Warrant set for Town Meeting
Published on October 9th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - The Town Meeting Warrant Article was finalized this past week, and the warrant is indicative of recent hard fiscal times for both the state of Massachusetts and the Town of Stoneham. While the warrant does show evidence of shifting funds and wish list projects, there are also several big ticket items such as a report on the renovation/reconstruction of the Stoneham Fire Department and the proposed $1.1 million Adult Day Care Center.
Article 1 deals with the report given by the Fire Station Design Review Committee as to the preliminary recommendations for a new fire station. The Committee, appointed by Town Administrator Dave Berry, will be giving an update report on the current status.
According to Berry, the report will be giving some data about the spacial shortcomings of the present station, and some of the needs for the future renovated or rebuilt public safety building.
“It’s really an update on the working they’re doing to determine to decide whether it needs to be renovated, added on to, or we should rebuild a brand new one,” said Berry. “They’re still working on the details, like space needs analysis and translating that into a building design.”
Article 2 concerns converting the Senior Center Barn, currently used for storage, behind the Senior Center into the Stoneham Adult Day Health Center. The article will authorize an appropriation of approximately $1.1 million to renovate and refurbish the barn. State Community Development grant funds are expected to yield approximately $700,000 for the project, and several town officials have brought up the possibility of utilizing the Stockwell Fund for the additional $400,000.
The Board of Selectmen unanimously endorsed the article provided that funding is available for the project.
“If we can’t find the funding, then the project is obviously dead in the water,” said Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello.
According to Berry, The Day Care Center would potentially provide day services and meals to seniors who didn’t need full-time nursing home services.
Article two would authorize town officials to obtain the $400,000 whether the Stockwell Fund became available or not.
Article Three would raise or transfer from available funds a sum of money to amend the Fiscal Year 2003 Departmental Budgets as voted on on Article 10 of the 2002 Town Meeting.
Article Four concerns the refurbishing of aged Stoneham Fire/Rescue Engine #4, and is sponsored by Stoneham Fire Chief Lawrence Lamey.
According to Lamey, Engine #4 is used 80 to 90 days a year for mutual aid and detail calls, and is dire need of a mechanical refurbishing, several areas of rust, and other mechanical upgrades that total about $135,000.
Lamey has presented this article for town consideration three years running, and believes the work is approximately half the cost of an entirely rebuilt engine.
The Board of Selectmen voted to indefinitely postpone Article Four.
Article Five would raise or transfer $5,000 to pay prior year medical invoices for police and fire employees and retiree’s who were injured while on duty.
Article Six involves raising or transferring $6,000 for parking enforcement. The Board of Selectmen voted to indefinitely postpone the article.
Article Seven involves raising or transferring $5,000 for traffic enforcement, and the Board of Selectmen voted to indefinitely postpone the article.
Article Eight would raise of transfer $150,000 for the construction, reconstruction or repair of sidewalks, and was also indefinitely postponed with Ciccarello dissenting.
Article Nine involved adding $60,000 to the stabilization fund, and the Board of Selectmen voted to indefinitely postpone the article.
Article 10 concerns accepting $258,837.23 in State Highway Funds to continue the construction work on public ways and other eligible municipal projects. The Board of Selectmen voted favorably on the article.
Article 11, sponsored by the School Committee, would authorize the return of $43,000 in unexpended funds to replace the East School boiler system.
Article 12, also sponsored b the School Committee, would vote to raise $32,000 in funds to replace and repair the East School roof.
Article 13 would raise of transfer funds to finance accumulated vacation leave of school employees.
Article 14, sponsored by the Board of Health, would allow the town to raise or transfer $15,000 to join the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project.
“You get a different level of service depending on how much money you put up to join,” said Berry, who also added the Stockwell fund may finance the project.
According to Berry, the funds would involve training, education and certification, but there would be ample town discussion before spraying could become a reality.
“Spraying is very controversial, and would require a lot of conversation within the town,” said Berry.
Article 15 would allow 180 days of leeway for members of the retirement system of a political subdivision who were eligible to apply for creditable service.
Article 16 would allow the Board of Library Trustees to regain the power to appoint any and all library personnel at the Stoneham Public Library.
Article 17 would allow the Animal Control Officer to fine anyone caught feeding feral cats within Stoneham town lines. The fines could total $50 after several violations of the proposed article.
Article 18 would allow the Animal Control Officer to submit a similar fine to dogs that prove a nuisance because of continued howling and barking.
Article 19 would allow the Animal Control Officer the power to regulate and control the feral cat population within the town lines of Stoneham. The article, sponsored by the Board of Health, would “protect and preserve the general health of the public by reducing the spread of disease, property damage, and accidents caused by feral cats.
Article 20 would amend the signs and illumination zoning bylaws scrutinized by the Planning Board.
Article 21, sponsored by the Planning Board, would further regulate the addition of accessory dwellings and in-law apartments that are becoming more of a common occurrence in Stoneham.
Article 22 would further clarify zoning regulations for fences and retaining walls within the town of Stoneham.
Article 23 would allow the authorization of pension obligation bonds and notes for funding part or all of the unfunded pension liability of the Town’s retirement system, and to establish a pension stabilization fund.
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