THE LYNNFIELD ADVOCATE – Friday, January 12, 2018
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Planning Board budget includes town planner position By Christopher Roberson
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n his recent budget pitch to the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board Chairman Brian Charville said Lynnfield is in need of a town planner. During the board’s Jan. 8 meeting, he requested that $65,000 be allocated to fund the salary of a town planner. “It would be appropriate to have a true town planner,” said Charville, adding that he has studied the town planner positions in Georgetown and Carlisle. Charville also said a town planner could take the lead in completing the town’s Master Plan. “A town planner could be spearheading that process,” he said. Charville said a town planner could help facilitate the situation with the Zepaj Lane Subdivision, which was started without the consent of the Planning Board and has since
been put on hold in accordance with a Cease and Desist Order. “We’re currently behind the eight ball,” said Charville. Board of Selectmen Chairman Christopher Barrett said he supports the idea for a town planner. “I think this is an important position to look at,” he said, adding that the Planning Board should not have to decipher every land use issue. “That’s a lot of work for this volunteer board to do.” Board of Selectmen Vice Chairman Richard Dalton said the hiring of a town planner is “long overdue,” adding that the proposed $65,000 salary is “right on the mark.” He said having a town planner would also ensure that Lynnfield does not miss out any state and federal grants. “It’s almost impossible to keep up with the variety of things out there, just on the
state level,” said Dalton. However, Selectman Philip Crawford disagreed, saying Lynnfield is “pretty much built out.” Therefore, there is not a pressing need for a town planner. “It just seems kind of counter-productive to me,” he said. Conservation Commission budget Conservation Commission Chairman Paul Martindale was also hand to make his budget presentation. He said the commission’s operating budget for fiscal year 2019 is $92,063, a modest increase of $297 over fiscal year 2018. “It’s not very much different from last year,” said Martindale. He also said seven candidates came forward to apply for the conservation administrator position, which offers a salary of $64,826. The position will be vacant
at the end of the month, as current Conser vation Administrator Betty Adelson is retiring. From the original group of candidates, Martindale said, “three or four” looked promising. “We’re not calling in anyone without a master’s degree and at least four to five years of experience,” he said. “We’re looking for someone who is well-versed.” Regarding the capital budget, Martindale said the cost of treating Pillings Pond has continued to rise and is now $23,500, a $5,000 increase over last year. Martindale said the pond is treated every year to remove algae, phosphates and nitrates. Although alum has been used in the treatment process, he said switching to copper sulfate could bring the cost back down to $18,000. “We’re looking for an alternative,” said Martindale.
Other news In other news, interim Town Administrator Robert Curtin said the state aid figures should be released by Jan. 20; however, he does not expect a sizable increase this year. He also said this year’s new growth projection has fallen to $325,000. “That would be the lowest new growth figure since FY12,” said Curtin. In contrast, last year’s figure was $436,000. Curtin said the Department of Public Works responded well to the Jan. 4 blizzard that left Lynnfield with more than a foot of snow and temperatures in the single digits. “We had quickly accumulating snow; the sidewalks are still being plowed,” he said. Curtin also said ice dams caused leaks in parts of the library. “We’re hoping it will dry out and there won’t be any permanent damage,” he said.
State auditor refunds town for early voting costs T
By Christopher Roberson
h e 2 9 6 c o m m u n i t i e s $1,063,978 to fund early vot- tion could be getting their that collectively spent ing for the 2016 General Elec- money back. Within the total figure, Lynnfield spent $1,819, Peabody spent $4,531 and Saugus did not incur any expense. Officials from State Auditor Suzanne Bump’s office said the expenses were certified through an electronic survey that was sent to every city and town clerk in the Commonwealth. In February 2017, the Division of Local Mandates (DLM) determined that unFor All Your der the Local Mandate Law, Football the state cannot require cities Munchies.. and towns to fund state programs such as early voting. Established in 1980 as part of Proposition 2 ½, DLM acts as a watchdog to ensure that communities are not shouldering Warm up with a tasty Pulled expenses that should be covBeef Sandwich or Delicious ered by the state. As a result, Homemade Chili! 675 petitions have been submitted to DLM during the past Kelly's is Open Daily Year 'Round! 37 years. From the total number of petitions, DLM has ren410 Revere Beach Blvd. 595 Broadway, Rte. 1S 35 Revere Beach Pkwy. 165 Endicott Street Revere * (781) 284-9129 Saugus (781) 233-5000 Medford * (781) 393-4899 Danvers * (978) 777-1290 dered 436 decisions. Seventy-nine of them have been in
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favor of the municipality and have resulted in the return of approximately $343 million. “Early voting is an important addition to our democratic processes and funding the expenses incurred by our municipalities will make it that much stronger,” Bump said in her Jan. 8 letter to the Massachusetts Legislature. “We want to work with you to set out the process for 2018 and the general elections in the future.” Last fall, the House of Representatives approved a budget amendment that included $485,000 for early voting costs; however, it was voted down by the Senate. The Early Voting Law, which has been in effect since 2014, requires that every community offer a 12-day window for residents to cast their ballots early. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, more than 22 percent of the registered voters took advantage of early voting in 2016.
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