HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-22-AC-minMinutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee
April 22, 2009
Place and time: Ellen Stone Room, Cary Memorial Building, 7:48 PM
Members present: Alan Levine (Chair), John Bartenstein (Vice Chair), Richard Eurich,
Mollie Garberg, Susan McLeish (Secretary), Glenn Parker, Rob Addelson (ex officio,
non - voting)
Also present: Edith Sandy, Dawn McKenna
Report from Rob Addelson. Patriot Partners is still in negotiations regarding the
traffic mitigation fee for their rezoning request. They would like to conclude this by
next week, which would be one week in advance of the Special Town Meeting where
the rezoning proposal will be considered.
The Town will meet with the owners (or representatives thereof) of the Busa property
tomorrow to conduct further negotiations.
Rob stated that the motions for Articles 25 and 30 will not be available until Monday,
4/27/2009. This means the committee will be unable to vote on them before the
committee's second report is published.
2. Discuss Article 31 (Appropriate for Authorized Capital Improvements). Rob
Addelson provided history and details for the motion on Article 31.
To cover potential additional expenses related to the methane mitigation project at
Lincoln Fields that was approved under Article 31(a) of the 2007 Annual Town
Meeting, the Town is proposing to transfer a portion ($100,000 to $150,000) of the
unused balance of Article 8(i) of the 2003 Annual Town Meeting ($450,000
borrowed for landfill closure costs, of which approximately $219,600 has been
expended or encumbered) as a supplemental funding source to cover the potential
additional cost of this project.
The Committee approved the request by a vote of 6 -0.
Proposed Amendment to Article 45. Edith Sandy described an amendment she
plans to offer when Town Meeting takes up Article 45.
The committee did not take a position on the proposed amendment
4. Discuss Articles 44, 45, 46, and 9 (rezoning for Hartwell Ave.). John commented
that the report should make note of the volatility of tax revenue derived from
commercial real estate, and that the report should indicate the connection between
certain revenues and their offsetting expenses (resulting in no net revenue to the
Town).
Glenn will assist in assembling and publishing the second report by Saturday,
4/25/09.
The committee recommended approval of Articles 44, 45, 46, and 9 by a vote of 6 -0.
Discuss Article 49 (Beal/Ledgemont Rezoning). The Committee was unable to
reach a firm consensus on the best way to report on Article 49, a rezoning article for
the Beal Company. The following statement was approved by a vote of 5 -1 (Richard
opposed):
"The Appropriation Committee has limited its analysis to the projected financial
benefits and costs of the proposed rezoning and we believe that the rezoning will
provide a net financial benefit to the town and that the fiscal impact study
presented by the proponents is sound."
6. Discuss Article 48 (Financial Support for Transportation). Dawn McKenna
described her motion for Article 48, which has been revised based on discussions
with Town Counsel. The Committee expressed many concerns about the motion,
including whether it might be interpreted as a tax and thus rejected by the State
Attorney General. Another concern centered on the need to provide town -wide
transportation to all owners who are affected by the proposed fee system.
The committee took no position on this Article.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:54 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Glenn Parker
Approved July 6, 2009
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