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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-11-13-AC-min 11/13/2018 AC Minutes Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC) November 13, 2018 Place and Time: Parker Room, Town Office Building, 7:30 p.m. Members Present: John Bartenstein, Chair; Glenn Parker, Vice-Chair; Alan Levine, Secretary; Ellen Basch; Eric Michelson; Richard Neumeier; Nick Nichols; Sanjay Padaki; Lily Manhua Yan; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex-officio) Member(s)Absent: None Other Attendees: Mark Andersen, Ad hoc Residential Exemption Policy Study Committee The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. Announcements Mr. Bartenstein announced the following: • The scheduled AC meetings for November 14 and 15 will be cancelled unless something comes up at tonight's Special Town Meeting (STM) 2018-1 that would warrant a meeting. • There is a December 17 reception, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Lexington Community Center, to thank Michelle Ciccolo for her service on the Board of Selectmen and to wish her well as she assumes her new position as a State Representative. • Budget Summit 11 is scheduled for December 6, 2018. Mr. Padaki reported that he is able to attend the Crematory Study Committee (Ad hoc) meetings, as currently scheduled, thus confirming plans for his serving as this Committee's liaison to that committee. Article Review for STM 2018-1 • Article 3: Appropriate for Center Streetscape Design: Mr. Bartenstein plans to announce the AC's vote at Town Meeting. The funding request has been reduced from $650,000 to $550,000 because there is $100,000 remaining from previous appropriations. This will free up $100,000 of additional new growth revenue that had been targeted for this purpose. Ms. Kosnoff noted that she anticipates that there will be a request to transfer that$100,000 into the Capital Stabilization Fund (CSF)under Article 8. A motion was made and seconded to support the reduced funding request for Article 3. The motion passed. VOTE: 8-1 A motion was made and seconded to support an appropriation of the $100,000 into the CSF under Article 8. The motion passed. VOTE: 9-0 A break was taken so that a committee photo could be taken for the Annual Town Report. 1 11/13/2018 AC Minutes • Article 5: Appropriate for Hosmer House Reuse Study: It was agreed that Mr. Levine, a supporter of the project, would report the split vote (5-4 in support)to the STM, explaining as follows: ➢ Those in favor believe it is a worthwhile appropriation because it supports moving forward on the project to replace Police Headquarters. ➢ Those opposed believe that the study isn't necessary because there appears to be general consensus that the Hosmer House should stay in the Historic District, and the Historic Districts Commission has already voted to support moving the house to a different location on the current site, making room for the Police Headquarters expansion. Additionally, the project to replace Police Headquarters currently includes $1.1 million to move the Hosmer House, and the Historic Districts Commission already has ideas for uses. Ms. Kosnoff reported that if this article fails, the current plan is to request a transfer of the $50,000 into the CSF under Article 8. A motion was made and seconded to support appropriation of the $50,000, if Article 5 fails, into the CSF under Article 8. The motion passed. VOTE: 9-0 Mr. Michelson departed early. • Article 6: Amend FY2019 Operating, Enterprise and Community Preservation Act Budgets: There was discussion about plans to hire a social worker and how this affects the municipal and school department operating budgets. Ms. Kosnoff noted that there may be a misunderstanding about the allocations and this will be clarified. Mr. Parker plans to announce the AC vote to Town Meeting and will clarify the information, as necessary. • Article 8: Establish and Appropriate To and From Specified Stabilization Funds: Mr. Padaki agreed to speak to this article for the AC based on the motion that is presented at the STM. • Article 10: Amend Zoning Bylaw— 55 & 56 Watertown Street: Mr. Nichols agreed to speak to this article for the AC. Mr. Levine plans to comment from town meeting floor. Minutes A motion was made and seconded to approve the draft November 6, 2018 minutes, as amended. The motion passed. VOTE: 8-0. Future Meetings/Business It was agreed that there would be one more meeting in 2018, probably on Wednesday, December 12. New officers are needed starting January 1. 2 11/13/2018 AC Minutes Mr. Bartenstein, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Levine agreed to try to set up a meeting with Ms. Kosnoff and an Information Technology staff member to help determine how to efficiently meet Open Meeting Law requirements regarding the preparation of reports. Web options need to be explored. Mr. Andersen reported that the Residential Exemption Policy Study Committee (ad hoc)is holding a hearing on December 11 and urged participation. He noted that two options are being explored: the residential exemption currently available under state law which shifts tax burdens based solely on the value of the home, from lower-valued homes to higher-valued homes; and a means-tested exemption that would be targeted to seniors and consider additional requirements, such as assets and income. The latter requires a Home Rule petition being brought to the State legislature. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sara Arnold Approved: December 13, 2018 Exhibits Agenda, posted by Mr. Bartenstein, Chair 3