HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-11-CEC-minCapital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting, 2/11/09, 8:30 am, Town Office
Building, Room 111
Members Present: Shirley Stolz, David Kanter, Ted Edson, Charles Lamb (Chair)
Others: Paul LaPointe (Lexington Council of Aging [COA])
Discussion of Article 22 (Sr/Community Center at white House stud
The COA presented to the Board of Selectmen in October 2008.
Review of D&E spreadsheet. Scenario B is preferred.
PL: Recommends going through conceptual design.
Questions: What does it mean to have a Community Center? What about encroaching on
the Town Conscience land? What about parking policy issues? Where will these dollars
(for the study) come from given that they're not in the currently-proposed capital budget?
The Board of Selectmen (BoS) needs to decide that this is the correct site. The CEC
would not support spending any more money until the BoS decides this is the correct site.
DK: This was supposed to be proposed by the space-use Task Force ("Town Manager's
Task Force on Capital Projects, l Oct 2008), but the BoS chose otherwise and has not
given any further feedback on the matter.
PL: Will indefinitely postpone Article 22 if the BoS does not make a decision.
DK: Why not requesting Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds?
PL: Historic elements are minimal and not sure how he would estimate the actual
amount. He isn't asking for CPA funds because they are still using up the 2000 ATM,
Article 08(a)(ii) dollars; but admits it's a missed opportunity.
DK: Do the dollar estimates need to be inflated?
PL: No.
DK: Bothered by the town proceeding with current programmatic scope since that
implies an override. Encroachment on green space is a problem. Parking (public and
institutional) is a problem. State specification (of parameters for a Center) is a warning
flag. He would like to see a viable Senior/Community Center that doesn't go down in
flames in the voting booth rather than one which is too big (i.e., under State
specifications).
S S : Full report acknowledges that the State standards are too great. She has rarely seen
100 cars at the present Senior Center; therefore, parking requirements feel extreme.
DK: It's a chicken/egg problem. The current program offerings don't demand larger
parking lots. If you build it, they may come. If the goal is too grandiose, the whole thing
may fail.
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SS: So many permutations so it needs feedback and exposure.
PL: Current facility is crumbling. It is not ADA compliant. It is quite small. He believes
there are unmet needs now and that segment will grow. BH+A validated that they had the
right program (e.g., three exercise classes going on at once or lunch; Community or
multi-function event such as a Lexington Symphony fund-raiser). Can it be compressed
and shrunk? Yes. Scenario C is to add adult daycare and implies a third floor (rejected).
Scenario A implies more sq. footage, but that was rejected.
DK: What should the Town do with its Senior-Center space in the Muzzey
Condominiums if the COA moves out?
PL: Master deed states that the space is to be used for "Senior purposes". There are no
cost estimates for converting it. Mill St is also an issue. Minuteman Regional Vocational
Technical School owns it and leases it to the COA. Minuteman could sell it. There's a
3-year lease on Mill St.
TE: BoS needs to decide if the White House is the right site. Can't move forward until
then.
PL: Overall space needs have still not come to rest in an orderly fashion. But something
needs to be done with that building.
DK: That Task Force pointed out that there's nothing specifying that there needs to be a
community center. What addresses the total need?
PL: It is like the library-build for the primary function, but also build other space for the
community.
TE: Agrees with DK that the question of Muzzey needs to be addressed.
PL: There is no Volunteer Coordinator right now at the Senior Center. The Veterans
Agent is part/time (a few hours a week).
Motion: Accept the minutes for the Committee's 4 Feb 2009 meeting. 4:0.
Review of report assignments.
Sentiment on Article 22: Won't even consider a position until the BoS recommends using
the White-House site for a Senior Center. Would likely disapprove if there's no CPA
proposal. Also, there's nothing addressing other issues (e.g., Muzzey). Further, many of
the programmatic issues have not been vetted.
Adjourn: 10:00 am
These 1V~inutes were approved by the CEC at its meeting on 11~arch 18, 2009.
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