At Special Town Meeting, which convenes on Monday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. in upper Town Hall, voters will be asked to decide the fate of seven articles put forward by town boards. Some ask for money, others propose changes to the town’s bylaws, or, in one case, ask for time to present a report. What follows is a synopsis of each, including its fiscal impact.
For help with specialized terms such as “General Fund” or “bylaw” see our “Glossary of Town Meeting Lingo.” If you’re looking for legalese, you’ll find it in the Special Town Meeting warrant, which is available at the town website. The Select Board chose not to mail that document to Harvard households, but copies will be available as a handout when you register for the meeting Monday night.
The recommendations of the Finance and Capital Planning and Investment committees will be delivered from the floor after each article is moved for approval. Readers should be aware, however, that the final wording and exact dollar amounts of some won’t be known until the motions for their adoption are read on the floor of Town Meeting. These motions can themselves be amended, so you need to stay on your toes.
ARTICLE 1: AMENDMENTS TO TOWN BYLAWS
Inserted by the Select Board
Amount: None
Requires a 2/3 vote
Recommended by the Select Board
The town charter, which was approved at the 2018 Town Election, made changes to many aspects of town government and is already in effect. This article is a package of changes to the town’s bylaws that will bring them into conformity with the charter.
If this article is approved, the town’s bylaws will be changed to accurately reflect how the town now operates. If it does not pass, the charter will take precedence over the bylaws, meaning that the town will operate the same way, but the bylaws will be inaccurate.
ARTICLE 2: AMEND THE PROTECTIVE BYLAW
Inserted by the Select Board at the request of the Planning Board
Amount: None
Requires a 2/3 vote
Recommended by the Select Board
The town charter, which was approved at the 2018 Town Election, made changes to many aspects of town government and is already in effect. This article is a package of changes to the town’s bylaws governing the operations of the land use boards, which will bring them into conformity with the charter.
If this article is approved, the Planning Board’s bylaws will be changed to accurately reflect how the board now operates. If it does not pass, the charter will take precedence over the bylaws, meaning that the board will operate the same way, but the bylaws will be inaccurate.
ARTICLE 3: HAPGOOD LIBRARY—CONSTRUCT ADA ACCESSIBLE FRONT DOOR AND ADDRESS ADA COMPLIANCE ISSUES—
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION
Inserted by the Select Board and the Capital Planning and Investment Committee
Amount: $672,000
Money source: Various sources (see table, page 8), including a $200,000 borrowing
Requires a 2/3 vote
Recommended by the Select Board and the Capital Planning and Investment Committee
The town approved $472,000 for the old library accessibility project at Special Town Meeting in November, 2017. That approval included borrowing $383,000 minus any possible grants that the town might receive for the project. Last month, the lowest bid on the project was $672,000. The project cannot move forward now unless the town votes to fund the project for this higher amount using various sources (see table, page 8) including a $200,000 borrowing.
If the article is approved, the lowest bid will be accepted and work could begin in November, according to the Old Library Accessibility Committee (OLAC). If the article is not approved, the current project bids will expire Oct. 25. The Select Board, with input from OLAC, would then need to determine how to proceed. The Finance Committee has recommended tabling the project until Annual Town Meeting next year because the building’s leaky roof may need to be replaced, and the committee wants the town to take that cost into consideration before voting on the accessibility project.
ARTICLE 4: AMEND ARTICLE #6 LINE #23 FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL
Inserted by the Select Board
Amount: To be determined
Money source: General fund
Requires a majority vote
Recommended by the Select Board and Finance Committee
This article would increase the Fire Department’s personnel budget to cover the fire chief’s salary for the rest of the current fiscal year under the terms of his new contract. The Select Board will vote on the contract and exact salary figure just prior to Special Town Meeting.
If voters reject the measure, the contract will not take effect.
ARTICLE 5: PURCHASE PAPER COMPACTOR
Inserted by the Select Board at the request of the Capital Planning and Investment Committee
Amount: $37,500
Money source: Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund
Requires a 2/3 vote
Recommended by the Select Board, Finance Committee, and the Capital Planning and Investment Committee
The amount of material deposited in the Transfer Station paper and cardboard compactor on Wednesdays leaves it too full to take on the additional material that arrives Saturday. This has resulted in increased hauls to the town’s recycler at a cost of $275 per trip. DPW Director Tim Kilhart says that adding a second compactor would lower the total trips required and would position the town to handle greater volumes of paper and cardboard in the future.
ARTICLE 6: CONVERT PLAYING FIELD INTO SOFTBALL FIELD
Inserted by the Select Board
Amount: $40,000
Money source: Capital Stabilization and Investment Fund
Requires a 2/3 vote
Recommended by the Select Board, Finance Committee, and the Capital Planning and Investment Committee. Endorsed by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Construction of the new elementary school will eliminate the softball field used by Bromfield’s varsity and junior varsity teams, as well as by younger teams supported by the Harvard Athletic Association. The Select Board, with HAA’s support, wants to convert a playing field on Ann Lees Road to a regulation softball field for use by all of the town’s softball leagues. HAA President Ed Frackiewicz and Bromfield Athletic Director Dave Boisvert say work on the conversion must begin this fall if the new field is to be ready for the 2019 season. Without it, the softball program would have to be cancelled, they say.
Converting the present field for use by town softball teams would displace the Harvard lacrosse teams that use it for practice today. A new home for those teams would have to be found.
If voters approve Article 6, the town will solicit bids for the work immediately, hoping to begin the conversion two to three weeks from now, before the snow flies.
ARTICLE 7: HILDRETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UPDATE/REPORT
Inserted by the Select Board at the request of the School Committee
Amount: None
Requires a majority vote
Recommended by Select Board and Finance Committee
If voters approve this article, members of the School Building Committee will present an update on plans for the new Hildreth Elementary School. Those making the presentation will likely be School Superintendent Linda Dwight, HES Principal Josh Myler, and SusanMary Redinger, newly appointed chair of the building committee and a member of the School Committee.
Residents raise their hands in a vote at a previous Town Meeting in upper Town Hall. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
