by Pam Kyrka
5/9/2018

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT  MAY 7, 2018 HOLLISTON HIGH SCHOOL

First the major players:

Town moderator Jackie Dellicker and Town Counsel Jay Tallerman

The Finance Committee, left to right: Vincent Murphy, Tim Maxwell, Sue Nersessian, Ben Sparrell, Dan Alfred, Michelle Zeamer and Ken Szajda, Chairman.

The Board of Selectmen, Left to right, Chairman Kevin Conley, Jay Marsden and Mark Ahronian and Town Manager, Jeff Ritter

Last, but certainly not least: a few hundred Holliston residents and a few non-resident town employees.

To any Constable of the Town of Holliston, Greetings:

ARTICLE 1.             HEAR REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

To hear and act on the report of the Selectmen. (Board of Selectmen) Article 1 passed. Jay Marsden, above, praised Kevin Conley, below, mentioning that last night was Kevin's last meeting as a selectman. Jay also made a motion that several people who are non-residents and non-voting be allowed to speak as they hold posts in town. the motion carried.

Kevin Conley then spoke about the highlights of the year including the new traffic lights, the 8 Arch bridge and the committee who is working on it, the Flag School tear-down and the new homes that will take the place of the Andrews School. He also stressed the need to pass the article for the water treatment facility.

Mark Ahronian then called up 2 assistant clerks, Bonnie Conroy and Dyan Fitzgerald, as well as Liz Greendale, praising all they do. A proclamation announced municipal clerks week.

ARTICLE 2.             HEAR REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

To hear and act on the report of the Finance Committee. (Finance Committee) Chairman Kenneth Szajda, above, presented and explained the budget. Some of the salient points: 2/3 of the budget goes to personnel costs. School budget will be 2.9% over 2018 due partially to new contracts. Ken stressed that Article 18  allows the town to borrow money to complete the water treatment project. The ballot question will allow the town to vote on a temporary debt extension. How to pay for it will be determined later. "Allows us to borrow to get rid of brown water." Ken noted that we will maintain fiscal discipline. Our town is stabilized due to fiscal responsibility and stabilization.

Joan Shaughnessy, above, chairman of the School Committee, praised the Finance Committee and thanked the town for the vote that funded the audio system in the high school.

Above, Mary Beth Numbers expressed concern about the rise in health insurance costs due to a cut in the plan coverage. Ken said that the "assumed" cost is based on what they see in the insurance market. He said that they had no choice but to stay with the plan they had.  Further, he reiterated that the report shows where the plan started, not where it will end up, something that will be part of collective bargaining and will provide benefits that the town can afford.  Mary Beth asked when the town will correct the assumption made last year and Emily Hempstead (school commitee) said that they are not party to negotiations.

Ken answered Joe Texiera's question on article 18 regarding the borrowing process, saying it just okayed borrowing.

ARTICLE 3.             AUTHORIZE TREASURER/COLLECTOR TO SELL

                                    FORECLOSED TAX TITLE PROPERTIES

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer/Collector, subject to the approval of the Selectmen, to sell property acquired through foreclosure of tax titles by the Town and other real estate, after first giving notice of the time and place of the sale by posting such notice of sale in some convenient place in the Town, by publishing such notice of such sale in a newspaper having general circulation in the Town and by posting such notice on a Holliston Cable Access Television (HCAT) bulletin board and on the Town’s website at least fourteen (14) days before the sale. Passed unanimously.

ARTICLE 4.             AMEND CONSOLIDATED PERSONNEL BY-LAW

SECTION 29, JOB CLASSIFICATION PLAN

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Consolidated Personnel By law Section 29, Job Classification Plan, by reflecting those revisions, deletions and/or additions to be effective as of July 1, 2018; or take any action relative thereto.  (Town Administrator) Passed unanimously. Later 2 grades, Assistant Director, Library and Court Division/Community Therapist were amended from 500 to 400.

ARTICLE 5.             AMEND CONSOLIDATED PERSONNEL BY-LAW

SECTION 30, JOB CLASSIFICATION PLAN

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Consolidated Personnel By-law Section 30, Job Compensation Plan, to reflect the rates listed below, and the inclusion of any new rates resulting from reevaluation or new or revised positions to be effective as of July 1, 2018; or take any action relative thereto.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 6.             PAY UNPAID BILLS

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. Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 7.            CURRENT FISCAL YEAR TRANSFERS

To see if the Town will vote to transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of supplementing various accounts of the Town’s Fiscal Year 2018 annual operating budget, previously voted by the Town under Article 14, of the Warrant for the 2017 Annual Town Meeting, and under Article 1 of the Warrant for the October 30, 2017 Special Town Meeting; or take any action relative thereto.  (Board of Selectmen) Passed Unanimously

Amount          From                                                   To                               Account

$                      Reserve Fund (01132-57810)             01423-52901               Snow and Ice

ARTICLE 8.             AUTHORIZE BOARD OF SELECTMEN TO SELL

                                                SURPLUS EQUIPMENT

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) Passed Unanimously

CONTINUED IN 2018 TOWN MEETING - PART 2