$172M Budget, Financial Items Approved at Annual Town Meeting

Monday’s session was all about the money, and budget talks delved into enrollment and foreign language programs within the Lexington Public Schools.

The budget was the night’s biggest—and longest—item, but once Lexington’s annual Town Meeting approved a roughly $172 million budget for fiscal 2014, members made quick work of the other seven articles on Monday evening’s agenda.  Other items approved included school capital projects (Article 13), fiscal 2013 enterprise fund budgets (Article 5), a $20,000 appropriation to supplement the Senior Services Program (Article 6), reauthorization of revolving funds (Article 7), $900,000 for water system improvements (Article 11) and $1.3 million for Wastewater System improvements (Article 12).  Each of these passed with little discussion and less opposition. Article 4 dealt with the FY14 operating budget, and a good deal of conversation around the…

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Jack Lo Cicero

10:41 pm on Thursday, April 4, 2013

$172 million is a lot of money... Any chance there might be enough to help pave those horrible back roads? Today I almost got my self killed trying to avoid an oncoming vehicle that turned wider than they should have! And in my attempt to avoid an accident, I hit a pot hole that I think may have bent the frame of my new 2012 vehicle. I chose to hit the pot hole, rather than a really large tree …   more ›

Town Meeting: Looking Ahead to Tonight and Back on Meetings to Date

Lexington's annual Town Meeting has already accomplished much, but there's still a full agenda tonight, April 1.

Lots on tap tonight for annual Town Meeting, which reconvenes for its fourth session at 7:30 p.m. at Cary Hall. According to Town Moderator Deb Brown, the night will begin with a recess for the Diversity Award presentation, before moving on to Article 3 on the Cary Lecture Series. Then comes the operating budget, and school capital budget and “then we’ll just keep going with the articles as time permits,” Brown said before wrapping up the third session last Wednesday. Town Meeting So Far Annual Town Meeting opened on Monday, March 18, with a special Town Meeting that approved a $10.95 million bid--accepted a day later by the Scottish Rite--to purchase property off Marrett Road. The second session, on Wednesday, March 20, tackled articles …

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Ch-ch-Changes: All 'Ayes' on Climate Change, Solar, Electronic Voting

In its second session Lexington’s annual Town Meeting on Wednesday voted to adopt a climate change resolution, allow for municipal solar installations, update a bylaw and introduce electronic voting as an option.

For a town well known for its rich history, Lexington’s annual Town Meeting was fairly forward thinking Wednesday night, approving a handful of articles that could impact the town and its government for years to come. In four separate votes, Town Meeting approved warrant articles 33, 29, 34 and 32, which deal with climate change, solar energy, zoning and electronic voting, respectively. ARTICLE 33: Climate Change Resolution Sustainable Lexington’s Mark Sandeen asked, How many 100-year storms will Lexington have over 18 months? The question was rhetorical, of course, and Sandeen went on to click through slides showing damage from Hurricane Irene, Snowtober, Superstorm Sandy and the Winter Storm Sometimes Known as Nemo. And then, for good …

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Patch Facts

Five Things: Town Meeting, an Art Exhibit and Baseball

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on March 20 in Lexington.

1. Town Meeting's Back in Session: At 7:30 p.m. tonight at Cary Hall. 2. The Art of Adornment: The Lexington Arts and Crafts Society's Polymer and Beading Guild has opened its newest exhibit, "The Art of Adornment," featuring pieces that either theoretically or literally may be worn. Check it out from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at LACS. 3. Babe Ruth Registration is Open: The Lexington Babe Ruth League is conducting online registration for the Spring 2013 season for 13 to 15-year-old players. To register a player or to request to manage, coach or otherwise volunteer, visit: http://lexington.baberuthonline.com. 4. Like Us on Facebook: For even more information and engagement, like Lexington Patch on Facebook. Over there, we'll be asking …

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PHOTOS: Inside the Masons' Mansion

Lexington's Town Meeting is expected to decide tonight whether to authorize the town to purchase about 10 acres of the Scottish Rite property off Marrett Road for nearly $11 million.

Town Meeting members and other interested Lexington residents were invited Sunday to tour the approximately 10 acres of the Scottish Rite property the town in interested in purchasing – a nearly $11 million expense Town Meeting will be asked to approve tonight, March 18. The property in question, located behind the National Heritage Museum at 33 Marrett Road, includes the 17,840-square foot “mansion” or main building, a 5,260-square foot carriage house, about 88 parking spaces and additional acreage. For a “virtual tour” of the mansion, click through the photos above. Potential municipal uses for the property include a senior/community center, town offices and even a public safety campus. There are other bidders for the property, and it’s …

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You Ask, Patch Answers

An Early Primer on Annual Town Meeting

Breaking down the What, the When and the Where of Lexington’s legislative body.

Wondering about annual Town Meeting? Because, yes, it is that time of year again: Lexington’s annual Town Meeting is set to begin Monday, March 18. And, per the usual, Town Meeting will be held at the Cary Memorial Building. The opening date is March 18, but Town Meeting will not convene during Passover (March 25) or the school vacation week from April 15 to April 19. There are 34 articles on the warrant, but one of the most eye-catching items – the proposed purchase of Scottish Rite property on Marrett Road – will be taken up in the special Town Meeting immediately preceding the annual. Beyond budgetary items, other articles of interest can be found among the “general articles,” from 26 to 33 on the warrant. Among them include an official…

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Could Electronic Voting Be Coming to Lexington?

A proposal for a change in Town voting bylaws would allow for electronic voting could be decided at this November's Special Town Meeting.

  Joe Pato, chairman of the Recorded Voting Committee, went before the Board of Selectmen on Monday, Oct. 1, to discuss his board’s proposal to bring electronic voting to Lexington's Town Meeting. The primary goal of the warrant article would be to change current bylaws to enable electronic voting to be adopted by Lexington over a period of time. The secondary objective of the warrant article has “no substantive changes,” according to Pato, who explained that the warrant article gives power to “clarify language and preserve the existing system” of voting in town. Passage this warrant article would not create any electronic voting system, but rather just adopt the means to move towards electronic voting for future Town Meetings, Pato said. …

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Wright Farm Purchase Approved

Easy approval capped off Lexington's annual Town Meeting.

After many nights and many hours, Lexington’s annual Town Meeting concluded Wednesday, May 16, with the quick and decisive approval of a plan to purchase most of the Wright Farm property. The land is to be acquired for a little more than $3.1 million, including $2.95 million for the land itself and another approximately $150,000 in additional expenses. In its recommendation last month, the Community Preservation Committee recommended $500,000 to be paid up front, with the remainder to be bonded. A small portion of the property, which includes a farmhouse and barn, will be retained by the seller and occupied by a member of the Wright family. The town retains the first right of refusal on that parcel. Located in the northwest corner of …

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A Refresher On the Wright Farm Proposal On Tap Tonight

Articles 9 and 10, dealing with the Wright Farm land acquisition, are on the agenda for what could be the final session of annual Town Meeting.

Annual Town Meeting is almost two months old, but could conclude tonight as Articles 9 and 10, along with a few smaller items, are all that remains on the warrant. Articles 9 and 10, of course, are nearly identical proposals to purchase a large portion of the Wright Farm property on Grove Street. The latter article is a Plan B, which would have been moved if the plans did not include conservation, which they do. As it is, the proposal goes before annual Town Meeting with support from the Board of Selectmen, Conservation Commission and the Community Preservation Committee. The CPC has recommend the purchase of about 13.5 acres of the Wright Farm property for conservation purposes, with $500,000 paid up front, with the remainder of the $2.95…

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