2018-06-27-CEC-ATM-rpt (Combined Report with Updates & Errata)

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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2018 ATM(incorporating Updates&Errata) Executive Summary This report is voluminous, and we expect that most of you will not read it from cover to cover. if you only read one thing, then please read this Executive Summary. if you read two things, then read this Executive Summary and follow along with our recommendations (during the presentation and debate) in the Warrant Articles section, either using Appendix B (Summary of Warrant-Article Recommendation) or the Article explanations and recommendations in this report starting on Page 38. Please use the rest of the report as a reference book. For many years, this Committee has stressed the need for rational, long-teen planning, and for just as many years, the Town has achieved a reasonable level of success in sequencing and executing our capital program. Only a few months ago, our constituents affirmed that work by passing a debt exclusion for a new Maria Hastings Elementary School, a new Fire &Rescue Headquarters, and a new Lexington Children's Place. This is a tribute to the hard work that all of you (Town Meeting, the staff, the boards and committees, and ultimately the Yes Campaign) put into turning the vision into the details and ultimately the reality. It may seem that we have reached the end of nearly two decades of large capital projects including renovation or rebuilding of all our schools to enhance capacity, a new Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, and Community Center; improved roads and sidewalks; land purchases; and enhanced playing fields; but our work isn't done. In this Town Meeting you'll be asked to vote design money for a long—sought Police Headquarters with a corresponding debt-exclusion referendum on the horizon relatively soon after that. Longer term is the largest project Lexington will have likely ever undertaken: the Lexington High School (LHS) renovation and/or replacement. This Committee, with others, has agitated to address the capacity issues in that complex that are only getting worse with an increasing school population. Although the Statement of Interest submission to the Massachusetts School Building Authority is not expected until calendar year 2019 or 2020—with the earliest possible approval not before FY2021—this Committee will not stop highlighting this challenge until the solution is in hand. The taxpayer impact of these projects is extremely important, because without buy-in from the electorate, the Town's big-ticket agenda cannot be completed. Those who ultimately pay the bill must be convinced that their elected representatives, you and I, have sharpened our pencils, crossed every T and dotted every I. Part of that due diligence is making sure that our planning is well-considered. While some of our projects were driven by unique opportunities that require immediate action, most are foreseen years in advance. The lead-up to the last debt exclusion included extensive tax-bill-impact modeling, a practice which should continue with future projects. When we make a plan and stay with it, good things happen. Let's keep that in mind as we move forward with large capital projects over the next 10 years. if a unique opportunity arises, then yes, we should talk about it as a community and perhaps change our plan. But without that reasoned discussion, sometimes known as "The Lexington Process" (to quote a recently retired Selectman), we can lose sight of our long-term vision and goals that have made us so successful as a community. Part of that long-term vision process is ensuring that we keep our financial house in order, even with the "little things". We have been, and will continue to be, advocates of sticking to our stated financial policies. When we deviate we should acknowledge and discuss those exceptions and possibly change the policies. To wit, during this Town Meeting you may see us take issue with what may seem like relatively minor concerns. We assure you that we do this with the best long-term intent for the Town and not to waste your time in session. Finally, Town Meeting should always bear in mind that this Committee is appointed by the Moderator and chartered to advise Town Meeting. While we work collegiately with other boards and committees,we take that charter seriously and always make our recommendations for what we believe are in the best interests of our Town for consideration by you, Town Meeting. 1