After months of hearings and public debate about whether to restrict the use of leaf-blowers in Lincoln, a motion to approve new regulations was passed over at Town Meeting at the request of the Leaf Blower Study Committee, which decided in light of feedback that “this was not the time to propose regulations,” LBSC chair Jamie Banks told the audience.
[Read more…] about Leaf blower regulations tabled at Town Meeting
In yesterday’s Lincoln Squirrel article about the results of the Planning Board race, the results for Lincoln’s two voting precincts were incorrect, though the final tally (481 votes for Taylor and 441 votes for Domnitz) was accurate. The original story has been corrected. The correct results are below.
| Precinct 1 | Precinct 2 | Total | |
| Domnitz | 240 | 201 | 441 |
| Taylor | 345 | 136 | 481 |
(Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect a correction on April 1.)
Challenger Gary Taylor took over the Planning Board seat occupied by incumbent Robert Domnitz by a vote of 481-441 in Monday’s town election, according to unofficial results.
Lincoln’s voting precincts (click to enlarge)
In Precinct 1 in the southwestern section of town, Taylor won by a margin of 345-240. In Precinct 2, Domnitz won by a vote of 201-136—not enough to overcome the deficit in Precinct 1 and resulting in 40-vote margin overall for Taylor.
Write-in votes are still being counted for the election, but there were no write-ins for the Planning Board race.
In the race for Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee, incumbents Nancy Marshall of Lincoln and Gerald Quirk of Sudbury retained their seats by comfortable margins. Even among Sudbury voters, Marshall beat Quirk by nine votes:
| Lincoln | Sudbury | Total | |
| Marshall | 856 | 2,130 | 2,986 |
| Quirk | 502 | 2,121 | 2,623 |
| Stein | 78 | 795 | 873 |
By Alice Waugh
Two of the three warrant articles that sought changes to zoning regulations passed easily at Town Meeting, but the third—which would have imposed limits on residential outdoor lighting—went down to defeat in what proved to be the most contentious issue at the March 28 gathering.
Voters unanimously approved Article 37, a proposal to expand the list of the types of businesses permitted in the Lewis Street commercial district. Retails stores, banks, and rail or bus stations or terminals are now permitted uses in that zone. Article 38, an accompanying measure to relax the required amount of parking for businesses in that district was also easily approved.
Both changes are intended to attract a wider range of businesses to the area. Applicants still must apply for a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
“It’s not just wishful thinking on our part—we’ve received a number of inquiries” from potential applicants, said Planning Board vice chair Robert Domnitz.
Among them is Richard Card, who hopes to open Blazes, a combination bookstore, coffee shop and cocktail bar. Before Saturday’s action, a retail establishment such as this would not have been allowed in the Lewis Street district.
Card, who is negotiating with The Food Project to use part of their property at 10 Lewis St., hopes to open for business (minus cocktails) in December 2015. In a separate Town Meeting action, residents gave permission for him and the town to seek a liquor license from the state. If the legislature grants the license, it comes back to the Board of Selectmen for final approval next year.
Some residents at Town Meeting worried that allowing retail businesses in the Lewis Street district could open the door to franchises such as Dunkin Donuts. There is currently nothing in Lincoln’s zoning by-law that prohibits franchises. If one were to apply, “It’s left to the discretion of the ZBA,” said Joel Freedman, chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals chair. “You have to judge what’s in front of you.”
Resident Kati Winchell noted that some area towns have enacted “formula business bylaws” and suggested the Planning Board consider presenting something similar for vote at a future Town Meeting.
By far the most contentious zoning issue was a measure to place controls on any newly installed outdoor lighting. Article 39 would have required permanent outdoor lighting fixtures to be shielded so as not to direct light above the horizontal, and would have required new lights to have a color temperature of no more than 3,000 Kelvin and brightness limit of 900 lumens.
Temporary lights such as Christmas decorations would be exempt, as would be all existing light fixtures. New installations for which the property owner’s had gotten a town permit would be inspected, but “there’s no one driving around to check” on lighting that was installed without a permit, said Planning Board member Margaret Olson.
Resident Michael Coppock spoke against the measure, saying that 900 lumens (roughly equivalent to a 60-watt bulb) is inadequate for security lighting and that the rules may interfere with residents who wish to have lights shining upwards to illuminate the American flag on their property.
The new restrictions will not reduce the light pollution from nearby cities and highways, and it will take decades for it to produce a noticeable effect, Coppock added.
“This is yet another effort to insert government into personal decisions,” he said, “As government power expands, personal liberty contracts.”
Olson responded that those with flagpoles could follow the Girl Scouts’ example and simply lower their flags at dusk. “Philosophically, we all need to do what we can do to make the world a better place,” she added.
Resident Vincent Cannistraro agreed with Coppock, saying that “60 watts is not enough to do it in most cases” and that officials should not hinder a resident’s ability “to express patriotic loyalty and affection” by illuminating a flag at night.
Resident Adam Greenberg proposed that the meeting table the motion because it “has too many holes in it.” Another resident agreed, saying the specifics of the proposal were “arbitrary and ill-conceived.” In response, resident Sara Mattes urged passage of the rules. “Here is an opportunity to move forward with something that’s common sense. If it creates a problem, we can go back and tweak it later,” she said.
Town moderator Sarah Cannon Holden called for a voice vote on a motion to pass over the article, but the result was inconclusive. A standing vote was 137-130 in favor of voting on the article as written.
Before the final vote was taken, Conservation Commission member Richard Selden argued in favor of the new rules on the grounds that excessively bright outdoor lighting is harmful to wildlife. Certain types of outdoor lighting can interfere with migratory bird behavior and fertility, as well as the behavior of nocturnal predators and their prey.
To be approved, the article to amend the lighting regulations required a two-thirds majority, and a voice vote was again inconclusive. A second standing vote resulted in 161 votes in favor and 133 against, so the measure did not pass.
(Editor’s note: The salutation in this letter originally read “Dear Lincoln.”)
To the editor:
At Saturday’s Town Meeting, the citizens of Lincoln voted overwhelmingly to support both a school renovation project and the School Committee and Board of Selectmen’s joint submission of a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The success of these votes is due to the many, many hours of hard work and tireless public outreach by the members of the School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC).
Led by Doug Adams and Superintendent Becky McFall, and comprised of a diverse group of volunteers, the SBAC was so effective in its work because of the transparent process it fostered. The outreach, capably led by our consultants from Dore & Whittier, involved a wide spectrum of citizens. No matter their views of the project as presented in 2012, citizens believed that we as a town must come together to move forward and find a solution to the facility needs of the Lincoln School.
I would like to make special note of the leadership of Dr. McFall, who, as part of the SBAC’s outreach, articulated an educational vision that drew a clear connection between educational theory and the physical environment of the school.
Finally, Saturday’s outcome would not have happened without the input and support that the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and Capital Planning Committee offered the School Committee.
On behalf of the School Committee, I want to express our deep gratitude. The votes on Saturday were a victory for volunteerism, good process, and thoughtful collaboration.
There is much work left to do, and there are many decisions yet to be made. We look forward to your continued engagement as we embark on the next phase of the journey.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Glass
Chair, Lincoln School Committee
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.
In a March 27 Lincoln Squirrel article headlined “Town boards come together on revised school warrant article,” Eric Harris was misidentified. he is a member of the Finance Committee, not the School Committee.
Backyard chicken keeping expert Terry Golson will discuss the pros and cons of keeping hens with honesty and humor on Thursday, April 2 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Audubon Shop at Drumlin Farm. Golson is author of The Farmstead Egg Guide and Cookbook and the website HenCam.com. If you’re thinking about getting a flock of your own, Golson will help you sort out whether poultry is right for you. She’ll also talk about the good eggs that backyard hens produce and how special they are to cook with. Samples and copies of her book will be available. Free for Mass Audubon members, $5 for nonmembers.
Child care is available at the Parish House starting at 8:45 and 10:45 a.m.
An eight-week series programs for children and for families beginning on Monday, April 6 includes “Polliwogs and Frogs,” “Tails and Trails,” “Drumlin Detectives,” “Old McDrumlin’s Farm,” “Hand in Hand” and “Farm Family.” See the Drumlin program schedule at massaudubon.org/drumlinprograms for availability and how to register.
Come see Shrek the Musical at the Wheelock Family Theater on Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m. in an outing sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging. With wit and a mischievous humor, we follow our misanthropic green hero as he learns about the power of friendship and the magical nature of love, all while thwarting a dastardly villain.
Tickets are available for residents of all ages and are now only $8 per child and $18 per adult and must be purchased by Wednesday, April 1. Meet the Lincoln Mall parking lot at 2 p.m. to board the Doherty’s school bus and plan to return about 6 p.m. To reserve your place, send a check made out to “FLCOA Trips” to Sally Kindleberger, 14A North Commons, Lincoln MA 01773. Please write your email, home addresses and telephone number on the check. Questions? Call Sally at 781-259-1169.
The second annual “Celebrate Asia!” festival will be held at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School on Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The family-friendly event will celebrate the diverse cultures that enrich our school and town communities, and will serve as a fundraiser for the L-S Memorial School, our sister school in Battambang, Cambodia. There will be crafts and activities for kids, cultural performances by a variety of dance and music groups, martial arts exhibitions, henna tattoos, tai chi, yoga, Asian goods and gifts (for early Mothers’ Day shopping!), and some of your favorite Asian foods.
Admission is $10 per family, and tickets will be sold around town or at the door. All activities covered by the admission price, including a special puppet show at 1 p.m. For more information, contact Danielle Weisse at danielle_weisse@lsrhs.net.
Amy Herrera is the featured performer at the next Lincoln Open-Mic Acoustic night on Monday, April 13 from 7-10 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. This date will mark LOMA’s five-year anniversary, which will be the theme for the evening. Open mikers are encouraged to seek inspiration along this theme. Admission is free and refreshments are provided.
Herrera, whose contemporary folk music is known for its warm vocals, wide-ranging styles of songwriting, and supportive guitar work, will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30 p.m. She has three CDs to her credit, including the newly released Goodnight, Nobody. Her alluring sound is evident on a sample song, Stumble Into You.
LOMA is a monthly event. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com before noon of the open-mike day for a slot. Names of those who are signed up by 7:15 will be drawn at random. We have a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style.
At the next meeting of the new “Who Picked This Book?” Club at the Lincoln Public Library on Monday, April 6 at 7 p.m., participants will discuss Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. The group meets on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. and will reads fairly current fiction (maybe even nonfiction) that will be entertaining and well written. Copies in various formats will be available two weeks prior to each meeting. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Lisa Rothenberg at lrothenberg@minlib.net.
The Lincoln Library Film Society presents “Hand-Picked Films: Odd Jobs” on Tuesdays, April 7 and 14 from 7-8:30 p.m. These public screenings, accompanied by snacks and coffee, are open to movie-lovers of all ages. For more information, call 781-259-8465 or email Lincolnlibraryfilmsociety@gmail.com to sign up for the mailing list.
Diane Edgecomb
All Lincoln residents middle-school age and older are invited to a free performance on Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall of “One Thousand Doorways: Journey among the Kurds of Turkey,” the true account of storyteller Diane Edgecomb’s decade-long quest to document the vanishing folk tales of the Kurds of Turkey. This solo performance, based on true events, sheds light on the Kurds’ struggles and their ancient culture.
A chance meeting with a young Kurdish refugee set Edgecomb on a quest of danger and discovery to bring to the world the ancient legends of this oppressed culture. This is a deeply moving, richly entertaining story of her journey through the remote mountains of Turkey and of the extraordinary people who shared their lives and their stories. Share her experiences from her first humorous meetings with carpet dealers and chain-smoking elders to her travels up sheer mountain passes to remote villages usually forbidden to outsiders.
A featured performer at festivals and theaters throughout the country, Edgecomb is known for her ability to embody the various characters in her pieces. She has been hailed by Publisher’s Weekly as “a storyteller in the grand tradition, a virtuoso of the spoken word…an entire cast rolled into one.” Her storytelling was recently featured on NPR’s “Living on Earth” program.
This event is supported in part by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information, call the Lincoln Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.
ADDITION: The Lincoln Squirrel received this photo too late to include with the March 26 story on the Lincoln School eighth-graders’ warrant article. Left to right: Amalia Munn, Allie Dwyer, Colin Christian, Greer Harnden and Elena Christenfeld.
Due to the expected turnout for Town Meeting and the limited parking spaces available at the school complex, the town is asking residents to carpool. Also, the town is offering a shuttle service from the Lincoln commuter lot (non-resident paved lot) to the school complex from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The shuttle will run continuously throughout Town Meeting.
In the event that attendance at Town Meeting exceeds the capacity of the Brooks auditorium, overflow seating will be available in the Reed Gym, with audio feeds and other accommodations to allow full participation.
If necessary, Town Meeting will be paused on Saturday and resume on Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. in Brooks auditorium.
Lincoln’s third-grade Girl Scouts will be selling hot coffee, tea and a limited supply of homemade baked goods at Town Meeting from 9-11 a.m. Everything is $1. The sixth-grade Girl Scouts also will be selling boxed lunches for $10 apiece.
Don’t forget to vote in the town election on Monday, March 30 from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Smith gym (not starting at 7 a.m. as previously reported). Voters will be asked to approve spending for a school renovation feasibility study and a school campus master plan. Many town offices are also on the ballot, including contested races for Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee and Planning Board. See this Lincoln Squirrel article for a sample ballot and summary of letters to the editor about the contested races.
Lincoln’s eighth-grade Girl Scouts are offering babysitting in Hartwell Pod B from 12:45-5 p.m. These hours were chosen to coincide with discussion of the school building and community center issues in which many young families have expressed interest. The Girl Scouts are Red Cross trained in babysitting, and adults will also be on duty to help supervise. The children will be located in two rooms, one for the preschoolers and another for elementary school children. Advance registration is preferred; please email Linda Hammett Ory at LHamme@aol.com. Babysitting is offered at no charge, but donations are encouraged to help support the eighth-grade Cadettes’ service projects.
Here are links to Lincoln Squirrel news stories about some of the warrant articles.
A diagram of the choices facing Lincoln voters in Town Meeting warrant articles 30, 31 and 32 (click to enlarge).
By Alice Waugh
With a last-minute change to the wording of a Town Meeting motion, town officials are doubling down on their support for seeking state funding for a comprehensive school renovation project in the hope that a large majority of voters feel the same way.
[Read more…] about Town boards come together on revised school warrant article