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Home My WebLink About1994-12-BOS-min60-°132 Selectmen's Meeting December 5, 1994 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, December 5, 1994 in the SelectrneWs Meeting Room, Town office Building at 7:30 p.m.. Chairman Dailey, Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. white, Town Manager; and Ms. Smith, Executive Clerk were present. Classification Hearin Mr. Malley read the public notice published in the Lexington Minuteman on November 23, 1994. The Board of Selectmen and the Board of Assessors will hold a Public Hearing and information session to review the property tax classification options available under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 56, and to select a residential factor, after which the Board of Assessors will set a tax rate for residential, commercial and industrial properties. The current residential tax rate is $14.16/$1,000 and the current commercial /industrial property tax rate is $27.11/$1,000. Bill Jackson, .Chairman of the Board -of Assessors, introduced other members of the Board of Assessors, Bob Foster and Sara Robinson and Joe Nugent Acting Assessor. Mr. Jackson explained that there are five key points that he will cover from the Summary of r 3 Data sheet. First, the property tax levy will increase in FY95 by 3.209% from $48,704,935 to $50,267,723. Second, commercial property values are stabilizing; however, the current G /J/P total valuation is at 50% of the value it was in 1990 ($415 million versus $843 million). Third, residential total valuation is up 6.391% to $2.8 billion; the highest valuation since 1990. Fourth, the C /I/P factor has been relatively stable for four years (1.69, 1.67, 1.70 and 1.70 for FY 1991 through FY 1994). Fifth, the tax impact of a 1.70 factor would be an increase of 4.04% for residential properties and a decrease of 3.39% for C /I/P properties. Mr. Jackson reviewed a six year history of assessment and tax rate information and the options the Board have and indicated it was the recommendation of the Board of Assessors to hold the C /11P factor as it currently is at 1.700, which would mean a residential tax rate increase of 4.04% and a C /I/P tax rate decrease of 3.39%. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted unanimously to keep the C /I/P classification factor at 1.700. 60 -133 Selectmen's Meeting - December 5, 1994 Date of Local Election and First Business Session of Town Meetin Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to set local Election Day for Monday, March 6, 1995 and the first business session of Town Meeting for Monday, March 27, 19950 Deed in Connection with Subdivision at 10 Summer Street Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that the deed to the Town of lexington from Barbara T. Zack dated November 14, 1994 conveying Lot 14 on a plan entitled "Definitive Subdivision Plan located in Lexington, Mass. prepared for Barbara T. Zack" dated April 5, 1994 is hereby accepted. Support Anti -SLAPP Legislation The Chairman indicated the Beard had a request from the South Lexington Civic Association to support the Anti -SLAPP Legislation. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4 -1 with Mr. Busa voting in the negative to write a letter to the Governor supporting the anti- -SLAPP Legislation. Chapter 90 ?dotes Mr. White reported that bids were opened on Tuesday, November 29, 1994 for Chapter 90 notes. Bids ranged from. 4.07 % to 4.20 % and the Board is requested to approve the low bid by Bay Bank at a rate of 4.07 %. - Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve $166,000 in Chapter 90 notes to Bay Bank in the low bid amount of 4.07 % . Building Finance Committee The Town Manager reviewed the Board's plan to appoint a Building Finance Committee to review the facilities study and make recommendations to the Board on the level of spending p g that the Town should support to maintain Town and School buildings. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to establish the Building Finance Committee and adopt the charge as outlined by the Town Manager and to appoint Donald Jenkins, Mark Moore, Dave Eagle, William Kennedy, Gil Garber, Peter Kelley, water Pierce, a principal to be designated by the School Committee and another designee of the School Committee to the Building Finance Committee. 60 --134 Selectmen's Meeting - December 5, 1994 Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5 -0 Mr. Dailey, Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn and Mrs. Eddison to go into into executive session for the purpose of litigation with no intent to resume open session. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to ad jou at 830 p.m. A true record, attest: zcq Phyllis . Snuth Exec u "ve Clerk 60-135 Selectmen's Meeting Monday, December 19, 1994 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, December 19, 1994 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town office Building at 730 p.m. Chairman Dailey, Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. White, Town Manager; Mrs. Novak, Assistant Town Manager; and Ms. Smith, Executive Clerk, were present. Hanscom Air Force Base Mr. Fenn asked his fellow Board members to endorse a letter to Secretary Widnall requesting that Hanscom Air Force Base not be included on the closure list. Mr. Fenn explained that Secretary Widnall would be presenting her list on those bases she is recommending be closed to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission on the 31st of January. The Commission will review and make their recommendations to the President and. we should know by the Fall what the situation will be with respect to Hanscom. He said it is important to the members of HATS that each Town send a letter to Secretary Widnall and noted that Concord and Lincoln have already written separate letters. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to endorse a letter to Secretary Widnall requesting that Hanscom Air Force Base not be. included on the closure list. Extension of Hours -- New Year's Eve The Board reviewed a request from the Hartwell House to remain open until 1:00 a.m. on New Year's Day. Upon motion duly nude and seconded, it was voted to grant permission for The Hartwell House to remain open and serve alcohol on New Years Day until 1 :00 a.m, and to approve in concept any further requests to remain open and serve alcohol until . 1:00 a.m. on New Y'ear's Day, subject to the Town Manager's granting such permission, if he and the Police Chief agree it is appropriate. Minutes of Meetina of November 28 1994 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 28, 1994. Use of Battle Green on New Year's Eve - Caly Memorial Libra Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the request of the Cary Memorial Library to conduct a family celebration of the New Year at Midnight on New Year's Eve on the Battle Green. 60 - -136 Selectmen's Meeting R December 19, 1994 Strategic Planning - Identifying Goals The Board discussed identifying core values and the concern of how do we measure what goals we want to achieve and when we have achieved those - goals. Mrs. Eddison expressed the need to use existing standards as a way of measuring. This planning exercise will also be a joint process with the School Committee and Board of Selectmen working together as far as the education component is concerned. The School Superintendent, teachers, administrative people and principals have agreed on a set of core values. Mr. Fenn was impressed by the way in which the Superintendent went about defining goals for the school system. He indicated a willingness to do something for municipal government using available data.. Public safety, infrastructure, affordability, reliance on property tax, open space, a feeling that the Town has some of the characteristics of a village were suggested as areas to explore. License Renewals Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve two common carrier licenses for Boston Tours, Inc.; common victualler licenses for Mario's, The Coffee Connection, New Asia II, The Lexington Club, Steve's Ice Cream and Dagwood's Deli, an Inkeeper License for - Battle green Motor Inn and 4 coin operated video acne machine licenses for Hayden g p g �' Recreation Center. Personnel Advisory Board - Salary Surve Mr. white presented the Salary Survey completed by the Personnel Advisory Board comparing salaries of municipal employees and school employees with comparable employees in other communities. Budget rev Schedule The Town Manager presented his proposed budget review schedule for the month of January. NES wC Settlement Mr. Spiers reviewed the proposed agreement betweeen NESW C, New England Power Company and MRI concerning payment by New England Power of additional fees to NESwC. for electricity. This agreement will result in reduced tipping fees from those previously projected for FY96. School Department Technology Committee Shelley Chamberlain presented the report of the School Department Technology committee. 4'. 60 -1.37 Selectmen`s Meeting - December 1 1994 Committee Appointments Upon motion duly made and seconded it was voted to appoint the following: William Lucas to the CATV and Communications Advisory Committee; Richard Friedson and Terry Rookard Associate Members to the Design Advisory Conunittee; Bigelow Moore to the Lexington Center Committee; Elmer GUiln7artin and Richard Evans to the Personnel Ad visory Board; Henry C. Murphy to the Town Celebrations Subcommittee; Erna Greene to the waste Management Advisory Committee and Richard Reibstein reappointment to the waste Management Advisory Committee; Michelle Ekanem and Ernest T. H. Tsai to the Fair Housing and Human Relations Committee, Edward Ganshirt to the Transportation Advisory Committee; Eleanor MacQueen, an Arts and Crafts nominee to the Historic Districts Concession; Eleanor Klauminzer, William C. 1 -lays, Gerald W. Howell and David Eagle reappointments to Le Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5 Mr. Dailey, Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn and Mrs. Eddison to go into executive session for discussion of matters of litigation the disclosure of which might adversely affect the interests of the Town, with no intent to resume open session. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 9:30 p.m. A true record, Attest: k � � Phyll A. Smith Exetive Clerk