At Saturday’s Annual Town Meeting, voters will be asked to consider 45 articles, most of which involve decisions about money and others that involve decisions about bylaws. Any appropriations from Stabilization or the newly-created Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund require a two-thirds vote. All other decisions, unless otherwise specified in the warrant, require a simple majority vote.
With the exception of articles that request funds to fulfill contractual obligations, articles that appropriate money for other purposes stipulate that funds left over at the end of the fiscal year would revert to the sources from which they came.
Details of each article can be found in the warrant booklet mailed to each home last week, and should be carefully reviewed by voters before Town Meeting.
In the meantime, however, here is an unofficial glance at what’s in store.
Article 1
Annual Reports
A housekeeping formality at every town meeting, this article asks voters to hear reports from the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and any other boards with prepared reports to present.
Article 2
Reserve Fund—fiscal year 2011 (the fiscal year we are in, which ends June 30, 2011)
This article, inserted by the Finance Committee (FinCom), asks voters to approve the transfer from Free Cash of $300,000 for the Reserve Fund Account, which is under the control of the Finance Committee, for “unforeseen and extraordinary expenses” during the current fiscal year. This is needed because of extraordinary snow removal expense this year, and some sewer work that was completed before the sewer project was officially funded.
Article 3
Fiscal year 2010 certified free cash
Also inserted by the FinCom, this article asks voters to approve the transfer of the entire Free Cash balance—$1,005,556—less “any amounts voted in Article 2,” to the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund. Free cash represents property taxes and other revenue left at the end of the last fiscal year, in June 2010, after all 2010 spending was complete. The FinCom recommendation is for the transfer to the General Stabilization Fund, but this is most likely an error, which will be corrected when the motion is made.
Articles 2 and 3 require simple majorities to pass, as do all transfers from Free Cash. If there are any later motions to be made in the meeting for which a funding source has not been identified, or for which excluded debt (2/3 vote required, plus passage of ballot question) is the recommended source, leaving money in Free Cash would be a way to provide funding by simple majority.
Article 4
Omnibus Budget
Representing the work of the FinCom, the Board of Selectmen (BOS), and town departments this year, this article details proposed spending for the next fiscal year and asks for voter approval on the recommendations. The total proposed budget this year is $20,368,098.
Article 5
Reserve Fund—fiscal year 2012
This article asks voters to approve the raising and appropriation, or the transfer from available funds, of $350,000 for the Reserve Fund Account, which is under the control of FinCom. FinCom recommends that $175,000 be appropriated for “traditional emergency needs” and $175,000 to cover “potential unforeseen Special Education costs during the next fiscal year.
Article 6
GASB 45 OPEB actuarial valuation
Inserted by the BOS, this article asks voters to raise and appropriate money to pay for an actuarial evaluation required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board on “Other Post-Employment Benefits.” FinCom recommends allocating $8,000 for this.
Article 7
Fire Department—protective firefighting gear
On behalf of the Fire Department, this article asks voters to appropriate money to be spent on five sets of protective firefighting gear, including helmets, bunker coats, pants, protective hoods, boots, and gloves. FinCom recommends that $9,175 be allocated for this.
Article 8
Fire Department—combustible and carbon monoxide gas meter
Also requested by the Fire Department, this article asks for voter approval to set aside funds (“appropriate or transfer from available funds”)—$2,250 to be appropriated, as recommended by FinCom—for the purchase of a combustible and carbon monoxide gas meter.
Article 9
Contract—dispatcher wages
Inserted by the Board of Selectmen and supported by FinCom, this article asks voters to appropriate $3,823 to fund the contract negotiated with the Dispatchers Union. FinCom recommends appropriation, and addition to line #20, Communications Department Personnel, of the Omnibus Budget.
Article 10
Contract—Public Works employees wages
Similar to Article 9, this article requests, on behalf of the selectmen, that the town allocate money to fund the contract with the Public Works Department Employees Union. According to the FinCom recommendation, $6,482 is needed in order to ratify the contract. The amount will be added to line #32 of the Omnibus Budget.
Article 11
Bromfield School—repair/replace the middle school walkway structure
By way of this article, inserted by the Capital Planning and Investment Committee (CPIC), voters are asked to appropriate $20,000 from the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund to repair or replace the middle school walkway structure, which has been deemed a safety hazard. A two-thirds vote is required, as for all appropriations from Capital and Stabilization Fund.
Article 12
Bromfield School—convert from oil heat to gas
This article, also recommended by CPIC, asks voters to appropriate from the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund the sum of $30,000 for use in extending the natural gas line on Mass. Ave. to the Bromfield School. This would provide an alternative source of energy for the school’s dual-system boiler. (2/3 vote required)
Article 13
Hildreth Elementary School front office flooring
This article, if approved by voters, would appropriate $10,000 from the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund, as recommended by CPIC, to replace worn carpet in the elementary school that is beyond repair. (2/3 vote required)
Article 14
Hildreth Elementary School—mechanical upgrades
The $100,000 in funding requested in this article would provide upgrades to the elementary school’s energy management system that would yield a payback in energy savings of 4.3 years, according to CPIC, which proposed this article. Half of the funding that voters will be asked to approve would come from the town’s Green Communities grant; the other half would come from the National Grid cost reimbursement incentives program.
Article 15
Hildreth Elementary School—boiler and windows
This article, inserted by CPIC, proposes that voters approve the appropriation of monies for a new boiler and replacement windows at the elementary school, funded by grants from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and the Green Communities fund. As written in the warrant booklet, no dollar amount is specified, and FinCom has deferred taking a position on it until Town Meeting, stating that there was insufficient information about the article available before the warrant booklet went to press.
Article 16
Hildreth Elementary School—playground
By way of this article, voters will be asked to appropriate $65,000 from the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund, as part of the estimated $195,000 needed to fund a new playground at the elementary school. The remaining money is expected to come from the Shaw Trust, the education contract with MassDevelopment, and private fundraising. (2/3 vote required, as part of the funding is from Capital and Stabilization Fund)
Articles 17 and 18
Municipal buildings
These two competing articles, submitted respectively by the Municipal Buildings Committee and a citizens’ petition led by selectmen Bill Johnson and Ron Ricci, present significantly different approaches to the renovation and possible expansion of three town buildings: Town Hall, Hildreth House, and the old library. At press time, there is evidence that a compromise will have been negotiated among the opposing factions, and a single proposal will be presented. According to FinCom comment, any proposal under either article should be funded by debt exclusion, requiring a 2/3 vote, and passage of question #1 at town election.
Article 19
Department Of Public Works—highway garage floor
Inserted by CPIC and supported by FinCom, this article seeks voter approval on appropriating $40,000 from the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund to repair the damaged floor in the Department of Public Works building and to apply a sealer that would help reduce deterioration of the floor from salt and road contaminants. (2/3 vote required)
Article 20
Fire Department—purchase new forestry firefighting truck
CPIC also submitted this article, which is supported by FinCom, proposing to appropriate $145,000 to replace a 25-year-old fire truck that is beyond repair, due to cost and availability of replacement parts. The article proposes that funding be provided through borrowing (“issuance of nonexcluded debt”), but be paid back from the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund. (2/3 vote required, as debt service (principal and interest) is to be made in future years from Capital and Stabilization Fund)
Article 21
Water Department—install fence at water tank
Submitted by CPIC, this article will provide funds to install a security fence around the Bolton Road Water Tank. FinCom recommends $15,000, appropriated from the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund. (2/3 vote required)
Article 22
Water Department—upgrades to water system
This article, inserted by CPIC, will enable the director of Public Works and Water Commissioners, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to do various upgrades to the water system. The sum of $340,000 would be raised through issuance of nonexcluded debt, with principle and interest debt service to be paid in future years from the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund. (2/3 vote required)
Article 23
Municipal buildings sewer connections
CPIC proposes, and FinCom recommends, the borrowing, through issuance of nonexcluded debt, the sum of $125,000 to pay for the town’s cost of connecting five town buildings to the town center sewer system. Debt service would be paid in future years from the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund. (2/3 vote required)
Article 24
Reconstruct and repair Littleton County Road (Cleaves Hill to Old Schoolhouse)
CPIC requests funding to be expended by the DPW director, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to reconstruct and repair Littleton County Road from Cleaves Hill Road to Old Schoolhouse Road. FinCom recommends $250,000 to be appropriated from the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund. This is more than half of the $445,000 total to be allocated from this fund in fiscal 2012. (2/3 vote required)
Article 25
Police radio system upgrade
The last of the CPIC articles, this article proposes $15,000 be appropriated from the Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund to be expended by the chief of police, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to upgrade the police radio system. (2/3 vote required)
Article 26
Town Hall energy study
To see if the town will vote a sum of money to be expended by the Harvard Energy Advisory Committee, to be used in conjunction with grant funds provided by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources for the purpose of conducting a deep energy retrofit study of Town Hall. FinCom recommends $8,300 to be raised and appropriated, with an additional sum of $4,200 funded by the Green Communities Grants, for a total project cost of $12,500.
Article 27
West Nile Virus and EEE prevention
Inserted by Board of Health, this article requests funds for the purpose of obtaining biological control measures (mosquito larvacide) as part of an initial step in the mitigation of the proliferation of disease carrying mosquitoes. FinCom recommends a sum not to exceed $5,000 to be raised and appropriated.
Article 28
Conservation Fund funding
Submitted by citizens’ petition, this article proposes to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money not to exceed $100,000 to be placed in the Conservation Fund, or pass any related votes. FinCom does not recommend passage, citing $765,039 already available in CPC funds earmarked for purchase and maintenance of properties, and an additional $179,604 already in the Conservation Fund.
Article 29
Update of Master Plan
Inserted by the Planning Board, article 29 asks the town to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the update of the 2002 Master Plan. This update, required every 10 years, has not been recommended by FinCom, nor has a funding source been identified. This will probably be debated at Town Meeting.
Article 30
Home Rule Legislation—Join The Devens Economic Target Area
Inserted by the Economic Development Committee, this article asks the town to vote to authorize the selectmen to petition the General Court of the Commonwealth to enact a special act further amending Section 18 of Chapter 498 of the Acts of 1993 by adding the town of Harvard to the areas designated in this section as Commonwealth Economic Target and Opportunity Areas so that certain development projects within the town would be eligible for tax deductions, credits and abatements and other economic incentives provided for in Chapter 19 of the Acts of 1993. FinCom makes no recommendation, but comments that by adding Harvard to the above legislation, any development projects in the town will become eligible for certain incentives. There appears to be no downside to joining this group.
Article 31
Home rule legislation—adopt MGL Chapter 138 S.14 re: one-day liquor licenses
Inserted by the selectmen, this article asks the town to authorize the BOS to petition the General Court of the commonwealth to enact a special act authorizing the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Harvard to issue one-day liquor licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138, Section 14. FinCom recommends passage, as this will add to local receipts, and would allow churches and other civic groups to offer one-day events serving alcoholic beverages.
Article 32
Home rule legislation—property tax relief for seniors
In this article, selectmen are seeking voter approval to petition the Legislature to enact special legislation providing a property tax exemption “for certain qualifying senior citizens owning real estate in the town of Harvard.” FinCom has deferred making a recommendation, citing insufficient information prior to printing the Finance Committee Book.
Article 33
Home rule legislation—water commissioners elected to appointed
By way of this article, the BOS is seeking voter approval to petition the Legislature for approval to change the mode of selection of the water commissioners from election by ballot to appointment by the selectmen.
Article 34
Dissolve Harvard Housing Authority
Selectmen have put forth this article, asking voters to approve the dissolution of the Harvard Housing Authority.
Article 35
Change composition of Community Preservation Committee
This is basically a “housekeeping” article, whose purpose is to keep the wording of Chapter 18 consistent with the expected outcome of the vote called for in Article 34, to dissolve the Harvard Housing Authority. By way of this article, references to the Housing Authority will be replaced by “Board of Trustees of the Town of Harvard Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund.”
Article 36
Community Preservation Committee report
In this article, the Community Preservation Committee is asking for voter approval to present its report and recommendations for the fiscal year 2012 Community Preservation budget, and to pass any votes related that budget.
Article 37
Preservation of historic town documents
By way of this article, the Town Clerk and the Community Preservation Committee ask the town to appropriate and transfer from fiscal 2011 Community Preservation Revenues the sum of $25,982 and from Community Preservation Fund Historic Reserves the sum of $1,018 (for a total of $27,000) to be expended by the Town Clerk, for restoration and preservation of historic town documents.
Article 38
Harvard Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund
In this article, the Harvard Municipal Affordable Housing Trust and the Community Preservation Committee propose that the town vote to appropriate and transfer from fiscal 2012 Community Preservation Revenues the sum of $25,000 to be placed in the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Article 39
Bare Hill Pond—storm-water pollution control
The Bare Hill Pond Watershed Management Committee and Community Preservation Committee in this article ask the town to appropriate and transfer from fiscal 2012 Community Preservation Fund Revenues the sum of $73,750 to be expended by the Bare Hill Pond Watershed Management Committee for Bare Hill Pond storm-water pollution control.
Article 40
Community Preservation Committee—administrative expenses
The Community Preservation Committee asks to have the town appropriate and transfer from Community Preservation Fund Unallocated Reserves the sum of $2,500 to be expended by the Harvard Community Preservation Committee for administrative expenses, including Community Preservation Coalition dues and necessary legal fees.
Article 41
Amendment Protective Bylaw zoning map section
A “housekeeping” article inserted by the Planning Board, this one seeks voter approval to change a title in the town’s Protective Bylaw and to change the attachment designation of the zoning map attached to the bylaw.
Article 42
Amend the Protective Bylaw—flood plain district
Also inserted by the Planning Board, this article seeks voter approval to establish a flood plain district in Harvard as defined and described in the article. The details are contained in more than four pages; read carefully.
Article 43
Revolving Funds
Inserted by the BOS, FinCom recommends re-authorizing these revolving funds:
- Council on Aging, with the revenue or expenditures of this account not to exceed $35,000 in fiscal 2012
- Fourth of July Committee, with the revenue or expenditures of this account not to exceed $25,000 in fiscal 2012
- Harvard Ambulance Service, with the revenue or expenditures of this account not to exceed $100,000 in fiscal 2012
- Costs associated with the reuse of the old library, with the revenue or expenditures of this account not to exceed $20,000 in fiscal 2012
Article 44
Acceptance of gifts of property—conservation land
Inserted by BOS, this article allows the town to vote on accepting gifts of land or interests in land for conservation or other land preservation-related purposes, previously accepted by the Conservation Commission and approved by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 45
Acceptance of highway funds
Inserted by BOS, this article allows voters to accept state funds to be used for reconstruction and improvements of public ways. FinCom expresses pleasure that such funds continue to be distributed.
