HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-10-AC-min10/10/13 Minutes
Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee
October 10, 2013
Place and time: Ellen Stone Room, Cary Memorial Building, 7:30 p.m.
Members present. Glenn Parker, Chair; John Bartenstein, Vice Chair and Secretary; Alan Levine;
Richard Neumeier; Jonina Schonfeld; Rob Addelson (non- voting, ex officio)
Members Absent: Robert Cohen; Mollie Garberg; Susan McLeish; Eric Michelson
The meeting was called to order at 7:48 p.m.
1. Announcements and Liaison Reports: Mr. Neumeier attended a meeting of the Cary
Memorial Building Renovation Design Committee ( CMBRDC) as the Appropriation Committee
liaison. At this time, architectural designs are not available, and the CMBRDC is not discussing
items that have financial implications. He plans to attend these meetings only when items with
financial implications are being discussed. Mr. Neumeier will inform the CMBRDC chair of his
planned approach to attendance.
Mr. Bartenstein reported that he has been following the recent process for setting the Town's
FY2014 water and sewer rates. The staff s final proposal, approved by the Selectmen on October 7,
was for a combined (water and sewer) increase of 1.6 %. The rate increase for water (3.5 %) is
somewhat higher than the rate increase for sewer (.8 %).
Mr. Bartenstein noted that the financial results for FY2013 showed substantial surpluses of about $1
million in each of the water and sewer funds, resulting from:
• Unanticipated bond premiums;
• Operating costs that came in below budget; and
• Water and sewer usage greater than projected.
With respect to the last item, he has been working to identify the causes of recent growth trends in
water and sewer usage, particularly at the most expensive tier, in the hope that more accurate
projections can be made in the future and surpluses of this magnitude avoided. Shire
Pharmaceuticals has accounted for a large amount of the recent growth in usage as its water -
intensive biotech manufacturing operations have ramped up, but the data indicate that Shire usage is
now leveling off. Other factors contributing to the growth trend appear to be the continuing
teardown phenomenon, which results in larger houses with higher water and sewer usage; and on
the sewer side only, the gradual elimination of homes with private septic systems. (As these homes,
historically billed for water use only, are converted to the Town sewer system, overall annual
sewage usage is approaching annual overall water usage.) If these trends can be confirmed, less
conservative usage projections may be warranted in future rate proceedings.
2. Minutes: Mr. Levine plans to make some additional edits to the draft September 25, 2013
Minutes; approval was postponed.
10/10/13 Minutes
3. November 4, 2013 Special Town Meeting (STM) Warrant: Mr. Parker asked that
members prepare and review as much material as possible for the Appropriation Committee's report
to the STM by next week's meeting. The proposed assignments are as follows:
• Introduction: Mr. Parker —first draft; Mr. Levine—review.
• Article 2, $86,000 Grantfor the Schools: Ms. Garberg —first draft; Ms. Schonfeld— review
• Article 2, Municipal Budget: Mr. Michelson —first draft; Ms. McLeish review
• Article 2, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority: Mr. Bartenstein —first draft; Mr.
Cohen—review
• Article 3, Stabilization Funds: Ms. Schonfeld —first draft; Mr. Neumeier— review
• Article 4, High School Modular Buildings: Mr. Levine and Mr. Cohen —first draft; Ms.
Garberg— review
• Article S, Community Center: Mr. Parker —first draft; Mr. Levine—review
Once a draft has been created and reviewed, it should be distributed to the whole committee.
4. Next Meeting: Reviewed drafts of the Appropriation Committee report for the STM should
be distributed prior to the October 17 meeting. Mr. Parker will not be at the meeting, but hopes that
as many votes as possible can be taken on the relevant warrant articles.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
A list of documents and other exhibits used at the meeting is set forth below.
Respectfully submitted,
Sara Arnold
Approved October 17, 2013
Exhibits
1. Meeting Agenda posted by Glenn Parker, Chair
2