Wellesley Town Meeting Night 1 Results: Cost of Living Adjusted, Remembering Those who Served

Town Meeting opened last night, and elected officials and Town Meeting members began discussion of the Town Meeting Warrant. 

Of the 45 articles posted on the warrant, the meeting addressed the first seven articles posted. 

• Article 1 - Select a Town Meeting moderator, collect reports from various boards, and honor those who have passed since the previous town meeting. No action needed.
• Article 2 - Receive the Town-wide Financial Plan report from the Board of Selectmen and others. Unanimously approved.
• Article 3 - Update the town bylaws related to job classifications. Unanimously approved.
• Article 4 - Adjust the salary plan and approve collective bargaining with the police superior officers. Approved, with a handful of "no" votes.
  
• Article 5 - Adjust the salary of the Town Clerk by two percent. Approved, with a handful of "no" votes.
• Article 6 - Increase the cost of living adjustments (COLA) base for retirement plans in town. Approved, with a handful of "no" votes.
• Article 7 - Approve fund transfers and appropriate some funds for topics like snow and ice removal, facilities management and past business. Unanimously approved.

Town Meeting Moderator Margaret Ann Metzger also reported that several of the articles required no motions: Articles 1, 9, 16, 21, and 36 through 44. 

Discussion will pick up tonight with Article 8, the town's omnibus budget, discussion of which started last night. It was placed on hold at about 11:30 p.m.

For the full warrant, see the PDF to the right, or the Town website post. 

During discussion of article 1, Town Meeting held a moment of silence for Warren Himmelberger. Himmelberger was described as informed, thorough, courteous, and "tenacious in his views."

Selectman Katherine Babson added, "You might think I am describing the legacy he left behind: his son David Himmelberger."

Warren Himmelberger served Town Meeting for 25 years. He died last year. 

Town Meeting continues tonight, April 2, 7:30 p.m. at the Wellesley High School's Katherine Babson auditorium. Town Meeting is expected to continue next week on Monday, and Tuesday.