Mr. Cohen I would emphasize that we are expecting a memo shortly on the open meeting law, and the notice that goes in the newspaper is not meant to be the notice that complies with this law. The Board agreed that Mr. O'Connell is to make arrangements for the memo to be sent to all Boards and Committees requesting appointments and agenda items for future meetings for publication in the Lexington Minute- man. Mr O'Connell advised the Board of a change in State practices. which will result in greater costs to local government, i.e. , the State is with- drawing responsibility for Child Day Care Centers and is turning it back I 44" Selectmen's Meeting October 14, 1975 Ill to towns. This is only one example of the future effect on our budget, and we have to resolve the questions of what our manpower responsibilities are and what the added costs will be. The Board agreed that there are many future problems facing local cities and towns because of changes in State agencies. Mr. O'Connell informed the Board that expense budgets will be sub- Budgets mitted to the Board and the Appropriation Committee by the middle or late November. The personal services schedule will be finalized next week. Advance capital budget material was distributed to the Board and Mr. O'Connell stated that, to date, he has received only DPW capital budget requests. Many Town agencies are now planning their capital budget requests, and they are one year too late. Because of my concern, the Board should consider, (1) the closing date of the Warrant; (2) declare that if information is not available, then the project is not for the current budget. Chairman Kenney We are approaching the time when we are obligated to set the date for the closing of the Warrant We voted on November 11, 1974 to close the Warrant on December 27, 1974 This year, the Warrant will be closed some time around the last week of December. Chairman Kenney read a request from Porter & Desmond, Woburn, for House Move permission to move a house and one-car garage from Virginia Road, Lincoln, Reed Street to a Reed Street lot owned by Ms Sally Neal, 10 Ward Street, Lexington. A report from Mr. McSweeney recommends that approval be granted subject to the mover posting a $5,000 bond, procuring bodily injury and property damage insurance, arranging for police officers on the route, and meeting with the Tree Warden regarding trees along the route. Chairman Kenney Calls have been received in our office from neighbors who are concerned that the trees on Reed Street would have to be cut and trimmed and, additionally, whether the Building Inspector is in a position to issue a permit. Mr O'Connell As of this morning, the Building Inspector has not been contacted Chairman Kenney The neighbors have also wondered if it were legal to put the house there, and the Planning Director said that it is, even though it is a 50 ft lot I would like to know the extent of damage to trees on Reed Street; also, if the Building Inspector is in a position to issue a building permit Mr. McSweeney: I have personally walked part of it and Mr. Mazerall and Mr. Coscia will handle all that is out in the public way. The ques- tion of the trees has been of some concern The house is 21 feet high and the canopy is heavy and will be raised going through Mr. Mazerall will have the trees trimmed and it will not be a major or drastic project. It should be done,anyway As to the building permit, it will have to be issued for the foundation Besides meeting with Mr Mazerall, the mover will meet with representatives of the Telephone Company and the Boston Edison Company. 446 Selectmen's Meeting October 14, 1975 Mr. O'Connell recommended that the DPW permit be held until all conditions are met Mr Busa I have no objection to having the house moved but what if the owner has to go to the Board of Appeals after it is moved to the lot? Also, what about tree trimming? Chairman Kenney We will table it until next week and ask for an opinion from the Building Inspector. Mr. Mazerall should check the trees once more Mr. O'Connell The Building Inspector can't comment as the owner has not submitted a plan and he has no information. Dr Kessler: We will defer our decision until such time as the Building Inspector can give the Board all the assurances necessary Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to table the re- quest to move a house from the Town of Lincoln to Reed Street, Lexington. Parade Mr Howard Barnes met with the Board to request permission for the Permit- Pop Warner Football League to parade on Saturday, October 18, at 12:45 Pop Warner p m. from the Muzzey Junior High School to Clarke Street to the Lexington High School football field. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission for a Pop Warner football parade on October 18, 1975, with a police cruiser escort and fire engine. The Board also approved Mr. Barnes' request for a car with fixed sign to be parked in the Center on October 17, 18, and 19, and the police department will allocate two parking 111 spaces for this purpose. Traffic Chairman Kenney read a letter from Mr. George C. Whelan, Manager Honeywell- of Honeywell, regarding serious traffic back-up at Massachusetts Avenue, Min. Man. Marrett Road, and the Minuteman Regional Vocation& 1echnicra3 High School, Reg. Sch. because of the traffic signal. A report from Mr. McSweeney states that the Traffic Committee will arrange a meeting with the Mass. Department of Public Works to discuss a possible solution to the problem. Chairman Kenney to Mr McSweeney Could you also discuss at this meetingthe intersection action at Eldred Street? This situation steadily worsens. Mr McSweeney I can try The Board could request the Traffic Safety Committee to draft a letter to the State DPW about Eldred Street. If we have a meeting, it would involve just Town officials. The Board agreed. A letter is to be written to Mr Whelan informing him that a meeting will be arranged with the State DPW to review traffic conditions in his area. Contract Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign Contract 176-E-2 76-2-E for Sanitary Sewer, Storm Drain and Street Construction, awarded to J J. O'Brien & Sons, Inc. , Weston, in the amount of $97,668.50. Authority is contained in Article 17-1975 Drain Construction; Article 20, 1975 Sewer Laterals; Article 49, 1975 Street Construction. 4417 Selectmen's Meeting October 14, 1975 from Mr. Temple Scanlon, member of Historical Chairman Kenney read a letter emp the Lexington Minutemen, to the Historical Commission stating that there Commission are HUD funds available on a town-wide basis, and $100,000. grant could Grants be received if we apply soon enough. This would not require matching funds. Mr. O'Connell We have not had an opportunity to check into the facts there. I will do so when i go to Washington shortly. There may be money available for so-called private grants but for any Town agency there has to be a comprehensive plan Chairman Kenney to Mr. O'Connell Follow it up. If this new His- torical Commission is going to apply for grants, we should have a meeting of the minds. Mr. O'Connell And it would have to be part of the capital budget. I'll talk with them. Mrs. Battin informed the Board that Mr Sam Silverman had called Burlington to her attention that Martin Bernard, developer of Burlington Arcade, Arcade is planning the construction of a roadway leading from the shopping mall onto Muller Road in Burlington, which becomes North Street in Lexington. The Burlington Selectmen and Town Counsel are concerned about curb cuts and they are reviewing it on this basis. Mr Bernard's lawyer says that no permits are needed. If we, as the Lexington Select- men, are concerned about it and the traffic, then we should express our feelings to the Burlington Selectmen. The Board agreed to request the Planning Director to look into the situation and submit an opinion to the Board. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 8 55 p.m. A true record, Attest: 10- Com' 7i ' Executive Clerk, Selectmen C'