Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-11-11-BOS-min 1 u5 IIISELECTMEN'S MEETING November 11, 1974 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- men's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, November 11, 1974, at 7 30 p m. Chairman Kenney, Messrs Bailey and Brown, Mrs Battin, Mr O'Connell, Town Manager; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engineering; and Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present. Mr Donald K. Irwin, Building Commissioner, met with the Board and was presented a Certificate of Merit for his participation in the Municipal Building Officials Conference at the University of Massa- Building chusetts Commissioner Chairman Kenney, on behalf of the Board, thanked Mr Irwin for his outstanding interest in his profession and for attending this conference annually Mr O'Connell said that what Mr Irwin is participating in is a good example of what we are going to have to do on continuing educa- tion and specialized training of our building inspectors since the shift from the local building code to the mandatory code, which is effective January 1, 1975 There will be added work at the local level by inspection of every church, school, and theatre, etc This was formerly done by the State Commissioner of Public Safety staff Mr Irwin added that one of the major things on the take-over by local government is monthly inspections of apartment complexes, con- dominiums, and nursing homes The new codes will add tremendously to our workload Mr Irwin thanked the Board and retired from the meeting Chairman Kenney read a request from the Town Clerk to certify the number of votes for candidates and ballot questions on election Certifica- day tion of Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sigh the Votes certificates for the Clerk of Courts for the number of votes for can- didates and ballot questions on November 5, 1974 The Board discussed the date of the closing of the Warrant for the 1975 Annual Town Meeting 1975 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to close the Annual Warrant for the 1975 Annual Town Meeting for the submission of Arti- Town Meeting cies on Friday, December 27, 1974, at 4 30 p m. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to insert the Articles on January 6, 1975 Later in the meeting, the Board discussed the date for the Town Meeting with the Appropriation Committee March 10 was mentioned but the Board finally agreed to Monday, March 17, 1975 106 Selectmen's Meeting November 11, 1974 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to call the Annual Town Election on Monday, March 3, 1975, with polling hours of 7 00 a m. to800pm. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to call the Annual Town Meeting on Monday, March 17, 1975, at 8 00 p.m. in Cary Memorial Hall Mr Louis A. Zehner, Town Report Chairman, and the Appropriation Committee met with the Board to discuss a request for a transfer for Town Report printing the 1974 Annual Town Report Transfer Mr Zehner Last year, the cost for printing the Town Report was Request $6,800, which figures out to a little less than 68 cents a copy The budget for this upcoming year is $7,000 There have been some signifi- cant increases in the cost of paper, and last summer I requested a ballpark figure from the printer I was told 20 percent, and this would bring it up, roughly, to $8,100 The Selectmen and the Town Manager tell me there would be 28 more pages in the upcoming report for print- ing election returns and a schedule of Town receipts I had asked for professional help for design and layout and this would have been $2,600 but after we won so many awards in the Massachusetts Selectmen's photo- graphy Contest I would like to keep it on the basis of community parti- cipation. So we will rule out the $2,600 This afternoon, I got a figure of $7,905, but this is not a firm figure so I would round it out to $8,500 There is no figure in there for contingencies Therefore, I request that the $7,000 figure in the budget be increased to $8,500 Chairman Kenney The Board and the Townspeople are very appre- ciative of Mr Zehner's decision to serve again this year as Chairman of the Town Report Committee When Town Meeting approved $7,000 last year, they generally approved the type of report we have been putting out, and to do that, it would take $1,500 more If the Appropriation Committee feels it should be cut, it would be more appropriate to do it at the next Town Meeting Mr Zehner has our strong support Mr White Of the $1,500, what is representative of the extra pages? Mr Zehner About $400 Mr Mitchell Have you considered smaller print for statistics? Mr Zehner We might be able to reduce it. Chairman Kenney We want to point out that these extra pages are not something that is unusual Also, as Mr. Zehner said, this is a community based effort from all aspects; the Boy Scouts help us by dis- tributing them. Mr O'Connell Printing and related costs are in Account 1760, and there is no money in there for "people power " I endorse the con- cept of community participation but there is the complicating factor of sickness, vacations, etc and I would recommend a backup plan that Mr Zehner designate a person available for, and assisting him, layout and design, and that person be employed as part-time and temporary at $1,000 I would feel uneasy if we had no way of a backup Mr Blaisdell What is the minimum requirement of the State for the Town Report? i1 ' Selectmen's Meeting November 11, 1974 Mr. Zehner According to State law, there must be an annual report from the Selectmen, School Committee, a list of jurors, and a report from the Town Accountant Our By-Laws require it from each department and committee Mr White Would you be asking for that $1,000 from the Reserve Fund? Mr O'Connell Yes, but I am just alerting you at this time 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 1760-Town Report in the amount of $1,500 Mr Richard M. Perry, Town Comptroller; members of the Appropria- tion Committee; Mr John Butler, Chairman, and Mr Nicholas LaFauci Comptroller of the Personnel Advisory Board; Mr Neil Chapman, Personnel Consul- Personnel tant, met with the Board to discuss additional personnel requirements Requirements Mr Perry We have three employees in the Assessors' Office, six in the Comptroller's Office, and we are funded for four and a part-time person from the Clerical Pool, for the Treasurer's and Tax Collector's Office Last year, I made the same request for an addi- tional full time person directly in this financial area We have the definite need, and should have the ability to share this person in the offices I mentioned With the 6-months personal and property tax bills, there is an increased workload in the Collector's office; especially if a person hasn't paid the first half, then we have to add the amount on the next bill Also, some people pay the entire bill, instead of just half of it It is a proven factor that as we get money into the bank, it can be invested and, by doing that quickly, we feel we can more than pay for this additional clerk This additional person would help in these areas and, additionally, could be used in the Comptroller's office to get out W-2 forms and also assist in getting out the motor vehicle excise bills As I said last year, the work in the Comptrol- lers office is increasing regarding Retirement work; I now borrow two people and the time is near for a full time person We have 750-800 people and the retirement system should have a full time person In review, with the payroll going to bi-weekly, it allowed us to pick up a workload We have six collective bargaining units for dues deductions We have gone outside (computer) on the real estate tax bills and we use that person in the Assessors' office to do other things The semi-annual tax billing is the crunch of the workload in the Assessors' office In that area and sharing a person in the Treasurer's office, and keeping our dollars working for us by getting them into the bank, would more than offset the cost of this additional clerk Mr O'Connell I would emphasize that when he talks about finan- cial areas, he talks about the Collector, Assessors, Retirement, and the Comptroller Not only do the motor vehicle excise tax bills create a problem by being late, and then coming in large waves, but the high content of incorrect bills is adding substantial work for the Tax Collec- tor and Assessors' offices Another thing is the forecast that the per- sonnel system will involve systematizing and will create work ' Os Selectmen's Meeting November 11, 1974 Chairman Kenney to Mr Perry You mention that an additional person would enable us to invest our funds faster Mr Perry Yes. Now, Mr Zehner has to wait longer because we don't have enough people to process quickly He doesn't know how much money is needed for warrants; if he doesn't need additional funds, then he could invest them. Mr O'Connell Two days interest on $1 million would pay the salary of an employee for a month Also, there is work to be done when checks come in as they not only include excise taxes but better- ments Mr White What is now suffering? Mr Perry We are borrowing a person under E.E A. Mr O'Connell We are currently using federal money; Congress authorized spending it until March 1 Mr Mitchell What should the main area be? Mr Perry I would suggest that it be disbursed to the Comp- troller's office and then out from there Mr Butler A comment on periodic overtime - I assume that wouldn't help you? Mr O'Connell The period is too long; it is weeks, not days Employees with families would not be available for overtime after 5 30 pm Mr White At what level would it be? II/ Mr O'Connell S-3 or S-5, or a little bit above Chairman Kenney You are saying that you have thirteen and an E E A person, and you would end up with the same number? Mr Perry Yes Mrs Battin Could we use C E T A (Comprehensive Employment Training Act) instead of E E A ? Mr O'Connell If, and when, we get the money, we could have an appropriate person Chairman Kenney thanked Mr Perry for his presentation Mr Perry, the Appropriation Committee, Mr Butler and Mr. LaFauci of the Personnel Advisory Board, and Mr Chapman, Personnel Consultant, retired from the meeting For the information of the Board, Chairman Kenney read a letter M.B T.A from the M B T A. regarding registration of senior citizens for half- Senior Citi- fare passes to be held in Cary Memorial Hall on November 19, 1974 zens passes from 10 00 a m. to 2 00 p m. Chairman Kenney informed the Board that the moving date of the Hancock- Hancock Clarke House has been postponed from November 16 to November Clarke 23, 1974, as the mover is unable to meet the deadline House Move The Board agreed to grant the request of James J Gordon, Inc , Hingham, to move the Hancock Clarke House across Hancock Street on November 23 instead of November 16, 1974 I 109 Selectmen's Meeting November 11, 1974 The Board discussed a request from the School Committee to submit School a date that the Selectmen would be available for a joint meeting with Committee the Appropriation Committee, Capital Expenditures Committee, Planning Joint Board, Permanent Building Committee, and the Town Manager to discuss Meeting the Survey Made of School Buildings by Drummey, Rosanne, and Anderson, Survey of Architects Schools The Board agreed to submit the dates of November 26 or December 3, for the joint meeting Chairman Kenney informed the Board that the Youth Advisory Com- mission has submitted a budget request, under Account #1146-Juvenile Youth Services, in the amount of $1,432 for the printing and distribution in Advisory the Town of a Youth Booklet. Commission The Board agreed to submit the budget figure of $1,432 but to re- Budget quest the Youth Advisory Commission to investigate the possibility of cutting down on the number of booklets printed and, therefore, have a different method of distribution Mr Roy Weinstein, 6 Nickerson Road, Mr. David Kocher 4 Nicker- son Road, and Mr Ronald Grammont met with the Board regarding the construction of a sewer by Mr Grammont through a Town-owned easement at 6 Nickerson Road. Grammont Chairman Kenney Mr Weinstein and Mr Kocher wrote to the Board Sewer to express their concern for the trees on the land and, also, re- questing that the exact route of the sewer be marked out through the easement Mr Weinstein This cuts into an area in which we maintain our German Shepher; we tie him to a tree which is marked to come down I never heard Mr Grammont's proposal to the Town and was not given the courtesy of being told about it They would be taking down three very mature, solid trees Did the Selectmen give permission considering the path? Did they consider the balance between my loss and Grammont's gain? Is the Town responsible to Grammont? Will the area be re- finished in its present contour? I think it is odd that I haven't been given the chance to ask questions Mr Bailey The purpose of this meeting is to find out your in- tentions Mr. Weinstein Has a variance been granted to the Town? Chairman Kenney It is a Town-owned easement through your prop- erty When you bought your property, you knew that. The Selectmen said the sewer would go somewhere in the easement, and we told Mr Grammont to get specifications and contracts Mr Weinstein Your approval was conditional upon approval of Mr. McSweeney? Chairman Kenney Yes, the additional engineering plans and specifications have to be approved by Mr McSweeney Mr Weinstein The specifications have to be approved per se by Ill Mr McSweeney? X1.0 Selectmen's Meeting November 11, 1974 Chairman Kenney Yes Mr Weinstein Had the Town proceeded to use this easement - I fully expected that My concern is that the Town isn't using it, but a private party is Chairman Kenney I understand your concern but the Town couldn't do it on our priorities for sewer construction. We have areas to be done for health reasons and if they had to wait for the Town to do it, they would have to wait a long time We told them they would have to do it to our specifications, post a bond, etc Mr Grammont My only comment is I have only been able to prog- ress as far as you saw today The trees have been marked Chairman Kenney Do you understand the conditions of the permis- sion given to you? Mr Grammont Yes, there can be nothing done until I do all the conditions Mr McSweeney I would point out that even though the trees may be marked, it doesn't mean they would be coming down Mr Weinstein If the Town were doing this, would they consider a path to save a tree? Mr. McSweeney Yes Chairman Kenney We will tell Mr McSweeney to consider your re- quest to save a tree Mr Weinstein, Mr Kocher, and Mr Grammont left the meeting with the assurance of the Selectmen that Mr McSweeney is instructed that all procedures are to be carefully followed, and the matter will be re- solved to the mutual satisfaction of all concerned Burlington The Board discussed conditions in front of the property owned by Arcade the Burlington Arcade on Lowell Street Lowell St - Chairman Kenney read a recommendation from Mr Paul Mazerall of Tree Screen the Department of Public Works regarding a request for a tree screen in the area. For complete screening by 81 evergreens, 5 to 7 feet tall, 12 feet apart, $1,065 total; 60 White Pine @ $750 and 21 Spruce @ $315 Also, without a complete screening, Norway Maples and Red Oaks would do well mixed with White Pine, $1,030 total; 15 Norway Maple @ $375, 15 Red Oak @ $405, 20 White Pine @ $250 Chairman Kenney If the idea meets with the approval of the Board, I would like to ask Mr McSweeney to include $1,000 in the budget for tree screening in the area Mr Bailey What about the Harrington seedling forest project? Chairman Kenney Maybe they could participate Mr O'Connell Are you suggesting that we intersperse small seedlings with large trees? Mr McSweeney The seedling program is usually along brooks Chairman Kenney We could budget a figure The Board agreed to ask Mr McSweeney to include $1,000 in the DPW FY-76 budget for a tree screen on Lowell Street in front of the Burlington Arcade property lits Selectmen's Meeting November 11, 1974 Mr McSweeney presented a plan of the area of the Burlington Ar- cade property and emphasized that there should be some kind of a Lowell St roadside barricade to prevent anyone from leaving the roadway and Guard Rail going over this particular portion of the embankment He recommended that 375 feet of guard rail be installed because of the drop-off, and for highway safety reasons The total cost of this proposal, includ- ing $1,000 for a tree screen, is approximately $5,000, but this does not include the labor for tree planting Chairman Kenney This safety hazard has been created by the developer, by his digging In terms of dollars, you are talking $4,000 for the guard rail Mr McSweeney Yes, installed Chairman Kenney Mr McSweeney is saying that the Engineering Department recognizes the safety hazard and is bringing it to the Board that it would cost $4,000 for 375 feet of guard rail He is budgeted up to $1,000 only Is it the opinion of the Engineering Department that there is sufficient urgency for this? Mr McSweeney Yes Mr Bailey This means a transfer request Mr McSweeney The highway maintenance budget has money in it for some items Mr O'Connell Mr McSweeney is saying that he can spend $4,000 for this emergency but some other approved one would require a transfer Mr Bailey As the Board of Public Works, (1) We ought to go ahead and do this; (2) I don't think we ought to hurt ourselves by having to get money later The Board and Town Counsel discussed the developer's liabilities but, because of litigation, it was agreed to take emergency measures at this time Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to instruct the Director of Public Works/Engineering to take immediate steps to solicit bids for 375 feet of running feet of guard rail to be installed in front of the property owned by the Burlington Arcade on Lowell Street, at a budgeted cost of $4,000 The Board agreed to write to the Appropriation Committee and in- form them that, because of extraordinary and unforeseen safety hazards which have developed in front of the property owned by the Burlington Arcade on Lowell Street, it has been voted to instruct the Director of Public Works/Engineering to take immediate steps to make this area safer by installing a guard rail of approximately 375 feet at a budget cost of $4,000 The Board wishes to alert the Appropriation Committee that the DPW Account #5400 is not budgeted for this amount and it is quite possible that a request for a transfer may be forthcoming later in the fiscal year 'I ) Selectmen's Meeting November 11, 1974 Chairman Kenney informed the Board that a letter has been received Sunday Shop from Mr Richard Eaton, Real Estate Broker, asking the question as to Openings whether a client of his could have a gift shop open on Sundays Mr Cohen You could tell Mr Eaton that his client's counsel should advise him about the Sunday blue laws Chairman Kenney We will also tell him that the Selectmen have a negative attitude about opening on Sundays Mrs Battin informed the Board that the Drug Advisory Committee has Drug discussed sending out a leaflet containing telephone numbers and a brief Advisory outline of services offered by the Town Youth Counselor, Re-place, and Leaflet Mystic Valley Mental Health Center The committee would like to have it typed on Selectmen's stationery and mailed to the Clergy, and all Doctors and Lawyers practicing in Lexington The Board agreed to approve the request of the Drug Advisory Com- mittee Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Execu- Executive tive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating, or voting on Session matters which, if made public, might adverseley affect the public security, the financial interests of the Town, or the reputation of a person After discussion of matters concerning personnel, union, and a public health nuisance, it was voted to go out of Executive session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10 30 p m. A true record, Attest 4„, )19c re—o--,-)/ Jo' Executive Clerk, Selectmen