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02/26/2019 AC Minutes Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee(AC) February 26, 2019 Place and Time: Ellen Stone Room, Cary Memorial Building, 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; Sanjay Padaki, Vice-Chair; Alan Levine, Secretary; John Bartenstein; Ellen Basch; Eric Michelson; Richard Neumeier;Nick Nichols; Lily Manhua Yan; Carolyn Kosnoff,Assistant Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex officio) Members)Absent: None Other Attendees: Jim Malloy, Town Manager The meeting was called to order at 7:38 p.m. Announcements and Liaison Reports Mr. Neumeier reported on two employment opportunities listed in the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, February 11, 2019 and February 25, 2019 respectively, as follows: • City of Newton: Assistant City Solicitor (general and school litigation); Salary: $90,000-$98,000 • City of Marlborough, Assistant City Solicitor; Salary: $91,460.70-$102,999.60 plus benefits Mr. Padaki reported that the Ad hoc Crematory Study Committee had not yet taken a position on whether to recommend building a crematory at Westview Cemetery; it is still collecting information on operating and capital expenses associated with doing so. It had, however, voted on three recommendations for the Board of Selectmen (BoS)related to a potential future recommendation to add a crematory to the Westview Cemetery maintenance building that is included in the warrant for the 2019 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), as follows: • A crematory viewing area should accommodate up to 25 people. (Vote: 5-1 in favor) • A crematory should accommodate one to two retorts. (Vote 6-0 in favor) • The design for the Westview Cemetery maintenance building should be modified to make it ready for adding a crematory, should funding for such be appropriated at a future date. Modifications would mostly involve utilities. (Vote 6-0 in favor) Mr. Padaki added that the BoS voted 3-1 to accept those recommendations; Selectman Joe Pato preferred postponing the whole project until the question of a crematorium is resolved. Discussion with Town Manager Mr. Malloy reviewed his experience in municipal government over the past 25 years and noted that he has always worked closely with the relevant finance committees to create fiscal policies that support financial stability. The subsequent discussion included, but was not limited to, the following: • Taxing-to-the-max and how it impacts the need for Proposition 2'/2 overrides; • Building reserves and levy capacity; • Funding Other Post-Employment Benefits; • Personal property tax—its fluctuations and the importance of disclosure about its use; • Lexington's split between residential and commercial tax revenue; • Funding for a new or renovated high school and the impact on the tax rates; 1