Town Meeting Preview: Budget Revision, Zoning, School Position

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington town meeting voters will decide on budget articles, a potential new role at the schools and a variety of zoning articles, Wednesday.

The town meeting is due to take place virtually and at Burlington High School, at 7:30 p.m.

Two of the headline articles are the budget and the school position.

The budget article addresses a $2.1 million shortfall caused by falling local receipts; it proposes cuts to both the town and school operating budgets.

The school article would put $81,000 toward a director of diversity, equity and inclusion position.

The warrant also includes $100,000 for legal action against those responsible for Vine Brook Acquifer contamination, to recoup the costs of joining the regional water authority, an article to change the Board of Selectmen to a gender-neutral Select Board, and creates new zoning definitions or by-laws for event spaces, parking garages, short-term rentals, storage facilities and more.

All zoning articles received favorable votes from the Planning Board, except one which would allow front yard ground-mounted solar arrays, with certain conditions.

The full warrant is here and the backup is here. A variety of video presentations on zoning articles are available on the town website.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.