HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-20-AC-min 03/20/2019 AC Minutes
Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee(AC)
March 20, 2019
Place and Time: Parker Room, Town Office Building, 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; Alan Levine, Secretary; Ellen Basch; Eric Michelson;
Richard Neumeier; Nick Nichols; Lily Manhua Yan
Members Absent: Sanjay Padaki, Vice-Chair; John Bartenstein; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town
Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex officio)
Other Attendees: None
The meeting was called to order at 7:36 p.m.
Announcements and Liaison Reports
Mr. Levine reported that the School Master Planning Committee met on March 8, 2019.
Overcrowding is already a problem at the high school, and an additional 400 students are expected
over the next four years. There are plans to move the Inforination Technology Department from the
high school to the School Administration Building. Other space mining options are being explored.
Additional portable classrooms may be necessary. A Statement of Interest has been submitted to
Massachusetts School Building Authority as the first step in applying for State funding assistance to
replace/renovate the high school.
Mr. Nichols reported that he is attending a Resilience Workshop tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Appropriation Committee (AC)Report to the Annual Town Meeting (ATM)
Mr. Parker identified articles on which this Committee needed to vote:
• Article 16(f): Appropriate for Municipal Capital Project and Equipment; Automatic Meter
Reading (AMR) System:
Mr. Parker reported that the Capital Expenditures Committee had met earlier in the day and had
voted 5-1 to recommend support for this article. Mr. Nichols shared his reservations about the
project, explaining that:
➢ As meters age, they record less water than is actually being used. However, the Town
does not lose any revenue because the rates charged reflect the fact that customers'
meters do not record full usage. On average,ratepayers pay the same as they would if all
meters were new.
➢ The project would yield savings in meter-reading costs, both labor and vehicle-related
expenses, but they do not cover the costs on a present value basis.
➢ There will be some savings from catching leaks within structures sooner because of
continuous readings, but it is unclear how much water will be saved. The consultants
based their estimates on reduced leak-related abatements, but the real savings to the
town and ratepayers should be based on the wholesale rate the town pays the MWRA.
Other comments included, but were not limited to, the following:
➢ The new program will be a"hosted" system and the updated"maintenance" costs
include the hardware as well as software.
➢ This is 21st century technology and is ultimately the future for meter reading.
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➢ The debt service associated with the project will be funded by the Water and Wastewater
Enterprise Funds.
➢ Annual increases in water/sewer bills for homeowners will range from $20 to somewhat
over$100 depending on the amount of water used, the number of meters, and how the
costs are reflected in rates, which is not covered by the article.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend support for this article. The motion passed.
VOTE: 5-2
• Article 26: Amend FY2019 Operating, Enterprise and CPA Budgets
Mr. Parker reported that this article may be indefinitely postponed (IPed) and there has been a
proposal that it be put on the Consent Agenda for the 2019 Annual Town Meeting. It was
agreed that if it is to be IPed it would be acceptable for inclusion on the Consent Agenda; if
otherwise, it should not be so included.
• Article 17: Appropriate for Water System Improvements:
It was agreed that there should be additional communication with Mr. Bartenstem at tomorrow
evening's meeting of this Committee about the funding source for this article.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend support for this article. The motion passed.
VOTE: 7-0
• Article 19: Appropriate for School Capital Projects and Equipment
It was noted that this request may be included in the school budget next year. Ms. Basch agreed
to clarify this with Ms. Kosnoff and prepared appropriate text for this Committee's report to the
2019 ATM.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend support for this article. The motion passed.
VOTE: 7-0
• Article 22: Establish, Dissolve and Appropriate to and from Specified Stabilization Funds
A motion was made and seconded to recommend support for this article. The motion passed.
VOTE: 7-0
• Article 32: Addition of Capital Expenditures Committee-Related Provisions to the
Representative Town Meeting and Selectmen-Town Manager Acts.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend support for this article. The motion passed.
VOTE: 7-0
• Article 39: Amend Zoning Bylaw-Limited Site Plan Review(Citizen Article)
It was noted that the only financial implication associated with this article was the potential for
some legal fees if there is a dispute. It, therefore, was agreed that this Committee would not
take a position on the article or discuss it in this Committee's report to the 2019 ATM.
• Article 6: Appropriate for Cremation Facility at Westview Cemetery
Mr. Parker reported that there had been a slight change in the wording in the motion for this
article. After a brief discussion it was agreed that the change did not warrant a re-vote.
Mr. Michelson reported that he was in the process of completing the five-year plan for Appendix A
in the report; it will be posted on line for review. This Committee is meeting tomorrow night, when
this can be discussed and the report can be finalized.
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The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sara Arnold
Approved: March 27, 2019
Exhibits
Agenda,posted by Mr. Parker, Chair
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