2024-03-18 SB Packet - Released - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

The Participatory Budgeting(PB)process implemented in the previous year,which actively engaged our citizens in the decision-making process,leading to impactful community projects. However, given the stipulation that all ARPA funds must be committed by December 31,2024, the continuation of the PB process will not be feasible this calendar year.Further,it is important to note that,despite concerted efforts, the initiative to establish a Dog Park will not proceed due to the inability to identify a suitable location within the time frames for ARPA spending.We extend our gratitude to all residents who participated in the PS process, contributing valuable insights and demonstrating the strength of our community's collective vision. With an available balance of$899,974,the Select Board is dedicated to navigate the final phase of ARPA fund allocation and utilization.The Select Board remains committed to ensuring that these resources are deployed in a manner that maximizes benefits for our community,adhering to the guiding principles of transparency,equity,and strategic impact. �„. .�..:�.. � �,..........�.. � �..��.�. �. ..�:�::� �� The Lexington High School project is likely to be the most ambitious and expensive project undertaken by the Town of Lexington. Plans for this project have been brewing for years leading to the 2017 LHS Visioning process, the 2019 LPS Strategic Plan and the creation of the Master Planning Advisory Committee during the 2018-2019 year. In 2022 Lexington was invited into the Massachusetts School Building Authority(MSBA)Eligibility Period beginning the current process for the project. During 2023 the Lexington High School Building Committee(SSC)was involved in the steps outlined by the MSSA in Module 2 Forming the Project Team.This phase of the project is where the Owner's Project Manager(OPM)and the Design team are selected.The OPM selection process concluded in May with the selection of Dore + Whittier. The SBC then worked with the MSBA's Designer Selection Panel and ultimately selected SMMA as the preferred Designer for the project in October 2023. The feasibility phase,MSBA Module 3,began in earnest in November 2023 and will continue through End of May 2024. In this phase a minimum of three options must be identified.At least one option for repair only,renovation,and new construction must be identified.The project team has begun to seek feedback from the multiple town groups,committees,boards,and departments through focus group discussions which are intended to be implemented in a 3-step approach: meeting 1 - listen to feedback from stakeholders; meeting 2 - the design team will report back what they heard and clarify with the stakeholders;meeting 3-will be to have these focus groups make a recommendation on elements and attributes of the project that the SBC should consider. Detailed information about the project is publicly available at: https://lhsproject.lexin�tonma.or�The current expected timeline for the LHS Project is illustrated below.2024 Annual Town Meeting is being asked to appropriate for design funds for the project of$10M via article 26.The next major funding action by Town Meeting expected to occur at a Special Town Meeting near the end of 2025 followed by a town- wide debt exclusion vote.Occupancy in the new or renovated facility is expected at the end of this decade or early in the next. 8