HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-07-24-CEC-minMinutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting
Date, Place, and Location: July 24, 2012, 6:45 P.M., Town Office Building, Selectmen's
Meeting Room
Members Present: Charles Lamb, Chair; Bill Hurley, Beth Masterman; David Kanter
Member Absent: Ted Edson, Vice -Chair
Call to Order: Mr. Lamb called the meeting to order at 6:45 P.M.
Documents Presented:
(1) Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation, April 2, 2012, "Rooftop Revolution:
How Low Cost Solar Changes Everything" ( "Sustainable Lexington Solar Options 6-26 -
2012.pdf" provided by Mr. Sandeen, the Chair of that committee, in his e-mail,
July 16, 2012, to Mr. Lamb —which he forwarded to the other Committee members that
same date)
(2) Mr. Edson's E -mail to Mr. Lamb, July 24, 2012 17:59:31 EDT, Re: Absence from
July 24th Meeting
Capital Expenditures Committee Representation on a Lexington Solar Energy
Task Force
The Committee discussed the invitation from Mr. Sandeen to provide a representative to
that Task Force which will be reviewing the options for the Town to proceed with
implementation of solar -panel installations on the municipal and school - building rooftops as
well at the Hartwell Avenue site. (A small array of solar panels had already been placed on
the Lexington High School rooftop in 2008 using State trust funds managed by the
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.) So far, Mr. Sandeen expects Task Force
members from the Sustainable Lexington Committee, the Energy Conservation Committee,
the Appropriation Committee, and the Department of Public Facilities; and the School
Committee has also been invited to provide a member.
Mr. Kanter reported that Deborah Brown, Town Moderator, has said that, regardless
whether the Town By -Law restriction about our Committee members —as well as
Appropriation Committee members — serving as members on other Town committees, or
their sub - committees would apply, as the Task Force contemplates developing an Article
for a future Town Meeting which our Committee will need impartially to evaluate and then
advise Town Meeting, her preference is that both our and the Appropriation Committee
representation, if any, be limited to a liaison -only role.
The Committee discussed the relevance of the Task Force's purpose to this Committee's
responsibilities. As Mr. Edson was not present to do so, Mr. Lamb quoted Mr. Edson's
advice that he was very much against the Committee having representation on the Task
Force as it may very well feel the Committee is obligated to support the project as a
Committee member helped draft the proposal —and this could cause friction within the
Committee if it ends up not supporting the project.
Page 1 of 2
The Committee concluded it is important that the Committee be aware of the Task Force's
work and that the Committee would be able to avoid Mr. Edson's concern; however, in
consideration of that concern and especially the Moderator's preference, the role should be
only as a liaison (i.e., non - voting). After polling the members present, Ms. Masterman
agreed to be this Committee's liaison —with other members to be queried about substituting
if she is not available to attend a Task Force meeting or event.
It was moved and seconded that the Committee maintain a liaison with the Lexington Solar
Energy Task Force and that the Chair advise Mr. Sandeen —with courtesy copies to the
Town Moderator, the Board of Selectmen, the Appropriation Committee, and the Town
Clerk —of our chosen representation. Vote: 4 -0
Approval of Minutes
Mr. Kanter read the Minutes that he had completed during this meeting for this meeting. It
was moved and seconded that those Minutes, to include the subsequent time of
adjournment, be approved with Mr. Kanter allowed to make editorial changes that don't
materially alter the report of the Committee's actions. Vote: 4 -0
Adjourn: A Motion was made and seconded at 6:53 P.M. to adjourn this Open Session of
the Committee and to join what will become an Executive Session of the Board of
Selectmen, the Appropriation Committee, the Community Preservation Committee, and this
Committee, scheduled for 7:00 P.M this evening —for which joint Minutes will be prepared by
the Board of Selectmen's Office. Vote: 4 -0
These Minutes were approved by the CEC at its meeting on July 24, 2012.
Page 2 of 2