Lexington's Capital Expenditures Committee will review Fire Department and Town Clerk capital projects Thursday, Oct. 29, as the panel works to finalize its report ahead of the town's Fall Special Town Meeting.
The remote session, scheduled for 8 a.m. via Zoom, is a working meeting with no public comment period, according to the committee's posted agenda.
The agenda lists capital improvement projects from the Fire Department and Town Clerk as the primary review items. The committee also plans to discuss its Fall Special Town Meeting report, hear liaison reports and approve prior minutes.
The Fire Department's capital needs have drawn attention in recent budget cycles. The town's FY2027 capital plan, recommended by the Town Manager, included a $2.5 million request for a new ladder truck to replace the department's 2017 aerial unit. That project would be financed through general fund debt. Delivery lead times mean the truck would not arrive until at least fiscal year 2028, with debt service beginning upon delivery, according to the capital budget document.
The East Lexington Fire Station has also been identified as a major future capital project. At a January 2023 Select Board meeting, then-Town Manager James Malloy described the station as "both undersized and not sufficiently designed for current use." Malloy said at the time that a review was underway to determine whether the current site could support a replacement station.
For the Town Clerk's office, the FY2027 capital plan included a $20,000 request for document conservation, funded through the Community Preservation Act (CPA).
The Oct. 29 agenda does not specify which Fire Department or Town Clerk projects the committee will take up. It is unclear whether the review covers new requests beyond those in the current capital plan.
The meeting follows an Oct. 15 CEC session where the committee reviewed Sustainable Capital and Land Use and Housing Development projects, also in preparation for the Special Town Meeting report. The Appropriation Committee has been on a parallel track, with its Oct. 21 agenda listing a draft report for STM 2026-1 covering stabilization funds, FY2027 budget amendments and departmental revolving funds.
The exact date of the Fall Special Town Meeting has not been published in the materials reviewed.
CEC Chair Charles Lamb led the committee at an April 2026 financial summit, where members included Mr. Boudett, Mr. Rubenstein, Ms. Rhodes and Mr. Cole.
Residents can join the Oct. 29 meeting via Zoom using Meeting ID 456 375 8551 and passcode 012898.
