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STM 060908
June 9, 2008
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
MINUTES


Town Moderator Robert J. Long called the Special Town Meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. on June 9, 2008 at the Town Hall Auditorium, 298 Central Street, Saugus, MA, with 42 members, plus the moderator present.  A quorum is met.

The Moderator led the meeting in the salute to the Flag.

Town Clerk, Joanne Rappa, called the roll.


Atkinson, Ronald
X
Long, Robert
X
Attubato, Joseph
X
Lopresti, Anthony J.
X
Barressi, Sal
X
Malone, Barbara J.
X
Bartolo, Jean M.
X
Maltais, Sean A.
X
Billingsley, Stacy A.
X
Manoogian, Peter Z., Sr.
X
Boesel, Edward S.W.
X
McCarthy, Stephen F.
X
Cote, Karen
X
Merrifield, Henry F.
X
Dever, Maureen P.
X
Moschella, Dennis J.
X
Devlin F. Ann
X
Moses, Jeffrey D., Sr.
X
DiNardo, Albert J.
X
Nelson, Stephen A.
A
Dockery, Michael
X
Nicosia, Nicola M.
A
Faiella, Ellen L.
X
Nuzzo, Richard
A
Falasca, Thomas A.
X
Palczynski, Joseph, Jr.
X
Flynn, Patrick M.
X
Politano, Kimberly A.
X
Gill, Charles F.
X
Rodenhiser, Joyce C.
X
Goodwin, Pamela J.
X
Serino, Angelo, Jr.
X
Grabowski, Arthur
A
Smith, James F., Jr.
X
Groark, Laura Z.
X
Smith, Rick A.
X
Hansen, John N.
X
Stewart, Thomas
X
Hawkes, Timothy R.
X
Sullivan, Betty Ann
X
Hoffman, Robert D.
X
Sweezey, Stephen D.
X
Johnson, Patricia Anne
X
Valente, Anthony
X
Jones, William R.
X
VanSteensburg, Paul J., II
A
Lawrence, Raymond
X
Vecchio, Matthew J.
A
Leuci, Janet
X
Witten, Margaret H.
X


44 members present (including the moderator).

Joyce Rodenhiser from Precinct one and F. Ann Devlin from Precinct one, were appointed and sworn as tellers.

Mr. Long explained that Henry F. Merrifield, from Precinct three would, as a courtesy, be making motions this evening.

Tellers distributed handouts.

Moderator Long expressed his desire to complete this Special Town Meeting and proceed directly to the Annual Town Meeting with the hopes of completing that as well.  Mr. Long took a moment to recognize Dr. Keith Manville and Police Chief James J. MacKay, as both are retiring and this will probably be the last Town Meeting each of them will participate in.

Mr. Long proceeded to thank the Finance Committee Clerk, Fred Brooks, for his efforts on behalf of the Town, and wish him well on his plans to retire from the Committee.

Mr. Long thanked Town Manager, Andrew Bisignani and Town Accountant Joan Regan for all of their hard work, supporting documents and attendance at all of the Finance Committee Meetings.  Mr. Long further thanked Chairman of the Finance Committee, Robert Palleschi for his years of dedicated service on the Board as well as thanking all

members for donating their time and talents during the budget process.  Moderator Long also thanked Town Clerk, Joanne Rappa for her efforts.

Article 1.  Reports of Committees

Mr. Palleschi, Chairman of the Finance Committee, stated that he felt all of the recommendations were straightforward and he would appreciate taking these recommendations into serious consideration.

Mr. Merrifield moves, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, Article 2.

Seconded at 7:45 p.m.
Article as written:

Article 2.  To see if the Town will vote to accept the provision of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 60A Section 1.  This is an act that allows that excise tax shall not apply to a motor vehicles owned and registered by the surviving spouse of a deceased former prisoner of war, until such time as the surviving spouse remarries or fails to renew such registration.  This act became law as December 13, 1990.

This is an expansion of Chapter 597 of the Acts of 1982 which allowed former prisoners of war to register without a fee distinctive registration plates for one pleasure vehicle owned and operated by a former prisoner of war, and that no excise tax shall apply to such motor vehicle in a city or town which accepts this provision by a vote of Town Meeting.  The Saugus Town Meeting accepted this act, but has not accepted the follow up provision applying to spouses.  (Peter Rossetti, Jr., Esq., on behalf of Ruth Elwell)

Article as voted:

Article 2.  Voted to accept the provision of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 60A Section 1.

Unanimous voice vote at 7:46 p.m.

Article 2 passes as recommended.

Mr. Merrifield moves, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, Article 3.

Seconded at 7:47 p.m.

Article as written:

Article 3.  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money ($18,500.00) from the Landfill enterprise account for post closure monitoring and maintenance of the town’s landfill for Fiscal Year 2009.  (Town Manager)

Article as voted:

Article 3.  Voted to appropriate the sum of $18,500.00 from the Landfill enterprise account for post closure monitoring and maintenance of the town’s landfill for Fiscal year 2009.
Unanimous voice vote at 7:47.5 p.m.

Article 3 passes as recommended.

Mr. Merrifield moves, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, Article 4.

Seconded at 7:48 p.m.



Article as written:

Article 4.  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purchase of text books for the School Department; to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or otherwise; or to take any other action relative thereto.  (Town Manager, Board of Selectmen, and School Committee)

Selectman Michael Kelleher stated that he was proud of how the School Department, Town Moderator, Board of Selectmen, and Town Manager all came together to work on this article.  Mr. Kelleher stated that passage of this article will surely further restore the confidence in the Towns students and urged for passage of Article 4.

Article as voted:

Article 4.  Voted to raise by borrowing the sum of $300,000 for the purchase of textbooks for the School Department.
Yeas:  43  Nays:  0 at 7:50 p.m.

Article 4 passes as recommended.

Mr. Merrifield moves, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, Article 5.

Seconded at 7:51 p.m.

Article as written:

Article 5.  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds (FY09 Chapter 90 Highway) a sum of money (ninety two thousand dollars, $92,000.00) for handicapped ramps and sidewalks.  Said sum will be reimbursed by the Commonwealth under the provisions of MGL Chapter 90, section 34.  (Town Manager)

Mr. Manoogian asked for an update by the Superintendent of Public Works regarding the work completed.

Mr. Joseph Attubato, Superintendent of Public Works, stated that after reviewing the situation in Town, he would like to see some of this money go to maintenance in the area of Main Street.

Mr. DiNardo makes a motion to amend the article by removing the word “sidewalks” from Article 5 and explained his amendment.
Seconded at 7:55 p.m.

Mr. Attubato stated that he will not be supporting the amendment.

Vote on DiNardo amendment.

Yeas:  17   Nays 26 at 7:57 p.m.

DiNardo amendment does NOT pass.

Article as voted:

Article 5.  Voted to transfer from available funds (FY09 Chapter 90 Highway) the sum of $92,000.00 for handicapped ramps and sidewalks, to be reimbursed by the Commonwealth under the provisions of MGL Chapter 90, Section 34.

Unanimous voice vote at 7:59 p.m.

Article 5 passes as recommended.

Mr. Merrifield moves, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, Article 6.

Seconded at 7:59.5 p.m.

Article as written:

Article 6.  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds (FY09 Chapter 90 Highway) a sum of money (two hundred and eighty three thousand, nine hundred and forty nine dollars, $283,949.00) for street resurfacing.  Said sum will be reimbursed by the Commonwealth under the provisions of MGL Chapter 90, section 34.  (Town Manager)

Article as voted:

Article 6.  Voted to transfer from available funds (FY09 chapter 90 Highway) the sum of $283,949.00 for street resurfacing, to be reimbursed by the Commonwealth under the provisions of MGL Chapter 90, Section 34.

Unanimous voice vote at 8:00 p.m.

Article 6 passes as recommended.

Mr. Merrifield moves, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, Article 7.

Seconded at 8:01 p.m.

Article as written:

Article 7.  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money (eighty five thousand dollars, $85,000.00) for the purpose of purchasing capital equipment for the Highway Department.  Said sum will be reimbursed by the Commonwealth under provisions of MGL Chapter 90, section 34.  (Town Manager)  

Article as voted:

Article 7.  Voted to transfer from available funds the sum of $85,000.00 for the purpose of purchasing capital equipment for the Highway Department, to be reimbursed by the Commonwealth under provisions of MGL Chapter 90, Section 34.

Yeas:  42   Nays:  1 at 8:01 p.m.

Article 7 passes as recommended.

Mr. Edward S. W. Boesel moves to adjourn SINE DIE.

Seconded at 8:02 p.m.


Special Town Meeting adjourns SINE DIE at 8:02 p.m.