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

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Casting your ballots

Town Hall is open for early voting in the upcoming election at the following times:

  • Tuesday, Oct. 27 — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 28 — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 29 — 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 30 — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You can also vote in person on Election Day (Tuesday Nov. 3) at the Smith gym. Mail-in ballots can be returned by mail in the envelope provided or dropped off at Town Hall. There is a drop box behind the building and a second box to the right of the front door.

Photo project benefits food pantry organization

Corey Flint, who ran Lincoln’s Front Steps Project last spring to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP), is offering to take similar photos of residents dressed in their Halloween costumes on Saturday, Oct. 31. Participants will receive a professional photo of themselves and any family members (taken outdoors at their home for public health safety); in return, they write a check in any amount to SVdP, which supports needy Lincoln and Weston residents with food and funds. Go to his Front Steps Halloween web page to book a time.

Halloween-themed activities from Mass Audubon

Try your hand at pumpkin-carving using stencils.

Mass Audubon’s Fall Fest offers online and in-person activities with seasonal and spooky-themed activities this week up through Halloween night. For family-friendly Halloween thrills and chills, meet creatures of the night (hint: including some that hoot), gather around to hear spooky stories, and unleash your inner wild thing, howling and yowling on the evening of the 31st, when Halloween reveals a “blue moon” (a second full moon in a calendar month).

On the “treat” side, crunch through fallen leaves on explorations of Drumlin Farm and other Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries, join with other crafters to carve pumpkins and make fall-themed gifts, and check out seasonal volunteer projects. An online silent-auction “fun-raiser” offers chances to win exclusive Mass Audubon experiences like private strawberry-picking, visits with goats, Cape Cod adventures, and more.

Thanks to the support of Highland Street Foundation, visitors can enjoy Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary for free on October 30 with a reservation. See all the activities and programs at www.massaudubon.org/fallfest.

Fallen leaves pose a risk for stormwater pollution

Stormwater pollution is the toxic mix of bacteria, chemicals, metals, nutrients, and other contaminants that washes over pavement and other impervious surfaces and flows down storm drains to waterways. As the leaves fall, proper disposal of leaf litter is essential for reducing stormwater pollution and flooding issues. See these tips from the Lincoln Conservation Department for the proper disposal of leaf litter:

  • Keep fallen leaves out of streets – Leaf litter leaches nutrients into stormwater runoff and contributes to pollution in our waters.
  • Clear storm drains of debris – Leaf litter and yard debris plug storm drains and increase flooding issues.
  • Don’t dump in ditches or streams – Decaying leaf litter releases excess nutrients causing eutrophication and algal blooms.
  • Compost leaves and yard clippings – Reduce added chemicals in your yard and garden by creating a natural fertilizer with composted leaves.

Click here to learn more about the town’s initiatives to address stormwater and climate change.

L-S students win prestigious award

Anisha Kundu

Caleb Yee

Superintendent Bella Wong and the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee congratulate Anisha Kundu of Sudbury and Caleb Yee of Lincoln for receiving the Massachusetts Association of Superintendents’ Award for Academic Excellence. To be considered for the award, students must have a cumulative GPA that places them in the top 5% of their class and must also consistently demonstrate traits of leadership, social responsibility, respect for their fellow students, and involvement in various aspects of the school community.

Library open by appointment; pickup now in vestibule

The Lincoln Public Library has moved contactless pickup to the vestibule now that the weather has cooled. The service is offered every day except Sunday. Click here for more information on contactless pickup. The library is also open by appointment. Call 781-259-8465 (ext. 3 for the adult department, ext. 4 for children’s services). The first hour of each day is reserved for patrons over 60 years old or with health risks for Covid-19.

Leaked harassment allegations against Higgins result in uproar

(Editor’s note: this story was updated on October 1.)

A copy of a formal discrimination complaint by one town employee about another was posted to the LincolnTalk email list on September 29, and police are now investigating because the email that included the post was “spoofed” — fraudulently signed in the name of an elderly resident who knew nothing about it.

The electronic trail began on September 16 when Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Burney wrote up a complaint against Town Administrator Tim Higgins and emailed it to members of the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen. Thirteen days later, someone included that complaint in a post on the LincolnTalk email list, which has about 1,500 subscribers.

The post’s header said it was from “Debra French” with the subject line “Compliant [sic] Filed by Jennifer Burney + Mary Day re: FEMALE HARASSMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT INSULTS made by Tim Higgins.” The preamble said in part, “I received this message below and find myself in deep concern over the severe allegations made! No women should be going through this!” It was received and automatically posted to LincolnTalk at 11:32 p.m. on September 29. 

There is, in fact, a Lincoln resident named Deborah French whose first name is spelled differently, but she was horrified to learn about the spoofing when police came to her door. It’s unclear who notified the police.

“I’m speechless. The police just came and told me about it,” French said on Wednesday. “That’s awful. I think anybody who knows me knows it was not from me, but I would love other people to know it too. I’m not tech-savvy at all — I was brought up with pencil and paper.” French’s late husband John French, who died in 2018, served on several town boards and committees and was also town moderator for 16 years.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, the Lincoln Squirrel received an almost identical email, but from a different return address (Thisis Anonymous <anonylincolnma@gmail.com>). The Squirrel has shared details of that email with Lincoln police. Chief of Police Kevin Kennedy would not comment on the matter.

Spoofing, according to the FBI, is when someone disguises an email address, sender name, phone number, or website URL to convince the recipient that they’re interacting with a trusted source. However, it’s unclear if spoofing is a crime if the sender is not aiming to defraud the recipient financially, install malware on their computer, or extract personal information.

Burney’s allegations

The LincolnTalk post included a copy of a September 16 email from Burney to the Planning Board and Board of Selectmen. It outlined complaints of discrimination, harassment, and intimidation alleging that Higgins targeted Burney and former Assistant Town Administrator Mary Day, who left her job unexpectedly in late May. 

Burney wrote in the complaint that she requested leave last spring under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to care for a family member. In coordination with experts she consulted, Burney agreed to a plan that would require her full-time presence to provide that care, she wrote.

Higgins asked all town employees to return to work in person on June 1, but Burney was still caring for her daughter and needed to continue working from home. She wrote that on May 28, “Day informed me that she would have paperwork within a week for potential options to those with schedule conflicts. I was quite concerned by the shocking message sent on a Saturday morning from Mr. Higgins, May 30th, stating that Ms. Day had resigned from her position effective immediately.”

In the complaint, Burney said that “Ms. Day confided in me that she did not resign, and in fact had to hastily leave the office after experiencing extreme intimidation by Mr. Higgins,” after which Day allegedly sought medical attention “due to the stress he caused her both in this situation and past scenarios.” Day could not be reached for comment.

Higgins “continued to try to delay and deny my FMLA leave, asking me to reconsider, while delaying and refusing to file the paperwork needed,” according to Burney. He “reluctantly” allowed her to begin leave on June 9 but then “berated” her upon her return on September 2 when she requested a hybrid home-and-office work schedule to accommodate her family member’s schedule. “Mr. Higgins verbally attacked my job performance by suggesting I give nothing to the town and all I do is, ‘take take take’,” she wrote.

Board of Selectmen involvement

At the June 22 Board of Selectmen meeting, Higgins told the board he planned to promote Parks and Recreation Department Director Dan Pereira to the Assistant Town Administrator position, which Day had vacated just over three weeks previously. At the same meeting, he announced that Burney had taken an FMLA leave of absence and that Assistant Director of Planning and Land Use Paula Vaughn-McKenzie would be acting Planning Director.

On September 21, five days after Burney’s email complaint to town officials, the Board of Selectmen met in executive session before their regular open meeting (as allowed by state law) “to hear a complaint against a public officer, employee, staff member or individual,” according to the meeting agenda.

“Please be advised that the Board of Selectmen had previously received the complaint that was recently published on the LincolnTalk listserv,” board chair James Craig said in an email to the Lincoln Squirrel on Wednesday. “The board has initiated an investigation that is being conducted by an independent third-party investigator. To respect the privacy of all parties, the board will not comment further on this matter pending the outcome of the investigation.”

Burney’s complaint also alleged that Higgins engaged in “unethical behavior and unprofessional comments” when he allegedly referred to the Lincoln Fire Department as “a bunch of Neanderthals.” A former member of a Lincoln town board governing body who asked to remain anonymous said, “That stuff is not a surprise to me… I’ve heard that stuff out of his mouth many times.”

Also at the June 22 meeting, Higgins praised the performance of acting Fire Chief Brian Young and recommended his permanent appointment to the position. 

Planning Board member Gary Taylor noted on Wednesday that the Board of Selectmen are handling the issue as a confidential personnel matter. As to who might have sent the emails to LincolnTalk and the Lincoln Squirrel, “even if I knew, I wouldn’t comment at this point — it would be speculation,” he said. “We all have to honor our obligations for confidentiality in everyone’s interests.”

Reactions from Higgins and Burney

“I need to defer to the Select Board for any comments regarding the Town’s response to the charges that have been made,” Higgins said in an email to the Squirrel. “I support the need for a thorough independent investigation and have committed my full and open cooperation to the process. I have faith and trust in the Town’s processes.” In a follow-up email, he added, “I do not want to compromise the integrity of the Board’s investigation in any manner. I have faith that people will discern the truth.”

“I can confirm that I sent emails to the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board with a complaint against Tim Higgins,” Burney told the Lincoln Squirrel in an email. “I DID NOT send any emails to you or to Lincoln Talk. I consider my letter confidential and was addressed to the Boards and not to the public. I have no idea who sent that as only Board of Selectmen and Planning Board members were in receipt of my email.” Asked for further comment, she wrote in a second email, “At this time I have no comment and I’d really like everyone to respect my privacy. Thank you for your understanding.”

LincolnTalk suspended temporarily

Early Wednesday morning, the three volunteer LincolnTalk moderators sent out an email saying that, as a result of the spoofing, all posts would be held for approval until further notice. As of 10 p.m. on Wednesday, nothing had been posted since the service was suspended that morning. Previously, anyone could sign up for a free LincolnTalk account by supplying an email address and then post messages directly to all other members.

“We are cooperating with the police investigation… and proceeding with extreme caution,”said Margit Griffith, one of the moderators. “We want to get things back up and running as soon as possible, but we need to investigate safeguards as much as we can with our listserv provider… seeing what we need to do to protect ourselves and LincolnTalk. We’re now a little gun shy and we’re saddened that people used LincolnTalk in this way.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Griffith said moderators hoped to have LincolnTalk back in service soon, “but when we restart, it’s unlikely there will be much [we will] let through that has anything to do with this. This is a Town of Lincoln human resources matter that’s being dealt with there, and it will not be adjudicated on LincolnTalk.”
 
At about 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the moderators announced they we would start approving posts related to offers of free or for-sale items, general recommendations for service people, miscellaneous requests for information, and local events. No opinion pieces will be posted for the time being. “We’ll let you know when we’re ready to start bringing that sort of thing back. And we look forward to the day when we can release everyone from moderation and support and information can flow freely,” they wrote.

Markey defeats Kennedy handily in Lincoln primary

Lincolnites overwhelmingly voted for incumbent U.S. Senator Edward M. Markey over U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III in the September 1 Democratic primary by a margin of 76%–24%. The margin far exceeded Markey’s statewide result, where he won 55% to 45%.

Interestingly, several other Democratic incumbents (U.S. Rep. Katharine Clark, State Sen. Michael Barrett, and State Rep. Thomas Stanley) each got more votes than Markey, even though all three were running unopposed.

Largely as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, almost three-quarters of Lincolnites voted in some nontraditional way (mail-in, absentee ballot, or early voting in person). Of the 2,378 ballots cast, only 630 (24%) were voted on Election Day in the Smith gym.

In the Republican primary, 178 votes were cast. Kevin J. O’Connor edged out Shiva Ayyadurai, 93–82 (52%–46%, not including one write-in and two blank ballots). Though still in the minority, a much larger percentage of Lincoln Republicans (45%) cast their ballots on Election Day compared to the Democrats.

Democratic primary in Lincoln

Precinct 1Precinct 2CTF for
Precinct 1*		CTF for
Precinct 2*		Total
U.S. Senator
Edward J. Markey3141618814451,801
Joseph P. Kennedy III9657253166572
Write-in01102
Blank10023
U.S. Representative
Katherine M. Clark3511789885272,044
Write-in116513
Blank594014181321
Register of Probate
Marilyn M. P. Devaney3151628174431,737
Write-in216514
Blank9456312165627
State Senator
Michael J. Barrett3371719344971,939
Write-in116412
Blank7347195112427
State Representative
Thomas M. Stanley3311658944891,879
Write-in21137
Blank7853240121492
Councillor
Tara E. DeCristoforo3171608404581,775
Write-in115310
Blank9358290152593

*CTF stands for Central Tabulating Facility, which totals all the votes cast by mail, absentee ballot, and early in-person voting.

 

Republican primary in Lincoln

Precinct 1Precinct 1CTF for
Precinct 1*		CTF for
Precinct 2*		Total
U.S. Senator
Shiva Ayyadurai3013201982
Kevin J. O'Connor2115381993
Write-in00011
Blank01102
U.S. Representative
Caroline Colarusso39265130146
Write-in10012
Blank1138830
Councillor
Write-in629522
Blank45275034156
State Senator
Write-in8111424
Blank43284835154
State Representative
Write-in6111422
Blank45284835156
Register of Probate
Write-in5110420
Blank46284935158

*CTF stands for Central Tabulating Facility, which totals all the votes cast by mail, absentee ballot, and early in-person voting.

Fix for town water problem expected by next summer

Testing has again shown that Lincoln water contains excessive levels of a certain contaminant, though the level is just over the maximum and work will soon begin on a system to solve the problem permanently.

In an unrelated development, the Water Commission has restricted nonessential outdoor watering to one day a week, down from the previous two (see related story).

For several years, especially during the summer months, routine testing has shown levels of disinfection by-products called total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) above acceptable levels for drinking water. Tests in the second quarter of 2020 revealed levels of 81.9 parts per billion (ppb) while the standard is 80 ppb. The water is safe to drink, but consumption of excessive TTHMs in drinking water over many years may increase the risk of certain types of cancer and cause other adverse effects in some people. The state Department of Environmental Protection has ordered the town to fix the issue.

TTHMs are created when the chlorine (a required disinfectant) reacts with organic material in the water from Flint’s Pond. The level of organic content of the water is now twice what it was when the water treatment plant was designed. That material comes from dissolved plant matter and algae in the pond, and warmer weather accelerates the process, so global warming may be causing the slow increase in recent years. “We can only speculate,” Water Commission member Ruth Ann Hendrickson said last week.

Another possible contributing factor, she said: the water level in Flint’s Pond was very high for a time after the dam that holds back the water was deliberately heightened when Water Department Superintendent Mary Beth Wiser ordered workers to add more boards to the top of the dam some time in 2019.

“That raised the level of the pond and may have pulled decades of leaf mold into the water,” Hendrickson said last week. In fact, the water rose so much that it crept close to the pump house and also began seeping under the dam, which was upgraded in 2017. It’s unclear why Wiser had the water level raised. “I haven’t been able to get a straight story,” Hendrickson said when interviewed for an October 2019 story on the problems at the Water Department.

The department’s consultants recently completed a pilot study to evaluate options for removing the TTHMs, and they submitted their report on August 5 to the DEP, which is expected to approve the plan within three months. Knowing that the project was coming, the town approved $330,000 in bonding in late 2018 for design and installation and treatment equipment.

The DEP originally wanted the town to install a system to add chloramine to the water, but Wiser and consultants Tata and Howard “thought that wasn’t the right solution,” partly because it was more expensive and requires adding more chemicals than the other two alternatives studied, Hendrickson said.

Instead, the system will cause coagulation in  the water, which will make the particles of organic matter stick together in clumps that are large enough to be caught by the filters. The new equipment will be “squeezed into the antique building” close to the pond that also houses the pumping equipment and should be operational by next summer, she said.

Outdoor watering now limited to once a week

Residents on town water must now limit non-essential outdoor watering to one day a week because of this summer’s drought conditions, though agricultural watering is exempt from these restrictions.

After above-normal temperatures in July and early August and more than three months of below-normal rainfall, state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides declared a Level 2 – Significant Drought in all seven regions of the Commonwealth. Lincoln’s Water Commission subsequently voted to move to Stage 3 drought restrictions as specified in the town’s Drought Management Plan.

Lincoln water customers may water established lawns and landscaping on their assigned day using in-ground irrigation systems or hose-mounted sprinklers between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Those with even-numbered street addresses may water on Saturdays and odd-numbered addresses on Sundays. Hand-watering using a hose is allowed any day of the week between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Exceptions for new lawns are allowed only during June and September and will be limited to watering during the first 20 days after installation. In addition, swimming pools may be filled no more than three inches per month, and car washing is prohibited.

People with home gardens must follow the residential restrictions for non-essential watering, since hand-watering should be sufficient. Those who officially qualify as farmers, however, are allowed to water as needed. This includes customers who have been approved for agricultural water rates and those whose property meets the definition of “farm” as outlined in the town’s agricultural zoning bylaws.

The Water Department will issue warnings and potentially fines to customers who violate the watering restrictions.

News acorns

LFA event for new or soon-to-be parents

The Lincoln Family Association invites new and expecting parents to a virtual meetup on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. Please RSVP to carolinemfiore@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link.

How to vote in the upcoming primary

There are three ways to vote in the September 1 primary:

  1. Vote by mail — Request a ballot by returning the postcard you received. That single postcard allows you to vote in both the primary and the general election. The deadline to submit a vote by mail using the prepaid envelope provided is Wednesday, Aug. 26. Voters may also drop completed ballots in the black mailbox at the front entrance of Town Hall. The town must receive ballot by close of polls on September 1. If you misplaced your postcard, you can request a vote-by-mail ballot by filling out this form, printing it and mailing it back to the address on the form
  1.  Early voting in person — Come to Town Hall to vote at any of these times:
    • Saturday, Aug. 22 and Sunday, Aug. 23 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
    • August 24–28 from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (open until 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27)
  1. Voting at the polls on Election Day — Polls will be open on Tuesday, Sept 1 in the Smith Gym on Ballfield Road from 7 a.m.–8 p.m. 

To register to vote or check your status as a voter, you can go to this Secretary of the Commonwealth web page. Anyone with questions, may call the Town Clerk’s office at 781-259-2607.

Outdoor Mass in Pierce Park

St. Julia Parish will offer outdoor Mass on the lawn (or under the tent in case of rain) on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 8 a.m. No reservations required. Please bring a blanket or chair and masks for attendees age 5 and up, as social distancing protocols apply. Parking is at the rear of the house or on the property on Weston Road.

Farrington Nature Linc hosts events for kids and adults

Farrington Nature Linc, a Lincoln nonprofit dedicated to connecting under-resourced children to the natural world, will host the following end-of-summer events:

End of Summer Virtual Glow Dance Party — Saturday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Get your glow on with a live set from DJ Alison, glow-in-the-dark activities and games, and a special appearance by our goat friends. Click here to register.

Herbal Cocktails Virtual Happy Hour — Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
This online workshop led by Jenny Hauf from Muddy River Herbals will introduce participants to making and growing their own cocktails. You’ll come away knowing how to make a mojito, simple syrup, and blueberry pine shrub. Jenny will also discuss alcohol-free options so you can treat everyone in your life to a beautifully crafted drink. Click here to purchase tickets.

Garden Club opens online shop

The Lincoln Garden Club has opened an online garden shop to help support its mission. Inventory includes house plants and shrubs, metal plant stands, gardening books, and more, all donated by a former Lincoln neighbor. Click here for details. Because the club was unable to have our usual biennial perennial plant sale in May, they will be having one in 2021 (in person if circumstances allow) to celebrate spring.

Free library delivery for the homebound

The Lincoln Public Library offers weekly home delivery on Tuesdays for Lincoln residents who are unable to visit the library due to special needs, illness, or disability, thanks to a program offered by the Friends of the Lincoln Library. A Friends volunteer can deliver up to six items to a home at one time, including books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, and two-week new releases. To request materials, use the Minuteman online catalog or call the library (781-259-8465 x204) to request either specific items or general selections (for example, “please send me five mysteries by women authors”).

When the library calls or emails to indicate your items are available, let them know you would like to have them delivered. They will arrange a safe way to deliver your items based on your particular situation. The volunteer will also call on delivery day to make sure someone is home. Items to be returned will be picked up when deliveries are made. Questions? Contact the Reference Department at 781-259-8465 x204 or linref@minlib.net.

New transfer station/commuter lot stickers required

The Town of Lincoln is combining transfer station and commuter lot resident stickers into a single sticker affixed to car windshields. They will become effective on September 1 and are good for one year. To obtain a sticker, complete the application online by clicking here or go to the Department of Public Works on Lewis Street. The free stickers will be mailed upon receipt of the completed application. Any resident who does not have a new sticker by November 1, 2020 may be refused access to the transfer station or commuter lot.

Moderate-income condo for sale

A three-bedroom, 1,420-square-foot moderate-income condo unit in Battle Road Farm is now being offered to “ineligible” households, meaning those that do not meet the income and asset requirements for affordable housing. The purchase price is $321,200 and is being offered in a first-come, first-served basis, meaning that the first qualified applicant with a completed application will be eligible to purchase the unit. Click here for details, and contact Lara Plaskon at the Regional Housing Services Office with any questions or to submit an application:

Lara Plaskon, Regional Housing Services Office
37 Knox Trail
Acton, MA 01720
978-287-1092 or 978-639-3387
info@rhsohousing.org

 

 

My Turn: Watch the Democratic National Convention this week

By Joan Kimball and Barbara Slayter

It’s the week of the Democratic National Convention, and we Dems are very excited. On Monday night, we heard from Democratic leaders such as Michelle Obama, Bernie Sanders, and Amy Klobuchar, as well as Republican leaders including John Kasich.

On Tuesday night, voters, delegates, activists and leaders in the Democratic Party will officially cast votes to nominate Joe Biden. Wednesday night will feature the historic nomination of Kamala Harris as Vice President of the United States. Speakers will include Nancy Pilosi, Elizabeth Warren, and Gabrielle Giffords.

On Thursday, Joe Biden will accept the Democratic nomination and will speak about his vision for uniting America. Other speakers will include Senators Corey Booker, Tammy Baldwin, and Tammy Duckworth. The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) will perform. 

For the complete schedule and news about the Lincoln Democratic Party, see our website at www.Lincolnmadems.org. The convention will be broadcast TV on several channels on computers, streaming video and on the website at demconvention/watch. 

Joan Kimball and Barbara Slayter
Co-chairs, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee

”My Turn” is a forum for Lincoln residents 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.

News acorns

Water use restrictions in effect; drought possible

Lincoln’s normal summer water use restrictions are now in effect, and restrictions may tighten if the state enters a drought, as now seems possible.

The usual May 1 to September 30 restrictions are required by the state Department of Environmental Protection because Lincoln annually exceeds the withdrawal permit and the daily per-person water use guideline of 65 gallons. Water Department Superintendent MaryBeth Wiser told the Water Commission this week that Massachusetts Drought Task Force is meeting this week to assess possible drought conditions and may vote to impose more stringent restrictions than those required by Lincoln’s official drought plan, which was developed after the 2017 drought. Wiser will report back to the commission on the results of that meeting on July 8.

Virtual bingo hosted by LLCT

Join the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust on Tuesday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m. for an evening of virtual bingo. We’ll be highlighting some of Lincoln’s bees and butterflies, but no naturalist knowledge is required to win.This is a free event, but registration is required; click here to register. Once you’re registered, you’ll receive the Zoom meeting link and a bingo card. There will also be prizes from local businesses and LLCT swag.

Grief groups for children and teens

Children and teens (rising first-graders to recent high school graduates) who have experienced the death of a significant person in their life are invited to join a virtual group hosted by Care Dimensions to connect with grieving peers and learn some coping tools to navigate this difficult time. Group will be held via Zoom starting on Tuesday, June 30 the following times:

  • 10 a.m. – Elementary school students
  • 11 a.m. – Middle school students
  • 12 p.m. – High school students

Advanced registration is required; rolling enrollment. For more information or to register, contact Kelia Bergin, children’s program coordinator, at KBergin@CareDimensions.org or 781-373-6570.

Planning Board candidates reflect on election result

The candidates in the hard-fought Planning Board race had gracious words for each other and said the election was a good experience for the town, even though it became contentious at times.

“I’d like to congratulate Lynn [DeLisi] and Rick [Rundell] for a good campaign that stuck to the issues,” said Bob Domnitz, who will serve his second stint on the board after winning more votes than Rundell in the three-way race for two seats. “I know some of our supporters were overly enthusiastic, but the candidates took the high road and that’s the way it should be. I’m proud of the entire town for coming out and voting in the numbers they did in this pandemic.”

“I’m impressed that over 800 people felt the issues were important enough to take the trouble to vote under complicated circumstances,” Rundell echoed in a letter posted in LincolnTalk. “I do think an enthusiastically contested election benefits the town by surfacing issues we should be talking about.”

DeLisi, who got the most votes of the three, said she was surprised to finish in first place. “Actually, I thought I would lose,” she said, since much of the campaign discussion focused on Domnitz vs. Rundell rather than DeLisi alone.

DeLisi was co-chair of the South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee, a large group with several subcommittees, one of which was the Village Planning and Zoning team. That team’s proposal for rezoning part of South Lincoln and changing the project approval process to give the board more latitude provoked much criticism. But the full SLPIC group rarely met, and DeLisi said she was not even aware of what the zoning team was suggesting until the process was well along.

“I thought the zoning subcommittee was working on ways to make it easier for businesses to open in town… and not focusing on regulations to help developers build dense condos as well,” DeLisi said. “I’ve never chaired a committee where I didn’t know what was going on, and I clearly did not know what was going on,” she said.

Her SLIPC co-chair was Gary Taylor, who was the board’s representative on the zoning subcommittee (and ironically, the person who beat out Domnitz in another close election in 2015).

Domnitz and DeLisi want to see any future zoning change proposals come from the full Planning Board, not SLPAC (the successor to SLPIC) or a subcommittee.

One thing all three candidates agreed on: the discussion about South Lincoln isn’t over.

“My position was that the town should have the conversation — not just a matter of one group shouting it down before everybody had the chance to engage in it,” Rundell said.

“We’re going to have to talk about South Lincoln and how to sustain what we have there. Maybe we do have to change the zoning, but not in the way it was proposed,” DeLisi said. “I think we need to be speaking to the people who live around there and involve them in the conversation.”

Rundell is out and Domnitz back on Planning Board

In a very close race for Planning Board, incumbent Lynn DeLisi and challenger Bob Domnitz won the two open seats, ousting Rick Rundell, who has been on the board since 2012. Domnitz previously served on the board from 2003–15 but himself was beaten by Gary Taylor in 2015 by a margin of 481-441 (click on ballot image). 

In the June 15 election, residents could vote for two of the three candidates. Domnitz, a Mill Street resident, beat Rundell in Precinct 2 (northern and eastern Lincoln), 459-412, but came in third in Precinct 1. DeLisi garnered the most votes of the three candidates, but Domnitz’s margin in his home precinct was enough to allow him to finish in second place overall, beating Rundell by 47 votes. A total of 806 ballots were cast in the election for a turnout of 17% of registered voters (the Planning Board was the only contested race).

The race was the focus of much townwide debate and campaigning. Over the last year, the board has been at the center of  controversial proposal (since shelved) by one of the South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee’s teams to relax some of the zoning rules for the Lincoln Station area and give the board more power to approve projects that might otherwise have had to go to Town Meeting. 

Unofficial town election results for June 2020 (click to see both pages).

In the June 11 candidate forum, DeLisi and Domnitz roundly criticized the proposal by SLPIC. But Rundell pushed back, noting that the board could not change its decision-making scope without approval at Town Meeting. The SLPIC proposal was originally on the docket when Town Meeting was scheduled for March but were withdrawn before the meeting was rescheduled due to the pandemic. SLPIC then planned to bring a revised proposal to a Special Town Meeting this fall but subsequently shelved the plan entirely. 

During the forum, Rundell characterized himself as a “forward-looking candidate” and said the board’s role should not be “fossilizing the town in a certain state.” 

Ironically, Rundell said in March that he was recruited to the Planning Board shortly after arriving in Lincoln by Domnitz because he felt the board lacked a professional architect. 

The Lincoln Squirrel will interview all three candidates about the results and hopes to publish a story on June 16.