ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MINUTES
May 5th, 2025
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by Moderator James McRae, having met the quorum requirement of 35 registered voters. The following action was taken by the 86 voters present:
ARTICLE 1: VOTED unanimously to allow a brief five-minute oral report on progress to date of the Six Town Regional Planning board and its work on a new regional school district formation?
ARTICLE 2: VOTED unanimously to approve the proposed changes (attached) to the Franklin Council of Government’s Charter? (2/3 vote required)
ARTICLE 3: VOTED unanimously to accept the reports of Town Officers and Committees for 2024?
ARTICLE 4: VOTED unanimously to authorize the Selectboard 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 5: VOTED unanimously to allow town boards and commissions to appoint one of its members to a position under their supervision as allowed by MGL Chapter 268A, section 21A?
ARTICLE 6: VOTED unanimously to allow the Selectboard to appoint one of its members to a position under their supervision as allowed by MGL Chapter 268A, section 21?
ARTICLE 7: VOTED unanimously to grant an ethics exemption under MGL Chapter 268A, section 20 to Selectboard member Brian Snell to be compensated for work as an education planner and teacher for Warwick School District and set compensation at up to $25 per hour, not to exceed $15,000 per fiscal year, beginning in July 2025?
ARTICLE 8: VOTED unanimously to reauthorize the following spending limits for the revolving funds for certain town departments under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44 Section 53E ½ for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025:
A. Health Inspections – $2,000
B. Cemetery Burial Fund – $2,000
C. Public Hearings – $3,000
D. Plumbing and Gas Inspections – $4,000
E. Building Cleaning – $2,000
F. Forestry Committee – $5,000
G. Dog Fund – $2,000
H. Fire Inspections – $2,000
I. Planning Board Zoning Program – $2,000
J. Highway Machinery – $100,000
K. Electrical Inspections – $5,000
L. Field Driver – $2,000
M. Zoning Board of Appeals – $10,000
N. Tree Warden – $2,000
O. Recreation Committee – $5,000
P. Election – $1,500
Q. Senior Lunch – $20,000
R. Cafe – $6,000
S. Solar and Renewable Energy – $100,000
T. Police Detail Vehicle – $5,000
U. Police Detail – $200,000
ARTICLE 9: MOTION FROM THE FLOOR to adjust Town Clerk & Tree Warden Salaries to match higher values in attached budget. Motion passes unanimously.
VOTED to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray expenses, the amount estimated by the Selectboard and the Finance Committee for the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2025, for the 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 2026 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 $140 (1) | Selectboard $2400 (3) |
| Assessors $1500 (3) | Town Clerk/Webmaster $17738 (1) |
| Tree Warden $1230 (1) | Board of Health $1500 (3) |
| Cemetery Commission $600 (3) | School Committee $1000 (5) |
ARTICLE 10: VOTED unanimously to appropriate $38,000 to operate the Transfer Station Enterprise Fund effective July 1, 2025, and that $15,000 be raised from taxation and $23,000 be raised from departmental receipts?
ARTICLE 11: VOTED unanimously to appropriate $100,000 to operate the Broadband Enterprise Fund effective July 1, 2025, and that $80,000 be raised from departmental receipts and $20,000 be appropriated from Broadband Free Certified Free Cash?
ARTICLE 12: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,000 to fund the Warwick Community School Improvement Account established by vote of the Annual Town Meeting held May 3, 2004?
ARTICLE 13: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500 to the Assessor’s Revaluation Account?
ARTICLE 14: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate $3000 to the Landfill Monitoring Fund established May 4, 2015, to pay for post closure monitoring at Warwick’s former landfill?
ARTICLE 15: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate $10,000 to audit town accounts?
ARTICLE 16: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate $800 to Household Hazardous Waste expense?
ARTICLE 17: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate $10,000 for After School and Summer programming for children?
ARTICLE 18: VOTED unanimously to approve payment of the prior fiscal year bills from EDP Solar for Net Meter Credits at the school and town hall totaling $3,877, such payment from existing funding? (90% vote required)
ARTICLE 19: VOTED unanimously to transfer $59,249 from Stabilization to pay off the principal balance in full that is owed on the KIA electric school bus? (2/3 vote required)
ARTICLE 20: VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate $4,000 to account 01-951-5700-201803 the Environmental Cleanup Fund?
Article 21: VOTED to amend the Town of Warwick General Bylaw, entitled “Stretch Energy Code” and replace it with a new General Bylaw entitled “Specialized Energy Code” for the purpose of regulating the design and construction of buildings for the effective use of energy and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, pursuant to the entirety of 225 CMR 22 and 23 including Appendices RC and CC, including future editions, amendments or modifications thereto, with an effective date of January 1,2026, a copy of which is on file with the Town Clerk?
ARTICLE 22: VOTED unanimously to authorize the Selectboard to enter into a long-term commitment to Municipal Decarbonization (defined as the elimination of on-site burning of fossil fuels in municipal buildings and vehicles) by 2050 in accordance with Commonwealth of MA climate goals and as they relate to achieving CLIMATE LEADER STATUS?
ARTICLE 23: VOTED unanimously to authorize the Selectboard to accept, on behalf of the Town and in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 3, the gift of the First Parish Meeting House and known as Unitarian Church located on Town-owned Common at 0 Orange Rd from First Parish and Religious Society to be held and maintained for public purpose including historical preservation, public assembly, cultural programs, and to authorize the Selectboard to take any actions necessary to effectuate said gift, including but not limited to entering any agreements and other paperwork necessary to complete the transfer?
ARTICLE 24: VOTED unanimously to authorize the Selectboard to accept, on behalf of the Town and in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 3, the gift of whatever right, title, or interest the First Parish and Religious Society may hold in a parcel of land consisting of approximately 32 acres located on Hastings Pond Road, Book 11111 page 1111 and shown on the Town of Warwick Assessors Map 108 as Lot 104, said interest currently held in the name of the Estate of Wheelock, such acceptance to be without warranty or representation as to title, and to authorize the Selectboard to take any and all actions necessary or appropriate to effectuate the acceptance and future management of said interest, including but not limited to entering any agreements and other paperwork necessary to complete the transfer such that income be held in a restricted fund and used solely for the maintenance, preservation, repair, and care of the building known as the First Parish Meetinghouse, located on the Town Common?
ARTICLE 25: VOTED unanimously to authorize the Selectboard to accept, on behalf of the Town and in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53A and Chapter 40, Section 3, a gift of cash or investments from First Parish and Religious Society to be held in a restricted fund and used solely for the maintenance, preservation, repair, and care of the building known as the First Parish Meetinghouse, located on the Town Common, and to authorize the Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectboard, to establish such a fund and expend monies from it for said purposes?
ARTICLE 26: VOTED to accept the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 64G, Section 3A, thereby imposing a local room occupancy excise tax at the rate of six percent (6%), or any other amount, on the total amount of rent for each short-term rental unit within the Town of Warwick, effective as of July 1, 2025 and further, to authorize the Town Treasurer to take any necessary actions to ensure collection and remittance of such tax?
The meeting was dissolved at 9:28 p.m.
A True record of the action taken. Attest:
John Paganetti
Town Clerk