School Improvements, Sunday Alcohol Sales to Top Town Meeting Warrant

Selectmen Monday night signed the Oct. 18 fall Town Meeting warrant, which includes 20 articles. Town Manager Paul Cohen said it will probably take two sessions to get through the entire warrant.

Town Meeting voters will be asked to approve replacing the Byam Elementary School's roof and windows at which are original to the building. Both of these items require a two-thirds vote.

Cohen said the town will apply for a grant with the state School Building Authority, which is looking to make energy conservation improvements in schools. In order to apply, schools must be in use, not have any space concerns and be structurally sound with the exception of windows, roofs and boilers. Cohen said Byam and Chelmsford High School fit the bill perfectly.

"We're confident," he said of the town receiving the grant. If the town receives the grant, the state will pick up at least half of the cost for both projects. Cohen estimated the new windows will cost $1.5 million and the new roof will cost about $500,000.

Town Meeting voters will also be asked to OK alcohol sales on Sunday starting at 11 a.m., Cohen said. After Town Meeting accepts the measure, selectmen can decide if the town should start serving alcohol at 10 a.m., Cohen said. Places, such as the Radisson, would like to serve alcohol with brunch, Cohen said.

The Conservation Commission will ask Town Meeting to designate certain parcels of land as conservation land,  Cohen said. The measure is a house-keeping item on the town's books, he said.

Voters will also be asked to accept 12 parcels of land that are being given as a gift to the town, Cohen said.

The Town Meeting will be held Oct. 18 at the Chelmsford Senior Center at 7:30 p.m. If Town Meeting does not conclude its business on the first night, it will reconvene on Oct. 21, Oct. 25, or Oct. 28.