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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
MINUTES
September 21, 2009
Town Moderator, Robert J. Long, called the Special Town Meeting of September 21, 2009 to order at 7:36 p.m. at the Town Hall Auditorium, 298 Central Street, Saugus, MA with 37 members, plus the moderator present.
The Moderator led the meeting in the salute to the Flag, which was followed by a moments of silence in memory of John Burns. Moderator Long expressed his heartfelt sorrow due to the recent passing of Mr. Burns, who will always be remembered as a Co-author of two books, the restorer of Prankers Pond, a school teacher and a very special guy.
Town Clerk, Joanne Rappa, called the roll.
Atkinson, Ronald
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A
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Long, Robert
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X
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Attubato, Joseph
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X
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Lopresti, Anthony J.
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X
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Barressi, Sal
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A
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Malone, Barbara J.
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X
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Bartolo, Jean M.
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X
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Maltais, Sean A.
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X
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Billingsley, Stacy A.
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X
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Manoogian, Peter Z., Sr.
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X
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Boesel, Edward S.W.
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X
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McCarthy, Stephen F.
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A
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Connors, Arthur D., Jr.
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A
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Merrifield, Henry F.
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X
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Dever, Maureen P.
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X
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Moschella, Dennis J.
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X
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Devlin F. Ann
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X
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Moses, Jeffrey D., Sr.
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X
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DiNardo, Albert J.
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X
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Nelson, Stephen A.
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X
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Dockery, Michael
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X
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Nicosia, Nicola M.
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X
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Faiella, Ellen L.
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A
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Nuzzo, Richard
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A
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Falasca, Thomas A.
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A
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Palczynski, Joseph, Jr.
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X
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Flynn, Patrick M.
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A
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Politano, Kimberly A.
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X
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Gill, Charles F.
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X
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Rodenhiser, Joyce C.
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X
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Goodwin, Pamela J.
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X
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Serino, Angelo, Jr.
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X
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Grabowski, Arthur
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X
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Smith, James F., Jr.
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X
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Groark, Laura Z.
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X
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Smith, Rick A.
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X
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Hansen, John N.
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X
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Stewart, Thomas
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X
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Hawkes, Timothy R.
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X
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Sullivan, Betty Ann
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X
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Hoffman, Robert D.
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A
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Sweezey, Stephen D.
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X
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Johnson, Patricia Anne
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X
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Valente, Anthony
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A
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Jones, William R.
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X
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VanSteensburg, Paul J., II
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A
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Lawrence, Raymond
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X
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Vecchio, Matthew J.
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A
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Leuci, Janet
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X
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Witten, Margaret H.
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X
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With 38 members, including the Moderator present, a quorum is met.
Joseph Palczynski from precinct ten and Edward S. W. Boesel from precinct nine were appointed and sworn as tellers.
Moderator Long explained that James Smith, from precinct two, would, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, be making motions this evening.
Tellers distributed handouts, which included the Finance Committee recommendations and information regarding various articles.
Article 1. Reports of Committees.
Chairman of the Finance Committee, Robert Palleschi commented that although Fin Com supports student athletes, he does not feel that the Finance Committee can make recommendations to vote on some of the articles tonight because we have no free cash at this time.
Mr. Smith moves as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, Article 2.
Seconded at 8:01 p.m.
Article as written:
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the amount of fifty six thousand, four hundred and fifty five dollars and forty one cents ($56,455.41) to fund the FY10 Fire Department operating budget as the Town's match for two Federal Emergency Management Grants totaling two hundred and fifty six thousand, four hundred and fifty two dollars ($256,452.) (Town Manager)
Maureen Dever makes a motion to amend Article two as moved, by striking out “certified free cash” and inserting “available funds.”
Seconded at 8:02 p.m.
Town Manager, Andrew Bisignani, explained the article and the reason for the amendment.
Vote to amend the article.
Yeas: 37 Nays: 0 at 8:03 p.m.
Dever amendment passes
Article as voted:
Yeas: 37 Nays: 0 at 8:04 p.m.
Article 2 passed as amended.
Mr. Smith moves, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee to refer Article 3 to the next Special Town Meeting.
Seconded at 8:07 p.m.
Article as written:
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to fund the FY2010 Building Maintenance account and the FY2010 Public Building Electricity account. (Town Manager)
Unanimous voice vote to refer Article 3 to the next Special Town Meeting
at 8:08 p.m.
Mr. Smith moves, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee Article 4.
Seconded at 8:08.5 p.m.
Article as written:
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.) to fund the FY10 School Department budget. (Town Manager as a courtesy to the School Committee)
Maureen Dever makes a motion to amend Article four as moved, by striking out “certified free cash” and inserting “available funds.”
Seconded at 8:09 p.m.
Vote to amend the article.
Yeas: 37 Nays: 0 at 8:09.5 p.m.
Dever amendment passes
Article as voted:
Article 4. Voted to transfer from available funds, the amount of $100,000 to fund the FY 10 School Department budget.
Yeas: 37 Nays: 8:10 p.m.
Article 4 passed as amended.
Mr. Smith moves, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, Article 5.
Seconded at 8:10.5 p.m.
Article as written:
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to be deposited in a targeted stabilization account created for student athletics and activities. (Town Manager as a courtesy to the School Committee)
Joseph P. McCarthy, Jr., 5 Puritan Road, stated that he felt that we are now pricing our kids out of sports and that Saugus residents need some financial relief, and a good place to start would be with the athletics fee.
Janet Leuci had a handout with a copy of a substitute motion to fund the account, which reads as follows:
“To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the amount of $59,000.00 to be deposited in a targeted stabilization account created for student athletics and activities.
Sources of funding may include:
$20,000 from unexpended funds from Article 11 of the Special Town Meeting of November 13, 2006
$2,000 from funds returned by the Charter Commission, Article 11, Special Town Meeting August 24, 2009
$37,000 from free cash and meals or hotel/motel tax”
Mrs. Leuci asked for 14 other members to stand with her for a roll call vote. 14 members standing, a roll call vote is ordered.
Mrs. Leuci moves the substitute motion.
Seconded at 8:20 p.m.
Vote on Mrs. Leuci’s substitute motion:
Atkinson, Ronald
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A
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Long, Robert
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P
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Attubato, Joseph
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Y
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Lopresti, Anthony J.
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Y
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Barressi, Sal
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A
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Malone, Barbara J.
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Y
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Bartolo, Jean M.
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Y
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Maltais, Sean A.
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Y
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Billingsley, Stacy A.
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Y
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Manoogian, Peter Z., Sr.
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Y
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Boesel, Edward S.W.
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Y
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McCarthy, Stephen F.
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A
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Connors, Arthur D., Jr.
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A
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Merrifield, Henry F.
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Y
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Dever, Maureen P.
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Y
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Moschella, Dennis J.
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Y
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Devlin F. Ann
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Y
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Moses, Jeffrey D., Sr.
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Y
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DiNardo, Albert J.
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Y
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Nelson, Stephen A.
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Y
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Dockery, Michael
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Y
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Nicosia, Nicola M.
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Y
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Faiella, Ellen L.
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A
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Nuzzo, Richard
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A
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Falasca, Thomas A.
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A
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Palczynski, Joseph, Jr.
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Y
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Flynn, Patrick M.
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A
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Politano, Kimberly A.
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Y
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Gill, Charles F.
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Y
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Rodenhiser, Joyce C.
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Y
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Goodwin, Pamela J.
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Y
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Serino, Angelo, Jr.
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Y
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Grabowski, Arthur
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Y
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Smith, James F., Jr.
|
Y
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Groark, Laura Z.
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Y
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Smith, Rick A.
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Y
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Hansen, John N.
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Y
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Stewart, Thomas
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Y
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Hawkes, Timothy R.
|
Y
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Sullivan, Betty Ann
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Y
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Hoffman, Robert D.
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A
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Sweezey, Stephen D.
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Y
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Johnson, Patricia Anne
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Y
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Valente, Anthony
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A
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Jones, William R.
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Y
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VanSteensburg, Paul J., II
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A
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Lawrence, Raymond
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Y
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Vecchio, Matthew J.
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A
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Leuci, Janet
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Y
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Witten, Margaret H.
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Y
|
Yeas: 37 Nays: 0 at 8:29 p.m.
Substitute motion passes
Article as voted:
Article 5. Voted to transfer from available funds the amount of $59,000.00 to be deposited in a targeted stabilization account created for student athletics and activities.
Sources of funding may include:
$20,000 from unexpended funds from Article 11 of the Special Town Meeting of November 13, 2006
$2,000 from funds returned by the Charter Commission, Article 11, Special Town Meeting August 24, 2009
$37,000 from free cash and meals or hotel/motel tax
Unanimous voice vote at 8:30 p.m.
Article 5 passes as amended.
Mr. Smith moves, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, Article 6.
Seconded at 8:31 p.m.
Article as written:
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to release a sum of money from the targeted stabilization account for student athletics and activities to be used in accordance with the plan provided by the Saugus School Department. (Town Manager as a courtesy to the School Committee)
Mrs. Leuci moves to amend Article 6 by inserting a sum of $59,000.
Seconded at 8:31.5 p.m.
Mr. Manoogian asked Mr. Langlois, Superintendent of Schools, when this money would be used. Mr. Langlois responded by stating that he expected to proceed as soon as possible and he expected by November 1st.
Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Grabowski, Mr. Moses, and Town Manager Bisignani all spoke regarding Article 6.
Article 6 as voted:
Article 6. Voted to release a sum of $59,000 from the targeted stabilization account for student athletics and activities to be used in accordance with the plan provided by the Saugus School Department.
Unanimous voice vote at 8:40 p.m.
Article 6 passes as amended.
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