2014-03-31-CEC-ATM-STM-rpt (Final- incorporates Updates and Errata 03-31-14)

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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2014 ATM & 2014 STM (Mar 24th) Muzzey Senior Center, 1475 Massachusetts Avenue (a unit within the Muzzey High Condominium building). When that Center's operations move to the new Community Center, a decision is expected to be made about what, if any, future use the Town has for that Town -owned property. As there is currently no commitment to retaining the property, it is not being shown in this Committee's Five -Year Capital Plan. The BoS, School Committee, Community Preservation Committee, and Permanent Building Committee will continue to evaluate, refine, prioritize, and schedule these projects for the next several years and propose realistic cost proposals in the 5 -year projections. The Town -wide Facility Master Plan, still a work in progress, will contribute to that process. The Community Preservation Act (CPA) On March 6, 2006, Lexington voters approved adopting the CPA for our Town at the level of a 3% surcharge on property taxes. The proceeds under the CPA may be used for various capital projects within the categories of Community Housing, Historic Resources, Open Space, and Recreational Use. There are limitations in the Act regarding which projects within those categories can be funded under the Act. Projects are put forth to Town Meeting for action by a Community Preservation Committee (CPC) whose membership, in our Town, is prescribed in the Code of Lexington as follows: § 29-23A. There is hereby established a Community Preservation Committee pursuant to Section 5 of Chapter 44B of the General Laws (the "Act") consisting of nine members. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint three members of the Community Preservation Committee and the following bodies shall each select one of its members for membership on the Community Preservation Committee: the Conservation Commission, the Planning Board, the Recreation Committee, the Historical Commission, the Housing Authority and the Housing Partnership. Town Meeting can only approve, reduce the funding, or disapprove a project and it cannot change the purpose. Town Counsel has provided an opinion that Town Meeting can change the funding mechanism (cash or debt). As with any capital project, this Committee will give our recommendation on each of the projects put before the Town Meeting. (See Article 8) The CPA provides an alternative funding mechanism for capital projects. The CPA creates a separate pool of money that can be used for a limited set of projects and cannot be prioritized against the Town's traditional capital needs. According to the CPC's "CPF Account Balances" & "FY15 CPA Project Recommendations and Summary", as of November 4, 2013: