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

letters to the editor

Letter to the editor: state should spend 1% on nature

letter

To the editor:

Last spring on WGBH radio, Gov. Charlie Baker called the state’s park system a “really big deal” and said there was “no question” that over the past decade “the state’s disinvested in this stuff.” He then reiterated his campaign promise to dedicate 1 percent of the overall state budget to the environment. “We’re going to get there. It’s going to take a few years,” he said. This month he files his third budget, and it is time “to get there.”

There is little question that Massachusetts has a revenue problem, not a spending problem, and the nature of Massachusetts is short-changed because of it. Of this year’s $40 billion state budget, only 0.6 percent is devoted to environmental programs—programs like the establishment and operation of state forests and parks, along with programs that protect the air we breathe; the water we drink; and the lands we live, work and play on.

Spending on the environment needs to be increased to no less than 1 percent of the overall state budget, especially as the White House and Congress prepare to cut spending on America’s environmental well-being. The last time we spent 1 percent on nature was in 2009. And even though he promised to achieve to that 1 percent, last year Governor Baker actually cut environmental spending by 7 percent compared to the previous year.

Budget cuts are made for two reasons: first, in preparing the budget and figuring out how much they will have to spend, the legislature makes overly optimistic projections on what will be available through tax revenues throughout the year. When the money fails to come in, shortfalls arise with environmental line-items often most vulnerable.

Second, once they imagine how much money will be available, the legislature drafts a budget based on their revenue projections and then employs gimmicks to patch it together. They count things such as funds set aside for rainy-day emergencies, delaying on-time payment of bills, selling of state property, and state pensions and retiree health care funds.

The legislature then submits to the governor a so-called balanced budget with a built-in structural deficit. The dance continues with the governor then vetoing certain sections of the legislature’s budget, the legislature then overrides those vetoes, and the governor once again cuts budget items for his agencies to reflect a shortfall in revenue income.

The second reason environmental and other basic programs are underfunded is because of a lack of actual revenue. Revenues are not keeping up with costs. We are not over-spending and we have not had any spending increases. As the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center points out, general expenditures are consistently at 12 cents for every dollar the state collects. And that’s where they have been since the late 1980s.

The problem are tax cuts. Cutting programs is always part of solving state financial problems. But we have to realize that we do not do more with less, as the voters demand, we do less with less. Those cuts started in a big way at the turn of the millennium when, in a ballot initiative, Bay Staters voted to cut the state income tax rate from 5.95 percent to 5 percent. That translates into an annual $2 billion reduction in what the state can spend on the public’s health, safety and well-being.

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation has shown that the gap between projected revenue and spending to maintain current services is $800 million, so the problem is on the tax side. Before the 2000 initiative, the state was taking in 7 cents on every dollar earned—now it’s around 6 cents.

Last year, the governor’s fiscal year 2017 budget recommended $200 million for environment and recreation programs, a cut of $14 million below the FY 2016 budget. Those cuts have to stop and the environmental budget must be restored. Ironically, it is one of the smallest parts of the state budget that effects every resident of the Commonwealth and is often the first to be cut. It is time for Beacon Hill to get back to devoting 1 percent to the nature of Massachusetts in the upcoming budget.

Sincerely,

Jack Clarke
Director of public policy and government relations, Mass Audubon

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters 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.

Letter to the editor: Robinson resigning from Board of Assessors

letter

(Editor’s note: Robinson is married to Renel Fredriksen, who announce her resignation from the Board of Selectmen in December.)

To the editor:

I write to announce my resignation from the Lincoln Board of Assessors, effective as of the upcoming election on March 27.

I have been gratified that Lincolnites have seen fit to entrust me with this responsibility over the past 10+ years. We have built an effective and responsive Assessor’s Office, and I know I leave it in the capable hands of our contractors Regional Resource Group, our administrative assessor Dorothy Blakeley, and the other two board members, Ellen Meadors and Buffer Morgan.

I encourage all citizens of Lincoln to consider stepping up to fill this role, or any other volunteer position in Lincoln town offices. Answering the call to serve the town is a rewarding and fulfilling opportunity.

Sincerely,

John Robinson
76 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 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.

Letter to the editor: Mitchell running for School Committee

letter

To the editor:

I am writing to announce my candidacy for the open position on the Lincoln School Committee and ask for your support. My family has lived in Lincoln since 2004 and our two children are being nurtured and developed in the Lincoln schools. As they have moved through various schooling stages, my knowledge and interest in the education process has increased. I am excited to take my interests and abilities one step further as a member of the School Committee.

My years volunteering for the Lincoln School Foundation (LSF) have most directly led to my interest in running for School Committee. LSF is a nonprofit organization that promotes innovation in education by awarding grants to Lincoln Public Schools teachers that foster critical thinking, collaboration and authentic learning experiences for students. For the past three years, I have been the LSF co-chair and have had the pleasure of working with Superintendent Becky McFall and other LPS educators. I have been excited about the innovative practices that teachers have been implementing and look forward to providing the support needed to continue this progression.

While my children are currently in third and fifth grades, I have always taken an active role in their education. Starting at Lincoln Nursery School, I enjoyed parent helping in the studios. As a co-operative nursery school, I served on the Steering Committee as VP of operations for three years, during which time I helped implement new teacher and parent feedback and school evaluation processes. When they entered the Lincoln Public Schools, I served on the PTO. I have been a room parent each year for both children and have served on the Welcoming Committee. With my professional background in business consulting specializing in change management, management development, and training, I now use my organizational and facilitation skills as a Girl Scout troop leader and third-grade soccer coach.

Our children are growing up in a different world than the one we grew up in. The accessibility of technology and the overwhelming amount of information that’s readily available means that our children need a different set of skills to succeed in the future. They need to be able to synthesize information, collaborate with others, and know that their actions and decisions make an impact on the broader world. If elected, I would look forward to helping carry forward the strategic priorities of the schools and ensure that the policies, procedures and budget are in alignment to support this direction.

Lastly, I would like to thank Jennifer Glass for her dedication to the School Committee over the past nine years. She has put in countless hours of time and effort. Her knowledge of the school system and her desire for making improvements necessary to achieve the best learning environment possible are to be commended.

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself, and I hope that you will support me in the town election in March.

Sincerely,

Tara Mitchell
67 Sandy 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 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.

Letter to the editor: Vander Meulen throws hat in ring for selectman

letter

To the editor:

I am pleased to announce my candidacy for Lincoln’s Board of Selectmen to fill Renel Fredriksen’s seat, and respectfully ask for your support.

My wife Stephanie Smart and I have been residents of Lincoln since our marriage in 2008. Stephanie is a chiropractor and runs her practice out of our home. Our son AJ was born in 2009 and is now in first grade at a nearby private school.

I was appointed to Lincoln’s Housing Commission (HC) in 2014 and am now co-chair. The HC is responsible for setting policy and direction with respect to affordable housing here in Lincoln, as well as managing the affordable housing units owned by the town. I am also the HC’s liaison to Lincoln’s Housing Trust, which helps fund the further development of affordable housing.

I am the minister for a small community church, although I will be resigning in early 2017. Previously I was a student minister in Sudbury and a volunteer chaplain at a homeless shelter in Waltham. As a minister, I lead worship services and also engage in pastoral care; help generate consensus on numerous issues; interface with the town, state and other churches; help plan for the future; and support numerous community outreaches. My passion is reaching out to those who have no voice, challenging injustice in its many forms, and working to help everyone have a “seat at the table” when faced with challenges or issues that affect their lives. It is important to me that everyone’s voice is heard, respected and consequential.

For 25 years I was an information technology leader, supporting organizations in health care,  telecommunications and the federal government as well as nonprofits including the Red Cross, Greenpeace and several Christian charities. I also owned a small IT services company for several years, so I understand all too well the challenges of running a small business.

My B.A. in history shows my respect for and interest in the past. I believe it is important to preserve and support the traditions and historical legacies that have been handed down to us. As I see it, history grounds our sense of who we are (and aren’t), and provides valuable lessons and guidance for our future. I also write for several blogs and am on the Board of Alumni for Andover Newton Theological School, where I received my MDiv in 2013.

If elected to the Board of Selectmen, I will actively work to recruit new people into our town’s various commissions, committees and boards, especially from groups or with interests that, in the past, have not been as well represented as we would wish. I will work with my fellow selectmen and the town administration to ensure that the people of Lincoln have better access to—and knowledge of—what is going on within the town government. I will also work to build or strengthen our working relationships with neighboring towns, and with representatives of our state and federal governments.

A particular focus of mine will be the new South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee (SLPIC), intended to help make the Lincoln Station area (and Lincoln in general) a more inviting place for residents and visitors. I will be a firm supporter of the redevelopment of our K-8 school campus, the development of a new community center, and improving bike and pedestrian accessibility and safety throughout our community.

I hope this letter gives you some insight into who I am and the ways I hope to serve our town as we move into the future.

Sincerely,

Allen Vander Meulen
30 Beaver Pond Rd.
PastorAllenV@gmail.com

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters 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.

Letter to the editor: Glass running for Fredriksen’s seat

letter

To the editor:

Lincoln has a long tradition of civic engagement and independent thinking. Since its beginnings, the town has engaged in constructive and vigorous debate over issues such as education, conservation, roadways and public safety, always honoring its past while thoughtfully planning its future. We are currently on the cusp of decisions that will shape our community for decades to come—decisions that begin with the question “What is our vision of Lincoln?” To create a collective answer, we will need to navigate many choices, requiring each of us to listen, ask challenging questions, and build consensus as we make decisions about capital projects, community development, conservation and the well-being of our citizens.

It is in this context that I am excited to announce my candidacy for the one-year Board of Selectmen term that will be created by Renel Fredriksen’s resignation in March. I thank Renel for her many years of service to the town, and I respectfully ask for your support as I seek to continue my service to the Lincoln community in a new capacity.

Since we moved to Lincoln a decade ago, my husband Andrew and I have immersed ourselves in the life of the town. During my nine years on the Lincoln School Committee, I have found serving in town government deeply engaging and rewarding because of the thoughtful and creative people with whom I have worked. I am grateful for what each committee member, administrator, faculty, staff and community member has taught me. Whether discussing educational policy or strategic planning, budgets or building projects, support for our faculty or how best to measure the efficacy of our work as a district, I have strived to follow their examples and to listen carefully, work openly and collaboratively, and act thoughtfully. Together we have focused on enhancing student outcomes and engagement, and on promoting a culture of educational innovation and risk-taking. I am proud to have played a role in fostering the changes happening in the Lincoln Public Schools.

And so, with positive momentum in the schools, and after three terms on the committee, I look forward to serving Lincoln as a selectman. If elected, I hope to bring the same positive momentum and focus on engagement, innovation and outcomes to issues facing the town.

Two capital projects have the potential to command much of Lincoln’s attention, energy and financial investment over the next several years: a Lincoln School renovation project, and a community center to house Parks & Recreation and the Council on Aging (COA). These institutions not only form the vital core of civic life but serve, together with public safety, as our community’s support network. While on the School Safety and Security Committee, I worked with our police and fire departments, and I have been deeply involved in the numerous conversations and committees guiding plans for a Lincoln School renovation project. The latter continues to require collaboration with many town boards and committees, parent groups, the COA, and individual citizens.

In addition, I have been part of the team reaching out to Hanscom Air Force Base leadership, state legislators, and our congressional delegation to talk about issues affecting our schools, our families and our town. Through my work on the School Committee and particularly in my seven years as chair, I have gained a great appreciation for the interconnectedness of our institutions and for the centrality of conversation to building community consensus. Achieving our goals is rarely a linear process, and I understand the perseverance needed to make shared decisions. I want to continue to build the connections that move Lincoln forward.

Our town strives to cherish its history and imagine a progressive future. It embraces both long tradition and innovation. These values provide the touchstone and spark of Lincoln and make it an energizing and engaging place to live. Your welcoming and sustained support has made me deeply committed to our community. I humbly ask for your vote as a candidate for selectman.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Glass
11 Stonehedge 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 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.

Letter to the editor: Fredriksen to resign from Board of Selectmen

letter

To the editor:

It is with both gratitude and sadness that I am announcing my early retirement from the Board of Selectmen. I will be resigning as of March 27, 2017 (town election day) for personal reasons.

It has been an honor to serve the town of Lincoln over the past 20 years—on the L-S School Committee, the Housing Commission, the Affordable Housing Trust and the Board of Selectmen. The faith that you have put in me has been both uplifting and humbling. I have always tried to serve the town to the best of my ability, and in return have found great rewards in this service.

During my time on the board, my focus has primarily been in the areas of housing, land use, road and traffic concerns, and human services. I served on the 2014 Community Center Study Committee and the 2015 Campus Master Plan Committee. I am enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead for our campus; I envision a renovated or new school building with a focus on 21st-century learning side by side with a community center which brings our Town together in ways we can only imagine today.

I encourage all of you who have not yet signed up to consider how you can serve the town. All of our boards and committees are run by volunteers, and everyone’s voice is valuable. The greater diversity that we have serving, the stronger the town becomes. We have a fantastic administrative team in Town Hall; they make our town run, and with them in place, volunteers’ tasks are simplified.

In the meantime, let me specifically call out Tim Higgins, our town administrator, who has always been there for me; Peggy Elder, administrative assistant to Tim, who handles all of the routine work cheerfully and reliably; and Elaine Carroll, administrative assistant to Housing and many others, who wears so many hats and yet keeps all things housing clear and on target.

If you are interested in running for a seat on the Board of Selectmen, give me a call; I would be happy to discuss it with you.

Sincerely,

Renel Fredriksen
76 Trapelo 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 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.

Letter to the editor: Lincoln religious leaders support Islamic Center

letter

To the editor:

As religious leaders in Lincoln, we wish to jointly express our profound sadness in the wake of the Islamic Center of Boston in Wayland (ICBW) receiving a hate-filled letter last week, penned by a group referring to themselves as “Americans for a Better Way.”

That this letter calls for the Hitleresque genocide of Muslims in the name of American patriotism is nothing short of shocking and morally repugnant. We in Massachusetts pride ourselves on being a part of the history that gave birth to our American ideals of democracy and freedom; the letter that the ICBW received runs contrary to the civic and social values that we hold dear as a people. Equally so, we know how deeply the religious communities we both serve value spiritual diversity and interfaith collaboration.

While we cannot undo the harm or pain that has already been inflicted, we pledge to stand in solidarity with the ICBW as we teach, model and stand up for the right of different religious communities to freely practice their faith, as we seek to build connection and community across faiths, and as we strive to live ever more fully in the spirit of love.

This past Sunday, December 4, was the second Sunday of Advent in the Christian tradition, a Sunday devoted to the ideal of peace. As we and our communities reflect on this theme in the days ahead, we pray that we can all actively come together in working for peace right here in Metro West.

In the spirit of love and interfaith companionship,

The Reverend Manish Mishra-Marzetti
Senior Minister, The First Parish in Lincoln

The Reverend Kate Malin
Rector, St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters 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.

Letter to the editor: Dwyer announces candidacy for Selectman

letter

To the editor:

I am excited to announce my candidacy for Lincoln’s Board of Selectman (BoS) and respectfully ask for your support as I follow my passions for serving our town, connecting its citizens and facilitating its future. So you may know me better, I’ll sketch my background, experience and perspective.

My connections to the town go back to 1986 when I met my spouse, Lincolnite Carolyn Caswell Dwyer. We were married here in 1994 and moved in five years later. As a fourth-grade teacher in the Lincoln Public Schools, Carolyn helps me understand the perspective of a town employee. Her parents have lived in town for 50+ years, and her mother, Carol Caswell, helps me understand what local senior citizens are experiencing and what this town was like years ago. Her father, John Caswell, served the town for decades (including Selectman in the 1980s) and is remembered for being principled, forthright, collaborative and congenial. My three daughters are in college, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, and the Lincoln Public Schools.

I currently serve as chairman of Parks & Recreation Committee (seven years of service) and was chair of the town’s Celebrations & Events Subcommittee from 2006-2015. As a volunteer, I emphasize connecting people and building relationships, not just getting the job done. With Celebrations & Events, we recruited/mentored Lincoln’s high school students to coordinate the July 4th parade and experience public service, creating a multigeneration activity in the process.

Events coordination also provided context for creating good working relationships with staff at the Town Office Building, Public Works, Fire Department, Police Department and of course Parks & Rec. I trust them, and they know I value their expertise. I think Lincoln has been fortunate to have good relationships among the town’s governance, employees and citizens, especially in contrast to other cities and towns, and I will work to sustain this positive trend.

Regional cooperation is important for meeting community needs. With Parks & Rec, we offered a ski program jointly with Sudbury Parks & Rec, and we support Lincoln-Sudbury Little League. To increase awareness of Lincoln celebrations and recreation programs among those living at Hanscom Air Force Base, I initiated contacts with base leaders to understand their points of view and combine marketing efforts. Base residents live in our town. It would be great if we shared a common identity as Lincolnites, especially as our town’s future is highly influenced by the base.

My professional life offers relevant experience for a BoS candidate. Large, traditional financial services organizations hire me to modernize how they manage and deliver technology products. Discerning intended outcomes and defining incremental solutions to achieve them are useful tactics that towns like ours can use when confronted with changing demographics, increasing traffic volume, changes at Hanscom, prospective building projects and other challenges. In practice, Parks & Rec staff and committee have been using this experimental approach to significantly improve the summer camp’s programming, participation, and satisfaction. We also use it when prioritizing capital projects, setting policies for pricing, and making financial aid decisions.

I thank Peter Braun, whose tenure on the board is ending, for his dedication, diligence and patience. His work will endure for a long time—the Route 2 project, Minuteman Tech representation, coordination with Hanscom area towns and the base. If it was not always easy, I hope it is was always rewarding.

Engaging different perspectives, respecting the past while looking forward, and facilitating a future Lincoln that would make today’s residents proud are among my ambitions. I hope this announcement provides sufficient insight into my outlook, experience, personality and the connection I feel to our town, and will win your support. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Dwyer
14 Beaver 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 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.

Letter to the editor: environmental strategies for a Trump presidency

letter

To the editor:

As we’re deep into the presidential transition, it’s time for many to let go of denial and anger and accept the reality of a Donald Trump White House come January 20. For the environmental community, there’s three things we’re going to do.

First, with conservation partners across the country, we’re going to fight to hold on to what we have. For almost half a century and until most recently, we’ve had environmental success coming from Congress. Starting in 1969, GOP President Richard Nixon cooperated with bipartisan lawmakers to pass the National Environmental Protection Act, followed by the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. These laws protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we live, work and play on. Millions of American lives have improved as a result of their implementation.

Congress later enacted legislation to conserve the nation’s forests and parks, historic sites, wildlife and wetlands, coasts and oceans. These laws benefit people, nature and the economy and are a sacrosanct part of America’s natural heritage.

Encouraged by the White House, the upcoming 115th Congress, with 239 Republicans and 193 Democrats in the House of Representatives, may try to weaken or do away with some of these provisions. To prevent a rollback of progress, we’ll work in the House but focus on the Senate. Although Republicans outnumber Democrats 52-48 in the upper chamber, we’ll call on Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey to initiate and lead a stop-the-repeal campaign. If needed, we will ask them to use the filibuster, which will require a 60 vote supermajority to erase America’s environmental legacy.

In addition, we’ll watch what goes on behind the scenes in the Oval Office. So often, bureaucratic actions fly under the public’s radar screen. The executive branch is mandated by the constitution, courts and Congress to implement, enforce and execute the nation’s laws. This is done largely through administrative rule-making. However, the President can unilaterally weaken or repeal regulations. He can also cut funds for existing programs, fail to enforce the law, make hostile political appointments, reduce the workforce, and simply drag his feet. As a preventive measure, we’ll go to court to require that the law be enforced.

Second, we’re going to support state and local governments in stepping up protection of our health and environment. A few examples:

  • Mr. Trump believes climate change is a hoax. But 95 percent of utility and electricity oversight is done by the states, not the feds. So it will be in states like ours and California where we will continue to reduce heat-trapping air pollution and require industry to produce and use more green energy.
  • The Massachusetts Endangered Species Act protects 432 native Massachusetts plants and animals on the edge of extinction. With that in place, we will continue to defend endangered species even if protections are relaxed or removed at the federal level.
  • And there are a host of additional state laws providing public health and environmental benefits for Bay Staters that we will work to ensure are adequately funded and fully implemented on Beacon Hill.

On November 8, there was a huge success for Massachusetts at the ballot—the Community Preservation Act passed in 11 municipalities. This brought the state adoption to 172 cities and towns, or 49 percent of the Commonwealth. Since the Massachusetts legislature passed the enabling statute in 2000, almost $2 billion has been raised for community preservation projects providing for the creation of 10,000 affordable housing units; 26,300 acres of open space; 4,400 historic preservation initiatives; and 1,700 outdoor recreation projects—all without any federal involvement.

It’s in the city and town halls across the Commonwealth where mayors and selectmen, city councils and town meetings, school committees, planning boards, boards of health, conservation commissions, and public safety officials make some of the most important day-to-day decisions that directly affect our children and families. We will increase our efforts at the local level to support and enhance their work.

Finally, we remain committed to our aspirations, goals, and vision and for a clean, healthy and vibrant environment. Irrespective of who controls the levers of government, we will continue to advocate for a progressive environmental agenda in our nation’s capital—an agenda that provides for the health, safety, and natural security of all Americans while protecting the nature of this great land for this and future generations.

Sincerely,

Jack Clarke
Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, Mass Audubon

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters 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.

Letter to the editor: Braun won’t run again

letter

To the editor:

It’s been my privilege to serve two terms as Selectmen and give back to the community where I’ve lived for nearly six decades. However, I believe it is time to step aside in favor of the next generation of town leadership. Therefore, I will not run for re-election in March 2017.

I’ve been honored to help carry out the Board of Selectmen’s assigned responsibilities, as well as to facilitate the dedicated efforts of numerous other committees and volunteers. Although the Selectmen function as a team, each of us focuses his or her skills and energy on particular projects. I’m pleased to have played a primary role in the following matters that enhanced the Town’s internal and external resources or resolved major challenges:

  • Developing and implementing the Selectmen’s Newsletter, which shines new public light on Selectmen concerns and activities.
  • Expanding the mission and at-large composition of the Capital Planning Committee, which enabled enhanced citizen review of capital projects and provides a new “niche” opportunity for volunteers.
  • Revitalizing the Town’s relationship with Hanscom Air Force Base (HAFB) and our multi-town alliance known as Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS), including developing HATS’ web site and HATS’ strong relationship with HAFB leadership and the state’s Military Assets Task Force.
  • Developing productive relationships with State Representative Tom Stanley and U.S. Representative Katherine Clark, which have paid off tangibly in our communications with the State, the Base, and the Federal Government.
  • Working with MassDOT on the construction phase of the Rt. 2 project (including successfully negotiating for over $600,000 of landscape fencing and planted enhancements), thus guiding us through the final realization of this major safety improvement and the culmination of 20 years of design and advocacy by prior town leaders.
  • Finding a suitable resolution of the governance and financial dilemmas presented by Minuteman High School and its building proposal.

A major pleasure for me as a Selectmen has been the opportunity to work closely with Town Administrator Tim Higgins. Lincoln has been blessed with Tim’s dedication and skill for 22 years, and hopefully that will continue for the remainder of his career. He is a master at the technical requirements of his profession, and he fully understands our values and culture. Tim is always a steadying force of calm and forward-thinking practicality on every issue. Equally important, Tim deeply values collegiality, communication, and compassion, which are reflected in the culture of all staff and committees he supervises or oversees.

I’ve been enlightened and energized by the many residents and staff with whom I have worked on the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, Capital Planning Committee, and Community Preservation Committee, as well as by my frequent collaborations with the Schools’ leadership, and I look forward to continuing the numerous new relationships I have gained.

Last, but not least, I’m grateful for the feedback I’ve received from my fellow residents, especially those who have simply said “thank-you” for serving. I hope all residents will continue to support the volunteer culture on which we so heavily rely by reaching out in a positive way to all those who serve.

Sincerely,

Peter Braun
16 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 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.