2021-11-08-STM#1-min-as Amended June 2022

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November 8,2021 Special Town Meeting#1(2021-1),cont. FY22 had started strong as new levy growth was projected at$2.75M when the FY2022 budget was developed. The actual amount certified by DOR was$4.98M which again reflects growth in both Commercial and Residential development. At this Town Meeting,it was recommended to use the additional$2.2M to fund the increases in the Westview Cemetery and Police Station capital articles. Funding these projects with cash instead of issuing additional debt would save the town future interest costs. They also recommended that the remaining amount of new growth then be set aside into the Capital Stabilization Fund to help offset future debt service. In Fiscal 2022 the final payment on the two land purchases that were approved in 2016—173 Bedford St(site of Temp Fire/Police Stations)and 20 Pelham Rd(site of Lexington Children's Place) would be made. Those purchases totaled$12AM and were paid down over a 5-year period. COVID Expenses and Federal Funds—FEMA,CARES Act,and American Rescue Plan Act(ARPA) • From the Spring of 2020 through December of this year(2021)the Town had been approved for $2.94M in expense reimbursement from CARES Act,and$423K from FEMA(with another $200K pending reimbursement). • This has covered many pandemic related expenses including overtime,PP&E and specialized equipment for the Health Department and Emergency Responders,for town-wide testing events and pooled testing in schools,IT equipment and subscriptions for remote work and virtual meetings(such as Town Meetings),HVAC improvements to improve air quality in school and municipal buildings and curbside Library service. • Additionally,the school department received$1.6M from CARES Act via an ESSER grant. • Going forward,the Town now has$9.9M available through ARPA that can be spent over the next 3 calendar years and the Select Board and staff are currently working on how those funds will be spent. Mr.Malloy took a moment to thank Nathalie(Nadie)Rice for her many years of service as the Lexington Town Clerk and welcomed Mary de Alderete,the new Town Clerk. He mentioned that they were looking forward to working with her in the upcoming years. 7:49 p.m. The Moderator then asked Ms.Hai for a procedural motion to take up Articles 4,7, and 17. Ms.Hai moved that Town Meeting take up Articles 4,7,and 17. As there were no objections,the Moderator declared Special Town Meeting#1 open under Article 4. ARTICLE 4:AMEND 2022 OPERATING BUDGETS To see if the Town will vote to make supplementary appropriations, to be used in conjunction with money appropriated under Articles 4,5 and 9 of the warrant for the 2021 Annual Town Meeting to be used during the current fiscal year, or make any other adjustments to the current fiscal year budgets and appropriations that may be necessary;to determine whether the money shall be provided by tax levy,by transfer from available funds including the Community Preservation Fund or by combination of any of these methods;or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by the Select Board) FUNDS REQUESTED: Unknown at press time DESCRIPTION: This is an annual article to permit adjustments to current fiscal year (FY2022) appropriations.