2012-05-04-CEC-min-exec - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting EXECUTIVE SESSION Date, Place, and Location: May 4, 2012, 8:05 A.M., Town Office Building, Room G -15 Members Present: Charles Lamb, Chair; Ted Edson, Vice - Chair; Bill Hurley; Shirley Stolz; David Kanter Other Attendees: Carl Valente, Town Manager; Rob Addelson, Assistant Town Manager for Finance; Eric Michelson, Appropriation Committee With Mr. Lamb having called to order at 8:00 A.M. the Open Session —which had been posted also to involve an Executive Session, at 8:05 A.M. he declared that an executive session was warranted under the Open Meeting Law Exemption 6 (To consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property) as the discussion in an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Town. A Motion was made and seconded to go into executive session, with the other attendees being present, with the intention to reconvene in an open session. Each of the above - identified members was individually polled and each voted "yes" Potential for Purchase of Some National Heritage Museum Land and Structures Mr. Valente explained that he had been approached by a representative of the National Heritage Museum (at 33 Marrett Road in Lexington) regarding the Museum's intention to sell a substantial portion of their land, including the structures thereon —but excluding the main museum and a significant portion of the parking lot immediately adjacent to the museum. The Museum wants to offer the Town the first opportunity to be the buyer. (There is currently no information on the price the Museum would place on such a sale, nor what value an independent appraisal might assign to the property.) As the Museum wishes to complete the sale in the not - too - distant future, the Town would need to make a decision relatively soon (e.g., likely within the next five months) as to whether it wishes to proceed as the potential buyer and is, therefore, prepared to present such an acquisition proposal to a Town Meeting— whether a fall 2012 Special Town Meeting or not later than the 2013 Annual Town Meeting (ATM). Otherwise, the Museum would proceed with publicly announcing its intent to sell on the open market. Besides the substantial open space along Marrett Road —which provides a beautiful viewscape —and a residence on Marrett Road, the proposed sale includes a very -large building that is currently being used as a training center and offices with the adjacent balance of the current parking lot. Mr. Valente has toured that building and although much of it is currently configured as relatively small training rooms, the overall facility appears to be in top -notch condition with modern systems throughout —which suggests it might well be the basis for a relatively -easy conversion into a Community Center for the Town. (While the Museum would retain much of the current parking lot, as their need for all of that parking is not full time, it's conceivable that some of the Museum - retained parking spaces could be made available for the Town's use if there were major functions, etc., taking place at such a Community Center.) Page 1 of 2