Sixth Session | 2019 Town Meeting

We're in Battin Hall, Cary Memorial Building
Call to Order comes right at 7:30 PM

A few announcements from Town Moderator (TMod)

Article 2: Report of the Planning Board
MOTION to receive the report and place on file PASSES on a VOICE VOTE (VV)
Ginna Johnson, Town Meeting Member in Precinct5 (TMM/P5) and Planning Board Member with an update on the Comprehensive Plan

Article 38: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map, 186 Bedford Street (Owner Petition)
REVISED MOTION that this project be referred back to the Planning Board
MOU is HERE
Handout is HERE
Presentation is HERE
Planning Board's Report on Article 38 is HERE, placed on file by VV
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Planning Board (PB): Supports referral back to PB
Select Board (SB): Unanimous support to refer back
Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC):
Appropriation Committee (AC):
Question Mic (Qmic) TMM/:P7 Please highlight the areas to be further refined
PB: Our report outlines what we are happy with and what we think is needed.
YESmic: TMM/P4 Cites 'Overlay Districts' under MGL Ch.40R; hopes Town will adopt before taking this up again, perhaps in the Fall
YESmic: TMM/P8
No further questions
VOTE on the REVISED MOTION is a simple majority:
YES: 160
NO: 2
ABSTAIN: 2
MOTION as REVISED CARRIES

Reconsideration of Article 28 (due to a technical correction): Confirm Street Acceptance and Title (Portion of Pelham Road)
James Malloy, Town Manager this correction address a concern raised by Town Counsel
VOTE to RECONSIDER Article 28 PASSES on a VV
SB Chair MOVES to remove 9 words in the original MOTION (removes 'on file in the office of the Town Clerk'
VOTE on Reconsidered Article 28 requires simple majority and PASSES on a VV

Debate continues on remaining parts of Article 16 (g,h,i,m,n,o,p): Appropriate for Municipal Capital Projects and Equipment
MOTION (all parts), HERE
Article 16g (removed from Consent Agenda): Sidewalk Improvements
RECOMMENDATIONS:
SB: Unanimously supports
Appropriation Committee (AC): Unanimously supports
Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC): Unanimously supports
Question mic (Qmic): What color will the ramps be?
Town of Lexington (ToL): Concrete with the brick red panel
No further Qs requires 2/3 majority:
YES: 159
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 2
MOTION CARRIES

Article 16h: Hill Street New Sidewalk Project; presentation is HERE
RECOMMENDATIONS:

SB: support

CEC: support

AC: support

Qmic: TMM/P8: What's the timeframe for completion?

ToL: On the golf course side by next construction season

YESmic: TMM/P8

Citizen's mic (Cmic): Resident urges support

Qmic: TMM/P8 What's the process for determine sidewalk?

ToL: The process begins with a submittal to the transpo safety group; is it buildable? From there, a survey to determine if Town owns land to put in a sidewalk

Qmic: TMM/P8: Seems we have a queue. We have a process. What prevents from building more sidewalk?

ToL: Financial aspect to do more than one in a year; also bandwidth for the Town and for the Public

YESmic: TMM/P5 

Qmic: TMM/P4 Cost is about $400/foot of asphalt, why so high?

ToL: With a 5-foot width; some unique and challenging aspects on Hill Street -- steep slopes that require retaining walls, sloping issues

No further Qs (2/3 majority):

YES: 164

NO: 0

ABSTAIN: 1

MOTION CARRIES

Article 16i: Equipment Replacement (DPW); presentation is HERE

RECOMMENDATIONS:
SB: support
AC: support
CEC: support
VOTE requires 2/3 majority:

YES: 164
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION CARRIES

Proposal to take three Articles together:
Article 16m: Municipal Technology Improvement Program
Article 16n: Application Implementation

Article 16o: Network Core Equipment Replacement
All three have support of SB and the financial committees (AC, CEC)
No Qs

VOTE requires simple majority for Article 16m,n,o:
YES: 165
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION CARRIES

Article 16p: Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations; presentation is HERE
SB and Finance Committees support
Qmic: TMM/P8 People charged or free service?
SB Member Hai: Users will pay for the cost of electricity as well as parking fee
YESmic: TMM/P2
Qmic: TMM/P3 What is the power that is going to be charging?
ToL: 240KW
Qmic: TMM/P3 Do you have plans to upgrade through Eversource? That's very slow charging rate
ToL: Current electrical output supports a Level 2 charger; depends where Eversource goes with this
Qmic: TMM/P3 Can they charge more rapidly with a higher charger?
SB Member Sandeen: Eversource's program is to charge Level 2 charges; Level 3 chargers are in special areas, like on the MassPike; can't be supported in Town Center
Qmic: TMM/P3 How will the metering be charged?
ToL: Charging stations have a charge point card or app and the Town can adjust the rates and get the appropriate amount of money over time
YESmic: TMM/P8
CALLS THE QUESTION
PASSES
VOTING is a simple majority:
YES: 164
NO: 2
ABSTAIN: 2
MOTION CARRIES

Article 20e: Appropriate for Lexington High School Field House Track Resurfacing

MOTION is HERE

Presentation is HERE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
SB: Unanimously supports
AC: Unanimously supports all items
CEC: Unanimously supports remaining parts
School Committee (SC): Unanimously supports
Qmic: TMM/P6 Q about safety
ToL: Tour of facility; researched time is now
Qmic: TMM/P6 is also an Assistant Coach for LHS Track. Is this just the track or Basketball?
ToL: Just the Track
VOTE on Article 20e requires simple majority
YES: 164
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION CARRIES

Article 20h: Appropriate Design Funds for a Feasibility Study to Improve the Cary Library Children's Room

Presentation for Article 20h, HERE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
SB, AC, CEC are all in Unanimous Support
Qmic: TMM/P3 Support columns cost?
ToL: Don't want to comment on that yet until we understand the program
Qmic: TMM/P6 Estmated cost of $2.2M. What are likely outcomes based on what we know?
Koren Stembridge, Cary Library Director: Teen spaces was about $1.1M that didn't require structural changes. We'd like to scoop out the U-shape into more of a Square with improved sightlines. One of the busiest spaces. Want to have better flexibility and safety. Haven't invested since built/renovated in 2005
CEC: Call attention to the footnote to a capital campaign
Qmic: TMM/P6 Inadequate space. Where will that space come from?
Stembridge: We need to reallocate the space so that it is flexible (within the footprint)
YESmic: TMM/P8
YESmic: TMM/P2
Qmic: TMM/P8 Will the Memorial plaque remain in the Children's Room following rennovation?
Stembridge; Yes
No further Qs
VOTE on Article 20h requires simple majority
YES: 161
NO: 1
ABSTAIN: 3
MOTION CARRIES

Reconsideration of Article 39: Amend Zoning Bylaw—Limited Site Plan Review (Citizen Article)
MOTION to reconsider requires 2/3 VOTE because notice wasn't offered within 30 minutes of the initial vote
RECOMMENDATIONS ON REOPENING THE ARTICLE:
SC: Unanimously supports
PB: 4-1 OPPOSES REOPENING
SB: 5-0 SUPPORTS REOPENING
CEC: 5-1 IN SUPPORT OF RECONSIDERATION
Qmic: Does the MM school fall under the purview of Town Land
ToL: it does not
YESmic: TMM/P4
Qmic: TMM/P8 Proponent did not realize the impact on LPS?
Proponent: Had not considered LPS would be impacted by the Article
YESmic: TMM/P6
Cmic: Thinks there's no harm in keeping the Article in place
YESmic: CALLS THE Q
DEBATE IS CLOSED ON A VOICE VOTE
VOTE to RECONSIDER REQUIRES 2/3 MAJORITY:
YES: 137
NO: 19
ABSTAIN: 5
MOTION TO RECONSIDER PASSES
MOTION to AMEND Article 39:
Qmic:
YESmic:
NOmic:
VOTE on (RECONSIDERED) ARTICLE 39:
AMENDED MOTION adds language: [A New Part:] 6. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter the use of land or structures for educational purposed by the Lexington Public Schools on land owned or leased by the Town of Lexington or the Lexington Public Schools shall not be subject to site plan review pursuant to §9.5
PB: 4-1 OPPOSES AMENDMENT
SB: 4-1 SUPPORTS
CEC: 4-2 in SUPPORT
Qmic: TMM/P3 Does the PB have the bandwidth to undertake this?
PB: Yes
YESmic: TMM/P8
Qmic: TMM/P1 asks about GC districts, building heights
TMM CALLS THE QUESTION
THE AYES HAVE IT BY VV
Final comments
VOTE on Article 39 AMENDMENT requires simple majority
YES: 120
NO: 34
ABSTAIN: 6
MOTION CARRIES

VOTE on AMENDED Article 39 to change the Zoning Bylaw requires 2/3 majority
YES: 139
NO: 12
ABSTAIN: 8
MOTION CARRIES

Article 27: Appropriate for Authorized Capital Improvements
MOTION is HERE
Presentation is HERE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
SB: 5-0 support
CEC: 4-2 in support
AC: 6-2 in support
Tourism Committee: Unanimously in support
SB Member Lucente is RECUSING
MOTION to AMEND will be for an A Part and a B Part:
Insert "a)" before the current language of the MAIN MOTION under the article and furthermore Insert "b)" That the town make a supplemental appropriation of $117,100, and authorize an increase by said amount in the appropriation made under Article 10 of the 2018 annual Town meeting, for the Center Track and Field Reconstruction, so that the total appropriation authorized by Town Meeting for these purposes by $3,457,100, and to meet this supplemental appropriation that $58,550 be appropriated from the Recreation Enterprise Fund
SB: Opposed
CEC: Opposed
AC: Opposed
SC: Opposed
Cmic has a long line of students there to speak in support
YESmic: TMM/P1
NOmic: TMM/P7
Qmic: TMM/P9 Are there grass sites for track throwing events?
ToL: Yes, on natural grass at center complex
Cmic: Resident opposes amendment
NOmic: TMM/P5
Qmic: TMM/P1 Health risks on synthetic turf?
ToL: Peer reviewed scientific studies show no negative effects
Qmic: Lincoln ever tested for toxic materials?
ToL: Yes, all tests came back that materials are safe
Qmic: TMM/P1 How is synthetic turf recycled?
ToL: Not returned to landfills, recycled into other products
Cmic: Resident is a Student at LHS and is a hammer thrower on the Track Team. Needs a Hybrid field to play on. Same for Javelins. Synthetic turf is much hotter.
TIME IS EXPIRED
Final comments
MOTION to EXTEND DEBATE FAILS by a VV
VOTE on ARTICLE 27 to AMEND to add the "A" part and also the "B" parts to the MOTION requires simple majority:
YES: 38
NO: 104
ABSTAIN: 6
MOTION to AMEND FAILS
Back to the original MOTION
There were Qs
No further Qs
FINAL VOTE on ARTICLE 27 requires 2/3 majority:
YES: 129
NO: 13
ABSTAIN: 4
MOTION CARRIES

No further business from previous nights
MOTION to DISSOLVE 2019 TOWN MEETING PASSES by a VOICE VOTE
2019 Town Meeting is DISSOLVED
TIME OF DISSOLUTION: 10:40 PM

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Image credit: Town Meeting Members use an electronic voting device to record their votes on most Articles; other votes are taken by Voice Vote. View the record of their 2019 Town Meeting votes to date HERE ~ mas