August 20, 2018 minutes

Chairman Dalton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. He announced that the meeting will be recorded for cable television transmission and left those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Appointment of Historical Commission alternate member

Chairman Dalton announced that the Board is accepting nominations for the Daniel Townsend Award of Excellence, and asked that nominations be e-mauled to the assistant town administrator.

September 4 state primary warrant

Town Clerk Trudy Reid presented the state primary warranted and reviewed the availability of absentee ballots.

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Barrett: I move that the Board of Selectmen approve the state primary warrant as presented. Vote was unanimous.

Change of manager, Legal Sea Foods, LLC, dba Legal C Bar, 427 Walnut Street

Prospective manager Jonathan Brackman, now serving as general manager, reviewed his 10 years of experience in the restaurant business, including his service as assistant general manager at the Lynnfield location and as manager at the Legal Seafoods in Peabody.

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Barrett: I move that the Board of Selectmen approve the state primary warrant as presented. Vote was unanimous.

Request for holiday hours, Market Street

Christina Barrows, general manager of Market Street, explained the request for expanded hours of operation for the holiday season. Chairman Dalton noted that the request that Please note that Lynnfield does not allow liquor establishments to remain open after 1:00 a.m. under any circumstances.

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Barrett: I move that the Board of Selectmen approve the following hours for Market Street as requested, as provided under the Development agreement: The day after Thanksgiving, through January 1, opening at 7:00 a.m. and closing at 11:00 p.m.; and that on December 23, that Whole Foods be allowed an opening of 7:00 a.m. and closing at midnight; and that on December 31 restaurants be able to stay open until 1:00 a.m. Vote was unanimous.

Appointment of Elections Worker

Town Clerk Trudy Reid has recommended that the Board appoint Maria Tateosian as an election worker. 

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Barrett: I move that the Board of Selectmen appoint Maria Tateosian as an election worker with a term to expire on June 30, 2019. Vote was unanimous.

2018-2019 meeting schedule

The Board reviewed the proposed meeting schedule for September 2018 through June 2019.

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Barrett: I move that the Board of Selectmen approve the proposed schedule as presented with the following changes: the first meeting of September will be held on September 12 and the second meeting in September will be held on September 25. Vote was unanimous.

Community Compact

The Commonwealth began accepting applications under the Community Compact program August 15. Town Administrator Dolan has reviewed areas of potential applications with department heads and continued those discussions earlier today. A list of Best Practices categories has been supplied to the Board for its review. He told the Board finalists were in the following categories Green Community, Master Plan or Open Space Plan Development, Collective Bargaining Cost-Out and Wage and Classification Plan; Succession Plan for Department heads; Information Technology Assessment; Social Media Strategy; Emergency Management Plan. He said all are important and needed areas of focus.

He recommended that the Town apply in the following two categories, as only two applications are accepted for each community:

The Emergency Preparedness Plan, as the Town is required to update its plan regularly and that update is due. This proposal would allow the Town hire a consultant to assist the development of a new plan, encompassing several changes to the community that have taken place since the last plan was adopted.

The Open Space and Recreation Plan: Another plan required of every community in order to be eligible for open space and recreation grants. A committee is developing a plan with guidance of retired Conservation Administrator Betty Adelson. Her successor, Emilie Catenator, said that some assistance is needed on creating the necessary maps and documents to complete the plan.

Members of the Board asked about several other categories. In response to Selectman Barrett, Mr. Dolan said that the Town has already hired assistance to look at school enrollment and demographics. Chairman Dalton asked about categories that involve managing and protecting water resources, information technology, and training for police for active shooters and domestic, substance abuse and mental health issues. Selectman Crawford asked about digitizing of public records. On active shooters, Police Chief Breen said that police have training in this area.

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Barrett: I move that the Board instruct the Town Administrator to apply for a Community Compact Grant in the area of Emergency Management Planning. Vote was unanimous

The Board will discuss a second application at its next meeting.

Public participation

Resident Peter Volpe disused discolored water issues with the Lynnfield Center water District, and noted the Town has no jurisdiction. He said the Town has some responsibility.

Resident Karen Colby also discussed water quality issues in the Lynnfield Center Water District, saying rust had ruined laundry. She said the water contains toxins and carcinogens.

Resident Patricia Campbell suggested residents with concerns attend Lynnfield Center Water District Board of Water Commissioners meetings, and said the Town should consider water issues when approving dense housing developments.

Chairman Dalton thanked residents for expressing their concerns and said the Board has no authority over the Lynnfield Center Water District. He suggested residents attend their meetings and said he will ask the Town Administrator and Town Counsel to review possible actions and alternative measures.

Town Administrator Update

Mr. Dolan gave several brief updates on issues in the goals and tasks document, including the Perley Burrill property, the Recreational Path proposal, elimination of dust at the King Rail gold course parking lot, school safety measures involving locks and access cards provided to staff, information technology issues at Town Hall. On the Recreational Path, he said that an agreement has been reached with Wakefield that the two towns would split the costs of additional engineering for the project should it go forward, even though 60 percent of the trail is in Lynnfield. He said the Board has expressed a goal that no Lynnfield taxpayer funds be used in the creation of the trail. The Friends of the Lynnfield Rail Trail applied for and received a $100,000 grant to assist in the development of the trail, and $500,000 in funds for that effort are included in the Environmental Bond Bill. Those funds will only be available if the governor releases the funds, which is usually done very sparingly.

Selectman Update

Healthy Lynnfield (Selectman Crawford): Lahey Health will donate $10,000 top $15,000 to promote programming. The state budget included $50,000 for the hiring of a Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator. This would pay for a coordinator who would also serve as a grant writer. A federal grant offers up to $625,000 over five years.

Use of Town Facilities

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Barrett: I move that the Board of Selectmen approve the proposed block party on Mayberry Lane at Cortland Lane from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. on September 2, 2018. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Barrett I move that the Board of Selectmen approve the use of the common for First Responders Day on September 11, 2018 and the placement of a banner above the common for that event from September 4-11. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Barrett: I move that the Board of Selectmen disapprove the proposed use of the common for a baby shower on September 22, 2018 in keeping with the Board’s practice of not allowing the use of the common for private events. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Barrett: I move that the Board of Selectmen approve the use of South Fire Station for a car wash by the Lynnfield Field Hockey team on September 9. Vote was unanimous.

Executive Sessions

Request for executive session under G.L. c. 30A, §§21 (a)(6) to discuss the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, to wit the Sagamore Golf Course property.

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Barrett: I move the Board enter Executive Session under G.L. c. 30A, §§21 (a)(6) to discuss the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, to wit the Sagamore Golf Course property.

Chairman Dalton announced that a public discussion would be detrimental to the Town’s bargaining position.

Roll call vote: Selectman Barrett, yes; Selectman Crawford, yes; Chairman Dalton, yes.

Request for executive session under G.L. c.30A §21 (a)(3) concerning strategy in potential litigation and/or settlement with Officer Kilroy.

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Selectman Barrett: I move the Board enter Executive Session under G.L. c. 30A, §§21 (a)(3) To discuss strategy with respect to potential litigation, to wit, Officer Kilroy.

Chairman Dalton announced that a public discussion would be detrimental to the Town’s bargaining position.

Roll call vote: Selectman Barrett, yes; Selectman Crawford, yes; Chairman Dalton, yes.

Chairman Dalton announced the Board would not re-enter open session at the conclusion of the executive sessions.

The Board entered executive session at 7:56 p.m. and adjourned at 8:28 p.m.