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02/05/15 AC Minutes Some costs associated with the pump station will be covered by the annual wastewater article request for $1.2 million that addresses maintenance, but an additional $750,000 is needed for the recently identified noise issues. Funding for the latter will come from debt service in the Wastewater Enterprise Fund. Mr. Levine reported that some residents question whether the proper studies are being done to address the noise issue. • Fire Engine Purchase (STMArticle 6): Mr. Michelson reported that Article 6 requests $500,000 for a replacement fire pumper. In 2000, the Town purchased a fire pumper that was returned to the manufacturer because of mechanical failure. A settlement was reached, and the Town will be receiving $500,000, but, Mr. Addelson reported, these funds will not be available for use before the end of FY 2015. The Town wants to purchase a replacement vehicle before the end of the fiscal year to take advantage of the State's current group purchasing contract, which expires at the end of June 2015. A straw vote was taken, and there was unanimous support of this article. • Cary Memorial Building Sidewalk(STMArticle 6): Ms. McLeish reported that this article seeks funds for the installation of a cement sidewalk with brick borders around the Cary Memorial Building. The Board of Selectmen voted earlier in December to support this design, which is considered less expensive and more durable than an all-brick design, and is preferred by the Commission on Disability. The project is Community Preservation Act- eligible, but neither the Community Preservation Committee nor the Capital Expenditures Committee has voted on it because the Historic Districts Commission (HDC)has not yet taken a position on the design. The HDC, which will be addressing the project at an upcoming meeting later this month, may advocate an all-brick design; however, the Board of Selectmen questions whether the HDC has jurisdiction. Mr. Michelson expressed strong support for the cement sidewalk with a brick border. A straw vote was taken, and the results were 8-0-1 in favor of the currently proposed design. Mr. Radulescu-Banu abstained pending the receipt of further information about the relative merits of brick and cement sidewalks. • School Building Capital Projects: Dr. Ash provided an overview of issues related to current space shortages in the schools, increasing school enrollment, and the compounded pressure on school facilities. His comments included the following: ➢ An Enrollment Working Group (EWG) evaluated enrollment projections using the Cohort Survival Method, a standard method used by school systems nationwide, to determine its applicability to Lexington's experience. The findings included the following: • Projections of elementary level enrollment increases in Lexington using the Cohort Survival Method lacked accuracy over recent years. • A linear projection model shows elementary school enrollment increases considerably greater than the Cohort Survival Method as previously implemented by the School Administration. • The enrollment increases at the elementary level are coming from apartments and condominiums, not single family homes. 2