TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW

TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

MAY 5, 1997

In accordance with the warrant of the Selectmen, the Annual Town Meeting was held in the Auditorium of the East Longmeadow High School on Monday, May 5, 1997. Town Moderator, Richard Brown called the meeting to order at 7:20 P.M. there being more than a quorum present.

The meeting opened with a prayer offered by the Town Moderator who also led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Library Director Gloria Carver gave a report on the status of the new proposed Library and announced that the State has approved the plans paving the way for a 1.4 million dollar grant. Mrs. Carver was followed by School Committee Member Karen Wheeler who reported on the status of the school buildings feasibility study.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Stephen Manning rose to recognize Marilyn Richards for outstanding and dedicated public service over the past ten years as Town Selectperson. Marilyn was given a standing ovation by a very appreciative assembly.

The School Committee introduced a discussion of the fees charged for school busing. Two non-binding votes were taken on the issue. One supported holding an open forum on the issue on May 28th. The other voiced opposition to changing the current fee.

ARTICLE 1

Annual Town Election

The Annual Town Election was held on April 8, 1997.

ARTICLE 2

Reports of Officers and Committees

The Town Report will be available for distribution later in the year.

ARTICLE 3

Operating Budget

The Operating Budget as recommended by the Appropriations Committee was voted as shown in the amended warrant

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 4

Payment of Previous Years Bills

Voted that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen/Board of Health to pay bills for Fiscal Year 1996 in the amount of $555 from the Fiscal Year 1998 Health-Other appropriation.

Passed Unanimously

Annual Town Meeting TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW May 5, 1997

ARTICLE 5

Capital Budget

Voted to raise and appropriate the following sums from taxation:

LIBRARY

Replace 2 HVAC units $20,000

Renovate existing building no action

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Replace 1981 Dump with Dump/Sander Truck 85,000

Generator for Pump Stations 20,000

Replace 1990 Scag Mower 16,000

Replace 1984 Pickup 30,000

Replace 1987 Pickup 30,000

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Replace 2 cruisers 51,000

SELECTMEN

Town Radio System 11,000

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Annual Payment 15 Buses 134,433

Meadow Brook - Final Floorcovering 10,000

Birchland Park - Roof Repairs 30,000

- Fire Alarm System 25,615

- Plumbing 25,000

High School - Front Walk 18,500

Mapleshade - Repair & Seal Cracks 15,000

Mountain View - Retile Floors 5,500

- Replace Ceilings 7,500

- Retile Classroom Floors 17,000

Voted to raise and appropriate the following sums from the Water Fund.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Install Water Main connecting Denslow Road to

Benton Drive 200,000

Supervisor Control & Data Acquisition System 75,000

Annual Town Meeting TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW May 5, 1997

Article 5 cont.

Voted to raise and appropriate the following sums to be provided for by the borrowing under the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Chestnut Street - Force Main Sewer to Center Square $650,000

Elm Street - Replace Water Mains 950,000

Denslow Road - Sewer to Benton Drive 200,000

Improvements to Low Pressure Water System 150,000

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 6

Fire Department - Protective Equipment

Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 for the purchase of personal protective equipment for use by new Fire Department personnel.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 7

Tri Town Trolley - Unemployment & Legal Expenses

Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $7,654.00 and to authorize the payment of that sum of money to the Town of Hampden for the Town’s 1997 proportional share of unemployment compensation expenses and legal expenses relative to the cooperation with the Towns of Hampden, Wilbraham and Longmeadow of the “Tri Town Trolley”.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 8

Revolving Fund - Local Cable Access

Voted that the Town authorize the Town of East Longmeadow, acting through its Board of Selectmen to re-establish a “Local Cable Access Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 1998 as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.

Passed Unanimously

Annual Town Meeting TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW May 5, 1997

ARTICLE 9

Revolving Fund - Solid Waste Disposal

Voted that the Town authorize the Town of East Longmeadow, acting through its Board of Selectmen/Board of Health to re-establish a “Solid Waste Disposal Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 1998 as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 10

Revolving Fund- Center School Park

Voted that the Town authorize the Town of East Longmeadow, acting through its Board of Selectmen to re-establish a “Center School Park Revolving Fund” for Fiscal Year 1998 as printed in the Town Meeting Warrant.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 11

Center Hill School Building

Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000.00 to preserve and maintain a historic one-room school building on Center Hill as a meeting house for Townspeople and civic organizations as petitioned, said sum to be expended under the jurisdiction of the East Longmeadow Cultural Affairs Committee.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 12

General By-Law Amendment - Noncriminal Disposition Procedure

Voted that the Town amend the General By-Laws of the Town by deleting the words “Hampden County Housing Court Department” in Section 8.130 Noncriminal Disposition Procedure Subsection (C), and replacing them with the words “District Court”.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 13

General By-Law Amendment - Dog Waste

Voted that the Town amend the General By-Laws of the Town by adding to Chapter 9, Section 9.015 Removal of Dog Waste as follows:

Annual Town Meeting TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW May 5, 1997

Article 13 cont.

(A) It shall be unlawful for any person owning, keeping, walking, in possession, custody or control of any dog to allow or permit such dog to defecate upon any public or private property unless such person shall remove all feces deposited by such dog before leaving such property.

(B) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a guide dog accompanying any blind person.

(C) Any violation of this section shall constitute an infraction and shall be punishable by a fine of twenty dollars ($20.00).

(D) This section may also be enforced by the non-criminal disposition procedure set forth in 8.130. The penalty for each violation shall be twenty dollars ($20.00) for each violation.

(E) The Dog Officer and any Police Officer of the Town are authorized to enforce the provisions of this section.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 14

Public Works Department - Shoring and Safety Equipment

Voted that the Town raise and appropriate $9,500.00 from the Water Fund Account for the purchase of shoring and safety equipment to be used to improve the safety of the Department of Public Works operations.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 15

Public Works Department - Office Furniture for Computer System

Voted that the Town raise and appropriate $7,500.00 for the purchase of new office furniture to be used for the new computer system for the Department of Public Works office.

Passed by Majority Vote.

ARTICLE 16

Public Works Department - Chemical Storage Shed

Voted that the Town appropriate $100,000.00 to be provided for by taxation for the construction of a municipal chemical storage facility, which is to be reimbursed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Transportation Bond Bill, Chapter 203, Section 35, Acts of 1996. Said money to be expended under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Works.

Passed Unanimously

Annual Town Meeting TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW May 5, 1997

ARTICLE 17

Highway Construction

Voted that the Town appropriate $461,749.00 to be provided for by taxation for highway construction purposes which is to be reimbursed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under Section 2(A) of Chapter 113 of the Acts of 1996. Said money to be expended under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Works.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 18

Pine Knoll Recreation Area - Land Taking

Voted that the Town appropriate the sum of $55,000.00 to acquire by purchase or eminent domain under Chapter 79 of the General Laws, a parcel of land for the purpose of providing additional access to and parking for the Pine Knoll Recreational Area, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to take said land by eminent domain under Chapter 79 of the General Laws; said parcel being described as follows:

Parcel of land in East Longmeadow, Hampden County, Massachusetts, now or formerly owned by Kevin C. Gottlieb, bounded and described as follows:

Beginning at an iron pin on the westerly side of Parker Street, said pin being on the southeasterly corner of land now or formerly of Frances D. Kokonowski; thence S. 6° 26’ 00” E a distance of eighty-two and 34/100 (82.34) feet to an iron pin; thence S. 83° 03’ 28” W a distance of seven hundred thirty-five and 72/100 (735.72) feet to an iron pin; thence N. 6° 59’ 46” E a distance of two hundred seventy-eight and 51/100 (278.51) feet to an iron pin; thence N. 86° 04’ 13” E a distance of five hundred thirty-seven and 83/100 (537.83) feet to an iron pin set in the northwesterly corner of land now or formerly of Frances D. Kokonowski; thence S. 4° 25’ 53” E a distance of one hundred sixty-five and 54/100 (165.54) feet to an iron pin set in the southwesterly corner of land now or formerly of Frances D. Kokonowski; thence N. 83° 45’ 35” E a distance of two hundred six and 89/100 (206.89) feet to an iron pin at the place of beginning containing 158,013 square feet, more or less.

Being the same premises shown on plan of land in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, surveyed for Charles E. And Ruth S. Silvia dated August 1991, prepared by Smith Associates Surveyors, Inc., to be recorded herewith at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds. Being the same premises conveyed to Charles E. Silvia by deed of Stanley M. Wiezbicki and Geneveve S. Wiezbicki, dated October 1, 1962, recorded in the Hampden County Registry of Deeds in Book 2908, Page 422.

Standing vote: Yes 249, No 4. Passed by 2/3 Majority

Annual Town Meeting TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW May 5, 1997

ARTICLE 19

Assessors - Seven Year Revaluation Contract

Voted that the Town authorize the Board of Assessors to enter into a seven year revaluation contract in accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 797, Acts of 1979 and to raise a sum of $56,100.00 for the Board of Assessors to fund the first year of said seven year contract.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 20

Assessors - Increase of Widow’s Tax Exemption

Voted that the Town accept clause seventeen D of Section 5, Chapter 59 of the General Laws, enacted as Chapter 181, Section 1 of the Acts of 1995.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 21

Funds Transfer - Conservation Commission

Voted that the Town transfer $500.00 from the Wetland Protection Fund into Conservation Commission Operating Budget under Other Expenses. Said money to be expended in FY97 and to be used to pay Consultant to study Mill River Use Environmental Soundness.

Passed unanimously

ARTICLE 22

Street Taking - Fox Hedge Road

Voted that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen by virtue of Chapter 79 of General Laws to take in fee simple for highway purposes the following street as recommended by the Planning Board:

Fox Hedge Road, A strip of land 60 feet in width running westerly from the westerly street line of Sutton Place to an emergency access and utilities easement located on the westerly street line of Evergreen Drive, a distance of approximately 445 feet as shown on a plan recorded in the Hampden County Registry of Deeds Book of Plans 179, Page 13.

Passed Unanimously

Annual Town Meeting TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW May 5, 1997

ARTICLE 23

Street Takings - Old Farm Rd, High Meadow Cir, Old Pasture Dr, Prospect Hills Dr

Voted that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen by virtue of Chapter 79 of General Laws to

take in fee simple for highway purposes the following streets as recommended by the Planning Board:

Old Farm Road, A strip of land 60 feet in width running northerly and westerly from Pease Road to its terminus at a temporary cul-de-sac, a distance of approximately 3,370 feet as shown on plan recorded in the Hampden County Registry of Deeds Book of Plans 260 Page 62 & 63.

High Meadow Circle, A strip of land 60 feet in width located on the south side of Old Farm Road and approximately 1,880 feet northwest of the intersection of Old Farm Road and Pease Road. Said street running southerly and westerly to its terminus at a cul-de-sac, a distance of approximately 700 feet as shown on plan recorded in the Hampden County Registry of Deeds Book of Plans 260 Page 62 & 63.

Old Pasture Drive, A strip of land 60 feet in width located on the east side of Prospect Hills Drive approximately 1,080 feet north of intersection with Prospect Street. Said drive running easterly from Prospect Hills Drive to its terminus with Old Farm Road, a distance of approximately 740 feet as shown on plan recorded in the Hampden County Registry of Deeds Book of Plans 260 Page 62 & 63.

Prospect Hills Drive, A strip of land 60 feet in width beginning at Prospect Street thence running northeasterly and northerly to its terminus at a cul-de-sac, a distance of approximately 1,640 feet as shown on plan recorded in the Hampden County Registry of Deeds Book of Plans 260 Page 62 & 63.

Passed Unanimously

ARTICLE 24

Consultant/Teacher for Gifted and Talented Students

Voted that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $35,000.00 to be used by the School Department to pay only the salary of a Consultant/Teacher acting as a resource person to classroom teachers to help meet the need of gifted and talented children in grades K-5, primarily, to be expended under the jurisdiction of the School Committee.

Passed by Majority Vote

Annual Town Meeting TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW May 5, 1997

ARTICLE 25

General By-Law Amendment - Department Reports on Petitioned Articles

Voted the Town amend the General By-Laws of the Town by adding to Chapter 3 a new Section 3.060, as follows:

3.060. Each Town Board, Committee or Department upon notification by the Board of Selectmen that an Article, requesting funds to be appropriated for expenditure under its control or for purposes that are under its control has been submitted for inclusion in a Town Meeting Warrant by petition of registered voters of the Town, shall review the petition and file a written report with the Appropriations Committee and with the Capital Planning Committee (if a capital expenditure is involved). Said report shall include:

(A) Whether it favors or opposes the action petitioned and its reasons therefore;

(B) the estimated cost to perform the petitioned action;

(C) whether additional expenditures or projects should be anticipated or expected to be required if the petitioned action is approved;

(D) any reasons why the petitioned action may not be in the best interest of the Town. And pass any vote or any other action in relation thereto.

Passed Unanimously.

ARTICLE 26

Stabilization Fund Transfer

Voted that the Town transfer the sum of $150,000.00 from Undesignated Fund Balance to the Stabilization Fund.

Passed Unanimously.

ARTICLE 27

Appropriation of Funds for Tax Rate

No motion made.

Annual Town Meeting TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW May 5, 1997

MOTION TO ADJOURN

Annual Town Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 PM, the business of the Warrant having been completed.

CERTIFICATE OF QUORUM

This is to certify that a quorum of more than 150 voters were present at the Annual Town Meeting held on May 5, 1997.

Voter attendance was recorded as follows:

Precinct 1 83

Precinct 2 47

Precinct 3 70

Precinct 4 86

286

A True Record: Attest:

James P. Connor, Town Clerk

J. Donald Plourde, Town Clerk (Appointed 1-5-98)