Lincoln Selectmen open March 27 warrant amid three major capital decisions

LINCOLN -- January 4, 2010, Lincoln Selectmen weigh stacked capital asks as McDowell land deadline approaches. The Board of Selectmen heard back-to-back presentations Jan. 4 from Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School Superintendent Edward Bouquillon and Lincoln Superintendent Michael Brandmeyer on parallel MSBA feasibility studies, Lincoln's projected at $450,000 to $600,000 with 40 percent state reimbursement, and Minuteman's at $1.1 million, of which Lincoln's 16-town share over five years is $8,260. The board then worked through financing for the 21-acre McDowell parcel on Old Sudbury Road, appraised at $2.98 million, with identified funding from the Community Preservation Committee ($400,000), Mass Audubon APR sales ($570,000), an on-site APR ($210,000), the Codman Trust ($25,000) and a joint Rural Land Foundation/Mass Audubon pledge ($250,000), leaving a gap of $500,000 to $600,000 even with a possible $1 million town debt exclusion. Selectman Sarah Mattis pushed Rural Land Foundation organizers to move a major neighborhood fundraising meeting earlier than Jan. 28, telling the board "we can't be over a barrel" with a Feb. 27 statutory deadline. Selectmen unanimously opened the March 27 town meeting warrant and signed the warrant for the Jan. 19 special U.S. Senate election.