2022-01-26-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

REINED 2022 07 IF o ua„9:28 a ii n 01/26/2022 AC Minutes TOWN CLERK Minutes LEXINGTON Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC) January 26, 2022 Place and Time: Remote Participation: in accordance with Section 20 of Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 "An Act Relative to Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency", communication took place via a Zoom teleconferencing session that was open to the public; 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; Sanjay Padaki, Vice-Chair; Alan Levine, Secretary; Anil Ahuja; John Bartenstein; Eric Michelson; Meg Muckenhoupt; Lily Manhua Yan; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex officio) Member(s)Absent: None Other Attendees: Deepika Sawhney, School Committee; David Kanter, Capital Expenditures Committee liaison; Bob Cunha, Chair, Lexington Retirement Board; Suzie Barry, Select Board liaison to the Recreation Committee; Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs; Rick DeAngelis, Chair, Recreation Committee and Chair, Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC); Lisah Rhodes, Recreation Committee. Additionally, the proponents of Article 25: Appropriate for Worthen Road Recreation and Education District Land Use Concept Plan: Jon Himmel, Chair of Permanent Building Committee (PBC); Wendy Krum, PBC; Fred Merrill, PBC; Bridger McGaw, EDAC and Town Meeting member Mr. Parker called the meeting to order at 7:32 pm, reviewed the authorization for meeting remotely, and stated that the meeting was being recorded for the purpose of creating minutes. Announcements and Liaison Reports Mr. Michelson reported that the State had announced that the Community Preservation Act(CPA) State match would be 45.5%. Ms. Kosnoff reported that the Town issued a $16.5 million bond, which includes about$8 million for the Center streetscape project. The true interest cost is 1.5% over a term of 15 years. The Town usually issues one bond a year, although there will likely be a bond anticipation note issued in June. Additionally, the Town's Aaa bond rating was upheld during its recent update. Mr. Parker reminded members that he is available to respond to questions about WDesk. Article 25: Appropriate for Worthen Road Recreation and Education District Land Use Concept Plan (Citizen's Article) Representing the proponents of Article 25, Mr. McGaw presented slides comparable to those used at the Select Board meeting on January 18, explaining the logic for the article. He, Ms. Krum, Mr. Merrill, and Mr. Himmel stressed the following: • The Town is moving toward a complicated project to replace the current high school that could cost over $450 million and could involve four years of construction. Education and recreation programs will be impacted, as will students and neighbors. • This article supports a land use study rather than a school project. It is recommending a process that is a best practice in land use planning. • It is important to understand the options and complexities associated with the Worthen Road area and steps that need to be taken to optimize its use if that is where a new high school is to be located. 1