BOS Notes - 13 March 2005 - fire stations

Here are a few notes and questions from the 13 March 2006 Board of Selectmen meeting.

Cemetary Committee - 2 members from BOS plus 3 citizens - Kevin Greeley suggested that 1 BOS member serve as a non voting chairman - there is $20,000 in the Capital Plan for a cemetary study

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Item 31 - State Aid Task Force - table this item - Chairman Hurd reported that he had a long discussion with the proponent and she wants more time

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Item 32 - Fire Station study - Marvin Lewiton (Town Meeting Member) was the proponent, and he spoke to the BOS - Lewiton reported that there were "issues with service near the Winchester border" and that "the data is for supporting Central where it is"

Nancy Golkowski (Assistant Town Manager) reported that the Capital Planning Committee had discussed the issue and an Email was sent to the BOS over the weekend - Chairman Hurd wants 1 more fireman in the committee - he had discussed this with Brian (?Sullivan?) - "would want as much input from firefighters as possible"

Discussion then followed about number of members of committee - 8 with ?3 firemen - and odd number?

Selectmen Lacourt mentioned that citizen participants should have some sort of credentials, and that the study should examine the location of both stations at the same time - not independantly - she said that Central Fire Station might move - Fire Department members had mentioned that

Hurd said that the central Fire Station was the "greatest fire station in the world" - someone mentioned gargoyles

LaCourt said that the 2 stations should not be studied seperately - "and/or" should be added to the text - "important not to look at anything in isolation"

(I think I heard Mr Lewiton say that he would have no problem with committee makeup, nor with fine tuning the scope of study)

Charles Foskett of the Capital Planning Committee spoke to the BOS - "existing fire stations are deplorable" - "safety of the firefighters and citizens is at stake" - "Town Meeting and 2 Fire Chiefs and <?> have studied for several years" - mention of moving Highland Fire Station - "the article as drafted reflects the thinking of the Capital Planning Committee and Town Management" - "strongly urge that yo do not expand the scope of this article" - "the town is not inflexible on siting of stations" - macroland planning - article should stay as printed except to increase the number of members

Selectman Hurd - has had a number of discussions on decreasing costs of the 3 planned stations - "the Town Manager has been told to seek cost savings and to address parity issues with the other side of Arlington"

"Bob Jefferson of FD prompted idea of moving Highland Station to the DPW Yard" (not sure who said this)

Hurd - "shouldn't tamper with it" - (something about "just include for informal decision)

Greeley suggests 1 FD member from Sta 3 and 1 from Sta 2 - Hurd says they move around - Greeley says "ignore my comment"

Fire Chief and 2 designees - ????

Vote taken - it was either 4 to 1 or 5-0 - I didnt catch it - I am not sure of the wording of the final vote - < I was told that LaCourts suggestions were not adopted >

Discussion followed - Maher only writes a minority opinion if vote is 3-2

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Discussion of Town GIS system - Lacourt reported from ITAC - existing Town GIS has data entrys for all buildable parcels and a note if affordable - Mr Belskis wanted a indication of all non buildable parcels - Mr Belkis and Assessor Brian Greeley will talk to each other about the issue - Selectman Diaz reports that DMR and DMH (affordable) properties are all around town but not indicated in the database

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New Business :

- Greeley thanked BOS staff

- LaCourt mentioned Clear The Trail Emails and said "it is easy to pack a public hearing", therefore there should be a survey of Path abutters - Diaz reported that the Path was initially a hard sell but that abutters may have changed their minds over the years (or sold their properties)

- Mahon mentioned that comments were needed on Aberjohna plan which might have some (manageable) impacts on Arlington - Mahon requests question and answers from Assistant Town Planner hiring process - concession stands at High School will require either $60K or $72K - Mahon will get data on funding presently provided to the Town by the various sports groups - sports groups have agreed to fund raise for the stands - Town should reconsider participation in Natl League of Cities (Town Manager is in Wash DC lobbying to save CDBG funds at a NLC event)

Hurd reports pothole at 15 Ridge St (need a "Stay Right" sign) and a broken street light on Wheaton St - both of these items were brought to his attention by citizens

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My questions are -

1. What Town Meeting study was Mr Foskett referring to?

2. What Email was sent to the BOS over the weekend?

3. What was the final makeup of the Fire Station Committee?

4. Is this a citizen driven item, or a Town Management driven item?

The Editorial in the June 8, 2004 Arlington Advocate said that a committee was needed to study the need for 3 fire stations (since the MMA study suggested that just 2 stations were needed). It seems illogical that the BOS is now fully supporting a study of 3 stations, when apparently there is no formal justification for 3 stations. This seems to be a case of "putting the cart before the horse". Maybe I missed something.

Peter Sz