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government

Selectmen to meet next week; playgrounds closed

March 19, 2020

Here’s the latest news about Lincoln’s response to the Covid-19 epidemic.

Zoom meeting open to all

Lincoln resident Andy Payne has set up another online meeting for any interested Lincolnites to learn more about using the popular free meeting app Zoom and chat about whatever is on their minds on Friday, March 20 at 1 p.m. Just go to https://zoom.us/j/494878673 to join the meeting. Anyone needing help in getting Zoom set up before the meeting can email Payne at andy@payne.org.

Board of Selectmen to meet online

The Board of Selectmen will meet online on Monday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Though most of Lincoln’s boards and commissions are no longer meeting due to the epidemic, selectmen and some other officials will meet online since Gov. Baker last week relaxed aspects of the Open Meeting Law to allow this, as long as the public can see and hear the meetings in real time.

Residents who want to watch the meeting can do so by going to https://zoom.us/j/437201565 and entering this meeting ID: 437 201 565. If there are insoluble technical issues that prevent public access during the meeting, selectmen will post an audio or video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the Town of Lincoln website.

The meeting will cover updates on the public health emergency response and potential votes to clarify or confer certain emergency authorities. Click here for the agenda.

Playgrounds closed

As part of the ongoing efforts to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, Lincoln’s playgrounds and play structures will be closed until further notice. Athletic fields are closed to group gatherings and sporting activities/events. Town parks will remain open and residents are encouraged to continue using public, open spaces while practicing the CDC guidelines for social distancing and hygiene.

Council on Aging offers volunteer updates

The COA is providing periodic updates to the groups who are organizing volunteers to let everyone know what everyone else is providing, assist in sharing resources, give information about best practices, pass on news about benefits available to residents in need, offer links to potential sources of funding, and more. If you or your organization would like to be on the list to receive these updates, please contact Carolyn Bottum, COA director, at bottumc@lincolntown.org.

For those making deliveries to residents, the COA and Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s public health nurse, have developed a protocol to help ensure the safety of both the volunteer and the person receiving the items. This is based on CDC guidelines as well as other protocols in use by area organizations.

  1. Have disposable gloves, disinfectant wipes and a plastic trash bag with you.
  2. Call the person in advance to tell them when you will arrive, and arrange for a place where you can leave the items.
  3. Wipe down the items you will be delivering (if applicable) and use gloves to handle them. You do not want to contaminate the items with the virus before you give it to the person.
  4. When you arrive, call the person to let them know you will be leaving the items in the pre-arranged place.
  5. Leave the items in the pre-arranged place and leave. Do not enter the person’s house, have an in-person conversation, etc. Again, you are risking infecting both yourself and the person you are serving.
  6. Throw away your gloves in the plastic trash bag after delivery, use hand sanitizer if available, and dispose of the bag.  

As a reminder, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Council on Aging is still providing:

  • Social work and other social services, including information and referral, case management, crisis intervention, and phone check-ins with residents who are at special risk due to COVID-19.
  • Telephone reassurance with volunteers by phone.
  • Coordination of delivery of food, medication, and supplies to residents in need.
  • Emergency financial assistance to residents who have received eviction or utility shut-off notices.

By next week they hope to have online fitness classes, but this is still a work in progress.

Category: Covid-19*, government, health and science, seniors, sports & recreation Leave a Comment

Covid-19 news for March 16

March 16, 2020

Click here for a collection of previous stories and updates on the effects in Lincoln of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Social services in Lincoln

Bemis Hall is closed, but Lincoln’s social services staff are available by phone or email to help residents of all ages with:

  • Having food and medication delivered
  • Getting emergency financial assistance with rent or utilities
  • Other urgent resource or social service needs

Council on Aging Director Carolyn Bottum is at her desk manning the phone while other social services staff are working remotely. Call 781-259-8811 during regular COA hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or email bottumc@lincolntown.org 

If you would like to donate funds to help residents who may experience difficulties due to the inability to work or other circumstances during this crisis, please send a check to the Lincoln Emergency Assistance Fund, COA, Town of Lincoln, 16 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. 

As a reminder, all nonessential Council on Aging activities (classes, tax preparation, transportation, and senior dining) are canceled until further notice.

Town government

In response to the evolving public health emergency, town offices will be closed to the public except by appointment, effective Tuesday, March 17. However, the town’s essential services (public health, public safety, water department, public works, cemetery, inspectional services and Town Administrator Tim Higgins’s office) continue to be staffed and remain fully functional. Contact Higgins at 781-259-2604 or higginst@lincolntown.org, or Assistant Town Administrator Mary Day at 781-259-2603 or daym@lincolntown.org.

Some business transactions (property and excise bill payment, building permits, dog licenses and vital records) have been automated and are accessible through the town’s website at www.lincolntown.org. Anyone having difficulty navigating these services may contact Patrice Brennan brennanp@lincolntown.org.

The town’s key leadership boards, including the Board of Selectmen, Board of Health, School Committee, and Finance Committee, will continue to function and coordinate. For the most current public health emergency response information visit: lincolnpublichealthnews.com.

Food pantry

The Lincoln Food Pantry, operated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) at St. Joseph Church, expects that the need for food and financial support will greatly increase over the coming weeks. SVdP serves 200 clients who live, work or go to school in Lincoln or Weston and also offers emergency financial assistance with rent, utilities, car repairs, medications, etc.

Residents can help by donating nonperishable food. Suggestions of items to add to your shopping list (please make sure the food is within the sell-by date):

  • Progresso soup
  • pasta sauce
  • cereals
  • peanut butter and jelly
  • canned tuna
  • mayonnaise
  • shelf-stable Parmesan cheese
  • crackers
  • cookies
  • gluten-free items
  • paper towels and toilet paper

Food donations may be left at:

  • St. Joseph’s Church, in the vestibule at the side entrance where the ramp is.
  • St. Julia’s Church in Weston, at the back of the church
  • Donelan’s (buy and drop in the collection bin behind the registers)

Deliveries of online orders (without a signature required) from places like Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Walmart, etc., can be sent to Chris Connell, 142, Lincoln Rd., Lincoln MA 01773

To donate funds, please send checks to SVdP, PO Box 324, Lincoln MA 01773, made payable to SVdP. For more information, please contact Ursula Nowak at unowak33@gmail.com or 781 259 4297.

Anyone in need of food may contact Karen Boyce at karenboyce620@gmail.com or 781-259-9303. For emergency financial assistance, contact Tomasina Lucchese at tomasinal@mac.com  or 617-680-4159.

Commuter rail schedule reduced

Starting Tuesday, March 17, the MBTA commuter rail is reducing service. There will be seven trains each way stopping in Lincoln per day, vs. the usual 17. Click here for the train schedule. Subway and bus lines are on a Saturday schedule.

Transfer station

The swap table area at the transfer station will be closed until April 1. Trash and recycling drop-off will continue normally. The Department of Public Works office will also be closed and no new transfer station stickers will be issued until April 1. Questions? Call the DPW at 781-259-8999.

Restaurants

All Massachusetts restaurants have been ordered to stop dine-in service. However, Lincoln’s eateries are adapting. Real is now offering a small selection of family-friendly takeout dinners delivered to your car. Go to www.keepitreallincoln.com/real-takeout/ and place your order by 5 p.m. You can also order from their regular menu by calling 781-259-9464 or ordering from www.keepitreallincoln.com/menu-dinner. Gift cards are also available.

Beginning March 16, the Twisted Tree will start offering delivery to the local community, and will continue to have pick up options available as well. Visit thetwistedtreecafe.com to place your order.

Police Department

The Lincoln Police Department is fully operational but is taking antiviral precautions. “Officers are using lots of Clorox wipes in the cruisers and workstations along with hand sanitizer, and more importantly, washing their hands with soap and water,” Lt. Sean Kennedy said on Monday. “During traffic stops or motor vehicle crashes, officers have been told to verbally obtain the individual’s information vs. handling their paperwork. It’s easy enough for them to check the driver’s information on the computer. Traffic is way down, and our incidents are way down as well. People seem to be hunkering down, which is good.”

School closings extended

Gov. Charlie Baker has ordered all public schools in Massachusetts to stay closed until at least April 6.

Emerson Hospital appeal

Emerson Hospital employees are in desperate need of childcare. If you or someone you know can provide babysitting in their homes, please contact Emerson HR Manager Diana Marzoratti at DMarzoratti@emersonhosp.org.

More information:
  • Town of Lincoln COVID-19 page
  • Mass. Dept. of Public Health COVID-19 page
  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 page
    • Daily tracking of cases in the U.S.
    • CDC guidelines for those at higher risk of serious illness 

Category: Covid-19*, government, health and science 2 Comments

Covid-19 updates in Lincoln

March 15, 2020

Town health and government

The town has established a Covid-19 updates page here. Public health questions should be addressed to Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean at PublicHealthNurse@lincolntown.org. Questions regarding town services and response planning should be directed to Town Administrator Tim Higgins at higginst@lincolntown.org. Board of Selectmen Chair Jennifer Glass is also available to answer questions at selectmen@lincolntown.org.

Town officials will continue to make use of customary communication channels including the town’s website, LincolnTalk, the Lincoln Squirrel, cable television, periodic mailings, reverse 911 phone calls when appropriate, our public safety message boards, and social media.

A group of residents has assembled this list of resources and contacts for those who want to help as well as those who need help during the Covid-19 crisis. 

Lincoln Public Schools

All school events are cancelled and all meetings including staff meetings, professional development, student conferences, IST meetings, and IEP team meetings are cancelled or postponed. All school buildings are closed and no entry will be allowed, except to carry out essential functions related to Covid-19 cleaning or required building and district operations. Administrators are monitoring who enters the building to carry out essential operations and are using strict cleaning protocols following access. 

The state Commissioner of Education has amended the rules so that schools are not required to make up closed days beyond the 185th day on the school calendar. The last day for students on both campuses will be Friday, June 19 as noted on the 2019-2020 academic calendar.

During the closure, schools will not attempt to run school virtually or conduct a formal online learning program, as students have a range of learning needs, access to technology, and levels of support at home. However, they’re providing families with a collection of home learning resources to use as a menu of activities and learning experiences. They are provided “as-is” and will not be evaluated, assessed, or graded.  Assistant Superintendent Jess Rose will share these resources with parents via email by the end of the day on Monday, March 16.

Faculty and staff are checking their email, though they may not be able to respond immediately because they are home with their families. Teachers have been given recommendations for work they can do from home to ensure that they’re fully prepared for the return to school.

Families are reminded that social distancing means staying approximately 6 feet away from others. You may be able to go for a run, hike in the woods, play in the yard or driveway, or have a Skype visit, but not have a group sleepover or multi-person playdate. School administrators strongly urge parents to supervise their children and ensure they are not participating in group activities.

Drinking water is safe

The Covid-19 virus has not been detected anywhere in drinking water, and the Lincoln Water Department assures customers that the town’s water treatment plant is well equipped to remove and disinfect viruses through the filtration and disinfection process. The department is following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations with treatment requirements for public water systems that prevent waterborne pathogens such as viruses from contaminating drinking water. Click here for more information.

School Building Committee

The March 18 community forum to present items that were to be voted on at the Special Town Meeting. on March 28 has been canceled. The SBC will hold a virtual community forum on a  date to be announced. The March 18 SBC meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. The meeting is necessary in order to vote approvals for expenditures, but it will probably take place virtually. This is possible because Gov. Baker signed an executive order that relaxed the Open Meeting Law rules for remote participation. The meeting must still be open to the community and there must be a quorum in order to make decisions, but the quorum does not need to be present in the same location. The town is determining the best way to hold virtual meetings so that the format and accessibility is as uniform as possible.

Parks and Rec

The Parks and Recreation Department has canceled all classes and programs through Friday, March 27. The office along with all school campus buildings are closed for cleaning, and staff will be working remotely. Those with questions may contact Park and Rec Director Daniel Pereira at 781-389-0280 or dpereira@lincnet.org.

Magic Garden

Both locations of the Magic Garden Children’s Center are closed through March 27. On March 13, the preschool disinfected the classrooms and office spaces, and all classroom equipment, toys, and materials at both locations. A professional cleaning company will also complete a deep cleaning process on Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17. Although the available information indicates that the Covid-19 virus does not live on soft surfaces, the preschool is also having its classroom rugs and couches disinfected and cleaned.

Magic Garden teachers will be in touch with families on a daily basis to provide them with ideas for things to do with their children at home. They’ve also shared their regular classroom schedules as a guide to support parents. 

Drumlin Farm

Mass Audubon has closed its state headquarters in Lincoln as well as Drumlin Farm and other nature centers, museums, and shops, and all programs are canceled through March 31. For more information about Mass Audubon’s response to Covid-19, visit massaudubon.org/covid19.

Codman Community Farms

Codman Community Farms is open, even as it continues to reassess farm operations each day and makes adjustments as needs dictate. CCF has increased orders with its local vendors and will be receiving deliveries through the upcoming week to keep shelves as full as possible. They’re also reaching out to local farms to see what locally grown produce they can supply, and to help support local growers.

At the farm store, staff are wiping down all surfaces at least twice per day, including all handles and electronic terminals, and they’ve added a second electronic checkout terminal in the barn to speed checkout and reduce congestion. The farm store is open 24/7 so off-hours shopping is encouraged. There is a healthy supply of both pork and beef in farm freezers.

The store is adding new products, with yogurt from Sidehill Farm plus knockwurst and nitrite-free kielbasa hot dogs and locally made pasta (frozen and dried plus sauces) expected this week from Deano’s in Somerville. The hens continue to lay eggs, and a new flock of almost 1,400 hens is due to arrive arrive in less than a month. CCF has increased its grain orders to keep livestock well fed in the coming weeks, and has identified other farms that can fill the gap should inventory run low.

Visitors to the rest of the farm are welcome, but please make sure you’re wearing gloves or wash your hands both before and after leaving the farm, and avoid touching surfaces around the farm if possible. 

Lincoln Public Library

The library is closed until at least March 29. However, its online service Kanopy has assembled a collection of online films that patrons can watch for free for the next 30 days. Kanopy Kids, which offers films and TV series that help children develop empathy, mindfulness, and self-esteem through entertaining and educational videos, is also free online. The library recently added BookFlix, a digital literacy resource for students in grades PreK–3. It pairs classic storybooks with related nonfiction titles and offers many options to read along, listen to stories, and/or watch stories come to life. 

For information on any of of the library’s digital/online services for both adults and kids including audiobooks, movies, magazines and music, visit www.lincolnpl.org. Some services require users to be either a Lincoln residents or Lincoln library card holders.

Stonegate Gardens

Stonegate Gardens is open but is frequently sanitizing shopping carts, work surfaces, countertops, bathrooms, phones (including personal cell phones), and door handles according to CDC standards. They are also having cashiers handle the credit card processor for customers and are discouraging the use of cash. Delivery vehicles (steering wheel, door handles, etc.) are wiped down after every use and drivers are also implementing social distancing.

Category: Covid-19*, government, health and science, kids, news Leave a Comment

Town meeting, election postponed for at least a month

March 13, 2020

The town meetings and election scheduled for the end of this month have been called off, with tentative new dates in late April, though town officials have the option of postponing again if the Covid-19 epidemic has not abated.

“The sentiment is very clear — everyone thinks we should postpone,” said Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden at an emergency meeting of the Board of Selectmen on Friday morning.

“We are very strongly against pulling people together at any public gathering at this point in time,” said Patricia Miller, a member of the Board of Health, which met on March 11.

Holden officially declared that the Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting will be postponed “to a time certain” — Saturday, April 25 a 9:30 a.m. in the Donaldson Auditorium. The actions came just hours before Gov. Baker issued an order banning public gatherings with more than 250 people, with some exceptions.

The most time-sensitive issue that was due for a vote on March 28 was the Special Town Meeting question about the school project. Last month, the School Building was forced to cut items totaling $3.5 million after construction bids came in higher than expected, so they’re hoping residents approve adding back up to $2 million for the items they consider most important. 

Architects and construction firms need to know by June 1 which items will be part of the project, and they would prefer that the town vote by mid-May. However, the project as a whole is not stalled. “The contracts are signed, the project is moving forward,” Selectman Jennifer Glass said. “The pieces in question are the items we’re thinking about adding back.”

Virtual meetings

In the coming weeks, town officials will be thinking about ways to make both the town meetings and town government function given the necessity of social distancing. Meetings of boards and commissions and their accompanying public hearings will be postponed when possible or held remotely. The state’s open Meeting Law requires members of town boards to meet in person in public, but an executive order issued by Gov. Baker on Thursday night relaxes that requirement, allowing meetings to be held remotely, without a quorum gathered at a single location, as long as the public has access in real time to the proceedings via the web or some other audio or videoconferencing method.

“We need to move on that now,” Miller said about the issue of getting access to the appropriate technology for board chairs. These methods could also be used to shorten the town meetings when they do take place, such as having televised presentations of the warrant articles. 

Unlike elections, residents may not vote early or by absentee ballot at Town Meeting. However, officials could survey residents ahead of time to shape a shortened agenda with just the most popular or important items. Votes on other matters such as the citizens’ petitions could  be postponed until later in the year or even 2021.

If necessary, the April 25 Town Meetings could be opened and the immediately postponed to another “time certain.”

Town election

Under state law, the only way to postpone town elections is via court injunction or special legislation by the state. Voters as well as poll workers at elections tend to skew toward the senior citizen population, who are more vulnerable to serious illness from Covid-19, and the idea of them interacting with hundreds of people on Election Day is “disconcerting,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said.

The board voted to ask the governor to file emergency legislation on behalf of the town seeking authorization to postpone the election to a date on or before June 30. However, if the election is to be held the customary two days after Town Meeting (which is now scheduled for April 27), officials must nail down the election date by April 5 because 20 days’ notice is required. That period is to allow people who were not eligible to vote in March to register.

The rescheduled election will probably also allow “modified early voting by mail,” which is essentially the same as absentee ballot voting, but without the requirement for the voter to sign an affidavit saying they are unable to vote in person for religious or medical reasons or because they are out of town. Voters would still have to request ballots in advance.

Lincoln’s town election is normally held on the same day as Sudbury’s so the two towns can simultaneously elect members of the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School Committee. However, that isn’t critical this year, since the seats for that board are uncontested.

Like everything else nowadays, these tentative plans are subject to change, depending on what happens with the pandemic and whether the state offers more rules or guidance on how town government should be conducted in the Covid-19 era.

Lincoln public health nurse Trish McGean, who was also at the selectmen’s meeting, said that as of Friday morning she did not know if and when the town’s preschools and private schools would close, though she assumed they would follow the lead of the Lincoln Public Schools.

There were no official cases as of Covid-19 on Friday, though experts agree that the virus is circulating widely. When someone does test positive or presumptively positive, the state Department of Public Health will inform McGean, who will publish that fact (minus patient-identifying information) on the town’s Covid-19 website at lincolnpublichealthnews.com.

Category: Covid-19*, elections, government, health and science Tagged: elections Leave a Comment

Schools close; Town Meeting and election postponement likely

March 12, 2020

Lincoln Public Schools will be closed for the rest of the month, and the Board of Selectmen has scheduled an emergency meeting on Friday morning to discuss postponing the town meetings and election scheduled for March 28 and March 30.

The latest development in the swiftly progressing Covid-9 pandemic events came late Thursday night, when Superintendent of School Becky McFall contacted parents to tell them there would be no school on Friday, March 13 and schools would not reopen until at least March 30. Earlier in the day, she said the state Commissioner of Education had scheduled a Friday morning conference call for school superintendents where we “anticipate we will be given some direct guidance about school closures.” 

These were just the latest in a rapid series of communications from McFall about the virus in the last two days, starting with a March 11 notice about limiting access to the schools to students and employees only, while canceling field trips and athletic events.

“Since my communication this afternoon, we have seen a significant shift in the coronavirus outbreak and we have decided to take proactive measures to slow the rapid spread of the virus,” McFall said in a email to parents sent Thursday night at 10:12 p.m. announcing the school closures through at least March 27.

This came after the School Committee met Thursday evening and reviewed the latest information about the spread of the virus as well as closures by other school districts. Sudbury schools and Minuteman High School are also closed as of Friday; Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School is open Friday but will close after that for at least two weeks. Six other districts including Bedford and Lexington jointly announced closings as of March 13.

“It is important for families to understand that this is an initial determination, and as we monitor the outbreak, it may lead to a longer closure,” McFall wrote. 

Lincoln made its announcement amid widespread measures nationwide to restrict gatherings of people, and McFall urged families to follow that guidance in coming weeks. “If students and families continue to meet together in groups outside of school, this initial closure will not have the desired impact. It is critical that everyone refrains from meeting in large groups and practices social distancing as recommended by the CDC,” she wrote.

School administrators, teachers and technology specialists are developing “curated resources” for families and students during the closure. “These resources are not intended as a ‘virtual school,’ but rather will provide a bank of ideas for learning activities that families may find useful,” McFall wrote.

Information on preschools in Lincoln was not available Thursday night.

There were 108 presumptive or confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Massachusetts as of March 12, according to the state Department of Public Health. Middlesex County had twice as many cases as any other county in the state with 49. It’s unclear if are any cases in Lincoln yet.

Town meeting and election

The Board of Selectmen has scheduled an emergency meeting on Friday, March 13 at 7:30 a.m. to discuss the possibility of postponing the town meetings scheduled for March 28 and the town election on March 30. The agenda can be found here.

The Lincoln Squirrel will report on actions that result from that meeting and will post a story on Friday. We’ll continue to post on weekends when breaking news warrants.

Other cancellations

As the Lincoln Squirrel learns about cancellations due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the affected events will be noted as postponed in the calendar. However, if an event is still listed, don’t assume it’s happening —  check with organizers before going.

  • The Council on Aging has canceled or postponed all COA classes and activities through Friday, March 27. At that point they will review the situation. COA staff will be in their offices during regular business hours and we will continue to offer social work and other social services as usual. For more information, call the COA at 781-259-8811.
  • The Lincoln Public library has canceled or postponed the Friday morning book group on March 13 and will probably cancel some other activities as well, once they’ve talked with the presenters. Please check the library website at lincolnpl.org for the latest news.
  • The library has also canceled all children’s programming through the month of March. Please contact the library with any questions or concerns: 781-259-8465 ext. 4 or dleopold@minlib.net.
  • The Lincoln Family Association has suspended its weekly Wednesday playgroups through the end of March. 
  • The March 13 WHDH videotaping at the Lincoln train station described in the March 11 article headlined “TV station to film Lincoln MBTA activists on Friday” has been canceled.
  • The Old Town Hall Exchange will close for the time being. Saturday, March 13 will be its last day open until further notice.
  • The deCordova Museum will remain open for now, with increased cleaning protocols. However, events in March where more than 100 people are expected have been canceled. For the immediate future, if programs or events that you are registered for are canceled, you will be notified via email and issued a full refund. If you’re unsure of the status of the event, check the deCordova website at decordova.org and social media channels.
More information:
  • Town of Lincoln COVID-19 page
  • Mass. Dept. of Public Health COVID-19 page
  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 page
    • Daily tracking of cases in the U.S.
    • CDC guidelines for those at higher risk of serious illness 

Category: Covid-19*, government, health and science, schools Leave a Comment

Covid-19 updates and cancellations

March 11, 2020

Restricted access to schools

Beginning March 12, access to the Lincoln Public Schools is being limited to students and employees only, with a few exceptions. Events that include invitations to parents, extended family members, and outside guests will be postponed, canceled or rescheduled, Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall said in a March 11 communication.

This means that events like plays and musicals (including the middle school performance of “Frozen Jr.” that was scheduled for the evenings of March 19 and 20) may be performed for a student audience during the school day but will not be open to parents and community members. “We will do our best to take steps to allow parents and family members to view the performances via video or other measures. Performances may also be rescheduled to later in the year,” McFall wrote.

Community events that are scheduled in school gyms and auditoriums or other large spaces will also be cancelled.

Other changes and cancellations
  • The Friends of the Library monthly used book sale (was Saturday, March 14 in Bemis Hall). Organizers hope to proceed with the next scheduled book sale on Saturday, April 11 but will keep LincolnTalk posted about plans. Donations are still welcome in the box at Bemis Hall.
  • “Coping & Understanding Hearing Loss” (was Saturday, March 14 at the library). Organizers hope to reschedule for later in the spring.
  • “Tough Guys and Gentle Men: Healthy Men in the Age of #MeToo” (was Saturday, March 14 at St. Anne’s Church). This was a half-day summit hosted by the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable. 
More information:
  • Town of Lincoln COVID-19 page
  • Mass. Dept. of Public Health COVID-19 page
    • Daily tracking of Mass. cases
  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 page
    • Daily tracking of cases in the U.S.
    • CDC guidelines for those at higher risk of serious illness 

 

Category: Covid-19*, government, health and science, news, schools Leave a Comment

Some activities canceled as town girds for coronavirus

March 10, 2020

Some activities for seniors in Lincoln have been canceled, and town officials are beginning to make contingency plans in case the threat of the Covid-19 coronavirus makes it necessary to postpone the town meetings and election later this month.

In consultation with town public health nurse Tricia McGean, the Council on Aging canceled several non-health-related group events during the next few weeks, including Lincoln Academy talks and special educational presentations, senior dining, and foreign language conversation groups.

As of March 9, the COA’s Matter of Balance, Stretch and Flex, Active Aging, tai chi, and line dancing classes will continue, as will tax counseling, the wellness clinics for all ages, the senior legal clinic, and office hours with Jay Higgins of Rep. Katherine Clark’s office. All social services provided by the COA are still in place. To check on specific activities or for more information, call the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 or consult their online calendar.

The town has convened a group of senior department staff and health officials including McGean and the Board of Health to plan local prevention and response measures during the epidemic.

“It’s not completely out of the realm of possibility” that the town would need to postpone the special and annual town meetings on March 28 and the town election on March 30, Town Administrator Tim Higgins told the Board of Selectmen on Monday. The virus seems to make older people the sickest, “and they turn out in big numbers for both.”

Postponing town-wide votes could have logistical repercussions, especially for the school project. At the Special Town Meeting that will start at 9:30 a.m. on March 28 immediately before the Annual Town Meeting, residents will be asked to vote on whether to fund some of the $3.5 million recently cut from the project. Bids have been received and contracts must be signed as soon as those decisions are made. 

Higgins told the selectmen he had asked construction managers how long they could postpone the Town Meeting vote and heard that “June 1 is an important deadline for them,” and they would have to have a final decision on the cuts at least a week or two before that. If the town election is postponed, Llincoln would also have to coordinate with Sudbury, which holds its election on the same day to have simultaneous votes of members of the Lincoln-Sudbury regional School Committee.

By state law, town boards and commissions must hold meetings in person and in public. Asked if that rule would be relaxed if meetings need to be held remotely, “the state has resisted that to this point, but a public health emergency might change their thinking,” Higgins said on Monday. 

Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts today, which gives the governor some extra powers including ordering cancellation of large-scale events, but it was not immediately clear how this would affect requirements normally imposed on local governments.

Town Clerk Valerie Fox considered not ordering ballots for the town election but went ahead and did so this week, Higgins said. If Town Meeting were to be postponed, it would technically have to be convened and then adjourned, though a quorum of residents probably would not be required for that vote. Plans are being made for sanitation precautions regarding microphones at Town Meeting and pens at the election, but “there is no backup plan yet” if the town moderator or town clerk were unable to preside at the meetings, Higgins said.

“These are the practical things we’re having to think through” as the situation changes rapidly, Higgins added. Health officials “tell us it’s just a matter of time until everyone in the community experiences this on some level.” 

As of March 10, there are 92 confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, according to the state’s Department of Public Health. Of those, 70 are employees or their contacts from Biogen, which held a conference from Feb. 24–27 at the Marriott Long Wharf in Boston. Forty-one of the 92 patients are from Middlesex County, and six have been hospitalized thus far.

The Centers for Disease Control have issued guidelines for older people and others at higher risk of serious illness should they become infected. Those measures include stocking up on prescription and over-the-counter medications, groceries, and other household items in case they need to stay at home for an extended period. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath that appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

More information:
  • Town of Lincoln COVID-19 page
  • Mass. Dept. of Public Health COVID-19 page
    • Daily tracking of Mass. cases
  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 page
    • Daily tracking of cases in the U.S.
    • CDC guidelines for those at higher risk of serious illness 

Category: Covid-19*, government, health and science, seniors Leave a Comment

Water Commission candidates discuss the issues

March 8, 2020

Terms on town boards and committees are usually staggered so new members join others who have more experience on that board, but this year, all three seats on the Water Commission are open due to two resignations and a normally expiring term. Three candidates are running for those seats (down from six residents who initially expressed interest):

  1. Michelle Barnes was appointed as an interim member and is now running for a full three-year term.
  2. Incumbent Ruth Ann Hendrickson (chair of the commission) is up for reelection and is running for a two-year term. She has previously said in a letter to the editor to the Squirrel that, if reelected, this will be her last term.
  3. Jim Hutchinson is resigning from the Finance Committee a year before his term expires to run for a one-year term on the Water Commission.

Barnes and Selectman Jennifer Glass were both sworn in as emergency interim Water Commissioners in October after Bob Antia and Heather Ring resigned (in Ring’s case, because of dissatisfaction with management by Water Department Superintendent MaryBeth Wiser).

Below are Q&As and statements from the three candidates, lightly edited for length and clarity.


Michelle Barnes

South Great Road

Please tell us a bit about your background.

Most of my career I spent as a macrofinancial economist in the research department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Before that I was a tenured lecturer at the University of Adelaide teaching finance, international monetary economics, and macroeconomics. During graduate school, I worked as a consultant at both JP Morgan and the World Bank, and before going to graduate school, I managed Teamsters at Roadway Express in my hometown of Sacramento, Calif. I received my PhD in economics in 1998, and my last day on the job at the Fed was in December 2018.

I’ve lived in Lincoln since 2008, and feel super lucky to be able to fully enjoy Lincoln’s bucolic open spaces with my 10-year-old daughter and our border collie. During our time in Lincoln, I have had the opportunity and pleasure to serve on the Magic Garden board, the Lincoln METCO Coordinating Committee (as co-chair in 2015, secretary through 2019, and as president since then), and on the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust/Rural Land Foundation Board of Trustees (as chair since 2019).

Why are you running for the Water Commission?

I’ve chosen to run for Water Commissioner to continue the efforts our team has made since October 2019 to stabilize the Lincoln Water Department (LWD). I believe that at this important juncture, continuity, stability, and a strong measure of critical and analytical thinking are required to further stabilize the LWD and bring it to the point where it is successfully delivering safe and reliable water in a fiscally prudent and sustainable manner. Due to my recent tenure as a Water Commissioner and my background as a macrofinancial economist, I bring both attributes to the table.

Back in October 2019, when there was a call for the need to fill two Water Commissioner vacancies, I heeded that call (as did Jennifer Glass and Jim Hutchinson, who have been members of our team since then as well). I have thoroughly enjoyed climbing the steep learning curve of overseeing the Water Department’s operating and long-term planning process, getting to know all of the people involved in this organization and process, and being able to use my background in macro-financial policy analysis to help frame some of our debates about LWD fiscal management and long-term capital planning

In your opinion, what are the biggest problems or decisions facing the Water Commission, and how do you propose to tackle them?

The biggest problems facing the Water Department are personnel issues, chronic underinvestment in maintenance and infrastructure, and the long-standing leadership culture that brought the LWD to this critical point. It bears emphasizing, however, that I believe that a certain amount of continuity and stability in leadership are integral to moving the LWD forward in the most constructive possible way; the role of institutional knowledge in solving the LWD’s problems should not be underestimated.

I have confidence in the ability of the chair of the Water Commissioners, in conjunction with the team that has been assembled, to address and solve the critical issues facing the LWD for the benefit of the town and its water customers.  More personally, I am committed to facing head-on the multiple challenges I outlined above with candor, curiosity, clarity of vision, and a critical mind, and in a manner that simultaneously celebrates and preserves our positive contributions while having the courage to mitigate and reshape efforts that I believe are a detriment to the LWD’s mission.

Why should Lincolnites vote for you?

Lincoln voters should vote for me because I am deeply committed to ensuring the delivery of safe and reliable drinking water to the Town of Lincoln in a manner that is financially prudent and fair, both in the short- and long-term. Given my recent tenure on the Water Commission, I have been able to come up to speed in the areas that matter most for ensuring the current and future safety and stability of water treatment and delivery in Lincoln.  My skills as a macrofinancial economist focused for much of my career on policy analysis can continue to help the LWD chart a clear path to a more financially sustainable future.


Ruth Ann Hendrickson

Concord Road

Please tell us a bit about your background.

I’ve lived in Lincoln since 1967. While I was home raising my children, I served as president of the Recycling Committee for several years in the 1970s and as the Lincoln’s representative to the Regional Solid Waste Committee for several years after that. I was on the board of the Lincoln League of Women Voters, which was very active in town issues as well as state and national issues. I served as president for two years and vice president for several years.

I chaired studies on whether the town assessors were undervaluing older houses and on the per-pupil cost of our public schools, the latter leading me to run for School Committee, where I pushed for consolidation of all the grades into the Smith-Brooks complex. I also led the move to close the town’s polluting open dump and create the current transfer station. I went back to work in 1989 and retired in 2009.

In 2011, I ran for Water Commissioner after looking for a way to serve the town that would utilize my technical background and allow me to promote water conservation. For the past few years I have also served as the liaison to the School Building Committee (SBC), promoting both water and energy conservation. I recently withdrew from the SBC due to the demands on my time from chairing the Water Commission.

As I said in my letter to the editor, given the recent changes in Water Superintendent and Commissioners, I believe my continuing on the commission for another two years would lend a needed continuity. Moreover, since I am retired, I can devote a substantial amount of time to gathering and analyzing data to ensure knowledge-based decision-making. I bring to the position communication and creative problem-solving skills honed by my years in industry and an aptitude for electromechanical systems developed during my work on advanced gyroscopes and vacuum robotic systems.

In your opinion, what are the biggest problems or decisions facing the Water Commission, and how do you propose to tackle them?

Going forward, the issues are:

  • Successfully completing the projects needed to upgrade the water system infrastructure
  • Developing both short-term and long-term financial plans
  • Assessing whether to continue with the existing upgraded treatment plant, to build in new treatment plant, or to sign up for MWRA water
  • Attracting seasoned personnel to fully staff the Water Department

We are making significant progress on all four issues, especially in staffing, as we have hired a new and very experienced senior plant manager and several experienced part-time water operators, and we are about to add another full-time operator. We are in the midst of revamping our fee and rate structure to ensure we have the funds needed to provide clean, safe water. I’m confident that by the end of the next two years, the department will be back on an even keel with a solid plan for the future.


Jim Hutchinson

Stonehedge

Please tell us a bit about your background.

I hold a Ph.D. in computer science from MIT. Earlier in my career I developed novel machine learning and financial applications for supercomputers. I then co-founded a hedge fund with two partners, where as CEO I led the R&D for our quantitative, systematic trading strategies as well as managing all outside vendors and services for the firm, including legal, brokerage, fund administration, and hardware and software services. I am now retired.

My family and I have enjoyed living in Lincoln since 1999. I’ve always admired how so many good and capable residents have volunteered over the years to help keep our town running smoothly, and once I had the time I’ve tried to step up and do my part. I served as treasurer of Codman Community Farms from 2010–2013, and on the Finance Committee since March 2013, serving two years as chair and two years as vice chair. I’m resigning from FinCom as my seat has one more year on it. I’m not allowed to serve on FinCom and the Water Commission at the same time, and I feel like Water needs some attention.

While on FinCom, I’ve had the opportunity to act at times as liaison to various other groups including the Green Energy Committee, the Affordable Housing Trust, and most recently the Capital Planning Committee and the PPA Subcommittee, which is in charge of getting solar on our new school project. Since October 2019, I’ve also been invited to attend Water Commission meetings as an additional FinCom liaison.

Another relevant fact is that I own and maintain my own swimming pool, and am quite comfortable discussing water chemistry and sanitation. My setup is not as complex or sophisticated as our water treatment plant, of course, and I have plenty to learn if I am to become a Water Commissioner. But I find the water processes and equipment quite interesting and will be happy to dig in and learn more on the job.

In your opinion, what are the biggest problems or decisions facing the Water Commission, and how do you propose to tackle them?

The Water Department has been going through a very challenging period, with high staff turnover, difficulty hiring and retaining staff, and aging infrastructure to replace, all while trying to meet regulatory standards as the chemistry of Flint’s Pond changes over the years. Some of these challenges have already begun to be addressed starting last fall by a coalition of the Water Superintendent, town administration and finance staff, the elected and interim commissioners, and two liaisons from FinCom (including myself). However, much work remains to be done, including answering big-picture questions like whether the town would be better off switching to MWRA service.

Of course I don’t have all the answers to these questions yet. But in my opinion, the staffing issue is the most critical to resolve, for two reasons. First, the FY21 budget has risen sharply, in part due to the Water Department’s current need to engage outside consultants to get necessary tasks done. I’d like to see as much of the necessary work done in house as possible, since that would be more cost-effective.

Second, even if we decide to switch to MWRA, it will take years to do so, and in the interim we need to continue to operate our plant smoothly and safely. On the capital equipment issues, since October I have been advocating for deferring any capital investments that are not needed in the near term for safety or regulatory compliance reasons until we can make an informed decision about MWRA, although given the projects that have already been approved, it may be a foregone conclusion to stick with our own plant. In any case, I believe it is incumbent upon the Water Department and commission to make capital equipment decisions that get what value we can out of our existing investments and only replace or supplement that equipment when necessary to meet regulatory standards and provide clean drinking water to residents.

Why should Lincolnites vote for you?

I believe I have the management and team-building experience to help guide and oversee the staffing issues and rebuild a capable and stable team; the technical skills and interest to evaluate engineering trade-offs and make the correct capital equipment decisions; and the finance experience and orientation that will be needed to bring all of this together in a cost-effective manner.

Category: elections, government, Water Dept.* 1 Comment

Planning Board candidates have their say

March 5, 2020

The Lincoln Squirrel is gathering statements from the candidates in the town election that takes place March 30. First up: the three candidates who are running for two seats on the Planning Board, which is the only contested race this year: incumbent Lynn DeLisi, challenger and former board member Robert Domnitz, and incumbent Rick Rundell.


Lynn DeLisi

South Great Road

Lynn DeLisi

I am running for re-election to the Planning Board of our town and I would like to tell you why.

Like so many other people, we decided to purchase a home in Lincoln several years ago because we fell in love with the picturesque vistas of wide-open spaces with nighttime stars in the sky, fields of wildflowers, organic farms and wild-life of all kinds safely roaming conservation land. The zoning for one residential home per two acres appealed to us, along with the many mapped walking paths and scenic ponds. We were amazed that we could carry our canoe to the Sudbury River and see blue herons, and yet attend a concert at the BSO only a 30-minute drive from our house.

Not even a month after we moved into our new home, however, we received a letter by registered mail from a neighbor whose property we abutted on three sides. He included a diagram of a dozen dense structures on the acreage surrounding our lot with a letter informing us that a developer in Concord was interested in buying his land and placing several groups of condos in an L shape surrounding our new home. The letter further stated that “The Planning Board was very interested in having this done.” I cried a lot after receiving that letter and the stress of this crisis was tremendous. We had just purchased a house we loved with a beautiful view in a town we thought was unique for the reasons I mentioned, and now we were about to be surrounded by dense dwellings and more people, cars, and noise than we thought could be possible in this quiet, environmentally sensitive community.

Not long after receiving this letter, I saw there was a vacancy on the Planning Board, expressed my interest, and was appointed. Once on the board, I became aware that what my neighbor wanted would need to go through zoning changes and site plan reviews and be approved by Town Meeting. It still could have happened, but this neighbor’s plan never came to fruition simply because we managed to purchase that extra lot surrounding us to preserve our view, our favorite wildlife, and quiet.

I realize, however, that not everyone in town can stop the development around them as we did. If someone convinces the Planning Board and the town of the need to rezone a neighborhood for new housing or something else, what almost happened to us could be reality for others. They need someone on the Planning Board who will listen to them and look out for their interests.

Currently there is a controversy about whether or not significantly more dense housing units are needed in South Lincoln near the train station. Some people think we need to do our share as a town to alleviate the housing problem in Boston. Others do not agree and predict the changes to the town would be dramatic. Those most affected are those living there already and are the most vulnerable to the changes.

It’s difficult to know what the majority of people truly want for this district. I don’t think that gets answered by early-morning or late-weekday-evening public forums and meetings. Can all those who care attend these meetings and speak up to voice an opinion? Are these opinions being counted in some way? Do we need a scientifically and carefully constructed survey of the town to determine what the residents want? This may be the best way to hear all the views.

I know very well what the negative consequences of not carefully listening could be. I will always be questioning why, where, and what, and looking for ways to preserve neighborhoods and the interests of abutters while maintaining the uniqueness of Lincoln.

One of my past accomplishments on the Planning Board was my service on the Selectman’s fact-finding committee on the implications of the legalization of recreational marijuana businesses in the Lincoln. As a committee, we were very cognizant that we needed to put our personal views aside and recommend to the Selectmen a path to follow that the people of the town truly wanted.

In order to do that, I took the lead in conducting a survey of residents to hear their views on having marijuana grown, manufactured, and/or sold within our town. Based on that survey, a public forum, and extensive research on the facts, we brought to a Special Town Meeting a bylaw amendment to ban marijuana establishments in Lincoln, and this was passed by two-thirds vote and by subsequent ballot. I am proud to have contributed to this, knowing as I do (someone working with young adults addicted to marijuana) that we have taken a small step not to promote easy access to a harmful substance by the youth of our town. If, in the future, carefully controlled treatment trials show positive effects of cannabis products on an array of medical ailments, I will be happy to help reverse this town vote.

Another campaign of mine has been to help the residents of North Lincoln, who in my mind have suffered more than their share for the town. The Route 2 changes occurred before my time on the Planning Board and I have been dismayed with how they were handled and how residents of our town have suffered. I tried hard to minimize the effects of Minuteman Vocational High School on the residents of Mill Street. I believe it is a disgrace how the school officials handled this project, not collaborating with the neighborhood. They did not need the high tower for theater classes, or to clear out so many trees, or to build a highly lit stadium with a loud speaker system.

In addition, as a Harvard-affiliated psychiatrist who treats people with borderline personality disorder frequently, I knew that what McLean was doing to claim they were an educational facility was wrong. I spoke out against it orally and in writing. Unfortunately, this ultimately did not go in favor of the North Lincoln residents. Nevertheless, I will continue to speak out forcefully against anything that has a negative impact on the neighborhoods of North Lincoln and will of course rigorously support the positive.

In summary, I am for responsible planning, always in collaboration with the people in neighborhoods. I am for keeping the South Lincoln commercial district successful but not dense with new housing unless that is truly what the majority of residents want. I am for keeping North Lincoln residents free from any more adversity, which means keeping a DPW site out of North Lincoln.

I am for regulations that preserve Lincoln’s unique atmosphere, with nighttime stars and early morning wildlife grazing in open fields. I am for preserving the historical significance of some of Lincoln’s neighborhoods and the designated Historical Districts, the highest quality education available to our children in modernized facilities, a community center that serves our residents well, safe and supportive facilities for senior residents, keeping the availability of harmful substances away from our young generation, and most of all, keeping Lincoln safe.

If these are your interests and you want to be assured that you will have someone representing them, then vote in Lincoln’s election on March 30. I always have time to listen to people’s concerns and suggestions. You can email me at DeLisi76@aol.com or phone me at 781-257-5046.


Robert Domnitz

Mill Street

Robert Domnitz

(Editor’s note: Domnitz is a former member of the Planning Board who narrowly lost his bid for reelection in 2015.)

What is your previous experience in town government?

I served on the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission from 1985–1991. In Lexington, I was member/chair of the Lexington Planning Board from 1990–1995 and a Town Meeting Representative from 1986–1995. I was member/chair of the Lincoln Planning Board from 2003–2015

In the next few years, what do you think are the most important issue(s) facing the Planning Board, and how would you tackle them if elected?

The Planning Board has given top priority to promotion of increased business activity and housing in the Lincoln Station area. They are developing a complex revision to the town’s zoning bylaw which they believe will foster this development. A key feature of their proposal is that they — and they alone — will have authority to approve large-scale development proposals without review by Town Meeting. This is a dramatic departure from our traditional reliance on Town Meeting for major decisions.

I revere our Town Meeting form of government. As a member of the Planning Board, I will work to ensure that Town Meeting continues to play a central role in Lincoln’s decisions about land use. I believe that the Planning Board’s effort to foster revitalization of Lincoln Station without meaningful participation of Town Meeting will be divisive and will fail. Conversely, with Town Meeting’s participation, we have the opportunity to welcome projects that appeal to neighbors, business owners, and the town at large. Again and again, we have proven that our Town Meeting can take decisive action when it’s needed. I will do my best to make sure that Town Meeting gets the balanced information it needs to make those bold, prudent decisions.

Why did you decide to run for the Planning Board again?

In recent years, many residents have become increasingly concerned as our Annual Town Meeting has turned into a mostly routine exercise that “rubber stamps” the proposals that are presented. Our boards and committees almost invariably present unanimous, seamless recommendations. If there is another side to the issue, it is rarely presented for our consideration.

The Planning Board’s current zoning proposal accelerates this worrisome trend. It authorizes the board to approve major projects in Lincoln Station without Town Meeting’s participation in the decision-making process. These projects can have profound impacts on virtually every aspect of Lincoln: finances, services, school population, traffic, and Lincoln’s overall character. I feel we should not rely on five future Planning Board members to make these important decisions. As a member of the Planning Board, I would work to preserve the vitality and relevance of our Town Meeting.


Rick Rundell

Todd Pond Road

Rick Rundell

What background and experience do you offer?

I am a Massachusetts registered architect with over three decades experience in the building industry and a member of the American Institute of Architects. I hold credentials from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program of the U.S. Green Building Council. I presently work in the software industry, where I lead innovation programs focused on architecture, engineering, and construction. I hold a master’s degree in architecture from Harvard University and a B.A. in engineering science from Dartmouth College.

My wife Virginia and I came to Lincoln in 2012 with our two children and small flock of chickens, drawn by its unique character, connection to nature, and the thoughtful planning of its beautiful neighborhoods. The children are now in college and the flock has flown—and meanwhile, Virginia and I have become deeply committed to the community, serving on several local volunteer boards and organizations.

I was recruited to the Planning Board shortly after arriving in Lincoln by then-member Bob Domnitz because he felt the board lacked a professional architect. I agreed, and since then I have brought the energetic perspective of an active, engaged professional to the board. I am a registered architect in the state of Massachusetts and the sole candidate for the board with an architectural background. I’ve served on the Planning Board since 2012, including as chair in 2015, and have been one of two Board members appointed to the Historic District Commission since 2013. I have also been president of the Todd Pond Residents Association since 2013.

Why are you excited about serving on the Planning Board?

We’ve seen tremendous changes in the Planning Board over the last few years. I am especially proud of the amendments to the Zoning By-Law passed by Town Meeting in 2018 as Article 27. This measure, by putting a five-year sunset on site plan review requirements, finally put limits on the creeping power of the Planning Board as property after property had become permanently encumbered under site plan review, with the obligation to bring even the most trivial improvements before the board. Changes that many residents could make as of right were closed off to property owners once they had fallen under site plan review. Though the article was opposed by a former board member at that Town Meeting, the measure passed resoundingly. That today’s board proposed a measure to so limit its own power made me proud to be a member, and proud of our Town Meeting process. It is also evidence of the change represented by today’s board that has benefited the citizens of Lincoln.

The challenges to Lincoln come largely from the world around us—changes to demographics, the economics of retail, the cost of public infrastructure, development in towns around us that impact our residents without benefiting them, and even the legalization of marijuana. With the newly professionalized board and Planning Department that is bringing hundreds of thousands of grant dollars to Lincoln for civic improvements, and with the level of civic engagement in the town, I see a tremendous opportunities to respond to these challenges in ways that continue to preserve and increase the health and character of the town.

The opportunities presented by having our own rail station, world-class cultural facilities, and spectacular rural landscapes in conservation allow Lincoln to punch well above its weight as a vibrant, diverse, and engaging community. My experience with Town Meeting since first attending on our arrival in 2012 leaves me with nothing but respect for direct democracy, and I have seen time and time again where authentic discourse has led to great results.

Category: elections, government Tagged: elections Leave a Comment

2020 Presidential primary results for Lincoln

March 4, 2020

As he did statewide, former Vice President Joe Biden won the Democratic presidential primary in Lincoln. However, Lincoln’s second-place finisher was Elizabeth Warren rather than the statewide #2, Bernie Sanders. He and Michael Bloomberg were tied for third place in Lincoln with 16% each.

In Lincoln’s Republican primary, former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld garnered 22% of the vote (far better than his statewide tally of 9%) but was still decisively defeated by President Donald Trump, who got 71% of Lincoln’s Republican votes.

Overall, those voting in the town’s Democratic primary far outnumbered those voting Republican, 2,459 to 176 (93% to 7%). Twenty-five percent of those who voted in both primaries cast their ballots early. 

More resources:

  • Lincoln’s voting precincts
  • Massachusetts results
  • National results
DEMOCRATPrecinct #1Precinct #2Total votesPercentage
Joseph R. Biden52530382833%
Elizabeth Warren48622571129%
Bernie Sanders22516939416%
Michael R. Bloomberg25113638716%
Pete Buttigieg5036863%
Amy Klobuchar4013532%
Andrew Yang5380%
Tom Steyer3360%
Deval Patrick4150%
Tulsi Gabbard2240%
Michael Bennet2130%
John K. Delaney0110%
John Delaney0010%
Corey Booker0000%
Marianne Williamson0000%
Total ballots cast1,5938932,494100%
REPUBLICANPrecinct #1Precinct #2TotalPercentage
Donald J. Trump885214071%
William F. Weld28164422%
Joe Walsh3142%
Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente1010%
Total ballots cast1267019696%
GREEN-RAINBOWPrecinct #1Precinct #2Total votes
Dario Hunter101
S.K.C. Moyowasifza-Curry011
Total ballots cast112
LIBERTARIANPrecinct #1Precinct #2Total votes
Jacob Hornberger022
Total ballots cast113

NOTE: Totals include early voting but do not include write-ins or blank ballots.

Democratic Town Committee:

Sharon Antia, Graham Atkin, Laura Berland, Alexander Chatfield, Gary Dean Davis, Sheila Dennis, Marjorie Debowy, Theordore Debowy, Lorraine Fiore, Jerry Gechter, Andrew Glass, Jennifer Glass, Alexandra Golden, Jennifer Gundy, Roy Harvey, Sarah Cannon Holden, Joan Kimball, Geraldine Lattimore, Christopher Loschen, Rosemary Kerrebrock, E. Rachel Mason, Margaret McLaughlin, Carolyn Montie, Paul Montie, Jessica Packineau, Travis Roland, Jacqueline Sasso, Betty-Jane Scheff, Alvin Schmertzler, Paul Shorb, Barbara Slayter, William Stason, Tricia Thornton-Wells, Jean Welsh.

Republican Town Committee:

Stephen Binder, Sandra Damirjian, Joseph Dwyer Jr., Richard Fraiman, Adam Hogue, Mark Soukup, David Stubblebine, Richard Theriault.

Category: elections, government 1 Comment

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