HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-03-21-AC-min3/21/13 Minutes
Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee
March 21, 2013
Place and time: Reed Room, Town Office Building, 7:30 p.m.
Members present. Glenn Parker, Chair; John Bartenstein, Vice Chair and Secretary; Mollie
Garberg; Alan Levine; Eric Michelson; Richard Neumeier; Jonina Schonfeld; Rob Addelson
(non- voting, ex officio)
Members Absent Robert Cohen; Susan McLeish
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m.
1. Announcements: Mr. Bartenstein reported attending a meeting of the Lexington
Retirement Board meeting earlier in the day. A new Town Meeting member, Andrei Radulescu-
Banu, was also present with questions about fund performance and the level of investment fees.
Investment returns for 2012 were healthy at 14.2% but Mr. Bartenstein noted the challenges
faced by the Board in meeting the actuarially targeted 7.75% rate of return over the long term in
today's investment climate.
2. Committee's Report to the March 2013 Annual Town Meeting: Mr. Parker thanked
members for their contributions to and comments on the draft report and requested any additional
changes by noon on Saturday so that he can prepare and circulate a final draft.
Votes were taken on Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Articles, as follows:
Article 8d (Muzzey Senior Center Upgrade): Because the Senior Center will likely be
moving to 33 Marrett Road, it was moved and seconded to support indefinite
postponement of Article 8d. VOTE: 7 -0.
• Article 8e (Visitor Center — Design Phase): Because neither the Selectmen nor the CPC
are supporting funding this project at this time, it was moved and seconded to support
indefinite postponement of the municipal funding portion of Article 8e. VOTE: 7 -0.
Article 10q (Hartwell Avenue Infrastructure — Engineering and Easements) and Article
lOr (Sidewalk Improvements and Easements): Mr. Addelson reported that at the
request of the Capital Expenditures Committee, $200,000 of the $600,000 that was
originally included in Article lOr for sidewalks will be moved to Article lOq. This
$200,000 is for sidewalks on Hartwell Avenue and brings the Hartwell Avenue request
up to $800,000. It was moved and seconded to support appropriations of $800,000 for
Article 10q and $400,000 for Article 1Or. VOTE: 7 -0.
Article 20 (Specified Stabilization Funds): Mr. Addelson clarified the amounts of
money going into and out of the Transportation Demand Management Stabilization
Fund. It was moved and seconded to recommend approval of Article 20 based on the
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latest numbers available for appropriation into and out of the various funds. Vote: 7 -0.
It was noted that some of the specified stabilization funds are no longer active, and
there was a discussion of closing out such funds in the future if they are obsolete.
Mr. Addelson and Mr. Michelson reviewed the assumptions Mr. Michelson used in developing
the three year projection for the Committee's report.
Mr. Parker reported that a question had been asked why the Appropriation Committee hadn't
taken a position on Article 32 (Amend the General Bylaws — Electronic Voting). It was noted
that the Committee has effectively indicated its support for the adoption of electronic voting at
Town Meeting by its favorable vote on Article 4, which includes funds for purchasing and
operating the electronic equipment.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the draft report of the Appropriation Committee to
the March 2013 Town Meeting, subject to the changes discussed at this meeting and further
technical and stylistic edits to be made over the weekend. VOTE: 7 -0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:36 p.m.
A list of documents and other exhibits used at the meeting is set forth below.
Respectfully submitted,
Sara Arnold
Recording Secretary
Approved May 9, 2013
Exhibits
1. Meeting Agenda posted by Glenn Parker, Chair
2