Tewksbury Town Meeting Votes: DPW Facility, Marijuana, Dog Bylaws

TEWKSBURY, MA — After some back and forth Tuesday night, including opposition from the chair of the Board of Selectmen, Tewksbury special town meeting voters approved an article to spend $2.2 to plan a new building for school maintenance and the Department of Public Works. Town manager Richard estimated the construction would cost $25.1 million, but said they believed they could fund the project without needing a debt exemption. The article passed narrowly, 120-104.

"The current facility is not compliant, lacks sufficient space, and is inefficient and unsafe," said Montuori. "The plan is to demolish the existing facility and build a new facility on its current site."

Board of Selectmen Chair Jay Kelly, among others, argued that the town had been embarking on too many building projects lately. Kelly said he was speaking as a resident.

"We have a lot of debt coming," Kelly said. "I think it's a wonderful idea that we put these two departments into one building... but i think we're putting the cart before the horse."

The argument that there was no time to waste won the day, however.

"I suspect if this were a commercial building and our building inspector went and inspected it, they'd shut it down," said voter Bruce Panilaitis. "We should just get the job done because it's about time."

The $2.2 million includes $800,000 from current year revenue, $700,000 from free cash, and $350,000 each from sewer and water retained earnings.

The majority of other articles passed, but one long-debated and multiple-times-amendment proposal to allow assisted living facilities and special care residences, in certain areas and with planning board approval, was defeated.

Two articles to keep a ban in place on "all types of marijuana establishments" were defeated, but the town's ban on marijuana retailers remains in place. The other bans will expire at the end of the year.

Articles were passed to create a stormwater enterprise fund paid for through per-property flat fees and to raise the fee structure for dog-related bylaw violations.

Article 16, which creates a new bylaw mandating building maintenance, was passed, with an amendment increasing the daily fine from $100 to $250. Language was also added so that "this fine cannot by waived by any town entity."

The final article, which would have created a new zoning district, was withdrawn without any discussion.

Christopher Huffaker: 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.