Special Town Meeting Preview: New land and new fines
Published on April 25th, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - Selectmen have scheduled a six-article Special Town Meeting for Thursday, May 10.
Article 1 asks townspeople to give the Town authority to acquire a 45,050 square foot parcel of land running from the Woburn border to Maple Street. The MBTA owns the land, but plans are underway to release the property for public use. The MBTA Board of Directors will meet in early May to discuss giving unused land to communities around the state for nominal fees.
The Stoneham parcel may become part of a bike path stretching through town.
“The article (Article 1) will get us ready to get this land,” said Tri-Community Bike /Greenway Committee Chair-man Cameron Bain.
Article 2 asks citizens to approve the use of retired police officers to work paid traffic details as “special officers.” These officers would be younger than the mandatory retirement age, and they would be subject to physical exams and all the requirements of regular officers. The special officers would also receive the same pay for their detail work as regular officers.
Police Chief Eugene Passaro said that special officers would be used only if the regular officers did not volunteer for the details.
Article 3 proposes a building reinspection fee for the Stoneham Town Code. If the Building Inspector is called to a site before the builder has completed work that must be inspected, the Building Inspector must return at a later time. If this article passes, the return visit will cost the builder $35.
Article 4 asks the townspeople to approve an increase of the existing reinspection fee of the Electrical Inspector from $20 to $35.
Article 5 asks the townspeople to approve an increase of the existing reinspection fee of the Plumbing Inspector from $20 to $35.
Article 6 asks citizens to approve a change in the Town Code granting the Building Department authority to ticket Code violators for various public safety infractions.
Under the existing Code, the Building Inspector must file a criminal complaint in District Court or go to Superior Court to argue fines issued for minor violations, such as bushes that are obstructing the view of traffic or a pool without a proper fence. These fines are in the neighborhood of $300 a day.
“Moving enforcement into the non-criminal portion of the Code allows us to give $50 tickets and not waste the time and money going to court,” said Community Development Director Steve Sadwick. “Also, the resident doesn’t have to worry about getting a criminal record for having a wheelbarrow in his backyard.”
Mass General Law allows communities to ticket citizens violating local codes at no more than $50 per infraction.
Citizens will make the call on these issues at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, at Town Hall.
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