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Minutes of the
s \�� Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
n March 6, 2019
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Location and Time: Town Office Building, Reed Room (111); 7:45 A.M.
Members Present: Charles Lamb, Chair; David Kanter, Vice-Chair& Clerk; Sandy Beebee;
Rod Cole (participated remotely; joining at 7:47 A.M.); Frank Smith; and Wendy Manz
Members Absent: None
Others Present: Sara Arnold, Recording Secretary
Documents Presented:
• Notice of CEC Meeting, March 6, 2019
• Draft#3 Minutes of the CEC Meeting, February 27, 2019
• Draft#2 CEC Report to 2019 Annual Town Meeting (ATM); Compiled by Mr. Kanter
Call to Order: Mr. Lamb called the meeting to order at 7:46 A.M. Mr. Cole was reached by
telephone and was given permission to participate remotely as he was unable to attend the
meeting. Mr. Lamb noted that all votes, therefore, would be by roll call.
Minutes: Mr. Kanter identified a correction for the Draft#3 Minutes for the
February 27, 20197 CEC meeting. A Motion was made and seconded to approve said
Minutes, as amended. Roll Call Vote: 6-0
Preparation for the 2019 ATM, including Review of Draft#2 of this Committee's Report
to that Town Meeting: Mr. Kanter led a page-by-page review of Draft#2 of the CEC Report
to 2019 ATM, to address/clarify comments/questions, make corrections, and verify the
person responsible for additional actions needed to complete the report. Comments and/or
votes taken included, but were not limited to, the following:
• Information from the Board of Selectmen's (BoS') March 4th meeting:
➢ March 11 the The Town Manager to receive Motions for the Citizen Articles.
➢ March 18th: The deadline for comments on the Motions for Citizen Articles.
• Appendix B with Acronyms & Abbreviations: Being prepared by Ms. Manz.
• Executive Summary: Mr. Lamb to include reference to the need for a firing range for
Police Department training instead of the possibility of a project to build a crematory
at Westview Cemetery as that project is yet to be confirmed.
• Text and Tables: Departmental/Office funding-history tables and text, need to include
actions taken at the Special Town Meetings. That is not the case throughout the
current draft.
• Land Purchase Costs: Should be included in the total costs identified for projects
discussed in the report, e.g., the Lexington Children's Program facility and the Fire
and Rescue Department's swing space (173 Bedford Street).
• The Ad hoc School Master Planning Committee recently noted that the School
Department's operating budget cannot absorb costs for Furniture, Fixtures, and
Equipment (commonly known as "FF&E") for its new facilities.
• The Lexington Housing Assistance Board is considering an increase in its cap on
income for housing assistance eligibility.
• Article 4: Reduce Community Preservation Act (CPA) Surtax Rate from 3% to 1%
Pursuant to G.L. c. 44B, § 16 (Citizen Article): Indefinite Postponement (IP) expected.
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Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
March 6, 2019
Mr. Lamb expects to explain this Committee's opposition to this Article at Town
Meeting when it is brought for a vote.
• Article 6: Appropriate for Cremation Facility at Westview Cemetery: Ms. Beebee noted
that this article was proposed by a group of citizens and not by the Ad hoc Crematory
Advisory Committee. She will write the back matter in the report after the Motion is
made available.
• Article 14: Appropriate the FY2020 Community Preservation Committee Operating
Budget and Community Preservation Act Projects:
➢ (b) Willard's Woods Site Improvements: This funding request is for a study to
develop trails in Willard's Woods, but a recent email from David Kaufman
indicates that the woods cannot accommodate 1.8 miles of trails as proposed.
It was agreed to get additional information and re-visit this next week.
➢ (f) Athletic Field Complex at Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School:
A Motion was made and seconded to support an IP of this proposal and to give
Mr. Kanter the authority to ensure the wording in the report reflects this
Committee's issues with it. Roll Call Vote: 6-0
• Article 15(b): Recreation Community Needs Assessment. A Motion was made and
seconded to support this project. Roll Call Vote: 6-0
• Article 16: Appropriate for Municipal Capital Projects and Equipment:
➢ (e) Center Streetscape Improvements-Construction: Discussion was
postponed until there is time to review the 75% design, due today.
➢ (f) Automatic Meter Reading System: Mr. Smith reported that the project is
requesting approximately $6.0 million, but old meters need to be replaced
whether or not this project is approved, and the net cost is estimated at
$3+ million. The return-on-investment is de minimus, but the new system would
be more equitable and could identify some leaks on a more-timely basis. It is
expected that water rates would increase about 5% to pay for the full system.
Ms. Beebee expressed opposition to the project; in her opinion, the benefits do
not counteract the increase in costs to the residential homeowner. Others were
conflicted and were not prepared to take a position.
• Five-Year Capital Plan: Mr. Kanter agreed to distribute his suggestions for changes to
the BoS' Five-Year Capital Plan to be included in this Committee's Five-Year Capital
Plan. He noted that, as is our standing practice, every change would be footnoted.
Further discussion of the distribution date for this Committee's report was postponed until
next week.
Adjourn: A Motion was made and seconded at 9:38 A.M. to adjourn. Roll Call Vote: 6-0.
These Minutes were approved by the CEC at its meeting on March 13, 2019.
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