Votes To Lower Speed Limit, Ban Pot Near Schools, Allow Fowl: Milford Annual Town Meeting

MILFORD, MA—Voters headed to Milford Town Hall for its annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m., voting on 36 warrant articles.

Town Moderator Michael Noferi called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and announced that the Precinct Captains will take attendance; the quorum was set at 126 Town Meeting Members. The Precinct Captains reported 167 members Present and 85 members absent.

The following are the results of Town Meeting articles:

ARTICLE 2: I move that the Town vote to amend the Wage and Salary Schedule of the Wage and Salary Administration Plan by establishing new position levels and salary levels, as recommended by the Personnel Board for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2017. Voice Vote taken on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously

ARTICLE 3: To see if the Town will vote to fix the salary and compensation of all elected officers of the Town, as provided by Section 108 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried

ARTICLE 4: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate such sum or sums of money as may be necessary to defray expenses for the financial year beginning July 1, 2017, or take any other action in relation thereto. A Voice Vote was taken on the Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 5: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning July 1, 2017 in accordance with the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 4 and to issue a note or notes therefore, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 17, or take any other action in relation thereto. The Moderator announced that this required a 2/3rd Vote and he will take a Voice Vote unless the Voice Vote is not Unanimous; in that case he would take a Standing Vote. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 6: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to take charge of all legal proceedings for or against the Town, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried.

ARTICLE 7: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to expend from funds received by the Town as fines for parking violations during Fiscal Year 2018, such sum or sums of money as are necessary to pay the costs and expenses of collecting such fines and otherwise complying with the provisions of Section 20A of Chapter 90 of the General Laws during said fiscal year, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 8: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer and/or Tax Collector to enter into a compensating balance agreement or agreements for Fiscal Year 2018 pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 53F of the General Laws, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 9: To see if the Town will vote for Fiscal Year 2018, to authorize any and all departments to utilize, without further appropriation, any amounts received from insurance companies or other third parties as damages or payment for damage to any Town-owned property, for the purpose of repairing or replacing such property, or, as deemed appropriate by the Board of Selectmen, directly depositing such funds to the Municipal Building & Property Insurance Fund established by vote under Article 45 of the June 11, 1990 Annual Town Meeting, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 10: To see if the Town will vote to authorize all persons, boards or agencies of the Town otherwise authorized to contract for or on behalf of the Town, during Fiscal Year 2018 to enter into such contracts or agreements for up to five years, except in the case of contracts or agreements dealing with real estate which may be for up to ten years, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 11: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer to accept deeds in lieu of foreclosure, pursuant to Chapter 60, Section 77C of the Massachusetts General Laws, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 12: To see if the Town will vote to transfer a sum of money, consistent with the funds raised from vending machines in the Milford School district, to be spent under the jurisdiction of the School Committee for purposes of Student Activities not funded in the School Department budget, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 13: To see if the Town will vote to amend the General By-Laws of the Town by adding a new section to establish and authorize revolving funds for use by certain Town Departments, Boards, Committees, Agencies or Officers under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53E ½, or take any other action in relation thereto. A Motion was made to Waive the Reading of the Article because the wording is the same as it appears in the report given to all Town Meeting Members. A Voice Vote was taken on Motion to Waive the Reading…Carried. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried.

ARTICLE 14: To see if the Town will vote to amend Article 26 of the General By-Laws of the Town, entitled “Tax Payments as License etc. Condition”, by adding after the word “annually” within Section 1 the words “, and may periodically,”; and further, in said Section 1, to strike the phrase “for not less than 12-month period”, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 15: To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 193 of Chapter 218 of the Acts of 2016 allowing the Town to reduce the statutory speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph on any and all Town owned roadways within a thickly settled or business district, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried.

ARTICLE 16: To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 194 of Chapter 218 of the Acts of 2016 allowing the Town to reduce the statutory speed limit from 30 mph to 20 mph in Safety Zones on any and all Town owned roadways within a thickly settled or business district, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried.

ARTICLE 17: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the General Court for Special Legislation amending the Act Establishing Representative Town Meetings. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 18: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to seek proposals in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 30B, Section 16 of the General Laws looking towards reuse through sale or lease of the former East Main Street School building located at 45 Main Street and shown on Assessors Sheet 41 as Lot 7A and further to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into all agreements and execute any and all instruments as necessary to sell or lease such parcel, and to set a minimum price for any sale, or take any other action in relation thereto. The Town Moderator explained that a 2/3rd vote is required and that he will take a voice vote unless the voice vote is not unanimous, and then in that case a standing vote will be taken. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 19: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to be utilized by the Milford Industrial Development Commission for consultant services to analyze the role and efficacy of said Commission and make any appropriate recommendations, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried.

ARTICLE 20: To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 108P of Chapter 41 of the General Laws, which section provides for additional compensation for certain Treasurers and/or Tax Collectors, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 21: To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 2.3 Use Regulation Schedule of the Zoning Bylaw. Article 21 is a Planning Board sponsored zoning amendment relating to Residential Animals. Article 21 seeks to prohibit “residential animals” within the RA General Residential zoning district. Residential Animals are currently defined in the Zoning Bylaw as “the keeping of animals or fowl is an accessory use to a single family or two family residence”, and anything more than “three dogs or three cats.” Up to three dogs or three cats, or any household pet which is normally kept within a dwelling unit not considered Residential Animals. A Standing Vote was taken on Motion as Presented…59 For…110 Against…Motion Defeated.

ARTICLE 22: To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning By-Law by striking the last sentence of the definition of “Residential Animals” within Section 4.1 of said By-Law and replacing that sentence with the following: “Residential Animals shall not include three (3) dogs, three (3) cats, four (4) hens or chicks, or any household pet which is normally kept within a dwelling unit." A Standing Vote was taken on Motion as Presented…81 For…83 Against…Motion Defeated.

ARTICLE 23: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds, a sum of money in the amount of $125,000 to be spent under the jurisdiction of the Highway Surveyor for consulting services to complete the 100% engineering design drawings, plans and specifications associated with the Route 16/Main Street rebuilding project from Water Street to the Hopedale town line, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 24: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer a sum of money from available funds to be utilized together with funds available under Article 16 of the October 21, 2013 Special town Meeting, thereafter supplemented, for purposes of retaining consultants and other expert services to evaluate, and represent the Towns interest in acquisition of the Milford Water Company and to effectuate any final agreement to transfer the Milford Water Company and its assets to the Town of Milford , or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote was taken on Motion as Presented…Carried.

ARTICLE 25: To see if the Town will vote to discontinue, as a public way, and in accordance with G.L. c. 82, Section 21, a portion of the Park Terrace right-of-way as shown on the “Discontinuance Plan of Park Terrace Milford, MA Scale 1”=5’ Date: February 24, 2017, Guerriere & Halnon Inc., Engineers and Land Surveying 333 West Street, Milford, MA”; said area to be discontinued being shown more particularly as containing 43 sq. ft. on said plan. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 26: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to be spent by the Vernon Grove Cemetery Trustees in order to replace the columbarium bronze markers for the niches at the Vernon Grove Cemetery, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Pass Over Article 26…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 27: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to be used to pay for operating costs, regular maintenance and repairs as well as any other items needed for the continued operation of the Middle School East Building, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 28: To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Clause Twenty-Second (G) of Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the General Laws which acceptance would allow property in Trust to meet the ownership requirements for veterans’ exemptions and reduce the residency requirement from five years to one year, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 29: To see if the Town will vote, in accordance with the third paragraph of General Laws Chapter 40, Section 3, to allow any balance remaining in an account for the upkeep of a Town facility, at the close of the fiscal year, to remain in said account to be expended for the upkeep and maintenance of such facility under the control of a Board, Committee or Department of the Town, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 30: To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning By-Law by amending Section 3.9.12 so that the title shall read “Temporary and Portable Signs;” and further by adding the following sentence to Section 3.9.12.1: A Standing Vote was taken on the Motion as Presented…76 For…79 Against…Motion Defeated.

ARTICLE 31: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the expenditure of the available balance in Fund 2696 Comcast Verizon PEG access account, for the purpose of performing upgrades in accordance with the PEG Access Agreements with the Town, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 32: To see if the Town will vote to establish a Special Stabilization Fund for the purpose of reserving funds to pay expenses related to special education, as authorized by General Laws Chapter 40, Section 5B, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 33: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the legislature for special legislation to provide for the grant of an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on premises which legislation shall provide substantially. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

ARTICLE 34: Article 34 is a Planning Board sponsored zoning amendment relating to Marijuana Establishments. Specifically, Article 34 provides a new definition for Marijuana Establishments as “a marijuana cultivator, marijuana testing facility, marijuana product manufacturer, marijuana retailer, or any other marijuana-related business, but not to include a medical marijuana treatment center.” A Standing Vote was Taken on Final Motion as Amended…139 For…15 Against…the Necessary 2/3rd Vote was Acquired…Motion Carried.

ARTICLE 35: To see if the Town will vote to revoke its acceptance of the provisions of the Massachusetts General Laws placing the Town of Milford Police Department under Civil Service Law, G.L. c. 31 which civil service status was accepted by vote of the 1925 annual town meeting; and further, such revocation of acceptance, in accordance with G.L. c. 4, § 4B(e) not to affect the civil service rights of any employee of the Milford Police Department entitled thereto prior to vote under this article, or take any other action in relation thereto. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried.

ARTICLE 36: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the legislature for special legislation to authorize appointed water commissioners in Milford, which legislation will provide substantially. Voice Vote on Motion as Presented…Carried Unanimously.

Patch file photo