HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-04-01-AC-min4/1/13 Minutes
Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee
April 1, 2013
Place and time: Reed Room, Town Office Building, 6:30 p.m.
Members present. Glenn Parker, Chair; John Bartenstein, Vice Chair and Secretary; Robert
Cohen; Mollie Garberg; Alan Levine; Susan McLeish; Eric Michelson; Richard Neumeier;
Jonina Schonfeld; Rob Addelson (non- voting, ex officio)
Members Absent. none
Others present: Kevin Batt, Town Counsel; Paul Miniutti, Town Meeting member; Dawn
McKenna, Town Meeting member
The meeting was called to order at 6:37 p.m.
1. Announcements and Liaison Reports. None.
2. Articles for the March 2013 Annual Town Meeting — Proposed Amendments:
Article 4, Line Item 8500 (Town Clerk Expenses): Mr. Miniutti made a presentation on
his proposed amendment to reduce this line item by $40,000 to eliminate funding for
electronic voting equipment at Town Meeting. He doesn't believe the program will
improve transparency, and he believes that few people are interested in the data. He
suggested that the value of this new program doesn't justify the cost. He commented
that new technology should be available soon to allow electronic voting using Town
Meeting members' smart phones or tablets, which would be more cost effective.
Committee members agreed that it was appropriate for Town Meeting to have a healthy
debate about this subject, although they do not expect Town Meeting to support the
amendment. They noted that other Towns are using electronic voting successfully.
Ms. Garberg reported that when she moved to Lexington she wanted to know how her
Town Meeting members had voted, and there was no available information. It was also
suggested that using personal equipment could create reliability problems.
A motion to recommend approval of the amendment failed. VOTE: 0 -9
Article 20 (Establish and Appropriate To and From Specified Stabilization Funds): Mr.
Bartenstein read an email from Patrick Mehr, who could not be present, describing his
proposal to "amend the main motion under article 20 to increase the amount going into
the [Capital Projects/Debt Service Relief/ Building Renewal Fund] by $750,000..."
Mr. Mehr believes the FY14 budget should include an additional $750,000 in
anticipated new growth revenue, and he believes that putting an equivalent amount of
as -yet unallocated revenue into the specified stabilization fund would encourage use of
a budget surplus, should it materialize, to reduce taxes in a future year.
4/1/13 Minutes
Mr. Addelson explained that the historically conservative estimates of new growth are a
product of the process, not a product of intent. Estimated new growth for the coming
fiscal year is based on experience during the first five to nine months of the current
fiscal year. If new growth doesn't reach estimates, this could create a situation where
total revenues were less than the total amount appropriated, thereby impacting the
state's certification of the Town's budget.
A motion to support the amendment of Article 20 as described in Mr. Mehr's email
failed. VOTE: 0 -8 -1
Article 4, Line Item 1100 (Lexington Public Schools): It was reported that Ms.
McKenna may move to amend Line Item 1100 to provide funding for an elementary
school foreign language teacher. It was noted that even if additional money is
appropriated, the School Committee would not be required to spend the money in that
fashion. There was also concern that this is not the appropriate process for changing
the School Department's budget.
Ms. McKenna arrived at the meeting to report that she had decided not to put this
motion forward because the School Committee had voted, 0 -5, to oppose it. She added
that she hopes to continue a dialog with the School Committee about restoring foreign
language at the elementary level.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:26 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. Email from Patrick Mehr to Glenn Parker dated April 1, 2013, RE: AC discussion of
amendment to Article 20
2