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

Water Commission proposes 30% rate hike

By Alice Waugh

The Water Commission has proposed a water rate increase of 30%, along with a base meter rate hike from $35 per quarter to $50. In addition, the base meter charge for multi-unit complexes would be assessed on a per-dwelling basis, not by a per-meter basis as has been done in the past.

The new rates will be the subject of a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. in Town Hall.

The increases, which were endorsed by Lincoln Finance Director Colleen Wilkins, are necessary for the Water Department to meet its projected costs for fiscal 2021. The department is seeking an operating budget that’s 38% higher than this year’s, and it also needs to replenish its retained earnings, which have been depleted by unanticipated expenses over the past year.

After several years of no rate increases, last year’s 25% hike sent into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, largely to finance bonding of almost $2 million. Wilkins recommended that the new rates go into effect for water that’s used starting on April 1.

The proposed meter-vs.-dwelling change is the result of Water Commission research into how neighboring towns charge for housing that has more than one dwelling on a meter. In Lincoln, for example, most single-family homes have a single water meter, but complexes such as Lincoln Woods and the multistory independent-living building at The Commons have many separate dwellings but very few meters (often only one or two).

For medical facilities that have beds rather than dwellings, such as the skilled-nursing portion of The Commons and the Care Dimensions Hospice House, the number of beds will be divided by the number of people that typically dwell in one house in Lincoln, which was about 2.3 several years ago (the Water Commission is double-checking to make sure the figure is accurate today).

Since multi-unit buildings will now incur multiple base charges based on the number of dwelling units, the total bill for the complex will go up, regardless of how much water is used. Multi-dwelling complexes in Lincoln are charged at Tier 1 rates, since they use considerably less water than single-family homes where residents water their lawns and gardens.

“We reached a consensus that it is fair that every dwelling should have an equal part in the basic assessment required to sustain the infrastructure such as pipes, pumps, and treatment plants that varies very little as the amount of water used changes,” Water Commission Chair Ruth Ann Hendrickson said. “We are trying hard to base our decisions on data, and we are trying to be fair.”

Brush cleared over gas pipeline

The recently cleared Kinder Morgan right of way across Bedford Road near Oak Knolll Road (click image to enlarge).

The gas company Kinder Morgan recently cleared brush over a gas pipeline crossing Bedford Road and other locations in Lincoln. The company’s right of way is 30 to 50 feet wide in Lincoln, a company spokesman said.

“Periodically clearing the rights of way is part of our safety protocol to ensure the right of way can be visually inspected both by air and on the ground. The frequency of clearing depends on tree and brush growth in the area. In cases where a right of way crosses private property, the property owner is notified in advance.” The railroad ties in the photo were used to support heavy equipment on the soft ground and will be removed, the spokesman said.

Police log for the week of Jan. 24, 2020

January 24

Virginia Road (3:45 p.m.) — Police responded to an argument between two neighbors.

Cordaville Rd., Southborough (4:30 p.m.) — Det. Ian Spencer assisted Southborough police with a forensic sketch related to an ongoing investigation.

Lexington Road (7:52 p.m.) — Officer delivered court paperwork to a resident.

Lincoln Police Department (1:41 a.m.) — Party came to the station looking for directions to a residence in Wayland. Wayland police had requested a well-being check on the party earlier. Wayland police were contacted and took the party home.

January 25

Lincoln Road  (4:40 p.m.) — Power outage reported. EverSource contacted.

Trapelo Road (5:12 p.m.) — Caller requested a check on the residence as son never arrived to meet the reporting party. Officers checked and everything was fine.

Concord Road (11:48 p.m.) — A large tree limb fell onto the roadway. An officer responded and was able to move it to the side of the road.

January 26

Lincoln School (1:48 a.m.) — Fire alarm in the link building. Fire Department located the detector and everything is fine. School maintenance staff was notified.

South Great Road (4:15 a.m.) — Caller reported loud music in the area. Officers checked and found a party sleeping inside a vehicle in their driveway with the music on. Party was advised to turn the vehicle off and head into the house.

Lincoln Road (11:31 a.m.) — Caller reported being stuck in an elevator. Fire Department responded and found the caller had exited the elevator and it seemed to be working fine.

Pierce House (2:22 p.m.) — Caretaker requested assistance as she was having an issue with the oven. Fire Department responded and assisted the caller.

Water treatment plant, Sandy Pond Road ( 4:02 p.m.) — A car was parked near the treatment plant. An officer spoke to the operator and they were sent on their way.

Lincoln Police Department (5:10 p.m.) — Party came to the station with low pressure in one of their tires. Fire Department assisted the party.

Old Winter Street (1:08 a.m.) — Emerson Hospital notified Lincoln police of a past report of a dog bite. The information was given to the Animal Control Officer for follow-up.

January 27

Tower Road (3:54 p.m.) — Party reported receiving an odd phone call asking for an unknown person. Officers found that the unknown person was the former subscriber of the phone number.

Main Street, Medford (4:15 p.m.) — Det. Ian Spencer assisted Medford police with a forensic sketch in regard to a Medford investigation.

Chestnut Circle (4:45 p.m.) — Caller asked police to remove a home health care worker. The caller appeared to be confused, and officers contacted a friend to come and stay with them.

January 28

Virginia Road (8:51 p.m.) — Caller reported an odor of natural gas. Caller said they’d already contacted National Grid; while on the phone with the caller, National Grid arrived at the home.

January 30

Vandenberg Gate, Hanscom Air Force Base (12:39 p.m.) — William Norman, 65, of 970 Main St., Tewksbury, was arrested for an outstanding traffic warrant while attempting to enter the base and was later brought to Concord District Court.

North Great Road (3:10 p.m.) — Concord police requested a check of the area around Minute Man National Historic Parks for a missing person from their town. They later called back to report the party had been located.

Baker Bridge Road (3:18 p.m.) — Resident requested assistance for information on legal options for a civil matter.

Lincoln Road (4:04 p.m.) — Caller reported damage to her car that she believes happened while it was parked in her driveway. Report taken.

News acorns

Forums present focus group results on L-S racial climate

At two upcoming community forums, civil rights attorney Richard Cole and his associate Steven Flythe will present results of focus groups that were held at L-S to hear views and recommendations regarding the L-S school climate and culture, with an emphasis on race, color, and national origin-related issues. The first will be on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Melnea Cass Recreation Center (120 MLK Jr. Boulevard, Boston) and the second will be on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the L-S Chorus Room. 

L-S Cabaret Concert on Friday

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s annual Cabaret Concert will feature small vocal groups and soloists as well as student rock combo, jazz combo, and jazz ensembles in the high school café on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 ($20 maximum per family). L-S Friends of Music (LSFOM) will have snacks and beverages available for sale, including cheese plates and dessert.

Music Zoo, mattress sale to benefit L-S music programs

LSFOM welcomes all children ages 5–13 and their parents to visit the second annual Music Zoo on Sunday, Feb. 9 from 1–3 p.m. at the high school. Touch, try, hear, and learn about a variety of musical instruments with demonstrations from L-S student musicians, enjoy student vocal performances, and learn about music groups and lessons.

This program will be held in conjunction with the L-S Music Department’s annual mattress sale fundraiser from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The L-S  cafeteria will be transformed into a mattress showroom, where people can browse and try out name-brand mattresses and pillows. Get up to 50% off retail on all styles and sizes while supporting the L-S music program. There will also be a free chamber music concert at 2 p.m. in the auditorium featuring a string quartet, violin ensemble, flute choir, brass ensemble, and vocal groups.

Events explore what it means to be a “good man”

The Domestic Violence Roundtable invites men and boys of Sudbury, Wayland, and Lincoln to come together and discuss the definition of manhood in 2020, examine characteristics traditionally associated with masculinity, and consider the societal pressures that affect the social-emotional development of boys and men in a series of events that will examine what it means to be a “good man.” They’ll culminate in a March 14 summit, “Tough Guys and Gentle Men: Healthy Men in the Age of #MeToo,” featuring guest speakers and discussions.

The events will kick off this month with small group discussions of men and/or boys on the subject of “What Does it Mean to be a Man?” These groups will be led by male members of the local White Ribbon Campaign planning committee and will include faith-, student- and senior-based discussions. The campaign has grown to an international movement bringing men together as part of the solution to help end gender-based violence.

Details about the summit will be released soon. For more information on time and location of the discussions, call Roundtable president Sue Rushfirth at 508-265-8748 or email infodvrt@gmail.com.

Committee now accepting scholarship applications

The Lincoln Scholarship Committee has opened its 2020 application process. Click here for information on the available scholarships and awards as well as the procedures for applying. Application forms and instructions are available here. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 30.

Two new sculptures at deCordova

“Conservatory for Confectionery Curiosities,” 2008/2019, Mixed media installation, New York/Los Angeles. Photo by Jeffrey Jenkins.

Michael Sailstorfer, “Factories,” 2017, bronze, concrete, courtesy of the artist and König Galerie. Photo by Roman März.

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum has unveiled two new sculptures: Factories by Michael Sailstorfer and Conservatory of Confectionery Curiosities by Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood. Factories comes from a group of five unique beehive box sculptures in which bees play the role of “factory workers” as they complete and transform the sculpture. The finished sculpture is then cast in bronze. Conservatory was originally created for the Tuileries in Paris and recalls nineteenth-century horticultural hothouses, window panes allow visitors to gaze at the colorful desserts but not touch. The octagonal glass structure entraps stacks of Jell-O-like molds covered in insects partaking in the sugary sweets.

Council on Aging activities in February

The many faces of loss: a new group
February 3 at 10 a.m.
As we age we confront loss in many forms. It may be the death of loved ones or physical or cognitive changes in loved ones, friends, or ourselves. It may include regrets about lost opportunities or the recognition of our own mortality. Claire Gerstein, LICSW, a social worker with many years of experience helping people navigate the losses of later life, will facilitate a group which will give people the opportunity to talk about these issues in a supportive environment. The six-week group will run on Mondays from 10–11 a.m. beginning on February 3 at Bemis Hall. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.

Lincoln Academy with Ariane Liazos: Reforming the city — the contested origins of urban government, 1890–1930
February 3 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Feb. 3 at 12:30 p.m. when Ariane Liazos discusses “Reforming the City: The Contested Origins of Urban Government, 1890–1930.” Most American cities are now administered by appointed city managers and governed by councils chosen in nonpartisan, at-large elections. In the early twentieth century, many urban reformers claimed these structures would make city government more responsive to the popular will. But on the whole, the effects of these reforms have been to make citizens less likely to vote in local elections and local governments less representative of their constituents. How and why did this happen? Lincoln resident and author Ariane Liazos will examine the urban reform movement that swept through the country in the early twentieth century and its unintended consequences. The COA 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. All ages welcome

Musical jazz lunch
February 7 at noon
Celebrate the end of the week by grabbing a table at Bemis while the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serenades you with familiar good old tunes. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, food purchased already prepared at the store to share. The COA provides beverages and dessert.

Lincoln Academy with Matt Burne — Exploring the natural history of Walden Woods
February 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Feb. 10 at 12:30 p.m. when Matt Burne discusses “Exploring the Natural History of Walden Woods.” Henry Thoreau famously walked the forests and fields of the historic Walden Woods for hours every day, collecting the grist for his important mill. Walden Woods, in Lincoln and Concord, today are largely protected and open to the public for recreation, connection, and inspiration. Discover what makes Walden Woods unique and distinct, and some of the natural treasures to be found here. Matt Burne is Conservation Director with the Walden Woods Project. The COA 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. All ages welcome.

Free wellness clinics for all ages
February 11 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Road in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon or Bemis Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Services provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. The Bemis Hall clinic is supported by the Pierce House.

Oriole Landing information session
February 13 at 10 a.m.
Join Christopher Fernandez of the Oriole Landing management team on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall for coffee, snacks, and an informational session about Oriole Landing, the new housing development that will open in Lincoln this spring. Find out about the affordable housing units that are still available as well as the market rate apartments, what the community has to offer and other amenities, floor plans, and more.

What you need to know: Municipal energy aggregation
February 14 at 10 a.m.
Join C.J. Volpone and Paul Shorb of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee on Friday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall to learn more about their municipal energy aggregation program before the Annual Town Meeting update. Also called community aggregation, municipal aggregation is an exclusive agreement with an electricity broker to provide energy to all residents. Our residential and commercial electricity supply is negotiated using our bulk purchasing power, which enables a community’s residents to receive energy from local sustainable sources. Specifying these local green sources of electricity in turn increases aggregate demand for renewables in the electricity market.

Art, movement, and fun for winter relaxation
February 14 at 1 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m. when Catherine Collins, RN, MS, QTTT (Qualified Therapeutic Touch Teacher), leads a fun afternoon of using art, movement, and other playful techniques to de-stress, loosen up, and get ready to truly savor all the joys of the season. Winter weather doesn’t have to make you crazy. Whether you feel stressed or not, you’ll have a great time and learn some techniques you can use any time of the year. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Valentine singalong with Magic Garden
February 18 at 10:30 a.m.
Join the young children of Lincoln’s own Magic Garden for a singalong on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m. in the Hartwell building on Ballfield Road. First each of the Magic Garden classes will sing a song or two, and then the audience will join for a couple of sing-along songs. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up so Magic Garden knows how many people to expect.

Lunch with town administrator Timothy Higgins
February 18 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincolnites 60 and older are invited to enjoy a delicious gourmet lunch with friends new and old at 11:30 on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at St. Anne’s Church. Our special guest will be Lincoln’s town administrator, Tim Higgins. Come meet him, ask him your questions and give your ideas. Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s Public Health Nurse, will offer free blood pressure readings. The cost of lunch is $5 per person. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let us know if you need transportation or a seating partner. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, Newbury Court, St. Anne’s, and the Lincoln Garden Club.

Coffee with Sheila Beenhouwer: Russian art and my own work
February 18 at 2:30 p.m.
Join artist Sheila Beenhouwer at a Coffee with the Artist on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 2:30 at Bemis Hall as she shares with you art from her traveling life in Russia and a bit of her own work. The exhibit will be up in the Bemis Hall Gallery through the end of February.

Free beginning meditation
February 19 at 10 a.m.
Come to a free beginners’ meditation session Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. for a half-hour at Bemis Hall. Meditation opens the channels of our natural states of peace, joy, and health, and aids in decreasing the negative effects of aging. Experienced meditation teacher Lynne LaSpina will begin the session with a few minutes of stretching muscles to relax, and breathing exercises to help focus before meditating for about 10 minutes. Lynne will offer walking meditation for those who find it difficult to sit quietly for 10 minutes. For information, contact Lynne at 908-892-2408 or llas902551@aol.com.

Cash benefit for families of some deceased veterans
February 20 at 10:15 a.m.
Surviving spouses of veterans who died from their service-connected disabilities may be eligible for the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monetary benefit, and many other Massachusetts benefits. Come find out more at a presentation by Lincoln’s Veterans Services Officer, Peter Harvell, on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 10:15 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Parents who were financially dependent on a service member or veteran who died from a service-related cause may also be eligible for the Parents’ DIC.

Breakfast with Carolyn: Caregiving 101
February 21 at 8:30 a.m.
Are you new to caregiving and would like to be pointed in the right direction? Come have breakfast with Carolyn Bottum, the COA Director, on Friday, Feb. 21 at 8:30 a.m. at Bemis Hall. You’ll learn what services can be provided in your home or in the community, who can help you evaluate and monitor services, and tips and strategies for reducing your stress while being a caregiver.

Empowering you to thrive at home
February 21 at noon
You are invited to join Tori Taylor, PT, executive director of Deaconess Abundant Life Services, on Friday, Feb. 21 at noon when she reviews safety and balance tips to keep you active and thriving in your homes. She will also discuss how home care may be brought in to help you remain independent, whether temporarily if you are not well, or for a more extended period of time.

Lincoln Academy with Judith Ann Foster, PhD — The obesity epidemic: why we must get the science right
February 24 at 12:30 p.m.
Currently, more than a third of the country is now obese, making the U.S. one of the fattest countries in an increasingly fat world. Mounting research suggests that U.S. life expectancy may be starting to decline for the first time since 1993. Most now believe that the increase in obesity is due to the increase in average caloric consumption, increased consumption of refined carbohydrates high in simple sugars, and a sedentary lifestyle with little exercise. Unfortunately, the U.S. Low-Fat Diet Recommendations of 1977 may have contributed to the increase in weight gain. Dr. Foster is Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine. The COA 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. All ages welcome.

Memory Café
February 27 at 10:30 a.m.
The Commons in Lincoln, Right-at-Home In Home Care and Assistance, and the Lincoln Council on Aging invite those with dementia and their family, friends, and caregivers to the free Lincoln Memory Café on Thursday, Feb. 27 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the main building of The Commons in Lincoln. Enjoy refreshments and the entertainment of “Ragtime” Jack Radcliffe, a fiddle, guitar, and piano performer, in a fun, informal, social atmosphere. The Memory Café is held each fourth Thursday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon at The Commons in Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Kaupp of Right at Home at 781-275-1400 or the COA at 781-259-8811 for more information.

Meet other independent scholars for ideas and feedback
February 28 at 10 a.m.
Independent scholars who do research in history, science, the social sciences and more without being formally employed by an academic or research institution are publishing distinguished books and making important contributions to their fields. Sometimes only after you stop working full-time can you pursue that passion you have been quietly studying for decades but never had the time to fully explore. Independent scholars and those interested in learning more are invited to join us on Friday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. for the first meeting of the Independent Scholars Gathering. If there is interest, the group will meet monthly to share resources and ideas, give feedback, and be a scholarly conclave.

Annual Town Meeting preview
February 28 at 1 p.m.
Annual Town Meeting is Saturday, March 28, but you can get a preview on Friday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Town Administrator Tim Higgins. You’ll hear about the budget and other issues that are on the agenda for the Annual Town Meeting such as the recommendations of the Property Tax Study Committee, new zoning regulations related to South Lincoln, and more, and you can ask questions and give ideas. This is your opportunity to become informed about and discuss issues of importance to the town in an informal setting.

Save the date:

Museum of Fine Arts in March
Join the Council on Aging on Thursday, March 19 for a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts. The group will have a one-hour guided tour, “Highlights of the Art of the Americas,” featuring masterpieces from the Art of the Americas collection. Then you are free to wander the museum and grab lunch (not included in the fee) in one of their four restaurants and visit the gift shop. The bus will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 9 a.m. and leave the MFA at 2 p.m. to return to Lincoln by 3 p.m. This trip requires the ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time. The cost is $30 and is non-refundable. To make a reservation send a check payable to FLCOA/Trips to Ginny O’Brien, 4 Linway Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Include your telephone number and email. Your reservation is complete when your check has been received. Questions? Contact Ginny at 781-259-1291 or vobrien39@yahoo.com.

More big spending, rate hike on tap for Water Department

By Alice Waugh

The Water Department is asking for a significant increase in its operating budget for next year, as well as another substantial hike in water rates. And in a sign of ongoing concern about the department, no less than six residents have taken out nominating papers for the three seats on the Water Commission, which oversees the department.

At its December 10 meeting, the commission approved a budget request for fiscal 2021 of $1.835 million — a 38% increase over this year’s figure. It’s also seeking $250,000 in capital spending, though the department expects to ask for even more in fiscal 2022 to replace the aging Tower Road well and remodel the second floor of pump station. The total cost estimate for the well project is $575,000 to be split over two years, so another six-figure amount is in the cards for the fiscal 2023 capital budget.

The requested spending increases come on top of votes at two Town Meetings last year to approve borrowing for the Water Department totaling almost $2 million. Water rates last year went up by 25% as a result, and they’re expected to rise this year by as much as 30% (or even 34% if the board decides to increase its retained earnings by $150,000 to allow for unanticipated expenses). This would involve hiking the base meter rate, the water usage rates, or both. The average annual total bill this year is $667.

The Water Commission will settle on an approach for hiking rates at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 9 a.m. and has scheduled a public hearing on the proposal on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m.

The explosion in spending over the last two years is a result of several factors: deferred maintenance and insufficient spending on capital projects in previous years, repair costs in 2019 for two water line breaks as well as a chemical leak at the town well on Tower Road, and a rash of staff departures requiring expensive short-term help to keep the water treatment plant operating.

Staff vacancies

More than two-thirds of the proposed operating budget increase in fiscal 2021 is for staff (salaries and overtime) as well as contract labor to fill the gaps created by vacancies. Exacerbating the problem is an ongoing statewide shortage of licensed water operators, especially in the public sector, with dozens of jobs going unfilled for long periods. Lincoln’s openings have been advertised for months with few if any applications, and the town recently raised some starting salaries to attract more applicants.

When Superintendent MaryBeth Wiser was hired in March 2018, the department was at full strength, with a water treatment plant manager and three plant operators in addition to the supervisor and administrative assistant. By February 2019, operator Victor Vasselin and plant manager Heather Clary (a Lincoln resident) were gone. Then just weeks ago in December, around the time a new plant manager was finally hired, the remaining two operators, Jeremy Bernard and Will MacInnes, left. For at least a week, before plant manager Gary Tuck began work, all four of the plant staff positions were vacant.

The commission expects to vote on hiring another new operator at its February 4 meeting, but that will still leave the four-person plant staff at only half strength.

Bernard and several former Water Department employees told the Lincoln Squirrel that morale had been low since Wiser’s arrival, saying she was not qualified and was abusive to staff. By the summer of 2018, about four months after Wiser was hired, complaints about her had reached the point where “employees were lined up daily one and two deep at a time at the front counter of the selectmen’s office,” according to minutes of the commission’s August 8, 2018 meeting.

At that meeting, which devoted considerable time to a discussion of Wiser’s rocky transition, Higgins said he was “astounded that they had to counsel the staff on basic professionalism, basic courtesy and respect for each other and the superintendent” and alluded to “challenges faced by the previous superintendent with the Water Department employees.” He also said that the commission “needs to discuss whether they would like to keep Ms. Wiser [and] Ms. Wiser needs to think about whether she wants to stay.”

Bernard and MacInnes did not respond to requests for comment about the reasons for their departures.

In addition to the plant operator turnover, four administrative assistants have come and gone since late 2018. As a result, the department has had to pay an outside software consultant to help with billing and training the series of administrative assistants. As of July 2019, he had been retained for three quarterly billing cycles at a projected cost of about $38,000.

When asked this week if any of the past administrative assistants had voiced concerns about Wiser and why there had been such rapid turnover in that position, Water Commission Chair Ruth Ann Hendrickson said she could not comment on personnel issues.

Lincoln’s water treatment plant must be fully staffed to maintain its licensure from the state Department of Environmental Protection, and “they’re paying careful attention to that” and requiring “regular, sometimes daily updates,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins told the Board of Selectmen at its meeting on December 9.

MassDEP spokesman Joe Ferson said earlier this month that the agency is “continuing to monitor the situation” and that the town “believes they can manage this situation and is working on a longer-term strategy to come into full compliance with regulatory requirements.” Part of this strategy is budgeting for a new position of utility laborer, which would be filled by someone who would learn on the job in a journeyman capacity and eventually qualify for promotion and licensure.

Extra pay for superintendent

The short staffing has meant many hours of extra work for Wiser, who has has been the only person on call to respond to mechanical problems at the treatment plant in recent weeks. A qualified operator must respond in person to equipment malfunction alarms, some of which are due to aging water filters that can’t be replaced until they arrive on a ship from Australia in late May at the earliest.

Although the superintendent is an exempt job category that’s not entitled to overtime pay, Wiser asked for a stipend to compensate her for the extra hours — a request that took the Water Commission by surprise at its January 7 meeting. “It would have been helpful if you had come to me ahead of time so I could give it some thought,” Hendrickson said.

At that meeting, the commission suggested Wiser take comp time, but the ongoing staff shortages make that impossible, she said. After some discussion, the commission on January 21 approved paying Wiser an additional $7,000 a month retroactive to December 2019 until the new staff members are familiar enough with the plant’s operations to take call after hours. The panel will revisit the matter at its March meeting.

Many Water Commission candidates

The Water Commission itself has undergone considerable turnover as well. Robert Antia and Heather Ring resigned from the three-member panel last year, with Ring citing lack of confidence with Wiser and a “hostile work environment [that] festers.” This required the town to make two emergency short-term appointments in October: Michelle Barnes and Selectman Jennifer Glass. Both terms expire this spring, and Hendrickson’s term is also up, meaning there would be a completely different board after the town election on March 30.

As of this week, six residents had taken out papers to gather the signatures needed to appear on the ballot. Hendrickson announced earlier this month that she would run for a two-year term, her last on the commission, and Steven Kanner has filed papers to run for the same seat. Jim Hutchinson, who is completing his service on the Finance Committee, and Housing Commission member Allen Vander Meulen, who ran for the Board of Selectman in 2017, are eyeing the one-year seat, and Barnes and Ephraim Flint have pulled papers for the three-year seat.

Letter to the editor: Town Moderator seeks reelection

To the editor:

Today I handed in my nomination papers for reelection to the position of Town Moderator. I feel honored to have served in that position for six years and look forward to serving for another term.

I have learned a great deal about running our Town Meeting, but I know that with each meeting, there is more to learn. I strive to ensure that our meetings are respectful at that same time that the issues are fully and robustly debated. The feedback from residents has been helpful and worthy of reflection and consideration.

As Moderator, I have also enjoyed working for six years with Lincoln eighth-graders in an effort to introduce them to direct democracy through the process of gathering signatures of registered voters and submitting a citizens’ petition to Town Meeting.

I ask for your support at the local election on Monday, March 30. And I look forward to seeing everyone at our annual Town Meeting on Saturday, March 28.

Sincerely,

Sarah Cannon Holden
Weston Road

Police log for the week of Jan. 17, 2020

January 17

Deerhaven Road (9:56 a.m.) — Officer observed a damaged van parked along the road near Old Cambridge Turnpike, but no one was around the vehicle.

Concord Road, Wayland (1:51 .m.) — Officers assisted Wayland police with a reported burglary in progress. Wayland police are investigating the incident.

January 18

North Great Road (1:54 p.m.) — Two-car crash on Rte. 2A at Bedford Rd. One person transported to a local hospital with a minor injury.

Cambridge Turnpike (3:40 p.m.) — Resident came to the station reporting receiving a call about owing the government money. Officers spoke to the resident and advised it was a scam call. No money was sent to anyone by the resident.

Mayflower Road, Hanscom Air Force Base (4:02 p.m.) — Hanscom security forces requested assistance in locating a missing child. Officers responded and found the child on the property hiding in a recycling bin.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (5:15 p.m.) — Business owner called regarding a past theft of approximately $1,000 of property. Officers investigated and summonsed two parties to court for larceny under $1,200. The property was recovered.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (5:19 p.m.) — Officers responded to a one-car crash near Bedford Road, no injuries. State police were on the scene.

Old Sudbury Road (10:19 p.m.) — Caller reported two people standing on Old Sudbury Road. Officers located the parties and assisted them with arranging to get back home to Wayland.

January 19

Bypass Road (12:23 p.m.) — Report of a suspicious car in the driveway. Officers spoke to the parties and they were sent on their way.

Wells Road (1:13 p.m.) — Caller requested assistance with a civil matter involving another party. Officers assisted and informed the resident of their legal options.

January 20

Wells Road (11:41 a.m.) — A resident of Watertown requested a wellbeing check on a Lincoln resident. Officers checked and all is fine.

Concord Road (6:30 p.m.) — Officers stopped a person who was found to have an arrest warrant out of Clinton District Court. Aricelma DeOliveira, 42, of 657 Main St. in Clinton was arrested and later bailed to appear in Clinton District Court.

January 21

Short Hill Road (3:12 p.m.) — Caller reported being locked out of her house. Fire Department assisted the party in gaining access.

January 22

Sandy Pond Road (6:33 a.m.) — Caller reported a truck idling on Sandy Pond Road. It was gone on police arrival.

Wells Road (6:46 p.m.) — Caller reported hearing a loud noise. Officers checked and found it was a mechanical issue; maintenance was contacted and will handle.

Minebrook Road (9:13 p.m.) — Caller reported hearing gunshots. Officers checked the area and all was quiet.

January 23

Bedford Road (2:28 a.m.) — Officer observed a vehicle parked in the driveway with its car door open. Officer secured the door; appears to be neglect.

Tower Road (10:44 a.m.) — MBTA reported an employee was on the tracks with a deer that had been struck by a train. MBTA work crew to handle.

Oakwood St., Dorchester (2:59 p.m.) — Investigators arrested Robert Barr, 50, of 30 Oakwood St., in Dorchester on a warrant stemming from a breaking and entering case from 2019.

DeCordova Museum (1:57 p.m.) — Caller reported a car on fire in the parking lot of the deCordova Museum. Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire.

Concord Road (9:18 p.m.) — Caller reported an outside odor of natural gas. Fire Department responded and investigated and found nothing.

Lincoln Road (10:26 p.m.) — Caller requested information on a relative who was last seen at the Real restaurant a few days ago. Officers found that his relative was in custody in the Norfolk House of Corrections.

Lincoln hospice house wins several awards

The Care Dimensions Hospice house in Lincoln.

The Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln has won four awards for excellence in architecture, interior design, and construction.

The 18-bed facility, which opened in April 2018, is located on Winter Street at the Waltham town line. The 27,600-square-foot inpatient hospice house offers hospital-level care for hospice patients requiring 24/7 medical care for acute pain and symptom management. An interdisciplinary team provided medical, emotional, and spiritual care to 460 patients and their families in the hospice house’s first year of operation.

At its 2019 Designer Awards, the International Furnishings & Design Association’s New England chapter honored Beverly-based SV Design in the Commercial Healthcare category for its work on the interior design of the hospice house. SV Design’s visions was a relaxed residence that could accommodate a range of needs, with a focus on the emotional and practical needs of its patients and their families, that echoed the natural surroundings that are integral to the facility’s environmental mood and aesthetic.

In its 27th annual Excellence in Construction Awards, the Massachusetts chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) recognized Windover Construction of Beverly, Mass., with its Merit Award, which recognizes overall excellence in project execution, craftsmanship, safety, innovative elements and challenges, and client satisfaction

In its 2019 Design for Aging Review, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) cited EGA, a Newburyport-based architectural design and planning firm, for successfully achieving a balance between a home-like environment and the highest quality of clinical elements in the facility’s design.

The hospice house solarium.

A patient’s room with an exit to a patio overlooking the Cambridge reservoir.

In its sixth annual Senior Housing News (SHN) Architecture & Design Awards, SHN, an Aging Media Network Publication, awarded second place to the Care Dimensions Hospice House in its 2019 Hospice category. More than 100 residential senior communities across the country and globe submitted new construction and renovation projects for commendation, vying for top honors across SHN’s nine individual award categories.

Winter at the farm (Lincoln Through the Lens)

The white barns of Codman Community Farms match their snowy surroundings earlier this winter. See this CCF blog post for a description of what goes on during the quieter winter months.

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.