Arena Saved, Police Cars Purchased, and the Music Returned At Town Meeting

For a newcomer to Stoneham Town Meetings, the music was the first sign there's more to democracy than spirited debates and a show of hands.

With a 7 p.m. start to Monday's meeting, residents had little reason to show up at the Town Hall auditorium early. But if they did they would have heard 78-year-old John Phipps at the white Wurlitzer organ, playing songs that alternated giving the room a feeling of TD Garden at halftime, followed by a long ride on a carnival carousel.

Phipps first heard about the organ as a 16-year-old boy living in Milton. He jumped in a car and drove to Stoneham, all so he could play that organ. A custodian let him in the door back then. The organ has been in Stoneham since 1942 but according to Phipps in the last 4-5 years it's been in need of repair and rarely used. Phipps did the work himself and last night his efforts were heard for the first time in 10 years. It made sense to start the night with the national anthem, made even better by the white Wurlitzer.

There were 20 articles on the agenda and during the 3 1/2 hour meeting some were debated at length, others passed with little discussion. But it started with a spirited debate and the night's only vote count.

Article 1 -- This was a debate on 11 words and the use of open space in town. The selectmen and planning board all wanted to remove "other than property used or zoned for open space and recreation" from town zoning laws. By doing that it removed existing restrictions and would make it easier for the town to create laydown areas for construction projects. But voters didn't want their soccer and baseball fields to become overrun with construction equipment and while 134 supported the town, 93 did not and needing a 2/3rds vote to pass, the town's motion failed.

Article 16 -- A motion was made to move this up and it was clear from the interest in the room, not to mention the 25 or so kids outside the auditorium before hand chanting "save our rink," that it was important to many. The article authorized the town to borrow $1.6 million for the repair and maintenance of Stoneham Arena. Selectman Anthony Wilson spoke in support of the motion. "If we don't do this the arena will effectively close." Residents agreed and in a near unanimous vote said yes, an outcome that yielded the biggest applause of the night. Many residents left after the vote.

Article 2 -- This asked residents to rezone the property at 577 Main Street to allow the developer to build four condominiums using the entire lot. The collection of latitudes and longitudes used to describe the 1,768 square foot lot were unnecessary. The motion easily passed.

Articles 3-6 -- All asked for $25,000 for something, starting with repaving the town hall parking lot, then funding of the Commercial Improvement Program, the town's Island Beautification program, and finally a general government wage and classification study. All passed but not before many had questions about the parking lot and the wage study.

Article 7 -- While repaving the town hall parking lot for $25,000 generated plenty of questions, this article's request for $50,000 for a pavement management study did not and it passed easily.

Article 8 -- Ever find a bill you forgot to pay? This article authorized $1,392.39 to pay a bill from a prior fiscal year. Despite needing a 9/10ths vote, it too passed easily.

Article 9 -- It's never too early to talk snow removal and the town passed a motion to expand the boundaries of the mandatory area to remove snow from sidewalks from North Street to Marble Street.

Article 10 -- Does anyone really pay attention to a 25 mph speed limit? You will in parts of Stoneham from now on after residents voted for a uniform speed limit of 25 miles per hour on those streets determined to be thickly settled.

Article 11 -- You don't pay, you won't play, after voters passed a motion that would allow the town to withhold permits or licenses to those who have not paid any local taxes, fees, etc.

Article 12 -- This article allows the town to give a sum of up to $1,000 annually to the town clerk once the clerk is certified as a Massachusetts Municipal Clerk. It passed without debate.

Articles 13-15 -- Town meeting passed motions for three new vehicles for the Department of Public Works and two new police cruisers. Total cost is $210,000.

Article 17 -- Residents supported $24,000 to continue the process of repairing hazardous and unstable gravestones in the Old Burying Ground.

Article 18 -- The town said yes to authorizing the Board of Selectmen to sell a surplus 5,006 square feet of land located between Elmhurst and Tremont Street to abutters. The land has an assessed value of $7,000.

Article 19-20 -- These two articles were the last 50 pages of the entire 71-page packet. Each involved the fire department and each passed, but not without discussion. Article 19 dealt with fire details on closed roadways and roads under construction. Part of the motion was amended but many questioned the vague language of the amendment. In the end, after a long delay to add three words, it passed. Article 20 allows the fire department to test private fire suppression systems.

And at 10:45 p.m., moderator Jeanne Craige gaveled an end to her second town meeting.

Photo by Bob Holmes