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Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
January 6, 1997
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, January 6, 1997 in the
Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office Building at 7:30 p.m. Chairman McSweeney, Mr.
Dailey, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. White, Town
Manager and Ms. Smith, Executive Clerk, were present.
Public Comments
Dawn McKenna inquired why the Town is no longer collecting rent for use of the Munroe School
building. Mr. White explained that arrangements were made three years ago through a formal
RFP process that the tenants are now responsible for capital improvements and maintenance of
the building in exchange for the payment of monthly rent. The tenants have since put a lot of
money back into the building. Ms. McKenna asked for a copy of the current agreement.
License Renewals
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the following license application
renewals:
Common Victualler
Aesops Bagel
Athenian Restaurant
B Street Bagels
Brigham’s (38 Bedford Street)
Dagwood’s Deli
Denny’s Restaurant
Dunkin Donuts (141 Massachusetts Avenue)
Fife and Drum Restaurant/Grill, Minuteman Vo-Tech
The Lexington Club
Noodles, Etc., Inc.
Roy Rogers Restaurant (Route 128)
Starbucks Coffee
Steve’s Ice Cream
Lodging House/Innkeeper
Wild Acre Inn, Inc.
Common Carrier
Joseph’s Limousine Service, Inc.
Boston Tours, Inc.
Selectmen’s Meeting - January 6, 1997
Coin Machines
Travel Plazas by Marriott (Roy Rogers Restaurant)
Automatic Amusement Device License
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the application and issue an
amusement license to Friendly’s Restaurant at 1060 Waltham Street.
Charles Ferguson Fund
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to transfer the Charles E. Ferguson Fund to
the Trustees of Public Trusts, the income of which is to be used to provide a cash prize to the
recipients of the Annual Patriot’s Day Youth Award.
Committee Resignations/Appointments
Historic Districts Commission
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept with regret the resignation of
Elisabeth Cotten as an Associate Member of the Historic Districts Commission.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Sara B. Chase as an Associate
Member of the Historic Districts Commission for a term to expire December 31, 2001.
Traffic Safety Advisory Committee
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept with regret the resignation of Roy
Murphy as a member of the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee.
Budget
Mr. White reported that the Pension Assessment came in lower and helped us considerably. He is
recommending a figure of $245,500 in the Reserve Fund.
There was much discussion about revenue and the budget timetable.
HATS
Mr. Fenn reported that the new Chair of Hats for 1997 is Peter Sugar of Lincoln. Mr. Fenn
indicated that it will be necessary to hire a staff person to assist Mr. Sugar with the HATS
workload. Each town is being asked to contribute $1,250 for Fiscal Year 1997 and $1,250 for
Fiscal Year 1998.
Selectmen’s Meeting - January 6, 1997
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the payment from the Selectmen’s
Expense Account 1220 of $2,500 to the Town of Lincoln to retain staff support to assist the
HATS Chairman.
Reserve Fund Transfers
Mr. White provided a brief overview of a prospective Reserve Fund transfer for the re-roofing of
Muzzey.
Hanscom Four Town Study
Mr. Dailey indicated that it is his hope that the Town of Lexington make it clear to Daylor, Inc.,
the firm hired to do the four town study of Hanscom, that the towns are very concerned about
increased activity at Hanscom, whether aviation or commercial growth. We want to be in a
position where we can respond aggressively. Daylor is being retained by the four towns and we
want to be sure they are given the charge to do a study of the operations and how the area may be
impacted.
Mr. Fenn said he was impressed by the degree to which Daylor is ready to be on board. There
will be a bus tour of the four towns. Daylor knows we want all development looked at with
extreme vigor. Mr. Dailey indicated he hoped such scrutiny would be put in the charge.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 8:50 p.m.
A true record; Attest:
Phyllis A. Smith
Executive Clerk
Selectmen's Meeting Minutes
January 13, 1997
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, January 13, 1997 in the
Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building at 7:30 p.m. Chairman McSweeney, Mr.
Dailey, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. White, Town
Manager and Ms. Smith, Executive Clerk, were present.
Public Comments
Caleb Warner, member of the Middlesex County Hospital Advisory Committee spoke of five
questions he felt the Committee needed answers on and asked Mr. McSweeney to call a meeting
of the Committee. Mr. McSweeney indicated things were very uncertain with county government
right now. He will call a meeting of the Advisory Committee within the next two weeks.
One Day Liquor License
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the application and issue a one-
day liquor license to the Lexington PTA Council for a fund raising dance in Cary Hall on
Saturday, February 8, 1997.
Class II License - Sale of Used Cars
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the application and issue a Class
II License for the Sale of Used Cars to Raul Calero, 58 Laconia Street.
Minutes
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the meeting of
December 2, 1996.
License Renewals
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the application and issue a
common victualler license to the following:
Dabin Restaurant
Nick’s Place
The Kitchen, Inc.
Alexander’s Pizza
Selectmen’s Meeting - January 13, 1997
Route 2A Project
Mrs. Eddison read a letter from Rachel Freed of the Department of Environmental Protection
which indicates that the Route 2A construction project will be advertized within the next two
weeks and construction will begin this summer.
Retirement Board Appointment
Mr. White reported that the State has made some changes in the number of members each
community will have on the Retirement Board. Previously there were three members and now
there is need for five members; one elected by the membership and it is necessary for the
Selectmen to make an appointment of a fourth member. The Town has received an application
from Kristine T. Dailey whose background is well suited for appointment to the Retirement
Board.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, and with Mr. Dailey abstaining, it was voted to appoint
Kristine T. Dailey to the Retirement Board.
Fund for Lexington
Mr. Fenn reported on a meeting of the Board of the Fund for Lexington at which it was voted to
make three grants from the Fund for two personal assistance grants and a grant for the
beautification of Belfry Hill.
Building Finance Committee
Mr. McSweeney reported that he had received a letter from the Building Finance Committee
asking that their committee be disbanded now that the Permanent Building Committee will be
overseeing the school and town building renovation program. Board members discussed the
request and it was decided that the Chairman would write a letter to the Building Finance
Committee asking them to stay on a little bit longer.
Emery Park/Depot Square
Mr. White reviewed the status of the seven year Emery Park/Depot Square Redesign Plans. The
project has reached a situation where plans have to be defined by the end of Fiscal Year 1997 in
order to receive the $264,000 in grant money awarded for the project. No investment can be
made in the project without the grant funds. He reported that Scheme B is the scheme that
provides the Town with the most flexibility.
Selectmen’s Meeting - January 13, 1997
There was much discussion about the different plans and the makeup of a group to oversee the
redesign plans and the historic significance of the park.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to support the concept of Scheme B and
proceed with the grant process. It was further voted to form a group consisting of two members
from the Design Advisory Committee, two members from the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee,
two members from the Transportation Advisory Committee; two members from the Center
Committee, two members from the Garden Club, two members from the Friends of Emery Park
and two members from the Chamber of Commerce. It was also voted that the 25% plan be
presented to the Board of Selectmen before it is submitted to the appropriate parties.
Executive Session
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 by roll call vote: Mr. McSweeney, Mr.
Dailey, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn and Mrs. Eddison to go into executive session for discussion of
collective bargaining with no intent to resume open session.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 9:50 p.m.
A true record, Attest:
Phyllis A. Smith
Executive Clerk
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
January 27, 1997
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, January 27, 1997 in the
Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office Building at 7:30 p.m. Chairman McSweeney, Mr.
Dailey, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. White, Town
Manager; and Ms. Smith, Executive Clerk, were present.
Public Comments
Dawn McKenna asked whether there was a clear cut policy in Town with respect to the charge
for copies of public information. She claims that some people are being charged 20¢/page and
others are not charged for copies while Wales Copy Shop charges 3¢/page to the Town.
Norman Cohen explained that the Town charges 20¢/page and if research is needed to provide the
information, the Town charges the hourly rate of the lowest paid employee who can research the
information.
Consent Agenda
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the following commitments:
a. Commitment of water charges-Cycle 1 Town Wide Billing (11/26/96) $473,262.36
b. Commitment of sewer charges-Cycle 1 Town Wide Billing (11/26/96) $810,509.02
c. Commitment of water charges-Cycle 2 Town Wide Billing (12/6/96) $438,467.18
d. Commitment of sewer charges-Cycle 2 Town Wide Billing (12/6/96) $751,206.37
License Renewals
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve and issue 1997 common victualler
licenses to Bertucci’s and Cafe Japonaise.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve and issue a 1997 common
victualler license to Battle Green Inn on the condition that the Board receive notice from the
Board of Health and the Fire Department that all items of concern have been taken care of to the
respective department’s satisfaction.
One-Day Liquor License
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve a one-day liquor license for a
Valentine’s Party on February 8 at the Armenian Sister’s Academy.
Selectmen’s Meeting - January 27, 1997
Appointment - Design Advisory Committee
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Stacey P. Bridge-Denzak as an
Associate Member of the Design Advisory Committee for a term expiring September 30, 1997.
Massport Donation to The Jacqueline Smith Internship Fund
Barbara Patzner and Richard Walsh of Massport presented the Town with a check in the amount
of $10,000 as the fourth of five donations to the Jacqueline Smith Internship Fund. Mr. White
reported that the Fund now has a balance of $63,000. He said it is a great tribute to Mrs. Smith
and the good relationship between the Town and Massport.
Harrington Road
Mr. White reported on a preliminary meeting and discussion with the Chairman of the Design
Advisory Committee concerning their progress regarding alternatives to the permanent closing off
of Harrington Road. He will be getting further update from the Traffic Safety Advisory
Committee and the Design Advisory Committee and hopes to bring their recommendations to the
Board at a meeting in February. Selectmen Busa and Eddison asked for a listing of all
intersections in Lexington and the level of accidents at each.
Mr. Fenn inquired whether the whole issue is to be brought up again or just the matter of a
permanent closure. Mr. McSweeney indicated that the whole issue would be on the table at the
Selectmen’s Meeting.
Budget
Mr. White reviewed some recent changes in the estimated revenues for Fiscal Year 1998. He
believes the certified free cash figure will be somewhere around $2 million. He indicated that he
will be having John Ryan prepare debt schedules for the proposed school project. He will also be
scheduling budget issues for upcoming Selectmen’s Meetings.
Mr. Dailey indicated he would like to see the Board take a position with respect to Free Cash and
the Reserve Fund and that Town Meeting uses discipline to keep to that position. Last year we
came out of Town Meeting with $275,000 in Free Cash and $150,000 in the Reserve Fund.
When the budget was $60 million, we had $6 to $7 million in Free Cash and carried $250,000 in
the Reserve Fund.
There was some discussion about the school building project and Mr. White said he would invite
John Ryan and the Permanent Building Committee in to review numbers with the Board.
Selectmen’s Meeting - January 27, 1997
Executive Session
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 by roll call vote: Mr. McSweeney, Mr.
Dailey, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn and Mrs. Eddison to go into executive session for discussion of
litigation with no intent to resume open session.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 9:05 p.m.
A true record, Attest:
Phyllis A. Smith
Executive Clerk