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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-03-07-AC-min Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee March 7, 2011 Place and Time: Town Office Building, Room 111, 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; John Bartenstein, Vice-Chair and Secretary; Robert Cohen; Mollie Garberg; Alan Levine; Susan McLeish; Eric Michelson; Richard Neumeier The meeting was called to order at 7:38 p.m. Minutes. 1. Minutes of March 3, 2011 were discussed and approved as edited. Vote 8-0-0. Article Discussion and Votes. 2. The balance of the meeting was devoted to the discussionof and voting on those articles on which sufficient information was available to take a position. Article 12(a-c): School Capital Projects and Equipment. This includes technology, food service equipment and classroom furniture. $34k is requested for appropriation as $30k will be used from the School Food Service RevolvingFund, thus the total funds for this equipment and technology purchase is $64,000.There was a general discussion about the new school lunch program, how payments are managed by the students, and the appropriateness of using food charges to cover related capital costs. A motion was made to recommend approval of Article 12. Vote: Approved 8-0-0. Article 14: Street Acceptance -Frances Road. Mr. Neumeier provided a synopsis of his anticipatedwrite-up and emphasized that while the Town invests funds up frontwhen a street is accepted to bring it up to Town standards, there is no long-term impact on Town finances. The affected residents are assessed for thefull costs and must either pay them up front or over a period of years at a 5% interest rate. A question was raised whether this type of project could impact debt service and increase the Town's budget for street maintenance. Mr. Neumeier pointed outthat the Town already picks up trash and plowsunacceptedstreets. Aquestion was also raised as to how much buy-in is required of the residentson an unaccepted streetto proceed. Itwas noted that there is no general rule but support is typically around 100% and is so for Frances Road, though the Committee does not know the exact numberin this regard. A motion was made to recommend approval of Article 14. Vote: Approved 8-0-0. Article 16: Accept MGL Chapter 32 Supplemental Annual Allowance.As of now, only 4 widows are in this program and have not been given the option to obtain pension benefits from their deceased spouses. The Committee discussed how this allowance has been adjusted annually and grows with the COLA. There was also discussion whether, and to what extent,the number of persons receiving this benefit might increase.Subject to obtaining some additional information on these points for purposes of the write-up, amotion wasmade to recommend approval of Article 16. Vote: Approved 8-0-0. 1 Article 21: Appropriate to Stabilization Fund. Funds requested for this fund are $0. The Committee agreed that although the likely motion on this article would be for indefinite postponement it should nevertheless weigh in on and explainthe reasons for the decision. A motion was made to recommend the support of indefinitely postponing Article 21. Vote: Approved 8-0-0. Article 26: Establish Qualifications for Tax Deferrals. The motion under thisarticle will propose an increase in the income threshold for deferral of property taxes by seniors under G.L. c. 59, § 5, clause 41A from the existing $51,000 to $60,000. The $51,000 figureis now the maximum income limit allowed under the General Laws (based on the income limit under the state income tax “circuit breaker”program for single filers who are not heads of household) but Lexington, like a few other communities, has special home rule legislation allowing it to set its own age and income limits.Mr. Bartenstein summarized his anticipated write-up and noted that theTax Exemption and Deferral Study Committee had madea survey of “peer towns” (the same group used by the School Department). According to the survey, two towns, Sudburyand Weston, have adopted substantially higher limitsof $77,000 and $70,000 respectively but most are in the same ballpark as Lexington’scurrent thresholdof $51,000 or lower. A motion was made to recommend approval of Article 26. Vote: Approved 8-0-0. Article 27: Amend General Bylaws -Private Ways. Mr. Neumeier summarized his anticipated write-up and noted in particular that adoption of this article would help to protect the Town from liability when it is required to access private ways to make necessarytemporary repairs. A motion was made to recommend approval of Article 27. Vote: Approved 8-0-0. Article 30: Amend By-Law -Town Meeting Procedure.The Committee briefly discussed this article, and a report was made on positions taken by the BOS, but it was agreed to postpone a full discussion and vote until Mr.Pato, who isdoing the write-up, can be present. Article 32: Accept MGL Chapter 138, Section 33B. This article would allow the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays and certain holidays between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 noon. After discussion, the Committee decided not to report on this article because there areno immediate financial implications. Article 33: Accept State Land Grant -Cotton Farm Purchase. This article would authorize the acceptance of a $500,000 grant that has been awarded by the state under the LAND Grant Programto defray part of the cost of last year’s acquisition of the Cotton Farm. After a discussion of the appraisal requirements for the grant application and the reimbursement formula under the grant program, a motion was made to recommend approval of Article 33. Vote: Approved 8-0-0. Article 35: Support and Petition for Municipal Utility Act. This articleseeksa resolution to support the filing of a new bill to enable the creation of a municipal utility and to authorize the Selectmen to refile a similarhome rule petition. After discussion, the Committee decided to not report on this articlethis year because there is nothing to add to previous reports and, unless and until legislation is enacted, there are no immediate financial implications to the Town. 2 3. Miscellaneous. Ms. McLeish will notify the Committee of any votes taken by theBOS at next week’s meeting.She will also circulate a “score sheet” of votes taken to date by the Committee. Mr. Neumeier noted that earlier Appropriations Committee reports were substantially shorterand suggested as a future agenda item a discussion of the general size, content and impact of the Committee’s annual report. It was agreed that this would be a good topic to discuss after the Annual Town Meeting The meeting adjourned at 9:36 p.m. There were no exhibits used atthis meeting. Respectfully submitted, Andrea Yepez Recording Secretary Approved March 14, 2011 3