BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING -final
June 5, 2007, 7:30 pm
PRESENT: Gary Taylor (Chairman), Sara Mattes, Sarah Cannon Holden
STAFF: Tim Higgins (Town Administrator), Debra Parkhurst (Administrative Assistant)
Welcome & Introductions: The meeting opened at timeHour19Minute307:30 PM. The Chairman welcomed the public, reviewed the agenda and action items for the meeting.
Announcements:
· The Lincoln Flag will be inducted into the Hall of Flags on Wednesday, June 13. the original date was June 14. More information is available on Cable.
· The Recreation/ Celebration committee is seeking participants (floats) for the Fourth of July parade. This year’s theme will be Flags and Fifes.
Appointments:
Extended Day Program : School Superintendent PersonNameMickey Brandmeyer; School Committee Chairman Julie Dobrow; Business Manager Buck Creel
Superintendent Brandmeyer opened the discussion by stating that the School Committee would like to offer an extended day school program focusing on children of employees and, if space is available, other parents. Currently the school instructs six to eight pre-schoolers as they are mandated to offer this service to children with special needs. This would be an “enterprise fund” self-supporting initiative. Costs for participants would be $3500 for the school year. They have two models, depending upon the numbers enrolled. They anticipate the need for one teacher and one or two assistants at this time. The program would run until about timeMinute15Hour164:15 PM. The new program needs approvals from the School Committee (already approved), the PersonNameBoard of Selectmen, and the Commissioner of Education. Mr. Brandmeyer added that they have lost good teachers by not offering such a program, and believes that this will be a benefit for recruitment and retention of teachers. Mr.
Brandmeyer and Mr. Creel said that currently four teachers are interested in this pilot program. Mr. Brandmeyer said that if it is successful, then they would have to re-think the costs, use of space, etc., as it grows. Their current hope is to provide good, cost-effective child care. Mr. Brandmeyer reiterated that this is a trial program, and they could report back next year. Mr. Taylor suggested a two year cycle might be more reasonable. Ms. Mattes asked about the effect of the program on placePlaceNameMagic PlaceTypeGarden (private day care program already in place). Mr. Brandmeyer was unsure of the impact. It was noted that placePlaceNameMagic PlaceTypeGarden has a three year lease with the schools. Ms. Mattes wanted to note the concern that placePlaceNameMagic PlaceTypeGarden has served the community well and wanted to be aware of implications to that operation. It was also noted that for some parents
placePlaceNameMagic PlaceTypeGarden is too costly, and this would be another option. The Board asked that the proposal be modified to seek approval for a two year “pilot” program that would be reevaluated at the end of that term. The School Committee agreed and the PersonNameBoard of Selectmen will take this under consideration and vote at the next meeting.
Bill Gause, Leggatt McCall
Mr. Gause explained that Leggatt McCall is interested in a potential development on eight acres in placeCityLincoln on the corner of Winter Street and addressStreetOld County Road (two more acres are located in placeCityWaltham). Leggatt McCall has developed properties on Winter Street in placeCityWaltham, as well as Lovelane on addressStreetBaker Bridge Road. The land to be developed in placeCityLincoln is zoned residential and is adjacent to the commercial developments of Bay Colony and Waltham Woods. Leggat McCall currently has an option on the parcel and would like to create a 200,000 square foot office building, similar to Lincoln North. Mr. Gause noted that placeCityLincoln currently gets traffic from the developments in placeCityWaltham without the tax revenue. He said there is a total of three million
square feet of development now, and this project would add only 200,000 square feet, and a modest increase in cars. Rizzo Associates has been retained for a traffic study, and their analysis indicates a 9% increase in volume at the end of the day that could reach the addressStreetOld County Road/ Winter street intersection. Leggatt McCall has an option on the Arshad property and they are in discussion with the adjacent property owners. One homeowner wishes to sell his property, and they are in discussion with the others. Discussion turned to outstanding issues. Mr. Gause was advised that placeCityLincoln’s Water Department is currently under a Consent Order from the DEP. He said they would engineer on-site sewage and a “gray water” treatment system (water is re-used appropriately). Mr. Higgins also told Mr. Gause that both the DEP and the Town work to protect the Cambridge Watershed. He further suggested that
perhaps an inter-municipal agreement could be worked out between placeCityWaltham and placeCityLincoln for utilities. Mr. Taylor, noting that he cannot speak for the Water Board, said that based on past experience, the new project may have to fund conservation measures. The Lincoln Water Board would be concerned with drawing too much from the existing watershed areas. Mr. Gause said they have worked closely with the Cambridge Watershed in the past. He added that the taxes on the property now total $27,000 per year. Development could yield around $750,000 per year with no impact on the schools. The Board reminded Mr. Gause that placeCityLincoln is protective of its values and a major concern would be traffic. Mr. Gause said that currently there is a 50-50 split of cars heading in either direction out of the office complexes. Of that 50% split, some 65% head north to addressStreetOld County Road and Trapelo. Ms. Mattes said
that placeCityLincoln is frustrated that the Route 2 project is stalled and they anticipate approximately 32,000 additional cars from future placeCityWaltham developments. She requested that the developer consider creative ways to manage traffic, including public transportation, the use of police detail at the end of the day to direct traffic w/ a “Right -Turn –Only” directive, and other alternatives. Mr. Taylor suggested that an interdisciplinary group be created to inform the project developers. Ms. Mattes suggested that a first step should be to have a more detailed analysis be done, using the “At Risk” model. Discussion followed on items to be included in these discussions including timetables, neighborhood inclusion, addressing concerns such as traffic, etc. Due to the difficulty of beginning this is the summer, the committee will be formed and begin working in the fall.
Town Administrator’s Report.
· Mr. Higgins reported that the Deaconness, in cooperation with the Peter Smith and the Town, had completed their LIP application to DHCD as of May 21. PersonNameHerb placeCityTaylor of the Deaconness has said they are getting ready to file their Building Permit and will convene a meeting regarding impacts to the neighbors. The Town will soon receive the building Permit Fee, tax payment, and a water hook up fee when the permit has been issued..
· Mr. Higgins summarized a May 3 meeting with the Pierce House Committee. A team of Bentley graduate students had looked at the economies and present business model for the Pierce house and tried to capture new models. A Steering Committee/ Task Force will be formed to look at the models, as well as the status quo versus different enhancements. Ms. Mattes asked that this study include input from the Long Range Planning Committee, including the Town’s priorities for highest and best uses of the town spaces. Mr. Taylor suggested it be broken down into tasks, such as remedial improvements or programming improvements. Ms. Mattes will create a charge and
membership makeup by September. The Board discussed reaching out to the Town to determine the desired use of the facility as well as Town willingness to solve the problems.
· Mr. Higgins reported that the PersonNamePlanning Board has approved the Mall plans and permit. He discussed the competing interests and balance sought regarding PersonNamePlanning Board’s concerns with retail and the Mall’s concerns with future viability. Mr. Taylor noted that the RLF is taking a significant loan to do the project and they need some flexibility to be able to provide cash flow.
· Debt Projection – Mr. Higgins explained to the Board that the debt service is dropping. Mr. Higgins met with Colleen Wilkins and the Finance Committee regarding debt and potential projects.
· Brooks Property, Route 2A – Mr. Higgins reported that the National Park Service has appealed the approval of the septic system as an abutter to the property. The Board of Selectmen has agreed to support that appeal.
· There will be a public forum on Long Range Planning on June 19 at Bemis Hall. The Board briefly discussed public outreach for this.
Discussion
· A resident has asked the Selectmen to support their request to the Codman Trust to financially assist with a fundraising event. The Board discussed that most requests support town wide efforts. They believe that this might not be appropriate as it is essentially a fundraiser not specific to placeCityLincoln,. and Tthe request would be better brought forward to the Bemis Trust.
· The Board will remind Representative Conroy about the town’s continued support for municipal control of the cable franchise licenses.
· Liaison Reports
Ms. Mattes will attend the next Magic Meeting (June 19) regarding the MPO TIP. She also discussed the historic hangar that Massport has applied to have demolished. HATS would like to re-visit the idea of a historic museum in that location. Ms. Mattes will prepare a letter in that regard to the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
Action Items
· As part of the on-going concern with double poling by the utilities, Mr. Taylor requested that the Tax Assessors count the poles as permanent and subsequently tax the companies who own the poles. He requested that the Tax Assessors attend a meeting with the Selectmen to discuss this.
· VOTE – Mrs. Holden made a MOTION, Ms. Mattes seconded to award the Bituminous Concrete contract to Mass. Broken Stone for the low bid price of $53.85 per ton. It was noted that there were 12 respondents to the proposal. The Motion passed unanimously.
· VOTE – Mrs. Holden made a MOTION to re-appoint PersonNameBill Stason and John Valpey to the Community Preservation Committee for three years. The Motion passed unanimously.
· VOTE – Mrs. Holden made a MOTION to re-appoint Jim Henderson, Jim Meadors and Peter VonMertens to the Conservation Commission for three years.
· VOTE– Mrs. Holden made a MOTION to authorize approval of the use of the Municipal Relief Act. Ms. Mattes seconded. It was noted that this is a yearly vote that provides flexibility for end of the year accounting in order balance the books. The Motion passed unanimously.
· VOTE – Mrs. Holden made a MOTION, Ms. Mattes seconded to appoint Michael Doe as a Call Firefighter. The Chief interviewed several candidates and conducted background checks. He is EMT certified. The Motion passed unanimously.
Correspondence
· DeCordova – the Board discussed that the Museum is in a transition at this time. They wish to thank Melissa Meyers for her stewardship. The Selectmen would also like to know the timeline for the DeCordova process for of finding a new director.
· The Board reviewed correspondence.
Mr. Higgins reviewed action items.
Minutes were deferred.
The Warrants were approved and signed.
The Meeting adjourned at timeHour21Minute459:45 PM.
Submitted by Debra Parkhurst
Approved on dateYear2007Day9Month7July 9, 2007
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