HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-11-07-CEC-STM1-rpt CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO STM 2023-1
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE
TOWN OF LEXINGTON
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REPORT TO THE
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING (STM) 2023-1
NOVEMBER 7, 2023
Released October 30, 2023
Submitted by:
Charles Lamb, Chair
David G. Kanter, Vice-Chair& Clerk
Sandy Beebee
Michael Boudett
Rodney Cole
Lisah Rhodes
RECEIVED
9M am,Oct 31,2023
TOWN tERK
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO STM 2023-1
STM 2023-1 Warrant-Article
Explanations and Recommendations
Citations of the "Town Warrant"refer to the 2 Oct 2023 approval-signed"Town of Lexington Warrant
for the Special Town Meeting 2023-1,November 7, 2023".
Article 3: Establish, Amend, Funds Requested Funding Source Committee
Dissolve and Appropriate To Recommends
and From Specified Stabili- Addition to the Capital Stabilization Fund
zation Funds (SFs)
(Only those actions related to Capital) $2,699,381 New Tax Levy Approval(6-0)
( Y P ) Growth
"To see if the Town will vote to create, amend, dissolve, rename and/or appropriate sums of money to and
from Stabilization Funds in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Section 5B of Chapter 40 for
the purposes of: (a) Section 135 Zoning By-Law; (b) Traffic Mitigation; (c) Transportation Demand Man-
agement/Public Transportation; (d) Special Education; (e) Center Improvement District; (f) Transportation
Management Overlay District; (g) Capital; (h) Payment in Lieu of Parking; (i) Visitor Center Capital Sta-
bilization Fund; 0)Affordable Housing Capital Stabilization Fund; (k)Water System Capital Stabilization
Fund; and (1) Ambulance Stabilization Fund; determine whether such sums shall be provided by the tax
levy,by transfer from available funds, from fees,charges or gifts or by any combination of these methods;
or act in any other manner in relation thereto"
(Inserted by the Select Board)
"DESCRIPTION: This is an annual article to establish, dissolve, and/or fund Stabilization Funds for spe-
cific purposes and to appropriate funds therefrom. Money in those funds may be invested and the interest
may then become a part of the particular fund. These funds may later be appropriated for the specific des-
ignated purpose by a two-thirds vote of an Annual or Special Town Meeting,for any lawful purpose."
(Town Warrant)
We applaud the Town's efforts to allocate this stream of one-time revenue from new growth into the Capital
Stabilization Fund (CSF) in anticipation of substantial future capital needs. Presently this is targeted for
reducing the debt service on the Lexington High School renovation/replacement. The Funds Requested is
comprised of$2,303,236 per the Town's CSF guideline to dedicate commercial property tax growth from
specific new developments and an additional $396,145 from new growth in other property tax categories
beyond what is called for in the guideline.
For all SFs, deposits (additions) are approved by a simple majority vote of Town Meeting.
Article 5: Appropriate for Authorized Funds Requested Funding Source Committee
Capital Projects Recommends
N/A N/A Approval of IP
(6-0)
"To see if the Town will vote to make supplementary appropriations to be used in conjunction with sums
appropriated in prior years for the installation or construction of water mains,sewers and sewerage systems,
drains, streets, buildings, recreational facilities or other capital improvements and equipment; determine
whether the sums shall be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from the balances in other articles, by
transfer from available funds, including enterprise funds and the Community Preservation Fund, by bor-
rowing, or by any combination of these methods; or act in any other manner in relation thereto."
(Inserted by the Select Board)
"DESCRIPTION: This is an annual article to request funds to supplement existing appropriations for certain
capital projects in light of revised cost estimates that exceed such appropriations."
(Town Warrant)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO STM 2023-1
Article 8: Appropriate for Speed Funds Requested Funding Source Committee
Hump Pilot Program Recommends
$101,000 Traffic Mitigation Approval
Stabilization Fund (6-0)
"To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the installation of temporary speed humps
on Walnut Street, and determine whether the money shall be provided by the tax levy or by transfer from
available funds, or by any combination of these methods, or act in any other manner in relation thereto.
(Inserted by the Select Board at the request of the Transportation Safety Group)
DESCRIPTION: Traffic Safety Group proposes a speed hump pilot project on Walnut Street. The pilot
project entails design and installation of temporary rubber speed humps from April to October of 2024.The
neighborhood and Lexington staff will then be able to evaluate the effectiveness, and appropriateness of
the location before constructing a permanent speed hump.
(Town Warrant)
We understand that a portion of Walnut Street near the Town line has been identified by the Transportation
Safety Group (TSG) as an area with recorded chronic speeding issues, and that TSG consulted with both
the DPW and the public safety agencies (the police and fire departments)before proposing this pilot pro-
ject. The rubber speed hump installations will be temporary and will be removed during the winter months
to facilitate plowing. The Engineering Department says the costs include the purchase of those temporary
speed humps and the contractor costs for installation and removal.
Engineering is recommending 2 locations near that proposed portion of Walnut Street. Each location re-
quires 1 speed hump per lane of traffic so 2 speed humps per location. They also are proposing to have the
speed humps installed for 2 years, but still excluding the winter. With the 2 locations, each with 2 speed
humps and 2 years and 1 install and 1 removal per year,there will be 8 operations involved.
If successful in reducing those speeding issues, there may be a follow-on expanded program involving
permanent humps. They would be constructed of asphalt and left in place throughout the year.
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