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03/16/2023 AC Minutes <br />2 <br />Article 10(m) (Transforming Trees into Art). There was further discussion of the project, including <br />the durability of the sculptures, maintenance costs, and the amount of foot traffic in the location. <br />Several members who had previously abstained from voting on this item pending the receipt of <br />more information indicated that they were now prepared to change their votes. Mr. Ahuja requested <br />to change his vote from abstain to no; Mr. Bartenstein requested to change his vote from abstain to <br />yes; Mr. Levine requested to change his vote from abstain to yes; and Mr. Padaki requested to <br />change his vote from abstain to no, making the final vote 4-4-0. <br />Article 18 (Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations). Ms. Kosnoff stated that the Select Board <br />would seek indefinite postponement of this article as Town staff have not identified any prior au- <br />thorizations that are appropriate for rescission at this time. A number of major rescissions will likely <br />be proposed next year, including borrowing authorizations for Hastings School, the main fire station <br />and Lexington Children’s Place, as it is expected that these projects will then be complete. A mo- <br />tion was made to support indefinite postponement of Article 18. VOTE: 8-0-0. <br />Article 21 (Amend FY2023 Operating, Enterprise and CPA Budgets). Ms. Kosnoff reported that the <br />motion under this article had now been finalized, though not yet posted to the Town’s website. She <br />reviewed proposed changes to the FY2023 operating budget, noting that the motion will have two <br />parts. The first will address two changes to the General Fund operating budget: (1) the addition of <br />$25,085 to the Property and Liability Insurance line item to cover higher than expected increases in <br />premiums; and (2) the addition of $130,000 to the Law Enforcement Personal Services line item, <br />primarily due to increases in overtime costs. The second part will address revenue adjustments to <br />the Community Preservation Fund, allocating state matching funds received in excess of the amount <br />originally budgeted, a little more than $150,000, to each of the three 10% “buckets” reserved for <br />housing, historic preservation and open space. Each “bucket” will receive $50,000, with a small re- <br />maining balance to go to the undesignated fund balance, which may be used for any CPA project. A <br />motion was made to recommend approval of Article 21. Vote 8-0-0. <br />Review of Draft Report to the 2023 ATM <br />Mr. Parker reviewed with the Committee the latest draft of the report to the 2023 ATM, article by <br />article, which he said should be in close to final form. He summarized the introduction he had pre- <br />pared, went through edits which he and others had made to various article write-ups, and took com- <br />ments and suggestions from Committee members for the final version of the report. <br />It was agreed that Mr. Parker, with the assistance of Mr. Levine, would work over the next several <br />days to prepare a definitive draft, then circulate it to Committee members for a final review. This <br />would allow the Committee to vote to approve the report at the meeting scheduled for Monday <br />evening, March 20, before the first session of the ATM, and Mr. Parker to publish the report one <br />week before financial articles are taken up. <br />Miscellaneous <br />Ms. Kosnoff informed the Committee that Mr. Livsey, the Town Engineer, would like to start dis- <br />cussions with the financial committees about the possible creation of a new Stormwater Enterprise <br />Fund, which is expected to be taken up at a special town meeting next fall. It was agreed that a <br />meeting should be scheduled for this purpose at a time after the ATM has concluded. <br />Ms. Kosnoff also advised that she and the Town Manager were concerned about the potential im- <br />pact of Article 40, a citizen’s zoning article seeking to reduce the permitted gross floor area of <br />newly constructed homes, on the Town’s new growth revenue. She explained that they had per- <br />formed a rough analysis suggesting that the impact could be substantial, reducing new growth