Town, School Budgets Passed, Pot Stores: Northboro Town Meeting

NORTHBOROUGH, MA—Northborough voters headed to Algonquin Regional High School on Monday, April 23, for the annual town meeting, voting on (or passing over) 41 articles on this year's warrant. Of the 11,182 voters in Northborough, 358 attended town meeting in 2018.

Residents passed several budgets, including a $22,536,704)town budget, $24,265,593 K-8 schools budget and $11,933,763 for Algonquin Regional.

Voters also approved $87,000 for a new police cruiser, $140,000 for a new dump truck for the DPW, $140,000 for a mapping project and gave a thumbs up to a library grant and

Several community conservation motions passed as well as prohibiting recreational marijuana establishments.

Here are the articles and results:

• ARTICLE 1: Appointing Deputy Moderator MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to ratify the appointment by the Moderator of Gerald Hickman as Deputy Moderator, as provided by Article II, Section 2-2 of the Northborough Home Rule Charter.
• ARTICLE 2: Compensating Balance Agreement MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to enter into a Compensating Balance Agreement or Agreements pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53F, if necessary.
• ARTICLE 3: Prior Year’s Bills PASSED OVER
  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the Treasury, or other available funds, a sum of money to pay bills incurred in prior years, or take any action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 4: Town Budget MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and transfer from available funds the sum of Twenty Two Million Five Hundred Thirty Six Thousand Seven Hundred Four Dollars ($22,536,704) for Town Government as displayed
• ARTICLE 5: Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Enterprise Funds MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and transfer from available funds the sum of Five Million Four Hundred Forty One Thousand Two Hundred Seventy Two Dollars ($5,441,272) for Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Funds as displayed below for the operation of the Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Utilities, and to meet said appropriation
• ARTICLE 6: Northborough K-8 Schools Budget MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate by taxation the sum of Twenty Four Million Two Hundred Sixty Five Thousand Five Hundred Ninety Three Dollars ($24,265,593) for the operation of the Northborough Public Schools, or take any action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 7: Algonquin Regional High School Budget MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate by taxation Northborough’s share of the assessment for the operation of the Northborough-Southborough Regional School District, the sum of Eleven Million Nine Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty Three Dollars ($11,933,763), or take any action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 8: Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School District Budget MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate by taxation Northborough’s share of the assessment for the operation and debt service of the Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School District, the sum of Seven Hundred Fifty Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Two Dollars ($757,722), or take any action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 9: Library Grants MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Library Trustees to accept and spend a sum of money received under the Library Incentive and Municipal Equalization Grants, and the Nonresident Circulation Offset program, under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 78, Sections 19A and 19B, and 605 CMR 4.00, and as supplemented or amended by current state budget language, to be used by the Library Trustees for books, automation costs, or in any way that may benefit the library, and to apply for State aid for the coming fiscal year.
• ARTICLE 10: Authorization for Grant Applications MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to make such application as may be necessary for Federal and/or State funds or grants, to accept such funds or grants and to expend those funds as required by the various acts, if and when such funds are received.
• ARTICLE 11: Revolving Funds Bylaw and Authorization of Expenditure Limits MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to A) amend the general by-laws of the Town by adding a new section to authorize revolving funds for use by certain Town departments, boards, committees, agencies or officers under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, § 53E½
• ARTICLE 12: Appropriations Committee Reserve Fund MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of One Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($175,000) for a Reserve Fund to provide for extraordinary or unforeseen expenditures in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 6, and to meet said appropriation, One Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($175,000) be transferred from Free Cash, or take any action relative thereto. This Article provides the Town operations with an option for the funding of extraordinary or unforeseen expenditures during the year.
• ARTICLE 13: Stabilization Fund Contribution MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) for transfer to the Stabilization Fund, and to meet said appropriation, the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) be transferred from Free Cash, or take any action relative thereto. This Article provides for a contribution to the Stabilization Fund or general savings account for the Town.
• ARTICLE 14: Algonquin Regional High School Stabilization Fund MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Northborough-Southborough Regional School District to establish a Stabilization Fund according to Chapter 71, Section 16G 1/2 of the General Laws for the purposes of funding capital items as identified in the Northborough-Southborough Regional School District Capital Plan.
• ARTICLE 15 (CIP): Police – Police Cruiser Replacements MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Eighty-Seven Thousand Dollars ($87,000) for the use of the Police Department for the purchase of two new patrol vehicles, and to meet said appropriation the sum of Eighty-Seven Thousand Dollars ($87,000) be transferred from Free Cash.
• ARTICLE 16 (CIP): MIS/GIS – GIS Aerial Photography and Mapping MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($140,000) for the use of the MIS/GIS Department for a new aerial photography and mapping project, and to meet said appropriation the sum of One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($140,000) be transferred from Free Cash. − This Article provides funds for a new aerial photography and mapping project to update the Town’s Geographic Information System. The last update was done in 2008.
• ARTICLE 17 (CIP): DPW – One-Ton Dump Truck with Hot Box and Plow MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($140,000) for the use of the DPW Department for the purchase of a one-ton dump truck with a plow and asphalt hot box, and to meet said appropriation the sum of One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($140,000) be transferred from Free Cash. − This Article provides funds for the purchase of a one-ton dump truck with a plow and asphalt hot box to replace a 2008 one-ton dump truck that has surpassed its useful life expectancy of about 10 to 12 years.
• ARTICLE 18 (CIP): DPW – Street Sweeper Replacement MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Thirty-One Thousand Dollars ($231,000) for the use of the DPW Department for the purchase of a street sweeper, and to meet said appropriation the sum of Two Hundred Thirty-One Thousand Dollars ($231,000) be transferred from Free Cash. This Article provides funds for the purchase of a street sweeper to replace a 2007 street sweeper that has surpassed its useful life expectancy of about 10 years.
• ARTICLE 19 (CIP): DPW – Skid Steer Replacement MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of One Hundred Five Thousand Dollars ($105,000) for the use of the DPW Department for the purchase of a skid steer, and to meet said appropriation the sum of One Hundred Five Thousand Dollars ($105,000) be transferred from Free Cash. This Article provides funds for the purchase of a skid steer to replace a 2006 skid steer.
• ARTICLE 20 (CIP): DPW – Road Improvements and Maintenance MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) for Road Improvements and Maintenance, and to meet said appropriation the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) be transferred from Free Cash. This Article provides funds in addition to the FY2019 Chapter 90 allocation in order to maintain current road conditions in accordance with the Pavement Management Plan.
• ARTICLE 21 (CIP): Water & Sewer – Excavator MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of One Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($160,000) for the use of the DPW Department for the purchase of an excavator for the Water and Sewer Enterprise Divisions, and to meet said appropriation the sum of Ninety-Six Thousand Dollars ($96,000) be transferred from Water Enterprise Free Cash and the sum of Sixty-Four Thousand Dollars ($64,000) be transferred from Sewer Enterprise Free Cash, for a total of One Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($160,000). This Article provides funds for the purchase of a new excavator to be used for water and sewer construction and repair projects. The cost of the excavator is being split 60%/40% between the Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds.
• ARTICLE 22 (CIP): Water – Water Mains Repair and Replacement MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000) for the use of the Water Division to fund water main and service replacement, and to meet said appropriation the sum of Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000) be transferred from Water Enterprise Free Cash.
• ARTICLE 23 (CIP): School Department – Zeh School Boiler Replacement MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Three Hundred Fifty-Seven Thousand Dollars ($357,000) for the use of the School Department for boiler replacement at the Zeh School, and to meet said appropriation the sum of Three Hundred Fifty-Seven Thousand Dollars ($357,000) be transferred from Free Cash.
• ARTICLE 24: Consolidated Personnel Bylaw MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to amend the Consolidated Personnel Bylaw as shown in the handout (copies of which were available in the Town Clerk’s Office continuously prior to the posting of the Warrant until the time of Town Meeting) entitled “Article 24 – Consolidated Personnel Bylaw Amendments – 2018 Annual Town Meeting.”
• ARTICLE 25: Finance Department Reorganization MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to amend Part 1 of the Northborough Town Code, Sections 1-36- 030, 1-36-040, and 1-36-070, by adding the text shown below as underlined and deleting the text shown in strikethrough, and by adding a new Section 1-36-080 shown below as underlined, or take any action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 26: Street Acceptances MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to accept Sterling Court as a public way, as previously laid out by the Board of Selectmen, and as shown on a plan entitled “Street Acceptance Plan of Sterling Court Northborough, Mass. Owned by Sterling Court Building Company,” dated February 2018, prepared by David E. Ross Associates, Inc., a copy of which is on file with the Office of the Town Clerk, and to place this street on the Official Town Map as a public way, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to accept a deed or deeds or take by eminent domain easements for such public way, or take any action relative thereto. This Article provides for the acceptance of Sterling Court as a Town Street and authorizes acquisition of related easements in connection with the subdivision approval process.
• ARTICLE 27: Community Preservation Fund – Library Repairs MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Fifty-Three Thousand Dollars ($53,000), or any other sum, from the Community Preservation Unreserved Fund to the Northborough Gale Library, for repairs and restoration, or take any other action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 28: Community Preservation Fund – Northborough Affordable Housing Corporation MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), or any other sum, from the Community Preservation Fund revenues to the Northborough Affordable Housing Corporation, for the purpose of the creation of affordable housing, or take any other action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 29: Community Preservation Fund – First Parish Unitarian Universalist Handicap Ramp MOTION PASSED (140 yes, 80 no)
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Fifty-Two Thousand Dollars ($52,000), or any other sum, from the Community Preservation Fund revenues to the First Parish Unitarian Universalist for a new handicap access ramp at the Church and Meeting House located at 40 Church Street, or take any other action relative thereto. This Article provides funds for the installation of a handicap access ramp on the west side of the Meeting House.
• ARTICLE 30: Town Common Project, Acceptance of 20 Rear Gale Street Parcel Donation MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to accept, as a donation from the owner, a parcel of land located at 20 Rear Gale Street, shown as parcel 163 on Northborough Assessors’ Map 63 and containing approximately 0.41 acres, said parcel to be placed under the custody and control of the Department of Public Works for town common purposes, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen and the Department of Public Works to take all actions and execute all documents necessary or convenient in connection with the acquisition of said land and its incorporation into a Town Common to be created at 0, 39 and 45 West Main Street, pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 45, Section 3, as it may hereafter be amended, and any enabling authority related to public parks and playgrounds, or take any other action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 31: Community Preservation Fund – Town Common, Phase III MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of One Hundred Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($115,000), or any other sum, from the Community Preservation Fund revenues to the Northborough Department of Public Works, for Phase III of the creation of a town common at 0, 39 and 45 West Main Street, as shown on Assessors’ Map 63 as Parcels 159, 157 and 158 for such purpose, and 20 Rear Gale Street, as shown on Assessors’ Map 63 as Parcel 163 pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 45, Section 3, as it may hereafter be amended, and any enabling authority related to public parks and playgrounds, said Town Common to be managed and controlled by the Department of Public Works;
• ARTICLE 32: Community Preservation Fund – Melican Middle School Field Lighting MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Eighty-Five Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($285,250), or any other sum, from the Community Preservation Unreserved Fund and Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000), or any other sum, from the Community Preservation Fund revenues to the Northborough Department of Public Works, for site investigation, engineering services, electrical service upgrade and surface restoration associated with Phase I of the project for the replacement of the field lighting at the Melican Middle School, or take any other action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 33: Community Preservation Fund – White Cliffs Debt Payment MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($255,000), or any other sum, from the Community Preservation Fund revenues to the Northborough Community Preservation Committee for Fiscal Year 2019 debt service and expenses associated with the acquisition of the property at 167 Main Street, or take any other action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 34: Community Preservation Fund – CPA Administration MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000), or any other sum, from the Community Preservation Fund revenues to the Northborough Community Preservation Committee for expenses associated with the implementation of the Community Preservation Act including but not limited to clerical assistance, office supplies, property surveys, appraisals, attorney’s fees, professional services, recording fees, printing and all other necessary and proper expenses for the Fiscal Year 2019, or take any other action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 35: Zoning Bylaw 7-03-050, Site Plan Approval Amendment MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to amend Part 7 of the Northborough Town Code, the Northborough Zoning Bylaw, Section 7-03-050.C(4), Site plan approval; Planning Board, by adding the text shown below as underlined and deleting the text shown below in strikethrough, or take any other action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 36: General Bylaw 2-14-010 & 2-14-020, Prohibition of Marijuana Establishments MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to amend Part 2 of the Northborough Town Code, General Legislation, as follows, or take any other action relative thereto:
• ARTICLE 37: Zoning Bylaw 7-05-010 & 7-05-030, Prohibition of Marijuana Establishments MOTION PASSED To see if the Town will vote to amend Part 7 of the Northborough Town Code, the Northborough Zoning Bylaw, as follows, or take any other action relative thereto:
• ARTICLE 38: Zoning Bylaw 7-05-020, 7-05-030, 7-10-080, Allowing Marijuana Establishments PASSED OVER To see if the Town will vote to amend Part 7 of the Northborough Town Code, the Northborough Zoning Bylaw, as follows, or take any other action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 39: Zoning Bylaw 7-05-030, 7-03-060, 7-06-030, Two-Family Dwelling Amendments MOTION PASSED
  To see if the Town will vote to amend Part 7 of the Northborough Town Code, the Northborough Zoning Bylaw, Sections 7-03, 7-05 and 7-06 by deleting the text shown below in strikethrough and adding the text shown below as underlined, or take any other action relative thereto.
• ARTICLE 40: Citizen Petition PASSED OVER
• ARTICLE 41: Reports PASSED OVER