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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-01-08-CEC-min Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting Date, Place, and Location• January 8, 2013, 8 00 A M , Town Office Building, Reed Room (111) Members Present• Charles Lamb, Chair, Beth Masterman, Vice-Chair, Jill Hai, Bill Hurley, David Kanter Other Attendee(s)• Mark Corr, Chief, Police Department, Manuel Ferro, Captain of Operations, Police Department, David Kelland, Chair, Lexington Historical Commission (LHC), Marilyn Fenollosa, LHC, Warren Manhard, Treasurer, Merriam Hill Association, Sara Arnold, Recording Secretary Documents Presented• • FY2014—FY2018 Capital Improvement Projects (CIPS), Police Department • Applications to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for FY2014 Funding from the Community Preservation Fund (CPF) LHC • Draft 3 Minutes for the CEC Meeting, January 4, 2013 Call to Order: At the request of Mr Lamb, Ms Masterman called the meeting to order at 8.02 A Ni and chaired the meeting Police Department CIPS: The Committee and Police Department staff discussed these CI Ps • Police Station, Renovation and Add-on Design and Engineering Chief Corr reported that he is meeting next week with the consultants (The Cecil Group) for the Ad hoc Town-wide Facilities Master Planning Committee (AhTFMPC), which is including alternatives for the Police Station in its study In discussing the location and program needs of a new Police Station, he made the following comments To date there has only been a space-needs study, which means that estimated construction costs for a new police station have not been developed Rough estimates have indicated that a new facility is likely to cost $10-15 million, A joint fire/police facility requires a large piece of property The benefits of such a joint-use facility are limited to sharing dispatch services and a fitness and training center The Police Department works closely with the Human Services Department, this is a better combination than with the Fire Department Response time is a major consideration when locating fire/police facilities, the current locations work well Lexington center is a perfect location for the Police Station, but the land area currently used for the station isn't large enough for the needed new or renovated station Perhaps the Hosmer House could be moved or incorporated into the new Police Station so some of that land would provide for the needed expanded footprint and the need for 3 driveways would be re-evaluated Page 1 of 4 The current Police Station requires significant renovations, and more space is needed The Police Department has an emergency generator Additional space for dispatch is critical, a disruption to dispatch services is unacceptable Dispatch needs to be in a separate area with air-conditioning and fire-suppression systems The Town's computer system is not protected adequately, the head end needs to be separated from the schools and in its own facility or in a cordoned-off location The firing range at Hartwell Avenue is inadequate, flipping the range orientation would improve conditions The Committee urged the Police Department to stress their needs when talking to Cecil Group Mr Lamb said that he has repeatedly requested that a consultant be used to develop a comprehensive security audit coupled with Town-wide policies and procedures that include training regarding the use of technology throughout the Town He recognizes that it will cost a half-million dollars to upgrade security for the current systems, but this may be a necessary expenditure The Committee and Chief Corr discussed having a separate CIP next year for the firing range It needs to be kept on the radar screen Surrounding towns have expressed support of a regional firing range in Lexington This approach could help pay for it • Software (Police and Fire/EMS)• The Police Department is working with an outdated dispatch-and-management records software system Capt Ferro has researched alternatives throughout the country and internationally, and has not found an obvious front runner Regulations in New England are unique so that systems used outside the region are not appropriate New York has a custom-built system, but no software company seems to be interested in investing in the development of new software for Massachusetts' needs Woburn purchased a system that was considered the best available, and they are not happy with it Billerica and Bedford are purchasing the ARMS system, which appears to be the best fit for Lexington as well The Committee suggested that if ARMS seems like the best available system, the Town may need to purchase it with the understanding that it may not be a long-term solution Chief Corr commented that training takes a considerable amount of time, and it is important to find a system that will last a reasonable length of time He also noted that the department may not be able to handle having a new computer system installed at the same time renovations or building a new facility are being pursued because of the pressures these put on staff time Charles Lamb left the meeting at 8 25 A M LHC Funding Requests to the CPC. • Moon Hill National Register Nomination Mr Kelland and Ms Fenollosa reported that the Moon Hill neighborhood, designed by The Architects Collaborative, now includes 29 residences The Six Moon Hill Neighborhood Association has asked that the area be nominated to the National Register of Historic Places based on its architecturally Page 2 of 4 and historically significant homes This is a voluntary procedure The process is estimated to cost $8,000, of which the LHC is requesting $6,000 to the CPC from the CPF, the $2,000 balance would be contributed by the Association The National Register of Historic Places is maintained by the National Park Service There are several benefits to being listed on the National Register Although the program hasn't been funded by Congress, being listed means the home owner can potentially receive Federal grant money If a building is income producing, it is possible to get a 20% Federal tax credit and possibly a State tax credit Any Federal or State project that may cause an adverse impact to properties on the National Register triggers a Federal Section 106 process—which, in Massachusetts, involves consulting with the Massachusetts Historic Commission—to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the adverse impact Being on the National Register is an honorary status, there are no Federal restrictions on the homeowner's ability to modify, demolish, sell, or otherwise impact the listed property, although local laws, such as Lexington's Demolition Delay By-law, may apply The Moon Hill neighborhood is not under the jurisdiction of the Historic Districts Commission In response to questions, it was reported that there are other neighborhoods in Lexington with mid-century modern architecture, including Peacock Farm—which was recently added to the National Registry No studies have determined if this designation impacts the property value The LHC does not intend to pursue the listing of the other neighborhoods in the near future, and it is possible that those neighborhoods will not choose to come to the LHC to request assistance in pursuing such nominations • Merriam Hill Preservation Project• The Merriam Hill Association approached the LHC after the house at 31 Somerset Road was demolished The Association is interested in having an additional historic assessment of the houses in the neighborhood to determine whether there are more properties within the neighborhood that should be added to Lexington's Inventory of Cultural Resources, thereby becoming subject to Lexington's Demolition Delay By-law The LHC has a mission to document and protect buildings that are architecturally and historically significant, and they have developed an inventory of houses and neighborhoods that fit into this category (the Inventory) That Inventory consists of buildings that have been fully documented and those on a Priority List where an initial assessment indicates they deserve protection There is case law that one cannot demand their building be removed from either component of the Inventory as there is no harm done to the owner by the mere fact of being listed However, if a follow-up assessment demonstrates that a house has lost its historic or architectural integrity, the house would be removed from the Inventory Otherwise, a property in the Inventory is subject to the Town's Demolition Delay By-law, which requires up to a 12-month demolition delay unless the owner can demonstrate to the LHC that no preservation alternative exists If the LHC denies a demolition request, the owner can appeal to the Massachusetts Superior Court If the building is a tear down, this process could potentially decrease the value of a building because of the delay The LHC does not have funding to fulfill its mission to determine which Lexington Page 3 of 4 buildings are architecturally and historically significant About 150 properties need a more-detailed assessment The LHC is interested in assessing the homes in the Merriam Hill neighborhood because it is an old, historic, neighborhood and because the neighborhood association has made the request The process is estimated to cost $3,500, of which the LHC is requesting $3,000 to the CPC from the CPF, the $500 balance would be contributed by the Association The Committee strongly recommended that the LHC go to the CPC again next year, whether or not any neighborhood requests it, for funding—perhaps the first of several annual requests—to complete all pending more-detailed assessments/ documentation of properties in the Inventory (i e , those on the Priority List) and provide advice of that action and the outcome to the owners of all those properties This would ensure all of the Inventory has the benefit of full documentation justifying inclusion in the Inventory and help ensure owners know whether their building is subject to the Demolition Delay By-law Minutes• It was moved and seconded to approve the January 4, 2013 Minutes—subject to Mr Kanter confirming with Carl Valente, Town Manager, that the comments he made at that meeting are properly reflected in the Minutes Vote 4-0 Future Meetings• The Committee decided to hold an Executive Session as part of its January 15, 2013, meeting as the Committee did not go into the Executive Session that had been planned for its January 4, 2013, meeting Member Concerns & Liaison Reports• Mr Kanter provided updates in respect to projects reviewed by this Committee at previous meetings • CPC. The $30,000 funding of the 5-Year Open Space and Recreation Plan Update will be from the CPC's Administrative Budget so it isn't expected to appear as a separate project at the 2013 Annual Town Meeting • CPC A review is being made to ensure all required conservation and historic restrictions are either in place or will be developed • CPC. The proposed Hastings Park Gazebo Rehabilitation/Restoration project, which is estimated to cost $30,000, would trigger full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; therefore, the Department of Public Works is revisiting its application Full compliance is likely to require on the order of $80,000 • CPC Town Counsel agrees the sub-surface drainage work contemplated in the Lincoln Park Field Improvements project is eligible for funding under the Community Preservation Act as it would be needed even if a grass surface were to be installed • Schools The Town of Wellesley has a program requiring some students to have iPads at their family's own expense Adjourn: A Motion was made and seconded at 10.02 Ann to adjourn Vote• 4-0 These Minutes were approved by the CEC at its meeting on January 22, 2013 Page 4 of 4