MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Monday, September 14, 2009
PRESENT: Sarah Cannon Holden (Chairman), Sara Mattes, Gary Taylor
STAFF: Timothy Higgins (Town Administrator), Debra Parkhurst (Adm. Asst.)
Welcome & Introductions
The Chairmen welcomed the public and reviewed the agenda.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Ms. Mattes announced that there will be a Battle Road Scenic Byway meeting tomorrow in Carey Hall, Lexington.
Minuteman National Historic Park will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary, at 6 PM on September 20, also in Carey Hall, Lexington.
APPOINTMENTS:
Chris Bibbo, Highway Superintendent re: Roadway Improvement Status Report
Mr. Bibbo reported that the roadway project is going well and on schedule. Phase I is 65% complete. Gateway treatments will occur at the end of the phase. Phase I included Baker Bridge, Sandy Pond, Trapelo, Concord , and Bedford Road between Route 2 and Route 2A. Phase II will include Route 117 and Lincoln Road/Bedford Road (between Route 117 and Route 2). The Board learned that following the resolution of the bid protest, the work started on Sandy Pond and Baker Bridge Roads. Both these roads were reclaimed, a process which uses ground up pavement and soil for a good base. Work included repairing culverts and catch basins and putting down a binder course and surface course. Mr. Higgins commented that community concerns that road would not be widened and the basic geometry would be
preserved has been followed. Existing roads had been surveyed, and grade stakes were installed every 50’ to make sure the alignment remained the same. Trapelo Road is presenting difficult work, Mr. Bibbo said, due to drainage structures and utility lines. He noted a deep culvert near Mine Brook where the headwall has failed and material is starting to wash out. Milling for this section is scheduled for September 28. Bedford Road, north of Route 2 is a one mile stretch. The drainage is complete. Mr. Bibbo expects that work will be finished by mid November for Phase I. Mr. Higgins said that the voters appropriated 5.5 million dollars for the project. The cost so far has been 2.6 million for Sunshine Paving as well as $400,000 for engineering costs. There should be approximately 1.5 million for Phase II. Mr. Higgins also said the DPW crew has spent considerable time and saved the Town money. Engineering costs have
been kept to a minimum. He wished to commend the DPW and thanked Mr. Bibbo for working through the details with the contractor. The Board also expressed their appreciation for their efforts. Neil Feinberg, Concord Road, asked about safety improvements, including striping for the roads. Mr. Bibbo said they stripe ten foot wide lanes, leaving two foot offsets on each side. Most roads get three stripes: one in the middle with fog lines down each side. It was discussed that certain roads may only have fog lines on each side to maintain the “country road” look. They also discussed the possibility of using temporary speed bumps in certain areas. Roads would be monitored to see if there is an increase in speed, and if so, temporary speed tables may be used to see if they can be effective in slowing traffic. These could be taken away in winter when there is concern with snow plows.
Crosswalks will be enhanced at Bedford Road near Route 2 and Old Concord Road. Curbing work along Trapelo, including installing sloped vertical granite curbs in the Historic District, will begin in the next few days, he said. The Board said they were pleased that the work is on time and on budget.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
· Mr. Higgins is working with the FINCOM on FY 10 to work out the deficit of $440,000 which stems from a reduction in State Aid and the slowing in Deaconess construction. They are looking to re-balance the budget, which will include looking at the School budget (which has funds left over) and dropping expenditures on the DPW chipper, design services for the school curtain wall and reallocating funds unspent after completion of the asbestos abatement project at the schools. The FINCOM has asked all Town budgets to prepare impact statements on budget cuts. Finance Committee Chairman John Koenig will attend next week’s meeting. The Board discussed that
a cut to the L-S stabilization budget would not impact services, as it would in other departments.
· Train Whistle Ban- Mr. Higgins reported that the Waiver requested by the Town that would have allowed a break in one of the required medians to minimize impacts on nearby residents will likely not be granted by the FRA. However, neighbors have indicated that they are willing to put up with the inconvenience of going around the medians in order to retain the train whistle ban. The MBTA will re-locate the gates at Route 117, but he is unsure when that will be completed. The MBTA has to pay prevailing wage, and the anticipated price to relocate the gates and install medians is $200,000, more or less. The deadline for installation is 2010, and the Town would like to
have construction completed this fall.
· Town Offices Renovation-The cost for design and engineering is estimated at $1.9 million. The CPC now has a two phase application and the issue is whether or not the Board would file an initial application as a placeholder even if it is unlikely that the project would proceed this year. The Town Offices lack accessibility, meeting space and the utilities are “challenging” according to Mr. Higgins. Mr. Taylor agreed that it is important to file the application for CPC funding to keep the dialogue going and not have to re-start from the beginning.
· Technology Planning – Mr. Higgins reported that the Committee, consisting of citizens and staff are working with the Town consultant and making good progress.
· Public Safety Tower- the unlit light has been installed. New whip antennas need to be installed to comply with the height limitations in the FAA permit. Some plantings necessary to screen abutters may go on private land. Mr. Higgins assured the Selectmen that this kind of treatment for those affected by a project is not unusual. Finally, the analysis on using repeater technology in other areas is on-going.
· Liquor License Petition- This has been filed by Representative Conroy, and he hopes to have it acted on by the end of the year. It will then placed on a local ballot for approval, probably as part of the Annual Town Election.
· Regional Paramedic- Emerson Hospital has declared that they do not want to continue to offer paramedic service. This has been under discussion for years, and Emerson would like to see an alternative by 2010. Thirteen area towns are meeting to see if a regional group can be formed, perhaps even forming smaller regions within to provide the service. This group includes Emerson Hospital responders: Concord, Weston, Wayland, Sudbury, and Bedford. Alternatives include Lincoln contracting with a vendor (very expensive), strengthening our own staff, or forming a region. The Board asked about implications for the Public safety Department. Mr. Higgins said most
of the staff want to go from EMT to paramedic, and view that kind of training as an opportunity. There is significant turnover in the staff as the firefighters/EMTs move on to other places. They have discussed having a staff of 100% paramedics, which has substantial cost implications. Discussion turned to other on-going regional agreements (Police – NEMLEC; Fire- District 13). Mr. Higgins commented that Chief Cotoni has done a fine job on this.
DISCUSSION:
· The October 17 Meeting will begin with discussion of the budget to be followed by the Master Plan. Ms. Mattes wanted to be sure that the original intent of the State of the Town will still allow some people to have that direct accessibility to Town discussions. She also asked about the introductory letter as part of the Master Plan? The draft Selectmen’s Report Card is done.
LIAISON REPORTS:
· Mrs. Holden reported that the Final Meeting to vote on the TIP will be October 1 or 8. Route 2 is currently on the TIP for 2011. Takings have begun and the 100% Design is due this fall. There will be CAC Meeting this Thursday. Ms. Mattes said that comments from Marc Draisen of MAGIC/MAPC are disturbing. He stated a new concern that improving the Crosby Corner intersection promotes westward development. She said that CTPS statistics say that Crosby’s Corner is at 100% capacity. Mr. Holden added that the project has been emphasized as a regional project (not a “Lincoln” project) by the CAC and others. Others have
discussed how dropping a project this far along may impact the integrity of the process for future plans.
· Hamscom –
Ms. Mattes reported that there has been work on a renewed description of the Mission at Hanscom Field. However, it was also noted that the newly constructed base housing is now open to non-military residents. Mr. Higgins said the Town is in discussion regarding the inequity of how costs of education for the children of these “waterfall” residents will be borne by the affected towns. Federal land precludes local taxation to cover education costs. Although the Town has chosen to provide educational services provisionally at this time, it is the Town’s position that they do not have an obligation to provide for residents that are not part of the Dept. of Defense. Mr. Higgins said this issues is becoming increasingly complex and urgent.
Ms. Mattes reported that HATS is still working to save Hangar 24, where the first cross country flight guided by radar began, and the Hangar could be part of the “Road to Revolutions” Battle Road Scenic Byway. HATS is also fighting the award of stimulus dollars for the runway improvement at Hanscom Field, since it improves runways for private and corporate planes. HATS is also supporting legislation authored by Jay Kaufman that would stipulate that any MASSPORT land not directly involved in aviation would be subject to local zoning.
Schedule – The meeting for September 28, 2009 is cancelled
Minutes – The Minutes of January 12, March 16, March 23, May 11, June 8, and June 22 were approved as corrected.
Mr. Taylor made a Motion to adjourn the regular meeting and go into Executive Session pursuant to MGL c. 39, s. 23b, and not to return to Regular Session. A poll was taken of the Board: Mattes; Aye; Taylor– aye; Holden –aye. The Motion passed unanimously. The Regular Session adjourned at 9:30 PM.
Submitted by Debra Parkhurst
Approved on October 5, 2009
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