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Live Town Meeting Updates Here!

By Tom Nappi, News Director
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You can see the Town Meeting Warrant Above!

Article 1: School Building Project - Article Passes required 2/3rds vote!
- Town owned property located at 135 Hayden Rowe Street to replace existing Center Elementary School
- $43,229,373 Project
- New School is slated to open in Fall 2018.
- Most Speakers seem in support of school project.
- Speaker suggests Seniors should have tax relief from major construction projects: "To seniors on a fixed income, it's very much a burden."
- Speaker Estimates project will raise average Homeowners taxes approx $435/per household.

Article 2: Oliver Lane Retaining Wall ($320,000) - Passes Unanimously
- Board of Selectmen recommends construction of replacement retaining wall on Oliver Lane.

Article 3: Unpaid Bills from Previous Fiscal Year (Free Cash) - Passes Unanimously

Article 4: FY 2016 Supplemental Appropriations - Article Passes
$1,044,346.38 from Free Cash

Article 5: Transfer to General Stabilization Fund - Article Passes required 2/3rds majority
-$300,000 of free cash to stabilization fund.

Article 6: Other Post Employment Liability Trust Funds ($411,118) - Article Passes

Article 7: Pay as you go capital expenses - Article Passes (Item I Seperated)

A) Purchase Portable Radios – Police Chief – $49,500
B) Replace Police Cruisers – Police Chief – $78,000
C) Replace Cardiac Monitor – Fire Chief – $28,099
D) Purchase Public Safety Dispatch Equipment – Town Manager – $16,250
E) Upgrade to Roadway Light System to Energy Efficient LED Lighting – DPW – $175,000
F) Cleanup Snow Dump located off Cedar Street – DPW – $140,000
G) Purchase Loader Mounted Snow Blower – DPW – $115,000
H) Procure Sewer System Capacity and Business Analysis – DPW – $140,000
J) Install Test Wells at Whitehall Property – DPW – $35,000
K) Construct Elmwood Farm Parking Area – Town Manager – $40,000
L)Construct Expansion to Police Department Parking Lot – Town Manager – $75,000

- Item I separated from question
I) Fruit Street Aquifer Analysis – DPW – $75,000 (Police Station Parking) - Passed Standing Vote!

Article 8: Fruit Street Indoor Recreational Facility / Athletic Center (Vote is for No Action) - ($500,000)
Standing Vote for No Action Fails: 74-164
- Appropriation Committee recommends NO ACTION
- Parks & Recreation recommends Supporting Indoor Athletics Facility
- Board of Selectmen recommends Supporting Indoor Athletics Facility 4-1

-Bob Dobinski, Chair of Parks and Rec states: Over a 10 year period of time they will be paying town back

Moderator: Dr Bruce Karlin stated the Motion is for no action, if facility is wanted, you vote against the no action motion, then there will be a sub-motion made by Parks and Recreation.

Substitute Motion: Parks and Recreation - Borrow $500,000 to build Indoor Recreational Facility / Athletic Center

Ron Clark Amends Article 8: Funding comes from free cash rather than loans. "Let's move forward without putting additional debt on ourselves"
$2.2 Million available in free cash. - Fails Standing Vote (39-172)

Vote on Substitute Motion - ($500,000 to build Indoor Recreational Facility / Athletic Center) - Standing Vote (Passes 154-67)

Article 9: Vehicle Purchase (No Action Recommended) - Passes Unanimously
Article 10: Vendor Contract for Personal Property Services (No Action Recommended) - Passes Unanimously
Article 11: Zoning Map Change (No Action Recommended) - Passes Unanimously.