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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09-25-AC-min September 25, 2008 Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee September 25, 2008 Place and time: Room 111, Town Office Building, 7:30 PM Members present: Alan Levine (Chair), John Bartenstein (Secretary), Richard Eurich, Susan McLeish, Eric Michelson, Mike Kennealy, Pam Hoffman, and Deborah Brown (Vice Chair) Also present: Micah Niemy The meeting was called to order at 7:45 PM. ATFC Meeting . The annual meeting of the Association for Town Finance Committees will take place on Saturday November 1. Pam Hoffman, John Bartenstein and Susan McLeish expressed interest in attending. Micah Niemy will check to see if the Town has paid the annual dues for the Association membership. Rezoning. We discussed the Beal proposal for development on Spring Street and that we should review materials available and come to the meeting on Oct 16 prepared to discuss and have questions ready for our meeting on Oct 30 when representatives from Beal will be present. More broadly, we should get an update on changes happening in that area, an update on the TIF for Shire and what infrastructure needs exist related to current and proposed development. Health Insurance. Deborah and Mike indicated that they had scheduled a meeting with the Treasurer in Wellesley and were making an appointment with a representative from Brookline. Weston is signing on to the GIC. Executive Session. The committee voted unanimously by roll call to go into executive session to discuss collective bargaining strategy at 8:15 pm. Meeting returned from executive session at 8:47 pm Capital Working Group. A brief spirited discussion of the Capital Working Group meeting on September 17 ensued. The purpose of that meeting was to discuss the potential uses of 5 Town buildings/facilities – the White House, the Munroe School, the Senior Center space at Muzzey, the School Admin Building (former Harrington School), and the Supportive Day Care space in Lincoln. A discussion of the possibility of moving the police station to the White House and what could be done with the building that is vacated (not within the scope of the Capital Working Group) was held. Election of Officers. An election was held and Alan Levine was re-elected as Chair, John Bartenstein was elected as Vice Chair and Susan McLeish was elected as Secretary. 1 Water and Sewer. John Bartenstein reported that there have been two presentations to the Board of Selectmen relating to water and sewer rates. There will be a rate hearing on October 6. It was reported that there are retained earnings of $2.5 million in both the Water Enterprise Fund and the Sewer Enterprise Fund. MWRA costs have gone up and a 10% increase in water rates is proposed. However, no change is proposed in sewer rates. The calculations are based on an estimate of consumption which is conservative. We need a policy on what level of reserves in the funds is appropriate. Ballot Question 1. A discussion regarding ballot question 1 – the elimination of the state income tax ensued and we expect that our committee will be asked to take a position on this binding ballot question. A motion that the Committee vote to oppose state ballot question #1 was made and unanimously accepted. The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 PM. Respectfully submitted, Susan McLeish Approved October 14, 2009 2