HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-05-03-WALKS-minI
Lexington Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 3, 2011, 11 AM
Present: Judy Crocker, Lucy Fletcher - Jones, Jeanne Krieger, Bettina McGimsey, Francine
Stieglitz, Jerry Van Hook (Chair); Liaisons: Richard Canale (Planning Board), Elaine
Celi( Transportation), Hank Manz (Board of Selectmen), Marc Valenti (DPW); Guests: Keith
Ohmart (Greenway Corridors Committee), Stew Kennedy (Greenway Corridors Committee)
The meeting was called to order at 11:00 AM.
1. Citizens' correspondence on sidewalk issues: In a letter to the SWC, an Estabrook parent,
Evgueni Slobodtchikov, raised the issue of walking access to Estabrook Elementary from
the Drummer Boy Condominiums. Greenways Corridor Committee Chairman Keith
Ohmart and Vice - Chairman Stew Kennedy discussed how their committee might help with
walking access to Estabrook School. This could potentially be done by a trail connection
through the Simonds Brook Conservation area to Grove Street. Mr. Ohmart and Mr.
Kennedy noted that the creation of a dry trail would require a boardwalk to be built
through wetlands in the area. While building the trail would not be hard, finding funding
for such a boardwalk might be more difficult. It was suggested that funds could perhaps be
raised through the Estabrook Safe Routes to School committee for such a path. Judy
Crocker noted that Estabrook does not have a committee this year but offered to write to
the PTA presidents. She suggested that Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Ohmart speak to the
Estabrook PTA about this. It was noted that, if the Drummer Boy Condominiums have an
association, this might also be a potential resource for funding.
Further discussion was had regarding the nature of the trail: that it would be a 3- season
trail (usable during mud season, but not plowed) and whether it would be ADA compliant.
Francine Stieglitz recommended that the latter point should be discussed with the Town's
Commission on Disability.
The Greenways Corridor Committee would like to have a liaison from the Safe Routes to
School Committee.
2. Guidelines for new sidewalk requests: The Guidelines were approved by the Sidewalk
Committee pending changes. Once said changes are included, the Guidelines will be
presented to the Board of Selectman and then posted on the SWC web page. When
citizens request information regarding new sidewalks, they should be sent these
Guidelines.
3. Master List of sidewalk repair priorities: Mark Valenti presented DPW's Master List of
sidewalk repair priorities. DPW and the Selectmen will have final word on which projects
are done.
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4. April 2011 minutes were approved.
Safe Routes to School: Judy Crocker reported that she is working on recruiting for the
Greenways Corridor Committee and that the Bowman EOT grant project is breaking
ground. She and Elaine Celi then gave a brief overview of the preliminary results of the
transportation survey. Issues raised included the cost of the buses, the fact that the present
system needs to better address the needs of older students, and safety of bus riders on
school grounds. A second survey will be done regarding a combined Lexpress and School
bus program. A detailed report of the surveys will be sent to the SWC when it is closer to
completion.
Ms. Crocker also noted that there are no Safe Routes to School committees at Estabrook,
Harrington, and Fiske. Clarke Middle School has a committee of one person.
6. New business: There will be cleanup on the Minuteman Bikeway on May 7th.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 PM. The next meeting will be on Monday, June 6, 2011,
at 11 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Bettina McGimsey