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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-13-AC-min RECEIVED10/13/2021 AC Minutes k 0 201 IIS ov, 5 a ui °m TOWN CLERK Minutes LEXINGTON MA Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC) October 13, 2021 Place and Time: Remote Participation: in accordance with Section 20 of Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 "An Act Relative to Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency", communication took place via a Zoom teleconferencing session that was open to the public; 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; Sanjay Padaki, Vice-Chair; Alan Levine, Secretary; Anil Ahuja; John Bartenstein; Meg Muckenhoupt; Lily Manhua Yan; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex officio) Members)Absent: Eric Michelson Other Attendees: David Kanter, Vice-Chair& Clerk, Capital Expenditures Committee; Eileen Jay, Vice-Chair, School Committee; Deepika Sawhney, School Committee; Dave Pinsonneault, Director, Department of Public Works; Mike Cronin, Director, Department of Public Facilities; Sara Arnold, Recording Secretary Mr. Parker reviewed the authorization for meeting remotely, noted that the meeting was being called to order at 7:33 p.m. on October 13, 2021, stated that the meeting was being recorded for the purpose of creating minutes, and confirmed attendance by roll call. Announcements and Liaison Reports Mr. Parker reported that the night before the Select Board (SB) heard a number of presentations relating to Special Town Meeting (STM) 2021-1 articles but did not take any positions. Preparation of the Committee Report to Special Town Meeting (STM) 2021-1 Mr. Parker led a discussion on the following STM warrant articles: • Article 5: Appropriate for Police Station Architectural Design and Swing Space Construction: Mr. Parker, Ms. Kosnoff and Mr. Cronin reported that, based on public input, two design options for the new police station were presented to the SB last night. Current cost estimates may be low. Option B was approximately $2.8 million more expensive than Option Aan increase of about 10%. The SB voted to pursue Option B, which includes extra capabilities and flexibility in part deriving from the community conversations about policing. The article is requesting $870,000 to renovate 173 Bedford Street(current estimate, $614,100) as swing space, to move police operations from the current station to the swing space, and to complete a design for the new facility (current estimate, $254,215). These funds are needed at this time to be able to go to the 2022 Annual Town Meeting (ATM)for final design and construction funds. The current schedule is for bids to renovate the swing space to go out in January 2022, the swing space to be ready by July 1, and demolition of the current police station to occur between late 2022 and early 2023. The project is expected to take 18 months, with construction completed in early 2024. The current plan is that a debt exclusion would include all of the funds appropriated for this project. Ms. Kosnoff agreed to provide an overall summary of all the expenses (previously appropriated and to be requested) associated with this project. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of Article 5. The motion was approved by roll call vote. VOTE: 7-0 1 10/13/2021 AC Minutes • Article 7: Appropriate for Westview Cemetery Building Construction: Mr. Pinsonneault explained that$3.29 million had been appropriated for this project at the 2020 ATM. The new building would be constructed in a new location, eliminating the need for swing space, and it would be crematory-ready. Covid 19 impacts are affecting construction costs, and bids exceeded the budget. An additional $770,000 is requested, based on staff's current best professional estimates. Contingency funding is included. Approximately 24% of the costs would come from the tax levy; the balance from cemetery fees. Ms. Kosnoff agreed to update the cost analysis that identifies the funding sources. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of this article. The motion was approved by roll call vote. VOTE: 7-0 Ms. Kosnoff reported that the following items, included in a previous draft warrant, have been removed and will likely be brought to the 2022 ATM: • Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations • Appropriate for Center Recreation Complex Bathrooms and Maintenance Building; this could become a Community Preservation Act(CPA)project. • Sale of Land to Abutter Items included in Article 4: Amend FY2021 Operating and Enterprise Budgets were updated, as follows: • Ms. Kosnoff reported that a job description and rationale for a new budget analyst position is being prepared by the Town Manager. • Mr. Bartenstein reported that the SB had discussed a 6% combined increase in water/sewer rates. He noted that FY2021 water and irrigation usage had shifted, probably reflecting Covid 19 impacts, so that more revenue was realized in 2021 than had been projected. As a result, there are excess funds in the retained earnings accounts. Ms. Kosnoff said that these funds would likely be used for cash capital, such as the water tower replacement project, rather than for reducing rates. She also reported that installation of the automated meter reading system has started. This will assist in making improved estimates of future usage, which will help in setting the rates. Additionally, there are isolated situations where leaks have already been detected. Eventually this will eliminate the need to read meters individually. Mr. Parker reported that Karen Mullins, Director of Community Development/Conservation, is planning to attend next week's meeting to discuss the playground and conservation projects included in Article 6: Appropriate for Community Preservation Projects. Ms. Yan reported that she is preparing material on Article 8: Climate Action Plan. Mr. Kanter reported that the State plans to release its intended Community Preservation Act(CPA) funding allocations on November 15, 2021. Lexington may see as much as an additional $1.0 million for CPA projects. Mr. Parker asked that all material for the report be submitted before next week's meeting. Minutes of Prior Meetings A motion was made and seconded to approve the draft minutes for September 29, 2021, with edits prepared by Mr. Levine. The motion was approved by a roll call vote. VOTE: 7-0. 2 10/13/2021 AC Minutes A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 8:48 p.m. The motion was approved by roll call vote. VOTE: 7-0 Respectfully submitted, Sara Arnold Approved: October 20, 2021 Exhibits • Agenda, posted by Mr. Parker • Town of Lexington Warrant, Special Town Meeting 2021-1 • Police Station Presentation to SB, October 12, 2021 3