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Home My WebLink About1970-09-22-CONCOM-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES of Commission meeting September 22 , 1970. The meeting was calledtb order by the Chairman Mr'. Brown, at 8 10 p.m. , with Mrs. Frick, Dr. Kassler and Mr. Mazerall present. Mr. O'Connell arrived later. Minutes Mrs. Greene asked Commission members to change the date in paragraph headed "Progress on OSA-60. . . " page 1 of September 14 minutes , third line from end. this should read, " . . .completion by November 1 . " in order to allow time for return of cancelled checks. Copies of minutes will be held by the seczetary for 24 hours after Commission members should have received their copies, to allow time for correction by telephone call, before delivery to other Town bodies. Great Meadow Study. Mr. Lopez of Camp, Dresser and McKee has requested written comment on the preliminary report by Hailey and Aldrich, Mrs. Frick reported. Dr. Meyer in a telephone conversation with Dr. Kassler proposed a joint letter listing two points in the contract not covered in the report. A let- ter from the Lexington Great Meadow Committee (and Conservation Commission) will say the report is interesting. . .We concur with the letter from Mr. Tobey of the Arlington Great Meadow Commit- tee and hope that the two items mentioned in it will be covered in the final study report. Citizen' s Committee for Lexington Youth. Dr. Kassler reported that this group :is fired with enthusiasm for the idea of build- ing a ski run as a work project for young people. Mr. Mazerall suggested Steeves as suitable conservation land. Mr. O'Connell emphasized that there are many possible pitfalls. Careful plan- ning should be required. He asked how serious the group is. He mentioned the possibility of alternatives to Town-owned land such as utility rights of way (good public relations for the utility company?) . Dr. Kassler will transmit this information to Mrs. Kassler,' who is active in the group. Bulldozing off Utica Street. In response to an anonymous tele.' phone call Sunday, Mr. Brown visited the area of the Steeves purchases to investigate a purported "roadway" being built. There was indeed a long roadway bulldozed, with recently dumped gravel along its sides. Neither Mr, O' Connell nor Mr. Mazerall knew of any Town activity in the area. Mr. Brown was not cer- tain of the relationship of the excavation to the Town-owned parcels for conservation and general purposes and he pointed out the area on the map. Mr. O'Connell aIld .he• would check on it the next day. Replenishment of Conservation Fund Mr. O'Connell recommended ' an article to this effect be brought up at the annual spring Town Meeting rather than at an earlier special Town Meeting. Emergency funds could be available until that time, if needed, he said. The Commission agreed, and will send a letter asking Mr. O'Connell to hold the Commission' s request for an article for the 1971 Town Meeting. ,SEP 291970 1 g Conservation Commission Minutes 9/22/70 Page 2 c M OAS-60. Mr. O'Connell said, "We'll do our best, " to complete Hayden Woods purchases in time for completion of Contract witiout further extension requirement. Mr Brown received new HUD-6620 forms. Options for 1970 and 1969 articles. The Town Counsel is ap- parently awaiting approval of option terms by Board of Select- men after notification by Commission. Mr. O'Connell recommended the following procedure in the future, as negotiations progress 1) Notification of Interest to Mr. O'Connell , marked "for discussion uin executive session only " 2) Request for option, with $ value agreement or need for eminent domain, as well as other agreed terms Land acquisition procedures and record-keeping were discussed briefly. Brook Cleanup for this Fall. Mn. O'Connell said the DPW would cooperate and the Commission should organize the volunteer effort of youth and adult service groups. Dr. Kassler will be in touch with the high school and some youth groups. Mr. Brown will rally the service groups and Boy Scouts. Mrs. Frick ex- pressed concern about the amount of cooperation citizens would give, judging from ber experience with the numbers participating in the spring brook walk Dr. Kassler felt that if the work project aspect of the program were stressed, the young people, particularly those in the EducationtWithout Walls program, would turn out. Mr. O'tConnell thought the project might prove bene- ficial and arouse more widespread concern for the general lit- ter problem. It now looks as if young people are beginnin&,to clean up the center of Town. Whidi areas should' be cleaned? Green & White Munroe-Fessenden mentioned but the Town has already' cleaned extensively there. Agreed Sickle Brook, from near Adams School to Bow Street area, was much in nedd of cleanup, with not too many private owners (whose permission must be obtained) . Other areas could be cleaned, if a large number of people participate. North Lexing- ton-Kiln Brooks mentioned (near armory) . Mrs. Greene offered to handle the publicity on her own time, in the absence of Mrs. Frick. Hatch Act. The Board of Selectmen has requested that all com- plaints be referred to them, Mr. O'Connell reported. JC's Conference on environmental quality gathered delegates from all 50 states at Airlie House in Warrenton, Va. to hear speakers from government, industry and A. Spilhaus, cartoonist, etc. , who said private industry should take care of its end(waste) products. . . report of Mr. Brown. Hamilton Easement. The last-minute-cancelled land walk will take place Saturday, Sept. 26 afternoon. Meeting Adjourned at 11 20 p.m until September 28, 1970. Respectfully submitted (,Gua / .- Secretary to the Commission. y'fix x`y+ws• ' .agrm+