HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-03-10-AC-minMinutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee
March 10, 2009
Place and time: Ellen Stone Room, Cary Memorial Building, 7:30 PM
Members present: Alan Levine (Chair), John Bartenstein (Vice- Chair), Susan McLeish
(Secretary), Mike Kennealy, Richard Eurich, Eric Michelson, Glenn Parker
This meeting was called to order at 7:40 P.M.
Use of federal stimulus funds in school budget. Alan would like to discuss possible
guidelines for use of federal stimulus funds with a representative of the School
Committee before the start of Town Meeting, but this may not be possible given the
scheduling constraints. Tom Diaz (School Committee) is unable to meet with the
Appropriation Committee before March 17, 2009, which is when the newly elected
members of the School Committee meet for the first time.
2. Recommend approval of Article 27 — Establish stabilization fund for Minuteman
Regional Vocational School District. Eric described details of the proposed new
stabilization fund for Minuteman Tech. The vote was 7 -0 in favor.
3. Discuss Article 35 — Establish demand charges for delinquent taxes. The
committee did not vote on this Article.
4. Recommend approval of Article 34— Establish qualifications for tax deferrals.
The vote was 7 -0 in favor.
5. Recommend approval of Article 38 — Petition general court for municipal utility
act. The vote was 7 -0 in favor.
6. Discuss Article 22 — Appropriate for Design/Engineering for Senior /Community
Center at White House Site. Eric will prepare text for the committee's report on
this article. The committee did not vote on it.
7. Discuss Article 11— CPC Operating Budget and CPA Projects. Eric presented a
draft report on Article 11.
8. Discuss Articles 12 and 13. — Land Purchases. There is concern about whether
Article 12 should be funded with cash or debt.
9. Recommend approval of Article 11 (b, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k). The vote was 6 -0 -1 in
favor (Mike abstained). Voting on items a, c, 1, m, n was deferred.
10. Recommend approval of Article 5. Eric presented a draft report on Article 5. The
vote was 7 -0 in favor.
11. Discuss Article 7 and 8. The Committee was informed that these two articles may
be indefinitely postponed.
12. Discuss Article 9. The Committee agreed to postpone discussion of Article 9 to
coincide with discussion of the Planning Board zoning articles (44, 45).
13. Recommend approval of Article 23. Rick described this article. The vote was 7 -0 in
favor.
14. Discuss Article 30 — Amend FY2009 Operating Budget. Susan reported that there
may be a motion under this article to cover excesses in the school budget and the
snow /ice budget.
15. Recommend approval of Article 39 — Petition General Court for mid -year tax
relief property loss from fire. The vote was 5 -0 -1 in favor, Susan abstained.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:12 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Glenn P. Parker
Approved July 6, 2009
Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee
March 10, 2009
Place and time: Ellen Stone Room, Cary Memorial Building, 7:30 PM
Members present: Alan Levine (Chair), John Bartenstein (Vice- Chair), Susan McLeish
(Secretary), Mike Kennealy, Richard Eurich, Eric Michelson, Glenn Parker
This meeting was called to order at 7:40 P.M.
Use of federal stimulus funds in school budget. Alan would like to discuss possible
guidelines for use of federal stimulus funds with a representative of the School
Committee before the start of Town Meeting, but this may not be possible given the
scheduling constraints. Tom Diaz (School Committee) is unable to meet with the
Appropriation Committee before March 17, 2009, which is when the newly elected
members of the School Committee meet for the first time.
2. Recommend approval of Article 27 — Establish stabilization fund for Minuteman
Regional Vocational School District. Eric described details of the proposed new
stabilization fund for Minuteman Tech. The vote was 7 -0 in favor.
3. Discuss Article 35 — Establish demand charges for delinquent taxes. The
committee did not vote on this Article.
4. Recommend approval of Article 34— Establish qualifications for tax deferrals.
The vote was 7 -0 in favor.
5. Recommend approval of Article 38 — Petition general court for municipal utility
act. The vote was 7 -0 in favor.
6. Discuss Article 22 — Appropriate for Design/Engineering for Senior /Community
Center at White House Site. Eric will prepare text for the committee's report on
this article. The committee did not vote on it.
7. Discuss Article 11— CPC Operating Budget and CPA Projects. Eric presented a
draft report on Article 11.
8. Discuss Articles 12 and 13. — Land Purchases. There is concern about whether
Article 12 should be funded with cash or debt.
9. Recommend approval of Article 11 (b, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k). The vote was 6 -0 -1 in
favor (Mike abstained). Voting on items a, c, 1, m, n was deferred.
10. Recommend approval of Article 5. Eric presented a draft report on Article 5. The
vote was 7 -0 in favor.
11. Discuss Article 7 and 8. The Committee was informed that these two articles may
be indefinitely postponed.
12. Discuss Article 9. The Committee agreed to postpone discussion of Article 9 to
coincide with discussion of the Planning Board zoning articles (44, 45).
13. Recommend approval of Article 23. Rick described this article. The vote was 7 -0 in
favor.
14. Discuss Article 30 — Amend FY2009 Operating Budget. Susan reported that there
may be a motion under this article to cover excesses in the school budget and the
snow /ice budget.
15. Recommend approval of Article 39 — Petition General Court for mid -year tax
relief property loss from fire. The vote was 5 -0 -1 in favor, Susan abstained.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:12 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Glenn P. Parker
Approved July 6, 2009