Article 32 – Financial Committees Bylaw Amendments

Article 32 is now open: ARTICLE 32 –AMEND GENERAL BYLAW- REGARDING FINANCIAL COMMITTEES (Citizen Article): To see if the Town will vote to update its General By-laws related to the Appropriation Committee and the Capital Expenditures Committee to reflect current practice, consistent with state law and Lexington’s Selectmen-Town Manager Act, or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by David Kanter and 9 or more registered voters)

This Article proposes updates to the General Bylaws (to replace Chapter 29, Article III, Sec 29-12; Chapter 29, Article III, Sec. 29-13; and to amend Chapter 118, Article III, Sec. 118-12) to more accurately reflect the two finance committees' activities and responsibilities throughout the year, including at all Town Meetings.

Full MOTION is HERE.
Tracked changes to Chapters 29 & 118, HERE.
Presentation, HERE.

RECOMMENDATIONS
BOS: Unanimous support
CEC: Unanimous support
AC: Unanimous support

VOTE OF TOWN MEETING (simple majority) 
YES: 138
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 2
MOTION PASSES

Article 44 – Demolition Delay Bylaw Amendments

ARTICLE 44 –AMEND THE GENERAL BYLAWS – DEMOLITION DELAY AMENDMENTS To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 19 of the Code of the Town of Lexington, Demolition Delay, to ensure consistency with the adoption of Neighborhood Conservation Districts, Chapter 78 of the Code (adopted at Annual Town Meeting 2016, Article 29), make certain technical changes with respect to the Historic Districts Commission bylaw, or act in any other related manner. (Inserted by the Board of Selectmen at the request of the Historical Commission and Planning Board) 

This Article is to correct an internal discrepancy between Chapter 19, Demolition Delay, and Chapter 78, Neighborhood Conservation Districts, identified after the adoption of Chapter 78. Several amendments to the Demolition Delay Bylaw are suggested to ensure internal consistency between the two chapters. Additionally, references to the Historic Districts Commission Special Act (Chapter 447 of the Acts of 1956, as amended) are modified to refer to any successor governing statute

The MOTION is HERE.
Presentation of Changes is HERE.

Recommendations
BoS: Unanimous SUPPORT
PB: SUPPORT

TM Votes
YES: 145
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 2

The MOTION is APPROVED

Upcoming anticipated agenda for Monday, April 2, 2018

7:15pm Ceremony honoring LHS and Minuteman graduating seniors [DATE CERTAIN]

Article 2 – Town Manager’s report

Article 2 – Appropriation Committee report

Article 2 – Minuteman School Superintendent’s report

Article 4 – FY2019 operating budget

Article 2 – Capital Expenditures Committee report

Article 22 – Visitors Center

Article 23 – Visitors Center (citizen article)

Article 7 – Getting to New Zero (removed from the Consent Agenda to be taken up separately)

Time permitting:

Article 5 – FY2019 enterprise fund budgets

Article 8 – Diversity Advisory Task Force

Article 9 – Departmental revolving funds

Article 11 – Westview Cemetery Building construction

ADJOURN 9:53 PM

Article 36 – Repeal Prohibition of Recreational Marijuana Establishments

ARTICLE 36 – REPEAL PROHIBITION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENTS (Citizen Article) To see if the Town will amend the General Bylaws to repeal the Prohibition of Recreational Marijuana Establishments in Town; establish, create, adopt, and/or amend General Marijuana Bylaws, including for Medical Marijuana and Recreational Marijuana; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by Ethan Handwerker and 9 or more other registered voters).

This Article seeks to amend the General Bylaws to repeal the prohibition of recreational marijuana establishments in Town. More information is offered in the TMMA report.

MOTION: That Chapter 97-5 of the Code of the Town of Lexington be repealed in its entirety.

Presentation of Ethan Handwerker is HERE.

BoS: OPPOSED
School Committee (SC): OPPOSED

QUESTION MIC: TMM/P6 to Town Counsel
A: Nothing the State has done has changed.
TMM is OPPOSED to rescinding

CITIZEN MIC: Lexington Chamber of Commerce
YES MIC: TMM/P7

Q: TMM/P2 We have a moratorium, not a prohibition?
A: We have both -- general bylaw prohibition will expire, zoning moratorium will not

YES MIC: TMM/P5

Q MIC: If we repeal the Gen Bylaw Prohibition, what would be the status of a retail establishment?
A: If Gen Bylaw is repealed first, signals that an application could go through. In terms of zoning, still haven't allowed for it, can see where it ends up.

TMM calls the question
The AYES have it

YES vote will repeal the town's permanent prohibition
NO vote leaves it in place

Vote of Town Meeting
YES: 24
NO: 124
ABSTAIN: 8

The MOTION fails