Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-21-AC-minMarch 21, 2012 Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee Meeting March 21, 2012 Time and Location: Ellen Stone Room, Cary Memorial Hall, 7:30 p.m Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; John Bartenstein, Vice Chair and Secretary; Robert Cohen; Mollie Garberg; Joe Pato, Vice Chair; Alan Levine; Eric Michelson; Richard Neumeier; Jonina Schonfeld; Rob Addelson, ex- officio The meeting was called to order at 7:38 p.m 1. Liaison and Staff Reports Mr. Addelson reported that Town Manager Carl Valente has presented to the Board of Selectmen a plan for allocation of the budgetary surplus resulting from reduction of the Health Insurance line item following agreement to join the GIC. The amount of the surplus is estimated at approximately $3 million in FY2013 but the amount declines in FY2014, FY2015 and FY2016 taking into account anticipated inflation in health care costs. The plan proposes to appropriate money to the street maintenance program, OPEB, capital projects and a building renewal fund. It was noted that to the extent the surplus is used for operating expenses it would be allocated using the 72/28 model. The consensus of the Committee was that a summit should be convened to discuss the disposition of the surplus prior to Town Meeting deliberations on Article 4. 2. Review of Warrant Articles • Article 16(e) White House Stabilization. This property, under control of the Board of Selectmen, has no current or anticipated use. However, the Historic Districts Commission has ruled that the original portion of the building is historically significant and may neither be razed nor moved to another location in Town. The Department of Public Facilities' proposal requests an appropriation of $381,000 to demolish the historically non - significant portions of the building and to do exterior repairs to stabilize the historically significant portions of the building. It is anticipated that the Board of Selectmen will move to indefinitely postpone this article and that the Capital Expenditures Committee will seek to substitute a motion to fully fund it. Some members of the Committee indicated that their support of this project would be contingent on knowing the ultimate disposition of the property. On a vote to recommend approval of the Selectmen's motion for indefinite postponement, the Committee voted in favor (6 -3 -0). On a vote to recommend approval of the CEC's substitute motion to fully fund the project, the Committee voted against (2 -7 -0). • Article 8(d) CPA Cary Memorial Building Upgrades. The Community Preservation Committee has requested $550,000 for this project. The Board of Selectmen has questioned its scope and timing of the project and has indicated that it will move to amend to reduce the appropriation to $75,000. On a motion to recommend approval of the full request of the CPC, the Committee voted against (0 -7 -2). On a motion to recommend approval of the reduced recommendation of $75,000, the Committee voted in favor (7 -0 -2). March 21, 2012 • Article 17 Citizens' Article to Subsidize Bus Fees. This article seeks $316,250 and is intended to increase school bus ridership and decrease on- street congestion by subsidizing the school bus fees with money from outside of the school budget. A survey of parents determined that the $550/600 per student cost is the No. 1 factor keeping families from signing up for the bus. Several members of the Committee raised concerns: (1) whether sufficient calculations have been presented to determine costs of the program if additional buses must be added to accommodate increased ridership, making it difficult to determine budgetary risks; (2) whether it is equitable to use taxpayer money to subsidize bus fees; and (3) whether the costs of school bus subsidies should be part of the School Department budget since it is the School Department that controls this program. On a motion to recommend approval of Article 17, the Committee voted in favor (5 -3 -1). • Article 12 Appropriate for Municipal Projects and Equipment. The Committee voted to recommend approval of Article 12 sections (a -q) by a vote of (9 -0). • Article 16 —Appropriate for Public Facilities Capital Projects. The Committee voted to recommend approval of Article 16, sections (a) — (1) — except for section (e), the White House stabilization project discussed above — by a vote of (9 -0). The meeting was adjourned at 10:19 p.m. A list of documents and other items used at the meeting is attached. Respectfully submitted, Eric Michelson Approved August 2, 2012 2 March 21, 2012 Exhibits Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee Meeting March 21, 2012 1. Meeting Agenda, posted by Glenn Parker, Chair.