by The Staff
10/28/2014

Outside residents face the gauntlet of political advocates. Election day is one week away.

Inside the residents brace for another long list of speakers for and against spending tax dollars. What a concept!

The major players in this Fall town meeting include the elected members of the Finance Committee,

the elected Board of Selectmen and the town Administrator (far right),

and, left to right, town counsel, town clerk and town meeting moderator.

Finance Committee chair Ken Szajda, above, reviewed the process and the salient points of tonight's town meeting.

In the name of the Commonwealth you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Holliston who are qualified to vote in Town Affairs to meet in the High School Auditorium on:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2014

at 7:30 p.m. to act on the following Articles, to wit:

ARTICLE 1.             To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for unpaid bills from prior years; or take any action relative thereto.  (Board of Selectmen)

Liz Theiler asked how can there be a water department surplus when we have so many pipes that need fixing.

Ken Szajda responded that the money is intended to pay the departments' late bills.

Bill Dowd opposed the article. He hopes that departments can be encouraged to pay for their bills on time.

Article 1 was approved.

ARTICLE 2.             To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of supplementing various accounts of the Town's fiscal year 2015 annual budget, previously voted by the Town under Article 14 of the Warrant for the 2014 Annual Town Meeting; or take any action relative thereto.  (Board of Selectmen)

Finance Committee member Bill Dowd raised the issue of pre-funding salary increases prior to union negotiation, creating a contractual obligation for the town for a yet to be specified amount of money. 

Carl Damigella suggested that, in the future, changes from the May Town meeting be indicated on the Warrant. 

ARTICLE 3.             To see if the Town will vote to amend the fiscal year 2015 Omnibus Budget, previously voted under Article 14 of the Warrant for the 2014 Annual Town Meeting, to reflect the creation of a Department of Public Works and a water enterprise fund; or take any action relative thereto.  (Board of Selectmen)

This article is to retitle various highway and water department funds under the new Department of Public Works.

Liz Theiler asked how is the water department budget staying the same when new positions have been added. Paul LeBeau replied that the increases for salary had been anticipated and voted on at May meeting.

Article 3 was approved.

ARTICLE 4.             To see if the Town will vote to transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of reducing the amount of money to be raised through property taxes for fiscal year 2015; or take any action relative thereto.  (Board of Selectmen)

Via Articles 4 and 5, the transfer of $470,000 of free cash (monies left over from previous year) to Stabilization Fund, leaving $400,000 that could be used to reduce property taxes, to avoid an additional special town meeting, was approved.

ARTICLE 5.             To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the Stabilization Fund; or take any action relative thereto.  (Board of Selectmen)

Article 5 was indefinitely.

ARTICLE 6.             To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the Capital Expenditure Fund; or take any action relative thereto.  (Board of Selectmen)

Article 6 was indefinitely.

ARTICLE 7.             To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to hold a public auction for the purpose of disposing of surplus departmental equipment; or take any action relative thereto.  (Board of Selectmen)

Town resident John Cronin asked what will happen to the money that is received from the sale of equipment. The response was that the money goes to the general fund.

Article 7 was approved.

ARTICLE 8.             To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, or borrow a sum of money for the purpose of capital expenditures, including replacement and new vehicles and equipment, for the Public Works, Police, Fire, School, Library, Public Buildings, Technology and Council on Aging departments, and authorize the Board of Selectmen to trade or sell used equipment toward part of the purchase price; or take any action relative thereto.  (Board of Selectmen)

Article 8 was approved.

ARTICLE 9.             To see if the Town will vote to act on the report of the Community Preservation Committee on the fiscal year 2015 Community Preservation budget and to appropriate or reserve for later appropriation monies from the Community Preservation Fund annual revenues or available funds for the administrative expenses of the Community Preservation Committee, the payment of debt service, the undertaking of community preservation projects and all other necessary and proper expenses for the year; or take any action relative thereto.  (Community Preservation Committee)

Frank Chamberlain explained that this article puts the monies not used for Bullard Farm back in the fund.

Recalling that the matching rate from the State for Community Preservation Act money, Pam Zicko asked what is the current rate. Pam Zicko stated that it used to be 100%. Frank Chamberlain said that they will know the new rate in November, expected to be in the 20-35% range.

ARTICLE 10.           To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of engineering, consulting and testing services for the preparation of and submittal to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection of a Beneficial Use Determination covering materials at the Marshall Street recycling area; or take any action relative thereto.  (Board of Health) Expense associated with

Article 10 was approved.

ARTICLE 11.           To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of completing a traffic analysis design, for downtown Holliston; or take any action relative thereto. (Board of Selectmen and Planning Board)

Maureen Chlebek made another presentation of Alternatives 1 & 2 of the Downtown Traffic Study.

Pam Zicko asked where the data regarding the increase of traffic by 1-2% per year, and wondered whether the figure included anticipated traffic increase related to the proposed casino in Milford. Maureen Chlebek indicated that yes, the number included increases based on casino traffic.

Patel Parashar, noting the 20 years that the downtown traffic lights have been talked about, encouraged the town to move forward with plans of the current study. He advised that we vote to approve and let the Finance Committee spend the next six months figuring out how to fund it.

Gary Zegel asked why can't the yellow lights in the downtown intersection be red to make clear that drivers are supposed to stop.

Dave Ullenbruch, owner of the Holliston Grille, made it very clear just how important parking spaces are to his business. "We can't afford to lose any more parking spaces! We have to have them to have our business", he said.

Ken Szajda, Finance Committee member, told the audience, "we don't work on the 'do it now, find the money later' plan." The recommendation from the Finance Committee to indefinitely postpone Article 11 because we still don't have an idea of what we want.  "We all agree that something needs to be done about safety," said Szajda.

Kevin Conley said he is in favor of the three-light system. He said that McMahon had followed the Request for Proposal (RFP) to the letter, but that an emphasis on economic viability had not been requested in the RFP. Selectman Kevin Conley says that he is not comfortable with the scope of the traffic study, that the focus of the study needs to cover a larger area. There are traffic challenges throughout Holliston. Getting through the downtown intersections with signalization just gets you into the next traffic jam down the road, Conley said. Conley is not in favor of taking away parking spaces. "Do it right, do it once," he said, and possibly this means spending another $20,000 to get a new plan.

Saying that "You can't buy something without knowing what the price is," Mark Schultz recommended  indefinite postponed of Article 11.

Mary Greendale wondered whether it is possible to just put up one traffic light? Maureen Chlebek said that this would cause longer queues. Long term, Greendale says, we have to have lights. But three lights? Greendale suggested that in the short term we need more police enforcement of traffic and parking. In the medium term: bring in someone who knows how to look at the whole picture of the downtown intersection, and maybe to corral all the gathered information, to give us a better idea of what we want.

Police Chief John Moore and Greendale disagreed on a violation of the crosswalk reported to HPD.

Beth Greely added that not knowing what was happening with downtown properties was another reason to postpone.

Motion made to vote on Article 11 without further discussion by John Leary. Article 11 was indefinitely postponed.

ARTICLE 12.        To see if the Town will vote to raise, borrow and/or appropriate the sum of $720,000 for the acquisition by gift, negotiated purchase or eminent domain of a parcel of land of approximately 1.9 miles in length and approximately15.5 acres owned by CSX Transportation, shown as lands of the abandoned sections of the former railroad right of way and easements on the Holliston Assessor's maps, shown as parcels 001.0-0001- 0050.3, 0050.6 and 0050.7 to be managed and controlled in accordance with Chapter 45, Section 3 for active recreation purposes, and to meet said appropriate with funds transferred and/or borrowed in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 293, the Community Preservation Act and to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to issue any bonds or notes that may be necessary for that purpose, as authorized by M.G.L. Chapter 44, or any other enabling authority, and that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to file on behalf of the Town of Holliston any and all applications deemed necessary under the PARC Act (301 CMR 5.00) or any other applications for funds in any way connected with the scope of this acquisition, and the Board of Selectmen be authorized, as they deem appropriate, to enter into all agreements and execute any and all instruments including conveyance of a perpetual conservation restriction in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 184 as required by Section 12(a) of Chapter 44B or Chapter 293 Section 10 of the Acts of 1998 as amended, as may be necessary on behalf of the Town of Holliston to affect said purchase, or take any action relative thereto. (Holliston Trails Committee)

With earnest praise and much applause for Robert Weidknecht and the Holliston Rail Trails Committee, Article 12 was approved.

 

ARTICLE 13.           To see if the Town will vote to acquire two parcels of land for open space purposes, pursuant to section 14 of Chapter 61A of the General Laws, shown as Lots 17 and 18 of Block 4 on Assessors’ Map 12, located at 34 Rogers Road; to determine whether such acquisition shall be by borrowing, by transfer of available funds, by appropriation of Community Preservation funds or by some combination thereof; or take any action relative thereto.  (Open Space Committee)

Rachel Kane, a member of the Open Space Committee, gave an excellent presentation on the property and its potential for the Town.

The Serocki Farm is located on Rogers Road and borders with Sherborn to the east.

Tony Lulek, noting that the town has been moving ahead with agricultural pursuits, especially by becoming a Right-to-Farm Town, enthusiastically recommends the purchase of this property.  "This property gives us a a great opportunity," he said. The agricultural committee is looking forward to creating a multi-use farm with an educational component.  "People need to know what farming is about. This is an absolutely beautiful piece of land.  We will do something important for the town of Holliston," Tony Lulek urged the approval of this purchased  "Asphalt is the last crop," his last slide read.

 

Peter Barbieri spoke for his client's interests. His client, a developer,  has made an offer $550,000 to purchase the property. Suggesting a win-win, he offered giving back to the town the 15 acres that is not zoned industrial, promising to work with the town to develop the fifteen acres. Or for the town to find a piece of residentially zoned land for purchase and his client would work with the town to develop that property.

Ken Szadja, speaking as a resident, said that the parcel being discussed is a very valuable of property. He cautioned that the promises made by Peter Barbieri would create nothing binding from town meeting. He reminded us that Solect, had made similar promises, but what we got was a lot of cut trees.

Ryan, who moved to town recently, spoke about what the town has to offer -- open space and a tight-knit community. This land is a great opportunity, he said. (Welcome to town, Ryan, sorry we did not catch your last name.)

Carl Damigella brought up sewers. He said that he is concerned that the conservation restriction on entire parcel will require an Act of Congress to have lifted. He reminded that a portion of this property had been tested and shown to have good drainage, making it a possible site for the discharge of sewerage, if we were to get sewers.

Joan Sousa asked where the money is coming from for the imagined projects. Tony Lulek replied that just like anything else you start small.

Article 13 was  approved.

ARTICLE 14.           To see if the Town will vote to rescind the borrowing authorization previously voted under Article 9 of the Warrant for the October 28, 2013 Special Town Meeting regarding property acquisition; or take any action relative thereto.  (Treasurer/Collector)

Article 14 was approved.

ARTICLE 15.           To see if the Town will vote to delete Article XXX, Conservation Commission, from the Town of Holliston General By-laws and insert the following new Article XXX, Wetlands Protection, in place thereof:

Henry Dellicker, who has sat on a few Boards over the years, had some clarications to make regarding the language of the new bylaws.

 

Allen Rutberg said, "Every drop of the water system in Holliston comes from Holliston."  This is what makes the Conservation Commission such a critical function of the town.

 

Tree Warden Mark Ahronian asked whether the new bylaws for the Conservation Commission impacted his responsibilities as Tree Warden.

 

Conservation Agent Charles Katuska answered several questions about possible changes in jurisdiction in the new bylaws.

Marty Lamb suggested that the Conservation Commission bylaws revision is subject to much discussion.

Mark Bush of the ZBA questioned the jurisdiction regarding the buffer zone. "Can you cut down a tree that is within 50ft. of a buffer zone?" he asked.

Article 15, which deletes Article 30 of the Town of Holliston General Bylaws, was approved.

The meeting ended at 11:00, not to be continued, as expected, on Tuesday night.