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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-03-CEC-min Minutes of the s Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting RECEIVED CEIVED March 3, 2022 2022 27 pir, 1�03 pium <AING1, TOWN CLERK Location and Time: Remote Meeting; 8:00 A.M. LEXINGTON MA CEC Members Present (remote participation): Charles Lamb, Chair; David Kanter, Vice-Chair & Clerk; Sandy Beebee; Mike Boudett; Rod Cole; and Frank Smith CEC Members Absent: None Others Present (remote participation): Other Lexington Committees: Glenn Parker, Chair, Appropriation Committee (AC) liaison; Scott Bokun and Sara Cuthbertson, School Committee liaisons; Lisah Rhodes, Vice-Chair Recreation Committee; Todd Rhodes, Sustainable Lexington Committee (SLC); Staff: Finance Department: Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance; Sara Arnold, Recording Secretary Documents Presented: • Notice of Public Meeting/Agenda CEC Meeting, March 3, 2022 • Comparison of FY2023 Town 5-Year Capital Plan with the FY2022 CEC Plan, Prepared by Mr. Kanter, March 2, 2022 • Draft #4 CEC Report to 2022 ATM & Special Town Meeting (STM) 2022-1 & Potential -2 • Vine Street Estimate (Article 10(k)) email, March 2, 2022, from Robert Pressman to Marilyn Fenollosa, Charles Hornig, Carolyn Kosnoff, Bob Burbidge, and David G. Kanter • 116 Vine St Design Development Estimate, prepared by Colin Smith Architecture, Inc., 2/27/2022 • SLC Recommendations Re Police Station To Select Board (SB), March 2, 2022 Call to Order Mr. Lamb called this Remote (Virtual) Meeting, which had been posted as such, to order at 8:00 A.M. As the Committee members present had been previously advised of the special conditions of this meeting, he passed on repeating them (i.e., the authority to not require a physical presence of a quorum and other selected terms under the Open Meeting Law in legislation signed on June 16th of this year by Massachusetts Governor Charles D. Baker). Mr. Lamb advised that materials provided electronically to the Committee or presented at the meeting, would be available upon request and are those listed in the Minutes as Documents Presented. Any votes during this meeting would be taken by a roll call. Further, this meeting would be recorded to assist in preparing Minutes, and the recording would be deleted once the Minutes are approved. Mr. Lamb took a roll-call attendance, determining that six members were present. Committee's Report to the 2022 ATM and accompanying STM 2022-1 & Potential -2 Mr. Kanter presented his Comparison of FY2023 Town 5-Year Capital Plan with the FY2022 CEC Plan, explaining that it was designed to assist in developing this Committee's FY2023 Five-Year Plan, as required by statute. It was agreed that this will be an excellent tool to use in preparing for next week's discussion. Mr. Lamb also asked Mr. Boudett to prepare his votes for the items on which the rest of the Committee voted last week. Page 1 of 4 Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting March 3, 2022 It was noted that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has just included Lexington on its list of communities to be invited to participate in its process for pursuing a grant to replace/renovate Lexington High School. How to proceed will be discussed at a meeting being held by the Select Board (SB) and School Committee on March 9. Articles for which taking positions had been deferred at this Committee's February 24 meeting were reviewed to determine if this Committee was ready to vote on them, as follows: • STM 2022-1, Article 2: Appropriate for Police Station Construction: It was agreed that there were details regarding the scope of work for the project that were not yet clear, particularly relating to sustainability-related options requested by the SLC. In response to questions, Ms. Kosnoff said that members of the SB had met with those looking at potential changes in policing practices and had determined that any such changes would not have any material effect on the design of the new station. She will forward the written report to this Committee. It was also noted that the Historic District Commission (HDC) is meeting later in the day, during which the Town's request to demolish the Hosmer House will be discussed. If demolition is not approved, there are plans to move the Hosmer House to the corner of Fletcher Avenue and Woburn Street. This option must also be approved by the HDC. Taking a position was further deferred. • ATM Article 10: FY23 CPC Budget/Projects (e) Center Playground Bathrooms and Maintenance Building Renovation: Additional clarity is still needed, particularly in terms of the cost. Taking a position was further deferred. (f) Playground Improvements - Hard Court Surfaces: Because all indications are that the Town will be moving forward with the MSBA process, Ms. Beebee is planning to contact Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, to verify that the High-School project would not impact the location of these improvements. Taking a position was further deferred. (k) LexHAB-116 Vine Street Construction Funds: It was reported that the appropriation request had been increased to $5.7 million, which needs to be approved by the Community Preservation Committee. It was noted that the amount still may be low, considering the current construction market. Taking a position was further deferred. • ATM Article 12: Appropriate for Municipal Capital Projects and Equipment (n) Battle Green Streetscape Improvements: Ms. Kosnoff reported that the SB has requested additional clarification regarding a small sliver of land owned by the Masons that, if owned by the Town, would improve the project. Taking a position was further deferred. (o) Municipal Parking Lot Improvements: Mr. Kanter expressed concern about uncertainties relating to this project. A Motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of Article 12 (o). Roll Call Vote 5-0-1 (Mr. Kanter abstained.) (q) New Sidewalk Installations: Ms. Kosnoff reported that the SB had some questions about this project. Taking a position was further deferred. • ATM Article 16: Appropriate for Public Facilities Capital Projects (h) Town Pool Water-Heater Replacement: Mr. Lamb reported that the appropriation request under Article 16(h) was originally for a replacement water heater, but it is now going to be used for the design of an electric option, a project unlikely to need all of Page 2 of 4 Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting March 3, 2022 the $31,000 being requested. The Motion funding may be modified, or it may be that the unused funds will be returned. Mr. Lamb added that if the current water-heater fails, operating funds will be used to ensure hot water is available. A Motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of Article 16(h). Roll Call Vote 6-0 • ATM Article 18: Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations: Ms. Kosnoff plans to provide information as soon as it is available. • ATM Article 19: Establish, Amend, Dissolve and Appropriate to and from Specified Stabilization Funds: Information for this Article is not yet available. Taking a position was deferred. • ATM Article 21 : Amend FY2022 Operating, Enterprise and CPA Budgets: This Article will have two components: (a) Adjusting the Clerk's budget, which is not Capital related; and (b) Adjusting the Community Preservation Act deposits. Because the language for the two parts was not available, taking a position was deferred. • ATM Article 22: Appropriate for Authorized Capital Improvements: Ms. Kosnoff reported that she expects this Article to be Indefinitely Postponed (IP'd). A Motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of IP'ing Article 22. Roll Call Vote 6-0 • ATM Article 23 Appropriate from Debt Service Stabilization Fund: Ms. Kosnoff plans to provide information as soon as it is available. • ATM Article 25: Appropriate for Worthen Road Recreation and Education District Land Use Concept Plan (Citizen Petition): Mr. Lamb reported that this Article will likely be IP'd, but there are still uncertainties. Taking a position was deferred. Next steps identified for preparing the Report included the following: • Mr. Cole agreed to update the acronyms listed in Appendix B • After discussion about the redundancy of information included in the Economic Development section of past Reports, a Motion was made and seconded to remove that section in this year's report. Roll Call Vote 6-0 • There was discussion about including the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) section in the Report, consistent with past practice. Although the CPC creates its own report, it was determined that this section had value and should be included in this year's Report. • Mr. Kanter and Mr. Cole agreed to proofread the tables in the report. Agenda items for next week's meeting were identified, as follows: • The 5-Year Capital Plan • The SLC's letter written to the SB as it relates to plans for the Police Headquarters replacement and the Municipal Parking Lot Improvements. Mr. Kanter expressed concern about the increase in costs for incorporating additional sustainability components (beyond the agreed making the facility ready for solar), suggesting that these should be a separate project. Others suggested that incorporating the sustainability components might be important for getting support for the projects. • The MSBA decision and the March 9 meeting being held by the SB and School Committee to discuss next steps. Mr. Cole departed at 8:57 A.M. Page 3 of 4 Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting March 3, 2022 Adjourn A Motion was made and seconded at 8:58 A.M. to adjourn. Roll-Call Vote:5-0 This Minutes was approved by the CEC at its meeting on April 13, 2022. Page 4 of 4