MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MONDAY, October 15, 2007
PRESENT: Gary Taylor (Chairman), Sarah Cannon Holden, Sara Mattes
STAFF: Timothy Higgins (Chairman),(Town Administrator) Town Administrator (Debra Parkhurst), Debra Parkhurst, (Administrative Assistant)
Welcome & Introductions: The meeting opened at 7:30 PM. The Chairman welcomed the public, reviewed the agenda and action items for the meeting. Mr. Higgins noted two items not on the original agenda: the appointment of the new Assistant COA Director and the Award of Contract for the Printing for the Annual Town Report.
Discussion:
· November 3 State of the Town Meeting (SOTT)- Mr. Higgins reported that the memo to the Boards and Committees has gone out, and all Report Cards are due in for compilation. Agencies that have capital items are preparing presentations for the meeting. This year’s focus is infrastructure expenses, including roadway and facilities improvements, maintenance, and rehabilitation. In some cases, acquisitions are expected. The meeting will ask for a sense of the meeting on priorities. participants to help set priorities. The Board discussed refinements and edits to their introduction and report, including adding goals. They Mrs. Holden recommended adding
the goal of continued involvement in regional groups and planning efforts. noted the importance of regional coordination. The Board also noted the addition of two new committees in 2006: The Green Energy Committee and the Agriculture Commission. Ms. Mattes will incorporate changes into the introduction. Ms. Mattes will also will speak to water issues in regard to infrastructure needs. The Board discussed the timing of presentation, and that presenters need to be up front and ready. The Board stressed that they want citizen participation and discussion, and that presentations presentation should be time strictly time limited. The Board discussed if other committees (Long Range Planning, At Risk Properties, Disabilities) should be allowed presentation time. The Board agreed that these committees will have their own public forums and processes at other times. A very brief announcement or update regarding those committees work might
be appropriate at the start of the meeting. The Board agreed that the scope of the State of the Town meeting should be announced up front. The Board reviewed the calendars for Annual Town meeting and budget planning.
· Ad Hoc Traffic Committee – Ms. Mattes referred to the new construction in Waltham, generating 32,000 cars a day and new developments in Burlington, Woburn, and Bedford generating an additional 21,000 cars per day. In addition, Belmont, Lexington and Waltham development along Trapelo Road will generate another 10-20,000 new car trips daily. Given limited resources, the Town of Lincoln needs to understand how best to spend dollars on roads, and possible mechanisms for mitigation. She is proposing an Ad Hoc Traffic Committee, mainly composed of past traffic committee members. This Committee can gather new information, and with the help of the MAPC, CTPS, DPW and
other engineering consultation, come up with best practices and costs for each approach. She will write a charge for the committee and send letters to past members. The Board will also contact Barbara Lucas of MAPC to see what the regional planning agency can offer.
· At Risk Properties Committee Update- In response to queries about the renewed activity, Mr. Taylor explained that the town was approached by Bill Gause of Leggat McCall regarding potential development on the Arshad property on the corner of Old County Road and Winter Street (Lincoln-Waltham border). It was suggested that Mr. Gause attend the Selectmen’s Meeting in June so as to ensure the most public and transparent presentation of this proposal. Me. Gause did attend and presented the proposal, discussing both potential traffic impacts (400 car trips daily) and revenues for the town ($650,000 annually). In response to this, the Town has re-activated the At Risk
Properties Committee (ARPC), which looked at several key parcels in the past with an analysis of options for each property, including residential, concentrated residential, commercial, and institutional. He noted that the abutting Kennedy parcel was studied in the first instance. The ARPC anticipates a public process. Since that time, there have been only two meetings of the ARPC. The next meeting is scheduled for October 24 at 7:30 AM. The Board noted that the “At Risk” name was chosen because of a concern that these larger parcels could be developed in way that may not serve the Town well. Mr. Taylor noted that, with regard to the Arshad property, certain prerequisites exist: preservation of the one-way status of Winter Street in that area, and protection of the Cambridge Watershed., and Mrs. Holden noted that we must also be mindful recognition that there is an affected single family residence in that immediate area.
· Liaison Reports:
Ms. Mattes reported on the public safety, school and conservation joint meeting on October 9 regarding creation of a limited access and egress to the schools. A number of concept or preliminary alternatives were discussed. She added that there is no perfect outcome, given that there are historical, conservation and private interests involved. Ultimately, the Selectmen must approve any new curb cut.
Ms. Mattes reported on a meeting of Selectmen from around the State that focused on economic development. Noting her own concerns with transportation infrastructure, she learned that tax rates don’t keep up with inflation, the State has not raised any new reliable revenues in many years, and the State needs to find expanded revenue sources. The impact of an increase in the sales tax was discussed at length. Massachusetts currently ranks 45th in the nation in sales tax. It was reported that a 1-cent increase would realize an additional $800,000 million annually with a projected impact of $60/ annually on the average taxpayer. A gas tax increase ws also discussed.
Town Administrator’s Report:
CPC Matching Funds - Mr. Higgins reported that for the next fiscal year, the Dept. of Revenue is recommending a 100% match for the CPC. However, the following year match could be 60%. Mr. Higgins discussed how capital planning works with the CPC as well as sequencing and coordination of capital projects.
Hollingsworth House - Mr. Higgins described the gift of land and a house on Twin Pond Lane that the Town accepted at the last Town Meeting. The Historic Commission has received copies of the draft report from Gary Wolf, architect. An Executive Session is scheduled for October 22 to discuss the house.
Bond Rating – Mr. Higgins reported that the Standard and Poor’s has affirmed the Town Triple A Rating, due to sound fiscal practices. A financial benefit for this rating is reduced interest costs for borrowing.
Mr. Higgins briefly spoke of the DPW Roadside Improvement Plan
Train Horn Ban – Mr. Higgins reminded the Board that in 2005 the Town had reached consensus to install medians at two railroad crossings in order to maintain the ban on the railroad horn. They had hoped that the regulation would be changed, but it has not, and now the deadline is approaching for completion of that project. In February a “Notice of Detailed Plan” must be submitted. In June, the “Detailed Plan” must be submitted. Construction must be completed by 2010. The Chairman asked if this can be worked into the roadway improvement plan, perhaps added to Chapter 90 funding. Mr. Higgins said the estimated cost is $100,000.
Action Items:
· Approve Traffic Committee Charge
Mrs. Holden made a MOTION, Ms. Mattes seconded to approve the Traffic charge as amended. The Motion passed unanimously.
· Appoint COA assistant Director
Mr. Higgins explained the process for hiring the new Assistant Director. He noted the new Assistant Director is a Licensed Social Worker. Mrs. Holden made a motion, Ms. Mattes seconded to appoint Pamela Albert as the new Assistant COA Director. The Motion passed unanimously. The Board hopes to meet her at an upcoming meeting.
· Award Printing Contract
Mr. Higgins explained that several vendors were asked to submit bids. Commonwealth Printing, which has done it in the past, was the low bidder. Mrs. Holden made a MOTION, Ms. Mattes seconded to award the Contract for printing of the Annual Report and Town Meeting Warrant to Commonwealth Printing. The Motion passed unanimously. A brief discussion on procurement process followed.
· Review BOS Meeting Schedule
Ms. Mattes said that she and Mr. Higgins are working with Mary Hartmann on the Pierce House Sub-committee following State of the Town.
· Minutes were deferred.
· Warrants were approved.
The Meeting adjourned at 9:25 PM.
Submitted by Debra Parkhurst
APPROVED 02/04/2008
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