HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-20 BOS-min
Page 1 of 5
May 20, 2019
Selectmen’s Meeting
May 20, 2019
A meeting of the Lexington Board of Selectmen was called to order at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 20,
2019 in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office Building. Mr. Lucente, Chair; Mr. Pato; Ms. Barry;
Ms. Hai; and Mr. Sandeen were present as well as Mr. Malloy, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Assistant Town
Manager; and Ms. Katzenback, Executive Clerk.
Executive Session
Upon a motion duly made and an by roll call, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 to go into Executive Session
under exemption 3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and under exemption 6 to
consider the purchase exchange lease or value of real property, Further, Mr. Lucente declared that an open
meeting discussion may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining and negotiating positions of the Town.
Ms. Barry recused herself from the discussion under Exemption 3 as her husband is an employee of the
Town.
The Board returned to open session at 7:01 p.m.
Public Comment
Lee Sillen, 6 Muster Court, Fiske Common Trust, expressed concern regarding discussions on the Fiske
Common easement. Mr. Sillen said the Condominium Board is willing to continue conversations with the
Town regarding the easement.
Edward W. Murphy, 14 Muster Court, supported the comments of Mr. Sillin.
Arthur Barbera, 14 Seaborn Place, Fiske Common Condominium Board member, asked if the easement
issue between the Town and the Fiske Condominium Association was settled because it was listed on the
agenda to be discussed in the earlier May 20, 2019 Board of Selectmen Executive Session. Mr. Lucente
explained the Executive Session on that topic was merely a preliminary discussion of the Board of
Selectmen.
Selectmen Concerns and Liaison Reports
Ms. Hai reported the SPRD meeting scheduled for June 19, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. will be a panel discussion.
She said Race Amity Day is Sunday, June 9, 2019; in addition she stated there are a host of events being
held for Memorial Day weekend which are listed on the Town Celebrations Committee webpage. Ms.
Hai noted that there will be a Hosmer House Stakeholders meeting on May 21, 2019 to discuss and get
input on the future of the Hosmer House.
Mr. Pato said he attended the lunch time walks during Bike, Walk and Bus week that was held last week.
In addition, he announced that Lexington Goes Purple events are being held on June 8-9, 2019 to raise
community awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.
Mr. Lucente noted several members of the Board of Selectmen were in attendance at the Holi Festival of
Colors which was held on June 18, 2019 at Hastings Park.
Ms. Barry stated the Board as a part of their commitment to Mental Health issues attended QPR training
(question, persuade and refer) training, which is suicide prevention training in a joint session with the
School Committee on April 30, 2019. She announced the Hanscom Area Towns Committee will meet on
Page 2 of 5
May 20, 2019
Thursday, June 23, 2019 in Lincoln and the agenda will include a bicycle and pedestrian safety round
table. In addition, she announced the annual Department of Public Works day is being held on May 23,
2019 with activities for all at the Samuel Hadley Public Services Building.
Mr. Sandeen said the Communications Advisory Committee (CAC) will be coming before the Board soon
to discuss the RCN contract which is due to expire June 30, 2019. Mr. Sandeen said Lexmedia won first
place in a national media competition.
Town Manager Report
Mr. Malloy stated the Town received notice of two grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council being
awarded:
$200,000 for the replacement of the windows of Munroe Center for the Art
$200,000 for improving accessibility at the new Visitor's Center.
Mr. Malloy said the group LexPride has submitted a request to put up pole banners for Pride Month in
June. These banners have been reviewed by the Historic Districts Commission.
Mr. Malloy stated that in June the Board will be hearing from the proponents of a friendly 40B
development project at the former nursing home on Emerson Gardens Rd.
Fiscal Year 2019 Third Quarter Financial Report
Ms. Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance; and Ms. Hewitt, Budget Officer presented the 3rd
Quarterly Financial Report update and an overview of the Town’s Revolving Funds to provide a year-to-
date analysis of revenues and expenses (as of March 31, 2019) as well as Water, Sewer, and
Recreation/Community Program Enterprise Fund and Revolving Fund balances.
Ms. Kosnoff explained that revenue collections were largely in line with estimates. As of March 31, 2019,
76.56% or $171,389,787 of total estimated revenue for FY2019 ($223,870,118) had been collected. The
majority of revenue (82.8%) is received from Property Tax receipts, which have recorded 74.25% of
budgeted levels for the first three quarters.
Ms. Kosnoff stated that as of March 31, 2019, 64.90% of the FY2019 General Fund budget of
$208,028,555 has been expended and 69.47% has been expended or encumbered. Expenditures represent
actual payments made for goods and services and encumbrances are reservations of budgets for goods or
services ordered but not yet paid in FY2019.
Ms. Kosnoff indicated that as of March 31, 2019, 64.4% or $15,263,079 of total estimated revenue for
FY2019 ($23,705,866) had been collected. As of March 31, 2019, 69.8% of the FY2019 Enterprise Fund
budgets of $22,251,264 has been expended and 73.1% has been expended or encumbered, leaving
$5,992,316 of the budget available, which will be available for spending in the 4th quarter.
In addition, Ms. Kosnoff reviewed a proposal to update the Tax Bill which would include a section with
Supplemental Tax information.
Joint Meeting - Board of Selectmen and Ad Hoc Residential Exemption Policy Study Committee
At 7:50 p.m. a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the Ad Hoc Residential Exemption Policy
Study Committee was called to order.
Page 3 of 5
May 20, 2019
Mark Andersen provided a brief summary of the Ad Hoc Residential Exemption Study Committee's Final
Report to the Board of Selectmen regarding the Committee’s research of evaluating residential property
tax exemptions. He explained the Committee had round tables, two public hearings, did an extensive
survey and collected a broad background of data.
Mr. Andersen presented three recommendations from the Ad Hoc Residential Exemption Study
Committee: 1) Lexington not adopt the Massachusetts residential exemption at this time; 2) Develop a
proposal for a means tested and or age based residential exemption for community consideration; and 3)
Promote awareness of existing programs such as tax deferrals exemptions in the Massachusetts senior
circuit breaker tax credit.
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to accept the report of the Ad
Hoc Residential Exemption Policy Study Committee.
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to close the Joint meeting at
9:00 p.m. The Ad Hoc Residential Exemption Policy Study Committee voted the same.
Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee Update and Proposed Committee Charge
Ms. Barry updated the Board with the Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee progress to date. She said the
Committee met on Wednesday, May 8t, 2019 at which they reviewed what was heard at town meeting,
reviewed and discussed the items that are left to do to get to the final report; assigned the items to committee
members, set the meeting scheduled for the next several months, and finally reviewed the charge. Ms.
Barry stated the Committee requests that the Board to update the Deliverable section of the Committee’s
charge
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to amend the Ad Hoc Crematory
Study Committee Charge Deliverables section to now read “Present a progress report to the Board of
Selectmen once per month from May 2019 until completion of a report with a report of recommendations
addressed to the Board of Selectmen on the feasibility of a Crematory at Westview Cemetery.”
Discussion of Planning Department
Mr. Malloy stated Julie Mercier, Planning Director has resigned and this the third Planning Director to
resign in the past year. He said this has raised serious concerns regarding the operations of the Planning
Department. Mr. Malloy explained that two of the three staff members that resigned indicated their
resignation was due to the level of frustration of working with the Planning Board. Mr. Malloy requested
that the Board of Selectmen have discussions with the Planning Board in order to figure out what is
needed to make improvements.
General Board discussion ensued and the Board recommended to have the Chair and Vice Chair of each
the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board meet along with appropriate Staff members to discuss the
matter to ensure there's going to be some improvements
Mr. Canale, Planning Board Chair, said he agreed that the departure of staff is a concern to the Planning
Board as well. He said he feels there are a number of issues that need to be resolved and an excellent first
step is to have that joint meeting with the chairs and the vice chairs to talk about a number of things for
the short term as well as in the long term.
Page 4 of 5
May 20, 2019
Selectmen - Committee Appointment and Reappointments
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to appoint Robert Peters to the
2020 Vision Committee as a member representing the Planning Board with a term to expire on September
30, 2021.
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to appoint Robert Peters to the
Housing Partnership Board as a member representing the Planning Board for a term to expire on September
30, 2021.
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to reappoint Henry Liu and
Robert Burbidge to the Lexington Housing Assistance Board to a term to expire May 31, 2022 respectively.
Discuss Future Meeting Dates
Mr. Lucente explained the Board is scheduled to meet on Monday, June 17, 2019, however, Mr. Malloy
and he are not available to attend. Mr. Lucente asked if the Board would consider changing this meeting
to be held at an earlier date and time.
The Board agreed to reschedule the June 17, 2019 7:00 p.m. meeting to June 13, 2019 meeting at 5:00
p.m.
Discuss Fall Delegation to Antony, France
Mayor Jean-Yves Sénant of Antony, France has invited the Town of Lexington to send a delegation to
Antony, France, our Sister City, for their “Foire aux Fromages et aux Vins” being held from September 13
to 15, 2019.
Mr. Lucente explained he is looking a member of the Board to act as the point of contact for the Official
Delegation going to Antony. Ms. Hai offered to be the point of contact for the Official Delegation.
Discuss Initial Request for Race Amity Day Proclamation
In 2015, Massachusetts legislature passed a bill signed by Governor Charles D. Baker Jr. proclaiming the
second Sunday in June as "Race Amity Day' annually in the Commonwealth. The Lexington Human Rights
Committee has asked the Board of Selectmen to sign a proclamation that recognizes the second Sunday in
June as Race Amity Day in Lexington. This proclamation is to encourage citizens of Lexington to celebrate
the racial, cultural, and religious diversity of our community.
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve and sign the Race
Amity Day Proclamation.
Consent Agenda
Approve and Sign Proclamations
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve and sign the
Immigrant Heritage Month Proclamation.
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve and sign the
Lexington Goes Purple Days Proclamation.
Page 5 of 5
May 20, 2019
Water and Sewer Commitments
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve Water and Sewer
Commitment Section 1 FY2019 in the amount of $1,949,983.97 and Water and Sewer Commitment
Section 2 FY2019 in the amount of $1,912,043.03.
Approve Minutes
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve the minutes of
April 3, 2019; April 8, 2019 and April 10, 2019.
Approve and Sign Eagle Scout Commendation Letters
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve Eagle Scout
Commendation letters congratulating Jonathan Cademy-Pfeffer, Luke Davis, Alexander Mingolla, Daniel
Yun, and Eric Zhao for attaining the highest rank of Eagle in Scouting.
.
Adjourn
Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 9:40
p.m.
A true record; Attest:
Kim Katzenback
Executive Clerk