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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-23-AC-minRECEIVED03/23/2022 AC Minutes 022 27 Apir, 12A6 Ipium TOWN CLERK Minutes LEXINGTON MA Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC) March 23, 2022 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; Lily Manhua Yan; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex officio) Member(s) Absent: None Other Attendees: David Kanter, Capital Expenditures Committee liaison; Cindy Arens, Sustainable Lexington Committee (SLC) Mr. Parker called the meeting to order at 7:33 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) voted to hold a 2022-2 Special Town Meeting (STM) on April 11, 2022, which will include two articles on which this Committee plans to comment: Article 2 requesting funds for the Lexington High School feasibility study and Article 4 requesting funds to complete the comprehensive plan. The funding requests remain at $1.825 million and $75,000 respectively. Charles Hornig, Planning Board Chair, plans to attend this Committee's March 28 meeting to answer questions about the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Parker also reported that he had moved draft material for these two articles into a new report in Wdesk. This report needs to be approved at this Committee's March 30 meeting so that it can be published on April 4. This means substantial comments should be submitted by March 29. In response to a question, Mr. Parker suggested that members who wish to comment on Town Manager Jim Malloy's email regarding Preliminary Site Development and Use Plans should send those directly to Mr. Malloy. Special appreciation was extended to Mr. Parker, Mr. Levine and Mr. Bartenstein for their work in preparing and completing this Committee's report to the 2022 Annual Town Meeting (ATM) and the 2022-1 STM. Mr. Parker shared his thanks to everyone for their contributions. 2022 ATM Article 31: Amend General Bylaws -Reporting, Disclosing, and Assessing the Energy and Water Use of Large Buildings Mr. Parker introduced Ms. Arens, who explained that because of misunderstandings, an Article 31 funding request for $70,000 did not get included in the budget, but the SLC plans to apply for a grant and/or hopes to have access to some free software that would, at least temporarily, meet the needs of this project. The purpose of the project is to initiate a program for getting measurements of energy, fossil fuel, and water use by large facilities (both commercial and residential) in Lexington. Such measurements are needed to determine strategies for building owners to make cost-effective energy efficient investments and thereby reduce the use of energy and water. There was discussion about the use of fines to encourage compliance with providing these reports and establishing a fund 03/23/2022 AC Minutes that would be used for sustainability projects. Because there are no financial implications at this time, it was noted that this Committee does not need to comment on this article in its report. Review of this Committee's Report to the 2022-2 STM There was discussion about 2022-2 STM Article 2, during which it was noted that support of this article is the first step required for the Town to receive Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) funding support for a new high school or for renovations of the existing high school, and such funding is important. Additional discussion points included the eventual need for a referendum, that the MSBA does not help with preliminary costs, such as the feasibility study included in Article 2, and that there are many factors that influence the final rate of reimbursement by the MSBA. There was also discussion about the schedule for this project, which included an observation that construction would not start before 2025. A motion was made and seconded to recommend support of the 2022-2 STM Article 2. The motion was approved. VOTE: 8-0 Mr. Michelson explained that 2022-2 STM Article 4 requests $75,000 to complete the Comprehensive Plan. In response to questions, he explained that this appropriation will not be used to address the State's housing directive that is currently being finalized. The directive, when adopted, will provide the regulations associated with the recently -passed law in which zoning by- laws must allow higher density housing than may currently be allowed in areas served by the MBTA. Addressing this issue would be included during an implementation effort. It was agreed to delay voting on this article until after Mr. Hornig answers questions at this Monday's AC meeting. Minutes of Prior Meetings Approval of the March 16, 2022 minutes was postponed. Adjourn A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 8:33 p.m. The motion was approved. VOTE: 8-0 Respectfully submitted, Sara Arnold Approved: April 13, 2022 Exhibits Agenda, posted by Mr. Parker 2