Coakley approves changes to town bylaws

Date: 10/18/2010

Oct. 18, 2010

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

WILBRAHAM -- Several bylaw amendments that were voted on and passed at the May 17 Annual Town Meeting were recently approved by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.

Amendments were made to three sections of the Wilbraham bylaws regarding town meetings and town elections.

Section 200 (c) was altered, removing the requirement that warrants for town meetings be posted in each precinct. Section 201 (a) was changed to reflect that the Annual Town Meeting shall be held in April, May or June, as opposed to past years when it was required to be held between March and May. Section 204 (a) was changed to read that town elections will be held on the third Saturday in May, regardless of when the Annual Town Meeting is scheduled.

Two amendments were made regarding residential property. Section 3.6.2.2 of the bylaws was re-written, limiting the size of residential garages to 1,100 square feet with three doors or less, unless otherwise approved by the Planning Board. Section 4.4.8 was re-written to clear up inconsistencies in the bylaws regarding the size and location of accessory buildings on residential property.

Section 6.5.2 was amended; removing a cap on the number of used vehicles a car dealership may have on its property. The original bylaw capped the number at 40 percent of the dealership's total inventory.

Section 10.4.1 was redone with new specifications regarding situations when earth removal permits will need to be approved by the building commissioner, Board of Appeals or the Planning Board.

Article III, Section 308 was amended to change the term of the associate Planning Board member, who serves as an alternate voting member on special permit applications, from one year to three years.

Revisions to sections 1.3, 3.5, 3.6 and 14.0, giving the Planning Board the power to approve mixed use developments.

Also, two bylaw changes were made regarding dogs. Section 604.2(B) was altered and now states that dog licensing will be issued on a 12-month period, beginning Jan. 1, as opposed to April 1, as the bylaw read previously. 604.2 (C) was also amended, stating that anyone wishing to obtain a dog license after April 30 will be assessed a late fee. Both changes were designed to make the dog licensing period match the calendar year.