The Ayes Have it at Foxborough Town Meeting

It was a yes movement at Foxborough High School Monday night as all but one article passed the Annual Town Meeting. Of the 24 articles, none were rejected and one received a vote of no action.

Turnout for the meeting was 182.

Here is a recap of the votes from the 2015 Annual Town Meeting:

ARTICLE 4: To approve the town’s fiscal year 2016 operating budget of $65.37 million - Approved 165-2

ARTICLE 5: To approve a capital improvement planning budget of $2,400,455 - Approved 179-0

ARTICLE 6: Non-union managerial and seasonal pay plan - Approved 174-0

ARTICLE 7: Contract with Foxboro Permanent Firefighters Association - Approved 167-1

ARTICLE 8: Contract with dispatchers - Approved 169-0

ARTICLE 9: Contract with Foxborough Highway and Water Employees Union. - Approved 165-0

ARTICLE 10: Transfer $100,000 to the Inspection Department for inspector’s salaries from local receipts raised from inspection fees. - Approved 171-0

ARTICLE 11: FY16 Capital Improvement Budget Adjustments.

• Conservation: $16,500 allocated towards improvements at the 89 North Street property is proposed to be reallocated towards the 120 Spring Street rental property. The North Street property was determined to not be salvageable, and the Spring Street property was next on Conservation’s list of needed repairs.

• Water: $310,000 out of an allocated amount of $1M is proposed to be returned because the amount originally requested for the Hill Street Water Tank Rehabilitation are no longer needed. The Town has entered into a more advantageous approach to the project which minimizes the initial cost outlay.
• Historical Commission: $175,000 allocated for several Memorial Hall repair initiatives on a line-item basis, is proposed to be reallocated to an “in total” amount to allow for estimates to be obtained in a more cost-effective and efficient manner.

All three were approved 168-0

ARTICLE 12: To pay $1,811.12 in unpaid bills from prior years. Approved 165-0

ARTICLE 13: Department Revolving Funds Authorization Approved 163-1

ARTICLE 14: To approve $764,069 for other post employment benefits. 153-0

ARTICLE 15: To expend any funds received from the State and/or County for construction, reconstruction, or any other highway improvements or related activities. 140-0

ARTICLE 16: Stabilization Fund for Southeastern Regional School - No action

ARTICLE 17: To amending the General By-Law which will allow the Town the option of providing electronic access to Town Warrants via a link on the Town’s website. 65-38

ARTICLE 18: To accept changes to the open space residential development by-law - 102-14

ARTICLE 19: To see if the Town will vote to accept an amendment to the Flood Bylaw to include two new map references. 120-0

ARTICLE 20: Accept McNamara Way as a public way. Approved - 118-0

ARTICLE 21: Accept Michelmore Way as a public way. Approved - 120-0

ARTICLE 22: To acquire, for $30,000, a strip of land near the Town DPW garage in order to complete an easement agreement related to the power lines on the property. . The official transfer of the subject property will allow the Town to receive a recently negotiated one-time payment of $30,000 for the easement. Approved 118-0

ARTICLE 23: To amend the sewer service area map. Approved - 117-0

ARTICLE 24: To reaffirm that all executive powers will reside with the Water & Sewer Commissions with the exception of all personnel and collective bargaining powers (which will reside with the Town Manager) and the sale of sewer capacity outside the town borders (which will be subject to the joint approval of the Board of Selectmen and the Water & Sewer Commissioners). Approved - 115-2