Editorial – Town Meeting Rundown

Override Budget With Stabilization Fund Will Head Town Meeting Agenda

Articles 1 through 4 at Saturday’s town meeting will all pertain to an unprecedented proposition 2 ½ override. Article 1 seeks approval to establishing and fund the override budget. We urge you to vote no.   Article 2 seeks to established the override stabilization fund. We urge you to vote no. Article 3seeks to put money in the override stabilization fund.  We also urge a no vote on this.  If these items fail, a non-override budget must be approved (Article 4). We recommend a Yes vote. 

IZON has met with town Moderator Angela Harkness, who advises that she will run a tight ship on Saturday.  The meeting will start sharply at 9A. Registration begins at 8A.  There will be a limit on the number of people allowed into the town meeting.  Occupancy will be capped at 1600 persons.  All speakers, except for Town Manager Kris Las, will be limited to 2 minutes to make their points.  Las will be given 12 minutes to make the case for the override.  Requests for special presentation time from the School Committee in support of the override, and from dissenting members of the FINCOM, in opposition, were all denied by the Moderator.  She has also announced that she will not allow any reconsideration votes at this town meeting with one exception, if there is an error in the data that was presented to the voters.  Under the rules adopted for the Westford Town Meeting (Town Meeting Time) she has that authority.

The rundown and recommendations on the other articles are as follows:  Article 5, is a pro forma item- vote yes.  Article 6 seeks supplemental appropriations for FY 2024. This moves money from town accounts that were not drawn down to those, that need to be bolstered- vote yes. Article 7 is an appropriation for the on-going Perchlorate issue- vote yes.   Article 8 are the capital appropriations for FY 2024.  Follow the FINCOM recommendations on this article. Some of these items may be challenged by the FINCOM – vote no with the FINCOM.   Article 9calls for a bond to construct two PFAS treatment plants for 24M.  This is being driven by an EPA mandate. No real choice here- vote Yes.  Article 10will approve Community Preservation Committee funding for FY25. There is no issue with these expenditures.   Article 11 seeks approval for revolving funds. These are fund that involve the town taking in money to support services- vote yes.  Article 12 seeks approval to receive and appropriate money received from MGL Chapter 90 (traffic ticket revenue). Vote yes.  Article 13 seeks approval to apply money from the Water Enterprise fund, which is not part of the town’s general operating budget, to the post employment benefit fund for the Water Enterprise employees- vote yes.   Article 14 seeks approval from the town to expand relief from certain real estate taxes for veterans – vote yes.  There are no issues with articles 15 through 17 which authorizes easements and updates the flood plains.  Article 18 see below.

Article 19 seeks to establish rules for door-to-door canvassing.  It proposes a bylaw that would require door to door solicitors, engaged in commercial business, to register with the police department, pay a fee and undergo a background check.   There is a concern about the scope of this bylaw. Will it prohibit people from going door to door for signatures in political campaigns, and would it apply to groups like the Jehovah Witnesses ?   This needs to be discussed at town meeting.  Article 20proposes a Civil Fingerprinting Bylaw, which would require all Hawkers, Peddlers, Door to Door solicitors, Taxi drivers and Ice Cream Truck vendors to submit their fingerprints for a criminal reference check.  Based on results of the check, the police would have the right to deny licenses to people. This is probably a good idea. Vote Yes. Article 21 gives the cemetery commissioners the authority to amend policy and procedures governing the town’s cemeteries.  Vote Yes.   Article 22 brings the issue of Columbus Day back on the agenda.  See article below.                     

This is a very important town meeting.  The results of this meeting will have a significant impact on your tax bill.  It is important to attend and most importantly stay until the end, particularly if you were not happy with the referendum, that pushed Columbus Day off the town calendar.