ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MINUTES
May 7, 2012
The Annual Town Meeting opened at 7:00 p.m. having met the quorum requirement of 27 registered voters (5% quorum). 67 registered voters were present at the meeting.
The moderator asked for a motion, which was approved, to permit her to declare the result of a vote without requiring a vote. When a question is put, the sense of the meeting shall be determined by a voice vote or show of hands and the Moderator shall declare the vote as it appears to him/her. On matters requiring a 2/3 vote by statute, a count need not be taken unless the vote so declared is immediately questioned by seven voters, as provided in MGL Chapter 39, Section 15.
ARTICLE 1: VOTED unanimously to accept the reports of Town Officers and Committees for 2011.
ARTICLE 2 VOTED unanimously to authorize the Town Treasurer / Tax Collector to enter into compensating balance agreements during Fiscal Year 2013 as permitted by General Laws Chap. 44:53f.
ARTICLE 3: VOTED unanimously to authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for and accept private, state and 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, 2012, 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, 2012, 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, 2012, 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, 2012, will be limited to Two Thousand Dollars. ($2,000) If this fund is not reauthorized for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2013 the balance will close out to surplus revenue at the close of Fiscal Year 2013.
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, 2012.
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, 2012, 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, 2012, 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, 2012, 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 Planning Board, total expenditures for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2012, will be limited to one thousand dollars ($1,000).
J. Fees from Highway department equipment sharing and inter-municipal rentals, Chapter 90 equipment use, and other highway machinery reimbursement will be deposited into a revolving fund and expended to fund highway machinery repairs, upkeep and replacement. The fund will be under the authority of the Selectboard and total expenditures for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2012 will be limited to ten thousand dollars. ($10,000).
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, 2012 will be limited to Two Thousand Dollars ($2000)
ARTICLE 5: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray expenses, the amount estimated by the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee for the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2012, forthe purposes designated in the budget that follows, or any other amounts for such purposes, which shall not exceed the amounts stated in the column designated “FY 2013 requested”. This article shall also act to fix the salaries and compensation of elected officials as required by Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 41, Section 108.
Requested salaries and compensation for elected officials:
| Moderator $125 | Selectboard $1200 |
| Assessors $1500 | Town Clerk $5843 |
| Tree Warden $500 | Board of Health $1500 |
| Cemetery Commission $600 |
ARTICLE 6: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate the sum of $18,000to fund the Warwick Community School Improvement Account established by vote of the Annual Town Meeting held May 3, 2004.
ARTICLE 7: VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500 to the Revaluation Account.
ARTICLE 8: VOTED unanimously to transfer $16,755.29 from Overlay Surplus to reduce the FY 2013 tax levy.
ARTICLE 9: VOTED unanimously to discontinue maintenance of Tully Brook Rd beginning at the intersection of Athol Rd to its end.
ARTICLE 10: VOTED unanimously to appropriate available broadband funds certified in the amount of $26, 442 to reduce the statehouse note.
ARTICLE 11: VOTED unanimously to appropriate $87,700 to the Broadband Enterprise Fund effective July 1, 2012, for operation of the Warwick Broadband Service.
ARTICLE 12: VOTED unanimously to appropriate available Solid Waste funds certified in the amount of $6,321 to the operation of the FY ’13 Transfer Station Enterprise Fund.
ARTICLE 13: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate $6,362 to subsidize the Transfer Station Enterprise Fund effective July 1, 2012.
ARTICLE 14: VOTED unanimously to appropriate a total budget of $46,883 (inclusive of funds appropriated in Articles 12 and 13) to the operation of the Transfer Station Enterprise Fund effective July 1, 2012.
ARTICLE 15: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate $1,500 to replace existing decks, stairs, and handrails at PVRS central office (capitol project).
ARTICLE 16: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate $2,700 to repair or replace PVRS phone and bell system (capital project).
ARTICLE 17: VOTED to borrow $65,000 for purchase of a new four-wheel-drive one-ton truck, dump body, plow and frame for the highway department.(2/3 vote approved per moderator opening statement)
ARTICLE 18: VOTED to appropriate $60,317 from “Free Cash” to reduce the FY 2013 tax levy.
ARTICLE 19: VOTED unanimously to appropriate $42,865 from unrestricted “CDBG Program Income” to reduce the FY 2013 tax levy.
ARTICLE 20: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate $502 to the workers compensation assessment.
ARTICLE 21: VOTED to raise and appropriate $25,000 to the Capital Stabilization Fund.(approved by 2/3 vote per moderator’s opening statement)
ARTICLE 22: VOTED to rescind the vote of May 4, 2009 Article 12 making the Board of Health Commissioners of the Transfer Station Enterprise Fund and create a three member elected board of commissioners serving staggered three year terms.
MOTION to Pass Over this article FAILS: 36 NO
16 YES
ARTICLE 23: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate $5,000 to audit town accounts.
ARTICLE 24: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate the sum of $105to the Mary Ann Hastings Fund. (9/10 vote required)
ARTICLE 25: VOTED to borrow $225,000 to fund energy-saving and building performance improvements at the Warwick Community School, contingent upon Town Meeting approval by all the PVRS member towns of a performance contract agreement one-off variance from the “District Agreement”. (2/3 vote approved per moderator’s opening statement)
ARTICLE 26: VOTED unanimously to petition the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation and the U.S. Congress to propose a U.S. Constitutional amendment for the States’ consideration that provides that money is not speech and that corporations are not persons under the U.S. Constitution; further that the Town of Warwick petition the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to pass a similar resolution; and that the town send its resolution to Massachusetts State and Federal representatives within thirty days of passage of this measure.
The meeting dissolved at 9:10 p.m. A true record of the action taken.
Jeannette Fellows, Town Clerk