Selectmen’s Notebook
Published in the August 2, 2017 edition.
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
LYNNFIELD — A request by the Peabody Municipal Light Plant (PMLP) to install a guy stub pole along the westerly side of Locust Street has been tabled.
The pole was proposed to be 35 feet tall and included the installation of laterals, cables and wires to replace guy wires currently connected to a nearby tree.
At the original public hearing held in late June, abutter Lucy Karis, 54 Locust St., objected to the proposed location of the new stub pole in a grass plot very close to the front of her house. She added that the plans and technical explanation provided with the public hearing notice from PMLP were poorly done and difficult to understand.
The board agreed to conduct a site visit with PMLP to better understand the impact the new stub pole would have on her property and the neighborhood.
Selectmen Chairman Chris Barrett and Selectman Dick Dalton both visited the site and discussed it PMLP. “We thought it would be best if (Verizon) replaced the pole before they do any work to that pole,” Barrett stated, referring to the utility pole currently being supported by the large tree.
The board voted to reopen and then voted to close the public hearing, with no action taken on the matter, as advised by Town Administrator Jim Boudreau.
After the meeting, both Barrett and Dalton stated that the tree itself appears healthy, but the practice of securing a pole to a tree is one that the PMLP would prefer to avoid in case something happens to the tree.
Board of Registrars vacancies
Michael Feinberg was unanimously appointed to the Board of Registrars at the selectmen’s July meeting to fill one of two vacancies on the board for a term ending June 30, 2018.
Barrett stated that former registrar Richard Carman had moved out of town and that registrar Robert Casoli “no longer wishes to be reappointed.” Barrett added that notifications of the vacancies were mailed to both the Democratic and Republican Town Committees seeking nominations.
Town Clerk Trudy Reid told the selectmen that “it’s a board of three and the Town Clerk is required to be on it.” She explained that if Feinberg was appointed “it would at least give us a majority if we need to do something this summer. I am expecting some petitions and nomination papers for the state elections next year and it takes three members to sign those papers.
Reid added that in her office, “I rarely use a Board of Registrar member unless there is a recount, and on the nomination papers and petitions.”
She stated that if she did not receive additional nominations from the Town Democratic and Republican Committees by mid-August to fill the remaining vacancy she would look through her own list of names to nominate another candidate for the selectmen to consider.
Open Space and Recreation Com.
Barrett noted that there remains another vacancy on the town’s Open Space and Recreation Committee for which nominations are still be sought. Those interested may send a letter of interest or a resume to the attention of Bob Curtin, assistant to administration, at rcurtin@town.lynnfield.ma.us or by mail to: Town Hall, Selectmen’s Office, 55 Summer St., Lynnfield MA 01940.
Fire Chief compensation
Town Administrator Jim Boudreau said that Fire Chief Mark Tetreault was “due the 2 1/2 percent (raise) that all the other department heads and all the other town employees got. His contract currently expires in January of 2019.” The board members agreed and his raise was awarded retroactively to January 5, 2017.
Senior Citizen Advisory Council
Barrett was thrilled that between 13 to 15 candidates have volunteered to serve on the newly formed Senior Citizen Advisory Council, including “a lot of young professionals who have asked to serve on this advisory council to help support the senior citizens of Lynnfield. I think that’s wonderful.”
Barrett said the board would likely be ready to appoint the council at its August meeting but he also wanted to discuss possibly expanding both the total number of members and also include a representative from the town’s Recreation Commission on the actual council. “I think (recreation) is an important part of this,” he said.
Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition
Selectman Phil Crawford said the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition has held several productive meetings and currently has a candidate who would like to be considered for the coordinator’s position. The coalition also favors conducting youth risk surveys at the schools in the fall as well as a parent survey. Both ideas were discussed at the joint meeting the selectmen held with the School Committee in June.
“All these things cost money, so we have looked into applying for a grant with Lahey Health,” Crawford said, adding that Christine Healey of Lahey has begun working with the coalition to assist in procuring such a grant.
In addition, in conjunction with the Lynnfield Fire Department’s Open House in October, Crawford said the coalition wants to incorporate a “hidden in plain sight” display as a parent education tool in which a typical youth’s bedroom would be set up with drug paraphernalia hidden in plain sight as a means to assist parents in picking up on signs they might otherwise overlook that their child is using drugs or engaging in risky behaviors.
