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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-10-AC-min3/10/2016 AC Minutes Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC) March 10, 2016 Place and time: Reed Room, Town Office Building, 7:30 p.m. Members present. Glenn Parker, Chair; John Bartenstein, Vice Chair and Secretary; Kate Colburn; Mollie Garberg; Alan Levine; Beth Masterman; Eric Michelson; Richard Neumeier; Andrei Radulescu -Banu; Rob Addelson (non- voting, ex officio) Members Absent: None Others Present: Karen Simmons, Director, Recreation and Community Affairs; Dawn McKenna, Chair, Tourism Committee; Elaine Ashton, Town Meeting member The meeting was called to order at 7:35 pm. 1. Announcements: Mr. Bartenstein reported on the Moderator's meeting held in preparation for the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) and Special Town Meeting (STM) 2016 -3, which will begin on March 21 with deliberation of the annual budget starting on March 28. Financial articles under STM 2016 -3 will be taken up on March 21, therefore an electronic version of this Committee's report to the STM 2016 -3 will be published on March 14. A combined document, containing the Committee's reports for both STM 2016 -3 and the 2016 ATM, will be printed and distributed on March 21. Mr. Bartenstein reported that deliberation of Article 34: Amend General Bylaws — Guns was assigned a date certain of April 6. The Lexington police will implement security measures because of potential controversy regarding the article; non - Lexington residents may attend. In the Police Chiefs opinion, this bylaw is not necessary because state law regarding guns is adequate. Mr. Michelson reported that the Minuteman Regional High School (MRHS) Committee has not yet voted on the proposal to rebuild the school building. This is on its agenda for its next meeting. Mr. Parker has discussed the process that Town Meeting could take regarding its position on this project with Joe Pato, Chair of the Board of Selectmen (BoS). The recommendation is to hold another STM to give Town Meeting an opportunity to debate and vote on this request. If no action is taken by Town Meeting, the new MRHS regional agreement assumes an affirmative vote. 2. Reserve Fund Transfer: Ms. Simmons presented a request to the Committee for a $26,800 Reserve Fund Transfer to supplement a $55,000 FY2016 appropriation for reconstruction of basketball courts and accessible paths at Sutherland and Marvin Parks. Although bid documents for this project were issued twice, the bid prices received exceeded the original budget, primarily because: a landscape architect was needed to address wetland issues; these are small projects that are less attractive; and the market has changed, i.e., there are more projects competing for the available providers than when the original estimate was created. Ms. Simmons believes that comparable projects at Rindge and Kineen Parks, for which a funding request is being submitted to the 2016 ATM, will not need supplemental funding because they are even smaller projects and do not require wetland delineation. Mr. Addelson reported that there is currently a balance of $750,000 in the Reserve Fund. The Fund started FY2016 with $900,000; $150,000 was approved for supplementing appropriations for the Cary Memorial Building renovations. 1 3/10/2016 AC Minutes • A motion was made and seconded to approve a Reserve Fund transfer, as requested. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 3. Consent Agenda for the 2016 ATM: Mr. Parker discussed a handout identifying the 2016 ATM articles that are being proposed for a Consent Agenda. The BoS and the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) have unanimously endorsed the list. If any Town Meeting member does not support an item being on the Consent Agenda, it will be removed from the list; this includes anyone from the finance committees, the BoS, or any other Town Meeting member. Mr. Bartenstein commented that Town Meeting members may look to the finance committees and BoS for guidance and assume that the Consent Agenda items are generally routine, non- controversial, and will undoubtedly pass on their own merit. While this may be the case, Mr. Bartenstein suggested that Town Meeting members should be introduced to some information about some of the items on the list. There was discussion and differing opinions about which articles should be on the Consent Agenda. It was generally agreed that items being indefinitely postponed (IP'ed) would be appropriate for the list. Ms. McKenna noted that Article 8(d) Visitors Center Renovation will be IP'ed, but she expects to make a presentation about the project at Town Meeting. • A motion was made and seconded to support the following articles for the Consent Agenda: • Article 8: Community Preservation Committee Operating Budget and CPA Projects (r) CPA Debt Service (s) Administrative Budget • Article 11: Appropriate for Water System Improvements • Article 15: Appropriate for Public Facilities Capital Projects (g) Diamond Middle School Renovations — Construction [If IP'ed after STM 2016 -3] (h) Clarke Middle School Renovations — Construction [If IP'd after STM 2016 -3] • Article 19: Appropriate Bonds and Notes Premiums • Article 20: Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations • Article 22: Appropriate to Stabilization Fund [If IP'ed] • Article 23: Appropriate from Debt Service Stabilization Fund The motion passed. VOTE: 8 -1 Mr. Neumeier called for a vote on approval of the entire list, as recommended by the BoS. • A motion was made and seconded to support all of the articles as proposed by the BoS and supported by the CEC for the Consent Agenda. The motion failed. VOTE: 2 -7 4. Report to the 2016 Annual Town Meeting (ATM): Articles were reviewed. Comments were made and votes were taken, as follows: • Article 8: Community Preservation Committee Operating Budget and CPA Projects (a) Munroe Tavern Archeological Dig: It is expected that this project will be IP'ed because of opposition by some neighbors to the building project that is to follow. 2 3/10/2016 AC Minutes (b) Munroe Center for the Arts Window Study: The Town owns the building and, although the allocation of responsibility between owner and tenant for capital improvements has never been definitively resolved, agreement has been reached to have this project completed by the Town with CPA funds. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 (c) Lexington Arts and Crafts Society Parsons Gallery Lighting Renovation: This is a privately owned building that is used to serve the public. CPA funds have previously been used under comparable circumstances, e.g., First Parish Church in 2015. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion failed. VOTE: 3 -6 (d) Visitors Center Renovation: It is expected that this project will be IP'ed. Current plans involve a complete rebuild of the Center, which would make the project ineligible for CPA funds. (e) Keeler Farm Community Housing Acquisition: Acquisition of one unit for affordable housing, to be managed by the Lexington Housing Assistance Board, is proposed. Some funding is expected from the WestMetro HOME Consortium of which Lexington is a member. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 (f) Greeley Village Rear Door and Porch Preservation: This project is for replacing/repairing 100 doors and 75 porches. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 (g) Wright Farm Barn Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study: It has been suggested that the facility can be converted into an environmental education space for adults and children, but the Committee feels this would have to be organized as a self - supporting service. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 (h) Antony Park Construction Funds: Ms. McKenna reviewed the history of the request for Antony Park Construction Funds. According to Ms. McKenna, in 2009 and 2010 the Town Manager and Board of Selectmen (BoS) endorsed a plan to develop a small park honoring the Town's sister city (Antony, France). The Tourism Committee, with support from the Antony Park Working Group, raised approximately $60,000 in private donations. The majority of this money has since been spent on site preparation and unsuccessful tree planting, leaving the park in an unsightly and unusable state. Community Endowment of Lexington recently provided a $5,000 grant to support the park project. Article 8(h) is requesting an additional $60,000 of CPA funds to complete the original plan. The project involves site work, stone work and plantings. Additional private fundraising will be sought to develop the park further once the basics are done. 3 3/10/2016 AC Minutes • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 (i) Minuteman Bikeway Wayfinding Signs Implementation: Last year, $39,000 was appropriated for design work; the current request for $120,000 is for purchasing and installing 220 signs. It is expected that $200 will be needed annually for maintenance. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 0) Town Pool Renovation Design and Engineering Costs: This is an ongoing project. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 (k) Park Improvements Athletic Fields: This includes rehabilitation of basketball courts. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 (1) Granite Forest Pocket Park Construction at Lincoln Park: This project includes plans to use granite pillars found on the Inn at Hastings Park site. The plan is to create a gathering and sitting area with public art near the Lincoln Street fields. Because no design was available, this Committee deferred taking a position. (m) Park Improvements Athletic Fields: The project is for improvements of the fields behind the Waldorf School, including laser - grading, improved drainage and benches. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 (n) Park and Playground Improvements: Fences and posts need to be repaired or replaced because of frost heaves. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 (o) Grain Mill Alley Design Implementation: The project now includes development of two sites, one near the bikeway and the other at Massachusetts Avenue, to attract and guide bikeway users into the Town center. No private property is involved. There is approximately $5,000 left from a previous appropriation of $18,000 for design development and a pilot project. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 (p) CPA Debt Service • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 (q) Administrative Budget • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 4 3/10/2016 AC Minutes • Article 10 (a), Center Streetscape Improvements and Easements — Phase 1 of 3: Mr. Levine reported on a call he received from Jon Himmel, Chair, Permanent Building Committee, about the current proposal for the Center Streetscape project. During the discussion, some concern was expressed about the phasing of the project, which results in the use of different contractors. It was noted that the BoS would be discussing this project at its Monday night meeting; it was agreed to defer taking a position. • Article 16, Appropriate for Advice and Analysis "Getting to Net Zero": This $40,000 request would cover one year of services from three professional consultants: an energy modeler, a facilitator for meetings, and a building energy -use expert. The project would establish a diverse task force made up of residents and town staff to consider ways of lowering the town's "carbon footprint ". Depending on the success of the first year's work, there could be future funding requests for consulting services, or requests to fund programs developed under the project. During the discussion, there was some concern about moving forward on this project before learning more from other communities' experiences; there was also support for Lexington being in the forefront of such efforts, and for having more information about sustainability as the Town undertakes more large capital projects. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 7 -1 -1 5. Report to the Special Town Meeting (STM) 2016 -3: Articles were reviewed. Comments were made and votes were taken, as follows • Article 2, Appropriate for Middle Schools — Additions and Remodeling: Ms. Colburn reported on plans for interior renovations and additions at both middle schools. The request for the Diamond Middle School project is $44.0 million; for Clarke Middle School it is $21.0 million. The project would provide additional middle school capacity slightly above the 2019 projections. There is room for an additional wing at Diamond, if necessary; middle school districts may have to change to take advantage of a larger Diamond school. About $4 million of the request addresses items that must be completed during the summer of 2016 to accommodate students arriving in the fall. There will be a debt exclusion referendum for the entire funding request. Should all or part of that referendum fail, the $4 million component can be funded as within -levy debt. • A motion was made and seconded to support this project. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 • Article 3, PEG Access and Cable Related Fund Acceptance: It is anticipated that this article will be IP'ed. • A motion was made and seconded to print a few copies of the STM 2016 -3 report and make them available on Monday, March 14; in addition to the electronic distribution, about 20 copies would be delivered to the Police Station. The motion passed. VOTE: 9 -0 6. Future Meetings: It was agreed to meet on Wednesday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. as well as on Thursday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. 5 3/10/2016 AC Minutes The Committee adjourned at 10:03 p.m. The documents used at the meeting are listed below. Respectfully submitted, Sara Arnold Recording Secretary Approved May 2, 2016 Exhibits Agenda, posted by Glenn Parker, Chair Proposed 2016 Annual Town Meeting Consent Agenda - 3/8/2016 6