Wednesday Night's Town Meeting Summary

All information (Town Warrants) can be found on the Town website for review.

Wednesday nights Town Meeting summary:

1). ARTICLE 28 - Minuteman Regional School District Assessment: Approved.

• "To see if the Town will raise and appropriate, and/or transfer and appropriate from available funds, a sum of money to defray the necessary expenses of the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District, or take any other action relative thereto."

2). ARTICLE 29 - Minuteman Regional School District - Facility Repair Assessment (FY12): Approved.

• "To see if the Town will raise and appropriate, or appropriate from available funds, an additional sum of money to defray the necessary expenses of the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District (the “District”) for the District’s 2012 fiscal year, or to take any other action relative thereto."

3). ARTICLE 30 - Minuteman Regional School District - Authorize Stabilization Fund: Denied.

• "To see if the Town will approve the establishment of a Stabilization Fund by the Minuteman Regional Vocational School District to pay costs of capital repairs, renovations, and improvements to the regional district school and its associated facilities, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 71 Section 16G½ of the Massachusetts General Laws; or to take any other action relative thereto."

4). ARTICLE 31 - SENSE OF THE MEETING - REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT - STUDY COMMITTEE OF THE ACTON-BOXBOROUGH REGIONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE – DRAFTING OF A NEW PRE-K TO GRADE 12 REGIONAL SCHOOL AGREEMENT: Approved. See the Acton Patch article on this topic.

• "It is the sense of Town Meeting that the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee direct the Regional School District Study Committee to draft a regional agreement between Acton and Boxborough that would include grades pre-kindergarten through 12 for approval at 2013 annual town meeting."

5). ARTICLE 32 - Community Preservation Program - Direct Appropriations from Fun Balances: Approved.

• Set Aside Appropriations for:
  A. Acquisition, Creation, and Preservation of Open Space, and its Rehabilitation and Restoration: $ 500,000.00
  B. Acquisition, Preservation, Rehabilitation and Restoration of Historic Resources; compensates for under-spending in 2007: $ 528.00
  C. 468 Main Street - Access for Persons with Disabilities: $ 70,000.00
  D. Memorial Library - Window Restoration: $ 12,000.00
  E. Town Hall - Tower Clock Restoration: $ 14,000.00
  F. Regional Housing Services Program: $ 40,000.00
  G. Development Funds - Sachem Way: $ 300,000.00
  H.: $ 210,000.00
  Administrative Spending Appropriation:
  I. A fund for CPC direct expenses and for reimbursing the Town of Acton for administrative services and operating expenses provided in support of the Community Preservation Committee: $ 47,942.00. Total Recommended Appropriations from FY 2011 Community Preservation Fund Balance and Current Historic Set-Aside Fund: $1,194,470.00

6). ARTICLE 33 - Land Transfer - Town Forest and General Municipal: Approved.

• "This Article would authorize an exchange of land between the Town Forest and municipal uses. The land to be transferred from the Town Forest to general municipal uses consists of approximately 2.3 acres contiguous to land already used for highway department and for active recreation purposes and is occupied in part by an existing road. The land to be transferred to the Town Forest from municipal uses consists of approximately 2.41 acres of undeveloped forested land contiguous to the Town Forest. The proposed exchange will align the land in a manner that better protects the Town Forest and better utilizes the land in question. The proposed exchange is subject to Article 97 legislative approval."

7). ARTICLE 34 - Land Lease or Easement - NARA Miracle Field: Approve. .

• "Town officials have been working with interested parents, citizens and representatives affiliated with an organization known as the Miracle League in an effort to provide recreational support and opportunities for individuals with physical and mental disabilities (“special needs”). The Miracle League constructs special recreational facilities known as “Miracle League Fields” on which individuals with special needs compete. The Miracle League Fields are custom-designed facilities incorporating cushioned synthetic turf that accommodate wheelchairs and other walking devices and help prevent injuries. The Miracle League makes it possible for individuals with special needs to participate in an organized recreational program like their brothers, sisters and friends. The Miracle League has offered agreed to provide the equipment and the funds with which to construct the Miracle League Field and facility at the Property. This Article would authorize the Selectmen to take any and all steps necessary to make this goal a reality and thereby to create the first Miracle League Field of its kind in Massachusetts."

8). ARTICLE 35 - Home Rule Petition - Deputy Police Chief: Denied.

• "To see if the Town will vote to petition the General Court for an Act authorizing the continued employment of the deputy police chief in substantially the form set forth below, or take any other action relative thereto: An act providing that Robert Parisi may continue employment with the police department of the Town of Acton."

9). ARTICLE 36 - Home Rule Petition - Energy Efficiency Fund: Approved.

• "If passed by the state legislature, this Special Act would allow the Town to segregate revenues from energy efficiency incentive payments, power purchase agreements, renewable energy leases, grants, donations, and similar sources in a Energy Efficiency Fund and use the revenue for energy efficiency projects, energy conservation outreach, renewable energy projects, purchase of renewable power, and similar projects and activities. Town Meeting could also make appropriations to the fund. Any surplus at the end of each fiscal year would be retained in the Energy Efficiency Fund to pay for additional energy projects or activities."

10). ARTICLE 37 - Resolution for Constitutional Amendment:  Town to take no action.

11). ARTICLE 43 - Amend Zoning Bylaw - Brookside Shops: Denied.

• "To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw, Map Number 1, by changing the zoning district designation for Town Atlas parcel F-4/37 (145 to 149 Great Road) from Residence 8 (R-8) to Limited Business (LB), or take any other action relative thereto."

12). ARTICLE 39 - Amend Zoning Bylaw - Signs & Advertising Devices: Approved.

• "This article makes changes to the provisions regulating signs and advertising devices as recommended to the Planning Board by the Economic Development Committee.
  Part A would allow LED signs in the same manner that Neon signs are presently allowed.
  Part B would provide a definition for Special Event Signs, which are further regulated in Section 7.10.
  Part C clarifies the meaning of section 7.3.8 without intending to change its effect and application, which is to prohibit freestanding signs in the minimum required side and rear yard.
  Part D would shorten section 7.4.3.8 to its essential point encouraging the use of energy efficient light fixtures.
  Part E would shorten the maximum time frame for the issuance of administrative sign permits from 60 days to 45 days.
  Part F would allow for temporary signs while businesses are awaiting permits for permanent signs, delete the owner’s record keeping requirement pertaining to their use of special event signs, and otherwise reorganize the subject section 7.10 of the zoning bylaw.
  Part G would establish $50.00 fines issued for the first 7 days of violations of the sign regulations in Section 7 of the zoning bylaw, whereas all other zoning bylaw violations remain at $300.00 per day."

13). ARTICLE 40 - Amend Town Bylaws - Non-Criminal Disposition - Zoning Bylaw: Approved. 

• "This article amends the Town’s General Bylaw on the non-criminal disposition for violations of the Zoning Bylaw consistent with the zoning bylaw amendment in Part G of the previous article, which would establish $50.00 fines issued for the first 7 days of violations of the sign regulations in Section 7 of the zoning bylaw, whereas all other zoning bylaw violations remain at $300.00 per day."

14). ARTICLE 46 - Amend Zoning Bylaw - Nonconforming Lots: Approved.

• "1. Make the current provisions of Section 8.1 explicitly govern only unimproved lots.
  2. Move Section 8.3.6 within the heading of “Nonconforming Lots” under Section 8.1.
  3. Remove any reference to voluntary demolition and demolition as a result of fire or natural disaster, where that distinction is unnecessary. Demolitions due to fire or natural disaster are treated the same as voluntary demolitions and reconstructions under the Acton ZBL. This removal is not intended to result in a change in rights with respect to demolitions under those circumstances.
  4. Allow modest extensions, alterations or changes of structures on nonconforming lots by right.
  5. Add a default provision that permits changes to structures on nonconforming lots where it has been determined by the Acton Zoning Board of Appeals that the proposal is entitled to relief under Chapter 40A, Section 6.
  6. Bring Section 8.1 in conformance with the other sections in the Acton ZBL dealing with nonconformity by making explicit that such lots are permitted to persist according to Chapter 40A, Section 6."

14). ARTICLE 49 - Amend Zoning Bylaw - Motor vEHICLE sales - As Accessory Use to Vehicle Repair: Approved.

• "Vehicle repair as a defined principal use in Section 3.5.20 of the zoning bylaw is allowed by right in the Limited Business (LB), Powder Mill (PM), Light Industrial (LI) and Small Manufacturing (SM) zoning districts, and by special permit in the West Acton Village (WAV) and Kelley’s Corner (KC) zoning districts. Vehicle Sales as a defined principal use in Section 3.5.22 is allowed by right only in the LB and PM zoning districts. The owner of a vehicle repair shop in the WAV zoning district has approached the Planning Board about adding a used car sales business. This article would accommodate the sale of used motor vehicles as an accessory use to auto repair shops with certain conditions and requirements as set forth in the article. The particular repair business in the WAV zoning district is pre-existing non-conforming, meaning it came into existence prior to the special permit requirement of the zoning bylaw. The owner would have to obtain a special permit before they can obtain a license to sell used motor vehicles on the property. Special permits are discretionary and can impose conditions and requirements pertaining to the property and the business on it. Auto dealer licenses are issued by the Board of Selectmen and come up for renewal once a year. This provides an annual opportunity to check for special permit compliance."

15). ARTICLE 51 - Accept Land Girft - Squirrel Hill Road: Town voted to take not action.

16). ARTICLE 53 - Accept Land Gift - Quarry Road: Approved.

• "To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire on such terms and conditions as the Selectmen may determine, by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise and to accept the deed of a fee simple interest in a certain parcel of land on Quarry Road that was conveyed on June 2, 1989 by a deed to Mary Gustin, David Flavin, Maureen Sloan, Margaret Doran and Richard Flavin, recorded in the South Middlesex Registry of Deeds in Book 19913 Page 577, containing approximately 1.5 acres of land more or less, and shown on Town Atlas Map B-5 as Parcel 13, for municipal purposes, and further to see if the Town will raise, appropriate, transfer from available funds, or accept gifts for this purpose, or take any other action relative thereto."