Town Meeting Passes Town Garage, Lord's Sign, and More

Editor's Note: Because the town garage passed at Monday's meeting, a special local election will be held today -- Tuesday, April 30, at The Center at Medfield from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- in conjunction with the special state primary election.

This year's Town Meeting started at 7:30 p.m. on Monday night and was preceded with entertainment by the award-winning MHS Jazz Band. 

Former Selectman Ann Thompson received a standing ovation for her 40 years of volunteer service to the town, retiring Medfield Superintendent of Schools led the Pledge of Allegiance, and MHS senior Bethany Komine sang the National Anthem. 

Selectman Richard DeSorgher read a Resolution that will be sent to the City of Boston to show that Medfield stands in unity with the city. DeSorgher also thanked Medfield public safety personnel for the jobs they do. 

Here is a look at how Town Meeting voted on the various warrant articles:  

1. Town Election
2. Report of Town Officers (annual town report) -- APPROVED
3. Accept Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds  -- APPROVED
4. Reauthorize Fire Alarm Revolving Fund  -- APPROVED
5. Reauthorize Ambulance Revolving Fund  -- APPROVED
6. Reauthorize Advance Life Support Fund  -- APPROVED
7. Reauthorize Community Gardens Fund  -- APPROVED
8. Reauthorize Rental Income Revolving Fund  -- APPROVED
9. Reauthorize Library Revolving Fund  -- APPROVED
10. Reauthorize Respite Care Revolving Fund  -- APPROVED
11. Accept Provisions of Section Four, Chapter 73 of the Acts of 1985 re tax exemptions
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved
    • Patch Note: Allows the assessors to double amount of certain abatements
12. Fix Salary and Compensation of Elected Officials
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved
      
    • Patch Note: Regarding salary of Town Clerk. Personnel Board and Warrant Committee recommend increase from $57,380 to $63,000
13. Appropriate a sum of money to fund FY12 and FY13 Fire Department Union Contract Settlement.
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved
14. Amend Personnel Administration Plan-Classification of Positions and Pay Schedule as set out in the Warrant, including deletion of the following positions: Plumbing Inspector, Assistant Plumbing Inspector, Gas Inspector and Assistant Gas Inspector, and insertion in place thereof the following positions: Plumbing and Gas Inspector, and Assistant Plumbing and Gas Inspector. -- APPROVED
15. Payment of prior year bill for Police Department (emergency room service for a work-related injury)
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved ($693.00) 
    • Patch Note: Invoice arrived recently. Requires 80% approval at town meeting.
16. Appropriate a sum of money to the FY13 Reserve Fund
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved transfer of $50,000
17. Operating budgets
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved $51,221,102 budget
18. Capital budgets 
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved $836,225 for various projects
19. Appropriate a sum of money for the purchase and installation of street lighting on Ice House Road
    • Town Meeting 2013: Withdrawn 
20. Transfer of Lot 3, Ice House Road to Park and Recreation Commission for recreational use
    • Town Meeting 2013: Failed after a voice vote and hand count were too close to call, then a standing count was taken (218 in favor to 157) however it did not get the required two-thirds vote to pass. 
    • From the Park & Recreation Department in Support of Article 20
21. Authorize Board of Selectmen to lease Lot 3, Ice House Road
    • Town Meeting 2013: Failed after a voice vote and a hand count.  
    • Proposed Indoor Sports Facility Needs Your Support
    • Town Meeting Tonight: Come Support the Potential Development of the Indoor Sports Complex
22. Amend Zoning By-law to regulate medical marijuana clinics
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved potential dispenseries in the industrial zone. Unanimous 
    • AG Says Towns Must Allow Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
23. Amend Town Bylaws, Article XVI-Demolition (Historic and Archaeological)
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved after an amendment failed to have the bylaw apply to historically-significant properties more than 100 years old (not 50). A motion to table the article failed after a standing count. The original motion passed with another standing count (261 to 151). 
    • Historical Commission Explains Proposed Simple Changes to Demolition Delay Bylaw
    • Historical Commission Asks for Increased Demolition Delay
24. Amend By-laws to clarify by-law application of prohibition of town officials being appointed as town employees
    • Town Meeting 2103: Approved
25. Appropriate sewer betterments paid-in-advance to Sewer Stabilization Fund
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved transfer of $197,434.87
26. Transfer funds from FY13 County Retirement budget and appropriate funds from other sources to the Unfunded Retiree Health Insurance Stabilization Fund.
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved transfer of $30,928
27. Appropriate funds and authorizing borrowing for replacement of the Town Garage
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved borrowing at $9.5 million; must now pass in a special election on Tuesday, April 30. 
    • Patch Note: Board of Selectmen unanimously support the proposed new highway garage. 
    • DPW Facility Bids Come in $500k Lower; Will Seek $9.5m Debt Exclusion
    • Town Garage Could Cost $11 Million
    • Town Election to be Held for Town Garage Debt Exclusion
    • Vote Yes to Replace the Public Works Facility
    • Selectman Osler Peterson Supports this Project
    • More info
28. Appropriate funds and authorizing borrowing for preparation of design and construction documents for renovation and/or replacement of a public safety building.
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved
    • New Public Safety Complex discussed
    • More info
29. Appropriate funds for hiring consultants to advise on matters relating to former Medfield State Hospital site.
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved $125,000 for consultants
30. Appropriate a sum of money for the preservation of the Lord's sign.
    • Town Meeting 2013: Accepted the donation of the former Lord's Department Store neon sign. 
    • Lord's Sign -- To Save or Not to Save  
    • New Owner of Former Lord's Says He Will Work with Town Regarding Neon Sign
31. Establish a "Veterans Volunteer Work Tax Abatement" program. 
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved unanimously
    • Selectmen Support Veterans' Tax Work-Off Program
32. Appropriate free cash to reduce tax rate. 
    • Town Meeting 2013: Approved $500,000 from free cash to reduce the tax rate for FY14.