HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-07 BOS-min January 7, 2019
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SELECTMEN'S MEETING
Monday, January 7, 2019
A meeting of the Lexington Board of Selectmen was called to order at 6:32 p.m. on Monday,
January 7, 2019 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room of the Town Office Building. The Board
immediately entered Executive Session under Exemption 3: to discuss strategy with respect to
collective bargaining Police Superior Officers union; and under Exemption 6: to consider
purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property—Edison Way parking spaces owned by the
Lexington Historical Society. Upon exiting Executive Session, a short recess was called and
Open Session reconvened at 7:05 p.m. Present were Selectmen Ms. Barry, Chair; Mr. Pato; Mr.
Lucente; and Ms. Hai. Also present were Mr. Malloy, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Assistant
Town Manager; and Ms. Siebert, Recording Secretary.
Selectmen Concerns and Liaison Reports
Ms. Hai reported:
• The Lexington Human Rights Committee has selected the theme of"Dismantling White
Privilege and Institutional Racism in Lexington and Beyond: The Struggle for Racial
Justice" as the subject of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day community conversation about
race. The HRC seeks additional volunteers to facilitate small group discussions at the
event about building more equitable communities.
• The Munroe Center is currently enrolling for their winter programs. The February camp
theme is "The Roaring Twenties"; the Art Span Maker Space Series will begin on
January 19, 2019. Information about the programs is available on the Munroe Center
website.
Ms. Barry reported:
• As of January 1, 2019, the Town Office Building hours have changed. All departments in
the building will be open Tuesday nights until 7 p.m. and closed Friday after 1 p.m.
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday hours remain as before, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• The Board joined members of the Fire Department and others in the community for the
ground-breaking of the new Fire Department headquarters, held on the morning of
January 7, 2019 at 45 Bedford Street. The new headquarters should be completed within
18 months.
Mr. Lucente reported:
• The next Mental Health Summit meeting with the Board of Selectmen and School
Committee will take place on January 14, 2019 at 7:15 p.m. in Estabrook Hall.
Town Manager Report
Mr. Mallow reported that the new Public Information Officer, Sean Dugan, will begin work
January 22, 2019.
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Public Hearing—Transfer of Liquor License—Bertucci's
Ms. Barry opened the Public Hearing at 7:09 p.m.
All the necessary paperwork for the transfer of liquor license has been received. The proposed
manager of record is James Ross.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to approve the
application for a transfer of the all alcoholic beverages restaurant liquor license from Bertucci's
Restaurant Corporation d/b/a Bertucci's Brick Oven Pizza to Bertucci's Restaurant, LLC d/b/a
Bertucci's.
Ms. Barry Closed the Public Hearing at 7:11 p.m.
Determination on Tree Hearing for 223 Grove Street
Dave Pinsonnault, DPW Director, and Chris Filadoro, Tree Warden, reported that an agreement
has been reached with the owner/developer of 223 Grove Street to replant trees as indicated by
the Tree Bylaw. The developer will replace 10 removed trees with 26 3-inch caliper trees with a
selection of species listed in the Large Shade Tree catalogue. 13 of the trees will be planted on or
near 223 Grove Street property; the other 13 will be planted in the Town right of way in the
Grove Street/Turning Mill area. The developer will water and maintain the trees and provide the
Town with a warrantee for one year. The Tree Committee has submitted a letter expressing
satisfaction with the terms of the agreement.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to adopt the
Superintendent of Public Grounds/Tree Warden's recommendation on mitigation on the tree
hearing related to Liberty Ridge Development as per the attached memorandum dated 12-24-18.
Discuss Residential Tax Exemption Proposals for 2019 Annual Town Meeting
Mark Anderson, Ad hoc Residential Exemption Policy Study Committee Chair, provided an
update on the work of the Committee as it nears completion. Mr. Anderson said that the primary
reason for the update is to determine whether the Board of Selectmen will choose to submit a
warrant article to Annual Town Meeting 2019 regarding residential tax exemption and if so, the
process and timeline for that submission.
Mr. Anderson reported that to date,the Committee has conducted two Public Hearings; had
roundtable discussions with Real Estate Brokers and Housing Experts, consulted with Assessors
in neighboring towns, and conducted a survey that garnered 1475 responses from Lexington
residents. The Committee is currently drafting a final report in January/February 2019 and
recommends meeting jointly with the Board of Selectmen once the report is complete to discuss
the findings due to the complexity of the subject matter. Mr. Anderson also reported that the
results of the survey are worth sharing in some fashion.
Mr. Lucente said, without understanding the Committee's findings, it is hard to recommend
going forward to Town Meeting as soon as this spring. Ms. Hai agreed that waiting seems best,
noting that the Committee itself has not been able to recommend which aspects of a possible
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exemption should be adopted. Mr. Pato also recognized that the complexity of the matter, saying
it bears further consideration and community conversation prior to presenting the concept to
Town Meeting. Ms. Barry agreed that timing is too short to be prepared by Annual Town
Meeting 2019.
Mr. Anderson confirmed that the Selectmen support deeper consideration for the two means-
tested exemption concepts the Committee suggested. The Committee will include this in the final
report. Mr. Lucente said that he would like details about who benefits, who does not benefit, and
how the exemptions would be paid for. Ms. Hai asked for information about successful adoption
of residential tax exemptions in other communities.
Ms. Barry and Mr. Anderson will confer about when to hold the Joint Meeting. Ms. Barry stated
that if the scope of work of the Committee needs to be amended, the Board is open to making
that change.
David Kanter, Precinct 7 Town Meeting member, recommended that the Committee give a status
report of its work at Annual Town Meeting 2019.
2019 Annual Town Meeting—Review Potential Articles
The list of approximately 42 articles, including 25 financial articles, 11 general articles, and 6
zoning articles for Annual Town Meeting 2019 were reviewed. The Board will continue to
discuss the 2019 Annual Town Meeting warrant at subsequent meetings until it is anticipated to
be voted on at the end of January.
Review and Approve Minuteman Commuter Bikeway Snow Removal Policy
The policy on snow removal from the bikeway has been updated to reflect current practices. The
DPW and the Bikeway Committee discussed and agreed to the changes in December 2018.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to adopt the revised
Commuter Bikeway Plowing Policy as revised, to be dated January 7, 2019.
Review and Approve Status Letter to Department of Telecommunication—RCN Contract
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to approve the letter to
the MA Department of Telecommunications and Cable reporting the Town's licensing efforts for
the RCN cable license; and further approve that this letter be signed by the Chair.
Board of Selectmen Goals
The Board discussed the process by which the Board's annual goals-setting has taken place in
the past and what changes might streamline the process. It was agreed that an off-site location
and a facilitated meeting would be beneficial. Mr. Pato said he would like to have LexMedia
record the dialogue so the video can be used for reference during the year.
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Mr. Kanter, Precinct 7 Town Meeting member, asked that the Board not be circumspect about
how it communicates its goals to the boards and committees, saying the Town relies heavily on
volunteer power and that committee members need to feel valued.
Mr. Malloy will offer a proposal for how to proceed at a future meeting.
Mr. Pato reviewed his assessment of several of the Selectmen's FY19 goals, noting that
significant progress has been made in specific cases.
Annual License Renewals
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to approve the annual
license renewals as presented.
Board of Selectmen Committee Liaison Discussion
The Board discussed the management of the open Board of Selectmen liaison/member seats
formerly held by Michelle Ciccolo. Ms. Hai suggested that where Ms. Ciccolo was assigned as a
voting member (MAGIC, MassPort Committee, and Policy Manual Committee)those seats be
filled and that the liaison roles be addressed on an as needed, case-by-case basis. Ms. Hai
volunteered to serve as liaison to MAGIC meetings. Ms. Barry volunteered to cover the Policy
Study Committee. Members of the community will be interviewed for the MassPort Community
Advisory Committee seat.
These appointments will be posted on a future agenda.
Consent Agenda
0 Water & Sewer Commitments
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to approve Water &
Sewer Commitments Water & Sewer commitment section 3 FY19 for $4,973,574.51; Water &
Sewer commitment section 2 FY19 for $2,622,572.81; Water & Sewer commitment section 1
FY19 for $2,392,744.80; Water & Sewer commitment Oct 2018 Cycle 9 for $379,748.85; Water
& Sewer commitment Nov 2018 Cycle 9 for $225,541.75; Water & Sewer commitment Oct
2018 Finals for $60,386.33; and Water & Sewer commitment Nov 2018 Finals $12,289.02.
• Approve Minutes
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to approve and release
the minutes of the October 22, 2018 Budget Summit, including non-substantive amendments;
and to approve but not release the Executive Session minutes of October 29, 2018 and November
19, 2018.
• Approve One-Day Liquor Licenses
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to approve a one-day
liquor license for Fay Hannon to serve beer &wine on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 from 6:00
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p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for the purpose of an Art Show at the Munroe Center for the Arts, 1403
Massachusetts Avenue.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to approve the request
for a one-day liquor license for Spectacle Management to serve beer &wine on Thursday,
January 24, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. for the purpose of the Lexington Chamber of
Commerce Annual Gala at Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Ave.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to approve the request
for a one-day liquor license from Grand Lodge of Masons to serve beer, wine and alcohol on
Saturday, January 26, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of their Golden Gavel
Awards at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum, 33 Marrett Road.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to approve the request
for a one-day liquor license from Maria Hastings Elementary PTO to serve beer, wine and
alcohol on Saturday, March 9, 2019 for the purpose of their fundraising event at Cary Memorial
Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue.
• Approve and Sign Proclamation—Cary Memorial Library 150 Anniversary
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to sign a proclamation
to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Cary Memorial Library.
Adjourn
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selection voted 4-0 to adjourn at 8:50 p.m.
A true record; Attest:
Kim Siebert
Recording Secretary