2014-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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TOWN CAF LEXINGTON Town Manager continued from previous page Special Town Meetings also appropriated additional funds tions that boost an area's economic desirability while also to build out and renovate the new Community Center. Ini- reducing congestion and carbon emissions. Over the last tial occupancy of the new Community Center is planned year The Rev's monthly ridership has increased from approxi- for March 2015. mately 200 rides to 1000 rides, and commercial brokers have reported an increase in the number of businesses considering Economic Development the Hartwell area due in part to the shuttle's existence. The Economic Development Office encourages smart Finally, tangible results from last year's Tax Increment Fi- growth and fosters the prosperity of businesses in the nancing Agreement with UniQure, a bio -tech company Town's commercial areas. Through the development of relocating from the Netherlands, can be seen at 113 Hart - policies, programs, and new initiatives the Economic De- well Avenue. At the end of June, UniQure completed a $40 velopment Office carries out the economic goals as out- million renovation project creating a 55,000SF state- of -the- lined by the Board of Selectmen: 1) enhance the vitality of art manufacturing facility. UniQure is a welcome addition to Lexington Center, 2) support business development, and Lexington's growing cluster of bio pharmaceutical businesses 3) increase commercial investment in the Hartwell Avenue that now total 28 companies and 2,820 employees. business district. Over the past year the efforts to enhance the Center's Human Resources vitality has focused on the creation of new public space projects and the development of a parking management plan. For example, the Economic Development Director worked with the Department of Public Works to reinstall the state's first "parklet" and integrate this unique feature into the Center's regular streetscape. The parklet converted two vehicle parking spaces into outdoor seating and bicycle parking for over 20 bikes; it has created fresh interest in the Center, added new bicycle accommodations, as well as contributed to an increase in business activity. In addition, the Economic Development Director completed a nine- month long community process to develop the Lexington Center Parking Management and Implementation Plan that was approved by the Board of Selectmen in June 2014. Moving forward, the Economic Development Office will start to implement the recommendations from this plan with the goal of increasing parking availability and making it easier for all users to pay for parking. The Economic Development Director also continued to coordinate a strong collation of the property owners along Hartwell Avenue and promote Lexington as a key player in the life sciences industry. In the Hartwell Avenue busi- ness district, property owners have come together to create an informal group dedicated to collectively addressing is- sues and encouraging new investment in the district. This effort has resulted in three exciting projects for the area- l) the second -year operation of "The Rev" (a commuter shuttle that connects the Hartwell business district to the Red Line at Alewife); 2) the installation of a new multi -use sidewalk along Hartwell Avenue connecting the bikeway to Bedford Street; and 3) the landscape design for a newly groomed gateway intersection at Bedford Street and Hart- well Avenue that will be planted in the spring of 2015. The Rev shuttle has served as a model of how a public - private partnership can provide alternative transportation solu- The Human Resources Department spent a significant amount of time in fiscal year 2014 bargaining with the Town's unions. The Town was able to reach settlements with the following unions for fiscal year 2013 through 2015: IAFF Local 1491, Lexington Fire Fighters (FY13); AFSCME Local 1703, Building Maintenance Custodians; AFSCME Local 1703, Public Safety Dispatchers; AFSC- ME Local 1703, Public Works; the Lexington Municipal Employees Association; the Lexington Municipal Manag- ers Association; and School Crossing Guards, SEIU Local 888. The Town is currently at the Joint Labor Management Commission arbitration Process with the Lexington Police Association. Other accomplishments of the Human Resources Depart- ment in fiscal year 2014 include: • Completed a classification and compensation study for the middle managers and senior managers consisting of 50 positions. • Continued management of the Town's Health Reim- bursement Account (HRA) program to 1,400 active and non - Medicare retirees. • Coordinated the Towns health insurance annual open en- rollment and processed 74 changes to active and retired employees' health, dental, and life insurance coverage. • Completed recruitments for 44 position vacancies throughout the organization. • Worked with the Fire Department to administer an as- sessment center promotional process for the positions of Fire Lieutenant and Fire Captain. • Coordinated two organizational -wide training pro- grams for staff. • Drafted and implemented organizational -wide admin- istrative directives.