2019-03-14-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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03/14/2019 AC Minutes • Article 4: Reduce Community Preservation Act(CPA) Surcharge Rate From 3% To I% Pursuant to G.L. c. 44B, §16 (Citizen Article): Ms. Yan and Mr. Michelson voted to disapprove this article, making the recommendation to oppose the article unanimous. They agreed that although the motion is for the article to be indefinitely postponed (IPed) this Committee should include commentary in its report, as previously determined. • Article 5: Establish Qualification for Tax Deferrals: Ms. Yan and Mr. Michelson added their votes in support of this article, making the recommendation to support the article unanimous. • Article 6: Appropriate for Cremation Facility at Westview Cemetery(Citizen Article): The motion will request$90,000 for designs, construction plans and bid documents. Mr. Padaki wanted to see the Ad hoc Crematory Study Committee's interim report, being prepared for the 2019 Annual Town Meeting (ATM),before taking a position. Others noted that it is premature to support such funding without a business plan. A motion was made and seconded to recommend support of this article. The motion failed. VOTE: 0-8-1 • Article 7: Appropriate Funds for the Creation of a Lexington Economic Development Strategy (Citizen Article): Because this article is to be IPed, it is not being included in this Committee's report. • Article 8: Funding for Sustainability Actions (Citizen Article): Because this article is to be IPed, it is not being included in this Committee's report. • Article 9: Sustainability Director(Citizen Article): Because this article is to be a resolution, it is not being included in this Committee's report. • Article 10: Appropriate to Post Employment Insurance Liability Fund: Ms. Yan and Mr. Michelson added their support for this article, making the recommendation to support the article unanimous. • Article 11: Appropriate FY2020 Operating Budget: Mr. Neumeier reported that he wanted to amend this article to reduce the funding for legal services. He believes it is possible to use in-house counsel for approximately 80% of the legal work required by the Town, and since 2012,he has been pointing out that this approach would be less expensive than paying for outside legal services as the Town is now doing. There was discussion about the process for bringing this issue to Town Meeting. The complexities involved in addressing this at the 2019 ATM include presenting an amendment that would need to adjust the current budget to add staff and benefits as well as reduce the line item for legal services. Suggested alternatives included bringing a resolution to study the issue to the next Town Meeting and/or bringing the issue to a budget summit. Two votes were taken: ➢ After noting that this article includes the LPS, Minuteman Vocational Technical High School, and municipal budgets, a motion was made and seconded to recommend support of this article. The motion passed. VOTE: 9-0 ➢ A motion was made and seconded to support an amendment to Article 11 that would reduce line item 8120 for Legal Services from $410,000 to $210,000. The motion failed. VOTE: 2-6-1 • Article 12: Appropriate FY2020 Enterprise Funds Budgets: Mr. Bartenstein reviewed the Water and Wastewater Enterprise Funds, noting that the FY2020 funding requests represent an increase of 2.39% as compared to the total FY2019 request. Mr. Neumeier reported that he is preparing a report on the Recreation and Community Enterprise Fund and he supports it. A motion was made and seconded to recommend support of this article. The motion passed. VOTE: 9-0 2