2011-ATM-ART7-CEC-rpt (informational handout)

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Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC)—Information Handout April 5, 2011 2011 Annual Town Meeting Article 7,DPW Compost Operations Revolving Fund Information on Capital-Related Projects As we routinely cite in our report to Town Meeting, even if the funding for a capital-related project is being requested through the general authority provided for a revolving fund, we recommend that all such capital-related projects be explicitly described to Town Meeting by the proponents before the funding is authorized. That, however, was not done with regard to two projects contemplated in FY2012 under the subject revolving fund; therefore, we are providing this handout to ensure Town Meeting is aware of the nature of those projects. The CEC had been briefed on those projects and our approval of them is in our written report, along with the planned uses of the requested funds. (See Pages 30& 31 of our report.) Culvert Replacement ($65,000) In this case, we believe quoting from the Town's FY2012 Recommended Budget & Financing Plan, February 28, 2011 the "Brown Book" page XI-15, will suffice for what would likely have been the essence of a presentation: The three corrugated metal pipe arch culverts under the access road to the Hartwell Avenue Compost Facility have failed due to rust and separation at the pipe connection joints. Significant sinkholes have developed in the roadway as a result. Replacing these pipe culverts will allow for continuous and safe access to the compost facility as well as proper storm water flow through the culverts. This request is for survey, design and permitting of the repairs. Funds for construction will be requested at a subsequent town meeting...." Compost Facility Green Waste (Anaerobic Facility) Study ($52,000) While the"Brown Book,page XI-15, said the following: The Board of Selectmen has requested staff to assess the Hartwell Avenue compost site as a location for a privately operated "green waste" processing facility. Such an operation, through a process known as anaerobic digestion, would convert green waste (food stuffs and vegetative matter) into energy and compost. we offer the following additional information that would likely have been the significant points made in a presentation and provides what we feel is further, important, insight into the background and scope of the proposed project. (The following consists of extracts from the Executive Summary of a draft report, Preliminary Evaluation of a Source Separated Organics Facility at the Hartwell Avenue Landfill Site, March 2011, by Camp Dresser & McKee Inc., which has been funded with $12,050 of the balance remaining from the appropriation made at the 2003 Annual Town Meeting under Article 8(I) Landfill Closure. While you should remember the report is still only a draft, and therefore specific details may change when it is final, it is our understanding the fundamental positions are most likely to remain, as cited.) "The Town of Lexington currently operates a successful leaf and yard waste composting facility at the closed Harwell Avenue Landfill Site. Because of the success of this facility as well as changing regulations that propose to ban source separated organics such as food and vegetative waste and tax incentives for energy generation, the Town retained Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. (CDM) to evaluate the potential to site a facility that accepts source separated organics at the Landfill Site. This report summarizes the findings of CDM's evaluation including discussions with potential vendors, a meeting with representatives of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), meetings with local officials including the Board of Health, and a detailed review of the regulatory requirements for this type of facility at the closed landfill. "In summary, the proposal to evaluate a source-separated organics facility at the Hartwell Avenue Landfill Site merits further investigation. This would include issuing the appropriate procurement documents to allow private vendors to provide the Town with proposals to permit, construct and operate the facility at the Landfill Site. The following is a summary of CDM's conclusions and recommendations." Page 1 of 2