April 24, 2017 meeting minutes
Board of Selectmen | April 24, 2017 |
Regular Session | Middle School Teachers’ Cafeteria |
Present: | Christopher Barrett, Chairman |
| Philip Crawford, Selectman |
| Richard Dalton, Selectman |
Chairman Barrett called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m.
Recommendations on warrant articles
The Board took up recommendations on the annual town meeting warrant articles for which it had not made a recommendation previously.
On Article 4, regarding amending the current fiscal year budget, Town Administrator James Boudreau reviewed the proposed changes as explained in the town meeting handout. He said that the major changes included funds needed for police overtime due to a vacancy and a long-term injury on duty; funds for dispatcher overtime to cover for a long-term illness leave, and funds for library salaries for the payout of accruals for an employee who resigned.
On the motion of Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Dalton, the Board voted unanimously to recommend Article 4 as reflected in the town meeting handout.
On Article 5, Mr. Boudreau said that no unpaid bills from prior fiscal years had emerged.
On the motion of Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Dalton, the Board voted unanimously to recommend indefinite postponement of Article 5.
On Article 25, regarding funding for the Town-wide fields project, Mr. Boudreau said he is recommending the spending of $2,250,000. The funding sources would be $1 million in borrowing, $500,000 from the Sale of Real Estate account, and $750,000 released by the Board of Assessors from the overlay reserve. Mr. Boudreau said that there would still be sufficient funds in overlay for the ongoing Market Street abatement application.
Mr. Boudreau said that there is not sufficient borrowing capacity under the Proposition 2-1/2 cap to address all the fields items that had been discussed previously. He said the priority of Recreational Fields Advisory Committee Chairman Arthur Bourque is the Middle School track and field, as well as addressing safety issues at the elementary school playgrounds. The cost estimate for the Middle School track and field work was $2 million, but included $250,000 in irrigation work, which may be a high estimate, as well as an artificial turf field.
Chairman Barrett said he would prefer a natural grass field, as the High School field is artificial turf. Selectman Crawford said that it may be possible to reuse some of the soil at the field in its reconstruction. Selectman Dalton agreed the Middle School track and field should be the priority, and that some value engineering may be done to lower the cost. Board members agreed that holding off could set this project back a year. Chairman Barrett said that the track will not only benefit Lynnfield High School’s track team, which has not had a home track event in four years due to the track’s condition, but all residents, who may use it for exercise.
On the motion of Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Dalton, the Board voted unanimously to recommend Article 25, with the funding amounts as recommended by Mr. Boudreau.
On the motion of Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Dalton, the Board voted unanimously to recommend that the Middle School track and field and the elementary school safety issues be listed as priorities for funding under the article.
On the motion of Selectman Dalton, duly seconded by Selectman Crawford, the Board voted unanimously to recommend indefinite postponement or Article 26 and Article 27. Article 26 would have addressed Jordan Park improvements, which will not be taken up at this town meeting. Article 27 would have addressed funding for the Middle School fields project, but it was decided to move all funding into the general article to allow for greater flexibility to address issues if there are remaining funds.
Use of Town facilities
On the motion of Selectman Dalton, duly seconded by Selectman Crawford, the Board voted unanimously to approve the use of Town roads for the Multiple Sclerosis Society walk on June 17, with a route approved by Police Chief David Breen.
On the motion of Selectman Dalton, duly seconded by Selectman Crawford, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request of Townscape, Inc. to place a banner above the common for its Geraniumfest event from May 6-20.
On the motion of Selectman Dalton, duly seconded by Selectman Crawford, the Board voted unanimously to approve the use of the South Fire lot on May 7 for a car wash for the Lynnfield High School baseball team.
On the motion of Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Dalton, the Board voted unanimously to recess the meeting until the opening of town meeting.
The meeting was recessed at 6:46 p.m.; no further business was undertaken by the Board at town meeting, which adjourned at 11:42 p.m.