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

Commuter rail service cuts expected for Lincoln and other stops

In sharp contrast to the pre-pandemic era, when Lincoln commuters had to hustle to get a parking spot in the town lot each weekday morning, the lot was completely empty last Thursday except for a lone tractor. (Photo by Alice Waugh)

Lincoln and other towns with commuter rail stops will probably see an end to all weekend train service as well as the closure of some stations as the MBTA struggles to cope with a massive ridership dropoff due to the Covid-29 pandemic.

The proposed commuter rail service cuts released by the MBTA last week include:

  • No evening service after 9 p.m.
  • No weekend service (except for the Fairmount Line, which will be bused).
  • Decreased weekday peak service and some midday service, reducing from 505 trains (fall 2019) to 430 trains.
  • Eliminating the Silver Hill and Hastings stops in Weston plus four more of the 141 stations.

The MBTA is also proposing ending all ferry service and reducing bus and subway service.

No fare changes are included in the proposals and the service adjustments are not permanent, leaving open the possibility of some services being restored after the pandemic eases.

See the MBTA’s Forging Ahead website for details on the proposed cuts, a link to an online feedback form, and the schedule for meetings to gather public comment before the December 4 deadline. Residents may also email comments directly to publicengagement@mbta.com. The agency’s Fiscal and Management Control Board will vote on proposals on December 7.

MBTA ridership overall in October was only 26% of the volume for the same period in 2019. The commuter rail is experiencing approximately 13% of its pre-Covid-19 ridership and only about 8.5% of its normal ridership during morning peak periods.

Police outline benefits and FAQs on body-worn cameras

Following is a statement and FAQ about body-worn and cruiser cameras submitted to the public by the Lincoln Police Department, which is requesting funds for this equipment in next year’s budget.

The topic of body-worn cameras was raised during one of three Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism forums. Information stemming from all three forums will be the topic of the second State of the Town meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Click here for details on the three SOTT meetings this week.

As part of the Lincoln Police Department’s FY22 capital budget submission, the Department is requesting $61,400 for the purchase of 16 body-worn cameras for officers and five dash/prisoner cameras for police cruisers. The chosen vendor is GETAC.

In light of recent events across the country, there have been debates on a national, state and local level on police reform. Aside from changing police policy and procedure, many advocates are demanding all police officers wear body-worn cameras to accurately document police-citizen interactions, particularly in use of force situations. Furthermore, the use of such cameras are considered best practices as outlined in President Obama’s Task Force of 21st Century Policing which the department has embraced since 2015.

The perceived benefits of the cameras are that they:

  • increase transparency, legitimacy, and community trust
  • increase internal accountability
  • improve officer behavior
  • improve citizen behavior
  • expedite resolutions of complaints and lawsuits
  • document circumstances of how and when force is used
  • create opportunities for training
What is a body worn camera (BWC)?

It’s a camera worn on the exterior of the police officer’s body which is clearly visible on their chest, which captures and records audio and video of the police/citizen encounter.

Why are officers wearing cameras?

BWCs serve as a tool to document a police officer’s interaction with citizens. They are also valuable in maintaining community trust, transparency, and accountability. Given the great relationship we share with our community, the department continues to be proactive in strengthening our connection with its citizens.

When will police officers be recording with their body cameras?

Police officers will activate their BWC and cruiser cameras whenever they respond to calls for service or have citizen contacts where they anticipate taking law enforcement action.

What about my privacy during police encounters?

The Lincoln Police Department is aware of the legitimate privacy concerns associated with BWC. Our officers will record, per policy, when investigating criminal activity or a violation of law. Prior to the release of any recording, the department will ensure compliance with department policy, Rule 14 of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure, and/or the Massachusetts Public Records Law, which may allow the redaction of certain elements of the recording including innocent parties and nonrelated identifiers such as registration numbers, addresses, etc. Our priority is to protect the right of privacy and ensure the safety of nonrelated parties.

Are there situations where officers cannot use their BWC?

Typically, officers will not record in places where there is an expectation of privacy, such as restrooms, locker rooms, and medical care facilities — unless there is reasonable suspicion a crime is being committed or the recording of the location is material to an investigation.

Before entering a private residence, without exigent circumstances, officers must obtain occupant consent before recording inside the residence. If the occupant declines to give consent, and absent exigent circumstances, the BWC shall be turned off while inside the residence. However, when responding to an exigent circumstance inside a private residence, the BWC will be activated throughout the exigency. Once the exigency is over, and when practical, officers must obtain consent from the occupant(s) in order to continue to record. Any request to turn the BWC off and the officer’s response shall be recorded.

Can I ask the officer to turn off the BWC?

Yes. After receiving notice of being recorded, the citizen may ask the officer to turn off the recording. However, the request to turn off the recording and the officer’s response will be recorded for documentation purposes.

Are officers required to tell citizens that they are being recorded?

Under Massachusetts law, officers are required to give notice to citizens that they are being audio recorded. Officers are not required to inform citizens that they are being video recorded while in a public place. However, per policy, officers are required to provide citizens with notice that they are being both audio and video recorded.

Can the officer tamper with the audio and video recording?

No — the GETAC system is specifically designed to prevent the user from altering or deleting any recordings.

How are the videos stored?

All videos are stored in secure cloud servers in compliance with the FBI Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) standards.

What is the process for obtaining a copy of a video recording?

The release of any recording must be approved in advance by the chief of police or department designee. Recordings shall be released in accordance with department policy, Rule 14 of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure, and/or the Massachusetts Public Records Law. The chief of police may authorize the release of any recording deemed to be in the best interest of the community and public safety.

What happens to a video once it is recorded?

At the end of each shift, officers will upload the data to a cloud-based service to store the files. Depending on the type of video captured, data will be saved in accordance with department policy, Rule 14 of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Massachusetts Public Records Retention and Disposition Schedule.

Why is it necessary for in-cruiser camera system when officers have BWC’s?

The in-cruiser camera system will have two cameras, one facing forward (dash camera) documenting the perspective of the officer’s view. The dash camera is able to capture a wider perspective when officers respond to calls for service, conduct traffic stops, and have interactions which occur in front of the police cruiser. The second camera will be in the rear passenger compartment (prisoner camera) where a prisoner is seated while inside the cruiser.

Who can I speak with should I have questions?

You can contact Chief Kevin Kennedy at 781-259-8113 or kkennedy@lincolntown.org.

Both sides in Real dispute plan to keep on cooking

The Real restaurant expects to reopen even as two of its former owner/managers have filed suit against the remaining owner.

Residents learned last week that Tom Fosnot and Ruth-Anne Adams had left the restaurant they co-founded with Linsday Parker in 2019. On November 6, Fosnot and Adams sent a group email to previous customers revealing that Parker had sued the pair.

“It has become increasingly hard for Tom and I over the past few months. The only thing that was not working in the restaurant was our partnership with Lindsey. After she filed a lawsuit against us, we decided it was time to choose happiness for our family. So Tom and I are now cooking somewhere else. We remain in a partnership with Lindsey, but what will resolve with the restaurant we are not sure,” the email said.

“Of course, we loved being in Lincoln and it was a heartbreaking decision for Tom and I. Meeting all the kind people who supported us over this past year and half, who gave us an opportunity to do what we loved, was a dream come true. We will continue to cook from our hearts, inspired by the land around us. We will not be cooking in Lincoln, but we have found another kitchen to create inspired dishes. We will be delivering weekly to your doorstep. Our menu will grow as we get more comfortable in our venture,” Fosnot and Adams added in their email.

“It is unfortunate that my partners chose to make a private dispute public. I will not comment on that further,” Parker wrote in an email to the Lincoln Squirrel on November 10. “More importantly, I can confirm that Real is sticking around. I have already had a number of exciting conversations with some chefs, and while Covid presently remains a factor for the community and the hospitality business, it is fun to think about what might be next.”

Adams and Fosnot also would not comment on the lawsuit but offered some details on their plans in a November 11 email to the Squirrel:

“We are very excited about this new venture. We will be offering from-scratch delivery options three days a week. The food will have a mix of simple fare as well as more complex dishes, but all will feature high-quality ingredients, as well as local when possible. We hope to have some fun with the menus. We are offering Thanksgiving for delivery and we will be offering holiday menus in December. Our website will be up soon, but right now we are sending emails with our offerings. If people want to be on the email list they can email us at tomandraa@gmail.com.”

Water Dept. superintendent leaving as town considers future plans for water supply

Water Department Superintendent MaryBeth Wiser has resigned as of Jan. 1, 2021. The change will mean another recruiting push for the embattled department, which has seen budget and personnel turmoil resulting in substantial capital spending and water rate increases.

Wiser said she was retiring in her letter of resignation she sent in September to the Water Commission, which voted to accept it at its November 3 meeting. Wiser did not return a call and email requesting comment.

“From my perspective, [the resignation] was her choice. We double-checked with and gave it due process and an appropriate amount of time to make sure it was not just a fleeting dissatisfaction,” Water Commission Chair Jim Hutchinson said this week.

Almost from the start of her tenure in March 2018, there was conflict between Wiser and the other department employees. Several of them alleged she was unqualified and abusive and complained to town officials about her, according to minutes of the commission’s August 8, 2018 meeting and interviews with the Lincoln Squirrel in October 2019.

But commission member Ruth Ann Hendrickson lauded her accomplishments during a difficult period for the department. “MaryBeth worked her heart out while she was here in Lincoln. She was focused on bringing the department up to the latest standards,” she said. “Everything she did was about improving the quality of the water and the management structures of the department. She worked incredible hours and was on call 24/7 for months. She never let us down and did her best to keep everything running. For that, the commissioners will always be grateful.”

Since Wiser’s arrival, the Water Department has spent millions on capital projects to replace aging equipment as well as for outside consultants to cope with staff vacancies after several resignations amid an ongoing statewide shortage of qualified operators. As a result, the town has approved loans totaling almost $2 million, and the department’s operating budget for the current fiscal year is 38% higher than last year’s. Customers also saw water rates hikes of 25% in 2019 and 28% in 2020.

At her most recent annual review in August, the Water Commission “commended Superintendent Wiser for her tremendous efforts and very long hours this past year” and said it “greatly values Ms. Wiser’s strong initiative, dependability, and loyalty” as well as her understanding of water science and state regulations pertaining to public water supplies. The commission identified budget management, personnel management, and communications as areas in which she needed improvement.

Hiring date for new superintendent unclear

If past history is any indication, it could take some time to fill the superintendent opening. The job posting offers a salary of $96,506 to $111,878, “but we don’t know yet what we’ll need to pay,” Hutchinson said. The town had to raise its salary offer to fill at least one of the earlier vacancies.

The future superintendent will also need additional qualifications to oversee new pretreatment coagulation equipment that’s about to be installed. That equipment will solve a problem stemming from the fact that Flint’s Pond has twice the level of organic matter as it did when the plant was designed in 2002. Meanwhile, the department plans to seek more capital spending in the next fiscal year to replace the aging Tower Road well.

“It behooves us to get a strong candidate to keep the department back on track as we’ve labored to do in the last year,” Hutchinson said. However, because of the job requirements and ongoing shortage of qualified candidates, it’s quite possible that Assistant Town Administrator Dan Pereira may have to step in after Wiser’s departure as acting superintendent for the administrative side of the job.

What’s down the road?

Thanks to the recent and upcoming expenditures, the water treatment plant will soon be almost like new — but the commission and new superintendent will still have to grapple with the future direction of Lincoln’s public water supply. Consultants Tata and Howard are expected to deliver a preliminary report next month outlining three options: continue to upgrade and modernize the existing plant, build a new plant with a more modern design that’s less costly to operate, or join the MWRA and get its water from the Quabbin Reservoir.

The current plant was “one of the first of its kind… it’s old technology,” Hendrickson said. “Every five or six years, these plants need to be overhauled, and even if we decided today to join the MWRA, it would take about five years, so it’s a good time to start this study.”

My Turn: Thanks to Town Clerk Valerie Fox

By Joan Kimball, Barbara Slayter, and Stephen Binder

We of the Lincoln Democratic and Republican Town Committees want to thank Town Clerk Valerie Fox for all her work to make the elections run smoothly this year. These two fall elections were particularly challenging with Covid-19.

Valerie and her staff put a great deal of thought into planning for voting by mail, the positioning of the drop box, and enabling us to vote safely, whether it be early, or by mail, or on the election days. We appreciate her notifications to all of us voters about timing and alternative ways to vote.

Kimball and Slayter are co-chairs of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee, Binder is writing on behalf of the Lincoln Republican Town Committee.

”My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Submit your stuff for the next Lincoln Chipmunk

The deadline for submitting poetry, fiction, first-person writing, photos, artwork, etc. to the Lincoln Chipmunk is Wednesday, Nov. 24. Share your creativity with your fellow Lincolnites and beyond.

chipmunk.lincolnsquirrel.com

The Lincoln Chipmunk, successor to the Lincoln Review, is part of the Lincoln Squirrel, our town’s #1 news source. Subscriptions to both are just $4.50 a month or $54.00 a year, but everyone can read three articles per month for free. Please get in touch with me if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing your work!

Alice Waugh
Editor, The Lincoln Squirrel and The Lincoln Chipmunk
lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com

617-710-5542 (mobile)

Police log for Oct. 30–November 4, 2020

Downed trees, branches, and/or wires were reported on Lincoln Road, South Great Road, Tower Field Lane, and Tower Road on October 20, on Lincoln Road on October 31, and on Tabor Hill Road, Lexington Road, and Lincoln Road on November 2.

Callers reported that fraudulent claims of unemployment were filed in their names on Short Hill Road (November 2), Bedford Road (November 3), and Tower Road (November 4),

October 30

Ballfield Road (8:40 a.m.) — Caller reported seeing someone stealing a political sign at the intersection of Ballfield Road and Lincoln Road. Police reported that at 11:07 a.m., they were able to identify the person responsible for stealing political signs. Officers spoke to the individual and later followed up with the owner of the signs.

October 31

Ballfield Road (2:29 p.m.) — Caller reported political signs were stolen from Lincoln Rd at Ballfield Road and Lincoln Road and Rte. 117.

Old Concord Road (4:21 p.m.) — Caller reported what looks like a water leak at a neighbor’s house who isn’t home. Officer responded and dispatch attempted to make contact with the owner.

Todd Pond Road (8:34 p.m.) — Caller reported the sound of a loud music. Officers responded and spoke to the homeowner, asking them to bring their kids inside.

Sandy Pond Road (10:22 p.m.) — Report of political signs knocked over.

November 1

Old Sudbury Road (9:40 a.m.) — Caller reported finding political signs on their property. Unknown who placed them there. Officer responded and retrieved the signs and returned them to the owner.

Old Concord Road (9:15 p.m.) — Caller reported that someone knocked on their door asking if someone dropped food off at their house.

November 2

Wells Road (1:03 a.m.) — Caller reported their child (age 12+) was missing. After an investigation, the juvenile was located and returned home.

Grasshopper Lane (7:27 a.m.) — Caller reported a telephone wire was hanging low and was concerned that a truck could hit it. Verizon notified.

Wells Road (11:45 a.m.) — A walk-in to the station reported finding a pink hat while walking on Wells Road.

Bedford Road (2:55 p.m.) — Caller requested an officer to come to the residence as he picks up some items.

Huckleberry Hill Road (4:36 p.m.) — Report of several political signs stolen.

Wells Road (5:47 p.m.) — Officer assisted a party back to their residence.

November 3

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (9:53 a.m.) – Caller reported dog running on Rte. 2. Dog located on Reiling Pond Road. Owner later called reported their dog missing. Animal control notified and handled.

November 4

Baker Bridge Road (8:56 p.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle pulled off to the side of the road. Driver is OK; was using phone.November 5

Trapelo Road (2:32 p.m.) — Caller reported being scammed over the internet by sending gift cards to an unknown person.

Lincoln Police Department (3:30 pm.) — A walk-in to the station reported losing a key to his car. The key hadn’t been turned into the station.

Town moves to highest level of water restrictions

Summertime limits on outdoor watering usually end on September 30, but due to the ongoing severe drought, the Water Commission instead tightened restrictions to Stage 4, its highest level.

The new restrictions took place on November 3. About a month earlier on October 9, state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides declared a “critical drought” situation in the Charles River watershed, which includes Lincoln.

Use of above-ground and in-ground sprinklers and soaker hoses is now prohibited, though handheld watering is permitted from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. Swimming pools and hot tubs may also not be topped off until further notice. Agricultural uses of water are exempted from the restrictions.

The rules apply to users of town water, though  owners of private wells are also urged to follow the same restrictions. Residents are also reminded of the heightened danger for fires.

Stage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 4
Hand-held wateringAllowed 6pm–9amAllowed 6pm–9amAllowed 6pm–9amAllowed 6pm–9am
Above-ground/
in-ground sprinklers		Allowed 7pm–7amAllowed 2 days a week, 6pm–9am by street address:

• Even house #s:
Tues & Sat

• Odd house #s
Wed & Sun		Allowed once a week, 6pm–9am by street address:

• Even house #s:
Sat only

• Odd house #s:
Sun only		Not allowed
Soaker hosesAllowed any timeAllowed twice a week, 6pm–9am on specified days (see row #2)Allowed once a week, 6pm–9am on specified day (see row #2)Not allowed
Drip irrigationAllowed any timeAllowed twice a week, 6pm–9am on specified days (see row #2)Allowed once a week, 6pm–9am on specified day (see row #2)Allowed once a week, 6pm–9am on specified day (see row #2)
New lawnsAllowed any timeJune & Sept. only: 20 days of daily watering, then 2 days a week, 7pm–7am on specified daysJune & Sept. only: once a week, 7pm–7am on specified dayNot allowed
Washing vehiclesAllowed any timeCommercial services onlyCommercial services onlyCommercial services only
Washing buildings, pavementAllowed any timeNot allowedNot allowedNot allowed
Swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, JacuzzisAllowed any timeOne fill per season for new or repaired equipmentTopping off only (3" per month)Topping off or refill not allowed
Car wash fundraisersAllowed any timeAllowed any timeNot allowedNot allowed
Games or toys with continuous waterAllowed any timeAllowed 30 mins/day twice a week on specified days (see row #12)Allowed 30 mins/day once a week on specified day (see row #12)Not allowed

State of the Town updates to span three evenings

Lincoln’s annual State of the Town meeting will be split into three online meetings from 7­–9 p.m. on three consecutive days next week. Topics and dates will be as follows. Click here to register for any or all of the sessions.

Tuesday, Nov. 17

Wednesday, Nov. 18

  • Diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism
    • Background and links to the videos and slide decks of the three Board of Selectmen’s roundtables

Thursday, Nov. 19

My Turn: Passing the torch at the Conservation Department

By Susan Hall Mygatt

After 21 years as the director of the Lincoln Conservation Department, Tom Gumbart will be leaving his position this December. Tom has guided the Lincoln Conservation Commission’s work to protect Lincoln’s wetlands and manage our conservation trails, forests, and farmland, with the important help of his land stewardship crew. Tom’s understanding and knowledge of the natural world and his hands on and technical skills combined to make him an invaluable resource to all Lincoln’s citizens. Tom has been an important leader in the conservation community, and his informed leadership has helped make our town’s land stewardship a model for other communities nationwide. He will be greatly missed.

The town is accepting applications for a new Conservation Department Director until Friday, Nov. 13. The job description is posted on the town website at www.lincolntown.org/jobs.

”My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.