2014-09-18-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

9/18/14Minutes noted that the Town owns the Visitor’s Center and the Chamber of Commerce has beenoperating the Visitor’s Center, including thegift shop,for the Town. Ad hoc School Master Planning Committee (AhSMPC):Mr. Levineand Mr.Radulescu-Banu reported on last Tuesday’sSchool Committee meeting, during which the Superintendent’s Enrollment Working Groupexplained thatLexington’s schools can expect a675 (+/-100) increase inenrollment over the next five years. This estimate is based on a linear projectionwith some “tweaking,”rather than on the more commonly-used Cohort Survival Method,because Lexington’s experience shows that the CohortSurvival Method is consistently underestimatingstudent increases.A straight-line approach is the only available alternative. At yesterday’s Clarke Middle School meeting with parents, Superintendent Ashsaid he did not recommend adding modular classroomsat the school, but parentsat the meeting were not convinced that this was an appropriate position considering the space needs. Another meeting is being scheduled, and the dialogue is continuing. A fall 2014 special town meeting will be required if the schools are to addany modular units. Water/Sewer Rates: 3.Using a handout, Mr. Bartenstein reviewed the Town’s process for calculatingthe water/sewer rates each yearand certain issues pertinent to the pending rate-making proceedings for FY2015. Heexplainedthatthe Town has three rate tiers: Tier 1 for the first 40 one hundred cubic feet (hcf)used; Tier 2 for the next 40 hcf; and tier 3 for usage above 80 hcf. There is a graduated water and sewer ratefor each tier. If a property has a separate meter for irrigation only, the Town charges the Tier 3 water ratefor all of the irrigationwater used and doesn’tapply a sewer charge. Each spring, Town Meeting approvesa budget for the Waterand Sewer Enterprise Fundsfor the coming fiscal year. In the fall of that fiscal year,the rates that need to be charged to meet the budget are determinedbased on projected usage.Over the years, there have been upward and downward trends in water and sewer usage for a variety of reasons. Water conservation efforts implemented in the 1980s resulted in dramatic reductions in water use statewide, and there is now a perennialwater surplusat the MWRA’s Quabbin Reservoir storage facility.Sewer usage has increased because the number of septic systems in Lexington has decreased as Title 5 has required more stringent standards and morehouseshave been connected with the Townsewers.In recent years, Lexington has experiencedan increase in the number of irrigation water meters. Projecting irrigation water useis complicated becauseweather patterns can impact that use. Since 2009,significant retained earnings (surpluses)in the Enterprise Fund haveresultedfrom usage in excess of projections, particularly at the Tier 3 level. The greatest contributorto this surplus has beenShire’s heavy use of water for its pharmaceutical processes.It was noted that retained earnings in excess of the amount prudent to be held in reserve can be used as a subsidy to decrease the water/sewer rates or can be used as cash capital to fund capital projects. There was general agreement that improving water and sewer use projections wouldbe desirableand would allow a more accurate projection of anticipated revenues. Although it is not possible to know all the summer irrigation water usage levels before the fallbillings are issued each fiscal year, Mr. Bartenstein believes the use ofsampledata, which isavailable, can inform the process and improve projections.Mr. Addelson reported thatthe FY2015 rates which will be recommended at the BoS meeting next week will result in a combined 2.1% increase for the averageuser. 2