HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-25-CEC-ATM-rpt CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE
TOWN OF LEXINGTON
REPORT TO THE
2019 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING (ATM)
Released March 25, 2019
Submitted by:
Charles Lamb, Chair
David G. Kanter, Vice-Chair & Clerk
Sandy Beebee
Rodney Cole
Wendy Manz
Frank Smith
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Summary of Warrant-Article Recommendations
is Appendix C at the end of the report
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Table of Contents
Executive Summary 1
The Mission of the Capital Expenditures Committee 2
How to Read This Report 2
Summary of FY2020 Capital-Budget Requests 3
Capital Budget 4
Capital Projects 5
The Community Preservation Act(CPA) 6
Enterprise Fund Projects 9
Revolving-Fund Projects 9
Five-Year Capital Plan 10
Programs 15
Conservation and Open Space 15
Lexington Community Center 16
Fire &Rescue 17
Police 18
Cary Memorial Library 19
Public Works 20
Public Facilities 28
Recreation 31
Schools 32
Information Services 34
Town Clerk's Office 34
Affordable Housing 35
Planning 37
Economic Development 38
2019 ATM Warrant-Article Explanations and Recommendations 39
Article 4: Reduce Community Preservation Act(CPA) Surcharge Rate From
3%To 1%Pursuant To G.L. c. 44B, § 16 (Citizen Article) 39
Article 6: Appropriate For Cremation Facility at Westview Cemetery(Citizen Article) 39
Article 8: Funding For Sustainability Actions (Citizen Article) 40
Article 10: Appropriate To Post Employment Insurance Liability Fund 41
Article 14: Appropriate the FY2020 Community Preservation Committee Operating
Budget and CPA Projects (Multiple Categories) 42
Article 15: Appropriate for Recreation Capital Projects 46
Article 16: Appropriate for Municipal Capital Projects and Equipment 47
Article 17: Appropriate for Water Distribution System Improvements 55
Article 18: Appropriate for Wastewater System improvements 55
Article 19: Appropriate for School Capital Projects and Equipment 56
Article 20: Appropriate for Public Facilities Capital Projects 57
Article 21: Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations 60
Article 22: Establish, Dissolve and Appropriate To and From Specified Stabilization
Funds (SFs) 61
Article 23: Appropriate to General Stabilization Fund 62
Article 24: Appropriate from Debt Service Stabilization Fund 62
Article 27: Appropriate for Authorized Capital Improvements 63
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Article 32: Addition Of Capital Expenditures Committee-Related Provisions To The
Representative Town Meeting And Selectmen-Town Manager Acts 63
Article 35: Amend Article 111 Of Chapter 118 (Citizen Article) 64
Article 36: Implement An Outcomes-Based Approach To Town Building Projects
(Citizen Article) 65
Appendix A: Information on the Town's Current Specified Stabilization Funds A-1
Appendix B: Used Acronyms Expanded B-1
Appendix C: Summary of Warrant-Article Recommendations C-1
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Executive Summary
We expect that most of you will not read this report from cover to cover (and that is ok). if you only have
time for one section, please read this Executive Summary. if you have a little more time, read this section
and review our recommendations in the Warrant Articles section as preparation for the presentations and
debate at Town Meeting, either using Appendix C (Summary of Warrant-Article Recommendations) or
the Article explanations and recommendations in this report starting on Page 39. The rest of the report can
serve as reference material for when your constituents ask you hard-to-answer questions about the Town
departments and offices that are involved with capital projects and the projects themselves.
For many years, this Committee has stressed the need for rational, long-teen planning, and for just as
many years, the Town has achieved a reasonable level of success in sequencing and executing our capital
program. We welcome the new Town Manager, Jim Malloy, and anticipate that he will refine the
capital—budget process all the way from before a Preliminary Budget is formed and through the
long—range strategic planning. We anticipate that all proposed projects will be prioritized; that there will
be emphasis on better out-year cost estimation using then-year amounts; that there will be more inclusive
debt-service modeling which considers all anticipated projects, even if they are beyond the five-year
horizon; and where possible, continued capital "program" migration from debt- to cash-based financing.
Rome wasn't built in a day, so this will take some time to fully achieve.
It may seem that we have reached the end of nearly two decades of large capital projects, including
renovation or rebuilding of all our schools to enhance capacity, a new Samuel Hadley Public Services
Building, and a new Community Center; improved roads and sidewalks; land purchases; and enhanced
playing fields; but our collective work isn't done. At this Town Meeting, you will consider three major
projects: Center Streetscape Improvements, Automatic Meter Reading System, and Westview Cemetery
Facility. At the 2019 Fall Town Meeting, you'll be asked to vote construction money for a long-planned
Police Headquarters with a corresponding debt-exclusion referendum relatively soon after that. Included
in the yet-to-be modeled or defined potential projects: A Community Center Expansion and an
Outdoor/Indoor Firing Range at the Town's Hartwell Avenue site.
Article 4 at this Town Meeting originally proposed to reduce the Community Preservation Act Surcharge
from 3% to 1%. This is an important debate, and it is not the first time it has arisen since Lexington
adopted the Community Preservation Act in 2006. This Committee supports periodically reviewing the
question about the surcharge percentage and encourages Town Meeting and the public to evaluate the
projects that the Community Preservation Committee is considering each year for approval, but we will
strongly oppose any rollback in the near term,just as we did in 2013.
For the past several years, this Committee has insisted that we not ignore the 800-pound gorilla in the
room: addressing the need for replacement or major renovations at the Lexington High School. We have
seen the finance model and to the surprise of no one, the news is not good. Using a $350 million project
cost (a figure which this Committee believes is too low based on neighboring towns' comparative costs),
minus 10% for the design process and a 30% estimated MSBA reimbursement of the balance, total net
financing by the Town would be about $245 million—not including the cost to the Town of the initial
feasibility study. That would cause a spike to tax bills unlike any we have seen before.
Of course, it is too early for this Committee to take a position on that project, other than to say that it
needs to be built into our planning and modeling. But one way or the other, the Town will have to either
reduce project scope, extend project timelines, or increase taxes. There is no magic solution to avoiding
this project. It is a keystone in our superb school system and with the number of students involved, no
major curriculum change is seen as being acceptable to our residents, let alone providing a solution.
Finally, bear in mind that this Committee is appointed by the Moderator and chartered to advise Town
Meeting. We take that charter seriously. While we work collegially with other boards and committees, our
recommendations represent what we believe to be the best interests of our Town, and are offered for
consideration by you, Town Meeting.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
The Mission of the Capital Expenditures Committee
From the Code of the Town of Lexington(§29-13):
D. Each year the Capital Expenditures Committee shall request and receive from the Town
Manager infonnation on all capital expenditures requested by Town boards and
departments that may be required within the ensuing five-year period. The Committee
shall consider the relative need, timing and cost of these projects, the adequacy thereof
and the effect these expenditures might have on the financial position of the Town.
E. The Committee shall prior to each Town Meeting for the transaction of business prepare,
publish and distribute by making copies available at the office of the Town Clerk and at
Cary Memorial Library, and by mailing or otherwise distributing to each Town meeting
member, a report of its findings, setting forth a list of all such capital expenditures
together with the Committee's recommendations as to the projects that should be
undertaken within the five-year period, the approximate schedule for the funding of each
recommended project to the extent practical, and its recommendations on policies with
either a direct or indirect effect on capital matters. This publication may be combined
with and distributed at the same time as the Appropriation Committee report.
From the Code of the Town of Lexington(§29-14): "The term capital expenditures shall mean any and all
expense of a nonrecurring nature not construed as an ordinary operating expense, the benefit of which
will accrue to the Town over an extended period of time."
From the Code of the Town of Lexington (§29-26): "The Capital Expenditures Committee shall state
whether it endorses each recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee."
How to Read This Report
Our report is divided into four sections:
• An overview of capital projects in Lexington;
• Presentation of a five-year capital budget;
• Spending history and general capital plan for each department and program; and
• This year's capital-related Warrant Articles.
"ATM Town Warrant" refers to the Town of Lexington Town Warrant for the 2019 Annual Town
Meeting, February 4, 2019. "Brown Book" refers to the "Town of Lexington Fiscal Year 2020
Recommended Budget & Financing Plan", March 4, 2019. Where our narrative includes a "See Article
." it is referring you to that Article in the last section—"Warrant-Article Explanations and
Recommendations". In that section you will find:
We have quoted the Town's or a Town Committee's documentation for each of the Articles on which
we are reporting. if we believe that quote has both adequately described the proposed work and
satisfactorily made the case for the Town's need, we will not reiterate either of those matters in this
report. However, additional narrative is included where we felt it helpful.
Our Committee's recommendations and how we voted are shown only in the boxed header for each
Article and, if applicable, in any sub-elements unless there are further comments on our
recommendation. (In any case where we are not unanimous in an Approval recommendation to Town
Meeting there will be comments.) If there are comments, they will be in italics at the end of the text
below the boxed header.
Our oral report on Town Meeting floor will highlight elements of our written report and present any new
information not available as of this writing. When we report on a capital article on Town Meeting floor
during the deliberations, a committee member will provide the committee's recommendation and, if
applicable, comments related to that recommendation.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Summary of FY2020 Capital-Budget Requests
IP =Indefinite Postponement N/A =Not Applicable
Requests
General Fund CEC
Differences
Enterprise Approp.& from
Article Categories Debt Cash Funds2 CPF3 Auth.Other4 Total Request
Land Use,Health and Development
14(a) Conservation Land Acquisition $275,000 $275,000
14(b) Willard's Woods Site Improvements $138,273 $138,273
16(I) Transportation Mitigation $100,000 $100,000
Subtotals Land Use,Health and $0 $100,000 $0 $413,273 $0 $513,273
Development
Culture and Recreation
15(a) Pine Meadows Improvements $75,000 $75,000
15(b) Recreation Community Needs $50,000 $50,000
Assessment
14(h) Park Improvements-Hard Court $70,000 $70,000
Resurfacing
140) Park Improvements-Athletic Fields $435,000 $435,000
Athletic Field Complex at Minuteman
14()f School IP
Subtotals Culture and Recreation $0 $0 $125,000 $505,000 $0 $630,000
Library
20(h) Cary Library Children'snRoom $100,000 $100,000
Renovation Design
Public Facilities
20(a) Public Facilities Bid Documents $100,000 $100,000
20(6)(1) Building Flooring Program $125,000 $125,000
20(c) Municipal Building Envelope and $203,865 $203,865
Systems
20(d) School Building Envelopes and $233,448 $233,448
Systems Program
20(b)(2) School Paving&Sidewalks Program $326,740 $326,740
Playground Replacement Program-
140) Bridge School $302,000 $302,000
20(e) LHS Field House Track Resurfacing $250,000 $250,000
20(f) Public Facilities Mechanical/Electrical $605,000 $605,000
System Replacements
14(g) Old Reservoir Bathhouse Renovation $620,000 $620,000
Westview Cemetery Building
20(g) Construction6 $2,800,000 $2,800,000
6 Cremation Facility at Westview $90,000 $90,000 Disapprove
Cemetery
Fall STM Lexington Police Station Rebuild- $25,651,792 $25,651,792 TBD
Construction
Subtotals Public Facilities $29,056,792 $1,329,053 $0 $922,000 $0 $31,307,845
Public Works
16(e) Center Streetscape Improvements $9,101,730 $9,101,730
16(f) Automatic Meter Reading System $5,940,000 $5,940,000
160) Equipment Replacement $900,000 $400,000 $1,300,000
16(k) Street Improvements? $2,616,801 $973,796 $3,590,597
16(b) Storm Drainage Improvements and $385,000 $385,000
NPDES compliance
18(a) Sanitary Sewer System Investigation $1,000,000 $1,000,000
and Improvements
16(a) Hydrant Replacement Program $75,000 $75,000 $150,000
18(b) Pump Station Upgrades $700,000 $700,000
Comprehensive Watershed
16(c) Stormwater Management Study and $390,000 $390,000
Implementation
17 Water Distribution System $2,200,000 $2,200,000
Improvements
16(g) Sidewalk Improvement $800,000 $800,000
14(d) Battle Green Master Plan-Phase 3 $253,394 $253,394
16(d) Townwide Culvert Replacement $390,000 $390,000
160) Townwide Signalization Improvements $125,000 $125,000
16(h) Hill Street New Sidewalk Project $1,500,000 $1,500,000
16(p) Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations $40,750 $40,750
Public Works Sub-Totals $12,301,730 $3,981,801 $10,315,000 $253,394 $1,014,546 $27,866,471
Lexington Public Schools
19 LPS Technology Program 1 $724,0881 $1,019,8121 1 $1,743,9001
Information Services
16(m) Municipal Technology Improvement $150,000 $150,000
Program
16(n) Application Implementation $150,000 $150,000
(16(0) Network Core Equipment $480,000 $480,000
Replacement
Information Services Sub-Totals $0 $780,000 $0 $0 $0 $780,000
(Continued on next page)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Summary of FY2020 Capital-Budget Requests (continued)
Requests
General Fund CEC
Differences
Enterprise Approp.& from
Article Categories Debt Cash Funds2 CPF3 Auth.Other4 Total Request
Town Clerk's Office
Archives&Records
14(c) Management/Records Conservation& $20,000 $20,000
Preservation
Government(Other)
4 Reduce CPA Surcharge Rate from 3% IP
to 1%
8 Fund for Sustainability Actions IP
10 Post-Employment Insurance Liabilty $1,879,721 $5,765 $1,885,486 Commentary
FundOnly
21 Rescind Prior Borrowing N/A
Authorizations
22 Establish,DissolveAppropriate Toand $1,536,759 -$5,200,000 -$3,663,241
From Specified Stabilization Funds
23 Appropriate to General Stabilization IP
Fund
24 Appropriate from Debt Service $124,057 $124,057
Stabilization Fund
27 Appropriate for Authorized Capital IP
Improvement
Addition of CEC-Related Provisions to
32 the Representative Town Meeting& N/A
Selecrtmen-Town Manager Acts
35 Amend Article III of Chapter 118 N/A Disapprove
36 Implement An Outcomes-Based N/A
Approach to Town Building Projects
14(I) Community Preservation Committee $3,094,680 $3,094,680
Debt Service
14(m) Community Preservation Committee $150,000 $150,000
Administrative Budget
Government(Other)Sub-Totals $0 $3,416,480 $5,765 $3,244,680 -$5,075,943 $1,590,982
Non-Governmental Projects
14(e) Historical Renovation&Adaptive $70,000 $70,000
Reuse of 9 Oakland Street
14(k) Lexhab Rehabilitation Funding $99,700 $99,700
Ion- overnmenta 'rotects $0 $0 $0 $169,700 $0 $169,700
Totals
Grand Totals $42,082,610 $10,727,146 $10,445,765 $5,528,047 -$4,061,397 $64,722,171
1 All types of General Fund.For the specific types,see the Summary in Appendix C or the Warrant-Article Explanations and Recommendations starting on
Page 39.
2Includes use of retained earning and debt.For specific types,see the Summary in Appendix C or the Warrant-Article Explanations and Recommendations
starting on Page 39.
3 Includes both cash&debt appropriations.
4Includes using Town-created Revolving Funds(within the authorizations),Town Specified Stabilization Funds,Special Revenue Accounts,Town's Parking
Meter Fund,State Chapter 90 funds,State Transportation Improvement Plan(TIP)funds,Rescinded Prior Borrowing Authorizations(as negative numbers)
and private funding.
5 Elsewhere appropriatey carried as a DPF project.
6 Debt service would be funded from the Sale of Cemetery Lots Special Revenue Account and partially from GF(Cash)(with portion of Burial revenue).
7 Chapter 90 funds($973,796)do not need to be appropriated.
Capital Budget
Lexington allocates appropriate resources to needed capital projects by considering them in three
categories:
• Capital Projects (by definition those that can be financed, are greater than $25,000; and have a
useful life of at least 5 years for vehicles and equipment and 10 years for buildings or building
components);
• Enterprise &Revolving Funds projects (greater than$25,000); and
• Community Preservation Fund(CPF)projects (any dollar amount).
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
The Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC):
• Assesses capital needs brought forward by each department (municipal and schools) as well as the
Community Preservation Committee(CPC)through the annual budgeting process;
• Works with those departments and the CPC to identify likely capital needs for the next five years;
• Independently considers public facilities, infrastructure systems, and prospective longer-term needs,
as well as issues and facilities not being addressed within any department; and
• Through this report and in presentations, advises Town Meeting about necessary and prudent
investments to maintain, improve, and create facilities required to serve Lexington citizens safely,
effectively, and efficiently. During the year, Committee members also work with, advise, and
consult staff members in various departments and with other public committees—notably in budget
summits with the Board of Selectmen (BoS), the Appropriation Committee, and the School
Committee—in an effort to shape a responsible capital budget for Lexington.
Please note these important caveats:
• All cost figures are estimates and often do not reflect the cost in then-year dollars. The degree of
accuracy varies by project. Those projected several years into the future are the most uncertain.
They are subject to refinement as projects are designed, bid, and built. Even relatively near-tenn
work is subject to cost uncertainties until projects are bid and contracts signed as material, labor, and
contract-management costs are often highly variable even over a period of just a few months.
• The scope of future projects is often highly uncertain. Accordingly, project budgets are subject to
significant revision as the work is defined through the political and budgeting processes.
• Dates for appropriations and taxpayer impact of financing projects, unless otherwise specified, are
given in fiscal years, beginning July 1.
Capital Projects
Capital projects require careful analysis, budgeting, and broad support. Generally, recommended large
capital projects have been funded through borrowing, consistent with their expected life and annual
budgeting for operating needs.
This debt service can be funded in one of three ways:
1. Any portion of the borrowing not covered by Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds is
absorbed into the operating budget. This option has significant implications on financing other
Town needs.
2. Costs outside the Proposition 2%2 tax-levy limit are financed, if approved to be so by the Town
voters in a debt-exclusion referendum, which then reinforces broad support.
3. When projects are funded under the CPA, a debt-exclusion vote is not required.
This Committee applauds the Town departments' emphasis on continual infrastructure maintenance and
upgrades. We continue to work closely with the stewards of our assets to prioritize, plan, and project the
Capital work for a period of five years or more.
The Projects Agenda
The following is a comprehensive list of big-ticket items that are under consideration in Lexington.
Except for the first three items identified by the BoS as the Town's highest priorities—with which this
Committee agrees—no priority ranking is intended;the rest of this listing is simply alphabetical.
• School Buildings—Expansion, Renovation&Reconstruction.
• Fire Station Central Headquarters—Replacement.
• Police Headquarters—Renovation or Replacement.
• Carriage House(next to Lexington Community Center)—Determine Use and Renovation
• Community(Affordable)Housing—Development and Acquisition(See Article 14(k).)
• Conservation/Open Space Land—Acquisition and Enhancement(See Article 14(a& b).)
• Center Streetscape Improvements (See Article 16(e).)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
• Greenways Corridor—Implementation. These are projects to link open spaces with trails. The
major West Lexington Greenway Project—the proposed trail network west of 1-95/Route 128
linking all Town-owned open space and the Minuteman Bikeway with the Battle Road Trail in
the Minuteman National Historic Park via accessible trails—has been studied.
• Hammond A.Hosmer House, 1557 Massachusetts Avenue (previously called the White
House)—Detennine Use and Renovation. This structure has been stabilized, but is not code
compliant nor suitable for use without further renovation or build-out. (For the on-going action,
see Page 29 under Public Facilities.)
• Hartwell Avenue Transportation Management Overlay District Improvements
• Munroe School
• Muzzey High Condominium Unit(former Senior Center), 1475 Massachusetts Avenue—
Determine Use and Renovation
• Recreation Facilities—A continuing need(See Articles 14(0, 14(j), and 15.)
• Roads—A continuing need(See Article 16(k).)
• Sidewalks—A continuing need(See Article 16(g).)
• Stone Building (previously the East Lexington Library), 735 Massachusetts Avenue—Determine
Use and Renovation. This structure has been stabilized, but is not code compliant nor suitable for
use without further renovation or build-out.
• Transportation Mitigation—This is a continuing need. (See Article 16(1).) (Actions taken are
often an element of road-related projects, rather than being solely to achieve specific mitigation)
• Visitors Center—Being rebuilt
• Westview Cemetery—Replace the maintenance building with possibility of adding a crematory
facility at a later date (See Article 6 and Article 20(g).)
The BoS, School Committee (SC), CPC, and Permanent Building Committee (PBC) will continue to
evaluate, refine, prioritize, and schedule these projects for the next several years. Realistic cost proposals
should be incorporated in the 5-year projections. The Town-wide Facility Master Plan—that will
incorporate Schools and Municipal Plans—is still a work in progress, but each component Plan completed
will contribute to that process.
The Community Preservation Act (CPA)
In March, 2006, Lexington voted to adopt the CPA—an opt-in, State funding mechanism for selected
purposes. CPA funds may be used for capital projects proposed by municipal and non-municipal entities
within the four categories of Community Housing, Historic Resources, Open Space, and Recreational Use
as provided in the enabling Act. This separate pool of money can help accomplish some of our Town's
traditional needs,but only those that fall within the limited purposes of the Act. (See Article 14(a)-(m).)
Each community opting in to the Act voluntarily adds a surcharge of 1% to 3% on its municipal taxes to
fund its CPF. Lexington chose 3%. Under the statute, each CPA municipality is then eligible for annual
supplemental State funding proportional to its level of surtax. The original state supplement was intended
to "match" the total of each municipality's surcharge receipts at 100%, but as more municipalities opted
into the program, the supplement level to each has diminished. When the initial distribution to towns is
less than 100%, the State does a second, and potentially third, round calculation to detennine the final
supplemental funding for those communities that have adopted the maximum 3% surcharge. (See the
Table below for the supplemental distributions received by Lexington for each of the years it has
participated in the CPA, including the projection for FY2020.)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
This table reflects Lexington's actual State, supplemental, receipts since adopting the CPA, along with a
projection for FY2020:
Prior-Years CPA State Supplement Percentage
Total
Year in which Surcharge Supplement
supplement received Collected.' 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Total Amount
FY2008(Actual) $2,556,362 100.0% N/A N/A 100.0% $2,556,362
FY2009(Actual) $2,777,882 67.6% 1.8% N/A 69.4% $1,927,708
FY2010(Actual) $2,931,678 34.8% 0.9% 0.5% 36.2% $1,060,390
FY2011 (Actual) $3,042,587 27.2% 0.6% 0.4% 28.2% $858,729
FY2012(Actual) $3,206,117 26.6% 0.6% 0.4% 27.6% $885,463
FY2013(Actual)2 $3,344,371 26.8% 0.6% 0.4% 27.8% $929,507
FY2014(Actual)3 $3,572,460 52.2% 1.1% 0.7% 54.1% $1,932,347
FY2015(Actual)4 $3,777,676 31.5% 0.7% 0.4% 32.6% $1,230,116
FY2016(Actual)5 $4,012,883 29.7% 0.6% 0.4% 30.7% $1,229,774
FY2017(Actual)6 $4,217,305 20.6% 0.4% 0.3% 21.3% $897,243
FY2018(Actual)7 $4,442,893 17.2% 0.4% 0.2% 17.8% $789,905
FY2019(Actual)3 $4,659,786 19.0% 0.5% 0.3% 19.8% $922,256
Total Actual: $42,542,000 Received to date: 35.8% $15,219,800
FY2020(Projected)9 $4,878,270 TBD TBD TBD 11.5% $561,000
Totals including projected: $47,420,270 33.3% $15,780,800+
1 The"actuals"are the net amounts as used by the State;the"projected"is the Town's projection for the net collection.
2 The Total Supplement Amount includes$255 to correct an underpayment in FY2012 from an error with Phillipston's surcharge.
a The Total Supplement Amount reflects a$25 million addition to the State's CPA Trust Fund because the State finished FY2013
with a surplus of at least that amount-thereby permitting the maximum amount authorized by the State Legislature to go into
that Fund.
a The Total Supplement Amount reflects a$11.4 million addition to the State's CPA Trust Fund because the State finished FY2014
with a surplus of at least that amount-thereby permitting the maximum amount authorized by the State Legislature to go into
that Fund.
5 The Total Supplement Amount reflects a$10 million addition to the State's CPA Trust Fund because the State finished FY2015
with a surplus of at least that amount-thereby permitting the maximum amount authorized by the State Legislature to go into
that Fund.
6 There was no State budget surplus from FY2016 so,while the State Legislature authorized up to a$10 million addition from any
surplus,there was no subsequent State infusion into the State's CPA Trust Fund.
There was no State budget surplus from FY2017 so,while the State Legislature authorized up to a$10 million addition from any
surplus,there was no subsequent State infusion into the State's CPA Trust Fund.The Total Supplement Amount includes a$168
deduction as an adjustment due to an update to FY2017 data after last year's distribution was made.
8 The Total Supplement Amount reflects a$10 million addition to the State's CPA Trust Fund because the State finished FY2018
with a surplus of at least that amount-thereby permitting the maximum amount authorized by the State Legislature to go into
that Fund.
9 The projected percentage does not include any increase resulting from the State deciding to infuse the State's CPA Trust Fund
with additional funding from a prior-year budget surplus or a revision to the fees at the Registries of Deeds.
The funds available for these State supplements are taken from surcharges on the transaction fees charged
by the State's Registries of Deeds and vary from year to year with the level of activities at those
Registries. For the past six years, the State has allocated additional funds to the state Community
Preservation Act Trust Fund (CPATF) if the State's prior-year's budget ended with a surplus. However,
the State's budgets did not always end with a surplus. (See the footnotes to the above table.)
"An Act to Preserve Community Preservation" is currently pending in the State legislature to raise
registry fee surcharges to a level that-at the current rate of activity at the registries-should maintain
each municipality's CPA supplement above 40%. Between the House and the Senate, there are now 131
sponsors, and the Governor has indicated that he would look favorably upon a surcharge increase to
maintain funding for the CPA. If the bill passes in the current legislative session, we would first see
enhanced funding in FY2021
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
The Lexington CPF receives the annual receipts from our local surcharge, State supplement, and interest
on the balance in our Town's CPF. Under the statute, 10% of the total each year is allocated to each of the
following categories: Community Housing, Historic Resources, and Open Space. The remaining 70% of
this income may be spent for any of these categories or for Recreation. Funds may be accrued from year
to year and are available for debt service on previously approved projects.
Projects are brought to Town Meeting for action upon the recommendation of a Community Preservation
Committee(CPC)whose membership, in our Town, is prescribed in the Code of Lexington as follows:
§ 29-23A. There is hereby established a Community Preservation Committee pursuant to Section
5 of Chapter 44B of the General Laws (the "Act") consisting of nine members. The Board of
Selectmen shall appoint three members of the Community Preservation Committee and the
following bodies shall each select one of its members for membership on the Community
Preservation Committee: The Conservation Commission, the Planning Board, the Recreation
Committee,the Historical Commission, the Housing Authority and the Housing Partnership.
Town Meeting can only approve, reduce the funding, or disapprove a project; it cannot change the
purpose. Town Counsel has provided an opinion that Town Meeting can change the funding mechanism
for a given project (cash or debt). This Committee gives our recommendation on each of the projects put
before the Town Meeting.
See the report of the CPC for information on how Lexington has spent the funds from its CPF since 2007.
It is important to note that the projected available CPF cash is not a limitation on what the CPC can
recommend to Town Meeting for spending approval. The method of paying for projects recommended by
the CPC can—and often does—include, in part or in total, issuing debt instruments which are then paid
over the term of the borrowing using the CPF. It remains the recommendation of this Committee that:
(1)Any such debt be for as short a term and payment front-end loaded, as practical, after considering the
funding projected for the CPF (not including any State supplemental funds) over at least the next 10
years; and (2) Such debt should be approved only after consideration of future projects that might come
before the CPC for consideration which would require funds beyond those allocated to the three,
mandatory reserves for Open Space, Historic Resources, and Community(Affordable) Housing.
The debt service on such debt instruments is an obligation borne by the CPF throughout the term of those
instruments—whether short-ter 11 financing (i.e., notes, such as a Bond Anticipation Note [BAN]) and/or
long-term financing (i.e., a bond). (If a project relies on such debt, it is the Town's practice that each
year's debt service will be paid from any funds remaining in the reserve category under which that project
was eligible—whether or not initially financed from that reserve—before use of other available funds.) In
future years, it is incumbent on the CPC to recommend to Town Meeting, and for Town Meeting to
approve, those obligatory debt-service-payment appropriations. (See Article 14(1).)
One approach that provides flexibility in deciding how much, if any, CPF cash should be applied up front
for a large project is to defer that decision by initially issuing a BAN for a term of one year or less for the
full amount of the project. (A BAN typically carries an interest rate substantially below even the
relatively low rates paid on the Town's bonds.) When a BAN matures, a decision can be made whether to
use CPF cash to reduce the total for which a longer-term bond would then be issued. Doing so gives the
Town a better idea of how much CPF cash should be held in anticipation of the next—and later—years'
demands upon the CPF. This mechanism has been used in the past, and this Committee expects it to be
proposed in the future for other large projects.
The CPC carefully husbands available funds, and this year approved only projects which could be funded
with current income and funds on hand, after debt service and its administrative costs. The goal is to
avoid any further borrowing until a substantial portion of the current obligations is retired.
The Town, the CPC, and this Committee are mindful of the additional taxes which the CPA imposes on
our community at a time when our tax burden is high and projected to rise in order to pay for essential
capital projects like the police station and a new or renovated Lexington High School. To lessen the
impact on Lexington households, particularly those with smaller homes, the Town has adopted a
8
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
provision that excepts the first $100,000 of home value from the CPA surcharge. Based on FY2019
calculations, the average additional tax burden per household from the CPA surcharge is $452 per year.
As is clear from the Table in this section, by choosing the maximum 3% surcharge, Lexington has
received the maximum supplement paid from the State for every year since 2007. As of FY2019, the
Town has received $15,219,800. Had our participation been at the 1% level, not only would our initial
proportional distributions have been lower, we would not have received the second and third round
distributions, and our total supplemental receipts would have been less than a third of what they were. For
relatively small contributions per household, the Town has realized enormous benefits, and will continue
to do so, even with the lower percentage supplements of recent years. For these reasons this Committee
believes that Lexington should maintain its CPA participation at the 3%level, and that not to do so would
be "penny wise and pound foolish."
See the CPA Summary in the Brown Book (Appendix C, Page C-7) for a summary of the CPF status,
including projects that have been funded from the CPF since its inception in Lexington and those being
requested in FY2020 under Article 14. Also see the CPC's report to these Town Meetings for its
projection of what the CPF balance would be after this Town Meeting if Town Meeting were to approve
all of the CPC's recommendations.
Enterprise Fund Projects
The Town operates three enterprise funds for revenue-producing activities funded outside the tax levy by
user fees: water distribution, wastewater distribution [sanitary sewers], and certain Recreation and
Community Programs (R&CP) services, such as the golf course, swimming pools, and tennis courts.
Unlike property-tax revenues, enterprise-fund fees are not subject to a limit under Proposition 2%2.
Recreational playground restoration and equipment, in contrast, are not fee generating and capital
investment for such equipment is therefore, normally funded as part of the small-ticket program of the
GF. The 2012 amendments to the CPA expanded the range of recreation projects that are eligible for
funding under that Act; therefore, many recreational projects have since have been submitted to our CPC
with requests for use of the CPF as the fund source. That continues this year; many of the recreation
projects coming before this ATM will be for full or partial funding from the CPF rather than from the EF
or GF.
The R&CP EF had paid $100,000 per year for Lincoln Field debt service from FY2004 until FY2018,
when that debt was retired.
This Town Meeting will consider requests from the Departments that manage the Water, Sewer, and
R&CP EFs. (See Articles 10, 15-18, 20.)
Revolving-Fund Projects
Revolving funds established under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) Chapter 44,
Section 53E%, must be authorized annually by Town Meeting vote. (As the Schools Food Service
Revolving Fund was established, instead, under MGL Ch. 548 of the Acts of 1948, it does not require
Town Meeting's annual authorization or appropriation to use it.)
The fund is credited with only the departmental receipts received in connection with the programs
supported by such revolving fund, and expenditures may be made from the revolving fund, without
further appropriation, for those programs.
Revolving funds are usually expended to cover non-capital costs, and this Committee normally does not
report on their annual authorizations unless a capital expense is contemplated. Such an expense is not
contemplated in FY2020.
9
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Five-Year Capital Plan
The table on the next four pages summarizes the five-year capital plan that this Committee is submitting
for Town Meeting's consideration. It reflects the expected FY2020 appropriations at the 2019 ATM and
the FY2021–FY2024 requests that this Committee anticipates. We started with the amounts and timing
shown in the Brown Book, Page XI-4 for FY2020, and XI-24 & -25 for FY2021–FY2024. Those
requests have been updated based on any information we received after it was published and we have
made additional entries or changes where we feel, based on earlier studies, design& engineering (D&E)
(also architect/engineer [A/E]) work), or the existence of a multi-phase project, that there might be future
requests, although no formal position has been taken by the Town. In that vein, there are important
caveats to that table:
• Please see the footnotes for information on the status of many of the entries and how this
Committee's position differs from that presented by the Town in the Brown Book.
• Excluding the many tens of millions of dollars of to-be-deteitiiined(TBD) entries,the total in this
Committee's Plan for FY2021–FY2024 is just shy of $92.4 million. The TBD entries include
future construction phases and yet to be determined elements of projects for which there may be
additional phases not yet specified or entire major facility projects (e.g., Lexington High School
renovation/reconstruction design& construction and the Police Outdoor/Indoor Firing Range at
Hartwell Avenue, Community Center Expansion, etc.). The TBDs will swamp the total estimated
amounts.
• The Capital Stabilization Fund (CSF) is receiving another meaningful appropriation for FY2020.
(See Article 22.) For several years the Town has been building the resources of this Fund so that
reserve can be used toward mitigation of the tax impact of the debt service from the capital
projects. Given the current proposed and possible out-year projects in our Capital Plan, it is
expected that the use of the CSF to mitigate our debt service will fully deplete that reserve before
the debt service for the projects currently contemplated in this Plan is completed.
• Because of the ongoing challenge the Town faces with regard to the
renovation/replacement/renewal of its Capital Assets, this Committee urges the BoS to continue
to refine a formal, Town-wide, Facilities Master Plan—including a financing plan that also
identifies the likely debt-exclusion referendums. This Committee stands ready to assist in any
way it can.
• This Committee appreciates the Town's concern about citing a preliminary estimate for projects
that are not yet well-defined and hence, the Town's out-year amounts generally do not reflect the
costs in then-year dollars. As this Committee does not have the means to reasonably adjust
current-year values to then-year values, we are using the Town's dollar values unless we have
made a change for another reason—in which case there will be an explaining footnote.
10
CEC Five-Year Capital Plan (FY2020-FY2024)1
FY2020
Project Recommended FY2021 Plan FY2022 Plan FY2023 Plan FY2024 Plan Non-TBD Totals
Information Technology
Phone Systems&Unified Communication $150,000 $120,000 $120,000 $120,000 $510,000
Network Core Equipment Replacement $480,000 $75,000 $190,000 $260,000 $1,005,000
Municipal Technology Improvement Program $150,000 $85,000 $85,000 $125,000 $125,000 $570,000
Network Redundancy& Improvement Plan $330,000 $220,000 $100,000 $650,000 0
Application Implementation $150,000 $75,000 $75,000 $150,000 $75,000 $525,000 y
Subtotals-Information Technology $780,000 $715,000 $690,000 $395,000 $680,000 $3,260,000 b
Town Clerk y
Archives&Records Management/Records Conservation&Preservation $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $100,000 r
Subtotal-Town Clerk $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $100,000
Land Use, Health and Development m
Conservation Land Acquisition $275,000 $275,000
Transportation Mitigation $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $500,000 t7
Parking Lot Consolidation and Repaving2 $105,000 $1,500,000 $1,605,000
Willard's Woods Site Improvements $138,273 $597,114 $735,387
Daisy Wilson Meadow Restoration $22,425 $22,425 cA
West Farm Meadow Preservation $22,425 $22,425 n
. Stone Building Use Analysis3 TBD 4
Subtotals-Land Use,Health and Development $513,273 $824,539 $1,622,425 $100,000 $100,000 $3,160,237
Fire&Rescue H
Ambulance Replacement $280,000 $290,000 $570,000 m
Replace 2004 Pumper $625,000 $625,000
Portable Radio Replacement(also applies to Police)4 TBD
Subtotals-Fire&Rescue $0 $280,000 $0 $625,000 $290,000 $1,195,000 O
Police
H
Portable Radio Replacement(also applies to Fire&Rescue)4 TBD H
O
Police Outdoor/Indoor Firing Range-Hartwell Ave.5 $125,000 TBD $125,000 0
Subtotals-Police $0 $125,000 $0 $0 $0 $125,000
Library ›-
Cary
Cary Library Children's Room Renovations $100,000 $120,000 $1,950,000 $2,170,000
Subtotals-Library $100,000 $120,000 $1,950,000 $0 $0 $2,170,000
Public Facilities
Townwide Roofing Program $2,010,152 $200,934 $5,626,693 $2,196,029 $10,033,808
School Building Envelopes and Systems Program $233,448 $239,285 $245,199 $251,400 $257,684 $1,227,016
Municipal Building Envelopes and Systems $203,865 $208,962 $214,186 $219,540 $245,486 $1,092,039
Building Flooring Program $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 $625,000
School Paving&Sidewalk Program $326,740 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 $826,740
Public Facilities Bid Documents $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $500,000
Public Facilities Mechanical/Electrical System Replacements $605,000 $672,000 $728,000 $788,500 $850,000 $3,643,500
Continued on next page
CEC Five-Year Capital Plan (FY2020-FY2024)1 (continued)
FY2020
Project Recommended FY2021 Plan FY2022 Plan FY2023 Plan FY2024 Plan Non-TBD Totals
Lexington High School-New or Rehabilitation? $1,825,000 TBD $1,825,000
LHS Field House Track Resurfacing $250,000 $250,000
Playground Replacement-Bridge School $302,000 $302,000
Old Reservoir Bathhouse Renovation $620,000 $620,000
Westview Cemetery Building Construction $2,800,000 $2,800,000 0
Lexington Police Station Rebuild-Constructions $25,651,792 $25,651,792 b
Middle&High School Short-Term Capacity Enhancements9 $150,000 TBD $150,000
Subtotals-Public Facilities $31,217,845 $5,455,399 $1,738,319 $7,236,133 $3,899,199 $49,546,895 r"
Public Works m
Center Streetscape Improvements $9,101,730 $9,101,730 m
Massachusetts Avenue/Woburn Street Intersection Improvement10 TBD
Automatic Meter Reading System $5,940,000 $5,940,000
Battle Green Master Plan-Phase 3 $253,394 $317,044 $570,438 1,73
Hill Street New Sidewalk Project $1,500,000 $1,500,000
Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations $40,750 $40,750
DPW Equipment Replacement $1,300,000 $1,232,500 $1,209,000 $1,407,000 $1,357,000 $6,505,500 0
Street Improvements11 $2,616,801 $2,634,022 $2,651,674 $2,669,767 $2,688,312 $13,260,576
N Storm Drainage Improvements and NPDES compliance $385,000 $385,000 $385,000 $385,000 $385,000 $1,925,000 4
Sanitary Sewer System Investigation and Improvements $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $5,000,000 y
Hydrant Replacement Program $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $750,000 H
Pump Station Upgrades $700,000 $602,000 $520,000 $50,000 $1,872,000 tri
tri
Comprehensive Watershed Stormwater Management Study and $390,000 $390,000 $390,000 $390,000 $390,000 $1,950,000
Implementation
Water Distribution System Improvements $2,200,000 $2,530,000 $3,040,000 $2,200,000 $2,200,000 $12,170,000 0
Sidewalk Improvement $800,000 $800,000 $800,000 $800,000 $800,000 $4,000,000 7t
Townwide Culvert Replacement $390,000 $390,000 $390,000 $390,000 $390,000 $1,950,000 H
Townwide Signalization Improvements $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 $50,000 $55,000 $480,000 0
Municipal Parking Lot Improvements $40,000 $480,000 $520,000 0
Hartwell Avenue Compost Site Improvements $200,000 $200,000
Battle Green Streetscape Improvements $200,000 $3,000,000 $3,200,000
Public Parking Lot Improvement Program $100,000 $500,000 $500,000 $1,100,000 H
Public Grounds Irrigation Improvements $200,000 $200,000
Subtotals-Public Works $26,892,675 $10,795,566 $14,240,674 $10,191,767 $10,115,312 $72,235,994
Culture&Recreation
Pine Meadows Improvements $75,000 $60,000 $135,000
Recreation Community Needs Assessment12 $50,000 TBD $50,000
Recreation Fields Assessment13 TBD
Athletic Field Complex at Minuteman Schooll4 TBD
Park and Playground Improvements $92,000 $105,000 $70,000 $267,000
Park Improvements-Athletic Fields $435,000 $360,000 $125,000 $190,000 $195,000 $1,305,000
Continued on next page
CEC Five-Year Capital Plan (FY2020—FY2024)1 (continued)
FY2020
Project Recommended FY2021 Plan FY2022 Plan FY2023 Plan FY2024 Plan Non-TBD Totals
Pine Meadows Equipment $80,000 $70,000 $70,000 $220,000
Park Improvements-Hard Court Resurfacing $70,000 $85,000 $65,000 $1,590,000 $1,810,000
Outdoor Pickleball Court Construction15 TBD
Cricket Field Construction15 TBD
Community Center Campus Expansion16 TBD b
Pine Meadows Clubhouse Renovation $100,000 $750,000 $850,000 y, i
Recreation Software Upgrade $50,000 $50,000 ›-
Subtotals—Culture&Recreation $630,000 $767,000 $1,105,000 $1,920,000 $265,000 $4,687,000 tri
Schools x
LPS Technology Capital Request $1,743,900 $1,249,600 $1,661,500 $1,872,020 $1,069,500 $7,596,520 m
Subtotals—Schools $1,743,900 $1,249,600 $1,661,500 $1,872,020 $1,069,500 $7,596,520 d
Non Government y
Historical Renovation&Adaptive Reuse of 9 Oakland $70,000 $70,000
Lexhab Rehabilitation Funding $99,700 $99,700
Subtotals—Non-Government $169,700 $0 $0 $0 $0 $169,700
Community-Wide n
. Future Conservation Land Acquisition17 TBD TBD TBD TBD 4
Future LexHAB Projects17 TBD TBD TBD TBD y
Lexington Housing Authorty Projects17 TBD TBD TBD TBD m
Community Housing on the Leary Property18 TBD qy
Other Future CPF-Funded Projects19 TBD TBD TBD TBD t0rJ
CPA Debt Service20 $3,094,680 $3,016,730 $2,920,840 $1,866,600 $1,788,900 $12,687,750
1-3
CPA Administrative Budget20 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $750,000 Q
Subtotals—Community-Wide $3,244,680 I $3,166,730 I $3,070,840 I $2,016,600 I $1,938,900 I $13,437,750 iv
o
Grand Totals 1 $65,312,0731 $23,518,8341 $26,098,7581 $24,376,5201 $18,377,9111 $157,684,096 _`O
H
FOOTNOTES
1 The following apply to all items below: (a)all changes from the Town's 5-Year Capital Plan or information provided in these footnotes, unless otherwise
identified,are done by this Committee; (b)the amounts include all fund sources; (c)"TBD"indicates undefined at present, but the potential exists for one or more
requests in those years; (d)most FY2021-FY2024 amounts are not presented on an inflation-adjusted basis; and (e) individual amounts may be below the$25,000
capital threshold if projected to be funded from the CPF.
2Construction is expected to be executed by DPW.
3lncluded as use for this Town asset should be determined.
Continued on next page
CEC Five-Year Capital Plan (FY2020—FY2024)1 (continued)
FOOTNOTES (continued)
4Placekeeper for when the Federal Communications Commission issues an expected directive that requires public-safety radios change to another frequency band.
5While not established,this project's design and contruction should be executed by DPF (as it includes a building)with assistance by DPW, as it is their site.
6The Library intends to pursue Library Foundation and private contributions to support the FY2022 renovation cost.
Funding for feasibility study moved from FY2023 to FY2021 to be on the potential, earlier, timeline as the Statement of Interest was submitted to the MSBA in
March, 2019, and a TBD is added for FY2022–FY2024 for both the design and construction funding.
6 Expected to be presented to a Special Town Meeting this fall.
9Only FY2021 has been formally presented; later TBD is a placekeeper. y
10This intersection improvement was removed from the Center Streetscape Improvement Project, but although work is anticipated, a formal request has yet to be m
made.The inclusion in this plan is made so as to keep the need in sight—with the TBD arbitrarily placed in FY2024.
11 Does not include the usually substantial Chapter 90 fundings—now approaching$1 million that is expected annually from the State and that do not require
appropriation.
12Added a TBD in FY2021 for at least initial implementaton in response to the findings of the Needs Assessment.
13 Included as it is expected to be requested, especially if participation in a Minuteman Athletic Field Complex is not achieved. 0
14Includedas a placekeeper in case negotiations on an Inter-Municipal Agreement(IMA) regarding Lexington participation in a Minuteman Athletic Field Complex
should resume and be completed in time for a funding request to be made at a Fall Special Town Meeting. It does not, however, indicate what this Committee's position
would be were such a request made.The maximum the Town was prepared to present to the 2019 Annual Town Meeting if the IMA had been successfully completed Pi
with Lexington being the sole, external, participant in the use of such a Complex was$4,900,000; however, that request was known to be Indefinitely Postponed before m
this Committee had taken a position on it.
15As it is not known whether the introduction of those two activities(Outdoor Pickleball &Cricket)could be accomplished by repurposing existing facilities(thereby
replacing an existing use)or by acquistion of new recreation land, this Committee has reservations about the plan to effect either of those actions or the total costs to H
do so.Therefore,TBDs have been substituted for the$100,000 in FY2022 for Outdoor Pickleball Court Construction and the$200,000 in FY2022 for Cricket Field -�
Construction and running to FY2023 as the priority of providing for those two sports has not been demonstrated to this Committee.
16As this project has not been included in modeling of future funding needs and, thus,there is no proposed source for the follow-on costs,this Committee removed the
FY2022$250,000 for Schematic Design,the FY2023$210,000 (taken to be for advancing the design through construction/bid documents, but considered to be y
insufficient if$250,000 is needed for Schematic Design), and the FY2024$22,550,000 for construction. In their place,TBD is entered for FY2024 when it may be
feasible to have addressed how it would be practical to proceed with funding once the full impact of the Lexington High School renovation/replacement is understood.
17lncluded as potential requests to the CPC during the time frame of this Plan.
18Included this long-delayed project to add community housing to land the Town had purchased with the explicit intent for such housing on a dedicated portion of that
purchase is a priority for this Committee.
19Included as expected requests from the CPC during the time frame of this Plan.
20lncluded as routine, annual, appropriations from the CPF.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Programs
Conservation and Open Space
Ongoing Projects
Wright Farm. As part of the ongoing development of the Wright Farm property, purchased by the Town
in 2012 and 2015, the 2017 ATM approved a supplemental appropriation of$87,701 for site assessment,
land management, and legal work associated with the purchase and assignment of the housing portion of
the property to the Lexington Housing Assistance Board(LexHAB). The assessment has been completed,
and the transfer to LexHAB, as well as creation of conservation and housing deed restrictions, are to be
completed this year. The parcel now provides 12.6 acres of open space, including a barn being restored as
a public space for environmental education, and an additional portion (43,446 square feet) containing a
single-family home which is being restored for community(affordable) housing.
Cotton Farm. The 2017 ATM approved an appropriation of$301,300 for design and construction work
at the Town-owned Cotton Farm, to include relocating the parking area and installing an ADA-accessible
trail and viewing platform. To date, survey and wetlands delineation have been completed, and design and
permitting are expected to be completed this spring, with construction bids to be received so as to begin
construction in late spring of this year.
Meadowlands. As part of its ongoing program of restoration and preservation of meadow lands, the
Conservation Commission anticipates applications for funding of projects at the Daisy Wilson and West
Farm Meadows in the next five years.
Community Farm. The Lexington Community Fann Coalition continues to operate a community farm
on the site of the fonner Busa Farm property on Lowell Street under a ten-year lease which began
January 1, 2014. Operating revenue and private donors support its ongoing operations.
There were no conservation funding requests before the 2018 ATM.
The 2019 ATM will consider a request to allow the Town to acquire two parcels of land for conservation 1
(See Article 14(a).)
Willard's Woods. The 2017 ATM approved $40,480 in CPA funds for the restoration and preservation
of Willard's Woods, the largest and most utilized conservation area in the Town. After input from
Conservation Stewards and others, that work has been deferred until the completion of a comprehensive
land management and site plan for the area which will address the restoration and expansion of pathways
in compliance with the ADA. See Article 14(b).
15
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Conservation and Open Space 5-Year Capital Appropriation History (All Sources)
FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
Conservation Restriction Enforcement
Lexington Center Pocket Park
ACROSS Lexington
5-Year Open Space&Recreation Plan
Update
Land Acquisition Off Concord Avenue $220,000
(Portion of Sellars Parcel)
Parkers Meadow Accessible Trail D&E1 $34,500
Lower Vinebrook Paved Recreation Path $369,813
Wright Farm2'3 $376,980 $35,000 $87,701
Conservation Meadow Preservation $26,400 $40,480
Cotton Farm Conservation Area $301,300
Improvement
Totals $254,500 $773,193 $35,000 $429,481 $0
This project is the result of a joint request from the Conservation Commission, the Commission on
Disability, and the Recreation Committee.
2Purchase of Parcel 2 of 43,446 sq ft(just under 1 acre)was authorized at the 2015 ATM,Article 9. Closing
date was February 11, 2016.The purchase price was$520,000 and $98,000 was needed for
purchase-associated costs. The acquisition is for both Open Space(Conservation)and Community
Housing. The allocation of area and the same proportion of the total cost are 26,492 sq ft(61%)and
$376,980 for Conservation. (See Community Housing for the balance of the area and the cost.)
32016 ATM,Article 8(g),funded structural and architectural analysis of the barn as well as an educational-
programming needs assessment.
Lexington Community Center
Lexington's Community Center (LexCC), at 39 Marrett Road, was purchased by the Town in 2013. A
Selectmen-appointed Ad hoc Community Center Advisory Committee (AhCCAC) worked to identify
short-term and long-term improvements to the building needed to support Town programs there.
Appropriations for the resulting renovations appear in the DPF funding-history table on Page 30.
The LexCC incorporates previous functions of the Lexington Senior Center and provides expanded,
multi-generational services to the Town. To manage the LexCC and the closely associated Town
functions, the BoS created the Recreation and Community Programs Department. Programming began in
2015 and includes drop-in programs such as yoga, table tennis, and billiards, as well as structured classes.
LexCC also provides much needed meeting and function spaces.
The 2016 ATM appropriated supplementary funds for debt service on the final stages of the LexCC
renovations. A bond anticipation note (BAN) was issued for additional costs, but available CPA funds
allowed the BAN to be retired without the need to issue a bond, avoiding bond-issuance costs and
long—term interest.
While planned renovations of the LexCC have been completed, the AhCCAC suggested that two more
additions—a gymnasium and a larger, multipurpose, space—would allow the Center to offer broader
programming. The 2016 Town Meeting approved $8 million for the purchase of a parcel of land on
Pelham Road (adjacent to the LexCC) for school and municipal purposes. The building on the site had a
large gym and kitchen/cafeteria that might have functioned as the LexCC addition after renovations.
However, the town decided to demolish the existing building as the renovation costs needed to bring the
facility to Lexington's educational standards was substantial, and build a standalone Lexington Children's
Place instead.
DiNisco Designs, was contracted to develop a master plan for the combined 39 Marrett Road and 20
Pelham Road site. In January 2018, they presented three options to the Board of Selectmen. Two of the
16
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
proposed designs for the LexCC expansion are attached to the current LexCC building and use the
available property on 20 Pelham Road for additional parking. The third design is a standalone LexCC
addition on the Pelham Road property. Funding for this site master plan has come from two
appropriations for bid documents totaling $189,750 ($72,000 under 2016 ATM, Article 15(e), and
$117,750 under 2017 ATM, Article 16(e)). A request for additional design funds at the 2018 ATM
(Article 20(f)) failed to secure sufficient votes. The Recreation Department has design funds for a
Community Center expansion included in their five-year plan.
At present, there is no decision on use of the space in the Muzzey High Condominiums that previously
housed the Town's Senior Center. Deed restrictions on that space limit it to uses for the benefit of seniors.
The Carriage House located next to the Community Center also has deed restrictions that limit its use.
The Department of Public Facilities (DPF) currently maintains both spaces in a caretaker mode.
Fire & Rescue
The Fire & Rescue Department uses industry standards and its own experience to establish its
capital—equipment replacement schedule. Unlike many pieces of Town equipment, fire engines and medic
trucks (rescue-ambulances) are partially custom-made and equipped, require detailed specifications, and
typically require many months between placing the order and the delivery and acceptance.
The mission of this Department in the 21' century has shifted beyond traditional firefighting to
emergency services, homeland security, and community education, with our firefighters now being
trained for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS). The equipment to
perform these missions has changed with new technologies for firefighting and communications, yet the
basic pumper truck, ladder truck, and rescue ambulance are still essential to the mission.
The FY2020 Capital Budget has no requests for this department. (What was to be a Capital request for
Protective Clothing is now in the Operating Budget.)
The primary, on-going, capital effort for this Department is the construction of a sorely needed new
Headquarters to meet 21`t-century standards. The BoS agreed that this will be best achieved at the
Headquarters current location at 45 Bedford Street, with an interim operating facility ("swing space")
during construction at the 173 Bedford Street site that had been purchased in October, 2016. Both of these
projects are being executed by the DPF. (The move to the swing space was completed on
October 4, 2018.) The Headquarters project was approved by the voters in the December 4, 2017, Debt-
Exclusion Referendum. (See the description of that DPF Capital project on Page 29 and prior funding on
Page 30.
The Federal Government has mandated that public-safety agencies—including Lexington's
Fire & Rescue and Police Departments—will be required to move their radio-band frequency from the
current 400 MHz band, to the 800 MHz band. This will require a complete replacement of radio
equipment, including hand-held, mobile, and base stations. The radio system was upgraded and changed
in 1994, at a cost of over $1,000,000. A change to the new frequency band would be a huge capital
project—in scale and expense—affecting both Departments. Nationwide challenges here have been made
to the mandate because of the same impacts. These Departments are awaiting guidance on when, how,
and even if the mandate will be implemented.
Lexington must continue to replace its aging equipment and retain backup capacity. The table on the next
page includes the forecasted need for replacing major capital vehicles in the current Department
inventory.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Major Capital Equipment
The following is the current inventory of the Fire &Rescue Department's major capital equipmentl—
ordered by the year of the currently projected replacement funding:
Originally
Projected Projected
Replacement Model Year Put-in-Service Useful Life
Funding ID Type Make Purchased Date (Years) Original Cost
FY2021 M-12 Ambulance Ford/Horton 2012 Mar 2012 92
$251,199 a
FY2023 E-3 Pumper Emergency 2004 Jan 2005 203 $345,000
One/Typhoon
FY2024 M-15 Ambulance Ford/Horton 2015 Feb 2015 92 $238,210 6
FY2026 E-2 Pumper Ferrara/ 2007 Apr 2008 203 $389,000
Intruder II
FY2027 M-18 Ambulance Ford/Horton 2018 Jul 2018 92 $260,930 6
FY2033 E-4 Pumper Emergency 2013 Mar 2014 203 $465,000
One/Typhoon
FY2035 E-1 Pumper Emergency 2015 Nov 2015 203 $485,000 8
One/Typhoon
FY2038 L-1 Aerial Emergency 2017 Jan 2018 209
One/Cyclone $875,1 000
Includes ID series"E"(pumpers),"L"(ladder),&"M"(Medic)(M designation followed by vehicle year).
2 The life span of ambulances is based on 6 years of frontline service and 3 years as a mechanical spare.
3 The life span of these vehicles is based on 10 years of frontline service,and 10 years in reserve status.
a Net cost was $241,199($251,199 less $10,000 for the trade-in for old M-3), but gross cost being listed as future status of a
trade-in is unknown—plus it's expected any purchase–8 years out will, as with all the other out-year purchases, be at a much
higher cost.
s Net cost was$228,210($238,210 less$9,999 for trade-in 2006 Chevy).
6 Net cost$254,930($260,930 less$6,000 for trade-in 2009 ambulance).
$485,000 was appropriated for FY2014 to replace E-2 that was plagued with serious mechanical issues. (See Committee's
Report to the 2013 ATM, Article 10(a), for the background on that matter.)The legal action taken by the Town for a refund has
been resolved. The replacement was purchased under the 23 Feb 2015 STM#2, Article 3, $500,000 appropriation for$415,000
($465,000 less$50,000 for the trade-in of E-4—a 2003 Ferrara/International pumper that had been purchased for$210,000 and
put in service in Jul 2003).Approximately $20,000 of the FY2014 appropriation was spent for ancillary equipment for the new
pumper. A rescission of$20,335 of the 23 Feb 2015 financing authorization was approved at the 2016 Annual Town Meeting
under Article 20 which closed out all the related funding.
$ Pumper was purchased using funds received in Town's legal settlement with Ferrera FireApparatus. The 2010 Pumper was
returned to the manufacturer.
9 This is the full purchase price. Rather than having traded in the then-current aerial truck as part of purchase of the new aerial
truck ($25,000 was offered), that old truck has been auctioned off—only bidder was the Town of Acushnet, MA—for $40,000.
(There is no new-equipment cost as the current equipment will be used on that newly purchased truck.)
(Fire & Rescue Department 5-Year Capital Appropriation History has been combined with the Police
Department History as some appropriations are for the joint benefit of both Departments. That combined
Public-Safety History is after the following Police Department narrative.)
Police
The Lexington Police Department, which provides public safety services through a team of dedicated
police officers, detectives, dispatchers and support staff, is supported by the Town's Capital Program in
the areas of communication systems, computer systems, and improvements to the facilities in which it is
housed and trained.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
The primary, on-going, capital effort for this Department is the Headquarters rebuild of at the current
location at 1575 Massachusetts Avenue, with interim"swing space" at the 173 Bedford Street site after its
use of by the Fire &Rescue Department and then modest renovation for the Police Department's use.
These projects are being executed by the DPF. Beyond filling basic needs due to current overcrowding
and functional inadequacy, the rebuild will include other necessary enhancements to bring the Police
Headquarters to 21s`—century standards. The BoS agreed this will be best achieved at the Headquarters
current location. Such enhancements include adequate evidence processing and secure storage of
evidence, and secure prisoner entry to the building. Currently, there is no secure entry to the building for a
police vehicle transporting a prisoner. Industry standard is a secure, controlled entryway through which a
vehicle could enter the building and then escort a person in custody directly to the booking and holding
area("a sally port"). (See the description of the DPF capital program on Page 28.)
A new police indoor/outdoor firing range on the Hartwell Avenue compost site has been contemplated for
several years in order to meet current firearms training requirements and the needs of modern police
work, as well ensuring readiness to respond to weapons currently on the streets. $50,000 for D&E was
appropriated for FY2016 toward development of a new facility. That study has been completed. This
Committee looks forward to the follow-on requests for design and construction—currently expected in
FY2021 & FY2022, respectively.
The Federal Government has mandated that public-safety agencies (including Lexington's Police and
Fire& Rescue Departments) will be required to move their radio-band frequency from the current
400 MHz band, to the 800 MHz band. (See the further discussion on Page 17 under the Fire & Rescue
Department.)
There is no FY2020 Police Department request.
Public-Safety Departments 5-Year Capital Appropriation History(All Sources)
(Combines Fire & Rescue and Police Departments Appropriations)
FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
Fire Trucks&Ambulances1'2 $228,211 $479,665 $875,000 $280,000
Public Safety Radio Stabilization $90,000 $90,000
Heart Monitor $105,000
Police/Fire Dispatching&Records Software $705,900
Public Safety Radio Console Replacement $370,000
Totals $333,211 $1,275,565 $965,000 $280,000 $370,000
Of the FY2015$250,000 appropriation,$21,789 of unused borrowing authority was rescinded at the 2016 ATM.
2 Of the FY2016$500,000 appropriation,$20,335 of unused borrowing authority was rescinded at the 2016 ATM.
(Police Department 5-Year Capital Appropriation History has been combined with the Fire & Rescue
Department History—hence this Public-Safety Departments History—as some appropriations are for the
joint benefit of both Departments.)
Cary Memorial Library
In December 2010, architects Adams and Smith were hired to study how operations at the Main Library
could be improved ($25,000 under the 2010 ATM, Article 12(q)). Funding of$100,000 for recommended
changes was approved under the 2011 ATM, Article 13(1). The recommendations include changes to
workflow and ergonomics. Under the 2013 ATM, Article 10(b), $124,000 was appropriated to purchase
equipment and supplies and provide for staff time to convert the Library materials to using a system
employing Radio Frequency ID (RFID) for materials identification and tracking as a direct result of that
report. The final installations were completed in October 2016. The Library has seen significant
improvement in operational efficiency. As a result of a 2013 strategic plan, the Library sought to realign
and reconfigure some of its spaces and services to today's Library patron needs. "Transformative
Spaces", a $1,200,000 project was fully funded through private donations and is now open. For the
FY2020 funding see Article 20(h).
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
The Stone Building (former East Lexington Library Branch) continues to be maintained by the DPF in
caretaker status under the oversight of the Library's Board of Trustees. Restoration work to the building
including a new roof, gutters, aluminum siding removal, painting, and window glazing, was completed in
2010 using $202,933 from the CPF under 2010 ATM, Article 8(q). The Massachusetts Historical
Commission Inventory on the building was also updated, Although the Historic Structures Report on
which this work was based recommended a small addition to the rear, those plans were not acted upon as
the Town has not yet determined a new use for the building. Thus,there is no plan at this time for a use of
the Stone building or an investigation of possible uses."
Library 5-Year Capital Appro riation History(All Sources)
FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
Totals $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Public Works
The Department of Public Works (DPW) is responsible for design, bidding, construction, and
management of projects related to all Town infrastructure, including, but not limited to, roads and
sidewalks), department equipment, and Town property except buildings assigned to the Department of
Public Facilities (DPF). Routine maintenance and other operational activities are not capital-related and
normally are not addressed by this Committee.
The DPW is organized around seven divisions that are responsible for these elements: Administration,
Engineering, Highway, Public Grounds, Environmental Services, Water, and Sewer. Environmental
Services manages solid waste, recyclables, yard waste from Lexington and private contractors, and
hazardous products from Lexington and eight neighboring communities.
Major components of DPW's FY2020–FY2024 capital projects include:
• Road, sidewalk and signalization improvements
• Water distribution, sanitary-sewer, and pump station improvements
• Hydrant replacements
• Hartwell Avenue Infrastructure Improvements
• Comprehensive Watershed Stormwater Management Improvements
• Storm Drainage and National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Improvements
• Culvert replacements and extraordinary repairs
• Trucks and heavy equipment necessary to accomplish the DPW mission
DPW's capital needs—except when funded in whole or in part, by the Town's CPF, Revolving Fund, or
Enterprise-Funds—must be funded by cash or financing through the general tax levy and/or
voter–approved debt exclusions. Almost all construction projects for the sanitary-sewer system and for
the water-distribution system are funded by Water- and Sewer-rate payers through the Enterprise Funds.
Large trucks and heavy equipment used in support of the sanitary-sewer and water-distribution systems
are also funded, either in whole or in part,by Enterprise Funds.
Engineering
Engineering work for all DPW projects is either done in-house or contracted through public procurement
to outside consulting or design firms. In addition to supporting ongoing DPW work, Engineering is a
major participant in DPW's future projects. The simple title of this Division does not reflect its enormous
and crucial contributions across the breadth of the DPW's capital and operational activities.
Roads
Lexington, as of the last full road-condition survey, has a total of 196.1±miles of roads, which include
State and unaccepted roads. This total consists of 131.5 miles of Town-accepted roadways (TAR),
18.5 miles of private/unaccepted roadways, and 46.1 miles of State highway. (Source: Stantec FY2017
Asset Management Summary (Roads), January 2017. The DPW maintains the TAR; the remainder being
maintained by the private owners or the State. The DPW also maintains the Town's portion(5.3 miles) of
the 10.0-mile Minuteman Commuter Bikeway("Bikeway"), which opened in 1993.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
In April 2010, the Town retained Fay, Spofford& Thorndike (since acquired by Stantec), a
civil–engineering consulting fine, to develop and implement a Pavement Management System(PMS) for
the TAR and its portion of the Bikeway. The first study was completed in November 2010 and has been
updated annually. The PMS is based upon an extensive roadway database describing pavement conditions
and roadway characteristics, and among other things reports conditions using a Pavement Condition Index
(PCI), which is a 100-point scale with 100 representing the best possible condition.
The Town has since changed to a new software system that uses the term Road Surface Rating (RSR)
rather than PCI, and a new contractor (BETA Group) to do annual updates. Using the FY2018 BETA
update, the average RSR for the TAR continued to improve, from a PCI of 77.0 the previous year to an
RSR of 79.33 that year. The Town's modeling of the entire road network indicates that the RSR produces
a slightly lower value than the PCI (indicating that a PCI of 77 is about equal to an RSR of under 74), so
the increase in RSR value is actually greater than the numerical change might indicate. That 79.33 RSR
signified that the typical TAR condition in Lexington was at the top of the new "Preventative
Maintenance" level of road repair (a quality level which is better than previously achieved under the PCI
formula).
The Town surveys one third of the roadways each year. The current FY2019 update to the Pavement
Management System indicates another steady improvement of the RSR from 79.33 to 81.63, moving the
level of road repair just up into the next higher category of"Routine Maintenance".
While the initial 2010 study reported that replacement cost for just the TAR would be in excess of
$85,000,000 in FY2011 dollars, subsequent years have seen this number drop substantially, with the
FY2019 update pegging the repair backlog at $11,879,160. (A more detailed analysis of the 2010 report is
contained in this Committee's report to the 2011 ATM, beginning on Page 21). The Town has been
actively testing different road treatments as it seeks to extend the life of the roads and to lower
maintenance costs.
The FY2019 update recommends that the Town would need approximately$1.7 million annually to
maintain the current road network RSR, or$2.5 million annually to improve it to higher values. The
Town has been exceeding these requirements in an effort to steadily improve the conditions of the
roadways.
A list of planned street work in the 2019 construction period will be posted when available on the Town's
Engineering website at:
<https://www.lexingtonma.gov/engineering/pages/engineering-construction-proj ects>.
This Committee remains extremely pleased to see a quantitative basis for determining the condition of the
Town-maintained pavements and the Town's success making substantial gains in the overall network's
condition. It also supports the DPW's continuing further efforts to raise the Town's baseline
pavement–condition grade to be solidly into the "Routine Maintenance" RSR Range (80-92). Continuing
with the PMS, along with DPW management of other potential impacts to our pavements (e.g., utility
work, construction for stone-water and wastewater system improvements, sidewalk-related projects, etc.)
offer the promise of an even more productive and cost-effective program going forward. Funding for
roads is provided by a combination of Town Funds (typically 72%±) and State Chapter 90 funds. (See
Article 16(k).)
Road work can also sometimes be included in large, specific projects, such as the Center Streetscape
Project found under Article 16(e).
Sidewalks
The TAR is comprised of 907 segments and creates a sidewalk network with approximately 85 miles of
sidewalks containing 818 pedestrian ramps ("ramps"). (Source: Stantec Sidewalk & Ramp Network
Conditions Update, January 2017.)In 2005, due to the overdue need to upgrade and extend the sidewalks,
the BoS appointed the Sidewalk Committee. In 2014, the DPW with assistance from FST (its report,
December, 2014), completed a sidewalk-condition survey. The survey results found that "the average
area-based Sidewalk Condition Index (SCI) in Lexington was 68—which puts it in the middle of the
"Partial Repair"treatment band. (An 85-100 score is the "Do Nothing" band.) The survey found 40% of
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
the sidewalk network in the "Do Nothing" treatment band and 34% in the Localized Repair' treatment
band. The Stantec survey recommendation was that it would require $750,000 to maintain current
conditions, but would require $825,000 for sidewalks and ramps to ensure both quantity and quality. The
proposed DPW sidewalk replacement program is based upon the priority list developed in conjunction
with the survey.
The FY2019 sidewalk survey update is not yet available; an improved survey methodology is being
implemented to provide more detailed and continuous data. The FY2017 update reported that in
December 2016, Stantec completed a 20% re-survey of the TAR's sidewalk network and found the
average, area-based, Sidewalk Network SCI was 68.8 (i.e., only marginally better than the 2014 value.) It
also reported that the percentage of non-compliant ramps was 63%, a modest improvement from the 67%
in 2014, and that the cost of the current backlog of outstanding repairs for sidewalks and ramps is
$7,527,990 (an increase of about$500,000 from the 2014 amount).
In regard to that backlog,the update says:
The backlog has however increased from sidewalks deteriorating into more expensive repair
bands. As can be seen from the distribution of SCI by sidewalk area, the Town is trending in the
right direction with the majority of the network in the "Do Nothing" treatment band. The Town
should continue to follow the previous budget recommendations of spending $750k annually for
its sidewalk and ramp network. The Town should remain diligent when inspecting work that gets
done, to ensure both sidewalks and ramps are completed in accordance with MAAB/ADA
regulations.
In October 2015, the BoS assigned the responsibility of the Sidewalk Committee (now inactive) to the
Transportation Safety Group (TSG):
The Transportation Safety Group is a Town Manager appointed Working Group which meets
monthly to evaluate issues and concerns relative to traffic, transit, pedestrian, bicycle and parking
safety. Recommendations are made to the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager.
The working group includes citizens and representatives of the Police, Public Works, Planning
and School Departments. Liaisons from the Transportation Advisory, Bicycle Advisory, and Safe
Routes to School committees as well as the Commission on Disability also participate.
(http://www.lexingtonma.gov/transportation-safety-group)
With regard to the sidewalk network, including ramps,DPW maintains the primary responsibility for both
maintenance and capital projects of the existing sidewalk network while the TSG's focus the need for new
sidewalks and pedestrian ramps, and with ensuring safety-related concerns about the existing network are
brought to the attention of DPW.
Sidewalk replacement and extension are costly initiatives. Imbedded in these costs are sidewalk-
construction obstructions, easement issues, and negotiations with residents. The DPW and TSG overall
policy has been to develop a prioritized sidewalk-construction plan focusing on the "Safe Routes to
School Program", other high-pedestrian-traffic routes, and high—walking-hazard streets. All
reconstructed/new sidewalks and their pedestrian ramps are designed and constructed to comply with the
Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA)."
The FY2020 request for general sidewalk work is Article 16(g).
Townwide Signal Improvements
Some of the Town signals are outdated, with sometimes failing equipment, and limited ADA
accessibility. An Engineering Division study, funded with Traffic Mitigation funds, using signalized level
of service (LOS) has identified and prioritized those locations in need of improvement, after assessment
of conditions, signal timing, delays, ADA requirements, etc. As recommended, the Town has adopted a
Standard Specification that allows for cost and maintenance efficiencies. [Note: The study did not include
the signals which are under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, including,
but not limited to: Bedford Street at Hartwell Avenue, Lowell Street at Waltham Street, Marrett Road at
Spring Street, Marrett Road at Waltham Street, and Hayden Avenue at Route 2.]
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
When Town intersections are improved, new signals are installed with"smart" controls (as applicable), as
is the case in the current Massachusetts Avenue at Worthen Road project. These controls provide
efficiencies like preventing light changes when there are no cars approaching or waiting, and watching for
pedestrians waiting to cross. As of now, six of the Town's twelve signalized intersections have been
upgraded with smart signalization, with Massachusetts Avenue and Worthen Road already funded, and
additional funds requested for FY2020 for one of the Lowell Street intersections. (See Article 16(j).)
Water Distribution System
Many of the Town's 178 miles of water mains were installed in the early 1900s and require an ongoing
engineering program plan for pipe cleaning, lining, or replacement. On an annual basis, the DPW
implements work for cleaning, lining, and/or replacement of unlined, inadequate, aged, and breaking
water mains to improve water quality, pressure, and fire-protection capabilities, and to reduce frequency
and severity of water-main breaks, as well as to minimize long lengths of pipe not fed at both ends,
known as "dead ends". This work often requires excavation prior to pipe-condition analysis. Work
continues to replace remaining unlined pipes, of which 2% (4 linear miles) presently fall into this
category. Work will also focus on replacing aging mains or those with a higher-break history. In addition,
starting in FY2020, the annual funding requests will increase to $2.2 million so that 1% of the Town's
water-piping can be replaced. Using some of the funding authorized in FY2016, engineering has
completed an analysis of the entire distribution network in order to prioritize work for the next phase of
the improvement plan. This work has produced a model of the network, now in use by the Engineering
Division.
Results of this analysis have included: the establishment of specific level of service goals for all
components of the water system; identification of individual water mains to reline or replace; and
identification low-pressure areas in the system. This work will allow the Engineering Division to continue
its best practices in the documentation of the materials, age, and break history of the Town's water mains
and to use that information with ongoing material sampling (when appropriate) to determine its
engineering replacement-and-rehabilitation plan. Some of the "out-year" funding in the Capital Plan is
still approximate due to the difficulty of actual testing in a working water system. Unlike roads which can
be analyzed visually and with easily accessible samples; water systems require more complex exploratory
testing by excavation, when and where possible. In some instances, work scope cannot be completely
developed until preliminary exploratory work on actual site conditions has been performed. For the
FY2020 request, see Article 17.
Heavy equipment and trucks used by the Water Division to maintain the system are procured with Water
Enterprise funds that are funded directly by water-rate payers. Where equipment is shared with the Sewer
Division, the costs are shared.
Hydrant System
This Committee continues to encourage replacement at an accelerated rate and supports the level of
funding proposed—which remains at the FY2019 level, estimated to allow the replacement of
approximately 60 of the Town's 1,500 hydrants per year Hydrants have an estimated life of 50 years. The
FY2020 funding for hydrant replacement continues to be evenly divided between Tax Levy funds and the
Water Enterprise Fund. For further system infonnation and the FY2020 funding request, see
Article 16(a).
Wastewater System
The sanitary-sewer system (34 miles of trunk lines; 119 miles of street lines), like the water-distribution
system, has sections that date back to the early 1900s. Due to age-related deterioration, some sections are
susceptible to storm-water inflow and groundwater infiltration which increases the total flow to the
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) treatment system, resulting in increased charges to
the Town, and causing overloading of parts of the system, with the potential to spread waterborne disease.
Engineering has an ongoing program of investigating, evaluating, replacing and repairing sections of the
system. This work has been partially funded by the MWRA Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) Local Financial
Assistance Program, which provides grant and interest-free loan funding for member communities; the
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
current allocation provides for $1.9M, of which 75% is grant and 25% is a no-interest loan. For further
system information and the FY2020 funding request, see Article 18(a).
The system has 10 sewage-pumping stations that need continual maintenance and periodic upgrading—
which the Sewer Division has been doing. In July 2013, the engineering firm Wright-Pierce performed a
detailed survey of the pump stations, generating a 20-year repair/replacement plan for them. This year's
request is consistent with those findings. (See Article 18(b).)
Four pumping stations (Main, Concord Avenue, Potter Pond, and Brigham Road) now have backup
electric-power generators. Significant improvements to the main pump station were completed in October
2016, which include heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) upgrades to bring up to current
code requirements, installation of Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) motors (which provide energy
savings and noise reduction in the sewer force main) on all the pumps, and a surge tank.
The Worthen Road pump station is near completion, and the Marshall and Constitution Road stations are
expected to go out to bid soon. Design for work at the Hayden Avenue Station will start shortly, followed
by future work at North Street and Bowman Street. This Committee believes that backup generators
should be provided at all pump stations to the extent possible.
Heavy equipment and trucks used by the Sewer Division are procured with Sewer Enterprise Funds that
are funded by Sewer Rate-Payer fees, additional fees and charges, investment income, and connection
fees. Where equipment is shared with the Water Division,the costs are shared.
Dam Restoration
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation mandates that every dam that is rated as a
"significant-hazard dam" or "high-hazard dam" be inspected every five years. There are two dams at the
significant-hazard level in Lexington. That rating is assigned to dams based on the risk of the water it
impounds being released; it does not reflect its state of repair.
• Butterfield Dam on Lowell Street: Engineering studies and construction work were funded
under the 2011 ATM, Article 10(a), and the 2012 ATM, Article 12(g). Construction is now
complete, with continuing State-required monitoring of landscaping in sensitive resource
areas. The dam now complies with State requirements.
• Old Reservoir Dam on Marrett Road: Dam inspection reports performed for the
Massachusetts Office of Dam Safety determined that there was a need for repairs and
improvements. The 2014 ATM, Article 10(i), funded design and cost estimates for the work
on this dam to insure the long-term stability of it. The 2017 ATM, Article 12(i), funded the
construction work and it is essentially complete,with only punch-list items remaining.
Stormwater Drainage and National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES)
Storm drains collect stormwater along Town streets and parking areas, and convey this water to streams
and other bodies of water. The storm-drain pipes and 4,700 catch basins on the TAR that direct
stormwater to them occasionally fail due to heavy loads passing over and/or loss of supporting soil
thereby creating holes in the street. In addition, as streets are repaired and repaved, it is frequently
discovered that the stone-drainage system is seriously deteriorated. Concurrent drainage-system repairs
are required to prevent further deterioration and to protect newly paved streets. It is also necessary to
study and repair drains where overflow conditions develop and/or complaints are received. The goal of
the Federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, under which the Town
has a State-administered permit, is to maintain water quality. New permitting regulations became
effective on July 1. 2018. Those new regulations represent an unfunded obligation that is expected to
increase both operating and capital costs and complexity of this work in future years; however, because of
the Town's aggressive efforts, it expects to remain compliant in FY2020 with approximately the same
level of funding provided in FY2019. Looking past FY2020, as reported in the White Book on Page v:
"In anticipation of this mandated program, a number of municipalities nationwide including some in
Massachusetts have instituted a Stormwater Management Fee to offset the capital costs of managing
stormwater emanating from private properties. Later this year, staff will be presenting financing/fee
options for consideration by the Board of Selectmen regarding this federal program."
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Recent drainage improvements have been completed in the Wildwood Road/Wood Street, Webster Road
and Augustus Road areas. Illicit discharges have been discovered in the Vine Brook and Mill Brook areas.
This Committee welcomes Engineering's leadership and efforts, in compliance with Federal
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements, to improve the water quality in Lexington's
streams and ponds while protecting the Town's investment and structural integrity of its streets. (See
Article 16(b).)
Comprehensive Watershed Stormwater Management Systems
In order that the Town's storm-drainage system capacity is maintained to handle runoff from impervious
surfaces, the Town must manage the stormwater runoff associated with its 18 brooks and three
watersheds. Additionally, sediment deposits, organic debris, and refuse can impede the flow of water
through watershed areas, and cause flooding and damage to private property, thus creating liabilities for
the Town. To date, the Charles River, Shawsheen River, and Mystic River watershed-management plans
have all been completed. The Pleasant Street and Willard Woods drainage improvements, as well as
stream-bank stabilization for the Vine Brook in the Saddle Club Road area, are complete. The Whipple
Brook stormwater design is essentially complete. DPW is reviewing which specific locations will be
addressed with remaining FY2018 & FY2019 funding. Design work for the Valleyfield and
Oxbow/Constitution areas is ongoing. For the FY2020 funding request to address other priority areas, see
Article 16(c). [Note: There is some overlap with Town-Wide Culvert Replacement as some projects
require both culvert repair and stream-management planning.]
Culverts
There are more than 50 culverts in Town. A culvert is defined as a pipe or drain that carries a stream or
ditch under a roadway. Many older culverts are near or at failure. DPW's engineering program for
ongoing culvert inspections has confirmed a need for culvert replacement and extraordinary repairs. This
is a companion effort to the ongoing Comprehensive Watershed Stormwater Management work. In 2015,
work was funded for the culvert under Revere Street at the North Lexington Brook, and the culvert under
Concord Avenue at Hardy's Brook. This work, as well as the Bikeway culvert which was funded for
FY2016, have all been completed. Work continues in the Oxbow/Constitution Road and
Valleyfield/Clematis Brook areas. For the FY2020 funding request, see Article 16(d).
Public Grounds
The Town owns approximately 630 acres of land of which approximately 110 acres are in parks,
playgrounds, golf course, conservation areas, athletic facilities, school grounds, and historical sites. In
addition, DPW staff administers and maintains four cemeteries with a combined area of just over 30
acres. The Forestry staff maintains approximately 10,000 trees along roadways and an undetermined
number of trees, shrubs, and plantings on Town-owned land.
Minuteman Commuter Bikeway
In FY2015, there was an appropriation to investigate restoring the bridge carrying the Bikeway over
Grant Street. The construction work on the bridge was funded at the 2017 ATM under Article 12(m), and
is now complete. As noted above under Culvert Repair, there also was a request to replace a culvert
supporting the Bikeway. In addition, in FY2015 funding was authorized for the design of Wayfinding and
Etiquette signage for the Lexington portion of the Bikeway with follow-on FY2017 funding. This project
is almost complete. (Arlington and Bedford declined to participate.)
Town Center Streetscape Project
Increasing the vitality of Lexington Center has long been an open-ended goal of the Town as businesses
come and go and usage patterns change. Projects in support of the Center have been both large and small,
including rezoning the former Battle Green Inn site and the installation of a seasonal "pocket park" on
Massachusetts Avenue in front of the Ride Studio Café. Infrastructure deterioration in the Center, and
safety enhancements as traffic volume has increased, are significant concerns. To address these
infrastructure, safety, and enhancement issues in a coordinated manner, the Center Streetscape
Improvements Project was created. When fully implemented, it would address sidewalks, roadway, trees,
lighting, bicycle and vehicular safety, and additional elements from business-front to business—front
across Massachusetts Avenue and run, northwesterly, from just after the intersection with Woburn Street,
25
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Winthrop Road, and Fletcher Avenue to just beyond Meriam Street. (That intersection, originally
included, has been removed from the scope of the Project to be addressed separately at a later tune.) The
results of that Project would be further enhanced at the Meriam Street end by work under the Battle Green
Streetscape Project.
The Center Streetscape Project has a funding and design-change history going back to the 2012 ATM,
when it was first introduced as a Center Business District sidewalk restoration project to cost
approximately $4,000,000. Since then, the Project has been through many public reviews and redesigns,
with substantial changes to the scope of the Project and its estimated design and construction costs. At the
2014 ATM, $600,000 was appropriated to carry the design to 100%, including bid documents. However,
the design that had been advanced to the 25% level was stopped at that point because unresolved issues
with the Project failed to gain approval of construction funding at the 2015 ATM. At the 2016 ATM,
another request for construction funds was Indefinitely Postponed.
At a February 2016 Financial Summit, a presentation cited the total cost of the expanded Project at
approximately $8,500,000. Because of continuing concerns about the Project's scope, the BoS foitued the
Center Streetscape Design Review Ad hoc Committee, to pull together and review all aspects of the
Project and to seek more community input before proceeding to a new 25% design. In 2017, the BoS
adopted almost all that committee's consensus recommendations, and the Project proceeded to a revised
25% design using the previous funding, with a considerably different set of design elements than those
represented in the previous 25% design. Funding at the 2017 ATM was again Indefinitely Postponed to
allow for more time to revise the design and cost estimate. A subset of the that committee was established
as a Working Group to become a part of the design effort.
At the November 2018 Special Town Meeting, $550,000 was appropriated to complete a 100% design of
the revised scope, which included a detailed tree inventory and management plan and substantial lighting
revisions. ($100,000 of previously appropriated funding was available and eligible to be applied to that
work.) The full construction-cost estimate of the Project was at that time $9,372,350. That revised cost
estimate also included substantial full-time management costs, as well as robust police detail costs that it
is hoped will minimize the impact of construction on Center businesses. The Town's Design Team,
managed by the Department of Public Works, through its extensive work with the Ad hoc Committee,
direction from the BoS, and leadership of the Working Group, believes that it has a thoroughly vetted and
well-supported view of the Project at this time.
The fall 2018 STM approved funding ($550,000 to augment $100,000 funds on hand) for the completion
of the design for the Center Streetscape, with the understanding that further review would occur when the
design work was 75% complete. The 75% design and cost estimate are expected to be presented at the
2019 ATM. Full construction funding will be requested, with the work expected to be done over two
construction seasons starting in the spring of 2021 and ending in the fall of 2022. For the FY2020 funding
request, see Article 16(e).
DPW Equipment
DPW currently has 154 pieces of significant equipment (including vehicles). The current
equipment—replacement value is approximately $9.5 million and includes pick-up and dump trucks,
construction vehicles, and specialized equipment including pumps, rollers, sprayers, and mowers.
Replacement intervals vary from 5 to 20 years and are based upon manufacturers' recommendations and
DPW experience. Of these, 98 pieces had an individual acquisition cost in excess of$25,000; therefore,
their replacement would normally be characterized as Capital and subject to this Committee's review.
DPW has developed a well-conceived program, which includes annual updates produced by Division
Superintendents, with review by the Manager of Operations and Department of Public Works Director.
This program replaces older, less fuel-efficient, and high-maintenance equipment with standard,
off—the—shelf, vehicles and equipment that will last longer and cost less to maintain and operate.
Replacement of automobiles and all equipment with individual acquisition costs under $25,000 is funded
with operating funds. The current 5-year equipment-replacement schedule projects annual costs between
$1,200,000 to $1,400,000 per year. For the FY2020 funding request, see Article 16(i).
26
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
DPW 5-Year Capital Appropriation History(All Sources)
I FY2015 I FY2016 I FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
Capital using Tax Levy&Chapter 90 Funds
DPW Equipment $401,418 $499,000 $464,000 $598,000 $1,039,500
Street Improvements&Easements2 $3,716,029 $3,231,250 $2,526,835 $3,688,943 $2,600,000
Street lights/Traffic signals3 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000
Center Business District("Center")Streetscape $600,000 $350,000 $550,000
Battle Green Area Improvements $90,000
Town-wide Culvert Replacement $390,000 $100,000 $390,000 $390,000 $390,000
Drainage/dams/brook cleaning4 $490,000 $340,000 $340,000 $1,100,000 $340,000
Sidewalk/walkway/bikeway improvements5'6'7'$ $400,000 $660,000 $924,500 $1,318,000 $2,200,000
Comprehensive Watershed Study&Implement $390,000 $390,000 $390,000 $390,000
Hydrant Replacement $50,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000
Public Grounds $203,000 $35,000
Hartwell Avenue Infrastructure Improvements10 $4,750,000 $2,185,000 $50,000
Tax Levy&Chapter 90 Totals $6,855,4471 $10,205,2501 $5,585,3351 $9,479,9431 $7,634,500
Unused borrowing authority was rescinded of FY2015$428,440,$27,022 at the 2016 ATM.FY2018 includes$40,000 for a highway sign
machine.
2All years include State Chapter 90 funding.FY2015 includes$500,000 for the Massachusetts Avenue Intersections Project.FY2018 includes
$175,000 for Bedford Street at Eldred Street Safety Improvements.
3FY2018 includes$117,979 of unused bond proceeds of prior-years'capital projects.
4FY2018 includes$760,000 for extraordinary repairs and improvements to the Old Reservoir Dam.
5FY2015 includes unspecified amounts for a new sidewalk on Pleasant Street,new sidewalk on portions of Prospect Hill Road where no sidewalk
exists,and reconstructing the intersection of Prospect Hill Road and Marrett Road.
6FY2016 includes$10,000 toward Bikeway Bridge Repairs and Engineering Work&$50,000 for design of a new sidewalk to the Lexington
Community Center.
7FY2017 includes$149,500 for Cary Memorial Library walkway and$175,000 to complete having sidewalks on Pleasant Street.
8FY2018 includes$368,000 for Bikeway Bridge Extraordinary Renovations and$150,000 for Hill Street sidewalk design.
Capital using Enterprise Funds
Sanitary Sewer
Sanitary Sewer System $1,200,000 $1,200,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000
Pump station upgrades $600,000 $1,350,000 $800,000 $800,000 $800,000
DPW Equipment $40,500 $40,500 $145,500
Automatic Water-Meter Reading Equipment $20,000
Sewer Sub-Totals $1,840,5001 $2,590,5001 $1,945,5001 $1,820,000 $1,800,000
Water
Water Mains Relining&Replacement $900,000 $3,400,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000
DPW Equipment $216,500 $40,500 $145,500 $30,000
Hydrant Replacement $50,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000
Automatic Water-Meter Reading Equipment $20,000 $0
Water Sub-Totals) $1,166,5001 $3,515,5001 $220,5001 $1,095,0001 $1,105,000
Enterprise-Fund Totals) $3,007,0001 $6,106,0001 $2,166,0001 $2,915,0001 $2,905,000
Capital using Revolving Funds
Compost Operating Revolving Fund
DPW Equipment $525,000
Hartwell Avenue Compost-Site Improvements $200,000
Compost Fund Sub-Totals $01 $01 $01 $725,0001 $0
Sale of Cemetery Lots Special Revolving Fund
Westview Cemetery Building Moved to DPF
Westview Cemetery Irrigation $35,000
Sale of Cemetery Lots Fund Sub-Totals $01 $01 $01 $35,000 $0
Revolving Fund Totals' $01 $01 $01 $760,0001 $0
Grand Total) $9,862,447 ' $16,311,250 ' $7,751,335' $13,154,943 ' $10,539,500
9As endorsed by this Committee,this project has become the responsibility of the DPF-with DPW is its"client"-so this design funding
($270,000 General Fund debt with debt service funded from this revolving fund)has been moved to the DPF's funding history.
27
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Public Facilities
The Department of Public Facilities (DPF) coordinates and cares for all Town-owned buildings under the
control of the BoS, Town Manager, Library Trustees, and School Committee. Expenses associated with
the DPF staffing, maintenance (including preventive maintenance), custodial services, capital-project
management, utilities, landscaping and grounds (at schools only), and managing of building rentals and
other reservations for use of building spaces are the responsibility of this department.
DPF is currently responsible for buildings at 26 locations:
• Town Office Building
• Cary Memorial Building (CMB)
• Police Headquarters
• Fire & Rescue Headquarters
• East Lexington Fire &Rescue Station
• Samuel Hadley Public Services Building
• Stone Building (in caretaker status; previously used as the East Lexington Library)
• Cary Memorial Library
• Visitors Center (soon to be operating out of the Cary Memorial Building while new facility is
built)
• Lexington Community Center(LexCC)
• Senior Center in the Muzzey Condominiums, 1475 Massachusetts Avenue
(in caretaker status;previously as Senior Center—which is now at the LexCC)
• Westview Cemetery
• Hammond A. Hosmer House (in caretaker status)
• Animal Shelter, Westview Street
• 173 Bedford Street (swing space for the Fire &Rescue Headquarters and then the Police
Headquarters)
• Nine schools (replacement for Maria Hastings Elementary School being built adjacent)
• Old Harrington School(Schools' Central Administration is the primary occupant).
• 20 Pelham Road property (new facility for Lexington's pre-kindergarten program (Lexington
Children's Place [LCP]) being built, with an area set aside as a potential site for LexCC
expansion)
The DPF is organized around four areas: Administration, Project Management, Facility Maintenance and
Repair, and Custodial Services. Administration administers the Department. Project Management handles
major capital renovations and provides staff support to the Town's Permanent Building Committee for
new construction. Facility Maintenance and Repair maintains and repairs all the facilities listed below.
Custodial Services is responsible for custodial services in all those facilities.
DPF has taken a systematic approach to solving problems that affect both Municipal and School
buildings, including roofs, flooring, building envelope, and school paved parking and sidewalk areas. In a
few cases the solutions have been programs with annual funding and could be considered more as
ongoing maintenance than capital expenditures. However, as the needs exist and the work has been, and
will be, funded using GF cash,the Committee supports labeling these projects as "Capital".
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
The 2018 ATM and STM approved several DPF-related appropriations:
• Lexington Children's Place (Article 11, $11,997,842) is currently under construction with
completion anticipated in early 2020.
• 45 Bedford Street Fire & Rescue Headquarters Replacement Construction (Article 13,
$18,820,700) is currently under construction with completion anticipated in early 2020.
• Lexington Police Station Rebuild—Design (Article 14, $1,862,622) is currently working towards
Schematic Design completion and anticipating construction funding at a STM in late 2019.
• Selectmen's Meeting Room High Definition Broadcasting Upgrade (Article 20(a)) appropriated
$44,800 to be used to upgrade the broadcasting capability from the Selectmen's Meeting Room in
the Town Office Building. Installation was completed this month.
• Building Flooring Program (Article 20(c)(1), $125,000) saw work completed in the Clark Middle
School library and the Cary Memorial Library.
• The School Paving Program (Article 20(c)(2), $236,890) saw work completed at the Harrington
Elementary School.
• Public Service Building Vehicle Storage Area—Floor Drainage (Article 20(d), $157,000) is in
progress; test work was done in January, 2019, and completion is anticipated in Spring 2019.
• Municipal Building Envelopes and Systems (Article 20(e), $198,893) monies will be used for
work in the Town Office Building in Spring 2019.
• School Building Envelopes and Systems Program (Article 20(g), $227,755) was used for
completing work at the Harrington Elementary School.
• LHS Security Upgrade (Article 20(h), $338,600, and 2017 ATM Article 16(g), $150,000) is
nearing completion. The automatic door locking and parking lot work are completed. The
remaining work is installation of the wayfinding signs and this is anticipated to be finished over
the April school vacation week.
• Public Facilities Mechanical/Electrical System (Article 20(i), $544,500)is in progress.
• Visitors Center (Article 22, $4,575,000) bids for exhibits fabrication were to be opened on
March 21, 2019, and new building construction will be opened after March 21, 2019, with work
anticipated to commence in May, 2019.
• Hosmer House Reuse Study(STM-18-1, Article 5, $50,000) appropriated money to study possible
uses for the Hosmer House and where it could be relocated in light of the Lexington Police
Headquarters rebuild. LDa Architects is currently under contract. Town Manager James Malloy
has extended invitations to one member from each of the Historic Commission, the Historic
District Commission, the Board of Selectmen, and the Permanent Building Committee, and
Director of Public Facilities Mike Cronin to be members on the committee considering this issue.
They expect to take 4 to 6 months to determine likely final placement of the house.
This year's request for DPF Capital funding includes a wide range of important work to both enhance
buildings to meet the programmatic demands of the programs that occur in them as well as to perform
extraordinary repairs and maintenance that are essential to extending the useful life of the buildings. (See
Article 20.)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Public Facilities 5-Year Capital Appropriation History (All Sources)
(Exclusive of Land-Acquisition Costs)
Program I FY2015 I FY2016 I FY2017 I FY2018 I FY2019
Municipal
Visitor Center Renovation/Upgrade $220,608 $100,000 $4,575,000
Westview Cemetery Building $270,000
Old Reservoir Bathhouse2 $75,000
Building Envelope $178,302 $182,760 $187,329 $344,713 $198,893
Townwide Roofing $176,400
Fire&Rescue Headquarters $4,666,000 $500,000 $18,820,700
East Lexington Fire&Rescue Station $75,000
Police Headquarters Rebuild3 $1,862,622
Munroe School(Munroe Center for the $328,000 $675,000
Arts)4
Cary Memorial Buildings $8,677,400 $269,598
Community Center Renovations $3,551,000 $425,000
Municipal Sub-Total $12,702,3101 $452,3581 $5,357,7291 $2,314,7131 $25,532,215
Schools
Lexington Children's Place $150,000 $3,081,500 $11,997,842
Maria Hastings School Replacement $63,059,418
Schools Master Planning $250,000
Middle School Education Capacity $10,966,000
Evaluation of Middle Schools Spaces $40,000
High School Overcrowding $495,000 $1,030,400 $97,020 $440,200
Renovations/Expansions6
High School Heating System $48,920 $500,000 $600,000
Public Facilities Bid Documents $75,000 $75,000 $100,000 $217,979 $100,000
Building Envelope $230,000 $210,000 $215,000 $222,200 $352,755
Landscaping/Paving/Playgrounds $100,000 $150,000 $176,226 $236,890
Major Electrical/Mechanical Systems $275,000 $613,000
Upgrades$
Interior Renovations $69,300 $674,000
Extraordinary School Repairs $423,750 $335,425
Security Standardization $38,500 $49,500 $150,000 $338,600
Wall Unit Air Conditioners
School Traffic Mitigation for Safety $30,000 $25,000 $45,000
Clarke Middle School Bus Loop9 $0
Schools Sub-Total $2,036,9701 $14,242,3251 $986,5201 $67,992,5231 $13,026,087
Grand Totals $14,739,280 $14,694,683 $6,344,249 $70,307,236 $38,558,302
As endorsed by this Committee,this project has become the responsibility of the DPF-with DPW is its"client"-so this
design funding($270,000 General Fund debt with debt service funded from this revolving fund)has been moved from the
DPW's funding history.
2 As endorsed by this Committee,this project has become the responsibility of the DPF-with DPW is its"client"-so this
design funding($75,000 CPF(Cash))has been moved from the Recreation's funding history.
3 Includes costs for interim facility at 173 Bedford St-initially for the Fire&Rescue Headquarter's use and then to rehabilitate
that facility for the Police Headquarter's use.
4 FY2017 is$298,000 for roof replacement whose debt service shall be covered by an increase in the lease payments by the
Munroe Center for the Arts and$30,000 for a study of the windows funded from the CPF.
s FY2015 includes$200,820 from PEG Access Revolving fund; FY2016 includes$75,398 for Records Center Shelving.
6 FY2016 Includes$150,000 transferred from the Appropriation Committee Reserve Fund.
Of the FY2015$75,000,$26,080 of that authority was unused and rescinded at the 2016 ATM.
8 FY2015 for Clarke School Auditorium&Elevator.
9 The FY2016 appropriation of$363,000 was rescinded at the 2016 ATM as that work has been included in that school's
renovation under the Middle Schools Building Projects.
30
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Recreation
Recreation Department programs are funded from three sources:
• General-Fund Tax Levy (e.g., used for neighborhood playgrounds, athletic fields, and
basketball court improvements if not recommended by the Community Preservation Committee for
CPA funding);
• R&CP EF (e.g., used for fee-based activities such as Pine Meadows Golf Course, Community
Center, Irving H. Mabee Pool, Old Reservoir, and tennis courts). Fee collections for Enterprise
Fund-based activities are weather dependent and can vary from year to year. It makes an annual indirect
payment to the Town that was $261,826 for this fiscal year and is projected to be $269,681 for FY2020.
For the FY2020 funding request from this Enterprise Fund, see Articles 14(f) and 15.
• CPA funds (available for creation and preservation of recreation facilities, including those for
fee-based activities). CPA monies have enabled some large projects which otherwise might not have
been financially viable. For example, CPA monies have funded the multi-year renovation of the Town
pool complex, which is scheduled for completion on May 1, 2019. At the 2018 ATM, CPA funding
provided partial funding for the$3.34 million Center Track Renovation project; public meetings are
complete and the bidding process is underway. CPA also funded last year's $975,000 Athletic Facility
Complex Lighting Upgrade. As that project's cost came in greater than budget, it resulted in a reduced
project scope. Only the lights at Center 1 and Center 2 fields will be upgraded; lights at the pool, tennis
courts, and basketball courts will be done at a later date by requesting a subsequent appropriation. For
the FY2020 recreation-funding requests from the CPF, see Articles 14(f—j).
The Recreation Department completed a 2017 Accessibility Study of its facilities which has changed
the department's priorities and is resulting in higher recreation-facilities investment to address
deficiencies. After a $75,000 feasibility study funded under 2018 ATM Article 10(i), the Old Reservoir
Bathhouse Renovation (see Article 14(g)) is an example of a capital project that took on greater
urgency after the Accessibility Study. Both the Athletic Field Park Improvement(see Article 14(i)) and
the Bridge Playground Replacement (see Article 14(j)) include significant accessibility improvements.
Demand for Recreation facilities remains strong, and the community needs more fields,
particularly synthetic fields that can be used even in inclement weather, and with lights that can extend
playing time. Negotiations to share the use of a new Athletic Field Complex at the Minuteman High
School have been put on hold. We anticipate the Recreation department will pursue a study of the fields
in the Town and seek capital funding at a future date to fulfill this need.
Recreation 5-Year Capital Appropriation History (All Sources)
Program FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
Athletic Fields $100,000 $85,000 $120,000 $125,000 $11,297,000
Park, Playgrounds, &Tot Lots $150,000 $123,000 $136,000 $60,000 $302,000
Pine Meadows Golf Course $51,000 $68,000 $65,000 $55,000
Irving H. Mabee Poolt $166,000 $1,620,000 Move to DPF
Lincoln Fields Improvements $620,000 $650,000 $30,000
Accessible Study $78,000
Antony Park(within Tower Park) $60,000
Minuteman Commuter Bikeway $120,000
Totals $921,000 $1,004,000 $697,000 $1,860,000 $11,599,000
t Previously included a project at the Old Reservoir Bathhouse.As endorsed by this Committee,that project has become
the responsibility of the DPF—with Recreation as its "client"—so the design funding ($75,000 CPF(Cash)) has been
moved to the DPF funding history.
31
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Schools
Overview
The Lexington Public Schools (LPS) provide educational, athletic, and club activities for students in
grades Pre-Kindergarten-12. This is the enrollment for the current and the four previous academic years:
Enrollment in Lexington Public Schoolst
Academic Year
Grades 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019
Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) 52 76 78 71 74
Elementary(Kindergarten (K)-5) 3,024 3,054 3,066 3,150 3,096
Middle Schools(6-8) 1,616 1,646 1,743 1,813 1,833
High School (9-12) 2,094 2,166 2,185 2,212 2,275
Totals 6,786 6,942 7,072 7,246 7,278
tEnrollment figures are those as of October 1st as required by the State's Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education (DESE)for each academic year.
LPS currently owns and operates six elementary-school buildings, two middle-school buildings, and the
high-school complex of four, freestanding, academic buildings and a field house. Central Office
("Administration") personnel and services are located in what had been the old Harrington School. The
Pre-K program (Lexington Children's Place [LCP] is primarily located in the new Harrington school
building, but has outgrown that space and uses two additional classrooms on the lower level of the old
Harrington building. In addition, the old Harrington houses elements of the Lexington, Arlington,
Burlington, Bedford, Belmont (LABBB) Collaborative. The maintenance of these fourteen buildings is
overseen by the DPF.
Perhaps the most important capital issue facing LPS is that the school system has an enrollment in Pre-K
through high school that is over the system's capacity, so the increasing enrollment presents a growing
pressure on the schools from a building-capacity perspective. In order to address and be proactive about
the impact of enrollment on the schools' ability to maintain equitable educational standards, the School
Committee established a School Master Planning Committee (SMPC) and the reconvened the Enrollment
Working Group. The SMPC has concluded the most serious near-teiin challenges are at Lexington High
School and is focusing on finding ways to increase classroom and core spaces at that building.
Pre-K: The Preschool enrollment is being addressed by the building of a new preschool at the 20 Pelham
Road site—for which purchase funding was appropriated at the Special Town Meeting 2016-2, Article 2,
and the Purchase & Sale Agreement (purchase price as $7,950,000) executed on March 31, 2017. The
construction commenced in May, 2018, and the school is expected to be open for use by the start for the
2019/2020 school year. The total approved funding from three different Town Meeting appropriations is
$15,079,342. The preschool enrollment capacity is measured in slots where students are in morning or
afternoon slots, or if needed in both morning and afternoon slots. The enrollment tends to start low at the
start of the school year and grow during the year as children reach the age of two years and nine months.
To date the maximum enrollment has been 136 slots (2017/2018) and is currently (March 12, 2019) 132.
The capacity next year when the new LCP comes on line will be 180,providing capacity for an additional
48 slots, or a growth of nearly 40% over current demand. Should future demand exceed this, the design
allows for expansion with an on-grade addition to the current building.
Elementary Schools: The current enrollment (official Oct 1 enrollment) is 3,096, while the current
capacity (assuming SC goal of 21.5 students per classroom) is 3,053. Note that is classroom capacity; the
cafeterias and libraries and ancillary spaces do not fully support this enrollment. The LPS K-5 enrollment
forecasts (https://lps.lexingtonma.org/cros/lib/MA01001631/Centricity/Domain/231/10-23-18%20SC%20Packet.pdf)
based on a version of the cohort-survival method show a leveling off of enrollments. However, the
Housing and Demographics Model (HDM) continues to call for strong growth into the foreseeable future.
32
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
The LPS is in the process of replacing the current 21–classroom Maria Hastings School with a new
30–classroom school at a cost of approximately $65.3 million, gaining capacity for 194 students. The
Massachusetts School Building Authority(MSBA) is partnering with Lexington to provide approximately
$16.5 million of the cost. Ground was broken in the summer of 2018 and the building is expected to come
online February 2020. Work will then continue to remove the old Hastings and complete site work. The
HDM method developed to improve K-5 enrollment projections gives a median projection of 3,403
students by the 2022/2023 school year and with Hastings online the K-5 system classroom capacity will
be 3,247. The SC is experimenting with a revised version of the previously used cohort-survival method
which provides projected enrollments below capacity. Actual versus projected enrollments will need to be
carefully monitored.
Middle Schools: The renovations completed this past year added capacity for 3.5 teams, for a total of
21.5 teams (10.5 at Clark and 11 at Diamond) for a total capacity of 1,849 students. This was expected to
accommodate the median enrollment projections out to the 2018/2019 school year, with minor
overcrowding in 2019/2020. This appears to still be true according to the latest enrollment projections.
The current median projections call for a peak enrollment of 1,938 in 2021/2022, and slowly decreasing
thereafter. The middle schools will continue to be pressed for space for at least several years.
High School: The High School has been expanded in two phases of modular-classrooms additions. After
the first set, Symmes, Maini, McKee Associates, in January 2015, estimated the high school capacity at
2,325 (See http://www.lexingtonmultipleprojects.com/documents/). The second set added space primarily
for the Intensive Learning Program (1LP) special-education program, but included two general-education
classrooms,bringing the capacity to approximately 2,375. While the current enrollment of 2,275 is within
the general–use classroom capacity, other facilities such as the cafeteria and science laboratories are
severely overcrowded. The science–classroom space needs are being partially addressed by space mining,
with one science classroom being outfitted in the summer of 2019, and another in the summer of 2020.
The cost of the first will use existing operating funds while the second will require a capital request of
approximately$152,500.
The median projected enrollment is expected to surpass 2,500 by the 2022/2023 school year and remain
between approximate 2,500 and 2,600 indefinitely. The high school will remain overcrowded until
replaced or significantly enlarged.
Preparations for high-school renovations and enlargement, or replacement are already underway. The
Town submitted a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the MSBA this month, and a response will likely be
known by the end of this calendar year. If the MSBA invites Lexington into its reimbursement program
this year, the Town would be required to fund the next-step feasibility study by next spring—which is
later in FY2020. While that would be welcomed—as MSBA funded projects take, on average, 51/2 to 6
years from SO1 submission to the opening of a new building—that is optimistic. Therefore, the funding
for the feasibility study is being projected by this Committee for FY2021. While there are no official cost
estimates at this time, and costs may depend on renovation versus replacement, this will be a capital
undertaking on a scale never before experienced by Lexington. It should be noted that the new Arlington
High School, with about 60% of Lexington's current enrollment, has an expected gross cost
of$291 million.
Peak enrollment is expected well before a new high school can be completed, so the high school will
require some investment for extensive space mining, modification of the cafeteria, and possibly building
modular classrooms. The SC, Superintendent, administrators, and staff are strategizing on the most
cost–effective way to gain 9-12 temporary, general-education, classrooms, as well as additional science
classrooms. The financial impact of space mining and capacity additions to alleviate enrollment pressures
at the high school is not yet reflected in the Schools 5-year capital plan.
While capital projects for the LPS buildings and their environs are managed by the DPF, there currently
are annual requests for capital appropriations directly managed by LPS for school technology.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
School Technology Program
There is a long-term plan to upgrade technology throughout the schools by replacing the oldest
computers, peripherals, projection systems, network-delivery systems, and other associated hardware and
software to use as enhanced instructional and administrative tools. Some additional equipment, such as
iPads for the middle school, is needed to accommodate the increased enrollment and some new equipment
is needed for mandated computerized testing. Additional equipment is being sought to improve delivery
of science, technology, engineering and arts curriculum. (See Article 19.)
Schools-Managed 5-Year Capital Appropriation History (All Sources)
Program FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
Technology $1,110,000 $1,378,000 $1,198,000 $1,331,900 $1,715,300
Classroom&Administrative Furnituret $261,594 $317,500 $186,000 $123,000
Food Service Equipmentt $82,500 $75,000
Time Clock/Time Reporting System $208,000
School Defibrillatror Replacement $30,500
Totals $1,402,094 $1,986,000 $1,384,000 $1,529,900 $1,715,300
t Starting in FY2019,this category is funded in the Schools Operating Budget
Information Services
The Information Services Department (15) supports, maintains and manages the Town's
information—technology systems (hardware, software, and Web sites) that are critical service-delivery
elements and provide program management for all of the Town's departmental operations. Services
provided include: municipal information-technology (IT) hardware/software operations and support for
all activities; staff training; financial-management hardware and software (including the Town's Munis
system) maintenance that serves Town and School departments; electronic mail and Internet access;
Town website support; phone Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) infrastructure and applications;
head—end management and support; and co-management, with School Department IT staff, of the Town's
wide—area network connecting 31 Town and School buildings.
There are three FY2020 requests. See Articles 16(m-o).
IS 5-Year Capital Appropriation History(All Sources)
Program FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
Public Safety Radio Connectivity $370,000
Telephone System Replacements $260,000 $52,000 $21,000 $120,000
MIS Technology Improvement Program $140,000 $140,000 $150,000 $100,000 $200,000
Network Redundancy& Improvement $130,000 $350,000
Application Implementation $390,000
Totals $400,000 $192,000 $171,000 $350,000 $1,310,000
Town Clerk's Office
This Office is the primary repository of official documents for the Town, and the custodian of, and
recording office for, official Town and vital records. Responsibilities include: issuing marriage licenses,
recording vital statistics, issuing dog licenses, registering businesses, conducting the annual Town Census
and publishing the results, maintaining the Town Archives, managing the Public Meeting Calendar in
accordance with the Open Meeting Law, overseeing ethics training, and creating and recording permanent
Town Meetings records. This Office conducts elections in conformance with State and local laws and,
with the Board of Registrars,processes voter registrations and certifications.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
For the FY 2020 request, see Article 14(c).
Town Clerk's Office 5-Year Capital Appropriation History(All Sources)
Program FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
Election System $81,000
Totals $0 $0 $81,000 $0 $0
Affordable Housing
To provide for the needs of its residents and to meet State law, the Town must plan and budget for the
continuing creation and maintenance of units of affordable housing.
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40B, passed in 1969, requires each municipality in the
Commonwealth to have 10% of its housing "affordable" as defined by the statute and its regulations. An
affordable unit is defined as one that could be purchased or rented by a household receiving income of up
to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), assuming that the household spends no more than 30% of that
income on housing. AMI for different regions of the country is adjusted annually by the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development(HUD), and varies according to household size. The current AMI for
Middlesex County for a family of three is $120,433. To be maintained as affordable, a unit must be
subject to a long-term, preferably perpetual, deed restriction limiting its sale price to the affordable level
as determined at the time of sale. To encourage more rental-unit creation,the statute also provides that if a
rental-housing development deed-restricts 25% of its units, all of the rental units will count as part of the
town's Subsidized Housing Inventory(SH1), even though 75% of them are actually priced at market rate.
The Lexington Housing Partnership (LHP)is a nine-member board of Town residents appointed by the
Board of Selectmen to 3-year terms. Its mission is to keep Lexington residents informed of the Town's
housing needs and to plan and advocate for the preservation and creation of affordable housing units on
an ongoing basis.
The Lexington Housing Authority (LHA) was created in 1969 under Massachusetts General Law,
Chapter 121B. Under the statute, municipal housing authorities manage State- and Federally-subsidized
housing units and administer Federal housing vouchers to individuals and households who qualify. Four
members of the LHA are elected; a fifth is appointed by the Governor. As of May of this year, the LHA
will own or manage 258 units, which include one-bedroom units for elderly or disabled residents at
Countryside Village, Greeley Village, and Vynebrooke Village, as well as 18 two-to-four-bedroom units
scattered throughout the Town. The LHA also administers 78 housing vouchers, which are used by
households to pay private landlords. Depending on the size and type of housing unit, the LHA's wait time
for eligible households varies from 1�/z to 8 years.
LHA routinely applies for State and Federal contributions for maintenance and improvement of these
housing units. However, State contributions are calculated according to a "facility condition index" (FC1)
and distributed as a pro rata share of housing funds apportioned across the State, and these contributions
are insufficient to meet annual needs. Use of Lexington's Community Preservation Act funds for those
capital improvements that are eligible under the statute allows the Town to keep existing units functional
and in compliance with legal standards. A CPA appropriation for FY2017 funded LHA's purchase of five
units at Judges Road/Pine Grove,which were added to its inventory in 2018.
The Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB) is unique to Lexington. It was created in 1983 by
the Selectmen, who were concerned about the need for affordable and transitional housing for Lexington
residents experiencing economic difficulties. With initial contributions from the developers of the Potter
Pond condominium, and later, the Brookhaven Life-Care Living Facility, LexHAB began acquiring
rental-housing units, which now total 64. They are administered by the volunteer nine-member Board,
which uses rents to maintain and improve the units as needed. LexHAB also maintains a fund balance that
may be used to build new units or to purchase units on which the deed restrictions maintaining their
affordability may expire.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Lexington's Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) The housing units administered by the LHA and
those LexHAB units that have been assigned under the State's lottery procedure all count on Lexington's
SH1. Including all rental units, as permitted by statute,the Town's SH1 stood at 11.2% at the 2010 census.
However, as 75% of the Town's rental units are not actually deed-restricted, the true percentage of
Lexington housing units that are affordable to households below the AM1 is closer to 5%.
As the Town's inventory of market-rate units increases more rapidly each year than do deed-restricted
units, there is concern that by the 2020 census, Lexington's SHI will fall below the statutorily required
10%. In that event,the statute provides that private developers who deed-restrict 25% of the units in their
projects will not be subject to the density restrictions of Lexington's zoning bylaw, allowing them to build
larger and more densely sited subdivisions than Lexington would otherwise allow.
The Community Preservation Act (CPA) (see further information starting on Page 6)provides that 10%
of each year's revenue under the Act (i.e., the designated tax-surcharge revenue, the State contribution,
and interest earned on the Community Preservation Fund (CPF)) be allocated for community (low or
moderate income) housing. Since Lexington's adoption of the Act in 2006, CPA funds have been the
primary means of adding affordable units to Lexington's inventory. Town Meeting has approved LexHAB
requests for CPA allocations to purchase and rehabilitate existing homes, as well as to build new units,
both of which are then deed—restricted and rented to eligible households.
• This year's ATM will consider a CPC recommendation to fund capital improvements to existing
community housing administered by LexHAB. (See Article 14(k).)
• LexHAB's Local Initiative Project (LIP) application for construction of two three-unit buildings
on Lowell Street has been approved for a series of CPA appropriations, now totaling $2,684,653.
The requirements that LexHAB follow municipal bidding requirements and accessibility
standards have materially increased the cost of this project since its initial appropriation in 2014,
requiring the supplemental appropriations. A recently completed bidding process yielded only
one bid,which came in over budget, so the project will go out for rebid in the spring of 2019.
• Renovation of the Wright farmhouse on Grove Street as an affordable unit is fully funded and
remains underway.
• The 2017 ATM voted to approve $1,048,000 in CPA funding to preserve 16 existing affordable
housing units at Pine Grove Village/Judge's Road for which the deed restrictions were set to
expire in 2019. The funds allowed the LHA to purchase and renovate five units for rental, and
provides for the purchase of perpetual deed restrictions on 11 additional units as they come on the
market.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
CPA-Funded Community Housing 5-Year Appropriation History
(All Sources)
FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
Greeley Village Renovations(LHA)1 $263,250 $56,712
Vynebrook Village Renovations
(replacement of roofing, siding,exterior
doors)(LHA)2 $300,551
Development of community housing at Busa
Farm on Lowell St(Farmview)(LexHAB)3'5
$750,000 $1,400,000
Property Purchase 241 Grove Street
(Town)4 $241,020
Purchase of an affordable unit at Keeler
Farm (LexHAB) $185,000
Affordable Units Preservation (Pine Grove
Village/Judge's Road) $1,048,000
Totals $1,050,5511 $241,0201 $448,2501 $1,104,7121 $1,400,000
�FY2014:Total project cost was$190,734 of which$18,000 was paid by a State DHCD grant; FY2017:Total project
cost was$317,013 of which$53,763 was paid by a State DHCD grant. FY2018: Supplemental funding to fund
included replacement of porch decking.
2Total project cost was$901,653, of which$601,102 was paid by a State DHCD grant.
3The 2014 ATM voted to add the requested sum of$750,000 to funds already held by LexHAB: $84,653 in unused
funds from the FY2012 allocation and $450,000 in unused funds from the FY2013 allocation;for a total of$1,284,653
for use in building community housing at the Busa Farm site—a Town property acquired with CPA funds in 2009.
4Purchase of Parcel 2 of 43,446 sq ft(just under 1 acre)was authorized at the 2015 ATM,Article 9. Closing date was
February 11,2016.The purchase price was$520,000 and$98,000 was needed for purchase-associated costs.The
acquisition is for both Open Space (Conservation)and Community Housing.The allocation of area and the same
proportion of the total cost are 16,954 sq ft(39%)and$241,020 for Community Housing. (See Open Space&
Conservation for the balance of the area and the cost.)
5The 2018 ATM provided supplemental funding as multiple factors increased the development cost. (See this
Committee's report to the 2018 ATM, Page 45,Article 10(j),for those factors.)
Planning
The mission of the Planning Board and the Planning Department is to envision the Lexington that will
best serve the needs and preferences of its residents and to work toward realizing that vision by managing
growth and change. Among its responsibilities is transportation planning.
Transportation Safety Group (TSG)
This working group, appointed by the Town Manager, receives input from the citizens, the Commission
on Disability, and the Bicycle, Sidewalk, and Transportation Advisory Committees. It brings proposed
projects or regulation changes to the Town Manager. Funding requests for project design come from the
Planning Department, which manages appropriations at the development stage.
Most projects are relatively short-term and small in scope, but larger projects may ultimately move to the
Department of Public Works for implementation. In 2017, the Planning Department submitted a request
for $100,000 to fund the work of the TSG in reviewing citizen requests, collecting data and performing
analysis of projects. The Planning Department has since made this an annual application so that work can
go forward without requiring individual requests to Town Meeting for each project. (See Article 16(1).)
Of the FY2019 $100,000 appropriation, $61,000 is encumbered for traffic studies of Pleasant Street at
Massachusetts Avenue, and Eldred Street at Massachusetts Avenue, and the $39,000 is available for
ongoing projects.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Hartwell Avenue Commercial District
The 2009 ATM approved the Planning Department's request to create a Traffic Management Overlay
District (TMOD) for the Hartwell Avenue commercial corridor. The FY2011 ATM voted to create a
TMOD Stabilization Fund to receive mitigation payments from commercial developers. It has a current
balance of$341,885.73. The Fund will be used to pay for a proposed update of the TMOD, approved at
the 2018 ATM, but progress on the update may wait upon completion of an updated Comprehensive Plan,
now in process.
The 2017 ATM approved funding of a project for a safe and accessible crosswalk at the Bedford and
Eldred Streets intersection. The design has been approved by the Massachusetts Department of
Transportation and work on this project is ongoing by DPW.
The 2017 ATM approved funding to undertake an update of the Town's Comprehensive Plan which was
last completed in 2003. The Plan covers Land Use, Housing, Economic Development, Natural and
Cultural Resources and Transportation. A task force of staff, citizens, and Town officials is moving
forward with this work, holding public forums on transportation, housing, and economic development.
Planning 5-Year Ap ropriation History
Program FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
Transportation Mitigation $100,000 $100,000
Comprehensive Plan $302,000
Totals $01 $01 $01 $402,0001 $100,000
Economic Development
The Economic Development Office serves as a liaison between businesses and local government. It works
to retain and expand local businesses by providing information, conducting research, and leveraging State
economic development tools and resources designed to improve the business environment. The Office
maintains relationships with State-level partners for business development and infrastructure investment
opportunities. The Office seeks to develop economic opportunities from tourism, and maintains and staffs
the Lexington Visitors Center with sales revenue generated from the Visitors Center gift shop.
The 2018 ATM voted funding for the construction of a new Visitors Center. Final approval of the project
has been obtained from the Historic Districts Commission. (See that project's entry under DPF on
page 29 for the latest status.)
For the FY2020 request for the Center Streetscape Improvement, see Article 16(e).
Progress on the Battle Green Master Plan Phase 3 had been deferred until a timetable could be confirmed
for the Lexington Center Streetscape project. This ATM will consider a request to appropriate to move
forward with design elements of the Battle Green, including access and amenities at Belfry Hill (See
Article 14(d)), with the expectation that another appropriation will be sought next year to complete the
work.
A plan for consolidation and repaving of parking areas around the Center remains deferred pending work
on the Center Streetscape.
Economic Development 5-Year Capital Appropriation History(All Sources)
Program FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
Grain Mill Alley $18,000 $127,838
Totals $01 $18,0001 $127,8381 $0 $0
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
2019 ATM Warrant-Article Explanations and
Recommendations
Cites of the "Town Warrant" refer to the "Town of Lexington Warrant for the 2019 Annual
Town Meeting", March 25, 2019. Cites of the "Brown Book" refer to the "Town of Lexington
Fiscal Year 2020 Recommended Budget&Financing Plan", March 4, 2019
Article 4: Reduce Community Funds Requested Funding Committee
Preservation Act (CPA) Source Recommends
Surcharge Rate From 3% Approval of
To 1% Pursuant To G.L. c. N/A N/A Indefinite
44B, § 16 (Citizen Article) Postponement
(6-0)
"To see if the Town will vote to change the current CPA surcharge from 3% down to 1%, providing an
immediate tax break to all Lexington residents.
"(Inserted by Bridger McGaw and 9 or more registered voters)
"DESCRIPTION: This article seeks to reduce the CPA surcharge net to provide tax relief to
Lexington residents. In addition, special considerations must be given to covering debt for
previous CPA-funded projects, maintenance of historic properties, and future conservation land
purchases."
(Town Warrant)
This Committee unanimously supports the indefinite postponement of this Article. While a periodic
review of the level of the CPA surcharge paid by Lexington taxpayers is appropriate, were this Article to
go forward, this Committee would strongly oppose any rollback of the 3% surcharge at this time,just as
we unanimously opposed a similar proposal in 2011 (2011 ATM, Article 17). We believe that the benefits
Lexington will continue to receive from its current level of participation in the CPA greatly outweigh the
cost to residents, as set out more fully under The Community Preservation Act on Page 6.
Further, the current Article is misleading in its suggestion of immediate tax relief and in its failure to
calculate the level of surcharge necessary to cover the current CPA debt balance.
Article 6: Appropriate For Funds Funding Committee
Cremation Facility at Westview Requested Source Recommends
Cemetery (Citizen Article) $90,000 GF (Free Cash) Disapproval
(6-0)
"To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for design, engineering and
architectural services including site work, value engineering, and cost estimating to construct a new
Cremation Facility at the Westview Cemetery and for the payment of all other costs incidental or related
thereto; determine whether the money will be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from other available
funds, by borrowing, or by any combination of these methods; or act in any other manner in relation
thereto.
"(Inserted by Dinesh Patel and 9 or more registered voters)
"DESCRIPTION: These funds will permit the design and construction work of a new
crematorium at the Westview Cemetery."
(Town Warrant)
MOTION: That the Town appropriate $90,000 for design, engineering and architectural services
including Site Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Drawings and Bid
Documents, and that to meet this appropriation $90,000 be appropriated from the General Fund
unreserved fund balance provided that any funds appropriated hereunder may only be spent subject to and
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
contingent upon an affirmative recommendation of the Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee and
acceptance of said recommendation by the Board of Selectmen.
(March 15, 2019)
This committee is unanimously against this Motion. While we are sympathetic to the proponents' desire
for a cremation facility in Lexington's Westview Cemetery, and we have not taken any position as to
building such a crematory, we also believe it is premature to support funding any such facility for at least
these reasons:
1) It is fiscally irresponsible to appropriate any funds to begin facility design—and definitely not all
the way through construction (bid) documents—when their use is contingent on two, sequential,
conditions. This Committee does not support that kind of "banking" of funds for any facility
project.
2) In this instance, a feasibility study which properly precedes any design funding is applicable and
warranted for a crematory because there are so many questions that range from what use would
there be, through the maintenance and other operations funding of such a crematory. That study
is underway by the Board of Selectmen's Ad hoc Crematory Study Committee. Although it is
aggressively searching for those answers, that Board needs even to begin its deliberations, that
Study Committee can only provide an interim report at this Town Meeting. Presently, they have
not even issued a preliminary.financial analysis on the capital and operating budget impacts. It
will be additional months before it can provide that Board with a final report. (The Study
Committee has concluded they do not want planning for a crematorium project to interfere with
the Westview Cemetery project—a position that this Committee has long endorsed.)
3) By appropriating monies for the entire design phase right through construction and bid
documents, Town Meeting would be denied its responsibility to evaluate the project at critical
stages of analysis and then at the stages of design before it makes an appropriation. That
responsibility should not be by-passed.
4) The proposed appropriation is not necessary to assure that the Town will seriously address the
desire to have a crematory at the Westview Cemetery. This Committee believes, without
reservation, that the actions and efforts already taken by the Board of Selectmen and the Study
Committee demonstrate that this requested appropriation is neither needed nor effective to ensure
that the on–going, good faith effort will continue toward presenting the Board of Selectmen with
the justification for an appropriation to begin a project toward building a crematory.
We ask that Town Meeting join us in not supporting this Motion.
Article 8: Funding For Sustainability Funds Funding Committee
Actions (Citizen Article) Requested Source Recommends
Approval of
N/A N/A Indefinite
Postponement
(6-0)
"To see if the Town would vote to Amend Chapter 110 of the Code of the Town of Lexington to establish
a revolving fund or other similar mechanism, which would hold revenue, grants, or net savings generated
by Sustainable Action Plan programs to fund additional programs proposed under the Sustainability
Action Plan and approved by the Board of Selectmen; or act in any other manner in relation thereto.
"(Inserted by Ricki Pappo and 9 or more registered voters)
"DESCRIPTION: This article seeks to establish a revolving fund, or some other mechanism,
from the earnings of projects promoted through the Sustainable Action Plan for the Town to
invest in future actions proposed under the Sustainable Action Plan."
(Town Warrant)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
While we support the Article's intent (to promote sustainability in the Town), we would be against any
accounting mechanism which would silo funds because it reduces fungibility. We prefer that funds for
any such actions be allocated in the Town's Operating Budget or as specific appropriations on an annual
basis so that those funds, if modest, would be available without delay as needs arise. Larger dollar
amounts should be by specific appropriation. Either way, the request for funds to enhance sustainability
should be prioritized in conjunction with other Town programs.
Article 10: Appropriate To Funding
Funds Requested Committee Recommends
Post Employment Source
Insurance Liability $750,000 GF(Cash)
+ $1 129 721 GF See below for this
Fund
(Free Cash)+ Committee's commentary
$1,885,486 $2,761 Water EF on this request
(Cash) + $3,004
Wastewater EF
(Cash)
"To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money to the Town of Lexington Post Retirement
Insurance Liability Fund, as established by Chapter 317 of the Acts of 2002; determine whether the
money shall be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from available funds, including enterprise funds, or
by any combination of these methods; or act in any other manner in relation thereto."
"DESCRIPTION: This article will allow the Town to continue to fund its liability for post-
employment benefits for Town of Lexington retirees. Beginning with the FY2007 audit, the Town was
required to disclose this liability. Special legislation establishing a trust fund for this purpose was
enacted in 2002."
(Town Warrant)
(Brown Book 1-6, V-27, & V-31)
Normally this Committee would not advise Town Meeting on such an Operating Budget matter; however,
as a large amount of discretionary-use cash is being assigned to this purpose, this Committee believes it is
important to raise its concern as to whether, in this period of extraordinary pressure to fund multiple,
expensive, Capital projects,this is the best use. Of the total funding proposed, only the$267,852.24 of the
Free Cash—representing the Federal contribution to the Town regarding Medicare Part D—represents a
firm tie to being used toward this primarily medical-benefits-related purpose.
While Lexington currently calculates it has, and acknowledges, a huge unfunded liability to this Fund
(often identified as Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB)). The last actuarial report, which was an
interim report as of June 30, 2018, had the net OPEB liability at $138,385,668 with the Town-selected
discount rate of 7.5%. (It would be $157,094,949 with a discount rate of 6.5%.) It is only under a BoS
policy that the annual dollar amount is determined. So, while this Committee endorses making some
annual payment into the fund to affirm Lexington recognizes it has the liability, this Committee
encourages the BoS to revisit its policy to recognize the amount each year should be tempered by other
competing demands. One of these is having as robust a Capital SF as practical as the Town plans in the
next few years to use all of that SF's cash to alleviate the impact of the debt service for the large Capital
projects—which does not yet address the LHS. Another is to contribute to the Pension Fund—which has
the same investment potential as the OPEB fund—to speed it reaching its statutory obligation and, thus,
providing an alternative funding of the annual pension costs.
This Committee also looks to the Appropriation Committee to provide its own position in the near future
on whether the currently proposed use of these discretionary funds is in the best interests of the Town and
its taxpayers.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Article 14: Appropriate the FY2020 Funds Funding Committee
Community Preservation Requested Source Recommends
Committee Operating Budget
and CPA Projects (Multiple $5,528,047 CPF (Cash) See Below
Categories)
Amount Funding Source
Project Description(Category) Requested Committee Recommends
(a) Conservation Land Acquisition $275,000 CPF (Cash) Approval (6-0)
(Open Space)
"This FY2020 request for CPA funds is for the acquisition and preservation of environmentally sensitive
lands in Lexington located on Kendall Road (Map 32, Lot 114) and Sherburne Road (Map 32, Lot 135).
The Sherburne Road parcel has been on the Conservation Commission's list of highly desirable parcels
since 1996 and abuts the Upper Vine Brook conservation area. The Kendall lot is a stand-alone parcel, but
the Conservation Commission was offered the opportunity to acquire these properties only as a package
deal for both lots. The acquisition of both parcels of land will add an additional 4+ acres to the Town's
inventory of conservation land."
(Brown Book,Page XI-18)
Amount Funding Source
Project Description(Category) Requested Committee Recommends
(b) Willard's Woods Site $138,273 CPF (Cash) Approval (6-0)
Improvements (Recreation)
"Willard's Woods is the largest and most popular conservation area in Lexington, with over 100 acres of
open meadow, old-growth pine forest, wetlands, and a historic mill pond. A stone dust bike path runs
across the property, connecting North Street with Brent Road and Hathaway Road. This path is part of the
Across Lexington trail system, but it is not fully accessible to a mobility-impaired user and is in need of
repair. The Conservation Commission proposes to upgrade and improve this path and to use it as the basis
of exploring and creating an expanded trail system that meets the requirements of the Americans with
Disabilities Act and the principles of universal design, in order to open some of the experience of
Willard's Woods to visitors with a wider range of abilities. The project will also include upgraded and
accessible parking and universally designed navigation and interpretive signage,benches and picnic areas
that are usable by all visitors, including those with mobility, vision, or other functional limitations.
"The project will be completed in two stages. This FY20 funding is for the first stage. It will be used (1)
to hire an established natural resources management firm to produce a comprehensive land management
plan, which will identify areas of special significance in Willards Woods and develop a plan for long-term
maintenance of the property; and (2) to enable design, surveying, engineering, construction planning and
permitting for the proposed universally designed enhancements, which will be located, to the extent
possible, to take advantage of features identified in the land management plan. The second stage of the
project, anticipated for FY2021, will be construction of the trail, parking improvements and other
elements of the plans developed in stage one."
(Revised application to the CPC (March 5, 2019)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Project Description(Category) Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(c) Archives and Records
Management/Records Conservation& $20,000 CPF (Cash) Approval (6-0)
Preservation(Historic Resources)
"This is an ongoing request to fund the conservation and preservation of historic municipal documents
and records and to make them available on the Town's digital archives. The FY2020 request will cover
documents between the years of 1850-1910, including School Committee Minutes, Board of Registrars
Minutes and Records of Overseers of the Poor. Significant progress has been made in preserving
Lexington's historic documents but there remains a continuing need to preserve records from the early
1900s and make them accessible. It is projected that this will be a yearly request for treatment/
digitization/microfilming of records. The preservation and conservation of permanent records for
archiving creates the basis for documenting Lexington's history for the future."
(Brown Book, Page XI-23)
Amount Funding Source
Project Description(Category) Requested Committee Recommends
(d) Battle Green Master Plan—
Phase 3 (Historic Resources) $253,394 CPF (Cash) Approval (6-0)
"The FY2020 request is for the third phase of a three phase Battle Green Master Plan implementation.
Phases 1 and 2 have been funded with work scheduled for fall 2018 and spring 2019. Funding for Phase 3
construction will be used to address site amenities and historical landscaping. Previous Battle Green work
included monument restoration and treatment. A study was conducted on pathways, fencing, parking,
traffic, and pedestrian accessibility. The elements that exist in the Battle Green area need to be
maintained,updated and restored in order to keep them viable for current and future generations.
"The total cost of Phase 3 of the project is $570,438. In FY2020, $253,394 is being requested which will
fund architectural services, landscaping, benches and site amenities, Belfry improvements and monument
work. The remaining $317,044 will be requested in FY2021 and will include lights and the remaining
pathway,monument and landscaping work."
(Brown Book, Page XI-21)
Project Description(Category) Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(e) Historical Renovation&
Adaptive Reuse of 9 Oakland Street $70,000 CPF (Cash) Approval (6-0)
(Historic Resources)
"Supportive Living, Inc. (SLI), a non-profit organization, provides appropriate, affordable and supportive
housing for survivors of brain injury. In 2007, Town Meeting approved $300,000 to help fund the
renovation of 7 Oakland Street into 15 units of affordable housing for survivors of brain injury. In 2009,
the Town was awarded the Robert Kuehn Community Preservation Award for the adaptive re-use of
7 Oakland Street, now referred to as the `Douglas House'. In 2018, Town Meeting approved $200,000 to
help fund the renovation of 9 Oakland Street and adaptive re-use of the structure. The FY2020 request
seeks supplemental funding to complete the renovation of the building located at 9 Oakland Street.
"The entire property, 7-9 Oakland Street, is located within the Battle Green Historic District and is listed
on the National Register of Historic Places. It was previously home to the Lexington Press and originally
housed M.H. Merriam & Company. Renovations will include an additional common area for residents,
additional meeting and office space for Douglas House staff and an expansion of the Wellness Center.
The supplemental project cost is $84,905, of which $70,000 is requested from CPA funds. The remaining
amount will be obtained through foundation grants, private donations and contributions from SLI's Board
of Directors."
(Brown Book,Page X1-23)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Project Description(Category) Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(f) Athletic Field Complex at
Minuteman Regional Vocational N/A N/A Approval of Indefinite
Technical School (Recreation) Postponement(6-0)
(Narrative in Brown Book, Page XI-7 & -19, is no longer applicable as the Motion will be for Indefinite
Postponement.)
This project was to be a $4,900,000 expense ($1,000,000 CPA (Cash) + $3,900,000 GF (Debt) (Debt
Service funded from the Recreation EF) for Lexington to share facilities in the new Minuteman complex
in accordance with an Intra-Municipality Agreement. However, the Minuteman School is currently
seeking additional funding partners, putting Lexington's time allotments for the fields as well as other
parts of the agreement, in doubt. Minuteman will not have any other partnerships confrr lied until late
summer, so it is not possible to move forward on this project at this Town Meeting.
Project Description(Category) Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(g) Old Reservoir Bathhouse $620,000 CPF (Cash) Approval(6-0)
Renovation(Recreation)
"FY2020 funds will be used for the implementation of the construction phase at the Old Reservoir
bathhouse. A feasibility study was completed in FY2019 and based on the findings it was decided to
renovate the bathhouse instead of demolition. The project will include repairs to the plumbing system,
installation of all new fixtures, installation of new aerators, replacement of the existing roof,
reconfiguration of the main entrance, addition of a small program space, and the installation of a new
shade structure. Based on the findings in the ADA Compliance Study completed in 2017,the bathhouse is
not ADA-compliant in its current condition. The renovation will address the accessibility issues in the
bathhouse, as well as the walkway and surrounding site."
(Brown Book, Page XI-18)
Amount Funding Source
Project Description(Category) Requested Committee Recommends
(h) Park Improvements -Hard
Court Resurfacing (Recreation) $70,000 CPA(Cash) Approval (6-0)
"This ongoing program provides funding for resurfacing, painting and striping the hard-court surfaces at
Recreation facilities. These facilities include neighborhood Basketball Courts, Center Track and Tennis
Courts at the Center Complex, Clark Middle School, Adams Park and Valley Park. The FY2020 funding
request will address the specific needs at Adams Park including resurfacing, painting, and re-striping the
tennis courts and basketball courts as well as the installation of a new bike rack. These repairs of hard-
court surfaces will increase their quality and safety."
(Brown Book,Page XI-19)
Amount Funding Source
Project Description(Category) Requested Committee Recommends
(i)Park Improvements—Athletic $435,000 CPA(Cash) Approval (6-0)
Fields (Recreation)
"This ongoing multi-year capital program is to address safety and playability concerns as well as
providing adequate and safe field conditions. This program funds improvements to athletic fields
including renovations to natural turf, drainage, new irrigation systems, and site amenities including
benches and backstops. The FY2020 funds will be used for improvements to the Diamond Middle School
44
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Field. The renovations will include drainage, laser grading, and new irrigation controls. An ADA
Compliance Study was completed in 2017 and identified the need for an accessible route between the ball
fields and their respective team areas. An accessible route will be installed along the fence on the west
side of the site that connects the ball fields to each other and the parking lot. if approved, renovations will
begin in the Fall of 2019."
(Brown Book,Page X1-19)
Amount Funding Source
Project Description(Category) Requested Committee Recommends
(j) Playground Replacement $302,000 CPA(Cash) Approval (6-0)
Program—Bridge (Recreation)
"This FY2020 request will fund the update and replacement of playground equipment and surfacing
behind the Bridge Elementary School and playfields. Proposed improvements will renovate and
rehabilitate existing safety surfacing and equipment so that the site will be in compliance with Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the
American with Disabilities Act(ADA)."
(Brown Book,Page X1-17)
Project Description(Category) Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(k) LexHAB Rehabilitation Funding $99,700 CPA(Cash) Approval (5-1)
(Community Housing)
"The FY2020 funding request seeks funding to preserve, rehabilitate, and restore unit housing of 12
properties in Lexington some of which were acquired with CPA funds. There are currently 72 units of
affordable housing in LexHAB's inventory. The "preservation of community housing is a permissible use
of CPA funds. The "restoration" and "rehabilitation" of community housing is permitted only where the
housing was originally acquires or created using CPA funds. Natural deterioration requires period
preservation and rehabilitation. The work includes, kitchen and bath renovations as well as roof
replacements. The proposed project is in accordance with Lexington's goals of contributing a sizable
complement of affordable housing to keep the Town's inventory at a minimum level of 10% of the total
number of residential units in Town."
(Brown Book, Page XI-23)
One member opposes this because this work is being proposed before LexHAB presents a request to
provide long-overdue, higher priority, affordable housing on the Town-purchased Vine Street property.
Project Description(Category) Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(1) CPA Debt Service (Multiple) $3,094,680 CPF (Cash) Approval (6-0)
(Brown Book,Page X1-15)
CPA Debt Service
Wright Farm Acquisition $365,800
Community Center Acquisition $917,100
Cary Memorial Building Upgrades $812,200
Center Track & Field Reconstruction $999,580
Total $3,094,680
(Based on CPC Presentation to Board of Selectmen, March 11, 2018)
The first three entries (totaling $2,095,100) are for already established obligations based on previous
financing of CPA projects.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
The last is for the $56,580 of interest owed on the initial obligation-a Bond Anticipation Note (BAN)
for $2,289,000 to be issued in June, 2019, and maturing in February, 2020-and the scheduled pay-down
of$943,000 before a follow-on BAN.
(Based on Community Preservation Committee report to the 2019 Annual Town Meeting,Pages 23 &24)
Project Description(Category) Amount Requested Funding Source Committee Recommends
(m) Administrative Budget(same as $150,000 CPF (Cash) Approval (6-0)
title)
(Brown Book,Page XI-16, *footnote)
Of the request:
• $50,000 is for the planning, legal, survey and appraisal work associated with the acquisition of
open space. Such funds will enable the Conservation Commission to complete the due diligence
required to prepare for a land acquisition. While other Town projects use "study monies" to
investigate the benefits of a particular project, the Conservation Commission does not have the
advantage of this type of lead-time. It must often act quickly to evaluate a property through legal,
survey and appraisal work. Without designating these funds for open space planning, the CPC's
charge of allocating a portion of its revenues to open-space preservation would be hindered.
• The remaining $100,000 funds administrative, legal, membership, and advertising expenses.
Included are funds for a year-round, 3 days/week, administrative assistant (the Town's GF covers
the other 2 days) and $7,900 for membership in the Community Preservation Coalition, a
Statewide, non-profit, organization working on behalf of communities who have adopted the
CPA.
If any of these appropriated Administrative Budget funds are not required by the end of the fiscal year,
that balance will become part of the Undesignated Fund Balance and, thus,part of the CPF's total amount
available for later appropriation.
The following shows the past use of each year's appropriation for the Administrative Budget.
Use of the CPA Administrative Budget
Amounts (rounded)
Fiscal Appropriation Percentage Returned to
Year Each Year Used Used the CPF
2007 $25,000 $926 4% $24,074
2008 $50,000 $45,495 91% $4,505
2009 $75,000 $75,000 100% $0
2010 $81,270 54% $68,730
2011 $52,784 35% $97,216
2012 $78,955 53% $71,045
2013 $96,577 64% $53,423
2014 $150,000 $77,490 52% $72,510
2015 $121,911 81% $28,089
2016 $61,844 41% $88,156
2017 $54,871 37% $95,129
2018 $62,197 41% $87,803
Total $1,500,000 I $809,320 54% $690,680
Article 15: Appropriate for Funding
Funds Requested Committee Recommends
Recreation Capital Source
Projects $125,000 R&CP EF (RE) See Below
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Project Description(CPA Category) Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(a) Pine Meadows Improvement $75,000 R&RCE)EF Approval (6-0)
"This request is to conduct a series of improvements at the Pine Meadows Golf Club including sand
bunker renovations, replacing degraded cart paths, and improving accessibility. The improvements will
include reconstructing the bunkers on the 6th and 7th green, filling in the sand bunker on the 5th hole to a
grass hollow and regrading the approach. It also includes reconstructing the cart paths on the 1st hole by
the green to the 2nd tee and from the parking lot to the 5th tee, relocating the car path at the 4th green,
extending the cart path on the 6th and 7th holes, repairing and grading. An impending curb will be
removed and an accessible path from the accessible parking spaces to the practice area abutting the
parking lot will be installed. Improvements are recommended to provide quality playing conditions and
will ensure an enjoyable golfing experience."
(Brown Book, Page XI-19)
Project Description(CPA Category) Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(b) Recreation Community Needs R&CP EF
Assessment $50,000 (RE) Approval(6-0)
"This is a new capital request to prepare a needs assessment of the Town-owned and operated recreational
programs, facilities, and infrastructure. A consultant will be hired to complete the assessment, which will
build off of Recreation's 2014-2016 Strategic Plan and the Town's 2015 Open Space and Recreation Plan
Update. Through an extensive community outreach process, the needs assessment will provide critical
data that will be used to determine which programs, services and facilities are of most value to
Lexington's residents and inform what programs and amenities the department should offer in the future.
The assessment will also advise what significant capital projects should be prioritized in the coming
years."
(Brown Book, Page XI-19)
Article 16: Appropriate for Funding
Funds Requested Committee Recommends
Municipal Capital Source
Projects and Equipment
$24,593,077 $12,301,730 GF
($23,619,281 to be Debt)+ $2,616,801
appropriated) GF (Cash)+
$2,245,000 GF (Free
Cash) + $2,470,000
Water EF (Debt)+
$775,000 Water EF See Below
(RE) + $2,470,000
Wastewater EF
(Debt)+ $700,000
Wastewater EF (RE)
+ $40,750 Parking
Meter Fund+
$973,796 Chapter 90
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
$75,000 GF
(a) Hydrant Replacement Program $150,000 (Free Cash) + Approval (6-0)
$75,000 Water
EF (RE)
"This is an ongoing replacement program designed to maintain the integrity of the fire protection system
throughout town. Faulty hydrants need to be replaced to meet safety requirements. A list of hydrants needing
replacement is generated each year during the annual inspection and flushing of hydrants by the Water and Fire
Departments. Based on discussions between the two departments, the target goal is to replace approximately
60 hydrants per year at a cost of$2,500 per hydrant. The Town of Lexington has 1,500 fire hydrants in its fire
protection system; a total of 481 hydrants have been replaced."
(Brown Book, Page XI-21)
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(b) Storm Drainage Improvements GF (Free
and NPDES Compliance $385,000 Cash) Approval (6-0)
"This is an annual request to replace and supplement existing drainage structures, issues typically
uncovered during roadway related construction activity. Funds will also be used for continued compliance
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Phase 11 regulations which help improve the water
quality of Lexington's streams and ponds. Approximately $115,000 of this funding request is for
compliance with the construction related portions of the National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination
System (NPDES) minimum control measures as mandated by the EPA in the stormwater general permit.
The increase is due to the release of the new permit that requires the Town to comply with additional
requirements which include illicit discharge detection and elimination,best management practices (BMP),
installation, and retrofits. The remaining $270,000 will be used to repair/replace drainage structures
encountered during road construction, repair other drainage areas of concern in the Town and improve
storm water issues discovered during NPDES investigation work. Areas of drainage concern that have
recently been improved are the Wildwood Road/Wood Street area, Augustus Road area and Webster
Road area. Illicit discharge detection has been ongoing in the Vine Brook and Mill Brook areas where
contamination has been identified. The pre-emptive repair of existing drainage structures will reduce
damage to structures themselves, existing pavement and private and public property."
(Brown Book,Page XI-20)
More information about this project is in the section titled Programs, Public Works, Stormwater
Drainage and the NPDES, on Page 24.
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(c) Comprehensive Watershed GF (Free
Stormwater Management Study and $390,000 Cash) Approval (6-0)
Implementation
"DPW, Engineering and Conservation collaborate on this annual capital request which addresses
drainage/brook management issues. The request funds the continuing design and implementation of
watershed plans and the construction of priorities established in those plans. Staff has reviewed three
watershed plans already completed (Charles River, Shawsheen River and Mystic River) and developed a
prioritization schedule with built-in flexibility pending unforeseen changes. Requested funding will be
used to move forward with those prioritized areas. The Whipple Brook area is in currently under
construction and design work is in progress in the Valleyfield area. A thorough evaluation has been
completed in the Oxbow Constitution area with design now in progress. Long-term benefits of the
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
program include prevention of property damage, reduction in liability and overall improvement to the
health of Lexington's waterways."
(Brown Book,Page X1-21)
More information about this project is in the section titled Programs, Public Works, Comprehensive
Watershed Stormwater Management Systems on Page 25.
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(d) Townwide Culvert Replacement $390,000 GF (Free Approval (6-0)
Cash)
"This request is part of an ongoing program to replace culverts that are at or near failure. On-going
culvert inspections continue to reveal a need for the replacement program as many older culverts are
failing. This program is a companion effort with the ongoing Watershed Management Plan. Detailed
design evaluation is complete for the Oxbow Constitution Road area and has shown the need of culvert
replacement or daylighting which will be funded with this request. The design work for Valleyfield Phase
1 is near completion. Of the funding requested, $250,000 is estimated for construction costs necessary for
culvert replacement, $65,000 is for design, permitting and bidding, and the remainder is for contingency.
Proactive replacement of townwide culverts prior to failure will allow for proper design considerations
and funding while also minimizing the impact to residents through unexpected road closures and
flooding."
(Brown Book,Page XI-21)
More information about this project is in the section titled Programs, Public Works, Culverts on Page 25.
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(e) Center Streetscape $9,101,730 GF (Debt) Approval (6-0)
Improvements—Construction
"This project will restore and improve the center sidewalk, streetscape and circulation with a focus on
pedestrian safety and accessibility. Past funding has allowed the design to progress to 25%. An FY2015
request of $600,000 provided funding to complete the design and develop plans and specifications
necessary for bidding the project. The 25% plans were further revised based on recommendations from
the Center Streetscape Ad-Hoc Committee and Board of Selectmen and included the assistance of
additional professionals including historians, irrigation consultants, lighting consultants and tree
consultants.
"in Fall 2018, an additional $550,000 was approved to bring the project to 100% design. The current
funding request is for the construction of the streetscape project. The construction phase will include
pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular safety improvements; the restoration, removal and replacement of the
sidewalk along the northerly and southerly side of Massachusetts Avenue from Woburn Street to Merriam
Street; streetscape improvements; improved lighting; as well as other aspects developed in the plans. In
addition to the restoration of these areas, all of the existing pedestrian corridors and ramps will be brought
into ADA compliance."
(Brown Book,Page XI-7)
The 75% design cost estimate has been completed, and the total estimated cost of the project has been
reduced from $9,273,880 to $9,101,730, with the overall contingency built into this estimate reduced
from 20% to 10%, reflecting the greater certainty of the estimates of the individual cost elements. Full
construction funding is being requested at this ATM, with the construction work planned to be completed
over two construction seasons from the spring of 2021 through the fall of 2022. In the meantime, the
Town is pursuing possible grant funding options that may offset some of the cost of the project; these
grants require that full funding of the project already be in place.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
More information about this project is in the section titled Programs, Public Works, Town Center
Streetscape Project, on Page 25.
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
$2,470,000
Water EF
Debt/MWRA
Loan+
$2,470,000
Wastewater
(f)Automatic Meter Reading System $5,940,000 Debt/MWRA Approval (5-1)
Loan+
$500,000
Water EF (RE)
+ $500,000
Wastewater
EF (RE)
"An FY2018 appropriation provided funding to contract with a firm to evaluate the existing meter
equipment for compatibility with an Automatic Meter Reading system. As a result of that evaluation,
FY2020 funds are requested to install a townwide Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) radio read
system that will give the ability to read meters more frequently from a remote location. Residents will be
able to access their accounts to view water use for budgeting and conservation. Staff will be able to detect
leaks in a more-timely manner and reduce water loss, costly repairs and abatements. The AMI system is
comprised of computer software/hardware, new meters if the meter is 10 years old or older, meter
transmitters, optional repeaters, and the base station receiver. The implementation of a Townwide AM!
will provide the Town with more frequent meter readings and will allow for quarterly billing, a benefit for
both staff and residents."
(Brown Book, Page XI-12, -13, & -20)
This project seeks to convert the system of reading meters in Town from one that is primarily
accomplished by Town employees scanning meter-reading pads on the outside of each building to an
automated system in which water meters will continuously report wirelessly to several receiving antennas
placed throughout the Town. It is expected that all older meters will be replaced, over a three-year period,
with more accurate solid-state meters that have transmitting attachments powered by batteries with a
15—year life (the same approximate life of the meters). Newer meters that do not require replacement will
be retrofitted with the same transmitting devices. While there will be some cost savings with this system,
the major benefits will be in the reduction of unreported leaks, the ability of the Town and residents to
monitor for unusual water activity, and the greater equity among users due to the more-accurate meters.
This project includes the cost of meter replacements that is normally part of the operating budget. We
have been told the cost of these replacements by themselves is estimated to be approximately$2M.
A majority of the Committee supports this project due to the potential for better water usage cost
allocation, reduced abatements, more quickly spotting large whole-system leaks, increased cost and
meter-reading staff efficiency, and allowing interested homeowners to monitor their water usage
continuously. The total unaccounted-for water in 2018 was significant: 6.4% of the water purchased from
the MWRA.
One member acknowledges minor benefits from moving to this new technology, but ultimately opposed
the Article due to concerns about the substantial project cost at a time when the Town has many capital
demands, the ambiguous amount of the cost savings, the minimal return on investment, and the impact of
rising water rates on residents.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(g) Sidewalk Improvements $800,000 GF (Debt) Approval (6-0)
"This request seeks funds to rebuild and/or repair existing sidewalks that are in poor condition. DPW (in
conjunction with various committees and town departments) generates a list each year of sidewalks most
in need of repair/replacement, based on four determining factors:
1)Is the sidewalk unsafe for travel due to trip hazards, defects, etc.
2) is the sidewalk within the Safe Routes to School Program
3) is the volume of pedestrian traffic heavy, light or average
4)Is the general condition of the sidewalk poor, fair or good which dictates treatments such as
full reconstruction, overlay or patching
"DPW successfully completed a sidewalk condition survey in early 2015 with the help of an engineering
firm, Fay, Spofford & Thorndike and is currently working from the priority list compiled by the report.
Sidewalks considered for FY2020 funding include:
• Lowell St. from East. St. to Woburn St. (West Side)
• Concord Ave. from Pleasant St. to Waltham St. (East Side) • Ingleside Road
• Grant St. from Hayes Lane to East St.
• Reconstruction of Ramps, Townwide
•Abernathy Road
• Carnegie Place
• Waltham St. from Park Dr. to Worthen Rd. (West side)
• Worthen Rd. from Waltham St. to Kendall Rd.
• Tidd Circle
"The followin table presents the recent history of Sidewalk appropriations:
FY2013 FY2014* FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
$ 300,000 $ 400,000 $ 400,000 $ 600,000 $ 600,000 $ 800,000 $ 800,000
*Does not include $200,000 of a$600,000 appropriation that was designated for the construction of a Hartwell Avenue mixed
use path."
(Brown Book, Page XI-8)
The Town's current practice is to request separate funding for new sidewalks (e.g., see Article 16(h) for a
new sidewalk) from the extraordinary maintenance/replacement work in the existing,residential, sidewalk
network. Therefore, it should be noted that the FY2016 entry in that funding history doesn't acknowledge
that of the $600,000, $120,000 was used for two, new, residential sidewalks. Therefore, as was done for
FY2014 when there was an earlier diversion, the history amount for FY2016 was actually$480,000.
The preliminarily proposed work using FY2020 funding would total more than 18,000 linear feet, and
includes design(as needed), as well as reconstruction of existing sidewalks in residential areas.
More information about this project is in the section titled Projects, Public Works, Sidewalks on Page 21.
This Committee applauds that the funding request is in the range of the earlier-explained
recommendation by our sidewalk consultant (BETA) to require, in current year dollars, $750,000 just to
maintain current conditions and$825,000 to enhance both quantity and quality.
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(h) Hill Street New Sidewalk Project $1,500,000 GF (Debt) Approval (6-0)
"This request will fund the construction of a new sidewalk along the 0.7 mile stretch of road from
Bedford Street to Cedar Street. There are currently no pedestrian accommodations along the roadway
which is designated as a Rural Minor Collector and abuts approximately 45 residences as well as the
Lexington Golf Club and Poor Fat_11 Conservation Area. The roadway is winding which creates sight line
issues. A survey of the roadway was conducted which included preliminary evaluations of sidewalk
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
locations along both sides of the street. Design is underway with the completion of preliminary plans that
are under review by the Engineering Division. Construction of the sidewalk would support the Town's
efforts towards creating Complete Streets which creates opportunities for alternative transportation modes
that are safe and accessible to all users."
(Brown Book,Page XI-9)
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
$900,000 GF
(Debt) +
$200,000
(i) Equipment Replacement $1,300,000 Water EF (RE) Approval (6-0)
+ $200,000
Wastewater
EF (RE)
"This is an annual request to replace equipment that is beyond its useful life and whose mechanical
condition no longer meets the requirements of the Department of Public Works (DPW). The DPW has an
inventory of 146 pieces of equipment including sedans, hybrid SUVs, construction vehicles and
specialized equipment used to mow parks, plow snow, repair streets and complete a variety of other
projects. Without regular equipment replacement, the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the DPW's
operations would be handicapped due to equipment down time and excessive repair costs.
"Each piece of equipment is inventoried with original and current replacement cost, state of condition and
replacement time interval. Replacement intervals vary from 5 to 20 years and are based on manufacturer
recommendations and use(type and duration).
"The selection of vehicles to be replaced begins with the proposed replacement date. Then each vehicle is
assessed as to its mechanical condition and work requirements. The systematic replacement program
defines what equipment is expected to need replacement during the next five years with the intent of
preventing any unexpected emergency purchases. Annual updates are conducted by the Road Machinery
Division, Division Superintendents and reviewed by the Manager of Operations and Director of Public
Works.
"The FY2020 request, by funding source, is shown in the table below.
Wastewater
Equipment GF Debt Water Debt Debt Total
Elgin Street Sweeper- Highway $ 245,000 $ 245,000
Schmidt Spreaders- Highway $ 260,000 $ 260,000
Various Equipment Trailers- Highway $ 50,000 $ 50,000
Brush Bandit Chipper- Public Grounds $ 90,000 $ 90,000
Ford F350 Pickup with Plow- Public Grounds 95,000 $ 95,000
F450 Dump Truck with Plow- Public Grounds $ 110,000 $ 110,000
Infield Machine 4020- Public Grounds $ 50,000 $ 50,000
Vactor Truck-Water&Wastewater $ 200,000 200,000 $ 400,000
Total $ 900,000 $ 200,000 $ 200,000 $ 1,300,000
"(Brown Book,Page XI-8 & -20)
More information about this project is in the section titled Programs, Public Works, DPW Equipment on
Page 26.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(j) Townwide Signalization GF (Free
Improvements $125,000 Cash) Approval(6-0)
"This is an annual request for funds to update traffic and pedestrian signals in Lexington. A signal
inventory and compliance study has been completed. The study includes ADA compliance, condition
assessment, signal timing, delays, and prioritization recommendations. The design at the intersection of
Massachusetts Avenue at Worthen Road is going into environmental permitting shortly and design is near
completion. The project is expected to go out to bid in the winter with construction starting in 2019. This
funding request will be used for improvements at either the intersection of Lowell Street at East Street or
Lowell Street at North Street. The improvements will prevent equipment failure, improve traffic flow,
decrease energy consumption, and allow for proper accessibility."
(Brown Book, Page XI-22)
More information about this project is in the section titled Programs, Public Works, Townwide Signal
Improvements on Page 22.
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
$3,590,597 $2,616,801
(k) Street Improvements ($2,616,801 of GF (Cash) + Approval (6-0)
which is to be $973,796
appropriated) Chapter 90
"This is an annual request for the street resurfacing and maintenance program. In addition to the
$2,616,801 appropriated from the tax levy, $973,796 of Chapter 90 funds will be utilized. (Chapter 90
funding is based on Lexington's most recent allocation and on the current state allocation of$200 million
statewide). Funds will be used for design, inspections, planning, repair, patching, crack sealing and
construction of roadways and roadway related infrastructure including repair and installation of
sidewalks. A preliminary list of the streets to be repaired under this article is currently being developed. A
pavement management system is utilized to assist in analyzing the road network and selecting roadways
for repairs. This funding will allow for the proper improvements and repair of Lexington's streets and
sidewalks, increasing their quality and safety...."
(Brown Book, Page XI-20)
The State's Chapter 90 funding does not need to be appropriated.
This Committee welcomes that the total funding has not dropped from the $3,500,000 amount provided
for in FY2019—which makes the FY2019 request the 6`h year in a row above the$3,000,000 level that the
Town's roads consultant (BETA) has recommended as the amount needed to bring the average road
conditions fully to the `Routine Maintenance" level of needed repair. The Town's recent efforts have
successfully raised the average condition of the streets and lowered the repair backlog.
More information about this project is in the section titled Programs, Public Works, Roads on Page 20.
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(1) Transportation Mitigation $100,000 GF (Free Approval (6-0)
Cash)
"This annual capital request is to support the ongoing work of the Transportation Safety Group (TSG).
The TSG is staffed by the Planning, Engineering, School and Police Departments. Between FY2008 and
FY2011, Town Meeting appropriated funds to collect data, perfottn analysis, review citizen requests and
recommendations for various townwide transportation improvements in support of the Traffic Mitigation
53
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Group (dissolved in 2012 and later reconstituted as the TSG). Due to an increase in the number of citizen
requests received over the past few years, the TSG seeks to continue this funding for FY2020 and
anticipates the need to be ongoing in order to ensure that transportation safety remains a critical part of
Lexington's quality of life. The FY2020 funds are proposed for evaluation, engineering and construction
of crosswalks and the installation of pedestrian-activated beacons at crosswalks, including locations on
Crosby Road near the Hastings Elementary School."
(Brown Book,Page XI-18)
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(m) Municipal Technology $150 000 GF (Free Approval (6-0)
Improvement Program Cash)
"This FY2020 capital request is part of a multi-phase program to enhance the Town's network storage
capabilities. Previous appropriations have funded the initial installation and subsequent expansion of
server area network (SAN) equipment in the server rooms at both the Town Office Building and 201
Bedford Street. These appropriations also funded the purchase of necessary software to assist with file
storage, archiving and discovery. The FY2020 request will fund the replacement of an end-of-life (EOL)
storage area network (SAN) to ensure compatibility with developing focus on cloud based services. In
addition to SAN needs, equipment will be purchased to assist with data transfer to Cloud services and
Cloud backup and Disaster Recovery needs. Future year funding will be to continue to expand the meet
data storage capacity and data management and expanding Backup capacity to match the file storage
growth. The need for the equipment is driven by rapidly growing data sets and unstructured files due to
email archiving requirements under State Public Records Laws. This capital will provide the ability to
continue to support the Town's application and storage needs."
(Brown Book,Page XI-22)
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(n)Application $150,000 GF (Free Cash) Approval (6-0)
Implementation
"This capital project is for large application migrations and implementations. FY2020 funding will be
used to investigate the future of Town email communications. A consultant will be utilized to analyze the
Town's needs, provide recommendations on the direction the Town should take, assist with the
development of documentation and drafting a Statement of Work for the project. This funding will also
support the migration of select virtual servers to a cloud platform (e.g. Azure or Amazon) and the design
of a Disaster Recovery solution to include software and failover of the new cloud hosted virtual server
environment. This effort is to assist with the Town technology footprint consolidation initiatives and to
improve application resiliency."
(Brown Book,Page XI-22)
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(o)Network Core Equipment $480 000 GF (Free Approval (6-0)
Replacement Cash)
"The purpose of this multi-year capital funded project is to replace aging equipment or add new
equipment to the Town's core voice and data network. During FY2017 and FY2018, the Town completed
network and cybersecurity assessments. Those assessments provided targeted recommendations for
changes in the network. The FY2019 capital request was for the replacement of the end-of-life (EOL)
core equipment, the Town Firewalls. The FY2020 capital request is for replacement of the EOL core
network hardware including EOL core switches and the addition of one redundant core switch. In addition
to the replacement of existing hardware, this request covers the services for the network reprogramming,
54
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
installation of the equipment and the addition of software to address network security monitoring and
management needs."
(Brown Book,Page X1-22)
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(p) Electrical Vehicle Charging Parking Meter
Stations $40,750 Fund Approval (6-0)
"This FY2020 funding request is for the purchase and installation of five electric vehicle charging stations
(plus room for expansion) that will be placed in municipal parking lots in the Town center. Eversource
will provide the pads and bring electricity to the charging stations at no cost to the Town. Users of the
stations will pay the cost of the electricity and a parking fee. The funding source for the purchase and
installation of the chargers is the Parking Meter Fund, and future parking revenues generated from the use
of these charging stations will be deposited in the Parking Meter Fund."
(Brown Book, Page XI-22)
Eversource, under its Make Ready program, has brought power to, and prepared for the installation of,
five new chargers in Town lots. The Town is purchasing the five chargers, which can each charge two
electric vehicles in adjacent parking spaces. The Town has applied for a State grant that would cover up
to 80%of the cost of the chargers.
Article 17: Appropriate for Funding
Funds Requested Committee Recommends
Water Distribution Source
System Improvements
Water EF
$2,200,000 (Debt)/MWRA Approval(6-0)
Loan
"This is an annual program that replaces unlined, inadequate, aged and vulnerable water mains,
deteriorated service connections and eliminates dead ends in the water mains. Water main replacement
has been completed on Vaille Avenue, and a portion of the water mains on Page Road and Green Lane
have been replaced, with work ongoing. Design is in progress for the Hartwell Avenue main replacement
and the Town will begin design on several other roadways including Peacock Fai n Road and Eldred
Street.
"The Town has also completed a hydraulic model for the entire distribution network and an asset
management plan for replacing the Town's aging water infrastructure that will ensure a proactive
approach for keeping Lexington's water both safe and reliable. The model identifies areas of
vulnerability, water aging, and those areas with low volumes and pressures, and the asset management
plan recommends the replacement of 1% of our water mains on an annual basis. The FY2020 funding
request for this annual program has been increased to meet these recommendations."
(Brown Book,Page X1-12)
More information about this project is in the section titled Programs, Public Works, Water Distribution
System on Page 23.
Article 18: Appropriate for Funding
Funds Requested Committee Recommends
Wastewater System Source
Improvements
$1,700,000 Wastewater EF See Below
(Debt)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(a) Sanitary Sewer System Wastewater
Investigation and Improvements $1,000,000 EF (Debt) Approval (6-0)
"This is an annual program that provides for rehabilitation of sanitary sewer infrastructure. Work will
include replacement or repair of deteriorated sewers, force mains and manholes in order to improve flow
and reduce inflow and infiltration into the system. Engineering investigation and evaluation will continue
on sewers throughout town, including those in remote, hard to access areas. A significant lining project in
the Dunback Meadow area and the Bow Street area along Mill Brook, has been completed. The next
rehabilitation is anticipated in sewer basins 2 and 12 followed by rehabilitation in subareas 11 and 13.
These capital investments improve the operation of the sewer system, reduce backups and potential
overflows, prevent system malfunctions and reduce the measured flows through the MWRA meter."
(Brown Book, Page XI-13)
More infonnation about this project is in the section titled Programs, Public Works, Wastewater System
on Page 23.
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(b) Pump Station Upgrades $700,000 Wastewater Approval(6-0)
EF (Debt)
"This is an ongoing program to upgrade Lexington's ten sewer pumping stations. A 2013 evaluation and
capital plan was developed for the Town with the assistance of Wright-Pierce, including a detailed
engineering survey of the pump stations. The survey helped determine current and future needs, timetable
and probable costs for the proposed work. The Worthen Road pump station construction is near
completion. The construction for both the Marshall Road and Constitution Road pump stations are
expected to go out to bid soon. Design for the Hayden Ave pump station will begin soon and will be
followed by construction. It is anticipated that the North Street and Bowman Street pump stations will be
the next in line for design, however stations are constantly monitored and schedules adjusted to meet
more urgent needs. The goal of this program is to upgrade all the pumps and support systems to enable
better energy efficiency and avoid emergency expenditures."
(Brown Book, Page XI-13)
More information about this project is in the section titled Programs, Public Works, Wastewater System
on Page 23.
Article 19: Appropriate for Funds Requested Funding Committee Recommends
School Capital Projects Source
and Equipment
$1,019,812 GF
$1,743,900 (Free Cash)+ Approval(6-0)
$724,088 GF(Debt)
"This request addresses the District's strategic goal for enhancing the capacity to utilize technology as an
instructional and administrative tool. The request will increase student access to devices to allow for
innovative learning methods that integrate supportive technologies, problem- based approaches and
higher order thinking skills.
"This capital improvement project for FY2020 would provide funding for the following:
Tech Workstations - $360,000 is requested to replace mobile devices (iPads and Chromebooks) for
teachers, students and staff Laptops for existing teachers will be replaced and laptops for new staff will
be purchased.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
1:1 Middle School Program - $204,600 will fund the replacement of end of life iPads with Chromebooks
for one grade level.
Elementary Mobile Devices - $56,700 will purchase additional carts of Chromebooks and computer carts.
Chromebook carts will be relocated from LHS to elementary schools.
1:1 at LHS- $412,500 for continuation of a 1:1 device program at LHS for two grade levels.
STEAM/Computer Science - $68,800 will purchase Google Expeditions Virtual Field Trip kits for grades
K-8. PadCaster videography kits will also be purchased, and the LHS Computer Science Lab will be
updated.
Upgrade District and Building Network Infrastructure - $183,000 will (1) replace 130 WAPs at the
Harrington, Bridge, and Bowman to High Capacity WAPs to handle increased Wifi connected devices,
(2) add 2960x48 Port POE switches to the Bridge and Bowman schools, (3) add 2960x48 Port POE
switches to the Harrington School to handle power requirements for new WAPS, (4) add new network
cabinet for CO-currently over capacity, and(5) add 10 WAPs for district-wide replacements as needed.
Interactive Projector/Whiteboard Units - $252,000 is requested to replace 63 projectors district- wide.
This equips buildings with either a touch-activated interactive system with a new ceramic whiteboard and
speakers, or an interactive TV. The replacements will begin with the oldest model per school until all
systems are within a 4-year window with all of the same functionality.
Server/Storage Infrastructure - $180,000 will replace 6 cache servers to support online computer- based
testing at the elementary schools, a second virtual server to allow for additional in-house file storage
capacity, as well as additional cache servers needed to support online computer-based testing at the
middle and high schools.
Backup Power Project - $35,000 will add all HS data cabinets for Vo1P and Network to emergency
backup."
(Brown Book,Page XI-10 & -17)
The back-up to this request included a full 5-year plan with costs and this Committee commends the LPS
for that.
Article 20: Appropriate for Funding
Funds Requested Committee Recommends
Public Facilities Source
Capital Projects
$3,405,000 GF
$4,744,053 (Debt)+ $1,135,188 See Below
GF (Free Cash)+
$203,865 GF(Cash)
More information about many of these projects is in the section titled Programs, Public Facilities on
Page 28.
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(a) Public Facilities Bid Documents $100,000 GF (Free Approval (6-0)
Cash)
"This is an annual request for funding of professional services to produce design development,
construction documents and/or bid administration services for smaller projects in anticipation of requests
for construction funding at town meeting that have a high probability of approval. This will ensure that
the projects can be completed in the then-current construction season, which is particularly important for
the timely completion of school building projects given the short window between the end of school in
June and the beginning of school the following August."
(Brown Book,Page XI-17)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(b) Facility and Site Improvements See Below
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(1) Building Flooring Program $125,000 GF (Free Approval (6-0)
Cash)
"Initiated in FY2011, this is an annual request for funds to be used for the replacement of flooring
systems in municipal and school buildings. The FY2020 request will be used for continuing
replacements at the Diamond Middle School stairwells, Central Administration Building and Town
Office Building. In FY2019 flooring projects at the Diamond and Clarke middle school libraries and
the Cary Library were completed. The goal of this annual program is to ensure floor surfaces remain
clean and safe for all users."
(Brown Book,Page XI-17)
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(2) School Paving& Sidewalks GF (Free
Program $326,740 Cash) Approval(6-0)
"This capital request provides 'as needed' replacement of sidewalks, bus loops and parking areas on
school grounds. The FY2020 request will specifically fund sidewalk panel replacements and parking
and roadway improvements at the Fiske Elementary School which are currently in poor condition.
Extraordinary repairs for school paving areas are necessary to maintain parking and pedestrian
surfaces in a condition suitable for public safety and Safe Routes to School."
(Brown Book,Page XI-17)
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(c) Municipal Building Envelopes $203,865 GF (Cash) Approval(6-0)
and Systems
"This ongoing capital request, originally approved for funding in the 2006 Proposition 21/2 Override,
includes repair and replacement projects for the maintenance and upgrade of municipal buildings and
systems. The FY2020 request seeks funding for continued implementation of extraordinary repairs to the
foundation and original drainage system of the Lexington Community Center. The Town contracted with
CBI to review the existing interior and exterior condition. By performing exploratory test pit excavations
and water testing, it appears that the recurring water intrusion issues found in the fascia and soffits are
mainly attributable to holes, voids and failed seals at penetrations through the existing building mill work.
This project will repair ongoing foundation deterioration which will secure the health of occupants who
utilize the basement area."
(Brown Book,Page XI-17)
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(d) School Building Envelopes and GF (Free
Systems Program $233,448 Cash) Approval (6-0)
"The purpose of this ongoing capital request is to perform annual prioritized extraordinary repairs and
modifications to school buildings and systems. Specifically, the FY2020 request will be used to address
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
repairs of water and air infiltration issues of the gaskets, caulking, doors and windows at the Fiske
Elementary School."
(Brown Book,Page X1-17)
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(e) LHS Field House Track GF (Free
Resurfacing $250,000 Cash) Approval (6-0)
"The FY2020 requests funds to resurface the rubberized track surface in the field house of Lexington
High School. Proposed improvements include resurfacing, painting and striping a new track system. The
current track condition shows signs of severe delamination of the top rubber track surface and the current
surface is uneven. Resurfacing is necessary to maintain the athletic program. Without repair the field
house track will no longer be a safe practice facility for students, athletes, and coaches."
(Brown Book, Page XI-18)
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(f) Public Facilities
Mechanical/Electrical System $605,000 GF (Debt) Approval (6-0)
Replacements
"This request is part of an annual replacement of HVAC and electrical systems that have exceeded their
useful lives and require replacement before excessive failures occur. The FY2020 appropriation will be
used to replace the chiller for Lexington's Community Center. The existing chiller system is under-
performing due to the age of the unit and has exceeded its life-cycle, and if not replaced, the Community
Center may begin to experience unplanned interruptions in service and increased maintenance costs. if
funded, the project would take place in fall of 2020, after the cooling season."
(Brown Book,Page XI-9)
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(g) Westview Cemetery Facility GF (Debt)
Construction with debt
service
partially
funded from
Sale of
$2,800,000 Cemetery Approval A 6-0
Lots Special pp l ( )
RF and
partially from
GF (Cash)
(with portion
of Burial
revenue)
"FY2020 funds are requested to construct a new building on the Westview Cemetery grounds. The
existing building serves as the cemetery office, meeting area for grieving families and work space for
maintenance staff; however, the facility has deteriorated and needs to be brought up to code. The only
significant upgrade to the building in the last 15 years has been the installation of a new roof. Limited
space does not peg nit private space for grieving families and the maintenance area lacks adequate space
for all equipment to be stored indoors. The renovation or expansion of the building will enhance cemetery
59
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
operations by providing a welcoming and private space for families and visitors and provide staff with
adequate and more efficient office space, storage space and maintenance space.
"An FY2016 appropriation funded an assessment of the current building and operations and an FY2018
appropriation was used to hire an architect to design and engineer the building on the Westview Cemetery
grounds. The Department of Public Works and the Architect have been working closely with the
Department of Public Facilities to determine the best long-term solution for the building. It is expected
that a full set of design specifications and documents will be completed in the near future. This funding
request is based on the FY2018 design."
(Brown Book,Page XI-11)
Delays of various sorts have caused this project to be stretched to a 4-year timeline. While we won't
recap the history, suffice it to say that now is the time to start construction of this building. This
Committee respects that there are legitimate interests in a crematory at the Westview Cemetery and
applauds the Board of Selectmen's forming an Ad hoc Crematory Study Committee. That committee is
aggressively investigating the anticipated use, estimated costs to design, construct, and operate, and will
recommend to that Board whether to move with a crematory. Therefore, any concerns are unwarranted
that the Town will abandon pursuing a crematory.
But first, the Ad hoc Committee must determine that adding a crematory is prudent both for the Town and
the taxpayers. The Study Committee's report will not be available to that Board until after this Town
Meeting; however, that Board has directed that the new building's existing and final design accommodate
compatibility with any approved,future, adjacent, crematory. This building has been needed for a long
time to enhance the cemetery's maintenance and operations. Delaying construction only delays proper
and efficient operations for those on—going services, as well as unnecessarily increasing its ultimate cost.
This Committee urges you to vote in favor of this Motion.
Project Description Amount Funding Source Committee Recommends
Requested
(h) Cary Library Children's Room GF (Free
Renovation Design $100,000 Cash) Approval (6-0)
"Children's spaces in public libraries have changed significantly since the Cary Library was designed in
the late 1990s. Three factors drive these changes - advances in technology, the need for more flexible
spaces, and an increasing urgency around building safety. The current Children's Room has a fixed U-
shaped layout with staff space at the center of the U. This layout makes the room exceedingly difficult to
supervise, and there are multiple spaces that cannot be seen from the staff desk. Beyond safety concerns,
the space needs to be reconfigured to allow for larger attendance at library programs as children's
programs account for more than 75% of all library programs offered.
"This project is anticipated to have three phases. The FY2020 funding request will be used to complete a
feasibility study for renovating the Children's Room in the Cary Library. A feasibility study will allow
staff and community members to work with an architect on a design that improves safety for children
using the space and flexibility for the staff in configuring the space for programming. Additional requests
for full design and construction funding are expected in fiscal years 2021 and 2022, respectively. Private
funding sources will be considered for the construction phase of this project."
(Brown Book,Page XI-19)
Article 21: Rescind Amount for Rescission Original Committee Recommends
Prior Borrowing Authorization
Authorizations $1,130,848 See Below Approval(6-0)
"To see if the Town will vote to rescind the unused borrowing authority voted under previous Town
Meeting articles; or act in any other manner in relation thereto.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
"DESCRIPTION: State law requires that Town Meeting vote to rescind authorized and unissued
debt that is no longer required for its intended purpose."
At the time of this report, the following rescissions are known as being requested because those projects
are completed without needing the remaining borrowing authority:
Unused Borrowing Authorizations to be Rescinded
Rescind
Purpose Original Appropriation Total Appropriation Amount Percentage
Police& Fire/EMS Mobile 2008 ATM,Article 15(k) $156,000.00 $34,971.00 22.42%
Computerization
Estabrook Construction 2012 STM,Article 2 $39,742,248.00 $224,273.00 0.56%
Middle School Space Mining 2015 ATM,Article 18(a) $674,000.00 $313,998.00 46.59%
School Facilities Capital Projects 2015-1 STM,Article 2 $5,386,000.00 $547,951.00 10.17%
Ambulance Replacement 2017 ATM,Article 12(x) $280,000.00 $9,655.00 3.45%
Totals $46,238,248.00 $1,130,848.00 2.45%
Note: No-longer-needed cash balances from issued debt are not a subject for rescission. Those are
normally proposed to Town Meeting for re-appropriation to later Capital Articles of a similar purpose.
Article 22: Establish, Dissolve Funds Requested Funding Committee
and Appropriate To and Source Recommends
From Specified Stabilization
Funds (SFs) Capital SF
(Only those actions related to
Capital) Deposit$1,536,759 GF (Free Cash) Approval(6-0)
Withdraw$5,200,000 to
apply to debt service for Capital SF Approval(6-0)
Exempt Debt
"To see if the Town will vote to create, amend, dissolve, rename and/or appropriate sums of money to and
from Stabilization Funds in accordance with Section 5B of Chapter 40 of the Massachusetts General
Laws for the purposes of: (a) Section 135 Zoning By-Law, (b) Traffic Mitigation, (c) Transportation
Demand Management/Public Transportation, (d) Special Education, (e) Center Improvement District; (f)
Debt Service, (g)Transportation Management Overlay District, (h) Capital; (i) Payment in Lieu of
Parking; (j) Visitor Center Capital Stabilization Fund; (k) Affordable Housing Capital Stabilization Fund;
(1) Water System Capital Stabilization Fund; and (m) Ambulance Stabilization Fund; determine whether
such sums shall be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from available funds, from fees, charges or gifts
or by any combination of these methods; or act in any other manner in relation thereto.
"DESCRIPTION: This Article proposes to establish, dissolve, and/or fund Stabilization Funds for
specific purposes and to appropriate funds therefrom. Money in those funds may be invested and
the interest may then become a part of the particular fund. These funds may later be appropriated
for the specific designated purpose, by a two-thirds vote of an Annual or Special Town Meeting,
for any lawful purpose."
(Town Warrant)
Table 10 below provides a history of appropriations into and out of the Capital Stabilization Fund and
recommendations for FY2020:
Table 10 FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019 FY2020 Budget
Appropriated
Prior Year Balance $3,990,704 $8,048,466 $16,725,947 $23,203,210 $28,597,934 $27,380,277
Appropriation into Capital Stabilization Fund $5,910,726 $9,447,832 $6,991,205 $7,690,398 $3,560,335 $1,536,759
Subtotal-Available for Appropriation $9,901,430 $17,496,298 $23,717,152 $30,893,608 $32,158,269 $28,917,036
Appropriation from Capital Stabilization Fund
Excluded Debt Service Tax Relief $(950,000) $(215,000) $(2,400,000) $(4,500,000) $(5,200,000)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Within Levy Debt Service Mitigation $(919,000) $(620,567) $(710,000) $(324,500) $(573,500) —
Subtotal-Appropriation $(1,869,000) $(835,567) $(710,000) $(2,724,500) $(5,073,500) $(5,200,000)
Interest Income(as of 12/31/18) $16,036 $65,216 $196,058 $428,826 $295,508
Projected Balance of Fund $8,048,466 $16,725,947 $23,203,210 $28,597,934 $27,380,277 $23,717,036
(Brown Book Page ix)
The proposed FY2020 withdrawal from the CSF is to "provide property tax relief related to the Middle
Schools and Elementary Schools modular classrooms debt exclusion vote in May 2016 and initial debt
service related to the new Hastings School, Lexington Children's Place School and new Fire Station."
(Brown Book Page i)
General Information Regarding the CSF: Available cash would be added to the CSF by a majority vote of
this Town Meeting, with the intent that, as having been done in the past and as proposed above, the CSF
will be having continuing withdrawals, by a 213th vote of Town Meetings, to mitigate the tax burden of
major capital projects. The withdrawals are expected to be in the form of amounts cited for appropriation
under the Operating Budget toward debt service—as is the case, again, for this Town Meeting—to be an
additional source, to the extent funds remain in the CSF, toward each year's projected debt service for
projects excluded from the Proposition 2%Z property-tax-levy limit, as approved by the voters, and—to a
much lesser degree—for debt not excluded from that limit(i.e., within the tax-levy limit).
As shown and cited above, for FY2020 there is no proposed mitigation from the CSF for debt service of
within tax–levy debt.
All of the Town's Specified Stabilization Funds are in addition to the Town's General Stabilization Fund.
See Appendix A for a table with information on all the Specified Stabilization Funds.
Article 23: Appropriate to Funds Requested Funding Source Committee Recommends
General Stabilization
Fund N/A N/A Approval of Indefinite
Postponement(6-0)
"To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money to the previously created General
Stabilization Fund in accordance with Section 5B of Chapter 40 of the Massachusetts General Laws;
determine whether the money shall be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from available funds, or by
any combination of these methods; or act in any other manner in relation thereto.
"DESCRIPTION: Money may be appropriated into the Stabilization Fund that may be invested
and the interest may then become part of the fund. These funds may later be appropriated, by a
two-thirds vote of an Annual or Special Town Meeting, for any lawful purpose."
(Town Warrant)
This Article will be Indefinitely Postponed.
rticle 24: Appropriate Funds Requested Funding Source Committee Recommends
from Debt Service
Stabilization Fund $124,057 Debt Service SF Approval(6-0)
"To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money from the Debt Service Stabilization Fund to
offset the FY2020 debt service of the bond dated February 1, 2003, issued for additions and renovations
to the Lexington High School, Clarke Middle School, and Diamond Middle School, as refunded with
bonds dated December 8, 2011; or act in any other manner in relation thereto.
"DESCRIPTION: This Article would allow the Town to pay a portion of the debt service on the
2003 School Bonds from the Debt Service Stabilization Fund set up for that specific purpose."
(Town Warrant)
In August 2006, the Town received over $14 million reimbursement from the Massachusetts School
Building Authority as reimbursement toward the Town's secondary-schools renovation project. After
using over$11 million of those funds to retire short-term debt taken in anticipation of that reimbursement,
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
there was $2,143,079 excess reimbursement that needed to be applied toward the project's long-tenn
exempt debt. By Department of Revenue [DOR] regulations, these funds must be used only to offset debt
service on the outstanding bond for that exempt debt.
With the prior-years' appropriations from this fund and, over the same period interest being earned on the
amount in the fund, the latest provided balance for this year is $548,390 (which reflects the payment
made February 2019). With continued, yearly, appropriation of this same amount($124,057),there would
be an excess amount of$52,161 in the fund in FY2023. The excess amount will also be applied against
exempt debt in FY2023 as the requirement to reserve these funds was to "return"the funds to the taxpayer
through the mitigation of exempt-debt service.
Article 27: Appropriate for Funds Requested Funding Source Committee Recommends
Authorized Capital
Improvements N/A N/A Approval of Indefinite
Postponement(6-0)
"To see if the Town will vote to make supplementary appropriations to be used in conjunction with
money appropriated in prior years for the installation or construction of water mains, sewers and sewerage
systems, drains, streets, buildings, recreational facilities or other capital improvements and equipment that
have heretofore been authorized; determine whether the money shall be provided by the tax levy, by
transfer from the balances in other articles, by transfer from available funds, including enterprise funds
and the Community Preservation Fund, by borrowing, or by any combination of these methods; or act in
any other manner in relation thereto.
"DESCRIPTION: This is an annual article to request funds to supplement existing appropriations
for certain capital projects in light of revised cost estimates that exceed such appropriations."
(Town Warrant)
At this time,there is no planned action under this Article.
Article 32: Addition Of Funding
Funds Requested Committee Recommends
Capital Expenditures Source
Committee-Related
Provisions To The
Representative Town
Meeting And N/A N/A Approval(6-0)
Selectmen-Town
Manager Acts
"To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the Massachusetts General
Court to enact legislation regarding the Town's Capital Expenditures Committee in substantially the form
below, and further to authorize the Board of Selectmen to approve amendments to said act before its
enactment by the General Court that are within the scope of the general objectives of the petition; or act in
any other manner in relation thereto.
`Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the
authority of the same, as follows:
"SECTION 1. Section 3 of Chapter 215 of the Acts of 1929, as previously amended, is hereby amended
by striking the phrase "chairman of the appropriation committee" and inserting in its place the phrase
"chairpersons of the appropriation and capital expenditures committees".
"SECTION 2. Section 2(c) of Chapter 753 of the Acts of 1968, as previously amended, is hereby
amended by inserting after the phrase "appropriation committee" the phrase ", the capital expenditures
committee".
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
"SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
"DESCRIPTION: This Article proposes updates to the Representative Town Meeting and
Selectmen-Town Manager Act to more accurately reflect the Capital Expenditures Committee's
activities and responsibilities throughout the year, including at all Town Meetings."
(Town Warrant)
Section 1 amendment establishes that the Chair of our Committee is also an At-Large Town Meeting
Member. That is important as this Committee, being one of the Town's two finance committees with
formal obligations to Town Meeting, should be assured its Chair will be able to represent it in all matters
at Town Meeting even if not an elected member of Town Meeting. This would establish the same
designation that exists for the Chair of our Appropriation Committee. (The Act also prescribes "No
elected member whose official position entitles him to be a member at large shall act as a member at large
during such time as he remains an elected member.")
Section 2 amendment establishes that our Committee is also explicitly named as being appointed by the
Town Moderator. This Committee has obligations under the statute and,therefore, its appointment should
not rely on subordinate direction to the Moderator. That establishes the same identification as exists for
the Appropriation Committee.
Section 3 expedites when the change would be in effect.
Article 35: Amend Article Funding
III Of Chapter 118 Funds Requested Source Committee Recommends
(Citizen Article)
N/A N/A Disapproval (6-0)
"To see if the Town will vote to amend Article 111 of Chapter 118 of the Code of the Town of Lexington,
to improve debate and subsidiary motion procedures; or to act in any other manner in relation thereto.
"(Inserted by Matthew Daggett and 9 or more registered voters)
"DESCRIPTION: This article proposes revisions to Town meeting's rules of debate, subsidiary
motion, and/or amendment procedures to develop criteria for ensuring a minimum of debate has
occurred before subsidiary motions can be offered or debate closed."
(Town Warrant)
This Committee believes this would not be a constructive change to the Town's By-Law for at least the
following reasons.
First, and this Committee feels is a sufficient basis upon which to oppose this Motion, any Motion
which dictates a change to Town Meeting's present process must propose a change that unambiguously
addresses a continuing need and does not introduce a likelihood of unintended consequences. This
proposal is not addressing any such legitimate need as it allows the Town Moderator something that is
already within her authority with regard to recognizing(or not recognizing) subsidiary Motions.
Second, it stipulates a fixed duration (10 minutes) with no substantiation of the merit, much less
the need, of that specific duration.
And third, even if it or any other duration is related to debate on the Main Motion, there is no
assurance that the debate that would take place, and by whom, would necessarily achieve any perceived
advantage—hence undermining making any such change.
We ask you to vote against this Motion.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Article 36: Implement An Funding
Funds Requested Committee Recommends
Outcomes-Based Source
Approach To Town
Building Projects N/A N/A Approval
(Citizen Article) (6-0)
"To see if the Town will vote to request the Board of Selectmen and School Committee adopt an
outcomes-based, high performance building policy for operation of existing Town buildings and design
and operation of all new Town building and renovation projects.
"(Inserted by Dan Voss and 9 or more registered voters)
"DESCRIPTION: This article seeks Town Meeting approval to adopt an outcomes-based
building management process that emphasizes a.) Setting clear targets or outcomes for the
performance of current and planned buildings in the areas of health, energy performance, energy
management and resilience; b.) Assessing gaps against those outcomes; and c.) Utilizing those
outcomes for the beginning stages of future building development and in prioritizing
operating/capital budget projects."
(Town Warrant)
While the Article was very broad and called for Town Meeting to adopt policies—which this Committee
would have opposed, the Motion is in the form of a Town Meeting resolution to request the Board of
Selectmen and School Committee to develop two building-related policies: a) "The ongoing Integrated
Building Policy for New Construction and Renovation of Town Building" and b) "A Building
Performance Policy for Existing Town Buildings".
This Committee has long encouraged developing the first-named policy and which is now being
aggressively led by the Town Manager.
The second policy would be a new one that would track how our existing buildings are performing versus
the performance that was originally expected. We expect this policy would require establishing a
reasonable performance baseline where no pertinent baseline was recorded when the building was built or
at a later, major, renovation. This Committee can see the potential benefits of such a policy; however,
establishing it should be after careful consideration of the capacity of the Department of Public Facilities
to implement and manage the data and reporting workload.
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Appendix A: Information on the Town's Current Specified
Stabilization Funds
Review of Lexington's Specified Stabilization Funds for Applicability
to the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee's Reports to a Lexington Town Meeting
Town Warrant,Town of Lexington,for 2019 Annual Town Meeting on March 25,2019,signed February 4,2019
Article 22:ESTABLISH,DISSOLVE AND APPROPRIATE TO AND FROM SPECIFIED STABILIZATION FUNDS
"To see if the Town will vote to create, amend, dissolve, rename and/or appropriate sums of money to and from
Stabilization Funds in accordance with Section 5B of Chapter 40 of the Massachusetts General Laws for the purposes of:
(a) Section 135 Zoning By-Law, (b)Traffic Mitigation,(c) Transportation Demand Management/Public Transportation,
(d)Special Education,(e)Center Improvement District;(f)Debt Service, (g)Transportation Management Overlay District,
(h) Capital; (i)Payment in Lieu of Parking; (j)Visitor Center Capital Stabilization Fund; (k)Affordable Housing Capital
Stabilization Fund; (I) Water System Capital Stabilization Fund; and (m) Ambulance Stabilization Fund; determine
whether such sums shall be provided by the tax levy,by transfer from available funds,from fees,charges or gifts or by
any combination of these methods;or act in any other manner in relation thereto."
Warrant Town Meeting(ATM=Annual;STM=Special) Capital
Sequence Name Created Purpose Related
(a) Section 135 Zoning By-Law 2007 ATM,Art 39 "for the purpose of financing public Yes
improvements pursuant to Section 135 of the
Code of Lexington"
(b) Traffic Mitigation 2007 ATM,Art 39 "for the purpose of financing traffic mitigation Yes
projects pursuant to conditions of special
permits issue by the Town
(c) Transportation Demand 2007 ATM,Art 39,& "for the purpose of supporting the planning No
Management/Public repurposed under and operations of transportation services to
Transportation 2016 ATM,Art 21b serve the needs of town residents and
(d) Special Education 2008 ATM,Art 24 None stated when created,but Appropriation No
Committee Report to that Town Meeting says
"for setting aside reserves to help cover
unexpected out-of-district Special Education
expenses that exceed budget"
(e) Center Improvement District 2009 ATM,Art 25 "to fund needed improvements in Lexington Yes
Center" (some
actions)
(f) Debt Service 2009 ATM,Art 26 "for the purpose of paying a portion of the debt Yes
service on certain outstanding bonds of the
Town issued for the purpose of the Diamond
Middle School,Clarke Middle School and High
School construction projects"
(g) Transportation Management 2011 ATM,Art 20 "for the purpose of financing transportation Yes
Overlay District infrastructure improvements per Section 135-
43C of the Code of the Town of Lexington"
(h) Capital 2012 STM 19 Nov, Originally name"Capital Projects/Debt Service Yes
Art 3,&renamed Reserve/Building Renewal Fund";purposes
under 2015 ATM, remained the same when renamed
Art 26e
(i) Payment in Lieu of Parking 2017 ATM,Art 24 "for the purpose of management,construction Yes
and acquisition of public parking and related (some
improvements,including bicycle and pedestrian actions)
accommodations serving Lexington"
(j) Visitor Center Capital 2018 ATM,Art 26 "for the purpose of funding the capital Yes
improvements and replacement of the Visitors
Center"
(k) Affordable Housing Capital 2018 ATM,Art 26 "for the purpose of funding Yes
affordable/community housing construction,
renovation,and associated land acquisition or
easements"
(I) Water System Capital 2018 ATM,Art 26 "for the purpose of funding capital Yes
improvements of the water-distribution
system"
(m) Ambulance 2018-1 STM,Art 8 "for the purpose of funding the purchase of Yes
ambulances"
Prepared 17 Mar 2019
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Appendix B: Used Acronyms Expanded
A/E Architect/Engineer
AC Appropriation Committee
ADA Americans With Disabilities Act
AhCCAC Ad hoc Community Center Advisory Committee
ALS Advanced Life Support
AMI Area Median Income or Advanced Metering Infrastructure
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
ATM Annual Town Meeting
BAN Bond Anticipation Note
BMP Best Management Practices
BoS Board of Selectmen
CEC Capital Expenditures Committee
CMB Cary Memorial Building
CPA Community Preservation Act
CPATF Community Preservation Act Trust Fund
CPC Community Preservation Committee
CPF Community Preservation Fund
CPSC Consumer Product Safety Commission
CSDRAhCCenter Streetscape Design Review Ad hoc Committee
CSF Capital Stabilization Fund
D&E Design and Engineering
DOR Department of Revenue
DPF Department of Public Facilities
DPW Department of Public Works
EF Enterprise Fund
EMS Emergency Medical Services
EOL End of life
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
FCI Facility Condition Index
GF General Fund
HATS Hanscom Area Towns Committee
HDM Housing and Demographics Model
HFAC Hanscom Field Advisory Commission
HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development
ILP Intensive Learning Program
IT Information Technology
LABBB Lexington Arlington Burlington Bedford and Belmont Collaborative
LCP Lexington Children's Place
LexCC Lexington Community Center
LexHAB Lexington Housing Assistance Board
LHA Lexington Housing Authority
LHP Lexington Housing Partnership
LHS Lexington High School
LIP Local Initiative Project
LOS Level of service
LPS Lexington Public Schools
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Appendix B: Used Acronyms Expanded (continued)
MAAB Massachusetts Architectural Access Board
M.G.L. Massachusetts General Laws
MSBA Massachusetts School Building Authority
MWRA Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System
OPEB Other Post-Employment Benefits
PBC Permanent Building Committee
PCI Pavement Condition Index
PEG Public, Educational, and Governmental
PMS Pavement Management System
POE Power Over Ethernet
R&CP Recreation and Community Programs
RE Retained Earnings
RF Revolving Fund
RFID Radio Frequency Identification
ROI Return on investment
RSR Road Surface Rating
SAN Service area network
SC School Committee
SF Stabilization Fund
SHI Subsidized Housing Inventory
SLI Supportive Living, Inc.
STM Special Town Meeting
TAR Town-accepted Roadway
TBD To be determined.
TMOD Traffic Management Overlay District
TSG Transportation Safety Group
VFD Variable frequency drive
VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol
WAP Wireless Application Protocol
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Appendix C:
Summary of Warrant-Article Recommendations
Abbreviations: N/A =Not Applicable;IP =Indefinite Postponement; RF =Revolving Fund;
CPF = Community Preservation Fund; EF =Enterprise Fund; RE =Retained Earnings;
GF = General Fund; SF = Stabilization Fund; TBD = To Be Determined; ATM=Annual Town
Meeting; STM= Special Town Meeting; R&CP =Recreation & Community Programs,
TMOD = Transportation Management Overlay District;
PEG =Public, Educational, and Governmental Access Channels
Source
Town
Warrant
(TW)or
Brown Motion
Book Requested CEC
(Section Funding Difference
Article Page(s)) Project Total Funding Source(s) from Request
4 TW Reduce CPA Surcharge Rate from 3%to IP N/A
1%
6 TW Cremation Facility at Westview Cemetery $90,000 GF(Free Cash) Disapprove
8 TW Fund for Sustainability Actions IP N/A
TW;1-6, $750,000 GF(Cash)+$1,129,721 GF(Free Commentar
10Post-Employment Insurance Liabilty Fund $1,885,486 Cash)+$2,761 Water EF(Cash)+$3,004 y
V27,V31 Only
Wastewater EF(Cash)
14(a) XI-18 Conservation Land Acquisition $275,000 CPF(Cash)
Revised
14(b) application Willard's Woods Site Improvements $138,273 CPF(Cash)
to CPC
Archives&Records
14(c) XI-23 Management/Records Conservation& $20,000 CPF(Cash)
Preservation
14(d) XI-21 Battle Green Master Plan-Phase 3 $253,394 CPF(Cash)
14(e) XI-23 Historical Renovation&Adaptive Reuse $70,000 CPF(Cash)
of 9 Oakland Street
14(f) XI-7&-19 Athletic Field Complex at Minuteman IP N/A
School
14(g) XI-18 Old Reservoir Bathhouse Renovation $620,000 CPF(Cash)
14(h) XI-19 Park Improvements-Hard Court $70,000 CPF(Cash)
Resurfacing
140) XI-19 Park Improvements-Athletic Fields $435,000 CPF(Cash)
14(j) XI-17 Playground Replacement Program- $302,000 CPF(Cash)
Bridge School
14(k) XI-23 Lexhab Rehabilitation Funding $99,700 CPF(Cash)
14(I) XI-15 Community Preservation Committee Debt $3,094,680 CPF(Cash)
Service
14(m) XI-16 Community Preservation Committee $150,000 CPF(Cash)
(footnote) Administrative Budget
15(a) XI-19 Pine Meadows Improvements $75,000 R&CP EF(RE)
15(b) XI-19 Recreation Community Needs $50,000 R&CP EF(RE)
Assessment
16(a) XI-21 Hydrant Replacement Program $150,000 $75,000 GF(Free Cash)+$75,000 Water EF
(RE)
16(b) XI-20 Storm Drainage Improvements and $385,000 GF(Free Cash)
NPDES compliance
16(c) XI-21 Comprehensive Watershed Stormwater $390,000 GF(Free Cash)
Management Study and Implementation
16(d) XI-21 Townwide Culvert Replacement $390,000 GF(Free Cash)
16(e) XI-7 Center Streetscape Improvements $9,101,730 GF(Debt)
$2,470,000 Water EF(Debt/MWRA Loan)+
16(f) XI-12,-13, Automatic Meter Reading System $5,940,000 $2,470,000 Wastewater EF(Debt/MWRA
&-20 Loan)+$500,000 Water EF(RE)+$500,000
Wastewater EF(RE)
16(g) XI-8 Sidewalk Improvement $800,000 GF(Debt)
16(h) XI-9 Hill Street New Sidewalk Project $1,500,000 GF(Debt)
160) XI-8&-20 Equipment Replacement $1,300,000 $900,000 GF(Debt)+$200,000 Water EF
(RE)+$200,000 Wastewater EF(RE)
16(j) XI-22 Townwide Signalization Improvements $125,000 GF(Free Cash)
(Continued on next page)
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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2019 ATM
Summary of Warrant-Article Recommendations (continued)
Source
Town
Warrant
(TW)or
Brown Motion
Book Requested CEC
(Section Funding Difference
Article Page(s)) Project Total Funding Source(s) from Request
16(k) XI-20 Street Improvements $3,590,597 $2,616,801 GF(Cash)+973,796 Chapter 90
(not appropriated)
16(1) XI-18 Transportation Mitigation $100,000 GF(Free Cash)
16(m) XI-22 Municipal Technology Improvement $150,000 GF(Free Cash)
Program
16(n) XI-22 Application Implementation $150,000 GF(Free Cash)
16(o) XI-22 Network Core Equipment Replacement $480,000 GF(Free Cash)
16(p) XI-22 Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations $40,750 Parking Meter Fund
17 XI-12 Water Distribution System Improvements $2,200,000 Water EF(Debt/MWRA Loan)
18(a) XI-13 Sanitary Sewer System Investigation and $1,000,000 Wastewater EF(Debt)
Improvements
18(b) XI-13 Pump Station Upgrades $700,000 Wastewater EF(Debt)
19 XI-10&-17 LPS Technology Program $1,743,900 $1,019,812 GF(Free Cash)+$724,088 GF
(Debt)
20(a) XI-17 Public Facilities Bid Documents $100,000 GF(Free Cash)
20(b)(1) XI-17 Building Flooring Program $125,000 GF(Free Cash)
20(b)(2) XI-17 School Paving&Sidewalks Program $326,740 GF(Free Cash)
20(c) XI-17 Municipal Building Envelope and Systems $203,865 GF(Cash)
20(d) XI-17 School Building Envelopes and Systems $233,448 GF(Free Cash)
Program
20(e) XI-18 LHS Field House Track Resurfacing $250,000 GF(Free Cash)
20(f) XI-9 Public Facilities Mechanical/Electrical $605,000 GF(Debt)
System Replacements
GF(Debt)(with debt service partially funded
20(g) XI-11 Westview Cemetery Building $2 900,000 from Sale of Cemetery Lots Special RF and
Construction' partially from GF(Cash)and a portion of that
from Burial revenue
20(h) XI-19 Cary Library Children's Room Renovation $100,000 GF(Free Cash)
Design
21 TW Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations N/A [Rescind$1,130,848 of authorizations]
Establish,Dissolve Appropriate To and Deposit of$1,536,759 GF(Free Cash);
22 TW From Specified Stabilization Funds -$3,663,241 Withdrawal of$5,200,000 to apply to debt
service of Exempt Debt
23 TW Appropriate to General Stabilization Fund IP N/A
24 TW Appropriate from Debt Service $124,057 SF
Stabilization Fund
27 TW Appropriate for Authorized Capital IP N/A
Improvement
Addition of CEC-Related Provisions to the
32 TW Representative Town Meeting& N/A N/A
Selecrtmen-Town Manager Acts
35 TW Amend Article III of Chapter 118 N/A N/A Disapprove
36 TW Implement An Outcomes-Based Approach N/A N/A
to Town Building Projects
Fall XI-14 Lexington Police Station Rebuild $25,651,792 GF(Debt) TBD
STM Construction
Grand Total $64,722,171
C-2