By Alice Waugh
The Board of Health, which is on record as saying airborne particles and noise from gas-powered leaf blowers are a health hazard, has issued a statement distancing itself from a crackdown on use of the machines by homeowners, saying that in Lincoln, leaf blowers cause the most problems on paved surfaces, especially in the business district.
[Read more…] about Board of Health: residential areas don’t need leaf blower regulations
Sen. Mike Barrett meets with constitutents, Move To Amend and WolfPAC supporters about the We The People Act to be introduced at the State House this month. Clockwise from lower left: Elizabeth Cherniack and Jean Palmer of Lincoln, John Kelly and Carol Kelly of Bedford, Greg Laing and Joe Megerman of Waltham, Marie Roberts of Lexington, Dilla Tingley and Peter Pease of Lincoln, Sen. Barrett, Dan Melnechuk of Waltham, Bob Wallhagen of Carlisle and Gary Davis of Lincoln. The meeting took place at the Concord Public Library.
To the editor:
We the undersigned, along with residents from other towns in his district, recently met with our State Senator, Mike Barrett, to ask him to support the We the People Act being submitted to the Massachusetts legislature this month. We are concerned about the corrupting influence of massive amounts of money in elections and how human rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution to human beings are being used by non-human entities like corporations in harmful ways. Sen. Barrett enthusiastically agreed at the meeting to co-sponsor the proposed bill and actively support its passage.
We also met recently with Rep. Tom Stanley in Waltham to ask him to co-sponsor the We The People Act as well. He, too, enthusiastically agreed to support the act and will do everything he can to help it pass. Rep. Stanley said he views this issue as one of the most important at this time.
The We The People Act calls on Congress to propose a constitutional amendment to affirm (1) that rights protected by the U.S. Constitution are the rights of human beings only, not corporations, and (2) that Congress and the states may place limits on political contributions and spending.
This act also proposes that if Congress does not pass the amendment, the Massachusetts legislature will call for an amendment convention as Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides. If a recalcitrant or dysfunctional Congress blocks reform, two-thirds of the state legislatures can petition Congress to call a convention—not for overturning or changing the Constitution, but for proposing an amendment. California, Illinois and Vermont have already passed such legislation. The threat of such a convention can force Congress to act, as it did with the 17th amendment, to elect senators by popular vote instead of by state legislatures. The results of any such convention would still require three-quarters of the states’ approval.
A growing coalition of citizen groups across the country also supports this bill. For more information on this issue, check out Movetoamend.org or VoteYesforDemocracy.org.
Please contact Sen. Mike Barrett (617-722-1572 or Mike.Barrett@masenate.gov) and Rep. Tom Stanley (617-722-2230, Thomas.Stanley@mahouse.gov) to thank them for supporting the people on this issue. Also please call, email or talk to friends and family in Massachusetts as well as across the country to tell them how important this Move to Amend is to accomplishing anything in the future for the people about any issue of import to them, their children or their grandchildren. We need to put the power to legislate back in the hands of the people and out of the power of big money.
Sincerely,
Jean Palmer, Tower Road
Gary Davis, Indian Camp Lane
Dilla Tingley, Laurel Drive
Peter Pease, Huckleberry Hill
Elizabeth Cherniack, South Great Rd
Joanna Hopkins, Linway Road
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.
To the editor:
I, Alvin Schmertzler, am pleased to enter the election for School Committee.
I have been a member for eight years, during which time we have chosen a new superintendent, Ms. McFall, and worked diligently to develop plans for restoring the school facility and bringing it up to 21st-century standards. We are still hoping to develop a plan that will gain the support of two-thirds of the Town Meeting and hopefully one that we are in a position to submit to the MSBA for financial support. To inform the town’s citizens of the variety of options that have been developed and to obtain their questions and ideas, we have increased and expanded outreach to the citizens. We hope it has been and continues to be helpful.
Working with the administration team, new education goals have been developed that will guide the schools toward continued progress in educating all out students to the best of their abilities. We are continuing our efforts to develop ideas and plans to close the achievement gap for underperforming students and we continue to enroll METCO students from the inner city. Working with the Department of Defense, a new middle school is under construction at the Hanscom campus and a plan for a new lower school is awaiting final approval.
I am asking for your vote so I may continue to work on these and other tasks as they arise.
Respectfully,
Alvin Schmertzler
142 Chestnut Circle, Lincoln
als1reg@verizon.net
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.
To the editor:
My thanks to the editor of the Lincoln Squirrel for reminding all of us that it’s time to throw our proverbial hats in the ring and volunteer for town boards and committees. I’m pleased to announce that I will be running (again!) for reelection to the Planning Board. I have appreciated the town’s support of my candidacy for the past 12 years, and with your support I will continue working to preserve what we love about our town.
We benefit in Lincoln from the farsighted, altruistic actions of residents who placed large tracts of land in conservation and knowingly gave up opportunity for personal gain by adopting large-lot zoning and development controls. We are all stewards of this precious legacy.
There are major projects and initiatives before the town at this time: the K-8 school building project, the Community Center, the Route 2 project, modifications to The Commons (formerly “The Groves”) campus, construction of a new Minuteman Regional High School building within Lincoln, and the Planning Board’s upcoming proposal to unify zoning at Lincoln Station to provide an expanded range of options for revitalization. I’d like to continue working with my dedicated, creative colleagues on the Planning Board as we assist the town through these changes.
I’d be happy to discuss with you any ideas or concerns that you may have. Please feel free to call me at 781-259-1080.
Sincerely,
Bob Domnitz
21 Mill St., Lincoln
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.
By Alice Waugh
For homes that use town water, it’s a new year with new things to look forward to—including quarterly water bills and new rates to encourage water conservation.
The change in billing frequency from semiannually to quarterly came about because Lincoln has failed to meet its state target limit of 65 gallons per person per day. As a result, the Department of Environmental Protection required the town to come up with a set of measures to try to meet the goal, and one of those measures is more frequent billing to keep closer tabs on usage.
“It’s like when you overspend your budget, you tend to balance your checkbook a little more frequently,” said Water Department Superintendent Greg Woods. The changes were outlined in this letter from the Water Commission that was mailed to residents several weeks ago.
Rates are also going down for homes that use less water. Under the old billing system, those that used up to 48,000 gallons of water every six months were changed $5.07 per thousand gallons. Now, homes that use up to 40,000 gallons per year will be charged only $4.06 per thousand gallons.
However, after that level of usage, the price goes up. Homes that use 40,002 to 80,000 gallons every six months will pay $8.57 per thousand gallons, compared to last year’s rate of $7.79 per thousand gallons for homes using 48,001 to 90,000 gallons every six months. Homes with a separate meter for irrigation water will also be paying 20 percent more for that water (see chart below).
A family of four that meets the target of 65 gallons per capita per day would use about 100,000 gallons per year, according to the Water Department’s latest annual report.
In comparing Lincoln to five neighboring towns, four (including Lincoln) had annual rates between $500 and $600 for a home using 100,000 gallons per year. Wayland was considerably higher at $977. However, Woods cautioned that it’s difficult to make exact comparisons because each town has a different distribution system. For example, Lincoln relies on surface water from Flint’s Pond, while Acton, at four times Lincoln’s population, has a much larger system that relies more on groundwater wells, he explained.
Currently the DEP has no plans to fine residents or towns for exceeding their water usage targets. “All indications are that they will work with communities to get into compliance,” Woods said.
From drawing to pastel painting with Juliet
January 5 at 10 a.m.
Express your most vibrant self with the brilliant colors of pastels in a new class with Juliet Rago! She will begin with a short introduction to drawing for those who feel they need it. The class will meet from 10 a.m. to noon on January 5, 9, 12, 23 and 26. No experience is necessary. All materials will be furnished. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. Limit of six people. The fee is $20.
Lincoln Academy with Deane Ellsworth: “The Magic of the Steam Train Whistle”
January 5 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Jan. 5 at 12:30 to hear Deane Ellsworth discuss “The Magic of the Steam Train Whistle.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in January
Town seeks candidates for boards and commissionsLooking for a rewarding if occasionally vexing way to feel more connected? Willing to undertake new challenges? Unafraid to speak up? Then run for local office! The annual Town Election will take place on Monday, March 30. Nomination papers are available at the Town Clerk’s Office starting Friday, Jan. 2 and must be returned no later than Monday, Feb. 9. The following offices will appear on the March ballot: Board of Selectmen (three years), Board of Assessors (three years), K-8 School Committee (two seats for three years each), Water Commissioner (three years), Board of Health (one seat for three years), Cemetery Commission (three years), Planning Board (one seat for three years), Commissioner of Trust Funds (three years), deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park Trustee (four years), Housing Commission (three years), Parks and Recreation Committee (three years), Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee (two seats for three years each), Trustees of Bemis (one seat for three years). For additional information, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 781-259-2607.
The Town Clerk’s Office will host a seminar with an overview of the rules for disclosing campaign activity on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. Jason Tait, Director of Communications and Public Education for the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), will also address the proper use of town resources for a political purpose—for example, is it legal to use a town’s robo-call system to advocate for a Town Meeting warrant article?
The seminar lasts about one hour and is open to candidates and the public. For inquiries or to reserve a seat, please call the Town Clerk’s Office at 781-259-2607.
Starting next week, these regular children’s programs will resume at the Lincoln Public Library: Ed Morgan Singalong (January 2), Preschool Stories (January 6), Lego Club (January 7), Book Group for grades 4-6 (January 8), and Lapsit Storytime (January 15). Check the library web page for kids’ programs for times and other information.
Coming up for adults (all events are at the library unless otherwise noted):
In response to an appeal from the Board of Selectmen, a number of residents expressed interest in filling vacant slots on the seven-member Conservation Commission, and the vacacies have been filled by Jordan McCarron, Stephen Johnson and Richard Selden.
First Day at Pierce House a year ago. Photo by Harold McAleer.
Whether you’re new to Lincoln or have lived here forever, come to historic Pierce House (17 Weston Rd.) on January 1 to celebrate the new year together at the town’s 16th annual First Day gathering. Start the year right with legendary soups, lively music, and congenial company! Complimentary admission for Lincoln residents, but donations are gratefully accepted for the upkeep of this special town resource. For more information, call 781-259-9757.
The Lincoln Police will be running three women’s classes in 2015: one in January, one in February and one in November. The January and February classes are now open for enrollment.
To the editor:
State Representative Thomas Stanley recently met with Waltham and Lincoln voters to discuss the We The People Act. This proposed bipartisan Massachusetts bill calls on Congress to propose a constitutional amendment to affirm (1) that rights protected by the Constitution are the rights of human beings only, not corporations, and (2) that Congress and the states may place limits on political contributions and spending. The second principle would overturn recent Supreme Court rulings in Citizens United and McCutcheon, both of which unleashed a flood of money into the electoral process.
This act also proposes that if Congress does not pass the amendment, the Massachusetts legislature will call for an amendments convention. In Article V of the Constitution, the Founders provided two routes for proposing an amendment to the Constitution: by a two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Congress or by an amendments convention called for by two-thirds of the states. The second route could be taken when a dysfunctional Congress blocks reform advocated by the people. In this case, state legislatures could petition Congress to call a convention—not for overturning or changing the Constitution, but for proposing an idea for an amendment. The threat of such a convention can force Congress to act, as it did with the 17th Amendment.
At the meeting, Representative Stanley enthusiastically agreed to co-sponsor the proposed bill and actively support its passage. He joins lead sponsor Representative Cory Atkins in the House and will help recruit more legislators from around the Commonwealth as co-sponsors. A growing coalition of citizens groups across the country also supports this bill.
Massachusetts has always been a leader in the fight for democracy. In 2012, a unanimous General Court passed a bipartisan bill to restore the 1st Amendment and fair elections to the people. However, more must be done. We need to take back the Constitution from private, wealthy power and get big money out of elections through a constitutional amendment.
Sincerely,
Gary Davis (chair, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee)
20R Indian Camp Lane
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.
By Alice Waugh
The Board of Health has approved new rules restricting sales of electronic cigarettes in Lincoln and raising the age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21.
The board amended the town’s existing tobacco regulations to include the phrase “nicotine delivery products,” which are defined as “any manufactured article or produce made wholly or in part of a tobacco substitute or containing nicotine that is expected or intended for human consumption,” including but not limited to e-cigarettes. The new rules go into effect on Jan, 1, 2015.
E-cigarettes heat a solution to deliver nicotine in a vapor-like aerosol that is inhaled, meaning the user and others nearby are not exposed to smoke.
The only retailer in Lincoln that sells tobacco products is Donelan’s, which told the Board of Health they were fine with whatever changes it made.
The move was prompted by a visit to the board several months ago by Westwood pediatrician Lester Hartman, one of two Massachusetts pediatricians who lobby local boards of health on behalf of the Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation to raise the minimum purchase age for nicotine products to 21. According to the foundation’s Tobacco21 website, 37 Massachusetts towns have done so, starting with Needham in 2005. Massachusetts currently has the second-highest cigarette tax in the nation at $3.51 per pack.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has regulatory power over cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco, but the FDA has proposed a new rule whereby it could also require national restrictions on electronic cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, certain dissolvables that are not “smokeless tobacco,” gels, and waterpipe tobacco.