HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-12-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