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<br /> <br /> <br />Minutes <br />Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee <br />October 22, 2008 <br /> <br />Place and time: Ellen Stone Room, Cary Memorial Hall, 7:30 PM <br /> <br />Members present: Alan Levine (Chair), John Bartenstein (Vice Chair), Susan McLeish <br />(Secretary), Richard Eurich, Pam Hoffman, Michael Kennealy, Eric Michelson, Glenn <br />Parker, Deborah Brown, Rob Addelson (ex officio, non-voting) <br /> <br />The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM. <br /> <br />Upcoming Meeting Opportunities. <br /> 1. The following meetings were noted to be <br />of possible interest to members of the Committee: <br /> <br />? <br /> <br />Massachusetts School Building Authority check presentation – Oct. 23 <br />? <br /> <br />Affordable Housing Forum – Oct. 23 <br />? <br /> <br />Energy Roundtable – Oct. 31, 10 AM to noon <br />? <br /> <br />Assoc. of Town Finance Committees (ATFC) Annual Meeting - Nov. 1 <br /> <br />State Budget Cuts. <br /> 2. Rob Addelson reported the following in regards to the <br />state budget cuts recently proposed by Governor Patrick: <br /> <br />? <br /> <br />At this time, there are no cuts to local aid. <br />? <br /> <br />The Community Policing Grants destined for Lexington have been reduced by <br />$8,000. <br />? <br /> <br />A $20M reduction in State funds for the sewer rate relief program will be <br />absorbed by the MWRA and should not affect Lexington sewer rates. <br />? <br /> <br />METCO monies for Lexington were reduced by $5,000. <br />? <br /> <br />The SPED circuit breaker reimbursement will be reduced to 72% from 75%; <br />however, this will not result in a FY2009 Lexington budget shortfall because <br />the Town’s budget was built assuming a 72% reimbursement rate. <br /> <br />Rob advised that if the economy continues to deteriorate, there is a possibility both state <br />aid and local revenues will yet fall short of the amounts assumed for the FY09 budget. <br />The town is currently identifying potential cost reductions in order to have options to <br />react appropriately to any further revenue cuts. The current amount in the Stabilization <br />Fund is approximately $6.6 million. <br /> <br />Special Town Meeting. <br /> 3. The warrant for the upcoming Special Town Meeting <br />has been posted on the town website. It contains nine articles. One is for unpaid bills, of <br />which there are none at this time. Rob Addelson presented a sheet entitled “Potential <br />Adjustments at November STM (Preliminary)” outlining revenue and expense <br />adjustments proposed in Articles 3, 4 and 8. The adjustments address funding of the <br />remaining snow and ice deficit; additional new growth and local aid; decreased motor <br />vehicle excise and facilities rental revenue; increased expenses in energy and labor <br /> 1 <br /> <br /> <br />