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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-29-CEC-min JS�®pN�N Minutes of the �3 Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting October 29, 2020 \ V APAIL 19 \..GEXI NGTQ Location and Time: Remote Meeting; 8:00 A.M. Members Present (remote participation): Charles Lamb, Chair; David Kanter, Vice-Chair & Clerk; Sandy Beebee; Wendy Manz, and Frank Smith Member Absent: Rod Cole Others Present (remote participation): Scott Bokun, School Committee liaison; Glenn Parker, Chair, Appropriation Committee; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance; Jennifer Hewitt, Budget Officer, Finance; John Mazerall, Captain of Administration, Police Department; Chief Derek Sencabaugh, Fire Department; Sara Arnold, Recording Secretary. Documents Presented: • Notice of CEC Meeting, October 29, 2020 • Police and Fire Departments' FY2022-FY2026 Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) • Police Department responses to CEC Questions Provided Regarding the Police FY2022-FY2026 CIPs (Police Q&A) • Fire Department responses to CEC Questions Provided Regarding the Fire FY2022-FY2026 CIPs (Fire Q&A) • Fire Tech & Safety of New England Quote for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Equipment Parts • Fire Tech & Safety of New England Invoice for SCBA Equipment Repairs Call to Order Mr. Lamb called this Remote (Virtual) Meeting, which had been posted as such, to order at 8:01 A.M. He announced that the requirement to have a physical presence of a quorum had been suspended in an Executive Order by Massachusetts Governor Charles D. Baker, on March 12, 2020, after having proclaimed, on March 10, 2020, a STATE OF EMERGENCY in the Commonwealth due to the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus, known as "COVID-19". Mr. Lamb announced the Documents Presented at this meeting and stated that any votes during this meeting would be taken by a roll-call vote—which he will call. A roll-call vote was taken and confirmed that five CEC Committee (Committee) members were remotely participating. Review of the Police Department FY2022-FY2026 CIPs Speaking to Captain Mazerall (who Chief Corr had assigned to make the responses on behalf of him and his Department), Mr. Kanter expressed appreciation for the responses included in the Police Q&A. He and Mr. Lamb shared their disappointment that the project for a Police Department firing range at the Town's Hartwell Avenue property had not been approved at the 2020 Annual Town Meeting. It was noted that the opposition to the firing range was unfortunately influenced by national events. The absence of that funding approval meant the Town has lost access to grant funds that would have materially reduced costs the Town would face to build a modern, fully capable, regional facility. Page 1 of 3 Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting October 29, 2020 In addition to his responses in the Police Q&A, Captain Mazerall added the following: • Opportunities to communicate with residents regarding police policies and police department needs are being pursued. • The use of non-lethal constraints is not always successful, as demonstrated during a recent confrontation. • Getting grant funding for a Lexington-only firing range or a future regional firing range is unlikely in the foreseeable future. • No other community is currently in a position to meet the criteria for receiving the grant for a regional facility. • On an immediate basis, the Police Department has shifted its focus from a regional firing range to meet all the current and projected needs of the Police Department, to the need for a new Police Headquarters. Because of the projected cost of such a range, it is thought to be difficult to move forward without the State grant. The Committee completed its discussion of the Police Department's CIPs. Review of the Fire Department FY2022—FY2026 CIPs Speaking to Chief Sencabaugh, Mr. Kanter expressed appreciation for the responses included in the Fire Q&A. In addition to those responses, Chief Sencabaugh reported: • The 40% increase in the cost of a new ambulance and the 80% increase in the cost of a new pumper, as compared to the projected costs previously cited, reflect tariff increases and the fact that the previous costs were "best-guess" estimates. • The department's SCBA packs were the first iteration using new technology to integrate the electronic components, which resulted in an unfortunate number of repair issues. Most of the problems were discovered during testing. • Most of the Department's vehicles' engines have a life span of approximately 20 years. • Vehicles are taken to Attleboro for large, vehicle-specific repairs. Small jobs are conducted at a number of more local facilities. • The new headquarters is fantastic. Mr. Lamb suggested that the CEC could be an advocate for reducing current vehicle life-span projections if that seemed advisable. He noted that bonding for new vehicles is usually 10 years or fewer. Chief Sencabaugh indicated that the current rotation is functioning comfortably but will continue to be evaluated. The Committee completed its discussion of the Fire Department's CIPs. Page 2 of 3 Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting October 29, 2020 Process of Reviewing Departments/Offices FY2022—FY2026 CIPs There was a review of dates when staff from the departments/offices would be attending CEC meetings for review of their CIPs. Dates for Committee members to submit their questions and comments to the member responsible for aggregating them and sending them to the applicable departments/offices were also identified. Specifically: • The meeting with the Department of Public Works (DPW) has most recently been moved to November 13th (from November 12th) • Questions for the DPW should be submitted to Mr. Smith by November 6th • Questions for the Department of Public Facilities (DPF) should be submitted to Mr. Lamb by November 13th for the December 3rd DPF meeting. • Questions for the Schools Department should be submitted to Ms. Beebee by the morning of November 1St for the November 5th meeting with the School Department. • Questions for the Information Technology Department should be submitted to Mr. Lamb by November 1St. He hopes they will be coming to this Committee's November 5th meeting. (If not, they are scheduled to come on December loth.) Adjourn A Motion was made and seconded at 8:57 A.M. to adjourn. Roll-Call Vote:5-0 This Minutes was approved by the CEC at its meeting on November 13, 2020. Page 3 of 3