Arlington Town Meeting Day 1 Results

ARLINGTON, MA – Arlington's annual Town Meeting began Monday, April 23. All articles through 18 were considered at Monday's inaugural session. This year there are over 45 items on the docket, including a proposal to move the time of Town Meeting from 8 p.m. to 7 p.m., an amendment to the animal control bylaw and changing the name of the board of selectmen to the more gender-neutral "select board."

Below are the results of Town Meeting Day 1:

ARTICLE 4 APPOINTMENT OF MEASURER OF WOOD AND BARK: Approved
To choose and appoint all the usual Town Officers not hereinbefore mentioned, in such a manner as the Town may determine; or take any action related thereto. (Inserted by the Board of Selectmen)

ARTICLE 5 ELECTION OF ASSISTANT TOWN MODERATOR: Approved
To elect a Town Meeting Member as Assistant Moderator for a term of one year, as provided in Title I, Article 1, Section 11.A, of the Bylaws; or take any action related thereto. (Inserted at the request of the Town Moderator)

ARTICLE 6 BYLAW AMENDMENT/CAPITAL PLANNING COMMITTEE: Approved
To see if the Town will vote to amend TITLE II, Article 3 by changing the number of registered voters on the Capital Planning Committee from four registered voters of the Town appointed by the Moderator to between four and six registered voters of the Town appointed by the Moderator; to specify the length of their terms as well as the manner of such appointments and reappointments; or take any action related thereto. (Inserted at the request of the Moderator and the Capital Planning Committee)

ARTICLE 7 BYLAW AMENDMENT/TOWN MEETING WARRANT DELIVERY: Approved
To see if the Town will vote to amend TITLE l, Article 2 by changing the manner of delivery of the Warrant to every dwelling house in Town and to the Town Meeting Representatives; or take any action related thereto.(Inserted at the request of the Moderator and the Town Meeting Procedures Committee)

ARTICLE 8 BYLAW AMENDMENT/ADDITION OF CERTAIN DELINQUENT MUNICIPAL FEES/FINES TO BE A LIEN ON REAL ESTATE TAX ACCOUNT: Approved
To see if the Town will vote to amend Title I, Article 21 ("Municipal Charges Liens") of the TownBylaws; to include in the placement of a lien or liens onto any real estate tax accounts, any fees, fines, or penalties levied by a Town and/or School department upon a resident property owner and/or non-resident property owner of the Town, where such fee, fine, or penalty is delinquent.Said amended Bylaw is in accordance with Section 58 of Chapter 40 "Municipal Charges Lien" of the Massachusetts General Law; or take any action related thereto.(Inserted at the request of the Town Treasurer)

ARTICLE 9 BYLAW AMENDMENT/FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Approved
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town Bylaws relative to financial information in real estate tax bills, including but not limited to eliminating the provisions of Title I, Article 17("Financial Information"); or take any action related thereto .(Inserted at the request of the Town Treasurer)

ARTICLE 10 BYLAW AMENDMENT/ANIMAL CONTROL REGULATIONS: Approved
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town Bylaws to comport with recent changes in state law adopted through Chapter 248 of the Acts of 2016 ("An Act Preventing Animal Suffering andDeath"), including but not limited to changes concerning the manner in which dogs may be confined, tethered, and treated; the manner of enforcement and penalties for violation of theTown's Animal Control Bylaws; and the time frame and terms of license applications; or take any action related thereto.(Inserted at the request of the Town Clerk and the Town Manager)

ARTICLE 11 BYLAW AMENDMENT/VACANT STORE FRONT REGISTRY: Approved
To see if the Town will vote to amend Title V, Article 17 of the Town Bylaws ("Registration andMaintenance of Vacant Commercial and Industrial Buildings") to extend the period of time a property may not be used or occupied before being considered "vacant," adjust the timing and manner of collecting annual registration fees, and adjust the timing, criteria, and manner of applying for and receiving waivers; or take any action related thereto.(Inserted at the request of the Town Manager)

ARTICLE 12 BYLAW AMENDMENT/BETTERMENT BYLAW REVISION: Approved
To see if the Town will vote to Amend Title III Article 3 of the Town Bylaws: Repairs to Private Ways to revise the criteria, process, and other material terms for the approval and administration of temporary repairs to private ways, including revising the definition of abutters and the number or percentage of abutters required for a betterment petition, providing for limited Town repairs at theTown's sole discretion for the sole purpose of ensuring safe passage of emergency vehicles without incurring liability for same; or take any action related thereto.(Inserted at the request of the Town Manager)

ARTICLE 13 BYLAW AMENDMENT/ARLINGTON COMMISSION ON ARTS AND CULTURE: Approved
To see if the Town will vote to amend Title II, Article 8 of the Town Bylaws to change the name of the Arlington Commission on Arts and Culture, alter its membership and composition, and expand and/or alter its duties and responsibilities to include, but not limited to the following: public art, cultural district management, and seeking and distributing arts-related grants; or take any action related thereto.(Inserted at the request of the Arlington Commission on Arts and Culture)

ARTICLE 14 BYLAW AMENDMENT/TREE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION: Approved
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town Bylaws, Title V Regulations Upon the Use ofPrivate Property, Article 16: Tree Protection and Preservation, Section 4, Procedures andRequirements for the Preservation of Trees, to increase the fees for tree removal or to authorize theBoard of Selectmen to set the fees for tree removal, in the interests of reflecting the true cost of tree removal; or take any action related thereto.(Inserted at the request of the Tree Committee)

ARTICLE 15 BYLAW AMENDMENT/NOISE ABATEMENT: No Action
To see if the Town will vote to amend Title V, Article 12 of the Town Bylaws to regulate the permissible hours and volume of noise generated by parties and events on residential private property, by reducing the permissible hours of operation and/or decibel levels of loudspeakers and sound amplifying devices used for entertainment, requiring neighbor notifications for parties on residential private property in which noise amplification will be used, and providing for exemptions for certain well known Town-wide events and/or celebrations periods such as "PorchFest"; or take any action related thereto.(Inserted at the request of Meredith DiMola and ten registered voters)

ARTICLE 16 BYLAW AMENDMENT/TIME OF TOWN MEETING SESSIONS: No Action
To see if the Town will vote to amend Title I, Section 1, to change the time of Town Meeting from8:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; or take any action related thereto.(Inserted at the request of Bill Hayner and ten registered voters)

ARTICLE 17 BYLAW AMENDMENT/DEMOLITION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES: No Action
To see if the Town will vote to amend Title VI, Article 6 of the Town Bylaws ("Historically orArchitecturally Significant Buildings") to amend the definition of "Significant Building" to include any building more than 50 years of age at the time of inquiry, or any building built on or beforeJanuary 1, 1968; or take any action related thereto.(Inserted at the request of Leonard Kardon and ten registered voters)

ARTICLE 18 HOME RULE LEGISLATION/APPOINTMENT OF TOWN COMPTROLLER: Approved
To see if the Town will vote to authorize and request the Board of Selectmen to file Home RuleLegislation implementing the recommendations of the 2012 Massachusetts Department ofRevenue "Town and School Finance Analysis" report to make the Comptroller an appointment ofthe Town Manager; or take any action related thereto.

Image via Jenna Fisher (Patch Staff)