Town Meeting concludes; ConsCom backs off Mt. Misery dog rules
For the first time in recent memory, Town Meeting began and finished its business in one long day. In the day's most significant event, Conservation Commission chairman, Mary Lincoln, announced that the commission was going to delay its new dog-walking regulations until after it holds another public hearing on April 27.

Click Here to read Chairman Mary Lincoln's statement to Town Meeting

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In previous news:
Fitts house sells again
The auction of the Fitts residence at 40 Weston Road took place at 11 am Wednesday (3/30) and the results were similar to the last auction. Property co-owner Philip DeNormandie was once again the top bidder with a bid of $1.25 million.  This is $250,000 lower than his previous bid last August.  DeNormandie stated that his plans are to renovate the house and probably resell it.

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Override passes by comfortable margin
With rainy weather all day long and no contested races on the ballot, the turnout was a little light for today's election. In the only contested matter, the override passed by a margin of 60% to 40%.

Override vote:
449 - yes
299 - no

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School Committee reviews superintendent
The Lincoln School Committee has issued its annual performance evaluation of Superintendent Mickey Brandmeyer.  The report concludes with some self-evaluation: "The School Committee needs to seriously consider whether the collective set of expectations [it has set for Superintendent Brandmeyer] has been set too high.  The School Committee also needs to seriously consider whether it can identify current activities, initiatives, priorities that can be de-emphasized or dropped in order to make room.  This collective reassessment should be done by the School Committee and Mickey in advance of setting the goals for next year..."

Click Here to read the report.

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Pentagon eyes changes at Hanscom
One of several ideas the Pentagon is considering for Hanscom Air Force Base is to turn it over to a private developer, then rent space on the sprawling site in Bedford, allowing the military to continue working on its cutting-edge technologies, according to top armed forces consultants and officials familiar with Pentagon deliberations on base closings.
 
Click Here to read the 3/23 Boston Globe article

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Mt. Misery Update
Mt. Misery dog-walkers protest
Residents of Lincoln and other visitors to Mt. Misery are fighting attempts to impose leash-law requirements on the 230-acre parcel between Rt. 126 and Rt. 117.  A website, www.mtmisery.org  has been created to facilitate communication among the dog-walking population.

Conservation commission plans for enforcement
Conservation Commission members met on 3/23, a week after they held a public meeting to announce the new Mt. Misery dog-walking regulations, to plot the commission's approach to enforcement.  Two-person teams, comprised of Conservation Commission members and staff, will set up at the Rt. 117 parking lot and on Old Concord Road, near Lindentree Farm, in three-hour shifts beginning next week. They will hand out flyers and inform the public about the new regulations. New signs will be created announcing the new policies and placed at those entrances.  They will also have doggie bags available so that walkers can pick up and remove their dog's poops.

Pierce Park to become new dog-walking park?
Following up on the suggestion Selectman Sara Mattes made to dog-walkers at the Conservation Commission meeting on 3/16, those patrolling the Mt. Misery area are considering directing dog-walkers to Pierce Park.  Mattes recommended the center of town park as an ideal place for dog-walkers and their pets to congregate.