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Home My WebLink About1966-04-11 Implementation Committee charge 38 At 9:00 P.M. , Messrs. Kolovson, Tarbox, Trani and Brown met with the Board relative to Lexington Center. The Chairman explained the Board had invited the original Revitalization Committee in because it felt some definite steps have to be taken on implementing the vote of Town Meeting, and stated the Board has some reservations. He said the Selectmen are too busy to meet on a continuing basis with people trying to plan the center. It felt the Revitalization Committee has served its purpose up to this point and it was suggested that the Board appoint a new committee to interview arca- Committee tecta, finalize plans, submit the manes of at least three Revitali- architects to the Board. zation of Mr. Trani asked who would serve on this committee. ILex Center The Chairman said this would be for the Board to decide and his suggestion would be the Chairman of the Board or his designee, Superintendent of Public Works, Executive Assistant to the Board, someone from the Plan- ning Board, one member from the original Revitalization Committee and one member from the expanding committee. These people could go back to the groups they represented. Mr. Kolovson said his only concern would be that all groups that have had a part in this development thins far would continue to have an interest in what is taking place. Mr. Mabee asked who else in his group Mr. Koloveen would be interested in having on this committee. Mr. Kolovson replied the Board's suggestion comprised the general committee. He said they started a year ago, at which time a committee to study the revitalization was appointed. After Town Meeting and the study was voted on, he thought it was at that time they asked that the steering committee be expanded with specific names. When they came back, they were asked that the committee be enlarged. He said they operated after that point with a larger committee. Mr. Mabee asked if the Chamber of Commerce was well represented. Mr. Tarbox replied originally it was represented by two members. He said the main point, as far as he is concerned, is that the committee be made up of people in- terested in keeping this thing going along. The Chairman said this would be a working committee. Mr. Cataldo said two different jobs are being dis- cussed. The Committee the Board is talking about tonight is t o get Massachusetts Avenue designed and beautified, and make recommendations to the Board. This committee of five or six could meet with all interested groups. It could talk to the Chamber of Commerce and the merchants. Mr. Mabee said there is $60,000 to be spent. The matter to be resolved is of beautification vs Massachusetts Avenue. This is what the committee will make recommendations on to the Board of Selectmen . It will make a recommen- dation as to how the problem of the width vs beautification and recommend architects. Mr. Kolovson said they have been preoccupied with this for nine months and maybe the width takes in ten pages out of 100 in the study. There is a great deal more in the study that they have not been able to give to the Board because of the time factor. He asked if the new committee was to handle rezoning recommendations and new sign by-laws. The Chairman said it is his understanding if this committee is created, it will be to implement the vote of the Town Meeting as far as the $60,000 is concerned. The Revitalization Committee , so-called, would continue to explore and develop further ramifications of the center. Mr. Tarbox said this would be an operational committee for the $60,000. The Chairman said the functions of this new committee would be to get all the details worked out and come back to the Board with recommendations. Mr. Cataldo said the new committee would operate the same as the barn committee, and all decisions would be made by the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Kolovson said he personally thought this was a fair way of carrying on with the job. Mr. Tarbox said he had no objections. Mr. Brown said he agreed with t he intent but asked if a step was being taken to branch out with another committee. The Chairman said the committee will come to the Board of Selectmen with recommendations, but also will keep other groups informed as to proceedings. He explained the Selectmen want to avoid having meetings with t hirty or forty people. Mr. Mabee said the idea is good, but he knew, and all present knew, there was a terrific diversion of opinion on what constitutes beautification and what constitutes a travelled way. There should be a balance of diversions of opinion and it should not be heavily weighted one way or another. The Chairman said if it were left to him, he would suggest the Chairman of the Board, or his designee, Super- intendent of Public Works, Executive Assistant, Mr. Kblovson, because he has been Chairman. Then there was the expanded committee and he said he thought there should be a woman, and he suggested Mrs. Scharfman, a representative of the design advisory group, and Mr. Greeley of the Planning Board, who was very interested. Mr. Mabee said the Board of Selectmen has a very heavy hand with Mr. Gray, Mr. Carroll and the Chairman . He said the Selectmen are already committed and on record and he would like to see a real diversion of opinion. Mr. Caia1do said the Chairman was talking about seven or eight people and the only way it was possible to get people together on the barn committee was to start every morning at eight o'clock. 40 Mr. Mabee said he thought the idea was good, but he wanted to be on record as being cautious about the weight of the committee. Mr. .K9lovson said he would hope this could be entered/if1 'ehe proper spirit. Mr. Mabee said three members of this committee have already taken a very strong position and are on record. Mr. Cataldo said the Board is committed to sixty feet, four lanes of travel and two parking. The Chairman stated the Board did say, on the basis of information available to it , it was committed to a travelled way not less than sixty feet but he also made the statement at Town Meeting this was the Boardts position until and unless it is refuted or rebutted by experts who did not agree with the Board. Mr. Cati1do said there was a good understanding at Town Meeting what the position was going to be . Mr. Mabee said the Board agreed before Town Meeting that it would disagree. The Chairman said the statement he read at Town Meeting was one in which he felt the whole Board concurred. Mr. Kolovson said he thought it would be most unfortu- nate if the people on this new committee could not work together in the proper spirit. Mr. Cataldo said this was fine if it would not take six months. Mr. Kblovson said he did not see how it could take six months. Mr. Tarbox said no matter what the committee thought it would still end up with the Selectmen. Mr. Mabee said there is no point in having a com- mittee unless the Board takes some of its recommendations to heart. Mr. Tarbox said if the Selectmen have individually made up their minds, no matter what the committee does, it will still be in the Selectments hands to settle. The Chairman said the door had been left open and asked what was wrong with the balance of the committee. Mr. Kolovson said more important to him is the spirit in which the new committee is going to work. He disliked to start discussing about balances. Mr. Mabee said he voted with the Board of Selectmen for a sixty-foot right of way. He said if this committee comes back and says it wants to consider something other than sixty feet, he would take another look at it. Mr. Carroll said the beautification experts have to have an open mind also. Mr. Kolovson said he hoped he could speak on behalf of Mr. Sasaki, and for himself, he would enter into this in the right spirit. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint the following individuals to serve on an Im- plementation Committee: Messrs. Cole, Gray, Carroll, 41 Kolovson, Seharfman, Sasaki and Greeley; Mr. Cole to act as Chairman. The group retired at 9:33 P.M. Mr. Cataldo expressed strong opposition to the makeup of the committee. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating or voting on matters which, if made public, Executive might adversely affect the public security, the financial Session interest of the Town, or the reputation of any person. Following discussion pertaining to the sewer system and drainage with Mr. Carroll, it was voted to resume the open meeting. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10:15 P.M. A true record, Attest; � xec�5tivelerelectn qtr 1