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APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE SPECIAL TOWN MEETINGS 2017-2&3 OCTOBER 10,2017
<br /> Special Town Meeting 2017-2
<br /> Analysis and Recommendations
<br /> The warrant for Special Town Meeting 2017-2 contains articles seeking borrowing authorization for four
<br /> major capital projects which are of critical importance to the Town and are now ready to move forward:
<br /> construction of a new Hastings Elementary School; completion of design and engineering work needed for
<br /> construction of a new Lexington Children's Place preschool facility at the recently acquired Pelham Road
<br /> site; the design of a new Fire Headquarters; and the completion of design and construction of temporary
<br /> swing space for use by the Fire Department while the existing Fire Headquarters is demolished and rebuilt.
<br /> Article 2017-2.2: Appropriate for Hastings School Construction
<br /> Funds Requested Funding Source Committee Recommendation
<br /> $63,059,418 Excluded Debt($46,545,695) Approve (7-0-2)
<br /> MSBA Grant ($16,513,723)
<br /> This article seeks construction funds for a new 30-section, 110,000 sq. ft.Hastings Elementary School, and
<br /> for demolition of the old Hastings School. Enrollment in the Hastings School was 455 students in 2016-
<br /> 2017.The new school,with a design capacity of 645 students,is essential for addressing overcrowding, for
<br /> providing adequate space for delivery of a modern K-5 educational program, and for addressing multiple
<br /> issues with the integrity of the current building envelope, structure, and other systems.
<br /> Opened in 1955,the existing Hastings School has a floor area of 64,980 square feet,including eight modular
<br /> classrooms, four of which were added in 1995, and four in 2000. The current building has in recent years
<br /> needed major repairs to the foundation and to cracked structural beams in the gym, as well as for water
<br /> infiltration caused by roof ice dams. All of the modular classrooms are either approaching or past the end
<br /> of their useful life of 20 years.
<br /> Project Costs and MSBA Reimbursement
<br /> The Massachusetts State Building Authority (MSBA) approved, on August 16, 2017, a partial reimburse-
<br /> ment of the construction costs for a new school building. The total project budget is about$65,300,000, of
<br /> which MSBA will reimburse approximately $16,500,000, with the balance of$48,800,000 to be covered
<br /> by the Town of Lexington.
<br /> The $65,300,000 budget is comprised of $52,900,000 in construction costs, including site work, and
<br /> $12,300,000 in soft costs. The table below lists previous appropriations and this article's request.
<br /> Hastings Project Purpose
<br /> STM 2/2016 $1,500,000 Feasibility Study
<br /> TM 4/2017 $720,000 Feasibility&Design
<br /> STM 10/2017 $63,059,418 Feasibility, Design&Construction
<br /> Total $65,279,418
<br /> MSBA Grant $16,513,723
<br /> Debt $48,765,695
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