HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-12-13-CEC-minMinutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
Date, Place, and Location: December 13, 2011 8:00 a.m., Cary Memorial Building, Ellen
Stone Room
Members Present: Ted Edson, Vice - Chair; Bill Hurley; David Kanter; Shirley Stolz
Member Absent: Charles Lamb, Chair
Other Attendees: Karen Mullins, Director of Community Development & Conservation
Administrator; Emily Shadler, Conservation Assistant; Rob Addelson, Assistant Town
Manager for Finance; Dawn McKenna, Chair, Tourism Committee; Dave Pinsonneault,
Department of Public Works (DPW), Operations Manager
Documents Presented:
1. FY2013— FY2017 Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) as cited below.
2. Pictures of the Paint Mine Barn and area, presented by Ms. Mullins.
3. "FY 13 CPA Projects and Account Balances ", annotated 12 Dec 2011, distributed by
Mr. Kanter.
4. "Report on Lexington Visitors Center ", draft November 18, 2011, prepared by
Ms. McKenna, Chairman, Tourism Committee; Mary Jo Bohart & Jean Terhune,
Lexington Chamber of Commerce; and Colin P. Smith AIA, Colin Smith Architecture,
Inc., Chairman, Chamber Board of Directors
5. Map Annotated with Locations of Battle Green Master Plan Implementation,
Phases 1 & 2, distributed by Dave Pinsonneault.
6. FY2013 — FY2017 School CIPs (Summary & CIPs) and Department of Public
Facilities (DPF) CIPs (Summary), 12/12/2011, distributed by Rob Addelson.
Mr. Edson called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
FY2013— FY2017 CIPs (Community Development) (Ms. Mullins):
Paint Mine Barn Preservation (Project #733): The Historic horse stable, acquired by the
Town in 1961 and transferred to Conservation in 1997, needs preservation. A review shows
repairs will maintain stability and safety. The major work is the roof, windows, and doors.
DPF may continue to provide construction support and oversight although Minuteman
Regional High School students will be doing the work under the supervision of their
teachers. The Committee discussed project details, pricing, as well as the Historic
determination of this structure as funding for the project is proposed from the Community
Preservation Fund (CPF) under the preservation of historic structures. Pictures of the area
and the structure were reviewed.
Conservation Land Acquisition (Project #832): Discussion of this project is still restricted to
Executive Session and an appraisal is being obtained.
Mr. Kanter provided the Committee with the status of the projects the Community
Preservation Committee (CPC) is considering for presentation to the 2012 Annual Town
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Meeting for use of the CPF. He also reported on what happened regarding those projects at
the Board of Selectmen's (BoS) meeting the previous evening and he advised that the CPC
has a Public Hearing scheduled the next Monday evening (December 19 "), 7:30 p.m., in
Cary Memorial Hall to get public input on the proposed projects.
FY2013— FY2017 CIPs (Tourism) (Ms. McKenna):
Antony Park (Project #827): This project is no longer being considered by the CPC as Town
Counsel advised he did not consider it eligible under the Community Preservation Act and
the CPC accepts that opinion. Private funding will be sought, instead, and the Town will be
asked for permission to install a plaque.
Visitor Center (Project #835): Ms. McKenna gave a summary of the project that she
believes is needed to help drive the tourism in the Town and provided information on the
positive financial impact tourism has on the Town's merchants and the Town's revenue.
She reported this building is the most highly trafficked in the town, with over 100,000
visitors signing in annually.
The portion of this estimated $1,658,000 project associated with rehabilitation of the
existing structure (46 %) is eligible to use the CPF; the balance (54 %), associated with
expansion of the building, would require tax -levy funding. The FY2013 request is $255,000
for design & engineering (D &E) ($117,731 CPF; $137,269 tax levy). The current, pre -D &E,
estimate for FY2014 construction funding is $1,403,000 ($647,750 CPF; $755,250 tax
levy). There was a discussion of the design plan, use and business arrangement for the
site, as well as needed renovations to include bathrooms, electricity, and air conditioning.
Mr. Kanter said, in his opinion, this project should have been submitted through the DPF
and the Committee should be aware of DPF's position on this project before any further
consideration. Ms. McKenna said she will request DPF feedback for the Committee.
Mr. Kanter said that while the BoS has endorsed the FY2013 scope, it has made no
recommendation regarding any subsequent work; therefore, he believe there is no useful
basis for this Committee to incorporate the $599,755 shown as a Phase 3 in FY2014.
There was a discussion of the draft report, whose Option 3 is the basis for this project, and
what additional information the Committee expects to see in its final version—of most
importance being the cost estimates for the less- comprehensive scopes of Options 1 & 2.
FY2013— FY2017 CIP (DPW) (Mr. Pinsonneault):
Battle Green Master Plan (Project#672): Mr. Pinsonneault explained this project and
distributed a map showing the approved and proposed implementation work as well as an
updated project request. The approved Phase I was for monument restoration and work will
begin after Patriot's Day; the proposed Phase II includes restoring the pathways around
Common, up to the Obelisk, and up Belfrey Hill, and the fence at the Ye Old Burying
Ground. The current FY2013 request is for $143,845 and has been put before the CPC and
the BoS. The Committee discussed the project areas and material details. Mr. Pinsonneault
explained that about half of the $22,130 shown as D &E is for architectural - consultant
oversight of the construction.
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FY2013— FY201717 CIPs (Schools /DPF):
Mr. Addelson handed out a package with the Summary and the CIPs of just the projects
that the Schools would manage, and a revised Summary of all the CIPs that DPF would
manage — including those for Schools facilities. Those handouts reflect the reorganization of
those CIPs that this Committee had requested.
Adjourn: A Motion was made and seconded at 9:26 a.m. to adjourn. Vote: 4 -0
These Minutes were approved by the CEC at its meeting on January 10, 2012.
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