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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-08-CEC-minMinutes of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Remote-Participation Meeting February 8, 2024 -1- Location and Time: Remote-Participation Meeting; 8:00 A.M. Members Present: Charles Lamb, Chair; David Kanter, Vice−Chair & Clerk; Sandy Beebee; Mike Boudett; Rod Cole; and Lisah Rhodes Members Absent: None Other Present: Glenn Parker, Chair, Appropriation Committee Documents Presented: • Notice of Public Remote Meeting/Agenda CEC Meeting, February 8, 2024 • DRAFT Minutes for the CEC Meeting at the Financial Summit III (White Book), January 25, 2024. • Preliminary Draft CEC Report to the 2024 Annual Town Meeting (ATM) Call to Order Mr. Lamb called this Remote (Virtual) Meeting to order at 8:03 A.M. As the Committee members and the others joining this meeting had been previously advised of the special conditions of this meeting, he passed on repeating them (i.e., the authority to not require a physical presence of a quorum and other selected terms under the Open Meeting Law had, by legislation on March 29, 2023, Governor Healey signed into law a supplemental budget bill which, among other things, extends the temporary provisions pertaining to the Open Meeting Law to March 31, 2025, pursuant to Chapter 22 of the Acts of 2023”.) Mr. Lamb made a Roll Call of the Committee Members and found 5 Members present. Approval of CEC Minutes: Mr. Lamb recommended approval of the CEC Draft Minutes for the Financial Summit III (White Book), January 25, 2024. Mr. Kanter Moved approving that Minutes and Ms. Rhodes seconded. Mr. Lamb’s Roll Call Vote: 5–0 Review CEC Member Assignments for the Preliminary Draft CEC Report to the 2024 ATM: With regard to the front matter in our Report where the descriptions of all the departments and offices with relation to Capital matters would often need significant updating with this year’s changes and acknowledging the major funding descriptions in the draft will need to be updated, Mr. Lamb led a complete review of those preliminary member assignments, the new topic focuses, and to Mr. Kanter’s preliminary questioning, using red-colored text, of specific questionably applicability for the new-year’s Report. Much was addressed to the front matter. One Member’s proposed matter—a new Firing Range off Hartwell Avenue for the use by the Town’s Police Departments and likely use by other regional Departments—was deemed by the majority of the Committee as no longer a relevant matter for the Town at this time and, therefore, need not be in this year’s Report. Minutes of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Remote-Participation Meeting February 8, 2024 (continued) - 2 - The next review that Mr. Lamb led was to the “2024 ATM Warrant-Article Explanations and Recommendations” section where the Report addresses those Articles the Committee deems being Capital-related. (He advised that he will defer addressing Article 33, Authorize the Select Board to Seek Affordable Housing, until after the other discussions for this section.) The only one that required debate about its inclusion was Article 8, Tucker Avenue Street Acceptance, where it was agreed to maintain unanimous approval, but with a supplemental text addressing there will be ongoing operating costs. The Member assignments were confirmed throughout the section. Mr. Parker advised that with regard to Article 27 (173 Bedford Street Renovation), Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance, had cautioned his committee that the final funds requested may be about $4.3 million—rather than the present $6.0 million—by not upgrading that building’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system to all electric. Mr. Lamb turned the attention to the deferred Article 33. He first polled all of the other Members of their current positions on that Article. Four were in support and one was opposed as being premature because of the absence of information to the impact of subsequent actions by the Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) and the liberties of the Select Board. Mr. Lamb then explained his broad range of information concerns relative to the loss of short- and long- term authority to the Town Meeting members once this Article passes as they no longer are engaged in granting approval of the end affordable housing project. He said that as this Committee’s responsibility is just to advise Town Meeting, if Town Meeting members understand the consequence of approval and still approve subsequent authority of the AHT in conjunction with the Select Board, he can support this Article. At the end of the discussion, while one member remained in a positive position, several Members were then hesitant about their earlier positive position, one held to a position against as premature, and Mr. Lamb said he’ll be looking forward to any further clarity by AHT, the Select Board, the Planning Board, and others after consideration of his concerns. No formal votes were taken; it is expected that this matter will be further addressed at the next meeting—which is likely to provide formal voting. Adjourn: Mr. Lamb asked for a Motion to Adjourn which Mr. Kanter made; it was Seconded by Ms. Rhodes at 9:03 A.M. Mr. Lamb’s Roll Call Vote: 6—0. This Minutes was approved by the CEC at the meeting on March 27, 2024.