MINUTES
Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
April 10, 2006
PRESENT: Sara Mattes (Acting Chairman), Gary Taylor,
STAFF: Timothy Higgins (Town Administrator), Debra Parkhurst (Adm. Asst.)
Welcome and Introductions: The meeting opened at 7:30 PM. Due to the absence of the Chairman, Mr. Taylor made a MOTION, Ms. Mattes seconded to appoint Ms. Mattes Acting Chairman for this meeting. The MOTION passed unanimously. The Acting Chairman welcomed the public, reviewed the agenda and outlined action items for the meeting.
Appointments
7:30 p.m. Police Chief Kevin Chief Mooney, Fire Chief Arthur Cotoni, Thomas Moran
Re: National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Mr. Higgins briefed the Board, emphasizing that initiatives have been set up to develop protocols for emergency planning and response. Meeting these initiatives is a prerequisite for obtaining FEMA grants. Police Chief Mooney said the Town has done emergency planning since the 1970’s, but after September 11, 2001 and the recent natural disasters emergency planning has taken on new meaning. Both Chief Mooney and Fire Chief Cotoni attend various meetings, review directives from the respective agencies, and ensure that local forces are in compliance in order to receive grants. Lieutenant Tom Moran is the local coordinator. He said that many town agencies are also involved, including Highway, Health, and Water. Ms. Mattes said that questions about levels of coordination between and
among the Hats and Magic communities have been discussed at meetings. Mr. Moran said this is a work in progress and believes that the NIMS process may take another 2 to 3 years. Chief Cotoni said that the State Health agencies have contingency plans that involve hospitals and local emergency shelters. Lt. Moran noted that planning for Boston is different than planning for a town like Lincoln. He added that there is a Lincoln Emergency Plan. Mr. Taylor, noting that Boston has set up evacuation routes, asked how Lincoln would participate in that type of disaster planning. Lt. Moran said that they all attend the meetings and there is coordination among different local and regional agencies. Chief Mooney cited the 2004 Democratic convention, where an Emergency Center was set up in Woburn and communications came directly to departments. Ms. Mattes asked who is taking responsibility at the Sate and Federal levels. She also asked what
role Hanscom Air Force Base (HAFB) would play. Lt. Moran said the base has its own protocol. He added that HAFB is looking to partner with Lincoln; however, that requires federal authorization. The Board asked about costs to the department. The Chief said that Lt. Moran goes to meetings and the department must replace him during those times and that requires a bigger budget. Lt. Moran added that there are some costs to supporting a shelter for a period of time. When the Board asked what they could do in a local emergency, such as water shut off for a period of time, Mr. Mooney said that the Board should consider a public notification system such as Reverse 911. Mr. Taylor made a motion that the Town of Lincoln adopt the principles and policies of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), formally recognize the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as the local standard for incident management; and as such, adopt the Incident
Command System as the Town of Lincoln’s official incident response system. Ms. Mattes seconded the motion. Under discussion, Mr.Taylor noted that the adoption of NIMS is necessary for the Town of Lincoln to remain eligible for further Homeland Security funding. The MOTION passed 2-0 (Mrs. Cannon Holden was not present for the vote). Discussion followed on pre-planning with a focus on local issues such as train incidents, water rescue and school evacuations. The Board thanked the public safety officers for their assistance
7:45 p.m. Public Hearing Re: Fuel Tank Installation Permit, 170 South Great Road Service Station
Also attending: Fire Chief Arthur Cotoni; applicant Alex Steinberg Ron Morovian from Vining Oil Co.
Ms. Mattes made a Motion to open the public hearing for a Fuel Storage License for 170 South Great Road. Mr. Taylor seconded. The Motion passed unanimously and the hearing opened at 8:10 PM. Mr. Higgins briefed the Board on the history of the gas station. He noted that this hearing was for the installation of fuel in the tanks. The use of the property had been decided by a Court Order dated May 10, 2004. The Board of Selectmen is the Permit Granting authority for underground fuel storage, and they need to determine if “best practices” have been followed. Mr. Steinberg told the Board he has been to the other permit granting authorities (Conservation Commission, Board of Appeals). He noted that the Fire Department licenses the tanks, while the Selectmen permit the
usage of the tanks. Mr. Steinberg said the old tanks were replaced with the latest double walled tanks. Chief Cotoni said that he viewed the plans and the installation and added that the installation was consistent with the approved plans. The hearing was opened to the public. Mr. Win Quayle, 8 Meadowbrook, asked the applicant to comment on locating the tanks within 15’ of a residence. Mr. Steinberg said that the tanks are located where they have always been located, and the issue of an alternative location was never raised. Mr. Quayle then asked the applicant to comment if “best practices” were met with regard to a location that is within 15’ of a residence. Mr. Steinberg commented that the safety standards were met, the location is convenient for truck fuel delivery and a safety issue was never raised in the past. When called upon to comment, Chief Cotoni said that the tanks can be within 15 feet of a boundary
because they met certain standards. Bryce Wolf, 12 Meadowbrook, said she had a concern about environmental monitoring given previous tank failures and consequential distress to the community. She questioned how neighbors can be assured that monitoring is effective. The applicants said that all suppliers must pay $.01 of every gallon into a superfund account for clean up funds. In addition, leak monitoring detection systems are sophisticated including double walled tanks so that nothing escapes. Ms. Mattes suggested that the hearing remain open until the next Selectmen’s meeting in order to give people a chance to comment further. Mr. Taylor made a Motion to continue the hearing to April 24, 2006. Ms. Mattes seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Open Forum
Bryce Wolf reported that a bill is going through the State legislation that would allow expedited environmental permitting. A letter from the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters is calling for communities to review the letter and the issues and take this up with their local representatives. A MOTION was made and seconded to send a cover letter to Susan Pope including the letter from the Massachusetts league of Environmental Voters. The MOTION passed unanimously.
Town Administrator’s Report
· Mr. Higgins reviewed the implementation list from Town Meeting.
· Mr. Higgins reported that the Planning Board is in the process of forming a steering committee for the New England Deaconness proposal for the BIIC property. This would also serve as a coordinating function for all Town boards involved. They have asked a member of the Board of Selectmen to join. Gary Taylor said he would join.
· Gordon Feltman of Bedford is running as the current local representative to the MPO (Boston Metropolitan Planning organization). This organization helps scrutinize and prioritize the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) list. The Board noted that timing of the Route 2 upgrade is important for the future development and asked that Mr. Feltman’s position be clarified. . Hopefully, construction time can be kept to a short time frame.
· Lincoln was designated a “heart safe community” by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services.
Discussion
The Board discussed the funding of Town gatherings. It was suggested that Selectmen stipends could go into a fund.
The Board discussed the ability to make minor amendments to Town articles. Mr. Taylor noted that the vote of Town Meeting gave the Selectmen the authority to make amendments that are within the scope of the general objectives of the petition.
ARTICLE 42
The Board discussed the ability to make minor amendments to Article 42 (relating to the process for issuing a liquor license) passed at the recent Town Meeting. Mr. Taylor noted that the vote of Town Meeting gave the Selectmen the authority to make amendments that are within the scope of the general objectives of the petition.
MOTION: Mr. Taylor made a MOTION, Ms. Mattes seconded, to allow the Board to amend Article 42 to provide the opportunity for the referendum to appear either on the ballot for the regular state election in November or on the ballot at a regular or special town election, and that the phrase “or regular state election” shall be added to the text before the wording of the ballot question, so that the phrase as amended will read: “…shall cause to be placed on the official ballot at a regular or special town election or regular state election the following question:” The Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Mr. Taylor made a MOTION, Ms. Mattes seconded to forward the Motion for Article 42 as approved at Town Meeting and as amended above to State Senator Susan Fargo. The MOTION passed unanimously.
Liaison Reports
Mr. Taylor would like to ensure that the underpinnings of the Housing Trust Fund are completed quickly so that the trust can be funded as soon as possible to make sure that the Town has funds available to purchase or buy down units as they become available over the summer. .
Ms. Mattes attended the last MAGIC Meeting and reported that the communities believe they are being discouraged regarding local efforts to provide small scale affordable housing. The board discussed the fact that the new development off of Virginia Road, Minuteman Commons has not gotten the affordable housing application approved yet. This could be due to inaction on the part of the DHCD. The Town Planner should have updated information.
Annual Reappointment Process
The Board will review the list of Selectmen appointees who are up for re-appointment on April 24, 2006
Action Items
· Award Contract for Replacement Ambulance
MOTION: Mr. Taylor made a Motion, Ms. Mattes seconded to award the contract for a new ambulance to the low bidder for the ambulance. The Motion passed unanimously.
· Certificate of Election: Town Clerk
MOTION: Mr. Taylor made a motion, Ms. Mattes seconded to execute the Certification for Susan Brooks as Town Clerk and Patricia Arseneault for Assistant Town Clerk. The Motion passed unanimously.
· Special Police Officer Appointment
MOTION: Mr. Taylor made a Motion to appoint Thomas Komola as Special Police Officer. Ms. Mattes seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.
Review Correspondence
The Board received information on a Water Resources conference on policies and successful strategies. The information will be passed on to the Water Department and the Natural Resources Committee.
Mr. Higgins received a request from Nancy Pimental for a meeting regarding the Celebration Committee. Ms. Mattes and Mr. Higgins will meet with her.
The Board received a letter of concern from a citizen regarding the use of CPA funds for the fire suppression system at the Library.
The Board received correspondence from neighbors concerned about the public safety and traffic impacts of a new school (Corwin- Russell) moving onto Baker Bridge Road.
Mr. Higgins summarized actions.
Approval of Meeting Minutes was deferred.
Warrants were approved and signed.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Submitted by,
Debra Parkhurst
Approved June 12, 2006
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