Town Meeting Approves Public Health Job, Board Rename, More

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington town meeting voters approved every article before them at January Town Meeting Monday, except for four articles that were either withdrawn or postponed.

Two school-related articles, to fund a coronavirus testing program and add to the schools budget, were withdrawn before the meeting. An article altering the public way on Dartmouth Road was postponed, as was a revision of the town's stormwater bylaws.

But the remaining articles passed, most with relative ease.

Three articles were needed to rename the Board of Selectmen the "Select Board," a common gender-neutral alternative. Members would be "select board members." That change will also require approval from the state, which has consistently been granted in recent years.

Housekeeping articles, including a cleanup of the zoning bylaws, an annual transfer from free cash to the reserve fund and a transfer from free cash to the water stabilization fund, passed easily.

The most controversial article was one to fund an associate director of public health position with $40,000 for the remainder of the year. Town Administrator Paul Sagarino asked for more time to review the request, noting that Lexington "has been trying to hire a director for over a year," but the Board of Health Chair Ed Weiner and others urged the meeting members to approve the article, saying the health director has worked seven days a week, 12 or more hours per day throughout the pandemic.

The article passed 72-24.

Members also approved a request to use the fees the town collects from ride-hailing apps to approve the town's subsidized rideshare program and a $9.9 million appropriation for the next phase of the town's connection to the Massachusetts Regional Water Authority.

Finally, after the postponements, withdrawals and the conclusion of the renaming articles, members approved a new bylaw limiting curbside pickup hours to 7 a.m. or later, except in emergencies.

Article summary:

1. Reports.
2. Select Board rename part 1: Approved.
3. Zoning bylaw housekeeping: Approved.
4. Board of Health – Associate Director of Public Health: Approved.
5. Replenish Reserve Fund: Approved.
6. Transportation Infrastructure Fund: Approved.
7. Transfer from Free Cash to Water Stabilization Fund: Approved.
8. Phase 2A MWRA Water Connection: Approved.
9. COVID-19 Testing Program: Withdrawn.
10. Amend the FY2021 Operating Budget - Local Education: Withdrawn.
11. Alteration of Public Way - Dartmouth Road: Postponed
12. Select Board rename part 2: Approved.
13. Select Board rename part 3: Approved.
14. Stormwater: Postponed.
15. Curbside pickup: Approved.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.