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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-01-09-AC-min 2014-01-09 Minutes Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee January 9, 2014 Place and time- Ellen Stone Room, Cary Memorial Building, 7 30 p.m. Members present Glenn Parker, Chair, John Bartenstem, Vice Chair and Secretary; Robert Cohen, Mollie Garberg; Alan Levine, Susan McLeish, Eric Michelson, Jonma Schonfeld, Rob Addelson (non-voting, ex officio) Members Absent Richard Neumeier Others Present Dawn McKenna, Tounsm Committee Chair The meeting was called to order at 7 39 p.m. 1 Announcements and Liaison Reports. The following reports were made • Mr Parker Both the Town Office Building and Clarke Middle School experienced frozen pipes during the recent cold weather Damage was minimal • Mr Parker The Ad hoc Community Center Advisory Committee (CCAC) is reaching consensus on Phase 1 plans for the Community Center which will allow the architects to begin the design documents The CCAC met with the Board of Selectmen (BoS)before Christmas and the outcome included exploring plans to further enlarge the first floor multi-purpose room This involves moving shear walls, and the resulting cost implications are being evaluated. There may be an additional Phase 1 funding request at the March 24 Special Town Meeting. The BoS indicated that they envision a delay of five to ten years for Phase 2 of the Community Center because of other priorities in the Town. • Ms McLeish The BoS voted to support the School Department's application to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for rebuilding the Hastings Elementary School The project justification is based on overcrowding. Per MSBA rules, the modular classrooms are not included in the analysis so the numbers indicate more crowding than is the actual experience The application is being filed in mid-January for $40 0 million. It is unclear what steps will be taken if the MSBA does not approve the application. It was noted that the Town's application for the Estabrook Elementary School replacement justified the project for safety reasons, and therefore was given the highest priority Occupancy of the new Estabrook School is scheduled for mid-February • Ms Garberg The school superintendent's contract with the Lexington School Department contains a clause that states it will automatically renew for a one-year term beginning July 1 unless either party requests a negotiation 18 months prior Dr Ash requested a negotiation to extend the length of his service to three years and the School Committee approved that request on a 3-2 vote Ms Garberg will investigate and report further at the next meeting. 1 2014-01-09 Minutes 2. Minutes. A motion was made and seconded to accept the June 6, 2013 Executive Session Minutes, the June 6 Open Session Minutes, and the July 10 Minutes, subject to a few non-substantive edits offered by Mr Levine VOTE 6-0 (NOTE This vote was taken pnor to the arrival of two committee members ) Mr Bartenstem will consult with the BoS staff on the topic of when it is appropriate to release executive session minutes 3 Capital Improvement Projects. Mr Parker discussed a spreadsheet entitled FY201 S Capital, which lists the capital projects currently under consideration, some of which will be addressed at the 2014 Annual Town Meeting (ATM) or the March 2014 Special Town Meeting (STM) After reviewing the projects with David Kanter, Secretary for the Capital Expenditures Committee, he believes most of the items are straightforward. Highlights are as follows • Fire Station. There is a request for $300,000 for Design and Engmeenng for a new fire station. The timing and location for such construction have yet to be determined. • Police Headquarters. An estimated cost for beginning a project to renovate/expand the current Police Station has not yet been identified. • Cary Memorial Building Upgrade. Funding for this project will come from the Community Preservation Act(CPA) funds, General Funds, and the Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) Access Revolving Fund. The PEG Access funds will be for audiovisual systems Mr Neumeier will be asked to lead a discussion on this topic at the next meeting, and Mr Bartenstem will invite Facilities Director Pat Goddard as well • Visitor Center Upgrade. Ms McKenna, Chair of the Tounsm Committee, addressed this item The Tourism Committee's programmatic report for the project identified the need for a better entrance from the bike path and space on the first floor for the following an orientation room with the diorama that is currently in the Visitor Center, an area for viewing films, a large counter, a self-service kiosk; and material about the Veterans Memonal If there is a two story addition, the second floor could include a meeting room Ms McKenna believes an upgraded Visitor Center will bnng more business, thus increased tax revenue The amount currently targeted for this project's design work is $220,000, all of which would come from CPA funds The Community Preservation Committee has voted to support the project. The Lexington Histoncal Society and the Tourism Committee have been tasked by the BoS to develop a mutually acceptable scope Ms McKenna reported that the two bodies have different visions for locating and using meeting space that have yet to be resolved. The BoS has voted 3 to 2 in favor of the project, but has withheld support of a meeting room on the second floor until the issues with the Historical Society have been resolved. • Hartwell Avenue Infrastructure. The bndge on Hartwell Avenue over Kiln Brook is deficient and must be replaced. Temporanly, trucks can use Wood Street to access the 2 2014-01-09 Minutes southwest end of Hartwell Avenue Funding for design work for the bridge replacement was approved last year The work will be done in FY2016 and FY2017 • Hastings Park Overhead Wire Undergrounding: This project has been removed from the list. • Bikeway Bridge Repairs. The funding source designated for this FY2016 project is currently from the tax levy but it has been suggested that the project could be CPA- eligible The issue will not need to be resolved until next year • Lincoln Park Field Improvements. This is part of a multi-year project to install artificial turf on the Lincoln Park fields that has already been approved by Town Meeting; one field is being done each year • Community Center. The fall 2013 STM approved $3 4 million for Phase 1 Additional funding for Phase 1 may be requested at the spnng 2014 STM 4 Appropriation Committee Report to the STM. At the STM scheduled for March 24th articles addressing funding for the Cary Memonal Building, and possibly for the Community Center as well, will be taken up A Committee report to the STM should be available on March 17th This means having a preliminary report prepared by March 10th 5 Next Meetings. The Committee discussed the schedule for upcoming meetings Mr Parker will prepare a proposed schedule for weekly meeting through the commencement of the Annual Town Meeting and make the necessary room reservations Some of the meetings can be cancelled if not necessary The meeting was adjourned at 8 50 p.m A list of documents and other exhibits used at the meeting is set forth below Respectfully submitted, Sara Arnold Recording Secretary Approved January 23, 2014 Exhibits 1 Meeting Agenda posted by Glenn Parker, Chair 2 FY 2015 Capital, spreadsheet provided by Rob Addelson 3