By Alice Waugh
Candidates for local office shared their views at a March 15 forum, starting things off with answers to a resident’s question about what selectman candidates and the town learned from the failure of the school building project vote and the Route 2 tree-cutting issue.
[Read more…] about Candidate forum draws questions on school, Route 2
Editor’s note: The following letter from the Community Preservation Committee is addressed to the Lincoln community. It was updated on March 24 to reflect a correction to the street address given for CPC member Margaret Olson.
To the editor:
Massachusetts passed the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in 2000. Lincoln voted to join in 2003 with a 3 percent property tax surcharge. Since then the state has matched the town’s revenues anywhere from 100 percent to the low 30 percent level. This past year the state match was 66 percent due to a provision in the state budget which required the first $25 million of any surplus to be deposited into the CPA trust. Hopefully this requirement will be renewed in the ongoing state budget process, but it is not guaranteed.
[Read more…] about Letter to the editor: Community Preservation Committee request
Editor’s note: The author of this letter, Jennifer Glass, is chair of the School Committee. She is running unopposed for reelection on March 31.
To the editor:
At the March 29 Annual Town Meeting, one of the warrant articles citizens will be asked to consider is whether or not they will approve funds to study a range of Lincoln School renovation choices. Following is some information about the warrant article.
Article 11: The School Committee is requesting that up to $250,000 be withdrawn from the Stabilization Fund to be used for commissioning cost estimates for a range of potential Lincoln School renovation projects.
Up to $200,000 would be used to contract design and cost-estimating services. $50,000 would be held in reserve in case unexpected study services are required. The funding for the warrant would come from money already put aside by the town, and would not increase property taxes.
Q: Why is the School Committee asking for this money?
A: The last major renovation of the school was in 1994. At that time, the library link and kindergarten classrooms were built, and some renovations were made to the Smith building. However, Brooks was not renovated, and the entire Lincoln School has reached a point where the basic infrastructure of the building needs renovation:
There are additional renovations that would improve the educational environment:
Q: How will the money be spent?
A: The money will be used to get cost estimates for a number of renovation concepts, ranging in scope from the most urgent repairs to a comprehensive renovation (including limited new construction) that would address both infrastructure and educational needs. All solutions will keep the building in its current, “L-shaped” configuration.
For each of the concepts, we must consider the following:
Q: What about state funding? Is the $21 million from the state still available?
A: After the failed 2012 school project vote, the town forfeited the $21 million. Lincoln reapplied for state funding from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) in April 2013, but was not invited back into the funding pipeline.
Q: What happens next?
A: If the warrant article passes at Town Meeting, the Lincoln Public Schools will hire a firm capable of refining the five concepts and providing cost estimates. The School Committee is committed to community participation, and will seek public input throughout the process. When the study is complete, the committee will ask the town to vote on which concept it would like to develop into a renovation project, and, if relevant, whether or not the town would like to reapply for state funding.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Glass
11 Stonehedge
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
To the editor:
I feel most of Lincoln tremendously admires our town volunteers and elected personnel. The time and effort they expend on our behalves is tremendous. Mr. Braun is certainly one we admire. While MassDOT has the only authority on the Route 2 project, town and citizens’ voices count in our democracy, or should. My admiration also extends to Mr. Cannistraro who has the fortitude to question. It is always good to have new blood in any situation, if democracy is to flourish. I do hope he will consider running for town office at a more auspicious time.
Sincerely,
Claire L. Mount
123 Tower Road
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
To the editor:
I attended the February 19 and March 12 public hearings on Jet Aviation’s proposal to expand its Hanscom hanger facilities, which were sponsored by the Lincoln Conservation Commission. These were working business meetings of the commission to which the public were invited.
The commission is concerned with the issue of proposed Jet Aviation construction encroaching on a few acres of Lincoln wetlands. It appears that Jet Aviation will successfully conform to the commission’s requirements, and will therefore be permitted to proceed with their project. However, this is not the issue of importance to most citizens. We the people feel strongly that increasing Hanscom’s total hangar area, in order to house and service more of the dirtiest type of aircraft (as measured by amount of fuel burned and carbon emitted per passenger-mile), is totally irresponsible by any conceivable standard.
There is a striking dichotomy here between the will of the people and the presumed approval of this project, and I am deeply disappointed that the commission members all were excessively deferential and accommodating to the Jet Aviation representatives and their proposal, in spite of the totally obvious fact that the many citizens in attendance unanimously and angrily oppose the project—there was not one comment from the invited public in support of Jet Aviation.
At what level of environmental pollution (both chemical and acoustic) do we draw the line? The line should be drawn right now—Jet Aviation should not be permitted to expand their Hanscom facilities to accommodate more jets, and we, the people, expect the (our?) Lincoln Conservation Commission to recognize and support this position. This project, and indeed the entire Hanscom expansion juggernaut, should be axed as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Henry Francis
Sunnyside Lane
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
To the editor:
Please know that I, and many others in town, completely admire (or we should!) the hard work that ALL of the town volunteers do day in and day out, and year after year. I do understand though, that these dedicated people can often feel underappreciated and not supported, and this is a very unfortunate thing. Also, I understand that experience is certainly valuable—especially when needed most. Towards this end, here’s one thing that I respectfully ask people to reflect upon:
It appears as if many of the biggest concerns of the town (Route 2, Council on Aging, schools, community center) in the near to mid-future are directly construction-related. Perhaps the town could benefit from an experienced hand and a capable leader in this area to help guide a collaborative, thoughtful process.
I may have mentioned that I have over 25 years in extremely complex construction projects, often working directly with the highest levels within countless state, public, and private entities and corporations. I have extensive knowledge and leadership experience in all phases of the construction process including contract review and negotiation, budgeting and cost control, design and scheduling, quality control and contract conflict resolution. My past projects include work in virtually every academic institution in the Boston area, numerous public school projects, community and student centers, mixed use, and affordable housing. But of all the projects that I’ve been involved with over my career, my favorite remains the Boston Convention Center, because not only was it a high-profile, challenging project, but to me, it also continues to symbolize bringing people together to share different perspectives.
Lincoln residents, I appreciate your consideration in this upcoming election. I believe my vast experience in this area can help Lincoln bring a new perspective to its town leadership, and help successfully navigate these challenges.
Sincerely,
Vin Cannistraro
15 Deer Run Road
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
To the editor:
I am writing in support of the re-election of Peter Braun for Selectman. When choosing a town officer, politically based relationships and bonds of friendship are certainly the starting point from which a voter determines which candidate to support. These are followed by knowledge of a candidate’s character, experience and accomplishments, along with his ability to work effectively with others.
The tree cutting issue associated with the Route 2 project is being misconstrued in this election in an attempt to diminish the importance of the letters of support which Selectman Braun has received from friends, neighbors and committee members who endorse his re-election.
An accurate account of the Route 2 project has been clearly presented by Dan Boynton in his letter of support for Peter. This project has spanned many decades, providing excellent opportunities for abutters to present their concerns to the town and to be heard. Peter Braun and Town Administrator Tim Higgins continue to work together with the abutters and the MassDOT, ensuring the best possible outcome for residents and commuters alike.
There are reasons why Peter Braun’s friends and committee members applaud his work and support his re-election. His dedication, attention to detail and capable leadership have been proven effective on the Route 2 project, as well as many other complex issues.
Peter Braun is a vital member of our team of town volunteers. He works diligently to provide us with the best representation possible while maintaining a steady, calm demeanor and ready wit. Please join me in supporting his re-election on March 31.
Sincerely,
Gay Anderson
42 Todd Pond Rd.
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
To the editor:
It seems that local oversight of the Route 2 safety upgrade has become a key issue in this year’s election campaign for a selectman. Accusations are being made that “hundreds (or was it thousands)” of trees were needlessly cut down while Lincoln’s selectmen looked the other way. This is an absurd claim.
My driveway exits onto Route 2 and many of the trees that came down were screening my view of the highway, so I have been personally affected by the tree cutting. I could identify at least a dozen large trees in front of my house that could have been saved. My wife and I are very unhappy about this. Other residents living along Route 2 could probably identify a few favorite trees that could have been saved as well. However, while the unnecessary removal of a small number of trees that could have been saved is highly regrettable, we need to acknowledge that the majority of the trees that came down had to go.
There were many valid reasons why such tree removal was necessary. Breakdown lanes and service roads will be constructed on both sides of the highway, requiring the clearing of long strips of land. In addition, the state was granted five-year “construction easements” which have substantially greater dimensions than the actual roadways. The contractor had the legal right to clear the land up to the limits of these easements if this area was needed to accommodate their machinery.
The backhoes they use are huge and they need to have a cleared area where they can turn. There also has to be open land where the excavated soil and rocks can be piled up. A lot of the trees needed to be removed in order to accommodate these practical needs.
However, every tree was removed in all areas up to the boundaries of the easements despite contract documents specifying the process of determining which trees should be saved. The universal tree clearing also included wetland replication areas where it was mandatory for trees over 10 inches in diameter to be examined by an arborist and kept if possible. It is obvious that this process wasn’t followed, because not a single tree was saved. This has been the only apparent violation of the contract terms.
It has been suggested that the Lincoln Selectmen could have prevented the wholesale tree removal from happening, but the Selectmen did not have any legal authority over the tree-cutting issue. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is solely responsible for providing the monitoring and oversight of all construction activity. Town officials can only make recommendations and must depend upon the good will of MassDOT in responding to their proposals.
Fortunately, MassDOT has been quite cooperative in considering remediation proposals. A plan which adds 176 new trees to the landscape design will likely be approved and a request for stockade fences in key areas is currently being reviewed as well. A requested change in the grading of the Brooks Road intersection is underway and the originally specified retaining wall adjacent to The Commons will probably be eliminated. So, as a result of intensive advocacy by abutters, the town’s landscape consultant, the town’s Oversight Committee, and most especially by Peter Braun and [town administrator] Tim Higgins, steps are being taken to restore the landscape to its former forested appearance.
Sincerely,
Dan Boynton
34 Cambridge Turnpike
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
To the editor:
The Squirrel has posted several letters written by me, and I hope that what I have to say resonates in some way with what residents may be thinking and/or feeling. If you are curious to learn more about me or share your thoughts, you are always welcome to email me at vincentcann@gmail.com, or call me at 781-259-1726. I also encourage you to watch the recording of the March 15 town candidate forum [editor’s note: soon to be posted on lincolntv.pegcentral.com] so you can form your own opinion—be it good, bad, or other.
I would also like to take a moment to share why I have come to embrace a fundamental belief in the power of inclusion and deep appreciation for different perspectives.
Over 25 years of my professional career is in the area of mechanical construction. My dad started the business from my bedroom, and the company has grown to be one of the largest of its kind in the nation. What was our family’s secret? In short, it was a philosophy of fostering inclusion and diversity of perspectives. We were the only firm to be started by someone who had never worked in the trades, the first to hire non-construction personnel in key management positions, the first to hire women in a traditionally “men’s” business at all levels, and the first to establish a program for inner-city youth to start in our shop, leading to sponsorship into the notoriously “tight-knit” labor unions.
Whether it has been in my academic, business or personal life, I’ve been so very fortunate to benefit from the different experiences of virtually anyone I meet. If any of you feel the same way, I would certainly welcome your consideration of me as a Selectman for this amazing community.
Sincerely,
Vin Cannistraro
15 Deer Run Road
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
Received March 16
To the Editor:
Along with many other Lincoln residents, we urge Lincoln voters to support Peter Braun for reelection to the Board of Selectmen. We have known Peter as a respected neighbor and a trusted friend for almost thirty years, and we appreciate his willingness to devote another three years of wholehearted service to the town.
Peter’s experience as an attorney, as a member of the Lincoln Finance Committee, and now as a diligent and dedicated Selectman make him thoroughly qualified for a second term.
Importantly, Peter has established substantial credibility with Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS) members and with Air Force and state officials, which makes him an indispensable representative during ongoing discussions about the future of Hanscom Air Force Base. His thoughtful perspective in managing the effects of the Route 2 flyover project has also upheld the best interests of the town.
Please vote to re-elect Peter Braun on March 31.
Sincerely,
Gus Browne and Lorraine Fiore
11 Trapelo Road
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic. They may be edited for length, grammar/punctuation, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.