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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2011 STM(NOVEMBER 14,2011) municipality and, if it—over time—accepted both schools (which we consider unlikely in less than a decade based on the MSBA's current evaluation of those schools' conditions being "generally good"), and if it were still providing about 32% reimbursement, the total cost to the Town would still be at least on the order of $54 million—and with the likely-by-then inflation, much more than that. So, with the emergency need to rebuild the Joseph Estabrook Elementary School, and replacement of the Maria Hastings Elementary School being the next higher priority,we don't find it reasonable to expect the Town would have an approved project for even the first of the Bridge and Bowman schools (including swing space) in less than 8 years and with MSBA funding assistance. Believing that, our reasonable expectation remains that the Town would face at least an $80 million cost for new Bridge & Bowman schools. This Committee believes the proposed project at about$22.7 million is the wise approach. – Then turning to the educational impact, the current state of both of those schools means those students do not have the benefit of what this Town considers the appropriate educational environment. While this Committee recognizes that new schools would correct that, we are fully prepared to accept the judgment of our School Superintendent, the Principals of these two schools, and the School Committee that the proposed project will do so, also. But most significant to this Committee, these proposed renovations to upgrade the Bridge and Bowman schools will be on line in just 2 years once construction has begun under the currently projected construction schedule—not some indeterminate period that may well be a decade and, even then, a period filled with numerous uncertainties, both known and unknown. Addressing now the creation of the appropriate educational environment for the students served by these two schools is the prudent approach. This Committee unanimously supports this proposed renovation project and believes it is the appropriate solution to the educational needs and proper use of our taxpayer's funds. Article 3: Funds Requested Funding Committee APPROPRIATE FOR Source Recommendation FIRE $180,000 General Fund Approve(5-0) COMMUNICATION (Cash) SYSTEM "To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money to upgrade the Fire Communication System...." "DESCRIPTION: The Fire Department has been experiencing recurring problems with its radio communications system in certain parts of the Town that have resulted in temporary losses of communications. A team composed of representatives from the Fire Department, Police Department, MIS, Dispatching and the Town's radio consultant are recommending the following upgrades to the radio system to stabilize the system and bring it to acceptable standards of reliability by making the following improvements: 1) the addition of two radio repeaters; 2) converting the repeater at the Dispatch Center to a transmitter; 3) installation of fiber optic communications lines to those portions of the system that are connected via leased copper phone lines; and 4) replace and upgrade two repeaters that are incompatible with the overall communications system. Some portion of the improvements may also include the Police radio system where fire and police share common radio sites." [Town of Lexington Warrant to the 2011 STM,November 14, 2011] The current Fire Department radio system has proven to be somewhat unreliable, thereby presenting a potential public-safety issue. This Article requests an FY2012 appropriation, using what is now understood to be excess tax-levy capacity, to provide a near-term upgrade to the radio system to enhance its reliability. (An additional appropriation is expected to be requested at the 2012 Annual Town Meeting for FY2013 D&E monies for an even-more-robust, redundant, radio system for all of the Town's needs, public safety and other—to be followed by a"construction"request in the FY2014 budget.) 2