HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-09-AC-min RECEIVED11/09/2021 AC Minutes
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TOWN CLERK Minutes
LEXINGTON MA Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC)
November 9, 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; 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; Alan Levine, Secretary; Anil Ahuja; John Bartenstein;
Eric Michelson; Meg Muckenhoupt; Lily Manhua Yan; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager,
Finance (non-voting, ex officio)
Members)Absent: Sanjay Padaki, Vice-Chair
Other Attendees: Sara Arnold, Recording Secretary
Mr. Parker reviewed the authorization for meeting remotely, noted that the meeting was being
called to order at 7:03 p.m. on November 9, 2021, stated that the meeting was being recorded for
the purpose of creating minutes, and confirmed attendance by roll call.
Preparation for Special Town Meeting (STM) 2021-1
Mr. Parker and Ms. Kosnoff reported that the Select Board plans to present a revised motion for
Article 5: Appropriate For Police Station Architectural Design and Swing Space Construction that
would split the funding request into two parts, as follows:
• Part (a)to fund renovations for swing space that is needed during construction of a new
police station.
• Part (b)to fund the design of a new police station.
This change is in response to concerns about appropriating funds for the swing space construction
before the police station design and debt exclusion votes are approved. The article will not be taken
up tonight to allow committees time to discuss the issues. Discussion points included the following:
• The current schedule for this project has bids going out early in the new year, with the debt
exclusion vote likely occurring in May 2022. This would allow construction of the new
station to start shortly after the debt exclusion vote, assuming it passes. This schedule is only
possible if the swing space is prepared in advance.
• Construction costs are likely to increase with delays, particularly if bid documents are issued
in the summer. It is not financially prudent to wait to approve the swing space portion of the
project.
• The current police station is sub-standard and needs to be replaced. Whether it is replaced
with funds approved during a debt exclusion vote now or at some future date, the swing
space will be needed at some point in time. Preparing the swing space will not be a wasted
expenditure.
• The $32.8 million price tag for a new station reflects the need for a public safety facility and
emergency center, not just an office building.
Ms. Kosnoff added that there also may be a proposal to make the approval of the funds for the
swing space contingent on approval of the debt exclusion. There was general opposition to that
scenario.
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11/09/2021 AC Minutes
A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of both motions associated with splitting
Article 5, assuming there is no contingency clause included. The motion was approved by roll call
vote. VOTE: 7-0
Minutes of Prior Meetings
A motion was made and seconded to approve the October 27, 2021 AC minutes, as amended by Mr.
Levine, who had explained his edits in a November 9 email. The motion was approved by roll call
vote. VOTE: 7-0
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 7:22 p.m. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0
Respectfully submitted,
Sara Arnold
Approved: November 17, 2021
Exhibits
• Agenda, posted by Mr. Parker
• Mr. Levine November 9, 2021 Email Regarding Changes to 2021-10-27 Draft AC Minutes
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