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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-02-20-BOS-min SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 20, 1973 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- ' Chairman men � Meeting Room on Tuesday, February 20, 1973, at 7 30 p.m. Ch irm n Kenney, Messrs. Bailey, Buse, Brown, and Mrs. Riffin; Mr. O'Connell , Town Manager; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engineering; Mrs. McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present. Residents of Grassland Street met with the Board to request that the Board support the acceptance of Grassland Street and to vote to lay it Grassland out as a public way. Street After discussion, Chairman Kenney informed them that a decision would be made this evening . The residents retired from the meeting Chairman Kenney read letters from the Planning Board recommending, in accordance with General Laws, Chapter 41 , Section 81- I , that the following streets be laid out as public ways Barrett Road, Bond Road, John Poulter Road, Vi les Road, Worthen Road, Grassland Street, and Holland Street. Also, the Planning Board recommended that the portion of Fern Street from the westerly sideline of Pleasant Street, a distance of 100 feet, more or less southwesterly, be altered and relocated. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to lay out the following streets Vote to Subdivision Streets Lay Out Streets Barrett Road from Worthen Road to end Bond Road from John Poulter Road to end. John Poulter Road to Winthrop Road to Worthen Road Viles Road from John Poulter Road to end. Worthen Road from Waltham Street Southeasterly for a distance of approximately 1 ,053 feet. Betterment Streets Grassland Street from Payson Street to Valleyfield Street. Holland Street from Taft Avenue 200± ft. to end. Alteration and relocation of Fern Street from Westerly sideline of Pleasant Street 100± ft. Southwesterly Chairman Kenney read a letter from Mrs Larkin asking if it would be Cumberland possible for the Cumberland Exchange Student Group to have a float in the Exchange Patriot' s Day parade. Students The Board agreed to refer the letter to the Town Celebrations Committee, and to so inform Mrs. Larkin. 6,6 Selectmen' s Meeting February 20, 1973 Chairman Kenney read a report from the Planning Board regarding the Route 2 Draft Environmental Impact Statement stating that the relocation of Route 2 itself will have minimal impact on the Town of Lexington. From where the reconstructed Route 2 presently terminates just westerly of Route 128 to the Lexington line, a few hundred feet of construction will be required, In addition to Route 2, the State DPW preliminary de- sign layouts for the extension of Route 2 indicate the construction of two feeder roads connecting Route 2 and Route 2A. The first is the relocated westbound Route 2A which would parallel Route 128 on the westerly side. The plan we have seen appears to be adequate to handle westbound Route 2A traffic, but no provision has been made for a similar road on the easterly side of Route 128 between Route 2 and Route 2A to serve eastbound Route 2A traffic. The second road is an extension of Massachusetts Avenue, from Route 2A to Route 2. Special consideration should be given to this road because the Minute Man Voca- tional School is being constructed adjacent to it. A regional facility this size will generate considerable vehicular trips during peak traffic hours at 7 00 a.m. to 8 00 a.m, and 2 30 p.m. to 3 30 p.m. The design of this road should reflect the peak traffic hour volumes created by this school . Regarding Route 128, it is the opinion of the Planning Board that the plans for Route 2 should give further serious consideration and emphasis to additional improvements within Lexington directly affecting Route 2 Route 128 These include fringe parking, Hartwell Avenue Connector, Environ- Route 128 Service Roads, Extension of the Red Line, and Bedford Street mental Improvement. Statement Chairman Kenney read a memorandum from Selectman Brown, stating that in responding to Commissioner Campbell' s request for Lexington' s view on the Red Line extension to Route 128 and the impact of Route 2 on this plan, he would suggest that we inform him that the Board of Selectmen is very much concerned with the development of public trans- portation within the entire Northwest Corridor and is eager to find solutions to the region's transportation problems. The staff of the BTPR studied the extension of the MBTA Red Line to Route 128, and the effect of the relocation of Route 2 on a new station at Route 128. An interesting conclusion has been reached from a ridership standpoint. With the present road pattern serving Routes 2 and 128 in Lexington, the BTPR staff estimates a Route 128 Station would serve 3,500 people per day. This fact would make it highly unlikely that the extension would be constructed beyond Arlington Center. The cost per commuter trip would be too high. However, should Route 2 be relocated as pro- posed with its system of access roads, the Route 128 Station would be much more convenient and ridership could jump to 6,000-plus per day. This would be much more attractive to those making policy decisions regarding an extension of the Red Line to Route 128. 6-7 Selectmen' s Meeting February 20, 1973 Since we have not seen any detailed plans or reports on a Red Line extension into Lexington, we cannot discuss this in detail , but we give our full support to the extension to Arlington Heights, and to the Commuter Rail Improvement Program Insofar as the relocation of Route 2A and the extension of Massachusetts Avenue to Route 2 makes more fea- sible the extension of the Red Line to Route 128 in Lexington, we view these as improvements. The Board agreed to write to Commissioner Campbell of the State Department of Public Works and enclose copies of the Planning Board' s report and Selectman Brown' s recommendations. Also, to express support of the Hartwell Avenue Connector to Route 128 which is in the prelim- inary design stage. Chairman Kenney read a report from the Director of Public Works/ Engineering regarding the request of Varian Vacuum, 121 Hartwell Avenue, for a sewer extension. The report states that Varian Vacuum indicated their willingness to absorb all costs for the extension of sewer to their lot, which was approved by the Board of Selectmen, and Varian Vacuum posted a check for $9,500, which amount is subject to revision upon completion of a final engineer' s estimate It is our recommenda- Varian tion that the betterment be applied to the construction costs as a Vacuum credit, due to the fact that this sewer extension will be at no cost to Sewer Ext. the Town. However, in order for this sewer to be legal , the betterment must be paid. It is for this reason that we show the cost breakdown with the betterment listed as a credit. We have now completed the final estimate and request approval of the following Adjusted total , final engineer' s estimate $11 ,002.00 Previous charge (for service extension to lot) + 189 00 Total - All construction costs 11 , 191 .00 Sewer betterment to be paid - 4.080.81 Construction balance due 7, 110. 19 Amount paid on account $9,500.00 .Betterment to be paid - 4 080.81 Credit balance 5,419. 19 - 5 419 19 Balance due to Town 1 ,691 .00 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the recommendation of the Director of Public Works/Engineering regarding Varian Vacuum, 121 Hartwell Avenue, according to the above cost break- down. Chairman Kenney read a letter from the Estabrook School PTA volunteering services on Town Election Day to assist in making Estabrook School a safe and convenient polling place. The Board agreed to reply that if they would like to have observers at the location on Election Day the Board would encourage the idea. 68 Selectmen' s Meeting February 20, 1973 Chairman Kenney read a letter from Mrs. Barrows, 168 North Street, North St. stating her concern about the lack of a guard rail on North Street Guard Rail between Lowell and Adams Streets Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to refer the re- quest to the Traffic Committee for a recommendation. Mr. Charles Spaulding of Spaulding & Slye met with the Board to discuss a $10 million condominium proposal at Bedford Street and Hartwell Avenue. The first proposal calls for rezoning 62.5 acres of the Drummer Boy subdivision off Bedford Street next to Route 128 interchange and next to the Lexington Tennis and Swim Club, bordered by a 20-acre Town-owned Mark conservation parcel . The second proposal involves an II-acre site on Moore Bedford Street behind the Lexington Lumber Corporation near Carol Lane Article 89 and Brigham Road. The price of units will start at $29,500 to $59,500. The Board thanked Mr Spaulding for his presentation and he re- tired from the meeting. 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 Session security, the financial interests of the Town, or the reputation of a person. After discussion of matters of transportation within the Town, it was voted to go out of Executive Session and resume the open meeting. Chairman Kenney read a letter from Chairman Barton of the Bedford Board of Selectmen regarding the water supply of the Veterans' Hospital in Bedford. The letter states that the hospital purchased water from Bedford until about 1935, when a series of hot, dry summers made Bedford's water supply inadequate; so the hospital located and devel- oped two wells in Lexington near the branching of the railroad to Bedford Hanscom Field. Later, these wells became inadequate and by a V.A. Hospi- Special Act of the Legislature, the hospital arranged for M.D.C. to tal supply additional water to Lexington who, in turn, would sell water •to the Lexington hospital . The water is metered in Lexington and passes through a Mater relatively short connection to the pipe line that carries water from Supply the wells along the railroad track to the hospital . We understand that the pipe between Lexington and the hospital was of steel rather than cast iron and is increasingly suffering failures that the hospi- tal is ill-equipped to handle. If the hospital were to turn its wells and pipe lines over to Bedford and purchase water from Bedford, the failures of its water line would no longer interrupt its water service. Bedford' s Public Works Department is reasonably well equipped to handle water main failures and it has water mains of its own nearly parallel- ing the hospital' s facilities. While Bedford is solving its own water supply problem, it could not safely pick up the hospital's requirements for water without also acquiring its water supply capability. At the 69 Selectmen' s Meeting February 20, 1973 suggestion of M.D.C., the Selectmen propose to ask the voters at our next annual meeting to authorize the Selectmen to request the special legis- lation necessary to put into effect all or part of the arrangements outlined above. We understand that M.D C. has no objection to our proposal and we trust that Lexington would be as willing to sell water to Bedford as to the hospital . A report from the Director of Public Works/Engineering was read stating that Lexington presently has contracts for supplying water to the government installation at Hanscom Air Base and Raytheon Company. There are a number of items that would have to be talked over regarding Bedford' s proposal , such as, rates, contract, engineering, and equip- ment costs, and I suggest that we have a meeting with Bedford in order to receive a clear understanding as to what this sale of water entails. The Board agreed to inform the Town of Bedford that Lexington is willing to be as cooperative as possible but a meeting must be held by the Bedford and Lexington Public Works Directors in order to work out the details. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Constable bond of Constable John J. Shine, Jr , in the amount of $3,000. Bond Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of Selectmen's meetings of January 15, 1973 and February I, Minutes 1973. Chairman Kenney informed the Board that he had requested Mr. McSweeney to set up an informational meeting on East Street and to East St invite abutters to attend on Monday, February 26, 1973, in Cary Hall . Meeting Chairman Kenney read a letter from the Director of Public Works/ Engineering recommending that the Board approve the Whitman and Whitman & Howard proposal in an amount not to exceed $23,200 for engineering Howard-Hayes services on the Hayes Lane to Munroe Relief Sewer. Lane Sewer Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Whitman & Howard proposal , dated August 30, 1972, in an amount not to exceed $23,200, for engineering services on the Hayes Lane to Munroe lie l i of Sewer Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Exe- cutive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating or voting Executive on matters which, if made public, might adversely affect the public Session security, the financial interests of the Town or the reputation of a person. After discussion of matters of financial interest to the Town, it was voted to go out of Executive Session. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 11 .20 p.m. A true record, Attest &6461641- u � Executive Clerk, Select n