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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-16 SB-min Select Board Meeting October 16, 2023 A meeting of the Lexington Select Board was called to order at 6:30p.m. on Monday, October 16, 2023, via hybrid meeting platform. Mr. Pato, Chair; Ms. Barry, Mr. Lucente, Mr. Sandeen, and Ms. Hai were present, as well as Mr. Malloy, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Deputy Town Manager; Ms. Katzenback, Executive Clerk; and Ms. Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approve and Sign Proclamations  Domestic Violence Awareness Month  Dyslexia Awareness Month To approve and sign a proclamation recognizing the month of October annually as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. To approve and sign a proclamation recognizing the month of October annually as Dyslexia Awareness Month. DOCUMENTS: 2023 Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation, 2023 Dyslexia Awareness Month Proclamation 2. Amend and Sign Easements – Kay Tiffany Way Definitive Subdivision, 109 Reed Street To approve the easements, substantially in the form presented with final changes to be approved by the Town Manager in his reasonable discretion in consultation with Town Counsel, and to authorize the Town Manager to execute and accept said easements on behalf of the Select Board. DOCUMENTS: Memorandum, Redline Easement Utilities, Clean Easement Utilities, Maintenance Easement, Drainage Easement 3. Approve Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS) Proposed Letter Regarding Hanscom Field Expansion To approve and sign the HATS Committee letter regarding the proposed North Airfield Expansion at Hanscom Airport. DOCUMENTS: HATS Committee Proposed Letter Regarding Hanscom Field Expansion VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION 1. Public Hearing and Discussion - Fiscal Year 2024 Water and Sewer Rates Mr. Pato opened the public hearing at 6:34pm. Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance, presented the FY2024 proposed water and sewer rates and supporting information on the Water and Wastewater Enterprise funds. Regarding the FY 2023 rates, overall water revenues were favorable to the original budget and projections by $2.8M. This was mostly due to last year's very dry summer. On the non-rate revenue side, the Town earned $300,000 of interest revenue on the fund balance. Approximately $300,000 in expenses were also turned back. Overall, the Water Fund had an operating surplus of just over $3M for FY23. Retained earnings are projected to be about $3.2M. $575,000 of retained earnings was appropriated for this year's budget, both to pay down a bond anticipation note and for fire hydrants. The Wastewater Enterprise for FY23 also favorable results, with approximately $379,000 of surplus revenue. On the expense side, approximately $252,000 was turned back, for a net operating surplus of $631,000. Ms. Kosnoff explained that the proposed water rates are projected to go up 5.7%, and the proposed wastewater rates are proposed to go up 4.6%. For an average user, this will add approximately $49 to their annual utility bill. The increase in water rates is mostly driven by the 8% increase in the budget for this year. The increase in wastewater rates is also mostly driven by the budget. Ms. Kosnoff reviewed projected usage amounts. Mr. Lucente asked about the process for the proposed surplus. Ms. Kosnoff explained that is has been the practice to mainly use the surplus for cash capital and to invest the surplus back into the infrastructure. By not having to borrow for these items, it lowers future debt service. Mr. Lucente asked about water usage and composting. Ms. Kosnoff stated that she does not have data on that item, but Staff does try to take into account residential usage. In response to a question from Ms. Barry, Ms. Kosnoff explained that new meters have been installed at Lincoln Labs and Hanscom. After receiving several months of data, Staff is comfortable that accurate readings are being submitted. Ms. Barry asked for information from the Public Works Department regarding accurate reading from the VA. Mr. Pato stated that he has heard concerns from some small, commercial businesses in Town, which turn into large consumers of water, and are consuming their water at Tier 3, such as restaurants, dry cleaners, etc. The concern is that the water costs seen are significantly higher than what is being experienced in other communities. Those communities may make adjustments for small businesses or allow for a different tier structure to mitigate the expense. Ms. Kosnoff noted that Staff will likely be requesting funding to complete an overall rate study. Adjusting rates for one sector would then change them for another sector. Mr. Malloy noted that both the US EPA and Mass DEP strongly encourage communities to have a rate structure that encourages water waste. The more water used, the more people pay per gallon or cubic foot, thus encouraging people to install water conservation measures. Some businesses cannot install these measures, but it is difficult to change the entire rate structure for a few entities without impacting all other customers. Mr. Pato noted that he would still like to pursue answers to the question. Mr. Pato asked for public comment at this time. Seeing none, he closed the hearing at 7:00pm. He stated that the Board anticipates approving the rates for FY 2024 on Monday, November 13, 2023. DOCUMENTS: FY2024 Water and Wastewater Rate Setting Presentation, FY2024 Water and Wastewater Rate Setting Memo 2. Presentation – Cary Memorial Library Project Design Development to Construction Document - The Children's Room Renovation Mr. Roberts, Johnson Roberts Associates, Inc., presented the integrated design and construction plans for the Children's Room renovation at the Library. He noted that the HVAC system for the lower level will be completely redone to a variable refrigerant flow system (VRF). The condensers for this project will remain screened on the site for some time but, at a future time, these will be consolidated and relocated in a larger mechanical pit. The estimated cost for this project has increased by approximately $500,000 since the last presentation. Mr. Pato noted that this project will need to go before the HDC to receive a Certificate of Appropriateness in terms of proposed screening for the VRF components. Mike Cronin, Director of Public Facilities, agreed that the HDC has been engaged to discuss this topic. Ms. Barry noted that the cost estimate was amended to include quotes for moving and storage needed during the project. Ms. Hai asked if the condensers and their screening will block much of the light for the new meeting room. Mr. Roberts explained that this will be taken into account during layout of the area. Mr. Pato asked for public comment at this time. Bridger McGaw, Precinct 6 Town Meeting member and Vice Chair of the Economic Development Committee, asked how much of the Library’s existing square footage will need to be temporarily relocated during this project. Koren Stembridge, Library Director, explained that Staff will relocate all of the services from the lower level to the main level. Temporary children's and teen spaces will be created on the main level. Some children’s programming will be moved to the community center in the meantime. Robert Pressman, member of the CPC, asked if there is a plan to request CPC funding for this project this year. Ms. Kosnoff explained that a financing plan has not yet been completed but this project was deemed eligible, and funding may be requested. Dawn McKenna, 9 Hancock Street, expressed concern regarding the air handling equipment on the outside of the building. This is a historic area of Town. There should be natural screening at least, and this placement should be reevaluated. VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve the design development plans for the Cary Library Children's Room and authorize the Department of Public Facilities to continue the design. DOCUMENTS: Presentation 3. Select Board Work Session - Resilient Lexington: Climate Action and Resilience Plan Discussion on Implementation Maggie Peard, Sustainability & Resiliency Officer presented the Resilient Lexington plan, which is the Town's Climate Action & Resilience Plan. The plan aims to build off past and ongoing work in Town to create a workplan for achieving a more sustainable future. It is focused on creating an updated roadmap to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, which is in line with the State's climate goals. There has been community engagement throughout this process. The plan is broken up into five different focus areas: buildings and energy, community resilience, natural resources, transportation and mobility, and waste. Within each of these focus areas there are two overarching goals, which are then broken down into strategies and actions to complete the goals. For each one of those 52 actions identified, there is also identified a lead Town department to carry out the implementation, and also partners, such as other town departments or community groups, that would support the implementation. She suggested that there be a full formal update of the plan every five years. Within these five years, there will likely need to be refinements to the proposed targets. She also suggested that the Sustainability and Resilience Officer be responsible for tracking data and the status of the actions in the plan on a regular basis. Mr. Lucente asked about the Town’s progress toward net zero emissions. Ms. Peard explained that the most holistic, complete inventory that has occurred in Town so far was the 2019 greenhouse gas inventory. Any update to the plan would also consider updating that greenhouse gas inventory. Mr. Sandeen suggested more frequent major updates to the plan, such as every three years. Ms. Barry asked if senior staff has sat down to review the proposed goals and determine if they are achievable given the time required. Ms. Peard noted that she reviewed the plan with the senior management team to confirm all proposed actions are achievable. Additional staff members that may be needed are not quantified as part of this plan. Ms. Hai expressed concern regarding the ability to effectuate the plan without a budget dedicated to doing so. Mr. Pato stated that he supports formal adoption of this plan. He echoed the suggestion for more frequent formal updates to it. The Board should continue to keep this plan in front of it at all budget discussions and departmental review sessions in order to make sure the Town is in a position to execute on it. Todd Rhodes, Sustainable Lexington Committee, explained that one of the areas currently being assessed is solar installations. In parallel with the Town's development of the Resilient Lexington Plan, the Sustainable Lexington Committee has been researching the need and potential for solar energy installations in Town. The State is projecting that solar energy along with battery storage will need to contribute approximately 1/3 of the electricity mix in the year 2050. At that time, all building and transportation energy is expected to have been converted to electricity. Determining how much solar a municipality can install requires balancing the needs for solar, housing, protection of natural and working lands, and other social goals. Three illustrative scenarios show how the Town could increase solar from 3- 15 times the current levels. Increased solar is needed as Eversource has limited capacity to deliver electricity into Lexington. Increased solar would also lead to a reduced need for new transmission lines and substations, which would reduce overall utility costs. Lexington should determine its appropriate share of solar relative to other cities and towns, include those targets in the Resilient Lexington Plan, and track installations against those targets. Solar installations along with battery storage on impervious surfaces should be maximized, but those installations alone may not be sufficient to meet all of the scenarios presented. The Town should participate in the State's development of a long-term land use strategy for implementation of the 2050 goals. Mr. Lucente asked if other municipalities are considering private partnerships to get solar installations. Mr. Rhodes stated that the believes the Town is doing a good job in increasing solar and residential owners will be a large piece of the puzzle. DOCUMENTS: Presentation, Climate Action & Resilience Plan, Implementation Blueprints, AppendixA, AppendixB, Solar Need and PotentialAnalysis 4. Select Board Work Session - Review of Revised Noise Advisory Committee Charge Mr. Pato explained that the Board previously discussed not including an amendment to the Noise Bylaw at this fall's Special Town Meeting. It also agreed to revise the charge for a reconstituted Noise Committee. The Board discussed what it would like to see as part of the Committee’s charge. DOCUMENTS: Noise Advisory Committee Charge 5. Special Town Meeting 2023-1  Presentation - STM 2023-1 Article 8: Appropriate for Speed Hump Pilot Program Sheila Page, Assistant Planning Director, updated the Select Board on Article 8: Appropriate for Speed Hump Pilot Program. Mr. Pato explained that the Board had received a lot of concern from residents in this area of Town for the past few years regarding the speed, volume, and types of traffic flowing through it. He expressed appreciation for the Transportation Safety Group for completing studies and seeking paths forward to try to alleviate this difficult situation. He stated that he is supportive of this moving forward as a trial mechanism. Ms. Page agreed that this is only a trial program as items that impede traffic also will affect public safety response time. Mr. Sandeen asked if this is being drafted with broad enough language to allow for enough flexibility to experiment with a full range of traffic calming measures. Ms. Page stated that she believes there is enough flexibility to consider other measures. Ms. Barry asked what metrics will be used to determine future pilot program streets in Town. Ms. Page explained that a rubric of certain criteria will be used to make these determinations. Mr. Lucente asked about the cost of these items and if they are reusable. Ms. Page explained that the speed humps are rubber and can be reused. Some of the estimated cost is for the speed humps themselves, but the cost also includes pre- and post-traffic studies and installation of the speed humps.  Presentation - STM 2023-1 Article 9: Authorize Home Rule Petition for Special Legislation - Establishing the Election of Town Offices Using Ranked Choice Voting (Citizen Petition) Sreeni Chippada, Petitioner, updated the Select Board on Article 9: Authorize Home Rule Petition for Special Legislation - Establishing the Election of Town Offices Using Ranked Choice Voting (Citizen Petition). The Board asked for clarity on a couple of items in the presentation, including unanticipated write-ins. There was a recommendation that the presentation at Town Meeting focus on the local aspects of this proposal. There was discussion regarding funding for this item and the requirement of permission from the State.  Presentation – STM 2023-1 Article 10: Hayden Easement Mr. Malloy updated the Board on Article 10: Hayden Easement.  Select Board Article Discussion, Presenters and Positions The Board reviewed its positions on the STM 2023-1 warrant articles. Mr. Pato Ms. Barry Mr. Lucente Ms. Hai Mr. Sandeen Article 8 - Appropriate for In Support In Support In Support In Support In Support Speed Hump Pilot Program Article 9 - Authorize Home Rule Petition for Special Legislation – Establishing the Is a Wait Is a Wait Is a Wait Is a Wait In Support Election of Town Offices using Ranked Choice Voting (Citizens’ Petition) Article 10 - Hayden Easement In Support In Support In Support In Support In Support DOCUMENTS: Article 8 motion, Article 8 speed hump memo, Article 8 speed hump presentation, Article 9 ranked choice motion, Article 9 ranked choice voting presentation, Article 10 Hayden easement text, Article 10 Hayden easement presentation, Select Board Working Document - Positions STM 2023 -1 ADJOURN VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 9:01pm. A true record; Attest: Kristan Patenaude Recording Secretary