2012-02-29-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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February 29. 2012 Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee Meeting February 29, 2012 Time and Location: Room G15, Town Office Building, 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; John Bartenstein, Vice Chair and Secretary; Joe Pato, Vice Chair; Robert Cohen; Alan Levine; Eric Michelson; Jonina Schonfeld; Rob Addelson (non- voting, ex officio) Notpresent: Mollie Garberg; Richard Neumeier Others in attendance: Judy Crocker, Lexington resident; Mary Ellen Dunn, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Business; Pat Goddard, Director of Public Facilities; Andy Friedlich, Town Meeting Member The meeting was called to order at 7:32 p.m. 1. Announcements. Mr. Parker reported that he had interviewed two candidates for the minute -taker position. 2. Article 17: School Bus Transportation Subsidy (Citizen Article). Ms. Crocker was in attendance, at the Committee's request, to provide information on Article 17. She was accompanied by Ms. Dunn, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Business for the Lexington Public Schools. Article 17 asks the Town to appropriate an as yet unknown amount of funds to reduce or offset fees charged for use of the school bus transportation system. Ms. Crocker explained that Article 17's objective is to increase bus ridership while reducing the large number of private automobiles making trips to the schools at the beginning and end of each school day. The proponents contend that increasing ridership will not only improve traffic congestion at the schools but also address problems of road wear, pedestrian safety, and pollution. Ms. Crocker made a PowerPoint presentation and provided a number of handouts to the Committee. Ms. Crocker reported that, presently, bus fees in Lexington are the highest in the metropolitan area at $550 per student with a $1,600 family cap. Parent survey results indicate that cost is the primary reason more students do not use the bus. The percentage of students using school bus transportation has decreased in the last decade to 31 %, and 50% of students now drive or are driven to school. The number of students seeking financial assistance with school bus fees has increased substantially, from 7 in school year 2007 -08 to 185 in school year 2011 -12. School bus transportation costs are currently funded through a combination of parent fees and school department operating funds. If Article 17 is approved, the parent fee would be lowered and a town subsidy would be added to the mix. If transportation costs for the year exceeded the sum of the School Department funds, parent fees and the Town subsidy, the School Department