HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-04-AC-min 02/04/2021 AC Minutes
Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC)
February 4, 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; Carolyn Kosnoff,
Assistant Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex officio)
Member(s)Absent: None
Other Attendees: Eileen Jay, Vice-Chair, and Deepika Sawhney: Lexington School Committee;
David Kanter, Vice-Chair and Clerk: Capital Expenditures Committee; 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 7:34 p.m. on February 4, 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. Michelson reported that Article 37: Amend General Bylaws, Stormwater Management
(Chapter 114) is addressing a technical issue, and it is not necessary for this Committee to comment
on it in its report to the Annual Town Meeting (ATM).
Ms. Kosnoff made several announcements, as follows:
• Yesterday, the Town issued bonds for $5.5 million of within-levy debt, which included
funding for Water/Wastewater projects, the Pelham Road project, the Police Station, and
some signalization improvements. The true interest cost was 0.45%, with a coupon rate of
5.0%. The Town also received a rate of 0.29% for some Bond Anticipation Notes.
• The Town learned this afternoon that its Free Cash was certified at approximately
$1.0 million over the $16.2 million estimate used in the preliminary budget. The Town
wants to verify that the certified amount is correct, but it is unlikely that this can be resolved
before tomorrow's issuance of the FY2022 Recommended Budget and Financing Plan
(Brown Book).
• Despite the uncertainty surrounding the amount of Free Cash, staff expects to update the
Brown Book to eliminate a $400,000 withdrawal from the general-purpose Stabilization
Fund and to direct$600,000 into the Capital Stabilization Fund. Because the budget sets
aside $2.0 million in funds for unanticipated Covid-19-related expenses or revenue
reductions, and with the anticipation of the receipt of more federal and state Covid-19 relief
funds, Ms. Kosnoff currently feels comfortable with making this adjustment before ensuring
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
iuuu3, lv13. lsuMuvii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim marm5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
1UIIU31 lv13. VsUMIUii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim mar m5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
1UIIU31 lv13. VsUMIUii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim mar m5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
1UIIU31 lv13. VsUMIUii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim mar m5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
1UIIU31 lv13. VsUMIUii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim mar m5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
iuuu3, lv13. lsuMuvii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim marm5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
1UIIU31 lv13. VsUMIUii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim mar m5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
1UIIU31 lv13. VsUMIUii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim mar m5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
1UIIU31 lv13. VsUMIUii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim mar m5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
1UIIU31 lv13. VsUMIUii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim mar m5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
iuuu3, lv13. lsuMuvii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim marm5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
1UIIU31 lv13. VsUMIUii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim mar m5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
1UIIU31 lv13. VsUMIUii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim mar m5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
1UIIU31 lv13. VsUMIUii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim mar m5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1
1UIIU31 lv13. VsUMIUii cuiiciiLiy cumiuiLauic wim mar m5 cm3 auju3Lm%,m ucivic cii3uim5
that the additional $1.0 million is available.
• This triggered discussion about the School Department's use of parent donations for
additional Covid-19 testing at public schools. Members suggested that Covid-19 testing
programs in public schools should be funded by the Town. Ms. Sawhney and Ms. Jay
reported that there was still considerable uncertainty about the funding and duration of this
testing program. Ms. Kosnoff reported that she had contacted the Federal Emergency
1