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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-11-29-BOS-min 4 g SELECTMEN'MEETING November 29, 1971 A regular meet ig of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- men' s Roam, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, November 29, 1971 , at 7 30 p.m. Chairman Cataldo, Messrs Kenney, Bailey,, Bu•sa and Mrs Riff in; Mr. Legro, Town Counsel ; Mr O'Connell , Town Manager and Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present Mr Legro informed the Board that he was ready to discuss the ease- ments on Peacock Farms Section VI but inasmuch as the matter was Peacock complicated, he suggested that a meeting be set up for a morning this Farms week to discuss it. Easement The Board agreed to meet with Mr Legro and Mr McSweeney to dis- cuss it. Mr. Legro informed the Board- that he had received a call from the Attorney for the Arts and Crafts Society, who is anxious to complete the transaction on the conveyance, of land This will give Arts and Arts and Crafts the landlocked parcel of 11. Crafts Chairman Cataldo Is it the ' , ling of the Board that Town Counsel draw a deed? The Board agreed and Mr. Legro4S to present the deed on next Mon- day evening. Mr. Legro reminded the Board that the Ballou and Titelbaum options will expire and he had called it to the attention of the Conservation Commission that a request is needed from them to exercise the options. Ballou They need approval of federal and state grants. Titelbaum The Board agreed that Mr O'Connell is to check with the Conserve- Options tion Commission regarding the request and the Board could vote to exercise the options on next Monday evening Mr O'Connell requested approval of a transfer of $1,000 to the Fire Department Account 4150 to correct an error in the budget. The Fire Department had requested $ 1,000 for communications equipment and Transfer we ended up taking it out of the budget when we rejected it; we came Fire up $1,000 short. Account Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the 4150 Appropriation Committee for a transfer from the Reserve Fund to Fire Department Account 4150, in the amount of $ 1,000. Mr. O'Connell requested approval of a transfer of $150 to the Office Machine Maintenance and Repair Account 2930. Bills on mainten- Transfer ance contracts for two adding machines and two electric typewriters Machine are due for renewal in December, and there have been emergency repairs Account necessary on the Assessors' addressograph and payroll machine. 2930 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee for a transfer from the Reserve Fund to Ac- count 2930, in the amount of $ 150 150 Chairman Cataldo read a recommendation from the Planning Board re- garding articles to be inserted for subdivision streets An additional list was submitted and discussed Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that Articles be inserted in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting for the acceptance of the following subdivision streets which have been completed: Abernathy Rd. Ingleside Rd. to end, Birch Hill Lane, Lincoln St to end, Subdivision Clyde Place, Ingleside Rd. to end, Streets Conestoga Rd. Wood St to end, Dudley Rd Goffe Rd. to Philip Rd., Goffe Rd. Worthen Rd to Philip Rd. Heritage Dr Volunteer Way to Volunteer Way, Ingleside Rd. Maple St to Sta. 22+50 (Clyde PI .), Pheasant Lane, Birch Hill Lane to end, Worthen Rd. Pleasant St to Bowman School Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to insert Articles for the following streets, subject to the approval of the Town Eno neer. Carmel Cirdle, Nickerson Rd. to end, Morgan Rd. Nickerson Rd to water towers, Nickerson Rd. Mass. Ave. to Mass Ave Philip Rd. Worthen Rd. to previously accepted portion It was the feeling of the Board not to insert articles for Kendall Rd , Sherburne Rd. and Worthen Rd. until final settlement has been made with Colonial Acres. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Minutes minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting held on November 15, 1971 . t The Board discussed the sidewalk beltterment assessment poficcy. Mr .Kenney If we were to change the policy, we would have to change it effective at a future time, and not go back. The other part of it concerns legislation which we have been authorized by a Sidewalk prior Town Meeting Article. We are recommending that the legislation Betterment be constructed so as to allow the Town to assess the sidewalk better- Policy ment on both sides of the street and the formula be on the longer side; any presently installed sidewalk could be credited. Chairman Cataldo Can you fairly ,and equitably split it for both sides of the street? Mr. Kenney If you don't approve of the premise that both sides are bettered, then we have to back up Our future sidewalks are mostly put in at the request of citizens. We had previously agreed that a sidewalk bettered both sides of the street; that way, it takes the cost out of it and both sides pay. Part of our recommenda- tion is the net increase, a .greater return to the Town. I 151 Chairman Cataldo A decision must be made on whether you are going to assess both sides of the street or one side; whether you return more money to the Town can be determine afterward Mr. Legro The problem was to find a more equitable means of assessment. We found nothing in this that eliminated all the inequities. Chairman Cataldo I was in accord until I tried it; how to ap- proach 50% of the problem on one street We would have more requests for abatement; there are a few areas now that consideration could be given for abatement of betterment There is no question in my mind of a -very strong consideration of how to make up for the ones already gone over the dam Mrs. Riff in We can't; the last requests we got would have been eliminated by this new policy. Chairman Cataldo If we adopted this, fine, because of progress, but I think we are back in the same boat with different situations with greater numbers. Mr Kenney What is the Board' s feeling about making the sidewalk betterment policy consistent with street betterment? Mr Busa I have no objection. Mr. Bailey That is on the longer side, I see no problem. Chairman Cataldo to Mr Legro Do you see any problems? Mr. Legro I would like to look at the statute The Board agreed to discuss the matter after hearing from Mr Legro Mrs Otis Brown met with the Board to discuss the Summer Coopera- tive Program She introduced a student, Pam Winston, to present the requests. I Miss Winsto : We are here tonight asking you to sponsor an Article on the Warrant Chairman Cataldo In reading your report, you feel it will take $10,000 to operate for next summer and are asking the Town to partici- pate for $7,000. As I look at your budget, you have $2480 listed for canteen supplies, etc As I understand the program, you have your own Summer Co- canteen, what happens to the money? operative Miss Winston That reimburses us for purchasing supplier for the Program canteen. It is not a money making venture but sort of a break-even thing like the school cafeteria. Chairman Cataldo The money must go somewhere Miss Winston The turn-over last year would go back in and is spent as soon as it is made, we use up anamazing amount of supplies. Chairman Cataldo There is no question in my mind that you have hit an area that deserves a lot of credit for the people involved last year. There are two areas of concern - can we appropriate $7 ,000 for this purpose? I don't know. As I understand the statute, we would be hard put to interpret it that way but will ask Town Counsel to check if this is the case I can see the possibility of you talking with the Recreation Committee to see what areas, if any, are dupli- cated. Miss Winston Wouldn't we be obligated to get into the Town program? 152 Chairman Cataldo There is no question we understand what you are trying to do but we are saying should it be coordinated with recreation, not as far as controls but so that everybody would know where they are going . Should it be part of the recreation budget? This is the next step in my opinion For us to insert an article in the warrant, there would be no basis for an appropriation You should talk with the Ap- propriation Committee. There is no question of the good that can be done and I would like to see maybe other areas that can be expanded; there should be coordination of the program for Town support. Mr. Bailey What was your budget, approximately, last summer? Young man About $6,600 and it was all raised through subscription Mr Bailey How do you propose to make up $3,000? Young man We intend to raise it through similar methods of last year, we are not handed money After further discussion, it was agreed that the Sommer Cooperative Committee would discuss the matter with the Appropriation Committee and the Board would resolve with Town Counsel whether the Town has the authority to appropriate money for this purpose. Mr. Richard Plank of Re-Place met with the Board Also present were Mrs. Battin, Mr Mabee, Dr. Ellicott, Dr Arnold Abrams and Peter Clark. Mr Plank We are here to ask for an additional expenditure of $11,500 to support Re-Place for 1972 and we are looking for the support of the Board to endorse this expenditure to Town Meeting. Re-Place is a going concern and has reached some maturity We have reached the youth segment that is necessary to youth culture, Lexington has bene- fited that we have been there to offer a helping hand to those that ask Re-Place for help. We have an avenue of communications with Mr McManusrerug Counselor but he feels he couldn't do it alone. Professionals are definitely needed; kids have to come in there looking for help before they can communicate with them At the present time, 25% of the total cases have to do with drugs. This is a problem that is here and there is no answer for it but helping kids change their attitudes So far this year, they have helped 65 runaways and 90% of them have returned home. Re-Place is basically an advisory board of concerned citizens; this group is active, they just don't lend their names to it - Dr. Abrams, Dr Monderer and Dr Ellicott are called upon ten times a week by Re-Place; Neil Chavet and Bill Hayes are lawyers and we couldn't live without Mrs Battin who has helped with runaways, Peter Clarke is the Director and since he first started I$ years ago, we have seen him mature and he is doing an effective job. The staff con- sists of 18 youngsters between 16 and 23, who are trained effectively in drug information. The kids are dedicated and give a lot of them- selves; they can rap because they have been there themselves We have made mistakes having people on the staff we shouldn't have but we weed them out Basically, we recognize the budget as being a tight budget and don't see expanding our facilities I 15 ' Chairman Cataldo There is no question in this Board' s mind to work towards whatever we can to resolve the drug program; there is no question the problems are real but the question is how we can best approach them We are in the process of having project PREP come in and we would like to have the report back before making a final deter- mination. Mr. Plank We think in asking you to put an Article in the Warrant and the wording of the same, we could work it out for you. We feel strongly about the avenue open to the Town to reach the youth of Lexington and we feel we are doing it We urge you to consider it in that light. Chairman Cataldo In your budget, there is no amount for Mystic Valley Mental Health; are they still with you? Mr Plank No; since Mr McManus is coming, we don't need Mystic Valley, plus it is too expensive to carry on; they helped us over the years and worked hard with us but we now know we can live without them. Chairman Cataldo You are asking for $11,500, besides the parti- cipation of Mr. McManus? Mr Plank Yes, we don't want to lose Mr McManus. Chairman Cataldo The Boar, d' s position is that we would like to expand our participation in drug problems, would you fellows consider us giving you more time of Mr McManus? Mr Plank Yes Chairman Cataldo Are you asking for an appropriation of $11,500 and then turn it over to you. Mr Plank No, basically, if we can get funds from the state next summer, and there is no reason to believe we won't, we are a good model and performing to the state' s liking, but the state is beset with re- quests and cut down from $ 10,600to $7,000 for 12 months Chairman Cataldo Your approach is to turn it over- to you in your budget; it could 'be turned over to the Board of Health budget for the purposes delineated. Mr. Kenney These people are looking for the mechanism whereby they request us to insert an Article, and we give them direction I suggest we see the PREP report, which would be helpful Mr. Mabee We are not asking for an Article but support finan- cially and we don't care whether it comes from the operating budget Mr Kenney I feel to take on a new venture in the Town, you would almost have to have an Article for Town Meeting to say yes or no. If you are talking $ 11 ,000, you need an Article If we expand the counseling aid, we have the authority to do that now Mr Mabee If that is true, then the Article, if you supported us, might be inconsequential . Chairman Cataldo The total dollars spent at Re-Place should be in, to be fair. My point is, if you work out an agreement to expand counsel- ing service or our whole program, as I read the areas of your responsl- bility,i I , for one, would not be enthusiastic to turn over money to 154 Re-Place covering the areas you are covering. Specific areas .I could support very strongly. There are areas the Town shouldn't be partici- pating in with Town funds and I wouldn't agree with spending them that way, and would like to separate them. Mr Plank Can we have one Without the other? Chairman Cataldo It may be difficult to separate them and that being the case I don't agtee to Town funds being expended in these areas; I see church funds, private organizations and subscriptions. There is a tremendous void in the families of the Town and this is my feeling I wouldn't want to see the Town' s money spent in that area and this is a big part of it. I think the clergy should reevalu- ate their priorities and their time should go in there rather than the Town' s.. Dr. Ellicott The problem is tremendously difficult; a certain sector isn't going to go to a church. Chairman Cataldo True, but if we were convinced the clergy was holding up their end; there is no question kids will not go to the clergy or Mr. McManus, but on the overall picture if they were assum- ing some of the load, it could be clocked into it Mr Mabee We are trying to pick up those the clergy has already lost Let' s not lose these people because of the clergy Mr. Kenney Is there a possibility of separating it whereby the counseling would be reduced but still go for the Article? Mr Mabee This requires an in-depth study Could we meet with someone who would meet with the trustees of Re-Place? I have a feel- ing you want to help us but how is the problem. Chairman Cataldo There is no question in our minds that we recognize the problem and we would like to help In those areas of spending public funds, we must get dollar for dollar for the Town Unless we get something solid, we aren't going any place. We have been looking. for Mr. McManus to expand the program but the area of contact is strong in the drug problem I think the best way to do it is to sit with him and the Drug Committee Mr. Mabee When will PREP be through with their study? Mr Kenney Six or seven weeks If you are talking of an ex- tension of counseling service to help Re-Place, Town Meeting has authorized counseling service, but if you are talking $7,000 or so in addition to that . Mr Mabee We ask you to think in terms of helping in counsel- ing and to reserve a spot for the Article. Let' s meet with you and the Drug Committee some way without the Article or with it Mrs Riffin Is there merit to have a Citizen' s Article and also in the budget for Town Meeting to discuss in terms of both alternatives Chairman Cataldo No; if they are going in the area they are talking about here, the Drug Committee is going in that direction and when it is finally impletented, it could be greater or a greater ex- tension of counseling If you got both on the floor of Town Meeting, you would make a mistake Mrs Riffin We would come to a conclusion in enough time for them to come in with an Article? 155 Chairman Cataldo Yes, by the end of the month we would know in what direction we would go. Mr Mabee If you support counseling and Re-Place collapses, you are appropriating money uselessly 4 am not interested in an Article Chairman Cataldo We will tell you the same as we told people before you, that we will ask Town Counsel to what extent we can parti- cipate. Mr Kenney We will set up a time for you to meet with the Drug Committee on December 9, to discuss the whole situation. The Board and Mr. Plank agreed. Attorney Paul McCormack met with the Board to discuss the price of the Domings' lots on Valleyfield Street Chairman Cataldo We have had the lot appraised and Mr O'Connell has met with the Domings. Mr McCormack We cannot argue against the appraisal ; we under- stand professional appraisals and would say it is too high and, from what 1 know, it is a fair appraisal . 1 have prepared a sheet showing the original sale price at $2,500 plus sewer betterments of $500. A summary shows the present market value as $8,000, less portion paid of $3,000, leaving a balance of $5,000 minus $2,433.51 for taxes paid from 1968 through 4971 and depreciable value, leaving a balance of $2,566.49. I think $2,500 would seem to be a fair price to pay. I said 1 would Domings submit these figures to the Board. Lots Chairman Cataldo We sold it for $2,500 because of the restric- tion We sold the lot down the street for $7,300 but he didn't pay and we rescinded the vote We sold this lot reasonably because of the restrictions We could have gotten $7,500 in 1968 because we had bids in that area that year This puts us in the position that we have to represent the Town Mr. McCormack You are saying that, at that time, the price proba- bly would have been more but wasn't because of the restrictions. Chairmah Cataldo Of course; we positively would not have sold it for that price There is a street betterment of $1,000 that they haven't paid; if you are saying they are willing to pay us this amount, we are absorbing $1,000. Mr McCormack We could put it this way that all I am doing here is bargaining. Chairman Cataldo We will take your proposal and consider it once again. We will be in touch with you Mr McCormack retired from the meeting Chairman Cataldo informed the Board that a report has been received from the Board of Health as a result of the meeting with the owners of the Bamboo Hut. The report states that some cleaning has been done and Bamboo they agree to live up to whatever conditions were set forth by the Board Hut of Health. The Board agreed to discuss the entire problem concerning the Bamboo Hut when application is made for the 1972 Common Victualler's license. I 1_56 The Board agreed to have the first budget meeting on Saturday, December 4, 1971 . Chairman Cataldo read a report from the Superintendent of Public Works regarding a proposal by Larchmont Engineering for a winter recre- Winter at ion area at the Hartwell Avenue sanitary landfill . The report states Recreation that the future land use of this site is always an important considera- tion and we would be delighted to review any private or public proposal that would be appropriate for the area If Mr Tropeano could furnish him with any information that would allow us to study the feasibility of this project, it would be taken under consideration The Board agreed to invite Mr Tropeano to meet with Mr, McSweeney to discuss the project The Board discussed the By-Law Committee and it was agreed that Mr O'Connell is to set up a meeting with them, at which time Chairman Cataldo and Mr Kenney would be present Chairman Cataldo said that the open house for the new Town Offices wou l d be held on January 9 from 2 00 to 4 00 p.m. Mr Parsons had 'done T.O.B five paintings of Lexington, and Mrs Ripley had donated one painting to the Town We Shall also include a rendering of the old Town Hall and the new one There will be a dedication ceremony in Cary Mall at 2'00 p.m The Town Meeting Members Association will take care of re- freshments and publicity, and invitations will be sent out 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 tatters 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 05 p.m A true record, Attest ‘.1},volvie...4,,..„ )21 , 2)14)04_2......15/ xecutive Clerk, Selectmen