TOWN OF
EAST LONGMEADOW
May 1,
2006
In accordance with the warrant of the Selectman, the Annual Town Meeting was held in the Auditorium of the East Longmeadow High School on Monday evening, May 1 2006. Town Moderator, Mr. James Sheils, called the meeting to order at 7:16PM; there being 1,086 registered voters present. Mr. Sheils offered the opening prayer and led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. He then congratulated the various elected town officials who were recently elected at the April 11th Annual Town Election.
Mr. James Driscoll, Chairman for the Board of Selectman, requested the Assembly to recognize those town employees who had anniversaries celebrated in 2005. Jim also recognized the various department heads and their staffs for their hard work and dedication throughout the past year.
Mr. Carl Ohlin, Chairman of the East Longmeadow Independence Day Parade Committee, presented a plaque to Ms. Merle Safford in honor of Ms. Safford being named Honorary Grand Marshall of the 2006 East Longmeadow Independence Day Parade. Merle was honored for her many past and present contributions to the Town of East Longmeadow, especially her work to restore the Norcross House.
Mr. Sheils then proceeded with some housekeeping issues: Location of Fire exits; Articles can be moved within the warrant if approved by a 2/3 majority vote and the introduction of Jack Claffey as Assistant Moderator for people located in the Gymnasium.
There was then a vote taken to allow The Town Moderator to determine, without a count, whether a 2/3’s quorum town vote has been obtained, subject to the right of challenge by seven (7) voters as authorized the Town By-Law, Section 2.030 Chapter 13. If seven (7) or more voters challenge the vote, a teller count shall be required. This motion was recognized, seconded and voted upon. The motion passed unanimously.
Article
1
The annual
Town Election was held on Tuesday, April 11, 2006. Mr. Sheils again recognized the
officials who were voted into their respective offices.
Article
2
The Town Report is available in the Selectman’s Office and the Town Clerk’s Office at the Town Hall. The Town Report is also available in CD ROM at both before mentioned locations as well as on the Town’s website, http://www.eastlongmeadow.org/.
Article
3
Operating Budget
To hear and act on the report of the Operating Budget as recommended by the Appropriations Committee and to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be required to carry on the business of the Town Departments for the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 as presented in the Town Warrant.
Passed Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article
4
Voted that the Town raise and appropriate $78,794.68 to pay outstanding bills incurred in FY 2005 or previous years as follows:
$ 6,989.18 Fire Expenses
$ 1,753.35 Police Expenses
$ 4,209.96 Building Expenses
$65,842.19 Long Term Debt
$78,794.68
Passed Unanimously.
Article 5
Voted that the Town appropriate, for the purpose of providing or otherwise constructing the Capital Items for FY2007 as contained in the chart attached to the warrant entitled Capital Planning Article; to determine whether such appropriation shall be raised by taxation, by transfer from water undesignated fund balance, by transfer from unexpended proceeds of prior bond issues of the Town, and by borrowing as described in such chart as recommended by the Capital Planning Committee and the Appropriations Committee.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 6
Voted that the Town vote to raise and appropriate $150,000.00 to be added to the Stabilization Fund Account for the purpose of setting aside funds for future capital expenditures.
Passed 2/3 Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article
7
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Assessors, appropriates a sum of $53,000 to enable the Board of Assessors to fund the third year of a multi-year revaluation contract.
Passed Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article
8
Voted that the Town appropriate $350,605.00 to be provided for by taxation, from available funds in the Treasury, for highway construction and/or reconstruction or maintenance purposes, which is to be reimbursed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Said money to be expended under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Works.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 9
Voted that the Town appropriate and transfer $768,314.48 from the water undesignated fund balance and $606,265.72 from the sewer undesignated fund balance to the General Fund Long Term Debt and Interest Accounts to fund Water and Sewer Long Term Debt and Interest.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 10
Voted the Town appropriate $150,000.00 to fund the warrant article for landfill issues under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectman acting as the Board of Health.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 11
Voted the Town raise and/or appropriate by borrowing or otherwise provide a sum of $2,872,025.00 for the construction of 12 new elementary school classrooms (4 at Meadow Brook, 4 at Mapleshade and 4 at Mountainview). The funding is to come from a debt exclusion ballot vote of the Town. The Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectman is authorized to borrow under Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
Motion made to move Article 11 prior to Article 6. Teller count was taken with a 2/3 majority needed to move the article. 493 Yes, 263 No. Motion failed to move the presentation of the article immediately before Article 6.
Article 11 passed 2/3 Majority as declared by the Town Moderator to go to a ballot question.
Article
12
Voted to authorize the Board of Selectman to purchase or otherwise acquire property for the expansion of the Senior Center and raise and/or appropriate by borrowing or otherwise a sum of money to accomplish the same.
Article Withdrawn.
No motion made.
No action.
Article 13
Independence Day
Parade
Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $12,000 to fund the “July 4, 2007” Independence Day Parade.
Article Withdrawn.
No motion made.
No action.
Article 14
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman, to re-establish a “Local Cable Access Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 2007, as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.
Passed Unanimously.
Article
15
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman/Board of Health, re-establishes a “Solid Waste Disposal Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 2007, as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.
Passed Unanimously.
Article
16
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman, re-establishes a “Center School Park Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 2007, as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.
Passed Unanimously.
Article
17
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman, establish an “East Longmeadow Public Library Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 2007, as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.
Article Withdrawn.
No motion made.
No action.
Article 18
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman, amend Chapter 2 of the general by-laws of the Town of East Longmeadow regulating Town Meeting as printed in the Town Warrant. It is to be noted that Substitute Town Moderator Richard Brown presided over this article due to Town Moderator James Sheils position recommending passage of this Article in his capacity as Chair of the By-Law Review Committee appointed by the Board of Selectman.
Passed Majority as declared by Substitute Town Moderator.
Article
19
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman, amend Chapter 9 of the general by-laws of the Town of East Longmeadow regulating Animal Control as printed in the Town Warrant.
Passed Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article
20
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman, amend Chapter 9 of the general by-laws of the Town of East Longmeadow by adding a new section as printed in the Town Warrant.
Passed Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article
21
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman, amend the general by-laws of the Town of East Longmeadow municipal charges lien, section 3, adopted at the May 2, 2005 Annual Town Meeting, as printed in the Town Warrant.
Passed Unanimously.
Article
22
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman and Police Department, amend Chapter 8 of the general by-laws of the Town of East Longmeadow by adding a new section 8.809 as printed in the Town Warrant.
Teller count taken. 126 Yes, 130 No. Motion Failed.
Article
23
Voted that the Town, through its Board of Selectman, amend Section 3.33 Business Districts of the zoning by-laws of the Town of East Longmeadow by adding a new paragraph as printed in the Town Warrant. It is to be noted that Substitute Town Moderator Richard Brown presided over this article due to Town Moderator James Sheils involvement of his law office with this Article.
Motion made to move Article 23 to follow Article 5. Teller count was taken with a 2/3 majority needed to move the article. 712 Yes, 325 No. Motion passed to move the presentation of the article immediately after Article 5.
Article 23 passed 2/3 majority as declared by Substitute Town Moderator.
999 Yes, 38 No.
Article
24
Voted that the Town, as recommended by the Planning Board, amend Zoning By-Law, 1991 Revision, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 40A to make changes for the purpose of adding a paragraph to Section 5.8: Signs as described in the Town Warrant.
Passed 2/3 Majority as declared by the Town Moderator.
Article
25
Voted that the Town, as recommended by the Planning Board, amend the East Longmeadow Zoning Map titles “Zoning Districts East Longmeadow, MA” dated may, 2004, prepared by Applied Geographics, Inc., by bringing the zones and boundaries up to date, as approved in previous Town Meetings.
Passed Unanimously.
Article
26
Voted that the Town authorizes the Board of Selectman, by virtue of Massachusetts General Law 79, to take in fee simple for highway purposes the streets as described in Article 26 of the Town Meeting Warrant, petitioned by Barbara Mulak and others. Said streets includes BALMORAL DRIVE. NOTTINGHAM DRIVE and SHERWOOD LANE.
Article Withdrawn.
No motion made.
No action.
Article
27
Voted that the Town authorizes the Board of Selectman, by virtue of Massachusetts General Law 79, to take in fee simple for highway purposes the streets as described in Article 27 of the Town Meeting Warrant, petitioned by Sivad Development Partners, LP, and others. Said street includes Canterbury Circle -- Great Woods Phase IV.
Article Withdrawn.
No motion made.
No action.
Article
28
Voted that the Town authorizes the Board of Selectman, by virtue of Massachusetts General Law 79, to take in fee simple for highway purposes the streets as described in Article 28 of the Town Meeting Warrant, petitioned by Sivad Development Partners, LP, and others. Said streets include Pembroke Terrace and Rockingham Circle – Great Woods Phase V.
Article Withdrawn.
No motion made.
No action.
Article
29
Voted that the Town authorizes the Board of Selectman, by virtue of Massachusetts General Law 79, to take in fee simple for highway purposes the streets as described in Article 29 of the Town Meeting Warrant, petitioned by Sivad Development Partners, LP, and others. Said street includes Abbey Lane –Great Woods Phase VI.
Article Withdrawn.
No motion made.
No action.
Article
30
Voted to accept a newly constructed roadway as petitioned by Westmass Area Development located at the end of an existing roadway now known as Deer Park Drive as described in Article 30 of the Town Warrant.
Article Withdrawn.
No motion made.
No action.
Motion to
Adjourn
The Annual Town Meeting was adjourned at 10:54 p.m., the business of the Warrant having been completed.
Town Moderator James Sheils passed on his appreciation to John Claffey and Richard Brown for their assistance.
Certificate
of Quorum
This is to certify that more than 150 Registered Voters were present at the Annual Town Meeting held on May 1, 2006. Voter attendance was recorded as follows:
Precinct 1 283
Precinct 2 290
Precinct 3 303
1,086
True Record: Attest:
Thomas P. Florence
Town Clerk