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Minutes of the
Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
October 12, 2017
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)
20172 & Î3 (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: 7Î0
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: 7Î0
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 4Î1 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
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Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
October 12, 2017
adjusted to better reflect this position and to clarify that this CommitteeÓs
recommendation is pending further information. A Motion was made and
seconded to adopt the changes in the report, as discussed. Roll Call
Vote: 61 (Mr. Kanter was opposed as the proposed text eliminated some
other information on our CommitteeÓs 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 BoSÓ 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 HDCÓs
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 projectÏwhich 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: 5Î2
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: 7Î0
Mr. Kanter said that the final report should both be released electronically and printed later
today.
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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: 7Î0
Adjourn: A Motion was made and seconded at 10:40 A.M. to adjourn. Vote: Roll Call V ote
7Î0
These Minutes were approved by the CEC at its meeting on November 1, 2017.
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