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Home My WebLink About2024-04-10 SB-min Select Board Meeting April 10, 2024 A meeting of the Lexington Select Board was called to order at 6:00p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, via a 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. Katzenback, Executive Clerk; and Ms. Axtell, Deputy Town Manager. SELECT BOARD MEMBER CONCERNS AND LIAISON REPORTS 1. Select Board Member Concerns and Liaison Reports None at this time. TOWN MANAGER REPORT 1. Town Manager Weekly Update Nothing additional to report at this time. DOCUMENTS: Weekly Update 4-5-24 CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approve and Sign Awards for Patriots' Day 2024  Minuteman Cane Award  Pat Flynn Outstanding Youth Awards To approve and sign a proclamation for the 2024 Minuteman Cane Award. To approve and sign two proclamations for the 2024 Pat Flynn Outstanding Youth Award. DOCUMENTS: 2024MinutemanCaneAward-AshleyRooney, 2024 Pat Flynn Outstanding Youth Award - Amelia Settembre, 2024 Pat Flynn Outstanding Youth Award - Duncan Maloney 2. Approve and Sign Water and Sewer Finals To approve and sign the attached Water and Sewer Finals for February 2024. DOCUMENTS: Feb finals for 4-10-24 3. Approve Select Board Meeting Minutes  March 11, 2024 Select Board  March 18, 2024 Select Board  March 20, 2024 Select Board  March 27, 2024 Select Board To approve and release the following minutes:  March 11, 2024 Select Board  March 18, 2024 Select Board  March 20, 2024 Select Board  March 27, 2024 Select Board DOCUMENTS: DRAFT 03112024 Select Board minutes, DRAFT 03182024 Select Board minutes, DRAFT 03202024 Select Board minutes, DRAFT 03272024 Select Board minutes VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION 1. Grant of Location for Eversource - East Street Mr. Pato opened the hearing at 6:04pm. Joanne Callender, Eversource Representative, explained that this is a request for NSTAR ELECTRIC COMPANY d/b/a EVERSOURCE ENERGY to install approximately 25’ of conduit in East Street. This work is being requested to upgrade the underground electric system on Seaborn Place. The Engineering Department reviewed the request and have no objection to the petition. There was no public comment at this time. Mr. Pato closed the hearing at 6:06pm. VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve a Grant of Location to NSTAR ELECTRIC COMPANY D/B/A EVERSOURCE ENERGY to construct, and a location for, such a line of conduits with the necessary wires and cables therein, said conduits to be located, substantially as shown on the plan made by K. Rice dated K. Rice dated February 23, 2024, under the following public way of Lexington: East Street Easterly from pole 27/7, at Seaborn Place, to install approximately 25 feet of conduit. DOCUMENTS: Petition 2. Grants of Location for Verizon & Eversource - Pelham Road -Verizon & Eversource Joint- Owned Pole and Eversource Installation of Conduit Mr. Pato opened the hearings simultaneously at 6:07pm. Ross Bilodeau, Verizon Representative, explained that Verizon is requesting to relocate an existing pole (#9) approximately 25’ and in a southwest direction from its current location. This work is part of the project to accommodate new construction at Beech Tree Lane. It was noted that the double pole has been removed from pole #11. The Engineering Department reviewed the requests and have no objection to either petition. There was no public comment at this time. Mr. Pato closed the hearing at 6:10pm. VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve a Grant of Location to VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. and NSTAR ELECTRIC COMPANY D/B/A EVERSOURCE ENERGY to locate poles, wires, cables and fixtures including the necessary anchors, guys and other such sustaining and protecting fixtures to be owned and used in common by your petitioners, along and across the following public way or ways in the Town of Lexington as follows: Relocate (1) JO pole, P.9 located on the northerly side of Pelham Road at a point approximately 25’ southwesterly from its current location. VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve a Grant of Location to NSTAR ELECTRIC COMPANY D/B/A EVERSOURCE ENERGY to construct, and a location for, such a line of conduits with the necessary wires and cables therein, said conduits to be located, substantially as shown on the plan made by K. Rice dated K. Rice dated March 20, 2024, under the following public way of Lexington: Pelham Road - Northwesterly from pole 77/9, approximately 460 feet west of Eliot Road, install approximately 9 feet of conduit DOCUMENTS: Verizon/Eversource Petition - JO pole relocation, Eversource Peititon - conduit 3. 2024 Annual Town Meeting - Select Board Article Discussion and Positions Ms. Barry, Mr. Lucente, and Ms. Hai updated their position to “Wait” for the main motion for Article 31 – Prohibit Single Serve Plastic Water Bottles. The Board reviewed Mr. Michelson’s amendment to refer Article 31 to the Select Board. Ms. Barry, Mr. Lucente, and Ms. Hai took a “Yes” position on this proposed amendment. Mr. Pato and Mr. Sandeen are a “Wait” on the amendment. DOCUMENTS: Select Board Working Document - Positions 2024ATM, Art31EMichelsonAmendment, Art31motion The Board discussed a few reports. Ms. Barry noted that Monday is Patriots’ Day and ran through a number of events that will be happening th to celebrate over the weekend. Also, April 19 will kick off the Lex250th Celebration with a community event in front of Cary Hall. There will then be events throughout the day and into the evening. 4. Joint Meeting - Select Board, Appropriation Committee & Capital Expenditures Committee- Discuss Police Station Project Budget for Solar Canopy/Batteries Mr. Pato called the Joint Meeting of the Select Board, Appropriation Committee, and the Capital Expenditures Committee to order at 6:35pm Present for the Select Board (SB): Mr. Pato, Chair; Ms. Barry, Vice Chair; Mr. Lucente; Ms. Hai; and Mr. Sandeen Present for the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC): Mr. Lamb, Chair; Mr. Cole; Mr. Kanter, Vice Chair; and Ms. Rhodes Present for the Appropriation Committee (AC): Mr. Parker, Chair; Mr. Padaki; Vice Chair; Mr. Levine; Mr. Michelson; Mr. Bartenstein; Ms. Yan; Mr. Ahuja; and Mr. Osborne (6:40pm arrival) Mike Cronin, Director of Public Facilities, explained that, at the last Select Board meeting, the Board requested an updated financial analysis which provides information on debt service costs, solar incentives, and timeframes for return on investment. The financial analysis uses two variables for consideration:  520KWH vs. 1040KWH batteries  10 Year vs. 20 Year Debt Service From this analysis, the highest return on investment is choosing the 1040KWH battery system with ten- year debt issuance. Under this scenario, the annual net cost is 11 years, and the cumulative net cost is 13 years, with a total net gain of just under $6.5M. A more attractive scenario may be the 1040KWH battery system with a 20-Year debt issuance, where the total net gain is less at $5.9M but because the debt service payments are less, the annual net cost is two years, and the cumulative net cost is three years. Over 20 years, this scenario would cost just under $2.4M vs. $2.65M for the ten-year scenario. As stated above, over 30 years the comparable savings is $5.9M vs. $6.5M. In the 10-year scenario, the Town would save an additional $600,000 over the 30-year planning period and, under the 20-year scenario the Town would have higher revenues than expenditures starting in the second or third year. Staff has submitted a request for congressionally directed funding from Senators Warren and Markey and Congresswoman Clark. Without outside funding, the Select Board would either need to choose an option that places all or part of the project on hold until the Fall Town Meeting. Staff believes that the steel framing could be completed at this time with the current budget and that some/all of the solar could be installed under the current budget, but there is not sufficient funding to complete the full installation with batteries. The benefit of moving forward now is that it allows the project area, including Fletcher Park, to be returned to its original condition, with later funding allowing solar to be installed during the winter months. This would require funding at the Fall Town Meeting. Another option for the Select Board to consider would be to call a Special Town Meeting at the end of this Annual Town Meeting. If this was called on April 10, 2024, it could fall within the current Town Meeting. There will be costs associated with this option. There was discussion regarding if the site will be temporarily cleaned up if the steel portion of the project th does not move forward in order to have Fletcher Field ready for the 250 celebration. It was noted that if the steel goes up without the solar, the Town should also consider the High School project that is coming down the pipeline. The groups agreed to consider the information presented and come back at a future meeting for further discussion and a potential vote. The Capital Expenditures Committee and Appropriation Committee adjourned their respective committees exited the meeting. The Joint Meeting was adjourned at 7:18pm. DOCUMENTS: Presentation, Financial Analysis ADJOURN VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 7:19 p.m. A true record; Attest: Kristan Patenaude Recording Secretary