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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-06-03 BOS-min Selectmen’s Meeting June 3, 2019 A meeting of the Lexington Board of Selectmen was called to order at 7:01 p.m. on Thursday, June 3, 2019 in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office Building. Mr. Lucente, Chair; Mr. Pato; Ms. Barry; Ms. Hai; and Mr. Sandeen were present as well as Mr. Malloy, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Assistant Town Manager; and Ms. Katzenback, Executive Clerk. Public Comment Mr. Michelson, Lexington Retailers Association, thanked the Town of Lexington for their support for the May 25, 2019 Discovery Day Event. Selectmen Concerns and Liaison Reports Ms. Hai reported that input continues to be collected regarding potential uses for the Hosmer House. Mr. Pato said he participated as a Judge in the Generations Citizens Civics Day held at the State House. Mr. Lucente said he had the privilege of representing the Board at the Lexington High School Graduation. Ms. Barry reported the Hanscom Area Towns Committee’s meeting included a Bicycle and Pedestrian round-table discussion with Jackie DeWolfe, Director of Sustainable Mobility; and Michelle Danila, Complete Streets Engineer for Massachusetts Department of Transportation. In addition, Ms. Barry reported the Selectmen attended the Visitors Center ground breaking. Mr. Sandeen said he spoke in Concord on the subject of net zero energy school building initiatives. Next, he said he attended, along with Trisha Malatesta, Engineering Department, and the Gas Leaks Regional Cooperation. In addition, Mr. Sandeen noted he and other Selectmen attended the Dana Home Foundation Grant Recipient Awards event held on May 22, 2019. Town Manager Report Mr. Malloy updated the Board regarding general municipal activities taken place by the Human Services Department, Public Works, Public Facilities, Land Use, Health and Development Recreation and Community Programs including the following highlights:  CHNA-5 has approved the project for the three year implementation of the Town’s project to develop protocol alignment; strengthen collaboration and communication; enhance programs and services; and partner with community stakeholders to address mental and health wellness. The Town was awarded $59,000 for this project.  The work to install a new pedestrian signal at the Munroe Center for the Arts is underway.  The Town aquatic facilities opened on June 1, 2019 for the season.  The Visitor’s Center demolition is underway.  The new Fire Station Headquarters’ foundation is being poured.  The Lexington Children’s Place and Hasting School projects are making good progress.  Public health is hosting a medical waste disposal event on June 5, 2019 and staffing the Household Hazardous Waste event at Hartwell Ave on June 15, 2019.  The Visitors Center was officially awarded a $200,000 grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and a small grant from the Community Endowment of Lexington.  The Town has begun recruiting for an Interim Planning Director and a permanent Planning Director to replace Julie Mercier. Public Hearing - Liquor License Transfer - Mass Lex, LLC d/b/a Clay Oven Indian Restaurant Mr. Lucente opened the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. He stated that all the necessary paperwork has been provided for the transfer of liquor license at 1666 Massachusetts Ave, from Group R, Inc. d/b/a Lexx Restaurant to Mass Lex, LLC d/b/a Clay Oven Indian Restaurant. The proposed Manager, Anuradha Kapoor, was present at the hearing. It was stated the restaurant is targeted to open in August 2019. Members of the board extended their best wishes for a successful venture to the applicants and upon hearing no public comment, Mr. Lucente closed the hearing at 7:22 p.m. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve the transfer of liquor license at 1666 Massachusetts Ave from Group R, Inc. d/b/a Lexx Restaurant to Mass Lex, LLC d/b/a Clay Oven Indian Restaurant. Approval for LexHAB to Accept Gift of Land with Building - 77 Wood Street Lester Savage, LexHAB, explained a request is being put forth to the Selectmen for approval of the acceptance of the donation of property at 77 Wood Street property to LexHAB. Mr. George Summers, the owner of 77 Wood Street, is donating this as a life estate. Mr. Summers would live in the home for the remainder of his life and then the deed would transfer to LexHAB to then be used by LexHab as an affordable housing unit. Ms. Nelson, LexHab, explained Mr. Summers would live in the home for the remainder of his life and then the deed would transfer to LexHAB. She stated there are no restrictions on the donation of this land and LexHab intends to keep this as a single family home. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve the acceptance of the gift of the property at 77 Wood Street by LexHAB in the affordable housing inventory. Communications Advisory Committee Update Mr. Becker, Communication Advisory Committee, explained the RCN Cable Television License with the Town of Lexington is set to expire on June 30, 2019. He reviewed the proposed renewal license and said the Communications Advisory Committee (CAC) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, June 20, 2019 to hear public comments regarding RCN services and license renewal. The CAC will then put forth a finalized renewal license to the Board of Selectmen for their consideration and approval before the end of June 2019. Ms. Barry requested that the Town Building names and addresses be verified and updated for the execution of the RCN renewal license. Temporary Public Safety Communications & AT&T Pole Placement Chief Corr explained one of the components of building the new Police Station will be to include the current radio antenna, which is owned by AT&T. The antenna is currently being used by the Police and Fire Departments for public safety communications and will need to be moved. AT&T is interested in installing a new, taller monopole further back on the property, but this permanent location needs to wait until after the Police Station is built. Since the current tower will need to be relocated for the construction work, a tower needs to be cited at a temporary location. Mr. Cronin, Facilities Director, asked the Board for their preference of a temporary location for the antenna to be either attached to an unused chimney on the Cary Memorial Building or to a ballasted truck. General Board discussion ensued. The Board was in favor to have the temporary location for the antenna be on the chimney on the Cary Memorial Building. Several Board members expressed concern regarding running the connection through the window on the lower level of the Cary Memorial Building. Mr. Cronin explained the window pane would be replaced upon decommissioning the temporary antenna. Mr. Cronin reviewed the following proposed schedule regarding radio antennas: • Install temporary antenna on chimney: Spring 2020 • Decommission existing antenna and relocate all communications to temporary antenna: June 2020 • Relocate Police Headquarters to Temporary HQ (173 Bedford): July 1, 2020 • Install new Unipole Antenna: Spring 2021 • Relocate Police Headquarters back to 1557 Massachussetts Avenue: December 2021 Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve the temporary location for the AT&T and Police/Fire communications tower to be attached to the chimney on the Cary Memorial Building going through a lower level window and further to authorize the Town Manager to execute any documents to effectuate this vote. Proposal for Zoning Changes Along Hartwell Avenue Charles Hornig, 18 Bacon Street, presented two proposals for incremental zoning changes to encourage economic development. He explained these are updated to the earlier versions discussed at the December 17, 2018 Board of Selectmen meeting.  CM District Standards: Mr. Hornig stated he proposes changes that would relax dimensional standards to permit additional development in the CM (manufacturing) District, located largely along Hartwell Avenue, and rezone selected adjoining properties into either the CM or GC (governmental-civic) districts to provide consistent standards for development.  Front Yard, Transition, and Screening Areas: Mr. Hornig stated he proposes changes that would allow consistent streetscapes within a zoning district by requiring the same front yard, transition, and screening areas along a street independent of the zoning district of lots across the street. Mr. Pato said he hopes that such proposals emerge through a process of working through the Planning Board for such initiatives to possibly be brought forward to a Town Meeting. Ms. Barry recommended that item “D-Amend the Zoning Map to rezone lot 7 on assessor’s map 85 into the GC District” should be removed from Mr. Hornig’s proposal for amendments to the Zoning Bylaw and Maps for CM Districts and suggested that the Planning Board bring said item D to Town Meeting as a “housekeeping” article. Mr. Lucente asked Mr. Hornig to whom he has additionally presented his proposals. Mr. Hornig explained he brought his proposals to the Planning Board and the Economic Development Advisory Committee and will plan to continue to work with the Planning Department. Mr. Canale, Planning Board Chair, stated he feels that the Planning Board and the Selectmen should meet to discuss these proposals. The Board thanked Mr. Hornig for his presentation. Approve Fiscal Year 2020 Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Non-Represented Employees Mr. Malloy presented his recommendation for a two (2) percent cost-of-living adjustment for non- represented employees for fiscal year 2020. He said this amount is consistent with settled collective bargaining agreements and the Board's overall guidance for settlements for FY2020. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve a two (2) percent cost-of-living adjustment for non-represented employees for fiscal year 2020, effective July 1, 2019. Review Requests from Sustainable Lexington Committee to Send Letters Mr. Lucente explained the Sustainable Lexington Committee has requested the Board of Selectmen to send letters regarding sustainability issues. The first letter would be to State Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) advocating for a Net Zero Stretch Code. The second letter would be to Governor Baker regarding the Alternative Portfolio Standard (APS) and the burning of biomass and garbage incineration. Mr. Rick Reibstein, Sustainable Lexington Committee, explained the proposed letter regarding APS encourages Governor Baker to support H.853, An Act to Assure the Attainment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Goals in the Alternative Portfolio Standard (Rep. Denise Provost, 27th Middlesex). This bill would remove incentives for biomass burning and garbage incineration from the Massachusetts Alternative Portfolio Standard (APS). Mr. Celis Brisbane, Sustainable Lexington Committee, explained the proposed letter to the BBRS is to encourage the BBRS to update the current Massachusetts energy stretch code to a Net Zero stretch code giving communities the option to adopt a Net Zero stretch code is a critical step to achieving: our statewide energy efficiency and climate goals; design resiliency; increased occupant comfort; and more cost-effective life-cycle design for families and businesses across the Commonwealth. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve sending the letter to the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) as corrected advocating a Net Zero Stretch Code signed by the Board of Selectmen. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve sending the letter to Governor Baker with Public Comments to the Department of Energy Resources advocating support for H.853, An Act to Assure the Attainment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Goals in the Alternative Portfolio Standard signed by the Board of Selectmen. Special Permit Residential Development Zoning Bylaw Amendment Ad Hoc Committee Update Ms. Hai reported that the Special Permit Residential Development Zoning Bylaw Amendment Ad Hoc Committee (SPRD) continues to meet at least one to two times per month. She explained a panel from the building and design community came to a SPRD meeting to discuss their experiences in Lexington and other communities, and provided suggestions regarding the bylaws. The panel stated that other communities strive to get their zoning bylaws to the level of Lexington’s established Zoning Bylaws. This Panel stated what they experience is a lack of consistency and direction as it relates to information/suggestions from the Planning Board given to the proponents which may not be clear and that many times causes confusion for the proponent. Bob Pressman, 22 Locust Avenue, said he feels the Planning Board has extremely individualistic views which cause differing positions that lead to the lack of consistency, direction and consensus that is provided to the proponents. Town Manager Reappointment Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve the Town Manager's reappointments for Gerald Howell and Julie-Ann Shapiro to the Council on Aging for a term to expire May 30, 2022. Approve and Sign Proclamation - Coach Bill Tighe's 95th Birthday Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve and sign a proclamation in honor of the 95th birthday of former Lexington High School Football Coach, Bill Tighe. Selectmen Committee Appointment Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to appoint Sheila Page to the Battle Road Scenic Byway Committee as a member for a term to expire on September 30, 2019. Consent Agenda  Water and Sewer Commitments Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve the Water and Sewer Finals April 2019 in the amount of $7,668.92.  Approve One-Day Liquor Licenses Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve a One-day Liquor License for The Deborah Abel Dance Company to serve wine at the Zumba Fundraiser Reception being held at the Lexington Community Center, 39 Marrett Road on Thursday, June 13, 2019 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve two One- day Liquor Licenses for Spectacle Management to serve beer and wine in the lobby of Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue, at the following two events: Bella Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Sunday, July 28, 2019 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Lori McKenna, Saturday, August 3, 2019 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  Approve Meeting Minutes Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve the minutes of April 29, 2019, April 30, 2019 and May 9, 2019. Adjourn Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 p.m. A true record; Attest: Kim Katzenback Executive Clerk