TOWN OF EAST
LONGMEADOW
May 21, 2007
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 21, 2007, thus the first Town Meeting held on the third Monday of May following the by-law change form the Annual Town Meeting of 2006. Town Moderator, Mr. James Sheils, called the meeting to order at 7:14PM; there being 186 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 10th Annual Town Election.
Mr. Jack Villamaino, Chairman for the Board of Selectman, requested the Assembly to recognize those town employees who had anniversaries celebrated in 2006. Jack 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 Mr. Lee Hildreath in honor of Mr. Hildreath being named Honorary Grand Marshall of the 2007 East Longmeadow Independence Day Parade. Lee was honored for his many past and present contributions to the Town of East Longmeadow, especially his diligent work and dedication leading to the renovation and planned changes for the Senior Center.
Mr. Sheils then proceeded with some housekeeping issues: Location of fire exits, warrant articles that can be moved within the warrant if approved by a 2/3 majority vote and the recognition from Mr. Sheils to the town’s election workers for their hard work and dedication.
The Town Moderator is now allowed to determine, without a count, based on the by-law change adopted in May 2006, 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.
Article
1
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 afore mentioned locations as well as on the Town’s website, www.eastlongmeadow.org.
Article 2
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, 2007 through June 30, 2008 as presented in the Town Warrant. Detail budget attached.
Passed Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article 3
Voted that the Town appropriate $200,000.00 from free cash to the School Department for FY2007Special Education Costs in account number SP930099 532002.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 4
Voted that the Town appropriate, for the purpose of providing or otherwise constructing the Capital Items for FY2008 as contained in the chart attached to the warrant and these minutes 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 5
Voted that the Town vote to raise and appropriate $250,000.00 to be added to the Stabilization Fund Account for the purpose of setting aside funds for future capital expenditures.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 6
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Assessors, appropriates a sum of $53,000 to enable the Board of Assessors to fund for the annual reevaluation contract.
Passed Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article 7
Voted that the Town appropriate $434,402.00 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 8
Voted that the Town appropriate and transfer $748,771.41 from the water undesignated fund balance and $590,369.08 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 9
Voted the Town appropriate $116,000.00 from free cash to the School Department for FY2007 student athletic fees, account number HS351040.
Passed Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article 10
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman, to re-establish a “Local Cable Access Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 2008, as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.
Passed Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article 11
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman/Board of Health, re-establishes a “Solid Waste Disposal Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 2008, as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.
Passed Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article 12
Transfer from Solid Waste Disposal Revolving Fund to
Trash Collection Account
Voted that the
Town appropriate and transfer $150,000.00 from the Solid Waste Disposal
Revolving Fund to the Trash Collection Account in the General Fund.
Passed Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article 13
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman, re-establishes a “Center School Park Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 2008, as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.
Passed Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article
14
Voted that the Town request the General Court to amend Chapter 423 of the Acts of 2006, grant an additional liquor license, by replacing Section 1 & 2 as printed in the Town Warrant: and that the reading be waived.
Passed Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article 15
Voted that the Town amend the East Longmeadow Zoning Bylaws, Section 3.308 “Unregistered Vehicles” by modifying the text as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant. A 2/3 majority is needed for this zoning amendment.
Passed 2/3 Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article
16
Voted that the Town amend the East Longmeadow Zoning Bylaw, 1991 Revision, Section 2.1 “District Locations and Boundaries” by deleting “May, 2004” in lines 2 and 4 and replacing same with “May 2007”, and to adopt said Zoning Districts Map dated may, 2007” and that the reading be waived.
Passed Unanimously.
Article
17
Voted that the Town amend the East Longmeadow Zoning By-Law, 1991 Revision, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 40A to make changes for the purpose of replacing a paragraph at Section 3.31 Residential Districts – AA, A, B and C – 3.31 “Accessory Buildings in Residential Areas”, all as set forth in Article 17 of the Warrant and that the reading be waived. A 2/3 majority is needed for this zoning amendment.
Passed 2/3 Majority as declared by Town Moderator.
Article 18
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 18 of the Town Meeting Warrant and that the reading be waived. Said street includes DEER RUN TERRACE.
Passed
Unanimously.
Article 19
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 19 of the Town Meeting Warrant and that the reading be waived. Said street includes HALON TERRACE.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 20
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 20 of the Town Meeting Warrant and that the reading be waived. Said street includes LORI LANE EXTENSION.
Article
Withdrawn.
No
motion made.
No action.
Article 21
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 21 of the Town Meeting Warrant and that the reading be waived. Said streets include NOTTINGHAM DRIVE, SHERWOOD LANE AND BALMORAL DRIVE.
Passed Unanimously.
Motion to Adjourn
The Annual Town Meeting was adjourned at 8:18 p.m., the business of the Warrant having been completed.
Certificate of Quorum
This is to certify that more than 150 Registered Voters were present at the Annual Town Meeting held on May 21, 2007. Voter attendance was recorded as follows:
Precinct 1 57
Precinct 2 33
Precinct 3 49
186
True Record: Attest:
Thomas P. Florence
Town Clerk