HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-08-BOS-min60-333
Selectmen's Meeting Minutes
August 12, 1996
A regular meeting of the Board ofSelectmen was held on Monday, August 1 2, 1996 in the
Selectmen's Meeting boom, 'Town Ofce Building at 730 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
Shirley Frawley of the Antony Sister City Group updated Board members on plans for a visit by
representatives of the Antony France Sister City Group in early October. Their plans are to get
the Chamber of Commerce involved and hope to have members of the Board attending some of
the planned activities.
Ms. Frawley will be visiting Antony in early September and asked the Board to send Greetings
with her from the Town. Dan Fenn offered to prepare a letter of greeting from the Town.
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Town Engineer Frank Fields has requested that the continued hearing on a grant of location for
conduit at 1 Spring Street be adjourned to the meeting of August 26 at which time the
Conservation Commission will have acted on the Notice of Intent at its meeting on August 13.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the New England Telephone
Grant of Location Hearing for conduit at 15 Spring Street to the Board of Selectmen's Meeting
on August 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Boston Edison rant of Location - Garfield Street
Mr. McSweeney opened a hearing on the petition of Boston Edison Company for a grant of
location for conduit to be installed, owned and used by Boston Edison Company to provide
underground service to the residences at 64 and 68 Garfield Street.
There being no questions, Mr. McSweeney declared the hearing closed.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, .it was voted to approve the petition of the -Boston Edison
Company to lay and maintain underground conduits and manholes, with the wires and cables to be
placed therein, under the surface of Garfield Street in a southerly direction, approximately 255
feet southwest of Earl Street, a distance of 1.5 feet (::L).
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Selectmen's Meeting - August 12, 1996
Adjourned CATV Hearin
Jane Gharibian, Chair of the CATV and Communications Advisory Committee and David green
of AR Cable Services reported on the status of the information requested at the adjourned hearing
on the transfer of ownership. The CATV and Communications Advisory Committee asked that
the hearing be again adjourned to the meeting of September 9, 1996 at 7:30 p.m.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn the CATV hearing on the transfer
of ownership to the Selectmen's Meeting on September 9, 1996 at 7:30 p.m.
Ms. Gharibian and Mr. Green also reported on the status of the license renewal. The CATV and
Communications Advisory Cornmittee requested a continuation of the negotiating period to
August 26, 1996 at which meeting it was hoped to have a license renewal for approval and
signature.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to extend the negotiation period for the
CATV license renewal. to August 26, 1996.
Consent Agenda a
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to defer water and sewer charges to Bernard
and Ruth Walsh, 16 Cliffe Avenue.
LexH B - 1Viuzzpy Affordable Housing
LexHAB members Marshall Derby, Bill Mays, Dave Eagle, Don Wilson, Ellie I lauminzer, Derr'
Howell and Martha Food were present to review the past ten years administration experience by
LexHAB with compliance to the restrictions of the Muzzey documents as they relate to the resale
of units at Muzzey. LexHAB as the Muzzey Administrator interviews prospective buyers and
takes an affidavit from the seller. They review and make certain that the buyer meets the income
requirements and that the price of the unit is at or under the maximum allowabh.l.e sale price.
Since 1985 between one -third and one -half of the units have been resold. Bill Hays indicated that
although most of the experience over the past ten years has been positive, LexHAB is concerned
over recent attempts by a unit owner to sell the unit for more than 150% over the maximum resale
price. The unit owner is attempting to sell personal property with the sale of the unit.
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Selectmen's Meeting - August 12, 1996
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to reaffirm the Town's commitment to
affordability and ask LexHAB to continue their efforts to ensure that all requirements for
affordability of the Muzzey units are met.
Sign Deed - Propeny Property at end of Highland Avenue and Pelham Road
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign a deed transferring a 3.5 acre parcel
of Lot 90 on Assessor's Property Map 31 located north of Marrett Road at the end of Highland
Avenue and Pelham Road in exchange for parcels of land off Woburn Street and on Maple Street
as authorized under Article 24 of the 1995 Annual Town Meeting.
Conservation Restriction - 7 Butterfield Road
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve and sign the Conservation
Restriction for 7 Butterfield Road.
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Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the meeting of July
29, 1996.
Warrant for State Primary
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the warrant for the September 17,
1996 State Primary.
Entertainment License - Bel Canto
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the application and issue
entertainment licenses to Bel Canto for an Acappella Group for weekdays and Sundays.
Resignation s /Appointments
Town Celebrations Committee
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Michael J. O'Connell and
Reverend David P. O'Connell as members of the Town Celebrations Subcommittee.
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Selectmen's Meeting -- August 12, 1996
Human Services Committee
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept with regret the resignation of
Donna Hooper from the Human Services Committee at the end of her current term.
Hanscom Field Advisga C ommittee
Upon motion duly made ' and seconded, it was voted to appoint Michael John Barrett as
Lexington's Representative to the Hanscom Field Advisory Committee.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Florence Koplow as Lexington's
Alternate Representative to the Hanscom Field Advisory Committee.
HATS
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Margaret E. Coppe as a member
of HATS.
Mrs. Eddison said that the Town of Lexington is extremely lucky to have such capable,
dedidicated individuals to represent the Town in some very difficult issues.
Town A Manager � �.paintm.ents
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Town Manager" s appointment
of Annette B. Kriebel and Sheldon Alan Spector as members of the Council on Aging.
Trans ortation Grants
1VI.r. white reported on the approval of a grant to purchase five alternative fuel buses and an
announcement by the State that we will receive Transportation Enhancement Funds for the
renovation of Depot Square.
Mr. white attributed the success of the grant proposals to the hard work of Transportation
Coordinator Barbara Lucas.
Gift from Boston Gas
Mr. white also reported that thanks to the hard work of Barbara Lucas, Boston Gas has offered
to meet one -half of the $80,000 cost to the Town of the new alternative fuel buses.
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Selectmen's Meeting - August 12, 1996
Executive Session
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5 -0 by roll call vote: Mr. McSweeney, Mr.
Bailey, Mr. Busa, Mr. Penn and Mrs. Eddison to go into executive session for discussion of
litigation and land acquisition platters, with no intent to resume open session.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at :40 p.m.
A true record Attest: ;r 7
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Phyllis . Smith
Execute clerk
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Selectmen's Meeting Minutes
Goal Setting-- Lexington Sheraton Inn
August 22, 1996
A goal setting meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Thursday, August 22 in the Jonah
Parker Room of the Lexington Sheraton Inn at 9:3 0 a. m. Chairman McSweeney, Mr. Bailey, lam
Busa, Mr. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. white, Town Manager; Ms. Crew
Vine and Ms. Smith, Executive Clerk, were present.
Chairman McSweeney opened up the meeting indicating it is hoped that the entire agenda can be
covered With the plan to vote an agreed upon set of goals and process on Monday evening.
P.up. 'n17 f?C
Mr. Mite expressed concern over the anticipated FY98 revenue picture which will be seriously
impacted because of very little free cash and low fund balances. There is a real need to explain
how volatile this revenue source is. Revenue can fluctuate by $500,000 with just a 2% difference
in the interest rates. The revenue projections assume 90% of FY96 actual local receipts.
Amoropriations Transfer Among Accounts
There was discussion about ability to transfer appropriations among a small amount of accounts.
This would give the Manager the ability to better control the budget. There would have to be
some trade off such as reducing or eliminating the Reserve Fund. Mr. Cohen would have to craft
something under Article 4 to provide for this flexibility. Mr. white was asked to run this idea by
the Appropriation Committee for comment.
Mr. white indicated it is expected that the Certified Free Cash number will be about $1- million.
The plan would be to appropriate half of that or $500,000. It is expected that NE SwC costs will
increase by about $125,000, benefits would increase by 3%.
Pine Meadows Greens Committee
There was discussion of establishing a "Greens Committee" to facilitate the playing at the Pine
Meadows Golf Course. Dan Busa indicated he would serve as the Selectman liaison to the
committee.
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Selectmen's Goal Setting Meeting - August 22, 1936
Bonding for School/Town Building gram and Road work
Mr. Dailey proposed going with a capital program. of $15 million with $1 million for school and
town building programs and $3 million for road and related work and plan on doing this one fiscal
year away in FY99 when it is anticipated the Pine Meadows debt payments will be completed.
There was discussion about the pros and cons of rolling old debt into the FY99 debt exclusion
package.
Stabilization Fund
Board members reaffirmed their desire to establish a Stabilization Fund of $75,0001year for fire
equipment.
Tax Levy Capital
Mr. white indicated that there is $500,000 in the base for FY9 S in tax levy capital. He indicated
he would like to see $1, 000, 000.
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Board Members spoke of platters such as
a. Technology Day in October. Mrs. Eddison remarked that she hoped the Lexington Public
Schools would be participating.
b. Mr. McSweeney reported on the Route 2A response to DEP which is due in 21 days.
Board members hope that Engineering and consultant Dick Cooke will be bringing their
com ments to the Board at its meeting on September 9. Bids are due to go out in
December with a Spring date for the project to start.
C. The Met State Legislation has passed. Waltham is proceeding with the golf course; the
M�C is proceeding with the reservation. The Lexington goals and re -use plan Will have
no financial impact on Lexington.
d. The Middlesex Hospital process is the complete opposite of the Met State process. The
County Commissioners proceeded without involving the communities. Board members
felt they should appoint an Ad -Hoc committee to monitor the project.
e. Mrs. Eddison spoke of concerns for developing a quality Home Page for Lexington and
the necessity for keeping it up to date. Mrs. Eddison will be working with appropriate
individuals to develop a quality Home Page for Lexington.
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Selectmen's goal Setting Meeting - August 22, 1996
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 and collective bargaining with no intent to resume open session..
Upon notion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adj ourn at 12:1 o p.m.
A true record, Attest:
yrPhyl A. Smith
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Exe tive Clerk
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Selectmen's Meeting Minutes
August 26, 1996
A. regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, August 26, 1996 in the
Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building at 7:30 p.m. Chairman McSweeney, Mr.
Dailey, Mr. - Buss, Mar. Fenn, Mrs. Eddison; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. white, Town
Manager; and Ms. Smith, Executive Clerk, were present.
Adjourned NYNEX Grant of Location Hearing_- 15 S 6n Street
Mr. Fitzgibbon, NYNEX representative, asked to withdraw the petition because this property is
still before the Conservation Commission. NYNEX will resubmit the petition at a later time.
NYNEX Grant of Location - Hartwell Avenue
Mr. McSweeney opened a public hearing on the petition of New England Telephone Company for
a grant of location for conduit to be installed, owned and used by New England Telephone and
Telegraph Company to provide high- capacity facilities to NEX -TEL Corporation.
There being no questions, Mr. McSweeney declared the hearing closed.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the petition of New England
Telephone and Telegraph Company to lay and maintain underground conduits and manholes, with
the wires and cables to be placed therein, under the surface of Hartwell Avenue from manhole
number. 54/120 in a northerly direction, a distance of 40 feet ( ±), then turning westerly a distance
of 10 feet ( ±) to pole number 411/20.
Consent Agenda
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the following Consent Agenda
Items:
Letter of Greeting to Ville d Antony
Sign a letter of greeting to The Honorable Patrick Devedjian, Madame Marie- Louise Marlet and
the Citizens of Lexington's Sister City, Antony, France.
Chapter .90,Funds
Sign Chapter 90 acceptance forms in the amount of $712,780 and $11 8,801.
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Selectmen's Meeting - August 26, 1996
FY98 Street Acce tance Schedule
Insert a public notice in the Lexington Minuteman for the acceptance of petitions for Sewer,
Street and Sidewalk Acceptance.
Adopt a Fiscal Year 1998 Street Acceptance Schedule as proposed by the Engineering
Department,
Commitment of Water /Sewer Char es
Commitment of water charges 7/10/96 (Cycle 9) $127
Commitment of sewer charges 8/1/96 (Cycle 9) $130,143.85
Constitution Week
Proclaim September 17 through September 23, 1996 as Constitution Week.
CATV License Renewal
Caleb Warner, plead of the License Renewal Negotiating Team, asked the Board to sign the
license renewal for the cable television franchise in Lexington with A--R Cable Systems. Mr.
Warner said the negotiating team and the CATV and Communications Advisory Committee felt
this license represents the town and its citizens well and is the culmination of almost three years'
work.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the cable television license renewal
with A-R Cable Systems.
Entertainment Licenses -- Marble Rock Cinema Co oration
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the application and issue
entertainment licenses for weekdays and Sundays to Marble Rock Cinema Corporation d/b /a Flick
Theatres.
Sidewalk Cafe. Permit - Dagwood'sDeli
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to renew a sidewalk caf6 permit to
Dagwood's Deli for the 1996 outdoor season.
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Selectmen's Meeting - August 26, 1996
Depot Square /Emery Park Redesign
Steven Hurley reported that the Design Advisory Committee is in the process of evaluating a
couple of proposals to parr the Lexpress buses on Massachusetts Avenue. A traffic study will
need to be - done. He will be back to the Board later in the fall for further updating.
Benches
Steven Hurley and John Frey reviewed proposals for more bench and bike rack locations
throughout the Center area and in several locations along Massachusetts Avenue. They have
Historic Districts approval on some of the locations and will be pursuing their approval for some
other areas as well.
Brick Sidewalk Extension - Massachusetts Avenue
Mr. Hurley also reviewed a proposal to extend the sidewalk from 1666 Massachusetts down to
1656 Massachusetts Avenue. They also plan to install a lamp post and standards in front of 1666
Mass. Avenue. Boston Edison will be coming before the Board for permission to install
underground conduit at a later date.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the extension of brick work to the
sidewalk from 1666 to 1656 Massachusetts Avenue subject to working under the direction of the
Public works Director.
Selectmen's goals
Mr. McSweeney reported on a Goal Setting meeting the Board had with the Town Manager at
which the Board agreed upon twelve goals for the upcoming Fiscal Year.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adopt the following goals:
1.) Budget participation schedule with kick off meeting scheduled for October 19, 1996.
2.) Establish a debt exclusion override committee - $15 - $22 million, $3.8 million for cash
capital, $3 million for roads, rest for building..
3.) Reestablish a stabilization fund -- $75,000 per year.
4.) Establish a DPW facility committee.
5.) Fold a litigation process meeting for all regulation and policy groups.
6.) work towards establishing a quality Home Page for community.
7.) 1.5% wage guidelines for next five years.
8.) 3% expense target for FY98, NESWC exception.
9.) 3% benefit target for FY98.
10.) Retain the $550,000 tax levy, capital cash base established in FY97 for FY98 Town
capital.
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Selectmen's Meeting - August 2.6, 1996
11.) Explore possibility of creating an Ad -Floc greens committee for efficiency of play.
12.) Establish Middlesex Hospital Committee.
Joint Meeting with School Committee and Long Range Planning Committee
In attendance at the joint meeting were: Rick White, Town Manager; Andy Friedlich, TMMA
Board; Alan Levine, TMM;, Peter Enrich, TMM; Tony Close, TMM; Mike Wagner, T1 PvIA; Paul
Lapointe, Appropriation Committee; Bigelow Moore, TMM; Marge Battin, Moderator; Dave
Miller, Capital Expenditures Com.; Karen Dooks, Capital Expenditures Com.; Caleb warner, S.
Lex. Civic Association; Anne Ripley, TMM; Shanna Sires, Town Manager's Office; David
Kaufnnan, TMM; Dawn McKenna, TMM; Jeff Young, Superintendent of Schools; Joe Dini,
School Committee; Susan Elberger, School Com rm*ttee; Barrie Peltz, School Committee; Fred
Rosenberg, School Committee; Mary Bowes, TMM; Ione Caring, TMMA; Eva FIeney, Reporter;
Les Masterson, Reporter; Ron Colwell, Appropriation Committee; Anne Frymer, TMMA,, Roger
Borghesani, Appropriation Committee, TMM; Peter Kelley, Precinct 4; Frank Sandy, TllM; Bill
Kennedy, Capital Expenditures Committee; Isabel Mroczkowski, Appropriation Committee,
TMM; Mary Miley, Appropriation Committee; Alan Lazarus, Precinct 6; Ron Pawliczek,
Appropriation Committee; Jane Pagett, Minuteman Tech.; Neal Boyle, TMMA; Paul Hamburger,
Long Range Planning Committee; Eric Michelson, LRPC; Kristin O'Sullivan, LRPC; Robert
Cohen, LRPC; Norman Cohen, Town Counsel; Phyllis Smith, Exec. Clerk, Selectmen; Bill Dailey,
Selectman; Leo McSweeney, Selectman; Betty Eddison, - Selectman; Dan Fenn, Selectman and
Dan Busa, Selectman.
There was much discussion about the FY98 budget and long range planning around such areas as:
irnbeding the FY98 process in with long range planning; looking at outside influences that will
impact Lexington over the next five years; a forecast of revenue and expenses for the next five
years; defining and getting the message out on what the problems really are; having a kick off
meeting in October with a well defined agenda to be prepared by the Chairs of the Finance
Committees and Long Range Planning Committee; report of the Business Committee will be
presented to Board on October Z l; Planning Board working on updating Master Plan; some
programs not being funded by Federal and State Government; look to attaining 1 /2 of 1%
efficiency within the framework of existing services; look to what other communities are doing.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10:05 p.m..
A true record, Attest: x
Phyllis . Smith
Executive Clerk