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Lexington Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, February 1, 2011, 11 AM
Present: Judy Crocker, John Davies, Lucy Fletcher-Jones, Francine Stieglitz, Jerry Van Hook
(Chair); Liaisons: Richard Canale (Planning Board), Elaine Celi( Transportation), Marc
Valenti (DPW).
The meeting was called to order at 11:08 AM.
1.The January 2011 minutes were approved as amended.
2.Francine Stieglitz reviewed the latest draft of the “Process for Requesting New
Sidewalk Installation” with the committee. The committee altered some wording and
added an introductory paragraph. Richard Canale questioned if the document needed
to include references to TSAC and traffic calming measures. The ensuing discussion
concluded that other committees may in some ways parallel the SWC efforts and
TSAC is generally involved with crosswalk issues only. The SWC refers to its master
plan when making recommendations regarding new sidewalks or other budgetary
outlays and such recommendations can be found in the Committee’s posted meeting
minutes. The question was raised if TSAC should have a liaison on the SWC. While
the SWC does not have a member sitting on that town committee either, it does make
overtures to other town bodies when it necessary.
3.There was no reported correspondence to the SWC website on SWC issues this month.
4.The issue of the legalities of snow removal from private property was discussed. The
present town by-law contains nothing specific regarding homeowner responsibility for
snow removal from abutting sidewalks. However, homeowners are responsible for
hired contactors if they leave snow on the sidewalks or if snow falls off a roof and
impedes sidewalk use.
Mark Valenti expressed frustration at the continued abuse of some citizens who throw
their unwanted snow onto town streets and sidewalks. There is presently no fine in the
present by-law for offenders. It was acknowledged that this has been a most unusual
winter with its record amount of snowfall and no January thaw to reduce its presence.
It is taxing on everyone and there are limited places to place additional snow. DPW
has resorted to the LPD to issue warnings to repeat offenders.
It was proposed that a warrant article from the SWC be submitted to Town Meeting
requesting a formal warning and fine schedule be added to the present snow removal
by-law in order to better deter citizens from placing snow in public ways. Such a
warrant article would strengthen the town by-law.
5.The Safe Routes To School program was updated. The Lexington program is featured
in the winter edition of the MA DOT e-newsletter. The article discussed the basic
mechanics of the town program and included a color photo of the November Turkey
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Trot. Additionally, SRTS along with LPS and Lexpress are drafting a School
Transportation Survey in order to learn how to better increase school bus ridership. It
will be published on the LPS list serve and a Minuteman article will run concurrent to
its publication. This will occur during the last week of February after school vacation.
Also reviewed was the vehicular traffic jams and resulting grid lock that have occurred
at both the Bridge and Clarke schools over the past few weeks. Due in large part to the
copious amounts of snow and fewer walkers, complaints from the schools and bus
drivers have risen because of the increase in the amount of cars on each of the school
grounds and the resultant difficulty in negotiating safe dismissal times. Apparently,
there have been a number of parents who have not adhered to the school-specific
parking rules, which has served to add to an already difficult situation for school staff
and bus drivers.
6.Under New Business, Jerry Van Hook reported that the two scheduled January
meetings of Safe Mass Ave have been postponed due to the weather. On its agenda is
formulating a response to the TSAC letter and BOS presentation.
The meeting was adjourned at 12.30 PM. The next meeting will be on Monday March 7, 2011
at 11 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Crocker