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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-09 SB-min SELECT BOARD MEETING Wednesday, April 9, 2025 A meeting of the Lexington Select Board was called to order at 6:30p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, via a hybrid meeting platform. Mr. Lucente, Chair; Mr. Pato; Ms. Hai; Mr. Sandeen and Ms. Kumar were present, as well as Mr. Bartha, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Deputy Town Manager; and Ms. Katzenback, Executive Clerk. PUBLIC COMMENTS None at this time. SELECT BOARD MEMBER CONCERNS AND LIAISON REPORTS 1. Select Board Member Concerns and Liaison Reports Mr. Pato stated that recently, during the MAGIC legislative breakfast, there was discussion of a senior means-tested property tax exemption, which is in the Governor's proposed Municipal Empowerment Act. He would like for the Board to discuss this and lobby legislators but also to ask Mr. Bartha to write a letter conveying the importance of that Empowerment Act for communities like Lexington. Mr. Bartha stated that he would draft a letter for the Board’s review. DOCUMENTS: Select Board Liaison Report - Joe Pato-2025-04-09 TOWN MANAGER REPORT 1. Town Manager Weekly Update Nothing additional at this time. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approve: Common Victualler License  Post 1917 - 27 Waltham Street To approve a Common Victualler License for Post 1917, located at 27 Waltham Street, with on-site manager Jason Carron, for the hours and days of operation as indicated. 2. Approve Town Manager Reappointment  Board of Health - Dr. Jillian Tung To confirm the Town Manager's reappointment of Dr. Jillian Tung to the Board of Health with a term set to expire April 30, 2028. 3. Approve Letter of Support for CW Lexington Woods LLC's Developer application to Housing and Livable Communities for Lowell Street Parcel 68-44 To approve and sign the letter of support, as proposed, for inclusion in Causeway Development's (CW Lexington Woods) application to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for a determination and a Project Eligibility Letter (PEL) for the Lowell Street Parcel 68-44 affordable housing project. DOCUMENTS: Request for Letter of Support, Letter of Support 4. Approve: One-Day Liquor License - Lexington Lodge of Elks, 959 Waltham Street  Annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser - Sunday, May 25, 2025 To approve a One-Day Liquor License for the Lexington Lodge of Elks #2204 to serve beer in the rear parking lot of the Lodge of Elks, 959 Waltham Street, for the purpose of a Breast Cancer Fundraiser on Sunday, May 25, 2025 from 1:00pm to 6:00pm. 5. Approve: Battle Green Use Request - United States Air Force Promotion Ceremony  Thursday, May 1, 2025 To approve the request of Hanalei Strege to use the Lexington Battle Green near the Battle Line Boulder for a United States Air Force Promotion Ceremony on May 1, 2025, from 3:00pm - 3:30pm. 6. Approve: Battle Green Use Request - St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church  Good Friday Procession - Friday, April 18, 2025 To approve the Battle Green Use Request submitted by St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to hold a brief 20-minute commemoration during their Good Friday procession on April 18, 2025, beginning at approximately 8:20pm. 7. Approve and Sign Awards for Patriots' Day  Minuteman Cane Award  Pat Flynn Outstanding Youth Award To approve and sign a proclamation for the 2025 Minuteman Cane Award. To approve and sign two proclamations for the 2025 Pat Flynn Outstanding Youth Award. DOCUMENTS: 2025 Minuteman Cane Award, 2025 Pat Flynn Outstanding Youth Award - Siya Setty, 2025 Pat Flynn Outstanding Youth Award - Isabelle Barbesino VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted by roll call 5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION 1. Update on Level 3 Electric Vehicle Charging Rates- NStar lot Maggie Peard, Sustainability and Resilience Officer, explained that he Level 3 electric vehicle charging stations have been installed in the NSTAR parking lot, and will be operational as soon as Verizon installs a new pole, and Eversource delivers power to the stations. Before the chargers can be opened to the public, the Board needs to set a rate for charging. This topic was previously discussed during an October 2024 meeting. In the past there were two proposed options. One was a time of use rate, and one was a flat rate of 45 cents per kilowatt hour. This compares to 30 cents per kilowatt hours at Level 2 chargers. It is typical to see a higher rate for the fast charging rate. She recommended the flat rate option. The Board should also consider a potential idle fee. Staff asks that the Board be prepared to make a final decision by th the April 28 meeting. Mr. Sandeen reviewed the comparable Level 3 chargers in the area. The Tesla Supercharger based in Lexington has a rate of 26 cents per kilowatt hour off peak and 46 cents per kilowatt hour on peak. The Tesla Supercharger rate in Burlington has a rate of 25 cents per kilowatt hour off peak, and 43 cents per kilowatt hour on peak. Thus, the 45-cent proposed flat rate seems very comparable. Eversource rates do not vary with time in Lexington, and so the Town will not pass along any savings by having a lower rate at off peak times. He noted that most electric vehicles have a fairly aggressive taper, and he rarely sees charging rates over 100 kilowatts. He agreed with the 100 kilowatts suggested. Mr. Pato stated that the other checkpoint Level 2 charger in Town, which is at the Mass DOT service area, has a rate of 35 cents per kilowatt hour, so 45 cents seems fine. He stated that he believes an idle fee is needed and should be predictable for the end user. Ms. Kumar suggested starting at 100 kilowatts and monitoring user feedback. Staff could also monitor expenses versus the revenue generated, in order to adjust it if necessary. DOCUMENTS: Memo April 20225 2. 2025 Annual Town Meeting - Select Board Article Discussion and Positions Regarding Article 30, Mr. Pato stated that he does not see a justification for reconsideration and would plan to abstain on a reconsideration vote. Cindy Arens, Town Meeting Member Precinct 3, and also signed onto Mr. Daggett’s application for reconsideration. She explained that there is new information, which was not clear to Town Meeting, including that the significant GFA bonus that SRD affords to develop market rate GFA over conventional developments. The proponents heard that Town Meeting Members wanted to increase GFA for inclusionary for affordable housing, and to get it to be 15% of the GFA of the total development. Mr. Daggett did an evaluation of 31 subdivision plans from recent years and found, on average, that SRDs get a 48% market rate GFA bonus over what can be built in the same new, conventional subdivision. Mr. Sandeen stated that he believes most Town Meeting Members believed the proposal was for 15% inclusionary units of the gross floor area, but it was discovered this was actually 13%. His perspective is that there should be 15% inclusionary units, and so he will vote yes on reconsideration and yes on the amendment. Regarding Article 34, Mr. Pato updated his position to a ‘yes’. Regarding Article 23, Mr. Lucente updated his position to a ‘no.’ He stated that he does not believe this Article is ready for Annual Town Meeting and that there should be additional discussions with the neighborhood. Ms. Hai stated that she believes Article 23 is seeking authority from Town Meeting to draft an RFP, and the Board then gets to put restrictions on that. This will allow the Board to continue to move a stalled project forward, while creating parameters for the RFP. She would like to see a level of trust that the Board will be pursuing a project that is in the best interest of the community. She supports this proposal. Mr. Pato agreed and stated that it should plan to proceed under the conditions established by the numerous public hearings, and the context of the recommendations from the reports which set out an upper bound on what the number of units would be. He expressed that an RFP would be issued determining if the proposal is financially viable for someone who would want to move forward with a project. Mr. Sandeen stated that the best way to get more information about what is feasible on this property is to pursue an RFP. There will be an opportunity for the Board to set parameters for the RFP. There is no obligation for the Board to accept any proposal that comes forward, if it feels they are not viable for any reason. DOCUMENTS: Select Board Working Document - Positions 2025 ATM, Moderator's Proposed 2025 ATM article schedule, Art 30 reconsideration motion, Art 34 revised motion redlined, Art 34 revised motion ADJOURN VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted by roll call 5-0 to adjourn at 7:15pm. A true record; Attest: Kristan Patenaude Recording Secretary