LINCOLN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF JUNE 6, 2005
Sarah Cannon Holden, Chair
Sara A. Mattes
Gary A. Taylor
Timothy S. Higgins, Town Administrator
Donna M. Adam, Recorder
WELCOME / INTRODUCTIONS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ms. Holden called the meeting to order at 7:30 and welcomed cable viewers and individuals in attendance at the meeting. Ms. Holden and Ms. Mattes formally introduced themselves; Mr. Taylor was not present. Ms. Holden then reviewed the evening’s planned agenda.
· Ms. Holden announced that the Selectmen are still asking people to come forward who would be willing to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals
· Ms. Mattes publicly thanked members of the Public Safety Department, some of whom were on duty for up to twenty-four hours because of the Northeaster which caused power outages in some parts of town. Ms. Mattes also thanked the NSTAR Supervisors who stepped in to cover for the linemen during the storm.
APPOINTMENTS:
LINCOLN HISTORICAL COMMISSION RE: PROPOSED HISTORIC PRESERVATION RESTRICTION ON MARSH PROPERTY
Ms. Holden welcomed Paul Marsh, applicant, Colin Smith, Chair of the Historic District Commission (HDC), and John Koenig, Chair of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) who were all present to present a Historic Preservation Restriction Agreement for the Marsh Property on Bedford Road. Ms. Mattes is the Selectmen’s liaison to the Historic Commission. She stated that the Selectmen are delighted that the HDC is bringing this forward—she read a brief history of the establishment of the Historic District Commission in to the minutes that at a vote of the Town Meeting on March 23, 1974 the Historical Commission was established under Chapter 40, Section 8D of the General Laws for the “establishment of a historical commission for the preservation, promotion and development of the historical assets of the Town..”. She stated that “the application before us tonight will be a model application for others to come”. Mr. Smith wholeheartedly agreed, pointing out that Mr. Marsh should be
commended for the tremendous amount of work and research that he has put in to crafting this restriction. In addition Mr. Marsh applied to the CPC for funds to create a model of the process for others to follow suit in preserving historical assets. Mr.~Marsh feels very strongly that the history of Lincoln should be preserved and that the effort will be well worth the end result. Ms. Mattes made a motion that Ms. Holden sign the Preservation Restriction Agreement on the Marsh Property on behalf of the Board of Selectmen to take effect only after review by the HDC and the chair signifies the HDC’s support; Ms. Holden seconded the motion. The next step in the process is for the restriction agreement to be submitted to the Massachusetts Historical Commission for their signoff.
CANDIDATES FOR APPOINTMENT TO DE CORDOVA BOARD
The Selectmen welcomed Owen Beenhouwer and Melinda Webster Loof, candidates for appointment as the Selectmen’s representative to the DeCordova Board. Ms. Holden took the opportunity to thank outgoing representative, Steve Lipsey, for his service and also for volunteering to continue to serve until the appointment of his replacement. Both Mr. Beenhouwer and Ms. Webster Loof described in detail their backgrounds and reasons for volunteering for the position. Each of the candidates possesses unique qualities which always make the Board’s decision as to whom to appoint extremely difficult. The Selectmen took the appointment under advisement under their next meeting.
PERSONNEL BOARD RE: HIGHWAY/WATER MANAGEMENT
Personnel Board members Beth Ries and Elliot Curtis joined the Selectmen for a variety of reasons, one of which Ms. Ries referred to was the discussion at Town Meeting whereby Town Meeting directed the Personnel Board to pursue the feasibility of a joint supervisor for Highway and Water. This evening the Personnel Board reported that they have decided the timing is not right and do not support the concept of a joint supervisor at this point in time. That is not to say that they would not support it again at a future time, possibly after the retirement of the current Water Superintendent. In addition, they have been led to believe that since the water treatment plant went on line, operations have changed to such an extent that a joint supervisor responsibility might no longer work because the job of the water supervisor is
viewed very differently.
Because of the evolution of the positions in the Water Treatment Plant, there needs to be clarity about the organizational structure, and job descriptions for employees. Mr. Higgins advised the Board that his office is already in the preliminary stages of reviewing the job descriptions.
The concept of a Facilities Manager instead of a joint supervisor for the Highway Department was mentioned by the Water Commissioners to the Personnel Board, however, the Selectmen clarified that while they have been pursuing the concept of establishing a Facilities Manager, it was totally unrelated to the joint superintendent concept, and might even involve town sharing. Such a concept is only in the idea stage at this point in time.
JOINT MEETING WITH PLANNING BOARD RE: RTE. 2 ROADWAY DESIGN—CONNECTION TO MASSEY PROPERTY
Resident Holt Massey, who purchased the former BIIC property on Route 2, submitted a letter and subsequently met with Board of Selectmen in 2003 suggesting that one of the new back access roads for Rte. 2 be routed through his property. At that point in time since there was no definitive use proposed for the land, the Board suggested Mr. Massey return to the Selectmen at the 75% design point in the project. That time is now, and Mr. Massey still proposes redesigning the access road to Route 2 and having it run through his property. However, in the two year interval there are still no definite plans for how the property might be used although Mr. Massey did present several possible scenarios including different variations on housing, a possible site for senior housing, the possibility for some type of retail, or an
educational use. A long discussion between members of the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board and Mr. Massey, as well as representatives of the Route 2 neighborhoods could not come to an amicable agreement of how to proceed. The Planning Board has been advised that the town needs to advise Mass Highway by Friday, June 10th as to how the Town wants the access roads laid out with a target of a completed 75% design by fall, 100% by early next year, and construction slated to start in the fall of 2007, neither the Board of Selectmen nor the Planning Board want to jeopardize the project which has taken twelve years just to get to this point.
It was agreed that Mr. Higgins will contact Mass Highway to see if it is possible to entertain Mr. Massey’s proposal without forcing an unreasonable delay on the project. If it is possible, however, the fact remains that there is nothing to be gained by the Town in supporting Mr. Massey’s request, therefore, the Board has requested that Mr. Massey come back to the Board at a specially scheduled Selectmen’s Meeting next Monday with a firm proposal as to how he plans to develop the property and what trade offs will/would benefit the town in order for the Selectmen to make a decision in the matter.
ACTION:
APPOINT CANDIDATES TO COMMUNITY PRESERATION COMMITTEE
At a previous meeting the Board interviewed candidates for appointment to the two open seats on the the Community Preservation Committee to which the Selectmen appoint. A motion was made by Ms. Mattes and seconded by Ms. Holden to appoint Mr. John Valpey and Mr. Craig Donaldson to fill the positions.
Weekly warrants were signed.
Due to the late hour, the meeting was adjourned at 10:37 p.m.
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