Town Meeting Update 

• Town Meeting began on Tuesday, April 12, 2005.
• The first session passed Article 1 and Motions A through D of Article 2 (FY  2006 Budget).
  
• Session 2 on Thursday, April 14, 2005 passed the remainder of Article 2 and continued through Article 10.
• Session 3, on Tuesday, April 19, spent considerable time debating whether to reconsider of Article 1 motion C, and decided not to. Town Meeting continued as far as Article 25 and, in the end,  voted in accordance with all Finance Committee recommendations .
• Session 4, on Thursday, April 21, was spent primarily in discusison of Article 31, which would fund the planning for a new Senior Center.  Two substitute motions were discussed, one by Rick Jennett and one by Joan Craig, both of which expanded senior center discussion to include a community center.  Ms. Craig's motion was adopted and is summarized briefly below.
• The final session, on Tuesday, April 26, got through the remaining motions, including referring the controversial matter of removing the Police and Fire chief positions from civil service.
  
• The exact text of the Motions that were passed can be found in the Finance Committee Recommendations and Supplemental Recommendations
  

To determine what sum or sums of money the Town will appropriate and raise, or transfer from available funds, for the operation of the government of the Town of Natick, including debt and interest, and to provide for a reserve fund for Fiscal Year 2005 (July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005), or take any action relative thereto.

To determine what sum or sums of money the Town will appropriate and raise, or transfer from available funds, for the operation of the government of the Town of Natick, including debt and interest, and to provide for a reserve fund for Fiscal Year 2006 (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006), and to see what budgets for Fiscal 2006 will be reduced to offset said additional appropriations, or take any action relative thereto.

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or otherwise provide, the funds necessary to implement the Terms of Agreements reached between the Town and the following collective bargaining units for Fiscal 2004:

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or otherwise provide, the funds necessary to implement the Terms of Agreements reached between the Town and the following collective bargaining units for Fiscal 2004:

To see if the Town will vote to fix the salary and compensation of all elective officers of the Town of Natick for the fiscal year which begins on July 1, 2005 as provided by Section 108 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws, as amended.

To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or otherwise provide, for the maintenance and operation of the Morse Institute Library, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006.

To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise, borrow or transfer and appropriate for the maintenance of the Bacon Free Library, or otherwise act thereon.

To see if the Town, pursuant to the authority contained in Section 108A of Chapter 41 of the General Laws, will vote to amend the by-laws by adding to Article 24, Section 3, a new paragraph deleting certain position titles, adding new position titles and effecting changes in the salary ranges as presently established and will provide the money necessary therefore, or take any action relative thereto.

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of financing the following water pollution abatement facility projects: repair, replacement and/or upgrade of septic systems, pursuant to agreements with the Board of Health and residential property owners, including without limitation all costs thereof as defined in Section1 Chapter 29C of the General Laws; to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing from the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust or otherwise, or to take any other action relative thereto.

To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to Chapter 114, Section 34 of the Massachusetts General Laws, to allow the land located at 43 Fairview Avenue, Natick, MA., to be used for burial purposes.  Said land is described in a deed from the Town of Natick by the Natick Board of Selectmen to the Hebrew Cemetery Association, Inc. dated May 22, 2000 and recorded with the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds at Book 31437, Page 409.  Said land is shown on Town of Natick Assessors’ Map 59 as parcel 40 and is shown as Lots 141 and 142 on a plan of land entitled “Plan of Land in Natick, Massachusetts (Middlesex County) Prepared For:  Hebrew Cemetery Assoc., Inc.” dated October 6, 2004, prepared by Schofield Brothers of New England, Inc., which plan is recorded with the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds as Plan Number 96 of 2005;

or otherwise act thereon.

To see if the Town will vote to increase the Personal Exemption Amounts by 22.5% under the provisions of Chapter 126 of the Acts of 1988 which provides for “Optional Additional Property Tax Exemptions” allowing an annually determined, uniform increase in the amount of exemption in General Laws, Chapter 59 Section 5 Clauses 17D, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 37A and 41C (elderly person, disabled veteran, or blind person).

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the unused balance of sums appropriated for the purpose of closing out and capping the landfill and related work and engineering services by vote of the April, 1994 Annual Town Meeting under Article 12, by vote of the October, 1996 Annual Town Meeting under Article 12, by vote of the December, 1998 Special Town Meeting under Article 5, and by vote of the April, 1999 Annual Town Meeting under Article 12 for the purposes of planning and constructing a municipal golf course which shall be partially in the Town of Sherborn, including the acquisition of any interest in land necessary therefore, the construction of a building, and the cost of original equipment and furnishings in connection therewith;

Or otherwise act thereon.

To see what sum of money the Town will vote to appropriate for the purpose of operation and administration of the school bus transportation system, and to reduce or offset fees charged for students who elect to use the school bus transportation system for transportation to and from school; or otherwise act thereon.

To see if the Town will vote to amend the vote of the Town passed under Article 13 of the October 19, 2004 Annual Fall Town Meeting which appropriated and authorized a borrowing of $352,000 to construct a system of sewer mains, lateral lines, trunk mains, and pump stations to service the areas of Clubhouse Lane and Saddlebrook Road, to reduce the amount of the borrowing to $262,000 and provide that $90,000 shall be transferred from available funds; or take any other action relative thereto.

To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 44, Section 53E l/2 of the Massachusetts General Laws which allows towns to authorize separate revolving funds to which shall be credited receipts received in connection with the programs supported by such revolving fund.  The Council on Aging would establish a revolving fund for a subsidized transportation program with receipts credited to this revolving fund, expended by the Council on Aging Director with oversight by the Council on Aging and not to exceed $15,000 expenditures in a fiscal year.

To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 53E l/2 of the Massachusetts General Laws, to establish a revolving fund in order to utilize fees paid to the Conservation Commission by applicants pursuant to the Natick Wetlands Protection By Law for the purpose of hiring consultants; to authorize the Conservation Commission to expend money from said revolving fund for consultant services regarding applications to the Conservation Commission under Chapter 131, Section 40 of the Massachusetts General Laws and under the Natick Wetlands Protection By Law; to establish a limit on the total amount which may be expended from such fund in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2005;

or otherwise act thereon.

To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 53E l/2 of the Massachusetts General Laws, to establish a revolving fund in order to utilize revenue from the sale of surplus vehicles to fund the purchase of vehicles and equipment at auction; to authorize the Department of Public Works, with the approval of the Town Administrator, to expend money from said revolving fund for the purchase of vehicles and equipment at auction; and to limit the total amount which may be expended from such fund to $15,000 for the fiscal year  beginning on July 1, 2005 or to act otherwise thereon.

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or otherwise provide such sums of money as may be required for the payment of unpaid bills of previous years, incurred by the departments, boards and officers of the Town of Natick, or otherwise act thereon.

To see if the Town Meeting would approve an increase to the annual fire alarm master box fee.  Increase the current fee of $150.00 to $300.00 or otherwise act thereon.

To see if the Town will vote to increase from 75% to 100% the amount of monies allocated to the Commission on Disability as the result of fines generated from violations of handicapped parking laws

And further

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and raise, or otherwise provide a sum of money not to exceed $5,500 for the purchase and installation of audio tactile push button walk signals at various intersections in Natick, curb cuts and access route installations and repairs, and to provide for disability awareness/educational materials to be used with the public and private sector or otherwise act thereon.

To see if the Town will amend Article 71 of the General By-laws of the Town as follows:

or take any other action relative thereto.

To see if the Town will amend its zoning by-law in the following respects, or otherwise act thereon:

Item 12:  Insert in Section 326.5 as follows:

Special Conditions:

To see if the Town of Natick will vote to accept Whitridge Road and appurtenant easements as laid out and filed with the Town Clerk, and as shown on the street acceptance plan on file with the Town Clerk.

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and raise, or otherwise provide, a sum or sums of money as may be required for capital equipment for the various departments of the Town of Natick, or otherwise act thereon.

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the General Court to enact legislation in substantially the following form, provided that the General Court may reasonably vary the form and substance of the requested legislation within the scope of the general public objectives of this petition.

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the General Court to enact legislation in substantially the following form, provided that the General Court may reasonably vary the form and substance of the requested legislation within the scope of the general public objectives of this petition.

or otherwise act thereon.

To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to the provisions of Section 51 of the Chapter 184 of the Acts and Resolves of 2002, to changing the following factors in the provisions of Clause Forty-First C of Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws by:

or otherwise act thereon.

To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 59, Section 5K of the Massachusetts General Laws, as amended by Section 52 of Chapter 184 of the Acts and Resolves of 2002, thereby increasing from five hundred dollars ($500.00) to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) the maximum amount of reduction of a real property tax bill in a given tax year which may be granted to a person over the age of sixty (60) who provides volunteer services to the town of Natick under the program established pursuant to Chapter 59, Section 5K of the Massachusetts General Laws, said increase to take effect in the fiscal year which begins July 1, 2005.

To receive the reports of Town agencies to whom subjects were referred at previous Town Meetings and to see if the Town will vote to take additional actions to refer these subjects.

To see if the town of Natick would consider reinstating the department of public works commissioners.

To see if the Town will vote to establish a Study Committee to provide a report to the Fall 2005 Annual Town Meeting concerning the Community Preservation Act and its suitability for Natick based on economic, historic preservation, affordable housing and open space criteria.  Such a Committee would be appointed by the Town Moderator, and would include members nominated by the Housing Authority, the Historical Commission, the Historic District Commission, the Open Space Committee, the Planning Board, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Conservation Commission, the School Committee, the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, or such other composition as Town Meeting may direct.

To receive a report on the progress of the Town Meeting Member Handbook Revision Committee; to provide such guidance to the committee as the Town may deem appropriate; and to take actions (1) to authorize Town Counsel to provide legal advice, including review of revisions to the handbook, to the committee in accordance with Article 22, Section 5a of the Town By-Laws and (2) to determine what sum of money the Town will appropriate and raise, or transfer from available funds, for the production and distribution of a revised handbook; or take any other action relative thereto.

To hear and act upon the reports of the several Town officers and reports of committees authorized by vote of any further Town Meeting and to authorize a sum of money for the purpose thereof.