2022-03-28-CEC-ATM-STM-rpt - Laserfiche WebLink

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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2022 ATM& STMs 2022-1 & -2 physical space. Meanwhile, focus has turned to improving accessibility in the current building through replacing a sidewalk and patio alongside the mansion side of the Community Center up to full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. (See 2021 ATM Article 10(c).) At present, there is no decision on space usage in the Muzzey High Condominiums that previously housed the Town's Senior Center. Deed restrictions on that space limit it to uses for the benefit of seniors. The Carriage House located next to the Community Center also has deed restrictions that limit its use. DPF currently maintains both spaces in a caretaker mode. Fire & Rescue The Fire &Rescue Department uses industry standards and its own experience to establish its capital–equipment replacement schedule. Unlike many pieces of Town equipment, fire engines and medic trucks (rescue-ambulances) are partially custom-made and equipped, require detailed specifications, and typically require many months between placing the order and the delivery and acceptance. The mission of this Department in the 21s' century has shifted beyond traditional firefighting to emergency services, homeland security, and community education, with our firefighters now being trained for Emergency Medical Services and Advanced Life Support. The equipment to perform these missions has changed with new technologies for firefighting and communications, yet the basic pumper truck, ladder truck, and rescue ambulance are still essential to the mission. The FY2023 Capital Budget has one request for this department. (See Article 12(e).) The primary capital effort for this Department has been the construction of a sorely needed new Station to meet 21St-century standards. The SB agreed that this would be best achieved at the Station's current location at 45 Bedford Street, with an interim operating facility ("swing space") during construction at the 173 Bedford Street site that had been purchased in October 2016. Both of these projects are being executed by the DPF. The DPF funding for the Station project was approved by the voters in the December 4, 2017, Debt–Exclusion Referendum. The move to the swing space was completed on October 4, 2018; the Department moved back to the new building in October 2020. The "flush out" and the "punch list" are near completion with minor adjustments ongoing and will continue for the next year under the warranty parameters. The firefighters are very positive about the new building. Lexington must continue to replace its aging equipment and retain backup capacity. The table on the next page includes the forecasted need for replacing major capital vehicles in the current Department inventory. While the fire-fighter suit replacements are now included in the Operating Budget, self–contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) remains a Capital expense. This is a life–safety piece of equipment that allows the firefighters to breath fresh air when they are in immediately dangerous to life or health atmospheres and has become costly to repair and keep in service. The Department vetted multiple vendors SCBA equipment during the past year and put each vendor's equipment through field trials. Each was evaluated for durability, fit, comfort, weight, maintenance, and warranty. The order was placed, and delivery is expected later this month. Additionally, the Department was successful in obtaining a funding grant of $249,145.45 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program offered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—which grant offsets 60% of the $416,545 Capital funding appropriated at last-year's Annual Town Meeting. 17