HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-24-CPC-min
Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee
Thursday, October 24, 2013
3:00 pm, Legion Room
Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue
Present:
Committee Members:
Marilyn Fenollosa, Chair; Richard Wolk, Vice-Chair, Richard Canale,
Norman Cohen, David Horton, Jeanne Krieger, Leo McSweeney, Robert Pressman and Sandra
Shaw.
Administrative Assistant
: Nathalie Rice
Also in attendance were David Kanter, Vice-Chair of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC)
and Glen Parker, Chair of the Appropriation Committee (AC).
The meeting was called to order at 3:00 pm. by Ms. Fenollosa.
1.39 Marrett Road (Community Center) Request for FY14 CPAFunding
The CPC
met with Kevin Batt, Esq. regarding eligibility issues related to CPA funding of the
punchlist for the Community Center and items listed on the architects report. Patrick
Goddard, Facilities Director, Town Manager Carl Valente, Robert Addelson, Assistant Town
Manager for Finance and Deborah Mauger, Chair of the Board of Selectmen were present for
the discussion. Mr. Goddard commenced the discussion, stating that the final cost for the
renovation represented a significant increase from the earlier estimate of $775,000 to
$1,210,000. He explained that the final cost estimate for the interim improvements was
$3,169,000 and included additional items such as the reconfiguration of load-bearing walls,
and the design of a sidewalk for handicapped access.
Mr. Batt, Town Counsel, presented his opinion on the eligibility of items on the punchlist for
the interim renovations, stating that he had concerns about the following line items:
Telephone/ Communications, Audio/Visual Systems, installation of Salvaged Equipment and
Furniture/Fixtures and Equipment. He noted that although these items might be considered
under the umbrella phrase, renovations to make the building functional for its intended use,
he felt they did not technically comply with the definition of capital improvements in the
CPA statute. After discussion of Mr. Batts recommendations, Ms. Krieger made a motion to
approve CPA funds for the entire $3,169,000 amount. Mr. Canale proposed an amendment to
this motion to exclude the costs which Town Counsel believed were questionable. His
amendment reduced the CPA-funded portion of the project to $2,846,184. This amendment
passed (7-0-1), and the subsequent main motion as amended passed (7-0-1). Since there had
been some confusion on the specifics of the two motions, the vote was revisited and clarified
later in the meeting. The final vote on the proposal was (8-0) to support the Community
Center Interim Renovations at $3,169,000 and to approve $2,846,184 in CPA funding for the
purpose.
Mr. Addelson made a presentation to the CPC, suggesting how the renovations could be
appropriated from the Community Preservation Funds Historic Reserve, Unbudgeted
Reserve and Undesignated Fund Balance. In his analysis, he took into account the funding of
additional projects including the Phase II Community Center design costs and construction,
Cary Memorial Hall design and construction, the Center Pool project and a potential Center
Track project. The CPC discussed whether to appropriate cash for the interim renovations to
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the Community Center or to bond the cost, but it was agreed that funding the interim
renovations with cash would be a better option. Members voted (8-0) to approve $2,846,184
in CPA funds in cash from the Community Preservation Fund per Mr. Addelsons
presentation.
Mr. Addelson also addressed the issue of the appropriation of the surplus State matching
funds expected to be authorized by the legislature and distributed to eligible cities and towns,
including Lexington, in the near future. He requested that the CPC vote to authorize the
appropriation of the surplus funds at Special Town Meeting so that the monies would be
available for FY14 CPA spending (specifically the Community Center renovations). Since
the amount of the distribution will not be known until early November, the Committee voted
(8-0) to appropriate any funds received as a result of the supplemental State distribution to
the FY14 CPA budget. The distribution will be apportioned to the CPA accounts in the
customary manner 10% to each of the three dedicated buckets and the remainder to the
Unbudgeted Reserve.
2.Approval of the Minutes
- The minutes of the meeting of October 10, 2013 were approved
(7-0-1) as amended . David Horton abstained from the vote because he was not present at the
th
October 10 meeting.
3.Report to Special Town Meeting
Ms. Rice noted that she will be working on the CPC
Report to Special Town Meeting. She said she would send it to Ms. Fenollosa for initial
editing, then to the Committee, and if the Committee was comfortable, leave final review up
to the Chair. Members voted (8-0) that Ms. Fenollosa should do the final editing before the
stst
Report was sent to the printer on Thursday, the 31 or Friday the 1.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:51 pm.
The following documents were presented at the meeting:
1. Existing Floor Plans for the Lexington Community Center, by Steffian Bradley Architects,
dated October 15, 2013, submitted by Patrick Goddard, Director of Facilities.
2.Impact of 33 Marrett Road Financing on CPA Funds dated 10/24/2013, submitted by
Robert Addelson, Assistant Town Manager for Finance.
Respectfully submitted,
Nathalie Rice
Administrative Assistant
Community Preservation Committee
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