MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Monday, December 17, 2007
PRESENT: Gary Taylor (Chairman), Sarah Cannon-Holden, Sara Mattes
STAFF: Timothy Higgins (Town Administrator), 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.
Announcements:
· Mr. Higgins announced that the Agenda would be amended to allow Noah Eckhouse to introduce Chris Fasciano as a potential new member of the Recreation commission.
· Ms. Mattes announced that the Ad Hoc Traffic committee will meet tomorrow morning.
Appointments:
Noah Eckhouse, Chairman, Recreation Commission
Mr. Eckhouse explained that the Recreation commission consists of six members, three appointed and three elected. This commission, along with its staff, runs all the recreation activities in the Town, including the Pool and the summer Camp. Fees pay 90% of the costs of these programs, and the Commission looks to the Town for capital Costs. One Commission member, Cathy Long, has resigned and asked to be replaced. Mr. Fasciano has volunteered. Mr. Fasciano said he has lived in town since 1999. He has young children who have participated in and benefited form Recreation Department programs. Mr. Fasciano has also served as a coach for soccer, T-ball, and basketball. His professional background is finance. The Board discussed the relationship between the towns of Lincoln and Sudbury and
wondered if there was a way for the towns to participate together in programs, particularly the ones with smaller numbers. Mr. Eckhouse said that they try to balance small town needs, and noted that some girls already play Lacross in Sudbury. Discussion followed on other programs. Mrs. Holden made a motion to appoint Chris Fasciano to the Recreation Commission to fill out the term vacated by Cathy Long, term to run until 2009. Mrs. Mattes seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.
Open Forum: No one was present for this session.
Town Administrator’s Report:
a) Mr. Higgins reviewed the Town Meeting Planning Calendar, noting key dates:
· January 2 – Town Report due;
· January 7- Vote to Open the Warrant
· January 15 – Joint Budget Hearing
· January 28 – Vote to Close the warrant
· February 11 – Finalize Budgets
· Notice will go in the Lincoln Journal and on the website regarding Warrant deadlines and citizens petition.
b) Route 2- Mrs. Holden reported on the most recent CAC (Corridor Advisory Committee) for Route 2. The group, including representatives from Concord, Acton, the National Park and Walden Woods, will work to keep the project on the TIP. At the meeting, they also talked about the development along Route 95/128 in the Burlington to Waltham corridor and how the increased car traffic may further impact Route 2. Ms. Mattes reported that Gordon Feltman, representative to the MPO, had told them the TIP was denied, due in part to the fact that the State has not funded projects. Mr. Higgins said that a bond bill has been filed in the Legislature, and both State Legislators are on board. Mr. Higgins added that the State plan is not addressing Federal guidelines having to due with air
pollution. The Federal agency also would like to see focus on bridges, viewed as an emergency situation. The Board noted that if the MPO is not approved, there is no federal money. The effort for Lincoln is to keep Crosby Corner on the TIP list. The TIP day is in April and Mrs. Holden will be working on the update. Mr. Higgins added that there is new data on expanded growth in the region. The Board agreed that the numbers of new commuters should be verified.
c) Mr. Higgins noted compliments from residents regarding roadway and pedestrian path treatments by the Public Works Department over the last year and during the last storm. The Superintendent regularly reports to the Town Administrator regarding crew work, contracts, and materials.
Discussion:
· The Town preferred budget is $200,000 over Base
· K-8 preferred budget is $250,000 over Base
· Library preferred budget is $40,000 over Base
· Lincoln Sudbury High School budget assumes a (-) 1%, and 24 staff would have to be eliminated.
Under the regional school budget the lower budget prevails. If Sudbury does not support an override budget, the some funding could be freed up for other agencies in Town. However, Lincoln could send the funding to Sudbury. This has been done in the past, and should be investigated.
· The Board briefly discussed the article list, including place holders for a Lincoln-Sudbury.override
· The Board briefly discussed the possibility of a generator for the Town Offices. Superintendent Brandmeyer had raised the idea of connecting the Town and Schools to protect the computers.
· Capital Planning has made its recommendations. Recommended cash amounts are $500,000.
· Ms. Mattes asked about the cost of the proposed school egress. There is an estimate of$25,000 plus a possibility of needed culvert improvements. FINCOM also recommends supporting the DPW request for road improvement for bonding as debt exclusion. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Higgins met with the FINCOM Chair and asked the FINCOM to model the tax impact for these borrowings and provide detail.
· ARPC. The December 12 meeting was postponed; the Committee is waiting for an analysis from the consultant. There was consensus that there was too much work to do before this year’s town meeting.
Liaison Reports
· Ms. Mattes reported that there was a meeting today at Hanscom Airfield for runway expansion. Bedford Conservation Commission is responsible for the environmental impacts. She asked the Board to approve in concept the comments bye Bedford’s Conservation Commission and the HATS Environmental Subcommittee.
· The Board thanked the Rizzo family for their generous contribution to resolving the school egress issue.
Minutes:
The Board approved the Minutes of October 3, 2007
The Board approved the Minutes of December 3, 2007.
Submitted by Debra Parkhurst
Approved May 5, 2008
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