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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-12-CEC-min cos mr)Fr Aqp Minutes of the 4 Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting ook October 12, 2017 1yh Location and Time Town Office Building, Reed Room (111), 9 30 A.M Members Present Jill Hai, Chair Charles Lamb, Vice-Chair (remote participation), David Kanter, Clerk, Sandy Beebee, Rod Cole (remote participation), Wendy Manz, Frank Smith Members Absent None Others Present Jon Himmel, Chair, Permanent Building Committee (PBC), Sara Arnold, Recording Secretary Documents Presented • Notice of CEC Meeting, October 12, 2017 • Draft Minutes of the CEC Meeting, October 6, 2017 • Pending #5 CEC Report to October 16, 2017, Special Town Meetings (STMs) 2017-2 & -3 (Pending #5 of the CEC Report) Call to Order At 9 40 A.M , Ms Hai called the meeting to order and authorized Mr Cole and Mr Lamb to participate remotely via teleconferencing because they were at significant distances from this meeting place Preparation of this Committee's report to the STM 2017-2 and 2017-3 Ms Hai led a discussion about three STM Articles on which this Committee had not yet taken final positions • Article 9 Appropriate for Solid Waste Collection Equipment. A Motion was made and seconded to support Indefinite Postponement (IP) of this Article Roll Call Vote 7-0 It was agreed to leave the current commentary in the report for educational purposes • Article 12 Appropriate Community Preservation Act Projects a) Supplemental Funding for Affordable Housing at 52 Lowell Street (Community Housing) A Motion was made and seconded to support IP of this Article Roll Call Vote 7-0 It was agreed to remove the commentary included in Pending #5 of the CEC Report. b) Purchase of 44 Adams Street Property (Open Space) It was noted that the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) was meeting later in the afternoon to take its position on this item After discussion about that unfortunate timing, it was agreed that this Committee should postpone its vote on this issue until after the CPC takes its position It was also noted that the Board of Selectmen (BoS) last vote supported the purchase with a 4-1 vote One member of the BoS believes it could be possible to solicit private sources to make the purchase Although this Committee has traditionally supported the acquisition of open space, there is concern about the competing funding needs for critical projects The draft commentary in Pending #5 of the CEC Report was Page 1 of 3 Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting October 12, 2017 adjusted to better reflect this position and to clarify that this Committee's recommendation is pending further information A Motion was made and seconded to adopt the changes in the report, as discussed Roll Call Vote 6-1 (Mr Kanter was opposed as the proposed text eliminated some other information on our Committee's non-unanimous viewpoints) • Article 8 Appropriate Design Funds for Visitors Center Ms Hai noted that this Committee has been reluctant to support funding for design development of this project, but it appears that other stakeholders are shifting in that direction Carl Valente, Town Manager, is supporting the appropriation of funds for this project through design development, but not an additional $200,000 being requested by the Tourism Committee for construction documents He believes the proposed size of a new building is appropriate and that costs can be reduced during design development. Ms Hai added that the BoS' support of design-development funds does not include a plan to release funds incrementally It was noted that it is premature for the Historic Districts Commission (HDC) formally to review the plans, but input from the HDC is critical Mr Himmel reported that the PBC and HDC have seen early plans for the new Fire Station Headquarters and the Visitors Center, and the PBC plans to invite the HDC to partake in informal discussions regarding the Visitors Center prior to the HDC's formal review He has been working with Don Mills, the Visitors Center architect, and believes there are cost-saving measures that can be incorporated related to the second floor and basement areas that are included in the current design Mr Himmel supports the pursuit of design development rather than just requesting additional schematic-design work. As an independent effort, Mr Himmel added that he is working on a diagram to illustrate which stakeholders are responsible for what activities, and when, during the development of a project—which is something this Committee has, and still, endorses as an important need There was discussion about the current commentary in the Pending #5 of the CEC Report. Those supporting the project agreed that the commentary should not include reference to incremental funding but it should continue to reference the need for HDC review and the expectation of cost reductions Specific text was identified for removal A Motion was made and seconded to support the project through design development and to change the text in the report to reflect the discussion Roll Call Vote 5-2 Ms Beebee explained that her opposition reflects her frustration with the process rather than opposition to the project. Mr Kanter said his opposition reflects his continuing concern that previously promised actions had not been adequately accomplished so full design-development funding is not justified at this time A Motion was made and seconded to approve the Pending #5 of the CEC Report with the changes agreed to at this meeting and the usual authority for non-substantial changes to be made by the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Clerk. Roll Call Vote 7-0 Mr Kanter said that the final report should both be released electronically and printed later today Page 2 of 3 Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting October 12, 2017 Approval of Minutes A Motion was made and seconded to approve the Draft Minutes of the CEC meeting, October 6, 2017 Roll Call Vote 7-0 Adjourn A Motion was made and seconded at 10 40 A.M to adjourn Vote Roll Call Vote 7-0 These Minutes were approved by the CEC at its meeting on November 1, 2017 Page 3 of 3