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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO SEPTEMBER 21, 2016, STM 2016 -5 Table 4: Current Enrollment (August 31, 2016) versus Capacities at the six elementary schools using Current Enrollment. Because the six - school elementary system is overcrowded, balancing the enrollment across schools cannot alone solve the overcrowding problem —even with the new Hastings school; additional space is needed. Bowman, Bridge, and Fiske bear the most severe overcrowding and this Committee sees this continuing at least for the next several years. This Committee, and then that November 2, 2015, Special Town Meeting, recognized this when that appropriation was made. The need for six additional modular classrooms to relieve some of the burden on Bowman, Bridge and Fiske remains. For this reason this Committee believes it is necessary and appropriate to move forward to purchase and install six modular classrooms. Given the degree of current overcrowding, even if enrollments level off this additional appropriation will have been prudent. Article 5: APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR POLICE STATION FEASIBILITY STUDY Current Enrollment Current Right -sized Student Capacity Current (SDioo°V:tg L p/ Available Capacity Right -sized �� ith modulars Student Capacity Right sized with modulars (4Diorktge) /Available Capacity Bowman 560 473 (87) 516 (44) Bridge 564 452 )112) 495 (69) Fiske 477 409 ( 8) 452 ( ,fix) Estabrook 536 581 45 581 45 Harrington 465 473 8 473 8 Hastings 444 452 8 452 8 Elementary Total 3,046 I 2,840 (206) 2,969 (77) Because the six - school elementary system is overcrowded, balancing the enrollment across schools cannot alone solve the overcrowding problem —even with the new Hastings school; additional space is needed. Bowman, Bridge, and Fiske bear the most severe overcrowding and this Committee sees this continuing at least for the next several years. This Committee, and then that November 2, 2015, Special Town Meeting, recognized this when that appropriation was made. The need for six additional modular classrooms to relieve some of the burden on Bowman, Bridge and Fiske remains. For this reason this Committee believes it is necessary and appropriate to move forward to purchase and install six modular classrooms. Given the degree of current overcrowding, even if enrollments level off this additional appropriation will have been prudent. Article 5: APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR POLICE STATION FEASIBILITY STUDY Fund Authorization Requested Funding Source Committee Recommends $65,000 GF (Cash) Approval (5 -0) "To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for studying the feasibility of siting, constructing and equipping a new police station;..." "DESCRIPTION: This article is to request funding for evaluating potential sites for a police station." [Town Warrant] As already noted in our discussion under Article 2, renovation or replacement of the Towns' Public Safety Facilities has been the top Municipal Capital priority for many years. The current Lexington Police Station, at 12,500 sq. ft. and built in 1955, is inadequate for today's policing requirements. The previously identified Donham and Sweeney Architect space -needs studies (see above Article 2, Analysis) reported that the facility was 16,000 sq. ft. short of recommended space; lacked a sprinkler system; had limited universal access; did not conform to Building Code for seismic resistance; had old, inefficient heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC); needed electrical systems replaced; lacked adequate training, locker room, storage, equipment, and staff space; as well as significant security features now considered to be standard for police operations. The 2010 study reported "the physical constraints of the building pose challenges to the day to day operation of the Department: there is no training space within the building; the locker room is half the size needed for today's equipment, clothing and operation manuals storage; there is no secure sally port; prisoner entry to the building is unsecure and dangerous; there is a critical lack of storage space such that sensitive records are not able to be stored securely; there is no elevator for moving heavy equipment, files or persons with disabilities; and the sub - basement firing range is inadequate in all regards including the required qualification testing." That report recommended 7