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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-04-AC-min 9/04/14Minutes Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee September 4, 2014 : ParkerRoom,Town OfficeBuilding,7:30p.m. : Glenn Parker, Chair; John Bartenstein, Vice Chair and Secretary; Alan Levine; Beth Masterman; Susan McLeish; Eric Michelson;Andrei Radulescu-Banu Members Absent:Mollie Garberg; Richard Neumeier; Rob Addelson (non-voting, ex officio). Other attendees: Carl Valente, Town Manager The meetingwas calledto order at 7:37p.m. Election of Officers: 1.It was noted that officers are generally elected each September. A motion was made and seconded to re-elect Mr. Parker as Chair and Mr. Bartenstein as Vice-Chair and Secretary. The motion passed. VOTE: 7-0 Liaison Reports: 2.Mr. Levine reported that he has been attendingmeetings of theAd hoc School Master Planning Committee(AhSMPC)and the Superintendent’s Enrollment Forecasting WorkingGroup.He reported that Symmes Maini & McKee Associates (SMMA), the consultant for the school master planning project,hasmet with the principals of all the schools to assess the capacity of the buildings as they are presently used.He also reported that enrollment for the 2014- 2015 school year is increasing by 136 students over enrollment forthe 2013-2014 school year. This isgreater thanthe 60-80 new students that were projected, and it is the second largest increaseover the last five years. There was discussion about the five-year projections for student enrollment. Linear projections indicate another 400 students will enter the systemover that time period, but linear projections are not proving adequately toreflect the increases that Lexington is experiencing. It was noted that the modular buildings that have been added at the high school will address the space needs resulting from increases at that level, but the middle schools and elementary schools, withthe exception of Estabrook Elementary School, which has a small amount of excess space,are currently at capacity. A long term plan is needed to address the anticipated growth.The School Committee will be th discussing these issues with the Board of Selectmen on September 16. Minutes: 3.Mr. Bartenstein reported that threesets of minutes were ready for approval. Mr. Levine and Ms. McLeish proposedsome technical corrections for thoseminutes. A motion was made and seconded to approve the committee’s minutes for June10 and June 16, 2014,with the technical corrections. The motion passed. VOTE: 5-0-2. A motion was made and seconded to approve the committee’s minutes for July 10, 2014,with the technical corrections. The motion passed. VOTE: 7-0. 1 9/04/14Minutes Reserve Fund Transfer: 4.Mr. Valente reported that the Board of Selectmen hadvoted to ask this Committee to make a Reserve Fund transfer of $69,120 to support the continuation of commuter shuttle service between the Alewife MBTA StationandHartwell Avenuein Lexington. The Town has garnered support fromnine other contributors, including the four Hartwell Avenue businesses that supported the service during the previous year and the Town of Bedford. Mr. Valente’s intentionis to phase out the Town’s contribution in coming years as Hartwell Avenue property owners renegotiateleases to include a percentage ofthe total cost of this service.The current cost of the program is $175,000 annually. The 128 Business Council, which is operating the shuttle, is planning to add reverse commuter service between Lexington center and AlewifeStation, although Bedford Street construction scheduled for this fall will create some challenges. A motion was made and seconded to approve the transfer of $69,120 from the Reserve Fund to Line 7300 in the budget.The motion passed. VOTE: 7-0 Executive Session—Exemption 3 Potential Litigation: 5.At 8:12 p.m., following a declaration that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Town, a roll call vote of the Committee was taken on a motion by Mr. Parker to go into executive session to discuss a potential litigation matter under exemption 3andto reconvene in open session only to adjourn. The motion was unanimously adopted, each member present having voted in the affirmative. VOTE: 7-0 The Committee returned to open session at 8:55 p.m. and adjourned. The one document used at the meeting is listedbelow. Respectfully submitted, Sara Arnold Recording Secretary Approved September 23, 2014 Exhibits 1.Agenda,posted by Glenn Parker, Chair 2