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School administration exploring possible half-day kindergarten; tuition for full-day program
Unsure of future state funding for the Lincoln schools' full-day kindergarten program, the school administration is exploring its options as it prepares a zero growth budget for its meeting with the finance committee on Thursday night (12/12). 

One option under consideration by the school committee would call for reducing the current kindergarten program to a "true" half-day program, as mandated by the state.  That program would run roughly 2.75 hours, ending at 11 am.  Parents who would want to take part, could enroll students in a full-day kindergarten program, offered at an annual tuition of $3,500.  The schools just began offering a full day kindergarten program, without tuition, this year.

Click on the images below to review the three "zero growth" budget options presented by the school superintendent Mickey Brandmeyer to the school committee last week (12/5):

          

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Arbitration hearing on Paul Harvey matter set for January 8th
The town is now facing two legal battles early next year over the forced retirement of former DPW worker Paul Harvey, and the legal fees are sure to climb.  The first battle will be an arbitration hearing scheduled for January 8th.  This meeting, held before a mediator, is between the union representing the DPW workers and the town.  The issue at that meeting will be whether union rules were violated when Harvey was let go last July and, if so, what remedies should be applied. 

The second legal skirmish, as reported in last month's Independent, is the MCAD hearing on the discrimination complaint filed by Harvey.  In that complaint, Harvey alleged that he was let go because of his age.  That hearing is scheduled for January 15th.

CLICK HERE to read the MCAD complaint.


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Town notifies state it wants to buy 42 Sunnyside for moderate income housing;
Neighbors express strong opposition
In dueling letters to the state agency responsible for selling surplus property, it appears that the town and neighbors of that North Lincoln property are diametrically opposed to the acquisition and use of that property.

 

town's letter			neighbors' letter

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Selectmen appoint CPA Committee
The nine members of the newly-formed CPA Committee, appointed at their 12/9 meeting, include six representatives of town committees: Tim Bornstein (housing), Peter Conrad (conservation), Susan Collins (recreation), John Robinson (finance), Colin Smith (historic district) and Ken Hurd (planning board).  The three residents appointed include Sarah Cannon Holden, John Petty and John Koenig.

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Capital Planning Committee OKs modest $500K in spending for next year
Top items include two new police cruisers and a lot of software.

Click on the images below to review the capital budget and explanation

              

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Update
Millbrook Farms fines up to $2,300
It might not be worthwhile for Millbrook Farms to remain open if the town's building inspector has his way.  In his letter to the retail store on Rt. 117, building inspector and zoning enforcement officer Earl Midgley cited violations in its terms of operations, leading to the imposition of fines.

Click on the images below to review the letter and the actual fine notice.

          

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in previous news:
Selectmen make appointments to Conservation Commission
Candidates for one vacant seat on this board included James DeNormandie, Michael George, Sara Silverstein and G. Stewart Young. Current ConsCom member David Katsuki had also requested that he be reappointed to a new three-year term. The selectmen voted to appoint Sara Silverstein to the vacant seat and to reappoint David Katsuki.

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Warbler Springs residents hire lawyer
Residents of the Warbler Springs area off of Rt. 117 have hired a lawyer to represent them in expressing their concerns about hazardous traffic conditions in their neighborhood.

Click on the images below to read their lawyer's letter to the selectmen

         

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Developer kvetches about consulting bill
Despite making untold thousands developing extremely large houses on properties throughout town, developer Ken Eisner complained about the need to spend $1,234 for required consulting engineering services related to his application for a curb cut for 79 Winter Street. In reimbursing the town for those services, he accused the selectmen of having "abdicated their responsibility."

Click on the image below to read Eisner's letter to the selectmen
 

    

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FinCom outlines '04 budget process
The Lincoln Finance Committee has presented the second part in its commentary outlining its budget process for the upcoming year. 

CLICK HERE to read part 3

CLICK HERE to read part 2

CLICK HERE to read Part 1

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Former Lincoln resident wins prestigious National Book Award for fiction
Julia Glass, the daughter of Kerry and John Glass of Baker Bridge Road, was awarded the National Book Award for her first novel. Julia moved to Lincoln with her family when she was in the fourth grade and attended the Lincoln Public Schools for 5th - 8th grades.

Click Here to read the New York Times article (11/21)

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Wayland loses cell tower suit
Click Here to read the Metro Daily News article.
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Hanscom AFB prepares to privatize base housing
Click Here to read the article from The Hansconian, the base's daily newspaper.
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Selectmen make appointments to ZBA
There were a total of four positions available on the Zoning Board of Appeals, two full members and two associate members.  At their Thursday night (11/14) meeting, the selectmen promoted ZBA associate member Gus Browne to a full seat on the board and reappointed Pam Green to the other full member's seat.  The selectmen also reappointed John Ottenberg to the other associate member's seat and appointed Lincoln political newcomer Anna Hardman to the other vacant associate member's seat.

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K-8 Task Force issues its report
The long awaited report prepared by the group appointed at the beginning of the year to study the operations of Lincoln's public schools has been released.

Click Here to read the report summary

Click Here to read the whole report