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March 21, 2005
TWENTY-THIRD MEETING                                            March 21,  2005


PRESENT:        E. Innes, K. Conlon, D. Biagiotti, W. Connors, L. Dee,  K. Hodlin, M. Kelly, T. Lowney, B. Mason, N. Monroe,  R. Musto, E. Redo,  J. Tarvin, C. Winston.

ABSENT: M. Ellis.

RESERVE FUND BALANCE:                                                   $254,134

Chair Innes called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

The minutes of March 16,  2005  were approved 9-0-1.

The Committee reviewed and voted 12-0-0 to recommend the following articles to the 2005 Annual Town Meeting:

Article 16              Penning & Tethering of Dogs. The Committee recommended that the word “following” be inserted in the last line of paragraph 4 before the word requirements.  Thus the sentence would read:  “The pen should meet the following requirements for space as recommended by t he Humane Society of the United States.”
Article 17              Building Department Revolving Fund
Article 20              Senior Center Revolving Fund
Article 23              Chapter 90 Appropriation of $385,508

Article 28              Board of Health Revolving Fund  Members Musto and Lowney recused
                        11-0-2                                  themselves prior to vote.
Article 30              Library Revolving Fund - Books & Materials
                        11-0-2
Article 31              Library Revolving Fund - Building Maintenance
                        11-0-2

The Committee voted 13-0-0 to recommend the following articles to the 2005 Annual Town Meeting:

Article 38              School Revolving Fund - Pre-School Program
Article 39              School Revolving Fund - Maintenance and Repair of School Facilities
Article 40              School Revolving Fund - Student Enrichment

The Committee deferred a vote on Article 55, Long Range Planning Committee, pending a decision on member term limits.

Chair Innes reviewed several responses from Department Heads on Warrant Committee budget recommendations.

The Committee discussed the appropriateness of Town Meeting to be considering citizens petition known as Article 54, “A Resolution Affirming Civil Rights and Liberties.  Further discussion was deferred pending conference with both  the proponents and opponents.


A conference was held with Nancy Mathews, Philip Mathews, Charles Winchester and Richard Ward, four of the citizens who submitted an article, known as Article 53, “ Amend Bylaw for Moderator’s Term”, who discussed with the Committee their reasons for submitting this article.  Following this discussion, the Committee voted 13-0-0 to Recommend a “Yes” vote to Town Meeting.  Chair Innes thanked the petitioners for their informative presentation.

A conference was held with Geoffrey Wilkinson, Robert Rosofsky and Sandra Cramer, three of the citizens who submitted an article, known as Article 54, “Civil Rights and Liberties Resolution”, who discussed with the Committee their reasons for submitting this article and to seek the Warrant Committee recommendation for a Yes vote to Town Meeting.  Following this conference, a conference was held with M. Joseph Manning and Frank Stout, opponents of this article.  Mr. Stout read a communication from Robert Mahoney, Commander of Veterans’ Post 114, opposing ths article.  Both M. Joseph Manning and Frank Stout spoke in opposition of Article 54.  The Committee deferred a vote on this article pending further review.  The Chair thanked those present for attending and for each informative presentation.

A conference was held with Town Planner Aaron Henry, who reviewed with the Committee articles submitted by the Planning Board for the 2005 Annual Town Meeting.  Following discussion , the  Committee voted the following recommendations to Town Meeting:

Article 47              Amend Zoning Bylaws - Drive Through Food Service        
                                Recommend a Yes vote                    9-4-0
Article 48              Amend Zoning Bylaws - Drive Through Food Service
                                No Recommendation At This Time  10-3-0
Article 49              Amend Zoning Bylaws - Front Yard Set Back
                                A motion to recommend a “Yes” vote was defeated 4-9-0
                                Recommend a No vote                     8-5-0
Article 50              Amend Zoning Bylaws - Side Setback.
                                A motion to defer the article for further study was defeated 2-11-0
                                Recommend a Yes vote                    10-3-0
Article 52              Amend Zoning Bylaws - Side Setback              
                                Recommend a Yes vote                    13-0-0

The Committee discussed both non-contingent and contingent budget proposals and budget appropriations which were sustainable and those not sustainable.  Chair Innes distributed worksheet scenarios for non-contingent and contingent FY 2006 appropriation.  Prior to discussion a motion was made to consider only the budget numbers arrived at during the March 16th meeting.  This motion was defeated  3-10-0.  The Committee then proceeded to consider the non-contingent FY 2006 spreadsheet which would deliver a balanced budget. The Committee reviewed and voted to recommend the following budget appropriations:

Department                              Amount                          Vote
Personnel Board                 $35,069                         7-6-0
Planning Board                  $2,700                                  13-0-0
Board of Assessors                      $250,333                                11-2-0
Town Clerk                              $201,856                                8-5-0
Treasurer-Collector                     $272,260                                9-4-0
Cemetery                                $577,554                                10-3-0
Council on Aging                        $155,985                                12-1-0
Town Collective Bargaining              ($16,500)                               13-0-0
Parks & Recreation                      $281,380                                11-2-0
Veterans Benefits                       $17,127                         10-3-0
Solid Waste                             $1,615,801                              13-0-0  

Member Kelly left the meeting at 11:00 p.m.

School Department                       $27,783,176                             9-2-1
Fire                                    $3,833,829                              8-4-0
Town Collective Bargaining
        Prior Year                      $45,237                         11-0-1
Town Collective Bargaining
        Set Aside                       $86,098                         11-0-1

        Prior to the Board of Health vote, Members Lowney and Musto recused themselves
Board of Health                 $147,430                                9-1-2

Further budget discussion was deferred to the March 22nd meeting.

RESERVE FUND                                                            $333,064
Accounting Set Aside                                                                                     750
School Department Set Aside                                                                 78,180      

RESERVE FUND                                                            $254,134

The meeting adjourned at 11:30 p.m.

The next meeting of the Warrant Committee will be on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

                                                        Respectfully submitted,
                                                        Carol A. Blute, Clerk
                                                        March 22, 2005