HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-02-AC-min 08/02/2018 AC Minutes
Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC)
August 2, 2018
Place and Time: Parker Room, Town Office Building, 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: John Bartenstein, Chair; Alan Levine, Vice-Chair & Secretary; Ellen Basch,
Eric Michelson; Richard Neumeier; Sanjay Padaki; Glenn Parker; Andrei Radulescu-Banu;
Lily Manhua Yan; Carolyn Kosnoff,Assistant Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex-officio)
Members)Absent: None
Other Attendees: Richard Canale, Planning Board liaison; Matt Daggett, Comprehensive Plan
Advisory Committee (CPAC) and Town Meeting Member; Helen Yang,previous AC member
The meeting was called to order at 7:08 p.m.
1. Announcements:
• Mr. Bartenstein thanked Helen Yang for her service on the AC and gave her a card signed
by committee members expressing their appreciation.
• Mr. Bartenstein welcomed Mr. Parker back to the AC.
• Mr. Radulescu-Banu reported that he will be resigning from the AC, with this meeting being
his last as a committee member.
2. Comprehensive Plan Update: Mr. Bartenstein opened the discussion by explaining the reason
for inviting Mr. Canale and Mr. Daggett to the meeting. He reviewed concerns related to the
potential financial implications of goals that may be identified in the new Comprehensive Plan,
noting that analyzing the financial sustainability of zoning changes would likely be complex.
The AC does not have a member or a liaison on the CPAC, and its role in the process is not
clear.
Mr. Canale explained that the current comprehensive plan was finalized in 2002 or 2003.
Although some elements remain relevant, it was decided to pursue a new plan, for which Town
Meeting appropriated $300,000. It is expected to be a two- to three-year process. Rather than
engage one consultant, it was decided to "farm out" various components to specialists in
different areas.
General oversight during the process is being provided by two Selectmen, two School
Committee members, and two Planning Board members. Additionally, there are 13 CPAC
members, representing a broad cross section of Lexington interest groups; they plan to meet
monthly. Community input is a critical element. There was an initial kick-off meeting in June,
and this is being followed by six panel discussions designed to put Lexington's future into a
regional context.
Using a handout, Mr. Canale explained that, using information from the June kick-off meeting,
the CPAC identified six plan components/values, each of which had weaknesses and threats as
well as strengths and opportunities. Going forward, it will be necessary to evaluate the trade-
offs associated with meeting the needs identified in those components. He stressed the
importance of getting residents to participate in and accept the process. He anticipates the
development of a policy document with short-term, middle-term and long-terra implementation
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plans. He and Mr. Daggett also explained that they envision a 10-year plan, although the one it
will replace was a 20-year plan.
Members of the AC suggested that additional professional guidance to the CPAC would seem
advisable and noted that the complexity of the issues is greater than 20 years ago. It was also
noted that financial analyses and impacts on the school population are generally done when
there are specific projects that are going to Town Meeting for approval.
Mr. Canale urged members of the AC to attend the CPAC meetings or watch them on
LexMedia.
3. Liaison Reports:
• Mr. Michelson reported that the Town Manager Search Committee(TMSC) is working with
a consultant and has had two meetings. The Town received 42 applications for the Town
Manager position, and the TMSC plans to meet on Monday to review 15 applications that
were selected by the consultant after the consultant conducted preliminary interviews with
and researched the backgrounds of these candidates. It is expected that the TMSC will
interview its top six candidates on August 15 and forward the names of three or four to the
Board of Selectmen.
• Ms. Kosnoff reported that the recently approved State budget includes $200,000 toward
construction of a new Visitors' Center in Lexington. In addition, the Town petitioned the
state to include $675,000 in its bond bill for the Visitor's Center, and $370,000 for replacing
the Police Department radio console. . She plans to provide additional information at the
next AC meeting.
• In response to questions, Ms. Kosnoff reported that the new growth assessment should be
available in September,but significant changes are not anticipated.
• Mr. Padaki reported that, in an effort to minimize costs,plans for a building at Westview
Cemetery are being limited to a standard structure. They no longer include a crematorium or
a canopy.
4. Fall Special Town Meeting (STM): Ms. Kosnoff reported that, in addition to "housekeeping"
budget items, she anticipates that funding requests for the following items would be included on
the warrant for a fall STM:
• Westview Cemetery structure, as referenced by Mr. Padaki;
• An automated water meter reading system—the analysis is nearly complete;
• The Center Streetscape project that has been discussed in recent years;
• Additional science classrooms for Lexington High School, as discussed at the June 14
summit and this Committee's June 27 meeting.
Ms. Kosnoff added that there are four potential zoning articles for the STM as well as potential
articles relating to the Hosmer House, as it relates to a project to replace Police Headquarters,
and a Community Preservation Act conservation land purchase.
5. Committee Officers: Mr. Bartenstein reported that no one had volunteered to serve as chair.
He agreed to continue to serve as such through the fall and said that in conversations with
Mr. Parker and Mr. Levine, they had agreed to serve as Vice-Chair and Secretary respectively.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the slate of officers, as presented. The motion
passed. VOTE: 9-0
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6. Additional Announcement: Mr. Neumeier reported that the July 23, 2018 Lawyers' Weekly
included a City of Newton solicitation for a full-time attorney to handle land use matters and
other duties as assigned. Salary: $92,000-$99,000
7. Minutes: A motion was made and seconded to approve the June 27, 2018 minutes with edits
proposed by Mr. Bartenstein and Ms. Kosnof£ The motion passed. VOTE: 8-0 (Mr. Parker
departed just prior to this vote.)
8. Next Meeting: It was agreed to meet on September 13, 2018.
The meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sara Arnold, Recording Secretary
Approved: September 13, 2018
Exhibits
• Agenda, posted by John Bartenstein, Chair
• Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee's Preliminary Distillation of Comprehensive Plan
June 2018 Kick-Off Meeting
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