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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-10-CPC-min.exe Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee Executive Session Thursday, January 10, 2019 Parker Meeting Room Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Avenue 5:05 PM Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa (Chair); Dick Wolk (Vice-Chair), Charles Hornig, David Horton, Jeanne Krieger, Joe Pato, Bob Pressman, Lisah Rhodes, Melinda Walker. Administrative Assistant: Gina Federico Other Attendees: Wendy Manz, Capital Expenditures Committee liaison to the CPC; Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs; Phil Hamilton, Chair, Conservation Commission; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance; Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator; Charles Wyman, Conservation Commission Land Acquisition Committee. Ms. Fenollosa called the public meeting to order at 4:00 PM, and at 5:05 PM, upon a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted by roll call (9-0) to go into Executive Session under Exemption 6 to consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property and to reconvene in Open Session; the Chair declaring that an Open Meeting might have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Town. Executive Session under Exemption 6— Mr. Hamilton withdrew the Conservations Commissions application for FY20 funding for the land acquisition of the parcel located on Highland Ave. referred to as the Ashley property. Mr. Hamilton explained that the request is not ready for the 2019 Annual Town Meeting (ATM) but the Conservation Commission is still interested in acquiring the property. The remaining request for FY20 funding is for the land acquisition of two parcels known as Kendall Rd. and Sherburne Rd. Mr. Hamilton explained that the seller has proposed a packaged deal for both parcels and has agreed to sell the parcels for the assessed value according to the Town of Lexington Assessor's database. The Conservation Commission believes that they can purchase the Kendall Rd. parcel for less than the assessed value because it is not high on the Town's desirability list and is of little value to potential developers. In a previous CPC meeting on 12-13-18 the Committee, with guidance from Town Manager Jim Malloy, decided that it would be reasonable to accept an abbreviated appraisal as long as the "appraiser is comfortable rendering an opinion on the abbreviated appraisal given the nature and value of 1 the parcels".The appraiser subsequently confirmed that this was so. Mr. Hamilton explained that the results of the appraisals came in much higher than anticipated. The Conservation Commission requested $300,000 for FY20 funding, $250,000 for the purchase of the two parcels and approximately $50,000 for legal expenses. Mr. Hamilton asked that the Committee keep the figures private until the sale is final to not hinder the negotiating position of the Town. The Committee voted in a roll call vote (9-0) to approve up to $300,000 in FY20 funding for the land acquisition. The Committee also agreed that when they return to the Public Meeting that TBD will be inserted as the funding request amount on the 2019 Town Warrant with the understanding that actual request will not exceed $300,000. At 5:26 PM, after a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted in a roll call vote (9-0) to exit Executive Session and return to Open Session to attend to the remaining agenda items. The following documents were used at the meeting: 1) Map of Kendall Rd. parcel, Sherburne Rd. parcel, Highland Ave. parcel. Respectfully submitted, Gina Federico Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee 2