HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-02-13-AC-min 02/13/2020 AC Minutes
Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC)
February 13, 2020
Place and Time: Cary Memorial Building, Estabrook Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; Sanjay Padaki, Vice-Chair; Alan Levine, Secretary;
John Bartenstein; Lily Manhua Yan; Meg Muckenhoupt; Nick Nichols; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant
Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex officio)
Members)Absent: Eric Michelson
Other Attendees: David Kanter, Vice-Chair& Clerk, Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC)
The meeting was called to order at 7:43 p.m.
Announcements and Liaison Reports
Ms. Kosnoff reported the following:
• Consistent with past practice, the preliminary FY2021 budget included $100,000 for the
Transportation Mitigation Fund, which is used by the Traffic Safety Committee to address
urgent projects that were not anticipated. Because the funds are not always used, a surplus
has accumulated. The Select Board (SB) voted at its February 10th meeting to redirect the
portion of that appropriation request that was to come from free cash (approximately
$84,000)to the appropriation into the Capital Stabilization Fund.
• Because of a fund surplus at the State level, the Town has received an additional $503,092
in Community Preservation Act(CPA)funds in FY2020. Prior to this addition, the
allocation was greater than anticipated at the 2019 Annual Town Meeting. To recognize this
change, and at Mr. Kanter's request, the 2020 Annual Town Meeting (ATM)will be asked
to revote the revenue numbers for FY2020 under Article 22: Amend FY2020 Operating,
Enterprise and CPA Budgets. The Community Preservation Committee plans to use the
extra funds to pay down short-term debt for the new track on the Worthen Road fields. Last
June, a one-year Bond Anticipation Note (BAN)was issued for $943,000. Winter weather
delayed the project and those funds have not yet been expended, but it is expected that
another BAN for approximately $900,000 can be issued in June 2020. It was noted that
BANS can be paid off early without a penalty.
• Over the weekend, a leaking water pipe caused major water damage to the Town's
electronic systems. Fortunately, the schools were not impacted, but the Town's electronic
services have not yet been restored.
Minutes
After a brief discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes, as distributed by
Mr. Levine, for January 30, 2020. The motion passed. VOTE: 7-0
CEC Positions on Capital Articles
Using a list of the articles on which the CEC is planning to comment in its report to the 2020 ATM,
Mr. Kanter noted that preliminarily the CEC does not object to any of those articles. He reviewed
the list, providing a brief synopsis of each article. His review triggered questions posed by AC
committee members. Mr. Kanter's responses included, but were not limited to, the following:
Article 10: Appropriate the FY2020 CPC Operating Budget and CPA Projects:
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(c)Battle Green Master Plan: The requested appropriation will complete the project, which
is for the second half of Phase III of this program. The Department of Public Works expects
this project, which is separate from the Battle Green Streetscape project, to be completed in
2024.
(g)Athletic Field Lighting: The 2019 ATM approved funds to install lighting at the Worthen
Road athletic fields, but additional funds are needed to complete the project. The project
received support in 2019 based on the costs presented at that time. Going to the 2020 ATM
for supplemental funding provides transparency about the project costs.
(m) Lexington Housing Authority Board-116 Vine Street Design Funds: The requested
funds do not include moving the Hosmer House to this site, which would be expensive. The
SB has asked the Town Manager to issue a Request for Proposals to re-position the building
in the Historic District.
Article 12: Appropriate for Recreation Capital Projects:
(b)Athletic Fields Feasibility Study: The goals are to identify current needs and to identify
ways to increase the efficiency of uses of Lexington's current fields. The study would not
provide detailed cost estimates or design documents for future projects that could become
"stale" in a few years.
0) Transportation Mitigation: The Transportation Mitigation Stabilization Fund has
traditionally received $100,000 per year to ensure a quick response to unanticipated projects
that require attention, but the SB has determined that it currently has adequate unused funds
available from previous appropriations. The SB has voted to reduce the FY2021 $100,000
recommended appropriation to $16,504, the amount to be received from the Transportation
Network Company Special Revenue Fund. The Transportation Mitigation Fund is different
from the Transportation Mitigation and Traffic Stabilization Fund which receives funding
from developers.
Article 16: Appropriate for Public Facilities Capital Projects:
(a)Police Outdoor/Indoor Firing Range—Hartwell Avenue: The State has expressed support
for three such facilities in Massachusetts, and it is possible that the State will eventually
decide to subsidize such projects. This funding request is for a schematic design, which
should be useful if the State solicits proposals. Additionally, such a design is necessary for
helping Lexington negotiate with neighboring Towns that have expressed interest in paying
to use such a facility in Lexington. The facility would need a roof to protect neighbors from
noise.
(b) Center Recreation Complex Bathrooms and Maintenance Building Renovation: Such
facilities are not currently being contemplated for other recreation fields.
It was noted that the FY2021 Recommended Budget and Financing Plan (Brown Book)is
scheduled for release either this Friday or one week later. It must be released by February 24 if
financial articles are to be discussed on March 23, 2020, when the 2020 ATM is scheduled to begin.
Consent Agenda for the 2020 ATM
Mr. Parker read the CEC's list of recommended Consent Agenda items, which staff had sent to the
SB. A motion was made and seconded to support the inclusion of those items on a Consent Agenda
at the 2020 ATM. The motion passed. VOTE: 7-0
2020 ATM Financial Articles and Report Planning
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Mr. Parker asked members to submit their portions of this Committee's report to the ATM, as soon
as possible. He plans to distribute a draft of the report to this Committee before its meeting next
week. Mr. Parker also agreed to assign reviewers for each section of the report; reviewers will
review draft material for assigned sections.
Future Meetings
The next AC meeting is on February 20, 2020.
The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sara Arnold
Approved: March 5, 2020
Exhibits
• Agenda, posted by Mr. Parker, Chair
• CEC Preliminary Positions on the Article/Sub-Articles in the Draft of its Report
to the 2020 ATM as of 12 Feb 2020
• CEC 2020 ATM Consent-Agenda Nominations, Unanimously Voted by the CEC at its
Meeting on 6 Feb 2020
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