We're in Battin Hall of Isaac Harris Cary Memorial Building.*
Town Meeting continues every Monday and Wednesday evening until all business has been concluded. Meetings are not held on holidays or during school vacation weeks.
Town Warrant HERE.
Tonight's Motions, by Article number, HERE.
Town Meeting Articles, Reports, and Presentations, HERE.
FY19 Recommended Budget and Financing Plan, HERE.
Town Meeting Member Association (TMMA) Report, HERE.
Deborah Brown, Town Moderator, calls the meeting to order.
Tonight's anticipated schedule, as forwarded by Town Moderator:
MOTION: To amend the Town Bylaws by adding a new Bylaw, Chapter 81 (Plastic Bag Reduction Bylaw)
- Opening ceremonies
- Introductory remarks and instructions
- Article 2 – Election of Deputy Moderator (Barry Orenstein)
- Article 3 – Cary Lecture Series
- Article 33 – Plastic bag ban (citizen article)
- Article 34 – Safe community resolution (citizen article)
- Article 35 – Financial Projections (citizen article) (IP=indefinitely postpone)
- Article 41 – Wright Farm parcel split
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OPENING CEREMONIES Presentation of the colors and National Anthem by the William Diamond Fife and Drum Corps.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND INSTRUCTIONS Madam Moderator welcomes all and new Town Meeting Members (TMMs). Bit of Housekeeping. Calls for a moment of silence to remember the lives of TMMs who have passed in the last year. There have been 5 TMMs who have died. We will remember two tonight. The other three will be honored at a later date of Town Meeting. Ephraim Weiss, 52 years in TM. Dick Michelson, 52 years in TM. Moment of silence.
MOTION: That Barry Orenstein be approved as Deputy Moderator
ARTICLE 2 – ELECTION OF DEPUTY MODERATOR AND REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS, OFFICERS, AND COMMITTEES To see if the Town will vote to approve the Deputy Moderator nominated by the Moderator; receive the reports of any Board or Town Officer or of any Committee of the Town; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by the Board of Selectmen)
This Article remains open throughout town Meeting and reports may be presented at any Town Meeting session by Boards, Officers, or Committees. in addition, the Town will consider the approval of the nomination of a Deputy Moderator as authorized under Section 118-11 of the Code of the Town of Lexington.
Barry Orenstein has been nominated by the Moderator for the role of Deputy Moderator.
MOTION: That Barry Orenstein be approved as Deputy Moderator
Voice Vote of Town Meeting: APPROVED
ARTICLE 3 – APPOINTMENTS TO CARY LECTURE SERIES To see if the Town will authorize the appointment of the committee on lectures under the wills of Eliza Cary Farnham and Susanna E. Cary; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by the Board of Selectmen)
This is an annual article that provides for the appointment of citizens to the Cary Lecture Series by the Moderator.
Presentation given by Rita Goldberg, TMM in Precinct 2 and Chair of Cary Lecture Series.
MOTION: That the report of the Committee on Cary Lectures be received and placed on file and the Committee discharged.
Voice Vote of Town Meeting: APPROVED
ARTICLE 34 will not be taken up tonight as Proponents and Board of Selectmen are working to refine language.
MOTION: That the report of the Committee on Cary Lectures be received and placed on file and the Committee discharged.
Voice Vote of Town Meeting: APPROVED
ARTICLE 34 will not be taken up tonight as Proponents and Board of Selectmen are working to refine language.
ARTICLE 33 – AMEND TOWN BYLAW - BAN PLASTIC BAGS (Citizen Article) To see whether the Town will vote to amend the Town Bylaws of the Town of Lexington to ban the use of thin-film single-use plastic bags, or to act in any manner in relation thereto. The purpose of this bylaw is to ban the use of think-film (less than 4.0 mil) single-use plastic checkout bags by business establishments in the Town of Lexington. (Inserted by Janet Moran and at least 9 or more registered voters)
This Article bans the use of thin-film single-use plastic bags. These bags have a detrimental impact on the environment by blocking waterways and sewer systems; choking, poisoning and entangling wildlife and collecting in our bodies interfering with critical bio-functioning. This ban does not include bags for laundry, dry cleaning, newspapers, loose produce, pastry, or for wrapping frozen food, fish or meat. Customers are encouraged to bring reusable bags.
MOTION: To amend the Town Bylaws by adding a new Bylaw, Chapter 81 (Plastic Bag Reduction Bylaw)
Recommendations of Boards, Committees:
Board of Selectmen (BoS): Unanimously Supports
Lexington Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors: Enthusiastically Supports
Sustainable Lexington: Unanimously Supports 4.0 mil
Lexington Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors: Enthusiastically Supports
Sustainable Lexington: Unanimously Supports 4.0 mil
Question from TMM/P2: How are we going to stop all bags?
A: This Article only addresses these retail bags.
Citizen Mic: Minuteman Indivisible Environmental Team Supports the ban, urges TMMs to do same.
TMM/P8 at YES Mic: Hastings PTO Green Team; this is not a be all and end all measure. Do not let perfect be the enemy of the good.
Q from TMM/P2: Clarify language
Town Moderator calls a brief recess to talk with Town Counsel
We're back in session
A: This Article only addresses these retail bags.
Citizen Mic: Minuteman Indivisible Environmental Team Supports the ban, urges TMMs to do same.
TMM/P8 at YES Mic: Hastings PTO Green Team; this is not a be all and end all measure. Do not let perfect be the enemy of the good.
Q from TMM/P2: Clarify language
Town Moderator calls a brief recess to talk with Town Counsel
We're back in session
A: Friendly amendment. 4.2 now reads: In the case of retail or grocery store with a floor area less than 3,500 square feet, this Bylaw shall not go into effect until July 1, 2019
Yes Mic TMM/P7: Many good reasons already stated; supporting BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) and will be voting YES
Q from TMM/P9: Clarification on fines -- I've got five bags from Stop & Shop -- is that one offense or 5?
A: Stop & Shop, CVS, Walgreens will comply easily. They are already using paper in other Towns around us.
Citizen Mic: Coalition of Parent, PTO, PTA Green Team Members; we sent letter to Board of Selectmen in support of this Bylaw
No Mic: Unacceptable for a friendly amendment -- we should be more precise and take a vote; vote against this
Q Mic: 4.1?
A: Automatic 6-month grace period for smaller stores.
No Mic: Support the idea, troubled by the language.
Citizen Mic: Support
TMM calls the question
Vote to close debate: Approved by voice vote -- debate is closed
Main Motion:
Vote of Town Meeting: APPROVED
Yes Mic TMM/P7: Many good reasons already stated; supporting BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) and will be voting YES
Q from TMM/P9: Clarification on fines -- I've got five bags from Stop & Shop -- is that one offense or 5?
A: Stop & Shop, CVS, Walgreens will comply easily. They are already using paper in other Towns around us.
Citizen Mic: Coalition of Parent, PTO, PTA Green Team Members; we sent letter to Board of Selectmen in support of this Bylaw
No Mic: Unacceptable for a friendly amendment -- we should be more precise and take a vote; vote against this
Q Mic: 4.1?
A: Automatic 6-month grace period for smaller stores.
No Mic: Support the idea, troubled by the language.
Citizen Mic: Support
TMM calls the question
Vote to close debate: Approved by voice vote -- debate is closed
Main Motion:
Vote of Town Meeting: APPROVED
Yes: 158
No: 10
Abstain: 3
BoS: Unanimously in support of IP
CEC: Unanimously in support of IP
ARTICLE 35 – RESOLUTION TO REQUEST WARRANT ARTICLES TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS (Citizen Article) To see if the Town will vote to pass a resolution strongly encouraging authors of warrant articles to present accompanying data with their motions showing the expected financial impact of their motion along with explicit assumptions to facilitate the evaluation of their motion by Town Meeting, or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by Mark Anderson and 9 or more registered voters)
The purpose of this resolution is to establish an expectation that Warrant Articles should be presented with reasonably standard impact statements to Town Meeting Members can quickly and more completely assess related motions.
The proponent of the Article, Mark Andersen, makes a brief presentation on the origin, spirit, and implications of Article 35.
BoS: Unanimously in support of IP
CEC: Unanimously in support of IP
MOTION: That this Article be Indefinitely Postponed (IP)
Voice Vote of Town Meeting: Unanimous
ARTICLE 41 – WRIGHT FARM PARCEL SPLIT (241 GROVE STREET) To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey the following portions of the land owned by the Town and shown as Parcel 1C on Lexington Assessor's Map 91:
(a) approximately +/-26,492 square feet in area shown as Parcel 2-B on a plan of land entitled, “241 Grove Street Plan of Land” prepared by Meridan Associates dated February 2, 2018 and on file at the Office of the Town Clerk, to the Conservation Commission, and to authorize the Conservation Commission to subsequently convey a conservation restriction on said Parcel 2-B; and
(b) approximately +/-16,954 square feet in area, shown as Parcel 2-A on said plan of land entitled “241 Grove Street Plan of Land”, to LexHAB, and for LexHAB to subsequently convey an affordable housing restriction on said parcel 2-A; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by the Board of Selectmen at the request of LexHAB)
This Article requests a revised rear lot line for the conveyance of land to the Conservation Commission and to LexHab, respectively, at 241 Grove Street, previously voted by Article 9 of Annual Town Meeting 2015, to provide a more regularly-shaped backyard for the affordable house.
Recommendations of Town Boards, Committees:
BoS: Unanimously Supports
CEC:
Planning Board (PB): Unanimously Supports
Q from TMM/P6: Does this require an act of the state legislature?
A: No
Requires a 2/3 Vote of Town Meeting
Yes: 161
No: 1
Abstain: 1
Motion is Approved
Before asking for a MOTION to adjourn, quick review for what's up on Wednesday night
Before asking for a MOTION to adjourn, quick review for what's up on Wednesday night
March 28, 2018
- TMMA awards
- Article 2 report – Planning Board
- Article 38 – Amend zoning bylaw – commercial district/Marrett Road (citizen article)
- Article 36 – Repeal prohibition of recreational marijuana establishments (citizen article)
- Article 43 – Amend Chapter 135 zoning bylaw – marijuana (citizen article)
- Article 44 – Demolition delay bylaw amendments
- Article 2 report – Lexington Schools Superintendent
Chair of BoS that Town Meeting adjourn until 7:30 PM Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Town Meeting: Approved
Adjourned, 9:23 PM
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* This (and future posts) is my work and does not represent an official record of Annual Town Meeting proceedings.