June 3 2021 meeting

Chair Dalton called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. He announced that the meeting was being recorded for cable television telecast,

Citations, North Shore Stars Mite 1 Team and North Shore Stars Mite 3 Team

Both teams won their leagues and citations are being prepared. The teams and their coaches were in attendance and received citations.

Coach Nick Bello reviewed the Mite 1 Team season and introduced the players and coaches, and reviewed their season, including the championship win over Winchester.

Mite 3 Team Coach Steve McNaught reviewed his team’s season, including an overtime championship win against Wakefield. He introduced the players and coaches.

Board members congratulated the teams and presented them with letters of congratulation.

Public hearing, laying out of Zepaj Lane

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the meeting be opened. Vote was unanimous.

Town Engineer Charles Richter said the Department of Public Works supports Zepaj Lane was built under the subdivision control and the Planning Board and Town Engineer have confirmed that the street meets the Town’s standards and fulfills its definitive plan. He said the subdivision was completed quickly. The laying out of the public way is necessary prior to the vote to accept the street, which is on the annual town meeting agenda. The abutters to the street were notified by hand delivery in accordance with state law.

No one else wished to speak on the matter.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the public hearing be closed. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to lay out Zepaj Lane as presented. Vote was unanimous,

Road paving program

Town Engineer Charlie Richter reviewed the 2021 road construction program. He said that several roads will be paved and other projects will be completed from state Chapter 90 highway funds, the capital program that will go before annual town meeting this month, and funds received for National Grid for restoration of roadways disturbed by their utility work.

Roads to be paved include Summer Street from Taylor Terrace to Elliott Road, the portion of the street disturbed by national Grid. Sidewalk improvements will be included as well. The Summer-Walnut intersection will be improved. Timberhill Lane will include a culvert improvement as well as repaving, and Timberhill Terrace will also be repaved. Other paving includes Juniper Road, the portion of Hart Road that was not addressed previously; Chestnut Street from hart Road to Townsend Road. The pavement management system will also be updated, as it is five years old. Funds will also be used to purchased radar feedback signs to help with speeding issues. Drainage improvements will also be undertaken on Maple Street.

Mr. Richter explained how the streets are chosen through the pavement management system. The streets were rated by an independent engineering firm, from worst to best, and the department works its way through the list. It conducts reviews of the 40 worst streets and re-evaluates after the winter. They are prioritized by volume of traffic, and the schedule is also affected by the scheduling of utility work. Mr. Crawford said he is glad to see that Town is able to do so many streets.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to accept the road paving program as presented. The vote was unanimous.

Discussion of Rotary Park rules and regulations

Chair Dalton said that the Board has received complaints about the plantings and fishing activities at Rotary Park. A letter has been sent by resident Mary Stewart and abutting property owner Theresa Yulling has also complained.

Mary Stewart of Thomas Road said she moved to that address during the early 1990s when the pond dredging project was underway. She was concerned about the property values due to the condition of the pond. She discussed the founding of Rotary Park in 2005, with benches, a small dock and trees, with the view of the pond clear. She said Conservation Commission planted shrubs around 2015, and they have obscured the view of the shoreline. She said adults who fish have taken over the shoreline and leave behind fishing gear that ensnares sucks and geese. She noted this month Conservation planted 100 plants to demonstrate to private homeowners how to maintain the shoreline. She said these landowners already know how best to maintain their properties. Some pruning was done in the past, but clear-cutting was not allowed. She suggested a small stone wall or fence to keep people from accessing the shoreline and create more erosion. She said you should be able to see the pond from the benches there, which are dedicated to individuals by family members who purchased them from the Town.

She asked for public funds and donations to improve the Summer Street shoreline by adding benches and clearcutting shrubs that are rooting in the pond. She said Rotary Park should be under the Recreation Commission, not the Conservation Commission.

Planning and Conservation Director Emilie Cademartori said the vegetation on the shoreline was planted by the Town several times. They include plantings required under a federal Environmental Protection Agency order that resulted from the dredging project, and to help stabilize the shoreline and prevent erosion. She said the Town may be technically out of compliance with the EPA order as some of the islands that were put in place have not been maintained. A state grant of $100,000 was used several years ago for aquatic vegetation management, installation of a small dock and improvements to the boat ramp, shoreline plantings and hydro raking. Non-native plants were removed and shrubs were pruned to improve views.

She said a balance can be struck between the desires of residents and pond abutters want and what is allowed under the local, state and federal regulations. She said that vista pruning can continue but the Wetlands Protection Act does not allow for native plants to be removed. She said that the Commission is asking residents to work to preserve the shoreline by enhancing vegetation and remove lawns. She said the shrubs help hold the shoreline together and prevent erosion. The most recent planting was intentionally low so as not to block the view. These plantings help the aquatic habitat.

She said that enforcement of fishing licenses is a state function, and local authorities cannot enforce this law.

Mr. Crawford said the Town has responded to requests for pruning and asked that this continues. Mr. Connell said Ms. Cademartori has answered all his questions.

Ms. Yulling of Summer Street said that she has lived on the pond for 5o years. She complained about garbage, fishing hooks, and other debris are left behind for her and others to pick up. She said fishing should be for Lynnfield residents only. She said fishing line left at the pond ensnares waterfowl. She also complained about people using her private parking lot for U-turns. She said the boaters use the shore, not the ramps. She complained about public urination at the pond and fishermen breaking the plantings to gain access to the pond. She said local youngsters and the elderly cannot access the pond due to out-of-town adults.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to take this matter under advisement as we solicit public input. Vote was unanimous.

Recommendations on warrant articles

Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin reviewed the annual town meeting articles. Mr. Curtin said Articles 1 through five are routine articles included in each warrant. Articles 6 and 7 are the operating and capital budgets, Articles 8 and 9 allow for appropriations to the Stabilization and Capital Facilities Funds, and Article 10 sets maximum amounts for the Town’s Revolving Funds for the fiscal year. Articles 11 and 12 are the Emergency Medical Services and Golf enterprise budgets.

Article 13 is the authorization of borrowing of additional funds for the elementary schools expansion projects. Town Administrator Robert Dolan said a portion of the funds would go to flood remediation on the site and the surrounding neighborhood, and additional contingency funds for the project in light of the increasing cost of materials. This will give the Town sufficient bonding capacity to fund the bid of the project. He said many companies have expressed interest in bidding on the project, but if the Ton does not provide sufficient funding to meet the successful bid, the project cannot go forward. He said some of the funds will be used to address the sidewalk on Knoll Road and to make improvements to public safety technology at Summer Street School which

Article 14 would rescind excess authorizations to borrow for past programs that have been completed or are no longer in use. Article 15 would authorize a lease agreement under which the Town would pay for new energy-efficient equipment at Town properties through the savings realized in utility bills. Mr. Dolan said this will not be a burden on taxpayers, as the funding for the program will come from savings which are guaranteed.

Article 16 would amend the Town’s fee bylaw to bring Town fees in various departments to levels that reflect current practices and rates in other local communities.  These fee recommendations came from Town departments to bring the Town up to date with fees charged in surrounding communities, as many of these have not been increased in 20 years.

Article 17 would increase the annual hours that seniors participating in the tax work-off program can work. Article 18 would accept a provision of state law allowing the Town to match certain tax property tax exemptions allowed by the state for qualifying seniors, veterans and the blind. Article 19 would allow the Town to accept Zepaj Lane as a public way. Article 20, would revise the Town’s Stormwater Bylaw to bring it into compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. Mr. Richter said this will not affect residents directly.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend Articles 1, 2, 3 and 4. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend indefinite postponement of Article 5, as there are no unpaid bills from a prior fiscal year. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend Article 6. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend Article 7. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend Articles 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend Article 13. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend Article 14. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend Article 15. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend Article 16. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend Article 17. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend Article 18. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend Article 19. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend Article 20. Vote was unanimous.

Use of Facilities

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to allow the use of the Town roads on October 26 for the Ave Maria Parish/Think of Michael Foundation Road Race, subject to final review of the course by the Police Chief. Vote was unanimous.

Race Amity Day proclamation

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to declare June 21, 2021 as race Amity Day in the Town of Lynnfield. Vote was unanimous.

The Board adjourned at 7:06 p.m.