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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-12-10-CPC-minMinutes of the Community Preservation Committee Thursday, December 10, 2015 Parker Meeting Room, Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Avenue 3:00 PM Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa, Chair; Richard Wolk, Vice - Chair; Richard Canale, Norman Cohen, David Horton, Jeanne Krieger, Leo McSweeney, Bob Pressman, Sandra Shaw. Administrative Assistant: Elizabeth Lane Other Attendees: David Kanter, Vice -Chair of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC); Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator; Alex Dohan, Conservation Commissioner; Tom Whelan, Board Member Lexington Arts and Crafts Society. Ms. Fenollosa called the meeting to order at 3:06 PM. 1) Committee Business- The Committee approved the minutes from the CPC meeting on December 3, 2015 as submitted (8 -0). Mr. Canale arrived late and missed the vote. The Committee voted to approve the 2015 Needs Assessment Report (9 -0). The CPC will receive public input during their scheduled hearing on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 7:00 PM. Ms. Fenollosa spoke briefly about debt service for FY17. She reported that Assistant Town Manager for Finance, Rob Addelson was checking numbers and did not have a final amount. The Committee would vote on the debt service article as a placeholder on the warrant since final figures were not available. 2) Wright Farm Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study- Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator and Alex Dohan, Conservation Commissioner presented their request for $35,000 in CPA funds to conduct a feasibility study of the barn on the Wright Farm property. Their request would fund a study to determine if the barn could be used as an environmental educational facility. Ms. Dohan said the barn appears to be in good shape but the proposed study would confirm that. Ms. Dohan outlined the three parts that comprised the request. The first part of the process would be a structural analysis of the building. The second part would be a needs assessment to determine if the barn could be refurbished as an educational structure and the third step would be an architectural assessment of the building. The Conservation Commission hopes to utilize the building for classroom and multi - purpose space. Ms. Fenollosa asked about a timeline for the project. If the funds are approved, the Commission would begin the process of hiring a consultant. Ms. Dohan added that the building is secure and fully enclosed. 1 Mr. Pressman inquired about the status of the potential chemical contamination at the site. Ms. Mullins advised that since the Town had yet to close on the property, those discussions were still non - public and being discussed in executive sessions. The Committee discussed additional aspects of the project, including the number of contractors envisioned for the study, utilities currently available at the barn and the Department of Public Facilities role at the site upon transfer of ownership of the parcel and barn to the Town. After a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted to recommend $35,000 in CPA funds for the Wright Farm Barn Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study (8 -0 -1). Ms. Shaw abstained from voting. 3) Antony Park Discussion and Final Votes- While waiting for the final project applicant to arrive, the Committee began to discuss final votes for FY17 projects. They discussed the Antony Park proposal which requested $60,000 in CPA funds. Mr. Horton questioned if the Committee could decrease the amount of the request prior to issuing their final vote. He reasoned that a decrease in Town money may force the increase of private donations. Ms. Fenollosa noted that project proponent, Dave Pinsonneault was not present and if the CPC voted to decrease the amount, they would do so without being informed of the potential ramifications such a decrease could have on the project. After additional discussion, Mr. Horton moved that the CPC vote to reduce the funding amount from $60,000 to $40,000. The motion was seconded and defeated (2 -7). Mr. Kanter reported his own opposition to the public funding of the project and, although no final position has been taken by the full CEC, he thought it unlikely that committee would recommend such funding. After a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted to recommend $60,000 in CPA funds for the Antony Park construction project (5 -4). 4) Lexington Arts and Crafts Society Parsons Gallery Lighting Renovation, Return Interview- Tom Whelan reappeared before the CPC to review the Arts and Crafts Society's decreased funding request. He reported that the Society was able to obtain $12,000 from fundraising and operating funds for the project which off -set their request for CPA funds. They initially requested $32,000 in CPA funding; the revised request seeks just $24,280. Mr. Whelan confirmed that the scope of the project did not change with the decreased request, just the amount being requested in CPA funds. The total project cost is $36,280. After a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted to recommend $24,280 in CPA funds for the Parsons Gallery Lighting Renovation (8 -0). Mr. Wolk recused himself from the discussion and vote since he is a member of the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society. 5) Final Votes on FY17 CPA Project Applications- The remainder of final CPC votes on FY17 project applications is as follows. Discussion is noted where relevant. 2 a) Wright Farm Barn Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study ($35,000) - Vote (8 -0 -1) Discussion previously noted. b) Antony Park Construction Funds ($60,000) - Vote (5 -4) Discussion previously noted. c) Munroe Tavern Archaeological Dig ($15,000) - Vote (9 -0) No further discussion. d) Visitors Center Renovation (TBD) - Vote (9 -0) Approved as a placeholder, pending BOS approval of design. e) Munroe Center for the Arts Window Study ($30,000) - Vote (9 -0) No further discussion. f) Lexington Arts and Crafts Society Parsons Gallery Lighting Renovation ($24,280) - Vote (8- 0) Discussion previously noted. g) Town Pool Renovation Design and Engineering Costs ($166,000) - Vote (9 -0) No further discussion. h) Park Improvements- Hard Court Resurfacing ($61,000) - Vote (9 -0) No further discussion. i) Granite Forest Pocket Park Construction at Lincoln Park ($30,000) - Vote (8 -1) j) Discussion ensued after the initial vote. Mr. Kanter cautioned the Committee against recommending the project in light of their recommendation of the FY17 Town Pool Renovation Design project and its potential for additional CPA requests to exceed $1 million in future funding cycles. He argued that funds for both projects would originate from the same unbudgeted reserve fund and it was more appropriate for the CPC to allocate money for those projects without alternate funding sources. Members also discussed the role that the Lincoln Park Sub - Committee has played in the project. Mr. Canale spoke in favor of the project, noting that CPA funding should be used for projects like this. The Committee took a second vote after discussion. After a motion duly made and seconded, $30,000 was recommended to fund the creation of the Granite Forest Pocket Park at Lincoln Park, 8 -1. Minuteman Bikeway Wayfinding Signs Implementation ($120,000) - Vote (9 -0) The CPC briefly discussed the number of signs to be installed along Lexington's portion of the bikeway, noting the decreases in both requested CPA funds and the number of proposed signs to be installed. Mr. Canale felt confident the bikeway would not be over - signed. k) Park Improvements- Athletic Fields ($120,000) - Vote (9 -0) No further discussion. I) Grain Mill Alley Design Implementation (TBD) - Vote (9 -0) Approved as a placeholder. Prior to the vote, Mr. Pressman suggested the CPC vote on the project at a later date due to the lack of an agreement between the Town and the property's abutters, which was a 3 condition of Town Counsel's recommendation of the project. The Committee decided to vote the project as a placeholder with an amount to be determined due to the many unknowns and conditions of the project. m) Park and Playground Improvements ($75,000) - Vote (9 -0) No further discussion. n) Keeler Farm Community Housing Acquisition ($185,000) - Vote (9 -0) Approved as a placeholder, contingent on LexHAB's potential acquisition of alternate funding. o) Greeley Village Rear Door and Porch Preservation ($263,250) - Vote (9 -0) No further discussion. p) CPA Debt Service (TBD) - Vote (9 -0) Approved as a placeholder, discussion previously noted. q) Administrative Budget ($150,000) - Vote (9 -0) The meeting was adjourned at 4:27 PM. The following documents were used at the meeting: 1) Draft CPA Warrant Article for 2016 ATM 2) FY17 CPA Project List Respectfully Submitted, Elizabeth Lane Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee 4