The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

conservation

ConCom proposes adjustments to new trail use guidelines

Maps showing the trails currently open to bikes, the proposed expansion, and the compromise presented on June 1 (the area outlined in yellow would not be open to bikes). Click to enlarge.

After getting pushback on a number of proposed changes to conservation trail use regulations, the Conservation Commission revised some of its recommendations and postponed a vote until at least June 22.

In recent weeks, dozens of residents submitted comments on the proposals and attended a May 18 public forum, while more than 70 people attended the June 1 ConCom meeting via Zoom. Many were against allowing some expansions in trail use as outlined in the panel’s April 25 draft regulations. The discussion focused on four aspects of the proposed revisions:

  • A leash requirement for more trails, particularly those around Flint’s Pond
  • Opening more of Mt. Misery’s trails to bicyclists
  • A requirement that dogs must be leashed when another trail user approaches 
  • A requirement that five or more bikers must get a group use permit in advance

ConCom chair Susan Hall Mygatt presented suggestions for adjusting the proposed rules in each case. She agreed it would be “more realistic” to require dogs to be at the owners side and under voice control rather than require the owners to put them on leashes every time they encounter another walker. 

Under the current rules, groups of 10 or more individuals are required to obtain a Group Use Permit ahead of time to use the trails. Section 9 of the proposed regulations makes that more specific, requiring a permit for 10 or more people (pedestrians), five or more bikers, and five or more horseback riders.  The amended suggestion includes a provision that rive or more “unrelated” bikers or horseback riders will need a permit, though some commenters at the June 1 meeting suggested tightening the biker group limit even further. ConCom members agreed that there should be some “wiggle room” for groups of children on a school outing.

There had also been disagreement about an earlier proposal to open up more trails to bikers. Mygatt and Conservation Director Michelle Grzenda presented a compromise whereby some of the trails on the northern side of the popular Mt. Misery area would remain closed to bikers.

“The erosion and wear and tear on Mt. Misery has increased significantly,” said resident Elizabeth Orgel.

However, resident Margaret Olson argued for more trail connectivity to help people get around town by bike as much as possible. “Reserving some areas for contemplative use makes sense but I’d like to work over time to open more of the trails to bikes,” she said. Another resident wondered whether the prohibition on motorized vehicles applied to e-bikes, which are growing in popularity.

Requiring dogs to be leashed around Flint’s Pond was proposed to protect the town water supply from contamination by dog feces, though there was some debate as to whether town water quality is currently suffering from the lack of such restraints. In recent years and especially since the Covid-19 endemic, more dogs and swimmers have been seen in the pond despite signs prohibiting anyone from getting closer than 20 feet from the water, as per state DEP regulations.

“We’ve just gotten lucky that the DEP hasn’t forced us to put a fence around all of it already,” said Water Commissioner Michelle Barnes, who is also chair of the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust/Rural Land Foundation.

“I think a lot of us question their effectiveness,” Barnes said about the signs listing prohibited activities. “Also, I think historically we haven’t had strong enforcement from the Police Department.”

Some years ago, there was a ranger program funded jointly by the Conservation and Water Departments, and that as a result, the DEP did not impose stricter Flint’s Pond and watershed water protection measures on the town. At an August 2020 Water Commission meeting, Barnes said she had discussed stepped-up enforcement and possible installation of video cameras to tackle the problem, though it’s unclear if any new measures were subsequently put in place. She also acknowledged that it’s difficult for police to catch people or dogs while they’re in the water.

The Conservation Commission will resume its discussion of trail regulations on Wednesday, June 22 at 8 p.m.

News acorns

Trail use forum on May 18

There will be a Lincoln trail-use public forum held on Zoom on Wednesday, May 18 from 7–8:30 p.m. sponsored by the Lincoln Conservation Commission and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. The two organizations have completed a comprehensive review of the multiple uses of Lincoln’s trails and how best to manage them for the protection of open space and overall public benefit. Over the last year, they’ve sought public comments and feedback regarding ways people use and enjoy our open spaces and trails.

At the forum, the Conservation Commission will review the process we used to evaluate changes in allowed trail uses, present draft trail use regulations, and discuss proposed changes to our trail biking map and dog walking rules. Additional comments will be sought during and after this meeting. Afterwards, the commission will post the draft trail-use regulations on the Conservation Department website. Submit any comments to the Conservation Department (conservation@lincolntown.org or 781-259-2612) by Tuesday, May 25. Click here for the May 18 Zoom link.

The new phone books are here!

The long-awaited 2022 Lincoln directory produced by the Friends of the Lincoln Library will be delivered to all households in Lincoln this week. If you do not want a printed phone book, please bring your copy to either the main post office or the library.

Clarification

The headline for the May 15 News Acorns item “Bench honoring Beaver Pond land donor is dedicated” was misleading. The stone seat given by the Garden Club was to honor all people who have been active in conservation in Lincoln over the years, not just land donor Jean Preston. The original headline has been updated.

My Turn: Vote yes on fossil fuels measure at Town Meeting

To the editor:

Twenty-five years ago, Emily and I made the great decision to raise our family in Lincoln. We chose a town that celebrated its history and made bold commitments to the community’s future. We have loved the trails and open spaces. We have appreciated the commitments to educating children and supporting our elders. We are excited to grow old here.

I am excited to support Article 31 at town meeting this Saturday. This article follows through on town commitments: to our collective health, the well-being of our planet, and the values we have already embraced. This article will help us reduce our dependence on fossil fuels for heating and cooking. New construction (home building and major renovations) that shifts us from natural gas and oil to electric power will help us to reduce carbon emissions.

Our town, our Commonwealth, and our country have made commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our public health officials have warned us about the risks of exposure to fossil fuels and the compounds that result from combusting these fuels. Having enjoyed the benefits of electric heat pumps for the last three years — I can say with confidence that moving into a 21st-century mode of heating is a good idea!

In the last 25 years we haven’t suffered wildfires and catastrophic weather. While so many parts of the world have suffered from the ravages of climate change, we haven’t faced hardship. For our collective health in Lincoln and for all the people whose lives will be improved by reducing demand for fossil fuels, I hope you can make it to Town Meeting to vote for Article 31. Lincoln’s future was bright 25 years ago; let’s take some bold steps to ensure the next 25 years are bright too.

With thanks,

Tom Haslett
26 Baker Bridge Rd.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Group scales back proposal to ban fossil fuels in new construction

(Editor’s note: This story was amended on March 22 to include updated links to the original and revised versions of Article 31.)

A citizens’ petition on the warrant at Town Meeting asks residents to support the first step in a process that would allow Lincoln to restrict the use of fossil fuels in new buildings and major modifications, though the motion was later trimmed after getting pushback from the Select Board.

Lincoln’s motion would not generally require retrofitting existing buildings, although the new bylaw could be applied to “major modifications,” which some other towns have defined to mean gut renovations that redo at least 75% of the building floor area, according to a GEC blog post. The exact wording of the local measure would be discussed later and voted on at a future Town Meeting.

Green Energy Committee chair Paul Shorb outlined the proposal at the March 7 Select Board meeting. Brookline, Acton, Arlington, Lexington, and Concord have filed similar home rule petitions but the legislature has not acted on any of them yet, he said. If approved by Lincoln voters on March 26, the measure would authorize the town to file a home rule petition with the state legislature, which is required for a town to exercise such authority.

The original motion under discussion (Article 31) proposed a vote on both the home-rule petition and specific bylaw language (“Act Authorizing the Town of Lincoln to Adopt and Enforce Local Regulations Restricting New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure in Certain Construction”) that the town could adopt if the legislature approved the petition. Ideally, Shorb said, the legislature would pass a bill requiring these limits on fossil fuel equipment in all new Massachusetts buildings, and such a bill is pending, “but we think it’s appropriate for us to jump in line as well,” either to win home-rule approval or show town support for the bill. “We chose the more aggressive approach, ‘get to the nitty gritty right now’ approach.”

“I fundamentally have a problem with this sort of method,” Select Board member James Craig said. “I’m not arguing against the cause in any way — it’s more the process.” He added that he might have been more receptive “if this were something that had been in the works for a longer period and had outreach done earlier” to show that the measure had been “really discussed and vetted.”

Arlington has taken a more “vanilla” approach by approving only a home rule petition that lets the town draw up its own bylaw at a later date, bard member Jennifer Glass observed.

Shorb responded that the more specific version including the bylaw would “send a strong political signal” for the state to approve certain updates to the 2009 “stretch code” that lays out energy-efficiency requirements in the building code. The Department of Energy Resources is in the process of updating the stretch code and writing a new “Municipal Opt-in Specialized Stretch Energy Code” in the wake of the Climate Act of 2021. Environmentalists are hoping that the “stretchier” code will allow towns to ban fossil fuel hookups (which they currently may not do), though the initial draft does not include that option for towns.

Debating and amending wording of motions such as the proposed bylaw language on the floor of Town Meeting “is really something we ought to avoid trying to do,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said. “The Arlington approach may [allow us to] be able to thread that needle to create the pressure you’re looking for but give us more time to work up a bylaw.”

After getting similar feedback from the Planning Board, the GEC subsequently removed the proposed bylaw language from the Article 13 motion (the updated wording is here).

Town restarting project to install solar array at landfill

The plan to install a solar array atop the old town landfill has lain fallow for a while, but it will “go near the top of our priority list to restart that process” once the Annual Town Meeting is over, said Town Administrator Tim Higgins.

Almost five years ago, voters approved a land swap in conjunction with the Wang property purchase that allowed the town to move several acres of the landfill parcel out of conservation so a solar array could be installed there. The area was deemed the best spot out of 25 potential sites for a municipal solar array that were studied earlier by a consultant hired by the now-defunct Solar PV Working group. Higgins said this week that the site could generate 1 MW of electricity, or enough to power all of the town-owned buildings except the school, which will have its own solar array.

But the project stalled due to factors including the pandemic and the complexity of the process. Minute Man National Historical Park owns the right of way on either side of Route 2A, so the town would need their approval to install power lines from the landfill out to the road. It’s unclear whether who would need to grant that approval — the park superintendent, a regional director or someone at the federal level.

Also yet to be determined is where that line will go (alongside or under the transfer station driveway, or via Mill Street), and whether it will be above ground or underground. If Mill Street is seen as the better option, town officials will discuss the matter with residents there, although Higgins said the line would not have to cross any private property. Any underground work will probably also require an archeological survey, he said. 

Finally, the town will have to identify a solar developer and get estimates for up-front costs for that company and the town. The goal is to “generate income for the community or [have it be] a break-even proposition at least,” Higgins said. He and other officials are working with Beth Greenblatt of Beacon Integrated Solutions, the firm that was involved in creating the power purchase agreement for the school’s solar installation. He estimated that all the planning and permitting could be completed by the end of 2022.

My Turn: Lincoln needs a Climate Action Plan

(Editor’s note: Climate Action Lincoln gave a presentation at the State of the Town meeting on Nov. 2, 2021).

To the editor:

The global climate crisis has us all wondering what we can do now and for the next generation. The great news is that, as a town, we are not powerless. Lincoln is going to develop a Climate Action Plan that will address climate change on many levels.

Massachusetts is legally committed to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and a 50% reduction from 1990 levels by 2030. That means we in Massachusetts must cut our use of fossil fuels by about one-third in eight years — a drastic reduction in the use of natural gas, oil and propane to heat and cool houses, to run our cars, trucks, and buses, and to generate electricity.

For the last year, volunteers from Climate Action Lincoln, a subcommittee of the Green Energy Committee, have been learning about climate plans from our neighboring towns. Lexington, Concord, Carlisle, Weston, Arlington, Cambridge, and Acton have comprehensive plans, and most have Sustainability Managers. We have also met with 12 town boards and committees to hear about their efforts.

While Lincoln has done a lot to protect the environment, become more energy-efficient, and reduce GHG emissions, there is more we can do together as a community.

We are pleased to announce that Jennifer Curtin, Assistant Director of Planning and Land Use, will support our efforts. She is working to secure grant funding for a consultant to lead Lincoln through development of a Climate Action Plan, which will address the interconnected issues of the climate crisis:

  • Electrification with renewable energy to reduce GHG emissions
  • Mitigation and adaptation to climate impacts
  • Ensuring environmental justice and supporting vulnerable populations
  • Safeguarding public health
  • Creating sustainable and resilient infrastructure
  • Protecting and regenerating ecological systems, including back yards, forests, open space, farms, and wetlands

A Climate Action Plan will also coordinate and recommend municipal, commercial, and residential actions. It will address the built environment, transportation, energy production, waste, and land use in Lincoln.

Town-wide participation is critical to developing a Climate Action Plan that will achieve results, not just sit on a shelf or a website. In Lincoln, actions by residents will be crucial to the success of a plan as Lincoln has very small commercial and municipal sectors. The process of developing a plan will include:

  • Visioning — Engagement of all residents and stakeholders in town
  • Data — Energy use, GHG emissions, carbon storage
  • Analysis — Vulnerable populations, housing, infrastructure, transportation
  • Goals — Align with state and federal goals; interpret for residents
  • Implementation — Timelines, accountable parties, measurement
  • Financial implications for the town budget

As the town works to secure funding for the plan, Climate Action Lincoln would like to engage residents. To join our group, receive updates on our progress, or arrange a presentation for your organization, please email ClimateAction@lincolntown.org or reach out to one of our members listed below.

Sincerely,

Climate Action Lincoln
Sue Klem (chair), Roy Harvey, Emily Haslett, Staci Montori, and Lynne Smith

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

One-burner induction cooktop available for loan

If you’re thinking about buying an induction stove, you can test-drive the technology beforehand by borrowing a one-burner countertop cooktop from the Lincoln Public Library.

Mothers Out Front and the library collaborated to provide the induction cooktop and offer it for loan from the Library of Things. Induction stoves look like a smooth-top electric stove but have a large coil of wire underneath each burner that creates a magnetic field to heat up the iron in a cast iron or stainless steel pan.

Lincoln’s Green Energy Committee recommends induction stoves because they don’t burn fossil fuels and are more energy efficient because they only heat up the pan and not the air around the pan. Cleanup is easier because spilled food doesn’t get cooked onto the smooth glass surface.

The library will also loan a large stainless steel pasta pot if desired. Some may need this if their cookware is not iron or stainless steel; induction stoves will not work with copper, glass, aluminum, etc.

Borrowers should note that portable induction cooktops draw much less power than a built-in cooktop, which requires a 240V outlet as opposed to a countertop 120V outlet, so a full-size kitchen cooktop will heat pans much faster. Like smartphones, induction stovetops give off electromagnetic signals, so if you have a pacemaker, consult a physician about your options.

Library of Things items are not on the open shelves so borrowers need to ask for the item or call ahead at 259-8465. The loan period is one week and can be two times if nobody is waiting for the item.

For more information, see the GEC’s induction cooktop web page or flyer, or this Consumer Reports article.

Conveying a message to the utilities

Campaigning at National Grid in Waltham for Mothers Out Front/Lincoln were (left to right) Emily Haslett, Robin Wilkerson, Andy Falender, Belinda Gingrich, and Alex Chatfield.

On November 17, five Lincoln residents joined environmentalists from across the state at a Mothers Out Front rally, part of the organization’s Clean Heat Clean Air campaign. The campaign is advocating for all Massachusetts homes and businesses to be heated and cooled by affordable, energy-efficient, all-electric systems powered by clean renewable energy. Campaigners carried messages to the state’s three largest utility companies, urging them to create a swift transition plan away from fossil fuels and towards clean and affordable electricity.

News acorns

“On Belonging in Outdoor Spaces” speaker on Nov. 10

Join the Fall 2021 continuation of the “On Belonging” speaker series with “N’Sibo: the River to Which I Belong” featuring Rich Holschuh via Zoom on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

The concept of “indigeneity” denotes the original people of a place. This is not a dualistic relationship but rather an understanding that the people are the land and the land is the people, including all of our relations. Holschuh will explore principles of relationship, reciprocity, and responsibility, along with an examination of how these ways of being have been embraced or rejected in the Northeast, along with the implications. Visit www.onbelongingoutdoors.org to learn more and register to receive the Zoom link.

Holschuh is a resident of Wantastegok (Brattleboro, Vt.) and an independent historic and cultural researcher. He has served on the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs and is a public liaison and tribal historic preservation officer for the Elnu Abenaki Tribe, members of the contemporary Indigenous community in Vermont. Rich is founder and director of the Atowi Project. His work draws on indigenous history, linguistics, geography, and culture to share beneficial ways of seeing and being in relationship with place.

This is a free program. Fall funding provided by The Sudbury Foundation. This speaker series is hosted by Farrington Nature Linc, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Mass Audubon, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, The Food Project, The Walden Woods Project. 

Sen. Barrett to speak on Mass. climate bill

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust invites everyone to attend a Zoom meeting with state Sen. Mike Barrett on Monday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. In “We Got a Climate Bill for Massachusetts. Now What?” he’ll talk about the far-reaching climate bill that became law in Massachusetts this spring, what needs to be done to make sure it is fully implemented, and what concerned citizens in Lincoln can do to help. There will be time for Q&A. Click here to register for the Zoom link.

The LLCT’s mission includes helping Lincolnites learn more about climate change and what they can do about it. This presentation is co-sponsored by the First Parish in Lincoln Green Committee, St. Anne’s Climate Justice Ministry, and Lincoln Mothers Out Front. 

Session on talking to kids about invisibility of Native Americans

The Lincoln METCO Parent Board will host “Talking to Kids About Stereotypes and Invisibility of Indigenous Native Americans,” the second Diversity and Dialogue event honoring Native American Heritage Month on Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 6–7:30 p.m. Missing information and misinformation about the First Nations people of the Americas has made stereotypes hyper-visible and truths invisible. The journey of un-erasing Indigenous voices and learning what we were not taught or mistaught starts with accurate information. It continues by having conversations with families, friends, community members, and our children. Understanding tribal land acknowledgements is a next step in making Indigenous voices visible. Join Lincoln School teacher Claudia Fox Tree as she confronts “invisibility” and implicit bias, while focusing on how to engage children through books, videos, and conversations. A resource list with books and links to videos and articles will be provided. Click here to join the Zoom meeting (passcode: 994150).

Make holiday wreaths at Codman farm

Using fresh evergreen branches, Codman-grown dried flowers, seed pods, fruits, and foraged elements, you will learn how to design and make a beautiful, all-natural wreath to decorate your home for the holidays. We’ll provide all course materials and tools needed, plus some delicious treats from our farm and local vendors. Bring a beverage of your choice and we’ll provide the rest!

Due to high demand, there will be two workshop dates: Saturday, Nov. 27 from 2–4 p.m. or Saturday Dec. 7 from 2–4 p.m. No experience necessary, though the class is best suited for adults and teens. Please bring a mask; class will be held in the greenhouse. Cost is $95 per participant. Sign up on the CCF events page. Questions? Email jess@codmanfarm.org.