Voters approve budget, but Town Meeting to continue

Date: 5/24/2010

May 24, 2010

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW -- A lengthy amount of time and a loss of voters led to the continuation of East Longmeadow's Annual Town Meeting last Monday evening.

Voters did approve the proposed fiscal year 2011 (FY11) budget of $50.7 million, including more than $4 million in capital projects, before one resident questioned the quorum. One-hundred fifty voters are needed for Town Meeting; when the number was questioned around 10:15 p.m., only 124 were in attendance.

"When it comes time for the taxpayers to decide how the town spends the taxpayers' money and how the town is governed we cannot get 200 people to the town meeting" Paul Federici, chair of the Board of Selectmen, said, following the meeting. "It's sad. I realize that some people cannot get out due to certain restrictions but 200 out of 11,000 registered voters it's sad."

Federici added, "I'm sure someone like Laura Joubert, who put a great deal of thought and effort into her petitioned warrant article, is as disheartened as I am in the turnout by the town."

Joubert's article requested $385,000 be taken from free cash so the bus fee could be lowered from $270 per child to $150 per family for those living within two miles of a school. She called the current fees "unaffordable and absurd."

"I've worked hard to get parents' voices heard," Joubert said at the meeting. Both parents and principals have serious concerns about the lengthy car lines each day and the safety of children who walk to and from school, according to Joubert, and the cost of bus fees is an "ongoing problem . . . the School Committee has been pushing under a rug."

"Our families need help now," she said. "This may only be a one-year solution, but in this economy it can really help struggling families."

The Appropriations Committee did not recommend the petitioned article, nor did the School Committee, based on a lack of information.

"By trying to solve one problem, we may create a few more," Co-Interim Superintendent and Business Manager Terry Olejarz said.

Some residents who spoke on the subject seemed to understand Joubert's intention but as one voter stated, "It's a good idea but not tonight."

The article to decrease bus fees was not approved.



Capital Projects

A project that has been on the table for a few years a turf athletic field and new track at the high school which will cost $1.5 million to be funded through bonding was approved by voters, along with several other capital improvements.

"The high school field is long overdue," Rocco Carabetta, chair of the Capital Planning Committee, said. "It will be an improvement in the quality of life for the town. It will mean cheaper maintenance, it can be used year-round and there's the possibility of rental revenue."

Other projects to be funded by the $4 million set aside for capital projects include the purchase of three new police cruisers, a new phone system for the police and fire departments, new phone systems at Meadow Brook and Mapleshade schools, computer replacement, a server technology upgrade, a new heating system at Mapleshade, the renovation of the portable classroom trailer at Meadow Brook, new asphalt playgrounds at Meadow Brook and Mountain View, a repair of dump truck #9 in the Department of Public Works (DPW), Council on Aging renovations and replacing the fuel pump control system at the DPW.

A total of $75,000 was also designated for new sidewalks. John Maybury of the Board of Public Works said the streets to receive new sidewalks have not yet been determined.

Additional water and sewer department projects will be paid from their respective enterprise funds.



Meeting Continuation

Discussion had begun on Article 21 regarding the adoption of the Stretch Energy Code when the meeting was called by Moderator Jim Shiels.

Articles 21 through 30 will be voted on May 24 starting at 7 p.m. in the East Longmeadow High School auditorium.

For more information on the Annual Town Meeting continuation, visit www.eastlongmeadowma.gov.