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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-14 BOS-min SELECTMEN'S MEETING Monday, January 14, 2019 A meeting of the Lexington Board of Selectmen was called to order at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 14, 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—Update DPW AFSCME Union. Upon exiting Executive Session at 6:15 p.m., a short recess was called and Open Session reconvened at 6:19 p.m. Present were 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. 2019 Annual Meeting Presentations: Update on the following Citizen Petition Warrant Articles: • Amend Bylaw to Reduce or Eliminate Polystyrene Food Serviceware and Packing and; Amend Bylaw to Reduce or Eliminate Single-use Plastic Beverage Straws and Plastic Stirrers Lin Jensen and Cindy Aren, PTO Green Team coordinators; high school students; and members of Girl Scout Troop 65411 presented information about two 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant citizen articles. The objective of the articles is to stop the distribution and sale of single- use polystyrene, plastic straws and plastic stirrers. Ms. Hai and Mr. Pato said they were generally supportive of the initiative but emphasized it would be important to reach out to local businesses, and to other municipalities that have adopted the ban, to gather feedback well before Annual Town Meeting Ms. Barry said she is concerned about smaller, non-chain businesses and the ability for them to adapt if the initiatives pass. Ms. Jensen said businesses would have a period of time to adapt, as well as the ability to apply for extensions if needed. Mr. Lucente said the more visuals the group can supply, and the more alternative products that can be identified, the easier it will be for people to understand the materials that would be affected. He asked that the group directly contact the Lexington Retailers Association about the initiative, as well as the Chamber of Commerce. He asked that the Team be clear on what the bylaws would mean. • Amend Zoning Bylaw to Reasonably Regulate Land Uses Protected by MGL c. 40A s.3 (Dover Amendment Uses) Jeanne Krieger, 44 Webster Road,presented information about the article that seeks to consider an amendment of the Zoning Bylaw to apply reasonable regulation of uses on currently exempt properties via a limited site plan review. She stipulated that the site plan review would not be used to deny use, but instead to establish standards by providing a Public Hearing and a Planning staff review process. Ms. Krieger said she is scheduled to meet informally with the Planning Board on January 23, 2019 and he formal Public Hearing is scheduled for February 13, 2019; the South Lexington Civic Association will hold a meeting to seek input at the Lexington Community Center on February 7, 2019. Ms. Hai asked if the bylaw is able to cover lighting as this is a concern she has heard repeatedly from residents. Mr. Krieger said that MGL. c 40A s.3 (the Dover Amendment) explicitly lists six elements that do not include lighting and signage. Informally however, during site plan review. agreements about signage and lighting are often reached. Mr. Pato said that finding a way to have a public dialogue without constraining use is a positive approach to gain better control. Ms. Barry asked what groups Ms. Krieger intends to reach out to. Ms. Krieger said she is reaching out to groups that are currently considered exempt such as: schools, churches, farms. Ms. Barry will provide contact information for the Lexington Interfaith organization. Mr. Lucente said his one concern is that there might be unintended consequences but he otherwise sees the initiative as well-thought out and well-intended. David Kanter, Precinct 7 Town Meeting member, asked what would happen in a limited site plan review if a conflict could not be resolved. Ms. Krieger said the Planning Board has a blueprint for how to conduct a limited site plan review and dialogue allows the parties to reach an agreement since the permitted use is never in question. • Board Discussion - Review Potential Articles The Selectmen and Ms. Axtell reviewed the list of articles, noting that some have moved to another place in order since the last review. Discuss CPA Initiatives: Mr. Pato reported that the Community Preservation Committee recently voted on the projects that are eligible for CPA funding; the Committee will meet again on January 17, 2019 to assign recommended amounts to each project. Mr. Pato said there had been an inconclusive debate about how to prioritize the projects since anticipated FY20 funding is unable to satisfy demand as it is currently known. One point of debate is whether to eliminate the Center Streetscape and Battle Green projects from the FY20 list; the remainder of the projects all received support for either full or partial funding, including the Minuteman High School Intermunicipal athletic fields project, but only for a fraction of the requested total. Bob Pressman, CPC member but speaking as an individual, said that one concern is the proportion of CPA funds that must be used for debt service. Mr. Pato added that the CPC will discuss a debt service policy and debt ceiling at the upcoming meeting. Citizen articles and staff presentations will continue in the coming weeks. Ms. Barry noted that the Annual Town Meeting 2019 warrant will be reviewed in draft form at the Selectmen's meeting on January 28, 2019 and voted on February 4, 2019. Selectmen Committee Appointments Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to appoint Suzie Barry as a member of the Policy Manual Committee for a two-year term to expire March 31, 2020. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to appoint Jill Hai as Lexington's Selectmen representative to The Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC) for the one-year term expiring June 30, 2019. Adjourn Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selection voted 4-0 to adjourn at 7:05 p.m. A true record; Attest: Kim Siebert Recording Secretary