Holliston 2022 Annual Town Meeting: What You Need To Know

HOLLISTON, MA - Holliston will hold its Annual Town Meeting beginning Monday at 7 p.m., and members have 41 articles to consider ranging from the town's omnibus budget to cannabis policy to the possible expansion of the Select Board to five members.

Because of the number of articles, Town Meeting may span more than one night. Subsequent meetings will be held next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, if needed.

Here is a guide to some of the key issues on the warrant. The entire warrant can be found here.

Cannabis policy

Articles 3 through 10 deal with establishing the town's cannabis revenue and delivery policy. Holliston voted in May 2017 to prohibit marijuana retailers in town as a temporary moratorium. Marijuana cultivation and manufacturing are allowed in Holliston, but subject to a host community agreement with the town and special approval from the Planning Board.

Articles 3, 4 and 5 seek to separate any non-tax cannabis revenue from the general fund. The thinking behind this strategy is to protect funding in case legislation changes on cannabis policy, as well as to potentially use the monies for endeavors such as drug use prevention campaigns or drug diversion and management programs. If approved, it will set aside not less than 25% of these funds for costs related to the operation of marijuana establishments and include a sales tax if the prohibition were changed by a future Town Meeting.

Article 3 would establish a cannabis stabilization fund, and Articles 4 and 5 would specify that the receipts will be directed there. The Finance Committee recommended favorable action by a 6-0 vote.

Because Holliston currently does not allow the sale of marijuana, there are three articles related to its delivery. Article 6 seeks to add the terms "marijuana courier," "marijuana delivery operator," and "marijuana delivery licensee" to the current general bylaws on cannabis.

A marijuana courier refers to finished products and goods delivered directly to a consumer. A delivery licensee is licensed to purchase wholesale and finished marijuana products, which a delivery operator can purchase and sell directly to consumers.

Article 7 seeks to amend the zoning bylaw to add marijuana licenses within an industrial zone by special permit.

Articles 8, 9 and 10, if approved, will allow the Select Board to notify the state's Cannabis Control Commission of its decision to allow a company located outside of town to deliver cannabis or cannabis products to a resident of Holliston.

The FY 23 omnibus budget

Article 27 is the town's omnibus budget article. As presented, the budget of $67,127,419 is balanced without the need to cut services if the town's entire levy capacity is used. Tax-supported articles will reduce this amount by $1,875,000, and a capital outlay of 320,875 from the capital expenditure fund will reduce the total proposed budget amount to $64,931,544.

The Holliston Public Schools requested an FY23 budget of $38,895,279, an increase of $1,796,756, or 4.84%, over the previous year.

Article 25 - Solar payment in lieu of taxes agreement for 39 Marshall St.

This article would authorize the Select Board and Board of Assessors to negotiate and enter into a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with the developers of the solar photovoltaic facility being constructed at the former Bird Property at 39 Marshall St.

Article 34 - Holliston's 300th Anniversary Preparation

This article will discuss the appropriation of $30,000 to fund activities for the 300th anniversary of the town's founding on December 3, 2024. If approved, it would direct the Select Board to apply for and receive any state or federal grants or other funds available for this year-long event. The Select Board would also be authorized to consider any applications for town events and activities

in recognition of the anniversary, and; to act as the executive authority for all permits and other liabilities.

Article 41 - Expansion of the Select Board to five members

This article is a citizen's petition to expand the Select Board from its current membership of three members to five. Terms would be for three years each. Terms would be staggered so that no more than two terms would expire in the same year.

If this article is approved, Town Meeting would direct the Select Board to hold a special election within 180 days from the conclusion of the 2022 Annual Town Meeting for the purpose of electing two new members. One member would be elected to a two-year term while the second would seek a three-year term.