HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-02-CEC-min
Capital Expenditures Committee Meeting Minutes DRAFT
March 2, 2005, 7:30-10:55 p.m. Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office
Building
Burnell, Edson, Lamb, Rosenberg, Stolz present
Kanter for Appropriation present
Guests as noted.
1. DPW: Defer replacement of Truck 34 (6-wheel dumper, used for road repair
and snowplowing; road repairs mostly by new pothole patcher, so can extend life
of truck with winter only seasonal use); instead buy (a) front-end-loader mounted
snow blower to clean Center (lifts snow into truck) and (b) two new sidewalk
tractors with front-mounted snow blowers (to augment the current equipment and
replace less effective V plows). The committee accepted this new and overall
equipment schedule, 5-0; $485,000 to be funded by BANs.
2. Sidewalks: $50,000 request, half to redo Eddison Way sidewalk (second block
back in the alleyway) and $25,000 for other work to be specified. No overall town
priority setting. Selectmen's sidewalk advisory committee not meeting yet.
Sidewalks along state roads (Marrett, Bedford) require complex negotiations and
approvals; may do more on Marrett when state bids redoing signals at Waltham
intersection. Kanter suggests endorsing use of Ch. 90 funds for sidewalks, too
(as for storm drain repairs), which the Selectmen have not done. The committee
endorsed 4-1; Rosenberg felt not worth proceeding piecemeal pending better
townwide study, priority setting.
3. DPW barn and office building: Bill Hadley (not present) to prepare analysis for
town meeting, on uses, barn only vs. barn plus office building, colocation, CDM
study of Bedford and other sites.
4. Fire HQ floor: current truck weights are 10% over design load, but not in
danger of failure. DPW recommends full engineering study to evaluate moving
pipes, ducts, wires under floor, addressing moisture and void problems in crawl
space, suggesting remedies before new, heavier equipment added to existing
equipment. $50,000. Committee endorsed 5-0. Probably the most deferrable
item.
Sam Silverman, study of traffic lights and safety at Mass. Ave. and Maple,
Pleasant and Mass. Ave., Marrett and Mass. Ave. Proposes borrowing $80,000
for study of Mass. Ave. traffic, including design of solution for Mass. and Maple.
Town Comprehensive Plan lists as fourth highest accident site, after three on
Bedford St. DPW says are fender benders, and worries that lights would cause
fewer but higher speed, higher injury accidents; not DPW highest priority. In
discussion, committee pointed out that any remedies (DPW estimates cost at
$600,000 for the three intersections to get lights, exclusive of land takings, legal
fees, overhead) would take too long to affect problems on Mass. Ave. from
higher traffic at Lowell and Maple (being addressed separately with new light
controller). DPW not optimistic that lights, signage, policing could usefully modify
driver behavior through the intersections. Article 33a will be indefinitely
postponed because Maple and Lowell covered in town recommendations; 33b,
on other Mass. Ave. intersections, Committee opposes, 5-0, given no consensus
in town on moving forward and relatively low priority.
On other town traffic priority, Concord and Waltham left turn, committee
remains opposed.
Bob Bicknell, Community Preservation Act. Articles 7 and 8. Discussion of how
manage separate pot of funds; articles to Town Meeting for appropriation, but
only CPA committee can change language project scope. Competition for
community support, resources; March20 06 vote before operating and capital
override. Appeal of matching funds, uncertain if can pay for White House if
expansion, what would have paid for Cary Library renovation. Committee will
take position on issues (Act, 3%, $100,000 exemption, low income exemption,
not commercial exemption?), but does not think Capital or Appropriation should
have voting seat on committee. Action deferred, reading materials distributed.
Committee discussion of articles.
School capital: cleaning equipment, yes $50,000 for two floor scrubbers, no on
the remaining $354,000 request
Technology: no information yet.
Heating controls: no information yet
Lincoln Park bathroom building: no proposal on floor as Selectmen, Recreation,
Lincoln Field subcommittee at odds; Recreation seeks Cash BAN, but several
committee members may see this as at least recreation enterprise.
Appropriation needs discuss funding, enterprise stability.
Double utility poles: no committee action needed.
Article 14, municipal utility home rule resolution: no action needed.
Article 11a, providing for assistant town manager to carry on in case of town
manager absence: Kanter urges support as fiscally responsible, Stolz endorses.
3-2 not to take any action.
Article 19, North Street: front vs. rear parcels. Rear, larger parcel as
conservation? 5-0 in favor. Frontage parcel? action deferred
Articles 20-21, Middlesex hospital land: defer action
Article 22, DCAM fast sale of property, 5-0 in favor of article
Article 23, Franklin apartments: no information yet, defer.
John Rosenberg, Clerk