2015-12-BOS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Selectmen’s Meeting – December 2, 2015 The Selectmen thanked the residents for participating and commented that the Citizens’ Academy is one of the best first steps in getting involved. Ms. Barry asked the group about how the Board can improve communication. Mr. Kelley asked the group to consider joining a committee. Mr. Whitman, a 30 year resident of Lexington, suggested that the Town focus more on communicating with residents through social media as a way to get younger people involved. As a veterans’ service officer for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Mr. Whitman invited the Board to attend a veterans meeting, held the first Friday of every month at the VFW, to meet the veterans and find out what their issues are. Mr. Finch, a 25 year resident, has some organizational thoughts regarding the Police Department. Mrs. Levitt, a 2 year resident, thinks it would be great if somehow the High School students could get connected to the Citizens’ Academy. Approve FY16 Property Tax Rate Mr. Addelson, Assistant Town Manager for Finance, joined by the Board of Assessors, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Grant and Mr. Groblewski as well as Mr. Lent, Director of Assessing, explained that this is the third of three meetings on setting the Fiscal Year 2016 Tax Rate. As described in the memorandum from the Board of Assessors, Massachusetts General Laws requires the Board of Selectmen to vote to establish a residential factor and to determine whether or not to adopt the open space discount, the residential exemption, and the small commercial exemption. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to establish a residential factor of 1.75 for the FY16 tax rate. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to not adopt the Open Space discount. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to not adopt the Residential Exemption. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 5-0 to not adopt the Small Commercial Exemption. Release of Design Funds – School Capital Facility Plan Mr. Goddard, Director of Public Facilities, explained that on December 1, 2015 the School Committee unanimously recommended that the Board of Selectmen release additional funds from the March 2015 Special Town Meeting for multiple school projects. The intent of this release is to continue the work on Clarke and Diamond construction documents critical to maintain the schedule for a potential construction start date of late April. The recommendation also includes beginning architectural work on supplying up to 6 modular classrooms at elementary schools. The amount requested is $427,170 (Diamond $239,539; Clarke $102,740; and modular classrooms $84,891) In addition, the School Committee voted to request that the Selectmen release $28,000, previously released to evaluate converting the Harrington space