2006-11-29-STM-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

November 29, 2006 Special Town Meeting, cont... 7:48 p.m. Presented by Selectman Norman Cohen. ARTICLE 6: APPROPRIATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PURPOSES MOTION: That $50,000 be appropriated to Lexington Housing Assistance Board, Inc. (LexHAB) to support the provision of affordable housing within the Town, and that said sum be raised in the tax levy. Selectman Cohen requested a point of personal privilege to acknowledge the contributions made by Marshall Derby in his involvement with the Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB) with which he became a member in 1987, and for the past 15 years served as Chairman. Mr. Cohen enumerated on Mr. Derby's value to LexHAB and to Lexington. Members acknowledged Mr. Derby with a standing ovation. 7:53 p.m. Norman Cohen explained the requested action of Article 6 and reported the unanimous support of the Board of Selectmen. 7:54 p.m. Alan Levine, pr.8, reported the unanimous support of the Appropriation Committee. 7:55 p.m. Motion Unanimously Adopted. 7:55 p.m. Presented by Selectman Jeanne Krieger. ARTICLE 2: AMEND FY2007 OPERATING BUDGET MOTION: That the motion under Article 17 of the 2006 Annual Town Meeting be amended as follows: Line Item Program From To 1100 Education $62,346,492 $63,419,500 2130 Group Insurance $18,213,285 $18,160,485 2140 Unemployment $70,000 $122,800 And to meet this appropriation $1,073,008 be raised in the tax levy. Selectman Jeanne Krieger moved to take up line items 2130 and 2140 first. Motion Adopted. Selectman Krieger requested the Moderator recognize Town Manager Carl Valente for a presentation on requested changes in appropriations, to be followed by Thomas Diaz for the School Committee. 7:56 p.m. Town Manager Carl Valente updated the members on revenue changes and requested appropriations. 8:01 p.m. School Committee Chairman Thomas Diaz addressed the supplemental request for Special Education Department [SPED] funding. 8:22 p.m. Alan Levine, pr.8, reported the unanimous support of the Appropriation Committee for line item 1100, line item 2130, and 2140. 8:24 p.m. Sheldon Spector, pr.6, questioned changes through the end of the school year and the anticipated approach to be taken by the School Department to address such changes. Mr. Diaz responded. 8:26 p.m. Scott Burson, pr.4, spoke in support. 8:30 p.m. Patrick Mehr, pr.3, questioned SPED cost saving initiatives and raised concerns on energy saving initiatives. After back and forth comments the Moderator ruled Mr. Mehr's persistence to address energy saving questions to be out of order. 8:33 p.m. James Wood, pr.7, questioned the School Committee regarding any formal discussions with elected state officials regarding circuit breaker funding. 8:34 p.m. School Committee Chairman Thomas Diaz replied. 8:36 p.m. Ephraim Weiss, pr.5, spoke in opposition. 8:37 p.m. Iang Jeon, pr.1, questioned School Committee statistics on special education .