TOWN OF EAST LONGMEADOW
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
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: Locations 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
Annual Town Election
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
Reports of Officers and Committees
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, 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
Payment of Previous Years Bills
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
Capital Budget
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
Appropriate Funds to be added to Stabilization
Account
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
Fund the Third Year of a Multi Year Revaluation
Contract
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
Department of Public Works – Highway
Construction
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
Transfer of Funds from Water and Sewer
Undesignated Fund Balance
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
Fund Landfill Issues
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
New Elementary School Classrooms
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
Senior Center
Expansion / Property Acquisition
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
Revolving Fund – Local Cable Access
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
Revolving Fund – Solid Waste Disposal
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
Revolving Fund – Center School Park
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
Revolving Fund – Library
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
Amend Chapter 2 of the General By-Laws for the
Town
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
Amend Chapter 9 of the General By-Laws for the
Town
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
Amend Chapter 9 of the General By-Laws for the
Town
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
Amend Chapter 3 of the General By-Laws for the
Town
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
Amend Chapter 8 of the General By-Laws for the
Town
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
Amend Zoning By-Laws in Business Districts
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
Amend Zoning By-law, 1991
Revision, Signs
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
Amend Zoning By-law, 1991
Revision, District Locations and Boundaries
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
Authorize Board of Selectman to Take In Fee
Simple for Highway Purposes
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
Authorize Board of Selectman to Take In Fee
Simple for Highway Purposes
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
Authorize Board of Selectman to Take In Fee
Simple for Highway Purposes
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
Authorize Board of Selectman to Take In Fee
Simple for Highway Purposes
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
Accept Newly Constructed Roadway
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
Precinct
4 210
Thomas P. Florence
Town Clerk
