LINCOLN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 15, 2004
Gary A. Taylor, Chair *
Sara A. Mattes
Sarah Cannon Holden
Timothy S. Higgins, Town Administrator
Donna M. Adam, Recorder
Ms. Mattes called the meeting to order at 7:30 and reviewed the evening’s agenda. (*Mr. Taylor joined the meeting during the second appointment).
APPOINTMENTS:
Lieutenant Arthur Cotoni / Candidate for Fire Chief: - Mr. Higgins introduced former Selectman Penny Billings. Since Ms. Billings was one of seven members who served on the Fire Chief Search Committee it seemed appropriate for her to present Lt. Arthur Cotoni as the preferred candidate for the Fire Chief opening. After having reviewed many applications, whittling them down to a select few, the search committee’s unanimous choice is Artie Cotoni. Mr. Cotoni is an exemplary member of the Fire Department and has served Lincoln for thirty years. He is qualified for chief, and has been serving as interim Chief since August when the former chief resigned to go to another town. The Board is pleased to see a ‘son of Lincoln’ come up through the ranks and gladly accepted the recommendation as
brought forward and voted to appoint Arthur Cotoni to serve as Lincoln’s new Fire Chief. Mr. Cotoni commented that he looks forward to the opportunity to serve the town as Chief and when asked what he sees as challenges for the town on the horizon, listed Hanscom and the work the department is currently doing with the town of Concord to advance the town’s EMT service to the EMTI intermediate level in order to better serve the townspeople. In addition the town has been working with Concord towards developing a regional Advanced Life Support system approach should hospital support go away.
Mark Whitehead, Town Planner Re: Planning Overview – Mark Whitehead, has been with the town for just a year. He has been enjoying his time as a small town Planner and as such wears many hats. His time is spent roughly fifty per cent between supporting the Planning Board and as land use coordinator for the town. Since he arrived he orchestrated an entire revamping of the Planning Board Office itself and has standardized many of the applications in order to provide a consistent process and better customer service. Some of the major Planning Board issues are or have been: South Lincoln Planning, Zoning Changes, MinutemanCommons; Cell Tower Task Force. Some of the major land planning issues are or have been the establishment of the Land use Group which helps with
communications between boards and committees, Standardizing Permit Tracking, ensuring by-laws are interpreted in the same way, and serving as the Town’s Representative to the Home Consortium.
No one took advantage of the Open Forum.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Historic Center Planning: Ms. Mattes reported out on a meeting held on October 27th. Colin Smith, Ken Hurd, Kevin Mooney, Jack Pugh, Barbara Myles, and Jeff Eaton were also present for a discussion of the Historic Center. Parking on Bedford Road seems to be working well. The angled parking on Library Lane has not presented a problem for snow plowing or public safety, however there have been problems with people parking SUV’s, and so the group has decided to remove the No Parking SUV SIGNS and place individual signs on individual spaces for Compact Cars Only. The Library will post a notice that within two weeks the police will begin ticketing for non compliance. Restriping will be done, gaining an additional 1-to-3 spaces. Because of the concern for
pedestrian safety, VHB was asked to do a study of the existing crosswalk in front of Bemis Hall and the proposed crosswalk at the top of Library Lane. VHB recommends installation of multiple sets of warning signs, which, while are not exactly what the group would like to see in the Historic Center, they feel are needed due to the fact that so many people cross the road in that area, especially senior citizens and citizen safety is paramount. Mr. Hurd volunteered several changes to incorporate multiple signs on existing trees or poles and to relocate inconveniently placed signs; it was also suggested that the First Parish Church move its mail box slightly since it now impedes a driver’s view. An additional street light needs to be added, and it was suggested that until the new light is put in place that the First Church be asked to leave the light on to illuminate the lower area of their parking lot which would reflect on the proposed crosswalk. At the
request of the Historic Center Planning Group, the Selectmen voted that the markings in these two particular crosswalks will be rectangular blocks.
Formation of the Natural Resources Committee: the charge to this committee has now been finalized and a copy was presented to the Selectmen for their review and approval; Ms. Cannon Holden made a motion that the Board adopt the charge to form the new committee, Ms. Mattes seconded the motion and upon a roll call vote upon which each member voted ‘aye’, the Selectmen adopted the charge to form the Natural Resources Committee and will now solicit membership as defined in the charge.
OEA Pre-BRAC Planning Grant: Mr. Higgins extended his thanks to Ms. Mattes for her help in getting the Town of Lexington to agree to sponsor the contract with the consultant, Glen Garber, the consultant who will manage the grant on behalf of HATS. Mr. Garber will attend the November 23rd HATS meeting to brief HATS on how the grant process will unfold.
LIAISON REPORTS
Mr. Taylor reported he had met with the Finance Committee earlier today--it appears as though the Capital Budget may be coming in a little under target.
ACTION ITEMS:
Vote to Declare Fire Engine Surplus – Based on input from Chief Cotoni, the Selectmen voted to declare Fire Engine 4 ‘Surplus’ since the maintenance required would far surpass the overall value of the truck. Through extremely creative means the Fire Department has already replaced Engine 4 at no cost to the town.
Acknowledge Disclosure of Conflict of Interest – Cultural Council: The Selectmen voted to approve an affinity-only waiver for Cultural Council Member, Susan Salm, allowing Ms. Salm to maintain her membership on the council despite the conflict of interest with two particular applications. Under the rules of the disclosure form Ms. Salm must leave the room during discussion and voting on the particular applications.
Accept Scholarship Committee Member Resignation: - The Board accepted, with much regret, the resignation of Kathy Rushby, as the Selectmen’s representative to the Lincoln Scholarship Committee.
Award Printing of Town Report and Warrant:
At the recommendation of the Assistant Town Administrator, and on a motion proposed by Sarah Cannon Holden, seconded by Sara Mattes, and on a roll call vote at which each member voted ‘Aye’, the Board voted to award the contract for the printing of the annual town report and warrant to Commonwealth Printing, the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. .
Award Contract for Road Salt for 2004/2005
The Town of Acton has handled the bidding process for the procurement of Road Salt. Mr. Higgins recommended that the town award the contract to Granite State Minerals, Inc., who will provide Mined Salt Delivered in the amount of $42.48 per ton. On a motion proposed by Sara Mattes, seconded by Sarah Cannon Holden and on a roll call vote at which each member voted ‘Aye”, the Board voted to award the contract as recommended.
CORRESPONDENCE:
In reviewing a report from their liaison to the DeCordova Museum the Selectmen expressed their concern that the museum plans to dig a well to “displace water needed from Lincoln for irrigation use in the high-traffic portion of the landscaped areas” of the museum. The Selectmen asked that Mr. Higgins invite a representative of the museum in to discuss the matter with the Board.
The Board briefly discussed a letter from the City of Cambridge describing the way that city is honoring our war dead. The Lincoln Selectmen have chosen to honor all soldiers serving in the war by proudly displaying their names and ranks on an honor roll which resides at the Library. At the suggestion of James Cunningham, the honor roll will also be posted to the Town’s local access channel. Ms. Cannon Holden will respond to Cambridge.
Weekly warrants were signed.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
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