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AC–2015ATM <br />PPROPRIATIONOMMITTEE <br />Lexington residents and businesses can opt out of the Community Electrical Aggregation program at any <br />time without penalty, choose their own competitive supplier, or return to Eversource Energy (formerly <br />NStar) Basic Service. They can also opt back in to the program at any time. In all cases, customers would <br />continue to receive one bill from Eversource Energy, and Eversource Energy would continue to provide <br />electricity delivery, emergency services, and customer support. <br />The Committee recommends approval of this request (8-0). <br />FundsFundingCommittee <br />Article 41: Amend General Bylaws – <br />RequestedSourceRecommendation <br />Contracts and Deeds <br />Refer To <br />NoneN/A <br />Committee(8-0) <br />Passage of this article would amend Section 32-4 of Chapter 34 (Contracts and Deeds) of the Code of the <br />Town of Lexington. There are two distinct changes being asked for. The first change reflects recent action <br />of the state legislature which increases the allowable term of the lease of public buildings to 30 years. The <br />second change clarifies the Bylaw in regards to the many contracts engaged in by the Town, which it has <br />the legal authority to enter into, but which should fall outside the narrow bounds of the current wording. <br />The Committee believes the Bylaw would benefit from a more comprehensive rewrite, and understands <br />that the Town has no urgent need to amend the Bylaw at this time. <br />The Committee recommends that this Article be referred to committee (8-0). <br />FundsFundingCommittee <br />Article 42: Commission on Disability <br />RequestedSourceRecommendation <br />Request <br />Approve (9-0) <br />NoneN/A <br />The Commission on Disability has proposed a non-binding resolution which, if passed, would serve as <br />guidance for the choice and use of materials in Town pathways (sidewalks, crosswalks and other paths of <br />travel). The request is that sidewalks be installed to create the smoothest surface possible, and that bricks <br />or other discrete pavers be used only as decorative edge treatments. <br />Cost was not a motivating factor for this request, but for reference we note that the cost of sidewalk re- <br />construction using all brick is $20/sq. ft., while using concrete the cost is $11.50/sq. ft., and using asphalt <br />the cost is $8/sq. ft. The site preparation costs are similar for all three materials. The useful life of the ma- <br />terials varies. For concrete it is approximately 30 years, asphalt is approximately 20-25 years and brick <br />typically requires maintenance sooner but also on a smaller scale than with concrete or asphalt. <br />The Committee recommends approval of this request (9-0). <br />FundsFundingCommittee <br />Article 44: Resolution on Fossil Fuel <br />RequestedSourceRecommendation <br />Divestment <br />Disapprove <br />NoneN/A <br />(2-5-1) <br />This non-binding resolution seeks divestment from coal, oil and natural gas companies for the Lexington <br />Trust Funds and the Massachusetts Pension Reserve Investment Trust Fund (PRIT). <br />The Committee is generally opposed to this request, but we understand that there is a larger debate to be <br />had, and that opinions vary on the suitability of divestment as a policy tool. Detailed majority and a mi- <br />40 <br /> <br />