FINANCE
COMMITTEE REPORT
Introduction
Welcome to the Finance Committee Report and Town
Warrant. If you are reading this, you are probably planning to attend Annual
Town Meeting. If you are not planning to attend Town Meeting, we highly
recommend it. Town Meeting is democracy in its purest form. It requires active
participation by the citizens of the Town to succeed. Although the Selectmen
and other elected boards represent the executive government of Town, it is the
Town Meeting that makes the ultimate decision as to how and where money will be
spent.
Please take the time to read this report. The Finance Committee (FinCom) has spent many hours,
some of them quite noisy, attempting to make sense of the budget situation for
the Town. This report represents a distillation of FinCom opinions on the
budget and other Annual Town Meeting Articles, and the discussion may be of
value, whether you agree with Finance Committee recommendations or not. If
you don't want to read the whole report, use the discussion of recommendations
on specific articles of interest.
Purpose of the Finance
Committee
The Finance Committee consists of seven citizens
appointed by the Board of Selectmen for two year terms. The principal function
of the Committee is the development of the Town budget, and to make
recommendations to Town Meeting regarding any Article that has a financial
impact upon the Town.
The Finance Committee can also meet with Town
departments during the year to discuss matters that have financial impact upon
the Town
The Finance Committee has power only to the extent
that Town Meeting agrees with its recommendations; Town Meeting is free to
ignore irresponsible recommendations from the Finance Committee. As a result,
the Finance Committee is obligated to make sensible recommendations and explain
them well if it wishes to avoid rejection by Town Meeting. At Town Meeting,
members of the Finance Committee will speak to explain the Committee's
recommendations.
Glossary of Terms
A number of terms are tossed about by those used to budget
operations in the Town. For those who may not be so familiar with these terms,
but who do not wish to be snowed by those who are, we present a glossary of
some of the more popular buzzwords:
q
Appropriate
To set aside or assign money "so that the executive
officers of the government are authorized to use that money, and no more, for
that object and no other". Money that is appropriated for a purpose may
not be spent for any other purpose unless Town Meeting approves such a
transfer.
q
Raise
To tax.
q
Raise and Appropriate
This is the standard term used for money Articles at
Annual Town Meeting. This terms grants authority to tax and spend for a
specified purpose. Certain Articles at Town Meetings will have other wordings.
For example, a capital purchase may be funded from the Stabilization Fund, and
thus the motion would be read with the phrase "appropriate from
Stabilization Fund".
q
Levy Limit
This is the maximum money the Town can raise under
Proposition 2-1/2.
q
Free Cash (Available Funds)
This fund is certified annually by the Bureau of
Accounts as available for appropriation. The amount of money in Free Cash
presents a quick picture of a Town's financial health. Bond rating agencies
look for a Free Cash amount of roughly 3% to 5% or more of total budget as an
indication that things are OK. For Pepperell, this 3% to 5% figure is $659,435
to $1,009,058. The Town's recently adopted funds balance policy established 3%
of the total budget as a goal for the free cash balance. Please note that Free
Cash is an accounting device and does not represent the actual cash in the
Town's accounts.
Pepperell's certified free cash as of September 18, 2006
was $1,845,341. Actions of Special Town Meetings since have resulted in a
balance of $1,214,056 as of April 23,
2007.
q
Stabilization
Fund
A special account that is created to provide for
future large expenditures. It represents an actual amount of money that is
invested until appropriated by 2/3 vote of Town Meeting. The Stabilization Fund
had a balance of $1,870,509 as of April 23, 2007.
The funds balance policy established a targeted minimum balance of 5% of
budgeted expenditures, which translates to approximately $1,099,058.
q
Conservation Fund
A fund backed by invested money that is earmarked for
purchase and maintenance of Conservation land. Conservation Fund Balance was
$30,955 as of April 23, 2007.
q
Land Fund
A special account created to stabilize the impact of
land purchases on Pepperell taxpayers and to respond in a timely manner to
available parcels of real estate. The fund is to be used for acquiring
options for the purchase of conservation restrictions, agricultural
preservations rights, and real estate for general municipal purposes. Land
Fund Balance was $230,431 as of April 23,
2007.
q
Retirement Fund
The Retirement Fund was established by the Town to set
aside money to offset pension liabilities. The Town is required to pay an
actuarially determined rate. The Retirement Fund balance as of April 23, 2007 was
$1,647,692.
q
Reserve Fund
The Reserve Fund is a fund amount not to exceed 5% of
the previous year's tax levy. For Pepperell, this maximum would represent
roughly $605,920. However, the Finance Committee typically budgets $75,000.
The Reserve Fund is under exclusive control of Finance Committee for "extraordinary
or unforeseen expenditures". For instance, unexpected large repair costs
could deplete a department's budget for Purchase of Services. Upon request from
the elected board in control of the account, the Finance Committee could
authorize transfer from the Reserve fund to the specified account. This is the
only transfer that can be made without Town Meeting approval. Un-spent Reserve
Fund amounts are closed out at the end of the Fiscal Year to Free Cash.
q
Allowance for Abatements and
Exemptions
The Allowance for Abatements and Exemptions (formerly
Overlay) is an amount determined by the Board of Assessors to cover the cost of
tax abatements.
q
Cherry Sheet
The name comes from the color of paper upon which they
were once printed. The Cherry Sheets are two state forms that spell out all
revenues that the state will give the Town, and all charges and assessments
that the Town must pay the state and county.
Revenue Sources
Where does the Town of Pepperell get
money to pay its bills?
q
Property Tax
As might be expected, the largest source of revenue
comes from local property tax. Under the terms of Proposition 2-1/2, this can
increase by only 2.5% per year except for new growth or an override. In FY 2008
new growth is estimated at $125,000. Estimated total property tax revenues for
FY 2008 are $13,178,605.
q
State Revenue Sharing
Pepperell receives relatively little direct state
revenue sharing (also known as local aid). The majority of the estimated
$1,675,492 is an estimated $1,591,572 in lottery revenue. Note that although
the original bill authorizing the lottery specified that all earnings were to
be distributed to the cities and towns, the state government has taken to
withholding a portion of the money each year to satisfy its own budget demands.
The formula used to calculate state aid is, essentially, unknown. Under the
governor's new proposed budget plan, a number of categories that were formerly
spelled out separately on the Cherry Sheet have been consolidated into one,
smaller, amount. Pepperell receives a very small amount of Chapter 70 Aid
(formerly called resolution aid), but it does indirectly receive a relatively
large amount of Education Foundation aid via the North Middlesex Regional School District.
q
Local Revenues
Local revenues represent a miscellaneous revenue
grouping. The largest piece of local revenues is the motor vehicle excise tax.
Also included are building permits, dog licenses, and traffic tickets, etc.
This number is an estimate generated by the Town Treasurer, Town Accountant,
Assessors, and Finance Committee Chairman, in conjunction with various
department heads, based on trends and projections. In other words, it's an
educated guess. This is typically estimated conservatively, as a revenue
surplus is easier to handle than a shortfall. We try to avoid excessive
conservatism, as this leads to an unduly pessimistic estimate.
q
Enterprise Revenues
Enterprise
revenues are the money taken in by the Sewer, Water, and Transfer Station
departments. These numbers also represent a forecast by the respective
departments.
q
Stabilization Fund
To date, no capital items for this year are
recommended to be funded through this fund. This may be re-visited at the fall
Town Meeting
q
Free Cash
Special Town Meeting
in the fall usually applies Free Cash to balance the budget. This tradition has
developed due to the continual uncertainty in Cherry Sheet aid.
GENERAL COMMENTS TO THE 2007 ANNUAL/SPECIAL TOWN
MEETING
Usually, you are accustomed to finding in this space a
letter from the Chairman of the Finance Committee detailing the fiscal state of
our Town. Unfortunately, at the time of the printing of this document, we were
unable to ascertain our fiscal status due, primarily, to uncertainty about the
amount of the North Middlesex School budget. While neither of the proposed amounts bodes
well for Pepperell, one is better than the other and our future course of
action depends on which amount is selected.
As you entered Town Meeting this evening you should
have been given a separate document providing the customary information. Not
to overly dramatize the situation but these are exceedingly difficult times for
both the Town and the Schools. Your understanding, good judgment and patience
with the process will be and is greatly appreciated. Thank You.
Respectfully submitted,
Chris
De Simone, Chairman
Pepperell
Finance Committee
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, ss:
To either of the constables of the Town of Pepperell, in
said county,
GREETINGS:
In
the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, you are hereby required to notify and
warn the inhabitants of said Town qualified according to law to vote in state,
county, district and town affairs to assemble at the NISSITISSIT MIDDLE SCHOOL,
in said Town, on Monday, the 7th of May, A.D. 2007 at 7:30 PM to act
on the following articles:
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
May 7, 2007
ARTICLE 1
TOWN OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
To choose all Town
Officers and Committees for the ensuing year (July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008) not
required to be elected by ballot.
Recommended by Finance
Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE 2
ELECTED OFFICIALS COMPENSATION
To see if the Town will
vote to fix the salary and compensation of Elected Officers of the Town for the
Fiscal Year July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008, as provided by Section 108 of Chapter
41 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as amended; or take any other action
relative thereto.
Salaries of the Elected
Officers are included in the Departmental Appropriations.
|
Elected Official
|
Recommended
Salaries 7/1/06-6/30/07
|
Voted Salaries
7/1/06-6/30/07
|
Requested
Salaries
7/1/07-6/30/08
|
|
Town Clerk
Range $48,066* – 59,905
|
$ 57,996
|
$ 57,996
|
$59,905
|
|
Treasurer/Tax Collector
Range $60,281* – 74,056
|
$
68,949
|
$
68,949
|
$74,056
|
|
Assessors
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board
|
$ 1,000
|
$ 1,000
|
$ 1,000
|
|
Each Member (2)
|
$ 750
|
$ 750
|
$ 750
|
|
Board of Health
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board
|
$ 750
|
$ 750
|
$ 750
|
|
Each Member (2)
|
$ 500
|
$ 500
|
$ 500
|
|
Board of Public Works
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board
|
$ 600
|
$ 600
|
$ 600
|
|
Each Elected Member (2)
|
$ 500
|
$ 500
|
$ 500
|
|
Lawrence Library
Trustees
|
$ 0
|
$ 0
|
$ 0
|
|
Moderator
|
$ 150
|
$ 150
|
$ 150
|
|
Planning Board
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board
|
$ 750
|
$ 750
|
$ 750
|
|
Each Member (4)
|
$ 500
|
$ 500
|
$ 500
|
|
Recreation Commission
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board
|
$ 300
|
$ 300
|
$ 300
|
|
Each Member (2)
|
$ 250
|
$ 250
|
$ 250
|
|
Selectmen
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board
|
$ 1,500
|
$ 1,500
|
$ 1,500
|
|
Each Member (2)
|
$ 1,250
|
$ 1,250
|
$ 1,250
|
|
Tree Warden
|
$ 1,200
|
$ 1,200
|
$ 1,200
|
* Shall be the pay for anyone who is not the
incumbent officeholder as of 7/1/07 and who is appointed or elected during the fiscal
year. The above salary recommendations to become effective under the dates
specified above.
Recommended by Finance
Committee.
Passed by majority voice vote
ARTICLE 3
COMPENSATION PLAN
To
see if the Town will vote to amend its Compensation Plan established pursuant
to Chapter 41, Section 108A, of the Massachusetts General Laws, and Pursuant to
Chapter 31 of the Code of the Town of Pepperell, for the Fiscal Year July 1,
2007 through June 30, 2008, by deleting Appendices B, C and D of the Compensation
Plan, and by inserting the text of said Appendices as follows:
|
APPENDIX B
|
|
COMPENSATION PLAN
|
|
FISCAL 2008 (EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2007)
|
|
REGULAR FULL-TIME AND REGULAR PART-TIME HOURLY
|
|
EMPLOYEES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GRADE
|
STEP 1
|
STEP 2
|
STEP 3
|
STEP 4
|
STEP 5
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STEP 6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
12.77
|
13.28
|
13.81
|
14.36
|
14.94
|
15.54
|
|
2
|
13.54
|
14.08
|
14.64
|
15.23
|
15.84
|
16.47
|
|
3
|
14.90
|
15.50
|
16.12
|
16.76
|
17.43
|
18.13
|
|
4
|
16.38
|
17.04
|
17.72
|
18.43
|
19.16
|
19.93
|
|
5
|
18.03
|
18.75
|
19.50
|
20.28
|
21.09
|
21.94
|
|
6
|
19.83
|
20.62
|
21.45
|
22.31
|
23.20
|
24.13
|
|
7
|
21.81
|
22.68
|
23.59
|
24.63
|
25.51
|
26.54
|
|
8
|
24.00
|
24.96
|
25.96
|
27.00
|
28.08
|
29.20
|
|
9
|
26.40
|
27.46
|
28.55
|
29.70
|
30.88
|
32.12
|
|
10
|
29.02
|
30.18
|
31.39
|
32.64
|
33.95
|
35.31
|
|
|
|
APPENDIX C
|
|
COMPENSATION PLAN
|
|
FISCAL 2008 (EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2007)
|
|
REGULAR FULL-TIME AND REGULAR PART-TIME SALARIED
|
|
EMPLOYEES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GRADE
|
STEP 1
|
STEP 2
|
STEP 3
|
STEP 4
|
STEP 5
|
STEP 6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
12.77
|
13.28
|
13.81
|
14.36
|
14.94
|
15.54
|
|
2
|
13.54
|
14.08
|
14.64
|
15.23
|
15.84
|
16.47
|
|
3
|
14.90
|
15.50
|
16.12
|
16.76
|
17.43
|
18.13
|
|
4
|
16.38
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17.04
|
17.72
|
18.43
|
19.16
|
19.93
|
|
5
|
18.35
|
19.08
|
19.85
|
20.64
|
21.47
|
22.33
|
|
6
|
20.56
|
21.38
|
22.24
|
23.13
|
24.05
|
25.01
|
|
7
|
23.02
|
23.94
|
24.90
|
25.89
|
26.93
|
28.01
|
|
8
|
25.79
|
26.82
|
27.89
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29.01
|
30.17
|
31.38
|
|
9
|
28.87
|
30.02
|
31.23
|
32.47
|
33.77
|
35.12
|
|
10
|
32.34
|
33.63
|
34.98
|
36.38
|
37.83
|
39.35
|
|
APPENDIX D
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|
COMPENSATION PLAN
|
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FISCAL 2008 (EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2007)
|
|
SEASONAL, TEMPORARY & NON-REGULARLY SCHEDULED
|
|
EMPLOYEES
|
|
GRADE
|
STEP 1
|
STEP 2
|
STEP 3
|
STEP 4
|
STEP 5
|
STEP 6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
8.47
|
8.81
|
9.16
|
9.53
|
9.91
|
10.30
|
|
1
|
12.77
|
13.29
|
13.82
|
14.36
|
14.95
|
15.55
|
|
2
|
13.55
|
14.09
|
14.65
|
15.23
|
15.84
|
16.48
|
|
3
|
14.90
|
15.50
|
16.12
|
16.76
|
17.43
|
18.13
|
|
4
|
16.39
|
|
|
|
|
19.93
|
|
5
|
18.02
|
|
|
|
|
21.92
|
|
6
|
19.83
|
|
|
|
|
24.12
|
|
7
|
21.81
|
|
|
|
|
26.54
|
|
8
|
24.00
|
|
|
|
|
29.20
|
|
|
|
Special Rates:
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Special Police Officer:
Step 1 from Patrolmen's Contract
|
|
|
Detention Room Monitor:
C3-1
|
|
|
Entry Level Playground
Assistants/Dispatcher Trainees - $1.00 less than
Grade 0 Step 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE 4
BUDGETS
To
determine the specific sums the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or
appropriate from available funds, to defray the regular expenses of the Town
for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 for General Government;
Public Safety; Education; Public Works and Facilities; Human Services; Culture
and Recreation; Debt Service; Employee Benefits and Insurance; Ambulance Fund;
Sewer Enterprise Fund; Water Enterprise Fund; and Transfer Station Fund, or
take any other action relative thereto. The following budgets are for the
fiscal year covering the twelve-month period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008:
Recommended by Finance Committee.
All sections of the budget under Article 4 were passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE 5
NORTH MIDDLESEX REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT ASSESSMENT
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds the sum of $9,706,742.50 for the purpose of
funding the Town’s apportioned share of the North Middlesex Regional School
District operating budget and debt service for the fiscal year July 1, 2007
through June 30, 2008, as most recently certified to the Town by the District
Treasurer, and, by virtue of appropriating this sum, approve the certified
budget for the said fiscal year, or, by not appropriating this sum, explicitly
disapprove the certified budget; or take any other action relative thereto.
Recommendation to be given at Town Meeting. Finance Committee recommended this article.
Passed by majority voice vote
ARTICLE 6
NASHOBA VALLEY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSMENT
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds, the sum of $1,005,242 for the purpose of
providing funds for the Town’s apportioned share of the Nashoba Valley
Technical High School operating budget and debt service for the fiscal year
July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008, as most recently certified to the Town by
the District Treasurer, and by virtue of appropriating this sum, approve the
certified budget for the said fiscal year, or by not voting to appropriate the
sum, explicitly disapprove the certified budget; or take any other action
relative thereto.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
7
By:
Board of Selectmen, by Request
SUMMER BAND CONCERTS
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds the sum of $5,000 for the annual Summer
Band Concert Program for FY 2008; or take any other action relative thereto.
This is a request for Town funding for a public event,
sponsored by private parties. The amount requested is a $3,000 increase over
the request for FY 06.
Not recommended by Finance Committee.
Motion to take No Action
ARTICLE
8
By:
Board of Selectmen
POLICE CONTRACT
To see what sum of money ($27,000) the Town will vote to raise
and appropriate or appropriate from available funds to implement the terms of a
contract entered into between the Town and the Pepperell Police Department
Superior Officers’ Association, Masscop Local 288A; or take any other action
relative thereto.
The subject contract was signed by the parties on
April 17th, after the Warrant had been posted.
Recommendation to be given at Town Meeting. Finance Committee recommended this article.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
9
By:
Board of Selectmen
POLICE CONTRACT
To see what sum of money ($32,839) the Town will vote to raise
and appropriate or appropriate from available funds to implement the terms of a
contract entered into between the Town and the Pepperell Police Officers’
Association, MASSCOP Local 288; or take any other action relative thereto.
The subject contract was signed by the parties on
April 17th, after the Warrant had been posted.
Recommendation to be given at Town Meeting. Finance Committee recommended this article.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
10
By:
Board of Selectmen
ADOPTION OF STATUTE
To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions
of MGL Ch. 39, s. 23D, relative to attendance of board members at certain types
of hearings; or take any other action relative thereto.
Certain Town boards (notably the Zoning Board of
Appeals) must produce decisions arrived at by vote of members who were present
at all of the sessions in which a particular case was discussed. In the event
of a hearing that runs over many separate sessions, there is always a danger
that some member will have an unavoidable absence. This relatively new statute
provides a mechanism whereby that member can “make up” the absence and prevent the
creation of an obstacle to the conclusion of the case.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
11
By:
Board of Library Trustees
ROOF REPAIRS
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds the sum of $2,500 for the purpose of
repairing seams on the copper roof of the Lawrence Library; said appropriation
to be under the control of the Board of Library Trustees; or take any other
action relative thereto.
This is the latest installment of the long, ongoing
saga of the copper roof, but the repairs are necessary to stop existing leaks.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
12
By:
Board of Fire Engineers
NEW TANKER TRUCK
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate,
appropriate from available funds or borrow the sum of $385,000 for the purpose
of procuring a new tanker truck, to replace the existing, deteriorating
vehicle, including any other expenses related thereto; said appropriation to be
under the control of the Board of Fire Engineers (or any successor to same); or
take any other action relative thereto.
The existing tanker is 23 years old, leaking, tired,
and subject to constant maintenance repairs. The proposed new vehicle will fit
into the existing Fire Stations.
Recommended by CAProgram
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by 2/3 voice vote
ARTICLE:
13
By:
Board of Library Trustees
NEW CARPET
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds the sum of $12,000 for the purpose of
replacing the worn and treacherous carpet in the Main Hall of the Lawrence
Library; said appropriation to be under the control of the Board of Library
Trustees; or take any other action relative thereto.
The existing carpet is old, tired and wrinkled. The
inspector for the Town’s insurance carrier has declared it a tripping hazard,
and has recommended replacement.
Recommended by CAProgram
Not recommended by Finance Committee.
Motion to take No Action
ARTICLE
14
By:
IST Committee
NEW HARDWARE, SOFTWARE
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or
appropriate from available funds the sum of ($6,200) for the purpose of funding
the FY 08 segment of the IST Committee’s multi-year plan for upgrade and
replacement of software and hardware components; said appropriation to be under
the control of the Town Accountant; or take any other action relative thereto.
This is a planned, incremental element of phased
maintenance and replacement of equipment.
Recommended by CAProgram.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
15
By:
Police Department
POLICE CRUISERS
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds a sum not to exceed $55,000, for the purpose
of purchasing and equipping two (2) police cruisers, along with any related
expenses, said appropriation to be under the control of the Chief of Police,
and to allow for the disposal of used police vehicles by trade, transfer, or
sale; or take any other action relative thereto.
This is the FY 08 installment of an annual, phased
replacement of Police vehicles
Recommended by CAProgram.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
16
By:
Board of Fire Engineers
AIR PACK BOTTLES
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or
appropriate from available funds the sum of $10,000 for the purpose of
replacing obsolete air bottles used in Scott Packs; said appropriation to be
under the control of the Board of Fire Engineers (or any successor to same); or
take any other action relative thereto.
The subject bottles are at or near the age at which
they are, by regulation, declared to be obsolete and required to be replaced.
Further batches of bottles must be replaced in subsequent years.
Recommended by CAProgram.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
17
By:
Board of Selectmen and the Board of Fire Engineers
FIRE EASEMENT
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of
Selectmen to acquire by purchase, eminent domain, or otherwise an easement, for
Fire Access purposes, across the property located at 47 Groton Street,
Pepperell, and shown as Parcel 53 on Pepperell Assessors’ Map 26, now or
formerly in the possession of Ivan K. Hoyt. Said Fire Access easement is to be
co-extensive with the existing sewer utility easement located on said property,
as shown on a plan entitled “Town of Pepperell/ Proposed Easement at
Intersection of Main Street and North Groton Street, Pepperell, Mass.,” by
Thomas F. Moran, dated September 12, 1975, and on file in the Office of the
Board of Selectmen; said sewer easement also being more particularly referenced
in a deed from John F. and Harriet Rogers to the Town of Pepperell, dated
February 6, 1976, and on file with the Middlesex Registry of Deeds at Page 382
of Book 13327; and that, to provide for any damages associated with said
acquisition, to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or
appropriate from available funds the sum of $500; or take any other action
relative thereto.
This is the culmination of several years’ effort to
get a viable access for fire vehicles to the rear of the stores on Main Street. Unable to effect an agreement with the land-owner, the Town believes
that the expanded use of the existing sewer easement is the most practical
approach to resolution, with the least additional impact on the subject
property.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by a vote of: 262 yea, 8 nay
ARTICLE
18
By:
Building Inspector
ZONING AMENDMENT
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 3432 of
the Zoning By-law by striking said section and replacing it with a new Section
3432, to read as follows:
One of the
two dwelling units shall be occupied by the owner of the property, except for
bona fide temporary absence(s). At the hearing on the application for the
special permit, the applicant shall provide an affidavit of intent to occupy
one of the two dwelling units. Any special permit for an accessory apartment
shall lapse if neither unit is owner-occupied.
or take any other action relative thereto.
Passed by a vote of: 205 yea, 59 nay
ARTICLE
19
By:
Communications Department
FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds the sum of $12,000 for the purchase and
installation of raised flooring, and the relocation of the radio console and
related equipment in the Communications Center, as well as any allied expenses;
said appropriation to be under the control of the Communications Director; or
take any other action relative thereto.
Like all spaces containing large quantities of
electronic equipment, there is a huge tangle of wires that has to be
accommodated somewhere, preferably in locations where the help won’t be
tripping over them. Given that the existing carpet is itself badly worn and a
tripping hazard, as well as the requirement that the monitors be re-located for
security purposes, it only makes sense that all three issues be addressed at
one time.
Recommended by CAProgram
Not recommended by Finance Committee.
Motion to take No Action
ARTICLE
20
By:
Communications Department
ALARM MONITORING SYSTEM
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds the sum of $25,000 for the purchase and
installation of a replacement alarm monitoring system in the Communications
Center; said appropriation to be under the control of the Communications
Director; or take any other action relative thereto.
The existing system is an antique, for which
replacement parts are near-impossible - if not outrightly impossible - to get.
Time for a new one.
Recommended by CAProgram.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
21
By:
Conservation Commission
CONSERVATION FUND
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds the sum of $3,450 to the Conservation Fund,
which was established on February 15, 1965 by Article 21 of the Annual Town
Meeting, pursuant to MGL Ch. 40, s. 5(51); or take any other action relative
thereto.
This is an annual transfer, unremarkable and routine.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
22
By:
Board of Public Works
NEW DUMP TRUCK
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate,
appropriate from available funds, or borrow the sum of $120,000 for the purpose
of procuring a new replacement for a failing 1978 truck in the Highway
Division; said appropriation to be under the control of the Board of Public
Works; or take ay other action relative thereto.
Despite its well-known practice of buying used
vehicles and rehabilitating them, the Highway Superintendent realizes that it
is occasionally necessary to add a brand new unit to the mix, lest everything wear
out in a short time frame. Now is the time.
Recommended by CAProgram
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by a vote of: 239 yea, 2 nay
ARTICLE
23
By:
Board of Public Works
REPLACE PLOWS, SANDERS, DUMP BODIES
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate,
appropriate from available funds or borrow the sum of $75,000 for the purpose
of replacing worn out plows, sanders, and dump bodies in the Highway Division;
said appropriation to be under the control of the Board of Public Works; or
take any other action relative thereto.
These are replacements for aging units that are
rusting or wearing out, and would be undependable for use in another snow
season.
Recommended by CAProgram
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
24
By:
Board of Public Works
HIGHWAY GARAGE REPAIRS
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds the sum of $26,000 for replacement of
overhead doors and office windows at the Highway Garage; said appropriation to
be under the control of the Highway Superintendent; or take any other action
relative thereto.
The garage doors are balky, cranky, and leak wind. The
windows are neither thermo-pane nor air-tight.
Recommended by CAProgram
Not recommended by Finance Committee.
Motion to take No Action
ARTICLE
25
By:
Board of Public Works
HIGHWAY GARAGE WINDOWS
To see if the Town will vote to extend the scope of
Article 17 of the May 2005 ATM (“Salt Shed Roof”), to include purchase and
installation of new replacement windows for the Highway Garage Office area; or
take any other action relative thereto.
This is a $3,900 remaining balance from a completed
Highway facilities project, to be re-directed for the window replacements.
Recommended by CAProgram
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
26
By:
Council on Aging
SENIOR CITIZEN TAX WORK-OFF PROGRAM
To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions
of MGL Chapter 59, s. 5K, relative to a Senior Citizen Tax Work-Off Program,
and raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $6,000
to fund the program for FY 08; said appropriation to be under the control of the
Board of Selectmen and the Town Administrator; or take any other action relative thereto.
This would provide limited financial assistance to
qualified parties, in the form of a credit against a real estate tax bill If
passed, the Board of Selectmen would set the qualification threshold(s) and the
maximum amount (within the statutory cap) that may be earned.
Recommendation to be given at Town Meeting. Finance Committee recommended this article.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
27
ZONING AMENDMENT
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 5527 of
the Zoning By-law by adding, at the end thereof, the following new sentence:
Except for
agricultural or firefighting purposes, no person shall be permitted to pump
surface water from ponds, streams, rivers, or wetlands.
or take any other action relative thereto.
Defeated by a vote of: 8 yea, 235 nay
ARTICLE
28
By:
Building Inspector
ZONING AMENDMENT
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 4412 by
changing the threshold figure for the square footage of an affected building or
structure from 100 square feet to 120 square feet; or take any other action
relative thereto.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
29
By:
Building Inspector
ZONING AMENDMENT
To see if the Town will vote to amend section 8154 of
the Zoning By-law by inserting the word “area” after the word “restricted,” so
the phrase will read, “…reduction of the 100 foot restricted area…”; or take
any other action relative thereto.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
30
By:
Board of Public Works
SEWER EXTENSION/WATER LINE REPLACEMENT
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate,
appropriate from available funds, or borrow the sum of ($525,000) for the purpose
of installing, under the laws relating to Betterments, sections of main line
sewer at locations previously planned and approved in Groton Street, Tucker
Street, Parker Hill Way, and Oak Hill Street, but currently remaining
incomplete; as well as ($70,000) for the replacement of an existing water line in
Parker Hill Way; said appropriation to be under the control of the Board of
Public Works; or take any other action relative thereto.
This represents installation projects for
long-promised, relatively short segments of the Town’s sewer system.
Recommended by CAProgram
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by a vote of: 205 yea, 15 nay
ARTICLE
31
By:
Board of Selectmen
STRONG CHIEF
To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions
of MGL Ch. 48, s. 42, relative to the establishment of the position of a
“Strong Chief” in the Fire Department; or take any other action relative
thereto.
This relates to an intended upgrade of management
capability and authority in the Fire Department.
Not recommended by Finance Committee.
Defeated by majority voice vote
ARTICLE
32
By:
Building Inspector
ZONING AMENDMENT
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 10000 of
the Zoning By-law (“Definitions”) by adding the words “or structure.” after the
word “building” in the first sentence of each of the definitions for “Yard:
Front,” “Yard, Rear,” and “Yard, Side”; or take any other action relative
thereto.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
33
By:
Board of Public Works
WATER DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate,
appropriate from available funds, or borrow the sum of ($390,000) for the purpose
of acquiring and/or renovating, effecting repairs, improvements, and fitting out a Water Division facility at the Belmont Springs building at Pepperell Springs ;
said appropriation to be under the control of the Board of Public Works; or
take any other action relative thereto.
Professional architectural review of the existing
building has found it to be far short of current code requirements, and in need
of significant renovation or repairs. Relocation of the Water Division to
another Town-owned facility is also being considered.
Recommendation to be given at Town Meeting. Finance Committee reconsidered its vote based on the revised plan and recommended this article.
Passed by a vote of: 76 yea, 4 nay
ARTICLE
34
By:
Board of Public Works
NASHUA ROAD WELL SITE
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate,
appropriate from available funds or borrow the sum of $200,000 for the purpose
of installing water lines and other appurtenances relating to an agreement for
a Town well site located off Nashua Road near the New Hampshire Border; said
sum to be under the control of the Board of Public Works;
And further,
to see if the Town will vote to rescind the $600,000
bonding authorization granted under Article 27 of the 2003 ATM relative to land
acquisition at the subject well site;
or take any other action relative thereto.
The prior bond authorization related to a proposed Town
purchase of the subject property, and is now irrelevant. A new owner of the
site is proposing a gift of land to the Town, in exchange for considerations
relative to the water installation that the Town would have to build anyway, to
access the proposed well.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by a vote of: 85 yea, 1 nay
ARTICLE
35
By: Department of Public Works
Chapter 90 Funding
To see if the Town will vote to raise and
appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $310,957 for
resurfacing and related expenses on eligible roads, said funds having been
approved for 100% reimbursement by the Commonwealth under the provisions of
Section 34(2)(a) of MGL Ch. 90, said appropriation to be under the control of
the Highway Superintendent; or take any other action relative thereto.
This is an annual activity, the
appropriated funds being fully reimbursed by the State.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
36
By:
Board of Public Works
EPA COMPLIANCE – Highway Garage
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds the sum of $27,150 for the purpose of
achieving compliance with emergency-preparedness EPA requirements at the
Highway Garage and the fuel dispenser; said appropriation to be under the
control of the Board of Public Works; or take any other action relative
thereto.
These monies will implement the findings and
recommendations of a study already performed. Failure to follow through with
this project could result in serious financial penalties being imposed by DEP.
Recommended by CAProgram.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
37
By:
Board of Public Works
UPGRADE WATER METER READING DEVICES
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from
available funds the sum of $25,000 for purchase of replacement hand-held meter
readers and additional radio-read units; said appropriation to be under the
control of the Board of Public Works; or take any other action relative
thereto.
These new units are necessary for an efficient,
accurate, and reliable process for the entire water/sewer billing cycle.
Recommended by CAProgram
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
38
By:
Board of Public Works
LOADER – SEWER DIVISION
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate,
appropriate from available funds or borrow the sum of $125,000, for the purpose
of procuring a new loader for use at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, in
accordance with a requirement of the Plant’s operating permit from EPA; said
appropriation to be under the control of the Board of Public Works; or take any
other action relative thereto.
This is a required piece of equipment, and there is no
other vehicle available for this purpose.
Recommended by CAProgram
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
39
By:
Board of Public Works
UV SYSTEM ENCLOSURE
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate,
appropriate from available funds or borrow the sum of $75,000 for the purpose
of covering and enclosing the UV treatment system at the Wastewater Treatment
Plant, in order to prevent degraded treatment of effluent prior to discharge
into the Nashua River; said appropriation to be under the control of the Board
of Public Works; or take any other action relative thereto.
This structure is necessary to protect the equipment
that ensures that what comes out at the end of the treatment process does not
contain more evil (albeit minute) wildlife than the River should have to
handle..
Recommended by CAProgram
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
40
By:
Board of Pubic Works
WATER SYSTEM HYDRAULIC STUDY
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds the sum of $30,000 for the purpose of
performing a comprehensive hydraulic study of the Pepperell water system, as
directed by the DEP; said appropriation to be under the control of the Board of
Public Works; or take any other action relative thereto.
It’s been mandated by DEP, and we have no choice.
Recommended by CAProgram
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
41
By:
Board of Selectmen
ROAD ABANDONMENT
To see if the Town will vote to discontinue and
abandon a certain section of road, formerly part of River Road, but cut off and
made irrelevant by the new layout of River Road approved by the Middlesex
County Commissioners in 1931, said section being designated “Old Road,” as more
particularly shown on a plan dated December 2, 1975, entitled “Plan of Land in
Pepperell… belonging to Grant Gardner,” on file in the office of the Board of
Selectmen; or take any other action relative thereto.
Subsequent to the posting of the Warrant, it was
discovered that the intent of this article had already been addressed by a
prior Town Meeting, and the subject matter is moot.
Motion to take No Action
ARTICLE
42
By:
Board of Selectmen
BY-LAW AMENDMENT
To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 22 of
the Code of the Town of Pepperell (“Land Fund”) by deleting, in the first line
thereof, the words “public hearing;” or take any other action relative thereto.
As written, the section requires a public hearing
prior to any action involving an expenditure from the Land Fund, even if it is so
basic as an appraisal fee, or so minor an issue as a filing fee, or a fee for a
document copy from a surveyor or outside agency. Further, the public hearing
process could severely hamper activities relating to mere investigation of a
potential land transaction – if the spotlight shines bright enough, prices tend
to rise, and other wanna-be sellers can flock to the fore. In any case, no
purchase or binding transaction could ultimately be implemented without a vote
of Town Meeting.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by a vote of: 65 yea, 18 nay
ARTICLE
43
By:
Board of Public Works
SEWER CAMERA
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate
or appropriate from available funds the sum of $45,000 for the purpose of
replacing the Town’s antiquated sewer-line camera; said sum to be under the
control of the Board of Public Works; or take any other action relative
thereto.
It is necessary to be able to see and evaluate
problems in locations where no man has gone before – and where, frankly, no man
wants to go. The existing camera is limited in range and technical capabilities,
and getting tired. A new one will get us past the tight spots.
Recommended by CAProgram
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
44
By:
Building Inspector
ZONING AMENDMENT
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning
By-Law by revising the chart, under Appendix A (“Table of Principal Uses”),
Section F (“Industrial Uses”) to indicate that a Contractor’s yard or outdoor
storage facility; landscaping yard will be allowed in the Rural, Recreational,
Town, Urban and Suburban Districts with a Board of Appeals Special Permit; or
take any other action relative thereto.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
45
By:
Building Inspector
SPRINKLER REQUIREMENT
To see if the Town will vote to adopt the provisions
of MGL Ch. 148, s. 26G, relative to establishing a 7,500 square foot threshold
for required installation of sprinklers in a non-residential building or
addition thereto; or take any other action relative thereto.
Passed by a vote of: 42 yea, 38 nay
And
you will serve this warrant by posting a true and attested copy of same, in
said Town, seven days prior to the time of said meeting. Hereof fail not and
make due return of your doings herein to the Town Clerk on or before the time
appointed for said meeting. Given under our hands this 13th day of
April, A.D. 2007.
_________________________________
John
W. Lynch, Jr., Chairman
_________________________________
Darrell
Gilmore, Clerk
_________________________________
Lyndon
B. Johnson
PEPPERELL
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
____________________________
CONSTABLE
OF PEPPERELL
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, ss:
To either of the constables of the Town of Pepperell, in
said county,
GREETINGS:
In the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, you are
hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town qualified
according to law to vote in state, county, district and town affairs to
assemble at the NISSITISSIT MIDDLE SCHOOL, in said Town, on Monday, the 7th
of May, A.D. 2007 at 8:00 PM to act on the following articles:
May 7, 2007
ARTICLE
1
By:
Board of Fire Engineers
TRANSFER OF FUNDS
To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of
$1,400 from “Ambulance-Supplies” to “Ambulance-Overtime;” or take any other
action relative thereto.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
2
By:
Communications Department
TRANSFER OF FUNDS
To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $3,000
from “Communications Department-Wages Hourly” to “Communications Department –
Overtime;” or take any other action relative thereto.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
3
By:
Police Department
TRANSFER OF FUNDS
To see if the Town will vote to transfer the following
sums of money:
AMOUNT FROM TO
$9,000 Police
Department-Wages Police Department-Overtime
$5,000 Police
Department-Wages Police Department-R&M Cruisers
$4,000 Police Department-Wages Police
Department Gasoline
or take any other action relative thereto.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
4
By:
Board of Public Works
TRANSFER OF FUNDS
To see if the Town will vote to transfer the following
sums:
$1,902
from “Water Department – Consulting Services” to Article 27 of the 2003 ATM (“Nashua Road
Well Site”);
$176.29 from “Water Department – Consulting Services”
to Article 24 of the 2004 ATM (“Lowell
Road Water Line);”
or take any other action relative thereto.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE
5
By:
Board of Public Works
TRANSFER OF FUNDS
To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of
$6,699 from “Sewer Department – Professional and Technical Miscellaneous &
Other” to “Sewer Debt – Wastewater Treatment Plant/MWPT;” or take any other
action relative thereto.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
ARTICLE 6
By: Tax Collector/Treasurer
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from
available funds the sum of $1,200 for supplemental funding of the FY ‘07
Postage budget; or take any other action relative thereto.
Recommended by Finance Committee.
Passed by unanimous voice vote
And you will serve this warrant by posting a true and
attested copy of same, in said Town, fourteen days prior to the time of said
meeting. Hereof fail not and make due return of your doings herein to the Town
Clerk on or before the time appointed for said meeting. Given under our hands
this 13th day of April, A.D. 2007.
_________________________________
John
W. Lynch, Jr., Chairman
_________________________________
Darrell
Gilmore, Clerk
_________________________________
Lyndon
B. Johnson
PEPPERELL
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
____________________________
CONSTABLE
OF PEPPERELL
Pepperell Town Meeting
Open Town Meeting is the form of municipal government for
Pepperell. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this is the basic form
of governance for most small municipalities. The town is the basic unit, and
Town Meeting is the method provided by the Constitution and the State
legislature for the governance of towns. Property ownership is not a
requirement for voting at Town Meeting. Renters as well as owners, if
registered to vote, may attend and vote at Town Meeting.
In the Open Town Meeting form of
government, any registered voter may attend, speak and vote. Attendance must
be in person; there is no absentee voting in a Massachusetts Town Meeting.
State law requires the town to hold at least one Town Meeting each year in the
early spring. This is an Annual Town Meeting and the principal business
of the Meeting is to appropriate money to fund the Town's expenses for
the fiscal year which commences the following July 1st. Money may
be provided by appropriation directly against the municipal tax rate, which is
levied on real and personal property, or money may be borrowed within limits
set by the Commonwealth. The Annual Town Meeting allows for action on other
subjects also. If additional matters come up at a later time, they may become
the subjects of a Special Town Meeting which may be called by the Selectmen or
by citizens’ petition.
The Warrant is the notice to the
voters of matters to be considered and acted on at an Annual or Special Town
Meeting. Sometimes the articles in the Warrant are quite general and sometimes
they are very detailed and specific. Town departments and officials may
request of the Board of Selectmen the insertion of articles in the Warrant
during the period in which the Selectmen publicly declare that the
Warrant is “open.” Citizens may also petition to place articles on an “Annual
Town Meeting” Warrant. Petitions require 10 signatures of registered voters
for an Annual Town Meeting Warrant or 100 signatures of voters for a Special
Town Meeting. A copy of the Warrant is posted by a Constable at the Town Hall,
Post Office, Police Station, McNabb’s Pharmacy, and Mel’s Barber Shop at least
14 days before any Town Meeting.
In the Warrant, the Selectmen
call the Meeting to convene at a certain time and place within Pepperell,
usually at the Varnum Brook Middle
School. If the
Meeting does not complete its business in its first session, the Meeting will
decide to what date and time it wishes to adjourn. However, the Selectmen
generally have suggested additional dates, reserved the facilities and made arrangements
for public address systems and the like so the Meeting usually decides to
reconvene on the dates suggested by the Selectmen.
Annual Town Meeting
Pepperell holds one Annual Town
Meeting (ATM) the first Monday in May, primarily consisting of financial
articles and the budget. The meeting usually adjourns to a Special Town
Meeting, called for by the Board of Selectmen to take care of any financial
matters from the previous fiscal year. The ATM is called to order at 7:30 PM. There is a quorum requirement of 75 for Town
Meetings, which means the meeting can not begin until there are 75 registered
voters in attendance.
Special Town Meeting
Special Town Meetings (STM) may be called by the Board of Selectmen
or by any person by petition to the Selectmen. Petitions require 200
signatures, or 20% of the registered voters, whichever is less. These meetings
usually reflect the specific need of a group or committee; however, once the
Warrant is opened, other business may be added to this meeting by a vote of the
Board of Selectmen or by a petition with 100 signatures of registered voters.
The Board of Selectmen must call the meeting for a date no later than 45 days
after the petition is filed. STM must be publicized and announced early enough
to alert all citizens. There is a quorum requirement of 75 needed to open a
Special Town Meeting.
Pepperell’s rules are those
established in the book Town Meeting Time, a handbook of parliamentary
law prepared under the auspices of the Massachusetts Moderators Association.
This guide may be simpler and easier to understand than the more widely known
and consulted Robert’s Rules of Order. Both books are available for
reference at the Lawrence Library.
Town Meeting is conducted by the
Moderator, an elected position with a term of three years. The Moderator
serves as the presiding officer, regulating the proceedings, deciding all
questions of order and making public declaration of all votes. The vote
recorded by the Town Clerk is the official vote. The Moderator’s goal is to
conduct the Town Meeting in a fair yet expeditious manner, allowing all
points of view a fair hearing while still keeping the process moving.
The voter should take a copy of
the Warrant, as well as separate copies of information regarding each article,
available in the lobby at the entrance to the auditorium. The Warrant is the
official agenda for the ATM. A copy of the Warrant is given to all committee
members, and is available for the public at the Town Hall prior to the Town
Meeting.
The printed Warrant contains all
the articles for consideration, together with such recommendations to the Town
as were available from the Capital Program Committee, Finance Committee and the
Selectmen. The voter needs the Finance Committee Report and the handouts since
the Moderator generally refers to articles by subject matter only, and
frequently will not read the full text of motions to be made under the
articles, but may refer instead to the Warrant.
Articles are usually considered
in the order in which they appear in the Warrant The articles appear in the
Warrant in no particular order, randomly placed by the Selectmen. The
Selectmen determine the order in which articles are placed on the Warrant
taking into consideration appropriateness of subject matter, the need for
professional support personnel, such as engineering consultants, to be present,
and other relevant interests. Articles dealing with similar subject matter are
often grouped together: financial, school, planning and zoning, etc.
There are occasions when common
sense or expediency dictates that articles should be considered in a different
order from that in the Warrant and the Meeting has the power to change the
order. If the desired change is to defer consideration of an article, it may
be accomplished by a “motion to postpone action” until after a specified
article. If the desired change is advancement of a later article, it may be
presented as a main motion if, and only if, no other motion is pending. Votes
to change the order of consideration normally require majority vote for
passage, but if the motion is mere jockeying for position, the Moderator may,
under his power to regulate the proceedings, require a two-thirds vote. A
motion “to postpone indefinitely” or a motion to “take no action”
effectively kills action on an article.
To vote effectively at Town
Meeting requires both understanding the issues and understanding the wording of
the motion on which one is voting. An article (as printed in the
Warrant and Capital Program Committee & Finance Committee Report) describes
the subject under discussion, while a motion made under the article
describes the specific action on which one is voting. In some cases the
article fully and accurately describes the action, and the motion may simply be
“to take affirmative action under article ___.” Motions must be seconded
before discussion may begin or a vote taken. The group or groups submitting
the motion for consideration may make a presentation of the article.
Frequently it happens that the
wording of a motion differs from the wording of an article. The
wording of the article must be settled prior to the close of the Warrant The
Moderator will not allow any expansion of the intent of the article since the
voters must be properly warned in advance of actions they will be asked to
approve. Great efforts are made to have the wording of motions in hand a few
days before ATM in order to permit review by the Moderator and Town Counsel.
When speaking on a motion, a
voter must be recognized by the Moderator and go to the microphone, if one is
available, and give name and address and committee association (if speaking on
behalf of a committee). All remarks and questions should be addressed to the
Moderator. When it is apparent that several people wish to be heard, lining up
expedites the proceedings. In recognizing persons who wish to speak, the
Moderator gives preference to those who have not already spoken on the article
currently under discussion.
Within the general framework of
parliamentary procedures, as presented in ATM, the goal of the Moderator is
basic fairness in the consideration of issues before the ATM. This does not
mean that everyone who wishes to speak will be heard. The Meeting decides that
it has heard enough discussion and is ready to vote.
A motion may be made from the
floor to “move the question.” Such a motion must be seconded, there is no
further debate, and must be voted on immediately. The Moderator will not hear
a motion to move the question if it is presented at the end of a statement or
opinion.
If a voter wishes to change a
motion in some fashion, the procedure is to amend the motion. All motions to
amend must be in writing and must present exactly how the voter wishes to
change the motion so that the Moderator can know exactly what it is the
voter wants to move before ruling on the motion. A voter who wishes to amend a
main motion must have the amendment in writing and available to hand to
the Moderator before rising to be recognized and offer the amendment.
The Moderator may refuse to put to the Meeting an amendment which is not
immediately available in writing - the Moderator may rule out of order any
motion to amend which changes the original motion so drastically that, in the
Moderator's opinion, the motion is no longer within the “four comers’" of
the article.
An amendment may consist of
adding, deleting or substituting words in the motion. It may take the form of
a “motion to substitute” a different motion. Sometimes a speaker tries to
amend “the article,” but this is improper language. It is the motion on the
floor, not the article on the Warrant, that is to be amended.
A motion to amend requires only a
majority vote, even though the motion to be amended may require two-thirds or
more for final passage.
A majority vote is required for
passage of a motion unless otherwise specified. Most votes are voice votes,
the results determined by the Moderator.
Any seven voters who doubt a
voice vote result as announced by the Moderator have the right to require a
division of the Meeting with a standing vote. This action must be taken
immediately after the Moderator declares the vote result. A standing vote
simply means a visual counting of “yes” or “no” votes by raised hands, or
members asked to vote by standing. These votes are counted by Tellers,
registered voters in attendance who come forward and are sworn in by the Town
Clerk to count the vote.
Some motions require a two-thirds
vote for passage. Included in this category are votes which authorize
borrowing, property transfers, and zoning bylaw changes. A few motions require
even higher levels of affirmative vote for passage.
While most voting on government
matters takes place at Town Meeting, ballot voting does exist in Pepperell for
these occasions:
*
Local, State,
National elections
*
Funding for
expenditures approved at Annual or Special Town Meeting that go beyond the levy
limit; these require an override, a capital outlay exclusion
or a debt exclusion.
*
The levy
limit is a restriction on the amount of property tax a community may levy.
Under state law (Proposition 2½), a community may not increase taxes more than
2½% over the previous year’s levy (plus the value of any new growth that has
occurred in the Town) and may not levy more than 2½% of the total full and fair
cash value of all taxable real and personal property in the community.
*
An
override seeks a permanent increase in the levy limit of a community.
*
A capital
outlay exclusion seeks a temporary increase over the levy limit to raise
funds for the cost of a specific capital project
*
A debt
exclusion seeks to add to the levy limit an amount equal to the annual debt
service for a specific project; the increase continues only for the life of the
debt.
*
Certain other
main issues.
For local elections, the ballot
vote is held on the fourth Monday of April. The polling center is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Residents may register to vote at
the Town Clerk’s office in Town Hall in Pepperell or at any other Town
Hall in the State. You may only vote in the town you choose to register to
vote in. Voters must be registered to vote for Town Meetings 20 days before
the Annual Town Meeting and 10 days before the Special Town Meeting. On the
last day, the registrars of voters must hold a registration. Once registered,
voters are always registered unless you move to another town. However, failure
to respond to the Census could cause your name to be placed on the inactive
voting list by requirement of the office of Secretary of State. Special
registration dates are announced by the Town Clerk.
The tables in the lobby are
reserved for materials voters will need for the Meeting such as copies of
motions, the Finance Committee Report and Recommendations, Capital Program
Commitee Report and Recommendations and similar materials. Within the limits
of available space, persons wishing to distribute materials relating to matters
to be considered at the Meeting may place copies on the tables. People wishing
to distribute information usually contact the Selectmen’s office first; such
materials must be cleared in advance by the Moderator. Sufficient copies must
be provided for all voters who attend the Meeting. Individual distribution of
materials, signing of petitions and similar activities must be done outside the
lobby space, in order to permit orderly check-in by voters and efficient
distribution of materials needed for the Meeting.
In addition to Town Meeting,
Pepperell’s municipal government is made up of many officials and committees,
of which approximately 75% are appointed by the Board of Selectmen. A few
positions are appointed by the Moderator. Together, these officials conduct
the business of the Town, providing administrative, public health and safety,
financial, utility, recreation and other services.
ATM and STM are taped for
broadcast on local Pepperell access cable channel 15.
Refreshments are made available
at Town Meetings by various civic groups in town as a fundraising event for
that group. Those interested in providing refreshments should contact the
Board of Selectmen's office prior to a Town Meeting.