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Home My WebLink About2015-10-07-AC-min 10/07/15 AC Minutes Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee October 7, 2015 Place and time- Reed Room, Town Office Building, 7 30 p.m Members present Glenn Parker, Chair, John Bartenstem, Vice Chair and Secretary; Kate Colburn, Alan Levine, Beth Masterman, Enc Michelson, Richard Neumeier, Andrei Radulescu-Banu, Rob Addelson (non-voting, ex officio) Members Absent Mollie Garberg Other attendees Michael Flamang, PE, Senior Civil Engineer, Department of Public Works The meeting was called to order at 7 32 p.m. 1 Announcements. Mr Bartenstem reported that the Board of Selectmen finalized the FY2016 water/sewer rates at their Monday meeting. The final staff recommendation, which incorporated many of his suggestions, was for a modest rate decrease of 1 9% on a combined basis The BoS adopted that recommendation without comment. 2. Background Information for Two Fall Special Town Meeting (STM) Committee Reports. • STM#2, Article 4 Appropriation for Water System Improvements Mr Flamang described the project, which involves replacing water mains under Massachusetts Avenue (Mass Ave )between Pleasant Street and Marrett Road in 2016 Background information included the following The Town has been pursuing a program to upgrade water/sewer infrastructure from the water/sewer enterprise fund, using $900,000 annually for water system improvements and $1.2 million for sewer system improvements As a result, less than 5% of the water mains remain unlined. > There are unlined water mains under Mass Ave between the Arlington line and Woburn Street. This does not affect water quality; however, sophisticated testing shows that the iron is crystallizing. This can result in pin holes, thus leakage, and if there is any stress the main can break. The Town anticipates a state-financed 2017 project that would involve re-configuring Mass Ave and installing lights between Pleasant Street and Marrett Road. It is best to replace the water mains before that work is initiated. The water main project could be completed in one construction season, currently anticipated to be the spring/summer/fall of 2016 If it is determined that the state-financed project is going forward, the Town will apply temporary pavement after the mains are replaced. In response to funding questions, Mr Addelson reported that this project request is for approximately $2.2 million, which would be debt based. It hasn't been determined whether this will impact water/sewer rates, this depends on the times at which previously-issued debt retires It also hasn't been determined whether there will be a request at the annual town meeting in the spring of 2016 for additional projects that use the annual $900,000 and $1.2 million normally expended. 1 10/07/15 AC Minutes • Report Schedule and Assignments The schedule for making submissions and for pnntmg the report was reviewed. A rough draft for STM #2 should be prepared by next week. In Mr Parker's absence, Ms Masterman will be collecting the material and wntmg the introduction. Others are wntmg about specific articles, as assigned or as switched by mutual agreement. The report is scheduled for approval by this Committee on October 22 to facilitate publication on the 26th. Matenal for STM #1 is scheduled for approval by this Committee on November 19 to facilitate publication on November 23rd Mr Addelson reported that he is preparing a financial plan needed for STM #1 that he expects to have available by October 22nd • STM#2, Article 2 Amend Minuteman Regional Agreement Mr Michelson explained that Wayland's request to withdraw from the Regional Minuteman School distnct must be approved by all 16 member communities He questions whether it is favorable to approve this request. Wayland did not support a revised regional agreement that was proposed last year that would have made it easier for them to leave the distnct. In response to questions about plans to rebuild the school, Mr Michelson reported. The concept is to build a smaller school than now exists that will accommodate 628 students This is a Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) approved project; there are three options for proceeding: o Construct a new building using MSBA cntena, the cost to the distnct will be approximately $87 million, o Renovate the existing building without MSBA funding; the cost to the district will be approximately $100 million, o Close the school If each community does not approve the proposed plans for rebuilding, it is also possible for the Minuteman School Committee, via a 2/3 majonty vote, to call for a distnct-wide referendum vote which would pass with a simple majonty Comments included the following If Wayland leaves the distnct, Wayland students can still attend, if space is available, at a cost to Wayland that is lower than the current cost to in-distract communities It would be helpful to get input from Carl Valente, Town Manager, and Dave Horton, Lexington's representative on the Minuteman school board, regarding this issue 3 Positions on STM#2 Articles to be Included in the Committee's Report: • STM#2, Article 2 Amend Minuteman Regional Agreement It was agreed that more information is needed before taking a vote on this article • STM#2, Article 3 Transfer ofProperty to LexHAB Mr Neumeier questioned whether this Committee should take a position on this article, which does not include a financial request; resolution of that issue was deferred to the next meeting. • STM#2, Article 4 Appropriation for Water System Improvements A motion was made and seconded to support approval of this article The motion passed. VOTE 8-0 • STM#2, Article 5 Appropriate for Property Improvements 241 Grove Street It was noted that this appropriation was intended to be part of an article that was brought before the 2015 Annual Town Meeting, but it was determined to be outside the scope of the article because the wording didn't include it. This will correct that issue It is understood that the funding request will be for less than $100,000 A motion was made and seconded to support approval assuming the request is for no more than $100,000 The motion passed. VOTE 8-0 2 10/07/15 AC Minutes • STM#2, Article 6 Appropriate Funds for Fire Station Site Study The request is for $25,000, to come from the tax levy The intent is to study the current fire station site at Bedford Street and Worthen Road to determine its suitability to meet the fire station needs, although the wording of the article would encompass the study of other sites as well Mr Levine will explore with the BoS their intent and expected wording of the motion. A motion was made and seconded to support approval of this article The motion passed. VOTE 8-0 • STM#2, Article 7 Amend FY2016 Operating, Enterprise Fund and Community Preservation Budgets A vote was deferred until dollar amounts for this article are available, perhaps in two weeks It was noted that a possible request for a new platform (approximately $13,000) and a ramp (approximately $17,000) for the Patriots' Day Parade reviewing stand could be included in this article • STM#2, Article 8 Appropriate to and from Specified Stabilization Funds A vote was deferred until dollar amounts for this article are available • STM#2, Article 9 Appropriate for Authorized Capital Improvements It is anticipated that this article will be indefinitely postponed. • STM#2, Article 10 Appropriate for Prior Years ' Unpaid Bills Mr Addelson reported that there is an outstanding FY2015 invoice for traffic signal maintenance for approximately $15,000 The invoice could not be paid because it was not issued until after the closing of the books for the fiscal year and no encumbrance was made Approval of pnor-year unpaid bills at a special town meeting requires a nine-tenths majonty vote The Committee will defer consideration of its recommendation until the source of the funds has been determined. 4 Minutes. A motion was made and seconded to approve this Committee's September 9, 2015, minutes, with minor edits The motion passed. VOTE 8-0 5 Liaison Reports. • Mr Michelson noted that some new parking meters have been installed in Lexington center on a tnal basis and new rates for the meters and parking permits are being proposed in an effort to decrease traffic congestion. Information about the new meter pricing plan is going to the business community and the BoS will be discussing this issue on October 15t1' 6 Adjournment: The Committee adjourned at 9.20 p.m The documents used at the meeting are listed below Respectfully submitted, Sara Arnold Recording Secretary Approved October 14, 2015 Exhibits 1 Agenda, posted by Glenn Parker, Chair 3