You can see the Town Meeting Warrant Above!
Article 1: School Building Project – Article Passes required 2/3rds vote!
– Town owned property located at 135 Hayden Rowe Street to replace existing Center Elementary School
– $43,229,373 Project
– New School is slated to open in Fall 2018.
– Most Speakers seem in support of school project.
– Speaker suggests Seniors should have tax relief from major construction projects: “To seniors on a fixed income, it’s very much a burden.”
– Speaker Estimates project will raise average Homeowners taxes approx $435/per household.
Article 2: Oliver Lane Retaining Wall ($320,000) – Passes Unanimously
– Board of Selectmen recommends construction of replacement retaining wall on Oliver Lane.
Article 3: Unpaid Bills from Previous Fiscal Year (Free Cash) – Passes Unanimously
Article 4: FY 2016 Supplemental Appropriations – Article Passes
$1,044,346.38 from Free Cash
Article 5: Transfer to General Stabilization Fund – Article Passes required 2/3rds majority
-$300,000 of free cash to stabilization fund.
Article 6: Other Post Employment Liability Trust Funds ($411,118) – Article Passes
Article 7: Pay as you go capital expenses – Article Passes (Item I Seperated)
A) Purchase Portable Radios – Police Chief – $49,500
B) Replace Police Cruisers – Police Chief – $78,000
C) Replace Cardiac Monitor – Fire Chief – $28,099
D) Purchase Public Safety Dispatch Equipment – Town Manager – $16,250
E) Upgrade to Roadway Light System to Energy Efficient LED Lighting – DPW – $175,000
F) Cleanup Snow Dump located off Cedar Street – DPW – $140,000
G) Purchase Loader Mounted Snow Blower – DPW – $115,000
H) Procure Sewer System Capacity and Business Analysis – DPW – $140,000
J) Install Test Wells at Whitehall Property – DPW – $35,000
K) Construct Elmwood Farm Parking Area – Town Manager – $40,000
L)Construct Expansion to Police Department Parking Lot – Town Manager – $75,000
– Item I separated from question
I) Fruit Street Aquifer Analysis – DPW – $75,000 (Police Station Parking) – Passed Standing Vote!
Article 8: Fruit Street Indoor Recreational Facility / Athletic Center (Vote is for No Action) – ($500,000)
Standing Vote for No Action Fails: 74-164
– Appropriation Committee recommends NO ACTION
– Parks & Recreation recommends Supporting Indoor Athletics Facility
– Board of Selectmen recommends Supporting Indoor Athletics Facility 4-1
-Bob Dobinski, Chair of Parks and Rec states: Over a 10 year period of time they will be paying town back
Moderator: Dr Bruce Karlin stated the Motion is for no action, if facility is wanted, you vote against the no action motion, then there will be a sub-motion made by Parks and Recreation.
Substitute Motion: Parks and Recreation – Borrow $500,000 to build Indoor Recreational Facility / Athletic Center
Ron Clark Amends Article 8: Funding comes from free cash rather than loans. “Let’s move forward without putting additional debt on ourselves”
$2.2 Million available in free cash. – Fails Standing Vote (39-172)
Vote on Substitute Motion – ($500,000 to build Indoor Recreational Facility / Athletic Center) – Standing Vote (Passes 154-67)
Article 9: Vehicle Purchase (No Action Recommended) – Passes Unanimously
Article 10: Vendor Contract for Personal Property Services (No Action Recommended) – Passes Unanimously
Article 11: Zoning Map Change (No Action Recommended) – Passes Unanimously.