TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW
May 5, 2003
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 5, 2003. Town Moderator, Mr. Richard Brown, called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM there being 910 registered voters present. Mr. Brown offered the opening prayer and led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ms. Kimberly Wiezbicki, Chairperson of the Board of Selectman, requested the Assembly to recognize those town employees who had anniversaries celebrated in 2003. Kim also recognized Ely Christenson who is retiring following 40 years of service with the Department of Public Works.
Mr. Carl Ohlin, Chairman of the East Longmeadow Independence Day Parade Committee, presented a plaque to Mr. William Ferraro in honor of Mr. Ferraro being named Honorary Grand Marshall of the 2003 East Longmeadow Independence Day Parade. Unfortunately Mr. Ferraro could not be there to accept his plaque but Mr. Ohlin vowed he would be ready the day of the parade.
Article
1
The annual Town Election was held on Tuesday, April 8, 2003.
Article
2
The Town Report is available in the Selectman’s Office and the Town Clerk’s Office at the Town Hall.
Article 3
Operating Budget
The Operating Budget as recommended by the Appropriations Committee was voted as shown in the amended Warrant.
All Operating Budget items were passed unanimously with exception to the following:
A motion was made to amend Article 3, Line 300 - Education, to increase funding by $690,487 form $18,489,458 to $19,179,945.
This motion requested the $690,487 to be funded from the Town’s undesignated funds. The motion was seconded but later withdrawn.
Article 3 (Continued)
Another motion was addressed to the Town Moderator with a move to amend Article 3, Line 300 - Education, to increase funding by $690,487 form $18,489,458 to $19,179,945, subject to a 2 ½ override subject to the provisions of Chapter 59, Section 21C.
This motion passed with a majority.
Article 4
Voted that the Town authorize the payments $122,385.28 incurred in Fiscal Year 2002 and prior years as follows:
$35,595.63 for previous year police full time salary adjustment
$24,590.65 for previous year trash bill
$37,199.00 for previous year liability insurance bill
$25,000.00 for previous year auditing fees
Passed Unanimously.
Article 5
The Capital Budget as recommended by the Capital Planning Committee and the Appropriations Committee was voted on as shown in the Warrant.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 6
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman, re-establish a “Local Cable Access Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 2004, as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 7
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman/Board of Health, re-establish a “Solid Waste Disposal Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 2004, as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 8
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Selectman, re-establish a “Center School Park Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 2004, as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 9
Voted that the Town, acting through its Board of Assessors, appropriate a sum of $56,000 to enable the Board of Assessors to fund the seventh year of a multi-year revaluation contract.
Passed Majority.
Article 10
Voted that the Town appropriate $295,000 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 11
Voted that the Town transfer from the undesignated sewer fund balance, the sum of $19,500 to construct a sanitary sewer along with appurtenances on Athens Street approximately 350 feet as petitioned by Concetta Garcia and others. Said money to be expended under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Works.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 12
Article withdrawn. Petition will be resubmitted at a later date.
No Action.
Article 13
Independence Day Parade
Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $12,000 to fund the “July 4, 2004” Independence Day Parade.
Passed Majority.
Article
14
Authorize Board of Selectman to Take In Fee Simple for
Highway Purposes
No motion Made.
No Action.
Article
15
Voted that the Town accept provisions of General Laws, Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 41C, enacted as Chapter 184, Section 51 of the Acts of 2002, increasing the income limit and asset limit for fiscal year 2004.
Passed Majority.
Article 16
Voted that the Town enact a temporary tax amnesty program during 2003, in accordance with Chapter 4, Section 73 of the Acts of 2003.
Passed Majority.
Article 17
Amend Zoning By-Laws Schedule of Use Regulations Table 3-1 By-Law No. 3.0235 Commercial Kennel
No motion Made.
No Action.
Article
18
Voted that the Town amend the East Longmeadow Zoning By-Law, 1991 Revision, pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40A to make changes for the purpose of changing the East Longmeadow Schedule of Use Regulations by adding By-Law No. 3.0481, “Wireless/Telecommunications Service Facilities and Towers” as fully described in Article 18 of the Warrant.
Passed Majority.
Article
19
Voted that the Town amend the East Longmeadow Zoning By-Law, 1991 Revision, pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40A to make changes for the purpose of adding Section 5.5, “Wireless/Telecommunications Service Facilities and Towers” as fully described in Article 19 of the warrant.
Passed Majority.
Article 20
Recognize All Food Establishments Shall Close at 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and Close at 12:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Voted
that the Town approves standard closing times of 11:00 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday for all food establishments as
defined in the Warrant Article.
Standing
vote: Yes 191, No 159
Motion
for recount and motion seconded. Town
Moderator allowed a recount vote for this Article.
Prior
to the recount, there was a motion for a paper ballot. The motion was seconded and the town
moderator approved a vote for a paper ballot.
Standing
vote for a paper ballot (needing 2/3 majority): Yes 119, No 208.
Did
not pass 2/3-majority vote.
Standing
Recount Vote: Yes 191, No 151
Passed
Majority.
Article 21
To Accept Skyline Drive as a Public Way
No motion made.
No action.
Article 22
To Accept a Portion of Waterman Avenue and Birch Avenue as a Public Way
No
motion made.
No action.
Article 23
Article Withdrawn
No
motion made.
No action.
Article 24
Article Withdrawn
No
motion made.
No action.
Article 25
Reciprocal Agreements with Other Communities to Provide Public Health Services
Voted that the Town authorizes the Board of Selectman to enter into intermunicipal reciprocal agreements with other communities to provide public health services.
Passed Unanimously.
Article 26
Voted that the Town adopts the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 59, Section 5K, to enable the Town to create and offer tax abatement to senior citizens for specific volunteer service provided to the Town.
Passed Unanimously.
Motion to Adjourn
Annual Town Meeting was adjourned at 11:37 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 5, 2003.
Voter attendance was recorded as follows:
Precinct 1 223
Precinct 2 191
Precinct 3 236
Precinct
4 260
910
A True Record: Attest:
Thomas P. Florence
Town Clerk