Board of Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
November 28, 2005
Attending:
Sarah Cannon Holden, Sara Mattes, Gary Taylor – Selectmen
Timothy Higgins, Town Administrator
Ms. Cannon Holden convened the meeting at approximately 7:30 p.m. by reviewing the agenda for the meeting.
Curb Cut Application – 8 Upland Field Road
The Board took the matter under advisement at the conclusion of the initial hearing on this application (November 14th). The Board wanted to provide abutters the opportunity to comment. The Town Administrator reported that two replies were received in response to the letter that went out from our office; both were supportive. The Board took comments from Mr. Caswell and Mr. Creel, both abutters to the subject property. Msrs. Caswell and Creel both stated that the new parking area would improve safety and recommended approval. Mr. Taylor moved that the Board approve the application conditioned on the parking area and curb cut being installed consistent with the sketch that was attached to the October 12th application, and conditioned on the
elimination of the 2nd curb cut that had been approved previously by the Planning Board. Ms. Mattes seconded the Motion. The Board voted unanimously to approve the application with the conditions offered by Mr. Taylor.
Canidates for ZBA
The Board met with three candidates for appointment to the Zoning Board: Ms. Astrid Glynn, Mr. Jeff Macklin and Mr. Joel Freedman. Ms. Pam Green, ZBA Chair, was present for the interviews. Ms. Green reviewed the responsibilities of the ZBA, the skill sets of the seated members and several current priorities and objectives.
Ms. Cannon Holden asked each of the candidates to explain their interest in the position and to talk about their related skills and experiences. Ms. Glynn felt that serving on a town board was the best way to truly become part of the community. She reviewed her background which includes extensive planning and transportation work at the state level. Ms. Glynn is currently serving as Deputy Director for the Commonwealth’s Office of Commonwealth Development where she is involved with promoting and advancing the Commonwealth’s Smart Growth initiatives. Ms. Glynn did raise the possibility that some might perceive a conflict between her role in state government and her duties as a local official – particularly as concerns the state’s role at Hanscom
Field. Ms. Glynn did acknowledge the potential for the appearance of a conflict but felt that her appointment to the ZBA would not represent a legal conflict. Mr. Macklin stated that he also was interested in volunteering as a way of serving and getting more familiar with the town. Mr. Macklin stated that his interest in the ZBA was, in part, influenced by a recent permitting experience that his in-laws had been through in another community. He described himself as a process oriented person with training in engineering and business. Mr. Freedman stated that his interest in town government developed through his recent experiences in helping the Brown’s Wood neighborhood’s efforts to form a Neighborhood Conservation District. Mr. Freedman is a real estate lawyer and an architect. The Board was pleased to have three highly qualified candidates. The Board emphasized that there would be other opportunities for the candidate who
does not get appointed. The Board took the matter under advisement with the intention of making the appointments at its next meeting.
Mark Whitehead, Town Planner
Re: Freedom’s Way Heritage Corridor
Mr. Whitehead requested that the Board approve the Planning Board’s recommendation to appoint Catherine Perry to the position of Administrative Assistant. Ms. Perry, a Concord resident, has extensive planning and administrative experience. The Board was pleased to have such a qualified person available and voted unanimously to approve the Planning Board’s request.
Mr. Whitehead briefed the Board on the Heritage Landscape Program that was being administered by the Commonwealth’s Department of Conservation & Recreation. Mr. Whitehead and his counterparts in the other HATS towns were applying to participate in the program which is intended to assist communities in identifying various landscape areas/elements that define their character. The first step is what is being termed a “Reconnaissance Survey.” Through this project, DCR is aiming to increase awareness about heritage landscapes and to help towns develop plans to preserve these unique attributes. Mr. Whitehead asked the Board to approve the filing of the application to DCR which the Board was pleased to do. The Board voted unanimously to submit the application as developed by Mr.
Whitehead.
The last item Mr. Whitehead discussed was the effort to secure “Scenic Byway” designation for the Battle Road. The proposed designation would create some additional process protections in the event the federal or state government should seek to undertake projects in the vicinity of the byway; would also create the possibility for grant funds to assist with preservation efforts. Ms. Mattes stated that this was a worthwhile effort that would emphasize stewardship and help counteract the state’s arguments that our preservation activities are a not in my backyard reaction. The process includes a Town Meeting vote and subsequent approvals at the state and federal level. The hope is that the proposal will be presented at the 2006 Town Meeting. Mr. Taylor stressed the importance of
informing the residents who live in the vicinity of the proposed byway and assisting them in understanding the implications. MS. Mattes urged that an extensive, town-wide public education and awareness process needed to begin immediately, and that an aricle for the paper would be a good place to start.
Town Administrator’s Report
1. Ridge Road Apartments – Mr. Higgins and Mr. Taylor briefed the board on the ongoing discussions that the ARPC sub committee is having with the prospective owner of the Ridge Road Apartments. Mr. Higgins stated that the sub committee had contacted the prospective buyers to express the Town’s interest in acquiring some or all of the units as part of the Town’s affordable housing program. Mr. Taylor reviewed the various models that could be used. Mr. Taylor explained that RLF and Lincoln Foundation were part of the effort and that they were working on coming up with funds for an option that would carry us to a Special Town Meeting to request the funds (likely from CPA) to acquire an interest in the property. Ms. Holden and Ms. Mattes thanked Mr. Taylor and Mr.
Higgins and the group for their efforts. Ms. Mattes did request that the group fully consider the possibility of a rental apartment strategy that would help the Town meet its 40B obligations in the short-term but also create long-term flexibility to consider reuse options for the property. Ms. Mattes mentioned specifically the possibility of a senior housing development. Mr. Taylor assured the Board that the subcommittee was weighing all possibilities. Mr. Higgins stated that the subcommittee was meeting again tomorrow morning.
2. Mr. Higgins asked the Board to appoint Krystal Feeley to the position of Staff Accountant. The Board did so by unanimous vote.
3. Mr. Higgins outlined the licensing process that would be undertaken with Verizon relative to its request to provide Cable Television service in Lincoln. Mr. Higgins stated that Anita Scheipers would be managing the process and that a public hearing would be held on December 12th. Mr. Higgins estimated that the process would take 6 months to complete.
4. Mr. Higgins reported that representatives of the New England Deaconess had contacted him for the purpose of making the Town aware of its ongoing effort to purchase the BIIC property to develop a senior living facility. Mr. Higgins stated that he had recommended that the Deaconess provide a briefing the Board and other interested parties once they had reached an agreement with Mr. Masey. The Board agreed that a public discussion at the front end of the process was critical.
5. Mr. Higgins reminded the Board of the January 3rd deadline for submission of the Annual Report and the need for the Board to determine the cover.
6. Mr. Higgins reviewed the Town Meeting attendance statistics provided by the Town Clerk. Mr. Higgins pointed out that there was clearly a downward trend over the past five years. Ms. Mattes asked that we explore whether the attendance was better for the 2nd session of Town Meeting when it was held on Saturday versus Tuesday evening.
7. The Board voted to accept Mr. Higgins’ recommendation to appoint Carol Withycombe as the DPW’s Secretary.
8. The Board reviewed the Accessory Apartment Handbook and suggested it needs updating.
Discussion
1. Ms. Mattes asked Mr. Higgins to contact NSTAR to identify cause for recent power interruptions.
2. Ms. Mattes urged the Board to recruit citizen experts to assist in evaluating the possibilities of employing green energy technologies in town buildings. Mr. Taylor and Ms. Mattes agreed to pursue specific individuals who possess the needed background.
3. Mr. Mattes reminded the Board of the earlier expressed desire for a meeting with Conservation and Board of Health to discuss the deer problem and attendant health concerns. In addition, Ms. Mattes requested that the meeting w/ the BOH also include a request for information as to the expectations the State and Federal government had regarding implementation of a plan to address the potential avian flu pandemic. Mr. Higgins stated that he would get the item onto the rolling agenda.
4. Ms. Mattes requested that various key Hanscom/Hats documents be scanned and archived.
Action Items
The Board voted to execute the warrants, reviewed correspondence and voted to adjourn the meeting.
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