Annual Town Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Annual Town Meeting opened at 7:00 p.m. having met the quorum requirement of 27 registered voters. 61 registered voters were present at the meeting.
ARTICLE 1: VOTED unanimously to accept the reports of Town Officers and Committees for 2008.
ARTICLE 2: VOTED unanimously to authorize the Town Treasurer / Tax Collector to enter into compensating balance agreements during Fiscal Year 2010 as permitted by General Laws Chapter 44:53f.
ARTICLE 3: VOTED unanimously to authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for and accept state or federal grants, and to expend any monies received as set forth in the appropriate grant application.
ARTICLE 4: VOTED unanimously to authorize the following revolving funds in accordance with Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 44, Section 53E ½.
A. Fees for Board of Health inspections will be deposited into a revolving fund and expended to pay the personnel performing the inspections and related expenses. The fund will be under the authority of the Board of Health and total expenditures for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2009, will be limited to Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00)
B. Fees collected for burials by the Cemetery Commission or Board of Selectmen will be deposited into a revolving fund to pay personnel for the purpose of preparing the burial lot(s). The fund will be under the authority of the Cemetery Commission, and total expenditures for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2009, will be limited to Two Thousand Dollars. ($2,000.00)
C. Fees and reimbursements for costs of public hearings held by the Board of Selectmen and Zoning Board of Appeals will be deposited into a revolving fund and expended to pay the costs of advertising, recording fees, and expenses related to the hearings. The fund will be under the authority of the Board of Selectmen, and total expenditures for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2009, will be limited to Three Thousand Dollars. ($3,000).
D. Fees for inspections conducted by the Plumbing and Gas Inspector will be deposited into a revolving fund and expended to pay the Inspector for performing said inspections. The fund will be under the authority of the Board of Selectmen, and total expenditures for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2008, will be limited to Two Thousand Dollars. ($2,000) If this fund is not reauthorized for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2009 the balance will close out to surplus revenue at the close of Fiscal Year 2010.
E. Cleaning deposit fees retained by the Town, related to the use of Town Hall, will be deposited into a revolving fund and expended to pay the Town Hall Janitor for extra cleaning required after the use of Town Hall by any person or group which forfeits its cleaning deposit. The fund will be under the authority of the Board of Selectmen, and expenditures shall not exceed Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2009.
F. Funds received from the sale of timber from Town owned land will be deposited into a revolving fund and expended to pay the costs of professional forestry management services and related expenses. The fund will be under the authority of the Forestry Committee and total expenditures for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2009, will be limited to Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000).
G. Funds received from sale of dog licenses or from loose dog fees collected will be deposited into a revolving fund to pay for expenses incurred for licensing expenses, and the care and kenneling of animals in the custody of the Animal Control Officer. The fund will be under the authority of the Chief of Police and the total expenditures in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2009, shall not exceed Seven Hundred Fifty ($750).
H. Fees collected for Fire Department inspections will be deposited into a revolving fund and expended to pay the personnel performing the inspections and related expenses. The fund will be under the authority of the Fire Department and total expenditures for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2009, will be limited to Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000).
I. Fees collected by the Planning Board’s Zoning Program will be deposited into a revolving fund and expended to pay costs associated with the Planning Board’s Zoning Program such as zoning related hearings, zoning public notification, and zoning training of board members. The fund will be under the control of the Selectboard, total expenditures for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2009, will be limited to one thousand dollars ($1,000).
J. Fees collected by the Recreation Commission will be deposited into a revolving fund and expended to pay for expenses of the Recreation Commission. The funds will be under the authority of the Recreation Commission and total expenditures for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2009 will be limited to Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000).
K. Fees for inspections conducted by the Electrical Inspector will be deposited into a revolving fund and expended to pay the Inspector for performing said inspections. The fund will be under the authority of the Selectboard, and total expenditures for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2009 will be limited to Two Thousand Dollars ($2000)
ARTICLE 5: VOTED to raise and appropriate by taxation a total omnibus budget of $1,669,283
for the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2009, forthe purposes designated in the budget that follows.
Requested salaries and compensation for elected officials:
Moderator $125
Selectboard $1200
Assessors $1500
Town Clerk $5700
Tree Warden $500
Board of Health $1500
Cemetery Commission $600
ARTICLE 6: VOTED to raise and appropriate $5,000to further fund the Warwick Community School Improvement Account established by vote of the Annual Town Meeting held May 3, 2004.
ARTICLE 7: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate $343.39 to the Mary Ann Hastings Fund.
ARTICLE 8: VOTED to raise and appropriate $2,500 to the Revaluation Account.
ARTICLE 9: VOTED to transfer $7696.04 from Overlay Surplus to reduce the FY 2010 tax levy.
ARTICLE 10: VOTED 34-22 to raise and appropriate $5175 to carry out the PVRSD Central Office capital projects to install central heat and air condition in all three modular buildings.
Passed in Warwick, but not in other district towns, so amount will not be appropriated.
ARTICLE 11: VOTED to raise and appropriate $6325 to carry out capital projects at Pioneer Valley Regional School. Anticipated projects include painting, resealing and restriping the parking lots, and replacing of carpet.
Passed in Warwick, but not in other district towns, so amount will not be appropriated.
ARTICLE 12: VOTED to appoint the Board of Health as the Board of Commissioners overseeing the Transfer Station Enterprise account.
ARTICLE 13: VOTED to rescind the unused portion of borrowing authorization in the amount of $1,006 authorized by the May 5, 2008 Annual Town Meeting in Article 4, as it was not issued.
ARTICLE 14: VOTED to appropriate from “Free Cash” $62,256.00 to reduce the FY 2010 tax levy.
ARTICLE 15: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate $25,000.00 to the Capital Stabilization Fund. (2/3 vote required)
ARTICLE 16: VOTED to charge for each written demand issued by the collector of taxes a fee of $10 to be added to and collected as part of the tax, as authorized by Massachuestts General Law Chapter 60, Section 15, effective as of July 1, 2009.
ARTICLE 17: VOTED to raise and appropriate $9,300 to the Town Hall Improvement Account.
ARTICLE 18: VOTED unanimously to transfer from Capital Stabilization $13,250 to the Town Hall Improvement Account to prepare and paint or stain the exterior of the building.(2/3 vote required)
ARTICLE 19: VOTED unanimously to create an Agricultural Commission and appoint the Planning Board to be the Agricultural Commission.
ARTICLE 20: PASSED OVER article to raise and appropriate or otherwise provide the sum of $10,000.00 to compensate call firefighters for responding to emergencies.
The meeting was dissolved at 8:30 p.m.
A true record of the meeting. Attest:
Jeannette Fellows
Town Clerk