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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-01-REC-min`O VS MOg op 1775 �c �- oW A 3 z a0 APRIL 19 � Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Richard Thuma, Vice Chairman Wendy Rudner Sandra Shaw Howard Vogel RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING April 1, 2009 Town of Lexington Recreation Committee Town Office Building — Room 111 Tel: (781) 862 - 0500 x262 Fax: (781) 861 -2747 Members Present: Rick DeAngelis, Dick Thuma, Wendy Rudner, Sandra Shaw, and Howard Vogel Staff Present: Karen Simmons and Peter Coleman AGENDA 1. Capital Articles — CPA Review The Recreation Committee reviewed and discussed the capital articles eligible for CPA funding. These articles are going to be presented at Town Meeting on Monday, April 6, 2009. These articles include $70,000 towards creating design plans to address the drainage issues at the Center fields (Article lla), $569,000 for the Old Reservoir stormwater management mitigation (Article llb), and $200,000 to address drainage issues at Pine Meadows caused by the watershed (Article llc). Concerning Article llb, Karen Simmons reminded the Recreation Committee that the Town will be applying 319 funding through the Clean Water Act to help cover the cost of this project. The Committee reviewed when the CPA was adopted in Lexington, stating that the community had agreed to a 3 percent tax surcharge and some of the CPA funds would be allotted for recreational purposes. Dick Thuma stated that any project eligible for CPA funds should be paid for by CPA funds if the funding is available. Otherwise, he believed that the projects should be indefinitely postponed. It was noted that Town Counsel has reviewed these articles and believes that all three projects qualify for CPA funding. The Recreation Committee briefly discussed some of the recreation capital improvements that will need to be made over the next 5 -20 years. These projects include over $1 million at the Town Pool Complex, $1 million at Pine Meadows, a few million at the Center fields, and turf replacement at Lincoln Park. In total, the estimated cost for the projects is over $7 million. Sandra Shaw stressed that as the current law is written, a majority of recreation projects do not qualify for CPA funding and how important it is for these three capital projects to be funded by the CPA since they are all eligible. The issue of how much money should remain in excess retained earnings at the end of the fiscal year in the Recreation Enterprise Fund was discussed. Dick Thuma explained that there is no 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 right figure that the amount should be. There should be a buffer to cover a shortfall and other factors including cash flow, revenue, replacement or emergency expenditures, and capital projects. Dick Thuma volunteered to work with the Capital Expenditures Committee, Appropriation Committee and Finance Department to review the fund and recommend to the Selectmen an appropriate level of retained earnings. Article 11 is going to be approved or rejected on Monday, April 6 IfArticle 11 is rejected, the articles will be under consideration in Article 14, and it will be determined if, and how much, money should come out of the Recreation Enterprise Fund to cover the costs of these capital projects. After discussing the possible alternatives, Sandra Shaw moved that if Article 11 is rejected by Town Meeting, the Recreation Committee would move to indefinitely postpone Article 14. Dick Thuma seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee approved the motion by a vote of 5 — 0. The Recreation Committee would like to work with the Finance Director to develop a capital finance plan before going forward with capital projects from the enterprise fund. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in Room G15 of the Town Office Building. The Recreation Committee Meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.