HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-09-24-AC-minSeptember 24, 2010
Minutes
Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee
September 24, 2010
Place and time: Selectmen's Meeting Room, 12:00 Noon
Members present: Glenn Parker (Chair), John Bartenstein (Vice Chair and Secretary),
Joe Pato (Vice Chair), Mollie Garberg, Susan McLeish, Eric Michelson, and Rob
Addelson (ex officio, non - voting)
The Committee joined the Board of Selectmen, the School Committee and the Capital
Expenditures Committee for a summit to discuss Phase I of the Estabrook Elementary
School PCB mitigation project.
Please see the attached minutes of the Board of Selectmen, which are published on the
Town web site at http: // lexingtonma. gov/ Selectmen/selectmenminutes.cfm and which
are also available in the Town Clerk's office, for details.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 PM.
A list of documents and other exhibits used at the meeting is attached.
Respectfully submitted,
John Bartenstein
Approved December 6, 2010
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September 24, 2010
Exhibits
Estabrook Summit
September 24, 2010
1. Agenda posted by Hank Manz, Chair of the Board of Selectmen
2. Estabrook Chronology
3. Proposal by Hank Manz, Chair of the Board of Selectmen, dated 9/22/2010, for
addressing Estabrook mitigation and forming an ad hoc Task Force
4. Slides prepared by Department of Public Facilities Director Pat Goddard
Letter from Environmental Health & Engineering (EH &E) dated September 24,
2010 re "Air Samples Collected on September 19, 2010, Estabrook Elementary
School
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September 24, 2010
Estabrook Summit
September 14, 2010
A Summit regarding Estabrook School was held on Friday, September 24, 2010, at 12:00
noon in the Selectmen Meeting Room, Town Office Building. Chairman Manz, Mr.
Kelley, Mr. Cohen, and Ms. Mauger; Mr. Valente, Town Manager; Ms. Addelson,
Comptroller and Ms. Pease, Executive Clerk, were present.
Also Present: All School Committee (SC) members; Dr. Ash, Superintendent of Schools;
all members of the Appropriations Committee (AC), except Mr. Levine and Mr.
Neumeier; all members of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) except Mr. Edson:
Mr. Goddard; Public Facilities Director; and Ms. Brown, Town Moderator.
The purpose of the meeting was to decide on a short-term plan for the Estabrook School
PCB issues; to discuss funding for Phase I and discuss the implications; and to discuss
what should happen after Phase 1 is complete.
Mr. Goddard reviewed the chronology starting in September 2009, when there was an
article in the Boston Globe regarding PCB risk in older schools, through Phases 1 -3 to
complete the cleanup of the PCBs. See attached chronology and drawings.
The current plan, which has been approved by the EPA, is to put plastic over the ceiling
tiles in kindergarten classrooms and the corridor during the weekend of September 25 -26
and then retest the air. If the tests show PCBs in the ceiling tiles the next step is to
remove and replace the ceiling tiles and remove and replace the cove base, which follows
the EPA guidelines.
Regarding funding, currently approximately $531,000 has been spent using Public
Facilities and School funds and Reserve Fund transfer. Removal/replacement of ceiling
tiles and cove base will cost approximately $250,000.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 3 -1 (Kelley
opposed) to support funding $250,000 for work in Phase 1 contingent on tests the
weekend of September 25- 27 and then pause to evaluate results.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the School Committee voted 5 -0 to support
funding $250,000 for work in Phase 1 contingent of tests the weekend of September 25-
27 and then pause to evaluate results.
The group discussed how to fund the work that has been done to date and the future
work. Most felt there should be a special town meeting scheduled. There needs to be a
discussion about projects that have been budgeted and approved already that would have
to be put aside to do the Estabrook work. If there is a Special Town Meeting planned for
the fall, an article should be included for design money for a new Estabrook. At the
October 6 Summit there will be a discussion regarding having a Special Town Meeting.
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September 24, 2010
Estabrook Summit — September 24, 2010
It was suggested that a Task Force be formed that at a minimum includes the following: 2
Selectmen, 2 School Committee; 2 member of Appropriations Committee (as Liaisons); 1
from Capital Expenditures Committee (as a Liaison), 1 from Board of Health; plus staff
from Facilities, Superintendent's Office and Town Manager's Office; and possible
members from the current Estabrook Task Force. The Task Force will evaluate the results
of Phase 1 mitigation.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4 -0 to form a Task
Force as defined above.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the School Committee voted 4 -0 to participate in
the Task Force.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn at 2:00
p.m.
A true record; Attest:
Lynne A. Pease
Executive Clerk