MINUTES parkhurstd
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Monday, January 28, 2008
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:
· The Chairman announced that there will be an Executive Session at the end of the meeting, and the Board will not return to regular session.
· Mrs. Holden announced that the Comprehensive Long Range Plan Committee will host two events on February 8 and 9. Friday night, Bemis Hall, Armando Carbonell will speak on local planning challenges. Saturday morning at the Brooks School, the committee will present their findings to date and provide opportunities for the public to participate.
· Mrs. Holden announced that the Route 2 75% Design Meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 25 at 7:00 PM in the Donaldson Room. The meeting will provide information on costs and plans will be available for viewing. Representatives from The Corridor Advisory Committee from Concord and Acton, as well as Senator Fargo, Sen. Atkins, Representative Conroy, Kathi Anderson of Walden Woods, and Nancy Nelson of the Minuteman National Historic Park will be in attendance. The Selectmen will meet on Wednesday the 27th.
· Mr. Taylor announced a discussion on the State Budget sponsored by Representative Conroy in Wayland on February 7.
Appointments:
Police Chief Kevin Mooney and Fire Chief Arthur Cotoni
Re: Town Wide Emergency Planning
The chiefs said they are in the process of producing a pamphlet that will be sent to each household in Lincoln. Mr. Higgins explained that the Local Emergency Planning Committee is a statutory body that started out with concerns over hazardous materials. Now, most communities use these committees on a broader scope. The Committee has representatives from the following departments: water, highway, health, police, fire, conservation Town Administrator, recreation, Council on Aging and the schools. The Committee meets on issues and inter-operability. It is a practical exchange regarding what goes on in a regional setting. In an emergency, the Town will look to the Chiefs to lead. The shelter at the school is the primary focus now, and thoughts needs to go to management (activating,
staffing, equipping, and managing) the shelter. Chief Mooney said the town now has Connect CTY, but the community has been slow to sign on to it. It is similar to Reverse 911, but each resident needs to act to get it on the system. The Chief also said that Public Safety now has an electronic message board. The Board asked if the school is set up on Connect CTY. The Chief said the Schools have something called Connect ED. Discussion followed on the shelter. The Chief said it is located in the Brooks School Field House. Donelan’s has agreed to help provide supplies, and the Red Cross has approved the shelter. Some 82 doctors and nurses in town have volunteered to help. He also said that the Police would be able to run information from a trailer if necessary. Regionally this is coordinated with Mass. Casualty. They are able to communicate with Boston through e-mails and radio callsThe Chief said the
school has a safety evacuation plan that is easy to follow and has been practiced twice at the school. The Board noted that the Library should also have one.
The Chief noted that the exercise at the schools made them aware of the need for a second egress. Discussion turned to the second egress. The school, with public participation, identified six alternatives. Generous neighbors of the school will allow an easement for a driveway that will be sufficient for an ambulance or a police car. Details have not been finalized. The Warrant contains two articles for this project.
Discussion turned to the radio tower on the reservoir site. Mr. Higgins said the history goes back two or three years. The Town funded improvements, some of which has been implemented. The Radio Tower Committee had met with the ZBA asking them to allow an interim measure, prior to any final phase, to replace the two existing poles with a lattice tower at the same height in the reservoir location. Once that tower is installed, then they could see if the signal was improved and would make further recommendations after that. The installed tower ended up being 10’ higher than the previous tower. He also noted that the foundation was moved a distance of 30 feet at the request of the Water Department. Neighbors are unhappy with the process and the outcome. Mr. Higgins said that
he, along with Selectmen Taylor and Holden went back to the ZBA, which has granted a three month time frame in which to identify alternatives. After this time, they will return to the ZBA. Neighbors will be kept informed. The Committee consists of John Caswell, John LeGates, Paul SpaetzSvetz, and another resident as consultant to the group. Mr. Higgins noted that the tower (material and expenses) were partially paid for by a Homeland Security grant. Committee meetings will be public and noticed.
Ms. Mattes opened conversation with the Chiefs about the new Ad Hoc Traffic Committee and the influx of development along Route 128/95. Both Chief Cotoni and Chief Mooney noted that Public Safety participates in “table top” exercises with other communities. Ms. Mattes said that traffic engineers in Waltham told Mass Highway that an additional 70 thousand cars could come from new development in the next 18 months. Concern is grid lock along Route 128/95. A regional coalition of affected communities from will be looking at traffic implementations and mitigation measures. There is discussion of a “multi modal transportation center in the area and a dedicated bus/HOV lane for 128. At the local level, an Ad Hoc Traffic Committee has been formed which will look at past studies,
devices, traffic calming measures, etc and provideded the Selectmen with a matrix of options and their respective costs and trade-offs. This will inform the Selectmen’s expenditure of Roadway money that is being requested, as a bond bill, at the 2008 Twon Meeting..
Town Administrator Report:
· Mr. Higgins presented an update on the comprehensive planning process. He noted that the Saturday morning session at Brooks School will provide opportunities for small group discussion.
· Budget: John Robinson of FINCOM was also present for this discussion. The Governor’s budget provides State Aid at an increase of 6.4 %. This is not final and the FINCOM uses a 3% growth. The Town breaks aid down into three segments: Chapter 70, lottery assistance, and State owned land assistance. The FINCOM anticipates level funding of C.90 funds. While Lincoln gains more from the State land funding, Sudbury is more vulnerable because their budget is more keyed to lottery revenues. FINCOM has voted to increase base budgets and the debate is whether to vote an override or allow the base to increase by 1% over growth. The second scenario
allows an additional $70,000 for the town, $80,000 for the schools, and $20,000 for the Library. The Board then discussed if the Town should support 3.2% for Lincoln Sudbury High School in the case they do not vote for an override. A “No Override” budget provides (-) 1%. The Board asked if the Lincoln FINCOM could ask the Sudbury FINCOM about long range planning. The Board noted that the original split between Sudbury and Lincoln was 60/40; now it is 85/15. The Board noted that providing the additional revenues to L-:-sS would be a difference of $125,000 between adherence to the regional agreement, versus the Lincoln gift.
· The Board reviewed the list of prioritized budget items. FINCOM supports bonding for roads and a debt exclusion for a fire truck. Cash will be used to pay for two DPW trucks and one Conservation truck. Mr. Higgins noted that the purchase of the Fire Truck takes advantage of a grant from the Deaconess. Discussion followed on the replacement of aging vehicles. Mr. Higgins said the Chief looks to use grants to replace and use newer technologies. He also pointed out that the Town’s financial position is strong. Mr. Taylor said the Town is looking forward to significant infrastructure investments in the next few years.
· Town Meeting Planning – The Board reviewed the current warrant list of articles. The Board asked if the Green Energy Committee could come in for discussion. Mrs. Holden made a MOTION to close the Warrant. Ms. Mattes seconded and the MOTION passed unanimously.
Liaison Reports:
· Ms. Mattes reported that Jay Wickersham, Environmental Consultant to the Town of Weston, will provide comments to the DEIR for the proposed redevelopment of the Polaroid property in Waltham.
· Ms. Mattes and Mr. Higgins attended a meeting on Friday morning with the Pierce House Planning Committee. The Meeting provided an opportunity to review the history of the use of the house and its role in the community, as well as its maintenance costs. Bill Stason, CPC, Mary Hartmann, FINCOM, and Colleen Wilkins, Finance Director also attended. Ms. Mattes said a report is due by December, 2008.
Action:
· Mrs. Holden made a MOTION to affirm the signing of the Presidential Warrant on January 15. Mrs. Mattes seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Higgins told the Board that the Twon Town Clerk has engaged the Girl Scouts to assist in certain civic activities, including posting the wsarrant warrant and testing the ballot machines.
· The Board recognized commendations from Chief Kevin Mooney for the following Police Officers: Sergeant Paul Westlund, Officer Laura Stewart, Detective Jon Wentworth, Officer William Carlo Sergeant Richard McCarty, Officer Robert Surette, Dispatcher Ryan Farrell.
Minutes: Deferred
Warrants: Approved and signed.
Mrs. Holden made a Motion, Ms. Mattes seconded to go into Executive Session pursuant to MGL. C39, Ss 23B re: Collective Bargaining, not to return to Regular Session. A poll was taken of the Board: Holden- aye; Mattes- aye; Taylor- aye. The Motion passed unanimously.
The regular meeting adjourned at 9:30.
Submitted by,
Debra Parkhurst
Approved May 5, 2008
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