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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-12-13-CONCOM-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES of Commission meeting December 13, 1971. Combined meeting on Land Aauisition with the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, Recreation Committee and Appropriations and Capital Expenditures Committees was held at 7:30 in the Board of Selectmen' s room. The purpose of the meeting, said 'the Chair- man of the Board of Selectmen, was to approach solutions for land acquisition problems. What are the problems? Is a land negotiator needed? The Selectmen in 1969 considered the problem and recom- mended a "Land Advisory Committee". A copy of this proposal, not accepted at the time, was distributed. Mr. Lund said that the nature of the solution might depend upon the type and scope of the program. Mr. Mitchell said that there are two aspects of the problem: scope and procedure. Mr. Lund asked Town Counsel if it would be possible to vote a large bond issue for a long- term program in which not necessarily every single piece of land to be purchased was specified. Town Counsel said "No". Each parcel must be named. What- about a special fund, it was asked. Reply: Where would the money come from?. Mr. Cohen suggested that the sewer construction program could be bonded (since it is easier to plan ahead) so that more tax rate funds would be available for land acquisition. Mr. Mitchell said that the Appropriations Committee was interested in (1) the Land Acquisition Plan. What is it? Where is it going? and (2) How to get there. Mr. Kingston commented that the present rate of land acquisition is not sufficient for a bond issue. Mr. Cataldo' s reply to the various queries was that regardless of scope of the problem, let' s gain an understanding of the process and have some solutions ready to be implemented in 1972. Agreed that each interested Board, Ommission or Committee should submit its recommendations in writing to the Board of Selectmen by 4: 30 p.m. Tuesday, December 21 , and that the Board of Selectmen will distribute these proposals to all concerned. Then a meeting in executive session with one or two representatives of each group will be held with the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday, December 29. Meeting with Planning Board and Board of Selectmen on easements, West Farm access and Pedestrian Path. Town Meeting action is re- quired for the Town to accept access easement from Mason Street to the West Farm conservation land. An option with the Pleasant Brook Association for rights of way and beautification expires at the end of December. It was pointed out that the option is not acceptable to the Town because of provisions for common owner- ship and arbitration. Recommended that Planning Board obtain ex- tension of the options and then hold a joint meeting with the Pleasant Brook Association. According the Town Counsel, the Town owns easements on the land since 1969. Regular Meeting of Conservation Commission was called to order by the Chairman, Mr. Brown, at 8 35 p.m. with Mr. Cohen, Dr. Kessler, Mesdames Frick and Rawls, Mr. Mazerall (ex officio) and Associate Members Dr. Friedman, Mesdames Nichols and Solomon and Mr. Smith present. YJ ma - Conservation Commission Minutes 12/13/71 Page 2 Minutes of the open session Commission Meetings of November 22, November 29 and December 6 were accepted as submitted. Executive sessions were declared from 9 p.m. to 9:45 and from 10 50 until adjournment. Walk-Tour with HUD representative. Mr. Brown went on aft excursion through recent acqusitions with a HUD representative and learned that HUD now expects the Town to pay not less than the appraised value of each parcel. Deed Recordation. It was noted that no mention of HUD was made in either the Order of Taking or on the deed of the O'Neida pur- chase. The proper deed recordation will be required before re- imbursement will be granted on all 1970-voted purchases as well as on the eminent domain settlement for Whipple Hill (OSA-51) HUD has supplied a copy of a deed from the minidpality of Glouces- ter (deeded to the Conservation Commission) as a sample. This will be sent to the Town Manager, Board of Selectmen and Town Counsel. Meeting Dates in January were set for the monday evenings of Janary 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 and a meeting was added for Monday, December 27, so that the Commission can discuss recommendations on land acquisitions. Mr. Brown and one other member of the Commission will attend the January 29 meeting on this subject. Maps. Mrs. Nichols said that the best way for the Commission to map its acquisitions and plans would be to have large maps on mylar. These could be reproduced, corrected and changed and laid over one another and thus be valuable tools for the Com- mission' s work and presentations. Voted that Mrs. Nichols should draw up specifications and cost estimates so that funding could be applied for. It was suggested that this might be a good use for available funds from the Citizens for Lexington Conservation. Next CLC Meeting will be Thursday evening. Mrs. Solomon will attend. Regional MACC Meeting on Hatch Act responsibilities and Ford Foundation grants will be held December 14. Mrs. Frick and at least one other will mend. Copies of some of the new legis= lation on conservation commissions were distributed by Mr. Cohen, who said he had not yet received the new Hatch Act provisions. HUD Application for 1971 articles. Letter from Town Counsel told of legal complications if application should be for "Park and Recreation Purposes" . Commission agreed that the X for that box on the application should be eradicated and Town Counsel so noti- fied as soon as possible. Tot Lot. Hatch Act clearance has been obtained so that work can be resumed on the area at the end Bernard Street, it was reported. Conservation Commission Minutes 12/13/71 Page 3 Town Report. Various sections of the Town Report reviewed. Mrs. Frick will call Mr. Zenner to tell him that it is being readied and put together. Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Brown read Mr. Sing' s letters to the Commission and to the Board of Selectmen, reporting the Committee on Air Pollution' s recommendations that an environ- mental protection group be formed by the Conservation Commission. Agreed that Mr. Sing and the Committee on Air Pollution members be invited to meet with the Commission after January 7: Brook Pollution Reports. Mr. Brown reported on complaints about sewage dumping near the Sickle Brook, which turned out to be the legally permitted disposal of septic tank pumping products into a manhole of the MDC trunk sewer. (This is more than the State Sanitary Code 25-feet-from-a-stream requirement away from the brook) . Mrs. Greene reported that she had relayed to the Board of Health complaints of pollution of two brooks - the Beaver Brook, as it passes from the Metropolitan State Hospital on its way into Belmont; and a stream near Hartwell Avenue and Wood Street, as it passes out of Hanscom Field grounds. Tree Wardens have asked Dr. Friedman to write the talk he gave at their Meeting December 2. Turning Mill Pond, which could be an important water-holding area during wet seasons, has been lowered considerably due to disintegra-of the tioplaided by children. It is not known if the owner intends to dam rebuild the dam. Mrs. Solomon will talk with the owner, Mr. Johnson. State Applications for reimbursement under the Department of Natural Resources Self-Help Program were reviewed and signed by all members of the Commission who had not already signed them. These applications are No. 19 Titelbaum, No. 20 Ballou and No. 21 Cooke. The meeting adjourned at 11 32. The next meeting °of the Com- mission will be Monday, December 20, at 7 45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ' Mrs. Erna S. Greene Secretary to the Commission