October 30 2023 meeting

Present:            Joseph Connell, Chair

                        Richard Dalton

                        Philip Crawford

Chair Connell called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. He asked those in attendance to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1. Lynn Woods Conservation Restriction

Mr. Connell said that the City of Lynn and its Water and Sewer Commission is looking to place a conservation restriction on Lynn Woods. A portion of this land, owned by the City of Lynn, resides in Lynnfield. As some of Lynn Woods is within the Towns of Saugus and Lynnfield, both Select Boards must sign the Lynn Woods Conservation Restriction for it to be executed. In signing the Conservation Restriction, Lynnfield and Saugus will not become parties to the Conservation Restriction. Rather, the Select Board's signatures acknowledge the existence of the Lynn Woods Conservation Restriction, and reaffirm that the conservation restriction is preserving conservation values with public benefit.

Planning and Conservation Administrator Emilie Cademartori said that the Essex County Greenbelt Association and the Commonwealth’s Department of Conservation and Recreation have been working on this issue for over ten years.

Vanessa Hall Johnson from Essex Greenbelt and Christine Barry from the Department of Conservation and Recreation were also in attendance.  Ma. Johnson said she has been working with DCR, the City of Lynn and the Lynn Water and Sewer Commission to ensure that all of Lynn Woods is under this protection. She said the land in Lynnfield is part of the Lynn watershed, and said existing watershed and recreational uses will continue. The agreement has been reviewed by attorneys for all parties and has been approved by the Secretary of Environmental Affairs.

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Crawford: I move that the Board ratify the Lynn Woods Conservation Restriction as presented. Vote was unanimous.

1. Petition of Verizon New England and Reading Municipal Light Department: Relocate one (1) JO pole, P.2/34, located on the southerly side of Main Street (near 271 Main Street) to a point approximately 19’ southwesterly from its existing location

Some questions about the location of the pole have arisen and this matter will be postponed.

1. Approval of holiday hours for Market Street

The lone accommodation on hours sought by Market Street for this holiday weekend is opening one hour early, at 8 a.m., on Black Friday, November 24. No late closings have been requested. Changes to hours as prescribed by the development agreement must be approved by the Board.

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Crawford: I move that the Board vote to allow Market Street to open retail operations at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, November 24, 2023. Vote was unanimous.

1. Approve filing of local petition bill extending retirement age of Fire Chief Glenn Davis as approved at Fall Town Meeting

On October 16, town meeting voted to allow the Board to authorize the filing of special legislation extending the retirement age for Fire Chief Glenn Davis from, 65 to 70. An affirmative vote of the Board is necessary to move this process forward.

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Crawford: I move that the Board Approve filing of local petition bill extending retirement age of Fire Chief Glenn Davis as approved at Fall Town Meeting. Vote was unanimous.

1. Declaration of miscellaneous office furniture and supplies as surplus property

As part of the Public Safety Building Project, Town Hall and the Police and Fire Departments are preparing to offer for auction miscellaneous office supplies and equipment that are no longer being used or will be replaced as part of the project. These items must be declared surplus before being offered at public auction. A listing of these items has been provided to the Board.

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Crawford: I move that the Board vote to declare as surplus property the listed items appearing in the document marked Surplus Items Listing 1. Vote was unanimous.

1. PROCLAMATIONS

1. Diwali/Festival of Lights
2. Pioneer Singers 35^th anniversary

The Board signed the proclamations.

7.         Use of Facilities applications

a. Use of common, A Healthy Lynnfield, Mya 18, 2024, Health Expo

b. Use of streets, Lynnfield Rotary Turkey Trot

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Crawford: I move that the use of facilities requests be approved subject to any conditions placed on them by the Director of Public Works and Police Chief. Vote was unanimous.

8.         Request for executive session under G.L. c. 30A, § 21 (2). To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Crawford: I move that the Board enter executive session to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel.

Roll call vote: Crawford – yes; Dalton – yes; Connell – yes.

The chair declared the Board would not resume public session.

The Board entered executive session at 6:13 p.m.