Below are the articles to be discussed at the May 19, 2008 Semi-Annual Town Meeting. Please feel free to print this out and bring it with you for the night of Town Meeting.
ARTICLE 1 - AUTHORIZATION TO HEAR THE REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES OF THE TOWN
This article allows for any committees or boards of the Town to issue reports at the recognition of the Town Moderator.
ARTICLE 2 - AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW IN ANTICIPATION OF REVENUE AND TO ENTER INTO A COMPENSATING BALANCE AGREEMENT WITH A BANK
This is an annual article allowing the Town to borrow in anticipation of revenues.
ARTICLE 3 - AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING FUND FOR WBPA-TV
ARTICLE 4 - AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING FUND FOR THE BOARD OF HEALTH
ARTICLE 5 - AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING FUND
FOR THE CEMETERY TRUSTEES
ARTICLE 6 - AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING
FUND FOR THE COUNCIL ON AGING
ARTICLE 7 - AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING FUND
FOR THE PLANNING BOARD
ARTICLE 8 - AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING FUND
FOR THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
ARTICLE 9 - AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING FUND
FOR THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
ARTICLE 10 - AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A PARKS, PLAYGROUND AND FIELDS REVOLVING FUND FOR THE PARK COMMISSION
ARTICLE 11 - AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING FUND
FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
ARTICLE 12 – AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING FUND
FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
ARTICLE 13- AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING FUND
FOR THE MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE
ARTICLE 14 - AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING FUND
FOR VOCATIONAL TRANSPORTATION
Articles 3-14 are the same warrant articles needed to be approved annually to operate our revolving funds. This allows a community to raise~revenues~from a specific service and use those revenues without~appropriation~to support the service. For departmental revolving funds, MGL~Ch. 44 §53E½~stipulates that each fund must be re-authorized each year at annual town meeting or by city council action, and that a limit on the total amount that may be spent from each fund must be
established at that time. The aggregate of all revolving funds may not exceed ten percent of the amount raised by taxation by the city or town in the most recent fiscal year, and no more than one percent of the amount raised by taxation may be administered by a single fund. Wages or salaries for full-time employees may be paid from the revolving fund only if the fund is also charged for all associated fringe benefits.
ARTICLE 15 - AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH THE SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAM REVOLVING FUND FOR THE PARKS COMMISSION
While not a new article, it is different from previous years as it raises the amount of the revolving fund to $50,000 and removes references to the Town Pool, now closed.
ARTICLE 16 - AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A REVOLVING FUND FOR RECYCLING
While not a new article, it is different from last year in that it adds scrap metal to the list of acceptable items.
ARTICLE 17 – AUTHORIZATION TO EXPEND FUNDS IN ANTICIPATION OF REIMBURSEMENT OF STATE HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE AID
This is an annual article allowing the Town to borrow in anticipation of revenues.
ARTICLE 18 – AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE PERSONNEL
BYLAW AND TO REVIEW THE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION
PLAN SO AS TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEES A COST –OF-LIVING PAY
INCREASE (3.0%)
This is an annual article setting the salaries for town employees mentioned above. It includes a COLA raise for all non-union personnel in the Town.
ARTICLE 19 - AUTHORIZATION TO SET THE SALARY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS
This is an annual article of the Town.
ARTICLE 20 – AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE MONEY TO THE SEWER ENTERPRISE ACCOUNT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009
This is an annual article of the Town. It should be noted that all of the funds are coming in from sewer funds without any supplement from the General Fund.
ARTICLE 21 – AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER FREE CASH OR AVAILABLE FUNDS TO REDUCE THE FISCAL YEAR 2009 TAX RATE
This is an annual article allowing the Town to use the free cash certified to balance the Town’s budget.
ARTICLE 22 - FISCAL YEAR 2009 OMNIBUS BUDGET APPROPRIATION ARTICLE
This is the proposed budget for the Town of West Boylston.
ARTICLE 23– AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER UNEXPENDED FUNDS FROM
FISCAL YEAR 2008 APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER NECESSARY
TRANSFERS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2008 APPROPRIATIONS
This is an article produced every year to try to correct budget problems in the current fiscal year. At Town Meeting, the list of budget fixes will be presented for ratification.
ARTICLE 24– AUTHORIZATION TO PAY FUNDS FROM A PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR
This is an article to cover any unpaid bills from a previous fiscal year. It appears as if there is one bill of $1960.73 to cover a sewer related bill and will come from the Sewer Enterprise Fund.
ARTICLE 25 – AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE AMBULANCE RECEIPTS RESERVED FOR APPROPRIATION FOR AMBULANCE BILLING EXPENSES
This is an annual authorization to pay for our ambulance billing service. Due to the amount still in the account, the Town is likely to pass over this article this year.
ARTICLE 26 - AUTHORIZATION TO EXPEND FUNDS FROM THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND TO FUND CAPITAL EQUIPMENT
This article will be presented by the Capital Investment Board as it relates the Capital Plan for West Boylston.
ARTICLE 27 – AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM THE SUMMER RECREATION REVOLVING FUND TO THE FIELDS REVOLVING FUND
This article was a request of the Parks Commission.
ARTICLE 28 - AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM THE SALE OF LOTS ACCOUNT
This article was a request of the Cemetery Commission.
ARTICLE 29 - AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FROM THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION REVENUES
This article will be heard every May by a presentation by the Community Preservation Committee who oversees the administration of the Community Preservation Fund.
ARTICLE 30– APPROPRIATION TO FUND AN ELDERLY
COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM
This is an annual authorization to fund the senior community services program.
ARTICLE 31 - AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE TWO FULL-TIME FIREFIGHTERS
This article seeks to accept the recently received SAFER Grant to hire two fulltime firefighters.
ARTICLE 32 – AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE DPW
This article is requested by the DPW to paint streetlines in Town.
ARTICLE 33 – AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE DPW
This article is requested by the DPW to paint the Town’s loader.
ARTICLE 34 – AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE DPW
This article will be passed over at this time.
ARTICLE 35 – AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE DPW
This article will be passed.
ARTICLE 36 - AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO RESTORE HALF-TIME REMEDIAL MATH TEACHER AT MAJOR EDWARDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
This is a petitioned article. Town Counsel has advised the Town that if passed, the School Committee is not obligated to fund the position requested.
ARTICLE 37 – AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
This article will seek to provide funds to help offset the cost of the Town’s Bicentennial Celebration this year.
ARTICLE 38 – AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER MONEY TO THE STABILIZATION FUND
This annual article allows for adding money into the stabilization fund if we have money available by the end of Town Meeting. It is not expected to be acted upon, as there are no funds expected to be available at Town Meeting.
ARTICLE 39– AUTHORIZATION TO RAISE AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND
This annual article allows for adding money into the stabilization fund if we have money available by the end of Town Meeting. It is hopeful to be acted upon this night.
ARTICLE 40 - AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A LEASE
This article would allow the Town to lease 127 Hartwell Street for Town Hall and Senior Center purposes.
ARTICLE 41 – AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE GENERAL BYLAWS OF TOWN OF WEST BOYLSTON
This article would change the general bylaws regarding transient vendors and hawkers and peddlers.
ARTICLE 42 - AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE ZONING BYLAWS GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HOME OCCUPATIONS
This article would restrict the types of materials that could be stored in the exterior of an occupied home.
ARTICLE 43 - AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE ZONING BYLAWS
This article is requested by Town Counsel and would clarify the appointment of the members of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
ARTICLE 44 - AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE ZONING BYLAWS GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR OFF STREET PARKING
This article would restrict the types of commercially licensed vehicles able to park in residential neighborhoods.
ARTICLE 45 – AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE ZONING BYLAWS BY ADDING AN AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT TO THE CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY OVERLAY DISTRICT
This article from the Planning Board would give an additional option to the land within the Continuing Care Retirement Community Overlay District.
ARTICLE 46 - AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE ZONING BYLAWS CONCERNING DEFINITIONL OF THE CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY OVERLAY DISTRICT
This article from the Planning Board changes the definition of the Continuing Care Retirement Community Overlay District.
ARTICLE 47 - AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE ZONING BYLAWS REGARDING PERMITTING FOR SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS
This article was originally requested by the Board of Selectmen to make it clearer for petitioners to obtain a sign permit in Town.
ARTICLE 48 - AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE ZONING BYLAWS REGARDING SIGN PERMITS FOR PUBLIC, CIVIC, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
This article was originally requested by the Board of Selectmen to make it easier for charitable and civic organizations to obtain a sign permit in Town.
ARTICLE 49 - AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT AN ACCESS AND DRIVEWAY EASEMENT
This article was originally requested by the Board of Selectmen to give the land behind the Mixter Property access to Rte. 12 in the future.
ARTICLE 50 – A PETITION TO ACCEPT EXTENSION TO MERRIMOUNT ROAD
This article is a petitioned article to accept Merrimount Road Ext. as a public way.
ARTICLE 51 – A PETITION TO ACCEPT OLDE CENTURY FARM ROAD AND GARSIDE DRIVE
This article is a petitioned article to accept Olde Century Farm Road and Garside Drive as public ways.
As you can see from the above list, the Town Meeting is full of articles. As always, I try to answer questions from people prior to Town Meeting if you really wish to know the answer to something and are embarrassed to ask in front of the entire Town. Also, let me tell you that as the Town’s ADA Coordinator, I stand ready to assist individuals with accommodations in order to participate with the Town Meeting. If you have any needs, please communicate them to me and I will work with you, to the best of my ability, to ensure you can fully participate in the proceedings.
Leon A. Gaumond Jr.
Town Administrator
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