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7/09/15 Minutes Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee July9,2015 : Parker Room, Town Office Building, 7:30 p.m. : Glenn Parker, Chair; John Bartenstein, Vice Chair and Secretary; Alan Levine;Eric Michelson; Richard Neumeier; Members Absent:Mollie Garberg;Beth Masterman;Andrei Radulescu-Banu; Rob Addelson, AssistantTownManagerforFinance(non-voting, ex officio) Other attendees: Susan McLeish; Margaret Coppe, School Committee; Patricia Moore, Budget Officer The meeting was called to order at 7:43p.m. Committee Membershipand Officers: 1.Mr. Parker reported that Ms. McLeish’s term of membership on this Committee was ending,and she did notseek reappointment. He thanked her for her participation, andshe thankedCommitteemembersfor theirsupport during her tenure. Town ModeratorDeborah Brownwill be appointing a new member.It was agreed to postpone the annualelection of officers until more members are present. Announcements: 2.Mr. Michelson reportedonthe following events relating to Minuteman Technical Institute (Minuteman Tech): The Town of Wayland passed an article requestingapproval toleaveMinuteman Tech as a member-community.A unanimous Minuteman Tech Board (Board) vote is requiredfor approving the request. A previous effort by the Board to change the regional district agreement that regulates the governing functionsof the member communitieshas been abandoned. The Board is focusing on the need for a new facility, which would beconsiderably less expensive than renovating. The project has been approved by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), triggering the need for approvalby the District within the MSBA’s timelineeither by: (1)an affirmative Town Meeting vote ofall member-communities, or (2) a majority district-wide vote in a single referendum held in allmember-communities on the same day. Ifapprovalfails, the future of the school is uncertain. It was noted that the State controls the tuition charged forout-of- district students, butthe State recently agreed thata capital funding fee can be added to the tuition. Mr. Bartenstein reported that MWRA water usage reportsfor Lexington indicated an unusual spike duringApril and May, raising concerns about a leak in the system. It now appears that there was a problem in the Town of Bedford,which has had several wells down. Bedford is incurring the costs for the necessary repairs as well as for the consumed water. 1