We're in the usual place -- Battin Hall of Cary Memorial Building (1605 Mass Av)
James Malloy, Town Manager (TMgr) has forwarded changes to The Brown Book since printing; they may be found HERE
All Open Money Articles, Debt Schedule, HERE
Schedule of Articles anticipated tonight is HERE
Town Moderator (TMod) has gaveled the Call to Order.
MOTION presented by the School Committee to Reconsider Article 39. TMod states we will take up reconsideration next week.
Article 2 is now open; the Article remains open throughout TM, to receive reports from Officials, Boards, and Committee
Article 2: Report of the Appropriation Committee (AC)
The Report is received and placed on file
Glenn Parker with brief remarks about the AC Report
Article 2: Report of the Superintendent of the Minuteman Regional High School
The report is received and placed on file
Being presented by Kevin Mahoney, Assistant Superintendent - Finance
Presentation HERE
Article 2: Report of the Lexington School Superintendent
The report is received and placed on file
Superintendent Dr. Julie Hackett's presentation is HERE
The Meeting is now open on Article 11: Appropriate FY2020 Operating Budget
MOTION is HERE
TMod will go through each line and will take questions from Town Meeting Members. Vote will be taken at the end.
Select Board (SB): Unanimously supports
School Committee (SC): Unanimously supports
AC: Unanimously supports
Question/TMMP6: on Education, LPS and Minuteman. LPS Health insurance: is this a one-time increase?
TMgr: Brown Book has been updated, amount has been reduced; every year there are new employees who start working here, that number is based on our estimated number of new employees
TMM/P6: Can you report on the number of METCO students enrolled relative to the space
LPS: 215 METCO students in the system, looking at a potential 25 more students.
Q for MM School from TMM/P6: 1). Operating cost/pupil?
MM: $32,000
2). More students to drive down costs?
MM: Students decide if they wish to attend.
3). Facilities for swim team at LPS -- when will it be demolished?
MM: Building demo will begin August 1; running modest use of pool in July.
Q from TMM/P4: Rough outline of how allocations are made relative to split?
TMgr: 73% for schools, 26% for municipal
Time to Vote:
YES: 167
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION is UNANIMOUS, as it carries more than the 2/3 required
TMod turns gavel over to Deputy Moderator (DMod), Barry Orenstein
Article 19: Appropriate for School Capital Projects
MOTION is HERE
AC: Unanimously supports
SC: Unanimously supports
Q from TMM/P6: Fully supports. How are we disposing of or recycling these after their useful life?
LPS: Using zero landfill; recycling
TMM/P6: Donating?
LPS: Yes!
Q from TMM/P8: Do we Bring Your Own Device at school? Many students have their own, have the schools considered this?
LPS: We have had this conversation; BYOD for seniors and juniors may opt out if they so choose. Goal is to create equitable systems for "ease of use" for teachers and students.
TMM/P8: Will BYOD be phased out?
LPS: That is the current thinking
Time to VOTE on the MOTION
YES: 161
NO: 1
ABSTAIN: 2
MOTION CARRIES by more than the 2/3 required
Article 5: Establish Qualifications for Tax Deferrals
MOTION is HERE
Vicki Blier (VB), TMM/P9 with a brief presentation
SB: Unanimously supports
AC: Unanimously supports
Q from TMM/P: Very much in favor. Do we have any idea of the percentage of people applying?
VB: It's difficult to know; we do know that 477 seniors qualified for the State Circuit Breaker
Q from TMM/P: What can the Town do to publicize?
VB: The actual tax bill did have something included with it to describe the program. Item included in newsletters, newspaper. Conversations at Community Center, other times, places.
Q from TMM/P3: What is the rationale for $75,000?
VB: We started at the State Limit of $40,000 and have been notching it up.
Q from TMM/P2: What is the interest rate?
Pat Costello: Approximately 1.96% currently; 2.55% in 2020
Q from TMM/P4: Do more people actually apply for the tax deferral?
VB: We've had steady increase
YESmic: TMM/P6
VOTE on the MOTION (simple majority):
YES: 164
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION PASSES
SB: Unanimously supports
AC: Unanimously supports
Q from TMM/P: Very much in favor. Do we have any idea of the percentage of people applying?
VB: It's difficult to know; we do know that 477 seniors qualified for the State Circuit Breaker
Q from TMM/P: What can the Town do to publicize?
VB: The actual tax bill did have something included with it to describe the program. Item included in newsletters, newspaper. Conversations at Community Center, other times, places.
Q from TMM/P3: What is the rationale for $75,000?
VB: We started at the State Limit of $40,000 and have been notching it up.
Q from TMM/P2: What is the interest rate?
Pat Costello: Approximately 1.96% currently; 2.55% in 2020
Q from TMM/P4: Do more people actually apply for the tax deferral?
VB: We've had steady increase
YESmic: TMM/P6
VOTE on the MOTION (simple majority):
YES: 164
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION PASSES
Returning the gavel to TMod
Article 10: Post Employment Insurance Liability Fund
SB Chair Barry recuses herself
MOTION is HERE
⸻Article 10: Post Employment Insurance Liability Fund
SB Chair Barry recuses herself
MOTION is HERE
SB: Supports 4-0 (1 recusal)
AC: Unanimously supports
Q from TMM/P4: Where are we WRT meeting our full funding for Pension?
Town Of Lexington (ToL): On target to be fully funded by 2024
Q from TMM/P3: How are we doing compared to other towns?
ToL: Many other Towns have not funded its Pension, some are ahead of us, they are the minority
VOTE on the MOTION
YES: 147
NO: 4
ABSTAIN: 3
MOTION CARRIES
MOTIONS are HERE
SB: Asks to have Article 27 removed (it will not be taken up tonight)
Q from TMM/P3: For sidewalks not included in Center Streetscape?
ToL: Annual item, not part of Center Streetscape
TMM/P3: Same material?
ToL: Regular sidewalk repair, so in-kind repairs--if asphalt, asphalt; concrete, concrete
TMM/P6: Center Streetscape project is substantial cost, please separate 16g
TMM/P3: 16 j, k, l -- where is the work to be done?
ToL: They are done at existing signals throughout town. Off of Lowell Street is one area. Street improvements are townwide -- update website, mailings to abutters (15 miles each year). Map is put on the website each year
TMM/P3: Walnut Street on the list?
ToL: have to take a look to see if it is on the list this year
TMM/P3: I don't live there, but is one of the narrower roads, many potholes, was hoping, yes
Seeing no questions
VOTE on CONSENT AGENDA (Not on the items asked to be pulled out):
Article 22: Establish, Dissolve, and Appropriate to and from Specified Stabilization Funds
No further business tonight
We meet again Wednesday, April 3 at 7:30 PM
Until then—we are adjourned
10:11 PM
AC: Unanimously supports
Q from TMM/P4: Where are we WRT meeting our full funding for Pension?
Town Of Lexington (ToL): On target to be fully funded by 2024
Q from TMM/P3: How are we doing compared to other towns?
ToL: Many other Towns have not funded its Pension, some are ahead of us, they are the minority
VOTE on the MOTION
YES: 147
NO: 4
ABSTAIN: 3
MOTION CARRIES
Article 12: FY20 Enterprise Funds Budgets
MOTION is HERE
SB: Unanimously supports
AC: Unanimously supports
Seeing no questions
VOTE on MOTION:
YES: 154
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION PASSES
TMod passes gavel to DMod
Article 13: Departmental Revolving Funds
MOTION is HERE
For occasional peer review of water management systems
SB: Unanimously supports
AC: Unanimously supports
Q from TMM/P7: Who can invoke the process? Is it mandatory once requested?
ToL: Not necessarily applies to every building application, but where the Building Commissioner recommends referral for peer review
TMM/P7: Are there no guidelines?
ToL: Because there are no standards, and the Building Commissioner is not a Civil Engineer, which is why we need a Civil Engineer
TMM/P7: Is there an appeal process?
ToL: Not unless there is a Civil Engineer in the roles
TMMP7: Is there a waiver?
ToL: There is no waiver process
TMM/P7: Subjective, can't support
TMM/P1: By what authority is there for charging this fee?
Town Counsel: MGL, Ch. 53G accounts
TMM/P1: Does it cover imposing a fee for the town to hire?
Town Counsel: Yes
YESmic: TMM/P9
Q from TMM/P3: How many homes have been affected? Average amount?
ToL: Have had, last year, 71 homes torn down, not all required, but each one has had to be
looked at. 8 reviews per month maximum, 4 hours per review, $150/hour
No further Questions
VOTE the MOTION:
YES: 149
NO: 4
ABSTAIN: 2
MOTION CARRIES
DMod to TMod
Consent Agenda: (For Articles 14c, 14l, 14m, 16a, 16d, 16g, 16j, 16k, 16l, 18, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20f, 21, 23, 24,25,27)MOTIONS are HERE
SB: Asks to have Article 27 removed (it will not be taken up tonight)
Q from TMM/P3: For sidewalks not included in Center Streetscape?
ToL: Annual item, not part of Center Streetscape
TMM/P3: Same material?
ToL: Regular sidewalk repair, so in-kind repairs--if asphalt, asphalt; concrete, concrete
TMM/P6: Center Streetscape project is substantial cost, please separate 16g
TMM/P3: 16 j, k, l -- where is the work to be done?
ToL: They are done at existing signals throughout town. Off of Lowell Street is one area. Street improvements are townwide -- update website, mailings to abutters (15 miles each year). Map is put on the website each year
TMM/P3: Walnut Street on the list?
ToL: have to take a look to see if it is on the list this year
TMM/P3: I don't live there, but is one of the narrower roads, many potholes, was hoping, yes
Seeing no questions
VOTE on CONSENT AGENDA (Not on the items asked to be pulled out):
YES: 150
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION CARRIES
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION CARRIES
There is time permitting, TMod asks for a MOTION for TM to take up Articles scheduled for
Wednesday, April 3; SB Chair Barry with the MOTION; TM approves:
Article 17: Appropriate for Water System ImprovementsMOTION is HERE
Wednesday, April 3; SB Chair Barry with the MOTION; TM approves:
Article 17: Appropriate for Water System ImprovementsMOTION is HERE
SB: Unanimously supports
AC: Unanimously supports
CEC: Unanimously supports
Apologies for missing the questions from TMM/P3!
Q from another TMM/P3: Given the discussion last year, can you tell us the inspection process that goes into the 100-lifeyear cycle of water mains?
ToL: Water system is under pressure, inspections are much more difficult to investigate.
Seeing no further Questions, VOTE on MOTION (requires 2/3 majority):
YES: 146
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION is UNANIMOUS
Article 22: Establish, Dissolve, and Appropriate to and from Specified Stabilization Funds
MOTION is HERE
Requires 2/3 Majority
SB: Unanimously supports
CEC: on parts a and b--unanimously supports
AC: Unanimously supports
Seeing no questions
VOTE on MOTION
YES: 143
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION CARRIES
Article 26: Amend FY19 Operating, Enterprise, and CPA Budgets
MOTION is HERE
AC: 5-0 in favor (just took their vote with the members remaining at the table)
SB: Unanimously supports
VOTE on the MOTION
YES: 141
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 1
MOTION CARRIESNo further business tonight
We meet again Wednesday, April 3 at 7:30 PM
Until then—we are adjourned
10:11 PM
Image credit: James Malloy, Town Manager introduces Senior Management Staff to Town Meeting on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 ~ mas