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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-08-04-AC-min August 4, 2005 Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee August 4, 2005 Members Present: Al Levine (Chair), Deborah Brown (Vice Chair), Paul Hamburger, Pam Hoffman, David Kanter, Eric Michelson. Additional Attendees: Richard Canale (Planning Board and Metropolitan Area Planning Council), along with other CPA advocates, Hank Manz (Board of Selectmen), Helen Cohen (School Committee), Loren Wood, Michael Young (Town Budget officer). The meeting was called to order at 7:40 by Al Levine in Town Office Bldg. Rm. G15. PM 1. Minutes: Deborah volunteered to take minutes. 2. Community Preservation Act: Richard Canale addressed the committee on the subject of the Community Preservation Act (CPA). He reported that after Town Meeting approved sending it to the voters, the Planning Board voted unanimously to support CPA. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council is also supporting CPA and providing staff support. Richard wants good quality information available to the voters. His expectation is that the Appropriation Committee and the Capital Expenditures Committee will have liaisons to the CPA Committee (if the referendum passes). Richard reviewed the CPA advocates’ slide presentation with the AC for its comments, corrections. The members of the AC provided feedback on a number of issues. Richard was also looking for AC’s input on priorities of projects and on the interaction with overrides and taxpayer impact. Al Levine then provided his view of the AC’s role and posed some questions regarding process and what action, if any, the AC wanted to take on CPA: ?? Al described the AC’s role as giving advice to the Town (to Town Meeting, the BOS, other boards/committees, and to citizens). ?? Al asked the AC if they wanted to produce a report to publish in February before the referendum vote. ?? Al asked the AC if they wanted to meet with other boards, hold CPA summits. ?? Al suggested some issues the AC might comment on: technical aspects of CPA, what projects might be eligible, priority of CPA with regard to other overrides, timing issues. He also mentioned the idea floating around BOS of presenting an operating override on the March ballot. 1 August 4, 2005 Richard expressed interest in CPA advocates returning to AC in October to talk again. 3. Town Manager’s financial projections: Michael Young distributed additional debt information prepared for BOS goal-setting and highlighted several items, including: ?? $114,288,695 in total debt has been authorized by Town Meeting (not necessarily all issued) ?? $18,185,401 will be retired in FY2006 Michael said that the proposed budget preparation schedule had an earlier starting date than last year and had a goal of a completed budget by February 1, 2006. Paul Hamburger commented that financial projections prepared for goal-setting look very similar to those made by the Town Manager and the AC at last spring’s town meeting. Michael also discussed free cash and local receipts, which were both up over projections. He described $1.8m earned in arbitrage on school building borrowing which the Dept. of Revenue has now directed be released to free cash. 4. Water/Sewer audit: AL referenced his comments in response to the report of the W/S Committee, but acknowledged that there was not sufficient time to discuss them at this meeting. David Kanter described the Town Manager’s presentation to BOS. DK said he was satisfied with Carl Valente’s acknowledgement that the entire answer on water/sewer billings is not yet in hand, and his acknowledgement that he felt obligated to get the answer and report back. Michael noted that the BOS will continue discussion of the W/S Committee’s report at its August 29 meeting. 5. Fiscal Policy Review Committee: Al agreed to make this a major agenda item for next meeting. 6. School budget: Al reported that Superintendent Paul Ash would like to meet with one or several members of the AC. Pam Hoffman indicated that she is interested in participating in this discussion. 7. Other business: ?? David cannot attend the October 17 or November 21 BOS meetings and needs volunteers to cover. ?? Deborah has submitted draft of June 22, 2005 minutes; all edits should be emailed to her. 2 August 4, 2005 ?? Paul reviewed the task chart he had prepared and Pam volunteered to be one of the School liaisons. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45PM. Respectfully submitted, Deborah Brown Approved March 9, 2006 3