We're in the Isaac Harris Cary Memorial Building (Cary Hall), 1605 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington 02420.
Madam Moderator has just called the meeting to order.
7:30 PM
Warrant for STM-2 and STM-3 is HERE.
Motions HERE.
Report of the Appropriation Committee (AC), HERE.
Report of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC), HERE.
Carl Valente, Town Manager introducing new staff; presents his report: 2016-2018 Capital Plan Approved and Potential Exempt Debt Projects (~$71M). Have since decided to remove Fire Station "swing space" and Pelham Road property purchases from the debt exclusion referendum (voting in December, TBA).
Reports of the CEC and AC presented and placed on file.
First up, Articles for STM-2, in the order printed in the Warrant:
- Article 2: Appropriate for Hastings School Construction (Funds requested: $63,059,418)
- Report of the School Committee presented and placed on file.
- School Committee (SC) unanimously recommending approval of the project.
This Article seeks aurhorization for funding construction of a new Hastings Elementary School (30-section, 110,000s.f.) and for demolition of the old school. Design capacity (K-5) is 645 students; enrollment last year was 455 students. The existing school opened in 1955. Its floor area is 64,980s.f., including 8 modular classrooms that are either nearing or past the end of their useful life of 20 years.
The Massachusetts State Building Authroity (MSBA) approved partial reimbursement of the construction costs for a new school building. The total project budget is about $65,300,000, of which MSBA will reimburse approx $16,500.000 (~35.79%). The balance of $48,800,000 will be covered by the Town of Lexington; a vote for a debt exclusion override is planned for December.
Dr. Czajkowski, Superintendent of Schools presents structural and space challenges (overcrowding) of the current school facility, with assistance from Pat Goddard, recently retired Director of Public Facilities (and filling in while new Director gets up to speed on all of the projects).
Remaining balance for Town Meeting (TM) to appropriate: $63,059,418. If approved, MSBA Grant will be in the amount of $16,513,723
Board of Selectmen (BOS): Unanimously supports
AC: 7-0-2 (the abstentions had to do with concerns with the overall cost of the project)
CEC: Unanimously supports
The Massachusetts State Building Authroity (MSBA) approved partial reimbursement of the construction costs for a new school building. The total project budget is about $65,300,000, of which MSBA will reimburse approx $16,500.000 (~35.79%). The balance of $48,800,000 will be covered by the Town of Lexington; a vote for a debt exclusion override is planned for December.
Dr. Czajkowski, Superintendent of Schools presents structural and space challenges (overcrowding) of the current school facility, with assistance from Pat Goddard, recently retired Director of Public Facilities (and filling in while new Director gets up to speed on all of the projects).
Remaining balance for Town Meeting (TM) to appropriate: $63,059,418. If approved, MSBA Grant will be in the amount of $16,513,723
Board of Selectmen (BOS): Unanimously supports
AC: 7-0-2 (the abstentions had to do with concerns with the overall cost of the project)
CEC: Unanimously supports
- 5th grade student from Hastings shares concerns about the lack of air conditioning in the current building from the Citizens Mic
Requires 2/3 vote:
Yes: 156
No: 1
Abstain: 3
Motion Approved
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- Article 3: Appropriate Design Funds for Lexington Children's Place ($2,500,000).
This Article seeks funds for completion of design and engineering work needed for construction of a new Lexington Children's Place preschool facility at the recently acquired Pelham Road site (20 Pelham Road).
Design to achieve Leed Silver Certification and exceed Lexington's Stretch Code by 30%. Design maximizes roof space for Solar.
Hope to open new facility for new school year, beginning September 2019.
Funds requested: $2,500,000, contingent upon passage of the Debt Exclusion Question. (Date just announced for December 4. More about that campaign HERE.)
Selectman Ciccolo recusing.
SC: Unanimously supports
BOS: 4-0-1(recusal)
AC: 7-0-2 (abstention relates to overall costs)
CEC: Unanimously supports
From Citizens Mic: Parent of child with Special Needs, who has attended LCP for two years -- has made incredible progress. This program will grow. The time is now.
NO Mic: Lexington will need a 7th elementary school very soon, and there isn't a place for one in Town. Spend the $15M at Harrington School, where LCP is already housed. Also, LHS needs a new space.
Citizen's Mic: Parent of child with ASD, now at LHS, 13 yrs ago attended LCP. Diverse students. All students. It has been a great program. Out of District costs are huge; great to have this in-district program.
YES Mic: Some say that the mark of a society is how we treat the most vulnerable; children with special needs are the most vulnerable. Morally right thing to do. SC says Pelham can't house another elementary school and I believe them when they say that.
Q Mic: How do you determine a tuition rate for mandated and non-mandated students?
Goddard: class size determined 15; 7 are mandated to be SWD and others are added as space allows.
Czajkowski: Tuition ranges for 1/2 day and full day for 10 months from ~$10K+ for Full Day; 1/2 Day ~$3K+; including lunch ~$1,300
Q Mic: What other funding methods were considered? (Within Levy or Debt Exclusion)
Valente: Those were the only two.
Q Mic: Why not use for 7th elementary school?
Goddard: We looked at the site for a 7th elementry school. 24-section school deemed too small; 3-story with very little green space.
Q Mic: WRT access to the school -- any significant expense getting traffic in or out of the site?
Goddard: Costs include getting onto and off of the site.
TMM Calls Q.
Voice vote: Passes
Design to achieve Leed Silver Certification and exceed Lexington's Stretch Code by 30%. Design maximizes roof space for Solar.
Hope to open new facility for new school year, beginning September 2019.
Funds requested: $2,500,000, contingent upon passage of the Debt Exclusion Question. (Date just announced for December 4. More about that campaign HERE.)
Selectman Ciccolo recusing.
SC: Unanimously supports
BOS: 4-0-1(recusal)
AC: 7-0-2 (abstention relates to overall costs)
CEC: Unanimously supports
From Citizens Mic: Parent of child with Special Needs, who has attended LCP for two years -- has made incredible progress. This program will grow. The time is now.
NO Mic: Lexington will need a 7th elementary school very soon, and there isn't a place for one in Town. Spend the $15M at Harrington School, where LCP is already housed. Also, LHS needs a new space.
Citizen's Mic: Parent of child with ASD, now at LHS, 13 yrs ago attended LCP. Diverse students. All students. It has been a great program. Out of District costs are huge; great to have this in-district program.
YES Mic: Some say that the mark of a society is how we treat the most vulnerable; children with special needs are the most vulnerable. Morally right thing to do. SC says Pelham can't house another elementary school and I believe them when they say that.
Q Mic: How do you determine a tuition rate for mandated and non-mandated students?
Goddard: class size determined 15; 7 are mandated to be SWD and others are added as space allows.
Czajkowski: Tuition ranges for 1/2 day and full day for 10 months from ~$10K+ for Full Day; 1/2 Day ~$3K+; including lunch ~$1,300
Q Mic: What other funding methods were considered? (Within Levy or Debt Exclusion)
Valente: Those were the only two.
Q Mic: Why not use for 7th elementary school?
Goddard: We looked at the site for a 7th elementry school. 24-section school deemed too small; 3-story with very little green space.
Q Mic: WRT access to the school -- any significant expense getting traffic in or out of the site?
Goddard: Costs include getting onto and off of the site.
TMM Calls Q.
Voice vote: Passes
Requires 2/3 vote:
Yes: 144
No: 5
Abstain: 9
Motion Approved
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Meeting now open on Articles 4 and 5. We will take them up together and vote them separately.
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Meeting now open on Articles 4 and 5. We will take them up together and vote them separately.
- Article 4: Appropriate Design Funds for Fire Headquarters (Funds requested: $676,300)
- Article 5: Appropriate for Temporary Fire Station Construction (Funds requested: $2,140,000)
BOS: Unanimously supports 4&5
Funds for Article 4 are intended to allow the design to proceed through the Construction Document Development Stage.
Funds for Article 5 are intended for Design, Engineering, and Architectural Services, including production of Construction Document, and for the construction of a temporary fire station. For both: LEED to easily achieve Silver -- will continue to look to achieve Gold -- Certification. Energy goal to exceed Lexington Stretch Code by 30%. Design maximizes roof space for Solar; includes solar hot water heating. Will continue to review energy design options.
CEC: Unanimously supports 4 & 5
AC: Unanimously supports 4 & 5
Article 4: requires 2/3
YES: 151
NO: 0
Abstain: 1
Motion Approved
Article 5: requires 2/3
YES: 153
NO: 0
Abstain: 2
Motion Approved
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STM-2 DISSOLVED
STM-3 Now Open
AC: Unanimously supports
CEC: (A only): Unanimously supports
Voice Vote: Unanimous
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CEC: Unanimously supports DPW Compost Operation
AC: Unanimously supports
Voice Vote: Unanimous
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Funds for Article 4 are intended to allow the design to proceed through the Construction Document Development Stage.
Funds for Article 5 are intended for Design, Engineering, and Architectural Services, including production of Construction Document, and for the construction of a temporary fire station. For both: LEED to easily achieve Silver -- will continue to look to achieve Gold -- Certification. Energy goal to exceed Lexington Stretch Code by 30%. Design maximizes roof space for Solar; includes solar hot water heating. Will continue to review energy design options.
CEC: Unanimously supports 4 & 5
AC: Unanimously supports 4 & 5
Article 4: requires 2/3
YES: 151
NO: 0
Abstain: 1
Motion Approved
Article 5: requires 2/3
YES: 153
NO: 0
Abstain: 2
Motion Approved
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STM-2 DISSOLVED
STM-3 Now Open
- Article 6: Establish and Appropriate to and from Specified Stabilization Funds
AC: Unanimously supports
CEC: (A only): Unanimously supports
Voice Vote: Unanimous
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- Article 7: Amend Revolving Fund Authorization
CEC: Unanimously supports DPW Compost Operation
AC: Unanimously supports
Voice Vote: Unanimous
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- Article 9: Appropriate for Solid Waste Collection Equipment
Voice Vote: Unanimous
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- Article 13: Appropriate for Authorized Capital Improvements
Voice Vote: Unanimous
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Adjourned until Wednesday, 10/18, 7:30 PM