Town Meeting set for July 28
Published on July 23rd, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - With the July 28 Special Town Meeting (7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium) right around the corner, the Finance and Advisory Board met to discuss their recommendations, or lack thereof, on each of the Warrant Articles.
With the Finance Board voting 4-3 to support Article 1, four articles remained for the fiscal advisory board to discuss.
The Finance and Advisory Board voted unanimously to support Article 3 and Article 4 which involves amending the zoning for Montvale Plaza on Montvale Ave.
Both Articles 3 and 4 will require a 2/3 vote at the Special Town Meeting, as will Article 1.
Article 3 would amend the town's zoning by-laws to allow the operation of banquet facilities, function halls, and dinner theaters in the town's Commercial One District with site plan approval by the Board of Selectmen.
"I don't really know the man that owns the place (Marty Murphy), but I remember an interaction I had with him over the last few years," said Finance Board member Peter D'Angelo. "I was there for a function, and was having a wonderful time. But I noticed that there weren't any handicapped accessible facilities within the building, and that handicapped people would experience difficulty getting up to the second floor."
"I mentioned something to Mr. Murphy, but I didn't think much of it," added D'Angelo. "The next time I was in there, I noticed that there were handicapped ramps and an elevator. I feel like he's done much to improve that facility, and he deserves to be treated with all equity."
According to Finance and Advisory Board member John Bowen, there have been sporadic complaints about the traffic and parking at Montvale Plaza, but the current owners have made an effort to secure off-site parking for their customers.
Article 4 would amend the town's zoning by-laws to allow off-site parking in the town's Commercial 1 District for banquet/function halls and dinner theaters by special permit, and would essentially change the zoning distinction of Montvale Plaza.
Finance Board member John Bowen gave a brief history of the Montvale Plaza site, and Marty Murphy's involvement. According to Bowen, Murphy paid approximately $130,000 in property taxes to the town when he purchased the property in 1998. According to Bowen, the business generates approximately $30,000 in property tax revenues for the Town of Stoneham.
"Montvale Plaza employs citizens of the town of Stoneham, and a portion of the meal and liquor taxes come back to the town as well," said Bowen. "The effect on Montvale Plaza would be to force the business to stop operating as a banquet hall/function hall facility."
The Board did not take on any action on Article 2, as they wished to forego a decision until the School Committee had taken a position on the article.
Article 2 dealt with approval from the Town for Stoneham High School to lease out approximately 3,000 square feet of basement space. The lease was presumed to be between the Town and the Stoneham Cable Access Corporation, but, as of press-time, it was unclear whether this article would remain on the Warrant for Special Town Meeting.
Warren stated that the Finance Board probably wouldn't take position on Article 2 until just before special Town meeting.
Article Five deals with $25,000 requested by the Police Department and the Stoneham Public Library to address concerns in their budget.
Stoneham Police Safety Officer Larry Rotondi proposed approximately $15,000 to add back four traffic directors eliminated for the coming school year, and Library Director Mary Todd requested $10,000 for materials to meet the state's Library Certification requirements.
"The one question I would ask each of these people is 'what is different now than in May when we passed the budget?" said Finance and Advisory Board member Richard Gregorio. "Nothing has changed."
Rotondi pointed to a $25,000 settlement check that he heard was forthcoming to Stoneham from the city of Melrose concerning the Pembroke housing development adjacent to the Oak Grove MBTA station.
According to Gregorio and Finance Board Vice-Chairman Jim Grayson, the Town hadn't received the check, didn't have information that they would be receiving a check, and couldn't recommend spending money the Town didn't technically possess.
"Even if we did have that check, we would have to consider adding it to the reserve funds," said Finance and Advisory Board Chairman John Warren.
Gregorio stressed to Todd that if the Library was in danger of not gaining certification in October, then the issue would certainly be revisited at October Town Meeting.
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