October 4, 2021 meeting

Chair Dalton called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. He announced that the meeting was being recorded for cable television telecast.

Change of officers and directors application, California Pizza Kitchen, Market Street

Chair Dalton announced that this item will be postponed to a future meeting.

Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence

Mr. Crawford recused himself from this portion of the meeting, explaining that one of the nominees for the award is his wife.

Annually the Board considers nominations for the Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence to honor individuals who have offered exemplary volunteer service to the Town. Past winners are Arthur Bourque, Joe Maney, Al Merritt, Dave Drislane, Fred Santangelo and Betty Adelson. The Board has received nominations for the award. Recipients will be honored at a subsequent meeting of the Board.

Resident Beverly Merritt spoke on behalf of her nominee, Ellen Crawford, extolling her outstanding leadership and tireless efforts of volunteerism in Lynnfield. She said she has known her I have known Ellen for 30+ years through their church and civic activities, and noted she chaired two successful Selectman campaigns for Al Merritt, her late husband. She is a past winner of the Lynnfield Town Pride Award, and has been a member and driving force on the grassroots committee to develop Market Street, the Friends of the Lynnfield Senior Center. Friends of the Lynnfield Library and the Village Home & Garden Club. She was also a PTO Member 1990-2009, chaired the Summer Street Pumpkin Fair & Auction for 12 years, raising

over $200,000; raised funds to buy playground equipment and improve Media Center, and serve on committees such as the Moving On ceremony at the Summer Street and Middle School, was an instrumental force in the Vote Yes efforts for the 2000 and 2021 school building projects. She has also been a CCD instructor at St. maria Goretti Church and is an active parishioner and donor of the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative. She serves on the Governor’s Board of Massachusetts Homeownership Advisory. Professionally, she is a Realtor.

Assistant Town Administrator Robert Curtin spoke on behalf of his nominee, the late Robert Weiss, who served the Town of Lynnfield as a member of the School Committee and the Select Board in the 1970s and early 1980s. Board colleagues and Town officials and department heads who worked with him at that time and they were unanimous in their respect for his intellect, work ethic, and integrity. He said Weiss’s singular vision and execution of an idea that has benefitted Lynnfield for decades and will continue to benefit Lynnfield for decades to come: LIFE, Inc. He was the driving force behind the concept and fulfillment of this vision. When the He was the driving force behind the Center Village concept and the approval process which saw local boards, committees and town meeting grant the approvals needed that brought this concept to fruition. He was also instrumental in developing the unique relationship between the Town and LIFE, Inc. that has served as an inspiration and model for many other communities. He worked with Malcolm Smith and others to propose, and create a second "village" to meet the growing demand for housing units for Lynnfield residents and family members. While this process proved more challenging than the initial establishment of Center Village, eventually Essex Village was approved. A third village, Colonial Village, was also the result of LIFE Inc.

Professionally, he co-founded his own research and development organization, Physical Sciences, Inc., which he led for more than 30 years. Unfortunately, Bob Weiss passed away in May of this year. I think that it is fitting that the Town acknowledge its debt to his contributions, and I believe Bob Weiss epitomized the selfless dedication to community which the Daniel Townsend Award was created.

Chair Dalton said that he first learned of Ellen Crawford’s abilities and dedication from Al Merritt, who thought so much of her, and said she is a very worthy candidate for this award. He said of the Robert Weiss nomination that the LIFE, Inc. operation was a model for other communities and people will benefit from his contribution for generations. He said it is fitting that the two worthy nominees represent a current volunteer and oner from the past.

MOTION by Mr. Connell, duly seconded by Chair Dalton: I move that the Board vote to name Ellen Crawford and Robert Weiss as recipients of the Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence. Vote was 2-0, with Mr. Crawford recused.

Presentation of proposed development and rezoning at Richardson Green, Angus Bruce

Angus Bruce came before the Board to make a presentation on the proposed rezoning of the Richardson Green property on Main Street to Elderly Housing District. Mr. Bruce has also presented a proposed development agreement for the Board’s consideration. The matter is part of the fall town meeting warrant. He said that if the Town chooses not to exercise its option to purchase the property or assign that option to another nonprofit entity, he would be willing to enter into a development agreement with the Town in which he would bring water service from Lowell Street to the property on Main Street, including fire hydrants, and would make that water service available for other properties not currently served. He would also execute a conservation restriction for 10 of the 20 acres, providing the Town access to the property for parking, trails and other uses. He would also provide traffic improvements with solar-powered walk signals on Lowell Street at Main Street.

He also said that the rezoning and development of this property would result in $800,000 in tax revenue to the Town, plus an impact fee of $20,000 per unit, as well as the revenue from inspectional fees and excise taxes.

Mr. Crawford said this agreement is similar to one proposed when the rezoning was defeated by a previous town meeting g. He noted the Town has received a large state grant for the purchased of the property and its preservation as open space. In combination with funds from the Conservation Commission’s land acquisition fund, the Essex Greenbelt nonprofit contribution, and federal stimulus funds, he believes the Town will opt to partner with Essex Greenbelt to exercise its acquisition rights under Chapter 61 of state law. He said he would not endorse Mr. Bruce’s proposal. Mr. Connell thanked Mr. Bruce for his presentation but said he agrees with Mr. Crawford. Chair Dalton said he is impressed with the economic benefits outlined by Mr. Bruce but said the Town has a very attractive opportunity to acquire this open space. He said that six months ago that he would have expected the Board would have agreed to Mr. Bruce’s plan and that the funding available now for its preservation was an unexpected turn of events.

Mr. Bruce said that as a developer he said he believes the Town would greatly benefit from his proposal and asked ho much the Town would be paying from its own funds to keep the property undeveloped.

Review of fall town meeting warrant articles

Chair Dalton explained that the Town Accountant is still compiling the list of proposed transfers and collecting from departments any overdue bills from a prior fiscal year asked that recommendations on articles 1 and 2 be deferred to the meeting of the Board on the night of town meeting.

On the petition article seeking the rezoning of the Richardson Green parcel on Main Street to Elderly Housing District, discussed previously in the meeting, the Board too the following action:

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to recommend indefinite postponement of Article 4. Vote was unanimous.

The Board then took up discussion of Article 3, the proposed Tree Bylaw submitted by the Planning Board. Planning Board Chair Brian Charville said that board has been working on the bylaw for many months and has made revisions since August in response to concerns raised. The new version only applies to properties for which a proposed project requires a site plan or special permit, or for a new home or new subdivision. He said the need for the bylaw became clear when several properties in Town were clear-cut, including Tuttle Lane, Sagamore Place, and on Lowell Street. The Planning Board heard many complaints from residents about these activities.

Resident Paul Marchionda said he agrees the Planning Board has done much work on the proposed bylaw but said he still has many issues with it. He mentioned a property on Oakridge Terrace where the owner of over 30 years is planning work that would trigger the bylaw. He said that due to the narrow shape of the lot, the owner would be required to compromise his plan or pay a signi9ficant sum to replicate trees he needs to cut down. He said 70 percent of the property is subject to the bylaw. He said he believes this is an example of over-regulation. He said property owners will choose to clear-cut properties before the bylaw goes into effect. He also questioned how the tree warden will determine the cost for tree replication, and said this should properly be a zoning bylaw, not a general bylaw, and therefore require a two-thirds vote for passage at town meeting.

Mr. Charville said he would be happy to hear from residents at the Planning Board’s next meeting, but said that board has been working on the proposed bylaw for two years. He objected to Mr. Marchionda’s characterization of this effort as a “rush to judgment.”

Chair Dalton said he would wish to defer a Board recommendation until after the Planning Board’s further discussion. Mr. Crawford agreed.

Designation of the Public Safety Building Committee as special municipal employees

When the Board creates a new committee, it generally votes to name its members as Special Municipal Employees, which allows the members to participate in matters and conduct business with the Town in areas not directly related to their service on this board or committee.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford of the Select Board, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to designate members of the Public Safety Building Committee as special municipal employees.

Use of Facilities:

 a. Use of common, November 11, Veterans Day observance

MOTION by Mr. Crawford of the Select Board, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to approve the Use of Facilities application as received, subject to any restrictions that may be placed on them by the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Director of Public Works. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford of the Select Board, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Select Board adjourn.  Vote was unanimous.

The Board adjourned at 6:31 p.m.