Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 5/4/2022
MONSON – A total of 37 articles formulate the Monson Annual Town Meeting warrant, in addition to 15 articles on the Special Town Meeting warrant.
On May 9, at 7 p.m. residents will gather at Granite Valley School to vote on these articles.
Annual Town Meeting
According to the warrant that was posted on April 25, the first order of business will be the consent agenda, which are exceptions to the general process of town meeting. These articles were put on this agenda by the Select Board, town moderator and Finance Committee, as they believe they do not create controversy. All of these articles are set to be included as one motion and passed without public debate, however, if even one voter objects when a particular number is called, the article will be removed from the consent agenda and placed in the warrant to be debated and voted under the usual manner.
The eight articles on the consent agenda include receiving reports of town officers and committees; fixing the maximum amount that may be spent during fiscal year 2023 (FY23) beginning July 1, for the revolving funds established in Article 34 of the Monson General Bylaws for certain departments, boards, committees, agencies or officers in accordance with Massachusetts General Law (M.G.L.) c. 44, § 53E½; voting to authorize the Select Board to apply for and accept any and all grants from private entities; among others.
Article 9 is a request to fix the salary and compensation of the Town Clerk, Select Board Chair and members; Board of Assessors Chair and members; Water/Sewer Commission Chair and members; and the Highway Surveyor.
Articles 10 and 11 are requests to raise and appropriate and/or transfer and appropriate a sum of money. Article 10 is a request to fund the town expenses for the coming fiscal year. This would be July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.
Article 11 pertains to money entering the Stabilization Account.
Article 12 is a request to establish the Memorial Hall Stabilization Fund, for the purpose of future expenditures required and related to the Memorial Hall building.
Similarly, Article 13 is a request to establish the Fire Station Stabilization Fund for the purpose of future expenditures required and related to the Fire Station.
Articles 14 through 21 are requests to raise and appropriate or transfer and appropriate a sum of money from available funds to the Capital Stabilization Account, the Memorial Hall Stabilization Account and the Fire Station Stabilization Account; to pay the town’s assigned share of the Operating and Maintenance and Capital Budget of the Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School District; pay bills of a previous fiscal year; to operate the Enterprise Trash/Recycling Program for FY23; and to operate the Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds for FY23.
Article 22 is a request to approve the sum of up to $6,000 for the investment and installation of a “Friendship Swing” to be placed at Flynt Park. Jamie Farnum, finance director/town administrator, said the swing is “a piece of playground equipment that allows two people to swing on the one piece of equipment at the same time.”
Article 23 is a request to approve the sum of up to $14,650 for the historic preservation and storage of necessary town records. The funding will provide appropriate materials and a storage location within the town offices.
Article 24 is a request to raise, borrow and/or appropriate $300,000 for the acquisition by negotiated purchase of a parcel of land of approximately 40.977 +/-acres owned by the Jean M. Booker family trust. This land would be controlled and managed by the Conservation Commission.
Article 25 is a request to appropriate the sum of $102,000 to purchase the 40.977 acres +/- of land owned by the Booker Family. This amount represents the town’s required contribution to supplement the Local Acquisition for Natural Diversity Grant provided by the state under Article 97. Under this article, the parcel is to remain permanent conservation land to be used for recreation and open space.
Article 26 is a request to approve the sum of up to $10,000 for professional services in developing a Community Preservation Plan. The plan would assist the Community Preservation Commission in selecting projects based on the town’s needs.
Article 27 is a request to transfer and appropriate a sum of money from free cash and the capital operational budget for the purposes of funding capital purchases.
Article 28 is a request to amend the Monson zoning bylaw, by changing all references in the current bylaw from “Board of Selectmen” to “Select Board.”
Articles 29 and 30 are requests to allow a 3 percent local sales tax charge on Adult Use Marijuana and marijuana product sales in Monson, along with amending and regulating these establishments through the Monson Zoning Bylaw.
Article 31 is a request to allow a municipality to divide revenues from rental of municipal buildings and to spend these funds without further appropriation for building-related maintenance.
Article 32 is a request to transfer and appropriate a sum of money from the cemeteries Reserve for Receipts for Appropriation account.
Article 33 is a request to authorize the Highway Surveyor to increase driveway permit fees from $60 to $100.
Article 34 is a request to raise and appropriate or transfer and appropriate the sum of money to make needed grading repairs to the Margaret Street Landfill.
Articles 35 through 37 are citizens petitions.
Article 35 is a request to increase the number of members to be elected to the Select Board. If the article is approved, the Select Board would increase from three members to five members, to be elected during the next town election.
This article was submitted by Monson resident Roxanne Gunther. Due to the increase in citizens in town, Gunther believes a more diverse Select Board is required. With two additional members, she believes there will be more equality in their voting.
Article 36 is a request to amend the General Bylaws by allowing for recording devices, both audio and video, to be allowed at the Monson annual and special town meetings. This includes using cell phones or any other device to record the meetings. In order to record, a person must be sitting in attendance or standing at the rear of the auditorium, or any other place where a town meeting may take place. This article was submitted by Robert Kaddy.
Lastly, Article 37 is a request to allow the use of host agreement funds to purchase property at 17 Palmer Rd., to be used as a Community Center, with a focus on recovery. This article was submitted by Mary Hull, town clerk. Hull wants to place $70,000 in a fund to cover staffing salaries, along with $40,000 in a fund to cover furniture, computers and any other items necessary with the establishment of a Community Center. The total funding amount needed for this center is $399,000. To pass this warrant article, Farnum said a two-thirds vote is needed, based on the funding requirements.
Special Town Meeting
In addition to the Annual Town Meeting, a Special Town Meeting is set to take place as well. Farnum explained, “The Special Town Meeting is for business that needs to be taken care of for FY22, which is the current fiscal year. Annual Town Meeting addresses everything that needs to take place in FY23 which starts on July 1, 2022, and runs until June 30, 2023.”
There are a total of 15 articles on the Special Town Meeting warrant.
Article 1 is a request to transfer and appropriate available funds to the Green Communities 2020 grant account. In FY21, the town received grant funds to complete a boiler project at the high school, however, the funds did not cover the entire project due to an engineering issue. Now that the account is left in a deficit, the transfer will bring the account to zero to be closed out.
Articles 2 through 4 are requests to transfer and appropriate available funds to the Maintenance Building account, to cover the deficit from the snow and ice account, and to the bills of Prior Years Account.
Article 5 is a request to rescind the borrowing authorization in the amount of $144,000 to construct a regional dog pound. This was previously approved by the town; however, the original plan has changed and the borrowed funds are no longer needed.
Article 6 is a request to purchase the property at 125 Palmer Rd., for the sum of $200,000, and to transfer and appropriate a sum of money for the purchase.
Articles 7 through 15 are requests to transfer and appropriate a sum of money to the legal expense account, the technology expense accounts to cover increased technology costs; from trash enterprise retained earnings to the trash operating budget; the Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability Account; the Finance Clerk salary; the Veteran’s Service Account; from the Water Enterprise retained earnings to the Water Operating Account; for improvements needed to the fire station; and lastly to the pool repair account.