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Date: 1/18/2023
LUDLOW – Residents met in the Ludlow High School Auditorium on Jan. 9 to vote on four warrant articles at Special Town Meeting.
Article 1 and 2 both dealt with potential questions that needed to be approved to be put on the March Annual Town Election ballot.
Article 1 question was, “Shall the town vote to have its Selectmen act as the Board of Public Works?”
The Board of Selectmen have voiced their concerns over the last few months with the Board of Public Works (BPW).
The board has publicly said and included in the warrant background that the BPW has not been able to keep a DPW superintendent for more than two years due to micromanaging and they lacked knowledge to secure capital funding in grants.
Board of Selectmen member Derek DeBarge added, “Out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts, Ludlow is one of six that still have an elected BPW. I can speak for the board and most community members that I talk to that we need a change in government, and this can be a good step.”
Many residents stepped up to the microphone with speeches ready to voice their opinions.
Some of the residents’ concerns included that the Board of Selectmen lacked knowledge of infrastructure or that this was a “power trip” for the board.
One community member said, “The warrant background states that Massachusetts is moving toward appointed boards, but this would not be an appointed board. This would be a takeover by the Board of Selectmen.”
Another community member argued that this question was already voted against on the ballot a couple of years ago and does not think anything will change this time.
Town Administrator Marc Strange explained, “In the event that this question passes, the only thing that will change is the DPW will be like the Police or Fire Department and fall under the Board of Selectmen. The board will hire a DPW superintendent who is qualified to run that department.”
Each discussion is limited to 10 minutes but can be extended by a motion and vote by the residents.
Article 1 discussion was extended three separate times leading to almost an hour of back and forth discussion.
The article was ultimate approved in a close 36 to 25 vote and will be placed on the ballot as a question in March.
Article 2 question was “Shall the town vote to have its elected Treasurer and elected Collector become an appointed Treasurer/Collector of the town?”
Board of Selectmen Chair Tony Goncalves said, “Under Mass. General Laws (MGL), the town may vote to combine the treasurer and collector positions into one position appointed by the Board of Selectmen.”
Goncalves added that the current collector, Fred Pereira, is retiring after nearly 40 years at the position and combining the two positions can save the town approximately $150,000 each year.
Residents voted yes on this article.
Article 3 was to grant the Board of Selectmen the authority to research, develop and participate in a contract, or contracts, to aggregate the electricity load of residents and businesses in town.
To participate in the program, a municipality must vote to initiate the municipal aggregation program.
Board of Selectmen Vice Chair James Gennette added, “We ask the town to vote in favor of initiating this process. This whole process could take a year or more to go into place and there will be plenty more public hearings and information to opt out if this plan goes through. We just need a vote to start the process.”
Gennette added that municipal aggregation is the process by which a municipality purchases electricity in bulk from a competitive supplier on behalf of the residents and businesses within the community. Customers can opt out before or during the aggregation plan. Residents approved Article 3.
Article 4 was to see if the town would vote to accept the provisions of MGL chapter 143, section 3Z, to permit a part-time building inspector to practice for hire or engage in the business for which (s)he is certified, licensed or registered under the Massachusetts State Building Code, while serving as such inspector.
Strange added that at the last Town Meeting, residents approved funding for a part-time building inspector, but the town has received zero applications for the position.
He added, “To broaden the spectrum for potential applicants, we are asking to adopt this state statute to allow contractors to work for the town part-time as a building inspector, but still be able to do work in Ludlow if they do not inspect their own work.
The residents approved Article 4.