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Date: 11/30/2022
WARE – During a Special Town Meeting on November 14, warrant articles were put up for approval by more than 150 Ware residents in attendance. Polling electronically at the meeting, the recommendations were voted on individually during the two-hour session.
Voters considered issues of unpaid bills owed by the town from previous fiscal years as well as the payment of debt and interest.
Keeping the town clerk’s office closed on Saturday, the creation of a business overlay district and the alteration of residential boundaries were also on the warrant.
Voters reviewed and selected action on wastewater management, contaminated soil removal and the inventorying of lead service lines.
Considerable comment from a half dozen resident speakers was raised in response to a motion seeking to change the town’s current Tree Warden to an appointed post with a three-year term of service with selection to be made by the town manager.
Discussion was also raised prior to vote on the establishment of a stabilization account to address costs associated with opioid recovery.
Of the 14 original articles, 3 were proposed for dismissal ahead of the meeting with votes subsequently approving their discharge from further action.
Article 1 requested to appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to unpaid bills from prior fiscal years and to determine the manner of meeting said appropriation, whether by taxation, transfer of available funds or borrowing. This article failed three separate votes, including a motion to reconsider.
Article 2 was a request to amend or adjust any of the line items of the fiscal year 2023 (FY23) town budget. This includes debt and interest along with determining what sums of money the town will appropriate for any such adjustments or amendments and to determine the manner of meeting said appropriation, whether by transfer from available funds, transfer from other items or appropriations, or borrowing. This article passed by a majority vote.
Article 3 proposed that the office of the town clerk to remain closed on Saturdays and passed by a majority vote.
Article 4’s request to create the Rural Residential Business Overlay District was not approved by voters, nor was Article 7’s proposal to approve the Scenic Road General Bylaw.
Voters did approve a change to the district boundary of the Residential Business Zoning District at 256 West St. as proposed by Article 5 The property was previous split into two separate zoning districts.
Article 6, proposing a change in the the zoning bylaw to prohibit the use of contaminated sediments and soil as fill material was also passed by majority vote.
Residents approved Article 8, thus changing the position of tree warden to an appointed position with a three-year term. An amendment was offered to replace selectmen appointment authority to that of the town manager.
Article 9 passed by a majority vote, allowing the town to use $120,000 toward improvements at Memorial Park. The funding would support planning and design as well as irrigation, a reconstruction basketball court with lights and furniture at Memorial Field. The request also included transferring the care, custody and control of Memorial Park to the Ware Parks Commission and authorizing the Select Board to apply for and accept park grants on behalf of the town.
Residents also approved the use of $200,000 for the purpose of funding a lead service line inventory and development of a replacement plan as proposed by Article 10.
Article 11, a request to appropriate the sum of $175,000 for the Ware Wastewater Asset Management Project which was submitted to be on the Massachusetts 2023 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Asset Management Planning Project List, was also passed by the majority. If awarded. the grant by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the total project cost of $175,000 is a $105,000 grant – 60 percent of the total project cost – which the town will be reimbursed for in two payments of approximately $52,000 each. The balance of the project will consist of in-kind services provided by the town valued at $35,000 and a cash contribution valued at $35,000. This article will grant authorization to the Select Board and town officers.
Article 12, asking to move the Police Department and town offices into the former Country Bank building on Main Street, was dismissed by a majority vote.
Article 13 requested the establishment of the Opioid Settlement Stabilization Account in accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40 Section 5B and was approved. The Stabilization Fund is being established for the purpose of future expenditures related to opioid recovery.
A request to purchase a 10-wheel dump truck for the DPW in Article 14 was also approved to conclude the meeting’s business.