Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-24-AC-min02/24/2021 AC Minutes Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC) February 24, 2021 Place and Time: Remote Participation: in accordance with the Governor's March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law; communication took place via a Zoom teleconferencing session that was open to the public; 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; Sanjay Padaki, Vice -Chair; Alan Levine, Secretary; John Bartenstein; Eric Michelson; Meg Muckenhoupt; Lily Manhua Yan (arrived 8:00 p.m.); Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex officio) Member(s) Absent: None Other Attendees: Eileen Jay, Vice -Chair: Lexington School Committee; David Kanter, Vice -Chair and Clerk: Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC); Matt Daggett, proponent of Article 36; Sara Arnold, Recording Secretary Mr. Parker confirmed attendance by roll call, reviewed the authorization for meeting remotely, noted that the meeting was being called to order at 7:32 p.m. on February 24, 2021, and stated that the meeting was being recorded for the purpose of creating minutes. He also noted that materials for the meeting were available on-line. Announcements and Liaison Reports Mr. Parker reported on the February 22 Select Board (SB) meeting at which the timing for re- starting the Police Station project was discussed. During the SB meeting, the Town Manager noted that if no decision is made, it is equivalent to making a decision. Mr. Parker and Charles Lamb, Chair, CEC, explained to the SB that their committees support the lifting of the moratorium on the project, while expressing particular concern about allowing adequate time between the Police Station project and a rebuild of the high school. This Committee discussed reasons for moving forward, and Mr. Kanter provided a review of the project status. It was noted that the cost escalates $50,000 per month of delay. Committee Report to Annual Town Meeting 2021 (Report) Mr. Parker reported that he had been updating the draft Report with material submitted by the members of this Committee while encouraging that additional updates be forwarded to him. There was discussion about whether Article 31: Street Acceptance: Penny Lane, Winding Road and Luongo Farm Lane should be included in the Report even though there are no immediate costs to the Town and there are no betterments involved. It was agreed that it should be in the Report because once a street is accepted, the Town is responsible for maintenance, which has a financial impact. Mr. Parker led a review of the sections of the Report for which there was draft material. The person who had prepared the material provided a brief summary. In some cases, questions were asked, information was clarified, and it was agreed that suggested edits/additions would be made. Additionally, votes were taken, as follows: • Article 6, Appropriate for Senior Services Program: Mr. Bartenstein reviewed the material he had prepared, noting the value of the program as well as the challenges during the pandemic and the need for a more robust outreach effort. A motion was made and seconded 02/24/2021 AC Minutes to recommend support of Article 6. There was a roll call vote. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 • Article 10, Appropriate the FY2022 Community Preservation Committee (a fi: Mr. Michelson reviewed the material he had prepared for each of the sub -articles. Ms. Kosnoff explained how the process will work regarding sub -article (e) CPA Debt Service and Article 25: Amend Borrowing Authorization Conservation Land Acquisition. There was discussion about the logistics for the presentation in the report. A motion was made and seconded to recommend support of Article 10 (a -f). There was a roll call vote. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 Mr. Daggett j oined the meeting to present information and respond to questions regarding Article 36: Authorize Special Legislation Development Surcharge for Affordable Housing (Citizen Petition). He noted that commercial development changes the demand on housing, and linkage fees for such development can be used to support the creation of affordable housing. This home rule petition would be asking the State legislature to allow Lexington to adopt a mechanism for charging such fees. It is anticipated that Lexington would focus on fees for large commercial projects as opposed to small businesses. In 2020, Town Meeting approved a similar home -rule petition for residential housing fees. A bill for that petition has now been drafted for presentation to the State legislature. Mr. Parker resumed the review of the sections of the report for which there was draft material, with the person who had prepared the material providing a brief summary. In some cases, questions were asked, information was clarified, and it was agreed that suggested edits/additions would be made. Additionally, votes were taken, as follows: • Article 11, Appropriate for Recreation Capital Projects: Mr. Padaki reviewed the material he had prepared, explaining that the funding request is for the Pine Meadows Golf Club. Ms. Kosnoff noted that the golf club is the largest contributor to the Recreation Enterprise Fund retained earnings balance. A motion was made and seconded to recommend support of Article 11. There was a roll call vote. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 • Article 13, Appropriate for Water System Improvements: Mr. Bartenstein reviewed the material he had prepared. The funding request includes funding for maintaining the water distribution system and replacing two water towers. A motion was made and seconded to recommend support of Article 13. There was a roll call vote. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 • Article 14, Appropriate for Wastewater System Improvements: Mr. Bartenstein reviewed the material he had prepared. The funding request includes the usual investment in wastewater maintenance and additional work on the pump stations. A motion was made and seconded to recommend support of Article 14. There was a roll call vote. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 • Article 15 Appropriate for School Capital Projects and Equipment: Mr. Michelson reviewed the material he had prepared. The funding request is for maintaining and updating the schools' technology equipment. Ms. Kosnoff added that this program has been transitioned to using cash capital rather than debt service. A motion was made and seconded to recommend support of Article 15. There was a roll call vote. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 • Article 16 Appropriatefor Public Facilities Capital Projects (a -i): It was noted that the Report will recommend referring to the CEC's report for information about this article. Ms. Yan explained that (i) HVAC Improvements is going to be indefinitely postponed (IP'd) 2 02/24/2021 AC Minutes because CARES Act funding has been used for the project. Regarding (h) Space Needs for School Year 2021-22, the amount requested was reduced because alternatives for meeting some of the needs have been identified. A motion was made and seconded to recommend support of Article 16 (a -h). There was a roll call vote. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 • Article 17, Appropriate to Post Employment Insurance Liability Fund: Ms. Yan reviewed the material she had prepared, noting that dollar amounts are comparable to prior years. A motion was made and seconded to recommend support of Article 17. There was a roll call vote. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 Ms. Kosnoff noted that there will be some minor rescissions under Article 18, Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations but she expects Article 20, Appropriate for Prior Years' Unpaid Bills to be IP'd. In response to questions, Ms. Kosnoff explained that $106,000 from a 2017 appropriation to install parking meters is available for supporting a parking meter upgrade as part of the Center Streetscape project. She confirmed that the original appropriation was worded so that this is appropriate. Mr. Michelson questioned the transparency of this approach since the 2022 appropriation request will be for less than the actual cost of the upgrade. It was noted that the motion could make reference to the leftover funds, and this Committee's Report will explain the situation. Minutes of Prior Meetings A motion was made and seconded to approve the draft minutes for the February 18, 2021 meeting with edits. There was a roll call vote. The motion was approved. VOTE: 7-0 Future Meetings It was noted that future meetings are scheduled for March 4 and March 11. Publication of the report is scheduled for March 15. An additional meeting may be needed on March 8. The meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m. by a roll call vote. VOTE: 7-0 Respectfully submitted, Sara Arnold Approved: March 4, 2021 Exhibits • Agenda, posted by Mr. Parker • AC Report to 2021 ATM-vl • Article 36 PowerPoint, prepared by Mr. Daggett for SB, 02-22-2021 • Article 36 Motion (Draft) 3