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4/13/2016 AC Minutes Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC) April 13, 2016 Place and time: Ellen Stone Room, Cary Memorial Building; 6:30 p.m. Members present. Glenn Parker, Chair; John Bartenstein, Vice Chair and Secretary; Kate Colburn; Mollie Garberg; Alan Levine; Eric Michelson; Richard Neumeier; Andrei Radulescu -Banu Members Absent: Beth Masterman; Rob Addelson (non- voting, ex officio) Others Present: David Horton, Lexington Representative, Minuteman Technical School Committee; Patrick Mehr, Resident The meeting was called to order at 6:35 pm. 1. Announcements: • Annual Town Meeting Article 10(p): Appropriate for Municipal Capital Projects and Equipment; Parking Meter Replacement Phase 2: Mr. Parker reported that the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) is not supporting this article because it does not believe enough data is available on the results of Phase 1. Mr. Michelson reported the following: > Phase 1 started with the installation of 19 -25 new meters, with the balance for that phase being installed on March 1, 2016. > Data was collected and shared during the initial stage of Phase 1, but the amount of time to collect data was limited; credit card use is currently up to 60 %, which reduces costs associated with emptying the meters and counting the money. > The new meters are necessary for changing the recently approved parking meter rates efficiently. > The new meters can easily be tweaked electronically to adjust to changes in rates at particular locations, as may be desired. The old meters require manual adjustments on each meter, and extra patrols to empty them more frequently if rates are increased. This Committee has already voted to recommend passage of Article 10(p). • Tax Impact of May 3 Debt Exclusion Referendum: Using a handout, Mr. Mehr discussed the tax impact of the debt exclusion proposal to support school related projects. He believes the impacts will be greater than those presented on the Town's website. Mr. Parker reported that he and Mr. Addelson will be meeting in the near future to review the issue, and he will subsequently contact Mr. Mehr. 2. Report to Special Town Meeting 2016 -4: • Article 2: Bond Approval Minuteman Regional High School: Mr. Michelson reviewed proposed changes to his draft report for the article. Mr. Radulescu -Banu expressed concern about the estimated costs per square foot for replacing the school building, indicating that they are greater than for comparable projects that he had identified. Mr. Michelson's and Mr. Horton's comments included the following: 1