Lincoln selectmen advance fingerprint bylaw for town license applicants

LINCOLN — February 11, 2013 — Lincoln selectmen advance fingerprint bylaw and defer warrant signing one week. The Board of Selectmen on Feb. 11 endorsed bringing a proposed fingerprint-based background check bylaw to the March 23 annual Town Meeting, covering six license categories from hawkers and peddlers to alcoholic beverage managers. Lt. Kennedy told the board the town has issued 39 solicitation permits since 2007, averaging eight a year, and that current Massachusetts checks cannot capture out-of-state criminal history. "We are in a sense giving our blessing to them to go out into the residence," Kennedy said. The board scheduled special meetings for 8 a.m. Feb. 14 to finalize ballot questions — including a likely $860,000 debt exclusion for library fire suppression — and 8 a.m. Feb. 19 to sign the warrant. The board also appointed Virginia Quinn Rundell and Ann Crosby to the Pierce House Committee and authorized Chair Noah Eckhouse to sign a letter to the MSBA supporting continued state engagement on a redesigned school project.