2017-01-19-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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01/19/2017 AC Minutes 2. Minutes: A motion was made and seconded to approve the draft January 5, 2017 minutes with edits identified by Mr. Neumeier. VOTE: 7 -0 3. Capital Projects and the Special Town Meeting (STM), Articles 2 -4 It was noted that a STM is being planned for the first night of the March 20 ATM. As reported by Mr. Goddard, the date of the STM is influenced by the timeline of the new Hastings Elementary School (Hastings) construction project. Mr. Goddard reported the following: • The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Board, which previously provided preliminary approval of the Hastings project for a state grant, is expected to approve the preferred schematic design on February 15. • Town Meeting has already appropriated funds for the feasibility study, which is due in June 2017. • There will be a request at the ATM for an appropriation of $720,000 that would allow the Town to continue design development after June 2017. • The MSBA and the Town are working collaboratively to create a Budget and Scope Agreement, which requires a robust schematic design, for approval in August. The Town will then have 120 days to fund the project. The plan envisions requesting at a fall STM an appropriation to cover construction documents, construction, and other project costs, which would be followed by a debt exclusion referendum. The referendum is tentatively planned for November 2017. In response to questions, Mr. Goddard added the following: • The MSBA reimburses a percentage of the cost, but only of eligible components and only up to a ceiling on the cost per square foot. It is anticipated that the ultimate reimbursement will amount to approximately 30% of the total project. • A change in the current formulas to increase the allowable cost per square foot is unlikely because the MSBA tries to support as many projects as possible. • The estimated total cost is $62.0 million, which includes $12.0 million in "soft costs ", i.e., non - construction costs. • The Town is using DiNisco Design to develop the project's plans. Two other projects will require timely action at the STM in March to appropriate design funds in order for those projects to be included in a debt exclusion referendum on the same date as the Hastings project: the Pelham Road project and the fire department project. Mr. Goddard noted the following in his report on these projects: 20 Pelham Road building renovation: • The current plan is to purchase or acquire this property by eminent domain or negotiated agreement with funds already appropriated by Town Meeting in 2016. • The School Committee supports a plan to renovate approximately half of the building for the Lexington Children's Place. The estimated cost of this work is $18.3M. • The Board of Selectmen support using the remaining half of the building, the gym, cafeteria, stage, and other miscellaneous spaces for the Lexington Community Center (LexCC). Cost 2