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Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee
October 22, 2008
Place and time: Ellen Stone Room, Cary Memorial Hall, 7:30 PM
Members present: Alan Levine (Chair), John Bartenstein (Vice Chair), Susan McLeish
(Secretary), Richard Eurich, Pam Hoffman, Michael Kennealy, Eric Michelson, Glenn
Parker, Deborah Brown, Rob Addelson (ex officio, non-voting)
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM.
Upcoming Meeting Opportunities.
1. The following meetings were noted to be
of possible interest to members of the Committee:
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Massachusetts School Building Authority check presentation – Oct. 23
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Affordable Housing Forum – Oct. 23
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Energy Roundtable – Oct. 31, 10 AM to noon
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Assoc. of Town Finance Committees (ATFC) Annual Meeting - Nov. 1
State Budget Cuts.
2. Rob Addelson reported the following in regards to the
state budget cuts recently proposed by Governor Patrick:
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At this time, there are no cuts to local aid.
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The Community Policing Grants destined for Lexington have been reduced by
$8,000.
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A $20M reduction in State funds for the sewer rate relief program will be
absorbed by the MWRA and should not affect Lexington sewer rates.
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METCO monies for Lexington were reduced by $5,000.
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The SPED circuit breaker reimbursement will be reduced to 72% from 75%;
however, this will not result in a FY2009 Lexington budget shortfall because
the Town’s budget was built assuming a 72% reimbursement rate.
Rob advised that if the economy continues to deteriorate, there is a possibility both state
aid and local revenues will yet fall short of the amounts assumed for the FY09 budget.
The town is currently identifying potential cost reductions in order to have options to
react appropriately to any further revenue cuts. The current amount in the Stabilization
Fund is approximately $6.6 million.
Special Town Meeting.
3. The warrant for the upcoming Special Town Meeting
has been posted on the town website. It contains nine articles. One is for unpaid bills, of
which there are none at this time. Rob Addelson presented a sheet entitled “Potential
Adjustments at November STM (Preliminary)” outlining revenue and expense
adjustments proposed in Articles 3, 4 and 8. The adjustments address funding of the
remaining snow and ice deficit; additional new growth and local aid; decreased motor
vehicle excise and facilities rental revenue; increased expenses in energy and labor
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counsel line items; a transfer of the full School Resource Officer costs to the Town
(originally half the costs had been incorrectly budgeted to the school department); and
new funding for COA kitchen equipment, a Hartwell Avenue traffic study, and a Munroe
School feasibility study. Rob cautioned that the analysis is a work-in-progress and will
change as numbers are more closely evaluated.
The following informational meetings relating to the Special Town Meeting have been
scheduled:
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11/3 – article presentations to the Board of Selectmen
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11/13 – TMMA information meeting
Residential Property Assessments.
3. In response to an article published in the
Lexington Minuteman over the summer questioning the town’s residential assessment
process, the Board of Assessors will be making a presentation on Monday, October 27 to
the TMMA executive committee explaining its procedures for determining these
assessments. The Committee discussed several questions relating to how new growth
values are determined, and whether residential properties are fully and fairly assessed
across all price ranges. Members who attend the presentation will report back.
Report to the Special Town Meeting.
4. The Committee’s report to the Special
Town Meeting will address Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Assignments are: Art. 3 –
Deborah Brown, 4 – John Bartenstein, 5 – Eric Michelson, 6 – Eric Michelson, 7 – Glenn
Parker, 8 – Richard Eurich. At this time it has not been decided whether or what to
include in the report regarding Article 2, which deals with the proposed Beal rezoning.
Ballot Question on State Income Tax.
5. It was reported that Andy Friedlich
had asked the Committee to join other groups in town and send a letter to the Minuteman
asking for a “No’ vote on Question 1, which proposes repealing the state income tax over
a two-year period. While the Committee had previously voted to go on record with its
unanimous opposition to this ballot question, it was agreed that it would now be too late
to draft, edit, vote, and submit a separate letter before the Minuteman’s deadline.
Jay Kaufman Open House with Speaker DiMasi.
6. Deborah Brown, Pam
Hoffman, Susan McLeish and John Bartenstein reported that they had attended
Representative Kaufman’s recent Open House program featuring House Speaker Sal
DiMasi. Some highlights of Speaker DiMasi’s remarks were:
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Although at this time local aid and Chapter 70 aid will be held harmless to the
downturn in state revenue, towns should prepare for cuts later this year. The
amount of future cuts which might be required is not yet known.
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On the issue of the GIC, and why more towns have not yet joined, the Speaker
said that the current requirement of union approval may be an obstacle, and that
he will be pressing for additional legislation that will take this issue out of the
collective bargaining process.
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Minutes.
7. Minutes were approved, with minor edits, of the meetings held on:
3/17/08; 4/14/08; 7/29/08; 8/7/08.
Water and Sewer Rate-Setting.
8. John Bartenstein reported on the recent
water and sewer rate hearings before the Board of Selectmen. Water rates for FY09 were
increased by 10% and the sewer rates were not increased, for an approximate 2-3%
across the board combined rate increase. Water and sewer enterprise fund reserves have
been certified at approximately $5 million as of the end of FY09. In view of the
substantial size to which these reserves have grown, John has urged that a written policy
be adopted addressing their size and appropriate use.
Upcoming Meetings.
9. There was a discussion of upcoming meeting dates and
the issues to be covered:
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10/30 -- Beal Co. representatives to discuss their proposed rezoning
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11/6 –work on report
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11/10 –work on report
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11/12 – Budget Summit
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11/17 – 6:30 prior to Town Meeting
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11/19 – 6:30 prior to Town Meeting
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Eric Michelson
Approved January 22, 2009
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