Needham Special Town Meeting, Annual Town Meeting Close

While Aly Raisman was scoring well, elected officials in Needham unfurled a new flag, honored Town Meeting members, and voted on a number of Town Meeting articles.

Town Meeting Moderator Michael Fee announced at the beginning of Monday night's meeting that, joining the Massachusetts flag on stage is a new Needham town flag. 

During the third night of Needham Town Meeting, the annual warrant was put on hold to address a number of Special Town Meeting warrant articles. 

Special Town Meeting Articles:

• Article 1 - Appropriate for Tree Inventory Grant Matching Funds. Approved in Consent Agenda. 
• Article 2 - Appropriate for Waste Containers. Approved in Consent Agenda. 
• Article 3 - Amend the FY2013 Operating Budget. Approved by majority vote. 
• Article 4 - Amend Zoning By-Law: Lot Width Definition/Measurement. Approved by majority vote.
• Article 5 - Amend General By-Law Type and Length of Software Contracts. Approved by majority vote.
• Article 6 - Amend Tax Increment Financing Plan and TIF Agreement.Approved in Consent Agenda. 
• Article 7 - Rescind Bond Authorization. Approved in Consent Agenda. 
• Article 8 - Appropriate for General Fund Cash Capital.Withdrawn. 
• Article 9 - Appropriate for Sewer Line Reconstruction. Approved in Consent Agenda. 
• Article 10 - Accept Mass. General Laws: C. 40 Section 13D – Compensated Absence Fund. Approved in Consent Agenda. 

Having concluded the Special Town Meeting, Members also discussed the remaining articles from the Annual Town Meeting warrant.

Also at the meeting, the Melick Awards, which honor Town Meeting Members of Needham for years of service to the government and town. Bill and Sally Powers, Ann Cosgrove, and Tony Cefalo all earned awards. 

Ann Dermarderosian earned recognition for 25 years as a TMM.

Town Meeting dissolved both the Annual and Special meetings for May, passing a resolution with both of them. The Special Town Meeting closed with a resolution to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing, Annual meeting in memory of Selectman Jerry Wasserman.