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Date: 6/24/2020
SOUTHWICK – Southwick residents gathered in the parking lot at the Southwick Regional School on June 15 to vote on 22 different warrant articles as a part of two sessions of the annual Town Meeting.
As part of the first session of the meeting, residents voted on three articles, one article to approve the transfer of $58,548 from the General Salary Reserve, Water and Sewer Reserve to pay for salaries across the town’s departments. The second article was a request for $130,000 from free cash for snow and ice removal fees, while the third was a request to transfer $20,000 from free cash to the Other Post Employment Benefits Trust Fund. With little discussion, voters approved the articles.
With the first article out of the way the regular Town Meeting began, and residents voted on the 19 remaining warrant articles. Each of the first five articles on the warrant were general housekeeping items that allow the select board and town government to go about their daily business and all were approved quickly with no discussion.
Both Articles 6 and 7 were requests to pay for renovations in the town, with the first being a request for $1 million for road renovations, and the second was a $1.1 million request for masonry and roof repairs for the Fire Department.
During the discussion around these articles, Select Board Chair Russ Fox stepped up to the microphone to explain why the funds for road repairs were necessary now. “Last year the voters would good enough to allow us to borrow $2 million to put a dent into the roads. Our Chapter 90 money is state money that we get for our roads and it is not enough for it,” he said, “We’ve had people advise us that we should be spending between $600,000 and $800,000 per year and we only get about $300,000 to $400,000 in Chapter 90 money so this is desperately needed.”
Voters unanimously approved both articles 6 and 7.
Article 8 was a request from the conservation commission to establish a Local Wetland Filing Fee Revolving Fund. At this point Conservation Commission Chair Chris Pratt explained why the commission was requesting the fund. He said, “We’re asking that we are able to keep the funds that we bring in through wetland fees paid when applicants come in. We’re asking that the Conservation Commission is able to keep that fee instead of it going to the general fund so we don’t have to go to the finance committee asking for more money.”
Residents approved the motion.
The lengthiest portion of the meeting was spent on Article 9 to approve the fiscal year 2021 budget of $14.7 million. While there was little discussion about the specific line items in the budget, voters had to approve each portion of the budget individually before one final vote to approve the entire budget. Immediately after approving the budget, residents also voted on spending limits for each of the town’s revolving funds for article 10, including the newly approved Local Wetland Filing Fee Revolving Fund.
Articles 11 through 15 were all requests from the community preservation committee and were approved unanimously. Article 11 was to approve its annual budget, 12 was to authorize the CPC to use $14,408 to pay for its administrative and operating expenses, and article 14 was a request for $2,500 to post six “Right to Farm” signs throughout the town.
Articles 13 and 15 both dealt with proposed renovations for the Old Cemetery. Article 13 was a request for $64,500 for tree removal, repair of the Old Cemetery vault, and to archive records digitally, while Article 15 was a request for $40,000 to repair headstones in the Old Cemetery. During this time Cemetery Commission Chair Veronica Connolly explained why both requests were important. She said, “The cemetery commission requested this because we are trying to get all the records digitized in a program we have and also continue to work on things that don’t fall under stone restoration, which include a retaining wall that’s falling down, coffins falling into the road and our vault falling apart.”
Residents approved all five requests unanimously.
Article 16 was a request to make the first principal payment on the debt for the alum treatment costs for the Congamond Lakes after approving the treatment at the Special Town Meeting in March, and the voters unanimously approved the request.
Before moving onto the last three articles, the select board briefly interrupted the meeting to recognize Town Moderator Jim Putnam and his contributions to the town over the past 27 years he spent working for it with his term expiring. At this time Russ Fox took over the microphone and said, “Mr. Putnam has continued his family’s long tradition of community involvement to the highest standard. His dedication and commitment has been admirable and will benefit the people of Southwick for years to come.”
Article 17 was to approve the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District budget, which included Southwick’s assessment of $11.7 million. which the town unanimously approved. During this time Superintendent Jennifer Willard said the district would be willing to adjust the budget depending on what kind of money the town gets from the state and tax revenue. “We are still willing to work with you when the final numbers come in. We are a part of the three towns, and we are all in this together. If the tax revenues come down, we’re here for you and willing to work with you, and the school committee has promised to bring forward another budget,” she said.
Article 18 was a debt authorization to allow the schools to purchase network infrastructure equipment, replace water heaters in the Powder Mill School gym area, and to replace the main entry concrete at the Woodland School, and residents approved it unanimously.
The evening’s final article was a request to adopt a quarterly tax payment system, which the town unanimously approved. As a result of the vote, tax payments will be due at the beginning of each quarter of the fiscal year on Aug. 1, Nov. 1, Feb. 1, and May 1. Town Treasurer Michelle Hill explained that the purpose of the change is to bring in cash earlier so the town does not have a need to borrow any money.