Taser Funding and Land Sale on Tap for Special Town Meeting

When voters head to Oliver Ames High School for the Special Town Meeting Monday night at 7 p.m., voters will have their say on 17 articles on the warrant.

Below are the articles up for a vote at the meetings:

ARTICLE 1 - TRANSFER TO STABILIZATION FUND

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate by transfer from available funds a sum of money into the Stabilization Fund, or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: This transfers a portion of free cash and is proposed as part of the on-going goal to build up reserves.

ARTICLE 2 - SUPPLEMENT FISCAL YEAR 2015 BUDGET

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate by transfer from available funds a sum of money to supplement fiscal year 2015 departmental budgets, or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: This article will adjust the FY15 budget to make adjustments for several departments which require additional funding.

ARTICLE 3 - REPLENISHMENT OF FUNDS TO THE CONSERVATION FUND

To see if the Town will vote to transfer available funds in the amount of $10,304.85 received as a grant from the State’s Trail Management Grant Program into the Conservation Trust Fund, or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: The Town of Easton received a $10,304.85 reimbursement grant from the State through the Recreational Trail Grant Program to extend and improve the trail system at the Clifford G. Grant Management Area. The project was funded with Conservation Trust funds. This Article asks the Town to vote to use the grant reimbursement to replenish the Conservation Trust funds used to conduct the survey.

ARTICLE 4. REPLENISHMENT OF CPA FUNDS

To see if the Town will vote to transfer available funds in the amount of $10,000 received as a grant from the State’s Survey and Planning Grant Program into the Community Preservation Fund, or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: The Town of Easton received a $10,000 reimbursement grant from the State through Massachusetts Historical Commission’s Survey & Planning Grant program, as partial reimbursement for the third phase of historic resource survey and documentation work. The project was funded with CPA funds. This Article asks the Town to vote to use the grant reimbursement to replenish the CPA funds used to conduct the historic resources survey and documentation project.

ARTICLE 5 - PURCHASE COPIER FOR TOWN HALL

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate by transfer from available funds the sum of $10,000 for purchase a new copy machine for use at the Easton Town Offices, or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: The existing copy machine is over 8 years old and needs frequent repairs. New parts are no longer available and must be salvaged from other machines. A new copier will also provide scanning and printing capabilities which are not available on the current model.

ARTICLE 6. AUTHORIZATION FOR FIVE YEAR SCHOOL BUS CONTRACT

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the School Committee to enter into up to a five year contract for school bus transportation services, or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: The current School Department bus contract is a three year contract that expires on 6/30/15. The School Committee will be seeking new bids for a three year contract this fiscal year and would like explore the potential for further cost savings by including renewal options for up to two additional years. Town meeting approval is required for contracts longer than three years.

ARTICLE 7 - AUTHORIZATION FOR FIVE YEAR SCHOOL DEPARTMENT ATHLETIC TRAINER CONTRACT
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the School Committee to enter into up to a five year contract for athletic training services, or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: The current School Department athletic trainer contract expires on 6/30/15. The School Committee will be seeking new bids for a three year contract this fiscal year and would like explore the potential for further cost savings by including renewal options for up to two additional years. Town meeting approval is required for contracts longer than three years.

ARTICLE 8 - SUPPLEMENT FY2015 CAPITAL BUDGET

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, appropriate by borrowing, or appropriate by transfer from available funds, the sum of $102,400 to supplement the following capital budget needs of the Town for fiscal year 2015 as listed below, or take any other action relative thereto.

Department/Capital Item - Amount

• Board of Health e-Permitting Software/Equipment - $15,500
• Clerk - e-Permitting Software - $6,500
• Fire - e-Permitting Software - $8,900
• Police - e-Permitting Software - $1,500
• Police – Tasers and Departmental Equipment- $70,000
• Total - $102,400

Explanation: This supplemental article funds capital items included in the FY15 Capital Budget that were deferred until additional funds became available.

ARTICLE 9 - APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR ACTUARIAL VALUATION

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate and transfer from available funds the sum of $14,000 to conduct an actuarial valuation of the Town’s unfunded post-employment benefits liability, including data collection services, or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: The actuarial valuation is a financial reporting requirement that the Town must comply with and must be completed every two years. It determines the estimated unfunded liability for post-employment benefits other than pensions, which are primarily health insurance benefits.

ARTICLE 10 - AUTHORIZATION FOR ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY (ESCO) PROJECT

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into an Energy Management Services Agreement in an amount not to exceed $3,184,157 with Ameresco, Inc., in accordance with MGL c. 25A, for a term of up to fifteen (15) years for the turnkey design, installation, commissioning and performance assurance for specific energy infrastructure and efficiency projects in municipal and school buildings as specified in the Investment Grade Energy Audit provided to the Town on September 22, 2014 by Ameresco, Inc., under which the energy savings resulting from the installed energy infrastructure and efficiency projects will be guaranteed by Ameresco, Inc. for the term of the contract as required in MGL c. 25A, or take any action in relation thereto.

Explanation: As part of this project the Town of Easton issued an RFQ to find a qualified firm to complete an investment grade audit and develop an energy conservation project. An Energy savings Performance Contract allows for the installation of energy conservation measures of building systems and components with the guaranteed energy savings paying for the cost of the project. The Town has selected Ameresco as our vendor and has identified $3,184,157 worth of energy conservation measures which can be supported through the energy savings achieved.

ARTICLE 11 - APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR ESCO PROJECT

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum, an amount not to exceed $3,184,157 to implement the energy infrastructure and efficiency projects under the Energy Management Services program, under which the funds to pay for these items will ultimately come from savings derived from the energy infrastructure and efficiency projects, and to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or otherwise, in accordance with M.G.L. c.44, s.7 (3B), or take any other action relative thereto or thereon.

Explanation: As part of the proposed Energy Savings Performance Contract the Town would pay for the improvements identified in the investment grade audit as they are installed and would then use the energy savings realized through the project to pay the borrowing principal and interest over the life of the borrowing. At the end of the financing term all savings would be retained by the Town.

ARTICLE 12 - AUTHORIZE NET METERING CONTRACT FOR ESCO PROJECT

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into an agreement with Ameresco, Inc., in accordance with MGL c. 25A, for a term of up to twenty (20) years for the purchase of power/net metering credits generated from the installation of solar photovoltaic systems located on Town-owned property and for the lease of Town-owned property for the explicit purpose of siting solar photovoltaic systems exclusively for the benefit of the Town, or take any action in relation thereto.

Explanation: The Town of Easton has been in negotiations with Ameresco to site solar panels on the roof of the High School and Middle School as part of a power purchase/net metering agreement. Net metering is an electricity policy which allows utility customers to offset some or all of their energy use with self-produced renewable energy.

ARTICLE 13 - CPA LAND ACQUISITION

To see if the Town will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee to appropriate by transfer from available Community Preservation funds or appropriate by borrowing a sum of money pursuant to the Community Preservation Act, for the purpose of acquiring a parcel of land; said land to be restricted for conservation and recreational purposes; and the parcel to be acquired hereunder are more particularly described on a plan on file with the Town Clerk’s office, or take any other action relative thereto.

ARTICLE 14 - CPA FUNDING – OAKES AMES MEMORIAL HALL COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITIZED TREATMENT PLAN

To see if the Town will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee to appropriate a sum of money from available Community Preservation Funds for the purpose of funding a Comprehensive Needs Assessment and Prioritized Treatment Plan to identify and prioritize needs related to structural, mechanical, and architectural rehabilitation and restoration, universal access, and cyclical maintenance, or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: This article would fund a comprehensive plan for Oakes Ames Memorial Hall which would prioritize needs related to structural, mechanical, and architectural rehabilitation and restoration, universal access, and cyclical maintenance. The resulting plan would outline the physical needs and rehabilitation/restoration priorities for the building and would allow The Oakes Ames Memorial Hall Association to demonstrate preparedness when fundraising and seeking grant opportunities. The Memorial Hall Association has received a $30,000 grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission to cover a portion of the cost, which will be reimbursed upon completion of the Plan.

ARTICLE 15 – AUTHORIZATION TO SELL 114 MAIN STREET, EASTON, MA

To see if the Town will vote to convey a certain parcel of land located at 114 Main Street, said parcel also described as Parcel No.71 on Easton Assessor’s Map No. 17U; and to authorize the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager to execute any and all agreements and other instruments necessary to effectuate such conveyance; or take any other action relative thereto.

ARTICLE 16 – ACCEPTANCE OF GIFT OF LAND – 338 MAIN STREET, EASTON, MA

To see if the Town will vote to accept the donation of a certain parcel of land located at 338 Main Street, identified as Parcel No. 32 on Assessor’s Map 18, said donation to be for general municipal purposes subject to the requirements that the Easton Garden Club shall be permitted to place a suitable sign stating “Welcome to Easton” on the Property; and to authorize the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager to execute any and all agreements and other instruments necessary to effectuate such conveyance; or take any other action relative thereto.

ARTICLE 17

To transact any other business that may legally come before said meeting.