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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-11-19-AC-min 11/19/15 AC Minutes Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee November 19, 2015 Place and time- Town Office Building, Selectmen's Meeting Room, 7 30 p.m Members present Glenn Parker, Chair, John Bartenstem, Vice Chair and Secretary; Kate Colburn, Alan Levine, Beth Masterman, Richard Neumeier, Rob Addelson (non-voting, ex officio) Members Absent Mollie Garberg; Eric Michelson, Andrei Radulescu-Banu Others Present: Margaret Coppe, School Committee, Elaine Ashton, Town Meeting member The meeting was called to order at 7 39 p.m. 1 Minutes. A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes for November 5, 2015, as amended. The motion passed. Vote 6-0 2. Major Town Capital Projects and Related Financing Plans. Mr Parker reported that key staff members have been working with the chairs plus one member from critical committees in an effort to define an educationally acceptable and financially responsible approach to addressing the school capacity issues and the building deficiencies that exist in some of the school facilities There was general agreement among those in this working group that a capital plan for an amount over $200 million to replace and/or upgrade schools and public safety facilities would be considered unpalatable by the taxpayer Ms Coppe shared financial data that identifies a $147,298,000 capital plan that provides relief for the most immediate demands in the schools but compromises some of the school system's goals for the optimal education environment and does not fully address potential long-term continued enrollment growth The School Committee is unanimously supporting this plan. The School Committee is also hiring a consultant to assist in developing redistnctmg plans for September 2016 that will maximize the use of existing space There was discussion about the tradeoffs and specifics associated with the proposal and the procedural sequencing. Mr Addelson reported that he is building a new financial model based on the School Committee's recommendations It was noted that this proposal includes funding to upgrade the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems at Diamond Middle School and Lexington High School This proposal also includes the rebuilding of Hastings Elementary School (Hastings) Ms Colburn suggested that if the Town purchases property on Pelham Road, as is now anticipated, the school capacity shortfall might be better addressed by building a new school on Pelham Road and postponing the Hastings project. After discussion, it was generally agreed that this approach might be considered if the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) rejects Lexington's request for financial assistance, but the Hastings facility has significant building deficiencies and the Town has been pursuing MSBA assistance for Hastings for two years MSBA will likely provide a preliminary indication of its interest in the Hastings project by early 2016 1 11/19/15 AC Minutes 3 Committee Report to Special Town Meeting (STM)#1. Mr Parker asked for wntten comments on a draft report that he has prepared and will be distributing electronically The goal will be to approve the report at this Committee's November 30 meeting and to distribute it publicly on December 1, one day pnor to the December 2 reconvening of STM #1 It is anticipated that STM #1 will be immediately adjourned again, allowing time that evening for a Town Meeting Members Association (TMMA) information session, and reconvene on Monday, December 7 Although motions for the Articles are not yet available, current information is as follows • Article 2. Appropriate for School Facilities Capital Projects. Consistent with the School Committee's recommendations discussed above, funds would be requested for the creation of design documents for renovations at Diamond and Clarke Middle Schools, preliminary design documents for new construction at Hastings that would be compatible with MSBA requirements, and design documents and construction costs for a total of six modular classrooms to be split evenly among Bridge, Bowman and Fiske Elementary Schools • Article 3. Land Purchase and Improvements —20 Pelham Road. It is anticipated that this article will be indefinitely postponed. • Article 4. Appropriate for Engineering Study-20 Pelham Road. It is anticipated that this article will be indefinitely postponed. The Committee adjourned at 9 10 p.m The documents used at the meeting are listed below Respectfully submitted, Sara Arnold Recording Secretary Approved November 30, 2015 Exhibit 1 Agenda, posted by Glenn Parker, Chair 2 Multiple School Project Costs Worksheet, updated November 18, 2015 2