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10/15/2019 AC Minutes Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC) October 15, 2019 Place and Time: Cary Memorial Building, Hudson Room, 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; Sanjay Padaki, Vice-Chair; Alan Levine, Secretary; John Bartenstein; Eric Michelson; Meg Muckenhoupt; Nick Nichols; Lily Manhua Yan; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex officio) Member(s)Absent: None Other Attendees: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development; David Kanter, Vice Chair and Clerk, Capital Expenditures Committee The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. Announcements and Liaison Reports Mr. Michelson provided an update on Minuteman Regional Technical High School (Minuteman Tech), reporting that the Town of Belmont had initially voted to leave the school district at the end of the current school year but is planning reconsideration of that decision at a November Special Town Meeting (STM). Members of Minuteman Tech's school board have informally indicated that they do not object to Belmont rejoining, assuming it is under the same conditions as if the town had never left. This means that Belmont would be responsible for paying the approximately $472,000 that it would have had to pay if it had never left. During discussion, Mr. Michelson noted the following: • The capacity of the school's new facility is approximately 625-628 students, less than the original school building, and it is likely that the facility will be full within a few years. • Overhead expenses for the school are borne by member communities based on a three-year average of each community's students. A capital fee can also be charged for out-of-district students. 2019 Fall STM Article 8-Appropriate Funding for the Route 4/225 Bedford Street—Hartwell Avenue— Wood Street Transportation Improvement Project Ms. Kowalski distributed a Hartwell Avenue locus map for Article 8, which identifies the area that would be impacted by a proposed approximately $48.0 million project to improve traffic flow through the area. Such a project has been discussed for over 30 years. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation's (Mass. DOT) long-range transportation plan currently identifies Lexington's Hartwell Avenue intersections as eligible for construction funding in 2030-2034, with the understanding that the Town would be responsible for funding the design. Lexington can show its support for the project and potentially get on the State's Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP)list for construction prior to 2030 if it can provide an acceptable design. Article 8 is requesting $1.5 million for 25% design funds. Ms. Kowalski anticipates a design that includes four lanes of traffic on Hartwell Avenue with a raised median, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and bicycle access. The goal would be a design that improves flow so that traffic stays on the main roads. Roundabouts would be considered. The process would include charettes to solicit community input, with a focus on including the immediate neighborhoods. The design would include a no-build scenario and incorporate incremental development in its projections. In response to questions and comments, Ms. Kowalski added the following: 1