HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-15-CEC-min Y Minutes of the
Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
March 15, 2018
APRIL 19'"
Location and Time: Town Office Building, Reed Room (111); 7:30 A.M.
Members Present: David Kanter, Vice-Chair & Clerk; Sandy Beebee; Rod Cole
Wendy Manz; Frank Smith
Members Absent: Charles Lamb, Chair
Others Present: Sara Arnold, Recording Secretary
Documents Presented:
• Notice of CEC Meeting, March 15, 2018
• Draft #3 Minutes of the CEC Meeting, March 7, 2018, distributed by Mr. Kanter's e-
mail, March 10, 2018, 3:40 P.M.
• Draft #5 CEC Report to the 2018 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), distributed by
Mr. Kanter's e-mail, March 12, 2018, 01 :13 A.M.
• Draft CEC Five-Year Capital Plan (FY2019-FY2023), distributed by Mr. Kanter's
e—mail, March 12, 2018, 01 :13 A.M.
Call to Order: In Mr. Lamb's absence, Mr. Kanter chaired the meeting, which he called to
order at 7:32 A.M.
Minutes
Mr. Kanter noted the need for one administrative edit in the Draft #3 Minutes for this
Committee's meeting on March 7, 2018. A Motion was made and seconded to approve said
Minutes, as amended. Vote: 5-0
Member Concerns
Mr. Kanter reminded this Committee that it is scheduled next to meet on March 21s' and
23rd with the goal of approving this Committee's report to the 2018 ATM. If approval is
achieved on the 21s', the meeting on the 23rd would only be needed if there were members
who were not present on the 21s'. It was reaffirmed that there is no meeting tomorrow; it
was never posted as previously determined not to be needed.
Discussion of the process leading to the 2018 ATM and the Committee's Report to
that ATM
Mr. Kanter led a page-by-page "walk-through" discussion to address all the outstanding
matters identified in the Draft #5 of that Report. For those issues that could not be resolved
during the meeting, it was determined who would pursue resolving them and providing in
writing what was thus needed in the Report. Mr. Kanter stressed the importance of
especially reviewing all the changes in the Report's CEC Five-Year Capital Plan from that
provided by the Town in the FY2019 Recommended Budget & Financing Plan ("Brown
Book) and the proposed explanations for every one of those changes. He reminded the
Committee that its Capital Plan is the Committee's only statutory responsibility regarding
reporting to every ATM. Mr. Cole agreed to work with Mr. Kanter over the weekend to
review and reconcile the tables in that draft report.
Although all the Articles and sub-Articles were addressed in the discussion, the following
were discussed in more detail and, where cited, had votes taken:
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Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
March 15, 2018
• Article 10(b): Community Center Sidewalk: Ms. Manz reported that the Town's
Community Preservation Committee (CPC) approved the Town's request for
$365,000 from Community Preservation Fund (CPF) for the construction of a
sidewalk from Marrett Road to the Lexington Community Center, as well as for the
deconstruction and reconstruction of the stone wall and pillars at Marrett Road.
Additional ramps and a cross walk across Marrett Road were discussed by the CPC,
but they are not eligible for funding under the Community Preservation Act, are not
part of this funding request, and were estimated to cost an additional $34,000.
Formal approval by the Masons for an easement is still being negotiated because
the sidewalk is on their property.
A Motion was made and seconded to support Article 10(b). Vote: 5-0
• Article 10(j): Lowell Street/Farmview Affordable Housing Supplemental Funds:
Ms. Manz reported that the CPC approved Lexington Housing Assistant Board's
request for $1.4 million to complete the funding needed for that project. (Previous
appropriations were $1,284,653.)
A Motion was made and seconded to support Article 10(j). Vote: 5-0
• Article 11: Appropriate for Westview Cemetery Building Construction: Mr. Kanter
reviewed his general opposition to supporting approval of construction funds for a
project before completing Design Development, having its cost estimate, and
completed Construction/Bid Documents—which is understood to be the situation for
this project. It was agreed that Mr. Smith would discuss with David Pinsonneault,
Director of Public Works (which is managing this project), the status of the previous
appropriations and how they had been spent and when would Design Development,
its cost estimate, and Construction/Bid Documents all be available. It was noted that
this Committee previously voted to support this project 6-0 before learning that a
Schematic Design cost estimate was the only estimate presented to the Board of
Selectmen (BoS) at its meeting the previous Monday.
A Motion was made and seconded to oppose the project at this time. Vote:5-0
• Article 16(a): Hydrant Replacement Program: Mr. Cole asked that his support for this
Article be added to the previous vote, making the vote for support 6-0.
• Article 16(f): Automatic Meter Reading System: No new information is expected until
the BoS' meeting on March 19'". The vote remains Pending.
• Article 22: Visitors Center Funding and Article 23: Visitor Center Funding (Citizen
Article): It was agreed that these Articles would also be discussed after the BoS'
meeting on March 19'". The vote remains Pending.
• Article 24: Appropriate to Post Employment Insurance Liability Fund: Mr. Kanter
reported that he no longer plans to present an amendment to this Article at this ATM.
In lieu of such an amendment, he has asked our Chair to ask the Chair of the BoS to
promptly hold—soon after the 2018 ATM is dissolved—the long-promised review of
that Board's fiscal policies regarding use of discretionary funding such as, for
example, to this Fund, the Pension Fund, the (general) Stabilization Fund, and the
Capital Stabilization Fund.
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Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
March 15, 2018
• Article 27: Appropriate To Stabilization Fund: Mr. Cole asked that his support for
Indefinitely Postponing this Article be added to the previous vote, making the vote
6-0.
Member Concerns (continued): Mr. Smith asked whether the Town Moderator would be
appointing a seventh member to this Committee, as allowed in the By-Laws. He suggested
that a seventh member would help reduce the individual work-load. It was agreed to
discuss this at a future meeting when the Chair is present.
Adjourn: A Motion was made and seconded at 9:46 A.M. to adjourn. Vote:5-0
These Minutes were approved by the CEC at its meeting on March 26, 2018.
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