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counsel line items; a transfer of the full School Resource Officer costs to the Town (originally half the costs had been incorrectly budgeted to the school department); and new funding for COA kitchen equipment, a Hartwell Avenue traffic study, and a Munroe School feasibility study. Rob cautioned that the analysis is a work-in-progress and will change as numbers are more closely evaluated. The following informational meetings relating to the Special Town Meeting have been scheduled: ? 11/3 – article presentations to the Board of Selectmen ? 11/13 – TMMA information meeting Residential Property Assessments. 3. In response to an article published in the Lexington Minuteman over the summer questioning the town’s residential assessment process, the Board of Assessors will be making a presentation on Monday, October 27 to the TMMA executive committee explaining its procedures for determining these assessments. The Committee discussed several questions relating to how new growth values are determined, and whether residential properties are fully and fairly assessed across all price ranges. Members who attend the presentation will report back. Report to the Special Town Meeting. 4. The Committee’s report to the Special Town Meeting will address Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Assignments are: Art. 3 – Deborah Brown, 4 – John Bartenstein, 5 – Eric Michelson, 6 – Eric Michelson, 7 – Glenn Parker, 8 – Richard Eurich. At this time it has not been decided whether or what to include in the report regarding Article 2, which deals with the proposed Beal rezoning. Ballot Question on State Income Tax. 5. It was reported that Andy Friedlich had asked the Committee to join other groups in town and send a letter to the Minuteman asking for a “No’ vote on Question 1, which proposes repealing the state income tax over a two-year period. While the Committee had previously voted to go on record with its unanimous opposition to this ballot question, it was agreed that it would now be too late to draft, edit, vote, and submit a separate letter before the Minuteman’s deadline. Jay Kaufman Open House with Speaker DiMasi. 6. Deborah Brown, Pam Hoffman, Susan McLeish and John Bartenstein reported that they had attended Representative Kaufman’s recent Open House program featuring House Speaker Sal DiMasi. Some highlights of Speaker DiMasi’s remarks were: ? Although at this time local aid and Chapter 70 aid will be held harmless to the downturn in state revenue, towns should prepare for cuts later this year. The amount of future cuts which might be required is not yet known. ? On the issue of the GIC, and why more towns have not yet joined, the Speaker said that the current requirement of union approval may be an obstacle, and that he will be pressing for additional legislation that will take this issue out of the collective bargaining process. 2