Second Night | Town Meeting

Back in Battin Hall for Town Meeting (TM).
Tonight's anticipated schedule of Articles is HERE.
2019 Town Warrant is HERE.
Votes of Town Meeting Members (TMMs) from Opening Night, Monday, March 25, HERE.
Updating this post once Town Moderator (TMod) gavels the Call to Order.

7:30 PM — TMod gavels in, TM is Called to Order.
Fire Chief reminds -- exit to your nearest exit. Look around, as it may not be the entrance you came through.
Brief recess to honor Dan Fenn's 96th birthday. This is his 54th Town Meeting.
When up to speak at mics, be sure to say name and precinct. YES & NO mics: 3-minute time limit.
Question mic: 2-minute time limit. Girls Scout Troop #65411, who say thank you.
We have a HARD STOP tonight at 10:30 Eversource needs to turn off the power at 11:00 PM.
James Malloy, Town Manager introduces Senior Management.

The Meeting is back in session. Meeting is now open on Article 2. Note that Article 2 remains open throughout Town Meeting for Reports from Officers, Boards, or Committees to be presented and placed on file with the Town Clerk.

Article 2: Report of the Board of Selectmen is received and placed on file by VOICE VOTE.

Article 2: Report of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC)
MOTION to receive the report and place on file is made by CEC Chair Charles Lamb; passes on a VOICE VOTE

Article 7: Creation of a Lexington Economic Development Strategy (Citizen Article)
MOTION that this item be Indefinitely Postponed (IP'd)
Bridger McGaw, TMM/P6, with the presentation, HERE.
Board of Selectmen (BoS): Unanimously supports IP. Asks to recognize Town Manager Malloy, who speaks to strength of Economic Development Office, to report by June 15, 2019. More details in the presentation linked above.
IP PASSES on a VOICE VOTE

Article 8: Funding for Sustainability Actions (Citizen Article)

MOTION that this item be IP'd
Ricki Pappo, TMM/P2
BoS: Unanimous supports
CEC: Unanimously supports
IP PASSES on a VOICE VOTE

Article 9: Sustainability Director (Citizen Article)
MOTION that this item be IP'd
Ricki Pappo, TMM/P2 makes brief Presentation, HERE
BoS: Unanimously supports IP
IP PASSES by VOICE VOTE

Article 39: Amend Zoning Bylaw – Limited Site Plan Review (Citizen Article, referring to MGL Chapter 40A, §3, "Dover Amendment Uses")
MOTION is received and placed on file by VOICE VOTE
Jeanne Krieger, TMM/P3, with the Presentation, HERE.
The Report of the Planning Board (PB) is received and placed on file by VOICE VOTE
PB: Unanimously supports
BoS: Unanimously supports
Citizen's Mic: Resident speaks in support. Recently impacted by Dover Amendment (Goddard School); worries about light pollution impact on nature; bright lights directly into their home. Large paved parking lot; unclear if plantings to mitigate the impervious nature of pavement.
QuestionMic: TMM/P9 The institution for the brain in the center, would that fall under this type of review?
PB: Educational institution.
TMM/P9 The brain institute is an educational institution and would fall under this review. I do not want to place difficulty on them.
Citizen's Mic: This proposal is modest. Review is important. Need knowledge for scope of a project coming in. Urge support for it.
YESmic: TMM/P3 Wasn't informed about this project until the first day of work on it. A concern is that it is constructed adjacent to a conservation area. Bright lights are unnecessary.
Qmic: TMM/P1 1). When was the Dover Amendment enacted and why is it called that? 2). What was the purpose? 3). Has the PB tried to do something like this in the past?
Town Counsel: 1). Not sure how long or why named. The Amendment has been around for decades. Think it may have something to do with the Town of Dover. 2). Purpose is clear: to protect uses, avoid discrimination on religious, educational institutions, against neighborhoods. There is room for regulation. Courts say to stick close to the six uses.
PB: 3). Many uses in Lexington over the years. No one has approached the PB with anything resembling this over the years.
Qmic: TMM/P2 What is the process in the case of disagreement?
A: There is the right to seek agreement within the courts.
YESmic: TMM/P2 This is an important tool we could've used for the project referenced previously.
CitizenMic: Is in support. Resident surprised by a project that "appeared" one morning behind her house. It would be good to know about such a project. Need some kind of oversight.
Qmic: TMM/P4 Is there a way to add lighting, other conditions?
Town Counsel To follow up on previous question about, Amendment enacted in 1950, Town of Dover. Now to answer -- there is a risk that court would not permit conditions.
YESmic: TMM/P4 Encourage TMMs to vote for this. There are a lot of things that can be done to create more harmony between the institution and the Town.
Citizen's Mic: Impacted by expansion of a project with little oversight behind house. Young children. very much in favor of this.
Qmic: TMM/P8 Is there a way to add screening?
Town Counsel: The exact contours are not black and white, with respect to the courts. Screening from parking may be permissible. The way this is drafted, PB to draft guidance in the six areas, may be acceptable.
NOmic: TMM/P7 Calls the Question
PASSES by VOICE VOTE
Final comments by the Maker of the MOTION
Vote Requires 2/3 Majority
YES: 151
NO: 4
ABSTAIN: 4
MOTION PASSES

Articles 33 (Petition the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts), 34 (General Bylaw), & 37 (Zoning Bylaw): Rename “Board of Selectmen” to “Select Board”
MOTIONs (linked to in Article numbers above) are received and PASS on a VOICE VOTE
Presentation for all three Articles, HERE
Articles 33 & 34 require simple Majority; Article 37 requires 2/3 Majority
BoS: Unanimously supports all 3

PB: Unanimously supports
Qmic: TMM/P4 Address how?
Town Counsel: General Laws use both "Board of Selectmen" and "Select Board"; for purposes of correspondence, use Select Board
NOmic: TMM/P3 Voicing a muted NO. Respect for history, not blindly, tho. [Cites historical use, as Puritans created the term in Dorchester.]
YESmic: TMM/P5 I respectfully disagree. It's right to be gender-inclusive. We saw Concord on that list in the presentation, so, there's that.
NOmic: TMM/P6 I would like to say that I, too, always thought of "Selectmen" as a title. I worked hard for that title.
Qmic: TMM/P5 I always thought of "Selectmen" as a generic term. Is there any actual real evidence that men or women support this change?
BoS Member Hai: More than 20% of Towns using Town form of Government, use "Select Board".
YESmic: TMM/P1 I'm surprised we are even having a debate about this. We are not erasing history in Lexington!
[Noting the looong line of women that just formed behind the YES mic!]
TMM Calls the Question
Vote to Close Debate PASSES by VOICE VOTE
ARTICLE 37 REQUIRES 2/3 VOTE
YES: 143
NO: 14
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION PASSES BY MORE THAN THE 2/3 NECESSARY
ARTICLE 33 REQUIRES SIMPLE MAJORITY
YES: 145
NO: 12
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION PASSES
ARTICLE 34 REQUIRES SIMPLE MAJORITY
YES: 145
NO: 10
ABSTAIN: 2
MOTION PASSES

Article 2: Town Manager’s Budget Report (Noting that TMMs do not have a copy of his report/presentation, but it is built from the first tab of The Brown Book, pp.i-xvi)
MOTION to receive the report and place on file PASSES on a VOICE VOTE
James Malloy Town Manager with the presentation.

TMM/P4 serves Notice of Reconsideration on Article 39.
TMod: Member has served Notice of Reconsideration is timely.

Still have time before the HARD STOP

PASSING by VOICE VOTE to take up Article 28

Article 28: Confirm Street Acceptance and Title (Portion of Pelham Road)
MOTION is HERE
That the MOTION be received and placed on file PASSES by VOICE VOTE
Select Board Member Sandeen gives the presentation, HERE
Select Board (SB): Unanimously supports
Qmic: TMM/P7 Are there any financials?
A: No.
VOTE REQUIRES 2/3 MAJORITY
Unanimous by VOICE VOTE
MOTION PASSES

PASSING by VOICE VOTE to take up Article 29
SBMember Barry recuses, as her spouse works for Lexington Police Department
Article 29: Civil Service Withdrawal
Full text of the Article, HERE
MOTION is received and placed on file by VOICE VOTE
SB: 4-0 in support (SBM Barry's recusal)
Qmic: TMM/P2 Talked about hiring. Anything else? Pensions? Firings?
Town Manager: It would not affect pensions at all. Other parts defined in labor contracts.
Q: Please explain to ensure fair process for hirings?
TMgr: We will continue to do with negotions process
Qmic: TMM/P6 Appreciate very clear explanation. Curious: overtime pay, hiring officers in a timely. Does the budget assume this passes?
TMgr: Budget includes contracts as we have worked them out.
Qmic: TMM/P8 What is the benefit?
TMgr: Benefit is limited to certain list of candidates. Not on the list enables a wider net. Gives us an ability to diversify, as Burlington was able to do [when they adopted this about a year ago]
Qmic: TMM/P3 Is there any negative implication for Veterans?
TMgr: No. We will continue to give preference to Veterans
Qmic: Any negative at all to police?
TMgr: No.
Qmic: TMM/P3 Speaking as member of Appropriation Committee (AC). Combined with contact negotions, complicates matters a bit ... did you have to make any major concessions?
TMgr: We did make some concessions because of some of the benefits.
Qmic: TMM/P3 The AC has no position on this Article.
Police Chief Corr: We will identify our best options
TMM Calls the Question
DEBATE IS CLOSED by VOICE VOTE
Final comments
VOTE REQUIRES A SIMPLE MAJORITY
YES: 145
NO: 2
ABSTAIN: 3
MOTION CARRIES

MOTION TO ADJOURN until Monday, April 1, 2019 CARRIES by VOICE VOTE
10:00 PM

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Image credit: Minutemen Color Guard on Opening Night of 2019 Annual Town Meeting (ATM) ~ mas

Anticipated Articles | Tonight

Below, the updated proposed schedule of Articles for tonight's Town Meeting from Town Moderator, as of last Friday, March 23. Note that none of the Articles are DATE CERTAIN.

Article 2 remains open throughout Town Meeting for Reports from Officers, Boards, or Committees to be presented and placed on file with the Town Clerk.

Article 2: Report of the Town Manager (Items Referred Back to Board of Selectmen) 

Article 2: Report of the Capital Expenditures Committee 

Article 7: Creation of a Lexington Economic Development Strategy (Citizen Article)
MOTION that this item be Indefinitely Postponed (ID'd) 

Article 8: Funding for Sustainability Actions (Citizen Article)
MOTION that this item be IP'd 

Article 9: Sustainability Director (Citizen Article) 

Article 39: Amend Zoning Bylaw – Limited Site Plan Review (Citizen Article, referring to MGL Chapter 40A, §3, "Dover Amendment Uses") 

Articles 33, 34, & 37: Rename “Board of Selectmen” to “Select Board” 

 
Article 2: Town Manager’s Budget Report (First tab of The Brown Book, pp.i-xvi)
Any Unfinished Business from the Previous Night

Town Meeting starts at 7:30 PM in Battin Hall of Cary Memorial Building (1605 Mass Av). Live-blogging begins once we're graveled in. Residents may address Town Meeting, with comments and/or questions pertaining to Town Meeting business, through the Town Moderator and must arrange to do so in advance.

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Image credit: Some of the 2019 Town Meeting Reports: Town of Lexington Annual Report, The Brown Book (Recommended Budget & Financing Plan), Capital Expenditures Committee Report, Town Warrant

2019 Town Warrant is HERE
MOTIONS updated 3/25/2019, HERE
Consent Agenda MOTIONS, HERE
MOTIONS by Article Number, HERE
Articles with MOTIONS, Reports, and Presentations, HERE

Recommended Budget and Financing Plan (The Brown Book), HERE
Report of the Appropriation Committee (AC), HERE
Report of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC), HERE
Report of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), HERE
Votes of Town Meeting Members (TMMs) by date, HERE

Opening Night | 2019 Annual Town Meeting

We're in Margery Milne Battin Hall of Isaac Harris Cary Memorial Building. We'll continue meeting here every Monday and Wednesday evening, except during public school vacation week, until all business has been concluded.

2019 Town Warrant is HERE.
MOTIONS dated 3/25/2019 is HERE; MOTIONS by Article Number, HERE.
Articles with MOTIONS, Reports, and Presentations, HERE.

Recommended Budget and Financing Plan (The Brown Book) is HERE.
Report of the Appropriation Committee (AC) is HERE.
Report of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) is HERE.

Expected schedule tonight:

• Article 2: Elect Deputy Moderator (Barry Orenstein)
• DATE CERTAIN: Article 30—Reduce/Ban Polystyrene Materials (Citizen Article)
• DATE CERTAIN: Article 31—Reduce/Ban Single-use Plastic Straws and Stirrers (Citizen Article)
• Article 3: Cary Lecture Series
• Article 32: Capital Expenditures Committee-related Provisions (To petition the Massachusetts General Court to enact specific legislation concerning the Town's CEC -- see p.14 of the Warrant)
• Article 35: Amend Article III of Chapter 118 (Citizen Article)
• Article 36: Outcomes-based Approach to Town Building Projects (Citizen Article)

Updating ensues once Town Moderator (TMod) gavels the Call to Order 

7:30 PM TMod has called the Meeting to Order.
Opening Ceremony kicks off with "Yankee Doodle" played by the Joseph Diamond Fife & Drum Corps. Minutemen Flag Corps places flags of Lexington and United States to our National Anthem by the fifes and drums.

Brief recess. State Representative Michelle Ciccolo is introduced, honors graduating seniors from Lexington High School (LHS) and from Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School (MM), being acknowledged for their character, perseverance, resilience, and accomplishments.

Meeting called back to order.

The Meeting is now open on Article 2: Election of Deputy Moderator (DMod), Barry Orenstein. This is in the event of TMod recusal, absence, disability, etc., according to Section 118-11 of the Code of the Town of Lexington.
MOTION passes unanimously.

TMod's introductory remarks and instructions for Members designed to keep order, decorum.

Article 30—Reduce/Ban Polystyrene Materials (Citizen Article) and Article 31—Reduce/Ban Single-use Plastic Straws and Stirrers (Citizen Article) are now open.
TMMs approve taking the two Articles out of order.
Presentation by Lexington Green Teams members and Girl Scouts Troop #65411 is HERE.
Board of Selectmen (BoS): Unanimous support of both Articles
School Committee (SC): Unanimous support of both Articles
Conservation Commission: Unanimous support of both Articles
Commission on Disability: Unanimous on Article 31 only; no position taken on Article 30
Sustainable Lexington: Unanimous support of both Articles
Chamber of Commerce: In full support of Article 31; applaud the concept of Article 30, members are concerned of the economic impact of passage of Article 30, as a result, no position on Article 30
Questions:
TMM/P7: Forks, spoons, plates included?
A: Felt these two items at this time
TMM: Open to Amendment?
TMod: Formal process
TMM/P3: In favor of concept. Concern of unintended consequences...Art.30 -- what about computers with Styrofoam for shipping?
A: Definitions are included, only food serviceware are listed, not packing materials
TMM: Juice boxes have straws?
A: Only prevent the actual sale of plastic straw, not juice being sold.
Citizen Mic: Professor of biodegradables...really consider the environmental impact all over the world, not only Lexington. Fully support both Articles.
TMM/P2 YES Mic: TY to LPS Green Teams and Girl Scouts. Feels good to move along on single use plastice
TMM/P1: Is Town planning to regulate compostable plastic?
A: Bylaws defines
CitizenMic: We have to take responsibility. Plastice are an eyesore and a danger.
Amendment to Art.31: to include forks, spoons, plates is outside of the scope of the warrant TMod will not allow amendment
CALL the Question -- Close debate?
Yes: 104
No: 57
Abstain: 2
Motion PASSES | DEBATE is closed
Final comments to maker of MOTION
Vote on Article 30
YES: 159
NO: 2
ABSTAIN: 3
MOTION PASSES
Vote on Article 31
YES: 160
NO: 1
ABSTAIN: 3
MOTION PASSES

Meeting now open on Article 3: Cary Lecture Series
Motion to receive Report and place on file -- unanimous
Rita Goldberg, Chair and TMM/P2, with the presentation.
BoS: unanimous
Voice Vote of TM on Article 3: Passes

MOTION to take Article 32 out of order
Passes
Meeting now open on Article 32: Capital Expenditures Committee-related Provisions (To petition the Massachusetts General Court to enact specific legislation concerning the Town's CEC -- see p.14 of the Warrant)
David Kantor, CEC, with the presentation HERE
BoS: Unanimous
Appropriation Committee (AC): Unanimous
CEC: Unanimous
SC: Unanimous
No Questions
Vote of TM
YES: 151
NO: 1
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION CARRIES

MOTION to take Article 35 out of order
TMM: Voice Vote passes
Meeting now open on Article 35: Amend Article III of Chapter 118 (Citizen Article)
Matthew Daggett, TMM/P2 with the presentation HERE
BoS: Unanimous support
AC: did not take a position
CEC: Unanimously opposed
SC: 4-1 (abstention)
Planning Board (PB): 4-1 to approve

NOmic/TMMP6: a lot of unintended consequences
YESmic/TMMP4: Not a frequent occurance, but has happened., not intended to suppress debate. 10 mins is arbitrary, some opportunity for some discussion. A good corrective for an infrequent problem
Q/TMMP8: If no debate?
A: In that case now there is clear direction to TMod about what to do.
Q/TMMP3: If person calls the Q before 10 minutes?
A: Motion to Call the Q is a subsidiary motion, gets 10 mins
Q: 10 mins?
A: Yes. Subject to discretion of TMod
Q/TMMP8: Redundant?
A: TMod has no expectation for how much debate to proceed, expectation
NOmic TMMP1: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Q/TMMP6: Powers of TMod? Town Counsel?
Town Counsel: TMod retains discretion. provides guidance
YESmic/TMMP8: when it comes up, I want to be able to ask questions
NOmic/TMMP7
Q/TMMP8: Does it apply to this TM?
Town Counsel: must be approved by AG
Q/TMMP6: Minimum or maximum?
A: Minimum
Q/TMMP5: calls the Q
Voice Vote: Passes; Debate is closed
Final comments to maker of Motion
Vote of TMM on Article 35:
YES: 88
NO: 65
ABSTAIN: 6
MOTION PASSES

Meeting is now open on Article 36: Outcomes-based Approach to Town Building Projects (Citizen Article)
Dan Voss, Sustainable Lexington, with the presentation HERE.
BoS: Unanimous support
SC: Unanimous support
AC: No position
CEC: Unanimous support
Q/TMMP7: The Team to determine the policies?
A: Yes
YES: TMM/P2
CitizenMic: Sustainable Lexington voted unanimously to support
YES: TMM/P6, PBC Member (Permanent Building Committee)
Q/TMMP5: What, if any, changes to project sites?
A: Article requesting the BoS and SC, PBC and Facilities Department to develop policies. Objective is to follow a framework for measuring outcomes; gathering more info at the front-end.
Q/TMMP2: Impact on residential?
A: No impact
Q/TMMP2: Amend?
TMod: It is within scope of Warrant. Come up if you want to make it.
Proposed Amendment would have no binding authority, no motion to amend
No further Qs
No Final comments
Vote of TM on Article 36:
YES: 142
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 2
MOTION PASSES

Meeting adjourned at 10:22 PM until 7:30 PM on Wednesday, March 27
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Image credit: Presentation slide, Town of Lexington 2019 Annual Town Meeting ~ mas

Testimony Before the Joint Committee on Education

Friday, March 22, 2019

Chair Lewis, Chair Peisch, and Members of the Committee:

I’m Mary Ann Stewart of Lexington, pleased to offer testimony in support of The PROMISE Act, for strong local accountability, and for improved family engagement strategies.

As a parent of three, I’ve gained deep understanding of our educational enterprise through personal engagement with local PTAs, School Site Council, and as Elected Representative from my neighborhood to Town Meeting; Elected President of the Massachusetts PTA, and elected twice to School Committee, serving as Chair during the worst recession of our lifetime; then, Governor Patrick appointed me to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Knowing that decisions we make today will have a generational impact on students, The PROMISE Act is thorough and needs your support—I urge a favorable vote out of Committee.

MassINC’s report released last month (Local Accountability: An Untapped Strategy for Advancing Student Achievement in Massachusetts Public Schools, https://massinc.org/research/local-accountability-2/) contributes to this conversation. As someone focused on student achievement, and 26 years after MERA, it’s past time for an infusion of state resources. This time, the strategic drive for school improvement will be greatly enhanced when communities develop accountability provisions of their own.

Punitive measures, attempting to *school* educators on student learning, are counter-intuitive and demoralizing. We should move from *all compliance all the time* to supporting educators with relevant tools that sharpen skills in tangible, relatable ways for students’ deeper learning. This requires focus, rapid implementation, and sustained dedication.

PROMISE fully implements the pillars of FBRC, bringing relief to Gateway Cities and small and rural districts. Districts that lose significant amounts of Chapter 70 aid to charter schools require provisions for relief.

Locally and statewide, we should do everything possible to engage as many families as possible so all students achieve their potential. There’s a ton of information backing this up—more than 40 years of research—but, I’ll leave you with this: One study concluded that schools would have to increase their spending by more than $1,000 per pupil to achieve the same results that an engaged family brings. That families are increasingly from diverse backgrounds and countries, substantial efforts must be made to remove barriers to their engagement. Thank you.
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Image credit: A standing room only crowd in Gardner Auditorium today at the Joint Committee on Education public hearing on bills pertaining to School Finance I. ~ mas

Financial Impact of Charter Schools | Part I

Back in January (2019), I asked the Chair to include a discussion item on our agenda: that the Board consider the financial impact/s of new and/or expanding charter school/s on a district/s.

In response to my request, the Chair asked the Department *to provide a framework for the discussion* (agenda is HERE; briefing is HERE, #5).

At our regular meeting next Tuesday, March 26, Deputy Commissioner Jeff Wulfson is expected to present "an overview of the structure and operation of Massachusetts law with respect to the  awarding of charters, funding of charter schools, and school finance generally".

He'll be joined by Senior Associate Commissioner Cliff Chuang, of the Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign, and General Counsel Rhoda Schneider.

At last month's BESE meeting, Vice Chair James Morton's comments resonated powerfully:

"Morton, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston, said he was “deeply troubled by the dilemma that I think we get placed in every time there’s a charter proposal in front of us.”

“We find ourselves in a position of diverting resources from one opportunity to another without ever really addressing the underlying issue, which is finding some other source of funding for charter schools so that we can have both our public school children getting what they need ...,” he said. “It’s going to get pretty close to the moment where I vote against anything until we deal with that underlying issue, and I think that moment is today.”

(Katie Lannan reporting for State House News Service, I first saw the article in Salem News, also South Coast Today: https://www.salemnews.com/news/board-of-ed-opts-against-approving-new-charters/article_6dba535a-2f01-11e9-a490-777d672eb1f4.html)

I can't think of another thing the BESE has within its purview that doesn't take financial impact into consideration. The November 2016 Charter School Ballot Question 2 decision resulted in voters overwhelmingly opposed to charter school expansion by a vote of 2:1; much of that decision had to do with the financial impact of charters, especially in communities experiencing the reality of decreased funding for traditional public schools due to the presence of charter schools in their region or district/s.

The discussion being had now in communities and in the Legislature, concerning improving School Finance, vis-á-vis the Foundation Budget Formula, is in recognition that we've been short-changing for years those who need it most, especially in Gateway Cities—students in Special Education, English-learners, and economically disadvantaged students among them.

We're more than 25 years on from the promises made in the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993. I believe that a discussion of the financial impact of charter schools on sending districts is the next honest conversation we need to have, especially now that we understand* how urban and rural school districts are negatively and deeply impacted by the charter school decisions of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
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Image credit: Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts' Celebration of State Primary Endorsees, September 19, 2016 ~ mas

* There's also THIS and THIS from MassBudget.

2019 ATM Articles/Schedule

The 2019 Annual Town Meeting (ATM, TM) opens Monday, March 25, 2019 at 7:30 PM in Margery Milne Battin Hall of the Isaac Harris Cary Memorial Building. Unless otherwise noted, all sessions will start at 7:30 PM. 

More about New England's Town Meeting form of government is HERE. 

Links to all docs pertaining to 2019 ATM are HERE (to be continually updated, once TM is underway).

Town Moderator, Deborah Brown has forwarded the suggested schedule of Articles -- note that this is an estimate for planning purposes and subject to change, except where "DATE CERTAIN" is noted. (NB: no promises that an Article will be taken up on a particular date unless it has been designated "DATE CERTAIN"). 

The schedule will be updated after each night of TM and re-distributed on the TMMA email list. 

Any time it is proposed to take Articles out of order, a MOTION and explanation for the change will be offered to Town Meeting for approval.
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Monday, March 25, 2019

• Opening Ceremonies
• DATE CERTAIN: Ceremony Honoring Lexington High School and Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School Graduating Seniors 
• Introductory Remarks and Instructions
• Article 2: Election of Deputy Moderator (Barry Orenstein)
• DATE CERTAIN: Article 30—Reduce/Ban Polystyrene Materials (Citizen Article) 
• DATE CERTAIN: Article 31—Reduce/Ban Single-use Plastic Straws and Stirrers (Citizen Article) 
• Article 3: Cary Lecture Series
• Article 32: Capital Expenditures Committee-related Provisions (To petition the Massachusetts General Court to enact specific legislation concerning the Town's CEC -- see p.14 of the Warrant)
• Article 35: Amend Article III of Chapter 118 (Citizen Article)
• Article 36: Outcomes-based Approach to Town Building Projects (Citizen Article)

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

• Article 2: Report of the Town Manager (Items Referred Back to Board of Selectmen)
• Article 2: Report of the Capital Expenditures Committee
• Article 7: Creation of a Lexington Economic Development Strategy (Citizen Article)
• MOTION that this item be Indefinitely Postponed (ID'd)
• Article 8: Funding for Sustainability Actions (Citizen Article)
• MOTION that this item be IP'd
• Article 9: Sustainability Director (Citizen Article) 
• Article 39: Amend Zoning Bylaw – Limited Site Plan Review (Citizen Article, referring to MGL Chapter 40A, §3, "Dover Amendment Uses")
• Articles 33, 34, & 37: Rename “Board of Selectmen” to “Select Board” 
• Article 2: Town Manager’s Budget Report (First tab of The Brown Book, pp.i-xvi)
• Unfinished Business (from any previous nights)

Monday, April 1, 2019

• Article 2: Report of the Appropriation Committee
• DATE CERTAIN: Article 2—Report of the Minuteman School Superintendent 
• Article 2: Report of the Lexington Public Schools Superintendent
• DATE CERTAIN: Article 11—FY20 Operating Budget 
• Article 19: Appropriate for School Capital Projects (Section XI, p.XI-10)
• Article 5: Establish Qualifications for Tax Deferrals
• Article 10: Post Employment Insurance Liability Fund
• Article 12: FY20 Enterprise Funds Budgets (Water, Wastewater, & Recreation and Community Programs)
• Article 13: Departmental Revolving Funds (School Bus Transportation, Building Rental, DPW Burial Containers, Lexington Tree Fund, DPW Compost Operations, Minuteman Household Hazardous Waste Program, Regional Cache/Hartwell Avenue, Senior Services Program, Health Programs, Tourism/Liberty Ride, Visitors Center, Residential Engineering Review)
• Consent Agenda: A tool employed for Articles where no debate is anticipated,offering a streamlined way of dealing with a group of Articles (and their MOTIONS) with one vote. Questions are entertained, but not debate. Any TMM who thinks an item on the Consent Agenda requires debate may ask to have it removed from the Agenda and considered separately, in the usual way. Articles chosen for inclusion in a Consent Agenda all have the unanimous support of the Board of Selectmen, and where relevant, the Appropriation Committee, Capital Expenditures Committee, and/or Planning Board. Final word on inslusion of each Article rests with TMMs.
• Unfinished Business (from any previous nights)

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

• Article 4: Reduce Community Preservation Act Surcharge Rate (Citizen Article, relates to MGL, Chapter 44B, §16)
• Article 15: Recreation Capital Projects (Refer to embedded link for a description of the proposed projects, Section XI: Capital Investment, p.XI-4)
• Article 16: Municipal Capital Projects and Equipment (Refer to embedded link for a description of the proposed projects, Section XI: Capital Investment, p.XI-4)
• Article 17: Water System Improvements (Refer to embedded link for a description of the proposed projects, Section XI: Capital Investment, p.XI-4)
• Article 20: Public Facilities Capital Projects (except 20g, refer to embedded link for a description of the proposed projects, Section XI: Capital Investment, p.XI-4)
• Article 22: Specified Stabilization Funds
• Article 25: Prior Years' Unpaid Bills
• Article 26: Amend FY19 Operating, Enterprise, and CPA Budgets
• Unfinished Business (from any previous nights)

Monday, April 8, 2019

• Article 2: Report of the Community Preservation Committee
• DATE CERTAIN: Article 14—FY20 Community Preservation Committee Projects 
• MOTION that Article 14f be IP'd
• Article 28: Street Acceptance and Title (portion of Pehlam Road)
• Article 29: Civil Service Withdrawal
• Unfinished Business (from any previous nights)

Wednesday, April 10, 2019 

• Article 38: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Map, 186 Bedford Street (Owner Petition)
• Article 6: Cremation Facility at Westview Cemetery 
• Article 20g: Westview Cemetery Facility Construction 
• Unfinished Business (from any previous nights)

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No meetings during the week of Patriots' Day/school vacation (April 15-19). Holding Monday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 24, as needed.

State Legislation I'm Following

Regular readers of this blog know that I'm active on state and local education issues and have been for many, many years. I'm active on other issues that make a difference in our communities, too, like improving our revenue picture, ensuring environmental justice and addressing climate change; pushing for single payer healthcare; and affordable housing.

Especially in such politically polarizing times, I'm excited to have the opportunity to work collaboratively with others, especially those who are passionate to move our progressive values forward! All groups endeavor to be strategic. Certainly, different groups employ various tactics to achieve their goals. Being part of a diverse group of progressives strengthens organizations and sharpens activists' skills.

Likewise, there are many ways to organize around issues and many ways to organize on the issues. I decided some years ago to put my energy behind several groups*. Though, more and more lately, I'm leaving "non-partisan" groups behind for, what seems like, obvious reasons.

This post is probably much longer than it needs to be...

Here, then, are the issues I'm getting behind, which I have organized into some broad categories:

• REVENUE Without adequate revenue, our communities cannot thrive. Decisions made at the state level, beginning about twenty years ago, have reduced revenues by nearly $4 billion. Developing each fiscal year's Budget means we always begin from a deficit. Often repeated, because it's true: A budget is a moral document. We fund what we value. Certainly the State Budget is a statement of our shared values. If it's not funding things we value at an adequate level, why not? And what are we going to do about it? 

• Fair Share Amendment (Lewis S.16 | O'Day H.86)

• EDUCATION Key among the issues here are Foundation Budget Reform (K-12 public education funding), development and supportive legislation for Early Education and Care (0-5), and guaranteeing access to Vocational Education Programs for any students that want it. I'm also interested in following a Media Literacy proposal and two on Higher Ed: CHERISH and Debt-free College, plus a couple of proposals concerning Charter Schools.

• Foundation Budget Reform
• The PROMISE Act, Chang-Díaz, S.238 | Keefe/Vega H.586 Public Hearing before Joint Committee on Education, Friday, March 22, 10:00 AM, Gardner Auditorium

• Early Education and Care
• Affordable Child Care & Early Education for All, Friedman, S.288 | Gordon, H.470

• K-12 Education
• An Act to increase student access to career technical education schools and programs which are aligned with regional labor market needs, Brodeur HD.3279

• An Act relative to Media Literacy in Public Schools, Rogers, H.561

• An Act relative to Student Assessment Data, Jehlen S.296

• An Act strengthening Charter School Data Reporting, Lewis, S.306

• An Act relative to  the Financial Impact of Charter Schools, Jehlen, S.298

• An Act Implementing ESSA, Jehlen, S.299

• Higher Education
• An Act to guarantee Debt-free Public Higher Education, Eldridge, S.744 | Higgins, H.1221

• CHERISH Act, Comerford, S.741 | Garballey/Mark H.1214

• ENERGY |  ENVIRONMENT The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change latest report indicates we have only 12 years to drastically upgrade our energy policies if we wish to avoid the worst effects of climate change. We need advocacy for environmental justice in many of our communities, especially those with a majority of people of color and low incomes. We must work to rapidly reduce carbon pollution, reduce carbon-based energy production, address climate change and global warming, improve the environment, and oppose building new fossil fuel infrastructure. 

• Environmental Justice
• An Act relative to Environmental Justice and Toxics Reduction in the Commonwealth, Eldridge, S.464 | DuBois/Miranda H.761

• An Act relative to Environmental Justice in the Commonwealth, DiDomenico S.453 | Madaro H.826

• Renewable Energy
• An Act transitioning Massachusetts to 100% Renewable Energy (100% renewable electricity by 2035 and 100% economy-wide renewables by 2045), Eldridge, S.1958 | Decker/Garballey, H.2836

• AFFORDABLE HOUSING Working with advocates to support efforts to increase the amount of affordable housing, possibly through identification of dedicated funding to expand and maintain affordable housing, and/or other strategies to incentivize the creation and maintenance of affordable housing. Including housing production reform, rental voucher program reform, fair housing, and eviction sealing. CHAPA's Legislative Agenda is HERE.

• Housing Production Legislation, Boncore, S.775 |  Honan/Vargas, H.1288

• Eviction Sealing/HOMES Act, Boncore, S.824 | Moran, H.3566

• HEALTH CARE + PROTECTING WOMEN'S HEALTH AND REPRODUCTIVE CHOICES, including single payer, campus sexual assault, access to abortion, maternal health.

• Single-Payer Health Care System to establish Medicare for All in Massachusetts, Eldridge, S.683 | Sabadosa/Garlick, H.1194

• Comprehensive Reproductive Rights/ROE Act reforms our state's abortion laws for control of one's body, life, and future, Chandler, S.1209 | Haddad/Livingstone, H.3320

• CIVIL RIGHTS and SAFETY 
• Safe Communities Act, Eldridge, S.1401 | Balser/Miranda, H.3573

• ELECTION REFORM, especially for restoring voting rights to convicted felons: time for Early Voting, Same Day and Election Day Voter Registration, and Ranked Choice Voting; undo Citizens United.

• VotingRights
• Constitutional amendment relative to voting rights, Hinds S.12 

• Emergency Preamble to restore voting rights to prisoners incarcerated with felony convictions, Hinds S.405

• Ranked Choice Voting
• An Act to use of Ranked Choice Voting, Lewis, S.414

• Early Voting
• An Act to extend early voting for all elections, Chandler S.390 | Vargas H.681

• Resolutions to undo Citizens United, Eldridge, S.2163 | Gentile, H.3208

• An Act supporting parents running for public office, Jehlen, S.408 

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Image credit: State House as seen from walking up Beacon Hill from the Park Street T stop ~ mas

* Other professional and civic affiliations I've joined include: ACLU, LWV, Lexington Democratic Town Committee (LDTC), Lexington Town Meeting Members' Association (TMMA), Media Literacy Now, National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Planned Parenthood, Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts, Progressive Massachusetts

Citizen Articles Coming Up at Town Meeting

The 2019 Town of Lexington Warrant includes thirty-nine Articles for Town Meeting (TM) beginning March 25*.

TM Articles are described and organized as Financial, General, or Zoning Articles.

Ten of the Articles (25%) have been inserted by Citizens of the Town (inserted by an individual and 9 or more registered voters.) While that, in and of itself, isn't a crazy notable number (last year's ATM had 9 Citizen Articles), it's the nature of each Article and where they fall that strikes me, particularly.

• 5 Citizen Articles fall under the heading of Financial Articles (Arts. 4,6,7,8,9), beginning middle of page 5 of the Warrant
• 4 are General Articles (Arts. 30,31,35,36), at about the middle of page 13 of the Warrant
• 1 is a Zoning Article (39), near bottom of page 15 of the Warrant

Four of the Citizen Articles focus on environmental sustainability:

• Two are Financial Articles: 
• Article 8: Funding for Sustainability Action, has been inserted by Ricki Pappo, a TMM in Precinct 2 and Co-Chair of Lexington Global Warming Action Coalition. The Article seeks to establish a revolving fund or some other mechanism, from the earnings of projects promoted through the Sustainable Action Plan for the Town to invest in future actions proposed under the Sustainable Action Plan. This Article has been scheduled for an Info Session on Tuesday, March 19 and is an opportunity to hear from the maker of the Article and ask questions.

• Article 9: Sustainability Director, also inserted by Ricki Pappo and 9 or more registered voters, proposes that funds requested under this Article go to the salary and benefits for a Sustainability Director, whose duties will include recommending, developing, monitoring, and securing grants for programs designed to enhance Lexington's long term sustainability and resilience. TMMA Info Session scheduled for Tuesday, March 19.

• The other two Citizen/Sustainability Articles are found under General Articles:
• Article 30: Amend Town Bylaws—Reduce/Ban Polystyrene Materials for all food serviceware and packaging in Lexington. This Article has been inserted by Lin Jensen, a Precinct 8 TMM and Lexington Green Teams volunteer -- it's included among the other Articles up for discussion at the Info Session scheduled for Wednesday, March 13.

• Article 31: Amend Town Bylaws—Reduce/Ban Single-Use Plastic Beverage Straws and Stirrers, also offered by Lin and among the Articles included in the TMMA Info Session scheduled for Wednesday, March 13.

• Note: Many local organizations are already going the way of eliminating one-time use plastic straws and stirrers, as well as polystyrene. Student/parent groups worked with the Lexington Public Schools to remove polystyrene and straws from the public school cafeterias. All of the Town's school/parent groups are going plastic-free for their events and community events, too. More of that history is HERE.

The remaining three (Citizen) Financial Articles are: 

• Article 4: Reduce Community Preservation Act (CPA) Surcharge Rate from 3% to 1% Pursuant to M.G.L. c.44B, § 16. This Article has been inserted by TMM Bridger McGaw of Precinct 6. No funds are requested with it, which seeks to reduce the current CPA surtax rate, thus providing an immediate tax break to all Lexington residents. Additionally, special considerations must be given to covering debt for previous CPA-funded projects, maintenance of historic properties, and future conservation land purchases. More about that to come at the TMMA Info Session scheduled for Tuesday, March 19.

• Article 6: Appropriate for Cremation Facility at Westview Cemetery. Will see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for design engineering and architectural services including site work, value engineering, and cost estimating for plans and specifications to construct new Cremation Facility at the Westview Cemetery and for the payment of all other costs incidental or related thereto; determine whether the  money will be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from other available funds, by borrowing, or by any combination of these methods; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. Funds requested are unknown at this time. This article was IP'd last year pending further study. TMMA Info Session scheduled for Tuesday, March 19.

• Article 7: Appropriate Funds for the Creation of a Lexington Economic Development Strategy is a proposal to see if the Town will vote to appropriate $100,000 to fund the cost of developing an Economic Development Strategy to be led by the Economic Development Office. The report will be submitted to the Town Manager and Selectmen and published on the town Website within six months of passage of this article. The funds will go toward the development of a holistic Economic Development Strategy to provide recommendations for changes to zoning, permitting, design guidelines, marketing, outreach, and development mitigation. TMMA Info Session scheduled for Tuesday, March 19.

Four of the Citizen Articles fall under the heading of "General Articles":

• Previously mentioned, Article 30: Amend Town Bylaws—Reduce/Ban Polystyrene Materials.

• Previously mentioned,Article 31: Amend Town Bylaws—Reduce/Ban Single-Use Plastic Beverage Straws and Stirrers

• Article 35: Amend Article III of Chapter 118 refers to the Code of the Town of Lexington, which is an effort to improve debate and subsidiary motion procedures. It proposes revisions to Town Meeting's rules of debate, subsidiary motion, and/or amendment procedures to develop criteria for ensuring a minimum of debate has occurred before subsidiary motions can be offered or debate closed. TMMA Info Session is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19.

• Article 36: Implement an Outcomes-Based Approach to Town Building Projects is an article seeking Town Meeting approval to adopt an outcomes-based building management process that emphasizes:
• Setting clear targets or outcomes for the performance of current and planned buildings in the areas of health, energy performance, energy management, and resilience;
• Assessing gaps against those outcomes; and
• Utilizing those outcomes for the beginning stages of future building development and in prioritizing operating/capital budget projects. 
• TMMA Info Session is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19

Finally, the Citizen Article found within Zoning Articles:

• Article 39: Amend Zoning Bylaw-Limited Site Plan Review (Inserted by Jeanne Krieger, Precinct 3 TMM and member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, ZBA). This is a proposal to see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw to reasonably regulate land uses protected by MGL c. 40A §3 through site plan review, or act in any other manner in relation thereto. The changes proposed would provide for site plan review, to the extent possible, of exempt uses protected under the MGL c. 40A §3, pertaining to "Dover Amendment uses". TMMA Info Session scheduled for Tuesday, March 19.

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Image credit: Creative Commons, Isaac Harris Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington MA

* The 2019 Annual Town Meeting opens Monday, March 25 and continues the following Wednesday and every Monday and Wednesday thereafter until all of the Articles in the Warrant have been considered by the Meeting. There are no Meetings on April 15 or 17, as it is LPS vacation week.

Prepping for Town Meeting

Town Meeting Members Association (TMMA) will host two Information Sessions and a Bus Tour before TM begins*.

Info Sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, March 13 and Tuesday, March 19.

Both sessions will be held in Margery Milne Battin Hall of the Isaac Harris Cary Memorial Building ^ (1605 Massachusetts Avenue). Thus, they're public meetings. Warrant Articles below will be presented and staff available to take TMM questions. 

The Wednesday Session (3/13) is expected to begin at 7:45 PM, following Precinct Meetings at 6:45 PM and TMMA Annual Meeting at 7:15 PM. Articles to be covered include:

• Financial Articles:
• Article 6 (Crematorium, Citizen Article)
• Article 14 (CPA projects)
• Article 16e (Center Streetscape)
• Article 16f (Automatic Meters)
• Article 20g (Cemetery)

• General Articles:
• Article 30 (Styrene Ban, Citizen Article) 
• Article 31 (Straws Ban, Citizen Article)

Tuesday's (3/19) Info Session begins at 7:30 PM:

• Financial Articles: 
• Article 4 (CPA Rate, Citizen Article)
• Article 7 (EconDev Strategy, Citizen Article)
• Article 8 (Sustainability Revolving Fund, Citizen Article)
• Article 9 (Appropriate for Sustainability Director, Citizen Article)
• Article 11 (Operating Budget—with James Malloy, Town Manager and Dr. Julie Hackett, Superintendent of Lexington Public Schools)

• General Articles:
• Article 35 (Amend Town Code, Citizen Article)
• Article 36 (High-Performance Buildings, Citizen Article)

• Zoning Articles:
• Article 38 (186 Bedford Street, Owner Petition)
• Article 39 (Limited Site Plan, Citizen Article)

In addition to the Info Sessions, a Bus Tour has been scheduled for Sunday, March 17 at 1:00 PM. This is an opportunity for TMMs to visit several sites of note.

• Scheduled stops include:
• 186 Bedford Street (Article 38: Amend Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map, top of page 16 of the Warrant)

• 201 Bedford Street, DPW equipment replacement (Article 16(i): Appropriate for Municipal Capital Projects and Equipment, page 9 of the Warrant; page XI-16 of FY2020 Town Managers Preliminary Recommended Budget and Financing Plan) 

• 758 Marrett Road (a drive through), Athletic Field Complex of Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School (Article 14(f) Appropriate the FY20 Community Preservation Committee Operating Budget and CPA Projects, top of page 9 of the Warrant)

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* Town Meeting begins Monday, March 25 and continues every Wednesday and Monday thereafter, excluding Monday, April 15 and Wednesday, April 17, due to public school vacation week.

^ Cary Hall is wired for broadcast on LexMedia. 

You'll find an Acronyms page HERE.