HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-11-09-STM-min SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
November 9, 1998
(See Warrant File for Warrant)
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Margery M. Battin at 8:00 p.m. in
Cary Memorial Hall. There were 168 Town Meeting Members present.
8:03 p.m. Town Clerk, Donna M. Hooper, read the warrant for the meeting until
further reading was waived. The Town Clerk read the Constable's Return
of the Warrant.
8:05 p.m. The Moderator announced the procedures for the conduct of the meeting.
Precinct Clerks were appointed as tellers and Katherine Abbott,
Appropriation Committee, is to serve as teller for the at -large members
and members serving on Boards and Committees.
8:08 P.M. The Moderator declared that Article 1 was now before the meeting and
would remain open throughout the meeting.
ARTICLE 1: REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS, OFFICERS, COMMITTEES
8:08 P.M. Paul Lapointe, Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, moved that the
joint report of the Appropriation and Capital Expenditures Committee be
accepted and placed on file.
The motion by Mr. Lapointe to accept the joint report of the Appropriation
and Capital Expenditures Committee was adopted unanimously.
8:09 P.M. The Moderator declared the meeting open under Article 2.
ARTICLE 2: REMODELING /CONSTRUCTION OF TOWN SCHOOLS
8:09 P.M. Presented by Ms. Barrie Peltz, School Committee.
8:09 P.M. Ms. Peltz presented brief introductory comments and introduced interim
Superintendent Karla Brooks Baehr and other school administration staff
8:13 p.m. Ms. Peltz moved:
MOTION: That the sum of $52,235,000 be appropriated for planning,
constructing, originally equipping and furnishing additions to and remodeling,
reconstructing and making extraordinary repairs to Lexington High School, Clarke
Middle School, and Diamond Middle School; that to meet this appropriation the
Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen is authorized to borrow
$52,235,000 under Chapter 44 of the General Laws or Chapter 645 of the Acts of
1948 as amended; and that the Permanent Building Committee is authorized to take
all action necessary to carry out this project, provided, however, that no debt may
be incurred under this vote for any one of the listed schools except for up to
$6,000,000 for planning and other preliminary expenses until the State Department
of Education has acknowledged receipt of a completed project application, and
provided further that this vote shall not take effect until the Town votes to exempt
from the limitation on total taxes imposed by G.L.c.59, §21C (Proposition 2 '/2)
amounts required to pay the principal of and interest on the borrowing authorized
by this vote.
8:13 p.m. Ms. Peltz presented explained the needs for school remodeling/
construction, including projected school population increases, as well as changes from
prior year's proposal, reductions in site work and landscaping plans, and project cost
summary. She thanked various committees and boards for their work over the past year.
8:30 p.m. Charles Hornig, Capital Expenditures Committee, expressed the
committee's unanimous support for the motion.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING — NOVEMBER 9, 1998 cont.
8:31 p.m. Mr. Hornig requested the Moderator recognize Steve Coit, Appropriation
Committee. The Moderator recognized Mr. Coit who explained the
impact of excluded debt on the tax rate, and that the Committee estimated
the proposed amount represented approximately a $25 increase per
$100,000 assessed value over the Pine Meadows cost.
Mr. Coit also explained the Board of Selectmen had voted to undertake a
bonding schedule which pays less principal early and pushes out costs a
bit, shaving the peak years.
8:36 p.m. Board of Selectman Chairman Peter Enrich stated the Selectmen
unanimously support the motion and proposal, and further stated how far
the Town has come over the past year through the hard work of many,
including the Permanent Building Committee, Ad Hoc Committee, School
Committee, School staff, and financial committees. Mr. Enrich expressed
that this was a proposal we can all be proud.
8:39 p.m. Margaret Coppe, pr.9, moved a roll call vote on the motion if 49 also
request a roll call vote. More than 50 members rising in support of a roll
call, the Moderator declared a roll call vote in order when the vote is
taken.
8:40 p.m. Ira Bernstein, pr.2, spoke in favor of the proposal, and of the work to be
done, of last year's unsuccessful attempt, and the need for Town Meeting
Members to connect with the community.
8:44 p.m. The Moderator recognized Mr. Jonathan Longley, 15 Westwood Road,
from the audience. Mr. Longley questioned prior plans to build a third
middle school at the Diamond site and the recent reference that Harrington
School site is a better alternative for the third middle school.
8:47 p.m. Barrie Peltz, School Committee, explained the School Committee had
looked at the possibility of a third middle school, which would have a base
price of approximately $20,000,000. Such a school would not remove the
need to renovate both Diamond and Clarke Middle Schools and would be
viewed as non - enrollment driven and not funded as readily by the State.
The Committee then rejected the alternative in favor of the current
proposal.
8:48 p.m. Mr. Longley continued with an explanation to support a third middle
school.
8:51 p.m. Marjorie Daggett, pr.6, spoke for the League of Women Voters, which
supported the proposal.
8:52 p.m. Stephen Trip, 12 Freemont St., cochairman of Citizens for Responsible
Spending, questioned assertions made in a recent flyer regarding heating
issues at the high school. Mr. Tripi further stated that this project would
be the first of more phases.
8:54 p.m. John Moynihan, Director of Facilities and Buildings, addressed Mr.
Tripi's question and stated he was unaware of the data.
8:55 p.m. Ira Bernstein, pr.2, stated the information had been provided by the high
school principal.
8:55 p.m. Perry Pollins, pr.5, spoke of persons leaving Lexington due to increased
taxes.
9:00 P.M. Dawn McKenna, pr.9, spoke in support.
9:01 P.M. Michael Schroeder, pr.9, questioned off -set payment of debt service and
payments received from the Commonwealth, stating that the cost of the
motion is $52,235,000.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING — NOVEMBER 9, 1998 cont.
9:06 p.m. Selectman Chairman Peter Enrich explained that Mr. Schroeder's
interpretation of the amount added to the tax levy is the net amount after
reimbursement received from the State.
9:09 P.M. Town Counsel Norman Cohen explained there was no choice, Mr. Enrich
is 100% correct.
9:10 P.M. Donald Jenkins, pr.8, requested Ms. Peltz to clarify savings from prior
year's proposal, and that the $6,000,000 savings was the gross savings.
9:11 P.M. Ms. Peltz explained that the $6,000,000 is the gross savings this year from
last year's proposal.
9:11 P.M. Mr. Jenkins further questioned the issue and if the $6,000,000 is the
estimated savings from the same three schools.
Ms. Peltz explained the $6,000,000 is a reduction in construction costs
between the two proposals, with 4 schools included in the 1997 proposal
and 3 schools in this proposal.
9:12 p.m. Mr. Jenkins questioned a $2,400,000 net savings from last year.
9:12 p.m. Selectman Chairman Peter Enrich further explained the gross and net costs
for the 1997 and 1998 proposals, with the gross construction cost of the 3
schools reduced by $6,000,000 and the net cost of the total project also
reduced by $6,000,000.
9:14 p.m. Mr. Jenkins questioned net cost for the same 3 schools in 1997 & 1998.
9:15 p.m. Mr. Enrich clarified that the difference in construction cost is one element
of the project and further explained total project costs.
9:16 p.m. Steve Coit, Appropriation Committee, further provided cost comparisons
between the two proposals.
9:17 p.m. Don Jenkins, pr. 8, explained that the discussion just had indicates much
clarification is needed on this project and requested an additional
clarification on estimated increases to operating costs after completion of
the project.
9:19 P.M. John Moynihan, Lexington Public Schools, explained they had previously
calculated in 1997 the costs and that he would be happy to provide the
information to Mr. Jenkins.
9:20 p.m. David Kanter, pr.7, spoke in support of the motion and questioned if the
decision this evening formally bound financing schemes.
9:22 p.m. Mr. Geza Szonyi, 177 Cedar Street, questioned Ms. Peltz on 10 year
forecasts for student populations.
9:23 p.m. The Moderator declared that the question was now before the meeting and
that a roll call vote was in order.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING — NOVEMBER 9, 1998 cont.
9:23 p.m. The Town Clerk called the roll, tallied as follows:
Yes No Abstain Absent Yes No Abstain Absent
PRECINCT 1 PRECINCT 2
Joel A. Adler X Ira Bernstein X
N ancy M. Adler X Marian A.O. Cohen X
James E. Barry X Robert W. Cunha X
Carol A. Batstone X Thomas R. Diaz X
Laura L. Boghosian X Karen A. Dooks X
M ary Bowes X Leonora K. Feeney X
John P. Breen X Marita B. Hartshorn X
Francis V. Busa X Myla Kabat -Zinn X
Jean W. Cole X Paul H. Lapointe X
Jonathan G. Cole X Daniel A. Lucas X
John E. Curry X Andrew McAleer X
Marsha S. Goldberg X Barry Orenstein X
N ancy C. Gordon X Michael J. O'Sullivan X
E ric Jay Michelson X Laurie Avallone Rice X
B arry E. Sampson X David Rudner X
Carol J. Sampson X Renee D. Varrin X
Charles E. Shaw X Christina J. Welch X
Paul G. Topalian X Alan B. Wilson X
Albert P. Zabin X Carolyn C. Wilson X
Judith L. Zabin X Donald D. Wilson X
Rae Zuerndorfer X James S. Wilson X
PRECINCT 3 Yes No Abstain Absent PRECINCT 4 Yes No Abstain Absent
Samuel Berman X Nyles Nathan Barnert X
N ancy M. Cannalonga X Scott F. Burson X
Nicholas A. Cannalonga X Donald A. Chisholm X
John P. Carroll X Stephen E. Coit X
Robert N. Cohen X Ronald W. Colwell X
Bruce Collier X John L. Davies X
Jacqueline B. Davison X David J. Harris X
Richard R. Enrich X Carol B. Hartman X
Shirley Rauson Frawley X Peter C.J. Kelley X
Carol J. Grodzins X Frederick L. Merrill, Jr. X
Gloria V. Holland X Ann H. Miller X
Paul E. Keane X Barrie Peltz X
D ouglas M. Lucerne X Margaret F. Rawls X
M arjorie K. Madoff X Kenneth A. Reich X
M arilyn K. Mairson X Nicholas Santosuosso X
M ary E. Neumeier X Sandra J. Shaw X
Richard L. Neumeier X Ruth S. Thomas X
Paul J. Rose X Judith J. Uhrig X
Robert Rotberg X Michael Wagner X
Francis W.K. Smith X Jeannette P. Webb X
Caleb Warner X Martin K. White X
PRECINCT 5 Yes No Abstain Absent PRECINCT 6 Yes No Abstain Absent
Marsha F. Byrnes X Suzanne E. Barry X
Howard Cravis X Florence A. Baturin X
Ira W. Crowe X Cynthia L. Blumsack X
Wallace Cupp X Paul Chernick X
Melinda D. Dietrich X Mar jorie M. Daggett X
Irene M. Dondley X Marshall J. Derby X
Elaine Dratch X Kate Priscilla Diamond X
Andrew J. Friedlich X Peter Diamond X
Paul E. Hamburger X Bebe Fallick X
John Hayward X Anthony G. Galaitsis X
Sally S. Huebscher X Edmund C. Grant X
Carol A. Liff X David L. Kaufman X
M argaret C. Nichols X Alan J. Lazarus X
P erry Pollins X Martin Long X
Samuel L. Powers X Jane Pagett X
James M. Shaw X Nchard Pagett X
Sam Silverman X lAnne A. Ripley X
Charles T. Vail X Edith Sandy X
E phraim Weiss X Frank Sandy X
David G. Williams X Sheldon A. Spector X
M ary Kathryn Wolf X John S. Willson X
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING — NOVEMBER 9, 1998 cont.
roll call tally, cont.
PRECINCT 7 Yes No Abstain Absent PRECINCT 8 Yes No Abstain Absent
Catherine M.D. Abbott X Richard H. Battin X
Marsha E. Baker X Roger F. Borghesani X
Neal E. Boyle, Jr. X Elizabeth J. Bryant X
George A. Burnell X Florence E. Connor X
Steven L. Colman X John T. Cunha X
Clark A. Cowen X Jewel S. Douglass X
Robert G. Coyne X Piana T. Garcia X
Robert M. Farias X Ione D. Garing X
Audrey J. Friend X Charles Hornig X
Alan Garber X Steven J. Hurley X
Gordon M. Hardy X Donald Jenkins, Jr. X
David G. Kanter X Paul W. Jenkins X
Jonathan S. Lederman X Morton G. Kahan X
Fred H. Martin X Alan Mayer Levine X
M ary W. Miley X Richard A. Michelson X
David G. Miller X H. Bigelow Moore X
Joyce A. Miller X James A. Osten X
John E. Taylor X Margaret Bradley Schwartz X
James C. Wood, Jr. X Carolyn H. Tiffany X
Martha C. Wood X Elizabeth C. Whitman X
Alan A. Wrigley X Robert V. Whitman X
PRECINCT 9 Yes No Abstain Absent AT -LARGE Yes No Abstain Absent
Alice J. Adler X Margery M. Battin X
Richard L. Canale X Daniel P. Busa, Jr. X
Michelle L. Ciccolo X Norman P. Cohen X
Anthony B. Close X Elizabeth B. Eddison X
M argaret E. Coppe X Peter David Enrich X
Susan R. Cusack X Dan H. Fenn, Jr. X
Susan A. Elberger X Porma, M. Hooper X
Thomas O. Fenn X Jay R. Kaufman X
Louise v.T. Kava X Jeanne K. Krieger X
Janice A. Kennedy X
William P. Kennedy X
H enry Norman Manz X
Paul E. Mazerall X Yes No Abstain Absent
Dawn E. McKenna X TOTAL VOTE 147 16 5 30
Isabel H. Mroczkowski X
Janet M. Perry X
Loretta A. Porter X
Fred D. Rosenberg X
Richard Schaye X
Michael E. Schroeder X
Dorris P. Traficante X
9:44 p.m. The Moderator announced 147 having voted in the affirmative, 16 in the
negative, and 5 abstentions, more than the required two - thirds having
voted in favor, the motion is declared adopted.
9:45 p.m. Board of Selectmen Chairman Peter Enrich moved that this meeting be
dissolved. Adopted unanimously at 9:45 p.m.
A true copy.
Attest:
Donna M. Hooper, Town Clerk