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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-01-BOS-min 60-252 Selectmen's Meeting Minutes January 16, 1996 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Tuesday, January 16, 1996 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building at 7:30 p.m. Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Dailey, Mr. Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. White, Town Manager; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel and Ms. Smith, Executive Clerk, were present. Public Comments Mr. McSweeney opened the meeting indicating that the first item is a new concept the Board is originating this evening where the Board welcomes citizen input for the first ten minutes. The Chairman further asked that individual comments be held to three minutes. Don Deily of 3 Marshall Road reported that he had submitted a warrant article and asked that a Board member contact a Winning Farm Board Member regarding the pursuit of preserving the Winning Farm in Lexington. Aaron Liebhauber of 4 Cottage Street reported he had written a letter to the Lexington Minute Man regarding his concerns about the creche on the Battle Green. Mr. McSweeney indicated that the Board would be addressing this subject in the coming months. CATV and Communications Advisory Committee Caleb Warner of the CATV and Communications Advisory Committee's License Renewal Negotiating Team requested that the Board extend the formal negotiations period to January 22 because the Committee felt they were very close to agreement on license renewal language. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to extend the formal CATV license negotiation period to January 22, 1996. It was further requested that the Board send a letter to the Federal Legislators regarding problems with the draft Conference Committee report on the federal telecommunications legislation. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to send the letter recommended by the CATV and Advisory committee to Representative Markey and other legislators. By-Law Budget Submission Mr. White presented his recommended budget for FY97 indicating bow much new revenue he anticipated and how he was proposing to spend the new revenue. He asked the Board members to get back to him with questions or the need for more information for the next 1 meeting on January 22. 60-253 Selectmen's Meeting -- January 16, 1996 Minutes Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the meeting of December 4, 1995. Committee Appointments and Resignations Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept with regret the resignation of Eva Havas from the Human Services Committee. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to reappoint Winifred Friedman to the Town Report Committee for a term expiring September 30, 1996. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint John Nolan of 4 Grimes Road to the Design Advisory Committee for a term to expire September 30, 1996. License Renewals Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the following license renewals for 1996: 1 Common Victualler: Lexington Lodge of Elks Marriott Travel Plazas dfb/a Roy Rogers Restaurant Fife and Drum Restaurant/Grill, Minuteman Vo-Tech Denny's Restaurant Mario's Nick's Place Dagwood's Deli Vinny Testa's The Lexington Club Coin Operated Video Machines Lexington Lodge of Elks Roy Rogers Restaurant Class III Diogenes E. Torres 1 Innkeeper Battlegreen Motor Inn 6O-254 Selectmen's Meeting - January 16, 1996 E All Alcoholic Beverage Club License Lexington Lodge of Elks - Change in Manager Common Carrier License - Avsha's Community Service Shuttle Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the application of Mr. Ernest G. Dulin, d/b/a Aysha's Community Service Shuttle for a common carrier license to transport passengers over Route 2 in Lexington. Selectmen Liaison Reports - Dan Fenn Re Hanscom Mr. Fenn updated the Board members on the intent of Massport to put out an RFP on privatization of all or part of the operations at Hanscom. He indicated that it is the hope of the HATS Committee that all four towns request Massport to delay the RFP for five weeks to allow the towns response time to get into the bidding process. It was agreed that the Board should decide what its position should be at the next meeting of the Board on January 22. Executive Session e55 ori. 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 to discuss a litigation matter with no intent to resume open session. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 9:55 p.m. A true record, Attest: .— Phyllis A. Smith ExeQutive Clerk 60-255 Selectmen's Meeting Minutes January 22, 1996 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, January 22, 1996 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building at 7:30 p.m. Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Dailey, Mr. Busa, Mr. Penn; Mr. White, Town Manager; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel and Ms. Smith, Executive Clerk, were present. Public Comments Mr. McSweeney opened the meeting and asked for public comments for the first ten minutes of the meeting. Jane Charibian, Chairman of the CATV and Communications Advisory Committee, spoke of the gratitude of the Committee for the almost two years and incredible number of hours given by the Cable Negotiating Team to arrive at a new cable television license. The Team members consisted of Bill Lucas, Caleb Warner and Julian Bussgang and then were joined by Stephen Ellis. Ms. Gharibian also expressed the thanks of the Cable Committee for the assistance provided them by the Selectmen's Office. Four young adults in Lexington, Jena Davis, Helena Marie Slosar, Sara Enders and Jessica Jay, wrote a letter to the Board requesting the Board to allow ice cream trucks to ride around with a bell to let them know when they were in the neighborhood. Mr. McSweeney asked the Town Manager to discuss their request with the Health and Police Departments and the Selectmen's Office will notify the petitioners when this matter next comes before the Board. Proclamation - 40th Anniversary of Ordination of Reverend Eugene P. Curtin Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign a proclamation in honor of the 40th anniversary of the ordination of Reverend Eugene P. Curtin of St. Brigid's Parish. Consent A Benda Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the following commitments: a. Commitment of water charges 12/5/95 (Cycle 9) $98,410.28 b. Commitment of water charges 1/9/96 (Cycle 9) $100,237.49 CATV and Communications Advisory Committee Caleb Warner announced to the Board that the CATV Negotiating Team is close enough to an understanding with Cablevision to change the mode of operation from negotiating to that of drafting a license. He asked the Board to give the Committee until April 1, 1996 to draft the license language and bring it back to the Board for signature. 60-256 --- Selectmen's Meeting - January 22, 1996 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the CATV and Communications Advisory Committee to draft the language for the license and to return to the Board for signing at the Selectmen's Meeting on April 8, 1996. License Renewal Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the application of Alexander's Pizza for renewal of their common victualler's license for 1996. Sewer Rate Relief Fund Distribution Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept a sewer rate relief fund distribution in the amount of $45,637.00. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to write a letter accepting the funds and indicating how the Town intends to use the funds to relieve the rate payer. Executive Session Minutes Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Executive Session Minutes of the Meeting on December 4, 1995. Senior High Science Department Annual Science and Engineering Fair Representation Dan Busa offered to represent the Board at the High School Annual Science and Engineering Fair. Golf Course Management Contract A Chapter 30B RFP Review Committee appointed by the Town Manager reviewed the proposals received on the golf course management. Three private contractors and Brian Gilbert, Parks and Trees Superintendent submitted proposals. It was the consensus of the committee to award the contract to New England Golf Corp. in the amount of $900,000. Mr. Busa asked whether there was any plans for oversight of the New England Golf Corp. management of the golf course after the contract is awarded. It was explained that oversight follow-up would be through the Recreation Director. Mr. Dailey asked if the review committee would be willing to evaluate how New England is L doing and to come back once a year to report on how things are going. He also asked that this be done with sensitivity to the Recreation Committee. 60-257 Selectmen's Meeting - January 22, 1996 Town Manager Evaluation Mr. McSweeney reported that evaluation forms had been distributed to all members of the Board and that this year's evaluation would start this week. - Privatization of Hanscom Dan Fenn reported on the concerns of HATS regarding the privatization of Hanscom and that plans do not provide enough security for the four Towns of Lexington, Lincoln, Bedford and Concord. Mr. Fenn explained that he is asking the Board for two motions this evening. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that the Board request Massport to delay privatization efforts for six months. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to allocate $20,000 toward funding partial costs of whatever comes along to defend Lexington's position with respect to the operations at Hanscom. Budget Discussion Board Members asked for more information and clarification on the Library Network Article; the request for an additional MIS Coordinator position; the expansion needs of the Council on Aging; the possibility of borrowing for the pumper; the request for $3,000,000 for street resurfacing; the Bedford Street traffic light request; and the bike patrol. In answer to the question whether the 18 hours/week eligibility status for pension benefits is a state statute or a local decision, Mr. White and Mr. Ryan explained that it was a local decision to lower the hours to 18 to resolve the Social Security options for municipalities. Mr. Dailey expressed a desire to see a reduction in the $500,000 in lieu of a tax payment from the Water Enterprise Fund. There was also a discussion of removing the $45,000 increase in the legal budget and keeping a closer eye on what is turned over to Counsel; a discussion on reducing the amount for salary increases; a question on whether to support only the roofs at the Fire Station and the Visitor's Center and funding them from the tax levy while at the same time looking for a reduction in the total operating budget. Mr. White reviewed the free cash situation explaining that although they had not yet received the certified free cash as of July 1, 1995 amount yet, he anticipated between $2.4 and $2.5 million of which he is proposing to use $885,186 or a little more than $200,000 over last 3 year. 60-258 Selectmen's Meeting - January 22, 1996 Mr. Busa asked Mr. White and Mr. Ryan for a debt schedule stretching out the debt for more than 10 years. Mr. McSweeney thanked all present for their interest and input into this new budget process and indicated that the Board would be prepared to review the warrant at its meeting on February 5. Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 by roll call vote; Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Dailey, Mr. Busa, and Mr. Fenn to go into Executive Session for the purposes of discussion of land acquisition and litigation with no intent to resume open session. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjo at 9:30 p.m. A true record, Attest: /e ]Phyis A. Smi E cutive Clerk 6