by Nancy Farrell
10/27/2015

Fall Town Meeting began a few minutes late waiting to gather a 100 people to make a quorum.

The Finance Committee (l to r, Tim Maxwell, Suzanne Nersessian, Beth Liberty, Bill Dowd, Dan Alfred, Michelle Zeamer, Ken Szajda) submitted articles with their recommendations for the consideration of those attending town meeting. 

Finance Committee chairman Ken Szajda, with the help of accompanying slides, gave a financial update for the town.

Szajda reported that local aid from the State had come in $35,085 higher than expected, but that this difference has no meaningful impact on next year's budget. He cautioned against relying on the significantly higher amount of $2,083,684 of "Free Cash" because it is volatile and there are big expenses coming up such as the demolition of the Andrews School and the Senior Center parking lot.  He also noted that the snow and ice budget did not get approved at the May Town Meeting (last winter already a fleeting memory?!) and that Article I would make that appropriation.

He discussed the proposed changes to the Bylaws for the Finance Committee in Article 16 that more clearly define where the Committee's authority is.

Bill Dowd, speaking for himself, not as a member of the Finance Committee, raised the issue of appropriating anticipated wage increases for the Town's union employees (HPD and DPW) prior to contract negotiation. Dowd says that pre-funding contracts before negotiations loses the Town thousands and thousands of dollars. He argues that this process should be as transparent as other requests for appropriations. He advocates for a more spirited debate on this in meetings and the press.

Jay Leary called for a Point of Order to ask about the relevance of Mr. Dowd's issue to the warrant under consideration at this Town Meeting.  Dowd finishes his argument with the idea that the Financial Committee needs a comprehensive capital plan.

And the voting began

ARTICLE 1.             FISCAL YEAR 2016 BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

SPONSORED BY:  Board of Selectmen               

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 for the Town’s Fiscal Year 2016 annual budget, previously voted by the Town under Article 17 of the Warrant for the 2015 Annual Town Meeting  or to take any action relative thereto;

                                                                                                Budget Approved     

Into Line #      Increase Line by          Account Name            at 5/4/15 Annual Town Meeting

01122-57500      $1,077.60                 Property Insurance          $200,000.00

01710-57610    $33,925.00                 Debt Service               $1,186,025.00

01423-51000   $50,000.00                 Snow & Ice                 -0-

01423-52000  $106,215.00                 Snow & Ice                 -0-

01423-54000   $93,785.00                 Snow & Ice                 -0-

                       $285,002.60

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN RAISE AND APPROPRIATE $1,077.60 FOR THE SELECTMENS BUDGET, $33,925 FOR THE DEBT BUDGET, AND $250,000 FOR THE SNOW AND ICE BUDGET (UNANIMOUS)

Article I passed.

 

ARTICLE 2:  FUND TRANSFER TO AFFECT THE TAX RATE

SPONSORED BY:   Board of Selectmen                 

  

Jeff Ritter, above, attended his first Holliston Town Meeting as Town Administrator.                  

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 2016; or take any action relative thereto.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE $2,083,684 FROM FREE CASH (UNANIMOUS)

Article 2 passed.

 

ARTICLE 3:  STABILIZATION FUND

SPONSORED BY:   Board of Selectmen                                      

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.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN RAISE AND APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF $1,833,684 FOR THE STABILIZATION FUND (UNANIMOUS)

Article 3 passed.

 

ARTICLE 4:   CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND

SPONSORED BY:   Board of Selectmen                                 

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.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT (UNANIMOUS)

Article 4 was indefinitely postponed.

 

ARTICLE 5:   SALE OF SURPLUS EQUIPMENT

SPONSORED BY:   Board of Selectmen                          

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

Article 5 passed.

ARTICLE 6:   CAPITAL BUDGET

SPONSORED BY:   Board of Selectmen                          

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 departments:  Police, School, Fire, Technology, DPW (Water) Golf Course, Police Auxiliary and Town Clerk, and authorize the Board of Selectmen to trade or sell equipment toward part of the purchase price; or take any action relative thereto.

 

Project                                                                        Department                 Amount                      

Paratech Stabilization                                              Fire                              $30,000                 

Aerator                                                                     Golf Course                   $3,200                   

2 Marked Cruisers                                                    Police                           $80,323                   

Tasers                                                                       Police                           $32,347                 

Portable Radios                                                         Police                           $58,339                   

Portable Radios                                                         Police Auxiliary           $46,672                  

Replacement Equipment                                           Schools                       $247,627        

Network/Server Upgrade                                           Info. Tech.                    $26,729         

Water Department Vehicle                                         DPW                            $47,791     

Oakridge Road & Birchwood   Drive                          DPW                           $214,000

(Water Mains)                                                                                                 

Total:                                                                                                 $787,028

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE $30,000 FROM THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT; APPROPRIATE $80,323 FROM THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND FOR POLICE CRUISERS; APPROPRIATE $32,347 FROM THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND FOR POLICE TASERS; APPROPRIATE $105,011 FROM THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND FOR POLICE AND AUXILLIARY POLICE RADIOS; APPROPRIATE $247,627 FROM THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND FOR SCHOOL DEPARTMENT CAPITAL REQUESTS LISTED IN THE “SCHOOL COMMITTEE APPROVED FY16 FALL CAPITAL PROJECT REQUESTS” SPREADSHEET (available on the School Department website www.holliston.k12.ma.us); APPROPRIATE $26,729 FROM THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND FOR NETWORK AND SERVER EQUIPMENT AT TOWN HALL; APPROPRIATE $3,200 FROM THE PINECREST CAPITAL ACCOUNT FOR AERATORS AT THE PINECREST GOLF COURSE; APPROPRIATE $214,000 FROM WATER SURPLUS FOR WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT AT OAKRIDGE ROAD AND BIRCHWOOD DRIVE; APPROPRIATE $47,791 FROM WATER SURPLUS FOR A WATER DEPARTMENT VEHICLE (UNANIMOUS)

John Varrell questions the School Committee's $247,627 request to replace boilers at the Placentino and Miller schools. Have the boilers failed prematurely?

Brad Jackson said that two of the four boilers have developed leaks that are unrepairable. Jackson said that it may be a problem of working with the lowest bidder. He hopes that the issue will be resolved by insurance, and then they will not need to use this money.

 

Mark Kaplan questioned whether there had been enough consideration of this important issue of arming the Holliston Police Department with tasers. The issue had come up in the Finance Committee last year and there was a decision to not pursue it without having meetings to hear from the townspeople about the controversial issue.

Jay Marsden argued that the meetings and consultations about the use of tasers to restrain had addressed the concerns about their safe use.  He stressed consultations with mental health care professionals and conversations with Chief Moore regarding policies as important pieces of this consideration. 

Mark Kaplan made a motion to remove this from the capital budget. He sees the need for tasers as based on fear -- that the increase in weapons to protect serve to build a sense that we are not safe.

Martin Sawzin remarked that this issue was controversial for people with special needs, and all the other people with conditions that make them vulnerable to serious harm from a taser. He appreciated the conversations with Chief Moore on this, but hoped to continue the discussion.

Jay Leary says that the issue has been carefully vetted In addition, the new jail diversion program provides a social worker to accompany police on call. The goal is hopefully to protect the person and safety of the officers. So that every one goes home at night. It has been talked about enough.

Dianna Vosburg presented very good information about the risks and liabilities of tasers. She pointed to the heavy marketing strategies by manufacturer Taser International as responsible for confusion about the weapon's safety. She noted that U.N Committee had defined tasers as torture devices and that officer deployment issues were creating a flood of lawsuits across the country.

Chief John Moore made clear that this is merely a tool. It is not a substitute for talking to people. Most situations are resolved by the talking. Chief Moore appreciated the people who had spent time talking about this issue learned a lot. "This tool will probably never be used," he said. In terms of strategic force it is one additional tool in the category with OC spray and batons. Chief Moore sees it as a better use of force tools.

 

Carl Damigella wonders whether his friend Officer John Johnson, who was killed apprehending suspects in 1988, would be alive if John had had a taser. Damigella advocated the approval the use of tasers.

Beth Greeley asked whether we as a community want to say that someone stopped for a traffic violations should have to risk being shot with a taser.

Tom Anguish, admitting disagreement with his wife, said "I believe we should support our chief."

Motion to Amend Article 6 by removing the appropriation to the Police Department for tasers failed, 32 to 79. Article 6 passed.

ARTICLE 7:   VOTING MACHINES (TABULATORS)

SPONSORED BY:   Town Clerk                                      

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds $15,000 for the purchase of four (4) voting machines (tabulators) to be used by the Town Clerk’s Office for the tabulations in the four voting precincts; or to take any action relative thereto.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE $15,000 FROM THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND FOR FOUR VOTING TABULATORS (UNANIMOUS)

Article 7 passed.

 

ARTICLE 8:   DOG LICENSING PROGRAM

SPONSORED BY:   Town Clerk                                      

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds $2,290 for the purchase of a dog licensing program to be used by the Town Clerk’s Office; or to take any action relative thereto.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN RAISE AND APPROPRIATE $2,290 FOR THE PURCHASE OF SOFTWARE FOR DOG LICENSE MANAGEMENT (UNANIMOUS)

Article 8 passed.

 

ARTICLE 9:  AMBULANCE PAGERS

SPONSORED BY:   Fire Chief                                          

To see if the Town will vote to transfer $23,000 from the receipts reserved for appropriation account into the ambulance capital expense account; or to take any action relative thereto.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOWN APPROPRIATE $23,000 FROM THE AMBULANCE REVOLVING FUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF AMBULANCE/EMS PAGERS (UNANIMOUS)

Article 9 passed.

 

ARTICLE 10:  AMBULANCE ENTERPRISE FUND

SPONSORED BY:  Fire Chief                                           

To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 44, Section 53F ½, as amended, of the Massachusetts General Laws establishing an ambulance enterprise fund effective July 1, 2016 or start of or Fiscal Year 2017, or take any action relative thereto.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT (UNANIMOUS)

Article 10 was indefinitely postponed.

 

ARTICLE 11:  WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT (Oakridge Road and Birchwood Drive)

SPONSORED BY:  Board of Selectmen                           

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds $214,000 for the replacement of water main(s) on Oakridge Road and Birchwood Drive; or take any action relative thereto. (See Article 6, Indefinitely Postpone)

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT (UNANIMOUS)

Article 11 passed.

 

ARTICLE 12:  WATER DEPARTMENT VEHICLE

SPONSORED BY:  Board of Selectmen                           

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds $47,791 for the replacement of a vehicle for the Public Works Department (Water Division); or take any action relative thereto.  (See Article 6, Indefinitely Postpone)

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT (UNANIMOUS)

Article 12 was indefinitely postponed.

 

ARTICLE 13:  REVOLVING FUND SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

SPONSORED BY:  School Committee                                          

To see if the Town will vote, under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ as amended, to authorize the creation of a Technology Repair and Replenishment account into which shall be deposited receipts received for an optional insurance policy for families who have borrowed student technology under the care and custody of the School Committee and from which account expenditures for the costs of repair, replacement, and future replenishment may be made with the approval of the School Committee in an amount not to exceed $30,000; or take any other action relative thereto.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION (FIVE IN FAVOR, MR. DOWD AND MS. LIBERTY OPPOSED)

Article 13  passed.

ARTICLE 14:   SALE OF ANDREWS SCHOOL

SPONSORED BY:   Board of Selectmen                          

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell the building and property known as the Andrews School, located on School Street and shown in the Assessor’s records as Map 8E, Block 4, Lot 41 for the following purposes, market rate housing, market rate/affordable senior housing or demolition, or take any action relative thereto.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT (UNANIMOUS)

Article 14 was indefinitely postponed.

 

ARTICLE 15:   COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE BUDGET

SPONSORED BY:   Community Preservation Committee         

To see if the Town will vote to act on the report of the Community Preservation Committee on the fiscal year 2016 Community Preservation budget and to appropriate or reserve for later appropriation monies from the Community Preservation Fund annual revenues or available funds for 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.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AT TOWN MEETING (UNANIMOUS)

Frank Chamberlain described the four motions that are part of Article 15.

$8,500 to provide parking area for about 5 cars for access to the Wenakeening woods.

Approved.

$2,200 for preservation of and public access to the rich collection of historical records of the town,

Approved

$150,000 for a request from the Affordable Housing Trust.

Approved.

$7,500 for administrative work for the CPC request for administrative work.

Approved. 

 

ARTICLE 16:  AMEND THE TOWN’S GENERAL BYLAWS, ARTICLE IV, FINANCE COMMITTEE, SECTIONS 2, 3 & 6

SPONSORED BY:  Finance Committee                                      

To see if the Town will vote to amend the General Bylaws, Article IV, Finance Committee, Section 2, as follows:

“Section 2.  No person holding any other elected or appointed office and no person employed by the Town, other than those who serve on the part-time call Fire Department, shall be eligible to serve as a member of the Finance Committee, except that, any member of the Finance Committee who holds another appointed office on the effective date of this amendment shall be allowed to continue in such appointed office for so long as he or she remains as a member of the Finance Committee;”

and to vote to amend the General Bylaws, Article IV, Finance Committee, Section 3, as follows:

“Section 3: The Finance Committee shall, promptly after the Annual election and assumption of office of new members, meet for the purpose of organization, and shall elect from its members a Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary; Clerk,”

and to vote to amend the General Bylaws, Article IV, Finance Committee, Section 6, as follows:

“Section 6: All officers, boards, or committees of Town, elected or appointed shall on request, furnish to the Finance Committee or any delegated member or authorized agent thereof any desired financial information [relevant to the financial decision] about Town affairs and Town funds under their control.”

or take any action relative thereto.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FAVORABLE ACTION (UNANIMOUS)

Article 16 passed.

 

ARTICLE 17:   TRANSFER OF LAND (Old Sawmill Estates) to the CONSERVATION COMMISSION

SPONSORED BY:   Planning Board & Conservation Commission

To see if the Town will vote to transfer the care, custody and control of a certain parcel of property shown as Lot 82 of Block 3 on Assessor’s Map 4 located off Courtland Street (Old Sawmill Estates Cluster Open Space), the Board of Selectmen to the Conservation Commission; or take any action relative thereto.

Article 17 passed.