HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-10-AC-min
March 10, 2005
Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee
March 10, 2005
Place and time: Room 105, Town Office Building, 7:30 p.m.
Members present: Alan Levine (Chair), Richard Eurich, Ron Pawliczek, Paul
Hamburger, Rod Cole, Deborah Brown, Eric Michelson, John Bartenstein
Also present: Michael Young, Budget Officer
1. RC agreed to be minute taker.
2. There was a discussion of tax rate setting issues. With the CIP at 1.8, the property
tax increase for residential property goes up 12.9% and commercial property tax
goes up 4.7%. The CIP needs to come down to 1.75 by FY 2008. We may want to
propose a new process so that the selectmen get the required information in a
timelier manner so they have more time to consider the facts before setting the
CIP than they had this year. MY noted that the BOS are considering a tax 101 &
102 seminar over the summer.
3. AL asked MY to find out who are the 10 new people on the town side of the
budget.
4. PH reported on new growth for 2005. It is set at $1.69M, which results in an extra
$290K in the ’06 budget. A possible split of the extra money is $91K for the
schools, $31,339 for Minuteman, and $15K for trees, leaving about $150K for
other uses. The sense of the AC (7 pro, 1 abstain) is to use $91K for schools, and
$31K for Minuteman, and have a budget collaboration meeting to deal with how
to split up the rest of the new money.
5. There was a discussion of snow and ice budgets. This year it appears that the
snow and ice expenditures will be about $950K. In coming years, we’d like to see
the snow and ice line item increased to a more realistic level. The possibility was
raised of a supplemental appropriation in ’05 to reduce the snow and ice deficit
that impacts the ‘06 budget. PH proposed that MY go back to staff to consider
what makes sense regarding a supplemental appropriation.
6. There was a discussion of when to meet during town meeting and it was decided
to meet Tuesday March 15 at 8 pm, and March 21 at 7:30 pm, and on nights of
town meeting to meet at 6:15.
7. The sense of the AC was not to vote in favor of Article 17, money for trees, until
we better understand the other possible uses of $15K.
8. Concerns were raised regarding Article 30E (school security systems). It is felt we
need a report on how the system will be used and what problem is being solved. A
motion to oppose this Article passed by a vote of 8-0.
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March 10, 2005
9. The AC decided to table Article 31, school technology, pending additional
information.
10. The AC decided to table Article 29, supplementary appropriations for capital,
pending additional information.
11. The AC discussed Article 7, CPA, but decided we need more information.
12. There was a discussion of when the parts of the AC report need to be finished.
The major sections need to be finished by next Tuesday, with an edited electronic
st
version by March 21.
13. The town manager search was discussed. The search is down to four finalists, and
consultants are checking resumes and backgrounds.
14. Moved, seconded, and voted unanimously to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted,
Rod Cole
Approved June 22, 2005
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