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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-03-12-AC-min 03/12/15 AC Minutes Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC) March 12,2015 Place and time- Town Office Building, Parker Room, 7.30 p.m Members present Glenn Parker, Chair, John Bartenstem, Vice Chair and Secretary; Alan Levine, Susan McLeish, Eric Michelson, Richard Neumeier, Andrei Radulescu-Banu Members Absent Mollie Garberg; Beth Masterman Other attendees Joe Pato, Chair, Board of Selectmen (BoS), Carl Valente, Town Manager The meeting was called to order at 7 38 p.m. 1 Announcements. Mr Parker reported that Jessie Steigerwald is the new Chair of the School Committee Mr Michelson reported that the enrollment at Minuteman Regional Technical High School will be reduced. The School's member towns have decided to proceed with building a new school to accommodate 628 students, although there are currently close to 800 students attending the school This reflects plans to more closely align school size with the anticipated number of students from the member towns because the State-established tuitions which non-member towns pay for their students to attend the school do not include a contribution for capital expenses The State has approved the use of a new supplemental fee payable by the non-member towns, but these towns have claimed they would create their own education programs before they would choose to assist Minuteman in funding their capital needs The Massachusetts School Building Authonty has approved the new school for State funding assistance 2. Liaison Reports. Mr Parker reported that the BoS recently voted on numerous articles, their next meeting is on March 23rd He also reported that at a Town Moderator's meeting, articles for a Consent Agenda were identified, and it was announced that the subjects of Articles 12 and 13 Pleasant Street Sidewalk (citizen article) and Prospect Hill Road Sidewalk (citizen article)will be addressed under Article 11 (e) Appropriate for Municipal Capital Projects and Equipment; Sidewalk Improvements, Additions, Designs and Easements Based on discussion, Mr Parker will forward to the Moderator a list of specific articles and times where this Committee intends to address Town Meeting. 3 Capital-Related Articles for the 2015 Annual Town Meeting (ATM) and Associated Special Town Meetings (STM). The votes taken by the BoS and Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC)were identified for a number of articles without further comment. Articles that triggered additional discussion included the following • STM#2, Article 4 Appropriate for Can,Memorial Building Sidewalk Enhancement The Historic Districts Commission would like granite to be used in front of the building's entrance stairs Granite is more expensive than the alternative concrete with brick border, but the Commission on Disability is concerned about granite being slippery when wet. The two groups will be working together to resolve the issue, but consensus may not be achieved before the Article is brought to Town Meeting floor Ms McLeish questioned the need to spend an 1 03/12/15 AC Minutes additional $32,000 for granite, particularly if there are reservations about the advisability of its use The BoS is supporting the funding for the larger amount, which allows the project to be pursued irrespective of the materials-to-be-used decision. • ATM, Article 8, Appropriate the FY2016 Community Preservation Committee Operating Budget and CPA Projects (c)First Parish Church Restoration Historic Structure Report This request is controversial because the Church building is not Town property The BoS voted 1-3-1 against it. (e)Battle Green Streetscape Improvements This Article, supported by the BoS 5-0 and the CEC 4-1, allows the design work on the project to progress from 25% to 100% Completion of the 25% design work is targeted for the fall of 2015 with previously appropriated funds Without additional funding, the project would be stalled at 25%until there is another Town Meeting. Efforts to find an improved design for the Harrington Avenue/Bedford Street intersection have been unsuccessful to date (o) Grain Mill Alley Design Funds This Article, which requests additional design funds for the project, is not supported by the CEC Interested parties envision it including amenities that support different modes of transportation. The property owners want to see the design before committing to a contractual agreement; an easement, or license, for approximately 25 years is anticipated. The owners have no plans for using the land, see no particular advantage to them or their tenants if the project is pursued, and have declined to make contributions Previously prepared designs, which cost $12,000-$14,000, were rejected, but the legal work and other elements have been usable If the Article is approved, a steering committee will oversee the project with a different consultant. • ATM Article 11 Appropriate for Municipal Capital Projects and Equipment (a) Center Streetscape Improvements and Easements Phase 1 The CEC reversed its opposition to this Article and is now supporting it 4-1 They were influenced by information that identified only 11% of the project being related to aesthetic-only elements The project design improves the lighting of crosswalks and moves the island to create a T- intersection where a traffic signal will be installed. Parking places on Massachusetts Avenue in front of the Muzzey condominiums will be identified. (k)Hastings Park Undergrounding Wires The CEC opposes this item and the BoS is unlikely to be unanimous in its position. 4 Non-Capital Articles for the 2015 ATM and associated STMs. Non-capital financial articles, including those with potential financial implications, were discussed as follows • ATM, Article 21 Appropriate to Post Employment Insurance Liability Fund Mr Valente explained that the funds for this Article are available because of the excess that is in the Health Care Trust Fund and the amount being requested reflects BoS guidelines This Committee discussed its recommendation to reduce the funding request to an amount comparable to the $1.2 million that was appropriated during the 2014 ATM for this fund. Comments focused on the pressures on available funds and the subsequent impact on the taxpayer, as follows Large capital expenses are anticipated in the near future Not minimizing the impact of these on the taxpayer could jeopardize passage of a debt exclusion referendum A new high school is not currently identified as a near term project, but the need to replace in the not-too-distant future should be considered. Small capital needs should not be ignored while the large projects are pursued. 2 03/12/15 AC Minutes There may be shortfalls in state aid. The Retirement Board has voted to follow a schedule with a target date of 2025 for full funding of the Retirement Fund. This target date is much earlier than the legally required 2040 deadline Interest rates for exempt service are low New growth is down. Maintaining flexibility is cntical, and it isn't necessary to make such a large commitment at this time An additional amount can be appropriated for these purposes during a fall STM if it appears to be appropriate at that time Mr Valente agreed that flexibility is important and noted that the current model for funding the large capital projects assumes a 20 year debt service but this could go to 30 years Mr Pato added that the BoS has unanimously supported the Article as wntten in the Warrant, but that position can be revisited. • ATM, Article 22 Adjust Retirement COLA Base for Retirees Mr Pato reported that the BoS' support for this Article reflects its interest in creating parity with the teachers' pension program, which is handled by the State This Committee explained its concern relating to the increase on the Town's unfunded pension liability • ATM, Articles 39 and 40 Repeal General Bylaws —Sale and Use of Tobacco and Amend General Bylaws Sale and Use of Tobacco It was noted that if Article 39 passes, Article 40 will be indefinitely postponed. • ATM, Article 41 Amend General Bylaws Contracts and Deeds Mr Bartenstem questioned the wording in the Article Mr Valente agreed to revisit it. • ATM, Article 42, Commission on Disability Request Mr Pato reported that the BoS has adopted a policy to use sidewalk materials, i e , concrete with back borders, in Lexington center that are consistent with this request. On an immediate basis, STM#2, Article 4 and ATM Article 11 (a) include construction of such sidewalks on the north side of Massachusetts Avenue Additionally, ATM Article 11 (a) includes lighting near crosswalks for better visibility • ATM, Article 44 Resolution on Fossil Fuel Divestment (Citizen Article) Although this is a non-binding resolution, Mr Radulescu-Banu reported that the Retirement Board and the Trustees of Public Trusts oppose the adoption of the Article because it could conflict with their fiduciary responsibilities Other comments included the following The Town invests in mutual funds, which often have a fossil fuel component, but there are also "green" mutual funds The Town has fiduciary responsibilities and environmental responsibilities, this Article appears to create a conflict between them. It isn't clear how the environmental impact of this resolution, if adopted, could be measured. Fossil fuel consumption causes negative environmental impacts The BoS voted 0-2-3 on this Article, some Selectmen abstained until they hear the results of the finance committees' votes A motion was made and seconded to support Article 44 The motion failed. VOTE 0-5-1 5 Consent Agenda. Mr Parker identified ATM articles that are being considered for the Consent Agenda. There must be unanimous support by the BoS and the finance committees for them to be included. It was noted that this Committee does not take a position on non-financial articles The articles were reviewed and voted on, as follows • Article 6 Appropriate for Senior Service Program 3 03/12/15 AC Minutes A motion was made and seconded to support Article 6 The motion passed. VOTE 6-0 • Article 10 Appropriate for Recreation Capital Projects A motion was made and seconded to support Article 10 The motion passed. VOTE 6-0 • Article 17 Technical Correction to the borrowing Authorization under Article 13b (School Capital) of the 2014 ATM This Committee has already voted 9-0 to support this Article • Article 19 Martingale Road Street Acceptance This is not a financial Article • Article 20 Richmond Circle Street Acceptance This is not a financial Article • Article 24 Appropriate Bonds and Notes Premiums This Committee has already voted 9-0 to support this Article • Article 27 Appropriate to Stabilization Fund[Motion thr Indefinite POstponement (IP) anticipated] • Article 28 Appropriate from Debt Service Stabilization Fund A motion was made and seconded to support Article 28 The motion passed. VOTE 6-0 • Article 32 Establish Qualifications for Tax Deferrals [Motion for IP anticipated] • Article 33 Authorize Home Rule Petition for Tax Relief[Motion for IP anticipated] Mr Valente reported this Article, as envisioned, was not cost-effective It may eventually be revisited. • Article 37 Amend General Bylaws - Street Pel formers This is not a financial Article A motion was made and seconded to support the above articles for the Consent Agenda. The motion passed. VOTE 6-0 6 Committee Report to the March 2015 STM There was a bnef discussion about the report. A motion was made and seconded to approve the current draft report, subject to minor edits The motion passed. VOTE 6-0 The meeting was adjourned at 10 04 p.m The documents used at the meeting are listed below Respectfully submitted, Sara Arnold Recording Secretary Approved March 30, 2015 Exhibits 1 Agenda, posted by Glenn Parker 2 Article 44 Fossil Fuel Divestment; material prepared by Fran Ludwig, March 5, 2015 3 Emails between Alan Fields and Fran Ludwig, February 15 and 16, 2015, Re Lexington Divestment Resolution 4