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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-16-AC-min RECEIVED 03/16/2022 AC Minutes 2022 12 Apar, 321 PIM Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC) TOWN: CLERK March 16, 2022 LEXINGTON MA 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; Eric Michelson; Meg Muckenhoupt(arrived at 8:35 p.m.); Lily Manhua Yan; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager,Finance (non-voting, ex officio) Member(s)Absent: None Other Attendees: Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs Mr. Parker called the meeting to order at 7:36 p.m., reviewed the authorization for meeting remotely, and stated that the meeting was being recorded for the purpose of creating minutes. Announcements and Liaison Reports Mr. Parker reported that the Select Board (SB) is still developing a warrant for a 2022-2 Special Town Meeting (STM), which will include a funding request for a Lexington High School (LHS) feasibility study. The SB expects to call the 2022-2 STM on March 21 and hold it on April 11. Because the warrant is not available, Mr. Parker said that he had removed a 2022-2 STM placeholder that he had previously entered into this Committee's report to the 2022-1 STM and the 2022 Annual Town Meeting (ATM). Mr. Levine and Ms. Kosnoff reported that there will be a recommendation to indefinitely postpone (IP) ATM Article 8: Appropriate for Comprehensive Plan Implementation (Article 8)because additional funding is needed to complete the plan, the article was not written broadly enough to include this purpose. The SB plans to add a request for the additional funding in the 2022-2 STM warrant. Mr. Parker reported that he had provided the Town Moderator with a list of those Committee members' names who are associated with the warrant articles; these are the people who should be prepared to be called on to state the Committee's positions during town meeting deliberations. Mr. Levine reported that one of the sponsors (Cindy Arens) of Article 31: Amend General BylawsReporting, Disclosing, and Assessing the Energy and Water Use of Large Buildings had indicated that the sponsors would like to request $70,000 under this article. He also noted that Article 38: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Zoning May-128 Spring Street(Article 38) and Article 39: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map-475 Bedford Street(Article 39) could have financial implications. It was agreed that this Committee should not comment on Articles 38 and 39 because the financial impacts are ancillary to the policy issues being proposed. Noting that commercial development helps offset the per-household tax impact of projects, Ms. Kosnoff said that the Town Manager is preparing a memo for the SB and potentially Town Meeting in an effort to quantify the financial impacts associated with those articles. Reserve Fund Transfer for Drainage Repairs at Pine Meadows Golf Club Ms. Battite reviewed the background associated with a Reserve Fund transfer being requested by the Recreation Department. The transfer would provide immediate access to the funds, allowing the 1 03/16/2022 AC Minutes Recreation Department to replace and/or repair a damaged drainage pipe at the golf course in a timely manner. Disruption during the start of the golf season will be minimal. This Committee's approval is required to authorize the requested $174,000 transfer $10,000 for design work, $135,000 for implementation, and the balance for supervision and contingency expenses. Meanwhile, ATM Article 21: Amend FY2022 Operating, Enterprise and CPA budgets is requesting that$174,000 be transferred from the Recreation Enterprise Fund into the Reserve Fund. The appropriated funds will not be transferred until after the town meeting is dissolved. If all the funds are not spent, they will revert to the retained earnings in the Recreation Enterprise Fund, which could be the case because this is a conservative estimate. Ms. Kosnoff added that there is currently more than $1.5 million in the Recreation Enterprise Fund. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Reserve Fund transfer, as described. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 Discussion of Articles with Financial Implications for the 2022-1 STM and the 2022 ATM that Need Updates and/or Need a Vote Ms. Battite reported that the funding request for ATM Article 10: Appropriate for the FY2023 Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Operating Budget and CPA Projects (Article 10): (e) Center Playground Bathrooms and Maintenance Building Renovation had been reduced from $915,000 to $680,000. The $680,000 is based on a 90% design estimate for renovations rather than reconstruction and does not include additional detached storage, which had been considered. It has been determined that the footprint for a new LHS is not expected to impact this facility partially because of its proximity to abutters. Additionally, access to public bathrooms is important in the Town, and these should be useful regardless of where the new LHS facility is positioned. Votes were taken on the following 2022 ATM articles: • ATM Article 8: Ms. Kosnoff reiterated that this article is to be IP'd and that action is being recommended as an addition to the Consent Agenda. She added that she anticipates a request for$75,000 in the 2022-2 STM article requesting funds to complete the comprehensive plan, as discussed earlier, and she expects that an implementation article will be brought to another town meeting, perhaps in the fall. Mr. Michelson agreed to update the written material for this project for a 2022-2 STM report. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of this article being IP'd and added to the Consent Agenda. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 • ATM Article 10(e): It was noted that the CPC had not yet voted on the reduced funding request. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of Article 10(e)for $680,000. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 • ATM Article 10(k): LexHAB — 116 Vine Street Construction Funds: The CPC has now voted to recommend Article 10(k)be IP'd. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of Article 10(k)being IP'd and added to the Consent Agenda. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 • ATM Article 26: Appropriate for Nexus Studies (Citizen Petition): A revised motion for this article was reviewed. It restricts use of the funds until the legislature has enacted Lexington's home rule petition for implementing linkage fees associated with commercial and residential development, thus addressing concerns previously expressed by this Committee. It was noted that the current wording is likely to restrict access to the funds until 2 03/16/2022 AC Minutes the legislature approves the linkage fees for both residential and commercial development, which may not have been the proponent's intent. This concern will be shared with the proponent. After additional discussion a motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of this article. The motion was approved. VOTE: 8-0 Ms. Muckenhoupt arrived during the discussion of Article 26. She subsequently added her yes vote to Articles 8, 10(e) and 10(k), making them all 8-0. She also added her yes vote to approving the Reserve Fund transfer, making that vote 8-0. • ATM Article 25: Appropriate for Worthen Road Recreation and Education District Land Use Concept Plan (Citizen Petition): The SB intends to recommend that this article be IP'd. It isn't known whether it will be on the Consent Agenda. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of this article being IP'd and being included on the Consent Agenda if that is proposed. The motion was approved. VOTE: 8-0 It was agreed that the report was complete, except for non-substantial editorial changes. After discussing how to submit additional comments, Mr. Parker asked that all such changes be submitted no later than Saturday evening. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of the report subject to non- substantial edits that may be submitted by members of this Committee. The motion was approved. VOTE: 8-0 Mr. Parker agreed to post meetings for March 23 and 28, and April 4 and 6 starting at 7:00 p.m. and March 30 at 6:30 p.m. It is hoped that a report for the 2022-2 STM can be approved on March 30. Minutes of Prior Meetings A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the AC meeting on March 9, 2022, with edits. The motion was approved. VOTE: 8-0 A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 9:07 p.m. The motion was approved. VOTE: 8-0 Respectfully submitted, Sara Arnold Approved: March 28, 2022 Exhibits • Agenda, posted by Mr. Parker • Reserve Fund Transfer Memos from Ms. Kosnoff to Jim Malloy, Town Manager and from Ms. Kosnoff to Mr. Parker • Reserve Fund Transfer Form requesting funds for the Recreation Enterprise Fund, signed March 16, 2022 • Motions for 2022 ATM Article 21 • Updated Motion for 2022 ATM Article 26, 03/15/2022 • Town of Lexington ATM Warrant, March 7, 2022 3