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

government

State of the Town meeting on Saturday

Updates on the school project, South Lincoln rezoning proposals, community electricity aggregation and property tax relief will make for a full agenda at Lincoln’s annual State of the Town meeting on Saturday, Nov. 2 at about 9:30 a.m., after the conclusion of a Special Town Meeting on Water Department funding. These links and Lincoln Squirrel stories offer some background on the issues.

School project
South Lincoln rezoning
Community electricity aggregation
Property Tax Study Committee

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Events rescheduled

  • The India Discovery Center has postponed its seminar on India and Britain from November 2 (when the State of the Town meeting will take place) to Saturday, Nov. 30.
  • The free screening of the documentary “The River and the Wall” originally scheduled for October 18 has been rescheduled for Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Filmmaker Ben Masters and colleagues traveled 1,200 miles along the U.S.-Mexico border via horse, mountain bike, and canoe. Sponsored by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee.

House party for Democrats in Congress

Learn about Force Multiplier (a strategic, voluntary fundraising organization) and meet legislators at a house party in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 10 from 2–4 p.m. Hear Rep. Katherine Clark’s analysis of 2020 election challenges and opportunities and meet Abigail Spanberger (Va-7), a newly elected Democratic representative who hopes to hold on to her seat in a red district. Sponsored by the Arlington, Natick, Lincoln and Wayland  Democratic Town Committees. RSVP and donate (location of event available with reservation).

Domestic violence workshop for faith communities

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable is offering a workshop on “Our House Too: How Faith Communities Can Support Survivors of Domestic Abuse in Their Congregations.” This program is designed for clergy, members of social action/social justice committees, caring communities, and anyone who wants to make a difference in their congregations.

The first workshop will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 3–4:30 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room of the Wayland Public Safety Building (38 Cochituate Rd., Wayland). For those who prefer an evening workshop, the identical program will also be offered on Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 7–8:30 p.m. at First Parish in Wayland (225 Boston Post Rd., Wayland).

Roundtable board members from REACH Beyond Domestic Violence and Journey to Safety (the Jewish Family and Children’s Service response to domestic abuse), will lead the workshop and discussions. The workshop will highlight how important it is for people in faith communities to learn and talk about domestic abuse, clearly sending the message that abuse happens in “Our House Too.” Participants will leave with a better understanding of domestic abuse and action items they can carry out in their own congregations. For more information, email infodvrt@gmail.com.

Conservation Commission seeks new member

The Conservation Commission is looking for a new commissioner to fill a vacancy of a member who has moved out of town. The commission meets every third week on Wednesdays from 7–10:30pm. Its job is to approve or deny permits within our jurisdictional area under the guidelines of the state wetlands law and our own Town bylaw. In addition, the commission maintains 80 miles of trails in town and stewards 200 acres of agricultural land. Commissioners are also expected to participate on related town boards or committees as representatives from Con Com.

The best way to find out what the commission does is to attend one of our meetings.  Our next meeting is on Wednesday November 6 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall. For more information please contact Tom Gumbart in the Conservation Department office (2612) or any commissioner. Anyone interested should download and fill out the volunteer form and send it to Peggy Elder in the office of the Board of Selectmen, which makes appointments to the commission.

FELS invites direct donations for pie-sale beneficiaries

Although the Foundation for Educators for Lincoln-Sudbury (FELS) won’t be selling pies this year, residents can donate directly to the organizations that benefit.

  • The senior citizens’ Thanksgiving luncheon is organized by the L-S MLK Action Project. To donate, send a check payable to LSRHS with “MLK Thanksgiving Luncheon” on the memo line and mail it to Susan Frommer, LSRHS, 90 Lincoln Rd., Sudbury, MA  01776.
  • To donate to the Lincoln food pantry, make a check payable to St. Vincent de Paul and mail it to St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 324, Lincoln, MA. 01773

More borrowing, water rate hikes on the horizon

At the upcoming Special Town Meeting, the Water Department will ask voters for the second bond issue this year to pay for repairs and deferred maintenance in Lincoln’s water system — a bond that will result in another rate hike for those on town water.

The bond vote will take place at a Special Town Meeting on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m., right before the State of the Town meeting. The Water Commission is still in the process of determining exactly how much money will be sought, but the figures should be available at the conclusion of the group’s special meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 10 a.m.

The requested allocation comes only seven months after residents approved a $1 million bond for the Water Department at the 2019 Annual Town Meeting (see page 46 of the 2019 town meeting warrant for details). Some of the new borrowing will go to finish paying for some of the unfinished projects from that list that turned out to be costlier than expected.

At a meeting earlier this week, commissioners discussed some of the items from the latest list compiled earlier by Water Department Superintendent MaryBeth Wiser. They were joined by Town Administrator Tim Higgins and Finance Board member Jim Hutchinson, who have been trying to get a handle on the department’s budgeting process and needs. Higgins was scheduled to meet late this week with representatives of Tata and Howard, the department’s engineering consulting firm, to learn more about costs.

Two of the three Water Commissioners were sworn in only last week as interim members: Jennifer Glass and Michelle Barnes. Glass is already a member of the Board of Selectmen, “but we were sort of in emergency mode and she graciously agreed to wear another hat,” Higgins said. The vacancies resulted from the resignations in recent weeks of commission members Bob Antia and Heather Ring.

An insert to the Board of Selectmen newsletter being mailed to residents offers some background. Since the town’s water treatment plant in Sandy Pond Road was complete in 2002, “water treatment technology has changed, software technology has changed, our water profile has changed, and as of 2019, municipalities are subject to federal regulations,” the insert says. Since Wiser’s hiring in March 2018, “she has examined each aspect of the plant’s operations. It has become apparent that the modest level of capital spending has now resulted in a consequential amount of deferred maintenance.”

Among the urgently needed new items that can’t wait until the Annual Town Meeting in March 2020 are replacements for filters that are well beyond their life expectancy. Funds are needed right away because the parts take several months to be assembled and shipped from the manufacturer in Australia, and they need to be installed in the spring before the summer when water demand is high. Wiser told the commission in October 2018 that the total cost for the 240 filter modules was about $192,000. This week she said the cost would be about $325,000.

Also on the list of new expenditures:

  • Installation of a catwalk required to safely replace the filter banks
  • Remediation of a chemical release at the Tower Road well
  • Costs related to maintaining the filter banks until the replacement filters are installed
  • A part-time contractor to assist with plant operation. Two positions (plant operator and plant manager) have been vacant for several months

The items will be funded by a combination of retained earnings and additional borrowing. The Water Department currently has about $1 million in retained earnings and has a policy of keeping at least $500,000 in the fund at all times, Higgins said.

Though the figures will not be final until next week, he said on Thursday that the latest borrowing amount would be “similar in size” to the earlier $1.01 million. The March 2019 allocation has actually not yet been bonded (expenses have been paid through short-term borrowing), so the upcoming bond will include both sets of expenses, Higgins said.

“The Water Commission has to decide on long-term objectives, but in order to address these issues, there’s going to need to be a pretty significant rate increase to support it,” he said. Back in January, the commission approved a 25% rate hike as well as a $5 increase in the quarterly base charge per water meter.

At this week’s meeting, Wiser said her fiscal year 2021 budget proposal would probably include either further upgrades to the treatment plant to meet expensive new DEP regulations for handling organic matter in the water, or possible even a new plant. “Sometimes retrofitting larger plants with these types of fittings is more expensive than starting from scratch,” she said.

“It strikes me as highly unlikely that it would be cheaper for us to build a separate new plant. We may decide that the MWRA is the right choice,” Hutchinson said. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority supplies drinking water from the Quabbin Reservoir to several nearby towns including Weston and Lexington.

Aside from the treatment plant issues, aging water mains are another expensive problem in Lincoln and for water systems all over the country. The town had water main breaks on Bedford Road near the library in 2018 and under Route 2A in February 2019. Given the costs involved, some local and state officials are hoping that federal grants will materialize to help pay for proactive upgrades.

“Tensions” cited as factor in swap table dismissals

By Alice Waugh

A day after the town’s swap table volunteers were suddenly let go via letter, resulting in a flurry of dismay and speculation on LincolnTalk, Town Administrator Tim Higgins said that “tensions” at the transfer station facility played a role in the change, and that the town would welcome more volunteers there at some point in the future.

“We’ve encountered some tension between volunteers and residents of the town, so we’re in transition with the volunteer program,” Higgins said Thursday afternoon. “We’re expanding the swap table with the new shed and parking, and we’re hoping to reenergize and rejuvenate the volunteer program.”

Lincoln Mothers Out Front has been instrumental in creating the new composting program at the transfer station, “so we’re hoping they would view this as a logical offshoot of the work they’re doing” on promoting composting and other forms of recycling, he added.

Volunteers at the popular swap table and shed were shocked to receive dismissal notices signed by DPW Superintendent Chris Bibbo on Wednesday. Bibbo did not return calls on Wednesday or Thursday, but Higgins issued a written statement about the controversy early Thursday afternoon and later indicated to the Lincoln Squirrel that the statement spoke on Bibbo’s behalf.

“Swap tables are a wonderful form of sharing and recycling that can operate informally and without strict regulation when folks abide by rules of common courtesy, respect, and fair play,” Higgins wrote. “At the same time, swap programs frequently become a source of tension between heavy and occasional users, between folks vying for the same item, and philosophically between those who believe restrictions should be imposed on the resale of swapped items and those who support the swap table as its own form of cottage industry.”

At times, DPW staff “have been called on to de-escalate situations involving conflict between residents and volunteers when folks have felt that one or the other was monopolizing the program for personal gain or to benefit personal charities,” Higgins wrote. Other Massachusetts towns have encountered similar issues in running swap tables and have limited or closed them as a result.

“Going forward, we are responding to the tension by hitting the reset button,” Higgins wrote. The new swap shed “will allow the DPW to better organize the program, making it more efficient for users, staff, and volunteers… We are committed to developing a strong partnership between our professional staff and volunteers, and to establishing reasonable guidelines to ensure the viability, safety, and fairness of the program.”

Special Town Meeting on Nov. 2; register to vote by Oct. 23

A Special Town Meeting will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. to vote on appropriating, transferring and/or bonding funds to purchase capital items for the Water Department and to supplement its 2020 operating budget.

The amount of money involved and the purpose(s) for which it’s being requested were unavailable as of Monday evening. The department is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m, to prepare for the Special Town Meeting.

Voters approved bonding $1.01 million for the department at the 2019 Annual Meeting to pay for deferred maintenance and work required by the state Department of Environmental Protection. A hike in water rates also went into effect earlier this year.

The Water Department is run as an enterprise fund, meaning that revenues are expected to meet or exceed expenditures on a year-to-year basis, and expenses (including bond payments) are paid through user fees and retained revenue.

Wednesday, Oct. 23 is the last day to register in time for the Special Town Meeting. The Secretary of State’s website allows you to check your voter registration status and register online. Residents may also register in person at the Town Clerk’s Office during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and there will be extended registration on Wednesday from 4:30–8 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Safety Building.

The State of the Town Meeting will follow immediately after the Special Town Meeting.

Residential tax exemption idea draws criticism at forum

(Updated on 10/30/19 with link to the forum slide presentation)

By Alice Waugh

The idea of a residential property tax exemption that would shift the burden of taxes to owners of more expensive homes was met with opposition at an October 15 public forum.

The event was the second of two public forums hosted by the Property Tax Study Committee, which was formed in the wake of fears that some Lincoln residents would not be able to afford the tax increase resulting from the $93 million school project. At its first forum in June, the group presented two options it was studying: a means-tested “circuit-breaker” program and a residential tax exemption program.

Sudbury, Concord, and Wayland have enacted local versions of the state circuit breaker program for homeowners over 65. If they have lived in their town at least 10 years and meet certain income and asset thresholds, they pay no more than 10% of their income for property taxes. Renters who are paying more than 25% of their income on rent are also eligible under the state program, though the three neighboring towns don’t have this provision.

If Lincoln were to adopt a similar program, it would most likely follow the pattern of the three other towns by basing it on the existing state circuit-breaker program and funding it through a small hike in the local tax rate, capped at a certain amount such as 1%. Such a move would require Town Meeting approval preceded by special legislation, a multiyear process.

Alternatively, passage of a bill now in the state Senate would require only Town Meeting approval for a local plan, but “this would probably prevent us from customizing the law in any way,” and it would not benefit those under 65, said Selectman Jennifer Glass, the committee member who made the October 15 presentation.

The other option under consideration would make property taxes even more progressive than they already are by making a proportion of each property’s value exempt from taxes, with no consideration of the owner’s income or assets. Fourteen cities and towns in Massachusetts offer a program like this, but most have either a large commercial tax base, or many expensive vacation homes, meaning the benefit accrues to year-round residents.

In making their annual recommendation to the Board of Selectmen when setting the tax rate each year, the assessors “were quite adamant this was not meant for us,” said former Selectman Peter Braun.

The Board of Selectmen already has the power to create a residential exemption when it sets the tax rate every year, but has never done so. Ellen Meadors noted that she and other assessors felt such a move shouldn’t take place without input from the town as a whole.

Another possibility is creating a local circuit-breaker program that would also apply to younger homeowners, since special legislation would be required in any case. “We have thought of a few permutations) that we could try out with the state, but the state is very careful when comes to tax policy about setting precedent and not rocking the boat statewide,” Glass said.

“This brings us back to the big question: who are we trying to help, and what are we trying to achieve?” said Glass, adding that the town could choose to adopt either, both or neither of the two options.

Several forum attendees who packed the Donaldson Room in Town Hall objected to the idea of a residential tax exemption. “Every home above the [exemption] break point will have taxes go up, and the property value will go down,” one resident said “The bar will be reset and we’ll be right back where we are today.” The measure would not have the intended effect of promoting economic diversity and could very well benefit property owners who don’t need such tax relief, he added.

As a result of the school bonding, taxes went up this year by an average of 12.3%, Glass said. The tax rate for fiscal 2020 is $15.36 for every $1,000 of assessed home value; $1.95 of that $15.36 is paying for the school project.

“The town just took this vote on new school. Had we known there was another potential [tax hike] provision that gained more momentum… that vote night have turned out differently,” a resident said.

Glass assured the audience that there was “no way we would implement this unless the overwhelming majority of the town wanted it… message heard.”

Regardless of who pays how much, tax revenue has to rise to pay for the school. “It seems like we’re being taxed out of town, and it’s heartbreaking to me because I love this town,” said one resident to a chorus of “hear, hear!”

The property tax proposals will be discussed at the State of the Town meeting on November 2 at 9:30 a.m. Also on the agenda: zoning changes proposed by the South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee that would encourage denser housing and mixed-use development in South Lincoln. Such measures could broaden the commercial tax base and benefit middle-income homeowners, “addressing some of the very issues we’ve talked about tonight,” noted SPLIC co-chair Gary Taylor.

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Property tax forum on Tuesday

The Property Tax Study Committee will hold its second public forum on Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 7–8:30 p.m. in Town Hall. The group was formed in reaction to concerns about the large tax increase required for the $93 million school project. At its first forum in June, the group presented two possible measures: a means-tested circuit breaker program and a residential exemption for certain properties.

Family fun at Walden Woods Farm

The Lincoln-based Walden Woods Project offers a day of fall-themed family activities at its organic Farm at Walden Woods (1047 Concord Turnpike/Rt. 2 eastbound, Concord) on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. There will be an interactive full-size model of Thoreau’s Walden Pond house, packets of milkweed seeds to plant at home for monarch butterfly habitat, free apple cider and a ”solitude” selfie station. The event is part of the Concord Festival of Authors.

Scarecrow Classic 5K on Oct. 20

The seventh annual Annual Scarecrow Classic on Sunday, Oct. 20 starts at 9:30 a.m. on Codman Road by the fire station and runs along Lincoln’s scenic roads, fields, and trails. Proceeds from this event support the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT). After the race, there will be a raffle with prizes, live music, cider donuts, seasonal soup, and prizes for the top three runners in each age category. Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance at the LLCT offices, from LLCT trustees, or on October 14 before the race. Register online or at the event starting at 8 a.m. Visit scarecrowclassic5k.com for the route map and online registration.

Tales from the Night at Drumlin Farm

Put on your favorite costume, grab a flashlight, and join us for Tales of the Night — the silliest, spookiest, and most family-friendly Halloween tradition on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25 and 26 at Drumlin Farm, from 6:30–9p.m. Costumes are encouraged. Visitors will have the chance to:

  • Explore the farm at night lit by our display of over 100 jack-o-lanterns
  • Meet some of the nocturnal wildlife of Massachusetts
  • Enjoy spooky treats, spider cider, and witch’s brew at the ghoulish graveyard
  • Step into a story on our Nursery Rhyme Trail to meet your favorite characters
  • Get a festive face painting at the Crossroads Barn
  • Venture out into the fields for a haunted hayride full of spooky surprises for the brave at heart (7–8:30 p.m.)

Tickets are available via advance purchase only — admission cannot be purchased at the gate. Mass Audubon members: $15. Nonmembers: $17. Free for children under age 2. Register early, as this event often sells out.

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Codman Harvest Fair is this Sunday

Children of all ages and their families are invited to Codman’s annual Harvest Fair on Sunday, October 6 from noon–4 p.m. There will be games and activities for children, a skillet and hay bale toss for adults, the annual Rooster Run, Codman’s own burgers and hot dogs on the grill, and the Reasons to Be Cheerful Chillwagon! Bracelets for children’s games are $20 for members, $25 for non-members — and every bracelet gets a free ice cream. Entry is free for all, with treats, lunch and more for sale, including tickets for the Pig Roast and Barn Dance Harvest Feast on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5–9 p.m. — click here for tickets.

Blessing of the Animals at St. Anne’s

On Sunday, Oct. 6, St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will will honor St. Francis, patron saint of animals, with a Blessing of the Animals at the 10 o’clock service with Holy Eucharist and Choir. Animals on leashes or in carriers are welcome, as are photos and stuffed animals. Other services on that day are Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m. and a Contemplative Eucharist at 5 p.m.

What Park & Rec / COA activities do you want?

The Lincoln Council on Aging (COA) and the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) invite residents of all ages to fill out a short survey on what programs and services you’d like now and in the future.

The short survey asks you a few simple questions about yourself and how you currently get information about COA and PRD programs and services, and your preferences for learning about what the two departments offer.  You may then choose activities in the areas of arts and humanities, community events, education/science/nature/technology, fitness, health/nutrition, legal/financial/benefits, music/dancing, social/supportive/recreational, social service programs, and trips.  The survey also asks about barriers to using COA and PRD programs and services and any additional comments you may have.

Fill out the survey online or pick up a paper survey at Parks and Recreation, Bemis Hall, Town Offices, or the library, then return them to either the COA or PRD. Please complete the survey by October 31. For more information, please call Carolyn Bottum of the COA at 781-259-8811 or Dan Pereira of the PRD at 781-259-0784.

L-S School Committee meet-and-greets

The Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee will hold public input events on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 9–10 a.m.: Listening coffee with LSSC members Carole Kasper and Kevin Matthews at the deCordova Cafe
  • Thursday, Oct. 10 from 8–9 a.m.: Parent coffee with Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong on in L-S Conference Room A
  • Thursday, Oct. 24 from 6:30–7:30 p.m.: Listening coffee with LSSC members Ellen Joachim & Candace Miller in the Goodnow Library conference room (21 Concord Rd., Sudbury)

Upcoming deCordova offerings

Nature, Sculpture, and Movement Meditation with Jamie Hunt
Sunday, Oct. 5  from 10 a.m.–noon
To attune to the summer landscape, Jamie will weave together nature-based meditation practices, movement meditation, and observation of art in the Sculpture Park. We will explore several meditations to open our sense of awareness and deepen our appreciation and experience of deCordova’s sculptures. For ages 12+. $24 for members, $30 for nonmembers. Click here for tickets.

Ceramic Workshop: Ornamental Form, Surface, and Texture in Garden Sculpture
Saturdays, Oct. 5 and 12 from 10:30 a.m.–noon 
Create a unique sculpture for your own garden inspired by deCordova. In this two-part workshop, build and decorate a small garden sculpture that will stand the test of time and weather. All levels welcome. No ceramic experience necessary. For ages 16+. $85 for members, $95 for nonmembers. Click here for tickets.

The Aesthetics of Nature: Cyanotype Workshop with Kyle Browne
Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. 
Artist Kyle Browne invites you to take a closer look at the aesthetics of nature through a focused exploration of the “All the Marvelous Surfaces” exhibit, walking through the deCordova grounds, followed by creating a cyanotype from natural materials. Participants will reflect on the practice of aestheticizing nature as well as design and print with natural materials to create a personal artwork. Click here to sign up.

Ceramic Sculpture Workshop: Expressive Vessels, Forms and Environments
Wednesdays or Thursdays starting October 30 or 31 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. 
Create unique vessels and sculptures for your home or garden in this six-week course. Sessions will introduce new techniques, projects, and concepts inspired by museum exhibitions and installations in the Sculpture Park. No experience necessary; for ages 16+. Click here to sign up.

Harvard’s Lessig to give Bemis Free Lecture

The Bemis Free Lecture Series presents “They Don’t Represent Us: Reclaiming Our Democracy,” a talk by and conversation with Lawrence Lessig, the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard University, on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. In his talk, he will make the case that our government “does not represent us” and that reform is both essential and possible. Lessig ran for president in 2016 and has advocated for campaign finance and electoral reform with a Second Constitutional Convention.

Volunteers, donations needed for diaper drive

The Metro-Boston Diaper Drive organized by Lincoln mothers Kim Jalet and Kerstin Sinkevicius, will run October 5–20 and needs volunteers to manage collection boxes at collection sites in Lincoln and surrounding towns. The diapers will go to recipients of WIC (Women, Infants and Children) aid, which does not cover the cost of diapers.

All diapers will be donated to the Somerville WIC office, which serves Lincoln as well as Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Watertown, Belmont, Bedford, and Lexington. Donors can also visit the Diaper Drive website for links to their Amazon and Target registries for sending donations directly to the WIC office. Volunteers will:

  • Obtain a box big enough for diaper donations, wrap or make it look presentable in some other way, affix a flyer, and bring it to one of the local collection sites by Friday, Oct. 4:
    • Lincoln: Lincoln Public Library, Smith School,  Lincoln Country Day School, Lincoln Preschool
    • Bedford: Bedford Free Public Library
    • Lexington: Lexington Children’s Place, The Waldorf School of Lexington (pending approval for box), Lexington Bright Horizons
  • Leave your name and number with someone at the collection site so they can contact you to empty the box if it fills during the drive (but this is rare).
  • After the drive ends, pick up the diapers and deliver them either to the Lincoln home of one of the organizers, or directly to the WIC office in Somerville. 

Anyone interested in managing a collection box or approaching area stores for in-kind diaper donations should email Jalet at jaletkl@gmail.com.

Lincoln Nursery School schedules open house

Thinking about preschool for next year? Lincoln Nursery School (LNS) is hosting its annual Open House on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9–11 a.m. where families can visit the classroom studios and talk with teachers and current parents. Children are welcome. LNS is a parent cooperative established in 1944 and inspired by the schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, and is located at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.

Learn about ranked-choice voting at house party

There will be a house party on Sunday, Oct. 20 from 3–5 p.m. to learn about ranked-choice voting (RCV) and have some fun testing it out. RCV allows voters to rank candidates on a ballot in order of preference. The system is already in place in Maine and in Cambridge (for city elections), and Voter Choice MA is gathering signatures to put it on the statewide ballot. Please RSVP to Selectman Jennifer Glass at jlrglass@mac.com.

Allendorf to perform at next LOMA night

Ric Allendorf

Ric Allendorf is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, Oct. 21 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and he’ill perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. A meticulous finger-style guitarist and captivating vocalist, Ric is a frequent performer at Club Passim and other venues, and last year he released his debut album, “Take It All In.”

Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

Domestic violence survivors to share stories

To commemorate National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable will gather to honor the stories and reflections of survivors who have experienced domestic violence in their intimate relationships on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 3–4:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Sudbury Police Department (75 Hudson Rd., Sudbury). There will be a panel presentation by survivors from area communities and the advocates from The Second Step who support them.

Benefit at deCordova for breast cancer awareness

Join Emerson Hospital at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum for “An Evening of Inspiration” to support breast cancer awareness on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5:30–9 p.m. The event will feature Ann Jillian, a three-time Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress and breast cancer survivor raised in Cambridge. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drink tickets and a complimentary gift. Tickets are $25 with all proceeds supporting patients who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit emersonhospital.org/inspiration or call Julie at 978-287-3221.

SJC rules against town in McLean Hospital case

Overruling an earlier Land Court decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a McLean Hospital residential facility for young men on Bypass Road property does in fact constitute an “educational use” of the property and is therefore not subject to town zoning regulations that would normally apply.

The September 23 decision is the latest chapter in the saga of McLean’s attempt to use the residential property as an expansion of its 3East transitional facility on the Belmont campus. The Bypass Road facility would house 12 boys aged 15–21 with “extreme emotional dysregulation” and give them classroom training in dialectical behavior therapy, teaching them social and emotional skills including mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and behavioral flexibility. Nearby homeowners said the residents posed a possible danger to the community.

The hospital argued — and neighbors disagreed — that the proposed use was primarily educational rather than medical or therapeutic in nature, meaning it qualified for zoning relief under the state’s Dover amendment, which allows exceptions for educational and religious uses of residential property. Appeals and other legal maneuvers followed.

Last year, the Land Court ruled in the town’s favor, saying that “the primary and predominant purpose of the (McLean) program is the treatment of a serious medical condition” — a decision that led to the current appeal.

Timeline of the case:

    • May 2016: Based on an opinion by town counsel Joel Bard, Daniel Walsh, Lincoln’s building inspector, says McLean Hospital’s proposal for bypass Road qualifies under the Dover amendment’s “educational use” clause and is permitted.
    • September 2016: A group of residents with homes near the Bypass Road property appeal the building inspector’s decision to the Lincoln Zoning Board of Appeals. The ZBA holds several public hearings on the matter.
    • November 3, 2016: The ZBA rules that the proposed use is not primarily educational and that McLean Hospital’s plans for the property are not allowed.
    • November 15, 2016: McLean Hospital sues the town and Walsh in Land Court.
    • October 22, 2018: the Land Court rules in the town’s favor, saying, “the primary and predominant purpose of the 3East Boys Program is the treatment of a serious mental condition.”
    • December 2018: McLean Hospital appeals the Land Court decision to the Supreme Judicial Court.
    • September 23, 2019: The SJC reverses the Land Court ruling, saying the Bypass Road proposal does in fact qualify for zoning relief under the Dover amendment.

“We conclude that, although not a conventional educational curriculum offered to high school or college students, the proposed facility and its skills-based curriculum fall well within the ‘broad and comprehensive’ meaning of ‘educational purposes’ under the Dover Amendment,” the SJC opinion reads.

The court relied heavily on an earlier case involving the town of Weston and Regis College. Regis claimed its plans for Regis East, a 362-unit on-campus retirement village, qualified as an educational facility by virtue of the fact that residents had to enroll in at least two courses per semester. In its 2012 decision, the SJC ruled that any Dover-qualifying use must have an “educationally significant goal that must be the ‘primary or dominant’ purpose for which the land or structures will be used.”

The Weston ZBA had unsuccessfully argued that  “the educational aspects of the project were mere ‘window dressing’ for what was in truth a luxury housing development,” according to a review of the case. However, despite its victory, Regis later dropped plans for the complex.

In this week’s McLean ruling, the SJC also noted that the Lincoln Residence, an existing transitional McLean transitional residence for adults in Lincoln at 5 Old Cambridge Turnpike in Lincoln, is a “protected educational facility.” Also, the fact that the Bypass Road facility would have medical staff on site is irrelevant, since public schools also have nurses, the court said.

“Despite the outcome, we are grateful to Special Town Counsel Jay Talerman who, along with Attorney Michael Fee on behalf of the Bypass Road neighborhood, worked to receive a favorable judgment at the Land Court and provide a vigorous and skillful defense before the SJC,” the Board of Selectmen said in a statement.

The board also thanked Special Town Counsel Jay Talerman for providing “a vigorous and skillful defense before the SJC,” and town boards for “their efforts to respond to McLean’s original application in a fair and professional manner.”

The town’s legal expenses in connection with the McLean case total $49,900 thus far. Selectmen will meet in executive session on Friday morning to discuss the decision.

Representatives of McLean Hospital and the Bypass Road residents could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

News acorns

Panel on Palestinian issues this Saturday

The GRALTA Foundation will host a meeting of the New England Network for Justice in Palestine on Saturday, Sept. 28 in Bemis Hall at 2 p.m. Speakers will include:

  • Anat Biletzki, professor of philosophy at Quinnipiac University and a founder of the Israeli human rights NGO B’Tselem, will discuss, interpret, and forecast the ultimate outcome from Israel’s Sept. 17 election.
  • Nidal Al Azraq, executive director of 1for3.org, will talk on “Hope and Struggle Under Military Occupation,” covering changes he recently encountered among Palestinian civil society in the West Bank.
  • Ayman Nijim, Solidarity Program Officer for the Middle East at Grassroots International, will discuss grassroots organizing and lobbying initiatives in the U.S.
  • Fidaa Ataya, a Palestinian actress, filmmaker, and traditional storyteller, will screen her 10-minute film “The Shepherdess” and tell a traditional Palestinian story.

There will be time for audience Q&A.

Lincoln Dems to discuss strategies for 2020

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee will meet to launch plans for the 2020 election on Sunday, Sept. 29 from 4–5:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Residents are invited to contribute their thoughts on the issues and recommendations for action at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention (see the Lincoln Squirrel, Sept. 18, 2019). Facilitating discussion on the following topics will be:

  • Jerry Gechter and Jennie Morris — Green New Deal, climate change, sustainability
  • Ginny Welles and Joan Kimball — Building bridges, not walls; the real facts on immigration
  • Alisar Cohen and Travis Roland — Unpacking race in politics
  • Sasha Golden and Barbara Slayter — Addressing the racial wealth divide
  • Alex Chatfield and Chris Loschen — Spotlighting the work of coalitions and allies