2007 AC Rpt2 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE 2 " REPORT, April 21, 2007, TO 2007 ATM Updated Committee Positions or Information Since 1S Report The following provides changes in this Committee's positions and information since our I" Report to the 2007 Annual Town Meeting, which was released April 4, 2007. Article 18: Accept MGL Chapter 32B, Section 18 (Medicare Extension Plans) When the sponsor moved to Indefinitely Postpone this Article, this Committee unanimously (9 -0) supported that action. (This Committee had previously unanimously supported the Article.) Article 23: Petition General Court to Increase Income Limits for Property Tax Deferrals (Citizens' Petition) As a substitute motion was presented which was consistent with the policy change we would want to see implemented, this Committee unanimously (7 -0) supported it. (This Committee previously had its position as Pending) Article 25: Continue and Approve Departmental Revolving Funds For the DPW Compost Operations, the FY2008 Authorization was $230,000 (an increase from $210,034). (There was no change in this Committee's unanimous support.) Article 26: Appropriate the FY2008 Community Preservation Committee Operating Budget and for CPA Projects The total funds requested were increased by $25,000 (to $1,491,199) as of a result of increasing the request under element (m) by that amount. This Committee's Recommendation was revised to $1,289,599— reflecting support of the additional $25,000 and our decision not to support the $90,000 requested for element (e) that was previously listed as Pending. (e) Comprehensive Cultural Resources Survey ($90,000 requested): A majority (5 -3) of this Committee opposed this request as the proposed effort would expand the Cultural Resources Inventory without having first addressed concerns regarding the process in the Demolition Delay Bylaw whose scope is linked to property in the Inventory. (This Committee previously had its position as Pending) (j) Douglas House ($300,000 requested): Following clarification of the circumstance under which the units no longer being "affordable" would trigger repayment to the Town of these funds, a revised majority (6-2) of this Committee supported the request. (This Committee previously had its position as supporting by an 8 -1 majority.) (m) Administration ($50,000 requested): This Committee unanimously (9 -0) supported the increased amount. (This Committee previously had unanimously supported the original $25,000 request.) Article 31(a): Lincoln Field Methane Mitigation While we previously gave our unanimous support to a requested appropriaton of $460,000 requested level, we now understand that a State - approved solution may cost up to $475,800 —the Consulting Engineer's cost estimate for Alternative #2 (Passive Ventilation with Horizontal Collector Pipe and Membrane Wall). Pending at the time this report went to press is a proposal to do the work in two phases (first just the ventilation at a lower depth; then the wall using a different material). The objective would be to see whether the ventilation alone is sufficient to reduce the methane -gas level to meet the standards— thereby eliminating the need to construct the barrier wall. While a revised cost estimate is not yet available to us, we expect the total cost, even if phased, to be lower than $475,800 —with this Town Meeting being asked to appropriate only for funding the first phase. As much as we would hope the final implementation can be achieved at a cost less than even whatever is the first -phase cost, we see no practical alternative to the Town meeting its legal obligation by resolving the gas - migration issue. This Committee, therefore, consistent with our earlier statement of necessity, unanimously (7 -0) supports the requested amount (anticipated not to be more than $475,800). Page 9 of 24