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Date: 9/26/2023
LUDLOW — A Special Town Meeting will take place on Monday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ludlow High School.
There are currently 22 articles listed in the warrant. Most of the articles deal with updating zoning bylaws making it easier for residents to understand them.
Articles 11-13 and 15-20 are all zoning bylaw amendments.
Those amendments include visibility at intersections, fences, dimensional requirements, setback diagram replacement, site plan approval process, reference changes, replacing diagrams, a temporary moratorium on battery storage and replacing diagram reference numbers.
The explanation for most of the zoning bylaw articles is that the changes would make the diagrams more user-friendly, easier to read or be consistent with Massachusetts General Law.
The temporary moratorium on battery storage period would allow the town to plan, review, analyze and address what revisions to the zoning bylaw relative to large-scale solar battery storage and large-scale battery storage facilities.
The moratorium will be in effect through Oct. 31, 2025, or until the town adopts amendments to the zoning bylaw. Whichever comes first.
Articles 21 and 22 would increase the fines for leash law violations and nuisance dog violations.
According to the warrant, the town has seen an increase in leash law violations and nuisance dog complaints and are hoping for the increase in fines encourage more people to obey them.
Article 2 asks the town to meet the required 10% match of a Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant.
The Ludlow Fire Department has received a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $98,620.00 to replace a 28-year-old capture diesel exhaust system at the Ludlow Fire Department.
The system is used to capture and discharge the vehicle exhaust made from vehicles as they enter and exit the building. This system prevents the carcinogen-laden vapors from entering the areas where the fire department staff live and work.
This article would provide the required 10% matching funds for the grant award to complete this project totaling $8,965.45.
The remaining $89,654.55 will be paid by the federal government.
Article 3 seeks to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter a five year contract with Axon for the lease of tasers for the Police Department.
Approval of Article 4 would expand the district improvement financing boundary which would identify the amended and expanded geographical location of State Street and the Ludlow Mills Improvement District.
A diagram of the proposed district will be included with the warrant.
Article 5 is designed to amend a district improvement financing program authorized under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40Q, known as the State Street/Ludlow Mills DIF Program.
The State Street/Ludlow Mills DIF Program will feature the revised boundaries of the State St./Ludlow Mills Improvement District.
Article 6 would create an opioid stabilization fund for the town.
Like other municipalities, Ludlow expects to receive annual funds as part of an opioid settlement agreement.
The proposed warrant article allows for the creation of a special purpose stabilization fund.
Article 7 would authorize the Board of Selectmen negotiate and enter into a Payment In Lieu of Taxes agreement with the owner, who is currently Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electrical Company, of the solar photovoltaic energy generating facility located at 327 Moody St.
A positive vote on Srticle 7 would allow the transfer of $210,933.82 from unspent capital appropriations.
The town intends to use these funds toward the upcoming Town Hall renovations scheduled for the summer of 2024.
Those renovations include a new roof, energy-efficiency improvements, abatement and the replacement of asbestos ceiling tiles, replacing carpeting and other improvements.
Approval of Article 9 would allow the town to accept Piney Lane as a public way based on the layout by the Board of Selectmen to improve and upgrade the Piney Lane Bridge.
Article 10 would correct an error with the fiscal year 2024 budget.
At the May Town Meeting, Article 18 contained a discrepancy in the amounts of the FY24 budget.
The two amounts were $80,868,618 and $80,876,409.
Article 18 requested authorization for a total FY24 budget in the amount of $80,868,618 instead of $80,876,409, which is the correct amount leaving an extra $7,791.
Town Administrator Marc Strange met with Department of Revenue on how to proceed and they said that the decision is a local one and to request that Town Meeting authorize this amendment.
Article 1 is a house-keeping item asking the town to authorize payment of any remaining bills from previous fiscal years in the amount of approximately $13,000.
Article 14 would change the membership of the Admin Review Committee by removing “and one member” and “of the Board of Public Works.”
The Board of Public Works has been dissolved and the DPW director will continue the department’s membership.