Quorum is reached.
Summary notes from Town Meeting (written live from the meeting.)
Format: Vote Article summary Notes
Pass ARTICLE 1 to ratify the appointment of Gerald Hickman as Deputy Moderator
Pass ARTICLE 2: Compensating Balance Agreement: to permit the Treasurer to create an agreement with a bank stipulating the minimum town account balances to be maintained in return for specific banking services. (If necessary)
Passed over ARTICLE 3: to appropriate money to pay prior-year bills (If necessary), no prior year’s bills
Pass ARTICLE 4: to appropriate $15,545,243 for Town Government, $991,021 of which will come from transfers from cemetery lot sales, debt exclusion reserves, Title V reserves, Conservation Commission fees, revolving accounts of police, fire, recreation, and dog control and $600,000 in free cash. The remainder, $14,554,231 will be raised by taxation. Notes: Sustainable, departmental core mission funding is intact, no layoffs, unanimously supported by the Selectmen, School Committee and Advisory Boards
Pass ARTICLE 5: to appropriate $3,746,234 for operation of the water/sewer and solid waste utilities. Transfers from Sewer and Water funds free cash, taxation to raise $301,447, and revenues from water/sewer and solid waste, will accomplish this. Lyman St well is on line, Brigham Street well is being tested to bring on line, use of local wells has reduced reliance on MWRA water, Sewer budget -1.8% below prior year, General Fund will be subsidizing the Solid Waste Program shortfall $301,447 this year with expectations of changing to a single stream program. In July, water rates are expected to increase by 7% and sewer rates to increase by 20% to accommodate expenses for water and sewer facilities improvements.
Pass ARTICLE 6: to appropriate $17,940, 566 for operation of the Northborough K through 8 Public Schools –1.6% increase
Pass ARTICLE 7: to appropriate $8,827,951 for Northborough’s share of the operation of Algonquin Regional High School and the high school debt exclusion –.66% increase
Pass ARTICLE 8: to appropriate $680,836 for Northborough’s share of the operation of the Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School. In the coming year the school building will be requiring updates and all 7 communities will share in approving and funding
Pass ARTICLE 9: for the Library to accept and spend the Library Incentive and Municipal Equalization Grant and Nonresident Circulation offset for books, automation costs, and other library benefits. To apply for State aid for the coming fiscal year.
Pass ARTICLE 10: to authorize the town to apply for an spend according to the application federal and state grant money that becomes available
Pass ARTICLE 11: to combine re-authorization of the Fire Department, Police Department, Dog Officer, Community Affairs Committee, Family and Youth Services Departments, and Council on Aging revolving fund accounts: articles 12-17 are combined, Applefest is no longer a revolving fund
Pass ARTICLE 18: to appropriate $27,600 to purchase voting machines; to determine whether funds will come from additional taxes, transfer of funds, borrowing, or otherwise, Federal mandated update of the equipment
Pass ARTICLE 19: to appropriate $165,000 to replace a 1990 6-wheel dump truck with a new dump truck sander and plow, purchased through borrowing (replacing a 21 year old truck)
Passed Over ARTICLE 20: appropriate $500,000 for a feasibility study for Lincoln Street School. (Superintendent continues to work with the MSBA to prioritize)
Pass ARTICLE 21: to appropriate $350,000 for roof repairs for Melican Middle School; funds to be raised through borrowing, leaks occurring, will add 12 years to life of roof, the project needs to be addressed and cannot wait for MSBA approval
Pass ARTICLE 22: to appropriate $100,000 to seek a declaratory judgment on whether MSBA reimbursement will be apportioned to the two towns using the Regional Agreement (4-year rolling enrollment average) or MGL Chapter 70B formula. The difference is approximately $1.5 million. The lump sums received from MSBA have already been applied to the total debt using the Regional Agreement formula but disagreement about how to appropriate the funds continues. In 2009, a compromise was suggested by the Regional School Committee; this was passed by Northborough but declined by Southborough in their Town Warrants. Northborough seeks a proper and fair venue to move the issue forward; otherwise, the only option left is to do nothing.
Pass ARTICLE 23: to accept Silas Drive as an official Town street, Town has taken the bond to complete the street
Pass ARTICLE 24: to accept Copley Drive and Dartmouth Drive as official Town streets.
Pass ARTICLE 25: to accept Beechwood Circle as an official Town street.
Pass ARTICLE 26: to accept Woodstone Road and Fawcett Orchard Circle as official Town streets, Incomplete by the developer for more than 20 years, there are 3 “mini bonds” which would cover the majority of the work
Pass ARTICLE 27: to accept an easement from the owners of 68 Brigham Street for surface water drainage.
Pass ARTICLE 28: to amend Zoning Bylaw Chapter 7:
7-02-040 To include a definition of Floor Area Ratio
7-03-010 To specify hours that a paid contractor may operate construction equipment daily except Sunday and legal holidays, between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm, or otherwise with written permission of the Building Inspector
7-03-020 deleted: provision for Certificate of Zoning Compliance
7-03-020 replaced with: provision for Certificate of Occupancy
7-03-040 to replace the word “from” with the word “following” in specifying how soon after a public hearing a decision is required.
7-03-050
7-05-020 to reword the description of an accessory dwelling unit
7-05-020 to edit out training requirements for listed professionals
7-06-030 to include setback requirements for porches or steps
7-08-040 to eliminate building height from bylaws sections 1, 3, and 4
7-08-040 to increase the reconstruction gross floor area from 50 to 80 percent.
7-08-040 to add a requirement for compliance with setbacks and building coverage.
7-10-020 to add the words “up to” to describe common driveways serving as many as two lots
7-10-030 to renumber the bylaws reference section.
Pass ARTICLE 29: Scenic Road Bylaw was omitted inadvertently to bylaw update last year, covers stone walls and trees
Pass ARTICLE 30 appropriates $190,000 for repairs to Town Hall
Pass ARTICLE 31 appropriates $52,000 for historic document preservation
Pass ARTICLE 32 appropriates $30,000 for Historic Society’s building’s kitchen
Pass ARTICLE 33 appropriates $100,000 for funding to the Community Preservation Fund
Pass ARTICLE 34 appropriates $150,000 for Northborough Affordable Housing Corporation
Pass ARTICLE 35 appropriates $150,000 for Open Space Reserve
Pass ARTICLE 36 appropriates $24,000 for professional services for the CPA and the Community Preservation Committee
Pass ARTICLE 37 Re-organizes Town Finance Department
Pass ARTICLE 38 amends Personnel Bylaw
Meeting ended, to be continued tomorrow at 7:30
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