HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-11-10-CONCOM-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES of Commission meeting November 10, 1970,
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman Mr. Brown,
with Mrs. Frick and Messrs Mazerall, Smith and Sussman pre.,
sent. Visitors were Manfred Friedman, as member of the Great
Meadow Study Committee and Tom Curran of the Lexington Minute
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Meagherville Petition. At first opinions were expressed. Brown:
"The petition is premature. The Commission can't take a stand
on it until the study voted at the March Town Meeting is com-
pleted and its report issued. " Smith "Iive read the memo of
work produced by the consultant. In it are several alternate
plans, each proposing 20 to 30 acres for conservation, a school
site, plus varying numbers of housing units. Letts keep our
options open. " Frick: "We cannot be at odds with the Planning
Board. " Sussman "We hope the report (of the Meagherville study) ---1
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places anarticle ne
in thetMarehtTown Warrant signed bcalling y over 900 vrs,
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deeding of the Meagherville land to conservation. (citing Chapt.----
40, etc. )
After discussion the Commission VOTED to consider the results
of the Meagherville studynbefore taking a position on the
citizens' petition to deed the Meagherville land to conserva-
tion.
Utica Street. Mr. Brown commented that the cleanup job is
O.K. but the esthetics leave much to be desired. The material
used for grading is clay-like and will possibly wash down into
the pond, which now contains about 2 feet of water. Additional
work and possibly topsoil are needed. Citizen reaction to
the work done has not been favorable.
Great Meadow Study, was discussed with the three-member Arling.
ton Great Meadow Committee .. C. Aubrey Tobey, Chairman, Dr.
Herbert Meyer and John Ashton. Mr. Tobey said he was unhappy
with Lexington' s decision to withhold funds and called for
fair action with the contractor. He felt that assurances
given in Camp, Dresser & McKee' s letter of October 21 were
sufficient basis for confidence that contract terms E and F
would be fulfilled. Dr. Meyer pointed out that the recorder
in the Great Meadow was not working most of the time and missed
all the high water measurements during the summer. He did not
feel that outflow was properly measured. Mrs. Frick that ano-
ther recorder at Lillian Road was not working and that measure.
ments were made only because of the diligence and careful
calculations of the engineer-reader there. All agreed that
Dr. Shrock's evaluation of the preliminary report would be
most valuable. After first recommending another meeting at
which Dr. Kassler could be present, the Commission V07ED to
resume payment of the C.D. & McK bills.
Conservation Commission Minutes - 11/10/70 Page 2
(the Arlington Great Meadow Committee departed at about 9 15 p.m.
Mr. O'Connell, who arrived at the end of the Great Meadow
discussion, asked why the Commission withheld funds in payment
for the study and why they now agreed to have the bills paid.
Previous discussion reviewed.
Size of Conservation Commission. Although the Commission had
in the past considered submitting an article to increase their
size to seven members, they had been discouraged from doing
so. Mr. Smith pointed out that the Commission needs more
people to look over properties already acquired so they can
be better managed. The Commission sometimes lacks personnel
to walk prospective purchases. Mr. O'Connell said that a
warrant article is not necessary. According to the Town
Manager Act, he has the power to reorganize or abolish any
of the boards, committees or commissions which he is empowered
to appoint, and this power supercedes previous Town statutes.
Mr. Sussman recommended that since other state legislation
is involved with the establishment of the Conservation
Commission, the Department of Natural Resources should be
consulted.
The Commission VOTED to go into executive session at 9 33 p.m.
Final adjournment occurred at about midnight. The next Com-
mission meeting will be held on Monday, November 16, 1970, at
7 45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mrs. Erna S. Greene,
Secretary to the Commission
Novlu