HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-07-BOS-min
Selectmen’s Meeting
July 11, 2011
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, July 11, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in
the Selectmen Meeting Room, Town Office Building. Chairman Manz, Mr. Kelley, Mr. Cohen,
Mr. Burnell and Ms. Mauger; Mr. Valente, Town Manager and Ms. Pease, Executive Clerk, were
present.
Public Comment
Mr. Adler, Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member, asked about the possible purchase of affordable
units at Katahdin Woods. Mr. Valente explained that ownership has changed a few times, but
the Town has the right to purchase the affordable rental units if they are sold as condominiums.
The Selectmen will look into.
Mr. Bartenstein, a member of the Arlington Great Meadows Steering Committee, provided the
Selectmen with copies of The Friends of Arlington’s Great Meadows 2010 Annual Report and
gave a brief slide presentation. The Arlington Great Meadows is approximately 180 acres of
unprotected conservation land which is located in East Lexington but is owned by Arlington.
AGM is unique special area that is not protected conservation land, much is wetlands. The
Friends of Arlington’s Great Meadow appreciate the support of the Lexington and Arlington
Selectmen to maintain the land and look forward to working together in the future to preserve the
open land for posterity.
Selectmen Concerns and Liaison Reports
Mr. Mauger commended the volunteer efforts of Eagle Scout Connor Zanin, who designed and
installed a 300 foot stone water channel, put in 80 yards of woodchips lined with logs and
planted 1000 perennials at Lincoln Park. This was phase one of planned project at Lincoln Park;
other eagle scouts will continue the work.
Ms. Mauger commended Jewel Kuljian, a member of the Field and Garden Club and the Tree
Committee, who submitted an application and won the award for a Native Tree Planting Contest;
she is also responsible for publicizing the Off-Berm Tree Planting Program where DPW will
purchase and plant a tree on private property. The resident signs an agreement that they will care
for the tree, and at the end of the year, they assume full ownership and responsibility for it.
Town Manager Report
Mr. Valente updated the Board on the Town Office Building renovations. The Assessing
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Department has moved to their new space on the 1 floor. Next the Public Health nurse will be
moving to the Bird Room in Cary Memorial Building and then Community Development will be
moving to Cary Memorial Building at the end of July. Lexpress will temporarily move to the
Clerk’s Office for a few days. Room 111 will be back on line the week of July 18. The
Community Development space on the ground floor will be used as swing space for the
Treasurer, Town Clerk and Lexpress while their spaces are being renovated.
Selectmen’s Meeting – July 11, 2011
Lexington will receive $8,442,355 in state aid for FY12, instead of the budgeted amount of
$7,781,211. The recommendation is to use the approximately $660,000 to offset the FY2011
snow and ice deficit.
Mass DOT will be starting the resurfacing of Marrett Road from Massachusetts Avenue to
Spring Street next week.
Work on a new water main on Waltham Street from Massachusetts Avenue to Park Drive will
begin the week of July 18. Work will be done between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and is expected
to take approximately five weeks, weather permitting.
Review and Approve FY2011 Year End Transfers
Mr. Addelson, Comptroller, had the Finance Department review the status of all appropriations
and identified those departments that need transfers for year-end.
The proposed FY2011 year-end transfers totaling $30,900 from the Salary Adjustment Account
include:
$1,000 to the Board of Selectmen Regular Wages;
$15,200 to the Finance Regular Wages;
$13,400 to the Town Manager’s Regular Wages; and
$1,300 to the MIS Regular Wages
The proposed FY 2011 year-end transfers totaling $80,415 from the 3% Rule Transfers include:
$25,070 from Interest on Funded Debt to Payment on Funded Debt;
$4,344 from Temporary Borrowing to Payment on Funded Debt;
$6,001 from Employee Insurance to Payment on Funded Debt;
$20,000 from Employee Insurance to Fire Department; and
$25,000 from Employee Insurance to Department of Public Facilities.
The Appropriation Committee approved all of the proposed transfers.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to approve and sign the proposed
FY2011 3% Rule and Salary Adjustment Account transfers as presented.
Approve the Parks and Recreational Facilities Regulation
The Recreation Committee provided suggested changes and asked the Policy Manual Committee
to review and revise the regulation so that it could become part of the Code of the Town of
Lexington. The Town Manager has also approved the revisions.
Selectmen’s Meeting – July 11, 2011
A question was asked about the compliance language at the end of the regulation. Mr. Cohen
will check the bylaw, but believes the regulation has been in effect with that language and there
have not been any problems.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to approve the revised Park and
Recreational Facilities Regulation and to allow for any further changes if warranted.
Amend Estabrook School Access Ad Hoc Task Force Charge
Superintendent Ash and Mr. Valente requested approval for minor modifications to the charge
for the Estabrook School Access Ad Hoc Task Force to allow additional Ex Officio (non-voting)
members, which would allow other types of expertise on the Task Force without increasing the
number of voting members. The Chairman of the School Committee has approved the change.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to amend the charge for the Estabrook
School Access Ad Hoc Task Force to permit the Town Manager to appoint additional Ex Officio
members.
Goal Setting Follow-up Discussion
The Selectmen reviewed their proposed goals for FY2012-2013, which were put together from
the Goal Setting session on June 28.
1.FY 2013 Budget Planning – Mr. Burnell and Ms. Mauger will take the lead, but all
selectmen will be involved in the budget planning.
2.Infrastructure Maintenance – Mr. Burnell will work with staff and other stakeholders.
3.Infrastructure Planning – Mr. Manz and Ms. Mauger will work on. Mr. Manz is
interested specifically on sidewalks issues.
4.Capital Issues-Schools - Mr. Cohen and Ms. Mauger will work on with the School
Committee and Public Facilities. It is important to understand the schedule and the
possible funding options from the state.
5.Transportation – Mr. Burnell and Ms. Mauger will work on. Mr. Burnell requested
that parking and traffic be incorporated into the organizational model to address
transportation issues and add more stakeholders.
6.Busa Farm – Mr. Manz suggested scheduling meetings to start developing parameters
on how to get questions answered and identifying what needs clarification. The
Selectmen decided to have a discussion regarding the Busa property at their August 1
meeting and then have a meeting on Tuesday morning, August 2 at the Public
Services Building from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. A representative from Recreation,
Housing and Farming should be asked to attend.
7.Affordable Housing – Mr. Manz and Mr. Cohen will work on.
8.Hartwell Avenue Compost Facility – Mr. Kelley and Ms. Mauger will work on.
Selectmen’s Meeting – July 11, 2011
9.Fire-Organization – Mr. Kelley and Mr. Burnell will be involved in the preparation of
the RFP to study the Fire Department organization. Mr. Kelley suggested that a
financial analysis be done which looked at comparable communities. Mr. Burnell
suggested that the RFP not be done until internal discussions have been completed.
The Selectmen also discussed the list of On-Going Issues:
1.Hartwell Avenue TMOD Implementation – Mr. Kelley and Ms. Mauger will work on
with planning.
2.Historical Commission Process - Mr. Kelley would like a meeting scheduled with the
Historical Commission. He also requested that the Selectmen’s Office research the
2007 Town Meeting presentation for Community Preservation Act funding, identify
where the money was spent and what the results were and where the Commission is
currently with the funding results.
3.Open Meeting Law Training for Boards and Staff - Mr. Manz would like to plan a
program to answer additional questions on the Open Meeting and the importance of
doing minutes correctly, among other topics.
4.Revisit Roles and Responsibilities of Selectmen Liaisons – Ms. Mauger will draft a
proposal.
5.Revisit Strategy for Promoting Economic Development - Mr. Burnell does not think
the issue reflects what needs to be done or what the Economic Development Advisory
Committee would like to see; the goal should be expanded to include the Economic
Development piece.
The Selectmen need to review the proposed goals and better define them. The Selectmen’s
Office will send the goals electronically and ask the Selectmen to review and correct the goals if
necessary.
Consent Agenda
Approve Water and Sewer Commitments and Abatements
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to approve the following water and
sewer commitments and abatements:
Adjustments of Water/Sewer Charges for July 11, 2011 -$408,282.73
Commitment of June 2011 Water/Sewer charges (for finals) $7,240.56
Ratify Poll Vote – Letter Regarding Double Poles
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to ratify a poll vote to send a letter to the
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy regarding double poles.
Selectmen’s Meeting – July 11, 2011
One-Day Liquor License – Lexington Players
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to approve a one-day liquor license for
the Lexington Players to sell/serve beer and wine on Saturday, August 27, 2011, from 6:00 p.m.
to 10:00 p.m. at Cary Hall for their award ceremony/gala.
Approve and Sign Vote for Acquisition of 11 Fairview Property for LexHAB
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to vote to approve the acquisition of 11
Fairview Avenue by the Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB).
Sign Regulatory Agreement for 454 Marrett Road
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to sign the Regulatory Agreement for
the acquisition of 454 Marrett Road by the Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB).
Minutes
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to approve the minutes of June 6, 2011
and June 13, 2011.
Executive Session Minutes
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to approve the executive session minutes
of June 6, 2011.
Documents Presented
1.The Friends of Arlington’s Great Meadows 2010 Annual Report.
2.Arlington Great Meadows Slides, July 11, 2011.
Executive Session
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted by roll call 5-0 to go into executive session
for: 1) Exemption 2 – preparation for contract negotiations with the Town Manager (nonunion
personnel); 2) Exemption 3 – to discuss strategy with respect to litigation (the Commonwealth v.
Wheelabrator Saugus); and 3) Exemption 4 – to discuss the deployment of security devices and
strategy with respect thereto; and to reconvene in open session only to adjourn. Further, the
chairman declared that an open meeting discussion may have a detrimental effect on the
bargaining and litigation position of the Town, and the deployment of security devices.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to adjourn at 9:05 p.m.
A true record; Attest:
Lynne A. Pease
Executive Clerk