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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-02-10-CEC-min.pdf b ru err{ MEETING OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMM. WITH SELECTMEN February 10, 1958 A meeting of the members of the Capital Expenditures Committee was held on Monday, February 10, 1958 at 9 00 p.m. with the selectmen at the Town Office Building.Those present for the C.E.Comm. were Sanborn C. Brown, chairman, Rosemary Fitzgerald, Irving H. Mabee, and Norman Royle, with Mabelle Tucker acting as secretary. Those present for the selectmen were Raymond James, chairman William Maloney, Ruth Morey, Haskell Reed and Ralph Tucker. Also present were Town Counefl Harold Stevens and selectman-elect Alan Adams. Mr. Brown said that the C.E.Comm. would like to get the feelings of the selctmen about the Capital Expenditures which the committee already knows about - and would like to get information on the expenditures the committee doesntt know about. Mr. James agreed to go through the list of capital expenditures for 1958 gnd give the committee the latest figures, and the selectmen's thinking, where a decision had been readhed. Junior High Renovation: $590,000 New Junior High 2;900,000 Willard Property 60,000 -Sewer construction Ordinary streets 169,050 Trunk lines 390,400 Streets Betterment Act 147,315 Chapter 718,Allen St.39,000 Chapter 90 37,000 Fire Ambulance 8,000 Engine- 18,000 Drainage 31,600 Sidewalks and curbs 30,000 Water mains & laterals 137,500 Road machinery 54,000 Park Dept. various items 10,000 Great Meadow 20,000 School Dept. Administra. Bldg. 50,000 to 55,000 or Barnes Prop. Ren. 10,000 to 20,900 Junior High Renovation Mr. Brown asked Town Counsel Stevens if the legislature's permission to borrow $600,000 outside the debt limit would carry over to another year, in the event that the renovation did not pass town meeting. Mr. Stevens answered that the authoriza- tion was good within two years of the passage of the act - i.e. from January 21, 1958 to January 21, 1960. Willard Pronerty: Mr. Brown asked about the teem of payment of the $60,000. Mr. Stevens stated that Miss Willard now wants the payments in three years - $16 000 the first year and $22,000 in each of the next two years. It the town wanted to raise the money on the tax rate in each year it would have to have legislative approval to do so (that is to bind future town meetings) . It hardly seemed worth- while to bother going to the legislature just to poBppone raising $44,0000. . Another way to do it would be to borrow;i the money - a short term lean at less than 3% interest - and put the balance after Page 2 MEETING OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMM. WITH SELECTMEN, cont. February 10, 1958 atter the first year's payment into the Savings Bank to draw in- terest at more than 3%, and make a little money. Sewers : The figure of $390,400 includes (1) extension of trun* line from where it terminates on Mass. Ave. at Route 128, 1400 feet, cost $70,000. (2) line under Route 128 to connect Patriots Forest with the line now constructed, cost $54,000. (3) Statt on the long line from the Brandon St. area across Mass. Ave. ,back of Wilson Farm toward Minute Man Highlands - as far as Watertown St., cost $250,000. S4) Byron Ave. (off Maple St.) - group of houses which need sewer badly; will put in a small force main with a small pumping station, cost $18,000. Streets: The Chapter 718 funds for Allen St. are state funds; the ! sum of $39,000 has already been received. $52,000 has been author- ized. Streets under the Betterment Act total $147,315, which has been pared down from previous estimates because sometimes people who have requested streets dontt sign the petition when they see how much money it will cost them. Allen St. plus the Betterment Act streets total $186,315. Chapter 90 construction (town's share is 25%) will total $37,000. Fire: Mr. James stated that the selectmen had not made a decision on whether to recommend the ambulance and engine. Drainage The selectmen's figure of $31,800 was down from last figure C. E. Comm. had ($57,000) . Water Majins and laterals; The selectmen's figure of $137,500 was up from the C.E.Comm. 's last figure of $97,000. This was caused by the decision to construct 2100 feet of 16" mainfrom the corner of Mass. Ave. and Lincoln St. to the new water tower. The present mains are 8" on Lincoln St. and 12" on Mass. Ave. Road Machinery• There is $50,965 in the Road Machinery Fund. Park Dent: The $10,000 is for various pieces of equipment - stump choppers and mist blowers. Rubbish Collection: Mr. Brown asked what the selectmen- were going to recommend] regarding Mr Gayer's request for $59,000 for rubbish collection. Mr. James said "Cross it out". Great Meadow: The selectmen% have made Arlington an offer of $20,000; however they don't know if it will be accepted. Mrs. Fitzgerald asked if the selectmen would know by the time of the town meeting. Mr. James stated that he presumed that no decision would be arrived at at this town meeting; Arlington would consider this offer - which is an initial one. Mr. Stevens said that the article in the warren t covers "land known as the Great Meadow and abutting land". $20,000 has been suggested as an amount for which Arlington would give re- lease of the land which it has. School Administration Buildin Mr. James thought that the C.E.Comm. ought to get the ngures from the school committee. However, he Page 3 MEETING OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMM. WITH SELECTMEN cont. February 10, 1958 thought the figures were on the order of $50,000 to $55,000 for a new school administration building, twat or $10,0000 to $20,000 i for renovation of the Barnes Property. One or the other of these would be put in the warrant by the school committee. Mr. Brown asked how the selectmen were going to recommend paying for sewers and streetd. Mr. James said that they would know better after tonight's meeting with the Appropriations Committee. Mr. Brown said that the town was in trouble bonding, and that someone ought to recommend that more capital expenditures be paid for. He gave figures on Lexington's present and future debt ratio, which would go up to 16% in 1962 if the town continued to bond everything. Mr. James thought that the best way to deal with this was to increase the valuation- Mr. Brown agreed that that would help, but the effect wouldn t last long unless the town mended its ways. Mr. James said — you're saying that the town whould pay for more things on the tax rate — are you going to say what? Sewers? Schools? Mr. Brown answered, sewers and streets. Mr. dames said that these were't such good things to pick, in his opinion, since they came back to the town in betterments paid over 20 years. Mrs. Fitzgerald pointed out that the trunk line sewers did not come back in better— ments, only the street laterals; you could put the trunk lines on the tax rate. Mr. Reed said that he would hate to lose the trunk line at town meeting, which might happen if it were put on the tax rate. Mr. Brown said that he would hate to lose the schools. Mr. James and Mrs. Morey said that they thought that it made more sense to put schools on the tax xxx rate- — half the junior High renovation, for instance. Also, sewers lasted longer than schools. Mr. Reed thought it would be better not to suggest putting all of one item on the tax rate, because you would risk losing it. Mr Royle asked if we could still put the Junior High renovation on the tax rate after having gone to the legislature for special bonding permission. Mr. James said that the legislation was permissive only, and that the town could pay for it if it wished. Mr. Brown asked by what date the selectmen would have decided on methods of paying for schools, streets and sewers. Mr James said notto include the schools, since that was school committee business; the selectmen would know about the sewers and streets in a week or two. He stated that the town now has $480 000 bonding capacity inside the legal debt limit, compared to $290,000 last year. It also has $480,000 cash in E and D, compared to $230,000nlast year. He thought that this represented a real increase in revenue. He said that the assessors have estimated that valuations will increase by P24262002 2620OM $3 250,000 to $3,500,000 next year. Mr. Brown siidc' that the C. E. Comm. would predict t rise of $ 4,500,000; last year their estimate had come closer than the assessors' . Mr. Royle asked about the proposed road from Wood St to Bedford St. Mr. James had not heard anything new on it. Mr. Moyle said that he had recently heard that it was to be started on March 1st — Mr Gayer had just received word that afternoon, and had not figured any expense on it. Meeting adjourned at 9;30 p.m.