HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-23-AC-min.pdf 10/23/2025 AC Minutes
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Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC)
October 23, 2025
Place and Time: Remote participation via a Zoom teleconferencing session that was open to the
public; 7:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; Sanjay Padaki, Vice-Chair; Alan Levine, Secretary; Car-
olyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex officio); Anil Ahuja; John Barten-
stein; Vinita Verma; Lily Yan
Members Absent: Eric Michelson; Sean Osborne
Other Attendees: None
At 7:35 p.m. Mr. Parker called the meeting to order and took attendance by roll call.
All votes recorded below were conducted by roll call.
Announcements and Liaison Reports
Mr. Ahuja reported that the Ad Hoc Crematory Committee’s findings are expected to be reported in
the first quarter of 2026.
Committee Report to the 2025-2 Special Town Meeting
Mr. Levine discussed the plans for use of 173 Bedford St. This includes swing space for the LPS
Central Office (CO) after demolition of Old Harrington. Assuming the CO relocates to a new LHS,
173 Bedford St. is then expected to provide swing space during renovation of the upper floors of
Cary Memorial Library, and later as swing space during renovation of the Town Office Building.
Ms. Kosnoff noted that MSBA has insisted on a formal motion for the appropriation for the LHS
project that could be confusing. Instead of new construction, the project is framed as a renovation
consisting of the partial demolition and renovation of the current Field House, followed by the addi-
tion of a new wing (all of “Bloom”), and finally the demolition of the current LHS buildings except
for the renovated Field House.
Mr. Parker confirmed that regardless of the new location, the street address of LHS would not be
changed.
Mr. Levine questioned if the transfer of ownership required by Article 97 under Article 9 should
move forward if funding for LHS is not approved in the debt exclusion referendum. It was sug-
gested that Town officials should consider including contingency clauses.
Mr. Bartenstein said that he had looked at the urban or community forest plans for several nearby
municipalities including that of the Town of Bedford. The latter plan was particularly helpful. He
then revised his vote on Article 6 from abstaining to recommending approve.
The Committee reviewed and made edits to their draft report for the 2025-2 STM.
Ms. Yan voted to recommend approval for all articles, making the Committee unanimous (9-0) in
support of all articles.
The Committee voted to approve publication of the report with minor edits by a vote of 7-0. Mr.
Parker will submit the report for online publication by Monday, October 27.
10/23/2025 AC Minutes
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Ms. Kosnoff reported that she was still waiting for final confirmation of the Town’s available funds
from the state Dept. of Revenue, but she expected confirmation before the start of the 2025-2 STM.
Future Meeting Schedule
The Committee agreed to meet in person on Monday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m. prior to the 2025-2
STM, and at the same time on Tuesday, November 4, if need be.
Ms. Kosnoff noted that a tax rate hearing would be held on November 10, adding that commercial
and industrial assessed values had declined by about 9%. The Select Board is expected to approve
the tax rate on November 17.
Minutes of Prior Meetings
No minutes were ready for approval.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Glenn P. Parker
Approved: November 3, 2025
Exhibits
● Agenda, posted by Mr. Parker