Article 34 – Safe Communities Resolution

7:30 PM
Town Moderator has Called the Meeting to Order.
The Meeting is now open on Article 34.

Chair of the Board of Selectman (BOS), Suzie Barry, recuses herself

Bonnie Brodner, TMM/P3 asks to recognize Todd Burger, Co-Chair , Lexington People Power

ARTICLE 34 – TO MAKE LEXINGTON A WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE, AND SAFE COMMUNITY A proposed resolution to make Lexington a "Welcoming, Inclusive,, and Safe Community" (Inserted by Todd Burger and 9 or more registered voters) 

MOTION: Resolved, that the Town is committed to making Lexington a truly “Welcoming, Inclusive and Safe Community”. To this end, be it further resolved that the Town of Lexington hereby announces its support for the Safe Communities Act (SCA, S.1305 & H.3269), currently before our
legislature. In support of this resolution Town Meeting requests that the Town take the following actions as soon as practical:

1. Update the Police Policy and Procedures Manual so that it is fully compliant and fully aligned with the SCA.
2. Train all police department employees, with respect to these changes in the Police Policy and Procedures Manual.
3. Inform the community through public communications, municipal signage and other means deemed appropriate, that the town is a Welcoming, Inclusive and Safe Community.
4. Provide quarterly reports by the Lexington Police Department to the Board of Selectmen on all contacts in aggregate, and the nature of those contacts, with ICE or other federal immigration authorities. If the Safe Communities Act or a similar Act is passed that requires similar public reporting to the state, this requirement to report locally will be considered unnecessary.
5. Report any subsequent changes to the Police Policy and Procedures Manual related to this resolution in a Public Hearing.
6. Refer to, and consider including to the extent consistent with applicable laws, all of the elements of the Safe Communities Act (S.1305) as submitted to the Massachusetts Legislature on January 20, 2017, and which apply to municipalities, when updating the Police Policy and Procedures Manual.

The intent of this article is to make Lexington a more welcoming, inclusive, and safe community for immigrants, regardless of immigration status. The article seeks to establish safeguards that adhere to the principles set forth in the Safe Communities Act (SCA), Senate Bill 1305, now before our state legislature. The SCA’s co-sponsors include State Representative Jay Kaufman, State Senator Mike Barrett and State Senator Cindy Friedman. Our proposed Lexington warrant article would give immigrants living, working or traveling through Lexington the confidence that they could approach police or other town officials for help of any manner, without threat of their immigration status being used against them in any way. Because that is not currently the case, the entire community is at risk, when a segment of the population is afraid to reach out for help.

RECOMMENDATIONS 
BOS: 4-0 (Chair Barry, recused)

Citizen Mic: Minuteman Indivisible supports
YES MIC: TMM/P1
Citizen Mic: Supports

Question Mic: TMM/P3 to Chief of Police
A: Can support as written

Question Mic: TMM/P4 to BOS How to move forward with a public process if Legislature acts with a watered down version? Will the BOS support the stronger provisions in 1305?
A: Can't answer, we haven't deliberated on this.
Q: The resolution asks the procedures be aligned with S.1305
A: Can't provide an answer
Q: What process for proponents, the public, going forward, to align?
A: Chief Corr -- the voice of this body is enough to communicate to the LPD

YES MIC: TMM/P3
Citizen Mic: Supports
YES MIC: TMM/P2

NO MIC: TMM/P5
YES MIC: TMM/P8
Citizen's MIC: Opposed
YES MIC: TMM/P8

Question Mic: TMM/P8  Since this is a Resolution, what's the mechanism for asking LPD to do this?
A: Town Moderator: TMM is requesting BOS to do this.

TMM calls the Question
Voice Vote: Ayes have it

Final comments from the Article's proponent.

VOTE OF TOWN MEETING (simple majority)
YES: 155
NO: 5
ABSTAIN: 2
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED

Fourth Session at Town Meeting Tonight

Back to our regular start time of 7:30 PM tonight in Battin Hall of the Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington.

The anticipated agenda forwarded from Deborah Brown, Town Moderator:

• Article 34 – Safe Communities resolution
• Article 2 – Community Preservation Committee report
• Article 10 – Community Preservation projects
• Consent agenda

Time permitting, we'll take up:

Article 16 – Municipal capital projects and equipment

Article 5 – FY2019 enterprise fund budgets

Article 8 – Diversity Advisory Task Force

Article 9 – Departmental revolving funds

Article 32 – Financial committees bylaw amendments (citizen article)

Article 24 – Post employment insurance liability fund

As each Article is completed it will be posted to this site.

Article 7 – Getting to Net Zero

ARTICLE 7 – APPROPRIATE FOR ADVICE AND ANALYSIS – GETTING TO NET ZERO To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to hire consultants to provide advice and analysis to the Getting to Net Zero Task Force and Town staff; determine whether the money shall be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from available funds or by any combination of these methods; or to act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by the Board of Selectmen at the request of the Sustainable Lexington Committee) 

MOTION: That the Town appropriate $40,000 for Phase III of a study to determine whether the Town can develop guidelines for achieving building which results in no greenhouse gas emissions, to be spent under the direction of the Town Manager; and that to meet this appropriation $40,000 be raised in the tax levy.

Buildings in Lexington are currently responsible for 66% of Lexington’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Getting to Net Zero Task Force is exploring the possibility of reducing emissions from buildings Town-wide to net zero over the next 25 to 35 years. The Task Force is composed of a broad range of stakeholders including local businesses, commercial and residential property owners, subject matter experts, Town staff, and appropriate Town committee members. The Task Force, with the assistance of consultants, will develop strategies, plans, and recommendations to achieve an annual balance of zero greenhouse gas emissions from building operations for approval by the Town.

Presentation is HERE
Mark Sandeen, Chair of  Sustainable Lexington Committee explains Getting to Net Zero is a 25 year Goal to transition to 100% renewable energy, via:

• Report - assessment of buildings' performance
• Reduce - energy efficiency & fuel switching
• Produce - maximize onsite renewable energy
• Purchase - buy renewable electricity

Recommendations of Boards & Committees

BoS: Supports

AC: Unanimously Support

YES: 135

NO: 0

ABSTAIN: 3

MOTION PASSES

Wednesday April 4, 2018:

Safe Communities

Consent Agenda

CPC Articles

We are Adjourned 10:25 PM

Article 22 – Visitors Center

ARTICLE 22 – APPROPRIATE FOR VISITORS CENTER To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the design and construction of a new Visitor’s Center; including the costs of demolition, architectural and engineering services, original equipment, furnishings, exhibit design, landscaping, paving and other site improvements incidental or related to such construction; determine whether the money will be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from available funds, by borrowing, grants, donations, gifts, or other available monies or by any combination of these methods; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by the Board of Selectman) 

MOTION: That $4,575,000 be appropriated for design and construction of a new Visitors Center, including the costs of demolition, architectural and engineering services, original equipment, furnishings, landscaping, paving, and other site improvements incidental or related to such construction, and that to meet this appropriation $200,000 be appropriated from the General Fund unreserved balance, and that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, is authorized to borrow $4,375,000 under M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 7, or any other enabling authority. Any premium received by the Town upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote, less any such premium applied to the payment of the costs of issuance of such bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of costs approved by this vote in accordance with Chapter 44, Section 20 of the General Laws, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount.

Recommendations of Boards & Committees
BoS: Supports 4-1
AC: Supports 8-1
CEC: Supports 3-3
Tourism Committee: Unanimously, Enthusiastically, and with Gratitude Supports
Center Committee: Unanimously Supports

YES MIC: TMM/P2

Question from TMM/P6: Process with HTC?
A: HTC did not entertain a formal review until later in the document process
Q: Proponent shared economic benefits of this project -- how would Town benefit? Specific and quantitative?
A: At this time we have not done an actual revenue analysis, but believe there will be more foot traffic and greater vibrancy in the Town Center.

Citizen MIC: Joe Rancatore, owner of Ranc's Ice Cream & Yogurt, in strong support
NO MIC: TMM/P7

Q TMM/P8: What detail is there about reducing Town contribution?
A: One-time costs, possible grants, state funding; revenue fee increases, Chamber of Commerce, Lions, dedicated revenue in the gift shop.
Q: CEC 3-3?
A: Unanimous for design funds, split as to design funds

YES MIC: TMM/P3
Citizens MIC: Lexington Historical Society supports

Q TMM/P3: Departing from our time-honored process of plans and design funding...?
A: BoS member Pato explains reasons for not supporting

YES MIC: TMM/P7
Citizen MIC: Lexington Chamber of Commerce supports

Q TMM/P2: Sustainable design features? 22% energy costs include solar considerations? I think we can do better
A: Solar was discussed several times. The roof doesn't lend itself well for solar.
Q: Heating/cooling system?
A: All electric is relatively efficient
Q: Hearing this is being done through a new process? Why?
A: Basically, this project is creating a new procedure on a good side -- came to the Permanent Building Committee to create a new building. With feasibility studies, we waited for funding from the state, then went forward.

YES MIC: TMM/P7
Citizen MIC: Lexington Arts & Crafts Society supports
NO MIC: TMM/P7

Q TMM/P6: Trees? What can public expect?
A: Landscape architect lives in Lexington. Some trees are in very bad condition. Trees in the illustration

TMM calls the Question
Voice Vote
Ayes have it

Requires 2/3 majority
YES: 134
NO: 30
ABSTAIN: 12
MOTION CARRIES

Article 4 – FY19 Operating Budget

ARTICLE 4 – APPROPRIATE FY2019 OPERATING BUDGET To see if the Town will vote to make appropriations for expenditures by departments, officers, boards and committees of the Town for the ensuing fiscal year and determine whether the money shall be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from available funds, by transfer from enterprise funds, or by any combination of these methods; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. (Inserted by the Board of Selectmen)

The most recent version of the FY19 Budget Proposal, and more, is HERE

MOTION, in full, HERE.

Recommendations
Board of Selectmen (BoS): Unanimous Support
School Committee (SC): Unanimous Support
Appropriation Committee (AC): Unanimous Support

Program 1000: Education
Question fromTMM/P9: Whose decision to raise School Bus fee?
A; SC decision to raise the bus fee $30
Q: Why collaborative process abandoned?
A: We felt it was in the SC authority to do so

Program 2000: Shared Expenses
Q from TMM/P2: Divestment on our retirement funds?
A: (Chair of Retirement Board) Since 2 years ago, we review holdings, have reduced to 4.5% of our total holdings, on our way to full divestment.

No final questions

Time to Vote -- 2/3 majority
Yes: 170
No:1
Abstain: 1
MOTION is APPROVED

Call to Order, Honoring LHS & Minuteman Graduating Seniors, Article 2 Reports

Edited: Report of the Capital Expenditures Committee was received and placed on file following completion of Article 4.

7:15 PM
Called to Order, Deborah Brown, Town Moderator

Immediately calls a brief recess for a ceremony honoring certain Lexington High School & Minuteman Technology Regional High School graduating seniors. Andrew Stephens, LHS Principal and Ed Bouquillon, Minuteman Superintendent, introduce 15 students, noting their achievement and accomplishment, outlook, sense of humor, attitude, humility, kindness, character, perseverance, and other notable qualities. State Representative Jay Kaufman presents each with a Massachusetts State House Citation.

Back in session.

ARTICLE 2 – REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS, OFFICERS, AND COMMITTEES This Article remains open throughout Town Meeting and reports may be presented at any Town Meeting session by Boards, Officers, or Committees.

Report of the Town Manager is received and placed on file. Town Manager, Carl Valente presenting.
Recommended FY19 Budget and Financing Plan, HERE.
The revenue allocation model developed by the Town Manager and Superintendent of Schools and accepted by the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and financial committees (Appropriation - AC - and Capital Expenditures - CEC).
After first funding the Shared Expenses budget and capital projects, 74% of all remaining FY19 projected general fund revenues are allocated to the School Department and 26% are allocated to municipal departments.
Summary of Financial Strategy:
- a deliberate plan for future capital projects
- a deliberate plan for use of reserves for property tax relief
- a deliberate plan for operating budget increases
- continue economic development efforts to balance Lexington's tax base

More to come on that last bullet in the Fall.

Report of the Appropriation Committee (AC) is received and placed on file. John Bartenstein, AC Chair, presents the report.

Report of the Minuteman School Superintendent is received and placed on file with the Town Clerk. Superintendent, Ed Bouquillon presents.

Following ARTICLE 4 – FY19 Operating Budget, it is anticipated that the Capital Expenditures Committee will ask that their report be received and placed on file.
Report of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC).

If any additional reports are filed tonight, this post will be updated.

Third Session of Town Meeting Tonight

Third session in Isaac Harris Cary Memorial Building begins a bit earlier tonight, at 7:15 PM, to acknowledge graduating seniors from LHS and Minuteman with State House Citations, presented by State Representative, Jay Kaufman.

All Articles from Wednesday's March 28, 2018 session were completed. Votes of Town Meeting, HERE.
Town Warrant is HERE.

Articles anticipated for tonight's session have been prepared by the Town Moderator, in consultation with Staff, Boards, Committees, and Article Sponsors:

• Article 2 – Town Manager's Report
• Article 2 –  Appropriation Committee (AC) Report, HERE
• Article 2 –  Minuteman School Superintendent's Report, HERE
• Article 4 –  FY19 Operating Budget - Budget and Financing Plan is HERE
• Article 2 –  Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Report, HERE
• Article 22 –  Visitors' Center, HERE
• Article 7 – Getting to New Zero (removed from the consent agenda), HERE

Time permitting:

• Article 5 –  FY19 Enterprise Fund Budgets
• Article 8 – Diversity Advisory Task Force
• Article 9 – Departmental Revolving Funds

Each completed Article to be posted as we go.