HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-21-CEC-min Y Minutes of the
Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
March 21, 2018
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Location and Time: Town Office Building, Reed Room (111); 7:45 A.M.
Members Present: Charles Lamb, Chair; David Kanter, Vice-Chair & Clerk;
Sandy Beebee; Rod Cole (remote participation starting at 8:15 A.M.); Wendy Manz;
Frank Smith
Members Absent: None
Others Present: Dawn McKenna, Chair, Tourism Committee; Sara Arnold, Recording
Secretary
Documents Presented:
• Notice of CEC Meeting, March 21, 2018
• Draft #6 CEC Report to the 2018 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), distributed by
Mr. Kanter's e-mail, March 20, 2018, 4:51 P.M.
• Draft CEC Five-Year Capital Plan (FY2019—FY2023) as of March 20, 2018,
distributed by Mr. Kanter's e-mail, March 20, 2018, 4:51 P.M.
Call to Order
Mr. Lamb called the meeting to order at 7:48 A.M.
Discussion of the process leading to the 2018 Annual Town Meeting (ATM) and the
Committee's Report to that ATM
Mr. Lamb provided an update on Article 22: Visitors Center Funding and Article 23: Visitor
Center Funding (Citizen Article). Monday night the Board of Selectmen (BoS) voted 4-1 to
support a $4.5 million appropriation at the 2018 ATM to go beyond just construction/bid
documents, as previously budgeted ($200,000), by also funding the construction under
Article 22. The BoS noted that the financial implications of delaying funding construction
until a fall 2018 Special Town Meeting (STM) and a potentially later bidding environment
would offset each other: inflation would be an increase; a shorter general-contractor period,
a decrease,
In response to questions and comments, Ms. McKenna reported the following:
• Several months ago, the Historic Districts Commission (HDC) was invited to a
Permanent Building Committee meeting at which this project was reviewed.
Members of the HDC informally provided some suggestions. One concern was the
"flatness" of the side facing Merriam Street. The HDC cannot formally review the
project until after Design Development is complete.
• The Center Committee unanimously supported the project at its meeting last night.
• The color of the building has not been determined.
• The $4.7 million includes $200,000 for swing space to be used during construction—
which she believes needs further review as to the need for that large an amount.
• The grant proposals are not contingent on construction funding being appropriated
this spring.
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Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
March 21, 2018
• The Tourism Committee, proponent of Article 23, meets tomorrow evening. It is
expected that it will recommend Indefinitely Postponement (IP) under Article 23
unless Article 22 does not pass.
Mr. Kanter and Ms. Beebee expressed opposition to supporting construction funding before
completion of Design Development and the Construction/Bid Documents were complete—a
position generally taken by this Committee. They also expressed a more-serious concern
about the lack of even an informal approval by the HDC that can be done and they believe
is a critical step before approving construction funds for both the demolition of a historic
building and the construction of another in a Historic District. Their preference would be to
appropriate just the $200,000 needed to complete construction/bid documents and bring a
request for construction funding to a fall 2018 STM. Ms. Manz, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Lamb
noted their general preference would also be to defer funding the construction at the
2018 ATM, but felt that there have been many delays associated with this project, and
there is no financial benefit in waiting until a fall STM to appropriate construction funding.
A Motion was made and seconded to support $4.7 million for Article 22, which would fund
through construction. Vote: 3-2 (Mr. Kanter and Ms. Beebee in opposition)
Mr. Cole joined the meeting by phone at 8:15 A.M. The Chair agreed to Mr. Cole's remote
participation as he was unable to attend the meeting because his car had broken down as
he was driving to get to the Town Office Building. Subsequent votes would be taken
verbally by each individual.
After being briefed on Article 22 and informed of positions taken by each Committee
member and why, Mr. Cole voted to support the $4.7 million appropriation, making the
Committee's vote 4-2.
Mr. Kanter led a page-by-page "walk-through" discussion to address all the outstanding
matters identified in the Draft #6 of this Committee's report to the ATM and to ensure the
wording reflected the will of the Committee. In a few instances, an assigned member plans
to verify/clarify information, as discussed.
The following Articles were reviewed and votes were updated:
• Article 10(b): Community Center Sidewalk:The appropriation request is for $365,000
in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding. There had been no further discussion
about adding ramps or a crosswalk across Marrett Road for an additional $34,000.
Mr. Lamb added his vote in support of the requested funding for the project making
this Committee's vote 6-0.
• Article 10(j): Lowell Street/Farmview Affordable Housing Supplemental Funds:
Mr. Lamb added his vote in support of the requested funding for the project making
this Committee's vote 6-0.
• Article 11:Appropriate for Westview Cemetery Building Construction: It was noted
that some questions were raised during the Town Meeting Members Association
Information Session about the size of the project and the placement of a pavilion.
Additionally, the Committee had previously noted that Design Development is not
complete and the project has just a schematic-design cost estimate. Mr. Lamb
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Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
March 21, 2018
added his vote in opposition of the requested funding for the project making this
Committee's vote 6-0 in opposition.
• Article 16(e): Center Streetscape Improvements—Design: The BoS voted to Move
for Indefinite Postponement (IP) of this request, with the intent to bring it to a STM in
the fall of 2018—with the Massachusetts Avenue/Woburn Street intersection now
having been removed from this project and to be brought to a much later ATM for
funding as a separate project.
A Motion was made and seconded to support IP under Article 16(e). Vote: 6-0
• Article 16(f):Automatic Meter Reading System: The BoS voted also to IP this
request for funding of this project, without reference to whether it would be brought
to a fall 2018 STM.
A Motion was made and seconded to support IP under Article 16(f). Vote: 6-0
• Article 23: Visitor Center Funding (Citizen Article): Based on earlier discussion at this
meeting, a Motion was made and seconded to support IP under Article 23. Vote: 6-0
A Motion was made and seconded to approve this Committee's report to the 2018 ATM as
addressed at this meeting and granted Mr. Lamb and Mr. Kanter authority to make further
non-substantive and administrative edits deemed necessary for accuracy and clarification.
Vote: 6-0
With the approval of the report, it was noted that this Committee's meeting posted for
March 23, 2018, would be cancelled.
Adjourn: A Motion was made and seconded at 9:50 A.M. to adjourn. Vote: 6-0
These Minutes were approved by the CEC at its meeting on March 26, 2018.
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