A Preview to Stoneham Town Meeting

Stoneham residents will have the chance to vote on about a dozen warrant articles when Town Meeting kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday at Town Hall.

Here is a look at the Town's warrant articles:

Article 1   

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Stoneham Town Code, Chapter 15, zoning By-law by amending Section 4.15 and by adding Section 5.2.2 to read as follows (see PDF for proposed language of warrant article).

Article 2 

To see if the Town will vote to amend the amount to be raised and appropriated under Article No. 12 of the May 2 annual Town Meeting and adjust the fiscal 2012 departmental budgets and funding sources.

Article 3

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds or borrow a sum of money for various capital projects.

Article 4

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from
available funds a sum of money to pay for prior fiscal year invoices.

Article 5   

To see if the Town will vote to transfer $79,042.95 from the FEMA snow and ice reimbursement grant, $255,590 from surplus revenue, and $108,724.12 from the Stabilization Fund for the purpose of funding the fiscal 2011 snow and ice deficit of $443,357.07.

Article 6

To see if the Town will vote to rescind $274,400 remaining on the authorization to borrow for the Stoneham Arena roof that was voted under Article No. 8 of the May 7 & 10, 2007 Special Town Meeting.

Article 7

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate $492,232 to be received by the Town from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Chapter 90 local transportation aid funding for fiscal 2012 for the purpose of continuing the permanent construction program on public ways within the Town or other eligible municipal projects and authorize the town administrator to make such expenditure.

Article 8

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, $10,000 which will allow the taxpayers of the Town of Stoneham, along with taxpayers from other communities, and Tax Reform for Education, Inc., a non-profit corporation, to participate in a lawsuit claiming “the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 70 public school funding system unconstitutional”.

Article 9

That the Council on Aging be authorized to use a revolving fund in accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53E1/2, that may be spent by the Council on Aging without further appropriation during fiscal 2012 to pay salaries, expenses and contractual services required to provide services and activities for the Town's elderly residents. The Council on Aging Revolving Fund is to be credited with all rentals, fees and charges received during fiscal 2012 from persons using said programs. The director of the Council on Aging may spend up to $60,000 in revolving fund monies during fiscal 2012. In addition transfer any balance remaining on June 30, 2011 from the existing Senior Center accounts into the authorized revolving account.

Article 10

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the lease a portion of up to 10,000 square feet at the southwest corner of the Stevens Street Recycling Center, located off Stevens Street, for a period of up to five years, pursuant to Section 10(h) of the Town of Stoneham Selectmen-Administrator Act (Chapter 26 of the Acts and Resolves of 1981, as amended). And further to authorize the town administrator to take any action necessary to carry out this vote.

Article 11

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the town administrator to enter into a lease of up to three years with up to two additional option years with vendors so they can operate concessions, the pro shop and vending machines at Stoneham Arena. And further to authorize the town administrator to take any action necessary to carry out this vote.

Editor's note: The information above is from the Town of Stoneham Web site.