Town Meeting Votes Down Nashoba Tech Stabilization Fund

Town Meeting met last night and voted down an article to establish a stabilization fund at Nashoba Tech. Town Meeting also approved a measure that would limit the number of nomination papers candidates can receive to collect signatures.

Here's a recap of last night's action. Town Meeting will meet again Thursday night to finish up town business.

3 - The budget for fiscal '12.

 Passed unanimously

Town Manager Paul Cohen says the budget is essentially level service  as the town deals with the 4^th consecutive year of local aid cuts

 4 - To establish a Nashoba Valley Stabilization Fund

 On a hand count, 54 in favor and 74 against, the motion failed

The Finance Committee commended Nashoba for planning ahead but said the authority to approve expenditures belongs to town meeting voters.  Groton and Westford both voted positively on the fund. Four of seven towns must agree to establish it.

 2 – Amendments to the current operating budget

 Passed unanimously

The town chose to amend the current budget to account for municipal expenses to account for increased staffing for the treasurer’s office; also, an increase to snow and ice due to a harsh winter.

 5  - The annual appropriation to operate the sewer enterprise fund

Passed unanimously

Revenues and expenses are set into this fund so the sewer is a self-supporting entity

 6 – The town appropriate for $400,000 as a reserve fund for fiscal 2012

Passed by majority

The account is used by the Finance Committee for extraordinary or unforeseen expenses

Article 8 – Funding capital projects

Majority

Computer replacement at library; storage building for library; service truck replacement for the Fire Department; replacing the flag pole at the town common; senior center emergency generator; school technology. A 2/3 vote was needed to pass.

 9 – Replacing the jaws of life for $50,000

Passed unanimously

$44,731 will be paid from an excess bond premium; the rest will be transferred from the Finance Committee reserve fund

 11 – Appropriation of $1.2 million to the 9 Alpha Road DPW facility to house the town’s sewer operations

Passed unanimously

The town will borrow the money to do the project. Needed a 2/3 vote to pass.

13 – To pay for collective bargaining agreements of the firefighters, facilities union, and library union

 Passed unanimously

$53,822 will be taken from the Finance Committee reserve for the firefighters union contract, which is a retroactive contract from 7/1/10 to 6/30/13

14- The last day for obtaining blank nomination papers will be 48 hours prior to the deadline for the submission of those papers; no candidate will receive more blank papers than will contain the number of signatures required to place his name in nomination multiplied by five

Passed by majority

This is a state statute the town adopted. Some Town Meeting Reps said the statute limits people having the opportunity to run for office.