HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-12 AC-min4/12/2017 AC Minutes
Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC)
April 12, 2017
Place and time: Ellen Stone Room, Cary Memorial Building, 6:30 p.m.
Members present: John Bartenstein, Chair; Alan Levine, Vice -Chair & Secretary; Ellen Basch;
Eric Michelson; Richard Neumeier; Andrei Radulescu-Banu; Sanjay Padaki; Lily Manhua Yan; Jian
Helen Yang; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex officio)
Members Absent: none
Other Attendees: Melissa Battite, Recreation and Community Programs Director; Peter Coleman,
Asst. Director, Recreation and Community Programs; Chris Filadoro, Public Grounds Supt.; Tom
Scarlata, Bargman Hendrie + Archetype, Inc. (architecture firm)
The meeting was called to order at 6:33 pm.
Announcements
Mr. Bartenstein announced that he would like to identify a Committee member to attend a meeting
where the topic of fees to offset costs related to stormwater management would be discussed. Mr.
Michelson and Mr. Neumeier indicated that they may be able to attend.
FY2018 Budget Issues
ATM articles were reviewed in preparation for votes on their merit and to determine whether
additional information was necessary in preparation of oral or supplementary written reports.
Discussion and/or actions were taken on the following articles:
• Article 10(m): Swimming pool renovations (Phase III): Ms. Battite stated that the lowest bid
to do the work was $1,958,500 which does not include any amount for contingency on the
Town's account. In comparison, the CPC had originally voted to approve a request of
$1,620,000 in total. The revised proposal would include $1,920,000 from the CPF
Undesignated Fund Balance and $234,350 from the CPF Unbudgeted Reserve for a total
request of $2,154,350.
Ms. Battite circulated a memo explaining the project, the amount of the original funding
request, and the amount of the revised funding request. The increase in the project cost
reflects the results of the bids that were received; there was no increase in project scope. Of
four bids received, the lowest at $1,958,350 was about $200K less than any of the other
bids. Ms. Battite noted that rebidding the project, e.g. with reduced scope, would be risky
since there could be no assurance that it would result in lower cost.
In response to a question, Mr. Scarlata stated that the new filter system should provide 30
years of service, although certain parts such as pumps and motors may need to be replaced
every 10 to 15 years. In response to a different question, he stated that the cost of two new
pools and a bathhouse in Belmont, not including the cost of land, was about $5M. The
Lexington project involves four pools plus work in areas around the pools.
The cost of Phase I was $25,000 and the cost of Phase II was about $165,000. The present
request is for Phase III. Ms. Kosnoff distributed a sheet summarizing Community
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Preservation Fund balances. She noted that the CPF would end up with a total balance of
just over $1,800,000 if this and other CPA articles were approved by Town Meeting.
➢ A motion was made and seconded to support the request for $2,154,350. The motion
passed. VOTE 9-0.
• Article 44: Brookhaven rezoning: The only issue still open at the time of the meeting is the
agreement with regard to the payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT). Mr. Padaki asked for
details of how the units at Brookhaven are counted, especially in regard to the skilled
nursing units. Mr. Michelson noted that the PILOT per unit would drop according to the
proposed memorandum of agreement and that this should be noted in the Committee report.
Ms. Basch noted that the draft report was revised in regard to the section discussing the tax
exempt status since the Board of Assessors does not need to fully review the issue of taxable
or nontaxable status every year. Mr. Bartenstein reviewed the recent legal history of
charitable exemptions from local property taxation in Massachusetts.
➢ A motion was made and seconded to approve the report on Article 44 with minor
edits to be made by Mr. Bartenstein and Ms. BAsch. The motion passed.
VOTE: 9-0.
The Committee adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
The documents used at the meeting are listed below.
Respectfully submitted,
Alan Levine
Approved: May 15, 2017
Exhibits
• Memorandum dated April 12, 2017, provided by Melissa Battite
• Summary of Community Preservation Fund balances, prepared by Carolyn Kosnoff
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