2018 Town Meeting Results

Special Town Meeting – February 27, 2018

I hereby certify that this document is a true copy of the votes taken at the Special Town Meeting held at the Town Hall in the Town of Wendell on February 27, 2018. Moderator Kathleen Nolan called the meeting to order at 7:06 P.M. A quorum was present.

ARTICLE 1: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $90.00 from Free Cash to pay the fiscal year 2017 debt service on the Town Building Construction Loan.

 

ARTICLE 2: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $65.01 from Free Cash to pay a bill of prior year to the F.W. Webb Company.

 

ARTICLE 3: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $254.29 from Free Cash to pay a Verizon bill of prior year.

 

ARTICLE 4: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $5,000 from Free Cash to the Legal Expense Account.

 

ARTICLE 5: Voted in the affirmative, with a simple majority, to transfer the sum of $45,000 from Free Cash for the Bridge Replacement Project at Wendell Depot, for the purpose of payment to Verizon and/or National Grid for costs associated with the removal and replacement of three utility poles.

ARTICLE 6: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to adopt the following bylaw: At the opening of the Annual Town Meeting, the elected Moderator shall appoint a Deputy Moderator to serve until the next Annual Town Meeting in the event of the Moderator’s absence or disability, provided that the Town Meeting shall ratify such appointment. The Deputy Moderator shall have all of the powers of the Moderator when presiding at Town Meeting sessions, but shall have no other powers or duties of the Moderator. In the absence of the Moderator and Deputy Moderator, the Town Meeting shall elect a temporary Moderator.

ARTICLE 7: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to adopt the following bylaw: On matters requiring a two-thirds vote by statute, an actual count need not be taken unless the vote so declared is immediately questioned by the Moderator, or by seven or more voters as provided in Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 39, Section 15.

ARTICLE 8: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the care, custody and control of the Town-owned property located at 97 Wendell Depot Road and shown on Assessors’ Map 407 as Parcel 45, from the Treasurer to the Selectboard for the purpose of hosting a community shared solar energy facility; and to authorize the Selectboard to execute all documents and take all actions necessary to accomplish such project.

ARTICLE 9: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the care, custody and control of the dwelling house located on the Town owned property located at 97 Wendell Depot Road and shown on Assessors’ Map 407 as Parcel 45, to the Selectboard for the purpose of sale or other conveyance, or transfer, and to authorize the Selectboard to sell, convey, or otherwise transfer said dwelling house, separately, for the purpose of removing the dwelling from the property, including demolition of the dwelling if determined necessary or appropriate by Selectboard; and to authorize the Selectboard to execute all documents and take all actions necessary to accomplish such sale, conveyance.

ARTICLE 10: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to authorize the Selectboard and the Board of Assessors to negotiate and enter into a payment in lieu of taxes agreement known as a "PILOT" agreement or "tax agreement" pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 59, section 38h(b), or any other enabling authority, on such terms and conditions and for such term as negotiated by the Selectboard, for payment in lieu of taxes related to personal property associated with a solar renewable energy generation facility to be installed and operated on the Town-

owned property located at 97 Wendell Depot Road and shown on Assessors’ Map 407 as Parcel 45; and to authorize the Selectboard and the Board of Assessors to execute all documents and take all actions necessary to carry out the vote taken hereunder.

ARTICLE 11: To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 164, sec. 55, to elect a municipal light board consisting of three citizens of the town, each for a term of three years, with the first election being held May 7, 2018. Pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts General laws, of the three-member board, initially one shall be elected for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, and thereafter the terms shall be for three years. The municipal light board shall have the authority to construct, purchase or lease the municipal light plant in accordance with the vote of the town and to maintain and operate the same. After much discussion the motion was defeated with a simple majority.

ARTICLE 12: To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 164, sec. 55, to elect a municipal light board consisting of three citizens of the town, each for a term of three years, with the first election being held May 3, 2019. Pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts General laws, of the three-member board, initially one shall be elected for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, and thereafter the terms shall be for three years. The municipal light board shall have the authority to construct, purchase or lease the municipal light plant in accordance with the vote of the town and to maintain and operate the same. After much discussion the motion was defeated unanimously.

ARTICLE 13: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to dissolve the meeting.

Meeting dissolved at 9:15 PM.

February 27^th attendance: 57 out of 709 registered voters (8.0 %)

Gretchen C. Smith, Town Clerk

Tasks post STM:

Submit Wendell Bylaw changes to the AGO for approval within 30 days (3/29/2018) of STM. DONE

 

Additions to the Town’s general bylaws includes ARTICLES 6 and 7 which were adopted by the Town unanimously at the February 27, 2018 STM and approved by the AGO on June 15, 2018.

 

Annual Town Meeting – June 5, 2018

 

I hereby certify that this document is a true copy of the votes taken at the Annual Town Meeting held at the Town Hall in the Town of Wendell on June 5, 2018. Moderator Kathleen Nolan called the meeting to order at 7:04 P.M. A quorum was present.

ARTICLE 1: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to accept the reports of Town Officials as printed in the Town Report.

 

ARTICLE 2: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectboard, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018 in accordance with the provisions of the MGL Chapter 44, Section 4, and to issue a note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with MGL Chapter 44, Section 17.

 

ARTICLE 3: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to authorize the Town Treasurer to enter into compensating balance agreements during fiscal year 2019 as permitted by MGL Chapter 44, Section 53F.

 

ARTICLE 4: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to fix the salary, compensation, and expenses of all elected and appointed officials of the Town for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, as provided in MGL Chapter 41, as amended, and that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $2,623,756 from taxation to defray such salaries and expenses for that period.

 

NOTE: Please refer to the Town Budget FY2019 provided by the Finance Committee (FinCom). All starred totals reflecting the major categories of the Town’s OPERATING BUDGET (ARTICLE 4) were passed unanimously.

 

ARTICLE 5: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to raise and

appropriate $65,789 to pay the fiscal year 2019 debt service on the Town Building Construction Loan.

ARTICLE 6: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $12,099 from Stabilization to pay the fiscal year 2019 debt service on the Mahar Construction Loan.

 

ARTICLE 7: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $15,000 from Stabilization for the Reserve Fund.

 

ARTICLE 8: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $6,000 from Stabilization for the Independent Audit Expense.

 

ARTICLE 9: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to authorize transfer the sum of $34,522 from Stabilization for Group Health Insurance.

 

ARTICLE 10: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000 for Tax Title Expense.

 

ARTICLE 11: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $5,000 from Stabilization to pay for Fire Department turn-out gear.

ARTICLE 12: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to authorize raise and appropriate the sum of $32,000 to pay the fiscal year 2019 debt on the Highway Department dump/sander/plow truck.

 

Note: Just prior to the start of Town Meeting, FinCom decided that the motion under ARTICLE 12 should read “raise and appropriate” rather than “transfer the sum of $32,000 from Stabilization”. On town election day, voters had voted in the affirmative to support a debt exclusion for the Highway Department truck debt payment, and FinCom was informed on the day of the ATM that debt-excluded payments may not be paid from Stabilization.

 

ARTICLE 13: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $8,000 from Stabilization to pay for Wendell’s share of capital projects at Swift River School.

 

ARTICLE 14: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from

Stabilization the sum of $­­­­­35,000 to reduce the tax rate, or take any action theron.

Motion to amend the amount transferred from Stabilization; increasing the amount to $67,000. 2^nd, passed with a 2/3rds majority. Results of the hand count: 37 votes for; 16 opposed¹.

Motion to vote on the amended ARTICLE which now reads: Voted in the affirmative with a 2/3rds majority to transfer the sum of $67,000 from Stabilization to reduce the tax rate. Results of the hand count: 40 votes for, 10 votes opposed.

ARTICLE 15: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to apply for, accept, and expend any Federal, State, and private monies, such as Community Development Block Grants, Public Safety Grants, Massachusetts Public Library Construction Funds, etc.

 

ARTICLE 16: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to authorize transfer the sum of $108,643 from Free Cash to the Stabilization Fund.

 

ARTICLE 17: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to authorize the Selectboard to declare certain items as surplus, and to trade in or sell surplus equipment.

 

ARTICLE 18: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to authorize transfer the sum of $15,200 from the Rehab Loan Payback Account to complete repairs to the Town Hall crawlspace.

 

ARTICLE 19: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $20,000 from the Rehab Loan Payback Account to cover

the cost of purchasing and installing solar panels on the Town Office Building.

 

ARTICLE 20: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $2,600 from the Rehab Loan Payback Account to pay for the replacement of three windows on the south side of the Senior Center/Community Center.

 

ARTICLE 21: To see if the Town will vote to transfer sum of $65,368 from the Rehab Loan Payback Account to establish a new Energy Repair Program Account, a revolving loan fund for citizen rehab and conservation loans on their houses, or take any action thereon. These loans will not accrue interest and will not have to be paid back until the homeowner gets a new loan on their property or until the property is sold. The loan will create a lien in favor of the Town on the property.

 

At the recommendation of the Planning Board, the Town voted unanimously to pass over this article².

 

ARTICLE 22: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to adopt the following resolution:

We call on the United States to lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war by:

• Renouncing the option of using nuclear weapons first

• Ending the president’s sole, unchecked authority to launch a nuclear attack

• Taking US nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert

• Cancelling the plan to replace its entire arsenal with enhanced weapons

• Actively pursuing a verifiable agreement among nuclear armed states to eliminate their nuclear arsenals

The Town Clerk is directed to send copies of this resolution to the two Massachusetts US Senators and to the U.S. Representative for this district, and to the President and Secretary of State of the United States.

ARTICLE 23: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to adopt the following resolution in support of changing the State Flag and Seal of Massachusetts:

Whereas the history of the State of Massachusetts is replete with instances of conflict between the European Colonists and the Native Nations of the region, who first extended the hand of friendship to the Colonists on their shores in 1620, and helped them to survive starvation during the settlers' first winters on their land;

Whereas members of the Native Nation for whom the State of Massachusetts is named were ambushed and killed by Myles Standish, first commander of the Plymouth Colony, in April of 1623, barely two years after the Pilgrims arrived on their shores;

Whereas the naked Colonial broadsword brandished above the head of the Native man on the Massachusetts State Flag and Seal is copied from Myles Standish's own broadsword, borrowed from the Pilgrim Hall in Plymouth by the illustrator Edmund Garrett in 1884;

Whereas the belt binding the Native's cloak on the Flag and Seal is modeled after a belt worn by Metacomet, known to the English as King Philip, who was among the Wampanoag leaders who resorted to a mutually destructive war in 1675-76 in defense of Native lands against Euro-Colonial encroachment;

Whereas the proportions of the body of the Native man in the Flag and Seal were taken from a Native skeleton kept in Winthrop, the bow modeled after a bow taken from a Native man shot and killed by a colonist in Sudbury in 1665, and his features taken from a photograph of an Ojibwe chief from Great Falls, Montana, considered by the illustrator to be a “fine specimen of an Indian,” though not from Massachusetts;

Whereas the history of relations between Massachusetts since Colonial times and the Native Nations who continue to live within its borders includes the forced internment of thousands of so-called

“praying Indians” on Deer Island, in Boston Harbor, where they died by the hundreds of exposure in 1675, their subsequent enslavement in Boston, Bermuda, and the Caribbean Islands, the offering of 40 pounds sterling as bounty for the scalps of Native men, women and children in Massachusetts beginning in 1686, increased to 100 pounds sterling for the scalps of Native adult males by 1722, half that amount for Native women and children;

Whereas Native Nations within the boundaries of Massachusetts were kept in a state of serfdom, and their members legally considered incompetent wards of the state until the nonviolent action of the so-called Mashpee Rebellion of 1833 led to the granting of Native self rule by the Massachusetts legislature in 1834, as if the sovereign right of Native self-government was the Massachusetts legislature's to confer;

Whereas Native Americans were legally prohibited from even stepping foot into Boston from 1675 until 2004, when that law was finally repealed;

Whereas the 400^th anniversary of the landing of the Euro-Colonists at Plymouth Plantation, which gave rise to the long chain of genocidal wars and deliberate policies of cultural destruction against Native Nations of this continent, is approaching in the year 2020, affording every citizen of the Commonwealth a chance to reflect upon this history and come to a new awareness of a better relationship between the descendants of the Euro-Colonial immigrants and the Native Nations of these shores;

And whereas Native Americans have long suffered the many abuses of racism, the appropriation of their symbols for public schools and sports teams, the diminution and pollution of their ancestral lands and the encroachment of their cultural lifeways;

Therefore we, the voters of the Town of Wendell, support the bill introduced by State Representative Byron Rushing, (D-Suffolk) H-1707 calling for an investigation by a special commission, including members of the legislature and representatives of Native Nations of

Massachusetts, to recommend changes to the State Flag and Seal of the Commonwealth.

Be it further resolved that within five days of the dissolution of this town meeting, the town clerk shall forward copies of this resolution to Representative Susannah Whipps, to the Senator who is elected to replace Stanley Rosenberg, to the chairpersons and members of the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee, to which H-1707 was reported with an “ought to pass” recommendation by the House Rules Committee on February 22^nd, 2018, and to Executive Director Geoffrey Beckwith of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

ARTICLE 24: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to dissolve the meeting.

 

Meeting dissolved at 9:33 PM;

June 5 Attendance: 68 out of 697 registered voters (9.8 %)

Gretchen C. Smith, Town Clerk

Tasks post ATM: As indicated in ARTICLE 22 and ARTICLE 23

becoming a Green Community, conducting energy audits on all town buildings, and promoting and helping pay for energy audits for all residents.

 

WHEREAS, clean energy has brought many benefits to Massachusetts, including reduced pollution, tens of thousands of clean energy jobs, and more of our energy dollars retained in the local economy; and

 

WHEREAS, Massachusetts has historically been a leader in the fight against global warming, and has a responsibility to continue to set a positive example for other states and countries to follow; and

WHEREAS, Massachusetts can get 100 percent of its energy from clean, renewable sources by harnessing its abundant solar and wind resources, and taking advantage of innovations in energy efficiency, green transportation, energy storage, and other technologies; and

WHEREAS, the transition to 100 percent renewable energy should promote employment opportunities and economic growth in our communities, facilitate local control and ownership over energy options, and bring tangible benefits to low-income residents and others who have historically been disadvantaged by our energy system;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town of Wendell, in the County of Franklin, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that Massachusetts should commit to a goal of 100 percent clean, renewable energy, and move as quickly as possible to achieve that goal;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that leaders in the Legislature and statewide elected and appointed officials are urged to do everything in their power to bring Massachusetts closer to 100 percent renewable energy, and ensure that the benefits of renewable energy are realized by Massachusetts residents from all walks of life;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town of Wendell will commit to a goal of 100 percent renewable energy;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town of Wendell will avoid taking actions that could increase the use of fossil fuels or delay the transition to 100 percent renewable energy; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town of Wendell will take actions to promote clean energy and reduce fossil fuel use while minimizing the impact to natural resources and wetlands including:

*Municipal Solar Projects; *Energy Efficiency Upgrades *Municipal aggregation with at least 5% additional Class 1 RECS

ARTICLE 28: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to adopt the Resolution for Supporting ‘Medicare for All’ bill in Massachusetts:

WHEREAS: access to health care has become one of the biggest political issues of the day and is of great concern to ourselves and our neighbors; and

 

Whereas: The U.S. remains one of the few countries that does not provide universal publicly funded health care; and

 

Whereas: the cost of health care keeps increasing thereby creating a burden and a concern to us all; and

 

Whereas: the number of people who do not have affordable access to quality health care increases, the health of our communities decreases, and

 

Whereas: the cost of health insurance increases and the policies include up-front costs of co-pays and deductibles that are a burden for employers and employees.

 

Whereas: in particular, the money spent by Cities and Towns to cover their employees is a large cost to both the employer and the employees; and

Whereas: these funds could be better spent by Towns to improve the overall quality of life, and by employees to increase wages and salaries and other benefits; and

 

Whereas: Massachusetts has been a leader in providing coverage for quality health care for its people; and

 

Whereas: there is an alternative means of providing health care for all that also provides better coverage, without co-pays and deductibles, and includes medical, dental and preventative care.

 

That this bill is the “Improved Medicare for All,” House Bill #2987 Senate Bill #619

 

THEREFORE be it Resolved:  That the Town of Wendell endorses the House and Senate Bill, “Improved Medicare for All,” and will communicate its support to the State Representative and State Senator.

 

ARTICLE 29: Voted in the affirmative, with a simple majority (22 votes for; 16 opposed), to petition the Massachusetts General Court for permission to adopt a Town Bylaw to define a “qualified voter” as any citizen sixteen years of age or older, so long as they are a resident of Wendell at the time they register to vote and are otherwise eligible under all provisions beside age set for voters in M.G.L. Chapter 51, Section 1, is a qualified voter of the town and is entitled to vote in all Town elections, participate and vote in all Town Meetings, participate in Town Caucus and sign all nominating, warrant and other petitions authorized by Town bylaws. Persons wishing to serve in elected positions must be registered voters of at least 18 years of age.

 

ARTICLE 30: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to dissolve the meeting.

Meeting dissolved at 12:59 PM

June 10 Attendance: 70 out of 713 registered voters (9.8 %)

Attest a true copy: Gretchen C. Smith, Town Clerk

 

ARTICLE 4: OPERATING BUDGET
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION:
Swift River Elem. School
Minimum Contribution	854,340
Transportation	153,238
subtotal Swift River School	*1,007,578
Mahar Reg. High School
Minimum Contribution	186,854
Additional Contribution	98,043
Choice/Charter Tuition	28,473
Transportation + Debt	29,055
subtotal Mahar Regional	*342,425
Franklin County Tech.
Minimum Contribution	78,470
Additional Contribution	38,386
Capital Assessment	2,459
subtotal Franklin County Tech	*119,315
School Committee
School Committee Salary	2,910
School Committee Expense	0
Subtotal, School Committee	2,910
TOTAL, Schools and Education:	*1,472,228
HIGHWAYS/DPW:
Highway Department
Summer Maintenance	120,000
Winter Maintenance	75,000
Highway Clerk	6,000
Holiday, Sick & Vacation	18,000
Garage Maintenance	17,150
Machinery Maintenance	49,000
Post, Railings & Bridges	4,900
Warning Signs	1,078
Tool Account	980
Street Signs	980
Snow and Ice Removal	64,000
WRATS Wages and Expenses	82,907
Subtotal, Highway Department	439,995
Highway Commission
Salary	1,800
Expenses	735
subtotal, Highway Commission	2,535
TOTAL Highways:	*443,530
GENERAL GOVERNMENT:
Town Coordinator
Salary	25,422
Expenses	392
subtotal, Town Coordinator	25,814
Selectboard
Salaries	9,600
Expenses	2,548
Clerk Salary	1,584
Clerk Hourly	1,654
Shared Clerk	2,473
Mediation Account	490
Recreation Committee	250
Bulk Mail Permit/Mailings	650
Town Report	1,100
subtotal, Selectboard	20,349
Tax Collector
Salary	18,000
Tax Collector's Assistant	4,969
Expenses	11,800
subtotal, Tax Collector	34,769
Assessors
Salaries	7,500
Administrative Assessor	24,356
Expenses	18,075
Revaluation	6,000
subtotal, Assessors	55,931
Treasurer
Salary	17,000
Treasurer's Assistant	700
Expenses	2,200
subtotal, Treasurer	19,900
Town Counsel
Town Counsel Expenses	15,000
Finance Director
Salary	2,951
Accountant
Salary	20,607
Expenses	637
Software	750
subtotal, Accountant	21,994
Town Clerk
Salary	12,000
Assistant Town Clerk	3,000
Expenses	2,400
subtotal, Town Clerk	17,400
Board of Registrars
Salaries	240
Clerk Salaries	50
Expenses	6,350
subtotal, Board of Registrars:	6,640
ZBA
Salaries	600
ZBA Expenses	490
subtotal, ZBA:	1,090
Planning Board
Expenses	1,500
Clerk	1,224
subtotal, Planning Board:	2,724
Moderator
Salary	150
Expenses	0
subtotal, Moderator:	150
Finance Committee
Finance Committee Expenses	150
Energy Committee
Energy Committee Expenses	400
Agriculture Commission
Agriculture Commission Expenses	270
Kitchen Committee
Kitchen Committee Expenses	490
TOTAL General Government:	*226,022
INSURANCE, INTEREST, ASSESSMNTS:
Comprehensive Insurance	48,900
Franklin Cty. Retirement	51,582
Short-term Interest	3,000
Unemployment Insurance	2,500
Social Security	21,000
Indemnify Town Officials	2,200
TOTAL Insurance:	*129,182
HEALTH AND SANITATION:
Board of Health
Salaries	3,540
Clerk	4,179
Health Agent	7,000
Expenses	1,960
subtotal, Board of Health:	16,679
Franklin Cnty Solid Waste Mngment Dist.	4,004
Animal Inspector
Salary	500
Expenses	167
subtotal, Animal Inspector:	667
TOTAL Health and Sanitation:	*21,350
PROTECTION:
Fire Department
Chief's Salary	25,600
Equipment & Maintenance	13,000
EMD	3,000
Expenses	32,380
EMS Expenses	2,550
subtotal, Fire Department:	*76,530
Police Department
Chief's Salary	15,000
Expenses	29,086
subtotal, Police Department:	*44,086
Ambulance Service
Ambulance Service	21,795
Building Inspector
Salary	9,475
Assistant Inspector Training	500
Expenses	450
subtotal, Building Inspector:	*10,425
Electrical Inspector
Salary	0
Plumbing Inspector
Salary	0
Dog Officer
Salary	800
Expenses	0
subtotal, Dog Officer:	800
Tree Warden
Expenses	5,096
Salary	100
subtotal, Tree Warden:	5,196
Constable
Salary	490
Conservation Commission
Expenses	750
Conservation Commission Agent	7,000
Fiske Pond Expenses	550
Subtotal, Conservation Commission	8,300
Open Space Committee
Open Space Comm Expense	980
Forester for Town-owned land	0
Subtotal, Open Space Committee:	980
Cemeteries
Expenses	3,920
Cemetery Grave Openings	1,200
Subtotal, Cemeteries:	5,120
TOTAL Protection:	*173,772
VETERANS BENEFITS and SERVICES
Benefits	10,000
Services	1,778
TOTAL Veterans' Benefits and Services:	*11,778
Franklin Reg. Council of Governments:
Core Assessments	387
Services	5,713
TOTAL FRCOG:	*6,100
TOWN PROPERTIES:
Town Hall Expenses	7,500
Town Office Expenses	13,000
Internet Connection	10,000
Wired West	1,000
IT Systems Capital Purchases	3,000
IT Systems Maintenance	7,500
Senior Center	2,940
Coordinator of Buildings and Ground	500
Custodian	11,270
Facilities Engineer	7,320
Veteran’s Memorial	196
Town Properties Upkeep	7,600
Town Building Repairs	10,000
Memorial Day	490
TOTAL Town Properties:	*82,316
WENDELL LIBRARY:
Maintenance Expenses
Library Electricity	1,400
Library Telephone	1,100
Library Fuel	2,200
Library Supplies	1,800
Library Maintenance	900
Library Computer Maintenance	700
Library: CW Mars Fees	2,825
subtotal: Building Maintenance Expenses	10,925
Operating Expenses:
Payroll	40,903
Books	6,700
subtotal: Operating Expenses	47,603
TOTAL Library:	*58,528
GRAND TOTAL Article 4 Appropriations:	*2,623,756

 Special Town Meeting – September 25, 2018

I hereby certify that this document is a true copy of the votes taken at the Special Town Meeting held at the Town Hall in the Town of Wendell on September 25, 2018. Moderator Kathleen Nolan called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. A quorum was present.

ARTICLE 1: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the amount of thirty thousand ($30,000) Dollars from the Stabilization Fund for the purpose of paying costs of Schematic Design Study for the replacement of the windows and doors on the Swift River School located 201 Wendell Rd, New Salem, MA 01355, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto, and for which Town may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of the Swift River School Building Committee. The Town acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town.

 

ARTICLE 2: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $733.39 from the Stabilization Account to fund the Stabilization Account established 6/16/2010 pursuant to MGL Chapter 40, Section 5B for the purpose of investing sick leave pay for FY2018.

ARTICLE 3: Voted in the affirmative with a simple majority (1 nay vote) and pursuant to the provisions of General Laws c.44, §53E½, as most recently amended, to (1) establish the following revolving fund and fiscal year spending limits as set forth below, and further (2) to amend the General Bylaws by inserting a new bylaw establishing this revolving fund, specifying the departmental receipts to be credited to each fund, the departmental purposes or programs for which each fund may be expended, and the entity authorized to expend each fund, such bylaw to provide as follows:

Departmental Revolving Fund:

Section 1. There is hereby established in the Town of Wendell pursuant to the provisions of G.L. c.44, §53E½, the following Revolving Fund, from which the specified department head, board, committee, or officer may incur liabilities against and spend monies from without appropriation in accordance with the limitations set forth in this by-law.

Section 2. No liability shall be incurred in excess of the available balance of the fund.

Section 3. The total amount spent during a fiscal year shall not exceed the amount authorized by Annual Town Meeting or any increase therein as may later be authorized by the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee in accordance with G.L. c.44, §53E½.

 

Section 4. Interest earned on monies credited to a revolving fund established by this by-law shall be credited to the General Fund.

 

Section 5. Authorized Revolving Funds

Revolving Fund Program or Purpose	Department Receipts to be Credited to Fund	Entity Authorized to Spend
Town Hall Kitchen	Fees and Donations for use of Kitchen	Town Hall Kitchen Committee

 

Section 6. Procedures and Reports. Except as provided in

General Laws Chapter 44, §53E ½ and this by-law, all applicable state and local laws and regulations that govern the receipt, custody, expenditure and payment of town funds shall apply to the use of the revolving fund established and authorized by this by-lay.

And further, to establish the following fiscal year spending limits for such funds:

 

Authorized Revolving Funds	Fiscal Year Expenditure Limit
Town Hall Kitchen	$10,000

148

And, further, to amend the Fiscal Year Expenditure Limit for the Wiring Inspector and Plumbing/Gas Inspector Revolving Funds, as established at the June 10, 2017 Town Meeting, as follows:

 

Authorized Revolving Funds	Fiscal Year Expenditure Limit
Wiring Inspector	$10,000
Plumbing/Gas Inspector	$10,000

 

; Or take any action in relation thereto.

 

ARTICLE 4: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $1150 from the Stabilization Account to pay the Highland Press bill of prior year for printing the 2017 Annual Report.

 

ARTICLE 5: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $48.99 from the Stabilization Account to pay a Conservation Commission bill of prior year.

 

ARTICLE 6: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to transfer the sum of $142.66 from the Stabilization Account to pay a Board of Health bill of prior year.

ARTICLE 7: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to pass over this Article: To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to  M.G.L. Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 41A, to (1) increase the maximum qualifying gross receipts amount (income allowance) for persons applying for a property tax deferral under said clause from the current limit of $20,000, as follows: $30,000 for a single individual who is not the head of household, $35,000 for a head of household, and $40,000 for married couples filing a joint income tax return; and (2) decrease the interest rate on taxes deferred under said clause from the statutory rate of 8% to such rate as is 1% below the Wall Street Journal’s published “Prime Rate” as of July 1 of the fiscal year for which the taxes have been deferred, or such other lower rate as Town Meeting may determine; or take any action thereon.

ARTICLE 8: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to appropriate $180,000 for the purchase of a front end loader for the Highway Department, and to meet this appropriation by transferring the sum of $30,000 from the Stabilization Fund and by authorizing the Treasurer, with approval of the Selectboard, to borrow up to $150,000 for the balance of the appropriation pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, section 7 (1), or any other enabling authority.

ARTICLE 9: Voted in the affirmative, unanimously, to dissolve this meeting.

Meeting dissolved at 7:41 PM.

September 25^th attendance: 30 out of 698 registered voters (4.3 %)

Gretchen C. Smith, Town Clerk

 

Tasks post STM:

Submit Wendell Bylaw changes (ARTICLE 3) to the AGO for approval within 30 days (Oct. 26, 2018) of STM. DONE 10/1/18 The revolving fund bylaw was approved by the AGO on December 19, 2018.

 

Submit form DA-82 to the Division of Local Services with reference to ARTICLE 8 as soon as possible as we voted to borrow (i.e., take on debt) in order to buy a new front end loader for the Highway Department sooner rather than later. DONE 10/1/18 The Selectboard is expected to call for a debt exclusion vote on the next Town Election ballot (May 2019).

 

Provide letter to the Regional School Committee and/or Swift River Building Committee that shows the Town voted to support the Schematic Design Study to replace windows and doors. DONE 9/25/18