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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-10-27-BOS-min 4159 Selectmen's Meeting October 27, 1975 Dr Kassler discussed the proposal for the establishment of a Proposed Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation Transpor- Dr Kessler I would like to make a formal proposal that the tation Comm Selectmen confider forming a committee; to choose 5 to 7 members to insure balance land dedication, and they would act as a resource group to the Selectmen and other interested groups They would be concerned with problems On transportation but would not make decisions There are several people here that could present arguments in favor of this type of committee and I would call on them 460 Selectmen's Meeting October 27, 1975 Mrs Joyce Hals We are here because it has been apparent to us for the last few years that there is a real need for someone in Town to pull all the information together and act as a sounding board. Citizens are becoming a part of a mandate whenever you use state or federal funds, i c , Alewife Red Line extension, and we feel that well- informed citizens would make better input We would like to see the committee act as a sounding board or bridge to the Selectmen, and I would urge that you appoint a committee. ChairmanKenn In thepast, we had a 1-man committee, SandyBrown. eY Mrs. Kay Menand: I have a progress report from the Central Trans- portation Planning, Northwest Region; most projects under consideration already involve Lexington. It seemed to us, with all the responsibilities the Selectmen face, that transportation is only one of them and there could be a group of citizens to help focus information. You want to ask, "Could this be of help to you?" Mrs. Jacqueline Smith Possible computerization of Town Advisory group. I have worked on the Red Line extension and with the Governor's Hanscom Task Force. The Red Line has those people who were interested and got together on opinions After working for two years, I would recom- mend a group with continuity as the core, picked by the Selectmen, and you can be sure of balance and continuity of people who will attend meet- ings. Also, to be sure nobody is left out, I would sincerely urge that an invitation be given to all citizens interested in transportation to join with them. Dr. Kessler It would be interesting to hear from Don Graham and Sandy Brown. Mr Graham. We essentially have to work with the Selectmen The proposal is for a small group and it would be useful to have a core group We would be happy to work with them. Mr. Brown I am much in favor of a citizens' group and there is a lot of work to be done. I have a firm feeling that a member of the Selectmen needs to be assigned to the committee, and the Board could im- plement a lot of the transportation problems Only through a coordinated approach can the Town's overall planning be accomplished I am very much convinced that a member of the Board of Selectmen should take these responsibilities as there will be a point when the policies of all the towns involved must be constructively and cooperative coordinated with Massport policies, and each Board of Select- men must decide what its Town's policies will be in regard to the future of Hanscom Field. The Route 2 Committee is a federal agency, and the National Park would like to close up the entrance to the airport from the access road. This will have an effect on the Town and the Selectmen should deal with it in order to have "clout" to deal with the government. Another one is the Bedford Base, which is closed. The Hanscom Task Force has discovered there are public roads through there and you need a group for discussion of this. On the Red Line Extension, Mr. Bowyer's report has had an effect on planning to extend the Red Line The design Advisory Committee report 461 Selectmen's Meting October 27, 1975 was signed by me as a Selectmen and Eric Clarke as a member of the Plan- fling Board. This kind of official representation of the Town is essen- tial The Hanscom Task Force - the Governor has appointed this board One of the discussions here is whether the Airport should not allow jet planes. Lots of citizens do not want to allow this Raytheon has bought a jet plane and would not continue to expand its industrial facility unless it had an airport there Another one is the problem of fire Mr. O'Connell Was vocal, making sure that Massport had a fire protection and, at the moment, the Air Force is supplying protection. Bedford is worried about a catastrophe in the area. Again, the Selectmen need to be directly associated with the problem. The Logan 'Communities Advisory Committee to Massport People ask why should Lex.ngton citizens be worried about Logan when it is so far away? Lexington citizens suggested, an the impact on East Boston, that it actually change the private transport from Logan There should be a voice in town affairs, in a leadership role, to be talked out for the impact I am in favor of a Transportation Committee, and it is the re- sponsibility of the Selectmen to have one of their members on these other transportation committees. Upon motien duly made and seconded, it was voted to form a Citi- "Vote" zens' Advisory Committee on Transportation Chairman kenney We will work out the details later, and will solicit letters from interested citizens Also, we will ask that Planning Boardlfor comments Mr Brown# In my opinion, The Governor's Task Force is most im- portant and the Board appointed Mr Kenney as an alternate at the time of my appointment The Boardlagreed to inform Governor Dukakis that Mr Kenney will attend the meetings of the Hanscom Task Force due to the resignation of Sanborn C. Brown Interested citizens retired from the meeting.