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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-17 SB-minSELECT BOARD MEETING Monday, November 17, 2025 A meeting of the Lexington Select Board was called to order at 6:30p.m. on Monday, November 17, 2025, via a hybrid meeting platform. Ms. Hair, Chair, Mr. Lucente, Mr. Pato, and Mr. Sandeen were present, as well as Mr. Bartha, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Deputy Town Manager; and Kim Katzenback, Executive Clerk. EXECUTIVE SESSION 1. Exemption 6: To Consider the Purchase, Lease, Value of Real Property – Silk Fields Upon motion duly made and by roll call, the Select Board voted 4-0 to enter into Executive Session at 6:32pm. Under Exemption 6: To Consider the Purchase, Lease, Exchange, Value of Real Property - Silk Fields. Further, it was declared that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect regarding negotiating position of the Town. Board returned to open session at 7:15pm PUBLIC COMMENTS None at this time. SELECT BOARD MEMBER CONCERNS AND LIAISON REPORTS 1. Select Board Member Announcements and Liaison Reports Mr. Pato stated that the Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee has met five times. He does not expect that there will be a recommendation forthcoming for action at this annual Town Meeting, but he does expect a progress report. DOCUMENTS: Liaison Reports-Joe Pato-2025-11-17 2. Lexington High School Project Update to Select Board Mr. Pato explained that the School Building Committee met earlier today and heard updates from the project team. The community asked questions about rough comparisons with the proposed high school project in Burlington and the project in Watertown. The technical team stressed that all comparisons are difficult because there are many unique elements for each project. Burlington had a debt exclusion vote on Saturday, and it failed for this project. The project that was proposed was a combination of renovation and new construction. When comparing only the new construction portion of the Burlington project, the costs without scope adjustment are very similar to Lexington’s costs, as $1,263 per square foot for Burlington and $1,293 per square foot for Lexington. When adjusted for project scope, the Burlington project is more expensive than Lexington’s. For the Watertown project, the adjusted project cost is $1,232 per square foot, again, close to Lexington’s projection. Also discussed today was a proposed reconfiguration of the playing fields in rotating by 90 degrees the football practice and cricket overlay fields. This would move the concession stand and the grandstands from being parallel to abutters, to being perpendicular to abutters and not creating as much of a visual impact. Also discussed was the total value design. This process has identified over $500,000 worth of cost reductions through improved site work and structural elements. This process differs from simple value engineering in that it seeks to find more efficient or improved implementation techniques that span multiple disciplines, rather than just scope reductions often associated with value engineering. Mr. Sandeen stated that the Permanent Building Committee is reviewing the proposals for total value design and recommending them to the School Building Committee. Also, the Zoning Board of Appeals met to review the 591 Lowell project. The hearing was held open and will resume on December 11th. Ms. Hai stated that she will be testifying for the third time tomorrow in support of the Municipal Empowerment Act. Also, she attended an event yesterday sponsored by the Lexington United Against Anti Semitism group regarding collaborative work across the community. TOWN MANAGER REPORT 1. Town Manager Weekly Update Mr. Bartha stated that Town has filled both of the Equity Officer positions with a December 1, 2025 start date for both people. The intention is to build out a cross-departmental IDEA team, which stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access. This will bring staff from across all departments to serve as an internal resource for both of the positions. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approve: Battle Green Use Request - TCGT Entertainment B-Roll Filming - Saturday, November 22, 2025 To approve the Battle Green Use Request submitted by TCGT Entertainment for filming related to an augmented reality project commemorating the 250th anniversary, on Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, in accordance with all applicable Town regulations. DOCUMENTS: Filming Locations for Permit 2. Approve: Select Board Appointment to State Special Commission for Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution Semiquincentennial Commission, Chair - Monami D. Roy To appoint Mona Roy as the Town of Lexington’s representative to the Massachusetts Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution 3. Application: Limousine License - Sirius Limo Services Sirius Limo Services - 7222 Lexington Ridge Drive, 1 Vehicle To approve the application and issue one (1) Limousine License to Sirius Limo Services, operated by Sirius Financial Services, Inc. DOCUMENTS: Sirius Limo Services - Application 4. Approve: Water and Sewer Adjustments To approve the consent DOCUMENTS: SB Meeting W/S Adjustments VOTE: Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-0 to approve the Consent Agenda, as presented. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION 1. Approve: FY2026 Tax Classification Options Continued Public Hearing Approval FY2026 Tax Classification Options Ms. Hai reopened the hearing at 7:33pm. She explained that this is the second meeting of the Select Board to establish the fiscal year 2026 tax rate. The FY2026 Tax Classification memo was posted to the Town webpage on November 7th and advertised to the public via legal notice, website and Constant Contact. On November 10, 2025, the Assistant Town Manager for Finance and the Board of Assessors presented FY2026 property valuations, budget and classification options that will determine the Fiscal Year 2026 tax rate. On that date the Board also held the tax classification hearing to take public comment on the classification options. Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance, explained that this is for the Board to vote on the four options that will determine the FY2026 tax rate. The four votes are to: Establish a shift factor between 1.00 and 1.75 (see Exhibit A of the classification packet); Determine whether to adopt the Open Space Discount (the Town has no property classified as Open Space); Determine whether to adopt the Residential Exemption and, if so, the percentage (up to 35 percent); Determine whether to adopt the Small Commercial Exemption, and if so, the percentage (up to 10 percent) Mr. Pato stated that, if the Board ever chooses to reconsider the residential exemption and/or the small commercial exemption, it should begin the discussion while setting the budget for next year, not during the time of these votes. Ms. Kosnoff agreed that staff would likely need at least a year to prepare to implement a residential exemption. This would also likely require additional staff, at least temporarily, in the Assessor’s Office. The Board agreed to have a more robust discussion regarding this item at an upcoming work session. Howard Cloth, 19 Sherman Street, stated that he was a member of the 2018 Ad Hoc Residential Exemption Policy Study Committee. The Committee did not recommend this for the Town to use for a number of reasons, mostly because it was considered to be a blunt instrument. However, in the past seven years, things have changed, and he would personally recommend taking advantage of the ability to shift the tax burden from residents who own property assessed less than the median, to residents who own property assessed more than the median. Lin Jensen, Precinct 8 Town Meeting Member, asked if the assessment value of apartment rentals of more than eight units is evaluated based on income and cost. She believes that they are paying less for a similar sized unit because of the lower assessment value. Rob Lent, Assessor, asked that this be discussed directly with his office. Ms. Jensen also suggested a Home Rule Petition to consider a commercial rate for large apartments, which gives complexes with affordable housing units an exemption. Ms. Hai closed the hearing at 7:48pm. VOTE: Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-0 to establish a residential factor of .891 (plus additional decimals or rounding as needed) to result in a tax shift of 1.75 (see Exhibit A of the classification packet); to not adopt the Open Space Discount; to not adopt the Residential Exemption; and to not adopt the Small Commercial Exemption. DOCUMENTS: FY2026 Tax Classification Presentation; FY2026 Tax Classification Packet 2. Review & Approve: 6th Edition of Tree Management Manual Nancy Soften, Tree Committee, explained that, on October 9, 2025, the Tree Committee voted unanimously to approve the attached recommended changes to the Tree Management Manual. A summary of changes is: Stronger wording on the signage required on tree protection fencing, recognizing that the specific wording of the signage is not commercially available, and so are in discussion with the DPW about having signs printed that can be distributed to builders. Hand-lettered signs are frequently posted and are acceptable. A better figure 13 showing tree protections and signage A two-part arborist attestation, to include part B affirming that tree protections are in place Addition of Freeman Maple to the Large Shade Tree List for extra mitigation credit The Tree Committee respectfully requests Select Board approval of these recommended changes to the Tree Management Manual. VOTE: Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-0 to approve the Tree Committee recommended changes to the Tree Management Manual as presented. DOCUMENTS: Pages with Proposed Updates for the Lexington Tree Management Manual; DRAFT - Town of Lexington Tree Management Manual 6th edition (Proposed edits incorporated); Document as FYI - Lexington Tree Bylaw Rules and Regulations Quick Start Exhibit Guide 3. Discussion: Select Board and Town Manager Goals for FY2026 Ms. Hai explained that, following the June 2025 Select Board retreat, facilitator Jon Wortmann culminated draft FY2026-27 goal areas and statements based on the Board’s input. Board members later provided additional feedback to refine and define measurable objectives. With the Boards feedback and further discussion with the Town Manager, a draft set of the FY2026-2027 Select Board Goals is being presented for Board discussion and potential adoption. Ms. Hai explained that the Board agreed to five goals and is working to get three subgoals under each. The subgoals are meant to suggest actions and directions for staff. The five goals are: 1. Complete the Lexington High School Project 2. Clean, Healthy, Resilient Lexington 3. Economic and Community Vibrancy 4. Fiscal Stability 5. Livable Community There was discussion regarding the subgoals under each of these items. Board members agreed to draft language for potential subgoals under the Fiscal Stability goal for further discussion at a future meeting. There was agreement to table a vote on the goals until all Board members were present. Dawn McKenna, 9 Hancock Street, stated that, under the Livable Community goal, she would like the goal to reflect that there has not yet been a community consensus on what the right amount of affordable housing is. She would like to see a subgoal for the staff to help facilitate community consensus on what a reasonable, affordable housing goal is that balances providing affordability of housing and existing residents. Regarding the Fiscal Stability goal, she has been frustrated for many years regarding a lack of clear direction to the staff in terms of new fiscal opportunities. She suggested a subgoal for staff to continue to invest in the tourism-based economy to maximize revenue opportunities. DOCUMENTS: For Discussion/Potential adoption - Proposed FY 26-27 Select Board Goals - suggested edits incorporated; Redlined Version of Proposed FY 26-27 Select Board Goals showing the suggested changes; Original Draft from J. Wortmann - June 2025 4. Establish 2026 Annual Town Meeting and Annual Election Dates Ms. Axtell reviewed the proposed 2026 Annual Town Meeting and annual election dates. VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-0 to open the 2026 Annual Town Meeting Warrant for submission of Citizen Petitions through Friday December 19, 2025, at 12:30pm; to establish Monday, March 2, 2026, as the date for Annual Town Election; and to establish Monday, March 30, 2026, as the date for the opening session of the 2026 Annual Town Meeting. 5. Review: Proposed 2026 Select Board Meeting Dates The Board reviewed its proposed 2026 meeting dates and accepted them as amended. DOCUMENTS: Proposed 2026 Select Board Meeting Dates ADJOURN VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded the Select Board voted 4-0 to adjourn at 8:47p.m. A true record; Attest: Kristan Patenaude Recording Secretary