October 10, 2018 minutes

Chairman Dalton called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. He announced that the meeting will be recorded for cable television transmission and left those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Town Clerk on early voting procedures and hours

Town Clerk Trudy Reid explained procedures for early voting in the November state election and listed the additional hours for voting outside of normal Town hall hours. They are: October 25, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; October 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; October 30: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Presentation of Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence to C. Allen Merritt (posthumous)

The Board voted at a previous meeting to recognize C. Allen Merritt as the winner of the 2018 Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence. Beverly Merritt and friends and family members attended.

Chairman Dalton reviewed Mr. Merritt’s education, professional, charitable and civic accomplishments. He mentioned his service to the Town as a member of the Finance Committee, Board of Selectmen, School Building Committee and Economic Development and Housing Advisory Committee. He said his achievements and contributions will be long remembers and will affect generations of Lynnfield residents.

Kevin Merritt thanked the Board and the Town for the honor on behalf of the Merritt family.

Public hearing for laying out of Parsons Avenue Ext.

The laying out of a roadway is part of the process of accepting a road as a public way, in recognition that it was built in conformity with the Town’s rules and regulations. One a roadway is accepted, the Town will maintain the road and provide the usual Town services, such as snow removal and trash pickup.

The Planning Board has recommended the street acceptance conditioned on the repair of one driveway apron, which is scheduled to be done on September 27. After the laying out of the roadway by the Board of Selectmen, the acceptance of the roadway is put to a vote at town meeting. The Board of Selectmen plans to put on the Fall Town Meeting warrant articles asking voters to approve the acceptance of the roadway as public way in the Town of Lynnfield.

The public hearing was duly posted and abutters were delivered notices of the hearing.

MOTION by Selectman Barrett, duly seconded by Chairman Dalton: I move that the Board of Selectmen open the public hearing on the laying out of Parsons Way Extension. Vote was 2-0 (Selectman Crawford absent).

Parsons Avenue resident Richard Linz had several questions about the responsibility for the landscaping of the circle at the end of the roadway, responsibility for maintenance of drainage, and water buildup in some driveways where they meet the roadway.

As a result, the Board agreed to continue the public hearing in order to look into the concerns raised.

MOTION by Selectman Barrett, duly seconded by Chairman Dalton: I move that the Board of Selectmen vote to continue the public hearing on the laying out of Parsons Way Extension to 6:00 p.m. on October 15, 2018, at the Teachers cafeteria, Lynnfield Middle School, Main Street. Vote was 2-0 (Selectman Crawford absent).

Summer Street TIP information meeting scheduled

A forum on the proposed Summer Street TIP project has been scheduled for Thursday, November 1, at the Lynnfield High School auditorium, at 7:00 p.m. This project would provide significant state funding to assist with the upgrade of Summer Street. Residents on Summer Street will be notified by mail about the meeting.

Board of Selectmen updates

Fire Chief Screening Committee (Chairman Dalton): Chairman Dalton said the five members of the Fire Chief Screening Committee interviewed five internal candidates for the position of fire chief, and unanimously recommended recommending one candidate to the Board of Selectmen, Deputy Chief Glenn Davis. The committee recommends his appointment and believes he is capable of providing the leadership the department needs. Action on this recommendation will be scheduled for the November 5 meeting of the Board.

Town Administrator Update

Town Administrator Robert Dolan gave brief updates on the following topics: the Perley Burrill site, the Recreational Path proposal; the Perry Avenue culvert project; the school enrollment study; school safety efforts; the Summer Street TIP project.

Selectman Barrett noted that the Planning Board hearing ion the proposed rezoning of two parcels on Red Twig Lane is scheduled for tomorrow evening.

Public participation

Resident Patricia Campbell urged voters to attend town meeting due to several important matters before voters.

MOTION by Selectman Crawford, duly seconded by Chairman Dalton: I move that the Board adjourn. Vote was 2-0 (Selectman Crawford absent).

The Board adjourned at 8:01 p.m.