2018-03-22-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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03/22/2018 AC Minutes • Article 4, Appropriate FY2019 Operating Budget: A motion was made and seconded to support Article 4. The motion passed. VOTE: 8-0 • Article 25, Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations: Mr. Kanter provided a current list of prior authorizations slated to be rescinded. A motion was made and seconded to support Article 25. The motion passed. VOTE: 8-0 • Article 26, Establish, Dissolve and Appropriate to and from Specified Stabilization Funds: A motion was made and seconded to support Article 26. The motion passed. VOTE: 8-0 • Article 37, Accept Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Clause 5C%: It was reported that the BoS had voted to support increasing the benefit amount of all personal property tax exemptions to 100%. A motion was made and seconded to re-vote this article, supporting a 100%increase in the personal property tax exemptions. The motion passed. VOTE: 8-0 • Appendix A: There was a brief discussion/updatc regarding Appendix A. Mr. Bartenstein reviewed articles that had notably different voting positions by this Committee as compared to the CEC, as follows: • Article 10(d), Appropriate the FY2019 Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Operating Budget and CPA Projects, 9 Oakland Street-Renovation and Adaptive Re-Use: The CEC has unanimously supported this article, while an earlier vote by this Committee supported it 6-3. Mr. Bartenstein noted that CPA funding had been previously used to renovate this historic building. He asked whether any of those in opposition were interested in reconsidering. Those in opposition reconfirmed their position that, while this is a worthwhile project, CPA funds should not be used for it because it is not a town-owned facility. • Article 11, Appropriate for Westview Cemetery Building Construction: Mr. Kanter reported that the CEC unanimously opposes this article because design development and construction documents are not yet available, and there are previous appropriations available to fund these two stages. The current appropriation request is based on schematic design estimates. Mr. Valente, who arrived during this discussion, noted that this is not a complex construction project, and the BoS are unanimously supporting it. A motion was made and seconded to re-vote on this Committee's support for Article 11. The motion passed. VOTE: 5-3 • Article 106), Appropriate the FY2019 Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Operating Budget and CPA Projects, Lowell Street/Farmview Affordable Housing Supplemental Funds: Mr. Levine recused himself from participating in this discussion and vote because of a possible conflict of interest. It was noted that the CEC is unanimously supporting this article. Ms. Basch reviewed the opposition's position and asked Mr. Valente to explain the extraordinary increase in per-unit construction cost compared with last year. Mr. Valente explained that the plan is to build two triplexes, in which units will be Americans with Disabilities Act accessible. The projected cost per unit is higher than for past affordable housing units because this is new construction, the units will be highly energy efficient, the labor cost includes prevailing wages, and the public procurement process requires filing of sub-bids as well as using Division of Capital Asset Management 4