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Date: 5/10/2023
WILBRAHAM — Wilbraham will conduct its spring Town Meeting on May 15, at 7 p.m. at the Minnechaug Regional High School auditorium. There are 51 articles. While the majority are housekeeping items and consent agenda issues, several articles pertain to the budget and financial decisions. There are also seven projects funded by Community Preservation Act and half a dozen bylaw changes.
Budgetary issues
Article 19 presents the fiscal year 2024 operating budget of $50.31 million. While the warrant states the town’s assessment for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regionals School District is $27.97 million and the Finance Committee recommends $27.39 million, the School and Finance committees continued negotiating the assessment after the warrant was finalized. Those parties, as well as the Hampden Advisory Board, agreed on a final set of numbers that put Wilbraham’s assessment at $29.11 million, $1.3 million more than the FY23 assessment of $27.81 million. No action will be taken on the capital projects for Minnechaug Regional High School, which would have totaled $124,102.
Several capital projects are on the warrant this year and would be funded from free cash. These include a library roof for $170,000 and gutters and air conditioning units at Mile Tree School for $200,000. The DPW has requested $150,000 in capital funding for paving and $240,000 for a catch basin truck. The purchase of a trailered man lift would use $5,000 from free cash and $5,000 from the Water Enterprise Retained Earnings fund. Likewise, a skid steer would be paid for with $60,000 from free cash and $5,000 each from the water, sewer, and solid waste enterprise retained earnings funds. These requests are part of Articles 25-27.
Community Preservation Act funding
The seven Community Preservation Act-funded projects range from a cost of $3,108 to $300,000 and are addressed in articles 37 through 43. Some of the more expensive items are a playscape at the Wilbraham Children’s Museum for $33,000, lighting for the Spec Pond access road at $65,000, two Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant playscapes for Mile Tree Elementary School for $79,400 and $300,000 for between four and six pickleball courts at an unnamed “Wilbraham Recreation location.” An additional $50,000 would be contributed to the project by The Wilbraham Friends of Recreation.
Bylaw changes
Several bylaw changes are also on the warrant. Article 46 would change the town clerk from an elected position to an appointed one. The purpose of this change would be to ensure the town clerk is “qualified by training and experience.” The term for the position would remain three years. If approved at Town Meeting, a second vote of approval on the May 20 ballot will be required for the change to become effective.
Article 47 would add a section to the general bylaws regarding blighted properties. Language in the bylaw defines blighted properties as “any building, structure or parcel … not being adequately maintained or secured,” or that “has been cited for violations,” is “attracting illegal activity,” is a “fire hazard,” is vacant or poses “a serious threat to safety, health and general welfare.” If deemed as such by the town, properties would need to be registered annually at a cost of $50 to the owner and corrective measures must be taken. Penalties for violating the bylaw start at $50 and increase for subsequent offenses.
Article 30 is a zoning bylaw change that would expand the allowable size of accessory structures from 144 square feet to 240 square feet. It would also reduce the required front setbacks. The Planning Board stated at a meeting on March 15 that sheds of 12-feet by 20-feet are widely available and commonly sold, and this change would update the bylaw.
Another topic taken up by the Planning Board is the size of trucks allowed to be parked in residential areas of Wilbraham. Article 31 would increase the gross vehicle weight rating, a common form of vehicle measurement, from 10,500 pounds to 12,400 pounds. At the same March 15 Planning Board meeting, Chair John McCloskey said the weight was decided based on research into what vehicles are commonly sold. The bylaw change also “more clearly” delineates non-commercial vehicles from commercial vehicles, states the warrant.
Article 50 seeks to amend a bylaw to change the name of the Board of Selectmen to the Select Board. Meanwhile, Article 51 is a petitioned article that would change the name of the body to the Selectboard. At a March 27 Board of Selectmen meeting, Town Administrator Nick Breault explained that he believes the language in the petitioned article is incorrect and would be ruled out of order at Town Meeting. If article 50 passes, no action would be taken on Article 51.
Land
Questions of whether to sell two parcels of land owned by the town and address a clerical issue with another are on the warrant. Articles 44 and 45 would authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell 181 Manchonis Rd. and 4V Mohawk Rd., respectively. These parcels are described in the warrant as “surplus real property.
Meanwhile, Article 34 would fix an issue with property that had been approved for acquisition at the May 2022 Town Meeting. The land at 304V and 404 Stony Hill Rd., as well as 30V Leemond St. and 1 Cypress Ln. were approved additions to the McDonald Nature Preserve, however there were “defects” in the title, according to the warrant. As such, the town has proposed taking the land by eminent domain or “friendly taking,” which would clear all defects and start a new title. There is no monetary impact to this process.