Wednesday, September 21, 2016

STM 2016-5 Article 7: Establish and Appropriate to and from Specified Stabilization Funds & Motion to Dissolve STM

Article 7: Establish and Appropriate to and from Specified Stabilization Funds
MOTION:
(a) That $48,621.58 be appropriated to the Transportation Demand Management Stabilization Fund, and to meet this appropriation $48,621.58 be transferred from the Transportation Demand Management special revenue account;

(b) That $1,878,771 be appropriated to the Capital Stabilization Fund, and to meet this appropriation $1,878,771 be raised in the tax levy

Moved by Ms. Ciccolo of the Board of Selectman.
The Board is unanimously in support
AC: unanimous in their support
CEC: only reports on subset b; we are unanimously in support

Questions from TMMs
Can we separate the votes?
Selectmen are amenable
Town Mod - we will debate and question the two parts together, take two votes

Town Mod calls for the vote on part a:
Yes: 135
No: 0
Abstain: 1
The MOTION carries

Town Mod calls for the vote on part b (requires 2/3 majority):
Yes: 129
No: 3
Abstain: 4
The MOTION carries

Town Moderator calls for MOTION to Dissolve Special Town Meeting 2016-5
MOVED by Board of Selectmen
Voice Vote
The MOTION is approved the Meeting is Dissolved
~ 9:35 PM

STM 2016-5 Article 6: Amend FY2017 Operating Enterprise Fund and Community Preservation Budgets

Article 6: Amend FY2017 Operating Enterprise Fund and Community Preservation Budgets
MOTION: (a) That the following adjustments be made to the following line items for the FY2017 budget as approved under Article 4 of the 2016 Annual Town Meeting:


  • 8500: Town Clerk Personal Services, from $362,681 to $368,039;
  • 8500: Town Clerk Personal Expenses, from $124,675 to $125,567;
  • 8320: Misc. Boards and Committees, from $4,500 to $34,500;
  • 7100: Land Use, Health and Development Expenses, from $414,153 to $436,613
and, that said adjustments be funded from the tax levy.

MOTION: (b) That the following adjustment be made to the following line item for the FY2017 budget to operate the Water Division of the Department of Public Works as approved under Article 5(a) of the 2016 Annual Town Meeting:


  • MWRA Water Assessment, from $7,378,622 to $7,349,661

and, further that $90,500 be appropriated from Water Fund Retained Earnings to support the FY17 Water Division Budget in addition to $131,000 of Retained Earnings appropriated under Article 5(a) of the 2016 Annual Town Meeting.

MOTION: (c) That the following amounts be appropriated to the following line item for the FY2017 budget to operate the Wastewater (Sewer) Division of the Department of Public Works as approved under Article 5(b) of the 2016 Annual Town Meeting, and that said amounts be transferred from the following sources:


  • MWRA Wastewater Assessment, from $7,311,103 to $7,265,870

MOTION: (d) That the following adjustment be made to the FY2017 budget of the Community Preservation Committee as approved under Article 8(p) of the 2016 Annual Town Meeting:


  • CPA Debt Service and Related Costs, from $3,289,721 to $3,329,721

and that said adjustment be funded from the Undesignated Fund Balance of the Community Preservation Fund.

MOTIONs MOVED by Mr. Cohen of the Board of Selectmen. The Board is unanimously in support
CEC: subset d [CPC], in support
AC: unanimously in support of the whole article
CPC: with respect to part d, 7-0 in support
Planning Board: unanimously in support of 2020 Committee study [part d, CPC]

Town Mod calls for Vote (MOTIONs of all parts will be taken in one vote)
Yes: 132
No: 0
Abstain: 3

The MOTION carries

STM 2016-5 Article 5: Appropriate Funds for Police Station Feasibility Study

Article 5: Appropriate Funds for Police Station Feasibility Study
MOTION: That the Town appropriate $65,000 for studying the feasibility of siting, constructing and equipping a new police station, and that to meet this appropriation $65,000 be raised in the tax levy.
MOVED by Mr. Kelly of the Board of Selectmen. Police station was built in 1956. Need to consider options for renovation or replacement.

BoS: Unanimously in support
CEC: Timely and necessary, unanimous
AC: Unanimous in their support

Town Mod calls for Vote
Yes: 134
No: 2
Abstain: 2

The MOTION carries

STM 2016-5 Article 4: Supplemental Appropriation for School Facilities Capital Projects

Article 4: Supplemental Appropriation for School Facilities Capital Projects
MOTION: That the Town appropriate $910,000, in addition to the amount voted under Article 2 of Special Town Meeting-1 held on November 2, 2015, for the purchase and installation of six modular classrooms, and that to raise such amount the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, is authorized to borrow $910,000 under M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 7, as amended, or any other enabling authority. Any premium received by the Town upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote, less the cost of preparing, issuing and marketing them, and any accrued interest received upon the delivery of such bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of project costs approved by this vote, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount.
Moved by SC Chair Hurley. Asks to have Report of the SC received and placed on file. TM is Unanimous.
Hurley asks Town Mod to recognize Pat Goddard, Director of Facilities. She does.
Goddard presents a quick review of background to TM:

Project Cost, After Bids: $4,430,000
Previously Appropriated: $3,000,000
Supplement Required now: $1,430,000
Available, STM-1, Art. 2 (Hastings w/out MSBA): $520,000
Net Additional Appropriation: $910,000

Board of Selectmen: Unanimously in support
CEC: 4-0 in support for needed project
AC: Supports by a vote of 7-0

Town Mod opens for questions from TMMs

Town Mod calls for vote - requires 2/3 majority vote in order to pass
Yes: 134
No: 3
Abstain: 1

The MOTION carries

STM 2016-5, Article 3: Supplemental Appropriation for Middle Schools - Additions and Remodeling

Article 3: Supplemental Appropriation for Middle Schools - Additions and Remodeling
MOTION: That this article be indefinitely postponed.

SC supports IP
CEC supports IP
AC supports IP
Voice Vote - unaimous - MOTION carries

STM 2016-5, Article 2: Land Purchase - 171-173 Bedford Street

Article 2: Land Purchase - 171-173 Bedford Street
MOTION: That (a) the Selectmen be authorized to purchase, take by eminent domain or otherwise acquire for municipal or school purposes, any fee, easement, or other interest in all or any part of land known as 171-173 Bedford Street and shown as Lot 76 on Assessors’ Property Map 64, now or formerly owned by the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, on such terms and conditions as the Selectmen may determine, and to conduct all necessary site surveys, environmental assessments and to incur legal and closing costs in connection therewith; that $4,443,000 be appropriated for such land acquisition and related costs, including, but not limited to, an architectural and engineering study of the site for use by the Fire Department, and that to raise such amount, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, is authorized to borrow $4,443,000 under M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 7, as amended, or pursuant to any other enabling authority; and (b) that the Selectmen be authorized to lease a portion of said land to Liberty Mutual Insurance Company or an affiliated entity thereof, subject to terms acceptable to the Selectmen. Any premium received by the Town upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote, less the cost of preparing, issuing and marketing them, and any accrued interest received upon the delivery of such bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of project costs approved by this vote, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount.

MOTION is Moved by Suzie Barry, Selectmen Chair and gives a brief description and explanation. BoS is in unanimous support of the project.
Ms. Barry asks that the Town Manager be recognized.
Town Manager Carl Valente is recognized.
Town Members will hear three reports - followed by financing plan from Rob Addleson
Proposed uses of the parcel:
  • temporary swing space during renovations of fire HQ;
  • temporary swing space during renovations of police HQ;
  • new location of police HQ;
  • if not, future municipal/school uses
$4,443,000 total purchase price:
  • $4.3 million for property
  • $35,000 for Legal
  • $85,000 for Designer for Traffic Study (adjustments for temporary basis of fire)
  • $15,000 for land survey
  • $8,000 any environmental analysis that may be necessary
Financing Plan for the next five years may require a debt exclusion override for fire, police, Hastings Elementary School projects:
  • March 2016 Modeling: Mitigating the tax increase for average residential taxpayer
  • September 2016 Modeling: Increase for average residential taxpayer, with 173 Bedford Street and increase in Capital stability Fund, virtually unchanged.
Town Manager introduces Assistant Town Manager; Rob presents: 
Factors in Managing Debt and Taxpayer Impact:
  • Existing Debt Service is Decreasing
  • Prospective $23,000,000 in Capital Stabilization Fund
  • Low Interest Rate Environment
  • Manage Debt Service and Taxpayer Mitigation to Lessen Spikes in Property Tax Bills
Existing and Proposed Excluded Debt Service - All Projects

[insert photo]

Tax Bill for Home of Median Value ($786,000) - All Projects

[insert photo]

TMod recognizes Chief Wilson, Fire.
Chief Wilson presents slides on challenges of present condition of current fire station, built in 1947. Time to replace.

For the recomendation of CEC: Chair Hai - CEC supports 4-1
AC Chair Parker: AC supports 8-0
School Committee Chair Hurley: SC supports 5-0

Town Mod opens for Questions from Town Meeting Members (TMM)

TMM McKenna, Pct 6: Q for Mr. Addelson. $21Million available for mitigation - what percent of that for mitigation?
Addelson: $23Million; 100%
McKenna: Other projects, anticipated part of this proposal; any funding for the Visitor Center project; if so how much?
Addelson: No, Visitor Center is not included.

TMM LaPointe, Pct 2: Financial Q. Pelham Project $8M still being carried. Can we get an update?
Valente: We are still negotiating. Still w/in the $8M appropriation last spring

TMM Adler, Pct 1: I see a critical need for the fire station project; price is reasonable. However, I was surprised at the assessment process is accepted by the DoR. $1.9M means we're paying 2.6x the assessed value. DoR process for commercial projects not producing realistic results

TMM Afshartous, Pct 2: Is there enough parking space for the space where we're building for next 10-20 years?
Pat Goddard, Director of Public Facilities: If the site is constrained, do we have enough space to build a modern station. We have a study that looked at this. We're looking at a two-story building. The study is not the design. We'll be working with the Fire dept to optimize the site

TMM Williams, Pct 5: What impact with the vote of the Minuteman School on the tax.
Valente: MM school will be part of our Town's assessment to MM - peaks at about 3 years, we can accommodate within our annual budget

TMM Kluchman: When both CE and increases in tax, it will be useful to express in $100,000 increments.

TMM Heinrich, Pct3:  Pelham School - if correct, there is no funding for renovations if we buy that school?
Valente: that is correct

TMM Michelson, Pct 5: Fire project - any guess or estimate for temporary renovations
Valente: Nothing until we go forward with an engineer. In our Modeling, we're carrying a million dollars.
TMM: will we need a garage on that property?
Valente: we will probably have temporary structures, more sophisticated than a tent...with heat.

Town Mod: Article 2 - requires a 2/3 vote to pass:
Yes - 134
No - 3
abstain - 4

The MOTION carries

Opening of Special Town Meeting 2016 #5

Margery Milne Battin Hall
Cary Memorial Building
1605 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington 02420

September 21, 2016
7:30 PM

Warrant is HERE.
Articles and Reports are HERE.
Motions are HERE.

Town Moderator calls the Meeting to order at 7:30 PM

Announcements

Town Moderator (TMod) calls a brief recess to hear from Members of the National Park Service who make a special presentation in honor of the 100th Anniversary of National Park Service - director of Minuteman National Park recognizing exemplary partnership.

Article 1: Reports of Town Boards, Officers, Committees
To receive the reports of any Board or Town Officer or of any Committee of the Town, or act in any other manner in relation thereto.

a. Report of the Appropriation Committee
MOTION: That the report of the AC be received and placed on file. Moved by AC Chair. TM is Unanimous - carries by voice vote

b. Report of the Capital Expenditures Committee
MOTION: That the report of the CEC be received and placed on file. Moved by CEC Chair. TM is Unanimous - carries by voice vote

c. Report of the Community Preservation Committee
MOTION: That the report of the CPC be received and placed on file. Moved by CPC Chair. TM is Unanimous - carries by voice vote

d. Report of the Assistant Town Manager for Finance (Articles 5, 6, & 7) MOTION: That the report be received and placed on file. Moved by Board of Selectmen Chair. TM is Unanimous - carries by voice vote
Assistant Town Manager for Finance, Mr. Rob Addleson makes a brief presentation to TM.