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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-08-27-BOS-min 224 SELECTMEN'S MEETING August 27, 1973 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- men's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, August 27, 1973, at 7 30 p.m Chairman Kenney, Messrs Buse, Brown and Mrs Riff in; Mr O'Connell, Town Manager; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engineering; Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present. Mr William Scouler, Chairman, Mrs Lilah Groisser and Mr Robert Bowyer, members of the Town Meeting Members Association, met with the Board to request the use of Cary Hall for a Mock Town Meeting on Thurs- day, October 4, 1973, to discuss the possible extension of the MBTA Red Line Chairman Kenney We are a little apprehensive of the backup ser- vice that you would require of the executive branch of Town government, as this end of Town government has to do the work and it would involve many manhours We want to be clear as to what you are proposing, as we don't have the resources to put on a real mock town meeting; but if TMMA wants Mock to do it Town Mr Scouler Our idea was that the TMMA Executive Committee would Meeting go through what kinds of things we want to do There would be a warrant, and essentially the same rules of debate as an official Town Meeting, precinct seating a moderator The first meeting we intend to discuss only the Red Line report and the second meeting could include the Bicentennial plans Mr Bowyer The Red Line extension is the topic for the first mock town meeting Last year, we discussed the things we had to do on refuse disposal and we spent three or four hours in one night on just this I can appreciate your concern on what preparation goes into town meeting With respect to a warrant, yes there will be a warrant, as such, with one or two or three articles in the form of resolutions TMMA is responsible for the preparation of the warrant I think we feel we would like to have the cooperation of Town officials, to hope that general government would see fit to take a position on something that comes up for discussion. After further discussion, the Board approved the request of the Town Meeting Members Association to conduct a Mock Town Meeting in Cary Hall on October 4, 1973 Mr O'Connell informed the Board of a request of Grace Chapel to have a concert starting September 17 for five days The first four days of the Permit concert would be held in the Belfry Club but they would like to have an out- door concert on Friday, September 21, to accommodate 250 - 300 young people The Board had no objection to the concert being held in Parker Field subject to the conditions of the Recreation Commitee and the School Depart- ment I ‘4) Selectmen's Meeting August 27, 1973 Mr O'Connell informed the Board that a request has been received from the Lions Club to hold the carnival on July 2, 3, 4, 1974 He July 4th recommended that approval be granted subject to specific, final plans Carnival being submitted by the Lions Club Also, to recommend to the Lions Club that plans be discussed with the Bicentennial Committee regarding 1975 The Board agreed Mr O'Connell is to write to the Lions Club Mr O'Connell informed the Board that the residents of Houlton Road have requested permission to conduct a carnival to benefit Muscular Dys- trophy on September 2 from 11 30 a m. to 4 00 p m , with a rain date of Permit September 3 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the residents of Houlton Road to conduct a carnival on September 2, 1973, subject to the restrictions of the Police Department Mr O'Connell recommended that the contract for the construction of a sanitary sewer and storm drains be awarded to Grandview Contracting In- Contract corporated in the amount of $180,863 95 #73-5-E Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to award the con- tract for the construction of sanitary sewer and storm drains to Grand- 1 view Contracting Incorporated in the amount of $180,863 95 Mr O'Connell advised the Board that the Town is required to file the actual use of General Revenue Sharing funds; how we actually have General spent the money through June 30 We are reporting $170,046 on public Revenue safety, Fire Department, and salaries, leaving a balance of $317,369 Sharing Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the Town Manager to sign the form to be submitted to the federal government on the use of General Revenue Sharing funds The Board discussed with Mr Zimmerman his request for an increase in rates for Lexington taxicabs from 60 cents for the first half mile, and 10 cents for each sixth of a mile thereafter, to 60 cents for the first one-quarter mile or less; 10 cents each additional one-eight mile; 10 cents for each forty seconds of waiting time Chairman Kenney On August 13, we tabled your request and we would Taxicab like to know how you would handle the waiting time Rates Mr Zimmerman If metered, it is time on the meter; for limousines, we handle it strictly on a watch Chairman Kenney Is there one position on the meter for mileage and waiting time? Mr Zimmerman If the car is going 11 miles an hour or slower, then the waiting time would be more than the mileage rate and then the waiting time would take effect; if the mileage is more, the mileage would take ef- fect It is one or the other, not both If stopped at a light, the meter would click 226 Selectmen's Meeting August 27, 1973 Mr O'Connell There are two different measures and, in order to get the meter to record, you would have to go faster than 11 miles an hour Chairman Kenney When will the meters be installed in all cabs? Mr. Zimmerman We have a letter from Viking Meter Co that the meters are to be installed by October 1 Chairman Kenney The Town Manager says that in a survey of taxi companies, the rate is generally 10 cents for 60 seconds waiting time Your present rate is 60 cents for the first half mile and 10 cents for each sixth of a mile thereafter It is the opinion of the Board to set the rate for the first one-sixth of a mile and each one-sixth there- after Mr Zimmerman That gives us 20 cents on a 10-mile trip, and we are losing 4 7 miles Chairman Kenney- You requested $1 20 and we are saying $1 10 on the first mile Mr Busa We based it on a percentage increase Mr Zimmerman It has been exactly the same for four years What will happen is less in-town trips as it loses money; out-of-town rates are an agreement between the parties Our costs in gasoline per mile have gone up 50 percent Mr Brown On the first quarter mile, you make no gain but on the average trip in Lexington you stand to gain 33 1/3 percent The Board took the matter under advisement and Mr Zimmerman retired from the meeting Later on in the meeting, after further discussion the Board agreed to set the rates for taxicabs owned by the Lexington Taxi Company and 81 Woburn Street Corporation d b.a Minute Man Cab, as follows VOTED To amend the Town of Lexington Rules and Regulations Govern- ing Hackney Carriages, Taxicabs, and Other Public Vehicles for the Carrying of Passengers for Hire, effective October 1, 1973, as follows VI For public vehicles for hire, the rates within the limits of the Town of Lexington shall be 60 for the first one-quarter mile 104 for each one-eighth mile thereafter 104 for each 60 seconds waiting time Mr Howard, Mr Greeley and Mr Politi of the Lexington Bicentennial Committee met with the Board. Bicenten- Chairman Kenney We have given you an outline of proposed responsi- nial bilities and a reorganization of Bicentennial activities to reorganize Committee the Bicentennial Committee into an Executive Board and about 9 project divisions; to separate from LBC the logistic support responsibilities, making it a Bicentennial program committee; to create a logistics support 2 2 Selebtmen's Meeting August st 27r 1973 planing group to be staffed by operating departments' personnel plus added staff; to provide for the positon of a Bicentennial Planning and Operations Director, to be filled as soon as possible We request that a member of the Board of Selectmen serve as an ex-officio member of the Execitive Board Mr Howard We feel the Executive Board would meet weekly The Director would have a close working relationship with the Town Manager Mr O'Connell Is the scope of Planning and Operations the same as the Bicentennial Committee? Chairman Kenney We are assigning to him the overall plannning responsibility and to act as coordinator between LBC and logistical sup- port, people The Bicentennial Director has responsibilities in other areas in addition to LBC Mr Greeley- You ask if we are content if he is responsible to the Board of Selectmen for events not for the Bicentennial Committee? Chairman Kenney He is going to have certain responsibility for assisting in the planning Mr Greeley He is really going to have three masters - the Board of Selectmen, the Bicentennial Committee and the Town Manager Mr O'Connell How do we say, on April 18, 1975, are you ready? You pant say, are you ready to carry on someone else's plans Mr Buse The gigantic celebration is the responsibility of the Board of Selectmen. That is why we would have a direct line without going to the Executive Committee Mr Greeley Then, essentially, to have one of the Board members on the Executive Committee Chairman Kenney We will appoint a member of the Board to serve as an PS-officio member of your Executive Committee All present agreed Mr Greeley We had an additional request Chairman Kenney The person coordinating logistical and management support is the Director Mr Howard We had proposed originally that the Town Manager be part of the Executive Board, like Concord's Mr. O'Connell We should avoid a Board with a mixture of volunteer and professional staff Chairman Kenney We will address ourselves to finding a man, and accept the organization as you have set it up We have a general agree- ment as to who is responsible for what Mr Howard. Yes AfterPP our Board appoints the Executive Board, Y then it should define the organizational components All the proposed responsibilities would then be subject to your review Chairman Kenney Yes We will await your recommendations on the Executive Board. There is also one other item pending, to invite the President It was mutually agreed to invite the President 22S Selectmen's Meeting August 27, 1973 Chairman Kenney Give us a proposed program. We are talking about Sunday, April 20; give us a letter saying what you propose for the day and then we can frame our invitation to the President around that Mr O'Connell I understand that the State, in the form of a Bicentennial Committee Task Force, has rather abstractly decided it is going to deal with 6 towns There is a meeting in Concord on Thursday and the agenda is supposed to be an outline of the State's so-called master plan, and Lexington presumably is expected to be represented. I understand, also, there is to be a state sponsored meeting on public safety and interested components and they have been inviting the Chiefs of Police and both declined to go We have to have an approach regard- ing meetings as it seems like a direct duplication. The question is posed, "Does the Town propose to designate its representation?" Chairman Kenney When we have the Director, he will determine who is to attend anything such as this It was agreed that Mr Howard is to attend the meeting in Concord Mr Howard, Mr Greeley and Air Politi retired from the meeting Chairman Kenney read a request from Town Counsel Cohen to sign the Abandonment abandonment of easement on Mason Street of Peacock Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the docu- Farm Ease- ment reading as follows ment The Town of Lexington, a municipal corporation duly organized and situated in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, under authority of a vote of the Town on April 4, 1973, for $1 00 consideration paid, releases and conveys unto Mitchell S and Bonnie R Cohen, of Mason Street, Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts with quitclaim covenants, all its right, title and interest in A certain portion of an easement shown and described as "Existing 12' Town Path Easement" and "Existing Town Path Easement" as shown on a plan entitled "Plan of Relocation of Town Path Easement, Land in Lexing- ton, Mass , Scale 1" = 40' , dated March 16, 1973, drawn by Albert A Miller and Wilbur C Nylander, Civil Engrs & Surveyors-Lexington, Mass ," filed herewith, being that portion of said easement as it is upon and crosses Lot 20 as shown on said plan Which is a portion of the easement conveyed to the Town of Lexington by deed dated February 5, 1969 recorded as Middlesex County South District Land Registration Document No 463840 and noted upon Certificate of Title No 130806, recorded in Middle- sex County South District Land Registration Book 784, Page 56 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this instrument has been executed in the name of and on behalf of the Town of Lexington by its Selectmen this 27th day of August, 1973 229 Selectmen's Meeting August 27, 1973 Chairman Kenney read a report from the Traffic Safety Committee recommending that a "Not a Through Way" sign be installed on Valley Road at Bedford Street. Traffic Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the Sign recommendation of the Traffic Safety Committee and to instruct the Director of Public Works to make arrangements for the installation of a "Nona Through Way" on Valley Road at Bedford Street Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign Speed Regulation 158A - Bedford Street Northbound 30 miles per hour begin- Bedford St ping at Massachusetts Avenue a distance of 1 00 miles and Bedford Speeding Street Southbound 30 miles per hour beginning at State Highway to Massa- Regulations chusetts Avenue a distance of 1 00 miles Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint and Guide sign GLiide License for Pam Wishney, 46 Burlington Street Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to certify the character of Evelyn F Murphy who has applied for Certificate of Cert of Incorporation "Research for Social Change, Inc." to be located at 20 Incorp Dawes Road Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Minutes minutes of the Selectmen's Meetings held on April 23 and August 6, 1973 Chairman Kenney read a letter from the Town of Milton requesting that Lexington join in filing court action to obtain judicial deter- mination as to the constitutionality of Chapter 226 (Civil Service) Chairman Kenney The State passed a law in 1972 that a citizen Civil Ser- would go to the top of the list after a 1-year residency and the vice Attorney General declared it unconstitutional Residency Mr Cohen I talked to Milton Town Counsel and he said that 15 towns had some interest in joining with Milton I don't see any ob- jection to joining with them as the Milton Town Counsel will carry the ball Chairman Kenney Do we incur any financial obligation? Mr Cohen I don't know; there may be some The Board agreed that Mr Cohen is to talk further with the Milton Town Counsel Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to join with the Town of Milton in filing court action on the constitutionality of Chapter 226 Chairman Kenney read a memo from Mr McSweeney stating that a representative of theTown will be present at Hearing on Road improve- Chapter 90 ments at the County Commissioners' office on September 26 It will Streets 2 30 Selectmen's Meeting August 27, 1973 be necessaryto report at this meetingthe name of a project street P (street) for Chapter 90 improvements in the areas of maintenance and construc- tion, in the amounts of $6,000 and $60,000 Mr McSweeney agreed to submit a list of streets for considera- tion The Board discussed a report from Mr McSweeney regarding the Lowell St intersection of Lowell Street and Lillian Road stating that although Lillian a Stop Sign is warranted, removal of lilac bushes at the corner would Traffic improve the visibility It was agreed to hold the item until Mr McSweeney talks to the owner of the property at the intersection of Lowell Street and Lillian Road The Board discussed a request from the Town of Burlington to sign an agreement for a right-of-entry on Town of Lexington property located at the intersection of the Middlesex Turnpike and Adams Street A report from Mr McSweeney was read stating that he had met with the Burlington Town Engineer and had reviewed the situation The Town of Burlington does not require land taking and/or slope easements as Burlington of this time This is a State and Federally-aided TOPICS project for Lexington traffic improvements, with one of the requirements being that they get Right-of- assigned right-of-entry from each abutter before any contract can be Entry awarded I find nothing wrong with this Middlesex Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the agree- Turnpike ment with the Town of Burlington to enter upon Lexington Town property in connection with the construction of a TOPICS project as shown on plans in the office of the Town Engineer, Town Hall, Center Street, Burlington, for the purpose of making changes and carrying out the work shown on said plans Right of entry to construct bituminous con- crete walk adjacent to existing right-of-way line from Station 2 + 00* to Station 2 + 75± left, Middlesex Turnpike Chairman Kenney read a request from the Director of Public Works/ Whitman & Engineering to sign a contract with Whitman and Howard for Engineering Howard Services on the Hayes Lane to MDC Sewer Construction Hayes Lane Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the contract with Whitman and Howard for engineering services on the Hayes Lane to MDC sewer construction, in the amount of $11,400 Holland & Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the Mohawk recommendation of the Director of Public Works/Engineering for the in- Sewer Dr tent to take sewer and drain easements between Holland Street and Easements Mohawk Drive Buckman Chairman Kenney informed the Board that a request has been re- Tavern ceived from the Buckman Tavern Committee to sign Change Order No 2 Ch Or #2 ' 231 SeleOtmen's Meeting August 27, 1973 under the contract with Thomas O'Connor & Co for repair and control work on Buckman Tavern, in the amount of $2,375 75 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign Change Order No. 2 for repair and control work on Buckman Tavern, in the amount of $2,375 75. Mrs Riff in reported to the Board that she had attended a meeting today at the Massachusetts Department of Public Works' office with Mr Hartwell McSweeney, Mr. Briggs and Dr Clarke of the Planning Board After dis- Avenue cuss$on of the master schedule for Route 2, it was agreed to have repre- Connector sentatives of H W Lockner, Inc , Engineers, meet with the Selectmen on Fringe September 4 to show maps of access from Route 128 into fringe parking Parking area on Hartwell Avenue Mr McSweeney agreed to make arrangements with Mr Justin Radlo of the State DPW and representatives of H W Lockner, Inc to meet with the Selectmen and Planning Board on Monday, September 4, 1973 at 8 00 p m Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Execu- tive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating or voting on Executive matters which, if made public, might adversely affect the public secur- Session ity, financial interests of the town or the reputation of a person After discussion of a Police Department and matters of financial interest to the Town, it was voted to go out of Executive Session and resume the open meeting Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign water abate- ments for the following M Peter Downing 9 Pine Knoll Road $3 50 Billing error Tony Venuti 395 Lincoln Street 8 75 Billing error Israel Mirsky 20 Mason Street 7 31 Billing error Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10 50 p m. A true record, Attest ecutive Clerk, Selectmen I