Dover 2012 Annual Town Meeting Results

Dover's 2012 Annual Town Meeting was held Monday night as the quorum of over 200 townspeople passed 22 of the 23 warrant articles presented to the town.

The only article that did not pass was Article 12, which was an article submitted by the Personnel Board to raise and appropriate $45,000 for a pay and classification study of the town's employees. The study, which the Warrant Committee recommended the town approve appropriation for, would have looked at the job descriptions of town employees with third-party consultants in order to determine compensation for the positions against a market of similar towns in the state. The motion failed by a majority voice vote after several residents complained of the high cost of the study and its necessity at this time.

All other articles on the warrant passed, although some came down to a standing majority vote.

Article 5 Line 7b was approved by the town after a majority standing vote of 100 for 'Yes' and 87 for 'No'. The article approved the appropriation of $50,000 to replace the telephone system at the Chickering School on the recommendation of the Warrant Committee. Several residents wondered why the price for the new phone system was so high. The Warrant Committee argued that the new phone system was necessary given the quality of the current system in place. After a majority voice vote could not be found the motion passed by a standing vote.

The article that saw the most contention during the evening was Article 11, which allowed for the appropriation of $5,000 to conduct a feasability study of a possible rail trail in Dover. The funds were to cover legal and consulting expenses to study the possibility of creating a 3.7 mile hiking/bike trail along the old railroad tracks in town. The trail (Bay Colony Rail Trail) would connect the town with Needham and Medfield along an unpaved path that would be used for recreational purposes. Several residents voiced concerns over the trail and the study, however, most comments focused on the pros and cons of the trail rather than whether the funds should be appropraited for the study. The article passed by a majority standing vote of 160 for 'Yes' and 50 for 'No'.

In Article 14, residents voted to approve the raising and appropriation of $774,617 for the Dover Fire Department to purchase a new ladder truck. Dover Fire Chief John Hughes gave a brief presentation outlining the department's need for a new ladder truck and pointed out that while the chasis of their current ladder truck was new in 1993, the ladder on the truck was built in 1979 and does not meet current safety standards. The new truck would not only be safer, according to Hughes, but would significantly improve the department's ability to adequately respond to certain emergencies.

The meeting was a special one for Moderator Pamela Ellsworth, who has been Dover's Moderator for the past 13 years. Ellsworth, who announced that she would be moving out of Dover, was given an ovation at the beginning of the meeting.

Line 1

A. Passed

B. Passed

C. Passed

Line 2

A. Passed

B. Passed

Line 3 - Passed

Line 4

A. Passed

B. Passed

Line 5 - Passed

Line 6

A. Passed

B. Passed

Line 1 - Replace Tractor Mower for Cemetary Commission, $18,000 - Motion Passed

Line 2 - Turnout Gear for Fire Department, $45,000 - Motion Passed

Line 3 - Highway Dept.

A. 30-yard Recycling Container, $7,300 - Motion Passed

B. Fuel Tank Fuel Dispensers, $8,000 - Motion Passed

Line 4 - Library Technology Upgrades, $7,000 - Motion Passed

Line 5- Parks and Recreation

A. Tennis Courts Repair and Maintenance at Caryl Park, $20,000 - Motion Passed

B. Small Tractor/Mower, $17,400 - Motion Passed

Line 6- Police Department Patrol Vehicle, $35,000 - Motion Passed

Line 7- Dover School Committee

A. Replacement of Computer Technology and Equipment, $50,000 - Motion Passed

B. Replacement of Telephone System, $50,000 - Motion Passed by a majority standing vote of 100 for 'Yes' and 87 for 'No'

C. Interactive Whiteboard System, $37,952 - Motion Passed

D. Carpet for Library, $0 - Motion Passed

E. Interior Painting, $20,000 -  Motion Passed

F. Exterior Siding, $7,500 - Motion Passed

G. Main Power Supply Surge Protector, $15,000 - Motion Passed

Line 8- Board of Selectmen

A. Town House Copier, $9,000 - Motion Passed

B. Caryl Community Center: Interior Signage, $5,000 - Motion Passed

C. Caryl Community Center: Building Maintenance, $50,000 - Motion Passed

D. Caryl Community Center: Art Room Refurbishment, $15,000 - Motion Passed